Chapter Fifteen
Making a Few Little Necessary Improvements at Grimmauld Place
"Uh-there's a salon, downstairs," Harry said leading the way.
A central hall began just inside the front door. The first door off the hall opened to the left, giving entry to a large sitting, or living room.
"Oh, my," said Daphne, looking around at the furniture. It was all at least one hundred years old, and not just dated. It was ugly. Daphne turned to Harry.
"Harry, this room is your space for large gatherings, at least when you and your guests aren't in the dining room. This is the public face of the couple who live here. Think about how everyone will arrive, how they'll be greeted at the door, outdoor clothing whisked away, proceeding on to greet their host and hostess, move into the space, greet the other guests, get a drink, eventually needing the powder room.
"Picture people arriving and getting their first impression of your home, your taste, your outlook on life. Picture people in this room, standing, sitting, having a conversation.
"Think about you and your hostess…"
"That would be you," Harry interjected.
"Distraction," Daphne said, pursing her lips. "Focus."
"How do you want the space to help you give your guests a memorable time? Think about you and your hostess and a small gathering, ten others. How do you want the guests to arrive? Floo? Apparation into the foyer? Up the steps to the front door?"
"I think the steps would be best," Harry said, after a pause to think. "Apparation and the floo could open a way through any security protections."
"Okay, how do they get to the bottom of the steps?" Daphne asked.
"Assuming it is an all-wizard gathering, they can apparate just outside the wards, onto the sidewalk in front. If they're walking in through Muggle London they can manage their own charms until they get here."
"Good so far," said Daphne. "Now, they're up the steps and on your threshold, staff opens the door to admit them. Who welcomes them to #12?"
"Kreacher, I believe. He is very experienced, knows all the protocol, from those years with Walburga. I think old-timers who remember the Blacks would expect to see him, too," Harry said.
"Right. Until we hear otherwise from Kreacher, he is our butler. At this point, guests are inside, wraps whisked away, they greet you and hostess…"
"That's you…" Harry reminded her.
"They greet you and, well, me then, and into the salon, where, what? They find their own way about, pour their own drinks, take one from a buffet table? Do you want a bar? Music? Servers?"
"This is complicated," Harry said. "I've never thought of any of these things. Who knew?"
"I knew, Harry, because Mother took me in hand from the time I was little. I was six or so, and we sat down and planned a little Christmas reception for some couples Father did business with. By the time I started at Hogwarts, I could do the planning, write it up, calculate the bottles of firewhisky, butterbeers, and the amount of food to order, and give it all to Mother to execute. She was compelled to fidget with it around the edges, of course. I get that you didn't have the advantages I did. If you want to start with a little after-party following the ball, that would be a nice, manageable function, to get some practice. See?"
"To be fair, when I was thirteen, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia did have Aunt Marge and her dog over one time, and I did some serving."
"Great!" said Daphne. "See? You do have some experiences to draw upon. How did it go? Did you take good care of Aunt Marge? Did she have a good time?"
"I think so," said Harry, "up until she started feeling her brandy, then she began trashing Mum and Dad, and I inflated her and made her float away, by accident, of course."
Daphne looked at Harry, not sure if he was telling the truth or enjoying a private laugh at her expense.
"No. You didn't."
"Oh, but I DID," Harry said, a look of pride and satisfaction on his face. "I had to get my trunk and get out of the Dursleys' house that very night, and everything. Took the Knight Bus for the first time, and I batched at the Leaky Cauldron for two weeks, until Hogwarts started up. I was in heaven."
Unable to hold it in any longer, he started to chuckle, and Daphne, seeing he was telling the truth, started in as well, chuckles turning to belly laughs all around.
When order was restored, Daphne asked, "Leaving out inflatable aunts, how big do you want the party to be? Nice, manageable size, remember, get the kinks out, a practice run for bigger events."
She counted on her fingers, "Astoria and Draco, Neville and Hannah, you and me, that's our table. Who else?"
"Ron and Hermione will be there," Harry said.
"Eight. Tracey might be going, I'll have to check. That's one or two more. That's nine or ten, depending on whether Tracey is alone or with someone," Daphne said. "Anyone else?"
"I've never done anything this big, so maybe we should stop there," Harry said.
"Okay. Do you want to offer people the option to spend the night? Some, or all?"
"We've got the space," Harry said. "We can offer."
"We can," said Daphne, "but we'll have to walk through all the spare bedrooms and baths and get them ready, today. We're back to work tomorrow, and you don't want to leave that kind of thing until Saturday, that's when you take care of all the things that couldn't be done before."
"Okay. We'll poll the people we talked about. Get confirmations, stock the larder, and so on. It's late and we know everyone, so let's do this informally. I'll get Astoria and Tracey, you do the Weasleys and Neville and Hannah."
Daphne drew her wand, took a breath and cast her patronus. The lynx bounded from her wand tip and sat on its haunches before her.
"I want you to go to Astoria, and Tracey Davis, with a message: "Harry and I would like to invite you to a small gathering after the St. Mungo's ball, if you are available. Location in London, address will follow if you confirm. We can accommodate you overnight, so please advise if you want to stay. Best, Daphne. Okay? Go!"
Daphne's lynx jumped through the front window and disappeared.
"Are you sure you haven't been doing this for the last ten years?" Harry asked. "Because that lynx…"
"Harry Potter, if you are suggesting I pretended to be unable to cast a patronus, as a subterfuge to get you to, what, give me a hint about technique? I really think that is unworthy of you," Daphne said, adding a little sniff at the end, for extra emphasis.
"Duly noted," Harry said. "Lesson learned."
"Thank-you, Harry, you're so accommodating," Daphne said, dispensing a hug.
"Now, you do yours."
"I liked your message, so what if I cast mine, and you do the message?" Harry asked.
"Can we do that? It's your patronus, will it take a message from me?"
"Don't know, but we can try," said Harry. "Expecto patronum"
Harry's stag leapt from his wand and stood, waiting.
"I want you to find either Ron or Hermione Weasley, and Hannah Abbott or Neville Longbottom, and deliver Daphne's message. Daphne?"
Daphne repeated what she'd given the lynx. When she finished, Harry said, "Go!" and the stag jumped through the same window the lynx had used.
Daphne and Kreacher spent an hour on the salon, while Harry mainly looked on and kept his mouth shut. Daphne seemed to have an encyclopedic knowledge of furniture and unerring color sense. She quickly put the room's basic colors right, replaced dated furnishings, and picked out three pieces to keep.
The lynx came back with confirmation for a drop-by from Astoria and Draco, declining to stay over. Tracey sent thanks and regrets as she was leaving for someplace sunny direct from the ball.
The stag reported that Neville and Hannah accepted for the party and the stay over, Ron and Hermione the party only.
Daphne walked Harry through the room, showing him how she envisioned arrivals, mixing, libations, placement of a buffet table.
"The dining room doesn't need much, beyond some dusting and polishing," she said. "We don't need it for Saturday, anyway. And, I've used up all my time, so we'll have to figure out how to get a bedroom for Neville and Hannah sorted before Saturday."
"Now," Daphne said. "I'll need to head to the manor. I don't schedule anything after morning rounds on Wednesdays. Do you get leave, or are you aurors on duty all day, every day?"
"Oh," Harry said, "I was just thinking about dinner, and…"
"And? And I can go to work tomorrow in the clothes I'm wearing now? And, I'm already here, so I might as well move in? Harry, there will be time to take care of all of that, believe me. Just not right this minute. Things are going well, so let's take it step by step, otherwise, all the special times will get lost."
Daphne stepped close and kissed Harry on the lips.
"So practical," Harry said. "Witches always think of the practicalities, and I have so little knowledge of them."
"Witches, or practicalities? What about Wednesday, can you come to Greengrass Manor for lunch, maybe take the afternoon off?" Daphne asked.
"Unless something comes up to pre-empt it, sure, I can take some leave," Harry said.
"Great," said Daphne. "Now, Kreacher?"
"Kreacher is here, Miss Daphne. Do you wish to make more improvements?"
"No, Kreacher, this is something else. Do you still go to Hogwarts when you aren't busy here?"
"Yes, Miss Daphne. The Hogwarts elves make Kreacher welcome."
"I recall the portrait of Headmaster Phineas Nigellas that you hung near the Slytherin dormitory, and I have discussed the matter with Madame Black. She has graciously agreed to make a gift of her small portrait from the study for that spot. I would like the late headmaster to return to #12 Grimmauld Place. We will discuss the proper placement of the late headmaster's portrait among Madame Black, Master Harry and myself, after the headmaster returns.
Can you take care of the switching of the two, on your next visit? Oh, and Kreacher, the late, distinguished headmaster does not need to know of this plan in advance, as we don't want to inadvertently cause him undue distress."
"Kreacher will do as you wish, Miss Daphne, of course."
"Wonderful, Kreacher, you have done extraordinary work today, and so much of it," Daphne said. "It has been a real pleasure."
"Miss Daphne is too kind," Kreacher muttered, and turned toward the kitchen.