A/N – I own nothing, you know the drill.

CQ

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Chapter Seven: Weasleys and Playwizards

Molly Weasley was nothing like what Maura had expected her to be. If, in fact, the older redhead standing in front of her was Molly.

Maura looked around the kitchen of Harry's home, which she had just entered in a very alarming manner. Harry had apparated them, and his arm felt warm around her waist. He had told her that traveling by Floo was dirty and overrated, and Maura smiled, remembering Harry's lack of skill and dislike of this method of travel from the books. Apparently some things were the same.

But the older witch standing with her hands on her rather ample hips looking ready to do battle was not even close to Maura's mental picture of the matriarch of the Weasley clan.

"Harry Potter! Where have you been?"

Now that, thought Maura, sounded familiar. Harry winced and then smiled at the older witch.

"Molly, how wonderful to see you. What are you doing here?"

She raised her right eyebrow at him. "I heard you have a house guest."

"Uh, yes...you've spoken to Arthur then?" Harry's eyes darted between Molly and Maura.

"At length," the woman replied dryly, turning to Maura. "Hello, dear. It's lovely to see you."

Maura was puzzled by that, but....

"Nice trip, then?"

"I..." Maura looked to Harry, confused.

"To Diagon Alley, dear. Ginny said you'd gone to explore?"

"Yes," Maura sighed. "Yes...Harry showed me around and I got some robes."

"Lovely!" Mrs Weasley put an arm around her and ushered her out of the kitchen and into the hallway, leading her towards the lounge. Maura looked desperately over her shoulder at Harry, who grinned, shrugged, and turned away.

Maura decided she'd kill him later.

Three hours later, exhausted by Molly's non-stop chatter, Maura met Arthur Weasley. Abruptly. He apparated into the kitchen, right in front of her, causing her to drop the cup of tea she'd been carrying from the counter to the table.

"Oh!" cried Maura.

"Oh, dear, I am sorry!" the older wizard fussed, dropping to one knee to help her with the spilled tea. "Oh, dear...I...good Lord!"

Maura looked up to see him staring at her.

"You must be Maura," he said faintly.

"Yes," she grabbed a cloth from the countertop and began to clear up the puddle of tea and broken china.

"Oh...terribly sorry...reparo." He flicked his wand and the shattered teacup was back in one piece, the puddle of tea disappeared.

"Oh, thank you," she said, standing.

"I'm terribly sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's okay, really."

"I'm..." he held out his hand, then realized he was holding his wand in it, quickly shifted around and held out his hand again, wand-free. "I'm Arthur Weasley."

"Oh!" Maura was surprised. This tall, lanky wizard looked nothing like....but then, neither had Molly looked as she had expected her to. This wizard, Maura recognized, was an older version of Ron, only much thinner. "It's nice to meet you. Molly is..."

"Driving everyone around the bend, I'm sure." Arthur finished for her with a grin. "When she heard you were here, well...there was no stopping her. I tried to warn Harry, but you were out."

"Harry took me to Diagon Alley."

"Ah," he nodded.

"Arthur? Is that you, love?" Molly's strident voice came from the hallway.

"In the kitchen, Molly."

They were joined by Ron and Ginny and their mother, who quickly served tea as they sat down around the large table.

"So, Mum, what brings you here today?" Ron asked, skiving one of the biscuits from a plate that Molly had apparently brought with her.

"Do I need a reason to come and see my two youngest children?"

"Yes." Ron and Ginny said together, grinning at each other in a very long-suffering way.

"Well..."

"Come on, Mum. WE know the only reason you hot-footed it over over was the see Maura," Ron confided.

"Ronald Weasley! Can't I come to visit you without..."

"Not likely. Since you gave up on marrying me off, I haven't seen you here three times in the last four months."

"Who says I've given up on marrying you off, young man?" Molly's eyes held a determined glint. Maura shuddered.

Ron immediately whitened. He glanced between his sister, who was trying to contain her laughter, and his mother, then, obviously deciding that silence was decidedly the better option, snatched another biscuit and looked down into his teacup.

"Maura," Molly turned suddenly on her. Maura gave a tiny squeak, but covered it with a cough as she sipped her tea. "Don't you think that every man of a certain age benefits from marriage?"

"Oh, absolutely, Molly," she confirmed. "I think that every man benefits from marriage."

"See, Ron?" Molly gloated.

"Unfortunately," Maura continued. "The same can seldom be said for the wife."

Ron's eyes danced, Ginny spluttered into her tea and Molly and Arthur stared, dumbfounded. Arthur recovered first, laughing out loud.

"Yes...well..." Molly stood and bustled around, cleaning the tea things just as Harry entered the room.

Seeing Ginny and Arthur choking with laughter, Molly industriously wiping his already spotless kitchen counter, and Ron's dancing eyes watching Maura, who was calmly sipping her tea, he became fully aware that he'd walked in on someone being firmly put in their place. And he had a sneaking suspicion that, for the first time in her life, it had been Molly.

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"I like her, Harry. She's got more spunk that I thought."

"Does she?" Harry asked absently as he glanced at a message from Severus. Fourteen potions instructors had been tenured, and Headmistress McGonagall had been interviewing for the DADA instructors. She had found six likely candidates, but all, apparently had more enthusiasm than experience.

"Have you noticed how she can talk to anyone? She doesn't hesitate. Put Mum in her place right quick about my getting married..."

Harry's eyes snapped up to look at his friend, "Married? I thought Molly left off with that when you told her you were going to start interviewing, and how you were going to go about weeding out the 'unacceptables'?"

"Apparently," Ron said darkly, "I underestimated my mother's...zeal."

"So she hasn't given up then?" harry looked at his friend, concerned. Molly had systematically broken down the defenses of all of her children and seen them married, one by one. All except Ron.

If she ever succeeded, Harry had a horrible suspicion that he might be next in line for her... help. Harry felt a cold sweat break out on his neck.

"Ron, you have to be strong..."

"Harry," Ron looked up at him, his bright blue eyes shooting daggers at his friend.

"I mean it, Ron. Unless you truly love..."

Ron snorted his opinion of that happy state. "Your concern would be touching, mate, if I didn't know it was because you know that as soon as she's done with me, she'll be turning her attention to you. And I know full well that that scares you spitless."

"Ron," Harry gulped. "You know what she's got planned..."

"Ah, yes," Ron's merry eyes turned on him. "My sister. The little firebrand that tossed you over in sixth year, as I remember it."

"Ginny and I are friends, Ron, and I intend to keep it that way, despite your mother's...efforts."

"Think on it, Harry. She's and attractive witch...."

"Ron," Harry's voice rose warningly.

"If I didn't know you so well, I might, just might, mind you, encourage my mother to believe that there might be fertile ground there to sow..." Ron's eye's danced with glee.

"Ron!" Harry roared.

"Would you two hush?" Ginny came into the room. "They can hear yo you in Leeds, for Merlin's sake!"

Both men looked up, startled and guilty at her entrance, wondering how much she'd heard.

"For pity's sake, Ron, leave Harry alone!"

Ron swallowed, "Gin...I was just..."

"Protecting your own sorry hide from our over-zealous mother, I know."

Both men were silent, their eyes never leaving the fiery redhead standing in front of them.

"Merlin, Ron, you'd think her wanting you married was the end of the world. It's not that bad, so long as you care about the person you marry."

"I..."

"the problem with you two is that you're spoiled for choice," Ginny declared. Ron and Harry glanced disbelievingly at each other.

"What?" Ron asked.

"You're the dynamic duo! The two of you are famous and rich, and not a little easy on the eyes. You haven't been able to find the woman because there's been too many to choose from."

Harry wondered for a moment what alternate reality Ginny was living in. Certainly there'd been women in his life over the years...

Two.

...but it wasn't as though they'd been throwing themselves at his feet in the street or anything.

"Uh, Gin..." Harry began.

"Harry, you know full well you could have any witch you wanted. Neither you nor Ron have ever been the type to value what came to you too easily..."

Harry wondered exactly what it was that had come to him so easily.

"...so you haven't valued any of the women...."

"Oh, yes, Ginny," Ron snorted. "The crowds of women!"

"Ron, you may not have noticed them, but they're there. Good Lord, Lavender Brown is still hanging around hoping that Harry will notice her!"

Harry made a strangled noise before he could stop himself. The only thought worse than Molly Weasley getting control of his marital status was her thinking Lavender Brown might make him a suitable wife.

"There isn't a witch under forty alive who doesn't want to shag you senseless..."

"Okay," Harry stood, heading for the door and the kitchen. "This conversation just got way too surreal for me."

"Harry," Ginny said, "You are a very attractive man, with a lot to offer the right woman. Don't let the past rob you of that."

Harry glanced over his shoulder at the woman he'd tried to consider a sister for almost twenty years.

"Ginny, I love you, but you saying things like that makes me really uncomfortable."

"You might want to consider why, Harry, because it's the truth."

Harry shook his head and continued on out the door, listening to the siblings bicker behind him.

He entered the kitchen to find Maura there, leaning against the counter and nibbling on one of Molly's biscuits absently. He wondered, not for the first time since bringing her here, how things could have changed so drastically. Standing in the doorway watching her, he knew she was unaware of his presence, lost in thought.

Her teeth nibbled on the cookie, and Harry became aware of so much about her. She really was an attractive woman, but it left him...unmoved. He could appreciate her beauty without his blood temperature rising. For the first time since she arrived, Harry realized he was seeing her, the person she really was. He liked that person. A lot.

"Hello, Harry," she said, finally noticing him standing there. "Everything okay?"

"Yes. I think so."

Her eyes met his for a moment, then she smiled.

"So, what's on for tomorrow, then?"

"I need to meet with Professor McGonagall to discuss the filling of the DADA position..."

"You advise her on hirings at Hogwarts?"

"No, not usually, but this particular position is in my field."

She cocked her head to the side, observing him. Her eyes were clear, and Harry got the impression that she was seeing him for the first time, as well.

"What do you do, Harry?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, while you're waiting around for the next Dark Lord to show up, how do you fill your days? What do you do for a living?"

"Well, I trained as an auror..."

"That couldn't have been too tough for you."

"Oh? And what do you know about auror training?" He smiled ruefully. She had no idea.

"Not much," she confirmed.

"I've heard it likened to muggle Navy Seal training...for the first year. After that it gets harder."

"How many years does it take?" she asked.

"Three, normally. But Ron and Hermione and I did it in one."

"Why?"

"There was a Dark Lord to vanquish."

"How on earth did you manage to get it done that quickly?"

"A lot of very dedicated instructors who gave up a lot of their free time. While most of the wizards accepted into the program trained from eight to four, we trained from eight am to midnight, every day, seven days a week.

"Good Lord..."

"Yes. Battle training is not easy."

"I would imagine not."

"Ron and I..."

"And Hermione."

"And Hermione," he nodded. "Worked very hard to prepare for what we thought was coming."

"What you thought was coming?"

Harry looked straight at her, the pain in his eyes was unbearable.

"What we thought the final battle would be."

"It wasn't what you thought it would be?" she asked quietly.

"No," Harry laughed, completely without humor. "No, it was really nothing like what we had expected."

"How so?"

"It was a thousand times worse."

After a moment of silence, Maura sighed, then smiled.

"So, you're an auror."

"Well, no," Harry shook his head. "I trained as an auror to prepare for the battle with Voldemort. After that was over, there was little reason to continue."

"So, what do you do then?"

"Well, I have some investments..."

"Harry Potter! Are you telling me that you're a playwizard?"

"A what?"

"A spoiled, rich man who spends his days pursuing pleasure and young witches, living off his inheritance," she mocked.

Harry grinned, "Hardly. My living is earned from investments that I've made. I serve on several boards..."

"Eighteen," said Ginny, entering the kitchen. "At last count."

"Eighteen?"

"Well, yes," Harry's ears turned pink.

"He's on the Board of Governors for Hogwarts, the Winzangamut, Wizard Economic Board..."

"Ginny!" Harry directed a look at her.

"And," Ginny continued, apparently completely unfazed by Harry's rising temper. "He's been nominated to run for Minister of Magic after my father retires next year."

"Ginny!"

"Do you think he'll win?" Maura asked, interestedly.

"By acclamation," Ginny confirmed, completely ignoring Harry. "No one wants to run against him. It would be a waste of time and money."

"Ginny!" Harry said sharply, gaining the attention of the two women.

"Yes, Harry?"

"Shut up, please."

"Of course, Harry."

"Do you..." Maura began.

"Maura?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"You, too."

With this, he retreated from the room, leaving the two women watching him and ignoring the laughter he heard after the door was shut behind him.

Witches.

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"So," Maura asked later of the redhead sitting across the kitchen table from her. "What does Harry do?"

Ginny absently stirred her tea. "What doesn't he do? He's always been very involved with Hogwarts."

"Teaching?"

"No. he's been an advisor to Minerva since...since we lost Dumbledore. All the teachers there turn to him. He is officially a professor, but it's only in an advisory capacity, and he is the adult advisor to the DA club there."

"What else?" Ginny mused. "He serves on the Gringotts Board, he's the head of the Muggle Relations Board at the Ministry..."

"Busy man."

"Yes. He's trying to get a new department started at the Ministry. Sort of a 'Dark Lord Early Detection" think. He wants to set up monitors..."

"The CIA of the wizarding world."

"CIA?" Ginny was confused.

"Sorry, it's the American spy agency. They monitor political situations around the world. Sometimes they do more than just monitor."

"Well, Harry just wants us to be prepared..."

"I understand, Ginny. Sorry, it was a silly comparison to make."

Ginny looked hard at her for a moment. "Maura, how do you feel about Harry?"

Maura took a breath, surprised. "I like him. He's a gentleman and pleasant to be around."

"Are you attracted to him?"

"I don't know." Maura looked down into her tea. This was a very odd conversation to be having.

"You don't know?" Ginny asked, disbelievingly.

"No. I don't. I feel something, Ginny. If this were my old life, my muggle life, I might be tempted to explore it. We have.... I feel some sort of connection, but well, I'm simply not sure. It's not like any attraction I've ever felt. I thought it was, but...well, it's not. It's more about him as a person, and they physical is...well, absent. Harry seems to know me, and that is a very good feeling. I have a difficult time connecting with people, and it's not often I let someone in...I don't know what it is.

"And we have a job to do here...."

"And you don't mix business with pleasure."

"I try not to. It gets confusing."

"Are you married?" Ginny asked.

"Married? Me? No!"

"Why not?"

"What do you mean, why not? I'm just...not."

"Are you...not interested?" Ginny grinned impishly.

"I'm perfectly interested in men, Ginny Thomas! I just...my lifestyle doesn't leave much room for family."

"Do you have any? Family, I mean?"

"No. My parents died when I was younger."

"Oh?"

"I was eighteen. We were on our way home after having dinner out for my Dad's birthday. We were in an accident and...they died. I didn't."

"Why did you choose the career you did?"

"War correspondent? Well, I started as a reporter. I took journalism in university, and, well, I've always been fascinated by war. I don't know why, but it just felt like where I was supposed to be."

Ginny watched her for a moment, then stood, taking her teacup to the sink. "Well, I'm bushed. I'm going to head up. You should, too. I know that Harry wants to make an early start in the morning."

"An early start?" Maura asked.

"Yes. Hogwarts. He's taking you with him. Goodnight, Maura. Sleep well."

Maura sat at the table for another five minutes before heading up to her room.

Tomorrow, she would see Hogwarts.