HP Life after Hogwarts
Chapter 7
The Magus Modestus charm
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Harry isn't happy about the change in location of a certain event...Ron and Hermione go rounds...the triplets undergo the Magus Modestus charm Magical Moderating charm they're getting reined in you might say... Wood benches Ginny and asks another to join the team...
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Weeks later
Harry sat behind the desk in his study staring at the computer screen. On it was the itinerary for the Royal Wedding, the triplets christening, and he had a thick file in front of him on the upcoming Music is Magic event at the end of the month.
He was stuck at home catching up on what his grandfather had ordered him to, while Hermione, the triplets, his parents, and the twins all were in London for the triplets and twins checkup's with Lucy.
He'd wanted to come with them, but his grandfather had arrived with a boatload of HBP work for him to go over. He couldn't tell him no, since he'd been putting it off for weeks. He would rather focus on Hermione and the triplets than deal with the work on his desk. The plus was that Ron was there helping him sort through the mess.
"Tell me again why I agreed to this migraine?" He picked up a dart from a jar on his desk and threw it at a photo attached to the dartboard. It hit the GOF picture of Voldemort right between the eyes.
Ron handed him even more details on the three days. "Because the concert is for a good cause, it's tradition to have a christening, and as for the other you have no choice."
Harry stared down at the new location of the wedding and lost it. "ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL?!"
"I knew that you were gonna be sore about that, but Uncle Stephen figured that this would be the best location, since this is gonna be a public event, and both worlds wish to attend." Ron could hear the storm beginning to form outside the windows, but carried on anyway. "Franc's all for it… He gets to clothe the invited Wizarding guests, as well as advise everyone else, as to how to dress for the occasions without causing too much of a stir."
"WELL!! BULLY FOR HIM!! IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT NOW IS IT!"
"Actually, that isn't completely true. He gets to be the talk of London, because he's dressing the bridal party. So everyone wishes to chat with him." Ron winced, as thunder boomed outside shaking the manor.
"WHAT BLOODY GOOD FORTUNE FOR FRANCIS! REMIND ME TO SEND HIM A POT WITH DEVILS SNARE IN IT!" Harry threw another dart at the photo.
"Harry, you don't mean that. He may be annoying as all get out, but Franc is still family. You made a deal with them and now you're gonna have to follow through with it!" Ron had to shout over the constant rumbling and howling winds going on outside.
"I AGREED TO THE HAVING THE WEDDING ON THE ISLE OF AVALON! I DID NOT AGREE ON SOMETHING THAT RANKS UP THERE WITH AUNT DI'S AND AUNT SARAH'S WEDDINGS! I DO NOT WISH TO BE LIVE ON TELLIES AROUND THE BLOODY PLANET!"
"I argued that point with them, but because it'll be a triple wedding their minds were set!" Ron had known that he was going to become unglued about this, but not to this extent. He was getting tired of being roared at, but kept his own temper in check.
"SET AS IN HOW?! DID THE INVITES ALREADY GO OUT!?"
Ron nodded. He was not brave enough to tell him that it was just him and Hermione getting married and that he, Luna, Draco, and Gin were getting married a week or so on Avalon before the big event.
Harry felt the urge to pummel something, so he stalked out of his study, and headed for the basement workout area.
"Harry! We've loads of stuff to go over! This isn't the time for a meltdown!" Ron stalked after him.
"OH REALLY?! WELL I HAPPEN TO DISAGREE! I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO HAVE A MELTDOWN!!" Harry paused in front of the door that led down to the basement to roar that at Ron.
He then wrenched open the door and stalked down the stairs that led to the fully equipped workout area and the heavy bag that he planned to pummel into oblivion.
"I know that it's a shock and everything, but you have to know that Luna and I have always been on your side!" Ron was glad that it was the heavy bag and not his face that Harry was pounding on.
"YOU THOUGHT THAT THIS OVERBLOWN ROYAL WEDDING FIASCO WAS IN HERMIONE'S AND MY BEST INTEREST!? THAT I WOULD WISH MY GIRLS TO BE ON PARADE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE!? I BARELY HANDLED SHOWING THEM OFF AT WINDSOR CASTLE! WHAT MADE YOU BELIEVE THAT I WOULD BE OKAY WITH THIS!?" Harry glared murderously at Ron.
It cut like a knife that Harry thought that low of him and his temper snapped.
"THE CHRISTENING IS AT WINDSOR CASTLE, INVITE ONLY, AND IT'S THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING! THE TRIPLETS AND THE TWINS WILL BE WATCHED OVER BY XANDER AND CHLOE IN AVALON! THEY WON'T BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE CATHEDRAL OR THE PRESS! YOUR MUM, LUNA, AND I ALL WERE FIRM ABOUT THAT!" Ron roared back at him. He was so peeved at Harry that his ears were turning fire engine red in color. "IT'S ALL IN THE BLOODY ITINERARY THAT I JUST GAVE YOU! BUT NO YOU SAW THE LOCATION OF THE WEDDING AND WENT MENTAL ON ME!"
"I'm sorry Ron; it's just that since the Muggle historians and scientists discovered that King Arthur was in fact real and not a myth. I've felt like I'm being pushed towards England's throne instead of Wills!" Harry took his aggravation out on the heavy bag.
"They authenticated the sword in the stone in front of the palace and have this insane idea the two of us should each have a go at removing it from the stone! As if I would ever want that bloody responsibility on my shoulders! I already have my entire worlds! Wills has it easy dealing with one country!" Harry sent the heavy bag flying off its chains. "Gramps has even heard that, thanks to the detailed chapters in my angel's best-seller, and the sword in the stone, there are a group of scientist that determined to discover if the Wizarding World does indeed exist!"
"Hermione never does anything halfway, so it was a given that her book The Pendragon Legacy is as a clear picture of Camelot as anyone can get. Your books are the smash hits of our world and hers happens to be the toast of both worlds. Luna has been getting loads of requests for Hermione to give interviews, book tours, book signings, and something about a movie adaptation of her book. It seems as though there are some big movie companies and directors that are chomping at the bit to do a movie about her book." Ron tried to get him to calm down by talking out his frustrations. "I have loads of requests for you to have book tours and signings in our world, but I know that you wish time with the girls, as do everyone in our world. They're willing to wait, whereas the Muggle World doesn't know the meaning of the word patience."
"We're both busy with the triplets. Gramps has HBP stuff for me to do. I have to watch over the foundation and keep up with the goings-on at Auror headquarters. The two of us are completely booked solid, so all of that is just gonna have to wait." Harry grumbled
"I realize that mate and I'm sorry the two of you have a lot on your plates. The fact remains that you're the HBP in the eyes of both worlds and with that comes a shit-load of duties. You're also a best-selling author and one of the founders of a world-renowned foundation. I know it bites to be in the spotlight, but it's been like that since forever, so I would think that it would be easier on you by now." Ron used Reparo on the fallen heavy bag and it was once again as good as new.
"Gods, you sound like Wills." Harry raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Did he recruit you to take over in his stead?"
"I hate to admit it, but this job has kind of forced me to take things seriously and grow up. I'm dealing with people who would walk all over me if I didn't take it seriously. I think it's also taught me to be more responsible, which is great since Luna and I are getting married." Ron scratched at the back of his head and grinned sheepishly at him. "Wills did corner me before he left for Sandhurst and made me promise to take my responsibility seriously."
"Never in a thousand years did I ever think that I would witness Ron lecturing, my Wolfe, on being responsible." Hermione made herself known.
"What was it that caused the monsoon outside?" She waited until Harry looked up at her with brooding eyes, but continued when he remained silent. "Dani doesn't love the light show and its orchestra nor do her sisters. But, it's Dani who is clinging in terror to her bear, and howling at the top of her lungs."
"Harry doesn't love the new location of the wedding. He thinks they want him on England's throne and not Wills." Ron spoke up, since Harry remained silent and brooding.
Hermione walked over and wrapped her arms around Harry's waist. "We can endure anything together and Wills is going to make a fine King." She laid her head against his chest and tried to soothe him with her voice.
"Mum and Dad filled me in on the royal wedding. I'll bet you instantly thought our girls would be out for show again and that not the location of the wedding triggered your meltdown." She stared up into intense brooding emerald eyes.
Harry sighed, "As usual, my angel, you are word-perfect. I'm extremely leery of our girls being in the media spotlight and I'll admit overly protective of them and you." He rested his chin on her head. "I'm so used to being on my guard that it's difficult to embrace the fact that we're at peace, my family is safe, and that I have more power in my pinkie than any Muggle press member on the planet. The very notion that Dani at six-weeks-old holds the same power, keeps me up at night. I know that Ally and Mia are strong in magic as well, but not nearly as powerful as Dani."
"What did ya expect, mate?" Ron rolled his eyes in exasperation at his best friend. "The two of you would create squibs? That's highly unlikely not with you being the Next Merlin and she the Next Mab."
"Aunt Molly wants to head a primary school for the Wizarding Worlds youngest witches and wizards. I for one think that it's a brilliant idea and a longtime coming." Hermione grinned when Harry and Ron visibly sighed with relief. "They're discussing it at the Ministry as we speak. The plan is to include the squibs of our world that have trained as Muggle teachers, as well as Wizarding teachers, to begin the task of teaching the young ones gifted in magic some form of control."
"Mum comes up with the greatest ideas sometimes. I felt out of place in primary school and the twins were heathens on wheels." Ron was all for it.
"It's a brilliant idea. I was in the mind-set that we were going to have to privately tutor the next generation, because I shudder to think of our girls, my siblings, or cousins in a Muggle primary school. They wouldn't have the slightest idea about how to rein them in." Harry kissed Hermione.
:Want Dada now! I's scared!: Dani hadn't used the link to her father, since the afternoon before she was born. She was terrified of the slowly ebbing storm outside and couldn't sense him near her. She didn't feel the least bit comforted in her Grandada's arms, as he rocked her in the upstairs nursery.
The sheer force of her request and the emotion behind it had him grabbing his head and wincing in pain. :Be right with you, princess: He managed to send that message back to his unhappy daughter.
"Harry?! What is it?! Is it your scar?! Are you in pain?!" Hermione hadn't been included in Dani's plea, so she was at a loss about what was ailing him. He only acted like this when his scar was acting up and that meant dark magic nearby.
"Nothing that a nice pain potion won't cure, it's not dark magic or anything." Harry reassured her and Ron. "Our daughter wants me upstairs. The storm is scaring her and dad rocking her in the rocker isn't appeasing her.
:Want Dada now!: Dani was getting impatient, her father was taking too long, so she sent yet another request.
Harry winced again, "I'll meet you in the nursery. Her highness is being impatient." He vanished.
--
"Like father like daughter." Ron grinned.
"Ronald, you have no idea." Hermione had been hoping that Dani was going to wait, until she was walking, to test that ability again. It was clear that her oldest daughter had inherited her own stubborn streak, that in itself was enough to reconsider requesting that most of her power be bound, at least until she were able to control them. "The girls need me. Are you coming or are you going to grin like that all afternoon?" Hermione headed back up the stairs.
"It's no wonder you've been researching binding spells. She isn't even two months yet and already she's spreading her wings." Ron followed her. "Harry and I still have a lot of work to go through. He's done nothing but procrastinate since you and the others left. He's right; the two of us have changed places. He wants to slack off and I'm all for being responsible now."
"He's been responsible all of his life, so he's allowed to slack off now and then. Where as you lived for slacking off and are now in a position where you have to be responsible, so all I can say is be patient or get used to a lot of jinxing on your person." Hermione gave him some sound advice.
"I'll just have to risk it. The workload on his desk needs to be finished or I catch hell from Uncle Stephen." Ron raked his fingers through his fiery red hair.
"I'll make sure that it gets looked over, after the girls are fed and settled in the nursery. Meantime go back into the study and categorize what is priority and what isn't, that way we can deal with those first." Hermione ordered Ron just like old times.
"But that'll take hours!" Ron grumbled.
"Well, then, you'd best get started then," Hermione said coolly.
"Aw come on, Hermione! We've got Quidditch practice tonight and I have plans with Luna!" Ron didn't like this change of events not one bit.
"It's only one and Quidditch practice is at six. You have plenty of time to do your job, attend practice, and enjoy your evening with Luna." Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, "Now scoot it's not going to get done by itself."
"But…" Ron grumbled.
"But nothing!! Your job is to make things easier for Harry, so do it! You aren't fooling me! I saw what you got on your N.E.W.T'S, so I know that you've been procrastinating all these years!" Hermione was beginning to lose her patience with him.
"I get the point, Hermione! Message received! Now go be a good little mummy and tend to your babies!" Ron's slip of the tongue earned him a set of donkey ears and he was now braying like a mule.
"You asked for that, Ronald Bilius Arthur Weasley! Being a Mum is a hell of a lot harder than sorting through a pile of paperwork!" She glared murderously at him. "I'm going to tend to my daughters now. If I find that you have not sorted through at least half of that work on Harry's desk when I come back to check on you then a jackass you will be! Now get out of my sight!" With that said, she stalked up the stairs.
Ron sulked off to the study.
--
Harry was trying to get his beyond upset daughter to settle down. "I'm sorry that Daddy's temper triggered a scary storm, but it's over now and there's even a pretty rainbow shining outside." He walked the floor with her trying the sway method, because the rocking hadn't worked.
"Son, I know the new location of the wedding isn't what you wanted, but having a meltdown isn't gonna change anything. Lily fought for the christening to be privately held and insisted the babies be watched over in Avalon on the day of the wedding." James changed Mia's diaper. "All your tempest did was upset your daughter."
"I've already gotten the lecture. I lost my temper, which caused a storm, and it spooked my daughter. I got it." Harry settled Dani against his shoulder and soothingly rubbed her back.
"Andrew gave me the heads up on what Officer Cadet Windsor and Officer Cadet Wales are doing this week at Sandhurst." James sat down to rock Mia.
"Oh really, what's it this week more rifle and survival training?" Harry arched a brow at him.
"They are nearing the end of an eight-day survival training exercise in East Wessex. Which means 55lb packs, full army kit, the works, and ten mile hikes a day with maybe two ten minute breathers a day."
Harry whistled low under his breath, "I imagine they didn't appreciate my little tempest either. I can relate to the gear and hiking, but it's been abnormally hot this fall. Those uniforms must be sweltering."
"It's a safe bet they are. Draco went through his survival exercise last month, it was hell on earth for him, but at least he could use magic." James smirked.
"Dad, it's nothing to smirk about. The two of them are probably bordering on losing their tempers, and that means there are some sergeants that are about to come down with an unusual medical aliments." Harry couldn't help but grin.
"The infirmary would chalk it up to an allergic reaction to something they came across in the bush, so no one would be any the wiser."
"No one would be any the wiser about what?" Hermione walked into the nursery.
"Nothing to get your beautiful fur ruffled about, we're just chatting about what our officers in training are up to this week." Harry smiled at her.
"I know that they're undergoing survival training exercises all week, but why would Dad say that about them?" Hermione frowned.
"Sweetness, we're just thinking that with the heat, my storm, and roughing it that they would be on the verge of losing their tempers." Harry explained, "They could then unconsciously cause the sergeants to come down with a nasty rash and Dad was saying that it would just look like they were allergic to something they came across in the bush."
"Don't even think such a thing! There has already been too much interest in trying to prove that our world exists! The last thing we need is for something odd to happen while Wills and Henry are at Sandhurst!"
"Ease up, kitten. We weren't saying it was gonna happen, we were merely speculating about it." James was puzzled by her attitude. They had left London in good spirits with glowing reports that both the twins and the triplets were in smashing good health, but it was clear that something had put a dark cloud on her happy mood. She hadn't even been upset that Harry had called up a storm or that the girls were not happy about it. "What has you in a temper?"
"I know the answer to that one and his name is Ron." Harry knew the signs of a post Ron/Hermione clash and they were all there. "What did he do now? Is he a braying mule or will I have to clean his clock?"
"He got all whiny at me when I suggested that he organize the work on your desk by what is priority and what is not. He whined that it would take hours; he had Quidditch practice tonight, and plans with Luna. I called him on procrastinating all these years, mentioned that I knew all about what he scored on his N.E.W.T'S, and told him to do his job!" Hermione bristled.
Harry grimaced knowing all too well, what Ron's reaction to that would have been. "How badly did Ron put his foot in it this time?"
"Oh, he stepped in it but good! He had the audacity to tell me that he got the message loud and clear and to go be a good little mummy and tend to my babies!" Hermione fumed.
"When Ron steps in it, he jumps in with both feet." James could only imagine what she had done to him after he snarled that at her.
"Did you give him donkey ears and is he braying like a mule or give him the full treatment?" Harry set his sleeping daughter down into her crib and focused fully on his wife.
"My guess is the ears and braying like a mule. After all, she wanted him to get to work and he couldn't very well do that as a jackass now could he." James set Mia down in her own crib.
Hermione scooped up Ally and cuddled her in her arms. "Dad's correct. Ron is sporting donkey ears and braying like a mule. He knows full well what will happen to him if he doesn't do as I say, so in an hour's time we shall see if he heeded my warning."
"I'd go downstairs and tackle it with him, but Dani's mental outcry has given me a migraine. There's no way that I could concentrate on anything now." Harry rubbed his temples with the tips of his fingers.
"Dani mentally linked with you?" James eyes widened as to how strong that Dani was at six-weeks-old. It reminded him of Harry when he was a baby.
"She got scared, dad, it's no big deal." Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"Harry, she needs to be reined in magic wise, at least until she's old enough to understand what she's doing." Hermione completely disagreed with him.
"If you mean that Dani needs to have her magic bound you're both overacting."
"It's the norm, son, so it isn't anything dangerous. Most of your magic was bound, after you mentally threw your bottle at me at five weeks. The twins also have theirs bound as well. It's a matter of what's safe for the child and once they grow a bit the magic is slowly freed." James explained to his son. "It doesn't change who they are, it just makes it easier for them to focus on things like talking, crawling, walking, and so on. It's not good for them to rely on magic, until they've mastered the basic mortal skills."
Hermione set her sleeping daughter back in her crib and waited for Harry to ardently oppose the idea of reining in the girls especially Dani.
"Our ability to talk without words has nothing to do with magic, but I can see that binding their magic for a time, and I stress only a time would be best for the girls. To be honest it might actually let me sleep easier at night." Harry knew that it was pointless to argue when they were right, so he chose to give in without a fight.
"Well done grandson. It is what's best for Dani and her sisters." Merlin appeared in the nursery.
"Daisy had her magic bound, but only until she was nearly two. It really depends on how quickly the little one excels. In Dani's case, it could be at the age of one. Now, I will be the one to cast the charm on them, as you are too emotionally distraught." He bent over her crib and cast the Magus Modestus charm on the sleeping babe and then on her sleeping sisters.
"Thanks First-Grandpa." Harry was relieved that Merlin had performed the charm, because he knew that it would have been difficult for him to do it himself. "Now let us leave these angels to their slumber and take this conversation downstairs." Harry picked up one of the portable baby monitors and headed out of the nursery.
--
"Good idea then you can explain to me why you created that tempest this afternoon. Sir Talon, who is keeping an eye on the princes, reported to Cameron that freak bolts of lightning had singed the two of them." Merlin tried to keep a neutral expression on his face, as he watched Harry react to what he was saying.
"I know that I promised, but the hell with it my head is coming off, and that little bit of news didn't help matters any." He thought of the pain potion that he desperately needed to take and it appeared in his hand.
"Medical remedies do not count as personal gain." Merlin lectured him.
"Thanks, that's nice to know." Harry downed the pain potion. "Knowing that would have come in handy last December during my first Auror assignment." The pounding in his head was slowing to a distant rumble. "You can growl at me while I fix lunch. I for one am starved."
"Excellent idea, son. We skipped lunch to get back to see what caused you to have a meltdown." James grinned.
"I'm going to go see how Ronald is fairing." Hermione headed off to the study.
Merlin arched a brow at Harry.
He shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "Ron stepped in it again and she's gonna make him suffer greatly for it."
"I'm gonna see if Lil's needs a hand with the twins. Call me when lunch is ready." James headed off to his wing of the manor.
"Right this way, first-gramps. I'll show you my favorite place to burn off my frustrations." He led Merlin into the kitchen.
"I'm thinking hot roast beef sandwiches and mash with bread-and-butter pudding for dessert." He went about preparing lunch. "Feel free to lecture at will; it won't distract me from preparing lunch."
"It would be nice to know what to lecture you about first." Merlin sat on one of the kitchen island stools.
"I went off about the new location of the wedding without reading all the details on it. This in turn caused the tempest that scared my daughters and caused Dani to summon me, using her ability to link with my mind. Oh, I forgot about the feeling that I have that the Muggles wish me to be on England's throne and not Wills or my lack of trust involving my girls and the Muggle World." Harry saw no reason to deceive him, so he told him the truth. "Not to postpone the lecture, but how did Wills and Henry react to getting singed?"
"How do you think they reacted?" Merlin chose an apple from a bowl in front of him and bit into it. "Excellent, our orchards always produce the finest fruit, as do our gardens the finest vegetables."
"They probably swore vengeance on me or something like that." Harry smirked.
"Actually, they swore vengeance on you and the person or persons that caused you to lose your temper. Of course, their superiors chalked that up to an aftereffect of getting struck by lightning. They had to feign extreme pain and agony, as to not let on that the lightning caused them very little harm at all. The full report on it should be on the Muggle News on that wondrous machine called a Television." Merlin savored his apple.
"You do know that watching too much Telly kills your brain cells." Harry pointed his domestic wand at his first-grandfather and rolled his eyes at him.
"Though, I am curious. So, what the hell, let's see what the Muggles are saying about my big brothers." With a flick of his wrist, he turned on the Telly in the kitchen and sure enough that's all they were talking about, a breaking news story about the princes and what their conditions were. "You know they should thank me, after all it got them out of the bush didn't it."
"Lad, even though your storms electrical fireworks aren't lethal to them, it still hurts like a bitch, as the Muggles like to say." Merlin polished off his apple and got up to make the tea.
"Hermione's gonna kill me, getting struck triggered their temper, and four of the Colour sergeants have come down with poison oak or poison ivy. On the other hand when the lightning struck, everyone dove for cover, so they could have jumped into the ivy or the oak." Harry sliced thick slabs of fresh homemade bread for the sandwiches.
"Isn't that touching, they want to reassure their family and princesses that they are all right and just had a good scare." Merlin commented on the statement from the princes the newscaster was reporting about.
Harry scooped out the mounds of fluffy mashed potatoes and transferred them into a bowl. "Rory and Dromi will probably want my hide as well." He poured the gravy into a gravy boat. "Let's not forget the lecture that Uncle Albus, Gramps, Uncle Max, and Uncle Remus are gonna give me." He sliced up the roast beef, that he had been slow cooking all morning, for the sandwiches and set it out on a platter.
"Albus is returning to Hogwarts as Headmaster." Merlin chuckled when Harry dropped his wand and gaped at him. "It's not that big of a shock. Severus isn't ready for the task and is having trouble reining in the Granger twins. The new Transfiguration teacher is resigning her position, sighting the task of teaching and keeping an eye on the twins, isn't worth the heart palpitations, or the daily migraines. Therefore, both your Aunt and Uncle are back at Hogwarts. Minerva was more than happy to return and Albus just isn't happy as Co-minister of Magic."
"I've been called there ten times since term started, but this new generation of marauders is sneakier than the Weasley twins. It's good to know that Uncle Albus will be there to keep them in line and that Uncle Severus can go back to being Potions Master and Deputy Headmaster." Harry took the bread-and-butter pudding out of the oven and poured hot custard over it.
Merlin set the table the easy way, he used magic. "That's enough food to feed a small army." He pointed to the various dishes sitting on the kitchen-island.
There werecrumpets, bowls of carrots and peas to go with the meal, and he had added trifle and treacle tarts as other deserts.
Harry went about placing the various dishes on the dining table and as if on cue, various other members of the family arrived home. "That's because feeding our family is like feeding an army." Harry grinned.
--
"Something smells divine." Luna walked into the kitchen followed by Ginny.
"Oh yum, I was craving hot roast beef sandwiches and mash." Ginny nicked a crumpet from a plate and munched on it.
"I'm famished." Draco appeared beside Merlin.
"See babe, I told you that we had perfect timing." Logan and Thea arrived with four-week-old Oran snoozing in his baby carrier.
"I am not as bad as Hermione. My cooking didn't land you in St. Mungo's. I'll get the hang of it eventually." Thea pouted. "It's just not right mooching off Harry's cooking all the time."
"We are not bumming meals off Harry. We're family." Logan acted as if Thea had stabbed him through the heart.
"I take pity on you, Logan. You can't help it if you can't cook and Thea is still just learning. Draco has never had to cook in his life and I know what happened when he and Ginny tried to make a milk shake last summer. Dad and I take turns cooking, because our other halves tried to kill us with their creations. Ron is just plain lazy and his new career keeps him busy. Luna is also busy with her chosen path, so she hasn't had time to slow down and take a shot at cooking a meal. Uncle Sirius is just too lazy to cook, but will when he has to, because Aunt Jenn is all thumbs in the kitchen. I suppose the main reason I don't mind is, because I love having my family around me and I love cooking." Harry checked off the reasons he cooked a virtual feast for each meal.
"Why don't you solve that by teaching the others how to cook?" Merlin suggested.
"Teaching them how to cook?" Harry pondered the idea of taking on such a task.
"Teaching who how to cook?" James and Lily walked into the kitchen.
"Grandfather suggested that Harry teach us how to cook." Thea was the first to answer.
"I imagine between the two of us, we could take a shot at it. I mean, eventually you're going to have to learn how to fend for yourselves." James was always one for a challenge.
"Unless, we find that some of you are just not meant to cook, then I'll have mercy on you." Harry chuckled.
"Some are not meant to cook meals, but others are good at desserts, puddings, and sweets." Lily countered.
"Point taken, my beloved flame." James kissed her.
"You can eat without having to talk. So, no, Ronald, I am not going to sort you out right now." Hermione growled at Ron as the two joined everyone for lunch.
"Thea lets get Oran settled upstairs in the nursery that way you can enjoy lunch and he can snooze upstairs. The girls are down for a few hours." Her mood brightened when she saw Thea.
"I was just waiting for you to join us." Thea smiled at Hermione.
"I was just telling Ronald that he could take a break for lunch." Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ron then the two of them headed upstairs to the nursery.
"Ronald?" Draco mouthed soundlessly at Harry.
"Don't ask." Harry mouthed back.
Ron glowered at Hermione's retreating form, but said nothing.
"Oh Ronnie, you know not to provoke Hermione and by the looks of it that's exactly what you did." Luna frowned.
"Really and what gave it away?" Logan smirked, "The donkey ears or the fact that he's being unusually quite?"
Ron flipped him the universal up yours sign, but still didn't utter a sound.
"Lay off Ron and let's eat lunch." Harry wanted to avoid an all out brawl in his kitchen.
Ron stalked over to the table and sat down.
"Harry James! You could have killed them!" Rory and Dromi arrived home just in time for lunch.
"Killed who?" Harry acted, as if he were unaware of what was up with the princes. "I've been home all day; besides I'm a good guy remember."
"Very funny, little brother, but the Telly is on, so I know that you know what's going on with our guys!" Rory glared at him.
"This is England storms happen. I can't be blamed for every sudden storm that pops up." Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I'm glad that they weren't harmed by the lightning. It's a shame that those sergeants came down with poison ivy or poison oak though."
"Oh, your good little brother feigning innocent when all the while you're extremely guilty." Dromi looked him straight in the eyes, but it was impossible to tell anything, because he was a master at putting up a poker face.
"Am I really?" Harry narrowed his eyes at her. "The only thing I'm guilty of is not being happy about the location of the wedding and giving Ron a rough time about it. I'm not guilty of some freak storm on the other side of England! I may have created one here in Southwestern Wales, but I had nothing to do with the one in East Wessex!"
"He does have a point. There is no way that you can snarl at him for a storm that may or may not have been spawned off the tempest here in Godric's Hollow." Hermione stood in the doorway. "Now, if you wish to feel that way, the two of you can make your own lunch." She added coolly.
Harry put his domestic wand away. "Be my guest girls, but you're going to have to go about making lunch the Muggle way."
Harry looked at the others. "Lunch is ready, feel free to have a seat and enjoy."
"But, that's not fair!" Rory and Dromi pouted.
"Oh, I think it is." Hermione countered. "Harry did all the work. You're toasted at Harry. So why should he share the lunch he made with two people who think so lowly of him."
"Don't worry girls there's bread, sandwich fixings, and crisps. I think that you two can handle making yourself some sandwiches." Harry led Hermione to her seat at the table.
"First-Grandpa did he or did he not cause that storm?" Dromi asked Merlin.
"Now girls… Harry is not the only elemental wizard or witch for that matter in the Wizarding World. He may have called up the storm here, but he isn't at fault for storms that aren't in the surrounding area." Merlin saw the logic in Harry's little white lie and went with it, besides he was hungry and Harry was an excellent cook. "Next time don't jump to conclusions, unless you have all the facts." He went to have a seat and helped himself to some lunch.
"I didn't feel like homemade food anyway. We'll go grab a bite in London." Rory grumbled.
"The press will be ravenous to hear your response to what happened to the boys, so I wouldn't if I were you." Luna sat down next to Ron.
"Luna's right. I would keep it low-key for a few days." Draco took a seat.
"This food is fabulous, Harry, you are one excellent cook." Ginny loved her meal.
"Oran is all tucked in upstairs. Yum, that food smells heavenly." Thea took a seat next to Logan.
"Oh, it is babe here have a bite." Logan fed her a bite of his sandwich.
"As usual Harry this is better food than at a restaurant or pub." Thea was happy.
"Girls, you aren't going to London, so fix yourself a sandwich for lunch." James told his oldest daughters. "Very nicely done, son, the food is excellent." He smiled at Harry.
"Your father is right. There is no need for you to be chased by the press." Lily agreed. "And Harry you did a superb job fixing lunch." She praised her son.
Rory and Dromi pouted at Harry.
Harry felt a little guilty, so he decided to play nice again. "Oh stop pouting at me. You can have some lunch."
The girls didn't need to be told twice and went to join the others.
--
"Ron, aren't you going to tell Harry thank you for lunch?" Luna arched a brow at Ron.
Ron focused on his meal.
"What's wrong, Ron? Are we tongue-tied today?" Draco asked curious about what Hermione had done to him to make Ron speechless.
Ron continued to eat and said nothing.
"The donkey ears should give you a clue." Hermione smirked.
"You didn't." Logan, Thea, Draco, Ginny, Luna gaped at her.
"Oh yeah, she did." Harry nodded.
"He told me to be a good little mother and to go tend to my babies." Hermione huffed. "He deserved what he got. I should have made him a mule; instead of just given him the ears and making him bray like one!"
"No wonder you aren't talking…you can't at the moment." Draco tried not to smirk. "Why'd he go and say a dumb thing like that anyway?"
"She wanted him to do more work than he wanted to do and whined about it. Hermione told him to do it anyway and called him on a few things. This of course made Ron irate, so he ended up sticking his foot in it. Now she's gonna make him pay dearly for it." Harry gave them the short version of it.
"Just like old times." Ginny smirked.
Ron's ears were so red that steam should have been coming out of them. He did not like Hermione's form of payback and nothing that he had tried could reverse it.
"What was it that you wanted him to do?" Dromi asked.
"I wanted him to organize the work on Harry's desk by what is priority and what is not." Hermione scoffed. "And he went off on a whiny tirade about it taking too long, Quidditch practice, and his plans with Luna."
"That reminds me this is for you, Hermione." Draco handed her a letter. "I ran into someone today and they asked me to give that to you."
Hermione set down her fork and went about reading the letter.
"Who's it from, sweetie?" Harry tried to glance at the letter, but she turned away from him, so he couldn't read it.
Hermione had a thoughtful expression on her face, but said nothing as she read it again.
"Well, it isn't bad news, because it brightened her mood." Logan pointed out.
"No, no, it's not bad news." Hermione murmured.
Thea was sitting next to Hermione and caught some of what she was reading. "He does have a point. I mean, you are what he says." She commented.
"Who has a point?" Harry picked up the envelope, but there was no writing on it.
"I just don't know…" Hermione sighed, "He is right about some of it…I just don't know." She worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
"Don't know what? Who's right?" He reached over and took the letter from her. His brow furrowed with every line that he read and by the end of it, he was scowling. "He could have come here and asked in person, instead of having Draco act as his messenger." He growled. "I mean don't get me wrong …he's right. You are everything that he says, but the coward should have asked you in person."
"Maybe, he didn't want to have to face you; you are in a mood today." Hermione kissed his cheek.
"At least your letter was nice. I got one from Oliver telling me that I'm benched until next season." Ginny grumbled. "Like he'll have any luck finding a Chaser, let alone break him or her in by the time for the next match."
"Peaches, you're two months along with our son, so there's no way in hell that I'm allowing you up on a broom." Draco kissed the top of her head.
"I know, but I don't have to like it." Ginny pouted.
"Well, don't keep grumbling, Prince. What does that letter say?" Logan frowned.
"It's from Oliver begging my princess to have mercy on him and be a Chaser for the team. He has every right to ask, because she was told the spot was always open to her." Harry handed him the letter so he could read it.
"Hermione," Ginny's mood brightened. "Now, I wouldn't have any problem with her taking my spot for a while."
"Well, what do you think about it, Hermione?" Draco asked.
"I have to think about it, but I have missed playing." She had some thinking to do before six that evening. "I would never have thought that I would say this, but I loved being on the broom and making goals." She looked over at Harry.
"Hey, don't look at me, this is your call. I have no problem with you being on the team, because I know that you can more than hold your own against anyone." Harry wanted this to be her decision.
"I have the girls to think about…" Hermione was torn about what to do.
Ron tossed a crumpet at her.
"Oh, very well, Ronald you may speak now." Hermione took away her jinx.
"The girls shouldn't be a factor, because there isn't anyone in the family who doesn't want to watch them. You need to base your decision on what you wanna do and for once follow your heart and not what logic tells you to do." Ron put in his opinion.
"Ron's right, kitten, the girls will be fine with us. You need to follow as your heart leads you. If that's playing Quidditch then go for it." James grinned.
"You love to play and it will give you on outlet away from the girls." Lily agreed. "Even mothers need some time to have a little fun."
"I say go for it." Rory grinned.
"Yes, you seem really happy when you play." Dromi agreed.
"You do love it." Luna smiled.
"Well, that settles it then, if you love it then you must play. I for one would love to see you in action." Logan grinned.
"She's amazing." Ginny smiled at Hermione.
"She can more than hold her own on the playing field. The question is can you keep up with her." Draco was all for her being on the team.
"My first time out we beat Oliver's team 420 to 80. The second match we beat the all-stars 400 to 130. Ravenclaw 350 to 50. Hufflepuff 490 to 50, and the last game that I got to play in against the Tornadoes was 450 to 250. I think that I can handle playing against the other professional teams." Hermione didn't mind boasting about her skill as a Chaser.
"My angel is a natural Chaser." Harry kissed her on the top of her head.
"Then it's win-win for everyone if she says yes." Thea grinned.
"One should always embrace ones gifts." Merlin winked at her.
--
"Hello, anyone home?" Oliver used the intercom on the front gates.
"Does he have timing or what?" Ron grinned.
Harry got up to go let him in. "Come on up Oliver. We're eating lunch. We've plenty if you haven't eaten."
"I just dropped the twins off at my parents and Lucy is still in London. So, I haven't had time for lunch, sure I'll join you." Oliver joined them in the dining room a few minutes later.
"Oliver, any luck finding a new Chaser yet?" Logan asked.
"Yeah Oliver, who do ya have in mind, a rookie, or a seasoned player?" Ron inquired.
Hermione fixed him a plate and handed it to him. "Have a seat Oliver, we don't bite."
"It would have to be soon, we only have a week until our next match." Draco mused.
"It would have to be someone who would instantly mesh with the existing team, but who also had the skills to be a Chaser." Harry loved watching Wood squirm. "C'mon Wood, inquiring minds want to know."
"Oliver, what was in that letter? I left it at headquarters." Draco was enjoying watching him sweat. "I mean was it important?"
Oliver choked on the bite of sandwich that he was trying to swallow. "Draco, I really needed you to deliver that letter to the person that I asked you to." He coughed.
"Why was it from Lucy?" Draco frowned.
"Oh, never mind…" Oliver muttered under his breath. "I mean, what's the worst thing that can happen…he jinxes the tar out of me and I end up in St. Mungo's."
"Oliver, you aren't making much sense. Who would want to jinx the tar out of you?" Hermione arched a brow at him.
"Harry that's who," Wood took a deep breath and got up the nerve to ask what he needed to ask.
"Well then, if that's the case, you'd best say what it is that you need to say, or I might just jinx you out of sheer exasperation." Harry tried to act irritated and not like he was about to fall backwards in his chair laughing.
"All right, then I will!" Oliver took on Harry's challenged. "Hermione, I want you to take Ginny's place as Chaser on the team. The triplets are six-weeks-old now, so you can leave them for short periods. Lucy says that you even have them all used to drinking from a bottle now and that they have all taken to drinking formula. I have no doubt that anyone would mind watching them during practice or when we have matches. You are the best Chaser that I have ever seen and it's a bloomin waste to just throw that talent away. So what do you say, will you be our new Chaser?"
He waited for Harry to lay into him, but it never happened. Instead, he found everyone at the table trying not to burst out laughing.
"Exactly, what did I say that was so damned amusing?" He frowned.
Harry held up the letter and grinned. "Oh nothing, it was an excellent speech. It's just that, you see, we already read the letter and were just egging you on a bit."
"Congratulations, you really had me going there for a while." He couldn't help but chuckle. "Hermione, what do you say? Will you join the team?"
"Oliver, do you really think that we would put you through all of that and not give you good news?" Hermione giggled. "Yes, I would love to play on the team. I've missed it."
"Harry, you're all for it as well?" Oliver had to verify that he wasn't hearing things.
Harry nodded. "You forget I know full well how good she is at being a Chaser, so yes I'm all for it."
"Then I'll see you and Harry at practice tonight." Oliver was pleased with the turn of events.
"That you will, Oliver." Harry grinned. "Although, I would think that you would want to skip tonight's practice, since you and Luce have the weekend free."
"Luce and I are celebrating our fourth anniversary by taking a short holiday on the Isle of Avalon. Now, since she's at St. Mungo's until later tonight, practice will go on as scheduled." Oliver wasn't about to let them off the hook.
"Good god man! We are offering you more quality time with Lucy and all you can think of is holding Quidditch practice!?" Logan stared at him as if he had sprouted a second head. "There is more to life than Quidditch."
Oliver rolled his eyes in annoyance at Logan. "I haven't gone completely daft, Logan! I can focus on practice, because Luce isn't due home until nearly midnight, and yes I know there's more to life than Quidditch." He growled. "I love my girls. Luce, Willow, and Ashley are my world."
"Easy there Oliver, he's only teasing you." Harry tried to mediate between the two.
"No worries, Oliver. Logan is all yours for the evening, so feel free to extend practice if you'd like. I'm taking Oran to see Mum and Daddy this evening." Thea smiled.
"Well, it's been lovely, but I have to get back to St. Mungo's." Ginny said her goodbyes, kissed Draco, and vanished.
Draco noticed the time on the monitor on the wall and groaned. "Uncle Max is gonna string me up by my toes if I'm late again. I'll see you at practice." He downed the rest of his tea and vanished.
Logan grinned. "Dad's taken over training Draco and loves every minute of it."
"I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a meeting with Grandpa in twenty minutes, so I can't be late." Luna kissed Ron. "How is your work coming along here?"
"I've got more than enough here to keep me busy for the day. Tell Uncle Stephen that it's gonna get handled and not to worry about it." Ron wasn't about to press his luck with Hermione, so he wisely chose to focus on his work here at the manor.
"I'll see you after practice then." Luna vanished.
"I'm off to have a chat with Albus." Merlin pinned Harry with a look. "You and I will talk later."
"That's, uh, great first-Gramps…can't wait." Harry forced himself to be polite.
"Give them all our love. Tell them that we'll be at the twin's first Quidditch match…that is if they aren't stuck in detention again." Hermione smiled at him.
"That's what I'm going to chat with him about." Merlin vanished.
"We're going riding this afternoon." Rory finished her dessert.
"Then we're going to help Uncle Paddy with the horses." Dromi smiled at them and the two of them headed off to the stables.
"Dada," The monitor on the wall activated and a visual of the twin's nursery appeared on it. MJ was sitting up in his crib.
"Mama," Izzy was also awake and wanting her parents.
"That's our cue." James and Lily headed off to tend to the twins.
As if on cue the triplets started fussing, as did Oran.
"We'll be upstairs if you need us." Hermione, Harry, Logan, and Thea all vanished.
--
Ten-week-old Tigger, the spitting image of Crookshanks, jumped onto Ron's lap.
"You know it's crazy, but I envy those six." Ron scratched the kitten's ears. "What you say you and I go attempt to plow through that mess on his desk."
Tigger purred happily in his arms.
"I know that you happen to be their favorite and that's the reason you weren't given to one of the family, but I want you to be mine. I reckon that you and I could get along well together," Ron loved this carbon copy of Crooks.
He wasn't aware the four in the nursery could hear what was being said and nearly jumped out of his chair when Hermione's amused voice filtered into the room from the monitor. "Sort through that mess and we'll talk."
"Let's go Tigger. She just gave me all the incentive that I needed to go back to work." Ron eagerly went back to the study with the kitten perched up on his shoulder.
--
Chapter 7
It's about time
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008