Chapter 10 – Uncle Joe got a booboo

'Daddy, I had a dream' Sunrise told him the next morning when Harry quite frantically was dressing her being late and hazed by lack of sleep.
'Did you?' he asked absent minded taking all he needed from the wardrobe 'What did you dream about?'
The previous night dinner had been very pleasant. He got back in a mood more suitable for company, Sunrise had completely overcome her tantrum allowing cheerfully Victoire to feed her what only half an hour before was the food of evil and her and Ginny were in a full rant about the oncoming wedding exchanging with an indefatigable enthusiasm all the details over and over. It was astounding for Harry how long a conversation of that kind could stretch on. He felt to have it discussed thoroughly and concluded in ten minutes, but it wasn't the same for them, new particulars and considerations were continuously poured out.
'What do you think of it?' he asked Ted, once in the living room, leaving them to chat in the kitchen with a raptured Sunrise who was following the conversation attentively as if very much interested in the arrangement of serviette on the tables or whatever they were talking about.
'They only just met' he continued dropping on the sofa while Ted was sitting himself on the windowsill.
Ted tipped his head on one side mulling it over 'I guess, but it's also true that Luna has got insight.'
'Does she?' Harry asked sceptical 'It seems living in a different world to me'
Ted chuckled 'I'd call it insight. She sees things differently and more clearly, I think'
Harry frowned unconvinced 'If you say so… It doesn't take away the fact that the guy is in his twenties' he pointed out getting the newspaper from the coffee table and opening on the sport section.
'I would marry Luna' Ted said matter of fact making Harry startle 'What?' he blurted out dropping the newspaper straight away.
Ted smirked seeing his reaction 'I had a very big crush on her since I was fourteen' he admitted coyly, a leg dangling from the windowsill.
'Are you taking the piss?' Harry asked suspiciously.
Ted laughed 'Nope. If I wouldn't have fell in love with Victoire I guess, sooner or later, I would have tried to get off with her.'
Harry was speechless. He glared at Ted who was quite serenely looking outside 'You are actually taking the piss.' He boomed dumbfounded leaving the sofa to go and sit in front of him on the windowsill.
'I promise you I'm not' he assured him his lips buckling into a grin.
'How come I never knew anything about it?'
Ted shrugged 'You wouldn't have taken me seriously.'
'Of course, I wouldn't bloody have! She is sixteen years older than you!'
Ted arched an eyebrow 'Only two more than her husband to be'
Harry hadn't been able to reply anything to that affirmation.
They had talked until late and as a result Harry hadn't managed to wake up at the sound of the first alarm to go to run, not even at the second and not at the third. At eight o'clock Ginny had pitilessly wrenched away from his grasp the duvet in the freezing morning air and switched on the light to give him the boost.
As a result, he was beyond late. Ginny was preparing breakfast for Sunrise while he was trying desperately to make her wear underwear, socks, trouser and jumper all in the proper places while she was chatting gaily notwithstanding the gravity of the lateness.
'I dreamt Uncle Joe' she chirped caressing her teddy.
'Really?' he said scurrying about the room to find the brush that seemed disappeared into thin air.
'Yes, he got a booboo'
'Did he?' He asked having located the brush between the bed folding and attacking her curls.
'Yes, he is playing.'
'He was playing, sweetie?' Harry corrected her.
'Yes, he was playing' she repeated 'and there is a boom' she hooted widening her arms making her teddy fly on the bed 'and smoke and he got a booboo' retrieving her teddy.
'That's too bad' Harry said lightly finishing off his battle against her hair 'Now we must go to mummy' he piped out taking her and hurrying in the kitchen realising only at that moment that, despite Sunrise was more or less ready, he was still in his underwear.
He spent the whole morning out in active research of anything that could direct them to find the Inferi guy. They investigated in strange disappearances of people like of corpses. A very unpleasant task, especially corpses wise. They visited muggles obituary and hospitals, they interrogated muggles with and without magic, but they didn't advance much in their research. Either the guy had stopped his activity, or he was doing it very shiftily indeed.
By the afternoon he was back in his office. They had received a strange tip from an informer, he wanted to check it out when Elizabeth strode in his office.
'Harry, Ginny wants to talk to you. She is waiting at the fire. I think it's urgent'
Harry seeing her steadfast expression followed her quickly. Ginny never called him at the Ministry. She knew he didn't like to be disturbed there and overall; he was often out, especially in those days looking for the guy. She usually would send owls and only if something really important had occurred. Therefore, he was slightly alarmed. When he got there, he closed the door and Ginny, spotting him, didn't even give him the time to sit.
'Harry, I'm going to St. Mungo. George had an accident.'
'What?! What happened?!'
'I don't know exactly. Mum called me five minutes ago. He was doing one of his experiments and something went wrong. I don't think it's anything too serious because it's him who called her from St Mungo and mum's clock doesn't say he is in mortal danger or anything' the clock at the Burrow was still informing Molly of her children welfare and it came handy a few times, like in this occasion. It had been enlarged, and despite no Fred appeared on it anymore, there was Harry and all the spouses of her sons. It was her wishes to include her nieces and nephews too but unfortunately the maker was deceased so only Ted and Fleur had managed to be included in it.
'But mum was so agitated I couldn't make it out. She is going there too.' She continued composedly but Harry could detect the struggle in appearing so and didn't escape him the uneasiness of her tone.
'Ok, I'll join you there' he said resolute.
'You don't need to. I'm sure he is all right' She said hurriedly.
'I'm coming, Ginny. I'll meet you there in ten minutes'
'You don't have to feel forced to. I can let you know once there'
'Ginny, for heaven's sake' he retorted unnerved 'I don't feel forced to! It's George we are talking about!'
Harry didn't have many friends and were only a handful the people he felt comfortable talking to. George was one of them. Probably because, besides Ron, the youngest, perhaps because they had been at Hogwarts together or perhaps because all the time spent with him always cheered his spirit up amazingly, being one or all these reasons Harry was very fond of him. And he considered him a very good friend. Especially after Ron's and Hermione's departure, when he felt in need of some distraction, it was always in Diagon alley that his feet conducted him.
Therefore, this news worried him well enough and as he wanted surely to be a sustain to Ginny in a moment when she was clearly in distress, he was in an equal measure eager to ascertain that everything was fine.
Ginny nodded at his words, clearly relieved, and her head popped out of sight.
Harry hurried out of the room leaving instruction to a very worried Elisabeth on where to find him in case of emergency and was off likewise.

People were going back and forth in the busy London's Street without deigning of a second glance the empty department that stood forgotten on the pathway. It didn't attract the shopper's attention all busy with chatters, burdened by plastic bags from nearby shops. Nobody looked twice to the minute red hair woman who was standing in front of it with a set face.
'Oh Harry...' she said as soon as Harry appeared from the corner of a small alley throwing her arms around his neck 'Thank you for coming! I know you are busy'
'Are you kidding? Of course, I'd come!' He reassured her caressing her head 'Do you know anything new?'
She shook her head loosening up from the embrace 'I just got here'
'Let's get inside then.' He said pushing her gently close to the shop's window.
St Mungo's was full of people at that hour, some waiting listlessly on chairs in reception, some walking hurriedly, some lining up at the counter.
The first one to spot him was an elderly man sitting just in front of the entrance. Harry glimpsed him while he was gaping and nudging the old lady on his side. He realised straight away to have made a mistake. In the alarm of the moment, he hadn't thought to disguise his appearance not even slightly and that always guarantee being slowed on anything he planned to do.
When she raised her eyes on him, he was already passing by swiftly, trying to avoid their gaze. He walked briskly to the counter keeping Ginny by the hand, hoping to avoid being harassed moving quickly, but there was a que to line up to and he was obliged to stop, giving time to all the wizards and witches in the room to realise Harry Potter was there.
By the time he approached the line the whispering that accompanied every of his appearance in the magical community had already started, some were craning their neck from the plastic chairs to have a better look and he was expecting any second somebody approaching and wasn't sure to have the forbearance to be polite. He had only seconds to build it up.
The man standing in front of him in line, hearing the steady buzz and seeing people staring behind him, turned. Seeing Harry startled visibly 'Harry Potter…' he murmured widening his eyes.
Harry had to master himself a great deal not to snap.
He only muttered a greeting trying not to scowl.
'Please, allow me to shake your hand!' the man said eager grasping his hand and shacking it vigorously 'Such a pleasure to meet you!' he continued keen.
'Yeah... Nice to meet you too…'
Whoever you are…
'You have no idea what this meeting means to me! Me and my wife are so indebted to you! My wife's father had been imperiused by a death eater only a few days before your bringing down of You-know-who and…'
While the bloke was getting on with his endless tale, a group of people was slowly gathering interested, willing to add their experiences and eager to shake hands.
Ginny didn't even seem to notice; she was staring at the line impatiently, tapping her foot on the marble floor clearly concerned about the waiting.
'I'm glad to have been of any use' Harry tailed off as soon an opening offered to do so 'but we are a bit of in a hurry if you don't mind…'
'Of course! Not let me detain you and please, take my place in line' he said gesturing him to pass in front of him.
'You are very kind but there is no need…' he started saying, always reticent in accepting favours because of his name.
'I insist!' the bloke said 'It's the minimum I can do'
The other people were all looking at him forgetful of the line and hearing the exchange they all suddenly seemed eager for them to overtake. Entreating started to pour.
And as he was saying 'There is really no need…' Ginny finally acknowledging the mass interjected with a forced smile 'Thank you, very kind.' And without any further ado, grasped his arm tightly and dragged him up to the counter, dodging skilfully witches and wizards who tried to stop them, where the nurse was following Harry's approaching with a flush raising in intensity with every step taken by them.
'We are looking for George Weasley' Ginny gushed 'He was taken here an hour ago'
The witch, smoothening her hair, was staring intently at Harry, and didn't even pretend to hear her. Ginny unnerved, rolled her eyes and waving a hand in front of the witch's eyes, bellowed 'Excuse me?'
Hearing finally her voice, the witch flinched visibly 'Y-yes of course…' she gabbled starting to riffle clumsily between her papers and, finding the right one, read mechanically 'George Weasley, accident by unproper use of magical instrument ground floor. First corridor on your left, fourth door on the right.' Having said that much, the witch turned her gaze on Harry again outstretching a quill and, what clearly was an admission paper, stammered with a sweeter voice 'Would you mind sign…'
Ginny didn't even allow her to finish, she tightened her grasp on Harry's arm and dragged him away muttering furiously under her breath something that sounded very much like 'Next time you'll stay in the office'
They walked quickly toward the corridor but Harry, spotting a familiar silhouette crouched on a chair, lurched in his track making Ginny almost stumble over.
'It's Jude!' he exclaimed as an explanation.
'Who's Jude?' Ginny asked impatient looking toward the corridor they had to take.
'George's sale assistant' he said quickly ambling over her with Ginny on his tail.
The girl was whining piteously in a handkerchief, her nose red and swollen, her hair all dishevelled.
'Jude! What's happened? Did you see him?' Harry asked stooping on her.
She raised her eyes brimmed with tears 'Harry…' she wailed 'there was an accident. Something exploded! I had to call for a healer…' she succeeded in saying before a fresh pouring down of sobs shook her shoulders and sopped her handkerchief.
He and Ginny exchanged a preoccupied glance but none of the two voiced a fear not to increase each other foreboding.
'Ok, ok. Now calm down.' Harry said reassuringly stroking Jude's hair 'I'm sure it's fine. We are going there. Come with us'
He nudged her in standing up and with Ginny's sustain, who was getting more worried by the minute, they looked for the right door.
The first glimpse they had of him revealed their fears totally unfounded.
George was sitting up against a pillow with a very annoyed expression while Molly was combing his hair with solicitude.
'Mum, it's fine!' they heard him complain trying to shake her off.
'No, it's not fine dear, you are a dreadful mess' Molly told him back stern 'Now, keep still!'
'Georgie!' Jude bellowed as soon as he saw him, lunging toward the bed thrusting her arms around his neck with such an energy that she knocked off Molly's comb. A new vigorous sobbing gushed from her.
'George, who's this girl?!' Molly asked aghast looking in disbelief at Jude who had hid her face in George neck.
'Ergh… My salesgirl' he acknowledged and, spotting Harry and Ginny, smiled happy to have a diversion from Molly who was looking thundering 'Your salesgirl, George?' she was asking disapprovingly.
'All right guys?' he asked patting Jude's hair revealing two heavily bandaged hands 'I'm fine, Jude. Come on!' he murmured close to Jude's ear and sensing the perforating glare coming from Molly, he felt compelled to explain himself 'Mum, it's not as you think! She is married!'
'She is married, George?!' Molly hissed making George wince uneasy.
'Hey' Ginny greeted him, going to the other side of the bed that was Jude-free to peck him 'What happened! How are you?' she asked concerned eyeing Jude suspiciously.
'Yeah, we got a fright all aright…' Harry said taking a chair and dropping on it 'How are you?'
George raised his two hands puffy with bandages 'Tact impaired' he said.
'He was playing with some dangerous stuff or other as usual' Molly affirmed crossing her arms on her bosom her eyes fixed on Jude who was snuggled up, still moaning, on George's side.
'I wasn't playing, mother!' George bellowed offended 'It's work! And however true may be that the objects weren't exactly on the right side of the law…' he added wavering 'The purpose was worth the trouble!' he concluded with conviction.
'What are you working on?' Harry asked looking about the room.
George was the only person in it. The room was small, with just one bed. The only window was giving on a very well-kept garden that couldn't possibly be real considering the jammed borough St Mungo was situated. Beside the bed there was only a bedside table and two chairs, everything spotless.
'Actually, it was a magic polishing. If you rub it on your broom, it makes the broom and the owner invisible for a limited time' he said primly still caressing absent minded Jude's hair.
'But that's brilliant!' Harry exclaimed eager sitting up suddenly very attentive.
'I know, right?' George grinned smug.
'I could have a ride during daytime without worry!'
'Exactly! The market is gonna be huge! I'm having only a little flaw around the tail, you know the Firebolt use that hay… Which by the way I find totally unsuitable for a broom of that kind…' he continued with a frown.
Harry was nodding totally immersed in the technical 'I know, I know, it works fine in speed, but if you want to slalom a bit or in the elbow turn it can get a bit tricky.' He said tilting his head and mimicking the turn in question with his hands.
'Totally agree and, what more, it's just not compatible with my polishing. I must find…'
'Hoy!' Ginny interjected interrupting the flow of their excited words 'You'll talk about it later. What happened George?! What about your hands?'
He stopped in his track 'My hands?' he asked looking at them as if only at that moment realising they were out of use 'Nothing really, there had been a reaction between two ingredients I didn't exactly foresee, and the whole thing exploded in my hands. The healer gave me a balm to put on it twice a day and it should be fine in no time. I must keep the bandage on though, it's infectious apparently' he said staring concernedly at his hands 'I can take them off only for the balm.'
Just when Molly was saying mollified 'You should come at the Burrow', Jude, who at that point had calmed down and was mopping her eyes with her handkerchief, suggested sniffing 'I can help you out. Gregory is out of town until Wednesday'
The scowl returned in full form, but Jude was barely registering her presence concentrated on George, eyes still suffused with tears.
'Emh… Right… We'll see… I don't want to trouble you…' he said smiling uneasy with a flickering glance to Molly who was livid observing careful each and every of their move.
'It's not a problem, Georgie. My toothbrush is there already. I just need to grasp a few things' she said pecking his lips which instantly made both Ginny and Molly lurch to attention 'I'll go now, I've got the keys in my bag. I'll wait for you there.'
Ginny and Molly followed her out the room hawk-like.
'Who is she, George?' Molly asked threateningly as soon as she was out of sight.
'I told you, my sale assistant...' he replied with a small voice backing against the pillow.
'I'm not an expert but I don't think sale assistant have usually the keys of their boss' flat. Not even the toothbrush at their place' she said minacious.
'How old is she?' Ginny asked in exactly the same posture as Molly and with exactly the same shade of lividness.
'I don't think it's anybody busin..' George tried boldly to retort.
'How old?' Ginny shouted covering his words.
'Twenty-f….nine!' he gushed.
'Is she married? Who's Gregory?' Molly got close to the bed towering on him shouldered by Ginny.
'Ok, right…' Harry said standing up, sensing in the air the storm and wanting to be out of the room before it hit 'I see you are very well and all' he said brightly to George.
George shot him a terrified look 'Are you going?'
'Yup exactly, must dash, sorry' he gabbled pecking quickly Ginny who didn't even notice all taken by incinerating George with her glare 'You are in good hands anyway'
'Yes, and you are a…' 'George!' Molly admonished divining that the next word couldn't be a flattering one.
Harry sniggered 'See yah! And say hello to Jude!' he said with a smirk getting back the word George hadn't been able to pronounce in the previous sentence accompanied by a friendly grin.
'GEORGE!' Molly warned him 'If I hear that again…'
'Mum, for god's sake, I'm forty, I think I earned the right to…'
'You didn't earn any right whatsoever! And you never will until I'm your mother. I don't want to hear you using that kind of language in front of me again! And you will get rid of that girl immediately as soon as you are back at home'
Harry was getting out of the room by then, but he still heard George replying wittily 'Why should I do that? She does her job so well…'
The echo of Molly's shout reverberated in the whole corridor.