Harry Potter and the Jacobite Elves
Rating: M
Summary: Harry takes possession of the Black family's castle in the Highlands of Scotland. Up to and amidst the celebration of Hogmanay (New Year's), he discovers that there is some very old business to attend to.
Disclaimer:
I have not claim to characters or scenes from the Harry Potter series, which belongs to JK Rowling and associates. I get nothing from this except the enjoyment of imagining and writing the story. I am making no money from this (rats).
Author's notes on the update: I have updated this section, as there is a scene I have always felt necessary, but hadn't included in the original draft. In revising, two additional scenes made their appearance known and would not let go (plot bunnies are very persistent critters), so I have added them in, too.
Dancing Lessons
It was late in the afternoon that Harry sent an owl to the Ministry of Magic's Foreign Affairs branch, asking for the forms needed to get a passport so that he could visit his overseas holdings, notably his vineyards in Australia. Rather than receiving the application forms by return owl, the returning bird brought back a diplomatic-level passport and a note from the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Overseas Wizarding Cooperation, asking if Lord Potter-Black would be willing to act as temporary ambassador-plenipotentiary from the British Wizengamot to the Australia High Council of Wizards and Witches while he was attending to his own business. If Harry was willing to drop in to visit with the head of the Council in Canberra while in the country, he would be provided with diplomatic letters of introductions to present to Her Honour the High Witch, and a request to reinstate diplomatic relations which had been broken off during the recent 'problems' (the Aussies seemed to want nothing to do with the Ministry when it was under Voldemort's control). Any persons travelling with him would also be issued diplomatic passports of an appropriate rank.
It was specifically pointed out that these passports provided the advantage that their luggage would be covered by diplomatic regulations and would not be subject to search by muggle security, thereby allowing them to travel with magical artefacts if they desired. All transportation would be covered first class and covered at Ministry expense. If Lord Potter-Black preferred to travel by floo, similar arrangements would be made to freely access the International system, with all-level access to the magical wing of the British High Commission (which for non-Commonwealth countries would have been called the embassy) and free use of the public and diplomatic level floos in Australia.
Rather flabbergasted by this letter, he showed it to Hermione. She nodded and said, "Some medium-level bureaucrat is trying to tap-dance their way around the way they have treated us for the last couple years. Sounds like it could be fun to take advantage of them for a change, and of the chance to meet some of the locals. If nothing else, it should smooth out the problem I saw in arranging for floo access. I mean, paying for the trip didn't even enter into it, what with the Order of Merlin honorarium money I have, and I had been intending to foot the bill being as it is my parents. Having diplomatic status may help with details, like selling property if they bought some (and if they even want to sell it). They may even want to stay there."
"I guess the next tap-dance we are going to have to do is to meet Mum and Dad, who won't know me from Eve, nor you from Adam, and get together with them for long enough to reverse the memory blocks and fill them in on what has happened over the last year. I know that they did agree to the block, but they were rather reluctant even when they agreed with my reasons. They're pretty smart, and pretty stubborn people. Even though it was done 'for the greater good' (you know, Harry, I hate that expression), they are going to have some resentment about it. I just hope they can and will forgive me someday. I did it because I love them and wanted to protect them, but it was still a horrible thing to do to people you care about."
"The next dance is going to be them getting to know you as the man you are, and not the timid schoolboy they met years ago. I don't know how we are going to explain our relationship to them, as I am not really sure what it is myself, yet."
"Here's an idea. What do you think of the idea of going down by floo, and coming back with them via the south sea islands? I know it's shorter coming around the other way, over India and Singapore and such, but that would give us some time to get reacquainted, some time that I think is going to be really needed. Travelling on a diplomatic passport would let them fly first class too (although I was going to arrange that, anyway), but it would eliminate any problem that we had not left the country by muggle means, as I am sure that travel as a diplomat has to be registered in the system somewhere, so there would be no problem re-entering the country on a muggle airplane – either than or we could side-along them both and come in the wizarding way."
Harry shook his head in amazement at the speed with which Hermione had worked out the consequences of the Ministry's offer. He said, "You know, whoever it was who said you were the smartest witch of our generation really underestimated you!" This observation earned him a powerful hug and some serious kisses.
Harry bit his lip as he thought for a minute, then he smiled. "You know," he said, "this might also help with another thing I was worried about. You heard Hamish last night (was it only last night? Great Merlin, time goes fast when you're otherwise occupied with tedious chores)". This statement earned him a hard punch in the arm, followed by another kiss, plus a kiss on the punched area 'to make it better'. Harry grinned at Hermione "Is that something you learned in Charms class, or something Madame Pomfrey taught you one of the times while I was out cold?" Hermione smiled and said "No, it's just standard medical practice among muggle children!"
Harry chuckled, "I'll have to remember that. Anyway, you heard about the legal problems facing some of the people here. I made an oath to protect the people of the clan with all the power at my disposal, and I have an idea of how to fulfil that oath, as least in part. If I can see a way to do some good, and don't follow through, then I am a hypocrite who doesn't deserve any joy this place gives me."
Hermione smiled "Is this going to be another 'Harry-saving-people thing'?"
Harry smiled "Of course, what else! I was thinking that having my supposedly exalted rank as Lord Potter and Lord Black might be enough to swing some changes that I had thought of, but this appointment as ambassador might give even more weight to any influence I might have. This may take all the 'umph' I can muster. What do you think?"
Hermione's eyes glistened, "This sounds like we need some Weasley strategists and pranksters involved in the planning. Given the events of the last 24 hours, there may be some ruffled feathers to smooth, but I think we can make it work. We get to do some good, and tweak some self-important noses at the same time. Sounds like fun. Let's do it."
Harry sent off an owl to the Ministry, accepting their offer and thanking them for the great honour bestowed on him with the appointment as ambassador to the Australia magical community, and asked for a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, as well as the Minister himself, to discuss the protocols involved, as well as some other matters. He requested that the meeting be held the day after next, as it was getting late.
Harry then had a brief meeting with Morag, who approved of his plan, and thanked him for his efforts.
Harry also requested a meeting with someone in the Ministry's legal department, concerning inheritances. Hermione added a request for a separate meeting with someone in 'Legal' concerning possible career paths, as she was still concerned with the Wizarding community's treatment of the 'Magical Brethren', and felt that if Harry could put his efforts into doing good, she could do no less.
Harry sent off an owl to Ron, Ginny and George, asking for their help in planning a prank which would overturn an old wrong – he proposed calling it a Fred Weasley Memorial Prank, in honour and memory of their brother's treatment of Delores Umbridge and all her works. The two were going to need their help dancing around some legal issues and some historical problems, and who better to consult for this – Harry also pointed out that, as a added bonus, he could arrange to put them all on his ambassadorial staff at government expense!
That evening, the two let Hamish know that they would be leaving for Australia in a few days, on business and to retrieve Hermione's parents. They explained that, given Hermione's status, her parents had been refugees too. Hamish sympathized with Hermione for the situation, and said he understood her need to have them back. So many of the clan had gone into exile at one time or another, never to return, and he would not wish this loss on Lady Hermione.
Hamish said that he would definitely miss them, and expected them back as soon as they could come. He then brought up a potential problem.
"Last nicht, I mentioned to your young friends that we hold a grand party for Hogmanay. As the new Laird, Harry will be expected to lead off the dancing! If I correctly understand some information from Rudolph, Harry's dancing skills, shall I say, leave something to be desired." Harry had told Rudi about his disastrous performance at the Yule Ball in fourth year.
"At the ceilidh, we host the local gentry and some high-ranking officers of the regiment, with their staff and ladies. We do a range of dances, but mainly Scottish Country Dances, and waltzes. Harry, you would be expected, as Laird and official host, to head the first 'set' for at least a few of the Country Dances. Harry, have you ever done any Scottish Country Dancing?"
Harry gulped "What's a Scottish Country Dance?"
Hamish laughed heartily (Hermione thought the elf's laugh sounded more like a brass bell, instead of Winnie's silver bell laugh). He said "I'll take that to mean 'no'. The country dances are the social dances of Scotland, as opposed to the Highland dancing, which were the war dances (although they're more often done by young lassies these days)."
"Well, we do have a small ceilidh for Saint Andrew's Day at the end of November. How would it be if I arrange for the local 'dancie', what you southerners would call a 'dancing instructor', to come in for a day or two before, and give you some lessons? If you have some friends you want to invite to the Hogmanay party, she could teach them as well – none of the fancier ones like 'Greenwich Hill' or 'Schiehallion', mind you, but enough that you can lead the dance without any shame."
Harry grimaced and said that would be fine. Hermione, of course, heard that there were more complex dances to be learned as well, and saw a new challenge – she had taken dance lessons when she was a little girl, and had done some Highland dancing. At the parties after her competitions, she had seen some Scottish Country Dancing too, and had thought the patterns and sociability of the dances intriguing.
The next day, the Weasleys got in touch, and Harry floo'd over to the Burrow. He explained his plans and the three red-heads readily agreed to the scheme. Harry also invited the entire family to both the St Andrew's Day and Hogmanay ceilidhs, and told them about the promised dancing lessons. Ginny's eyes lit up, while Ron complained that Harry just wanted to put him in a dress so he would look stupid – Harry replied that the elves had told him that he could wear tartan trousers (or 'troose') if he preferred. George asked, if the men were going to wear 'dresses' as Ron had said, whether he could come in a long formal ball-gown – he had a pink chiffon number all picked out.
That afternoon, Harry and Hermione located the castle's swimming pool and had a relaxing swim and soak in the hot-spring waters, where they discussed the logistics of retrieving her parents. As Monica and Wendel Wilkins had left the country, Monica and Wendel would have to return (at least as far as the customs and immigration services were concerned) before they resumed their identities of Doctors Elly and Gil Granger, but they would have to regain their identities and memories before they left Australia. Hermione feared that they might decide they wanted to stay in Australia, and that she would lose the opportunity of seeing them very often. Harry reminded her that, as she would be travelling on a British diplomatic passport, even if her parents wished to stay 'Down Under' she would be able to visit as freely and as often as she pleased. Even if they stayed, it would be criminal to deny them their identities and their professional standing – this might take some negotiations with the Australian authorities, both civil and dental, but it would need to be done.
That evening, Harry joined Hermione and Winnie for their first Gaelic lesson, as Hermione had promised the elf.
The following day, after another night cuddling to prevent nightmares (or so they told each other, snickering as they did so), Harry and Hermione floo'd to the Ministry of Magic's office in London. They were ushered into the Minister's office where their old Order of Phoenix friend and new Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, greeted them warmly. He introduced Dame Maryellen Snooful, the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Overseas Wizarding Cooperation, who would be Harry's principal contact and erstwhile boss in his role as ambassador.
The group discussed the plans for Harry's trip, and the Ministry's hope that Harry, as 'The Man Who Conquered', would be the person most able to smooth over the disrupted relationships between the two countries' wizarding communities.
Harry raised his plans and ideas for righting some old wrongs – Kingsley thought about it, and said he would see what he could do. He asked if Harry and Hermione could stay over lunch, and he made a telephone call to someone they should meet to discuss the project (Hermione inferred from Shacklebolt's use of the telephone, and the fact that he had to go through several layers of connections before finally speaking to the person he wished to talk to, that the person they were to meet was a rather powerful muggle, and likely highly placed in the government).
As they left the minister's office on their way to their lunch meeting, Hermione was carrying a diplomatic passport listing her as an Executive Secretary to the ambassador, and Harry had passports and letters of appointment for the three youngest Weasleys as technical and logistical assistants to the ambassador (with substantial government salaries attached). Mr. Arthur Weasley of the Office of Muggle Affairs and Mrs Molly Weasley, Domestic Engineer of 'The Burrow, Devonshire', were to be offered part-time positions (in addition to Arthur's regular work), as ad hoc advisors to the ambassador (with generous stipends).
After travelling by floo to another building, Shacklebolt lead them to a very large dining room, roughly the size of the great hall at Hogwarts. In the hall, there were a number of tables spaced widely apart, with both wizarding and muggle privacy screens. The Minister informed them that this was a 'secure' area, where they could discussed anything freely without fear of being overheard. Shortly after they arrived, a man and a woman approached the table. Shacklebolt introduced Harry and Hermione as Lord Potter-Black, and Lady Hermione Granger, and the unknown couple as Lord Ewan Dingle-Bury, Permanent Undersecretary to the Attorney General, and Dame Edith Kaken, Assistant Minister for Scottish Affairs, respectively.
Harry laid out his plans, explaining his desire to eliminate some residual legal problems from earlier times that seemed to be no longer relevant, but were causing some problems for both muggle and magical persons of his acquaintance. The two government people seemed quite aware that Harry had recently taken on the Chiefdom of Clan Black, and although no names or specifics were mentioned, appeared also to be aware of the problems he mentioned and appeared to be sympathetic. They mentioned that there were precedents for his plans, as King George the Fourth himself had arranged the repeal of many of the restrictions against the Scots, such as the death penalties for wearing the kilt or playing the pipes. However, as there were matters of property and entitlements of members of the House of Lords involved, there might need to be some finessing and some vigorous tap-dancing to convince some of the pertinent authorities. As the lunch concluded, they said they would see what they could do, as the plan would require cabinet level approval, and thence up the chain of command. Hands were shaken all around, and the meeting ended.
Harry thanked Kingsley for his substantial help, to which the Minister replied that the wizarding world owed Harry so much that no thanks were necessary. Harry responded that even so, he was grateful for Kingsley's efforts and for taking the trouble to set up the meeting on very short notice.
In the mid-afternoon, Harry and Hermione went into their meetings with some of the Ministry's legal staff. As they met in the Legal Department's foyer, Hermione was beaming as she thought of the seemingly endless possibilities. Harry was looking rather stunned. He told his companion that he had solved one issue, but found out he had some other serious issues – he wasn't certain yet whether these new issues solved problems, or created more.
The two floo'd back to the Burrow, and let the Weasleys know that their suggestions and nuances to the plan had been successful, as far as they could tell, and passed on their official government documents. After an afternoon visiting with Mrs Weasley, and informing her of the upcoming diplomatic appointments, they returned to the castle to prepare for the trip to Australia.
The last week of November, Ginny, Ron and George Weasley arrived on Wednesday night to start their dancing lessons the next day. Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbott, Seamus Finnigan and Luna Lovegood also arrived, as Harry had invited his classmates from his year (at least those he had liked), as well as his Quidditch team-mates. Of their Quidditch team, Oliver Wood showed up with his wife Frida, while Angelina Johnson (George's girlfriend) and Katie Bell came as well. Several sent their regrets, and others said they would come on Saturday for the party. Hermione, Ginny and Luna had come over from Hogwarts by floo system; Hermione had returned to finish her seventh year, missed due to what Hermione was now referring to as their 'refugee' days.
As the house elves were assigning bedrooms, Neville and Hannah thanked the elf who was dealing with them, and said that one room would be sufficient for the two of them.
Gil and Elly Granger, Hermione's parents, came for the lessons as well. In Cairns, they had joined a Royal Scottish Country Dance Society club (there are RSCDS groups everywhere in the world) as a social outlet, and they looked forward to dancing with the young woman they teasingly called their 'new daughter', and her 'young man, whichever one it turns out to be'. Although they had largely made their peace with Hermione, there was still some residual tension and they saw this as an opportunity to get together in a relaxed social environment.
Michel and Françoise Delacour arrived with their younger daughter Gabrielle, Fleur's younger sister. They thanked Harry for the invitation, and commented that they looked forward to again seeing Fleur's 'Henglish' family. They also reminded Harry that, by saving Gabrielle during the Tri-Wizard Tournament, their family was bonded to him and they hoped to develop this relationship further (at this point, Gabrielle was blushing to the point that her flushed skin was showing through her silver-blond hair, as she had physically 'matured' during the intervening years and at least one implication of 'developing the relationship' weighed heavily on her mind, given the life debt she owed Harry, and what he could ask of her). The Delacours had learned the French 'contradanse' style in school, and had seen the Scottish versions during visits to the Edinburgh festival, and thought it would be fun to join in as well.
The girls immediately got together with Elspeth to arrange for party dresses, plaids (tartan sashes worn over the shoulder), and kilts. Neville and Harry arranged for formal attire as befit their ranks as Lord Longbottom, and the Clan Chief. George carried through on his threat, bringing a pink chiffon gown which fit him perfectly, to the amusement of the party (and the staff). Ron's first pair of troose were tight enough that Ginny claimed she could read the label on his underwear, so adjustments were made so that they fit as normal dress slacks.
During the day on the Thursday, a kindly middle-aged lady named Diana taught them the basic pas-de-bas step for the reels and jigs, and the graceful strathspey step. She explained that there were four basic dance types, the waltz, the reel (a fast dance in 4/4 time), the jig (a fast dance in 2/4 time, giving it a bouncy rhythm), and the strathspey (a slower dance in 4/4 time). She explained that, as it was slower, the strathspey afforded the opportunity to maintain a statuesque posture, which could look very masculine and feminine – she smiled and added "You can choose which it will be". Before she started the class, she insisted that those who had not done SCD before wear knee socks or support hose, as she said that this would give needed support to the calf muscles.
She then separated the group into male and female, and sent them to opposite ends of the room. She went to the group of men, and advised them that the floor could be slippery, and after a 'dram' or two, their footing might become uncertain and that they should choose their undergarments accordingly if they wore the kilt, in order to maintain decorum – she said with a smile "I know that in business, it pays to advertise, but it's not appropriate until after the formal ceilidh was over". She then went over to the ladies' corner, and looking pointedly at Ginny and Hannah, suggested that those ladies who were more 'blessed' than the average might choose to wear a sports bra or something similar under their gowns for the evening; she remarked that a bit of bounce or jiggle might attract the eyes of the gentlemen, but by the end of the evening, they would be in pain unless they stuck to the strathspeys and waltzes. Diana then brought the groups of blushing novice dancers together.
Once they had absorbed the basic steps, she taught them some common patterns, including the reel-of-three and the similar reel-of-four, various turns, and the flowing allemande turn in strathspey time. At the end of the day on Thursday, she taught them some simple dances – each dance had a fixed pattern of moves, performed by each couple in turn in a four couple set. Diana was amazed at how fast Luna picked up the patterns. She looked at the young witch and asked "You've done this before, haven't you?" Luna responded with her usual wide-eyed view of the world "Oh no, never. It's just that the patterns make so much sense."
As the class ended, Diana recommended that they all take advantage of the swimming pool's hot tub. She told them that, if the hot tub had jets, to have the streams of water massage their calf muscles, and if not, that they massage each other's legs (there was much looking back and forth and joking between the girls and boys as people speculated on who was going to massage whom, and to what degree). Diana pointed out that it was common for beginning dancers to find that their calves had cramped up the night after their first lessons, even with the support from their socks.
Ginny declared the first two hours to be a 'girls only' swim, and told the boys to take a walk to loosen up, and the pool would be theirs later on. The privacy spells were invoked, and the ladies relaxed with some girl-talk.
As they went into the change room, Katie Bell commented that she had not brought a bathing costume, so she thought she would have to sit on the side of the tub and just soak her legs. Hermione suggested that Katie could transfigure her underwear into a workable bikini, to which Ginny added that she could just wear her undies as is. Angelina interjected "Or you could wear nothing. Come on Katie, a lot of us have seen you in nothing, showering after Quidditch. And it's just us girls." Katie pondered the situation as the rest of the ladies changed into their swim gear, and decided that a bamboo-patterned bikini would be what she would wear.
The ever-observant Luna noticed that Hermione, Elly, Gabrielle and Françoise had no tan lines on their upper bodies. Franni (as she asked the girls to call her) said that it was common practice on French beaches and in most of southern Europe, for the women to not concern themselves with 'unnecessary' coverage, and girls seldom wore 'tops' until their bosoms required support. Hermione and Elly remarked that that was the practice in Polynesia as well, and when they had passed through on their return from Australia, they had taken up the practice.
Franni remarked that she particularly liked the feeling of freedom, and the flow of water over her unclothed breasts when she swam. She said, "It is so much easier to swim when you don't have those two 'parachutes' catching the water and slowing you down. When I was in school at Beauxbatons, I was on the swim team, and we had to wear special swim suits with high collars, so that no-one had an unfair advantage by casting low-friction charms when we were competing against non-magical school, and also so the boys would not have, shall I say, an extra rudder slowing them down." Ginny enquired, "What about the statute of secrecy?" Franni laughed, "The statute only applies in Britain. If you look at how it is applied, it only serves to keep the power in the Great Houses, and to suppress the muggleborn. In France, we had a revolution to get rid of much of that nonsense. Besides, what male hasn't felt a bit of magic when a woman bends down in front of him to pick up something, that she has oh-so-conveniently dropped in front of him, and wiggles her derriere, and which of us hasn't done that for just that reason?"
Elly laughed and said "You should have seen Hermione's sunburn the first day. Between the blushing and the sunburn, she actually glowed in the dark. She blushed even more than Harry and her dad!" Gabrielle and Ginny were shocked and Ginny gasped "You mean Harry saw you that way? Both of you?" Hermione replied, "Oh yes, he did." Then she giggled, "Harry says he is never going to be able to look at a sign in a shop advertising women's swimsuits, 50% off, and not blush from the memories." To Hermione's horror and the other girls' laughter, Ginny snickered "You mean, memories of your mammaries. Imagine that, the great Harry Potter, conqueror of Death Eaters, killer of the Dark Lord, terrified by Hermione's boobs!"
With a naughty twinkle in her eyes, Hermione smiled at the younger girl and replied "You should try it. You might like it. I know that Harry would." (It was only as Ginny was falling asleep that night, luxuriating in the new silk nightgown that Elspeth had given her, that she realized that Hermione had contradicted the general assumption that she had some sort of prior claim to Harry, and that she had just opened that door for Ginny.)
Angelina stood up, and dramatically discarding her bra, declared "Why not?" Katie, tossing her bra aside, declared "I'm in, too". Ginny's Gryffindor courage and prankster nature came to the fore, and as she undid the ties to her top, said, "I guess I issued the challenge, so I'm in too." Luna commented, "Looks more like you're out, too."
Hannah looked at her rather ample bosom (currently bare as they were changing) and said "Well Angie, Katie, some of us do need some support", as she pulled on her floral patterned maillot. Katie said "How about this then?", as she cast a spell changing Hannah's suit into a flesh colour which perfectly matched Hannah's skin tone (effectively disappearing completely) except for two bright red poppies over the tips of her breasts, and a fig leaf at the lowest portion of the front.
Laughing, Hannah retaliated by charming Katie's bikini pants into a transparent net material which hid nothing. With giggles and laughter, charms and spells started flying around the change room altering patterns and fabrics.
Luna looked at the rest of the girls and declared "Well, I could strip off too, but I bought a lovely new bathing suit for this trip. It's very pretty, and I look pretty in it. Wear what you like, or don't wear anything at all, but I'm wearing my new suit!" She put on a long one-piece suit that had a scale pattern with the colour shifting from pale pink at the top that ended just below her breasts (and matching Luna's skin colour) shifting to a dark green on the long legs. As Ginny shook her head wondering how Luna thought this suit was possibly be called 'pretty', the young blonde sat down at the edge of the pool, the top of her suit appeared to blend into her body to become part of her skin, and the legs of her suit transformed, extending into a long graceful tail with a dolphin's flukes, turning the young blonde witch into a beautiful mermaid.
As the rest of the group moved into the pool, Franni mused, "I do not understand why different people have such different ideas of what is acceptable in women's swimsuits. As I say, in Europe, many women go, as they say, topless." Giggling, she reminisced "when she was little, Gabrielle said to me that they were not topless, they just had nothing covering their tops. But in America, they seem terrified of women's breasts! Yet they are also obsessed with women's bodies. In their entertainments, violence is acceptable, but anything to do with sex is forbidden. On television, the graphic depiction of a murder is allowed, but a mature loving relationship, that is prohibited. In Japan, in the comic books read by young people, scenes of rape are common, but the image of a woman showing pubic hair is totally unacceptable. I do not understand it."
The women swam, or soaked in the hot tub, revelling in the warm water, occasionally massaging each other's sore muscles, and chatting amiably.
As the girls left the pool, passing through the boys who were waiting their turn, it was obvious to the boys that a good time had been had.
After dinner, Harry suggested to the tired (and truth be told) somewhat inebriated group that they repair to the observatory or other sections of the castle's ramparts to look at the sky. He commented that due to the low population in this part of the Highlands, the skies were very dark and the air clear, and you could easily see the lights of Hogwarts to the west. Those who had taken Astronomy at Hogwarts, and had not used the Astronomy Tower primarily for its more common secondary use (courting), agreed that this was an excellent idea.
However, when they emerged on the heights of the castle, they found that the sky was completely overcast and that there was a chill wind. Someone asked, "Anybody know any weather magic?" which was answered by Hermione saying "I don't know if this works for snow any better than for rain, but I'll try" as she started to sing "Rain, rain go away, come again another day." As he laughed, Harry joined in singing with her, to the confusion of the rest of the company. Ron looked at the two and asked "What spell is that?", to which Hermione smiled and said. "Just some muggle magic. Doesn't work too well in warm weather either," as the wind continued to blow. There was some low rumbling that sounded like distant thunder, and the friends were worried that the storm was getting worse.
Amid grumbling about the conditions, several voices suggested returning to the Great Hall for another round of liqueurs, when a light soprano voice called out "Hang on a moment!"
Luna turned to the group, and as she started to unfasten her elaborately braided hair, she pulled herself up to her full 1.5 metres height, and asked "Ladies, your assistance please?" Ginny Weasley, who had grown up with Luna and had seen some of her family's magical practices, gathered the women together who held out their heavy cloaks to shield Luna from the view of the males, as she helped the short witch free her knee-length blonde hair.
A moment later the boys noticed a gentle glow of a warming charm around Luna as she stepped forward to the battlements. This was all she had on, other than her hair spread over her shoulders and body like a fine yellow cape. Beside her on the roof were her clothes in a neat pile topped with her red trainers and her wand. She reached her arms forward and called out in a voice with a richness none but Ginny had ever heard before. It was a voice which contained an ancient command and supplication at the same time. (Later as the group discussed the experience and trying to describe Luna's 'weather' voice, Katie Bell came up with the best image, of wind chimes coated in honey.)
Luna called out to the wind and the clouds in a language unfamiliar to the others. Harry and Hermione could almost discern a very deep voice in the noise of the wind, sounding liking it was asking a question. Luna responded with her name, what sounded like her father's name, and a sting of other words in the same tongue. The voice in the wind seemed to respond to her, calling her what sounded vaguely like 'Luna Torsdottir', followed by a long declaration. As this sound was occurring and which in later discussion some of the group swore they could make out words while other said all they heard was the sound of the wind, the clouds parted and the wind died. Luna called back to the sky, and then gave a deep curtsey.
Luna turned to the group, and announced in her usual sing-song voice "He says we can have half an hour, but then he has to bring the clouds back. His schedule says that he needs to dump six inches of snow on this area by morning."
Ron Weasley was staring at Luna's unclad body, and mumbled "Why are you naked?"
Luna looked at Ron, and said "I am not naked, Ronald, I am merely unclothed. Being 'naked' would require me to be embarrassed. I am not, and therefore, I am not 'naked'."
Ron gulped, now blushing furiously at both the view and the rather pedantic answer to a question he had not really asked, and mumbled "Why are you unclothed then?"
Luna smiled at Ron and softly answered, "When you talk to him or his family, you must be in a 'natural' condition. That's all. It's the way you do weather magic. Otherwise, they know you are not serious, and they either don't pay attention to you, or dump a bucket of rain on you for bothering them. He says we should come up tomorrow too, as the sky is scheduled to be clear then."
Ron asked, "If you needed to be in what you called a 'natural' state, why did you need to have the girls surround you with their cloaks?"
Luna smiled, and said "I didn't want my blouse and knickers to blow away before I had them pinned down with my shoes. Any more questions, Ronald?" As he blushed, he shook his head, mumbling to himself.
Angelina asked, "Who is this mysterious and powerful 'he', you are talking about, and what did you say to 'him'? And what on earth was the language were you speaking?"
Luna smiled. "'He' is a very old family friend, the northern European Air Elemental. The language was Old Norse, which is the most recent tongue he is familiar with. I asked him if he could give us a brief time with a completely clear sky to see the stars because my friends would like to see them in this beautifully clear and dark sky. I asked him what the weather would be like tomorrow, and to give my regards to Ingrid. When he said we could have the half hour, well twenty five minutes now, I thanked him with the curtsey. You need to be very polite."
"By the way, Hermione, he apologises for laughing at you and Harry, and said 'Nice try'."
Gabrielle wondered who this other woman she mentioned was, and asked, "Who is this Ingrid you speak of?" Luna smiled. "Ingrid is his daughter. She is in charge of the design of snowflakes. She is very meticulous."
On the Friday, Diana taught them some dances that could be guaranteed to be on every Scottish Country Dance program, and ones that would certainly be in the program on New Year's Eve which Harry would be required to perform 'adequately'. They learned several reels, jigs and strathspeys, as well as 'The Dashing White Sergeant' (a simpler group dance which require groups of three facing each other in a ring around the room), The 'Gay Gordons' and the 'Eightsome Reel'. Diana said that this last dance was often done near the end of a ceilidh, as it was sufficiently simple that it could be danced when you had had too much to drink, and actually was so simple that it was usually more interesting that way (both for the dancers and for the observers).
Diana also advised them that she had been told that 'The White Cockade' was guaranteed to be on the program, so that was taught as well.
During breaks, Luna was going through the books of dances that the instructor had brought along. She asked, "Diana, could we dance, or maybe walk through this pattern, the 'Schiehallion Reel'. From the description in your book, it should be very pretty, but I suspect it is too advanced for us to actually dance through." Diana asked Luna to walk through the pattern herself to show the rest what the movements were (and partly to test the blonde who was starting to really push her buttons a bit). Luna walked through the pattern perfectly. Hermione was watching intently, and said "I think I've got it", and the two young witches walked through the interlocking pattern together.
Harry, Angelina, George, Katie and Ginny looked at each other in shock. Katie said loudly "It's 'The McGonagall Loop'!" To the collective "Huh?" from the rest of the group (except Ron, who also recognized the pattern that Luna and Hermione had just demonstrated), Katie explained.
"For those of you who aren't nutters for quidditch, Professor McGonagall showed us this move she had developed when she was a student (and a chaser for Gryffindor). It's used for passing the quaffle between the chasers by flying very close to each other, passing the ball so no one from the other team would have any idea who was going to come out with it." Harry added "Sometimes the Seeker, me or Ginny, would add a fourth person to the 'loop' to mislead the other team's seeker that he had seen the Snitch. If the other seeker followed our seeker into the mix, he or she would run into the bludger that Fred or George had fired at the centre of the loop, timed to arrive after we all had just left, but the other seeker was just arriving. I think we can do this, too."
The former quidditch players got into position, and started walking the pattern. They kept running into each other, to the hilarity of the others. Seamus called out "Good thing we're not playing Slytherin today!"
Harry said "I've got an idea." He conjured a quaffle, and said "Okay, everybody run fast!" The players ran into the centre of the formation, passing the quaffle back and forth perfectly. Unfortunately, when they put the quaffle aside, and concentrated on the dance steps, again they ran into each other.
They added the rest of the group into two square sets, and tried it again, but everyone kept running into each other, with much laughter at the collisions. During one collision, Ginny, Katie and Harry were knocked off their feet, demonstrating to those with the 'advantageous' angle of view that, although Harry had not gone 'regimental', Ginny had. As Angelina helped Ginny back to her feet, she leaned in and whispered "I see a little extra ventilation is preventing overheating. Yes?", to their private hilarity, while simultaneously watching Ron blush and sputter at the unexpected view of his sister.
Luna sighed loudly and said wistfully, "Oh poo, I guess not."
The ceilidh was set for the Saturday night. The friends decided to have a 'formal' dinner on the Friday night so that they could show off their new finery. Hermione wore a plain white knee-length dancing dress with a plaid (pinned to her right shoulder, as is proper for an unmarried lady) of the Black Clan tartan, matching Harry's kilt. Ginny and Luna wore kilts with white blouses and black velvet vests - Ginny's kilt was also in the Black Clan tartan matching Harry's kilt and Hermione's plaid, while Luna wore the Macleod of Lewis tartan {in the bright modern colours} which caused Ginny to remark that they could set her out on the coast to use as a lighthouse. Hannah also wore the knee-length white dress, with her plaid of the same unfamiliar tartan as Neville's kilt. Neville was wearing a new royal blue Montrose jacket with lace at the collar, while Harry wore a Prince Charlie jacket with a white bow tie.
Ron wore Black Clan troose with a sports jacket, on the basis that unless you had a tartan of your own, you honour the host by wearing his or hers.
Elves had brought around glasses of red and white wine, which the ladies had taken, except for Hannah. She spoke quietly to one of the elves, who reappeared with a glass of orange liquid.
The ladies were gathered at the base of the staircase when Harry and Neville came down from getting dressed. They had never seen Neville looking so manly, as the Highland outfit set off Neville's height of over six feet, and his broad shoulders. Ginny and Luna were almost visibly and audibly drooling. Several of the girls (and Hermione's mother) pressed a hand on their lower abdomens and quietly said something along the lines of "Whew!"
Hannah was looking up at Neville, with a glow on her face. Luna looked at her, looking at Neville, and looked at the glass of what she recognised as pumpkin juice. She caught Hannah's eye, indicating with her eyes Hannah, Neville, her own glass of wine, and Hannah's glass of juice. Her eyes widened and her head tilted in a question. Hannah realized that the hyper-observant and brilliant blonde witch (of whom it was said that she could put two and two together and derive the entire theory of differential calculus) had come to the correct conclusion. Hannah nodded with a smile which lit up the entire room, and held up a hand as if to say "Don't say anything, all will be revealed."
Hannah said to Neville "Nev, I need to speak to you privately for a moment," dragging him into a side room and closing the door. While the group stood around, a bit stunned at this event while they sipped their 'before-dinner' drinks, Neville and Hannah reappeared. Hannah's hair was a bit mussed up, and she was unconsciously smoothing down her skirt. The ladies noticed that Neville's sporran as rather askew. The faces of both were quite flushed. Neville said, rather too loudly "You have a couple good points, Hannah", at which juncture Hannah glanced down at her ample bosom, and blushed profusely while the rest of the group laughed. It was quite evident that Hannah was simultaneously embarrassed and aroused, and Luna looked at the evidence of her friend's erect nipples, remarking "And very pretty points they are, too."
Ginny asked Hannah what tartan she and Neville were wearing, to which Hannah replied "It's a Canadian one, the Niagara Falls tartan." Knowing that Niagara Falls was a popular honeymoon location, Ginny looked at Hanna with narrowing eyes, and said "Hannah, are you trying to tell us something?" Hannah looked over to Neville, and nodded to him. It was time for the announcements.
Neville drew himself up, and said "Ladies and Gentlemen, friends all, even George in his ravishing pink gown which is causing Angelina to question her choice of boyfriends, I would like to make an announcement." As he held out his hand to her, Hannah took his hand and stood close beside him as he wrapped his arm around her. "This beautiful woman had completely taken leave of her senses!" Hannah looked at him in mock shock. He continued "In spite of her better judgement, she has agreed to share my life. Hannah and I were married a couple months ago, so may I present my wife, Hannah, Lady Longbottom." The friends clapped and cheered.
Hannah blushed a little, looking up at her new husband. "I also have an announcement, which was the reason for our brief celebration." George Weasley called out "Is that what they call it these days?" Neville smiled and nodded. Hannah continued, "Well, that's what I'm calling it. Just before coming down for dinner, I did the diagnostic spells. There is going to be another Longbottom born as the seventh month dies!"
As the group called their congratulations, Hannah looked down at her ample hips and waist, which were destined to increase in girth over the next year, and continued "And anyone who calls me Lady Wide-bottom in the next few months is so dead!"
As they went into the dining room, Harry asked Neville, "Mate, why didn't you tell us. We would have come to the wedding." Neville replied, "We wanted you and Hermione and Ron there, but you and Hermione were out of the country and the Weasleys were still really in mourning." Hannah cut in, "He wouldn't come to bed with me until he had made an 'honest and honourable woman' of me!" Neville continued "And she was really insistent!"
Harry laughed, while Nev continued, "Gran was also very insistent that as Lord Longbottom, it was up to me to set an example of decorum – after all, she says that if we just fought a war to stop bad behaviour and to set the world right, it's up to us to show that even the high and mighty conquering heroes can behave properly. I know she's a bit stuffy, but I think she's right, too. Anyway, we're going to hold a party come spring, and of course when the sprout appears". Harry thought to himself, you can take the boy out of Herbology class, but ...
Harry nodded, but also knew that the dowager Lady Longbottom might find his own behaviour wanting. Augusta Longbottom was a woman whose good opinion Harry would be honoured to maintain. Between the information he had been told at the Ministry, and this news from Neville, Harry had some serious thinking to do.
As the after-dinner chatting and visiting continued, Ginny Weasley looked around the group and noticed that Harry was missing. She asked Hermione and Ron if they had seen him but the answer was a 'no' from both. She sought out Hamish, and asked if he knew where Harry was. The elf looked at the hall clock, and said "At this time of the evening, the Laird is often on the east ramparts of the castle. You might look there."
As Ginny approached the door to the castle's battlements, Winnie appeared carrying a heavy cloak. "Ginny, it's a bonnie nicht, but a cold one. You will need this." Ginny looked at the cloak, and asked if there was a lighter one available. Winnie said "Aye, but it's nae as warm." Ginny smiled and asked for the lighter cloak, saying it would serve her needs quite well. Winnie nodded with a knowing smile, muttered under her breath "Young folk", and disappeared, reappearing with a light, autumn-weight cape. Ginny thanked the old elf, and stepped out into the night.
By the light of the quarter moon, Ginny could see Harry standing in the southeast corner of the battlements, looking east. As she approached him, she could hear him sobbing. Coming up behind him, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
He started. "Ginny?" Ginny nodded (thinking herself a bit stupid for nodding behind him in the dark), and said quietly "Yes. What are you doing here? And why are you crying?"
Harry paused, and said "I often come up here, and watch the star Sirius rise. You can see it just above the east horizon there."
Ginny asked, "So you watch the great dog following the hero up the sky? Just like at the train station those years ago?" She felt Harry stiffen, as he said "I'm no hero!"
"I look at the stars, the as-much-as-any-thing in my life is, eternal stars, and I think of all the people who died for me or because of me. Fred – I know he was your brother, but your family kind of adopted me, so he was sort of my brother too. He and George gave me my father's map. My Mum and Dad. Sirius, Remus, Tonks, even Colin Creavey. Because of me."
Ginny turned Harry around, and slapped him across the face. "Don't you ever blame yourself for those deaths! They died because of an insane psychopath and his evil followers. Those people would have died whether you were there or not!. My family was fighting Voldemort before you were born, and my Mum's two brothers were killed by him. They had learned where we were hiding. If your mother's sacrifice hadn't stopped him when you were a baby, do you think my family could have survived much longer? I would have died as a baby, too! They didn't die just for you, but for all of our world!""
"People fought along-side you, not just for you. We all had a stake in this fight. You led us, but we were fighting for ourselves and our world, too." She took Harry's hands in hers.
"Harry, you saved people. In your first year, you and Ron, but mostly at your insistence, saved a little girl that you didn't like much and Ron hated because she was even more bossy than my Mum! In your second year, you saved a little girl who was a bratty little sister of your friend, who had a bad hero-worship complex, which you hated. This list goes on and on. You have nothing to feel guilty about." "
"You couldn't have saved everybody, Harry. He was too powerful. Even the Ministry couldn't do anything, even when they weren't corrupt." By this point, Ginny was starting to shiver, and Harry gathered her into his arms inside his cloak.
Ginny looked at Orion (everyone's favourite constellation) and said "Harry, think of Sirius rising! He fought to save you under very serious disadvantages, like being imprisoned for years. He raised your spirits, and helped you find out about your family. His legacies to you, and that of you parents, gives you the power to do some good in this world. Making you his heir prevented the Black family's fortune from fuelling the dark lord's plans. Don't you think that these are worthy things to celebrate! How about celebrating Sirius rising, and not mourning Harry falling? Because you haven't fallen! From what I heard you declare in the Great Hall, you are just starting to rise yourself into the powerful position that has been left in your care by people who loved you. Okay?"
Harry hugged Ginny tightly, asking "When did you get so smart?" to which she replied "I've always been smart, you just haven't noticed." Harry was noticing that this young woman, his companion and sister-in-arms, was definitely warm in his arms, and decidedly not his sister. She was a grown woman.
Ginny turned away from Harry to look at the stars again. She took Harry's hands from where he held her around her waist, and moved them to her breasts. As he held her and he could feel her nipples reacting to his touch, she leaned into him, and said softly, "Yes". Harry asked, "What was the question, again? I think I missed it."
Ginny moved Harry's hands back to her waist and turned in his embrace to face him. She pulled his head down and she tipped her own head up so her eager lips met his. After the kiss (answering in a tactile fashion), she answered verbally, "Doesn't matter. The answer is yes!"
Mr and Mrs Weasley the elder (Arthur and Molly) and Mr and Mrs Weasley the younger (Bill and Fleur) arrived Saturday afternoon. Molly claimed that she and Arthur knew how to waltz, and that should be adequate dancing for them. Fleur claimed that her pregnancy (as she was seven months along) would throw her balance off to the point that she could not be as graceful as a Veela should be, and that she and Bill could waltz or 'slow-dance' if one should occur (hinting broadly to Harry to make sure that several such slow-dances did occur). Therefore, no dancing lessons were needed for either couple.
A/N: The White Cockade was a badge worn by the forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie (called the Jacobites) in the Rebellion (or Rising, depending on what side you were on) of 1745, to indicate their loyalty to the cause.
A/N 2: There is a story to be told about Hermione's retrieval of her parents. This is not that story. One may appear in the future. Suffice it to say that the effort was fraught with emotion, hard on the nerves, and there was some residual resentment, but the hardest issue to deal with was Hermione's lingering sense of guilt.