-Chapter 28-
Just as dinner was being served a large snowy owl swooped into the Burrow. There was a small scroll of parchment attached to its leg and Harry quickly untied it and gave the owl a bit of chicken.
"It's from Shacklebolt," he said as his eyes ran across the words.
"Well go on then, read it!" Ron said.
"Narcissa convicted on charges of hiding Death Eaters, lying to the Ministry, aiding in kidnapping. Life in Azkaban. Let me know if you want to go to the Quidditch match, I'll get you transportation and reservations in the best hotel. Invite all Weasleys."
The room erupted in cheers. Ginny pulled Hermione into a kiss and the latter smiled.
"I wonder if Andromeda knows," Harry said.
"I'm sure she'll find out soon enough," Ron replied as he took a helping of chicken.
"Are you guys coming with us?" Willow asked excitedly.
"I don't see why not," Ron said. "What about it Harry?"
"I don't know, the twins seem kind of young to really enjoy it all."
"Nah, we see kids their age in the stands all the time. They like the movement and all that."
"I think they'd be fine, Harry. We should go, a nice family vacation."
"What about you, Hermione?" Aislin asked, taking another helping of vegetables. "I know Lennox would love it."
"I don't see why we couldn't."
"Mum, Dad, wha abouf you?" Ron asked with a mouthful of chicken.
"Stop talking with your mouth full, Ron, it's disgusting." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Oh I think it would be lovely! Arthur, we should go!"
"Of course, dear! I'll send out letters to the others right after dinner."
Ron stayed at the Burrow for the week to take letters from Shacklebolt and solidify plans for the weekend. The entire Weasley family (minus Ginny who was traveling with the team), four Potters and two Grangers met at the Burrow Friday afternoon. There was a Ministry of Magic car waiting for them. After the luggage was stowed and Bill, Harry and George had a long talk with the driver about their pregnant wives and how he best be careful, everyone filed into the vehicle. Even with the expanding charm it was a tight fit for all 19 of them.
The vehicle started moving, just as everyone could see the outline of the village it was gone and London appeared in front of them.
"Everyone all right?" The driver called. "I would've made the first jump shorter but the Minister wants to make sure you all get there in time for dinner. Next jump in twenty minutes! Just the other side of London to Le Havre."
"I think everyone is fine back here," Bill said.
"What kind of hotel did Kingsley reserve?" Charlie asked Ron.
"I don't know, he just said it was in Vinhais. He said not to be fooled by the outward appearance of it."
The vehicle jumped every twenty or thirty minutes, seven jumps in all and they appeared in a mountainous area. The car drove into a small village, a worn sign indicated they had reached their destination. They pulled up just on the other side of the village, a dilapidated building about four stories high that looked as though it might collapse at any moment. A sign hanging on just barely to the outside wall read in faded paint "HOTEL".
"Wait here," The driver said as he got out of the vehicle. He went inside the building and came back with six boys who started unloading the mass amount of luggage from the car. The driver opened the door and everyone filed out. They followed him through the door that looked as though it would fall off the hinges if anyone touched it. Once inside though, they understood what Shacklebolt had meant about not letting outward appearances fool them.
There were dozens of crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, off to the right was a large seating area with plush couches and chairs. The walls and high ceiling were pearly white. The concierge counter to the left was topped with marble and the huge mahogany staircase that lead to the upper floors was so shiny you could see a clear reflection of the ceiling on the steps.
"Don't touch anything, boys," Molly said. "I don't want you getting everything dirty."
"Mum, we're all adults here," Charlie said. "Do you forget that Bill over there is almost thirty-six, an old man!"
"Shut it, Charlie. I can still kick your scrawny little arse, you know!"
"I'd like to see you try without breaking a hip, old man!"
Hermione shook her head. "You all aren't setting a very good example for the children!" she hissed.
Before Charlie and Bill could go any further Shacklebolt appeared in the foyer with an Auror on either side of him.
"Welcome, all of you!" he said, greeting everyone with handshakes. "All of your rooms are here on the ground floor, I made sure of that because of our expectant mothers." He smiled and walked to the hallway that was just passed the concierge. A bellhop followed with a bag full of keys. They stopped at the first door on the hallway, a plaque on it read "Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weasley" the bellhop fished a key out of the bag and handed it to Arthur.
"Jason will make sure you all get to your rooms and get your keys, your luggage will come in shortly. Dinner is in an hour in the dining hall. To get there just go back the way we came and down the hall opposite this one. For now I must be going, I have other guests to greet but I hope you all find the accommodations fair." Shacklebolt shook everyone's hands again and then disappeared down the hallway. Molly and Arthur went into their room and Jason led them all to the rest. Each family had their own room aside from Ron and Charlie who shared. Hermione was the last to be placed, she smiled at the plaque on her door: Captain Ginevra Weasley, Miss Hermione Granger and family.
Hermione opened the door and smiled even bigger when she saw Ginny sitting in one of the armchairs reading through her Quidditch playbook. Lennox squealed and ran to hug her. Ginny picked him up and smiled at him.
"I told you we'd have a little holiday, just the three of us, didn't I?" Ginny said as she wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist and kissed her.
"You did. Shouldn't you be with the team though?"
"I'm the Captain, I get special treatment. Besides, the team isn't doing anything this afternoon or tomorrow morning until warm-ups. So we'll have plenty of time for it to be just us."
"And your entire family…and Harry's family."
"Yeah, them too."
There was a knock at the door, Hermione answered it and her luggage floated in and set itself down on the floor. She gave the bellhop a couple of Sickles, the young man smiled and thanked her.
"Dinner is in an hour, Shacklebolt said." Hermione lifted her suitcase up on the queen sized bed and pulled out her toiletry bag. She sat on the bench in front of the vanity counter and began touching up her makeup. Ginny put Lennox down, walked over to Hermione, leaned down and wrapped her arms around Hermione's shoulders.
"I…I'm glad you're here."
"Me too, Gin." Hermione turned and kissed Ginny's cheek. "I love you."
Ginny smiled and returned Hermione's kiss on the cheek. "You're beautiful, you know that 'Mione?"
"So are you, love. So are you."
Lennox crawled up in Hermione's lap and Ginny smiled as she looked in the mirror.
"We are a pretty good looking bunch, aren't we?" she said.
"I can't argue with that."
Dinner was spectacular, just as it had at Hogwarts the food magically appeared on the tables for each course. The entirety of Team England and several of their families and other Ministry dignitaries were there, Shacklebolt made a speech honoring the Quidditch team and wishing them the best of luck.
"…and we are also joined this evening, by my request, by a group of spectacular individuals, several of whom not only risked their lives in the Second Wizarding War when they were all very young but have recently done the same again which as you all know lead to the capture of a few high profile criminals and the rescue of a hostage. I toast them for bravery and only ask of them that next time they decide to break the law to do something like this again that they let me know so I may join them! Stand, all of you!"
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Bill, Charlie, George, Willow, and Aislin stood at their table and the room erupted in cheers. There were flashes of light as photographers snapped pictures.