Battle Stations
"Yes," said Jenkins. "Hoped I would get here in time to warn you."
"Thank you!" said Ginny.
"I must be getting back before someone notices my absence," he said, running back down the path. "They think I'm in the bathroom!"
"We'll see you tonight!" Ginny called, seconds before he Disapparated back to the Ministry of Magic, raising one arm in farewell. She shut the door. "Hide!" she shouted. "Everyone out into the garden now!"
Everyone raced outside, Ron and Hermione pulling a protesting Luna with them, and Lily raced back in. She had the presence of mind to pull the curtains of the back-room shut. Ginny swiped Harry's lunch, packed into a brown paper bag off the counter and closed the door on the mess in the kitchen.
They were just in time.
Harry's key turned in the lock and Ginny forced herself to slow down as though she had just been about to ascend the stairs in the hall, looking surprised as he came in. "Harry!" she said.
"The day is dragging out so long," said Harry, kissing Ginny. "I needed a quick break."
"Could this also be because you forgot your lunch?" she asked, grinning and holding up the lunch-bag. She had to swallow down all the worry she had for her eldest son, and the fact that he was currently missing.
Harry laughed. "Just a little bit. Where are the kids?" he asked. "I'll quickly say hello."
He tried to move down the hallway past her but Ginny solidly stood in his way, moving as he did. "I wouldn't disturb them," she said firmly. "They've got a little homework club going on, and I wouldn't like to disrupt it. It's the first time James has opened a textbook in a month."
"Oh," said Harry in surprise.
Ginny smiled convincingly.
"Dad!" Lily said, as she came into the hall. "I thought I heard your voice."
"Lil!" Harry grinned, giving his daughter a quick hug.
"Happy Birthday!" she sung, and Ginny marvelled at Lily's nonchalant acting skills.
A born performer, she was as cool and collected as though she had really been reading quietly just moments before. Albus, who would have been more nervous and could have easily slipped up and revealed the whole thing, wisely stayed away.
It was clear Harry would have liked to linger longer, maybe grabbing a drink in the kitchen, but there was no way Ginny or Lily were going to let him anywhere near the garden. They smiled sweetly all the while, and eventually Harry said that he better be off. If he noticed the odd behaviour of his wife and daughter, he didn't say anything.
"See you later, Dad!" Lily called.
"I'm counting the seconds!" he replied, and Disapparated from the end of the path.
"Thank goodness," sighed Ginny, running a hand through her already-ruffled hair.
"A homework club?!" said Lily, rounding on her mother. "You might as well have told him we'd grown three heads and started tap-dancing on the roof!"
"Yes, thank you, Lily," Ginny said, opening the kitchen door.
Immediately, raised voices floated in from the garden and mother and daughter exchanged glances. "Uh-oh," Lily said. "That doesn't sound good."
Ginny marched straight out of the back door and unwittingly found herself in the centre of the battlefield whilst the Third Wizarding War raged around her. Ron and Hermione stood opposite each other, red-faced, and engaged in a full-blown argument. Luna and the children hovered around them, looking anxious and embarrassed. Albus snatched his cat up before it could prowl towards Ron and Hermione, as though he thought it might be distressed by the commotion.
"Merlin's beard," Ginny said, horrified. "What is going on?"
"I think Ron and Hermione might be disagreeing over something or other," said Luna uneasily.
Lily looked at her namesake with an incredulous expression and Ginny nudged her daughter to stop her saying something sarcastic. "Ya think?!" Lily muttered to Hugo. Despite the heated row going on between his parents, Hugo snorted. Rose elbowed him in the stomach, annoyed that her brother wasn't taking the situation as seriously as she thought he ought to.
Ginny, sensing more conflict as Hugo rounded on Rose, decided to bring the argument to a close. Nothing was going right today. "HEY!" she shouted.
Ron and Hermione looked round at her in shock and the children froze, unused to Ginny screaming. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I interrupt you?" said Ginny stressily. "In case you hadn't noticed, my son is missing and in just a few hours' time eighty people will be arriving, including Harry, for a fortieth birthday party, with the expectation that James is going to be in attendance. Is it just me who sees this flaw," Her voice rose to a higher pitch as she finished. "Or am I going mad?"
Ron and Hermione both had the good grace to look guilty. Hermione put her arms around Ginny and Ron immediately volunteered to go and look for James. "I'll find out where what's-his-name Clive Hopkirk–" ("Hopkins," said Albus) "–lives and bring James home."
"Thank you," said Ginny tiredly, and Ron walked to the front door to Disapparate outside of the magical wards that protected the Head Auror's family home.
"Merlin's beard, what was all that shouting?" asked Mrs Weasley, coming out of the house and into the garden.
"Nothing," said Rose.
"We were practicing for choir," Lily said immediately.
In another circumstance, Ginny might have shown concern at how quickly and easily the lie rolled off Lily's tongue. But despite the stress they were under, she and Hermione couldn't help exchanging smiles. "Does she remind you of-?"
"Fred and George," nodded Ginny.
Hermione sighed, clearly bothered about the quarrel between herself and Ron, but Ginny had more pressing things to worry about.
Mrs Weasley and Luna were involved in yet another tussle over the cake. Mrs Weasley was absolutely adamant. "No," she was saying. "It's a very kind offer but I most definitely do not need any more of your help, dear." She stood in front of the back door, armed with a spatula, looking about as fearsome as it is possible for an old lady in a floral apron to look.
"Luna, actually, I could really use your help with the kids," said Ginny, wading in quickly. "I think Mum's got the cake-baking under control."
Luna cheerfully turned away from the kitchen, unaware that she had more or less been banished from Mrs Weasley's domain, and started giving a speech to Rose, Albus, Lily and Hugo, rallying them to clean and tidy with courage and loyalty in their hearts. Lily looked like she was about to explode with laughter.
"Thank goodness," Mrs Weasley sighed with relief, going to see if she could salvage any part of the crazy cake.
"The caterers are late," said Ginny as she looked at her watch, suddenly realising that three-thirty had come and gone.
"Where has the time gone?" said Hermione.
"Quickly!" said Ginny, clapping her hands together. She gave instructions to the four teenagers, already yawning at Luna's speech, and they all hurried off in opposite directions to change into their party robes, and then to do the last of the tidying and decoration.
"We should change too," said Hermione, drawing out her wand. With a complicated spell, she Transfigured her ordinary jeans and t-shirt into a smart and silky lavender dress and her sneakers into heels. She pointed her wand towards Ginny, who was suddenly looking very pretty in a dark-blue dress and matching heels.
Ginny began to thank her, but then noticed how miserable Hermione was looking. She didn't want to pry into her brother's and best friend's marriage, so didn't ask for details. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be alright," she said.
"I'm sorry," sniffed Hermione. "We're being ridiculous. It's Harry's birthday, for heavens' sake, and you already have enough on your plate."
"Not at all," said Ginny. "You know I don't mind."
"What on earth is Luna doing?" said Hermione suddenly, her attention diverted.
Luna, like an unattended child, had dreamily wandered off to the flowerbed and was crouched over it, giggling. It looked as though she was tickling something, and the sound of a deep, croaking laugh wafted over to Ginny and Hermione.
"Is that a gnome?" asked Ginny, going to get a better view. The ugly potato-like creature was chuckling as Luna played with it. "Luna?"
Luna turned a delighted face to Ginny. "Isn't he wonderful? I'm hoping he will bite me."
Ginny sighed and grabbed hold of the gnome by its feet, lifting it, wriggling, into the air. Luna straightened up too, smiling. "As you may know, gnome saliva is extremely-"
"-beneficial," said Ginny, very used to her friend's oddities and strange opinions. "Harry will not be pleased if we have an infestation."
The gnome, whose beetroot-purple face from being held upside down did nothing to improve its appearance, twisted round suddenly and bit Ginny's thumb. "Ouch!" She almost dropped the squirming little creature as blood welled from the fresh cut. "That hurt!" She scowled at the gnome and began to whirl it around her head like a javelin. Letting go, it flew, screaming, over the hedge and into the back field. Ginny saw it get up and immediately totter over, looking drunk.
"How fortunate!" said Luna, as a drop of blood fell from the end of Ginny's thumb.
"Yes, I feel so lucky," said Ginny dryly, sucking her wound.
"I'm sure it didn't mean any harm," said Luna, watching the gnome stagger in circles before heading off in the wrong direction. She turned big, reproachful eyes on Ginny.
"Sorry, Luna," said Ginny.
"You look lovely," Luna said, her eyes moving to Ginny's dress.
"Thank you."
"Is there anything I can do?" asked Luna. "I am here to help."
"I'm not quite sure at the moment-" said Ginny, as Hermione materialised a bandage from the tip of her wand and began tying it round her friend's thumb. She winced.
"Maybe there is something I can do for Mrs Weasley-" Luna wondered.
"No," said Ginny and Hermione in unison.
"The caterers are so late," worried Ginny, glancing again at her watch.
"I'll go look out for them!" said Luna eagerly, walking off before they could stop her.
"Let her be," said Hermione, who seemed determined to make a concerted effort to put on a brave face for Ginny.
"Victoire's here!" Luna called over her shoulder.
Moments later, the tall and beautiful vision that was Victoire came swaying down the garden path. She was dressed in silver and her long blonde hair swung out behind her, but it wasn't her Veela heritage that was making her shine so much. Her face seemed to radiate with joy and it looked as though she was bursting with news as she met her two aunts, giving them both a delicate kiss on each cheek.
"Victoire, how lovely to see you," said Hermione.
"I'm sorry, I know I'm early," said Victoire.
"Not at all," Ginny said.
"How are you?" Victoire asked, barely giving them time to reply. "I have some news," she burst out. Hermione and Ginny waited. Victoire beamed and took a deep breath, and Ginny knew what she was going to say from the look on her face before she said it. "I'm pregnant!"
Ginny and Hermione were appropriately delighted and hugged Victoire tight. "That's fantastic!" said Hermione. "Oh, I'm so pleased for you and Teddy."
"The first Weasley great-grandchild!" said Ginny excitedly. "My parents will be absolutely overjoyed, and Harry will be thrilled."
"Thank you," smiled Victoire. "I hope he will not think we've purposely taken the attention away from him. It is his special day-"
"Nonsense," said Ginny, flapping her hand. "You know Harry isn't like that."
"Victoire!" yelled Lily, running down the path, with Rose in tow. "You're going to have a baby!"
"Lily!" Ginny scolded. "We've spoken about eavesdropping before!"
The two girls were now in dresses and their hair looked neater than it had ever been. Ginny suspected that the only reason Lily looked so smart was because of Rose. She realised she had not looked at what her own hair looked like since eight am.
"I'm so excited," beamed Rose, hugging Victoire.
"Oh, and Luna's clamouring to know what she should do," Lily said to her mother. "Granny's losing her temper."
Overwhelmed with the joys and tribulations of female friends and relatives, Ginny moved away, wishing that she could sit down and rest her legs. Neither Ron nor James had yet returned and there still seemed to be a million things to get done.
"Aunt Ginny!" called Hugo, running down the path from the house. "There were four men in white jackets standing on the doorstep asking if they could come in, so I let them."
"You did what?" asked Hermione, horrified that her son had just opened the door to a group of strangers.
"They had musical instruments with them," it's okay," added Hugo.
Hermione's shoulders seemed to sink in relief.
The musicians traipsed into the garden, asking where they should set up, and Ginny directed them as best she could. Weary after the stresses of the day and after Victoire had dropped her bombshell, Ginny went to the kitchen to check on the cake, but was distracted by the ringing of the doorbell.
She opened the door to Teddy, his turquoise hair as bright as ever, and Bill and Fleur, looking proud as punch, standing behind him. "Ginny," Teddy smiled with pleasure, hugging her. "I'm so excited for Harry's party."
"Congratulations!" she said, hugging him. "I'm far more excited for you and Victoire!"
Teddy, who was extremely popular with the Weasley and Potter children, was suddenly barrelled over by Hugo, Lily and Albus.
"Do you know?" asked Bill, hugging his sister.
"Yes, I've just heard," grinned Ginny.
"We're going to be grandparents!" said Bill happily.
"You're getting so old," Ginny joked.
"Isn't zis such good news!" smiled Fleur, kissing Ginny on both cheeks in the French fashion.
"It's wonderful," Ginny said, closing the door behind her.
But it wasn't long before she had to open it again to see Neville and Hannah Longbottom, and Seamus Finnigan. Hestia Jones was the next to arrive, then old Andromeda Tonks. Ginny stationed Luna at the door to open it as more and more guests arrived.
She was glad of the sudden influx of willing volunteers, but the house and garden grew very hectic as people milled around, helping her and there, needing her for this and that. With the arrival of the apologetic caterers, Ginny had a million things to do, but Hermione had her organised head back on, and ran operations with military precision. Neville, as usual, was a godsend.
Passing leadership responsibilities over to Hermione and Neville, Ginny decided she needed to take a two-minute breather. She hurried upstairs, firmly shutting the door to her bedroom and trying not to listen to the muddled shouts floating through the open window from the garden below. Sitting at her dressing-table, she neatened her hair and pressed her cold hands to her hot face for a moment. James still had not been found and there was only one word to describe what was going on downstairs.
Chaos.
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