Standard Disclaimers Apply

Chapter 6: Dumbledore, Dress Robes & A Hogwarts Feast

1900 Zulu

November 15, 2003

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

AJ stepped out of the fire into the soft glow of Dumbledore's office to find everyone sitting in chairs Albus had conjured up on his fireplace rug. Knowing he was the last of the group, AJ was understandably surprised when the flames turned green again just as he reached his chair to sit down.

Out of the fire stepped Molly Weasley, little Sarah Singer and Little AJ. Mac and Jen quickly took him away to hem up his new robe in time for dinner, Molly handing Sarah off to Harriet on her way out of the office to check on preparations for tonight's meeting. Just as they cleared the doorway, the flames glowed emerald one last time, dislodging Mic Brumby. "Evening, Mates. Albus, Webb decided to wait and Floo over with the Weasley brothers when their shop closes. Charlie is going to meet them there as well."

On their way down the hall, Mac asked, "Now where to find a needle and thread? I didn't stop at the magic sewing supply, I was going to take a day of leave and go to New York City to see Madame Thestral."

Jen began walking quickly down the corridor. "Follow me!" She led her down the revolving stone stairs, out past the Gargoyle, and headed down the stairs. Mac cried out as her foot sank through the step. Jen quickly grabbed her by the arm and helped her pull her foot free. "Oh, sorry, I forgot you aren't familiar with the stairs around here. AJ and I will show you all around tomorrow." They stopped in front of a large wooden door. Beckoning Mac and AJ to follow her, she opened the door and went inside.

"Where are we? The home ec room?" Mac questioned, finding herself in a vast open room with several sewing machines, a huge thread rack, and what looked like fabric and robes of every hue, plus a large rack of school robes.

"Yes, the first Magical Home-Arts teacher set this room up years ago. All students had to take at least one course in each area, so it was really big to accommodate all the students. You could take everything from Gourmet Magically-Assisted Cooking, Magical Sewing & Embroidery and Advanced Household spells and Charms to Beginning Robe Repair and the basics. Now there are fewer classes, but the advanced stuff can be independent Study. I did it all, I have N.E.W.T.s in all three subjects."

Mac broke into a grin, "So do I. Harm thinks I can't cook – I 'm just lousy at Muggle cooking. The casserole Harriet brought to the Christmas Party - It was out of The Joy of Magical Cooking, wasn't it?" Jen nodded as Mac continued. "I can't believe I didn't recognize it, that used to be one of my favorites, but I haven't had wizards food in so long…Well, enough gossip, let's get to work. But we definitely need to get together and talk more often."

While Mac worked on little AJ, Jen found some of the longest dress robes on the rack and hemmed them for Harm until his robes arrived, and half an hour later a house elf arrived to show them their lodgings so they could dress for dinner. They were all staying in the Visitor's Tower, which was the next tower over from Griffindor. There were five levels to the tower: the common room on the first floor, a bathroom on the second, large dormitories on the third and fourth, and a small Owlery and balcony on the fifth. Mac's owl was already resting there, while the as yet unnamed kitten had settled in front of the common room fire to sleep. All visitors stayed in this tower, and the accommodations were Hogwarts dormitory style: the men were in one room, and all the women in another. One room on the men's side had a queen size bed; however, Harriet decided to bunk with the girls so they could have a slumber party. This left Bud, little AJ, big AJ, Harm, Mic and Webb sharing one room, while Mac, Jen, and Harriet shared the other. Tonight Molly Weasley was also staying, so she didn't have to Floo so late with the baby.

"Ha! That means I get to sleep, and BUD has to get up with AJ! YES! I haven't had a full nights sleep since he was born! He may be four, but getting him to sleep through the night is impossible." Harriet exulted. After dropping little AJ, the robes for Harm and AJ's new robes off with the men, the women returned to their dorm to dress for dinner.

They quickly did their hair and nails with their new products, and began to put on their new robes. Mac's new Thestral creation was a deep green velvet gown, with a low drawn neckline and a chapel train. She tapped her nails and they immediately became a matching but shimmery green. Jen slipped into a rose-colored Malkin number, and Harriet tapped her nails as she had forgotten the charm. After watching only once, Jen was able to tap Harriet's nails to match her Navy Malkin robe, which matched Bud's. It too had a drawn neck and chapel train, but also included a contrasting belt with shimmering golden stars which matched those along the sleeve hem. None of the women wore the matching hats, preferring nice hairdos instead. Harriet peeked into the bag Mrs. Weasley had sent and found a mint green baby dress robe with matching diaper cover, which she quickly dressed Sarah in. Then she apperio charmed the diaper bag to the table so she didn't have to mar her entrance with it running the effect of her robe. If the look on Bud's face when she had tried the robe on in the shop was any indication, they may need that queen-size bed after all. And they had built in babysitters – Harm, Mic and Webb could baby-sit.

Hogwarts

Great Hall

2000 Zulu

The men got ready and then called for the women at their door. "Oh WOW" was all Bud could get out of his mouth for a full five minutes. A.J., Mic and Harm couldn't take their eyes of Mac, and as the Weasleys joined them, Bill seemed to have an eye for Jen. After they all got themselves together, they headed down to dinner.

When they approached the Great Hall, they discovered five long tables. Over four of them were the banners of the five Hogwarts houses, and over the fifth was a banner with the Hogwarts crest. As they entered, Albus Dumbledore rose from his place at the high table and strode across the room to greet them. "I hope you find your accommodations satisfactory. Now come and sit, so the students can eat. I ordered a feast just for your arrival. After I make some announcements and officially begin the feast, I will come and join you at your table so we can talk." With that he headed back towards the front of the room, where McGonagall was already beginning to quiet the students.

The JAG clan settled themselves at the table, and Dumbledore began his speech. "Dear students, I would like to introduce our honored guests. Thanks to all the leaks in the Daily Prophet this Morning, I trust you all have figured out what has brought them here. Help them in any way you can, by helping them find their way around the castle, for example. Furthermore, to stress the importance and danger of their work here, anyone caught out of bed after curfew or knowingly hindering them will be given three detentions per offense. Also, I must announce a staffing change. Due to the recent injury of our Muggle Studies teacher, she will have to be out for a few weeks, so our honored muggle guests will be taking over that teaching post while they are here. Now, let the feast begin!

With that, the plates magically filled themselves. Dumbledore laughed at the expressions on the faces of Harm and Bud. They were completely bewildered on just how the food had gotten onto the plates, and in awe of the huge array of dishes before them. After they had all eaten their fill, the students headed back to their dormitories and the JAG crew and most of the professors headed to a secluded hallway, to the Room of Requirement. Wizards and witches began arriving via the Floo in Dumbledore's office from outside Hogwarts, or they Apparated to Hogsmeade and were met by one of the school carriages. A short time later, it was time for the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix.