Chapter Seven: A Re-acquaintance

Ginny flicked her wand- 44-898-312- "Dialus! Oh come on, the Burrow you know!" She impatiently tapped the tip on the counter as a small window popped into view, peering down a long, wooden table filled with half-eaten breakfast.

"Hey Gin!" Ron's face momentarily filled the frame before he backed up, clearing the used plates. He paused at a clean space. "Rosie! Come down and get your breakfast!"

"She hasn't eaten yet?" Hermione came into view, "What is she doing up there-oh! Hello Ginny!"

"Sorting through her things, just in case she happened to miss any important for 7800th time." Ron turned wearily, "Its going to take at least another hour before we're ready."

"That's why I called," Said Ginny, "Albus was up late last night taking inventory as well and was a little slow to get up this morning. You remember my first trip to Hogwarts? Why Mum was sending me my forgotten things for a month!"

Ron shook his head, "I just can't comprehend it, tidiness, organization- It's simply not the Weasley way!" Then, gesturing to his wife, "Though its not a huge surprise either given..."

Hermione frowned at Ron, "I don't recall Harry being much cleaner than you."

"Oh no, he wasn't! But those three spend so much time with you, the effect probably got transferred."

Hermione's brows furrowed. Ron proceeded, undauntedly, "You know, that thing you read in that Muggle medical journal...hmmm... Epigenetics!"

"That's not how that works."

"You would know better than me."

Ginny laughed, "Anyway, whatever the effect, I can tell you James did not get it. His clothes were in so many heaps you would have thought his owl cage was under them- well it was under one" She turned to her eldest son who looked up and smiled from his cereal."

"Ah- a worthy heir!" cried Ron, "Tell him I'm proud."

"Thanks Uncle!" piped up James, sitting at the counter and shoveling cereal into his mouth.

"Is that Uncle Ron?" Two pairs of footsteps descended into the Potter kitchen. Lily and Albus climbed onto stools near James and beamed at the redhead. From the other side of the window, two children of matching hair appeared and excitedly waved back.

"Alright now!" Clapped Hermione, it looks like we've finally gathered everyone. "Come now, lets get fed and bring everything down." Turning towards Ginny, "We'll see you soon!"

Albus clutched his suitcase and cage and looked at James, who was waiting impatiently for their parents. "Mum we must go soon! The sale at Dennis' This and Thats only lasts until noon!"

"Calm down James, there'll be plenty of time." Harry entered the room with Lily and Ginny following close behind.

They stopped around a bent and rusty noodle strainer, "Now." said Harry, eyeing his sons, "You're going to need to be careful on your decent. Remember, keep your knees in front of your shoulders and pedal once you feel yourself falling." The boys nodded, "Albus, do you want me to carry something? The cage?"

"I got it Dad!" Albus smiled and side-eyed James, who raised his eyebrows. James' owl, Bidi, clucked and shuffled on James' shoulder, "Well, she can catch you anyway."

"Alright then, everybody...now!" The family grabbed the old strainer and promptly disappeared.

For a second, Albus felt as though he were rushing through fluid, the air around him condensing into a thick resistance. Then, the pressure cleared and he was aware of the lack of ground beneath his feet. Pedaling, Albus watched the tiny cluster of dots become detailed into the many leaning spires of the Burrow. Leaning forward, Albus forgot his exceptionally bulky load and rapidly flipped over a few times. "Steady" he calmed himself, continuing to pedal, slowing the rotation. An arm reached out and Albus gratefully leaned against Harry, who landed with ease. Sheepishly, he grinned at his Dad, who ruffled his head.

The past week had been a stressful one for Al, Harry was aware. He thought back to the whirlwind of a week that surrounded his eleventh birthday. Everything had been so new and unfamiliar even Hermione had prepared better knowledge of the Hogwarts houses. And he remembered the night in his second year in Dumbledore's office, swearing to the sorting hat that he'd made a mistake-that he, Harry, could not be a Gryffindor. His children were quite aware of the legacy of each House and, although he felt guilty to admit it, Harry was too. Slytherin especially had changed in the aftermath of the War; muggleborns now entered the House at a similar rate to all the others. Yet, as the years slowly turned a generation, a few names began to repeat on the rosters posted in the Daily Prophet. Parkinson, Fiona- Slytherin, Nott, Timothy-Slytherin, Goyle, Jonathan- Slytherin, Bulstrode, Ambrosia-Slytherin... Many of those classmates had been long lost in contact after school, shut out of Ministry jobs for their anti-Muggleborn discrimination displayed in their final years against other students. What had their children been told as they were growing up?

Today, Albus seemed in high spirits. He had plodded a few yards ahead of Harry, but presently slowed, allowing his father to match his stride. His face turned quite serious for a moment and he seemed to be jostling with a question.

"What's on your mind Al?"

"Oh I..." His son hesitated, fingering the bars of the bird cage, " Well I... what animal did you have while you were in school?"

This was not the inquiry that Albus had struggled with, but as the Burrow came ever closer, Harry decided not to prod further. "Well, I had a great snowy owl, Hedwig. In my opinion, owls are the best choice. Best mail carriers and they make good company as well- I know James goes out with Bidi when he gets homesick."

Albus smirked, "I wouldn't call Bidi the most reliable mail carrier..."

"That's nothing, you know Ron's old Scops owl Pig?"

"Pig!" Albus gasped in disbelief, turning to the Burrow and imagining the puffy mess of feathers that now took residence in a handmade nest (by Hermione) situated near the kitchen. "Can he even lift a letter?"

"No, but he thinks he can." Laughed Harry.

They were near enough to the Burrow that Albus could make out a few details of the inside through the many eclectic windows that dotted the exterior. A large venus fly trap accented by peachy striped wallpaper scaled a very narrow and tall opening while just a floor above a mobile of planets hung against a dark navy backdrop. After the fire set by Bellatrix and Fenrir, only the stone base of the first floor had survived. Molly and Arthur, unable to look at their home reduced to ash, had lived for a while with Bill and Fleur. Ron and Hermione were equally devastated, and had purchased a home in London. But as the prospect of a family began to drift into conversation, the couple asked for their parents' permission to rebuild the beloved home. After news of the plans spread, numerous wizarding families lent a hand; the Longbottoms sent a number of semi-rare garden flowers and Xenophilius Lovegood had proven to be a stunning architect, though he expressed mild disappointment at the final design approved by Hermione, who had insisted on bolstering his "structurally precarious, yes, but stylish" tower design.

As construction went underway, Molly and Arthur spent an increasing amount of time at the site, helping whenever possible and even purchasing a few, more expensive, appliances despite her son and daughter-in-law's insistence otherwise. About a month into the renovation, Molly presented Ron and Hermione with the Weasley family clock, now ridiculously complex with extra faces for the sibling's nuclear families. Hermione couldn't accept the gift and after a night's deliberation with Ron, made their parents an offer; they would come to live with them in the Burrow. Another tower was designed fitted beside Mr. Lovegood's, who pronounced he wouldn't continue unless another tower was added (Three is the magical lucky number he explained, gesturing to his triangular necklace and ignoring a blanched Hermione).

And so, the current Burrow stood a trio of mismatched towers and material. Ron and Hermione made a home in Xenophilius' additon, a helix stone cylinder criss-crossed with wooden supports. The elder Weasleys resided in the much shorter and more boxy extension, which included it's own living room and small kitchenette (though Molly rather liked cooking in her old space and Hermione did not mind) as well as a spacious room that was rapidly crowded by Arthur's strange muggle trinkets. The third tower was a rather amorphous shape of reddish and greenish metal and open to any guests that frequented the place. A small hexagonal room perched at the top of the mass was reserved for Teddy Lupin.

A movement flashed across a round window near the top of the stone spire and a few moments later, a girl's face appeared in the front entryway, framed by a wild nest of curly red hair.

"Al!" Rose Weasley beamed at her favorite cousin, "Come inside! I have something to show you." She grabbed the suitcase from Albus and disappeared into through the door. Ginny, James, and Lily had already gone inside and were sitting at the long table that took up most of the kitchen, chatting with Hugo. On the table top sat a rather tall bird cage, where a small, but stately bird perched inside.

"Charlie found it abandoned in the Taiga," Rose exclaimed, "He's a Boreal owl. I thought I was getting Hermes," she gestured to the expansive cage, "Isn't he grand? I've named him Teng. Oh, yes he's quite fiesty. "

James had opened the cage and let the bird hop up his arm. As he neared the shoulder where Bidi sat, he nipped the bigger bird who alighted in astonishment and settled on Lily. From a corner between a high shelf and the ceiling, a small cluck of disapproval revealed Pigwideon, clearly offended from being excluded from even consideration as Rose's messenger.

Ron appeared from the back garden and greeted the Potters enthusiastically, "Ah well! Lets get these up to your rooms." Taking his wand he gathered the various parcels and with a whisk, sent them flying up the stairs.

"What, ow! Ronald!" Hermione ducked beneath the last suitcase as she appeared at the bottom steps.

"Ah sorry, Minister." Ron chuckled.

Harry and Ginny looked up sharply, " Hermione?" James also stared at his Aunt's deeply reddened face, impressed.

"Yes, well more on that later," Hermione patted the blush on her cheeks, a mixture of frazzled and endeared emotion. She prodded Rose and Hugo from their seats and ushered everyone to the fireplace in the adjacent den. A thin shelf skirted the top of the pebbled pit and Hermione snatched a flame-licked silver box. Opening the lid, she offered Floo powder to everyone and then threw a pinch into the fire, lighting a contained jade flame. Stepping in one by one, the Potters and Weasleys disappeared with the incantation, "Diagon Alley!"

Albus hobbled on the road as he arrived and was promptly pulled onto the curb by Rose as a rickshaw rocking with books and quills sped through the very spot he'd occupied seconds before. The troupe had landed near Madame Malkin's Robes for every Occasion and decided to fit the two new students while James took Lily and Hugo to explore Dennis' This and Thats: An Antique store of magical whats-nots and has-beens. Standing for measurements, Rose pointed towards a shelf of Quidditch uniforms, each emblazoned with the four Hogwarts houses. "I can't wait to be sorted Al!" She gazed longingly between the red and blue emblems. "Mum told me that she wanted to be in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw and I suppose those are my top choices as well. Either way, she said not to worry. What about you Al?"

"I've thought of it a little," Albus offered hesitantly. Harry was standing nearby and caught interest in the conversation. Albus also looked at the uniforms, considering the options but fixedly ignoring one color.

"Well if we do get in different Houses, I promise to show you my Common Room. I've heard they're all magnificent," Rose brought her arms down as Madame Malkin grunted, rethreading a seam. "But I think I'll like it best if we're together."

"Yeah." Albus replied quite more confidently.

James re-entered the store excitedly and beckoned to his father, "Dad, dad, come see! In This and Thats!"

"Just a second James, they're almost done," but whether James had heard was unknown as he bounded again toward the shop next door exclaiming again, "It's the coolest thing!"

The adults finished buying the robes and headed toward the shop, a turquoise-painted hole squeezed between the stylish Madame's and a glittering Indian restaurant. James had happened upon the place during his first year preparations, but Harry and the others had never explored inside. The ownership was obviously new as the thin layer of paint barely concealed the previous sign "Gatwick boots and shoes" which had gone out of business less than five years ago. The interior was a maze of geometric tables of varying heights, with loosely organized items crowded in small heaps on each; binoculars and cameras, muggle radios and record-players, a pile of glass orbs displaying hilarious scenes on repeat. The ceiling was lower than expected and filled with numerous photographs of mostly countryside landscapes and a small Muggle town, but a good collection featured Hogwarts scenery and students. James glided agilely through the narrow walkways, following the photos. He stopped over a cluster of Quidditch scenes and pointed at a group of Gryffindor students carrying their smallest teammate, a dishevelled boy with messy black hair and round glasses.

Harry squinted in disbelief. He hadn't expect to recognize the students that were memorialized in the 'antique' shop, but upon a second look, he spotted several pictures of Oliver Wood and Angela Johnson whizzing through the air, and a fair share of himself as well.

"Why Ginny, it's us!" Ron was also inspecting the nearby photos and pointed out a picture of Ginny being embraced by her brother, donned in Keeper's clothing, "It's when you won the House Cup- your first game. Oh we have to get this." On command, the photograph peeled from the ceiling, revealing yet another layer of memories. An envelope careened from the back of the shop and captured the photograph, landing gently in Ron's palm.

Harry was engrossed. His eyes darted from photograph to photograph. There was Hannah Abbot descending one of the moving staircases, jumping as hers began to transform. Padma and Parvati switching their house robes, giggling. Seamus Finnigan exploding a dessert during dinner. Professor Trelawey dazzling over an orb while the form of Ernie Macmillian dozed in his seat. He retraced the direction of the envelope and approached the cashier's desk. There sat a tiny man with a magnifying lens balanced in one eye examining a glass orb, muttering inaudible charms that set the scene inside into motion. As he drew nearer, the little man looked up expectantly and smiled. He was petit and could haven been mistaken for a person not yet thirty, but Harry knew he was much older. "Dennis?" The little man positively beamed at the recognition.

"Harry Potter! How nice it is to see you again!"

Hermione had also wandered over, curious about the owner, and took in the man in shock. "You're not Dennis Creevey?" Again, the man looked delighted, "Hermione Granger er Weasley er Granger- and those are definitely Weasleys!" he greeted the amused Ron and Ginny."How have you been?"

Nobody had seen Dennis since he had been a Fourth Year at Hogwarts. The Creevey brothers had been expelled from school when Voldemort overthrew the Ministry but had crept back to help in Dumbledore's Army. The brothers, being braver than talented, were often tasked with running messages between the school and Hogsmeade, where Aberforth could dispatch the information to others in the resistance. Near the March of that year, the brothers were ambushed by Death Eaters and though they did escape, they had been recognized. Fearing retaliation on their defenseless parents and not wanting any more harm to come to his brother, Colin had sent Dennis home to send the family into hiding.

The concerns were valid, and just after arriving home, Dennis had to hastily flee a group of snatchers. For over a month, the young boy camped about in various places, honing and improvising magic to a point where he was quite skilled at charms. At the news of the defeat, he brought his parents, beside themselves in pride of their fearless boy, home to wait for their other heroic son. This of course was shattered when Minerva had returned Colin's body. Staying with the clearly shaken family, the Headmistress attended the small funeral, the only representative invited from their sons' magical world. And though Minerva tried to persuade Dennis to finish his schooling, she never saw the boy enter Hogwarts again.

"We're alright," Harry gestured toward his children, "Albus is just starting school this year and James will be entering his third."

"Rosie's going this year as well," added Hermione, "Do you have any of your own?"

"Ha yes!" Dennis answered cheerfully, "Five in fact- my oldest is also starting this year. My wife's a muggle but I swear we were meant to be wizards. Every one of 'ems magic, even the little ones are lifting things up, twirling 'em around. He's getting his supplies at the moment with his mother- she's great about all of this. But the others..." he stopped his chatter and turned to a staircase leading to the second floor, "Arley, Anna, Amie and Mabel!"

Without a moment's delay, four small heads covered in various lengths of mousey brown hair peeked out from the opening. Their eyes bulged as they took in the group of celebrities, even gasping at James. "Its the seeker from Gryffindor!"

"A yes, Amie's a fan of the sport. She makes me read the Prophet every week for the recap- gone to a few games as well." He patted the head of a girl with huge square glasses fastened to her head by a thick rubber band.

"Well it's always nice to meet a fan," James remarked smugly, but looked uncomfortable as the smaller kids drew closer and closer, "Erm, what's the best thing in this place?" He breathed in relief as the siblings set away on the task.

"These pictures..." Started Hermione, wavering on the thought of being too direct, "They're quite candid, lovely really, were they..."

The smile on Dennis' face shrunk slightly, but he gazed contentedly at the flapping photos, "Yeah they're Colin's. He had so many rolls of film, it took me seven years to develop them all, well, I started pretty slowly. He really had a knack of capturing the worst moments, I swear Harry there's an entire roll dedicated to you wiping out on the pitch."

"How far do they go?" Asked Hermione.

"Up through his last year," Dennis looked back at the moving orb in his hands, "They were the first ones I developed. Less fun and more of a documentation of the abuses going on. I brought them to the Ministry to see of they could help round up any unknown sympathizers. They put one of the D.A. on display."

"In the Ministry? I think I know it." Ron, Harry and Hermione pictured the great portrait that hung in the atrium at the entryway of the Ministry Courtrooms. A group of haggard students crowded around hammocks looked wearily into the camera. Below, the statement: Justice maintained for Justice fought was embossed onto the frame.

"Yes well I figured people would enjoy these years better. I've gotten quite a few visitors." He nodded at the picture Ron was holding, "Half price if you find yourself in the picture."

"I'm glad you're doing well," Hermione said gently.

James returned with a pair of binoculars and the group paid and left. "I'll have to tell Fred and Angie about the place! Its quite a nice little gem he's got there." Ron took out the portrait and traced his face, "I never looked better!"

Ginny came up by Harry and produced the photo she had purchased, a bewildered Second-year Harry took up most of frame, blinking rapidly in the wake of the camera flash. "I couldn't resist."

Harry chuckled.