Ch 13 Guests Arrive, and Leave
More great inspiration from Deb and Diane.
Saturday June fifth, Twenty-Twenty-One, the Potter and the Granger-Weasley families moved to Potter's New Burrow.
Monday June seventh Ginny and Rose met Percy as he came through the Floo.
"Welcome to our summer home," Ginny told the young Magi. "There are an unusual number of Magi joining other Quidditch teams, and I am going to be busy most of the week in interviews. Mitzi and I are going to be going back to Grimmauld Place to pick up an Auror guard. I will be back for dinner.
"Meanwhile, Rose, show Percy the property. Make sure he knows where the boundaries of the property are. You are reasonably free as long as you stay in safe space.
"Grandmother Molly expects you for lunch, and of course she is planning a big family dinner."
"Thank you, Aunt Ginny," Rose replied.
Ginny and Mitzi disappeared through the Floo to 'twelve Grimmauld Place.'
"Potter's New Burrow?" Percy wondered. "Do your aunt and uncle own this house?"
"No one will talk to us about who owns what," Rose grumbled. "I know that Uncle Harry is immensely rich, and he never acts like it. Many people share in the ownership of much of what he owns, but that generosity seems to only have made him richer."
"Including your parents?" Percy asked a little too eagerly.
"Yea, I guess," Rose pondered. "I have really not thought much about it. Our parents seldom talk about finances when we are around, but once in a while they talk about business.
"I know Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is very profitable, and that Uncle Harry had something to do with it, but that is all. My father is one of the partners. He and my mother argue a little about not being poor, because he was poor growing up, and I think my father still feels poor some times.
"We are not rich like; it is not like we are just given things. We have all had to transplant magical plants to make money. All of our parents have made it very clear that no matter how much money there is, we are not going to be allowed not to work."
Rose pointed out the kitchen and formal dining area. "There are two big houses that are part of this complex, the New Burrow and Potter's New Burrow. They are more or less mirror images. This is the kitchen and eating area, and over there is a formal dining room. They are usually open to each other, but you can close them off for a moderately sized formal dinner if you want, or so two families or groups can eat at the same time."
They walked through the downstairs, and then up the big main staircase. Rose opened a door, and told Percy, "Put your luggage in here. You are going to have your own room this week. Some of the cousins that stayed here in the summer are not going to be living here this summer."
"Who?" Percy asked.
Rose thought, and went through a list in her head.
"Victoire is staying at home, and working as a healer. Her brother Louis is also at home, and working at Dursley, Potter and Weasley LTD. I think he is also taking Muggle business classes, so he is very busy this summer. Their sister Dominique just married a French winemaker, and she is living in France and working in the winery. That is all of Uncle Bill's family.
"Molly Weasley is married to Rich Hudson. They are living with Rich's parents, in the apartment that the Hudson's build for her parents. I'm not sure if both of Mrs. Hudson's parents, Molly's grandparents-in-law I guess, are dead or if one of them is in a care home, but the apartment was free. It is on this property. They have a son, Kyle, who must be two, and she is expecting a daughter next month. I think she is busy taking care of little children, including her own.
"Molly's sister Lucy is rather at loose ends. I am not sure what if anything she is doing.
"Fred Weasley is married to a witch from Africa, and they have a son. The last I heard they were living above the Diagon Alley store, but in a different flat. The store is bigger than when they started it, and there is quite a bit of living space above it. I think they have added floors since I was there a couple of years ago.
"Roxanne is married to Frank Longbottom II, and they are living at Longbottom Mansion. It is not really so much of a mansion as a really big house with room for a number of families. They have a son, Wilkie, and I think Roxanne is expecting a daughter about the same time as Molly.
"So that is all the cousins, except for the Potter cousins.
They walked out of the front door of Potter's New Burrow, turned right, and headed for The River Otter. "The river is one boundary of the property. I guess that little island is part of the property as well, but we never go there."
They took another right turn, and walked until they came to a large pond with a raft in the middle, a rowboat docked at a dock, and a large play area climbing structure with slides of various sizes, including a huge one that went into the water. There was a large sandbox with quite a selection of Muggle sand toys.
"This pond and play area is where the children gather, and everybody gathers here occasionally. It is funny seeing Uncle Harry playing with the sand toys. He was not allowed to do anything like that when he was growing up, and his cousin Uncle Dudley gives him one of these toys every year for his birthday."
"Those are the famous Harry Potter's toys?" Percy looked in disbelief.
"Well, everybody plays with them, but yes, some of them are," Rose laughed. "Uncle Harry really enjoys playing in the sand with the very little children."
They continued in the same direction, and eventually came to what was a boundary at the river. They turned right and came to a road which parallel The River Otter before turning ninety degrees and heading away from the river.
"On this side of the road is the Potter Estate property," Rose pointed out. "Across the road is Longbottom property. It is all under the same or similar wards, but we are not allowed to walk in the road or cross it without permission. The grain next to the road is all that Muggles see, usually."
The road came to a T, and again they turned right. Eventually they came to a farm market across the street, and the road leading into the Potter Estates Complex. It seemed to be a busy working farm. They had taken their time walking the property, and it was almost time for lunch.
"This is Grandmother and Grandfather Weasley's house," Rose pointed out, as they stood in front of the moderately imposing structure. "I think grandmum collects people. On the third floor you have Uncle Charlie and his two caregivers, Caroline and Pippa. Pippa has a very young daughter, Maria, who is just over three months old. Teddy Lupin has a small suite of rooms on the second floor, although he is off on some sort of assignment right now. Teddys grandmother has a flat on the ground floor."
They entered the house and went back to the kitchen, where Molly Weasley was taking bread out of an oven. Molly put the bread down, opened her arms, and Rose when into them for the obligatory hug. Rose looked down at her short grandmother and said, 'Good morning grandmum, did Scorpius get here yet?
Percy winced.
Molly sighed. "Scorpius's grandmother was over here this morning. There seems to be one continuing argument going on over there. He will be here for dinner, I expect."
"Do you know if Cassie is going to be with him?" Rose grumbled.
"I think that is part of the argument," Rose's grandmother commiserated.
Albus and Cleo came in through the Closet, followed by Mary (Middy) Edington, who was wearing a small baby in a carrier on her front.
"Is that a magical Closet?" Percy wondered.
"Yes, it is easier than a Floo," Albus replied.
"Where were you?" Rose wondered.
"There were a large number of relatives of students who wanted soap, shampoo, or perfume," Cleo excitedly explained. "Mary has just opened her shop to do the spells to examine people and make the scents, and we were working with her at Grimmauld Place to help her get started. We are going back to Grimmauld Place to examine more people this afternoon, and then we will make the scents tomorrow.
"The Middy family owns or rents quite a bit of space right behind Diagon Alley," Mary added. "I have a little shop next to the child care area, and people will pick up their scents from me the end of the week."
"Well, sit down, all of you," Molly told the young people. "I have soup to start lunch, and then you can make yourself sandwiches." Molly pointed out a counter with several types of bread and an array of toppings, and the crowd enjoyed another one of Molly Weasley's delicious meals.
After lunch Rose took Percy over more of the property, including the greenhouses and orchard, and the barns with farm equipment. They eventually retired to the play area to swing on some swings and just kill time.
Just before dinner Rose came back to the New Burrow with Percy. Scorpius and Cassie were just coming in through the Floo. Hugo was back, but as he said, "The store is busy, and dad is going to be working until close today."
"At least as a shopkeeper Ron is home every night, even if it is late at times," Hermione reflected.
Ginny and Mitzi came through the Floo from somewhere, Ginny shaking her head. "The Canons hire some of the strangest Magi," she wondered. "Players well past their prime, that they can pay very little for, or expensive but impossible to manage ones that other teams will not touch. Oh well, it will make a good column or three in the Prophet."
Harry Potter came via the Closet, and then James, Lily, and Andromeda Tonks appeared from somewhere. Last of all Albus and Cleopatra appeared, a little rushed.
"Charlie is having a bad day," Molly admitted, hands out explaining it. "He and the girls are eating upstairs."
After dinner Hermione gave Rose a scroll. "I cannot read this, but perhaps you two can," she thought, looking at Rose and Scorpius. "I think it has to do with Goblins and wands, but the language is hard to translate. You have had much more time examining old writing than I have."
Rose rolled out the scroll, and she and Scorpius started to read. "This could be important, Scorpius, mum!" she exclaimed.
"I will get my tablet out," Scorpius volunteered, taking out a moderately sized tablet in a case with a keyboard. "I need to charge it. Stupid Malfoy Manor doesn't have any electricity."
Rose summoned an extension cord, and they plugged in the tablet. Rose and Scorpius immediately went to work on the translation.
Percy and Cassie started to talk, and they eventually moved to the living room to escape the translation activity.
Molly Weasley sat in her comfortable chair in the little sitting area between their bedroom complex and the kitchen, picked up her knitting, and watched all the children. Rose and Scorpius were just natural together.
"I wish I could get rid of Cassie, and the sooner the better," Scorpius complained to Albus as the boys went to bed.
Albus did not say anything.
"It was fun this evening, working on the scroll," Rose beamed, smiling at Cleo. Her smile turned into a frown. "It was more fun than showing Percy around the property, actually. Scorpius and I are going to work on the scroll tomorrow morning." She sighed. "I suppose we are going to have to pay attention to Percy and that" Rose paused, "and that silly?" she paused again. Talking about Scorpius and Cassie was hard. "Cassie tomorrow afternoon."
Cleo didn't say anything.
The next morning after breakfast Rose announced, "Scorpius and I are going to try to finish up on this scroll this morning. Percy, Cassie, can you entertain yourself this morning?"
Percy nodded that he could. Cassie did not look happy, but she agreed.
It was very early in the afternoon. The work on the scroll was finally as finished as it could be without getting more help, and Rose and Scorpius wondered where Cassie and Percy were. They showed up for lunch, but when it was obvious that Rose and Scorpius were not through they disappeared again.
Scorpius wondered, "Where are Cassie and Percy?"
Rose snapped, "You want to eat her face again?"
Scorpius countered, "I have not snogged her since they made me spend Easter break with her.
"You want to sit awkwardly across from Percy trying to make small talk?"
Rose sighed, "At least I am not gross. They are here as our guests. We had better find them."
Rose had a map, and saw that the two of them were in the bedroom Percy was staying in. A furious Rose marched upstairs, with Scorpius following, and finding the door locked she unlocked it.
Percy had nothing on but his boxers, and it looked like they were coming off soon. Cassie had nothing on but her knickers, and when the door was opened the two were feeling each other under their clothes.
Rose yelled, "Percival Frobisher, GET OUT. If you do not have the common decency to behave in my house GET OUT. WE ARE THROUGH. I will find another dance partner. You can go whoring around with Cassie or some other girl, but not with me."
Percy snapped, "The ice queen doesn't want to do it, but gets mad when I get it from somewhere else. Go spend your time with MALFOY, then. Good bye."
Percy started to put his clothes back on.
Scorpius insisted, "Cassie, you had better go as well. I am not eager to bed you, and I think we should stop seeing each other."
Cassie muttered, "Good luck bedding the Ice Queen. She thinks kissing and sex and all that is unsanitary and icky. At least someone will want to marry a Malfoy, eventually."
Scorpius growled, "I will see the two of you to the Floo."
Percy muttered to Rose, as he was leaving the room, "Ice Queen. You may be good at classes, but you are a terrible kisser, and you are not much of a dancer either."
Rose ran out of the room and over to her own bedroom, the one she was sharing with Lily Luna and Cleo.
Scorpius told Cassie and Percy, "Please come with me to the Floo in the New Burrow."
Grandmother Molly was in the kitchen, as usual. Scorpius told her, "Percy and Cassie need to leave!"
"Why?" Molly wondered.
"Rose and I caught them in what could delicately be called a comprising position, doing what I refuse to do to Cassie and Rose doesn't want to do with Percy."
Molly looked at Scorpius hard, then at Percy and Cassie.
"Mostly undressed," Scorpius added.
Molly's face turned hard. "I need your parents' mobile numbers, if you have them, or the name of your Floo if you do not."
Neither of the students' parents had a mobile, but they gave her the name of the Floo connections.
"You may call your parents and tell them you need to be picked up," Molly added. "I do not think you want me to call!"
Molly was beginning to become visibly upset.
Percy called his mother, and she told him that he could come right home.
"I need to pick up a few things, and then I will be home," Percy told his mother. He ran back to the room where he was staying, packed his belongings, and went back to the kitchen of the New Burrow.
Meanwhile, Cassie's mother told Cassie that she was going to take the car to pick her up, and confirmed the address. "I will be there in about three hours," Mrs. Starkey told her daughter.
Molly called Ginny, and told her what had happened. Ginny was in her office at Grimmauld Place, but she immediately stopped what she was doing and stomped over to the New Burrow.
Before Ginny could arrive Percy was gone.
Once arriving at the New Burrow, Ginny remembered Cassie's mother's dismissive remarks about their Plebian house, and vented "again" at her mother, before leaving for Potter's New Burrow with Cassie.
After they left, Grandmother Molly wondered, "What happened, Scorpius?"
Scorpius explained, "Rose and I caught Percy and Cassie snogging. I think they were close to shagging. Cassie has said she was more than willing to have sex with me, but I don't want that! With her, I mean. Or right now. I want to wait until I am married.
"Rose is in her bedroom, bawling. I wish I knew what to do to help her."
Molly advised, "Be patient, with her, and with yourself. Have you asked her?"
Scorpius looked concerned. "I really like Rose. She is my best friend, and I would like to be more than friends, but I have been terrified that if I asked all I would do is ruin a good friendship."
"Nonsense!" Molly scoffed. "You two would make an ideal pair. Everyone in the family likes you, Scorpius, and you would be ideal for Rose."
Scorpius went up to the bedroom Rose was staying in, and knocked on the door. "Rose?" he inquired.
"Go away, Scorpius. Go read a book, find something to do. I'm just going to be alone, the one thing I am good at."
"I like being with you, Rose," Scorpius pleaded.
But Rose answered, "Go away. Go away. I don't need anyone hanging on me."
Scorpius stood at the doorway to Rose's bedroom for some time, not saying anything, just looking at her, as she glared back at him. Finally, Scorpius suggested, "Physical beauty is a rather shallow reason to fall in love with someone, but you really are pretty, Rose."
"Go AWAY, Scorpius," Rose snapped. "You don't decide to do these … it's not a project, like, … forget it."
It only took minutes for everyone in the New Burrow complex to hear about the snotty Mrs. Starkey. Scorpius would explain to anyone who asked that the Starkey family had an old refurbished limousine, and a modest manor smaller than Malfoy Manor but larger than Grimmauld Place. A small army of people decided to show this Mrs. Starkey just how wealthy the Potter/Weasley families were.
The store had a sign above it that said;
Potter Weasley Longbottom Farm Market.
The sign was magically changed to read
Potter
Weasley Longbottom Farm Market
The entrance to the Potter property and the houses was across the road from the farm market. There was a sign at the entrance that was magically changed as needed, directing people to the houses if you were expecting guests. Often it was blank. It was changed to read Potter Estate Farms.
The farm managers moved all the tractors and lorries to the grass lining the road. There were eight tractors of various sizes, one that was huge. There were several lorries, and one very large combine with a very wide harvesting head on it. Normally the only name on the farm equipment was John Deere, but they magically added Potter Estate Farms to the side of the equipment.
The New Burrow was the first of the houses you would see when you drove past the two farmhouses, various outbuildings and greenhouses, and all the equipment. Someone added what looked like a wall and windows between the New Burrow and Potter's New Burrow, making it look like the two large houses were really one enormous house.
On the circular driveway in front of the New Burrow people had parked cars. The first one was a red E type Jaguar, one of the most beautiful cars ever made. It was being restored by one of the wizards living in the little subdivision, and although it did not run, Mrs. Starkey would not know that. The old Range Rover that Harry had procured for his father-in-law was next, the magically added two doors and middle section, that was hidden from Muggles, very visible. Next to that was the six door Auror Range Rover that the Aurors and DMLE staff that guarded the property used. Sirius's motorcycle was wheeled out and parked in front, and following that was a really old and magnificent Rolls Royce limo with DPW LTD on the side. Bill Weasley occasionally used it to impress potential customers or suppliers. Seeing what was going on, all but the last parking space in front of the New Burrow was filled with automobiles.
Ginny watched as Cassie packed, and had her come down and wait with her and her mother as they waited, unaware of all the activity going on outside. Eventually they were notified that Mrs. Starkey's car was coming.
The one Starkey Magi employee drove the limo down the road that ran parallel to The River Otter. It turned, and she could see a rambling farmhouse, almost a mansion, with another smaller house and a wealth of greenhouses, on one side of the road. The sign in front said Longbottom. This was not it. The road turned again, and they came across a moderate sized farm marked. She looked at the sign. Potter! They turned into the road. They were stopped by two Aurors, who demanded to inspect the car. She and the driver were given containers for their wands, and told they needed to keep their wands in the containers until they left the property.
She looked at this large gathering of green farm equipment. She did not know what it was worth, but there were obviously many Galleons worth of equipment there. She saw the sign, and sniffed. Potter Estate Farms!
Ginny took Cassie out the front door of the New Burrow, glanced at the cars parked there, and then at the farm equipment. People were obviously showing off for her. She began to grin. This was going to be fun.
The old limousine parked at the end of the row of cars, suddenly not looking all that imposing. The driver opened the door for her, and Mrs. Starkey stepped out. Ginny stood at the front door; she was not going to go out to meet this unpleasant lady, but make her come to Ginny.
Mrs. Starkey looked up at the New Burrow, three floors for Magi and two floors for Elves. She had to wonder how many house elves, or Elves, the Potter's owned. She did not know what to make of this fleet of cars.
Mrs. Starkey walked up to the front of this large structure. "Are these all yours?" she wondered, looking at the small fleet of cars.
"Who owns what is none of your business!" Ginny snapped.
Mitzi, Ginny's constant Elf companion, looked at a large ring on her finger. "Potters extremely rich! My mate a finance Elf, finance means moneys, because so many Elf and so much moneys, so many businesses in so many countries."
Mrs. Starkey looked up at the two smaller stories above the three higher stories on the New Burrow.
A small six wheeled vehicle, also a John Deerewith Potter Estate Farms on the side, drove up, and the red-headed driver waved, "Hi, boss lady."
"You are riding with the farm boss," Ginny replied. Turning to the Elf riding with him, Ginny sprightly greeted her. "How are you, Sojourner, boss lady Elf?"
"If the crops keep growing like they are, this should be your best year ever," she replied. "Mr. Longbottom has a way with plants, and he and I still consult regularly. Your children will have plenty of opportunity to help transplant this summer.
"I have a new sweet red pepper for you to try."
Sojourner reached into the back of the little vehicle, and handed Ginny, Cassie and Mrs. Starkey beautiful looking sweet red peppers. Ginny bit into hers, smiled, and commented, "These are very good."
Mrs. Starkey looked at the red item in her hand like it was the poison apple of Sleeping Beauty fame, before gingerly handing it back. It just did not seem very high class eating a pepper like an apple. Cassie looked at her mother and reluctantly handed back her pepper back as well.
"Solon and I are going to eat at the pond tonight, with all six of our children," Sojourner added. "Our two oldest children are working with the Magi, Elves and Goblins in one of your large manufacturing plants, and we are eager to hear all about it."
A beautiful looking convertible drove up, and out stepped Fleur and Dominique, both looking as elegant as only a part Veela could. A very handsome looking young man exited the rear seat, opened the boot, and took out two cases of wine.
"Two cases of wine for the Potters, from the Monford winery," he smiled, bowing. "François Henri Pierre Monford du la Fontaine at your service."
Ginny dismissed the Starkey's with, "Good bye, Starkey family." She turned to the others. "Come in Fleur, Dominique, François. Tell me all about the winery."
Ginny turned and walked into the house, Mitzi by her side, Fleur, Dominique, François and the wine following her.
Mrs. Starkey stood there stunned. She looked again at this large piece of property, obviously immaculately well maintained. Four Magi climbed into tractors to go and do something. One of the smaller tractors drove between two greenhouses, towing a trailer. One of the lorries drove around to what she thought may be another set of greenhouses, although the very large imposing house blocked her view.
Their car was now in the driveway, as Fleur had insisted that their car be moved so she could park.
The final indignity was having to reclaim their magic wands as they left the Potter property.
"I am glad that we didn't take Mrs. Starkey to the kitchen," Ginny remarked. "She would probably think it was too plebian, too comfortable middle class instead of stuck up uncomfortable upper class."
"You do not like her?" Fleur laughed.
"Why, what gave you that idea?" Ginny smirked. "I was feeling a little sorry for her daughter until Rose and Scorpius caught her and Percival Frobisher in one of the bedrooms mostly undressed and getting ready to go further.
"I think Scorpius is relieved; he has been trying to get rid of Cassie ever since his family tried to force them together. I do not know how Rose is taking it, however."
2021