There was a note on Petunia's bedside table.
Since the guests all took the strengthening potion they will sleep in. A Buffett will be set up at seven am in the Pavilions, and in our family dining room. The Buffet will run until 3 pm, so guests and family member can receive breakfast and lunch at their leisure.
Gore, elves and parents will oversee children on the grounds and at the beach. The Aunts will rotate between the beach and my study as needed.
Three morning horseback trail rides for guests have been organized, led by Gore. All the guests will be able to sign up for one. There will be sign up sheets at the stables.
Tea, drink, and snack stations manned by house elves are set up in the formal gardens and at the beach. They are open from 8 AM until 11 PM.
The elder Black women will be rotating between overseeing children on the beach after 11 AM and joining me for Family Consultations in my study. Andi, Mimosa, Molly Weasley and house elves will man the Healer's Station, set up in a corner of the Pavilion, for minor issues. Andi occasionally join me in the study during a consultation.
Security house elves will be roaming the Towers, grounds, and perimeter of the wards. Many will be disillusioned. I called in Black Family elves from other properties for the next few days.
Families and individuals will be consulting with me for oaths, decisions on potions needed, in fifteen-minute meetings, starting at 1 PM and ending at 7PM.
7 PM to 9 PM each evening, parents interested in an alternative school will meet in the second floor library. Children can play on the grounds near the bonfire, or in the various playrooms throughout the towers. Lysandra is in charge but all will be heard.
This schedule will remain in place until all our guests have had their consultation. Families will start to return home after their meeting with me, depending on their needs and potions required. They are welcome and encouraged to stay the entire week, building bonds with Family Black. If any are quite fragile or are squibs gaining magic, they may remain here until Andi releases them.
Arcturus Black
Silvi helped her get ready for bed. "I hope you are not being overworked, Silvi. I see the house elves are being asked to do so much!"
"We is all very happy, Missy Petty. Alls our cousins and aunties and uncles and family are here from all overs the world. Lots of work! Bestest party ever!"
The little elf danced a bubbly jig. "We's all hoping a big BIG school with all the childrens comes here. And every summer a big family meeting just like this!"
"As long as you're happy, Silvi."
"Silvi so happy. Silvi and Shashi, from the Cotton, estate is asking Master Arcturus to have some elf babies!"
"Oh, my! I hope he is a nice young elf!"
"He loves to workie workie." Silvi leaned a little closer and whispered. "He has such big ears! Maybes ours babies have the big ones!"
Petunia grinned. Maybe big ears were the house elf equivalent to thick hair or something. Arcturus had lovely, thick, shiny hair.
"Well, if you have babies I want to visit them. I imagine elf babies are too adorable."
"Oh, yes, Missy Petty!"
Harry slept in. Dudley was up at eight thirty, raring to get out of the house. Petunia took him to the Family dining room. Narcissa, Bluette Parkinson, Julietta Bulstrode and their children were present. Narcissa had the twins in a buggy and was dressed in a sundress and delicate sandals.
"Are you going to the beach?" Petunia asked.
Narcissa nodded. "It will be quiet, the babies can wiggle on a blanket for a while. I think all the children plan to take the horseback ride before coming down to the beach." She stirred cream into a black cup of coffee.
"I hadn't decided what to do this morning. Maybe I will grab a paperback and join you. Watch the kids today. After the horseback ride I expect they will stay at the beach."
"What is a paperback?" Julietta asked. She was a tiny, mousy woman with blonde hair so ashy it was almost gray.
"Oh, it's muggle. Books made small, out of paper. Popular fiction books come that way in the muggle world. The ones I have are…" Petunia turned a little pink. "Romances with happy endings. Quite naughty. Nothing educational, just for fun. I find them relaxing. I have a whole basket of them!"
"Maybe I'll get some tips" Narcissa said. "Bring a bagful! I'm sure Julietta and Bluette need to relax. All the huge changes in our lives. Mothers need a rest period." She grinned. "I'll have my elf bring my famous wine punch."
"Narcissa!" Bluette said. She had a pinched and proper air Petunia recognized in herself. Her old self.
"Oh, live a little, Bluette," Narcissa said with an arrogant arch to her brow. "We are the sublime, highest rung of British Magical Society. If we read naughty muggle love books and drink wine before lunch, every witch in Britain will do the same."
Petunia took a sip of scalding tea, just the way she liked it. "Hmm. Maybe I should open a bookstore. A Witches Only Bookstore," she mused. "I wonder if I could buy tons of used books for cheap and fix them with magic to look new."
"Bring that bag of books and I'll fiddle with them," Narcissa said. "You know, I think little shop on one of the side streets off the Alley would be quite popular. We could add fun potions, like Enamora— that is pleasant for old married couples, Petunia— Tinglies, Marital Bliss, Sweet Kisses. Things like that."
"Do witches use cosmetics?" Petunia asked. "Or just magic?"
"Glamours," said Narcissa. "But not every witch has the talent."
"Well, muggles have cosmetics. Some are quite expensive. Take Bluette. Her eyes are such a rare, pale blue. A muggle woman would use dark mascara on her lashes every day to make them stand out even more."
Bluette turned pink.
"One day we all should take a field trip to a high-end mall," Petunia said. "With lots of muggle money. We could get makeovers, try on expensive clothes, go to shoe and hand bag stores."
Narcissa grinned.
"Well, Arcturus did say he wanted us to learn much more about the muggle world. That there would be opportunities for the Black Family there," Bluette said, somewhat piously.
"Well, the Bulstrode's could use some 'opportunity' for our bank vault." Julietta took a sip of her tea. "Even with our new Black Family stipend, it will be difficult to pay for Pansy's schooling and Eldwin's apprenticeship. Eldwin is my oldest," she explained to Petunia. "He is apprenticed to a French Enchanter, and those don't come cheap!"
"I think we should all write down ideas about a small store for witches," Narcissa said. "I have expensive tastes, but I don't want to squander Draco's inheritance on gowns and jewels. And now I have the twins to raise! Another income would be delightful."
"I can't see you as a shop girl, Narcissa," Bluette said.
Narcissa made a face at her. "I'll be management, darling. We'll hire help. I plan to work on my Transfiguration Mastery, and teach at the school, if we decide to open one."
"I wouldn't mind working in pretty little shop," Petunia said. "Not full time, but perhaps a few hours a week. Always best to keep sharp eye on things."
Julietta looked thoughtful. "Things are changing. Our families are leading the change. Maybe I could work in the shop a few hours a week. I could also teach dancing if we do the school. It is really my only talent."
Ervi popped Harry to the beach around noon. He looked well rested, Petunia was glad to see. The magic of the ritual had taken magical work, which was tiring for a child, Narcissa had explained.
"Did you eat, Harry?" she asked.
"Yes, a huge roast beef sandwich, roasted potatoes, fruit chunks in a bowl and a big glass of milk." He tore off down the beach where Milly was saving a spudunker for him.
"Did you hear anything else about that Dumbledore?" Milly asked when their small group was out in the water away from everyone else.
"I haven't heard anything," Harry said, tossing a small ball to Dudley. "But I was asleep and then ate in my room."
"I know something," Neville said. "Grandmother went to St. Mungoes last night to fetch my parents here."
"I didn't know your parents were in the hospital, Neville." Harry said.
"Death Eaters cursed them so bad they can't talk or really know what's going on. Mom can walk a little, bit but Dad stays in a bed or a chair. They can't take care of me, so they stay in the hospital."
"Wow, that's too bad."
"Yeah. But they were at the ritual last night, way in the back in floating chairs. They took the strengthening potion. My dad was sitting up in bed all by himself this morning! Tonight they will take the Primogenitor Potion."
Neville gave huge grin. "But Dumbledore. He is in the curse ward in a special room, and they don't know what to do with him. It wasn't in the paper this morning. so they are keeping it quiet."
"Maybe he'll leave me alone now," Harry said, frowning. "All those wizards that were passed out are in the dungeon. But don't tell anyone. Lock it up!"
The group all made a key in a lock motion over their lips.
Luna's father had charmed her hands and feet with webbing and fins. He put a floating spell on her, too. "She swims like a porpoise," Dudley said reverently.
"I wonder if he'd do that spell on the rest of us," Astoria said. "That looks like fun!"
Xeno said he would if their parent said it was all right. Since Augusta was in the study with Arcturus, Narcissa sent her a note via house elf and got permission. Soon half the children were paddling around with webbed feet and hands.
Mimosa had joined them, wearing a daring red two piece. Aunt Violetta goggled at her. Mimosa grinned. Narcissa popped away with her twins, so they could nap in the nursery. When she returned she was wearing an equally skimpy suit in silver.
"Narcissa, you have a love bite on your neck. Behind your ear." Petunia whispered to her.
Narcissa gave a lazy waved her wand and covered the small bruise. "Gore and I had a glass of wine...maybe three...last night. He is such a fast learner." She took a deep breath.
Petunia blinked. "I can't imagine being interested in a man yo soon."
Narcissa laughed. "Really, Petunia? But I can feel the magic thatswirls between you and Arcturus."
"He's like ninety!"
"He was like ninety. Now he's like forty-five. Incredible rich , powerful and handsome."
"B-But—"
"There will be a million women after him, Petunia. Don't squander your chance. I can tell he likes you. And he will be remarrying. A man of his vitality? It is a given."
Petunia poured herself a tall glass of wine fruit punch.
Bluette and Julietta said their 'good days' left the beach at lunchtime, both clutching a novel.
"Be bold, is a marvelous opportunity. He was a wonderful husband to his Melania."
"I've never made a move in my life!"
"And you ended up with that disgusting man. The gold is right in front of you, Petunia. Go for the gold."
Petunia couldn't sleep that night. He mind was a whirl of thought and emotions. She peaked at the boys, who were sleeping with Neville and Draco in Harry's room. They were all deep asleep, a bit of light snoring. They had a fun day at the beach. Dudley had taught them football on the lawn, with a magic ball that changed colors.
Dudley had always been a leader, but not in a positive sense. The changes in him! How her heart filled with thankfulness looking at him. He was becoming the boy she'd always hoped he would be.
And Harry. She felt humbled by the depth of his forgiveness. He was a special boy. She could see bonds forming between him, Dudley, Neville and Draco. Plus the little girls, Milly, Luna, Daphne, and Astoria.
Harry had an obvious liking for Milly. And she had noticed Dudley and Astoria sharing some interests.
Dudley had lost so much weight so fast! He looked like her father, so handsome.
Ugh, I will never get to sleep! Petunia returned to her bed room. She put on a pale pink silky robe that did wonders for her complexion. "Silvi?"
Silvi appeared. "Yes, Missy Petty?"
"Could you take me to the Moon Garden? With a cup of tea?"
'Yes, Missy Petty."
At half past midnight Petunia sat down on the swing,her cup of tea resting on a floating tray.
"Why, Petunia. I did not expect to see you this late."
Arcturus stood before her, holding his own tray, which contained a glass of milk and chocolate biscuits. He plopped down next to her on the swing seat.
"Well, now you will learn my most depraved secret." He picked up a biscuit and dunked it in the glass of milk. "I am a dunker. A dirty, rotten, common, dunker. The aunties would be appalled. And probably send me a stinging hex." He dunked the biscuit and ate it.
She grinned. "Now I have black mail material! Oh, the things I could tell Lysandria!"
He turned sideways on the bench seat. "Oh, I can't let you do that. My entire biscuit delight is at stake!"
His lashes were so incredibly long. For a ninety-year-old man.
"Oh, just try and stop me."
He grinned, flashing white teeth in the darkness. "I must!"
Then his lips were on hers.