Ch 20 An Unhappy Mother
Harry Potter arose Monday June twenty-first. He looked at Ginny, just stirring. He quickly used the loo, and came back to the bed.
"I have to leave for England right after breakfast," Ginny reminded Harry. "Help me to the loo, then I NEED a quick shag before being without you for the next week."
Harry had no problem taking care of Ginny's needs.
Ginny dressed in the outfit she was going to be wearing at Quidditch camp, a tee shirt with the Harpies Logo, and then over it a light weight sweat shirt, again with the Harpies logo. She put on a skort with a long enough skirt part to hide the scar on her thigh, and sturdy trainers. Harry wore his usual Auror uniform, including the sports coat that gave him plenty of expandable pockets for the documents he needed with him.
As they were walking towards the room where they would be served breakfast, Ginny asked, "What happened yesterday with Albus and Cleo, and the rest? You were back at our quarters very late, and I spent all of our time talking about Quidditch camp. Well, that and …" Ginny batted her eyelashes at Harry, turned towards him, and pressed her body against his. The 'and' was very nice, they both remembered. Better than the quick shag this morning.
"I am glad you have a couple of additional players, and another coach," Harry replied. "I know you spent much of this weekend working on Quidditch Camp. Do most of the parents have a mobile?"
"International Floo calls are a real pain," Ginny griped. "It is much easier to use the mobile!"
Harry laughed. "Bringing some of the Magi into the twenty-first century is not easy."
"I have to leave right after breakfast," Ginny reminded Harry. "Camp is Monday afternoon through Friday morning, so I will be back Friday afternoon."
"I will be glad to have you back for the weekends," Harry smiled.
The couple arrived at one of the dining areas of the castle, and were shown to a private table. It was close to where others from the family were eating, but far enough away to give them some privacy. After sitting down, "Albus and Cleo, Harry," Ginny demanded. "I see them eating with Rose and Scorpius, but also with Jesus and Ginny. There are rumors that Jesus and Ginny are, I don't know, engaged, or wedding stars came over them. Strange rumors of some hidden chamber that only they and Albus and Cleo, plus the Elves, could open."
"I was there when they opened the chamber the second time," Harry let Ginny know, pointing to the six young Magi. "Rose and Scorpius were not there, but it apparently was important that Albus, Cleo, Jesus and Ginny were there. Yesterday the four of them, Albus, Rose, Jesus and Ginny, were with wand makers examining the wands they found the day before."
Albus and Cleo, Scorpius and Rose and Jesus and Ginny sat at a round table eating breakfast. The chairs were arranged so each couple was sitting closer to each other, and just from the way they were sitting and talking you could tell that there were three couples.
Harry tried to tell Ginny some of what they found, but a thorough examination of the chamber was going to have to wait until after the Internal Confederation of Witches and Wizards.
Before breakfast was over Paul and Patricia Chang, the parents of Ginny Chang, came over to the table where Harry and Ginny were eating, and plopped themselves down across from the Potters.
"What did you have our daughter do, and why did she do it with that half savage boy?" Patricia growled.
Harry snapped back, "Jesus is the son of the head of the Los Angeles School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, one of the largest and most modern schools in the world. His father has developed several notable spells. Jesus has been one of the MELL students from the start. There is nothing half savage about him."
"Have you seen the costume he wore at the Hogwarts Christmas Ball?" Paul scoffed. He brought out a photograph. Jesus was in a costume that was very American Hispanic, very colorful. Their daughter Ginny's dress was obviously Chinese.
Ginny Potter remarked, "You have a lovely daughter, and I can see she is proud of her Chinese heritage. Jesus is proud of his heritage as well. I think that is wonderful!"
"But it looks like she is dating him!" Patricia protested. "I understand that when they opened the doors stars came over them, like they do at a wedding, and somehow it reinforced the idea that there were four couples."
"I was there when they opened the door for the second time," Harry confirmed. "There were stars, and they were very much like the wedding stars, but not very many. I understand that there were many more the first time they opened the doors."
"What does that mean?" Patricia wondered, horror on her face.
"Probably that they are well on their way to becoming a couple," Harry suggested. "Cleo has uncanny instincts on which witches and wizards will make good couples. I will ask her, if you want to know."
"He is not Han Chinese!" Patricia objected.
"Hybrid vigor," Ginny kidded. "I know Cleopatra has the most magical genes they have ever found in one person, and she has them because she is not pure anything."
"They are too young!" Paul objected.
"That is a problem," Harry agreed. "Magi seem to be maturing way too early at Hogwarts. There are very strong spells keeping the students from becoming intimate before they are sixteen, and I believe your daughter is only going into fourth year, so you have a couple of years before you have to worry."
"With a September birthday, she will have almost three school years with THAT boy after they turn sixteen," Patricia huffed. "She has told me that he has a September birthday as well. She has told me way too much about that Rios boy, like she is infatuated with him."
"What is it about them becoming rulers, or something like that?" Paul wondered.
"Ginny and I are the regents for the rulers to come, from what I understand, because I inherited the position when I killed Tom Riddle. He could never assume the position because he did not have any children, and by the time he killed the last regent family he could not father children. He had sacrificed too much of his humanity, including that part of himself," Harry pointed towards his private's. "I saw them. Smaller than a baby's.
"I understand that the next rulers need to appoint new regents. Albus has thought about it, and for a number of reasons he wants to appoint a couple not related to him. The Elves agree. One of the problems the governing of the Magi has had is a hereditary leadership here in Switzerland. If you always leave leadership to a biological heir eventually you have an idiot, or a bad person. You can get the same thing with elections as well, but you are not stuck with bad leadership until somehow a good person succeeds a bad one. With inherited leadership you could end up with generations of incompetent or bad leadership."
"So are you still going to be the regents?" Paul wondered.
"I think Albus needs something like the American vice-president, except that the prophesies and some old laws make it difficult for it to be an elder," Harry replied. "Albus has spent hours talking to the prophets and the other people who know the laws and traditions of the valley. It is a difficult situation, and I guess with time and effort he may be able to change it. Meanwhile, the fact that your daughter and Jesus were able, as a couple, to open the doors to that chamber is probably very significant."
"Ginny would like to live here," Patricia griped. "I'm not happy about that either."
"Happiness is partly a choice," Ginny insisted. "I've had enough to be unhappy about over the years, but I choose to be happy."
"So if Ginny and Jesus marry, live here, and are the next regents, you would find that a problem?" Harry wondered. "If you are ambitious for your children, that is a rather important position, and one of great honor."
Paul and Patricia looked at each other. You could see that Paul was considering it, but Patricia was not happy.
"Excuse us," Paul said as he arose from the table, hauling Patricia up with him. They went over to the table where their daughter Ginny and Jesus were sitting.
Paul and Patricia Wang conjured up two chairs and sat between their daughter and Cleo, Patricia next to Ginny, Paul next to Cleo. Patricia looked over Paul, looked fiercely at Cleo and asked, "What do you know about the relationship between my daughter and that …" he pointed at Jesus, "Him."
"Mother!" Ginny exclaimed. "You have to learn how to pronounce his name. He is Hay-soos. The Spanish pronunciation. Jesus Rios. Not HIM!"
Cleo pondered the question, looking between the unhappy mother and the equally unhappy daughter, as the two witches glared at each other.
Albus jumped in with, "Cleo has been examining couples for four years now, with her own abilities and that unique wand of hers. As far as we know, if she can sense that a witch and wizard are a good match, and they are boyfriend and girlfriend, they are a good match. There have been a number of marriages between older students who graduated, and as far as we can tell they are all good marriages. I would trust her instincts, and the spells and insights from her wand."
Cleo smiled a radiant smile. "They are a good couple, your daughter Ginny and Jesus Rios. They love Switzerland, and the castle, and are willing to work to make the world of the Magi better for everyone.
"It is fun to see them together, too. They are compatible, and they really LIKE each other." Cleo giggled. "It is fun seeing a witch and wizard getting closer. I love it."
"They are not going to marry each other?" Patricia huffed in horror.
"I would not have broadcast it quite so publicly, so soon," Ginny replied, continuing to glare at her mother, "but I expect we will marry." Ginny turned and gave Jesus a little kiss. "I expect as soon as we graduate from Hogwarts," Ginny added.
"I knew sending them to a school outside of China was a mistake!" Patricia growled, looking sternly at her husband.
"You intend to live here in Switzerland?" Paul wondered.
"Of all the MELL students, the Magi and Elf Language Learners, Ginny and Jesus are the most interested in the details of how the world of the Magi are governed," Al informed the Wangs'. "I do think it will be important for them to be here, and to be integral to the governing of the Magi."
Paul nodded his head.
Patricia urgently started to talk to Paul in Chinese.
Ginny shook her head 'no.'
Jesus loudly told Ginny, in passible but halting Mandarin, "Your parents may be a problem."
Patricia stopped, stunned. "How many of you know Mandarin?"
All of the students raised their hands.
Cleo admitted, "I do not know much. I was late to this group. Jesus is really good at all the languages we have learned!"
Meanwhile Juanita and Eduardo Rios were walking over to the table where their son was.
Ginny Potter looked at her watch. "I would love to see those fireworks," she giggled, pointing to the table, "but I really have to go. Let me know what happened."
"I have an appointment as well," Harry told her. "I expect I will find out soon enough."
"Hello, everyone," Juanita said to the assembled Magi.
"Your son wants to marry my daughter," Patricia snapped, standing up, her face inches from Juanita. Patricia waved her hands at Juanita, who backed up. Juanita put her hands on her hips and stared defiantly back at Patricia, not wishing to be intimidated.
"We were not ready to make any announcement," Jesus jumped in with, "but Mrs. Wang pushed. The whole incident of the door rather … I don't know how to say it, but it was important and … I mean when those stars came over us, and we were the other couple that could open the doors, it rather confirmed what we had been thinking anyway."
"We have our own problems with young love at our school in Los Angeles," Juanita admitted. "I think all of the schools for young Magi have spells to keep a witch from becoming pregnant before they are sixteen, and to strongly discourage intercourse before sixteen as well. We would like to change the spells so the age is seventeen, but it has been surprisingly difficult to do."
"You don't have any problem with?" Patricia pointed to Ginny and Jesus.
"Why should we?" Juanita replied, by her gestures making it clear that she was including Jesus's father Eduardo in her comments. "Ginny is a delightful and brilliant student, and she and Jesus seem to be very compatible. You would usually rather have your children close, so having Jesus go to school so far away from home has been difficult, but from all I see it has been good for him and probably good for the world of the Magi as well."
Patricia looked at each of the six young Magi. She sighed. "At least he is not so … so …" She stared at Cleo, who was a sight to behold.
All of the wizards were dressed in conservative shirts and trousers, with sports jackets but no ties, emphasizing how professional they were. All but Albus, who had an amazing beard for one so young, were clean shaven. Rose wore a very feminine trouser suit, and Ginny wore a conservative dress.
Cleo's hair was done in a multitude of small plaits, with colorful ribbons and beads in each, and flowers at the ends of a few of them. Her three-quarters length dress was no less colorful, and you could spot the dress and the person wearing it from across a large room.
"I thought Ginny's Chinese dress, and Jesus's clothes, were very appropriate," Cleo thought. "Rose, you know style. What did you think of them?"
Rose tried to read the situation. "Jesus knows how to dress," she started. "Some of the wizards just dress like slobs, but Jesus is always well dressed, like it is important to have a professional appearance. Ginny too. Their dress at the Christmas Dance was a little unusual, but there was nothing inappropriate about either of them. I've seen dress that is inappropriate, but never from them."
"We are going into our fourth year, and Hogwarts is at a minimum a seven-year school, so we should have four more years before we can even think about marrying," Ginny stressed, standing up to look at her mother and confront her. "Even if we end up here in Switzerland, I would expect we would continue to study and learn.
"I'm sorry if we are growing up too fast for you, mother, but we are. I know you were proud of me for being one of the MELL students. Jesus and I are good students, good friends, and well suited for each other. You are just going to have to learn to accept it!"
"The MELL students have to try and finish a big translation project," Albus butted in with. Looking at the adults, he apologized, "Please excuse us."
The six students arose and left. As they were leaving they did see the two sets of parents talking.
It was Friday, June twenty-fifth, the end of the first week of Quidditch camp.
"Thank you," Ginny told Jane Harrison, the grandmother of one of the students, as she dismounted Jane's broom. She had finally been able to get back on a broom, not flying it but by riding in front of someone else. Her one inner ear was protesting, and her stomach wasn't quite right, but those were minor things to put up with if she could be up where the action was. "Thank your husband for setting up this broom for us."
"He is still grateful for your help in developing the Spitfire Spell," Jane replied.
Ginny gave a little speech, and dismissed the Quidditch camp so everyone could go home for the weekend. She went to her bedroom at Potter's New Burrow, and took off the sports tee with the Harpies logo and the skort with pockets for notes and Quidditch plays. She took off the sports bra and her knickers and threw them all in a hamper where the Elves would retrieve them and wash them, and took a shower. She then put on a much more feminine and erotic bra, that showed some (well, more than just some) cleavage and bounced just a little, because she knew Harry liked that, and a sun dress that was knee length, with a scooped neckline that showed what the bra did not cover.
She and Mitzi, as always accompanied by guards, took the Floo to the Ministry, and from there the International Floo to Switzerland. One more Floo and they were in the castle, with just a short walk to her and Harry's quarters. There was a light lunch waiting in the quarters, plus a note from Harry that he had a luncheon meeting, then another meeting, but should be back at their quarters by about four.
Ginny lay down for a brief nap. Quidditch camp was fun, but exhausting. She woke up to Harry touching her in ways that only a husband and lover should touch one. Life was good.
Harry lay down on the bed, and hugged his wife. "How was Quidditch Camp?" he wondered.
"More fun than your meetings," Ginny replied. "It was fun being on a broom again, but I was always dizzy, so I know I could never fly on my own again. From your calls I guess this has been a hard week for you."
Harry nodded in agreement. It had not been an easy week.
"It is four-thirty, and we have dinner at five, Love," Harry let his wife know. "I would like you to accompany me to a contentious meeting after dinner, so I have an excuse to leave early and spend time with the wife I have not seem for a week."
The couple refreshed themselves, and went to the dining room.
"How was Quidditch Camp?" Albus asked his mother Friday evening. Albus, Cleo, Rose and Scorpius were eating dinner with Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron.
"It was really good," Ginny beamed. "Your brother is assembling a team that is as good as any professional team. He has students from all four houses, and a few from Europe and America as well. He has his eye on a couple of the professional players who are serving as coaches at camp as well.
"I have to keep Mrs. Lionheart working with the older students. She doesn't have the patience to work with the younger players. She is amazed at the team James has put together, including her son and daughter. Lily is good, but maybe second string good.
"Young Bill is happy to be a Chaser. He doesn't want to risk being hurt like his father. I worry about James, though. He knows that Bill Sr.'s memory is getting worse, but I'm not convinced he sees just how close to getting hurt he comes. Or maybe he sees it but is just a little too convinced that the spells on his broom will protect him.
"What is going on with Jesus Rios and Ginny Wang? I could use a little gossip."
"Mrs. Wang doesn't seem to have much of a sense of humor when it comes to her daughter's love life," Albus reflected. "They are eating dinner together, Jesus and Ginny and their parents. Jesus's sister and Ginny's brother are eating with them. Maria Rios and Harry Wang are going to the dances together as well, as Maria says, 'to chaperone the lovebirds.' That remark, I understand, did not go over well with Mrs. Wang."
"How is Paul Wang handling it?" Harry wondered.
"Better than his wife," Albus replied. "He sees the political advantage if they are in the government here in Switzerland."
"I don't want to live here!" Rose scowled. "I don't mind visiting, but I wouldn't want to live here."
"We will live in England, and fill Malfoy Manson, the Granger-Malfoy home, with lots of part Muggle children," Scorpius suggested.
"Lots as in, maybe, three or four, not a dozen like my crazy cousin wants," Rose glared at Scorpius, who grinned back at her. Rose became melancholy. "If Teddy comes back. It is really hard on Victoire waiting, and not knowing."
Harry thought that Teddy was going to try and escape this coming year, but nothing was certain, and he could not say anything to anybody, so he tried to keep his face carefully neutral.
"What have you been doing?" Ginny asked the four children.
"I've been meeting the children of Switzerland and looking at the flag designs," Cleo eagerly volunteered. "They really missed it last summer, but everything was messed up last year! Rose has been helping with the designs. She is such a super artist, and we are so lucky. When we are not meeting with the children we have been redecorating the castle, making it prettier and brighter and just nicer. We've helped in the areas common to Elves and Magi too, with their help."
Rose blushed at Cleo's compliment.
"I've just been documenting, and writing stories or news releases for the newspapers and magazines," Scorpius added. "It really helps that Rose is such a good visual artist! Most of the children seem to love Cleo, but the children and parents are also very thankful for Rose's help, and I make sure the stories mention it."
Rose beamed with gratitude at Scorpius's compliment.
"What have you been doing, Albus," Ginny wondered.
"Being asked to decide things I have no business deciding, because I am too young," Albus replied, "and then getting yelled at by other Magi because some Magi are asking me for advice.
"Trying to understand why certain documents have been written the way they were, and then trying to stop fights when Gabrielle loses her temper or isn't very political when she tries to explain things. Translating these documents has not been easy."
Harry added, "Some of the Magi are willing to accept the changes, if reluctantly, if they can just vent. Part of our job, Albus and mine, seems to be keeping our temper when people yell at us. You just have to understand where they are coming from. All the changes are very hard for traditional Magi."
"I am glad Cleo is not involved in much of this," Albus reflected. "I get yelled at because of her as well, though."
"I am glad I am not involved in the politics as well," Ginny let the group know.
"You and Cleo will be tomorrow, though," Harry told his wife. Ginny glared at Harry. She had a feeling that tomorrow was not going to be fun.
2021