Ginny Potter was waiting, fidgety and frightened, outside the Auror Department at the Ministry of Magic. The Magical Law Enforcement Squad were trying to hush everything down, but 30 or so odd family members were waiting outside, either sobbing or too nervous to talk. Hermione had swept round and sat with Ginny, calming her down, before she needed to head home and retrieve Rose and Hugo from her Mother's.
Nadia was having a total meltdown; tonnes of families begging for information that she just couldn't give. She was eyeing everyone nervously, not knowing what to expect. She knew some of these people, but that didn't make the situation any easier. Nadia decided she needed to get a drink, so she eased herself up from the desk, and started walking towards the door. She didn't, however, expect Ginny to almost knock her over at the door stand.
"Nadia!" Ginny said, out of breath, "I'll come with you"
"Don't you want to wait here?" Nadia said, a bit awkward.
"No. It's too much to be around" Ginny replied, opening the door, and stepping outside. Nadia followed her lead and shut the door behind her.
"How are you?" Ginny asked, smiling slightly.
"I'm settling in well, I hope" Nadia replied.
"Good," Ginny said nodding. Deathly awkward silence wrenched the air, and all that could be heard was the 'thud thud' of footsteps.
"I hope most our Aurors come out OK," Nadia said quietly, looking down.
"It said 23, didn't it?" Ginny said, head snapping up.
"23 investigators, so Muggle Police Officers as well," Nadia said, shaking her head.
"Oh," Ginny said, sighing.
"I honestly don't think Harry was one of the 23, Ginny" Nadia said, looking at Ginny.
"I hope not" Ginny replied
"I know he wasn't," Nadia said firmly, assuring herself as well.
"Why can't they just let him out!" Ginny said angrily, "I need to see him, so do our children!"
"They need to assess the outcome," Nadia said calmly, "And on another note, where are your children?"
Ginny exhaled an obvious breath.
"2 youngest at my parent's house, and then my Mum would have hopefully collected James from school"
"Why didn't you bring them here?" Nadia asked. Ginny grimaced at that.
"The Press would go wild, and plus I don't want them to know what happened"
"Mighten they figure it out?"
"Maybe, James might anyway," Ginny said, "He's smart"
"I want to meet them" Nadia admitted. Ginny smiled at that.
"Maybe you will, we just don't like bringing them to the Ministry, because they're too young to be photographed every second. We want them to have a normal childhood"
A sudden bell rang from Nadia's pocket, and she jumped, quickly fumbling through the tangle of robes.
"NADIA! WHERE ARE YOU! YOU'RE NEEDED AT THE FRONT DESK!" A man's voice yelled through her hand.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I was getting a drink! Hold your horses!" Nadia yelled back, waving farewell to Ginny, and hurrying off.
"Ok then" Ginny muttered, slowly following Nadia back.
The number of times this house had been cleaned was now reaching world record. I was on a cleaning spree, as Robert had put it.
We had a quick dinner at 6:30, and then I hurried my family away, so I could clean up the dishes.
Almost a second later, the doorbell rang, and Liam screeched 'JAMES' HERE!"
I walked over to the front door and pulled back the lock. I was disappointed to see that Ginny hadn't made it, only her sister in law, Hermione.
"Hello, Katie" Hermione smiled.
"Hi, did Ginny not make it?" I asked. Hermione shook her head, and she silently indicated the two boys by her feet.
"Oh God, sorry," I said, feeling a bit thick.
"It's fine, they know," Hermione said sadly, releasing Al's small hand. I nodded and invited her inside.
"Any updates on the unlucky 23?" I said when James had been whisked away by Liam. Al was a bit reluctant to leave, so he accompanied us into the living room.
"Not yet," Hermione said, settling down on the sofa, Al sitting on her lap.
"I'm only supposing Ginny's at Harry's work still," I said, not really intending it to be the question it came out to be.
"Yes," Hermione nodded, shifting Al slightly.
"Do you know when James and Al will be collected?" I asked, sensing that Hermione didn't really want to talk about this topic.
"Umm, Ginny said maybe around 9, if that's ok with you. It might be earlier" Hermione said, silently thanking me.
"Should I put them to sleep, or-" I wondered, before Hermione nodded.
"Ginny says yes please. Al's goes up at 7 and James at 7:30"
"Same as my two" I grinned, "Did you bring pillows or something?"
"Yes, they both have pillows and a blanket" Hermione nodded.
"I want Mummy!" Al squeaked suddenly, a few tears sparking in his eyes.
"Mummy's coming back later" Hermione soothed, hugging her nephew.
"Where Daddy?" Al whimpered.
"Oh Al" Hermione sighed.
"Where?" Al repeated, jumping down from his Aunt's lap.
"At work" Hermione said, starting to get to her feet, "Well, I've got to go. Thank you Katie, on behalf of Ginny and Harry"
"Sure, anytime" I smiled, looking at Al, who looked forlorn.
"Hey, cheer up Al" Hermione said, kissing the boy on his head.
"Jus' wan' Daddy" Al said gloomily, stretching up to jump onto the recently vacated seat.
"I'm sure you do" Hermione nodded, smiling at me, and calling a farewell to James. I followed her out the living room, and opened the front door for her.
"Thanks, again" Hermione nodded, before walking up the drive, and leaving.
"Right" I announced, when I had finally moved away from the door, "Shall we go and find Mabel?" I asked Al, offering my hand. He looked at me apprehensively, before nodding, and taking it.
"So you're 2, aren't you, Al?" I asked him, feeling his tiny fingers in my hand. He nodded again, keeping his mouth tightly shut. I was right in thinking he was shy. He hadn't spoken to anyone but his family members, and the few odd 'hi's' to Mabel.
"Do you know when you're birthday is?" I asked, feeling rather stupid, but also hoping I would get an audible answer from him, but, alas, the boy only nodded.
"Am I allowed to know?" I egged him. I thought about this for a moment, before shaking his head. I sighed. I was fighting a lost battle. Al would talk when he wanted, and I shouldn't expect him too. Mabel just talked too much. I led Al up the stairs, and slid open the door to Mabel's room.
"Al's here, Mabel" I told her, seeing my daughter lying in the floor, colouring a Disney princess in.
"Hi Al" Mabel said, without looking up, "do you wanna colour with me?" I looked at Al, hoping he would say yes, because to be honest, I didn't have anything else for him too do.
"I like" Al said quietly, joining Mabel on the floor, "Dragon?"
"No. Princess" Mabel insisted, thrusting paper and pencils towards the smaller boy.
"Princess?" Queried Al, looking at the paper my daughter handed him very curiously and apprehensively.
"A princess!" Said an exasperated Mabel, who tugged the drawing back, and peering at it herself.
"Oh" said Al, looking down again. I smiled to myself, and was just about to turn on heel before a shriek suddenly blasted out from Liam's room.
"LOOK!" A yell that sounded like James, said.
"I know" replied Liam, who sounded a bit bored.
"It's moving!" James cried out.
"I know" Liam said again. I walked into his room to investigate, and saw James gazing fascinated at Liam's hex-bug on the window sill.
"What is it?" James asked, still looking at the vibrating robot.
"Hex-bug" Liam said, with a grin, "Don't you have hex-bugs?"
James shook his head, and looked at his friend.
"Where do I get one from? Diagonally?" He asked. Where on earth is Diagonally?
"I don't know that place" Liam said, looking confused. James' eyes widened suddenly, and he must have remedied something, for he said,
"Shh sorry"
"You can get it from Activity Chest" Liam said, still staring curiously at his companion.
"Where's that?" James replied.
"Down in the village, next to the fish and chip shop" Liam said.
"Can we go?" James asked excitedly.
"It's too late" Liam told him, looking at the clock, "isn't it Mummy?"
"Oh, well, yes" I admitted, startled at being discovered at the doorway.
"Why?" James said, frowning a little.
"It's shut, sweetheart" I replied, hoping he wouldn't beg me to go.
"Oh" James said, looking downhearted.
"I'm sure Mummy or Daddy can take you another day" I suggested. I thought this would cheer him up, however, I saw a couple of tears form in his eyes, glazing them over.
"Daddy's not here" James murmured, wiping his eyes.
"He'll come back" I told him, copying what his aunt and Grandmother had said earlier.
"You don't know that," James said bitterly. I was a bit offended, to be honest with you. I hadn't been spoken to in that tone of voice by a child before.
"Where is he?" Liam asked, unhelpfully unaware.
"I dunno," James said, trying to keep himself together.
"Your Auntie said he was at work," I said, sitting down on Liam' bed.
"She wouldn't let me go," James said, staring out the window.
"Go where?"
"With Mummy"
"Is Mummy with Daddy?"
James simply shrugged his shoulders. "Wish Teddy was here"
"Who?" I said, unaware of who this 'Teddy' was.
"Teddy," James said, turning to me.
"Who's that?" Liam asked for me. James puffed out his chest proudly.
"My big brother"
"You have 2 brothers?" Liam said jealously. James nodded. Liam turned to me outraged.
"James has 2 brothers!" He cried, "why didn't you order a brother for me?"
"It doesn't work like that, darling. How old is Teddy, James?" I asked the boy.
"He's ten," James said sadly.
"Ten?" I said, a bit shocked. Ginny and Harry hadn't mentioned having another child, especially one much older than James, Al, and Lily.
James nodded, picking up the discarded hex bug.
"I wan' wanna these," He muttered, placing it in his hand.
"I'll get one for your birthday!" Liam exclaimed, jumping up, "When is it?"
"May 4th" James announced.
"But that's been already," Liam said disappointed.
"Oh yeah," James added, looking disappointed too. I glanced at the calendar with dogs on Liam's wall and realised it was the 13th of May today. Downlow Primary school started on the 5th May, so James must have literally been 5 years old the day prior to his first day.
"Hey, that was only last week. Have you had a party yet?" I asked, noting the date. James nodded.
"I had fireworks and cake" he grinned happily at that particular memory, "When's your birthday Liam?"
"19th June" Liam said excitedly.
"April, May, JUNE!" James exclaimed, counting the months, "That's the next month!"
"I know!" Liam agreed, and he started telling James all he wanted for his 5th birthday. I smiled, and walked downstairs, opening the door to the living room, and sitting down on the sofa.
