CHAPTER THREE

DINNER WITH THE SCAMANDERS

October brought it's signature chill with it through the streets of London. The cold had begun to creep into the houses, so much so, that Harry went around Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place sealing all the doors to keep the draught out.

September had flown by for Harry; on three separate occasions, he had dealt with more Muggle trouble, again using copies of a mysterious wand to do what was thought to be impossible magic. The resulting Memory Charms, paperwork and research ate up most of his days, so that he barely had any time to spend with family. He knew that Ginny understood his position but that didn't make him feel any better about the situation.

However, since there had been no trouble for over a week, Harry was granted a rare day off. It was a Monday morning and Harry had arranged with Luna Lovegood, one of his oldest friends (but of course now she was Luna Scamander), to go over to hers for dinner with Ginny and Lily. None of the Potters were fans of Luna's cooking but they enjoyed her company immensely and in any case, Harry had a request to make of her that was related to the Auror Office investigations.

Harry heard rumblings from the upper floor as Ginny woke up Lily and got her ready for the day. He sipped his coffee (and he remained the only person living at Grimmauld Place who ever drank it) as he read the headlines on the Daily Prophet (that had come by owl minutes ago), settling by the fire in the sitting room.

With no recent criminal activity notable enough for the front page, instead it was dominated by Chudley Cannons seeker, and Harry's first girlfriend, Cho Chang, wearing bright orange robes, notable for the logo of two black C's and a cannonball, flying swiftly through the air. She had the look of a hardened veteran, still exceptionally pretty, but with the scars on her left cheek and right ear that suggested a long and gruelling Quidditch career.

CHO CHANG RE-SIGNS FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Chudley Cannons and former England seeker, Cho Chang has re-signed with the Chudley Cannons for another year after weeks of rumours of her retirement, proving to all the doubters she's not ready to hang up her robes just yet.

Chang, 38, who fought at the Battle of Hogwarts nineteen years ago, has been seeker for the Cannons since 1998. She has been widely credited for turning a club past its glory days back to success, when in 2006, the Chudley Cannons won the League Cup for the 22nd time, but the first victory since 1892, ending a drought of 114 years without a trophy. Chang went on to captain the team through three more League Cup wins, in 2008, 2009 and 2015.

Her one regret possibly is the failed attempt at the 2010 Quidditch World Cup, when she was only able to take England (eligible to play for them because she was born in Scotland but to Chinese-English parents) to the semi-final as captain before they were knocked out in a tight affair versus Moldova. She has, however, remained faithful to the Cannons despite interest from her favourite club, the Tutshill Tornadoes, who have pipped the Cannons for the League Cup in the past two years.

Now, however, at thirty-eight years old, she becomes the oldest Chudley Cannons seeker of all time, and will continue on – for at least one more year – to solidify her legacy as one of the greatest English players of all time. She will lead the Cannons into their fifth game of the season against the Tornadoes on Saturday and a win of more than-(cont. Page 7)

Harry rolled his eyes over to the rest of the page, looking for anything that might interest him. He saw a slim advertisement in the corner of the page for the new Firebolt.

The new Firebolt Storm model now available for pre-order. Top speed 199mph (at least!). See page 43.

Harry's eyes found the only part of the page he hadn't read yet, but seeing it was a "tell-all interview with Kimberley Rinndox about her new album...", he quickly lost interest and folded the paper up, finishing his coffee, just as Ginny and Lily entered the room.

"Morning," Harry greeted them both.

Together they all moved to the dining room for breakfast.

Ginny kissed him on the lips as she passed and Lily ran up and jumped on his lap as he sat down at the dining table to give him a hug.

"Are you excited about seeing Aunt Luna later?" Harry asked Lily.

"Soo excited. I can't wait to see what creatures she and Uncle Rolfie found in Brazil!" Lily replied, jumping down from his lap and taking her place at the table as Ginny cooked some toast idly as she read the Prophet that Harry had put down.

"When will we be getting Kreacher back?" Lily asked, who had noticed Ginny doing the cooking too.

"Probably the same time as James and Albus, I expect," Harry said.

"But why does he have to stay at Hogwarts?" Lily asked.

"He doesn't have to. He likes it. And if we ever need him for anything important, we can just call him," Harry smiled at her. "Don't worry. Kreacher will come visit you occasionally."

Lily brightened up a little as Ginny put a plateful of toast down in front of her. Lily was very fond of Kreacher, and he of her, which Harry always found amusing, based on how horrible Kreacher was when Harry first met him. Kreacher was almost like a third sibling to Lily, and Harry made a mental note to call Kreacher home for an hour later on that evening to spend some time with her.

After toast and pumpkin juice, Ginny allowed Lily to go up to her bedroom and play, but warned her they'd be leaving in half an hour. Harry settled on the sofa with his wife and she lounged, resting her head on his chest.

"When was the last time we got to just sit down together?" Ginny asked.

"Feels like forever, doesn't it?" Harry said.

"I sent back letters to James and Albus. I told them you send your love," Ginny said, looking up at Harry.

Harry felt a stab of guilt in his chest.

"I should have took time to reply to them. I'll do it later."

"It's done now," Ginny replied. "If you send a separate letter, it will just look odd. Besides, it's not like you're ignoring them, is it? You've been up to here with it at work- "

She lifted her arm up close to the top of her head.

" - and the boys get it."

"How is Albus coping?" Harry asked.

"Seems to be settling in well. He mentioned being friendly with Scorpius Malfoy and Rachel Thomas, you know, Dean's daughter. And of course he's got Rose too, they've always been close," Ginny replied.

"Well, if Albus is friendly with Scorpius, he must be somewhat less of a prat than Draco was at school," Harry grinned.

Harry and Ginny sat together for a little while longer, talking about all kinds of trivial things, something Harry had missed doing immensely with Ginny over the last couple of months, until eventually they decided they couldn't delay their departure any longer without keeping Luna waiting and called Lily from her room.

Harry had connected his fireplace to Luna's a couple of days in advance, so when everyone was ready to leave, Ginny grabbed some Floo Powder and dropped it into the fire, saying clearly, "Scamander Residence, Lanyon, Devon."

Harry stepped into the fire with Lily once Ginny had vanished in the green flames, and repeated the order.

Harry had only been to Luna's new residence once, and he remembered that Lanyon was a small wizarding town not too far from Ottery St. Catchpole. The house had been uncharacteristically empty then, because Luna and Rolf had only been living there a couple of days. Now however, Harry would be surprised if there was any part of the house he could describe as empty.

Harry stepped forward out of the flames with Lily and looked around at his new surroundings. The walls were bright purple and amber, and it took Harry a moment to adjust to the brightness of the colours. The room had a high ceiling, and the shelves, all almost too high to reach, were filled with a variety of miscellaneous animal artefacts from tusks, horns, teeth and towards the back of the room, a couple of skulls of some creatures Harry could not identify. There was a glass patio door to the side of Harry that led to a wide garden that was mostly obscured from view.

"Hello, Harry," Luna smiled.

Her dirty blond hair and her silvery eyes gave her the look of someone who could float into the air at any moment, and certainly the way she spoke only strengthened that illusion. Luna was wearing horseradish earrings and blue and silver robes, sporting the colours of her Hogwarts House, Ravenclaw.

"Luna," Harry replied warmly, with a smile and a hug, "It's nice to see you."

"Oh, and you too, Harry. I was just telling Ginny how I miss you both terribly. And everyone from Hogwarts really," Luna said.

"Well, that bodes well for me, doesn't it?" said a quiet voice from the doorway.

Rolf Scamander, who Harry had met a handful of times, and liked very much, was much more grounded than his wife, and often helped negate her social awkwardness. He had short brown hair which travelled down into sideburns and a full beard, and he wore yellow horn-rimmed glasses. Rolf came over and exchanged polite kisses with Ginny and then shook Harry's hand.

"Harry."

"Rolf. How are you?"

"Wonderful, thanks," Rolf grinned, "How are you two and the kids?"

"Grand," Harry replied, "Albus got into Gryffindor."

"How delightful," Rolf replied and handed Harry a bottle of Butterbeer, which Harry accepted gratefully.

"How are the twins?" Ginny asked Luna.

"They are great. Daddy has them until this evening. I love them dearly, but it is very nice to not have them here," Luna said, matter-of-factly.

"I know what you mean," Ginny smiled knowingly.

"Aunt Luna, can I see all your cool stuff?" Lily looked up, hopefully.

"Cool stuff, you say?" Luna replied, crouching down a little to meet better match Lily's height, "I think I might have some special pictures of some magical creatures I discovered in Brazil last year. Want to see?"

"Oh, yes!" Lily exclaimed loudly.

Luna took Lily out of the room and down the hallway, and Rolf sat down with Harry and Ginny. The sofa was long and square, with swirls and flowers seemingly randomly plastered on its design; with a range of bright colours from blue to orange to green. Harry knew by Ginny's initial reaction to noticing it was that she found it very gaudy; Harry found it hard to disagree.

Rolf noticed their glances lingering a little too long on the sofa.

"I would say you get used to it but frankly, you don't."

Harry and Ginny exchanged smirks.

"You'll be glad to know I talked her out of her usual cooking choices though. No Freshwater Plimpy Soup today," Rolf winked.

Harry chuckled.

"We're just grateful for your hospitality," Harry replied.

Luna and Lily returned with a seemingly handmade, thick, green scrapbook. Luna had carved 'Brazil 2016' on the front cover.

As Luna sat down with Lily, she looked at Harry.

"I'm sure you'll appreciate this sofa, Harry," Luna said, unexpectedly.

"Me?" Harry half-laughed.

"Yes," Luna said, with not the hint of a laugh, "It's very popular among Muggles, so I'm sure you've sat on loads like this."

Harry could honestly say he had never sat on a sofa like this, not even at old Mrs Figg's house when she pretended to be his Muggle neighbour as a child. However, Harry politely nodded.

"Er – yeah, very stylish, Luna," Harry lied.

Luna beamed at him.

"Thank you, Harry," she said, then opened the book to show Lily the first pictures.

Harry exchanged a knowing glance with Rolf and Ginny, suppressing another chuckle.

Luna showed Lily more pictures of the creatures she had discovered last year in Brazil: namely the Xenophilius Sand-Sinking Toad, which has the ability to dissolve completely in sand and travel through it. Luna noted she named it after her father because "it had Daddy's eyes". There was also the Flying Red Bow Spider, named so because it's red-wings resemble a tied bow in mid-flight and the Brazilian Sharp-Ridged Dragon, distinguishable by its barbed, razor-sharp blue scales.

"Oh!" Luna said suddenly, although in the same airy tone as she said everything else, "I haven't shown you the garden yet. Come with me."

Harry, Ginny, Lily and Rolf followed as Luna waved her wand and the patio door opened. While the chill in the air remained, the sky was clear and the sun was bright. As they turned the corner and got a full view of the garden, Harry was momentarily stunned by its beauty. There was so much going on, Harry didn't know where to start.

A paved path wound its way around patches of different flowers: magnificent white roses and tulips, humongous daffodils, almost sparkling purple petunias and a bunch of other odd flowers, miniture trees and fruit bushes that Harry didn't recognise. One of these unfamiliar flowers danced in the breeze, it's petals shimmering from red to green as it did so.

In the air, connected to the house, and all the way across the garden to a small shed down the way, were at least five clotheslines.

Harry frowned; they were not, like he naturally expected, lined with drying clothes, but rather a selection of random bits and pieces like buttons, pieces of wool and fur, small twigs, leaves and Harry was quite sure, some way down the line, the core of an apple.

Luna noticed Harry looking up at them.

"These are my nesting lines," Luna pointed up at them. "I got the idea from Muggle clotheslines; but I use them to give the birds bits and pieces for their winter nests."

As she explained this, Harry noticed a robin or two fluttering around, one of them grabbed a long, grey feather and flew off with it.

Harry looked down towards the bottom of the garden again. Adjacent to the shed was a sizeable pond, and Harry noticed a few minuscule fish jumping out of the water and splashing back in as they walked through.

"This is wonderful, Luna," Harry said, truthfully. "How do you manage to maintain it all so well?"

"Oh, I love doing it,"Luna replied, "Sometimes Lorcan and Lysander help me plant the seeds. We have all the ingredients for growing plants in the shed. Come and see."

They travelled down to the small shed at the bottom of the garden. Luna opened the creaking door and they all entered, one by one.

Harry should have expected it: the inside of the shed was much bigger than it looked on the outside. It was crammed on each side with a multitude of oddly-aligned shelves, each of the shelves carrying vials and jars, some carrying potions, others seeds or random ingredients. Harry felt quite nervous to move anywhere near the walls lest he knock down a myriad of assorted objects.

In the middle of the room, were several long troughs, filled with all different kinds of plants. Harry recognised one of them as the Mimblenus Mimbletonia.

"Don't touch that one," Harry warned Lily, pointing at the Mimblenus, "They make a mess if provoked."

Lily shuffled off through the rows of plants in awe.

Harry turned to Luna, who had found a plant with several budded heads and a bunch of wide purple leaves shooting either side of its thick stem. She bent over and tugged several leaves from the step and placing them in a small brown sack.

"These will go great with dinner," Luna said, patting her now closed sack.

"Great," Harry replied, not wholly convinced.

They headed back inside a few minutes later and Luna started dinner. Rolf would come in and out of the kitchen, Harry assumed to oversee Luna's recipe, but he would often be shooed out by Luna in a matter of moments.

About an hour later, after much more small talk and exploration of Luna and Rolf's assortment of interesting objects, there was a knock on the door that Rolf stood up to answer. Rolf ducked under the purple steam that had emanated from the kitchen (along with a strong smell Harry recognised as beef and gravy) and walked down the hallway and out of sight.

When Rolf returned, he came back with a little boy each side of him. Both of them had round faces and quiffed, brown hair that matched their father's. Lorcan and Lysander ran into the room once they saw Lily and the three children immediately huddled up around the rug to play.

"Xenophilius says hello," Rolf told Harry and Ginny, "He couldn't stay, apparently he had a potion brewing at home that was due a counter-clockwise stir."

Rolf turned on the spot.

"Dinner will be ready soon," Rolf told the kids, "so don't get yourselves too worked up."

"Where will be eating?" Harry asked, seeing only a small coffee table on the raised part of the living room and not remembering any door to a dining room in the hallway.

"Right there, of course," Rolf said, pointing at the coffee table.

Then, Rolf flicked his wand and the room magically extended, stretching the rug and the coffee table on top of it. Another flick of his wand, and the dining table grew taller, rising up a couple of feet, apart from the last section closest to Harry, which stayed small and broke off into a separate table. A third and final flick of Rolf's wand and a selection of chairs, three smaller ones for the children, appeared around the relevant tables.

"Neat," Harry commented, his eyebrows raised.

Luna popped her head in with Ginny (who had also gone back and forth to the kitchen but rather than to oversee Luna's cooking, Harry thought it was more likely she had used the time to gossip), calling, "Dinner's ready."

Ginny entered the living room and walked over to the transfigured dining table, placing cutlery on the conjured dinner mats. Harry and Rolf settled the kids at the smaller table as Luna came in and put their meals on the table.

"Aunt Luna, is this going to be nice?" Lily asked cautiously, "Because last time, that soup was yucky."

Harry groaned inwardly.

"Lily, don't be so rude," he scolded, but Luna just giggled.

"Oh, I think you'll like this one a bit better. Lorcan and Lysander will tell you how good it is."

To Harry's mild surprise, the children were nodding enthusiastically. Of course, they could have inherently received Luna's odd tastes, he argued with himself.

After hovering in the adults' dishes too, Luna and Ginny sat down with their husbands.

Looking down at his plate, Harry saw what he recognised as roast beef, potatoes and some sort of vegetable, drizzled in brown gravy. He recognised the purple leaves Luna picked earlier, now shredded and seasoned across the dish.

Harry's first impression was that it looked delicious, but he was nervous still when he grabbed a bit of meat with his fork and tasted it.

But it was delicious. Harry smiled, somewhat out of relief, as he complimented Luna on her cooking. She looked pleased.

The children were occupied eating their dinner and talking about the twins' pet newt – who Harry heard they had also amusingly named Newt after their grandfather – giving Harry the opportunity he needed to discuss with Luna the favour he needed from her. Keen to not seem like he was only there to ask her a favour, he skirted around the subject, asking Luna:

"So, Brazil last year. Do you have anything planned this year?"

Luna shrugged.

"Maybe. I have to admit every time I go abroad, it gets harder and harder. I miss Rolf and the kids terribly," Luna replied. "So maybe this year I will focus at home."

"Well, um – how would you like to make just one, small exception?" Harry asked.

Rolf caught his eye suspiciously. Harry had an idea Rolf knew what was coming.

"See – I'm in the middle of an investigation with the Auror Office. I need to go to South America and I was hoping you'd accompany me. The only connection to Brazil I have is that I accidentally released a Brazilian snake from a Muggle zoo when I was ten," Harry grinned. "As Head Auror, I can bring you along as a special asset to the office."

Luna looked curiously at Harry but Rolf frowned.

"Well – what kind of trip are we talking about here?" he asked.

Harry sensed the apprehension in his voice.

"It would just be to meet up with some wandmakers. Luna speaks fluent Portuguese and knows Brazil well, where both wandmakers are located. It would simply be a case of being my tour guide and translator."

"Surely, the Ministry has translators and guides?" Rolf asked somewhat sarcastically.

"Of course we do – but I don't know those workers, and I don't trust them like I do Luna. I like my circle in any investigation to be small and trustworthy," Harry replied.

Harry knew that Rolf wasn't happy with the idea of Luna going away on, although Rolf didn't say it, potentially dangerous work.

"It would only be for a day or two." Harry added, more so for Rolf's benefit than Luna's, who didn't seem to share the same worrisome expression Rolf had.

"I will have to see when I am available Harry, but of course I'd be happy to accompany you." Luna said, before turning to Rolf with a sympathetic glance, "You worry too much, Rolf."

Harry was relieved when the subject changed from his request to other more mundane topics. He ate the rest of his meal and chipped in on the conversation when necessary but for the most part he let them talk amongst themselves. Harry noticed Rolf glance over at him a few times, but he didn't say anything else about the trip to Brazil during dinner.

When they had finished dinner, the kids were allowed to go and play in the twins' bedroom (Rolf shouted up the stairs not to take Newt out of his tank) and the adults converted the table back to its previous form and collected on the sofa and chairs with more Butterbeer.

As the sky started to darken outside, Harry remembered that it would be handy to send a message to Kingsley about Luna's agreement to accompany him, so that he could get the paperwork ready for Harry to grant Luna temporary Ministry Official privileges for travel. Excusing himself, Harry exited to room and went out in the hallway so that he could better concentrate.

Once he was shrouded in the darkness of the hallway, Harry thought of the message he wanted to send.

"Good evening, Kingsley. Luna Scamander has agreed to accompany me to Brazil. Would appreciate if you granted her Ministry privileges for the trip. See you tomorrow, first thing. All the best. Expecto Patronum!"

A silvery white orb shot out of Harry's wand and up through the ceiling. In the light of the orb, Harry saw that Rolf had appeared in the hallway and his sudden appearance startled Harry, who jumped.

"Sorry to startle you, Harry," Rolf said in a hushed tone, "but I wondered if we could have a word."

"Of course," Harry nodded and the two of them stepped into the kitchen. Rolf closed the door behind him and flicked his wand to light up the candles.

"What do you need, Rolf?" Harry asked, although he had a feeling he knew exactly why Rolf had pulled him aside.

"I know you and Luna are old friends, and that she trusts you and vice versa, but I have to ask you to be honest with me – how dangerous is this trip, really?" Rolf asked.

He spoke quickly and quietly. Harry assumed he did not want Luna to know that they were having this conversation. Harry replied with in a similar manner.

"We'll be going to Brazil to speak to some wandmakers. See if they can identify a wand used in some criminal activity involving Muggles. We may even only be there a day if we are able to find both wandmakers without much delay... but I don't think Luna or I are in any danger, no more than any other trip to Brazil. "

Rolf lingered for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright, alright," Rolf muttered, "I shouldn't be sticking my nose in really, Luna wouldn't appreciate it."

"Mate, I don't think there's anything wrong with worrying about your wife. If it were Ginny, I'd do exactly the same – and she'd be just as displeased with my interfering," Harry grinned.

Harry, Ginny and Lily made their way home, back through the fireplace, at around seven o'clock. Lily stifled a yawn as they re-entered the living room of Grimmauld Place.

Harry called out into the air, "Kreacher!"

There was a sudden loud crack as Kreacher apparated directly in front of them. He bowed deeply before he spoke.

"You called, Master Harry?" he croaked.

Lily ran over and hugged the house-elf, who was only slightly shorter than her.

"Kreacher!" she cried, happily.

"It's bed time, Lily – so Kreacher here will take you upstairs and read you a story, before he heads back to Hogwarts, if you want?" Harry asked her.

Lily nodded with a wide smile.

"Oh, yes!" she said.

Harry headed over to his daughter. She hugged him at the waist and he kissed her forehead.

"I love you Lily."

"Love you too, Daddy," Lily replied and then ran over to hug Ginny.

Once she had bid goodnight to both her parents, she turned to Kreacher, grabbing his hand.

"Come on, Kreacher! I want to know what happened to the Wise Witch of Western Whitlock."

"Very well, Miss Lily," Kreacher replied and the two disappeared up the stairs.

Ginny embraced Harry as they sat down together on the sofa.

"So, did you and Luna end up deciding on when you were going to Brazil?" Ginny asked.

Luna had looked through her schedule before Harry had left and told him when she would be free.

"We leave on Saturday," Harry informed Ginny, "hopefully, we'll be back on the same day."

Harry heard some rain hitting the window as he stroked Ginny's hair. It seemed to be growing heavier.

"I have to cover the Cannons-Tornadoes game that day. I'll ask Mum if she can look after Lily," Ginny replied.

"Sorry, Ginny. I should have remembered - "

Ginny looked up at him.

"Don't worry about it. The quicker you go to Brazil, the quicker you find out who's behind all this. Once that's settled, you can put an end to it and go back to a normal work schedule and then we can spend more quality time together." Ginny grinned.

"I like the sound of that," Harry chuckled.

The hammering of the rain grew steadily heavier against the windows of Grimmauld Place. It seemed to hypnotise Harry and within minutes he had nodded off with Ginny cuddled up to him. Ginny's warmth and the comfort of the sofa were enough to convince him never to move from that spot again. The only problem was that incessant knocking sound. What was making that unbearably annoying noise?

Harry suddenly realised he was awake and opened his eyes. He had drooled slightly on his chin and wiped it off hastily as he sat up, position Ginny in the place he was just laying. There was a tapping coming from his curtained living room window that Harry recognised as the arrival of an owl. He made to approach the window, when a louder, sudden banging came from the front door.

Harry frowned.

"Ginny," he said, shaking her awake, "Someone's at the door and there's an owl at the window. Go see to the owl, I'll go to the door."

Ginny sat up as Harry made for his front door. He glanced at his watch to see it was five past nine. He never usually got guests this late unless it was a Ministry matter, and they always sent a Patronus ahead. Harry reached the front door and looked through the peep-hole.

The man was bulky and overweight, with thinning blond hair and an unreasonable lack of neck. The rain was hammering down, and he was drenched from head to toe. Harry opened the door with an overwhelming sense of confusion.

"Dudley? I wasn't expecting – Hi," Harry said awkwardly.

"Hullo, Harry," Dudley muttered.

His face looked contorted, hardened.

"Is ... is everything alright?" Harry asked.

Dudley looked down at the ground.

"Mum died."