Meanwhile, on Halloween night, the Potters and Granger-Weasleys had gathered to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood around Grimmauld Place. The twins were dressed as the pirates Blackbeard and Redbeard. This year, Hazel had asked to be Cinderella. When Molly heard about the character choice, she immediately went to work create a lovely dress for her granddaughter. Meanwhile, Hattie went as a pumpkin, mainly because she didn't have an opinion on a Halloween costume at her age.
"Smile!" said Ginny, using her mobile to take a photo of the twins, Hazel, and Hattie. "Say cheese!"
"Cheese!" said the kids.
"Look at that, 'Mione - Mum is going to love this!" said Ginny, as she showed her phone to Hermione.
"Send that to me and Ron!" said Hermione, whose stomach had protruded out from the pregnancy.
"Let's go, Mum!" said Colin, pulling his mother. While Hermione and Ginny walked ahead with the Potter kids, Harry and Ron stayed back with Hattie.
"Shall we get some sweets?" asked Ron.
"No!" said Hattie, smiling cheekily.
"No?" asked Ron in such an over-exaggerated manner that it made Hattie laugh out loud. "But that's the best part!"
"Up! Up!" said Hattie, jumping up and down as she held on to their hands.
"Alright - ready?" asked Ron. "One - two - three!" Hattie squealed with delight as her uncle and father lifted her in the air.
"It's a flying pumpkin!" said Harry, as he and Ron placed Hattie back on the ground.
"Hattie, come here!" called Hermione. "Come get some sweets!" Ron and Harry laughed as Hattie's costume bounced as she ran on her little legs towards her mother.
The two friends watched as their kids went from door to door with their baskets while their respective partners followed behind. Harry personally cherished the moments like this where the families could get together. That fact that his kids plus Ron and Hermione's kids grew up together, with some becoming best friends like Al and Rose, filled Harry with joy and love. Harry wished every child had a chance to grow up with family around them to support and love them. Unfortunately, Harry knew that this was not a reality for some, and motivated him even more as an Auror to protect the most vulnerable persons and families.
"Ron," said Harry, turning to Ron. "You haven't heard anything from Draco, have you?"
"No, why?" asked Ron, a bit surprised at the question.
"No one's heard from him in a month," said Harry. "It's a bit concerning."
"Harry, you don't think he's dead, do you?" asked Ro.
"I'm going to pay a visit to the safehouse this week," said Harry. "I'm taking Creevey and Finnegan with me - right now, they're the only ones that I trust."
"Merlin," whistled Ron. "Is it that bad over in the department?"
"Afraid so, mate," said Harry, solemnly. "It's basically Shacklebolt leading one faction, and Jason Charmer leading another faction."
"That stupid git," growled Ron. "His son's not that far from the tree, either."
"Ron," said Harry. "You know we have enemies at the Ministry."
"No kidding," said Ron, surprised that Harry would assume that he didn't understand the severity of the situation.
"Here's the thing," said Harry. "I think it's best that you get a strong protective spell over your flat."
"Like what?" asked Ron.
"Like a blood boundary spell," said Harry, looking around at the crowd of people to see if anyone was listening.
Ron's eyes widened at that suggestion. A blood boundary spell was a huge gamble because it was an arcane spell. In fact, Ron knew that it had disappeared during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries because many felt it did not actually prevent the entry of those without the same blood.
"Those are risky, Harry," said Ron, looking at Hermione holding Hattie's hand as they asked for sweets. "I know Hermione has never been comfortable with those kinds of spells. She doesn't trust them."
"Ron, if anything happened to you or her or the kids, I would be crushed," said Harry, trying not to sound desperate. "Please, just talk to her about it."
"Fine," sighed Ron, not wanting to argue with Harry any further on the matter. "If it makes you feel any better, if I hear anything about Draco, from Scorpius or anyone, I'll tell you, alright?"
"Deal," said Harry.
"Dad! What are you doing?" called out Cedric, running to his father. "Hurry up!"
"Coming, Cedric," said Harry, as he let Cedric drag him and Ron back to where Hermione, Ginny, and the rest of the kids had stopped to wait for them.
"Anything you boys want to share with us?" said Ginny with raised eyebrows.
"Ugh, not now, Mum!" said Colin. "Can't we just trick-or-treat?"
"A fine idea," said Harry, putting a hand on each of his sons' shoulder to guide them to the next house, while Ginny held Hazel's hand and attempted to fix her puffy light blue dress.
"You and I will need to talk after the bug goes to bed," said Ron to Hermione, as he scooped up Hattie to carry her.
"Can it wait until the morning?" asked Hermione, starting to feel fatigue from the night.
" 'Mione," said Ron, almost pleading with her.
"Fine," said Hermione, putting her head on Ron's shoulder. Ron smiled at Hermione, then looked down at her bump and felt his heart overflow with happiness. Harry wasn't the only person who would be crushed if something happened to Hermione or the kids. Maybe a blood protection spell is worth, thought Ron, as the group approached another house for treat-or-tricking.