Ginny's last flying lesson of the week is with the first year Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. It's their first class ever, which means this is the first time Ginny's going to be teaching Lily. She's been looking forward to it all week. She looks around, once she's at the Quidditch pitch, waiting for her students. She's missed it here. Some of her best memories at Hogwarts have been out on the pitch. She gives herself a moment to give into the nostalgia, to think about being on the Quidditch team with Harry, on her fifth year. Being Seeker her fourth year. Being made Quidditch Captain her final year. Harry, visiting to see her team win the Quidditch Cup. Her smile only grows wider when she sees Lily, who's running up to her with Lorcan and Hugo in tow, practically tripping over her robes in her eagerness.
"Lils!" Ginny says.
"Mum!" Lily says, and hugs Ginny tightly. "We came here early to see you. I can't believe you're the one teaching us flying!"
"It's quite exciting, Aunt Ginny," Hugo says. "I mean, Coach Ginny. Coach Potter. Sorry, I don't know what I'm meant to call you."
Ginny gives her nephew a fond look. "Call me whatever you want, Hugo. I don't mind. How's your first proper week of school been, you lot?"
"It's been fun," Lily says, letting go of Ginny. "We had Charms in the morning. I love Professor Flitwick, he's so cool. Well, not Hugo, he had— what did you have, Hugo?"
"Transfiguration," Hugo says.
"He had Transfiguration," Lily says. "But me and Lorcan had Charms, with the other Slytherins."
"And," Ginny asks delicately, "how are the other Slytherins doing?" She looks from Lily to Lorcan.
Lorcan shrugs. "They're… nice."
Ginny raises an eyebrow.
"They are!" Lily says. "The ones in our year, anyway. We're all making friends. There are only four girl in my year, and none of them are too bad."
"The boys aren't too bad, either," Lorcan says.
"I'm glad to hear it," Ginny says. She knows they're way back House prejudices now, but she does worry about the Slytherins sometime. She doesn't think she can help it.
What about the older ones, are they giving you any trouble?" she asks.
"The older ones are staying out of our way. I think they're scared of Lily," Lorcan says.
"Can't blame them," Hugo mutters. "I'm a bit scared of you too, Lils, even though you're my best friend."
"Good," Lily says, and crosses her arms. "I'm very scary. I should know, I worked hard on it!"
Ginny shakes her head, but smiles. "Remind me to teach you the Bat-Bogey Hex later on. If they're going to be scared, they may as well have a reason to be," she says with a wink.
"Honestly, Mrs. Potter," Lorcan says, "you are so cool."
Ginny winks at Lorcan. "Alright, you three didn't hear it from me, but I saved three of the least bad brooms for you," she says, and points out the three Cleansweeps in the corner.
Lily grins, and tugs Hugo and Lorcan along with her to the brooms.
Ginny waits for everyone to arrive, which takes another five minutes, and then clears her throat. "Alright, everyone," she calls out, gratified when everyone fixes her with their complete attention. "Welcome to your first official flying lesson. We're going to keep it simple today. We'll learn how to mount a broom, maybe hover for a few minutes if you're lucky, and then I'm going to take you through some very basic training exercises that will help you keep your balance and make sure your stamina's good for when you're airborne. The last thing you need when you're flying is to lose your breath or balance. That's the plan for today. Any questions?"
A Slytherin girl who's standing next to Lorcan raises her hand immediately. "Yes! Is it true that you fought Voldemort?"
Ginny blinks, confused. "I mean… not really. Not directly. I like to think I helped, though. I really meant more flying-related questions, though…"
"Oh! Didn't you play for England? And for the Holyhead Harpies?" asks a Hufflepuff with eager eyes.
"That one is true, yes," Ginny says. "For five years or so, right after I finished school."
"And is it true Gwenog Jones said you're the best Chaser she ever had on her team?" asks a boy, another Hufflepuff.
Ginny snorts at that, but she can't hold back her smile. "Did she say that? She must've been in a good mood, then. Alright, everyone, we're going to start. I want everyone to hold their right hand over their broom, and say 'up', as clearly as you can. Really show the broom that you want it, you know? Let's get started."
An hour later, every single student – even the ones who'd never seen a broom before in their lives – have managed to ride a broom and stay aloft for a few minutes. She's also gotten everyone through a round of exercises and warm-ups that would make Gwenog Jones proud. Not to mention, everyone seems happy and excited, so it's been a good lesson, Ginny thinks.
Much to Ginny's surprise, Lily hangs back after the class is over. So do Lorcan and Hugo. "Come on, Mum," Lily says, and tugs Ginny along with her. "We're going to be late."
"Late for what?" Ginny says.
"Didn't you tell her?" Hugo asks Lily.
"I've been busy, Hugo," Lily says, using her free hand to toss her hair over her shoulder.
"Is Jamie bringing Lysander?" Lorcan asks.
"No, Al and Rosie will," Lily says confidently. "Jamie's bringing Roxanne."
"What about Freddie? He's coming too, isn't he?" Hugo asks.
"Coming where?" Ginny asks.
"I think so," Lily says, ignoring Ginny. "Come on, Mum."
Ginny considers, and then shrugs, deciding to give in and see what Lily has planned. All the years raising her children has taught her to go with the flow at times like these. "Lead the way, then," she says.
She follows the three of them into the castle and then – to her surprise – up to the third floor and to the quarters where she and Harry are staying.
"Here we are," Lily says cheerfully, once she's opened the door.
Harry's sitting on the sofa, looking bemused. Next to him are Albus Scorpius and Rose, and Lysander, who stands up and rushes to join Lorcan.
Once Lily lets go of Ginny's arm, Ginny goes to sit down next to Albus, and ruffles his hair. "What are you doing here?" she asks.
"James found us during break and told us to come here right after our classes got over," Albus says, and shrugs.
"We find it's best not to question him too much," Scorpius says seriously.
"That's fair," Ginny agrees. "First week going alright, then?"
Albus nods. "McGonagall transformed into her Animagus form during Transfiguration today."
"And Professor Potter showed us his Patronus," Scorpius pipes up.
"He does like to show that off," Ginny says, and leans over to kiss Harry's cheek. "Hi," she says softly.
"Hi," Harry echoes, smiling at her. "Any idea what's going on?"
"None at all," Ginny says cheerfully.
"Dad," Lily says. "We're going to need some more places to sit."
"We are, are we?" Harry says, but waves his wand, and Lily, Hugo, Lorcan and Lysander settle down on the floor cushions he's conjured up.
The door bangs open, and Jamie and Freddie swagger in, followed by Roxanne. "Oh," Jamie says, "Good. Everyone's here. We can get started."
"I'm glad we're the last ones here. It's nice to make an entrance, isn't it?" Freddie says, and waves at Harry and Ginny. "Hi, Uncle Professor and Aunt Coach. Roxie, take a seat."
Roxanne promptly goes to sit down with Lily and the others, and Freddie closes the door firmly behind them.
"Now that everyone's here," Jamie says, taking a moment to survey everyone before he continues. "The first meeting of Potter's Army can come to order."
"I'm sorry," Harry says, "did you say Potter's Army?"
He's had a long day; a long week, really. He's enjoying teaching a surprising amount, but it's exhausting. He'd been looking forward to coming back after his last class of the day and maybe having a tiny nap before dinner, but he'd just about gotten back to their quarters when Albus, Scorpius, Rose and Lysander had showed up, making themselves comfortable without providing Harry with any explanation as to why they're there.
Jamie nods, looking every inch like his grandfather and namesake. "I did."
"So what's this all about?" Harry says.
"Well," Jamie says, "you started a club when you were fifteen, didn't you? I'm just following in your footsteps."
"Hopefully with less battling Voldemort," Freddie puts in, "we're not too keen on that part."
"I don't think Potter's Army is a very good name," Albus says thoughtfully.
Lysander raises a hand. "I'm confused," he says when Jamie looks at him. "Which Potters are we fighting for?"
"We're not fighting for any Potter," Jamie says patiently.
"Why's it called Potter's Army, then?" Scorpius asks.
"Well," Jamie says, "because we, the Potters –"
"And Weasleys," Freddie says.
"And Weasleys—"
"And the friends of Potters and Weasleys."
"Yes, and them," Jamie agrees. "We, the Potters and Weasleys our friends, are going to defend Hogwarts. And fight whoever threatens us. Hence: Potter's Army."
"How are we going to do that?" Roxanne asks.
"Excellent question, cousin," Jamie says. "We're going to solve the Dementor problem. Between us, we have people in all four Houses, plus two Professors—well, one Professor and a flying instructor—"
"Thanks for that, Jamie," Ginny mutters. Harry grins at her.
"So," Jamie continues smoothly, "we're going to keep an eye out. Report anything suspicious. Meet when we can. Practice Defence magic, so that we're never caught unawares."
Harry looks at Jamie, and wonders if he's ever considered being an Auror.
"Does that mean I'm an official friend of the Potters, then?" Scorpius asks.
"Of course you are," Al says before Jamie can say anything. He shifts a bit closer to Scorpius's side. "Right?" he looks at the others, as if daring them to disagree.
"Right," Harry says.
"And I came up with it," Jamie says. "Well, me and Freddie, but I thought of it first, which is why it's Potter's Army and not Weasley's Army."
"Jamie, I really don't know if I like the idea of all of you investigating… you're still young, and it could be dangerous."
Jamie levels him with his best unimpressed look. "Dad," he says, "come on."
"How can you say that, after everything you got up to in school?" Lily demands.
"You battled a dragon when you were not much older than I am," Albus says.
"You did? You have to tell us that story sometime, Mr. Potter," Scorpius says.
"Not to mention, you fought Voldemort about a thousand times," Roxanne says.
"That was… a different time," Harry says, but it sounds weak to his own ears.
"Surely if it's a different time, then it's less dangerous for us to investigate than it was when you did it," Rose says, with impeccable Ravenclaw logic.
Ginny straightens up. "Alright, fine. Potter's Army. But not in the grounds in the evenings by yourself, and no being stupid just for the chance at bravery."
Jamie looks at Freddie, who nods. "We agree to those terms," he says.
"And," Harry says, "if you get into too much trouble, then neither of us will shield you from McGonagall's anger." He's pleased to see everyone look a bit scared at that. "And are we sure about the name?" he adds.
"Harry Potter's Defence League?" Freddie suggests immediately.
"The Chosen One's chosen ones?" Jamie says without missing a beat.
"The Boy Who Lived to Have a Defence Club?" Freddie says.
"The—"
"That's enough," Harry says, shaking his head. Next to him, Ginny's biting back a smile.
"I like Potter's Army," Lorcan puts in from where he's sitting next to Lily.
"Me too," Albus says with a little smile.
"Me too," Lily says with an air of finality. Harry sighs; he knows he's lost the battle when all three of his children agree on something
"Fine," he says. "Potter's Army it is, then."