While You Slept
Lady Countryrose
Ch. 10
After the children had their treat. Everyone had gathered outside. Where the children and Beth had grabbed some tree seeds that they could find. They added their blood on the seeds and then planted them into the ground. Each of them said, "With this seed and blood, I am part of the land."
Once they were planted, the land gave off a shimmering light, before it settled. Charlus raised his wand, "Sanguinis familia, familia terrae." Before the magic let out a hum, then quiet down once more. "Now you are added into the wards. Where you don't need us to gain permission to come onto the land again."
Beth sighed, "That is a relief. Now I can come and go, for work." She turned to her son. "Now Macbeth, stay out of trouble. I will walk to town for a few hours."
"Okay, mummy. I will see you when you come back."
Beth had left and Dorea had encouraged the children to enjoy the outdoors. She sat at one of the lounge chairs, while she called for a house elf. Asking for parchment and a quill. Within moments, she had penned her letter to the Daily Prophet.
Barnabas Cuffe,
I would like to have a meeting with you at Potter Manor in a couple of days for tea. I enforcely, forbid Rita Skeeter to come into my home. If she does come, I will see to it that your paper is no longer issued in the United Kingdom.
Best of wishes,
Dorea Potter
PS
I do have some surprises for you.
She had sealed and sent her house elf to deliver it by owl. Within a couple of hours, she had a reply.
Lady Dorea Potter,
As you wish.
Barnabas Cuffe
Editor of the Daily Prophet
With a smile on her lips. She sighed in content. She was only too having to see that everything will be right as rain, soon.
'James, do wake up soon.'
Later that day, they learned from Beth that she would be working at a local flower shop. It was only a probationary set of time. But Dorea believed that Beth would stay on.
After dinner, Dorea took Hermione to the library. While Charlus took Harry on to another game of chess. While Beth took her son home for the night.
Once in the library, Dorea turned to Hermione. "What have you found interesting?"
Hermione lit up with a glow of happiness that was near blinding. "Grandma, would it be too much to ask for a familiar? I read that they are to support your magic, while you grow into it."
Dorea smiled, "That is a lovely idea. I had a hawk. He was quite protective. He wouldn't allow anyone but your grandpa near me."
"What happened to him," asked Hermione.
"He died around the time James was born. That poor bird, he gave me a few of his feathers that I made into quills. He was the only bird I had loved so dear."
"What was his name?"
Dorea smiled, "His name was Dearg. He was a red tail hawk, after all."
It was then she taught that Hogwarts had mainly allowed cats, rats and toads to school. But by the spark in Hermione's eyes, she saw a hint of a challenge that wasn't there before. 'There is the spark of James.' Ever since the blood adoption, she had seen hints of James in Hermione. She just hopes that James will wake up to meet her before school starts in three years time.
After a couple of hours, she wished her grandchildren a good night. Knowing in two days, things will change for them soon.
The next dawn and with that, Dorea was dragging the children to Diagon Alley that day. She needed them to dress sharply for the photographer the next day. She wore a pair of simple clothes for her to slip in and out of the market square, without notice. It would not do well if they knew about the children, before the paper told their story. No, it wouldn't do well with her plans at all.
She wore blue jeans, which she had grown comfortable with. Even during the years of watching over Harry. With a lilac cotton, button-down shirt. Along with a pair of brown sandals. Dorea earned a scandalized look from Charlus.
He walked over to her and pulled her close to him. Seeing the fire in his eyes. "I love this look on you, my dear. You should have started wearing muggle clothes a long time ago."
Dorea couldn't help the blush that warmed her cheeks. It had been a while since she had seen her husband bothered by her. "I had done a lot of things while you slept. I had a lot of free access to your funds, after all."
Charlus groaned, "I had seen that. But you had also brought in some investment as well. What is a Mirosoft?"
She smiled at him. "It is a company that muggles rely on. I believe it will be one of your best investments."
"Muggle," asked Hermione with a new bit of knowledge. "What is a muggle?"
Charlus turned to her with a smile. "No magic folk, some call them no-mage. It is what your parents were, before we adopted you for our son."
After a good hearty breakfast. Dorea led all three children to the fireplace and into the Leaky Cauldron. Before they had gone into Diagon Alley. She was pleased that no one had tried to stop her. She then took the children to Twilfitt and Tattings.
Dorea knew it was a high and stuffy place. But the children deserve the best. She ushered them into the shop. Glad to see that no one else was inside.
The shopkeeper looked towards Dorea with a glare. Before she gasped, "Lady Potter, my word!"
Dorea turned to the woman with a glare of her own. "I will pay a high price for these three clothes. If you keep your trap closed."
The shopkeeper nodded her head and rushed around the shop. In the end, Harry and Macbeth had five sets of suits. Each having silk button-down shirts, trousers, vests and suit jackets. Harry had sets of dark red, green, and brown (earth tones). Along with a set of black and gray sets.
Macbeth had blue, green and brown sets. Along with a deep purple set that looked nearly black. And a blue set that was just as dark.
When it came to Hermione, she glared at seeing the choice of dresses. But found some pestle that looked lovely on her. A lilac dress with silver threading, along with an ice blue with the same silver. Hermione had gotten a few women's suit outfits of her own, midnight blue, medium gray and burgundy red. Each being silk dress shirts, vests, and skirts and pants options.
Hermione had found a few other silk shirt options that could go with any of the suit options. Mainly white, black, charcoal gray, cream, and others. Dorea was only too happy to provide. After that, the children changed back to their everyday clothes. She told the shopkeeper to send the clothes to the manor.
She then led them to the Magical Menagerie's shop. Where Harry fell in love with a snowy owl. Hermione had found a cat-Kneazle crossbreed, Crookshanks. While a Puffskein hopped into Macbeth's hands, before rushing towards his neck and snuggling him.
Dorea laughed at the sight. "Wow, you have made a fast friend there, Macbeth."
He giggled from the Puffskein's attention on him. "Yeah, it looks like it."
Dorea bought their creatures, and the things they would need. Before heading back home. She would have to say, it was more enjoyable to shop, when no one could see who she was. Once at home, she allowed the children to do as they please. Since the next day would be stressful.