Go back and re-read Chapter 15, Chelsea, if you haven't read it since Monday. It has been edited to include a new section of events between January to May.
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In June Harry made a request of Mind Healer Jones, whom he had brought out to the Manor to show the green and blooming flowerbeds. Harry never asked for much, so they both knew this was important to him. "The Harpies have been extremely good to me, even bringing me gifts of roots and bulbs from all the countries they have visited. ALL of them are having babies this year, including Ginny, so none of them are being very active this Summer. I'd like to invite them all here for a quiet Tea Party, so they can enjoy the flowers. That would mean about 3 dozen couples, plus Staff and their families, so about a hundred people. Not a big, noisy, party at all."
Healer Jones turned to Andi and said, "I think that would be all right. A couple of hours in the afternoon, and just the team. We can come, too, just to keep an eye on things. Perhaps their OBGYN would also like to attend?" To keep things a little quieter, they decided to hold the Tea before the Hogwarts children came home. A few of the Harpies had children old enough for boarding school, but most were small enough that they would not be coming. There would only be a few babies in strollers, and a few slightly older for the elves to watch on the playground. The playground was surrounded with plants loved by butterflies, so the air there was constantly full of bits of fluttering color. Actually, the whole garden was full of butterflies!
The elves were ecstatic! The whole Manor had to be opened, and everything cleaned. The gardens had to be absolutely perfect!
Ginny had Daisy stock her bedroom so she could rest there if she got tired. She was now far enough advanced that she had to take small rests. She was still jogging and doing a modified exercise program to stay limber, so she began daily runs in the formal garden with Puff. She didn't even notice the bushes that had been replaced and re-bedded. Her formal garden was as she liked it. She was aware of the activity in the other parts of the gardens, but still regretted that it wasn't ALL hers. She knew the team had decided the spraying of the gardens had been some awful mistake, and she was willing to leave the topic there. She wasn't stupid enough to admit she had arranged for it, or that she was disappointed she had failed.
Harry knew Ginny was visiting the house and running in the formal garden daily, even napping and changing in her room. He had no reason to be where she was. Since he barely used the hallways and his things were gone from the Suite, Ginny really didn't know he was staying in the house. They met once or twice at the floo, which was quite awkward. Ginny never even tried to go to Harry's study, but since Dobby had removed that door completely she wouldn't have found it.
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The day of the tea dawned overcast, but cleared to a pleasant, breezy afternoon. The Tea would be served on the terrace by the formal garden. There was a string trio off to one side of the laden tables. Dozens of great wicker chairs with high, arched tops for shade were spread around, each with a foot rest and a tiny table beside it. The elves were once again in their white togas. The long reflecting pool that flowed between the paths from the largest fountain bore dozens of floating white hyacinth, spinning and circling in the ruffles from the breeze, filling the air with scent. Beneath them, white Koi sheltered in the cool shadows.
Delightful as this was, everyone soon made their way around the end of the house and into the main gardens. Even Ginny came along for the quick guided tour. Though she had been here almost every day, she had not been curious enough to check out the flowers. Her bedroom overlooked the main gardens, so she had known they were in bloom. She knew about the chess medallions, having seen her brother and some of his friends going up the stairs to the sun room to play. Now she walked with the rest of the team through the roses, looked into the Meditation Walk, and then turned to the main event. The great rainbow was spread before them, extending from the beds of low white blossoms nearest the house, to the far walls by the Pitch almost hidden in the tallest dark reds against the bricks. Whites muted into lavender as the group of garden-hatted women spread out among the paths walking away from the house.
Suddenly, "OH," came a startled gasp from a Harpy who had been examining one of the medallions. The design had suddenly switched out from a white pawn to a purple bishop!
Ginny knew what that meant. "Look up there, on the balcony above us. My brother and a friend are playing a game of chess with the medallions. It is not just a design, but an actual chess board. The pieces will switch around as we walk, so try not to be too surprised. If you choose, just ask an elf to pop you up there so you can see the whole layout. There is no need to climb all those stairs!" Ginny had seen enough, and her feet were tired, so she walked back to the terrace and sank into the cushions of one of the chairs next to the hyacinth pool. An elf quickly brought her some of her favorite iced apricot tea, and some lemon biscuits. A small bowl of white grapes appeared on the tiny table.
Harry came back with a few of the others, including Gwenog. As her husband went to the tables to get her a plate, Harry seated her next to Ginny. Then he went for his own tea, settling in a small cluster of other men. Most of the women were still walking the paths. Several with strollers were taking the Meditation path, putting their babies to sleep in the heavier herbal scents. The pre-Hogwarts children, including Teddy, had been efficiently escorted to the small playground. They were served cookies and juice out there.
Gwenog spoke to Ginny, "So you were Presented to Her Majesty at the Chelsea Show? How wonderful! And your Harry gave her a gift of flowers for her garden? I've heard She loves flowers! I've never seen Her up close! We should send Her an invitation to see a game. I've heard some of the Family have come to games, but they keep a low profile. They are Magicals, but they have tutors instead of going to Hogwarts, and they wear glamors when in our world."
After a while the group of men disappeared. Shouts and laughter soon revealed them having a pick-up game on the Pitch. None of the women (who would have beaten the socks off them) were playing, but many went to watch. Harry was the best Seeker, so he was playing his second favorite position as a Chaser, and so on. The cheerleaders were clowning, doing ridiculous stunts like leaping over oncoming brooms. They were playing with the children's set of balls, too, so they were being 'macho' and taking the hit from the rubber bludgers, screaming in fake anguish.
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Harry's Tea had been a great success. Lovely weather and pleasant conversation left everyone relaxed. Harry decided that since Ginny was getting to the uncomfortable stages of pregnancy, they should have most of their 'dates' at home, having picnics on the terrace with family or friends. Ginny didn't mind. She was having, she was assured, a very easy pregnancy, probably because she was in excellent condition and continued her exercises. Still, she was awkward and her hips felt funny walking.
She was glad Puff's Obedience class was only 6 weeks long, and was almost over. It wasn't difficult, and Puff loved the daily practice assignments. Ginny truly hadn't realized how much the pup would thrive on the attention! Harry also did the daily drills, meaning Puff got two full practices every day, so she was one of the best-behaved dogs in the class despite her age barely qualifying for this group. There were about 20 other dogs in this class, with the largest being a young St. Bernard, who was quite friendly. There was a beautiful golden red-nose Pit, unclipped, who was easily the smartest dog in the group. He learned everything the first time he was shown, both commands and hand signs. He swaggered around the circle like a young king, knowing he was the best. He thought Puff was adorable, and would lie down on the ground so he could be nose-to-nose with her, waving his long tail as she sniffed him. There was a chihuahua who was a terror to everyone, including his mistress. He barked incessantly, snarled, snapped at the other dogs, and wrapped his leash around any legs at every opportunity. As far as Ginny could see, he learned nothing. She was quite sure the only reason he didn't bite anyone was the compulsory muzzle.
The advantages of the class for Ginny and Harry were clear, too. Ginny was learning to be clear in her directions and expectations. After all, if she was sloppy in giving Puff an instruction, so that Puff didn't understand what she wanted right away, yelling at the pup was not going to help. Having given the clear instruction, she had to follow through by expecting immediate obedience and giving immediate reward feedback. This could be a tiny treat, but could also be a cuddle or simply murmured praise. Re-instruction, if Puff didn't immediately comply, had to be gentle. Terrified obedience was not the desired result. They wanted Puff to obey out of love. Puff had to know what was expected and how to do it so that she could be happy. Basically, good dog training was good parenting!
Harry actually had to learn to give Puff commands. He was used to making suggestions, which worked in his life because he was the CEO, had good ideas, and had friends and employees who were self-starters. Hermione was the sort who would grab his idea and run, improving them as she went. Ron was his equal as well as his friend, CEO of his own company. He had grown up a strategist, planning and directing games before getting into business. The elves, who were symbiotic to the family, benefited from a smooth Family Magic. The discord between Harry and Ginny actually hurt them; enabling family desires and wishes made their lives better.
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Molly was delighted to be expecting another grandchild. Knowing the child was a boy, filling the second of Harry's needed 5 Heirs, was wonderful. She had already knit a year's worth of tiny sweaters, suits, booties, and delicate blankets. Most had red-and-gold themes. The rest of the family were already teasing her about trying to influence the child's House.
Molly's knitting had improved since her children were young, or perhaps she simply had time to give her art more attention. Instead of thick, study yarns in fast, practical stitches, she now used incredibly fine threads in complicated designs. Women's blouses were covered in flowers, butterflies, or birds of all colors. Men's vests were in discrete colors with geometric fantastic beasts. Silk rainbows shimmered in even the plainest baby shawls. Runes of protection were woven into borders and collars. Her own robes were no longer afghan squares of whatever leftover colors she had, but rivaled Ginny's fine Designer robes in taste and appropriateness. She had not exactly lost weight, but due to a healthier diet and proper exercise she no longer bulged or jiggled. Her clothing fit and was comfortable. She could, and did, walk through the mundane world in her normal clothing, and the only looks she might gather were admiring ones.
After Harry had given Her Majesty the flowers, Molly had knit a sheer three-quarter length vest, including all 64 flowers, bordered with a thin band of chess pieces in red-and-black. She had sent it as a gift for the Queen's Official Birthday on the second Saturday of June. To her joy she had received a nice note of thanks from one of the Ladies, which included a photo of the Queen actually wearing the vest at a garden party! Molly was too well-behaved to brag, but the picture was installed in her kitchen in a nice frame, with the note hidden behind it..
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On the second Thursday morning in July, Harry picked Teddy up early, while it was still cool. Ginny was not feeling well, and Puff needed a workout with distractions, so they took the little dog to the Hyde Park dog park. At first Teddy, being smaller, ran through the obstacle course with her yapping happily at his heels. Once the first burst of energy was released, Harry led them out into a grassy area to show Teddy the drills. Teddy had a new camera, and was shooting video of Puff as Harry worked through the set. By now other dogs were running around the bushes happily. People were tossing balls and Frisbees for them. Some owners were just sitting on nearby benches, sipping paper cups of tea from a nearby vendor.
Harry was having Puff 'sit and stay'. As he was backing away from her, a rather large but friendly-looking bulldog came loping between two bushes, and came straight toward them. It was wagging its' stub of tail, tongue lolling. Harry walked back toward Puff, and was only an arms reach away when the strange dog leaned down and scooped Puff up in his mouth, headfirst, clearly attempting to eat her! There was a flash of light, a small report, and the dog's mouth jerked opened wide. He released Puff as he rocked backward! Harry snatched Puff, who was on her back fighting, snapping and bleeding. The strange dog snapped at Harry's arm, clearly trying to get at Puff again, and Harry kicked him where it hurt. That was enough, and the dog whimpered away. Puff, cuddled into Harry's open jacket, licked at his thumb.
The dog's owner appeared, raging mad. "What did you do to my dog? He only wanted to play with yours! What is a MAN doing with such a silly little bit of fluff?" It was clear that, early as it was, he was quite drunk. His language was foul, he was unshaven and slovenly, and he ignored the shocked child still filming. His dog was panting, pawing at its' mouth. "He's hurt! You're going to pay the vet bill!"
The Park Attendant, a pre-Veterinary student on a Summer Internship, appeared at this point, attracted by the shouts and the gathering crowd. He quickly called the constable from the nearby intersection. Puff and Harry were both bleeding. The big dog's mouth seemed burned. After collecting names and addresses as they bandaged Harry and found him a towel for Puff, the Constable turned to the bulldog and his owner. "I'm sorry, sirrah, but I'll have to take your dog to be checked."
The man was in favor of this - HIS dog was injured enough to have to be taken in! Harry's bleeding puppy was probably only scratched!
Then the constable continued, "You can come down to the Station and find out which Impound he is to be taken to. It's a mandatory 10-day Observation period for a biter. You will both have to appear in Court at the end of that time. Please bring the dogs' vet certificates, any bills from the incident, or from your Doctor, Sir. Please also bring the child's film - I'm sure the Judge will want to see it. By the way, what was that flash of light?"
Harry thought fast, "Oh, the pup is wearing a training collar! The bite must have discharged the battery! I'll bring that along, too. Right now I think I need to get her to the Vet!" Puff was whimpering in his arms. The charred collar would clearly have to be cut off, because the latch was melted. Looking at it, Harry decided he had overpowered that charge a bit! However, it had done what it was supposed to.
At this point Andi came up with her medical bag, and insisted on checking Harry's arm. Teddy had called her, and warned her to come in mundane medical dress. The dog wagon came, muzzled the bulldog, and took him away while his owner swore. As they led him past Harry and Puff, the bulldog actually flinched away from the puppy! Harry quickly and discretely hit both the dog and owner with tracking charms.
In Court on the Monday 10 days later, the drunken owner (still drunk, or again) blustered that he was on Army Disability and should not have to pay anything - not the Impound and Observation fees, not the Vet bills or the Medical bills for Harry's bitten arm, 'because he was treated by a family member'. Obviously, the 4 kilo puppy must have provoked the fifty-kilo bulldog into trying to eat her! Harry ought to pay everything, including a damages penalty - he was clearly rich and getting preferential treatment. The man ranted on, unchecked, repeating himself while his own Counsel tried to get him to be quiet!
The unimpressed Judge watched the video on the large Court screen, and checked the submitted records. Puff was not only bitten, but had a broken rib which had needed emergency surgery. Harry had a booster Tetanus shot, and antibiotics but no stitches. His shirt, jacket, and Puffs' collar were all ruined. The bulldog had been treated for burns in his mouth, loosened teeth, and was scheduled for neutering before he would be released. Both dogs were properly vaccinated and registered, which saved a lot of possible trouble. However, it turned out the bulldog had a previous bite on his record, in another town with another owner.
The Judge decided. "You (speaking to Harry) are completely exonerated. You will pay nothing, and are completely free to go."
Then he turned to the drunk, who was sputtering already. "You will pay everything - the fees, the medical bills for both dogs and Lord Potter, and the neutering of your own dog before he is released. You will pay for Lord Potter's destroyed clothing, and his legal costs as well as your own. Since you are on Disability, and I understand you live in Council housing, your Public Barrister can work out a payment schedule with the Clerk. You have beer money, so you CAN afford to pay. Your dog must not only be neutered, but will be chipped as dangerous and note of that made on his vet records. He must always be on a leash AND muzzled. You may not ever let him run loose in any dog park or public area. Since this is his second offense, it is his last chance. If he ever bites again, even a nip, he must be destroyed. His ownership may not be transferred. This order will be recorded on his chip record."
"My dog is the sweetest boy you ever saw," blustered the drunk, "Just ask the people at the Impound! He hasn't given a bit of trouble there! He loves people!"
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On August 1, Harry's tracking charms showed that the man and his dog had moved to Brighton. Harry assumed that was the end of it, but much to his surprise he did begin receiving monthly checks from the Court.
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Harry had discovered 'Zoo-Doo', and was delighted to be able to send Neville a large bag of 'Lion' on the 30th. Neville returned the fun with 'Tiger', and the tradition continued. Harry's elves discovered 'Tiger' kept their Tyranorabbit out of the butterfly flowers quite nicely.
Ginny's condition had her moving the least bit possible. She had almost a month to go, but felt like a whale. The baby had turned head-down and was dropping nicely. She continued to do her stretching exercises but her runs had turned into walks. She did continue to fly, but the team trainer would not allow the ladies to perform any game drills or practice moves. Flying now was simply for the joy of it, pleasant rides through the gardens, on the family beach, or playing tag in the clouds.
This was fine with Puff, who wasn't feeling the best herself. Her punctures and stitches had been quickly Healed as soon as Court was over, but her broken rib was a different matter. Skele-grow and painkillers just didn't work very well on dogs. The break had been magically bound so it wouldn't move, but this left her walking stiffly while it healed. Fortunately, it had not punctured her lung! Puff resembled a patchwork toy, because so much of her fur had been shaved for the surgery. She wore a new collar with a newly spelled protective tag. George and Ron were going to add a line of shock collars to their store, since hers had worked so well. Each carried a dummy 'battery' sewn into the harness under a lightning bolt symbol, which provided the necessary base for the spells. Arthur was delighted!
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Harry's Birthday would be a small, family-only lunch at the Burrow. The entire family and their close friends knew of the strain between Harry and Ginny.
Molly baked a Snitch cake, Blackberry Ripple this year. Harry was overwhelmed when every single member of the family gave him lilies! Ginny, who knew she had better have something good, brought a lovely wooden vase, intricately carved from a single block of wood into a life sized cluster of lilies, by Dean Thomas, of course. Charlie had blown a chess set of Red Asian Lilies facing White Tiger Lilies that seemed too delicate to touch, though he assured Harry it was charmed to be unbreakable. Molly had knit a lightweight vest covered in tiny orange lilies, on a dark green background that exactly matched his favorite new suit. Fleur brought a large box of marzipan lilies, almost too beautiful to eat. Most of the rest had actual potted plants, of all possible colors. Harry loved them all!
After the meal, while Ginny was sitting on the deck holding a sleeping Puff in her lap, watching the children racing their cars, she suddenly cried out, "Puff! Look what you've done! What's wrong? Are you sick? Why won't it stop?" She leaped up, holding a wiggling puppy at full arms length, which of course had the people nearby turn to look at her. There was a spreading stain across her lap, soaking her clothing and soon dripping on the decking.
Molly and Andi looked at each other, and moved as one. "I'll get her to the Master bedroom. Elves, take the children to the manor."
"I'll call the OBGYN. It's too late to safely move her to St. Mungo's." Andi was waving her wand, running diagnostics. "She's at 6!"
As they took her arms, Ginny suddenly doubled over in a spasm. Supported, she managed to walk in to the shower, where they removed her ruined clothing, dressed her in a robe and slippers, and then compelled her to walk through the house between them.
There was a flurry of activity! The children were moved, along with most of the family, to wait at the manor. Puff went, too. Harry was told to stay in the living room with Arthur, and wait for the OBGYN to come through the floo.
It was too late. That baby was coming NOW! Within 20 minutes of rapid contractions, Ginny gasped, "I have to push!" As the OBGYN rushed through the doorway, the baby dropped into Molly's hands! Andi did a 'tempus', and left the time hanging in the air while they cleaned up mother and son. The afterbirth came quietly as Molly slapped her grandson to clear his lungs, and Harry and Arthur (hovering in the doorway) heard the child's first hearty cry.
When they were summoned into the room, Ginny lay in the bed holding a blue-swaddled bundle. Tired, she smiled at Harry and said, "Here's your son!," and handed him to an awed Harry. Arthur snapped a few pictures.
Harry murmured, "Hello, James Sirius, welcome to the family!" He looked at Ginny, and saw that she was already asleep. The Healers motioned him to the table, and he signed the papers they held out, barely looking at them. Then he sat in the nearby armchair, just looking at the dark-haired baby in his arms. James was awake, blinking with dark eyes, staring around.
Arthur said to the air, "I'll just pop over to the manor and tell the rest of the family!" Molly waved a hand at him but continued dabbing a wet cloth on the sleeping Ginny's face as he left.
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