Ch. 18
Sunday 5 July 1998
That afternoon, everyone came to the Madhouse for dinner. However, while everyone was off on the pitch, the adults were talking by the pavilion.
"So, Andi. I hear you are putting together a class about wizarding and muggle culture?" Emma asked.
"Yes. We got permission for it, now it's up to me to decide what to teach. Have any ideas?" She returned the question.
"Well, what about literature of both the muggle and wizarding worlds. You know, compare and contrast?"
"That's actually a good idea. We could start with fairy tales to look at the morals each society values. That would be good, especially for first years."
"You might want to coordinate with the history professor to see if you can read tales from whatever time and place they're teaching about."
"What else would you teach first years?" Andi asked.
"Teach them about muggle money. Denominations, why we use paper versus gold that sort of thing. Then second years, you could talk about how to buy things. You might even want to start teaching them budgeting. I'd also start teaching first years about the history of transportation. When they graduate, they need to be able to get around in our world. Start first years talking about how we view religion and race—only a basic concept, that there are differences. Maybe equate it to your blood purists." By this point, Andi had started taking notes on a notepad Dobby brought her.
"Emma, this is great. Do you want to do some of the lessons with me?" Andi beamed at her.
"You want me to come up and give lectures and such?"
"Is there anyone better than a muggle to help teach about muggle culture?"
"I suppose. Let's work on this curriculum, then we can see where Dan or I can assist." Emma advised.
"Okay." Andi sighed as she relaxed a bit. "This is what I was missing at Hogwarts, someone to bounce ideas off of."
After that, to Hermione, it looked like both women were total engrossed in their own conversation, to the exclusion of everyone else. Even when they went back to the house to eat, those two sat next to each other and just kept exchanging ideas. For Emma the intellectual, it was fascinating to understand her daughter's world a little more and to give Andi a different viewpoint to her own. For Andi, the draw was not only making a new friend but seeing how muggle intellectuals viewed society. It was much different than her muggle friends in Godric's Hollow.
HP
Monday was interesting for the quartet. No one had any definitive plans, so Sirius roped them into writing invitations to the Christening and party. So, Monday morning Nev and Harry were in the study writing out the invitations. Luckily, Sirius got the muggle ones that you just fill out who, what where, when and then copy it.
"Dang, I hate writing things down!" Harry groaned.
"Why?" Nev asked as he started addressing envelopes.
"Because no one except Hermione can read my writing." Harry retorted as he also addressed envelopes.
Nev took Harry's envelope. "I can read it. It'll be fine." He reassured his godbrother.
At about eleven they were done. They floo'd to Diagon Alley and found the post office to send the invitations by owl post. They were back in time for lunch.
During lunch, Sirius brought up Wizengamot. "It looks like the Hiring Guidelines Committee I am on will be making its recommendations next Thursday. We will then vote on it on Friday. You will all need to be there. Even if you have a proxy, unless you are too young or out of town, it is expected to be there if your proxy is presenting a bill.
Harry looked at his friends "Want to go to Alton Park that day?" he asked.
The other five laughed. "Sorry Harry." Dora growled. "But if I have to go, so do you."
"Dang! You could come with us?" He laughed.
That night, Harry and Hermione stayed cuddled up together for a long while. They were simply enjoying each other's nearness. "It feels weird, you know?"
"What Mione?"
"It's been over two months since the battle. We finally have our family counseling meeting Wednesday. Luna and I have launched a business. You and Nev are launching your own. After all the hustle of the last few weeks, this weekend felt almost surreal. I mean I have nothing to worry about. I feel like I should be doing something, not sitting around experimenting. Now, I've started to think about all the things we've seen in the past three years. I actually found myself wallowing in the library today, thinking of everyone we might have saved if we'd moved faster."
"Mione, you can't brood. That's my thing." He laughed and she smiled tentatively back. "Really love. There is absolutely nothing we could have done differently. We did as much as we could by finding those horcruxes and destroying them. By the way, you are doing something—you're being my anchor. If I didn't have you, I wouldn't be able to do all that needs to be done. Give yourself some time and breathing room. Relax, experiment on the library system. Who knows? You might be able to change how Hogwarts does its library system."
"I guess I feel like I have no purpose now that the store's running."
"Get back into experimenting. Enjoy it."
"Yeah. I guess I will." He could see her real smile immerge. She leaned up and kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
7 July 1998
The next morning, Nev and Harry had a contractor appointment. It was an utter disaster. They came in unprepared and rude. They blamed the fact that they were only told on Friday that a bid was wanted.
One thing they learned about Ariana Baylee that day was you don't try to excuse incompetence to her.
After the contractor left, she apologised. "Sorry about being a little testy with them. Incompetence annoys me."
"Ahhh. That's what you call annoyed?" Nev asked.
"Okay. That was more than annoyed but they should have come in with an actual plan, not vague numbers"
"I completely agree Ariana." Venus concurred.
HP
That afternoon, the boys went to their third Awards Meeting. It amazed both of them that each time they chaired one of these meetings, it got much easier to give their opinions.
Today they were discussing the Order of Merlin 2nd Class. "We've given everyone who was wounded an award. We've given everyone who fought at the Battle of Hogwarts an award. I believe that the OM 2nd class should be given to anyone who has died in fighting Voldemort, whether it be this war or last." Harry opined.
"That'll be a lot of 2nd classes then." Silas sighed.
"Yes, but to not honor those sacrifices is unthinkable." Neville countered. They went round and round but the war veterans all believed this was right and outvoted the non-combatants.
"I put forth that in determining 1st class awardees Neville and Harry be excluded from deliberation." Earl Macmillan suggested.
Nev and Harry looked at each other skeptically. "Why?" Nev asked.
"Because usually 1st class awardees did something beyond the call of duty." Hestia Jones rolled her eyes. "And you two are contenders for those awards. Uh-uh." She held up her hand as they started protesting. "This is why you can't be here. You'll try and influence the decision."
"I understand from Kingsley that the Ministry is trying to put together a commemorative service on August 2. We would like to be able to hand out these awards then." Charles Abbott said. "So, I suggest we present our list at the next full meeting on the 16th. Is that agreeable to everyone?" all agreed.
Wed 8 July 1998
The next day, Nev and Harry went to Gringotts for another meeting. This one was more along the lines of what Nev and Harry expected. Even the price was what they expected: 250000G. This was another family run crew with the main contractors being two brothers.
They even said they could start construction next week and be done by mid-August. This was great news to the young men because they were worried about going off to Hogwarts with this unfinished.
"So, what do you think of the Fairchild brothers?" Ariana asked.
"I liked them. Their pricing seems about right. Do you like them?" Nev asked. "After all, you're going to be dealing with them the most."
"Yeah. I've worked with them before. They're good guys that keep a tight rein on budget and time. I get on better with Christopher and we work well together."
"Okay. Well, let's see the guys tomorrow and we'll make a decision then." Harry finished as he got up.
HP
When Nev and Harry got home, everyone was up in the game room. "What would you think about going to that pizza place in town for lunch?" Harry probed.
"Sure." Nev and Luna agreed. It was soon settled and they apparated to the alley near there.
"Why did you want to go out to eat Pup?"
"I just thought it would be something different."
"It is that." Dora concurred. "I love pizza. When I was little my dad and I would go out to pizza once in a while because Mum doesn't like food that you eat with your hands."
"Sounds like Andi." Sirius laughed. "Eating at her place always reminds me of the 'proper' way we ate at Grimmauld. Even though she lives with muggles and has muggle friends, Andi is still the proper pureblood."
"I'm just glad she's teaching the class at Hogwarts." Mione offered. "I think that's the only reason those two blood purists were able to stomach the class."
"Oh Mione, you'll be interested in this." Dora thought aloud. "I was with mum yesterday afternoon and your mum called her. They talked on the phone for about half an hour about that class."
"That's interesting. I heard them talking Sunday about it too."
"So what did you and Luna do while we were at Gringotts today?" Harry asked as he bounced Teddy on his knee.
"We were going through your mum's journals. Pads, if you find any more journals, we need them." She smiled.
"Oh no!" Harry exclaimed as he looked around. "I was going to get the Christening robe from my vault this morning and I forgot."
"Don't worry." Nev laughed. "We'll be there tomorrow."
Harry sighed. "No. I think I better go back today. I'm afraid I'll forget. Also, I want to bring some Charms and Rune books home. Can I take that purse from the trip with me Mione?"
"Sure. Can you make sure to bring home anything your mum has written? She may have more help for us?"
"Of course. I have her private journals at home but I'll see if there is anything else."
When they got home, Teddy was asleep in his godfather's arms. "I'll just put him down before I leave." He told Dora as he went upstairs. He put his godson in the cot, gave him a kiss and quietly left the room.
He went downstairs to the study where both his godfather and godbrother were sitting at their desks working. Going up to Nev, he asked, "Working on a schedule?"
"Yeah. I thought I'd put one together while you were gone."
"Great." I'll see you in a little while." He left and apparated to the bank. When he got to his vault, he looked in the library section. He'd inventoried it earlier in the summer, so he knew where the charms and runes books were. He grabbed one entire shelf of runes books and two of charms. Then he looked around for the journals he knew he'd seen.
At lunch, he didn't admit to Mione that he'd seen a shelf of journals like the ones his godfather gave her because he knew he'd get the same treatment. After seven years of being best friends with her, he knew he'd get into trouble. When he was inventorying his vault, he had noticed these journals but had been much more interested in his mum's personal journals at the time. However, when Sirius had given the journals to Mione, he'd remembered these. Now I can take them home and not be in trouble. He thought.
He then found the Christening robes that he'd worn. As he was walking out to call a cart, he saw a jewelry case next to the door. He thought that it might have an engagement ring in it that he could give Mione.
He opened it to see several pouches in the box. He opened one and saw a beautiful, large emerald inlaid into a twisted gold band. There was also a small woman's wedding band made of the twisted gold designed to fit in with the engagement ring. Plus, a men's ring made of the same twisted gold design. He knew his Mione would love it because she wouldn't want to accidentally hit her ring and have the stone be torn off. He put the rings back in the pouch and put the pouch in his pocket. He smiled, knowing that he'd at least have the ring when he got up the nerve to propose.
When he got home, he locked the wedding ring up in his desk and put up the strongest wards he could. He then dropped the Christening robes on Dora's bed and went to the library to drop off all the books.
9 July 1998
On Thursday morning, Nev and Harry went to the last interview. It went really well. They liked the couple that presented the plans.
"The one thing I wanted to talk to you about is the stair system." David said. "I notice that the stairs are built like the stairs at Hogwarts, yeah?"
"Yeah." Harry said skeptically.
"Well, what about the toddlers? They can't handle all those stairs, all the time. Plus, you don't want them falling down the stairs."
"Oh bugger." Nev groaned.
"It's okay. I have toddlers at home and understand why you might not think about it."
"But I should've. We have lifts at Hufflepuff House just for that reason." Venus shook her head. "I'm glad you caught that David." She laughed.
"What do you have for us?" Harry asked.
"Glad you asked. What I propose is an escalator in the nursery tower and toddler/preschool tower. I also suggest escalators alongside the stairs."
"How much will this add to the budget?" Harry inquired.
"About 15000 G extra."
"We need this, boys." Venus urged. "I don't want little ones falling down the stairs. Or possibly adults with babies in their arms."
"NO! We don't." Harry could see someone falling with Teddy. He looked at Nev. "Can you imagine Dora if one of us tripped with Teddy?"
Nev just shuddered. "Yeah. We need this."
"Thank you, David for picking up on that." Harry sighed.
"No problem"
"Venus, can you come out here?" Harry asked as he nodded to the door. She, Ariana and Nev got up. "We'll be right back."
The four of them went out. "I want to tell them yes now. Anyone have a problem with that?" Harry queried.
"No." They said together as they laughed and walked back in.
"David, Diana. When can you start?" Harry enquired.
They smiled. "What about this coming Wednesday?" Diana asked.
"Great. Why don't you meet us at the Madhouse on Monday and we'll take you there?"
"The Madhouse?" she looked concerned.
Harry and Nev laughed. "It's the floo address my Aunt Dora gave our house because she says the combination of my godfather and her two-month old son makes the place a Madhouse. She thought it fit!"
That got Diana and David laughing.
HP
When they went home that afternoon, they arrived to a house that had been hit by a hurricane. The drawing room was a complete mess of wrapping paper, unwrapped and wrapped toys, scissors on the floor (which Harry quickly picked up), and packages of brightly colored balloons.
Harry went into the study where Sirius was bent over a map of the property. "What are you doing Pads?"
"I went out shopping for party stuff this morning. I've got to figure out where to put the bounce house now." He brushed his hands through his hair as he stared at the map.
"Why do we need a bounce house?" Nev asked. "It's not like they're going to be kids that are old enough to use one."
"Isn't every kids party supposed to have one?" he asked, confused.
"Only for preschool or school age kids Padfoot." Harry added. He could see Padfoot big plans dissolving in front of him. "Pads, Dora's going to want something small. You know she's doing this because of Moony, not because she wants to. The guest list was exactly who it should be. The decorations in the drawing room are fine. I assume Dobby is doing the meal. We can decorate Saturday night. This is not a battle you need a map for."
At that, Sirius relaxed and sat down. "I suppose you're right. We didn't get to do a big party for yours, I guess I started to go overboard." He grinned sheepishly.
"You think?" Nev said sarcastically.
Harry held out the scissors. "I found these on the drawing room floor. Dora might have a problem with that."
"Yeah." He took them. "Maybe the twins would like to help us decorate Saturday, yeah?"
"They'd love that!" Nev laughed.
Dora popped her head in the door. "Harry can I talk to you?"
"Sure." He followed her out of the study to the formal sitting room.
"Okay. The priest and priestess at the church in Godric's Hollow are going to do a combination wiccan and Anglican ritual. It will be held at one o'clock on Sunday. I have an order of service that you, as the godfather, are going to become familiar with." Dora took a deep breath. "The one decision I have been agonizing over is who to name as Godmother. Wolfie didn't really have an opinion. He got the Godfather he wanted, so he left me with Godmother duty but I'm unsure."
"Can I help with that? Who're you thinking of?"
"It's either Brianna or a childhood friend named Zora."
"Well, who's been here to see Teddy?" He asked, trying to help her think through this.
"Brianna. She's been here at least once a week."
"Has Zora seen him recently?"
"No. I haven't talked to her since I gave birth." She sighed. "I guess it's not that hard a decision when you think about it. Do you think you can get along with Bri well enough to raise him if something happens to me?"
"Yeah. We'll make it work." He smiled. He took the sheets of parchment Dora gave him. "I guess this is the order of service and what we're supposed to do?"
"Yeah. Like I said, it's a combination so it's long and involved. Both parts of the service will take place in the church. Apparently, the priest and priestess are very good friends and do this frequently." They both heard Teddy cry at that moment.
"I'll go get him and check in the library for the girls." Harry got up. He went by the study to drop off his papers before he went upstairs to get his godson.
After lunch, he went into his study and read through the papers Dora gave him. This was bloody complicated. His part seemed simple but he noticed it was mainly a wiccan ritual with sprinklings of Christianity.
By the time he was done, it was almost five o'clock.
HP
Friday and Saturday were just lazy days for the Madhouse. Everyone was preparing for the Christening which meant a lot of decorating being done.