With a pop Dobby appeared in the foyer next to Harry. A quick look, and he ran to the Floo and threw in powder. "Healer Tonks, you are needed! Please step through!" He threw in another handful of powder to hold the Floo open, and ran back to Harry, beginning to cast elf diagnostics and summon elf healers. The Floo roared her appearance at the same time multiple pops sounded. Soon the foyer was exceedingly crowded!
"Report", was all she said as she began her own diagnostics.
"Dobby found Harry here. There is broken glass and furniture all the way back to his study, which is wrecked. It looks like he was running, but there is no sign of anyone who does not belong. The last signature in the Floo before I called you was Missy Weezy leaving. Much but not all of the glass is gemino, leftover ornaments from last night's Ball. They were made from marbles."
Andi nodded and cast a strong 'Finite' so a great deal of the glass in Harry vanished, but that only encouraged Harry's cuts to bleed faster. She quickly began spelling potions into him: blood replenishment, painkillers, and a strong calming draught. She bade the elven healers to help her extract the rest of the glass and heal up each cut as it was cleaned. One of his ankles was broken, so she set it, but the Skelegrow would need to wait.
Behind her, Dobby began cancelling all of the gemino in the house, which cleaned up most of the broken glass as the marbles re-assembled. Other house elves began clearing the rest of the damage. Dobby stopped them at the study - he wanted to examine that room carefully. There was a camera on the shelf, and the photo album was in a drawer. He would get them later and see what he could learn.
Finally, Andi decided she had done as much as she could for now. "I think we need to put him to bed as soon as we can. I don't want him disturbed, and I expect Ginny will be upset when she comes in. Is there a guest bedroom we can use, somewhere quiet?"
Dobby said, "No problem. Here." He duplicated Harry's hidden bedroom door beside them in the foyer, keying it to Andi, and opened it wide. Andi levitated Harry in and took him straight to the bath.
"This is excellent. Wash him up and tuck him into bed. If he wakes up try to get some food into him, but don't let him get up on that ankle. I have some things to do, and some potions to fetch, before I can get back here this evening, but I want to know the minute he wakes up. Now, does anyone know where Ginny is? She ought to know if there was anyone else in the house."
Dobby called, "Daisy," and the little maid appeared. "Do you know where Missy Weezy went?"
"She was going to her parents house to spend a few days with them. She had me take Puff and a small trunk, but she has not arrived yet. Daisy thinks she went shopping because several packages have arrived for her. I can find her and tell her, what?"
Andi spoke firmly. "Tell her I will need to talk to her right away, so I will meet her at the Burrow. I need to talk to Molly, too. This is too important to say over the phones or floo, where anyone might hear."
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Daisy found Ginny having a lovely high Tea in her favorite shop near the Harpy pitch, with one of their tiered plates of tiny sandwiches and a half-eaten poundcake with lemon curd. "Missy Weezy, Healer Tonks is taking care of Harry at your house, and wants to talk to you and your parents tonight."
"Healer Tonks? Well, there can't be much wrong with him if she didn't put him in St. Mungo's. I just left the house an hour ago! Yes, tell her to stop by when she likes. Also, tell mother she is coming." Ginny went back to eating her cake.
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"PTSD. That's the mundane term, a short name for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I should have suspected it before, because Harry is not only a war verteran but was abused as a child. I've healed most of his injuries from today, but he's in a catatonic coma, which means his mind has retreated into sleep. While he sleeps I'll heal his broken ankle, which is the biggest injury he still has. By morning he will be physically fine, but I don't know when he will wake up. I've had him put in a guest room so you can use your own bedroom without bothering him. Meanwhile, I'm going to arrange for him to talk with a Mind Healer who has some experience with PTSD. This is something Harry needs to talk out. I also need to find out what happened to trigger this. I can't use legilimancy on a mind in a coma, so I need Ginny to tell me everything that happened before you left. Was there anyone else in the house? Did Harry mention he was expecting anyone? There was no Floo signature. And, the mind healer will surely need to talk to you all as well, to get a good idea of what is going on with Harry."
Molly was in shock! She loved Harry very much, always had, and had no idea he hurt so much! "What has he been hiding from us, and for how long? He's been friends with my children since his first day in school! He was always such a happy child! He loved my cooking so much he would ask me to send him baskets during the Summers, before he came to us. How did he get hurt so badly in the short time since Ginny left the house? When did he break his ankle? Surely he wasn't dancing on it all night? What are his other injuries? Did he fall down the stairs?"
Arthur was becoming angry! "That house is supposed to have the best wards anywhere! We all use pretty much the same ones, including the filters on the Floo! How did someone get in? How close did they come to hurting Ginny? It had to be someone Harry knows well, to get in to his study when he was alone. Perhaps someone held a Ball ticket back, and used that to gain the house? I thought they were to vanish this morning!"
Andi soothed them as best she could. "Harry does not seem to have had any injuries from the Ball, except perhaps a few strained muscles. The ankle was clearly very recent, probably occurring when he was running down the stairs from his attacker, or fell in the foyer where he was found. He may have fallen because of the break. His other injuries were mostly cuts and embedded glass, and blood loss. There was a LOT of broken glass, as well as destroyed furniture, and scorched spots, all the way from his study to the foyer. It's as though he ran from a shock wave, or an Obscurial. But, there had to be something more to trigger such a withdrawal, such denial of reality. Ginny, have you thought of anything?"
Ginny was thinking hard. Finally she spoke, "Harry was very rude to the Harpies last night, and we had words about it before I left. I demanded that he come up with a suitable apology. We argued all the way to the foyer, and I left. I told him I would be here at my parent's house until they go on vacation, and would be home to pack fresh for the Harpy trip and game, on Friday. There was no one else in the house that I knew about. Since he is sick and needs rest, I will send Daisy to pack up the rest of my things and take them to my apartment in Holyhead. It's a bit small for long-term, but he will be well soon. He always is. I'll stay there until he presents his apologies. He can have all the rest and quiet he needs. You will have to coordinate any Healer appointments through the Harpy office. The Championships are very important and I cannot miss any practices!"
Molly, Arthur, and Andi, were speechless. Ginny took this as acceptance of her explanation. She rose from the couch, stretching, and said, "Well, as interesting as this has been, I am still tired after the Ball. I'm going to bed. I have practice at 7 AM, and we have fittings for new uniforms, too. Mum, I'll be home about lunchtime and we can go shopping! I'm sure you need some new clothes for your vacation, and I need more for my trip. Good Night Mum, Dad, and Aunt Andi."
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On Monday morning Ginny entered the pitch about 6:55. As she shed her cloak and bag into her locker, Gwenog spotted her and called her. Ginny was horribly embarrassed - was Gwenog going to scold he in front of the whole room?
But, Gwenog had something else on her mind. "Ginny, you and Harry were SO thoughtful! I've had most of the team already this morning telling me to thank you for being so discrete about giving them juice instead of wine at your Ball! They didn't even have to ask for it! The juice was wonderful, too - so fresh and refreshing! The elves must have practically squeezed it straight into the goblets! HOW did you know?
We have thought of a suitable thank-you gift. We know about the accident with the cropduster last year, so we are going to collect roots and bulbs for Harry in every country we visit this year, to help him restore his gardens!"
As they walked across the locker room, Ginny had the unusual experience of not being able to get a word in. It seemed that the whole team was thanking her, and she didn't understand why!
Finally, as they passed into the Office, silence descended, until Gwenog came up with ANOTHER perplexing statement. "We have just fulfilled a dream of mine!" Noting Ginny's perplexed expression, Gwenog pointed back, above the open doorway. There were two glass globes up there, one pink, one blue. The blue one was glowing. Ginny began to get a bad feeling, which was rapidly confirmed. "Every member of the team is pregnant! We finally get to put an all-pregnant team in the air!" Ginny suddenly couldn't get any air, gasping, and fading dizzily to the floor. The women closest to her caught her and laughingly laid her on the couch. Someone got her a glass of cold water. As everyone pushed through the doors, the globes flashed in both pink and blue.
As she gathered the fuzzy threads of her mind together, Ginny interrupted the conversation. "I didn't know we could play if we were pregnant. Isn't that dangerous for the baby? What if we get hit by a bludger?"
Gwenog smiled, and answered, "No. Pregnant women actually have faster reflexes and quicker eyes. We expect to play better than ever, just when it is most important for the Championships! Also, it is very confusing to the males on the other teams if they realize we are, because they really do think of pregnant women as fragile, while they think of us as just more of the guys. The other women players don't care, because they already know better. Our new uniforms will incorporate strong shields so that even if you are hit directly on the abdomen it won't hurt you or the baby. It will knock you back, or sideways, but not do any damage. Even your ordinary bruises heal faster than normal when you are pregnant. The new uniforms are also glamored, so you will not appear pregnant for quite a while. These abdominal shields are legal for anyone to use, but those macho men disdain them. I know they work - I am having my third! We'll add you to the list of appointments with the team OBGYN. I think I gave you a copy of the Pregnancy diet sheet she prefers?"
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"MUM! I can't believe it! It's all Harry's fault! And I don't have ANYTHING to wear!"
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Monday afternoon Andi was showing Mind Healer Jones her memories of finding Harry, and the conversation with Ginny at her parent's home. She also handed him copies of the pictures Dobby had found in the album.
He was astonished. "I've never seen anything like this! He's a Lord, the Hero of the World, and a well-known businessman! I'll need to talk to as many people as we can find who knew him in childhood, school, and during the War. I've found no records of his ever being treated in St. Mungo's after his baby shots, and his school records are almost total blanks. No school physicals at all, no vaccinations, eye or hearing screens, nothing major noted in his school health except a few sports injuries, and a scribbled note of his being bitten by a basilisk and healed by a phoenix! That has to be a joke! Another year says he was 'scratched' by a dragon and bitten by a spider, nearly drowned in February, and had his arm cut open in a Necromantic ritual. Someone has mixed his Divination homework in with his medical records - all the kids come up with that sort of silliness, but it's in the wrong file!
And her! Everything anyone knows about her is how wonderful her life is. But that little speech, along with these pictures, shows me there is all kinds of trouble in Paradise! I'll have to talk to as many of her family, and schoolmates, and co-workers, as I can. I checked her school records and found that she is noted as having been possessed at 11. Then, of course, she was trapped in Occupied Hogwarts and participated in the Battle of Hogwarts where her brother was killed, and her home was destroyed. I can't find any records of who treated her then, or what was done, but surely she and all the other children received SOME counseling?
There is no question in my mind but that she is also suffering from PTSD! I've never had a couple who BOTH have it so severely! Usually any pair will understand and support each other, but these two are as alone as possible.
I'll set up weekly sessions with each of them. I'll start with her right away. While I wait for Harry to recover enough to participate I'll start with the interviews I need, and set some Interns searching through the Record Department. I'm afraid most of our files are still on scrolls, in chests and cubbyholes. This cannot be tolerated! I'm going to find some computer people and start getting St. Mungo's out of the 16th Century!"
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This is being recorded, right? Good. I'm Dudley Dursley, and I'm Harry's closest relative - maybe the only one he still talks to. My Mum is his Aunt, but she won't talk about him at all. Harry came to live with us when he and I were about a year and a half old. I'm the older, by about a month. I know lots of kids who grew up with cousins or grandparents or other relatives, and they all did fine. Not at our house! It might have had something to do with the way Harry was left on the porch with just a letter, like a stray kitten. It surely had a lot to do with the fact that Mum hated her sister, Harry's mother. It certainly had a lot to do with my Dad hating anything 'abnormal', and Harry was magic! Mum called him 'Freak,' and Dad called him 'Boy,' and I don't think he knew his name until we went to school. We grew up with it being normal in our house for Harry to do all the work. He was at fault for anything that went wrong, and was punished severely. He lived in the cupboard under the stairs until that letter arrived when he was 11, was beaten frequently, half-starved, and wore my old clothes. I found out later that my parents got the standard orphan support from the Government for him, and a fat support check from his parents Estate, which Dad banked away. Mom found the bankbook after Dad died.
I was a kid. I thought this was normal. After all, my Dad said it was. I was spoiled, had anything I wanted, and was horribly fat and lazy. I invented a game my friends and I were encouraged to play, called "Harry Hunting." We chased Harry anytime we could find him, and beat him up. He wasn't allowed to fight back, and was never believed about what happened, even by the neighbors or teachers who saw it! We destroyed anything he worked on, stole his lunches, and lied about him constantly. When we went to boarding school, Dad told the neighbors Harry went to "St. Brutus' Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys." That's a real school, one with a very good reputation, but Harry never went there. When he was home on vacations life continued as it had always done.
When we were 13 my Aunt Madge insulted his parents and Harry ran away. Your Ministry sent people who 'fixed' everything, including erasing her memory, and it was covered up.
That was the year we learned he had a Godfather, but until he escaped prison he couldn't help Harry. The next Summer Harry was treated better because Dad was afraid of the Godfather. Harry didn't bother to tell Dad he was innocent. However he died before the end of the next school year, and Dad found out, so Harry was mistreated again.
That was the way it was, the Summer we were 15. That's the Summer Harry saved my life and soul from a monster. Again, Harry was whisked away until the next Summer. Mum and Dad couldn't accept that I might need to talk to anyone, so they blamed everything on Harry. But, when I got back to school I had compulsory talks with our Counselor anyhow, so I told him that my cousin had saved my life. I didn't mention magic - I knew better - so he just thought I was embarrassed about some stranger assaulting me on the street. But, talking to him helped. The next summer I tried to show Harry I had changed, by doing little things like taking him drinks when he was working in the garden, and sneaking him sandwiches. The day we all left, Harry's 17th Birthday, I managed to tell him I didn't think he was a total waste of space. My Mum cried, but my Dad was just mad that we had to go into some kind of protection program for a year. I went back to my school when it was time, because it was assumed it would be safe. My Dad was able to continue working in London, but Mum was pretty isolated in a safe house somewhere. I didn't know that Harry and his friends spent the year running from terrorists, in horrible conditions, though it doesn't sound as though they would have been any better off back at their school. Come to think of it, I don't think ANY year he was at that school had been safe.
Because of all that, I did some serious thinking, and decided I have to do something right. I'm not real smart, but I'm determined. I have finished my Undergraduate program in Psychology, and am now doing Graduate work in Counseling. I'm going to be a school Counselor, a Psychologist who spots and stops kids like I was, and helps kids like Harry. Since I'm an A.I.B.A. Olympic Boxer for England, I'm also going to be a Sports Director. I Graduate in June, and am already interviewing with several schools about Internships. It's quite likely I will be going to St. Brutus.
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"I'm Luna Scamander, nee Lovegood. I'm a cryptozoologist with my husband, and we travel the world. I'm also something of a minor empathetic Seer, which really messed me up as a child until I learned to sort out what was real from what was possible. Mostly I see emotions and auras, not the Future. My family, the Diggorys, and the Weasleys were the only magicals near our village, so we kids played together a lot. Ginny and I were the only girls, so we had lots of tea parties with our Harry Potter dolls and planned our weddings. That stopped when we were 9, because my mother was killed in a spell explosion. I saw it, and that's what triggered my Seer traits. Dad was also knocked off-kilter in sorrow, so he wasn't able to help me deal with the loss. Ginny quit playing with me and the other kids started calling me 'Loony.'
When Ginny and I went to Hogwarts I could tell something was wrong with her. She still refused to have anything to do with me, but she also withdrew from her brothers. She didn't make any new friends, and she spent all of her time writing in her diary. Her brother Percy became so worried he forced her to the Healer and made her drink Pepper-Up. He thought she was sick! Her other brothers thought she was homesick, so they tried to cheer her up by playing tricks on her.
Weird things started happening - weird even in a school of magic! A Basilisk turned out to be in the school. I wish I had seen it, but I guess I'd be dead if I had. Ginny's diary turned out to have Possessed her. It tried to consume her Life and Soul. Harry killed the Basilisk and rescued her, being bitten in the process, and he was saved by a phoenix's tears.
First year he had rescued Hermione from a Troll, and killed a teacher who was also possessed and trying to steal Flamel's Stone. Third year Harry fought Dementors and a werewolf. Fourth year he was Contracted by a Death Eater into the Tr-Wizard Tournament, where he fought Dragons, Mer-people, Amancrula spiders, and a Sphinx among other nasty beasts and spells, before being kidnapped and used in a Necromancer's Ritual to revive Voldemort. Our friend Cedric Diggory was killed in front of him. Fifth Year we had Umbridge torturing us with Blood Quills That year ended with Harry and five of us from the DA club rushing to the Ministry to rescue his Godfather, who was killed in front of him. Voldemort tried to possess Harry, failed, and was forced to flee by Dumbledore. Sixth year Death Eaters got into the school and tried to kill us all, and Dumbledore was killed by Snape in front of Harry. Our seventh year Harry didn't come back, being on the run with Hermione and Ron. Death Eaters took over the school, and many of us wound up in hiding to save our lives. Harry snuck into the school in May, and led us in the fight that became known as 'The Battle of Hogwarts', where he finally managed to destroy Voldemort. Did I mention that this whole time Harry had a Lich of Voldemort's stuck in him, which was destroyed in the Battle? He took his NEWTs at the Ministry at the same time Ginny and I did, but never came back to school.
You asked about counseling? I don't think any of us ever got counseling. I'm sure Ginny didn't after our first year. Dumbledore told her parents all she needed was rest and quiet. I think her family spoiled her a bit after that, because she finally got all-new clothes, school stuff, and regular pocket money.
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Harry and Ginny were dating again. Since they had never had many actual dates before getting married, you could even say they were 'finally' dating. Mind Healer Jones had decided it was time to start working out what kind of relationship they ought to have, before the baby was born. He said they should begin with friendship; small meetings with as little stress as possible on either of them. Harry was finding it hard to be in the same room with Ginny, though he was calmer out of doors. This meant weekly picnics, small group trips to museums and Historic sites around Britain, and small family events. Every week each met with Jones to discuss how it was going. Big, noisy, public events like parties were just not going to happen for a while.
Ginny was annoyed at the OBGYN, who would not allow her to soak in the Jacuzzi, and who insisted she have a seat available in the shower. She really didn't understand why Harry had any problem being close to her. Healer Jones would walk her through planned scenarios and require her to ask Who/What/Where/When/Why/ and How before showing her how to draw a logical conclusion. She also needed to practice acceptable social behaviors. Her manners were improving.
These were the same set of questions the Aurors were supposed to ask, so Harry was also familiar with them. Harry's trouble was that he had been thoroughly trained to never ask questions at all, nor to defend himself. He was used to trying to find those answers from clues in his environment. Harry was very good at observation, and situational reactions; but research, theory, and interrogation were a strain on him. He needed training in Debate, in presenting and defending his ideas and actions.
Since Andi had kept Harry out of St. Mungo's, most people didn't know Harry and Ginny were separated, or seeing a counselor. When word of the whole team being pregnant got around, that explained to everyone's satisfaction why the couple was suddenly low-key.
Ginny was still living in her apartment in Holyhead. It was convenient for her games and practices. She still complained to everyone that it was a very small apartment, but it was mostly a habit. Not even her mother was listening anymore. The apartment was actually a Penthouse, with two complete two-bedroom suites, room to entertain about 20 in a wide living/dining area, and full facilities. The whole thing was decorated in shades of palest gold, with modern Danish furniture and sheer drapes. Any color, such as her hair, stood out brightly! Harry kept her supplied with her favorite white flowers, though not with lilies.
It had a nice patio area, where Puff could play when Daisy did not have her visiting the playroom. Harry and the elves had warded the edge solidly so that Puff couldn't be blown over it. If she went over a certain line, she was returned to her bed, inside. Now that it was Spring, she spent a lot of time outside. Her hair had been cut with a Number 4 clipper, except for leaving her tail and ears long. Now she was velvety, with the characteristic waterfall tail. She also had a bare belly, with a neat row of stitches. Reaching 6 months old was not always fun for a pup!
Ginny was actually very busy. Besides her Harpy schedule, she had Maternity classes with the OBGYN, meetings with Healer Jones, and sessions with the Tutor her father had insisted upon when he discovered she had not finished the mundane correspondence course he had enrolled her in during her last year at Hogwarts. As an adult, she had a very Accelerated Program, and didn't have to do many things the younger children did. She should have taken her A-levels years ago! Finally compelled into picking up the reading, she discovered the Literature based program was actually very interesting. Now she usually had a book in her bag, even when she was out with Harry. She would read aloud passages to him on their dates, and it gave them more to talk about. Soon it would be time to start Obedience Class with Puff, and both of them were going. Training a puppy is more about training the owner than the dog, and Healer Jones had approved the class.
Harry was also very busy. Healer Jones believed in keeping active rather than moping around. This was fine with Harry, who was used to working from Dawn to dark, though he was told to cut back to normal hours. He continued meeting with Healer Jones, meeting with the WWW Board, and all of his other activities. He was staying in the Manor, but using his hidden bedroom to which only Dobby and Andi had access. By adding another door he could now go from the foyer to his Study, Bedroom, Library and top-floor workshop without going through any other halls. It was actually much like having his own private apartment.
The rest of the Manor was closed down, sheeted and dark. Most of the house elves had moved to the other houses. Dobby and Mitty stayed to take care of Harry. They had removed everything of Harry's (removing Ginny's tracking and listening charms as they did so) from his side of the bedroom suite he shared with Ginny, and packed away all of the adult furniture from his side. They replaced it with French baby furniture, and began stocking the shelves with baby supplies. Harry's side of the Suite was now a Nursery. Ginny's side was bare of personal belongings, but remained set up as she had liked it.
Harry and the garden elves were very busy indeed, which is why he had not just closed the Manor. Besides having the Show to prepare for with Neville, the main gardens were ready to replant. Ron came over to install the switching chess pieces in the flower medallions, including Kings. These could be used in either daylight or at night. Due to the size of the gardens, it was easiest to see the chess set medallions from above. The balcony outside the sunroom on the top floor was set up for comfortable gaming. Ron, Victor, Hermione and Ingrid (among others) came over frequently to help 'fine-tune' the display by playing a round. Even Harry and Neville tried a few rounds, laughing at themselves.
Harry's broom company was in deep negotiations with the Ministry over all of those broom regulations, some of which were so far out of date they didn't apply to any broom still being made. Some gave special status to some companies over others. Requirements for a certain degree of rigidity in the shaft, and twig tails cut from certain kinds of trees, were things they just couldn't work with at all. Their new Phoenix was so different from these Standards that it barely qualified as a broom at all! Some days Harry would suggest they just apply for a permit for a yard rake. Hermione was leading this battle, and now worked out of Harry's Wizagamot Offices. She was his Proxy to the Wizagamot when he couldn't make it, which emphasized his support of her in the Ministry.
Harry continued his weekly outings with Teddy, sticking to indoor activities until Winter was gone. He had finished his A-levels with Ron years ago, and was taking evening classes in Business and Accounting. He rather thought he was going to follow Hermione to that MBA, though both of them were finding they needed to add more Law courses. The Monday evening sessions with the Auror Auxiliary Class gave them some extra resources, including access to the Auror Case Files to find precedents. Ginny finally gave up on that class - she was just too busy!
Ginny's required weekly outings with Harry became a haven for both of them, moments of peace in their hectic lives. Healer Jones and Andi were pleased with that! It could be the start of a decent relationship, a healthy structure for the baby.
May was the season of the Quidditch Championships. Harry continued to attend every Harpy game. Teddy was often allowed to attend, even night games. That was one advantage to homeschooling! The lessons had to be done, but no one said the schedule was set in stone. Teddy could sleep late some days, or do some extra lessons on weekends before the games, and never fall behind. May was also the time for the Chelsea Flower Show Harry and Neville were preparing for so frantically! This was really more stress than Healer Jones wanted Harry to be under, but he wanted it so badly! Everyone carried extra doses of calming draught for him. Even though she wasn't interested, Ginny promised to come see the finished display.
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Chelsea in May. The biggest annual flower show in England. The Potters had participated in past generations, but this would be Harry's first show. He had gone all-out, and believed he had a good design. The tricky part was that while it would LOOK magical, it had to be totally mundane, because he hoped to gift the project at the end. He was randomly assigned a location about halfway along the main walk. Above and behind the display he had a white sheet suspended. It was waterproof and would serve nicely as a screen to project a view of the games: Harry's display of flowers was set up in a living chessboard, and live games would be played continuously for the full eight days of the show.
These were not minor games, either - Ron had arranged for a true Tournament of Chess Masters. Official Judges and Timekeepers would be on hand, so these would be vetted scores. He and Harry were able and willing to provide costs and some nice prizes. On those terms, they had no trouble filling all the slots. Several high-interest Challenge Matches were included. Everything would be taped, and the top matches would be broadcast.
The tilted board was not only composed of flowers, but they were RARE flowers, all miniature varieties, some available nowhere except the Potter Gardens. Harry and Neville had painstakingly brought each square to full bud in Harry's greenhouses, placing them in stasis at the peak of anticipation so that every variety would be in full bloom as the same time for the show. Now, it isn't difficult for a gardener to get blooms out-of-season, but to get all 64 of these at the same time was going to catch some eyes. This board was life-size, though only the Kings would be actual humans, standing on stones set into the ground. The rest of the pieces were 3-foot holograms, moving as verbally directed by the Kings.
On that Wednesday morning, as they were setting up again, Ginny came down the aisle. She was wearing a lavender dress with a jacket that just revealed her 'baby bump.' She had a huge, lacy, white garden hat, lace gloves, and low heeled white shoes. Just as she arrived, and before she could catch Harry's attention from the preliminary Match discussions, there was a disturbance behind her.
There was always a lot of Security, but it was still early and the gates were not open. Nonetheless, a flock of men in gray suits mixed with the T-shirted flower show staff spread down the aisle. Some of them looked at Harry, scanned the rest of his group, and spoke into throat mikes before moving on.
Harry looked down to see who was coming. Abruptly, he grabbed Ginny's hand and hissed, "Everybody, kneel down! Girls, full curtsy!" Surprised, they did so as a small cluster of people came slowly down the aisle, looking at the show. The central person was a short, stout woman dressed in powder blue.
She stopped in front of him and said, "Lord Potter, this seems to be the first time you have appeared before Us. We have heard much about you! Rise, introduce your group."
Harry rose, and began, "This is Ginevra, my Lady Wife. Over there in the Red King crown is her brother, Ron Weasley, who is about to play the next chess match against our childhood friend and rival, Victor Krum of Bulgaria, wearing black." Those two grinned at each other, with suddenly matching profiles. "Business associates of mine, Lord Neville Longbottom and Miss Hermione Granger." He went around the small group, introducing the officials for the Match.
"We see the astonishing good hologram chess pieces. Who programmed them?" Ron blushed, and waved.
"Lord Potter, your flowers are amazing. Your display is not the most complex in the Show, but it is clever, and the flowers themselves are the whole point. We have never seen some of these before!"
"Your Majesty, allow me to gift the entire display to you! I will arrange for them to be delivered to any Royal greenhouse you desire, with full information on each. Many are unique varieties, bred and maintained only in the Potter Collection. The Potter family would be honored to have some of ours in your personal gardens."
"We accept this gift, with pleasure. Our Secretary will contact you." The group moved on. Harry sagged into a chair! Several people pulled out small blue vials and either offered them to Harry or drank them.
Ginny looked around at the winded group, all looking shell-shocked. "Who was that?"
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