Ron Weasley was trying to get his wife and son to the table to eat. Both of whom were sitting on the couch, feet and legs curled under their bottoms. Hermione had what looked to be an ancient book in her left hand and a muggle spiral notebook under her right. A muggle pen could be seen peeking through the top of her hair bun. She was the head of the magical law and, in her proud husband's opinion, the best magical barrister in England. Ron had no doubt that she would find whatever she needed for her latest case buried in either that or another dusty tome.
Hugo had his magical notebook, a small handheld computer, in his left hand and was typing occasionally, all the while looking at a small model of the human body that floated in front of him.
Both of his children had inherited their brains from his wife, which Ron was thankful for. But Hugo had a bit of an edge over Rosie. Just before 5th year he had come to them with a decision and a problem.
His grandfather Granger was his hero. He loved spending time at the Granger's dental office. Hugo had decided he wanted to become a dentist too.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you looked at it, he would be blazing a new trail. While Hugo and Jean had started offering dental services to the magical community, no one had yet combined muggle dentistry with magic. That was what his son wanted to do.
Certain Universities in the U.K. were used to dealing with magical folk and had whole departments that dealt in magical degrees. But none had a dental program.
Hugo would need to complete A levels in chemistry and biology, before applying. The summer after his OWLS he had began accelerated classes in chemistry. Lily Potter, already knowing she wanted a career in medicine, had decided to take those classes too.
Both had succeeded, in those two summers, to earn an A level in chemistry. It was by sheer hard work and determination. It also helped that both were at the head of their class in potions from year one, trading off the first and second spot each year. Potions, when you stripped it down, was really just chemistry with magic added in.
Now Lily was in the states, starting her medical studies and Hugo was working to finish three and a half years of biology in less than one year.
If all went to plan, he would be applying to universities this winter and starting next fall.
Right now though, Ron needed to get some nutrients into his son and wife. Promising that they could get right back at it after they ate, he finally coaxed them to the table.
Lucy Weasley found it a bit eerie walking through the deserted halls of Hogwarts. In a short two weeks the halls would be alive with the sounds of a new school year. The first, since Victore had sat under the hat, that there would not be a Weasley in attendance.
She had a great meeting with the headmaster. Uncle Neville Longbottom had advised her on what Oxford would be looking for on her application. She had her transcripts and his letter of recommendation in her hand. If everything went to plan, the next school year she would start her quest for a Master's in emergency management. Oxford offered a seven year program, through their magical college.
Tonight she would complete the application to Oxford. First thing tomorrow morning it would be in the mail.
This weekend Lucy, Molly, their mum and dad were going to Uncle George's island. It was time to heal the rift. She had politely and firmly refused her grandma's and godfather's (Uncle George), offers to come along to "mediate".
With great love for her and understanding, her Uncle Harry, Aunt Hermione and Aunt Fleur had arranged a distraction. The whole family was going to be in Hogsmeade, cleaning and stocking the Weasley and Vela made stores in preparation for the beginning of the school term.
Training camp didn't seem as hard this year to Al. It made sense, with the exhibition games they had not really had time to get out of shape. He and James had begged off the work weekend in Hogsmeade. As soon as they got showered today, the two of them were picking up Hugo and heading to Heathrow for an international portkey to Boston.
Lily, in her texts and calls, had increasingly sounded homesick. Rose said that Hugo, as hard as he was working to get his A level in biology, was finding it hard to adjust to his best friend being an ocean away.
With the time difference, they would arrive early in the evening and their return portkey wasn't until 4 p.m. Sunday. Almost 48 hours with his baby sister sounded pretty good.
By plan or chance, Lily would have family visiting one weekend a month for most of her first year. Aunt Fleur and Uncle George "just happened" to have "important" business meetings on the east coast of the U.S. in September and November, respectively. Aunt Luna was doing a book signing in Boston in October. December Lilly would be returning home for her winter break. Aunt Audrey was attending the New York international misuse of muggle objects conference in January. February Teddy, Victoire and their twins, were spending part of their vacation in Boston. March would see Aunt Hermione attending an international meeting on Magical law in Washington D.C. and Uncle Ron was going along.
In April Grandma Weasley and Aunt Andi were spending a week or so before heading to New York to board a cross Atlantic cruise.
May their mum and dad would be heading over to accompany her back to London for summer break.
Fred Weasley smiled as he used his wand to siphon the dust off the top shelf of his grandma's store. His uncle Charlie was levitating him along at just the right pace. Roxanne was following behind on the rolling ladder, calling down to Uncle Harry what stock to levitate up to her.
His dad was dealing with a heck of a mess in the stockroom. The Hogsmeade Weasley's store was always shut down during Hogwarts' summer break. Most of the stock was moved to their other stores but some did remain, secured in the stockroom.
It looked as if a family of mice had taken residence. Then they had went in search of bedding and food. There were chewed wheezes all over the shelves in the cellar.
Currently George was carefully vanishing the ruined stock. Rose was following behind, using deep cleaning and disinfectant spells. Uncle Ron was searching for the rodent entrance. Aunt Ginny and Aunt Hermione were, according to Grandma, having way too much fun deciding which color of paint to order for the outside. Aunt Fleur had firmly refused their help in choosing the color for her store next door.
What his grandpa had always called " The Weasley divide and conquer method of child minding" was in full effect. Teddy and Victoire's twins, Harry and Arthur were being kept out of the fray by Aunt Hannah and her daughter Alice.
Harry was "helping" at the Leaky. Art was "helping" Hannah at the Hogshead.
Alice was now the landlord of the Leaky. Frank, her twin was the landlord at the Hogshead. When Uncle Neville had been made headmaster, he and Aunt Hannah had moved in to Hogwarts. Hannah still helped at both taverns as needed but a lot of her time was spent with students that might need a little mothering. It suited her.
The sun was low in the sky when a tired but jovial group gathered around a group of tables at the Hogshead. Hannah had done wonders with the place after they had bought it from Amberforth. It was clean and neat. The upstairs had been totally renovated and the Longbottom family had moved in after Neville had been made deputy head.
Now Frank had the upstairs to himself during the school year. Although if the rumors were true, there could be another Mrs. Longbottom soon. Cindy Toots, who came from a family of magical seed producers, had been hired for Neville's old position. Frank had asked her out and it appeared that things were progressing nicely.
The garden between the Hogshead's backdoor and Minerva Mcgonagall's wee retirement cottage was certainly looking in fine form. Rose suspected that it wasn't just Uncle Neville's efforts keeping it that way.
Weasley's was ready for the first Hogsmeade weekend. Victoire and Flur had supervised a couple of employees and, except for the exterior painting that both stores needed, the Vela made store was ready to be reopened also.
Art and little Harry entertained the adults during dinner. Your heart would be made of ice if you did not enjoy a pair of two year olds recounting their day.