Squib 19

By length, this ought to be two chapters, but you are getting it all. Enjoy!

Squib 19 Summer, 1974,

James and Miriam were not the only couple expecting to marry as soon as school was out, but they were certainly the most noticed. There were couples doing the traditional thing, and eloping to Gretna Green. There were couples having small family weddings. There were some having mundane weddings in various Churches. Many were signed up for Apprenticeships, or jobs, or had family obligations.

James was collected by his parents and taken directly for his fitting for his wedding suit. His three best friends were going to stand with him, since he had no more close family. They were fitted into black suits. His was pure white satin, with a blue flower in his boutonniere hole. Even his boots were white opal eye leather, very comfortable. He had grown some more (as had his friends), so he needed a full wardrobe again. He was now almost 6 foot tall. The four had a pizza delivered while they were being fitted, and called that a Bachelor's Party. None felt much like celebrating.

The Groom's Dinner after the quiet Rehersal was the night before the wedding, with only the wedding party and their families, held in the cottage. Another Dinner was provided in a large tent for the out-of-town guests, catered by Rosemerta's.

Everyone seemed to be at the wedding. Dumbledore and most of the teachers were there. His father's business contacts were there. There were probably piles of gifts on display in those tents, including his own crystal Orrery for Miriam. The Brides' side had hundreds of people James had never seen before, yet there were many chairs held open. He wondered why. When the major sections of seats were filled, his father led James to the front by the Druid. James looked around for the door the bride would be coming through, but didn't see her. Instead, the lights dimmed in the center and increased around the edges of the field. A voice spoke, not loud but spelled so that everyone could hear the story.

"Long ago, a daughter of the Bulstrode family had two suitors. Both were rich and powerful. The family and the girl chose one and dismissed the other. The dismissed suitor refused to be denied. He returned the night before the wedding with friends, and stole the bride away. Her family did not take this lightly. The men of her family leapt out of bed, grabbed swords and pursued the thief. They caught them, and the ending was not pretty for the thief. He and his friends did ,not survive. The bride was rescued ad returned in time for her wedding. The Bulstrode men will now present the traditional family sword dance in commemoration of that event, and the traditional sword to the new member." A drum beat, and suddenly the entire crowd was surrounded by men with swords, dancing. BIG men, for Herman was almost 8 foot tall and many of his 17 sons were nearly as big. Even little Eddie was there, age 7 but with a wicked sword. There were also cousins, uncles, and others. All of them were wearing long kilts in the family tartan – and nothing else. There was no doubt that these men were in peak physical condition as they swirled and leaped. As the drums reached crescendo, Herman landed in front of James with a sword held across his outstretched hands. Jame couldn't help it – he flinched.

Herman said, "I present this so that you will, if needed, be able to protect your wife and daughters. We will teach you how to use it. Be careful – I would be unhappy if you cut your wife with it.":

James carefully took the sword, only then seeing his father holding a long satin-draped box. He laid it in carefully. Looking up, Herman and the rest had vanished, and the lights came back up. Men tugging white shirts into place were filing into the reserved seats.

Now the music started, and the expected procession began. Little Eddie, now suited, solemnly escorted his mother to her seat. Fleamont escorted Euphemia to hers, and sat with her. The attendants and groomsmen made their way, sorting to the sides. James felt a little less exposed with his friends behind him. He really didn't notice the girls, who were either friends or relatives of the Bride, though he knew his friends would be expected to dance and dine with them later. The pipes skirled, and Herman brought Miriam down the aisle under the lights.

Miriam was, as noted, 6 foot tall, though she looked delicate next to her father. Her black hair was normally braided up in a smooth crown, but today was braided with flowers at the front, holding her veil, with the rest curling all the way down her back to the floor, strands twisted together with flowers in a cape, under the full length lace veil. Her dress was of white satin, in the style of the day, halfway down her thighs, and clung to her curves – for Miriam was an Amazon and she had plenty of curves. Over the satin, the bodice was completely covered in lace, with long lace sleeves and a full over skirt that fell to the floor and dragged slightly behind. She had soft white chucca boots, so that she was barely taller than James. She wore sheer lace stockings on her long legs and a blue band around her thigh, clearly visible through the lace skirt. She carried a nosegay of sweetheart roses and baby breath.

James half-turned to his friends, and whispered. "This may be easier than I thought."

After the ceremony, and the dinner, there would be dancing, but before they began the Father-Daughter Dance the lights dimmed again. They were outside and the stars were bright, but there was no moon at all. "The relatives from Transylvania have prepared a fly-over. Please sit where you can watch the sky!" Tiny lights became visible in the distance over the Loch, and it was clear the fliers were carrying torches or lanterns. Music played. Various fantastic shapes formed and merged into the next - fancy flying stunts, fantastic beasts, fireworks spelling out messages for the newlyweds, a quick Quidditch score. Finally the whole group spun together, then spread out in the exact pattern of the lace on Miriam's long veil! They swirled down, dropping the flaming torches safely into the Loch or stacking lanterns along the fence. James really didn't notice, because he was staring at the fliers as they landed on their seats. They were all bats! But he blinked, as they morphed into normal people!

James had one more shock that night. He and Miriam were finally in their room, and he was staring at the sword. Someone had brought it up for him. "Why did they bring this up? Why did your Dad say I should not cut you? Of course I would not cut you!"

Miriam actually blushed. "Another family tradition. I am sewn into this dress. You will have to cut me out."

Still Summer between Third and Fourth Years. This ought to be a chapter break, but isn't.

By the time the train brought the Hogwarts students home, almost all the families either had a new baby or were expecting one that Summer. This truly shocked the Watcher when she made her first rounds. She was a Meadowes, and knew in a general way what was going on. The families and the babies were spread across Britain, so she only saw a dozen or so of the total, but considering it was almost the full set, all years, of muggle born families affected, it was noticeable! Even half blood families had babies, though the few pure bloods in her neighborhoods did not. She checked with her sisters and cousins, who found much the same thing in their areas, and they decided this was a development that had to be kicked upstairs. The Squibs were avoiding St. Mungos and the National Health clinics. Why? And, where were they going? Someone had to deliver those babies.

Albus was astonished, an emotion he didn't know he was capable of. Almost all of the muggle born already in school had new babies at home? He thought they were baby crazy because their teacher had a baby, and had been congratulating himself on hiring her. How did that happen? The parents had not gone to the normal Clinics, or even to St. Mungos OB wards. His staff literally belonged to him, members of his own extended family, so he trusted their reports. Something was going on!

What the Watchers didn't realize was that the Squibs now knew what to look for. All over Britain, women with only one small child, or sometimes two children, were being befriended at parks and schools. These Squibs knew how to check for traces of Magic, for monitoring and tracking spells, and signs of Magic from the small children at the playgrounds. Dozens more Squib families had been identified this way! Whatever they needed was done: taking them to Gringotts, teaching them to see Magic and use Not-Magic, taking them to the Parent's meetings. Everyone was paired with a nearby Witch from a Squib family, to become their Magical Guardian when it was needed. More copies of the Contract books were passed out and explained. Older children likely to be swept into the Magical schools were drilled in the spells from Victus's Books. Older Squib children were taught too, because there was a breeding program to avoid, and dangerous medical care. Children like Petunia were still vulnerable. More than one Squib had been found by chance, unmarried Aunts and Uncles of the families with small children. More women began using the Goblin Clinics.

The witches from the Parent's group were also reaching out to the other schools of magic, often in the guise of enrolling their children. They met other Squib or half-blood families, and shared what they knew. The muggle born children in the other schools of magic were quickly enrolled in the National Education Home School program. Since none were boarding schools, they could work on this at home, at night or on weekends. Paper trails were re-established, keeping their options open.

Squibs with squib children were urged to leave Britain as soon as possible. Squib families with magical children under age 11 were urged to get out soonest. Families with children already IN the Magical schools, including but not limited to Hogwarts, were getting everyone they could out, with plans to transfer the school children the minute they took those OWLS. This couldn't happen all at once, but was beginning. The Goblins were happy to help – this was economic warfare that benefited them.

If it looked to outsiders that one parent left the other, taking any other children, that was OK. These things did happen! One parent would stay behind to care for any children in school. Most had no other family in Britain. Many joined more distant kin in other lands.

Once the Letters were mailed, Minerva was off on her Summer trip. By now Albus knew not to ask her to stay, but he was curious where she was going. This year she would have ALL the Great-Nieces and Nephews, almost 50 total. That's too many for one woman to manage, but she had been clever again. This year she was taking them all as 'crew' on a real sailing ship, a schooner that rented itself out as a Summer Camp. They were going to the Mediterranean, where each night they would stop at a different historical site. There would be a lecture in story-form from their Guide after dinner, a visit to a legend (Troy, Minos, Crete...) in the morning, and then sail to the next. Staff were provided, the children slept in hammocks, and they really did much of the work. Minerva would have a very restful trip reading in her bunk, or in a chair on the deck watching the view. A couple of their mothers were also coming, so there would be people to talk to. The forecast was for excellent weather, but if it rained there would be movies while the real sailors managed the ship.

One thing Minerva had been doing quietly was tracking her own family. Her mother was a Witch who loved her father enough to pack away her wand; her Minister father a Squib, and her 9 brothers and sisters were all Squibs. She had been the only Witch. Some brothers had died in the First War; some sisters had gotten out of touch by marrying and moving to Canada in the same years that she had moved into the Wizard world and eventually married Elphinstone Urqhuart, keeping her own name because she worked in the same Department. Minerva was a woman who felt strongly about Family, possibly because she had never had children of her own. She had access to the Birth Records in Britain and Canada and the other countries under British influence which filed Records in London, and the Magical Book of Names. While she had been tracing Squib families for Albus and the school, she had also been finding lost descendants of her own family. She had found them, too! Several had been in Orphanages, several others in lines that had lost touch. The orphans were easily adopted into the extended family, and the found lines accepted as Family. These group vacations were a great way for all the cousins to get to know each other. Many lived in Canada, and might never have met without her doing this.

She had quietly collected MG signatures on all who did not have a magical parent, explaining the dangers of Betrothals to everyone. She had married Elphinstone for love, and had been the Matchmaker for hundreds of Betrothals. She wanted 'her' children to have free choice, and that meant making sure no one else could trap them. Just because she had always done her best to make good Matches, and many of her couples had clearly fallen in love, didn't mean every other Matchmaker out there was as careful as she was!

Alexander Prince sent a message to Tobias that they needed to talk. Tobias told Eileen, in the room with the vase, that he needed to go for a walk and probably would stop for a drink. He'd be back for dinner before going to his night job. When he got to the park he wandered around for a bit, finding a place where he would not be seen. Then he touched his portkey, saying, "Haven."

Once through the exam at the shed and permitted past the war wards into the house, Alexander led him to his study. "Did you ever wonder what happened to your brothers and sisters? Where they even came from?"

"I assume you mean the adopted children at the Farm? Well, no, I hadn't thought of them in years! One of my brothers was with me when the house exploded, making a delivery in another town. When we got back the next day and heard the news, I gave him the keys and told him to take the truck back while I went into the tea shop to think. My head was spinning and I didn't know what to do. That's where I met Eileen."

"I began to wonder about them when your group started finding Squibs. Some are still at the Farm, so they were easy. Some are married, some joined the military. Edward and Zelda had adopted them out of regular orphanages, and there were records. One of your sisters had been old enough to remember her parents – who had also worked at the Farm! Her orphanage records said her parents had been killed in a car crash and she had no other family. Others had similar records. Car crashes, fires, gas explosions, a train wreck... I began to suspect all of them were pure blood Squib children, survivors of Death Eater attacks. Edward and Zelda must have made a serious job of finding these children! I found all I could, and took them to the Goblins. Heritage tests and physicals taken, I was proved right. ALL of the girls had Dalkon Shields, which the Goblins removed.

The Farm Clinic contract expired recently, so I did not renew with the previous Clinic service but instead hired the Goblins. They are currently giving all employees updated exams, sorting out who is a Squib and who is a real muggle. I'm trying to move all the Squibs overseas, and will run the Farm with muggles. I'll hire Bull Run to manage the deliveries, because they do both sides.

I have muggle Private Detectives searching for the rest of the children now, with the quite-true story of an inheritance needing claiming. Some do have accounts at Gringotts, either for themselves or tied for future magical heirs. I made sure all of them have suitable accounts from the Farm. Meanwhile, I am sending all I can overseas, some to school on Farm scholarships, or on jobs for the Farm. The Sappingtons did adopt them, so they have legal rights, and I am making sure those rights are met under the Trust."

"What's right is right! I'm glad you realized it and are taking care of them properly. I'm sure my parents would have wanted it done. Are any of my brothers still around, where I might meet them sometime?"

"Yes, and I thought you might say that. Tonight's delivery to the Evans' warehouse is being driven by your brother Todd, who still works at the Farm. He's confused as to why I insisted HE drive this load, because he usually works in the offices. I told him there was someone he needed to meet before he is sent to Japan next week. He doesn't know you are the Heir, so you can be just another brother I've found."

At the bar one night, Dung asked Toby, "Ever seen yer own family?" He sure was curious about who Toby knew! The others considered this just general snooping, but Tobias knew someone was checking up on him. He didn't mention the key incident because he wanted to see what Dung was up to this time.

"Yep! Ran into one of me brothers recently! He was driving one of those trucks I unload at the warehouse! Such a surprise for both of us! Last time I seen him we was both driving trucks, and that was before I met me wife. We had a good jabber! He knows where some of the others are, so I'm gonna write some letters, mebee do some visiting."

"Toby, I didn't know you had brothers! I thought you and Eileen had no family, tho I guess you did say something about her parents a while back."

"Yeah. I got a bunch of them, sisters, too. Our parents loved kids and since we lived on a farm there was plenty of room. They was always adopting more, since they couldn't have their own. House always had babies in it! I always wanted a big family, too! We had so much fun!"

"Adopted?"

"Yeah, we wuz all adopted. Didn't matter to them, so it didn't matter to us. They were good parents and I really miss them."

"They died?'

"Yeah, gas explosion. Littler kids were all at school, and I was working. Farm offices were in the main house, so it took a bunch of grownups. That's when I hit the road. Hurt too much to hang around. Todd and some others stayed to take care of the little ones and kept working the farm. I didn't even think about them! Guess I wasn't a very good big brother. Oh, and Todd told me the Estate is finally being sorted out and all us adopted ones are getting some cash! I dunno how much, but mebee I can put a down payment on a better house? I'm only renting this one."

"Ya think the Bank will give ya a loan? Houses ain't cheap!"

"I dunno. I've never taken a Bank loan, but I never lived in Council Housing on the Dole, either. I don't OWE anything, which ought to be good, and looks like I'll have a little cash to put down. Can't hurt to ask! 'Course, the Factory ain't doing too good so I'm looking for a new job anyhow. Mebee I should wait until I find a new job? Might need some cash to move?"

"Hey, Toby, kin you lend me a fiver?"

"Now yer being silly! I ain't even seen a cent yet!"

In August Albus got some bad news. Poppy's School Contract had expired, and the Healers were insisting she take Medical Retirement. She had been at the school for 40 years, straight out of Training, so she qualified for the full Pension even though he had expected her to work another hundred years. She was awake enough to sign the full Retirement forms, including the applications for the Goblins to audit her accounts and begin collecting her Pension.

This was bad for his accounts! The Goblins went over her entire series of Contracts, which were in order, properly renewed with nice raises and bonuses every year, with accruing sick days and vacations she had never taken until now, that she chose to 'cash out'. However, those did not correspond with the actual deposits to her accounts, so the Goblins dove in gleefully! It turned out the deposits had continued in the same amounts as her first Contract, unchanged for 40 years. Albus had never updated the bank deposit forms. She was owed tens of thousands of Galleons back pay from Raises, more in Bonuses, and a huge amount in late payment Interest! She also owed back taxes on the uncollected money, which they also took from the School Salary Fund as a Penalty. Her Pension credits had the same problem – they had accrued at the original rate, rather than increased over the years with her increased pay. Her correct Pension was as much as her corrected salary, and would continue for her lifetime!

While Albus was sputtering that this was a complete mistake and he should not be penalized the huge amounts of Interest (both what she ought to have earned if the money had been in her account, and the amount the school accounts did make because her money was there) nor the taxes, the Goblins simply transferred the funds and told him they'd be glad to arrange a Hearing at their Tribunal. Which meant hand-to-hand combat with a Champion they would provide for Poppy in their Arena. He declined.

His only bit of good news was that St. Mungos would continue to provide a rotating set of Interns for the Hospital Wing until he managed to contract another MediWitch. However, he had to pay them standard scale rates. Now he needed to find another Nurse. He'd check which Meadowes was finishing the Midwife program and switch her to the Nursing training. Perhaps he should start several? He could slide one into each school for better control and information gathering. Full Mediwitches, rather than just Midwives, would have access to more Departments at St. Mungo's and the Clinics, too. In a few years some should work their way into Administration!

Maybe some of their brothers would like to try, too? Most of them were employed as Janitors, or Porters at King's Cross. It got them into a lot of places unnoticed. Adding a few Orderlies, EMTs, and Interns to the mix would not hurt.