Chapter 3: Dinner with the Family
The Weasley's, Ginny and Chloe were all dressed up in their formal best for dinner with Harry. When Hedwig returned the next day with the necessary port key's to reach Harry's new home he had requested that they dress formally, and that they would understand once they arrived at his home. The request was odd, but as far as Ginny was concerned it fit in with how odd Harry was acting over the past four years. Fred and George were the ones that grumbled the most about having to get all spiffed up, but one look from Angelina and Katie silenced any other remarks they might have made. All of the children were excited to get dressed up and go somewhere fancy, they had not been informed where they were going or who they would be seeing.
Chloe was worried about her mum. Ginny had looked very pale all week. She was extremely nervous, but also quite anxious. The little green eyed girl could not figure out why this was and every time she tried to inquire about her mother's state Ginny just told her everything was ok and not to worry about it. Grandma & Grandpa Weasley also were very tight lipped about what was on her mum's mind. Chloe, while not as gifted as Ronni and Evan intellectually, had a sort of intuition about things that bothered people. She was also very good at observing things other people didn't see. She knew that her mum's mood had changed when she received a letter that Hedwig had brought her. Hedwig was always a mystery to the little girl. Errol and Pigwidgon were the family owls, yet Hedwig would come and go at times with letters for her mum. The one time Chloe asked her mom about the snowy white owl her mum simply answered, "She's the family's special owl." An unsatisfactory answer at best but the only one she'd ever managed to pry out of her family.
"Front and center Weasleys." Arthur announced as the time neared for them to depart. Arthur looked over everyone and noticed someone was missing. Chloe was sitting at the kitchen table looking at her family.
"Something wrong Chloe?" Molly asked her granddaughter.
Chloe shook her head no.
"Then why aren't you over here with the family?" Molly asked a little perplexed.
"Grandpa only called the Weasleys." She answered.
Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie had to turn away to hide the expressions on their faces and to try and stifle their laughter that threatened to boom throughout the house.
Arthur smiled at the little girl and said, "I'm sorry Chloe. Weasleys and Potters, front and center."
Chloe slid off her chair and stood next to her mum and the rest of the family. Ginny just smiled at her daughter and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Everyone knew that she wasn't trying to be a smart alec, she was a very obedient little girl and was merely waiting to be called.
The adults all held the hands of a child and they split up into groups and touched one of the three port keys that Harry had sent. When the clock struck five the familiar sensation that a port key makes when you travel was felt by all and moments later the twenty two guests were standing under a canopy outside of a majestic looking castle. The sun was not yet set and the family quickly took in their surroundings. It was a very large area, surrounded by trees and a lush garden.
"Greetings. may I ask which of you is Ginny Potter?" An older looking man in a black suit with a white shirt asked.
"I am." Ginny replied.
"It is my honor and privilege to welcome you to Evanson Keep. My name is Alfred and I am the butler of the manor. If you need anything during your stay here feel free to ask me or another of the servants for anything you desire." Alfred informed all present with a slight bow directed at Ginny.
"The lord of the manor is currently attending to some last minute details but will join you shortly. Shall we go inside?" Alfred asked and stepped aside.
Ginny nodded and taking her daughter's hand walked towards the keep, which in reality was a relatively large castle (not quite Hogwarts large, but larger than some). Her family close behind her, Ginny stopped once they reached the main doors to the castle. She need not have, the doors swung in and several rows of knights armors were visible. Fred and George were about to reach out and touch one but Molly threatened to smack the two men if they left a finger print on a single suit. Angie and Katie likewise gave similar threats. They were guests in Harry's home and they were to be on their best behavior, or else!"
"If you would all follow me to the lounge, you may wait here while I go see if his Lordship is ready."
"His Lordship?" George said once Alfred had departed from the lounge.
Ginny simply shrugged. Everyone in the room, with the exception of the children who were playing with items that were out for them, was equally as perplexed by this statement, everyone that is save Arthur who was staring at a piece of art for some time.
Molly noticed this and approached her husband. "Isn't that strange Arthur?" Molly asked giving him a rather suspicious look.
"Very strange dear." Arthur replied doing his best not to look at her. The moment he looked at her Molly would know he knew something was up. Unfortunately for him his family had encircled him and was giving him similar looks. Arthur knew he was trapped and finally broke down and began explaining.
"We are not meeting Harry Potter tonight." Arthur said in a hushed voice so that the children would not hear him.
"What?" Ginny replied startled.
"You will understand more when you see him but we are meeting James Evan Potter." Arthur replied.
"But save Ginny and Chloe there are no more Potters." Hermione interjected.
"Correct. The reason we were unable to track down Harry James Potter was due to the fact he changed his identity to James Evan Potter. He sent the invitation as Harry because he didn't want to confuse us and he wanted a response." The patriarch of the Weasley family explained.
"How do you know all this?" Ginny asked. Everyone else was eager to hear his answer as well.
"I ran into him last week." Arthur said in a very hushed voice.
"Wha.." Ginny was about to yell but Bill stifled it so as not to alert the children.
"The royals and parliament have decided to take a more active roll in wizard/muggle relations. There was an incident involving some pureblood wizards and muggleborns. The incident happened to occur in public when the Queen's cousin was passing by."
"Dear lord." Molly uttered.
"The wizards were stopped by a man familiar in wizarding customs and were taken into custody to be handed over to us. This person was then rewarded with a lordship and placed in the Department of Magical Affairs. It's one- part Auror duties, one part misuse of muggle artifacts. The main difference is that they have can supersede our authority and take the law breakers into custody and try them as muggles."
"Bloody hell." Fred stated. His comment gained the attention of Chloe and Meghan.
"Sorry kids, go back to your toys." Fred pleaded.
"It was Harry wasn't it. He saved the Royal." Hermione stated. Ginny had thought it but Hermione was the first to voice it.
"Yes. I met him after he was awarded his title and his position bestowed upon him."
"Why weren't we invited?" Ginny asked.
"He. he wasn't ready to see us yet." Arthur stated. "He had only been back in the country two months and was still looking for a place to stay and work."
"That doesn't make sense." Ginny wondered out loud.
"He doesn't want to have anything to do directly with the wizarding world, save his family. While he's not abandoning magic, the way our world is run is not to his liking therefore he wanted to have a home and live more like a muggle." Arthur explained to his bewildered family.
He was about to continue when he saw the door open and Alfred quietly enter the lounge where the Weasleys were present. "Mrs. Potter, Sirs and Madams, may I present Lord James Evan Potter."
Harry stepped into the room dressed in a rather regal looking officers uniform. His black hair was cut short around the sides and slicked forward towards the left side of his head. His eyes were blue, Hermione guessed due to contacts because he was not wearing his glasses. The most notable feature was the lack of his scar. In his current appearance the family could see why no one would suspect that he was Harry Potter. Still upon his entry all, save the children, could feel the tension of the situation.
How he had missed his family! He scanned the occupants of the lounge until his eyes fell onto Ginny and a little girl no older than four years old. Her eyes were brown and her hair was the same red coloring as her mothers. He wondered if Ginny had found someone else, obviously there must be someone because this little girl could be no other's, still as he looked over his in-laws the possibility existed that she was. Harry however wouldn't blame Ginny if she had moved on. He abandoned his wife two months into their marriage, not that he was capable of being a husband during most of the time he was gone, but he still regretted having to leave, and the reason he left.
"I know that we have much to discuss this evening, but before we head to the dining room, would it be alright if I talked with Ginny in private?"
The others took in the man before them. Arthur spoke for the family. "Yes, Lord Potter that is acceptable."
"Alfred, could you please bring some tea and any other drinks that anyone would want. Ginny if you would please follow me." Harry turned on his heel heading for the conservatory.
The silence between husband and wife was frightening as the two stood looking at each other for what seemed like hours.
"I have a lot of explaining to do Ginny," Harry began, "I know you must have countless questions and most likely you are ready to curse me both verbally and magically, but all I ask before you render judgment is to hear me out tonight. If after I am done you do not agree with my reasons for doing what I believed necessary, then we shall go our separate ways. I can tell you now though. I hope you can somehow, some day find it in your heart to forgive me for what I did four years ago."
"I'll give you the benefit of the doubt Har. James." Ginny responded. "But I make no promises on my decisions."
"That's all I ask lo. Gin." Harry replied with a rather heart felt sigh. "I know that it can never make up for the time that I was away. but I am sorry." Harry informed her before opening the door for Ginny."
"You're right, it doesn't make up for the time you were away." Ginny said as she walked through the doorway back to the lounge and her family.
The Weasley's, Ginny and Chloe were all dressed up in their formal best for dinner with Harry. When Hedwig returned the next day with the necessary port key's to reach Harry's new home he had requested that they dress formally, and that they would understand once they arrived at his home. The request was odd, but as far as Ginny was concerned it fit in with how odd Harry was acting over the past four years. Fred and George were the ones that grumbled the most about having to get all spiffed up, but one look from Angelina and Katie silenced any other remarks they might have made. All of the children were excited to get dressed up and go somewhere fancy, they had not been informed where they were going or who they would be seeing.
Chloe was worried about her mum. Ginny had looked very pale all week. She was extremely nervous, but also quite anxious. The little green eyed girl could not figure out why this was and every time she tried to inquire about her mother's state Ginny just told her everything was ok and not to worry about it. Grandma & Grandpa Weasley also were very tight lipped about what was on her mum's mind. Chloe, while not as gifted as Ronni and Evan intellectually, had a sort of intuition about things that bothered people. She was also very good at observing things other people didn't see. She knew that her mum's mood had changed when she received a letter that Hedwig had brought her. Hedwig was always a mystery to the little girl. Errol and Pigwidgon were the family owls, yet Hedwig would come and go at times with letters for her mum. The one time Chloe asked her mom about the snowy white owl her mum simply answered, "She's the family's special owl." An unsatisfactory answer at best but the only one she'd ever managed to pry out of her family.
"Front and center Weasleys." Arthur announced as the time neared for them to depart. Arthur looked over everyone and noticed someone was missing. Chloe was sitting at the kitchen table looking at her family.
"Something wrong Chloe?" Molly asked her granddaughter.
Chloe shook her head no.
"Then why aren't you over here with the family?" Molly asked a little perplexed.
"Grandpa only called the Weasleys." She answered.
Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie had to turn away to hide the expressions on their faces and to try and stifle their laughter that threatened to boom throughout the house.
Arthur smiled at the little girl and said, "I'm sorry Chloe. Weasleys and Potters, front and center."
Chloe slid off her chair and stood next to her mum and the rest of the family. Ginny just smiled at her daughter and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Everyone knew that she wasn't trying to be a smart alec, she was a very obedient little girl and was merely waiting to be called.
The adults all held the hands of a child and they split up into groups and touched one of the three port keys that Harry had sent. When the clock struck five the familiar sensation that a port key makes when you travel was felt by all and moments later the twenty two guests were standing under a canopy outside of a majestic looking castle. The sun was not yet set and the family quickly took in their surroundings. It was a very large area, surrounded by trees and a lush garden.
"Greetings. may I ask which of you is Ginny Potter?" An older looking man in a black suit with a white shirt asked.
"I am." Ginny replied.
"It is my honor and privilege to welcome you to Evanson Keep. My name is Alfred and I am the butler of the manor. If you need anything during your stay here feel free to ask me or another of the servants for anything you desire." Alfred informed all present with a slight bow directed at Ginny.
"The lord of the manor is currently attending to some last minute details but will join you shortly. Shall we go inside?" Alfred asked and stepped aside.
Ginny nodded and taking her daughter's hand walked towards the keep, which in reality was a relatively large castle (not quite Hogwarts large, but larger than some). Her family close behind her, Ginny stopped once they reached the main doors to the castle. She need not have, the doors swung in and several rows of knights armors were visible. Fred and George were about to reach out and touch one but Molly threatened to smack the two men if they left a finger print on a single suit. Angie and Katie likewise gave similar threats. They were guests in Harry's home and they were to be on their best behavior, or else!"
"If you would all follow me to the lounge, you may wait here while I go see if his Lordship is ready."
"His Lordship?" George said once Alfred had departed from the lounge.
Ginny simply shrugged. Everyone in the room, with the exception of the children who were playing with items that were out for them, was equally as perplexed by this statement, everyone that is save Arthur who was staring at a piece of art for some time.
Molly noticed this and approached her husband. "Isn't that strange Arthur?" Molly asked giving him a rather suspicious look.
"Very strange dear." Arthur replied doing his best not to look at her. The moment he looked at her Molly would know he knew something was up. Unfortunately for him his family had encircled him and was giving him similar looks. Arthur knew he was trapped and finally broke down and began explaining.
"We are not meeting Harry Potter tonight." Arthur said in a hushed voice so that the children would not hear him.
"What?" Ginny replied startled.
"You will understand more when you see him but we are meeting James Evan Potter." Arthur replied.
"But save Ginny and Chloe there are no more Potters." Hermione interjected.
"Correct. The reason we were unable to track down Harry James Potter was due to the fact he changed his identity to James Evan Potter. He sent the invitation as Harry because he didn't want to confuse us and he wanted a response." The patriarch of the Weasley family explained.
"How do you know all this?" Ginny asked. Everyone else was eager to hear his answer as well.
"I ran into him last week." Arthur said in a very hushed voice.
"Wha.." Ginny was about to yell but Bill stifled it so as not to alert the children.
"The royals and parliament have decided to take a more active roll in wizard/muggle relations. There was an incident involving some pureblood wizards and muggleborns. The incident happened to occur in public when the Queen's cousin was passing by."
"Dear lord." Molly uttered.
"The wizards were stopped by a man familiar in wizarding customs and were taken into custody to be handed over to us. This person was then rewarded with a lordship and placed in the Department of Magical Affairs. It's one- part Auror duties, one part misuse of muggle artifacts. The main difference is that they have can supersede our authority and take the law breakers into custody and try them as muggles."
"Bloody hell." Fred stated. His comment gained the attention of Chloe and Meghan.
"Sorry kids, go back to your toys." Fred pleaded.
"It was Harry wasn't it. He saved the Royal." Hermione stated. Ginny had thought it but Hermione was the first to voice it.
"Yes. I met him after he was awarded his title and his position bestowed upon him."
"Why weren't we invited?" Ginny asked.
"He. he wasn't ready to see us yet." Arthur stated. "He had only been back in the country two months and was still looking for a place to stay and work."
"That doesn't make sense." Ginny wondered out loud.
"He doesn't want to have anything to do directly with the wizarding world, save his family. While he's not abandoning magic, the way our world is run is not to his liking therefore he wanted to have a home and live more like a muggle." Arthur explained to his bewildered family.
He was about to continue when he saw the door open and Alfred quietly enter the lounge where the Weasleys were present. "Mrs. Potter, Sirs and Madams, may I present Lord James Evan Potter."
Harry stepped into the room dressed in a rather regal looking officers uniform. His black hair was cut short around the sides and slicked forward towards the left side of his head. His eyes were blue, Hermione guessed due to contacts because he was not wearing his glasses. The most notable feature was the lack of his scar. In his current appearance the family could see why no one would suspect that he was Harry Potter. Still upon his entry all, save the children, could feel the tension of the situation.
How he had missed his family! He scanned the occupants of the lounge until his eyes fell onto Ginny and a little girl no older than four years old. Her eyes were brown and her hair was the same red coloring as her mothers. He wondered if Ginny had found someone else, obviously there must be someone because this little girl could be no other's, still as he looked over his in-laws the possibility existed that she was. Harry however wouldn't blame Ginny if she had moved on. He abandoned his wife two months into their marriage, not that he was capable of being a husband during most of the time he was gone, but he still regretted having to leave, and the reason he left.
"I know that we have much to discuss this evening, but before we head to the dining room, would it be alright if I talked with Ginny in private?"
The others took in the man before them. Arthur spoke for the family. "Yes, Lord Potter that is acceptable."
"Alfred, could you please bring some tea and any other drinks that anyone would want. Ginny if you would please follow me." Harry turned on his heel heading for the conservatory.
The silence between husband and wife was frightening as the two stood looking at each other for what seemed like hours.
"I have a lot of explaining to do Ginny," Harry began, "I know you must have countless questions and most likely you are ready to curse me both verbally and magically, but all I ask before you render judgment is to hear me out tonight. If after I am done you do not agree with my reasons for doing what I believed necessary, then we shall go our separate ways. I can tell you now though. I hope you can somehow, some day find it in your heart to forgive me for what I did four years ago."
"I'll give you the benefit of the doubt Har. James." Ginny responded. "But I make no promises on my decisions."
"That's all I ask lo. Gin." Harry replied with a rather heart felt sigh. "I know that it can never make up for the time that I was away. but I am sorry." Harry informed her before opening the door for Ginny."
"You're right, it doesn't make up for the time you were away." Ginny said as she walked through the doorway back to the lounge and her family.