Chapter 42: Sunday Search Operation

End of August, 2007

The Burrow

It's a relatively warm day in Devon after a never-ending week of drizzling rain and cloudy skies. And while the rain has worked wonders for Molly's dahlias and the lawn in the back looks luscious and green, everyone is all too happy to enjoy their weekly lunch at the Burrow outdoors in the sun.

Harry and Ron are currently sitting under the apple tree, cold butterbeers in hand, sharing juicy office gossip under the pretence of watching James, Freddie and Tessa. The three toddlers are sat in a spacious magical playpen conjured by Audrey, loudly testing the new set of instruments their Uncle Charlie has brought from his recent work trip to France. James, Little Freddie and Percy's 18 month-old daughter Tessa, already sharing an unusual tight bond at their age, seem to be having a blast as they push and hit their toys to make the most booming and raucous sounding noice possible.

Closer to the house, Tessa's elder sister Lucy is happily sitting on Grandpa Arthur's lap at the magically enlarged table as she peacefully colours in her Disney colouring book. Arthur, wearing a bright pink children's straw hat that Dominique discarded right on his head barely five minutes after arriving at her grandparents' house, is meanwhile trying to keep up with a fantastic sounding story being told by Lucy's twin sister Molly. On the other side of the table, Hermione can't help but smile at Molly's tales, once again marvelling at the child's exceptional eloquence as the five-year-old speaks of water dragons, pirates and merpeople on a great adventure.

Thankfully accepting a glass of water from Andromeda, Hermione takes a sip and tries to ignore her aching back. In the middle of her third trimester now, Hermione has progressively gotten more uncomfortable in her body and thus has gladly taken the job of staying sat and holding little Albus. At 4 weeks old, the youngest Potter is a precious little thing, quiet and calm, perhaps the unfussiest of the Weasley grandchildren as of yet. Putting her glass down, Hermione leans down to kiss her nephew's soft dark fluff of hair, breathing in his addictive baby smell.

Next to Hermione, Fleur is trying to bottle-feed baby Louis, always a tricky business. 6 month-old Louis has been a boisterous little thing from day one, the complete opposite of baby Albus, but so alike his elder sisters. As she tries to coax her son to take the bottle, Fleur is engaging in a vivid discussion between Bill, Charlie and George. The brothers seem to be discussing some invention of George's, while Percy listens intently, clearly not impressed by his brothers' ideas. While he stays out of most decisions regarding WWW, he can't help but keep an eye and ear out, knowing George's inventions are more often than not borderline illegal.

At noon sharp, the back door to the kitchen opens wide and out walk Grandma Molly, Audrey and Ginny. Accompanied by three-year-old Dominique, each of the women is levitating an array of bowls and plates, filled with a delicious smelling Sunday roast. The dishes have barely been let down when Molly announces, "Lunch time!", and quickly, everyone gathers around the large table. A few minutes go by in a flurry of putting kids in highchairs, fastening bibs on toddlers, filling sippy cups and handing out children's indestructible plates, and handing out food before everyone has finally found a seat. Everyone but two of her grandchildren, as Molly points out in wonderment.

"Where are Teddy and Victoire?"

Around the table, the adults share a round of looks as they register the absence of the two eldest children of the bunch.

"I thought they were with you, Charlie?"

"I played a single game of cards with them this morning."

"I think I saw Teddy by the shed earlier."

"Dad shooed them off and sealed the lock with a charm."

"I think Victoire was changing out of her dress when I went to use the loo. That was over an hour ago, though."

"They did ask how long it was until lunch a while ago."

"Last time I saw them, they were playing with the Quaffle by the tree house. Maybe they went up there and didn't hear us?"

"I'll check."

"Good. I'll check the house; they might have gone up to the attic again."

"I'll check the chicken scoop then."

When Bill returns a minute later, having found no sign of the kids in either the shed nor the chicken scoop, and Charlie comes back empty-handed from the tree house too, everyone expects Harry to have found the rogues in the Burrow. When he emerges through the backdoor on his own as well, having searched every room, corner and hiding spot inside, a queasy feeling spreads among the family. Looking at each other and around the garden, no one speaks, creating an uncharacteristic quietness around the table. It's Ron who, shoving a buttered bun into his mouth as he stands up, keeps a level head and initiates the search operation in full Auror manner.

"Alright, everyone. The two buggers can't have gotten far. Dad and Bill, you look inside again. Charlie, you go check out the front and driveway. George, you check out the pond. Harry, you go east while I go west."

Everyone jumps into action at once, paying no attention to Ginny getting up from the bench and carefully tucking baby Albus into his pram, before making her way down her parents' back garden. Breathing deeply, she heads towards the gate that leads out of the fenced area, she sighs to herself when she finds the wooden gate ajar. Leaving the garden through the gate, Ginny can't help but feel a ball of worry deep in her stomach. What if the kids ran off? They know to stay within the safe area around the Burrow. What if someone took them?

Walking through the orchard towards the paddock behind the pear trees, the worry shifts steadily into irritation as Ginny begins to hear excited voices waft over. The nearer she gets to the Weasley's designated Quidditch pitch, the louder she can hear the children's laughter.

"Teddy Lupin!" Ginny's voice is loud and angry as she stems her arms into her hips, watching Teddy and Victoire happily circling the paddock on their training brooms without a care in the world. It gives her a slight satisfaction when she sees her godson whip his head around, his hair losing all colour as he registers the look on Ginny's face. "What do you think you're doing!"

"I- we- uhm." Turning his broom around, Teddy grimaces. While going flying had sounded like a brilliant idea earlier, he can see they're in deep trouble now. He looks at Victoire for help, but the little witch doesn't seem fazed in the slightest. In fact, Victoire smiles at him brightly as she speeds over to him. "Vicky, I think we should get down."

While Ginny is busy brandishing her wand to send a message to the house, the two kids skilfully steer their brooms back to the ground. Both of them land safely and without a hitch, and if she wasn't supposed to be angry, Ginny would be highly impressed by Teddy's graceful landing. But instead of praising the two on their skills, Ginny gives them her best interrogative look. "Well, what have you got to say?"

Teddy opens his mouth but is saved from answering by Bill storming towards them. Harry and George follow close behind, the latter looking like the only one of the adults enjoying the whole hubbub before lunch. "Victoire Gabrielle Weasley!"

Victoire, entirely too calm in Teddy's opinion considering the expressions their parents are currently wearing, flashes her most angelic smile at her father as he stops in front of her. "Hi, daddy! Did you see me do the double back?"

"Honestly, Victoire, I can't believe you!" Bill looks at his eldest daughter in bewilderment. "You know better than to go flying alone!"

Teddy looks down at his shoes, his hair quickly changing to a gloomy blueish black after catching Harry's eyes for a moment. Next to him, Victoire crosses her arms in front of her chest and gives her father a challenging look in return.

"Well, we weren't really alone. We were together, Teddy and I."

The adults stare at the cheeky little witch, unsure how to response to that. Victoire's logic seems to have taken the wind out of Bill's sails and Ginny isn't sure whether to yell or laugh. Harry chokes on his own spontaneous laugh when Bill glares at him. It's George who pats Bill on the back and grins at his oldest brother. "You really can't argue with that, can you?"

Nonetheless, the two end up not being allowed to go flying for two weeks, and a day of helping Grandpa Arthur in the garden as punishment.

Rules are made to be bend, aren't they? ;)

Love a bit of Victoire/Teddy. I hope you enoyed it too.

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xx catchingdragons