Chapter 18: Hogwarts, Potter Manor, the Belfast meeting, Harry's February call, and the May 2nd Hogwartian's ball.

September, Wednesday 19th, 2018.

Al, Little Harry, Scorpius, and Lily Helen were making their way across the courtyard's footbridge leading to the owlery, and they were being accompanied by their girlfriends, or in Lily's case, her boyfriend. When they were about one-third of the way across, Little Harry stopped and walked over to the railing to look down into the deep and rugged gorge below.

"This was where Professor Longbottom almost died," Little Harry said, as he looked down at the jagged rocks and stream many feet below.

"What do you mean?" Meghan, his girlfriend, asked in her light Scottish brogue.

"Professor Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, and a few others rigged this bridge with explosives on the evening of May 2nd," Al explained, "and Professor Longbottom made himself the bait. He was at the end toward the owlery, where he taunted the Snatchers, Death Eaters, and their sympathizers, so they would chase after him. I reckon he got them pretty riled up."

"When the wards finally failed," Lily Helen said, picking up the story, "Professor Longbottom began running back across the bridge in this direction. When those chasing after him were mid-span, Finnigan blew up the bridge, taking Tom's people with it. Professor Longbottom almost went down with them. Close to fifty died in that explosion, and on the rocks below. That's why this section of the bridge is new."

"Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say," Scorp dryly quipped, as he looked over the railing as well. "I'm glad Professor Longbottom is alright, of course, because he's a good wizard, but for those that went splat, I feel no pity."

"Scorp!" Rose chastised and slapped him on the shoulder.

"It's just what I think, Rosie," Scorp said through thin lips as he stared off in the distance, "since the Death Eaters almost ruined my da', and they did ruin my grandda'."

"Enough of these morbid thoughts," Samantha piped up. "What are we going to wear for the ball?"

Al glanced at his girlfriend out of the corner of his right eye at this. "Why, tuxes and ball gowns, of course. A little early for tha', innit?"

"The invitation said it was 'black-tie optional," Samantha shot back.

Here, Al chortled out. "You don't know da' and mum tha' well, do you? To them, tha' means we're all wearing a new bespoke tux, a white ten-pleat dress shirt with wing collar, studs, and cufflinks, an evening waistcoat, a black silk bowtie matching the jacket's lapels, black dress trousers, and bespoke patent leather oxfords. On May 2nd, da' will take us all to Truefitt & Hill for a hot-towel wet shave, haircut, and manicure as well."

"What kind of lapels this year?" Al asked his twin.

"Grosgrain silk shawl lapel, of course," Harry replied, which obtained both Al and Scorp's nods of approval.

Samantha looked as though she couldn't believe her own ears.

"I'll bet mum and da' have already contacted Auntie Hermione and Ron, along with your parents, honey," Lily Helen said to Michael, "and Meg and Sammy's parents as well. They'll have Goodnight's parents in on it too, along with Auntie Astoria and Uncle Draco, and they'll set a date to go out to be fitted, with mum leading we witches, and da' taking the men."

"You're havin' a laugh, right?" Sammy asked.

"Oh, no," Al explained with a chortle. "Da' and mum, as well as the DOCS, are always targeted by the press, so we have to be dressed to the nines on those occasions. If not, the bloody Prophet will pick up on it, and try to start a scandal, which generally includes insulting the minister and our family in some terrible way. They'll have a go at you, too!"

"Bloody politics!" Meghan exclaimed before she started leading Little Harry off, where the rest followed. Sammy just looked stunned at what the press would do.

"Sammy'll learn, one day," Lily whispered to Michael, who only snorted with a nod, as they followed the others along from behind.

"You all right now, what with what happened?" Michael asked.

"Yea," Lily Helen muttered. "It just brought back all those memories about my grandparents, and what happened that Halloween."

After about ten seconds, Michael leaned over and whispered in Lily's ear. "Do you think Sammy and Meg know about their family's protection now?"

"I doubt it," Lily whispered back, as she latched onto Michael's elbow just a little tighter when they came to the end of the bridge.


September, Friday 21st, 2018.

When Jimmie and Goodnight walked into the media room at Potter Manor, both Harry and Daphne were surprised, as at Jimmie's heel strolled a large, shaggy, and long-haired black German Shepherd about a year and one-half old, which stood twenty-six inches at the shoulder, and it had amber-orange eyes.

"Da', Mum, meet Snuffles," Jimmie said with a proud smile, as 'Snuffles' trotted over to Harry sitting on the sofa, where the dog lie down at his feet and rolled over on his back for a belly rub.

Daphne was stunned, momentarily, as Goodnight sat down in the wingback chair beside her, with Jimmie by his father in the other. Finally, Harry mumbled out, "Padfoot?"

The large black dog only whined, causing Harry to bend over to scratch the dog on his belly. Once done, the dog leaped up, placed both front paws on Harry's thighs, and started to thoroughly lick his face.

Before anyone could say anything, Daphne had her wand in hand and muttered a charm. There was a flash of white light, and Jimmie noticed his mother scrutinizing the dog. "Wha' the hell, Mum?"

Daphne sighed and sat back on the sofa at this. "Well, he's not an Animagus."

Goodnight looked shocked at this because she had never thought to check.

"All right, boy, down, down," Harry said with a chuckle, as he pushed the large dog off him. "Where did you find him?"

"We found him at the RSPCA, on Cowick Street down in Exeter," Jimmie replied, as Snuffles made his way over to Jimmie for more petting.

"They claimed that he was ill-mannered around people," Goodnight explained, "and that nobody wanted him. They were ready to put him down, Harry, until we showed up! The employees said that we were the first couple that Snuffles, which is what Jim named him, ever took up with."

"Hmmmm," Harry muttered, as he studied the dog. He bet that it could sense magic.

This led to a long discussion, with Daphne demanding that the young Potter couple take care of Snuffles, keep him well fed, and take him to the Vet when needed to keep up with his shots. Daphne also noticed how Harry sadly looked at "Padfoot," which was what Harry immediately started calling the dog. That broke her heart, as Jimmie had wanted a similar dog since he was two when he had a stuffed black dog named Snuffles gifted to him by Harry, which Jimmie used to sleep with. She knew the entire sad story behind 'Snuffles,' or 'Padfoot," as well since MDOCS was formed in honor of Sirius Black.


September, Sunday 23rd, 2018.

Potter Manor was full that evening, what with the elder Potters and Jimmie and Goodnight, along with Snuffles lying at Jimmie's feet by the fire. There were also Bill and Bella Gudmundsson, Petunia and Lord Lagavulin of Islay, Lord MacLean and his wife, Catherine, from Mull, Elric Eastwick of the Wizengamot, and his wife, Charlotte, from Eastwick, Michael Corner and his wife, Mandy, from York, Astoria and Draco from Wiltshire, and Ron and Hermione from Ottery St. Catchpole, who were all invited for supper.

It was now ten after eight, where everyone was seated comfortably in the Potter's drawing-room while enjoying a glass of brandy or champagne after a fine supper. Daphne, Astoria, and Petunia had been busy with the other witches, showing them around the room beforehand. Finally, Harry stood and made his way to the huge fireplace on the east wall, which was just across the room from where he and Daphne were sitting, by the large box bay window in two over-stuffed wingback chairs.

Not used to seeing Harry use wandless magic, the Eastwicks and MacLeans were startled, when Harry merely pointed his index finger at the wood lying in a large basket and levitated it into the hearth with the low-burning logs already there.

Petunia noticed this, and couldn't help from chortling, which caused the two families to quickly turn their attention toward her.

"Startling, isn't it?" Petunia asked as Lord Lagavulin snorted with a smirk. "It took me ages to get used to it, but I should have known he could. My sister could do it, and now, so can Harry and Jim. The other children can as well if they try. They're just too used to waving their wands about!"

Jimmie gave his auntie a cross look at this, which made Daphne laugh out loud.

"I first noticed Jimmie doing it not long after he was born," Daphne explained, "when Harry was laid up at St. Mungo's. My son couldn't reach his blankie, you see, so, he unknowingly summoned the edge of it to his hand. It surprised me, as well as those that were visiting. I thought it was just a bit of accidental magic, but no, just like his father, his name appeared in the Book of Admittance, at Hogwarts, on the day he was born."

"Mum!" Jimmie scolded since he was embarrassed. This only caused Daphne, Goodnight, and Petunia to chortle, while Harry, Ron, and Hermione smirked.

Harry paced back and forth in front of the fireplace three times before he turned and addressed his guests.

"I have to be honest with you," Harry admitted. "I brought you all here, together, for a reason, since you are now tied to my family through your daughters, and your son, Mike." Here, Mike and Mandy played along.

"Why's that, Sir Harry?" Lord MacLean inquired, as he sat forward on the sofa.

Here, Harry sighed and shook his head. "Because they're now targets, quite frankly."

"What?" Charlotte Eastwick exclaimed.

"Yes, what do you mean, Sir Harry?" Elric chimed in with his wife.

"It's because they're dating, you see," Answered Bill, as Harry took his seat beside his wife, and nodded. "We were told the same thing when Marry started dating Jimmie."

"Don't worry about your daughters," Goodnight said, "as they're now under protection by the ministry, and now, so are you."

"Protection?" Catherine MacLean asked. "I've not seen any protection when we go out!"

"Then we're doing our jobs, then, ain't we?" Ron remarked. "You're not supposed to see us, or any from my attachment, that is, or those from MDOCS."

"Wait, wait, wait," Malcolm MacLean said, "you're telling me that you have protection details on all of us; what, five families?"

"Four, actually," Michael Corner spoke up. "Ron's an Auror, remember?" Mandy only nodded in agreement.

"But, why?" Catherine MacLean asked.

Here, Harry gave out a long sigh. "Because there are some very bad people out there, who would target the children just to get to Daphne and I."

"You're having a laugh, right?" Malcolm MacLean asked as he studied Harry.

Harry gave Malcolm a sad shake of his head. "I wish I was, Lord MacLean, I wish I was."

"It's also due to everyone present being close to Minister Shacklebolt," Daphne explained. "They would target our children to get back at him over MDOCS and the Auror Department. That includes the press targeting us, what with Skeeter and a few others. Vile creatures, they are, and all they want to do is embarrass the minister."

"We've had a protection detail ever since mum and I gave testimony to the Wizengamot at the end of the war," Draco said in a soft voice, as he stared out the window behind his brother and sister-in-law. Astoria reached over to rub his back since he was sitting forward now. He and Astoria were sitting on the opposite sofa from the Macleans and Eastwicks, and beside the Weasleys.

"Which brings me to this," Harry said, as he reached into the pocket of his tweed jacket, and removed eighteen gift certificates from its inner pocket. Next, he stood, and handed them out to Goodnight's parents, Petunia and her live-in boyfriend, Lord Lagavulin, the MacLeans, the Eastwicks, the Corners, and the Weasleys.

When Harry noticed that Ron and Hermione started to complain, especially since they had four certificates, Harry held up his hand, silencing them. "Don't start, Ron. The ministry is paying for this," Harry lied, "so accept them."

Charlotte Eastwick looked at the three certificates, and asked, "what are these for?"

"Bespoke dress robes, and gowns for May 2nd," Daphne explained. "All we witches will meet up, with our daughters, and go wherever you like to be fitted for a gown, and Harry and Draco will take the men and boys."

The Eastwicks and Macleans started to look insulted, so Harry quickly jumped in.

"It's the bloody Prophet, you see. They will be at the ball, and they will scrutinize your families now because your children are dating ours. Thus, the minister wishes that we all attend the ball, together, and dress the same, which is, dressing to the nines, and the minister doesn't believe that you should have to pay for that out of your own pocket. None of us wizards, here, wear dress robes anymore, so it will all work out."

Finally, everyone accepted the gift certificates, with a grimace, but it was the ministry paying, after all, or so they thought. Besides, Elric thought, he could do with a new tux.


September, Monday 24th, 2018.

Seamus and Tracey found themselves standing outside St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that morning. Seamus looked around at the crowd, where he gave Tracey a quick peck on the lips before the two entered the church.

Once inside, Seamus turned toward the altar and gave a quick sign of making the cross, before taking a seat in one of the wooden chairs in the back row, on the outside.

Tracey, though, walked up the aisle, and counted ten rows, before she took a seat just as Seamus did, on the outside, near the aisle. Here, she pulled a scarf over her head and opened a bible that she brought, pretending to read. She was always making sure to notice anyone entering, and was ready to spring up if anything happened to her husband.

At ten o'clock, on the nose, a man dressed in a suit sat down in the chair next to Seamus and gave him a nod. Seamus nodded back and opened the bible in his lap, where he removed a shrunken folder from it and slipped it to the man beside him before he started to pretend to read the scriptures.

The man stood and gave Seamus' shoulder a squeeze before walking out of the church.

The Finnigans waited ten minutes, and then left themselves, where they apparated back to MDOCS HQ.

The information handoff was complete. It was a file about Irish smugglers operating out of both Northern Ireland, and Ireland. The man was an operative for Ireland's Muggle Garda Síochána ('Guardian of the Peace') Special Detective Unit. The MDOCS, of course, had already informed the SIS, and the police in Northern Ireland.


Monday, February 25th, 2019.

Harry was sitting at his desk at MDOCS, while planning their upcoming seven-year retraining exercise for the MDOCS and MIA, which would be held during the first week of March, from the 4th to the 9th. It was the second one they had, as the first was held in the US, at Camp X, which was two years after Harry and Daphne were off on their goodwill mission in the Caribbean. He and Daphne would have to attend this one as well, and luckily, both kept in good shape by using the gym in the DOCS cellar, and their small one at home, which was upstairs and just down the hall from Jimmie's old room.

Just as Harry had finished signing the expense sheet, and a cheque to move the money from the MDOCS account to the Aurors account, his secure cell phone rang, which he quickly flipped open, and answered. It was his big brother, David Graves.

"Hello, Felix," Harry said, thus, gaining Daphne's attention, who was sitting at her desk beside his.

After several "uh-huhs", and nods of the head, Harry hang up, and glanced over at Daphne.

"That was 'Big Brother,'" Harry explained, "who just informed me that the DOCS should be receiving one of 'those' owls shortly. He said that they now had a lead on the missing agent as well, who was snooping around down in Mississippi."

"Hmmmmm," Daphne hummed and thought about what this could lead to. "You expect a joint mission, I take it?"

"Yes, dear, I do," Harry replied.

Daphne knew that she and her Uncle Gareth, and maybe, Hermione, would have to travel to New York as well, where they were to submit an extradition order to the MACUSA court. Whether those who were apprehended were arraigned, convicted, and imprisoned, or not, the MLE wanted their pound of flesh as well and would extradite them and try them afterward in the Wizengamot. Azkaban was looming for them.

There was also the associated sting that would take place in Liverpool and Birkenhead. She would lead that with the Aurors and Hit Wizards on the day of the operation, whatever day it fell on.


Thursday, May 2nd, 2019.

Harry, Draco, Jimmie, and Teddy were leading a large group out of Truefitt & Hill, which included Bill Gudmundsson, Elric Eastwick, Malcolm MacLean, Michael Corner, and Ron Weasley. Along with them were those still in Hogwarts, which included the twins, Al and Little Harry, Scorpius Malfoy, and Hugo Weasley. Lord Lagavulin came with them as well, at Petunia's insistence. Each one was treated to a hot towel wet shave, then, a proper haircut, and finally, a manicure. They had all picked up their new tuxedos the prior week, from Gieves & Hawkes, which were all bespoke black wool and mohair blend "Nelson" cuts, with shawl lapels.

Their next stop was to pick up their bespoke patent leather Oxfords at John Lobb. They would make their way there, next, which was also located close to St. James's Square and just across St. James's St. from where they were. Next, they would walk northwest about one block, where Harry would buy those of age some nice Habanas at James J. Fox, and then he would take them to dine at The Wolseley, which was located farther up, and around the corner on Piccadilly.

While Harry was doing this, Daphne was ushering the witches around to have their hair done, along with a manicure, and then to join them at The Wolseley.


Harry and Daphne arrived via one of the floos at the old MoM Atrium, where the large ball was to be held. They were only using the first twelve floos, which were the six on either side and at the far end of the atrium, over security, where they had the rest of the hall roped off. Harry really dreaded this part, as his inlaws were behind his immediate family, along with Draco and Astoria, Goodnight's parents, and the parents of all his other son's dates.

When Harry made his way up to the roped entrance, the Master of Ceremonies spoke out loudly. "Sir Harry and Dame Daphne Potter, their sons, Alexander and Henry, and their daughter, Lily!"

Harry grumbled at this but led Daphne through, who was hanging on his arm. They were followed by each of his sons, and their proud dates, who were all wearing new bespoke gowns.

As they made it to the first table at the back, Harry heard the MC state, "James and Mary Greengrass-Potter," which caused him to smirk, as Jimmie hated being announced as well.

The elder Potters didn't make it far, until the well-wishers, along with the press, had started to surround them, but they plastered on fake smiles and soldiered on. Neither could wait to take their seats at the head table beside Minister Shacklebolt, and Headmistress McGonagall.

The attendees had a surprise coming, as many had noticed a small table at the front, which was close to the one for the Potter family, and was close to the dance floor and stage. The small table held several pieces of muggle electronic equipment, and none had any idea what it was. They had also noticed a huge white screen placed in front of the bandstand, which was across the dance floor.


(To be continued next chapter.)

AN: Though not in the book, I used the scene about Neville from the movie, which I thought was a great addition.