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Drabble 5
In the distance Arthur Weasley and Harry Potter were tranfiguring the explosives into fireworks and sending them out over the North Sea resulting in a spectacular fireworks display. Soon they were joined by an array of ginger-haired wizards including a woman of about Harry Potter's age who apparated straight onto the front lawn and kissed him like there was no tomorrow. It didn't take Callum long to figure out that the ginger ones were all Weasleys.
Before Callum knew it there were dozens of wizards apparating in.
"I just told the teams we moved the match," Harry Potter patted Callum Reid on the shoulder. "That is ok, isn't it?"
Callum shrugged. "No idea, mate." Around him someone was waving a wand at the ground resulting that three tall poles with hoops on the end springing up at either end of the sand sunes. The Weasley called George appeared to be having great fun with the fireworks and unleashing a whole armada of what Harry Potter assured him were 'joke fireworks' to add to the chaos.
A woman named Luna appeared, along with a man who she introduced as her husband and started up a conversation about the muggle press that Callum had difficulty following.
On the ground by the house, Arthur Weasley was reading from a scroll. Callum had never seen a scroll before except in movies. His wife, a kindly woman named Molly had started a fire and appeared to be slow-roasting an entire pig while grumbling about not having enough wands for the potatoes to peel themselves.
"Team One," Arthur Weasley read, "George, Bill, Ginny, Percy, Harry, Ron and Neville. Team Two: Teddy, Albus, Rose, Scorpius-"
"I don't see why it has to be parents versus children," Ron grumbled, "They're twenty years younger!"
"Ronald Weasley, behave!" Molly waved a finger at her son. "And pull up your trousers. Just cause we're in the presence of muggles doesn't mean you need to start dressing like one!"
Callum bit back a laugh. His mobile went off. Another call from Ruth, probably Harry was wanting him back at the office.
Beside him a familiar figure with a lightening scar "Work calling?" Harry Potter asked mildly.
"Yeah, I'd better get that." Reluctantly, Callum picked up the call and was met with a barrage of demands from Harry Pearce about the Minister for Magic and the Home Secretary and Debriefings. Before he could say word in response the phone was plucked straight out of his hand. "Mister Pearce, Harry Potter." Around them half the ministry now appeared to apparating in. Colleagues chattering and barbeques springing up. "No, nothing serious, just a small change of plans. I've just had an owl from the Minister. I believe he's invited the Home Secretary...well its probably easiest if I just come and get you and Miss Evershed. How are you with side-along? Bring anything? Well you might want a coat...I see...well just think of it as a form of inter-agency hospitality. With snitches."
And so it was that on a warm August day, Ruth Evershed and Harry Pearce ended their day sitting on a sand dune watching the sun set and the stars come out, eating pulled pork sandwiches and snuggling up for warmth while beside them the Minister for Magic was explaining the rules of Quidditch to William Towers.
"Not bad for a second date," Ruth announced. "Quidditch match. Sunset. Magic fireworks."
"Is this a date?"
"Well, I don't want you to get the wrong impression, Harry. We've only known each other six years. We wouldn't want to rush it."
Beside her, Sir Harry Pearce grinned and stared hard at the Quidditch. "You're a witch, aren't you?"
Ruth squeaked. "What?"
"That's what's been holding you back. I've been watching you through this whole assignment. You're too at home, Ruth. I've been coordinating with the Ministry of Magic for years and yet you know more about their world than I do."
"I'm not... that is...I didn't..."
"You found that side-along thing alarmingly easy as well," Harry observed.
Ruth fell silent, wishing she knew how to explain away a lie you'd been telling all your life.
Sir Harry Pearce however, just leaned over and kissed Ruth very gently on the lips. "Its fine, Ruth."
"I'm from a muggle family, I wanted to live as a muggle. I mean I loved Hogwarts but I wanted to go to Cambridge, I wanted a career. I like my muggle life."
"You don't need to explain it to me."
In her lap Ruth's hands twisted together. Harry covered them with his palm and linked his fingers through hers. Cautiously, Ruth glanced up at his face and found his eyes twinking.
"Bugger it, you've known for ages, haven't you?"
"Merely suspected," Harry said. "You see, I've always though we could be magic."
"Harry..." Ruth whispered. He'd been storing these up. She could tell. "Just in case there was any doubt, this evening is not going to end in s-e-x just because you know now, ok?"
"Oh, well, I can't fault you for that. Personally I never get my wand out til the third date."