The Sign
Chapter 16
Moving Day
June 12
They slept in nearly to noon, then they got to work. They had their rooms to pack up and get ready for the move that afternoon, leaving only over-night bags behind. They were done by three, but still had not heard from Seamus. He had said mid-afternoon. They were getting antsy. Besides, it was getting hard to ignore that Molly was baking even more than normal. They packed a picnic snack, took their bags and boxes, stuffed all in Hermione's bag and apparated to the house. The private park across the street made for a nice place to sit in the sun and watch for any movement.
Knowing what to look for, they saw several men apparate and enter the house at different times. At four PM, Seamus came out and stood on the curb near them. He was surprised when Harry called out to him.
"Hey! Getting excited?" He asked as he let himself through the gate.
"You bet. When can we see inside?" Ginny asked, nearly bouncing.
"In just a few minutes. I've set up an apparition point in the back garden and that's where things are being sent. The new front door was just installed, I was coming out to see it. If you've noticed, I've replaced the rusted iron work in the front. When I take you through, I'll show you more." Seamus explained, quite pleased with himself.
They all started to ask questions, but he shut them down with a grin, "Sorry, you'll just have to wait. Let me get back to work and I'll come back when we're ready, probably about 20 minutes." With that, he turned and went back inside.
In fifteen, Seamus came back out and waved to let them in. As they got closer, they could see all the differences. The railings were traditional design, instead of spiraling snakes. The door now looked like the others along the block, including a door handle. The broken little balcony that spanned over the door was replaced and looked fresh with little tubs of flowers.
"This alone makes it better." Said Ginny. She eyed the flowers with appreciation. Although no one on the block could see them, they still made her happy.
Seamus made a show of presenting Harry with the key, who in turn, handed it to Ginny. "You're the lady of the house, you do it." He said with a smile.
She took the shiny new key and twisted it in the lock. No dank, dark hall greeted them. The door swung silently into a bright room. A soft light gray paint accented with white covered the walls. The blackened wood floors were now shining golden planks. Even the fireplace was replaced with white carved wood.
She turned to Seamus in confusion. "You said it will be bare minimum, no paint, even bare studs. What…?"
"I know what I said. I also lied. I was able to grab the special crew and we got it all done. Why else did you think I had you talk with Izzy and Shannon? Right Harry?"
"I thought…Harry? Did you know?"
"Yeah, He told me about it a week ago, when you were off shopping. Surprise?" Harry forgot to brace himself as she ran at him and launched herself into his arms.
"Ok, Ok, enough of that." Seamus laughed. "Come on down and I'll give you the grand tour."
The door opened into the kitchen and Kreature bowed low. "Master, Mistress. Welcome Home."
Bright new cabinetry and floors shone, competing with the glistening copper pots and pans hanging on the wall. A new, long kitchen table was already in place.
Harry noticed something about the back-garden door. There wasn't one. He wandered closer and realized that they had built a conservatory- a greenhouse room right off the back. He had forgotten they had planned it. There was a movement just outside the glass door.
He could see Neville planting a tree. As soon as Neville saw him, he brushed his hands on a rag, "Hiya, Harry. I couldn't let you live in a place that had a rubbish heap for a garden. I'm about all finished here, See you Sunday."
"Come on, I want to see the rest." Ginny almost pulled Harry along.
At the top of the stairs to the first floor, Harry was stunned. On the landing, hanging on the wall, was a one by one and a half-meter slab of intricately carved, red stained wood.
"Luna, it's perfect!" Ginny hugged her tight. "Harry, this is your surprise."
"Not just me, Dean also helped." Luna said.
Dean stepped down from the stairs, "Hiya Harry. Glad you like it." The handshake turned into a brotherly hug.
"I…I'm…speechless." Harry muttered out. He couldn't help but reach out and trace each figure. "Mum, Dad, Padfoot, Moony…You, Ginny. You're all here. Thank you!"
"You're welcome. I'll be upstairs in my room. Welcome Home." Luna dreamily wafted up the stairs.
"I need to go, I'll see you around." Dean waved and wound himself down the stairs. Seamus followed him out the front door.
The next floor was Ron and Hermione's rooms. They entered the back-facing room first. It was lined with bookshelves, just waiting to be filled. Harry opened another door and found a bathroom and dressing room area. A connecting door opposite opened into their bedroom. It was awash with bright summer light reflecting off creamy white walls. The only jarring look was the wall between the windows. It was covered in Orange posters.
"I found your stash. They deserve to be here." Hermione kissed Ron, who touched one in reverence.
"I didn't think I'd miss them, but here…" He kissed her back.
0000000000000000
On the third floor, they found a bedroom in the front and one in the back, with a smallish bath in the center. A large linen cupboard faced the hallway.
At the top floor, they saw Luna again, "I hope you don't mind I took this room. I wished to give you more privacy." She had already started to paint flowers and vines along the top of walls and along corners.
They glanced in the other, empty room and bath before going up the spiral staircase to the attic space. It was a large, sloped-ceiling room with a large glass wall leading to the roof deck. There was no furniture, but Neville (it could only be him) had set several large tubs of shrubbery along the edge, giving them a comfortable garden oasis.
"Ok, Harry, time for our room!" Demanded Ginny.
As they passed the carving, Harry touched couldn't resist touching it again. It felt alive.
Ginny gently opened the only door on the whole floor. To her right, she saw an office. To her left, facing the front of the building, was a very large room. Instead of white or gray walls, like expected, the walls had been painted a warm tan. The floor was covered in cream, plush, fitted carpet, as Harry insisted. He was tired of cold feet when he woke. It was a room designed to melt away stress.
Ginny moved towards a door on the far side of the wall, opening it, she found a large walk-in closet, just waiting to be filled with their very limited wardrobe. A door connected to the large bathroom. She backed out, only to bump into Harry. He too had been staring at the sight.
"Doesn't feel like the old 12 Grimmauld Place anymore, does it?" She whispered.
"No." Harry struggled to find the words. "It feels like…Home."
"Well, Mr. At-Home. If we want to live here, we'd best get to work." She pointed to the large pile of furnishings, boxes, and packages in the middle of the floor. They could hear some thumps and scrapes as Ron and Hermione got to work. There was a very large crash and they could hear Ron yell out an obscenity.
"We're setting up a permanent mufliato charm!" Ginny exclaimed. They joined hands and brought out their wands. As they said the charm, they could hear less and less of the sounds coming from above them.
"Definitely a mood killer." Harry mumbled as he waved his wand towards the bed side-rail. "Ouch!" he rubbed his head where the headboard wobbled and made contact.
Near midnight, they gave up. There was so much to do. Even with magic, they still needed to use their muscles and brains. Both of which were failing.
June 13
Mid-morning on Saturday, they were back. Two hours later, in the living room, Harry saw Luna wander down from her rooms, "Luna? How're you getting along? Need any help?"
"No thank you. I asked Kreature and he did it all for me in a very short time. You should give it a try. Besides, I'm not moving in for at least a week. You need time for yourselves." She drifted off down to the kitchen.
"Giving us a week? Nice." Ginny said, thankful her friend was so considerate.
"A house elf. Ginny, why did we not think about that?"
"You were too busy showing off your incredible manual dexterity and awesome instruction translation abilities." She grinned, as she used a tiny hex screwdriver to make one last quarter turn. She set the little table on it's feet and nodded in satisfaction.
"How much do we have left?" Harry hefted up the side table and moved it aside.
"To assemble? Quite a bit. We need to hang drapes, make beds and unpack. Oh, I forgot, we have your desk to assemble too." She wiped her hands on her jeans. "I could really use a shower. I'm a mess. Have we unpacked the towels yet?"
Harry could imagine her in the shower. But he promised, and he kept promises. "What would your Mum say if you came home freshly showered?" He shook his head, still trying to get the image out of his mind.
"What could she do? Ground me?" Ginny moved towards the stairs. "A shower, and then I'll get started on the bed making. On second thought, Kreature!"
The old elf appeared before her. "Mistress? You need me?"
"Yes, I do. Do you think you could hang drapes? Or is that something we should do?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Mistress, Kreature has hung all the drapes except in this room, unpacked all linens, laid out the bathroom accessories, and made all the beds." Kreature turned and muttered, "Now if Mr. Ron and Miss Hermione would stop messing theirs up again."