Chapter 29:
Post
Friday, June 2, 2000
"So that is all of them?" Sirius asked his fiancée and assistant, Davis. The Wizengamot was not in session today as it had debated and voted on the new sexual harassment legislation earlier this week. There were times when the debate was downright vicious, as some of the older families didn't want progress. Sirius also suspected that several of the oldest generation might find themselves in legal hot water now for behaviour that was tolerated before. After four lengthy days, and a successful voting in of the legislation, Sirius decided they all needed a break. He certainly needed a day away from many of the members of the Wizengamot.
"All four-hundred and eighty of them," Davis said. "The Ministry Post Office is going to do a mass delivery at one pm via Floo, rather than owls. They consider this post of the highest importance."
"Yes, we're right up there with Hogwarts letters on poor behaviour, immunization notices and tax bills," Junie said blandly. "Oh, we also get the same treatment as any notices about elections."
"I don't mind the company with the election notices, but really I don't want to be even considered in the same breath as tax bills. That's the sort of stuff that keeps a Chief from being re-elected."
"You were only just elected," Junie reminded him, "let's get through these ten years before we talk about another, please?" She laid a hand on his arm. "We may be in a very different place in ten years," she said with a knowing look in her eye. They had decided they wanted children together and would begin trying after they'd returned to London from their honeymoon. Junie was afraid of getting pregnant while away and needing to Portkey home through morning sickness.
"Gladly sweetheart," he said. "Do you have classes today?"
"No, I only had seventh years, and they are so stressed over NEWT's that even reviewing with them would have caused a few conniptions and perhaps a full meltdown in one or two cases. I'm going into the office for a few hours, just to be available for assistance or any questions the students might have. Then I'm going with Marley and Lily to have our final dress fittings. The girls have theirs next week. Then we're going to do some other shopping, a few summery items and a few other things for my trousseau." Sirius waggled his eyebrows at her, which caused her to giggle.
"The match is at four, so I won't be home for supper," Sirius said. Today he was going to a Quidditch match with his mates and their non-Hogwarts sons, including Harry. Much to Sirius' delight, Peter would be able to make it to the match as well.
Peter's Hogwarts memorabilia shop wasn't usually open on Fridays so he could be home with their son. He was open on Saturdays and Sundays, so he took Tuesday and Friday as his days off. Dorothy had Sundays and Thursdays off. Dorothy's parents had their boy on Monday and Peter's had him on Wednesday. His parents were thrilled to have an extra day this week, so Pete could go out with his friends.
"That's okay, Marley, Lily and I have reservations to eat supper Peckham," Junie explained. "Plus, I need to pick up your wedding gift and I need to find the perfect earrings to go with my dress and veil."
"I thought you might wear the ones I gave you," Sirius said softly, his arm sliding across her back and attaching at the hip further away from him.
"They're lovely, but they are quite delicate. Given the dress and veil, I need something with a bit more impact."
"Well, there are some of the snakes left from the old chandelier from the formal dining room I could get you," he said jokingly.
"The ones that have the sparkling eyes?"
"Those are emeralds, I'll have you know," he said in mock defence.
"Then harvest the emeralds and make me a bracelet because I am not putting dangling snakes in my ears," she said firmly. They had been joking at the size of some of the 'chandelier earrings' which were featured in the Muggle bridal magazines. They looked like they might make the bride's neck hurt by just holding her head up. "They won't be the huge dangles that you're talking about, but they will be larger than a stud. Probably something like a pearl drop; tasteful and elegant."
"Just like you," Sirius said. He went to kiss Junie, when Davis cleared his throat.
"If it pleases you both, I'll head to the Ministry now with these and get them sent?"
"Go ahead, Davis, and thank you for all your help this week. I know I kept you here at strange hours to ensure they were ready for me to address," Junie said kindly.
"I'm happy to be able to help with something so special, ma'am," he replied and then shrunk the crates so he could carry them, and Flooed to the Ministry.
"Maybe you'll get a chance to speak with Peter today? If all of you are there you might get him to tell you what's bothering him," Junie suggested.
"I hope so," Sirius said. "We're worried about him. It's not like Pete to be so absent and silent. He was noticeably quiet when he was at the Ministry this week. He wouldn't even tell James and I why he was at Ministry in the first place."
"That's odd, even for Peter," Junie said. While Junie could say she knew Peter since her school days, she wouldn't say she was friends with him. Of all the Marauders, he was by far the shiest and the quietest. Prior to her relationship with Sirius, she would have admitted she knew Remus and James the best. While in school, she was in the same study group with Remus – the others being Lily and Marley. She became close with James through Lily, but also when she started working with him and the years she was his legal assistant allowed them to build a strong friendship. Then her relationship with Sirius blossomed this year. But Peter was just someone she saw around and at family events. He wasn't someone she'd go out of her way to speak to at functions, and while Dorothy was sweet, she was as reticent as her husband. "I feel badly they didn't want to participate in the wedding," Junie admitted.
"So, do I, but Peter was sincere when he begged off, and I believe him when he says it's not about any hard feelings or ill will," Sirius explained. "To change the subject, Minsey would like us in the kitchen to sample some cakes. She's anxious to know what flavour we like, then you and she can decide on the decorations."
"Well, after what she created for Rosie, I have no doubt it will be gorgeous," Junie said, and the pair went down to try out a surprising array cakes, different fillings, and a several versions of what appeared to be white icing. In the end, the couple decided to shy away from tradition and not have fruitcake, which pleased Sirius to no end as he wasn't a fan. Their cake would white but have the flavour of lemon. It would be filled with an Italian meringue icing that had just a touch of raspberry essence and the outside would be frosted with a more traditional buttercream. True to her word, Junie didn't care what Minsey did for the outside, she trusted it would be lovely. Junie did leave her with a list of the flowers she was carrying in her bouquet.
That afternoon, Junie sat in her office, waiting to see if anyone showed for some extra help. She wasn't surprised when Rosie came in and flopped down on her sofa.
"Shouldn't you be in Ancient Runes?" Junie asked. She knew the schedules of her niece and nephews.
"Normally, yes, but the seventh years in the class are having a review for their NEWT, and since I'm not taking mine for a year, I chose to bail," Rosie explained.
"Why not in the common room?"
"Miles," Rosie answered, which didn't surprise Junie.
"Ah, are things still bad?"
"I wouldn't call them bad," Rosie admitted, "just strained. He talked with his parents and they reminded him that we'd both been warned about getting serious with anyone in our sixth year, but we thought we knew better. We hope we can be friends someday, like Sirius is with Marley and Remus."
"Well, that took a lot of work, and Remus and Sirius were already remarkably close mates when it happened. Miles and Fred don't even know each other. While it's a nice sentiment and goal, don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen. Have you spoken with Fred at all?"
"We haven't talked," Rosie said, her hand going to the bracelet Fred had sent for her birthday. Junie was happy to see it on her arm, "but we've written every day and he sent me roses for my room on Monday morning. Two dozen colour changing ones. They've been a beautiful pink nearly the whole time."
"Dark pink or light pink?"
"Light, why?"
"Then you must be joyful about the giver," Junie said. "That's what a pale pink rose means. Deep pink would signify gratitude. Red is love; yellow is friendship. If they turn lavender, then it's love at first sight or he holds you above all others, like royalty."
"How do you know all this stuff?" Rosie asked.
"I spent a week immersing myself in it so that I knew the meaning of the flowers I my wedding bouquet." Rosie nodded, and was then surprised by a letter flying out of Junie's office Floo and into her hands.
"What is this? Why am I getting Floo mail here?"
Junie looked up at the clock, and saw it was just after one. "Why don't you open it?" she suggested. Rosie flipped it over and squealed when she saw her uncle's family crest in the wax.
"It's your wedding invitation," she said with giddy laughter. Rosie opened the elegantly folded parchment and read the enclosed invitation card. "Do I really need to send this back to your house via owl post, or can I just give you my response card now?"
"You may hand it to me," Junie said happily. Rosie stood, picked up a Biro off her godmother's desk and checked attending and with her plus one. "Was Fred invited with his family?"
"The Weasley's invitation was for anyone still living at home, which I think is only Ron, so no, I included him as your plus one."
"I'll send him a note and ask him to accompany me, which of course he will. He's so polite and kind, Auntie Junie." Junie came to sit with her goddaughter on the sofa and reached for her hand. "When I had to say goodbye on Sunday night, Dad let me stay right until curfew before he sent me in the Floo to Professor McGonagall, it was hard. We had sat and talked for a long time, and he kissed me again and it was as wonderful as the first time. He's going to come into Hogsmeade tomorrow, and Mum gave permission so I can go into town to meet him. It'll be nice to have some alone time where we aren't being watched by people at school or by my parents."
"I know what you mean," Junie said honestly. "Sirius and I craved time together. We knew so much superfluous information about each other, but nothing deeper and I wanted to know everything. As a professor I need to remind you not to the leave the village, regardless of how tempting it might be."
"I won't," Rosie said. "The last thing I need is detention to finish this year or start my seventh year with. How am I going to do the long-distance thing next year?"
"The same way Harry and Ginny did last year. Harry came up on weekends, they Flooed each other when they could, and they wrote. You will do what hundreds of couples before you have done and survived."
"Wait, we only have a year and a day and then we need to make the relationship permanent. I don't want to be planning a wedding and preparing for my NEWT's! Ginny was crazy last year."
"Well, I wouldn't recommend it. Ginny might be exceptionally bright and excelled in her coursework, but she also had Hermione and her mother doing most of the leg work for the wedding. Holding it at the Potter mansion made life easier, as they took most of the first floor over with planning needs. If you and Fred have made a commitment to each other, The Source will be happy. Perhaps that will be an engagement, perhaps only a promise to care for each other and grow together. Time will tell what it will be."
"Would you be surprised if I told you I think I want to marry him already?"
"No, I wouldn't be. It seems to me The Source does well in matching us, and then the chemistry of falling for someone does the rest." Rosie launched into a monologue about how wonderful Fred was, and Junie was happy to sit and listen. It was fun to be around someone else who was in the blushes of new love.
Because it was Sirius and James arranging the Quidditch afternoon for their friends and sons, and because they were seeing the two worst teams in the League playing each other, they rented a box for everyone. James' beloved Tutshill Tornadoes were having a wretched season and today they were playing the perpetually terrible Chudley Cannons. Harry had brought Ron along, as it was his favourite team and Ron had taken the afternoon off from his job with the Department of Magical Games and Sports.
"This is amazing, Harry," Ron said as they entered. "Thanks for inviting me."
"Thank my dad, this was his idea," Harry said. "I can't believe I'm here. If my team finds out –"
"Bit of flack?" Ron interrupted.
"No, more like downright hazing. The last time I was spotted at a different team's match – and it was the Harpies, and they know my wife plays for them – I spent a week banishing broom oil out of my shoes or hair dye in my shampoo. Fortunately, being friends with Fred and George and their pranking made me suspicious of everything. Their pranking before the wedding was epic. Thankfully, I doubt the press will be covering this match."
"Well, I'm hoping the Cannons win. The Tornadoes are just awful this year."
"Don't say that to dad. He's still heartbroken I didn't join them."
"Why did you pick the Wasps over them?"
"I wanted to make it to the finals, and the Wasps offered twenty percent more," Harry answered.
"Why did you care?"
"Look, I might not need to make money, but I didn't want to live off my family money. The less I use, the more there will be for others. I also promised Ginny we'd take care of your parents in their dotage."
"Wow, that's…you're a good man, Harry Potter."
"Here, here!" James said when he heard Ron's proclamation. "Come on you two, there's plenty to eat." It was true. The men had sprung for the full buffet, since the game was starting at teatime and could go on for hours. Remus and Peter arrived with Remus' younger son, George. The boy and Eddie Potter immediately latched onto each other and began filling their plates and then claimed two of the comfortable loungers in the front row. Harry was thankful there was a small sofa in the back of the box where he wouldn't be seen, and he could still see enough of the match.
About an hour in, the Cannons were in the lead, but neither Seeker had seen the Snitch yet. Harry had found it within twenty minutes and had never lost sight of it since. He couldn't wait to play either of the teams, it should be an easy win since both teams had a blind Seeker. Harry saw Sirius, Remus and Peter sitting at the table, their heads closely together. He wondered what was so important that all three had abandoned the match. His uncles were all Quidditch crazy.
"Peter, we care. Please tell us what's going on," Remus said. Peter was downright sullen when he'd been picked up and he wasn't interested in the game at all.
"Peter, we know it must be serious, since you don't want to be in my wedding. Please, tell us what's going on," Sirius pleaded. "Are you sick? Is Dorothy or little Pete?"
"No, it's not that," Peter said hesitantly. "It's really two things and they're related. Dorothy is pregnant again."
"Pete, that's great," Remus said. "We all knew you wanted more children." He patted his friend on the back while Sirius shook his hand and offered his congratulations. "You don't look like you're happy about it."
"It just happened at a tough time. Gringotts called in my loan on the business, and we gave them everything we had to pay off the loan. All the gold I'd saved to expand the shop with, our personal savings, even the fund we'd started for little Pete for his schooling. We are quite broke," Pete said, his eyes filling with tears.
"Why didn't you come to me, or to James, we could have helped you out," Sirius said.
"I didn't want to ask a friend for gold," Peter said. "It can ruin a friendship."
"Look, let me help, we can draw up a contract if it makes you feel better about it," Sirius suggested. "There is no reason you shouldn't expand the shop; I've been in there enough and you're stuffed in there. Plus, I don't want you to worry about your family. Come home with me, we can get this taken care of and have the gold transferred immediately."
"I don't know what to say. Thank you," Pete said.
"Is this why you didn't want to be in the wedding?"
"Well, for me, yes I. We can't afford for me to get new robes. Dorothy is having a tough time with the morning sickness, and since you're being married at eleven, and only in a month, she wasn't sure she wouldn't still be ill," Pete explained.
"Ah, well, Junie will understand that explanation. I still want you to stand up with me, the numbers don't need to be even," Sirius said, and Remus made a face. "What?"
"I wouldn't make that assumption," Remus said and the other two laughed at the bridegroom.