Author's Note: Hello again, hope you're having a good Monday. Here's the next chapter, some fluff after the drama of the last chapter. BTW: I am not anti-Fred, I like Fred a lot. Rosie, though wasn't too sure about Fred when she got her name. I am not Fred bashing in this story. Thanks for reading and reviewing, I love seeing what you think. MNF

Chapter 24:

Potter

After being at the Potter's home until nearly two in the morning, it was a rather sleepy Junie and Sirius who Flooed back at nine-thirty to help with party set-up. The birthday girl was still sleeping, of course, but Lily explained Rosie had been awake until nearly four when Lily finally gave her a Sleeping Potion, a mild one of Lily's own creation for when Dreamless Sleep was too powerful, so they could both rest. Lily told Junie she thought she could function on five hours of sleep. Junie told her friend that she was welcome to go to Grimmauld Place if she needed sleep and take a nap. It would be much quieter there.

James quickly commandeered Sirius to help him run the errands, and pick-up needed party items, which left Lily and Junie to organize the decorating and food. Sirius had offered the use of their house-elf, Minsey, to assist Iggy with the food preparation, and when the pair of witches came into the kitchen, they paused to watch the well-orchestrated activities there. Bowls with whisks floated mid-air above the chocolate sponge cake while Minsey was creating pink, purple, and white sugar roses out of magic. Iggy had three trays of food going into the oven while three others flew out. The three that came out were hand-raised pies, a tray each of beef, chicken, and vegetables. The pastry on the top was in the shape of what was inside.

Already prepared and charmed to stay chilled were the salads, Rosie's favourite: Stilton, apple and walnut; a potato salad dotted with chives; and a pasta niçoise. The last looked so delicious. Junie was tempted to find a small bowl and dive into the pasta, fresh vegetable, cheese, and deli meats combination. The other items, which were either room temperature or chilled, were also finished, like the pineapple and cheese triangle sandwiches – Rosie's childhood lunch favourite – the cheese and chive puffs and the cheese and bacon scones. The pita bread, sliced crudites, and hummus were also there. Lily made sure there were vegetarian options for Marley, Remus, and their boys. Remus did indulge in rare meat at his time of the month, however.

"You do realize there is a lot of cheese on your menu," Junie said as she looked around. "All you need is a wheel of Camembert, and you could open a shop."

"I think it just went into the oven," Lily said, and the pair laughed. "You do remember how she devoured it as a child, correct?"

"Oh yes, in fact, if I don't request quiche on the day she comes for tea, she's quite put out. Is that in the ovens too?"

"Along with the sausage rolls," Lily confirmed. "I don't see any of the afters, save the cake. That must be what they'll work on next."

"I'm not going to fit into my wedding gown when I go for the fitting after eating my way through your feast," Junie moaned, and the pair left the house-elves to their work. They went out to the marquee and began to decorate the plain white interior. Garlands of white, pink, and purple roses were created and strung over the windows, which were opened wide to let in the late spring air. Mixed with the roses were garlands of golden beads and pearl-like clusters. They covered the tables with pink and purple tablecloths and set white candles floating in large, flat bowls filled with water that also had flower petals drifting in them.

Lily created a huge sign that said "Rosie," made of roses that Junie shook her head no. "That is just embarrassing, Lil. She isn't three and just learning to spell her name. Everyone knows they're here because she's become an adult."

"Fine," Lily acquiesced, and the sign was gone as quickly as it had come.

The pair began working on the napkins, using magic to twist them into rosebuds and laying one in the centre of each place setting, sans the plate, which was at the buffet lines. A final addition to the tables was scattering rose petals and tiny bracts of Baby's breath.

Junie and Lily conversed comfortably about Rosie and some of the proud or silly moments of her life. When they reached the buffet table, where the food would be served. Lily decided there weren't enough dinner plates, so the pair duplicated another twenty-five china plates, even though Junie was sure there had been enough before. She wasn't going to argue with Lily today.

The pair returned to the house and quickly did some decorating of the main hallway – all the guests would pass through it either by Floo or Apparation and then head out to the marquee through the French doors directly off the hallway. Lily intended to put a charm on the doors to the formal sitting room, informal sitting room, dining room, and music rooms so they would be left undisturbed. She did not want to be cleaning stains off the white carpet of the formal sitting room or attempting to explain the sausage roll stuffed into the bell of a tuba to the repair person. (This happened at Harry's seventeenth party, much to Lily and Euphemia's dismay.)

When Lily and Junie were about to sit down and share a cuppa, the men returned home, and they went to the dining room to sort through the purchases. There were several gifts James had to pick up, as well as two items from the vault. Lily sent him upstairs to hide all of these in their bedroom. James and Sirius had discovered how to create a negative space vault when they were younger. The wall looked solid, but if you were keyed into the magic, your hand would pass through and into the holding space. James and Lily had one in their home too, as well as one in Grimmauld Place. The final item they had picked up was a huge bouquet of pink and purple balloons. Unlike Muggle ones, these were magical, and when you were done with them, you returned them to the party store, where they deflated them and saved them for another occasion. No waste unless one broke.

Sirius kissed his fiancée, who blushed at his enthusiasm. "We're at the Potters," she complained.

"You have no idea how many times James booted me out of our dorm room or that dinky flat we shared until these two were married. My kissing you is just a tiny payback."

"Let's go have some tea, then we'll head home for lunch and changing so we can be back here at two to help with the last-minute catastrophes." The family, which included the Marauders and their wives and Junie, would be with Rosie when she met the family matriarchs and patriarchs, and Monty Potter shared what it meant to be in this family. Harry and Ginny would be allowed in, but the younger children would not. They could not know certain things until they were of age. Arthur and Molly had volunteered to come to watch the younger Potter and Lupin children. The Pettigrews were not going to arrive until close to five due to their open shops in Hogsmeade. It wasn't uncommon for the Potters, Lupins, Sirius, and Junie to get together, and the Pettigrews had some excuse why they couldn't join them. Usually, it was their young son, even though Dorothy's parents were thrilled to child mind.

At two-oh-three pm, Junie and Sirius arrived via Apparition, as Junie refused to wear her dress through the Floo. Rosie had asked that everyone come dressed in the shade of a rose or wearing a rose printed dress on the invitations. Junie knew about the request before the invitations went out, as Rosie had told her, so when she and Sirius went shopping for clothing – the day no expense was to be spared – Junie picked up a dress by the same designer who made her sparkling yellow dress. This one was a simple column dress in a nude colour. On top, though, was a sheer overlay with roses of every shade embroidered onto the tulle fabric. It was sleeveless and fell to just below Junie's knees. She wore her bone-coloured heels and just her engagement ring and diamond studs in her ears. When they stepped through the door, Lily and Ginny stopped and stared at her.

"Where do you find these amazing clothes?" Ginny asked.

"Mount Street in Mayfair," Junie said coolly.

"I got my bonus from the Harpies; we are so going shopping together," the younger woman said excitedly. Ginny was wearing a beautiful pale peach gown with the illusion of roses painted into the various layers of gossamer-like material. Lily had a beautiful white, belted dress with roses cascading down from her left shoulder to the full skirt. The roses were in various shades of pink and purple.

"Sounds like a plan. Lily, you look amazing," Junie said, hugging her friend. "Did you have the dress especially made?"

"I did," she said proudly. "It's not every day your only daughter turns seventeen."

"Well, I'm the fortunate one who is surrounded by all of you," Sirius said suavely. He was wearing a pale grey suit with a deep pink shirt, floral waistcoat, and a pale pink tie. Junie wouldn't say it to anyone else, but she loved him in pink. He always was dressed well, but he had become more adventurous in his dressing since they'd become a couple. He was now incorporating colours, like the shade of his shirt, into his wardrobe. Sirius kissed the cheeks of Lily and Ginny. They went through to the formal sitting room where the family and the portraits were gathered. They were just waiting for Marlene and Remus to come down from depositing their two into the Weasleys' care.

Sirius and Junie greeted Fee and Monty, Fee commenting on Junie's dress and how elegant they looked. She was so happy they were together, knowing how long her 'other son' had waited for someone to love. Granny wasn't going to be outdone by the younger set and had on a gorgeous set of robes in dusky pink with a floral jacket over the top. Monty whispered something into Junie's ear, and she nodded and blushed furiously. He wore tan robes, a white shirt, and his tie matched his wife's jacket.

Junie and Sirius took their seats when Marlene and Remus rushed in. Marley had a beautiful sheath dress in pale pink with a halter top. Remus wore a dark grey suit with a pale grey shirt and a lavender tie. Junie couldn't remember when they'd all looked this put together. They certainly didn't put this much effort into Harry's seventeenth birthday celebration. Then again, Harry didn't care what people wore. The colour scheme was royal blue and baby blue – the colours of Tutshill Tornadoes. Junie remembered thinking the marquee looked more like a frozen tundra, all white and blue. Even the cooling charm had malfunctioned, and it was too cold, so people kept going out to the garden to warm up.

Now that everyone was seated, Rosie came in. She was in a stunning gown. It was the palest of pinks, and the full skirt ended just above her knees. It was made of layers of sheer silk. The top was entirely embroidered with roses of pink and purple on the same silk. A sparkly belt wrapped around her tiny waist. She wore remarkably high-heeled shoes in a nude colour. The only jewellery she wore were the pink diamond studs Lily and James had already given her today and the bracelet from Fred. The latter surprised her, as Junie thought Miles was coming to the party. James stood and escorted Rosie to her seat, and Lily had tears in her eyes watching them.

There weren't many elder Potters left. Neither Monty nor Fee had any living siblings, and James had grown up with only second or third cousins, as all purebloods were related somehow. James' single living second cousin, the son of Dorea and Charlus Potter, was there with them. Ernest Potter was also the second cousin of Sirius, as Ernest's mother was a Black. She was auntie to both Sirius's mother and father. Whenever he thought of the inbreeding the Blacks were so fond of, he was thankful that his Junie wasn't related to him unless you thought about that common ancestor centuries ago.

James welcomed everyone and then sat down as the portrait of his grandfather, Alloysius, would proceed with the ceremony of lessons. He explained that Claymont was the third home to be built on this property. A Potter had resided on these lands since the twelfth century. "We have always been stewards to the land and to the people who reside in the village which supported our homes. While your parents do not need to employ villagers to create all that is needed, we are still responsible for the welfare of the people who live near our home."

"Great-grandfather," Rosie said, breaking the tradition of the new adult Potter staying silent until the gifting section. "Why are we concerned about the village? They're mostly Muggles. I don't have anything against Muggles, but if we aren't supposed to reveal ourselves to them, why do we care for them?" Lily covered her mouth to keep from chastising her daughter, and Ernest gave James a dirty look. Alloysius looked at the girl and smiled.

"Because one day we will either die out, or the Muggles will learn of magic. We cannot continue living in secret side-by-side. If we die off, then magic will be lost; we cannot let that happen. It is more likely the Muggles will learn of us. If those surrounding us know of our concern and care for them, then they might be less frightened and will, in turn, protect and care for us." Rosie nodded. "You are the first to be bold enough to ask me a question. I find your bravado refreshing." Rosie smiled at that and fought the urge to turn to her older brother and stick her tongue out at him.

Alloysius then introduced the gentleman who first had the name of Potter. He had been commissioned by King Henry II to create a set of beautiful pots for his wife. His name was Bromley, and he was a short, bald man with a horrible, hooked nose. Rosie was glad that nose had been lost through genetics over the years. Bromley told of how he became the king's wizard, and when the king was killed, he fled to the lands which now hold this home.

There was a section about the crucial things the Potters had done over the generations. Monty's famous potion making was mentioned, as was her father's contributions to wizarding England's legal system. Alloysius even mentioned Harry, and his phenomenal flying skills, although stating he was playing for the wrong team. Potters had always been Tutshill fans. The room laughed, and Harry joked about getting traded. Junie and Sirius looked at each other and shook their heads. Harry had a five-year contract.

Alloysius' wife, Morwena, began speaking about the special duty of being a daughter of the Potter line. While not as uncommon as having a girl in the Weasley family, Potter families tended to produce boys, and being a girl in the line was an exceptional honour. As such, she would one day be an ambassador for all that the Potter family stood for as she joined her marital family. She would bring the next generation of children in the Potter line into this world. Her responsibility was to raise the children to always consider themselves stewards to those who lived near the Potter ancestral home, even if she did not reside here. Rosie thought it was a bit sexist that it was stressed to her as a girl and wondered if Harry had been told the same thing when he turned seventeen.

Then Morwena began the gifting portion of the ceremony. The first gift was a tiara to wear throughout her party. It had once belonged to Morwena, but her grandmother, Fee, had worn it often. Rosie hugged her grandmother when it was presented to her. Lily helped pin the tiara into Rosie's hair. Then Fee gave her a graduated golden-pink pearl necklace, created for Rosie, which signified how she was the culmination of the dedicated lives by Potter women before her.

Next, Monty presented her with the key to her own vault and a parchment stating what was in the vault and the total value.

"Really?" Rosie said, surprised. "Are you sure I should get so much?"

"Yes, my darling girl, that is your share of the family wealth," Monty said, wrapping an arm over her shoulders. "Potion creation was very good to our family."

"Sure was," Rosie said. "I wish I was better at it." The room laughed at her bluntness. She wasn't horrible in Potions and had managed an Exceeds Expectations on her OWL, but she wasn't going to make a career out of it.

James and Lily then gave Rosie her watch, well watches, because the antique one, which was encrusted with diamonds, just wasn't something she could take back to Hogwarts with her. She was also given a more practical one with a leather band and gold watch face, which told the time and alerted her to the phase of the moon and where the primary planets were in the sky. They'd given her the earrings she was wearing and then also presented her with a necklace which matched, having a sizeable pink diamond with a rune for protection dangling below it.

Harry presented his sister with two books; one was a photo album of the two growing up together. He and Ginny had spent hours going through boxes of photographs their parents had taken of them and assembled it together. The other being an ancient guide text for runic translations. Rosie was brilliant at Ancient Runes, and there were only five copies of the guide known to remain in existence. The siblings hugged, and Harry whispered something in her ear which made her cry. Ginny told her there was a special present from her out on the gift table, and she could open it later.

Usually, Junie would have gone next as her godmother, but she'd asked to go last. Marlene and Remus had purchased a collection of Arithmancy books that weren't used by Hogwarts but that they knew were used at Beauxbatons and at the International College of Arithmancy. Rosie wasn't sure what she would do when she'd finished at Hogwarts, but she thought it might be advanced Arithmancy for medical purposes. She wanted to work in medicine like her mother, although she'd not shared that thought yet.

Sirius went next and presented her with a large box. Rosie tore into it and screamed when she saw the pink leather motorcycle jacket inside. "Is there a bike to go with it?"

"No, but I will take you out with me on mine," Sirius said thoughtfully while Lily glared at him. He'd given Harry both a professional level broom and a motorbike when he'd turned seventeen, but he was Harry's godfather. He was just Rosie's uncle. Rosie still smiled and hugged him tightly.

Finally, it was Junie's turn, and even Sirius didn't know what his fiancée had planned. She handed Rosie a thin box and a thick envelope. Rosie opened the box first and found a charm bracelet inside. Looking at the charms, Rosie realized it was a history of all the things she had done with her godmother since the day she was born.

"You've been adding to this," Rosie said softly. "This one is dated nineteen-ninety, and it's the Eiffel Tower. That's my first trip to Paris with you. This one was from the ballet we went to when I was ten and," she stopped, too tearful to continue. Rosie stood and hugged her godmother and said a whispered thank you. Rosie quickly attached it to the wrist that was free of jewellery. Then she sat back down and opened the envelope made of heavy paper. She had to crack a thick wax seal to open the papers inside.

Rosie read the cover letter, then looked underneath, then reread the letter. "This is too much, I can't –"

"What is it, sweetheart?" Lily asked.

"Auntie Junie has given me her flat in London," Rosie said in shock. There were noises of surprise from everyone, and Lily tried to say it was too much, but Junie quieted them all.

"I believe that Rosie should be able to start out her adult life with a place of her own. She might want to continue her studies, and living at home with a younger sibling would make it hard. I know that you've received your name, and you may never need a place of your own, but I want you to have it, nonetheless. Should you find you don't need a London home, sell it, and invest the profits. That deed is legally binding, and your opening of the letter and cracking the seal finalized the transaction.

"I don't know what to say."

"How about thank you, Auntie Junie." Rosie stood up and ran across the room to her godmother.

"Thank you so much. You have been the best godmother ever." Junie had tears in her eyes at Rosie's words.

"You are the most magnificent goddaughter in the world."