Ch 24 Dinner with the Potters
Significant additions by Deb, plus a moderately important change in the story, with more helpful comments and corrections by Diane. Thank you.
Jane woke up to see Cleopatra silently playing the organ, and Rose just getting out of the bathroom, using her wand to dry and comb her hair. Rose's hair was brown with red highlights, very thick and bushy, down to her shoulders. Jane looked at Cleo, who had two very thick plaits of hair bouncing on her back as she practiced the organ. Jane felt her thin, straight, mousey brown hair. She was Plain Jane, nothing special about her.
"Put your dirty clothes in the hamper at the end of the bed," Rose suggested when she noticed that Jane was awake. "The Elves will wash them."
Jane did, thinking how her mother did laundry. Her mother had a tub with water that was magically hot. She waved her wand at the dirty clothes, and one at a time they flew through the water, came out clean, would dry as they folded themselves into neat piles. When her mother died she and her father had to use a laundromat to wash clothes.
"Use the shower next," Rose told Jane. Jane was amazed by the en-suite bathroom, but it was confusing so Rose pointed out its features and how to use them. There was a large tub and a separate shower in one room, with some sort of place where you could stand and it would magically dry you. There was another room for the loo, both rooms off a room with a double sink with the wall above the sink all mirrored. It was all marble, but somehow with magic it was comfortable on your bare feet. The towels were always, according to Rose, newly washed and dry.
When Jane was finished Cleo went into the shower. Rose was dressed when she came out of the shower, but Cleo only wore a bra and knickers when she came out. Cleo used her wand, dried her unbound (and very messy) hair, and the plaits reformed. Cleo slid on a dress, put on thin slippers, and bounced towards the door.
"Is she always so …?" Jane asked, trying to come up with a way to ask Rose about Cleo's exuberance.
"Pretty much," Rose replied with a smirk. "Pretty much and sometimes too much. She can be rather bouncy.
"We are in the same dorm room at Hogwarts, and attend the same classes, but Scorpius and I don't usually study with her and Albus, and she is almost never my partner in classes."
"Scorpius?" Jane asked. "Is he your partner?"
Rose's face turned red, and she hoped Scorpius couldn't hear them, as the girls left the bedroom. "Well, he and I are the best students in the class. We are both really smart, but we both also work really hard."
Cleo looked back, saw Rose and Jane talking, and went bouncing on ahead to some unheard tune, her hands at times playing an imaginary instrument.
"Is Albus smart?" Jane asked, wondering about what kind of students they all were.
"Oh, Albus and Cleo are in a different league altogether. Albus started Hogwarts knowing almost all the seventh-year spells, and he has just become better. He invented or helped with some of the mapping spells that his father is credited with developing, did that before he even left for Hogwarts and was allowed to use a wand.
"Cleopatra may be the most powerful Magi in the world, but she does magic differently than most Magi, and she has a hard time controlling it. At class we are taught a spell, then Albus goes off with Cleo to show her the spell, and by the end of the class she can almost always do it, but silently and usually differently than anyone else."
"So Your mother is Vice-Minister of Magic in Great Britain, your father is a partner in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and your uncle is Harry Potter?" Jane confirmed. "What are you going to do?"
"I do not know," Rose sighed. "I do not want to be a workaholic like my mother. Anything I think I would like to do seems so insignificant compared to what my mother and father have done." Rose looked rather morose at her future.
Jane had always assumed that being a child of rich and famous parents was a good thing. It was turning out more complicated than she had assumed.
The same people from the night before were at breakfast. Rich, Scorpius, and Rose ate at the same, this time larger, table with Cleo, Dis, and Jane. A cook brought out the menu to their table, and had a brief conversation with Cleo. Cleo seemed excited about something, and the cook went back to the kitchen smiling.
Tuesday Jane was a little less overwhelmed. She had a good chance to look at the people she was with. Rich looked like a young, professional reporter. Scorpius was also very young, a teen-ager, but he was much better dressed than most teen-age boys. Jane thought the typical teen-age boy dressed like a slob. Scorpius wore neat, pressed, obviously expensive trousers and good looking dress shirts, and was always neat and well put together. He was handsome, and he could have easily been in a clothing advert.
Jane's first impression of Rose was that she was wearing a very businesslike trousers' suit. That was true, but everything about her appearance was well put together. From the hairband that did it's best to control her thick mop of hair, to the matching earrings and watch, to the detailing on the blouse and trousers, she radiated both competence and femininity. Over the week Jane noticed that every day Rose wore a different outfit, with a different watch, or at least a different colored and decorated watch.
Rose carried a portfolio with paper and drawing instruments, some of which must have been magical. Jane noticed two things about Rose and her art. Rose was obviously very talented, and appeared to be a good teacher. She was also meticulously well organized, with never anything out of place. The portfolio and a small purse Rose also carried seemed to contain everything she needed. There were no noticeable pockets in her clothing.
Cleo by contrast never carried a purse, but her pockets were a wonder of things that she might need. More than one child had a runny nose, and Cleo could pull a large box of tissues out of her pocket, or a never ending pile of handkerchiefs. She occasionally took out a book or two. There was way more in the pockets than would normally fit, but the pockets looked like they had things in them. That was one of the reasons Cleo always looked frumpy, more like an occasionally distracted mother than a stylish young girl.
At times looking at the artwork was messy. That did not seem to bother Rose, but she made sure she was clean and neat after any messy encounter. She also tried to keep Cleo clean and neat, with only modest success (much to Jane's secret amusement and Rose's exasperation). It seemed to be an on-going thing between the two of them. Rose fussed over Cleo's appears and Cleo would just shrug and go about her business.
On Tuesday and for the rest of the week, when the group broke for dinner, Rose quickly changed from the trousers' suit to a dress. Rose and Scorpius were a good looking pair, except they were not exactly a pair, except they were.
Cleo was at the same time the most feminine, almost for a young girl motherly, figure, and at the same time not particularly pretty. She was great in small doses, but Jane was glad that she did not have to interact with her all the time.
Friday afternoon Ginny and her entourage showed up, Minerva plus Mitzi the Elf and Sue Shook, her Auror guard. They went to the quarters of the Regent to leave their luggage, and then left for the main hall where Rose, Cleo and Scorpius were. The first person to see her walking in was Jane, and Jane ran over to greet her, cooing at baby in the pram.
"How are you doing, Jane?" Ginny asked.
"I am fine," she replied. "Many things are confusing, but people are nice. How are you and the baby?"
Jane looked at Minerva, who held her hands up, saying "Ma, Ma, Mu, Mu, Uu, Uu."
"You may pick her up, if you want to," Ginny told Jane when Jane looked to her for interpretation and permission.
Jane picked up Minerva, who proceeded to grab on to Jane's neck and plant a wet, sloppy kiss on her face. Jane had never picked up a baby, and this sloppy kiss was obviously unexpected.
Ginny laughed. "Babies are not the neatest of creatures," she giggled. "Sit down. You and I need to talk."
Jane nervously looked around. Ginny had maneuvered her to a group of chairs on the edge of the large room, and was gesturing for her to sit.
"I do not have to go back to my father, do I?" a worried Jane asked once they were sitting down.
"No, you do not," Ginny responded. "We are in the middle of an investigation, and there is just enough in your father's history to allow you to leave him if you want to, although we do not think he is a bad man. It is a difficult situation, for you and for him. You will also have to see your father, but not live with him if you do not want to, although it would be ideal if you could become comfortable with each other and reconcile."
Jane looked like she was going to cry. "I think we were happy once," she indicated, "but then things started to happen and I don't know what it was and mum and dad started to fight and get scared, and that scared me."
Ginny continued, "We want to put you back in touch with your mother's family as well, but they are not in a position to take you in right now.
"Now we have to find you a place to live. The Domestic Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Magic has been working on cases like yours for years. They have never had very many at a time, but the total number is large enough that they have some idea how to handle them. They have learned that children raised in a totally Muggle environment do best in a mixed Muggle/Magical environment."
"Like my mother being a witch, but my father being a Muggle?" Jane wondered.
"Your father was never very comfortable with magic," Ginny replied. "You can have both parents or guardians being magical, as long as they are comfortable living partly in the Muggle world."
"Like Rose and Scorpius and Mr. Rich, I do not know his last name, using computers and tablets, but also spells?" Jane wondered.
"Exactly," Ginny agreed. "Oh, he is Rich Hudson. I've known him since he was a baby, so it would be strange for me to call him Mr. Hudson, although I guess I have to consider him an adult now.
"You are going to be going to Hogwarts in the autumn, so we need a home for you to go to in the summer and during vacations. I have talked to Mr. Potter, and to Janes and Lily, and at least for now we would like you to live with us while you are going to Hogwarts, if that is acceptable to you."
"But … but … but you are the famous Harry and Ginny Potter!" Jane exclaimed. "I'm just plain Jane Clark. Why?"
"Why do you call yourself 'plain Jane?'" Ginny wondered.
"That is what my father always calls me," Jane confessed. "He is always telling me that my mother was not pretty, and I am unfortunately just as plain and not pretty as she was. I do not think he was always this way. I do not know what happened. And when I look at Rose and… you, just plain Jane."
"Well," Ginny huffed, "I do not agree with him. You look very nice to me." Ginny was beginning to see how Jane had been emotionally abused, although there was no evidence of physical abuse. Jane's situation was complicated.
"You need a home," Ginny told the young girl. "You seem to fit in with my son Albus's friends We can provide a better home environment than Rose's parents'. I am home much more often than Mrs. Granger-Weasley and Mrs. Blackburn tells me I would be a better foster mother for you than Rose's mother. I guarantee you do not want to live in Malfoy Manor, even if you were welcome there, and you are not.
"You may meet other people who would provide a better home for you over the next seven years, or we may even be able to place you with your grandparents and uncle, but until then you are welcome to live with us."
"Would I share a room with Lily?" Jane thought.
"We have rearranged the top floor," Ginny replied. "Lily had to sacrifice a little space, but her bedroom is no smaller than it was when she was in the nursery. My office is a little smaller as well, but not significantly so. We have made a nice bedroom for you."
"Already?" Jane wondered.
"It is magic," Ginny grinned. "Would you like to live with us?"
"All right," she replied. "Thank you," in a small voice, then louder, "Thank you!"
It was close to 6:00 PM, and the last of the children visiting Cleo and Rose were leaving. Ginny announced, "Rich, we are having a family meal with the children. You can have Scorpius and Rose after dinner."
Rich smiled. "I will hold off the news media," he announced.
When they arrived in the dining hall, Harry and Albus were waiting at a table. "Hermione is eating with the Elves," Harry announced.
Ginny sat down next to Harry, with Minerva on her other side. Cleo plopped herself down next to the toddler, and Albus sat next to her. Scorpius sat next to Albus, and Rose next to Scorpius.
Jane noticed that there was one seat left, next to Harry Potter. Oh, my! The famous Harry Potter was the most famous wizard in the world. He waved her over and indicated that she should sit next to him.
Harry bowed his head and prayed, "Lord, bless this family and this meeting of Elves and Magi. Guide our deliberations. Thank you for family and friends, and for all that we have been able to accomplish.
"Amen."
Jane looked straight ahead, afraid to stare at Mr. Potter.
Harry kissed his wife, and then Ginny whispered, "I've asked Jane to stay with us, and she agreed."
Harry looked around, and then told Ginny, "Your announcement."
Ginny looked at the young people at the table. "Over thirty years ago my brother, Uncle Ron, brought home this ill clad friend who was just learning about our magical world. This boy seemed to be accompanied by the most opinionated and insufferable know-it-all of a girl. My parents and our family accepted them both, and they both spent most of the next holidays with us. We never did get rid of them. Ron married the know-it-all girl, Mrs. Granger-Weasley, and I married Harry.
"Our family seems to accumulate people like that. I think Erica and Bill Lionheart spend more of their waking holiday hours flying at The New Burrow with James and Lily than they do at their own home. And of course Albus dragged home Scorpius Malfoy and the ward that has been living with the Malfoys', Cleo. Oh, excuse me, 'Snakeslayer' Malfoy."
The table erupted in a combination of cheers and jeers, and laughter. Scorpius grinned in embarrassment.
"Now Scorpius and Cleopatra have followed in the footsteps of my brother and children and brought another person into our family, Jane Clark. Jane is going to be staying with us when she is not at Hogwarts. Welcome."
Everyone looked at Jane, who gave a shy, timid, wave, her cheeks bright pink.
Harry turned to Jane and kindly said, "Welcome to the family, Jane. I understand that you are going to be living on the top floor. Climbing from the kitchen to your bedroom will give you good practice for Hogwarts."
"Yes, sir," Jane replied softly.
"We will probably spend most of the summer at Potter's New Burrow, the home we built so the cousins could spend some of the holidays together. Do you like to swim?" Harry asked, trying to ease the girl's shyness.
"I only just learned how," Jane admitted.
"You will have plenty of time to practice," Harry explained. "There is a great pond on the property, and most of the cousins and their friends spend a fair amount of time swimming. It is more than just Weasley and Potter's there. The property has a little settlement. Rich Hudson's parents live on the property, as do a number of other people."
Jane looked down at her hands, and then over to Mr. Potter. Harry looked kindly at her. "Is this group of people a little intimidating?" he asked.
Jane shook her head 'yes.'
"Well don't let it, I can guarantee you I put my pants on the same way as your father does and my wife can tell you that occasionally I dribble my coffee down my front. We are just normal people with crazy lives." Harry smiled at her, "I understand what you feel though. When I came to the wizarding world, I was just as overwhelmed as you are now. It can be scary, yet fun and it will change your life and you will be fine." Jane gave him a true smile back at him.
Rose turned to Jane when she noticed that Mr. Potter was done talking to her. "You will be living next door to us. We live at thirteen Grimmauld Place, my mother and father and brother Hugo and Grandmother Granger."
"Is your house like the Potter's," Jane wondered.
"The Potter house was decorated by a professional, so it looks very pretty and, it just looks like the home of a prosperous Magi family," Rose declared. "I've finally talked my parents into buying some proper furniture and decorating the house. The library has nice wood shelves and looks like the library in a prosperous home instead of an odd collection of shelves and piles of books. I talked them into hiring the Potter's decorator, and he let me work with him. Mum even hired a librarian to catalogue and arrange her books. She is amazing. She can read and remember two big tomes a night. We even have a section of the library for scrolls.
"We do not use the dining room much. If mother keeps buying books, we may turn the whole floor into a library. The floor that is the Potter's drawing room is more of a family room. Mum did let the Potter's decorator transform the room into a proper room for entertaining, and we have even had parties when a door opens between the two houses. Usually the room is decorated in a much more casual style. You can change the furniture and décor magically, which is nice, although you have to buy both the good furniture and the casual things, and hide what you do not want.
"Mum, dad, and Grandmother Granger are on the next floor, Hugo and I on the next, and mum and dad share a big office on the top floor."
"Malfoy Manor is a very uncomfortable place," Scorpius lamented when Rose paused. "I wish you could redecorate Malfoy Manor."
"It would take more than furniture and paint to change Malfoy Manor," Rose scoffed.
"It would take a loving couple with some happy children running around," Cleo suggested.
"Mum and dad are not a loving couple," Scorpius grumbled.
"The other Magi and Elf Language Learners should all be here by tomorrow evening." Albus announced, changing the subject. "The opening dance will be tomorrow, and we are all invited. We should be able to start to meet Sunday afternoon or evening. I am not sure if the Elves will be able to meet with us. There are going to be a series of very contentious meetings between the Elves and Goblins, and I am almost sure Galadriel and Thorin and their friends and family are going to be right in the middle of it."
Jane sat silently, listening, as the conversation swirled around her. Eventually, as dinner was finishing, Mrs. Granger-Weasley came over to the table. A chair was brought for her and she sat down between Jane and Mr. Potter.
"Hello, Jane. Welcome to the family. You may call me Aunt Hermione."
"Yes, mam," Jane replied.
"You need to call the aunts and uncles by their first names," Rose explained to Jane, explaining the reason why. "Otherwise there are way too many aunt or uncle Weasley."
"If you cannot have your own mother, mum Potter is a good substitute," Cleo volunteered. "She is WAY better a mum than Scorpius's mum."
The dinner broke up with Scorpius and Rose going off with Rich Hudson, Albus and Cleo talking, and Harry and Hermione reviewing some papers, deep in discussion. Ginny noticed Jane looking very lost. "Stay with me, Jane," Ginny told the overwhelmed girl. "I am going to take Minerva to our quarters, nurse her, and put her to bed. Then we can talk."
Albus told Cleo, "We need to go and talk to the prophets." Albus let his father know, then he and Cleo and their Elves left for the office where the prophets held forth.
2020