Wheels Within Wheels – Part Three
Iolanthe
Chapter Three
The Burrow—It's Always Interesting
Harry made sure he sent an owl to Andromeda Tonks before he did anything else on Thursday, to get Teddy reserved for Sunday at the Burrow. There were always good reasons to go to Sunday dinner at the Burrow, Molly Weasley's incredible cooking first and foremost, but the Weasleys were always interesting, they had room for quidditch and several outstanding quidditch players in one family, and, for Teddy, some young Weasley cousins closer to his own age. Harry worried that Teddy, raised by his grandmother, with a good deal of participation from Harry, had been over-exposed to adults and under-exposed to young people. Teddy had obviously been overflowing with magic from a very young age, and it was no surprise when the owl arrived with his Hogwarts acceptance letter.
Teddy would be starting at Hogwarts the first week in September. Harry had discussed Hogwarts with Teddy, trying to prepare him for the initial experiences of the first few days. Harry had arrived with no preparation, and was swept along through the sorting into houses along with everyone else, without knowledge of why the hat sent students to one or the other. He had no experience, beyond attending his muggle primary school, of living and working with other children. His aunt and uncle considered him a burden and an embarrassment, and they kept him isolated when he wasn't actually present at school. Harry was determined to do what he could to get Teddy off to a more confident start at Hogwarts than he had.
Harry and Daphne discussed Iolanthe, and Teddy, and agreed it was best to tell Teddy they'd be getting a new member of the family later in the year. Harry was very concerned about Teddy feeling displaced, since Andromeda and Harry had been the extent of his family since Remus' and Tonks' deaths. Harry got the conversation started, and Daphne came in when he got out of his depth. Harry relaxed and listened as Daphne introduced an issue, then let Teddy take the lead, finishing up with encouragement before adjusting to a new topic.
On Sunday, Harry, Daphne and Teddy apparated to a spot just outside The Burrow's wards, and Harry led the way up the familiar path to the half-door to the kitchen. He was excited to be back again. After the final breakup with Ginny, he had seen Weasleys at various places and events. His and Ron's friendship continued as usual, presumably impervious to outside events, bolstered, undoubtedly, by Hermione's membership in the collective.
The Burrow, though, was different. Harry and Ginny stepped back from their relationship by mutual consent, but that didn't mean he wanted to chance either aggravating old wounds, or risk reactivating dormant affection, when they had both worked hard to preserve some dignity following their separation. Hence, he had carefully avoided going to the Burrow with Ron and Hermione, despite his affinity for Molly Weasley's Sunday dinners, in order to spare Ginny, and himself, from the unexpected, unpredictable, untoward reaction that he feared might lurk beneath the calm surface.
"Bill and Fleur," Harry said as they got closer.
"And Victoire," said Teddy.
Harry looked, and Teddy had put on a big smile.
"I didn't know you knew them," Harry said.
"Gran," Teddy said. "We met at Shell Cottage, last summer. Have you ever been to Shell Cottage?"
"Oh, yes," Harry said. "I have been to Shell Cottage."
Teddy was trying manfully to keep pace with Harry and Daphne, but Harry could see he was about to come unglued, so he said, "Go ahead and say hello."
Teddy started trotting away toward the Weasleys. Harry noticed Fleur say something to Victoire that he couldn't make out, but it must have been something along the lines of what Harry had told Teddy, as Victoire broke away from her parents and trotted out to meet Teddy. The two maintained a discreet distance, as was entirely appropriate for their ages, but their faces seemed to be saying they were genuinely glad to see one another once again.
"Harry," called Bill.
"'Arry!" said Fleur. "Bienvenue!"
"Bonjour, Fleur, comme ca?!" said Harry. "Bill—how is everyone?"
"Doing well, how are you? Teddy looks to be thriving," Bill said.
"Teddy is quite the specimen," Harry said. "As Victoire recognizes, it appears. Have you met Daphne?"
"Yes, at some point," Bill said, extending his hand. "Not sure just when."
"Me neither," Daphne said, "So don't feel bad."
Daphne and Fleur had met during the Triwizard Tournament, at Hogwarts, and had been friends ever since. They performed an elaborate dance of sorts, bumping cheeks right and left, embracing, stepping back, trading compliments in French and English, then linking arms and heading for the house.
"Who's here?" Harry asked Bill.
"Charlie, George and me, Fleur, Victoire, Dominique, Mum and Dad, and now you, Teddy and Daphne. Percy, Audrey, Angelina, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Millicent are expected any time now," Bill said. "There's Charlie, by the shed."
Harry and Bill Weasley continued to the house, where Harry was greeted by Mrs. Weasley as a prodigal, now returned. Mrs. Weasley was orchestrating Sunday dinner preparation via her own personal routine of doing things by hand, or by magic, or by conscripting whomever was closest to peel, mash, insert in the oven, remove from the stovetop, or some combination.
"Tea?" Bill offered.
"Glass of water, for me, please," said Daphne.
"Tea," said Harry. "Thanks."
Bill came back with the beverages, then addressed Harry.
"Harry, before things get really chaotic, do you want to talk about your property?" asked Bill. "I'd like you to be there, and next week will be very slow for me."
Harry and Bill wandered off, talking about Potter Manor, The Mill, and the other parcels that made up the estate.
Teddy and Victoire sat in wooden chairs between the house and Arthur Weasley's shed. Victoire had pulled some straw strands from her pocket, and braided a cord from the material as she chatted Teddy up.
"If there is a club for vampires at Hogwarts, will you join?" she asked, looking down at her braiding.
"I doubt it, why would I?" Teddy responded.
"Well, since you and I are vampires, I thought if you joined, I could join, too, when I start at Hogwarts, and we could be in the club together," Victoire said.
"We aren't vampires, Victoire," Teddy said. "My father was a werewolf, and your father was attacked by a werewolf, but he didn't become a werewolf, like mine did. There's a difference."
Victoire considered Teddy's explanation, braiding away.
"Which is better, a werewolf, or a vampire?" Victoire asked.
"Neither are really very convenient," Teddy said. "But if I had to choose one or the other, I'd choose werewolf because other than staying out of the full moon, you can live a normal life. There is no such thing as a normal life for a vampire. Why are you interested? You haven't been…"
Victoire stopped braiding, and sat very still, subjecting Teddy to an extended visual appraisal. Teddy wanted to look away, but he managed, just, to hold Victoire's gaze.
"No," she said at last.
"Sorry. I did find this," said Teddy, reaching into his pocket, and pulling out what looked like a triangle-shaped stone, about three-fourths of an inch long.
"I have been carrying it around with me but I don't really know what to do with it. I think it's a fossil tooth. It's probably a wolf's tooth, since we both ought to have good luck finding things related to wolves," Teddy said. He knew he was on shaky ground, speculating he and Victoire ought to have such an affinity, something for which he had not a scrap of evidence. Victoire didn't seem to mind, though, and stopped braiding to look at Teddy's artifact.
"Let's see it," she said, holding out a hand.
Teddy handed the tooth over.
"Well, it is certainly shaped like a tooth, isn't it?" asked Victoire. "Do you want it back? I think I can braid it into this."
"I'd like to see that," said Teddy. "Go ahead and see if you can."
Teddy noticed a small, white, bead-like object at one end of the braided strand.
"What's that?" he asked.
"One of my teeth," said Victoire. "I lost it two years ago and it was in a box with the other ones I lost. I took it to Uncle George's store and he drilled a hole in it for me."
She held out the braided cord so Teddy could see the tooth at close range, then returned to working the putative wolf tooth into her braiding.
People continued to arrive, culminating with Ginny and Millicent, the last ones to come walking in from the apparation point.
Bill and Harry had wandered over near the shed and were talking to Charlie, who was inspecting some brooms he'd brought out.
"This is a Firebolt," he said. "That's quite an improvement over the usual Weasley equipment, at least the ones we started on, wouldn't you say, Bill?"
Harry took a look. "That's one of Ginny's."
Harry went in the shed, coming back out with another Firebolt.
"I knew I'd left one here, then I forgot about it," he said. "We'll have to take them up later."
"We've got time," Charlie said, "If you want. Ten minutes, or so?"
Without thinking, Harry swung his leg over his broomstick, followed by Charlie, and they both kicked off and were airborne. Harry and Charlie were two of the most honored Gryffindor seekers ever to play quidditch at Hogwarts. People who had seen Charlie play continued to say he could have been on any England squad of his era, had he not become obsessed with dragons and gone off to Romania to work on a preserve. Harry and Charlie put the Firebolts through their paces.
"Got anything to use for a snitch?" Harry asked, as they circled higher and higher.
"This one was in the shed," Charlie answered, producing an actual snitch from his shirt pocket.
Harry stopped climbing and sat on his broom, facing Charlie.
"Let it go," Harry said, and Charlie tossed the snitch up in the air. Harry waited to see what it would do. Once caught, snitches didn't go evasive again, but they had the ability to fly, sometimes very fast. This one was quite civilized, flying around without making a big deal about not getting caught. Harry reached out and caught the snitch, then gave it a toss in Charlie's direction.
Harry and Charlie sat on their brooms, sometimes holding on with one hand, sometimes not holding on at all, throwing and catching the snitch, not paying attention as they circled higher and higher, catching up on what had been going on since they had last seen one another, telling quidditch stories, and generally getting the kinks out. They were both riding their brooms in a sidesaddle position, legs crossed, demonstrating flying situations with their hands, as aviators do, when Ginny flew into their field of vision.
"You are a couple of thousand feet in the air and causing stress to an expectant mother," Ginny announced.
"What? Us? Why?" Harry asked.
"Hi, Ginny, is it time to eat?" Charlie added.
Ginny ignored Charlie, directing her comments to Harry.
"Daphne is threatening to equip George with a club and send him up after you, and George, being George, is quite eager to climb on a broom and do it," Ginny replied, disregarding Charlie's impertinence.
"Well," Harry said.
"I suppose," Charlie agreed. "Although, just for the record, George? Seriously?" which got a good laugh out of Harry.
Each threw a leg back over his broom. Harry rolled hard to his right and descended upside down, 'Whoo-hoo'ing all the way. Charlie pulled his broom up into a stall, flipped over backwards into a nose down attitude and headed straight toward the ground. Harry spiraled down, finally rolling back upright at someplace around one hundred feet aloft. Charlie had been waiting, and the two descended the final distance at a stately pace, landing gently together on their feet.
"Harry can really fly," Charlie said to Daphne. "I knew he was good, but…"
"He was okay, I guess," Daphne allowed, refusing to concede anything more. "He may be a little less sharp, now that he is thinking about having REAL RESPONSIBILITIES for a change."
"Oh, I just…" Harry began, or tried to, before Daphne cocked her head in a silent 'Oh?' at which Harry decided to cut his losses and closed his mouth.
Harry expected to be challenged some more but, not for the first time at the Burrow, was saved by dinner. Molly appeared in the kitchen door and announced it was ready, if anyone were hungry, or interested in eating. Harry came in with everyone else, saw that Fleur had taken Daphne in hand and appeared to be conducting her to one of the many bathrooms that kept the Burrow functioning when an abundance of Weasleys, Weasley in-laws, and Weasley grandchildren was fully in residence.
Everyone got seated, eventually. Harry sat between Daphne and Teddy and noticed that Teddy was wearing an accessory he hadn't seen before. It appeared to be cord woven from some fibrous straw, with a little white bead forming a closure, at the back of his neck, with a tiny loop in the opposite end of the cord. A small triangular stone was just visible in front, almost lost beneath Teddy's shirt.
Harry noticed Victoire, who'd managed to claim the seat on the other side of Teddy, noticing him taking note of Teddy's new item. She blushed and turned her head. Harry felt a solid bump on his ankle, on the side near Daphne, and turned his head a bit her way. Daphne, though, was focused on something under discussion with Millicent, her Slytherin classmate, who sat opposite, next to Ginny.
Then the food started circulating and all other considerations were lost in the fog of a fully-fledged Molly Weasley Sunday dinner. Word got to Arthur Weasley about Daphne and Harry's engagement, and a toast was proposed. Then, Ginny took the floor and announced she was swearing everyone to an oath of confidentiality until the news embargo was lifted, and told her family she was retiring from quidditch at the end of the season.
Molly Weasley shrieked and got up from her chair to go to Ginny for a hug.
"I haven't been to a game for two years, I can't stand to watch you play anymore," she said. "I didn't want to say anything as long as you were playing. I didn't know what to do. I was so afraid you'd get hurt before you came to your senses!"
Ginny made comical faces at those across the table as Molly had both arms wrapped around Ginny's neck while she applied multiple kisses to the top of her head. Ginny's announcement brought a tableful of congratulations and best wishes for equivalent success in the next stage of her life. Millicent beamed and squeezed Ginny's hand.
"And…" Ginny continued, "Millicent has asked me to marry her, and I said yes."
This was followed by a long silence, while Ginny's announcement sank in. Finally, George spoke up.
"But Ginny," George said, "She's a…a…Slytherin."
Tension broken, the 'Hear-hear' and 'Congratulations' choruses began, drowning out attempts at reasonable conversation. Molly was clearly taken by surprise, but she didn't faint or run from the room screaming.
Arthur raised his glass again.
"Welcome to the Weasleys, Millicent," he said. "Assuming, after today, you still want…"
Then several more voices repeated the welcome, then someone toasted 'Ginny and Millicent,' and the process repeated.
Daphne hadn't planned on making any announcements, not wanting to step on Ginny and Millicent's big news, but Audrey Weasley turned to Harry and said, "I just now heard about you and Daphne getting engaged, and you've got a date for the wedding! How did that get by me?"
"Don't know," Harry said. "Daphne's parents sent something to the Daily Prophet. We've been too busy to plan an engagement party."
"And, the word is circulating, but for anyone who hasn't already heard," Daphne said, "Harry and I are expecting, in December, and according to Hermione's runes…" at which Daphne looked over at Hermione and Ron.
"It's a girl," said Hermione.
"You're going to have a little sister, Teddy," Harry heard Victoire say.
"I know," Teddy said. "Harry and Daphne told me last week. They're going to name her Iolanthe Astoria, for Iolanthe Peverell, who was an ancient relative of Harry's, and Astoria, Daphne's sister."
"Well, those are certainly lovely names," Victoire said, looking around Teddy and Harry to address Daphne.
"Thank-you, Victoire," Daphne said, in her low, honey-like voice. "We'll make sure she gets around and meets everyone, just as soon as she gets here."
Molly had made profiterole for dessert, and she soon had three big bowls on the table, along with gravy boats of chocolate syrup. Daphne exercised some discipline and took a very small portion, skipping the chocolate altogether. Harry succumbed to the seduction of flaky pastry, creamy center, and chocolate on top and dripping down the sides, although not in a hoggish manner, at least on the first serving.
Harry saw Fleur pouring a little more of the chocolate over Ron's profiterole, gently chiding him for letting the flavor of the profiterole sit idle, unlocked in the creamy interior, because the chocolate syrup 'c'est necessaire' to bring the taste to full bloom. Harry noticed Ron's eyes going Helpless Puppy as Hermione's were quickly becoming Unspeakable Death Stare, but he couldn't think of how to address the looming disaster.
Just then Daphne spoke up.
"Fleur, where is Gabrielle today?"
Fleur put the gravy boat of chocolate down on its plate to turn to Daphne.
"Gabrielle is in France," said Fleur, "and she will be so-o-o jealous when she learns we 'ave 'ad Sunday dinner with 'Arry. Fleur does not forget who released her from under the Great Lake," this last delivered with a dazzling smile sent Harry's way.
Harry couldn't recall discussing with Daphne his seeming immunity to veela wiles, but resolved to do so at the first opportunity, just to avoid any potential misunderstandings. Meanwhile, Hermione had picked up the gravy boat of syrup and anointed Ron's profiterole with some more chocolate, demanded he taste it, and to please advise her if he thought it needed more.
Molly's Sunday dinner continued apace. When enough people put down their silverware and coffee cups and drifted away, Molly began to clear the table. Harry always pitched in for cleanup at the Burrow. The Weasleys had never had a house elf, so Molly had made an art form of clearing and washing up. When Harry had been introduced to the Burrow, he was starving for a family life, and whenever possible worked in the kitchen just to be near his surrogate mother. His wand work got better and better, and he became quite skilled at complementing Molly's efforts while staying out of her way.
Molly and Harry had always used cleanup time to chat. Molly pumped Harry for news she didn't get from the Weasleys, a second opinion on the news she did get, gossip about Hogwarts contacts, then the unofficial Ministry news, the kind that was important but seldom made the Daily Prophet.
Molly looked around and didn't see anyone close at hand. Almost everyone had drifted out to the yard.
"Harry, now that you and Ginny have both…," Molly paused, obviously thinking through her next word choice. "…have both found someone, I want you to give consideration to visiting us more often. You're as much Weasley as everyone else, or the same as. You didn't want to come after you and Ginny weren't…oh, after you weren't anymore, which I understand, completely. But this is the first Sunday dinner in two years that has felt like our whole family is here."
"Mrs. Weasley, that is genuinely touching," Harry said as he rinsed a plate. "We won't be strangers. Iolanthe needs the nutrition."
"Oh, that's just grand, Harry. You've done enough here, get on outside and catch up on the gossip, I'll finish," said Molly.
She wouldn't look right at Harry, and he strongly suspected he knew why, and left her to her dishes. On the way out the door, Harry stood aside to let Ginny come in, followed closely by Millicent, who nodded and gave Harry's arm a squeeze as she passed. Harry closed both halves of the kitchen door on his way out.
Harry went out into the yard with everyone else and joined a little sub-group with Daphne. He didn't know how much more socializing Daphne would be interested in, but she was sitting with Fleur and Audrey, deep in conversation, so he walked on a few steps and joined Ron and Hermione.
"Congratulations, Harry," they both said, nearly in unison.
Harry was quietly amused by their unanimity, one of the few examples he'd witnessed.
"You know, I'm going to have to do some reflection on that," he said. "It seems like Daphne is going to do all the work, while I get congratulations. Somehow that doesn't seem quite right, does it?"
"No, it's not right," Hermione agreed, with some emphasis. "It's just the way it works."
"So, what's going on with the Granger-Weasleys?" Harry asked. "We haven't even been in the cafeteria at the same time."
"I signed up for a course in advanced wand lore with Ollivander," Ron said. "I'm learning a lot, AND I'm enjoying it. You know how rare that is for me."
Ron's comment earned a frown from Hermione, one of the premier magical scholars of her generation, and a heartfelt laugh from Harry, who shared Ron's complete dearth of distinction in matters requiring careful, sustained study.
"I'll expect a summary of the more major topics, whenever you have something to convey. Use your own judgement," Harry said.
Ron had left the aurors when Harry was promoted. Neville Longbottom had done the same. Neither thought their shared history with Harry in the Second Wizarding War boded well, for them, or for Harry, should they stay on. Ron had found a slot working as an investigator for the Wizengamot, which was completely separate and outside the jurisdiction of the aurors. Neville began teaching some of Madame Sprout's classes in Herbology at Hogwarts, at first on a part-time basis, filling the remainder of his time working with Hannah Abbott in the Leaky Cauldron.
Harry had been sneaking surreptitious looks through the kitchen window ever since he had come outside. Ginny and Millicent had initially joined Molly at the sink, but the dishes really had been all but finished when Molly sent Harry outside. They soon sat down at the table with the teapot and some cups and seemed to be doing nothing more than enjoying a cup of tea together, as ladies do.
"Mum?" Ginny, asked, after they'd gotten settled. "Are you fine with us? Millicent, and me?"
Molly looked between them.
"It isn't what I had in mind for you," she began. "But you already knew that. You asked the right question of the wrong person, Ginny. Are you fine with you? Then you need to ask Millicent is she fine with you?"
"Yes, absolutely, Mum," Ginny said. "When we danced together at the St. Mungo's Ball, I knew. Every day since has just reinforced it. I was so afraid she wouldn't feel the same way."
"But I did," said Millicent. "I started crying when she told me how she felt about me."
She lifted the teapot and topped up Molly's cup.
"Then that's all that matters," Molly said, taking a sip before setting her teacup down. "I wanted lots of daughters, and I was so lucky to get one, on my last try. Now you've doubled my total."
Molly pulled Millicent toward her and gave her a long hug.
"Welcome to the Weasleys, dear," she said. "Now, Ginny, will you be using the Burrow, the marquee, the fiddlers and whatnot, same as the others? Let's go take a look and you can explain it all to Millicent."
The kitchen door opened and Ginny, Millicent and Molly walked out together.
"We put up a marquee on that flat spot over there," Molly said as she walked between Ginny and Millicent. "Bill and Fleur were the first ones to get married under it. What an experience! The Death Eaters did their coup at the ministry while the wedding was going on, then some of them showed up here, looking for Harry, and he and Ron and Hermione had to go on the run. It was a brawl, and Ginny was right in the middle of it. I know you're the DA professor, Millicent, but pay attention to your blocking, just in case…Arthur, can you come over here? I'm explaining where everything goes, so they can make a decision."
"Looks like that went well," Ron observed. "What is Millicent to the rest of us, after she's married to Ginny? Would she be a sister-in-law?"
"I'm pretty sure she'd appreciate you letting her decide that, Ronald," Hermione said. "As well as waiting patiently until either she or Ginny lets you know."
Daphne appeared at Harry's side and slipped her hand under his arm.
"About ready?" she asked. "The company's unbeatable," she assured Ron and Hermione, "but one mustn't overdo."
"Enjoy it," Hermione said. "Make the world dance to your tune for the next six months."
"Excellent guidance," Daphne said. "You'll get a citation whenever I use it in practice."
Harry and Daphne located Teddy sitting with Victoire and Dominique. Bill was nearby, talking to Charlie.
"Leaving?" Bill asked, extending his hand. "Tuesday morning, then?"
"Nine o'clock," Harry said. "Sure you know the way?"
"No problem," Bill said.
"Can you say good-bye for us? Your mother and father are occupied, for now," Daphne said. "Very nice to meet you, Charlie. Thanks for showing us all some really spectacular flying,"
"Of course. Come back again, soon," Bill said, as Daphne, Harry and Teddy started for the apparation point.