Chapter 19 New Friends

Emily spent the week with her family and then the weekend with Tonks, Hermione and Ginny. The three women were helping with the preparations for Hermione and Ron's wedding the following weekend – which Harry had forgotten would be so soon and this left Harry to deal with Ron and his 'stag night' on the Saturday.

On Tuesday he arrived at Emily's and waited in her private living room with Sarah and her Grandparents. Harry sat nervously across from Fred Prewett.

"How did you enjoy The Burrow? Meeting the Weasleys?" Harry asked.

"Oh, it was good to see them all, a wonderful family," Fred grinned in reply, "Amazingly, I felt quite relaxed with them, when I was younger, I always felt left out at big family gatherings." He smiled kindly as he added, "I guess I am more comfortable with the person I am now and not worried about not measuring up anymore."

Harry thought about this and realised that it made a lot of sense. As a child Fred would have been treated as though he had some kind of handicap, unable to join in with the other children's games. But as an established career man, he now stood on equal footing.

"I hope that Emily will feel that way, that she is equal to them I mean…" Harry trailed off, unsure of what he wanted to say.

"I'm sure that she does, or she will do with time," Fred said. "You must always encourage her to have a career and accomplishments of her own."

Harry nodded, realising Fred understood exactly what he meant.

Emily emerged from the bedroom, dressed in soft lilac robes with darker purple trim; her hair was pilled on top of her head, with curls escaping around her face.

"Wow," Harry breathed, "you look spectacular. Dumbledore will be jealous."

"Albus Dumbledore?" Fred asked, "Good Lord, how old is he now?"

"You know Dumbledore?" Harry asked.

"Everyone knows Dumbledore," Fred replied, "he helped to get me muggle papers sorted out years ago, so that I could leave the magical world and go to school."

"Well, you'll meet him at Hermione and Ron's wedding," Harry said, "And I reckon he must be pushing about a hundred and sixty by now."

"I know you said that wizards lived longer but I didn't realise that you meant you would live for quite that long," Emily added.

"Well, even for a wizard, Dumbledore is very old." Harry held out his hand to her and asked, "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes," Emily replied nervously.

"Don't worry, they'll love you," Harry smiled down at her.

 They said their goodbyes and Harry took them to Dumbledore's home. The door was immediately answered by Tikka (the house-elf) which brought a squeak from Emily. Harry tightened his grip on her hand as they were led inside.

Dumbledore was waiting for them in dining room with Minerva McGonagall. Harry introduced Emily and she politely shook hands. Gallantly pulling out her chair, Harry let Emily sit at one side of the table before he took his place opposite her, leaving Dumbledore to seat Minerva and himself at the head and tail of the table.

Tikka appeared and served the starter, and Emily watched in fascination as the little elf squeezed Harry's shoulder as she passed.

"How are you Tikka?" Harry asked gently.

"I is good, master Harry – but the house is quiet now that you have left," Tikka replied.

Harry smiled in reply and then caught Emily's expression. He explained, "I stayed here when I was a student and Tikka looked after me. She's a house-elf."

"I wonder how long it will take for me to stop being surprised by things you seem to take for granted," Emily smiled.

"You should always find something to surprise you in life my dear," twinkled Dumbledore, "It is what keeps me young."

Harry snorted his wine and said, "From Emily's point of view you're positively ancient. I doubt she's met many people over the age of a hundred."

Dumbledore laughed merrily and raised his glass to Harry.

"I hear that you're thinking of moving to Hogsmeade after the wedding," Minerva asked.

"Harry suggested that my niece would enjoy going to school with other magical children," Emily replied.

"The school has proven popular," Minerva replied, "and we have benefited from it greatly at Thistledown. The wizard born children who come to us have a much better basic education now."

"You teach at Thistledown?" Emily asked.

"Yes, I'm the Headmistress. I took over when Albus left to become Minister."

"You're the Minister of Magic?" Emily asked with a gulp.

Harry smiled as Dumbledore nodded, "Though I am thinking of retiring soon."

"Really?" Harry asked, "You haven't mentioned that before."

"I have now reached my 16th decade," Dumbledore said with a smile, "I think I deserve to relax a little."

"That's old," Emily blurted out, than put her hand over her mouth and blushed. "Sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect."

Dumbledore laughed and replied, "Not at all child, it is old."

"Any thoughts of taking his place Minerva?" Harry asked.

"Heavens no," she replied, "I'm perfectly happy with my job thank you. Besides I don't have Albus' tact and diplomacy – I would be forever offending people."

"Now dear," Albus smiled, "that simply isn't true. You can be just as tactful as I when you want to be."

"Hhmmf"

Harry laughed at their antics and said to Emily, "Albus had to be bullied into taking the position in the first place." Then he asked, "Do you have anyone in mind as a successor?"

"Well it is customary for me to present the candidates six months before an election. So I will be making an announcement soon. I am hoping to convince Arthur to stand, but I'm not sure he will."

"He would do a wonderful job I'm sure," Harry replied. "You know Arthur – he's Molly's husband," he added for Emily's benefit.

"Oh yes, I met him the other day, he kept us laughing for ages with all his questions about 'muggle technology'."

"I bet he didn't pronounce it like that though," Harry laughed.

Emily smiled and said, "Don't be nasty, he was very sweet."

"He is, I love the whole family dearly," Harry replied.

"Of course," Minerva said, "You're related to Molly aren't you?" looking at Emily, who nodded in agreement. "Distantly, my father is her cousin."

"Well, Molly will finally get her wish Harry, she has wanted you married into the family for years," Minerva smiled.

Harry laughed and said, "I never thought of that."

"What does Sarah think about all this," Dumbledore asked Emily, as Tikka reappeared to serve the main course.

"She is over the moon that I am marrying Harry, she has a sever case of hero worship, were he's concerned," Emily smiled fondly at her new fiancé. "I think that she's also relieved to know that the things that happen to her are normal. She's not scared of her own magic now."

"She will no doubt become very powerful," Dumbledore replied and then looked at Harry and added, "I am looking forward to seeing you have to deal with a powerful and moody teenager."

"Hey, I wasn't moody," Harry protested.

Minerva let out an uncharacteristic grunt of suppressed laughter and said, "Emily dear, let me tell you about the most troublesome student I ever had in my house."

The meal continued as Minerva and Dumbledore related all the embarrassing examples of Harry's rule breaking at school while Harry sat red-faced and tried to deny them. When it was time to leave, Emily, Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were fast friends. And Harry was a tad miffed about the character assassination, as he called it. Promising to see them at the wedding, Harry took Emily home.