Ch 53 Up to the ICWW
It was six in the morning, Monday May sixth, and Ginny was awakened by Mitzi bringing Gregory in to nurse. Seven hours of sleep? She couldn't remember getting seven hours of sleep, not since Monica and Gregory were born. Her breasts were bursting with milk, and as Gregory eagerly attack one the other started to leak.
Nursing was much more complicated than most men realized.
A good night's sleep! Ginny felt a little guilty that she felt so good after a good night's sleep.
Harry Potter awoke to the sounds of Gregory nursing, Ginny lovingly looking at Gregory.
"I didn't have to nurse in the middle of the night," Ginny told Harry. "I feel awake."
"That's good," Harry replied. He checked his mobile for messages.
"William Lionheart III was born 5:33 this morning. Everybody is healthy, although tired. They are going to call him Will." The message was from Donna Lionheart.
"Lily had her baby this morning," Harry told Ginny. "William Lionheart the third. They are going to call him Will. Donna Lionheart says everybody is healthy, although tired."
"When?" Ginny wondered.
"Five-thirty-three this morning," Harry replied.
"I guess everybody is tired, including Donna," Ginny grinned. "Both of her grandchildren by Lily were born in the early hours of the morning."
"I have left a message at the office that I will not be in today," Harry let Ginny know. "I am going to contact Fr. Lewis to arrange a funeral. I am glad that I had Monica baptized, although Fr. Lewis would have allowed a funeral in any case. The Wizarding Christian Church was in a very awkward position when Christians were burning witches at the stake and the like, and they agreed to burials and even funerals of sorts even for the unbaptized."
"When they built the columbarium at St. Merlin and Mungo's for cremated remains I had to face my mortality again," Ginny frowned. "Our names are on the wall, at a niche where we will be buried, just lacking dates of death. We will have to add Monica Jane's name if she is going to be buried with us."
"I like the idea that we have one box where our remains will be put," Harry noted. "We will spend eternity together. At least our ashes."
Ginny looked at the cot where Monica had last slept, and at the small nappies on the changing table in their bedroom. Gregory was not a large baby, but he was in much larger clothes, and had slept in the next door nursery for months. Monica's health had been too fragile to leave her alone her entire life.
Ginny was relieved that she would not be quite so tied down, and felt very guilty that she was relieved. As Harry winded Gregory he saw Ginny staring morosely at the little cot.
"I will get Minerva up, and we can go down for breakfast," Harry told Ginny. She nodded, so Harry ran up to Minerva's room and to find her still sleeping.
"Good morning, Minerva," Harry said, loud enough to wake Minerva.
"I had a hard time getting to sleep last night," Minerva told her father. "What do we do now?"
"I am going to see if we can have a funeral tomorrow, but you should probably go to school today," Harry replied.
"Just like nothing happened?" Minerva wondered, eyes wide open, shaking her head.
"Maybe you can come with us, if you would prefer," Harry replied. "Dress and have breakfast with us."
"Yes, father," Minerva agreed.
Monday afternoon Harry and Ginny went over to see Fr. Lewis and plan the funeral for Monica Jane. Minerva stayed with her parents and little brother that morning, but the whole family went over to the New Burrow for lunch, and the Potters' youngest two stayed with Molly and the extended family that was teaching the younger members of the family that afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon the family gathered for the funeral. Monica's cremated remains were emptied from the bag where they had been gathered, and put into the box that would, when they died, contain the ashes of Harry and Ginny. Lily was there with little Will.
The family stayed and talked for about half an hour after the funeral. As they were ready to leave "I should be able to go to a game, and help you with the column this weekend," Lily told her mother. "I think I could even take care of the scores if I had to. My midwitch doesn't want me going on interviews, but said I was a healthy young witch and could help this weekend."
"That would be nice," Ginny replied. "How are you? I'm sorry I haven't been able to be more help the last months."
"I'm fine," Lily replied. "Mum Lionheart has been a tremendous amount of help. We were all ready for the baby. Grandmother has helped too. I really didn't need your help, except for the Quidditch column, and you were busy with Monica Jane."
Ginny went home, and reflected on the last months. They had been almost all about Monica. She had used Lily, and thanked her, but really had not been part of her life except for the Quidditch column. She had little idea of what else had been going on in the world.
Ginny asked Harry, "Have you spent much time with Lily the last few months?"
"When she has not been working on the Quidditch columns she has been spending time with Donna Lionheart and Molly," Harry replied. "Also with Erica, and she and Rich Hudson have been writing about the Weasley and Potter families. They have written extensively about the Potter and Lionheart families and personal interest stories about the Chudley Cannons, promoting the team and its members. With photographs. They even had an article and photographs of Lily and Will."
"I assumed you have read their columns in the Prophet."
Ginny was close to tears. "No, I haven't. I think I've been exhausted physically and mentally since Monica was born," she admitted. "It is like I haven't been there for you or Gregory or anyone. I don't think I have done justice to the Quidditch columns, and didn't have the energy to read anything else."
"You did the best you could in a very difficult situation," Harry consoled his wife. He took her into his arms, and they kissed. They spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with Gregory, or talking about what Harry had been doing, but mostly just being together.
Wednesday morning there was an announcement in the Daily Prophet.
Due to the Death of Ginny Potter's daughter Monica Jane, and the birth of Lily Luna Lionheart's son William Lionheart III., there will not be the usual Quidditch columns this week. Mrs. Lionheart expects to have at least the scores, and maybe some additional commentary, for the Sunday Prophet this week.
Ginny looked at the announcement. Lily must have taken care of that. What else had Lily taken care of that she didn't know about? She hadn't even seen the articles Lily and Rich had been working on.
Ginny had been going to the New Burrow most mornings, so she could get help taking care of Gregory as she concentrated on Monica. So she left for the New Burrow at her usual time, not sure what else to do. Molly greeted her. Ginny went into her mother's arms, and started to cry. The events of the past months, between the difficult pregnancy when they knew something was wrong, to Monica's birth and all the care she needed, to Lily being pregnant and, they argued some but really didn't fight, and Ginny just let the trauma of the last few months come out, sobbing in her mother's arms.
When she composed herself she was alone in the kitchen, with just her and her mother.
"I'm sorry," Ginny told her mother.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Molly let Ginny know. "You have had a most difficult few months, and you have every right to grieve and lament what you have lost."
"It is not just Monica, though," Ginny argued. "It is not paying enough attention to Gregory. It is using Lily but not really helping her. I'm her MOTHER, and I get the feeling that I abandon her to Donna Lionheart and you and, anybody but ME. I'm a horrible mother!"
"You are a wonderful mother," Molly countered. "You are also very lucky in having plenty of people around you to help. Donna Lionheart and Erica have done an excellent job of helping Lily grow up. In some ways I think it helps that they are not you."
"Where is everybody?" Ginny wondered.
"There are plenty of places for people to go around the New Burrow," Molly replied. "Between the three room school building, the living rooms on the main floor of the New Burrow and Potter's New Burrow, and the living room office area on the first floor that the Lupins use we have plenty of places where the various little people and their caregivers can go. It has taken a little more scheduling with all the little people we have now, but between Victoire and me we have taken care of it."
"Everybody left?" Ginny wondered.
"They could all see that you and I needed a little alone time," Molly replied. "They are all around the property somewhere."
"Harry told me that Lily and Rich Hudson have been writing articles, with photographs, and I have not even seen them," Ginny sniffed. "I have just been so overwhelmed, and …" Ginny looked sad, close to tears.
"Oh, I've saved most of the articles," Molly replied. "They are not very well organized, but I've most of them." Molly waved her wand, and a large book flew into Molly's hand. "They are just in chronological order, so finding something can be a little hard sometimes," Molly noted.
Molly and Ginny spent well over an hour going through the book, reading some of the articles.
Finally, Ginny told Molly, "I need to compliment Lily on these articles. Do most of the articles run next to advertising for Cannon's merchandise?"
"Yes, Lily has really worked on that. I don't think Lily has paid for any clothing since she found out she could get it for free if it is used in advertising," Molly laughed. "She needed almost all new clothes after becoming pregnant. She is getting baby clothes from Erica as James grows out of them, but she and Erica are just totally differently shaped. Erica is taller and thin, and Lily is like you, very short but bigger around everywhere."
"She became pretty big around on top when she became pregnant, just like I did," Ginny reflected. "If she is like us she is not going to get her old shape back either. I can believe that nothing she had before fits, and it probably won't."
"So now everything she wears has the Cannons logo on it," Molly laughed. "She and now Will are walking adverts for the Cannons. You can even buy nappies with the Cannons logo on it."
"Gross," Ginny made a face. "I ought to see her and compliment her on all this."
"Call her," Molly suggested.
So Ginny took out her mobile and called Lily.
"Hello, mum. How are you?"
"I'm over at the New Burrow talking to your grandmother, and looking at all your articles in the Prophet about the family and the human interest stories about the Cannons. They are fantastic!"
"Rich Hudson has helped. We are writing them together, but I am learning a whole lot about writing for publication. I like writing copy for adverts, too, although I wouldn't want to do it full time."
"Where are you now?"
"At the apartment. Donna is here, and we are washing and folding clothes. I cannot believe how many clothes a little baby goes through! Going anywhere with a baby is complicated!"
"I don't think I've ever been to your apartment, Lily. I'm sorry. I've just been so busy and …"
"Come on over, mum! It is small, but we've made it home. Maybe Will will be awake when you are here. Floo to the William and Lily Lionheart house."
"Lily wants me to go over to see her," Ginny told Molly.
"You had better get Gregory first," Molly replied. She did something on her mobile, and a short time later Lucy came into the kitchen carrying Gregory, who was sleeping.
Ginny took Gregory, and took the Floo to the William and Lily Lionheart house.
"How are you doing, Lily?" Ginny asked as she came through the Floo.
"Short of sleep," Lily frowned. "Daddy told Billy how he gets up in the middle of the night to change the baby and give it to you to nurse, and then change the baby again after nursing. But Billy sleeps right through the baby waking up half the time. He tries, but I'm up doing everything half the time. And I'm trying to take naps during the day. Donna says it will get better."
"I like your apartment, Lily," Ginny told her daughter.
"It's better than when I moved in," Lily frowned. "Billy really didn't have much, and didn't seem to want to decorate or do much. We needed more furniture for my clothes and stuff. Plus, I needed a desk where I could work. That is my work area in the corner." Lily pointed to an area that included a desk. "I can use magic to expand or hide it, but I still had to buy it," she grumbled, making a face. "Furniture is expensive. Everything is expensive."
"Show Ginny the onesies' you have received from Erica," Donna told Lily.
Lily showed Ginny several little garments. Like practically every item of clothing they had a Cannons logo in it. On the front they said 'Will', and on the back they said 'William Lionheart III'. "I received them from Erica," Lily told her mother. "They said 'Snitch' on the front and 'James Sirius Potter Jr.' on the back, but the Middy tailors took out the writing for James and put in the writing for Will. We have a little advert for that for them too, so I talked them into doing it for free."
"What doesn't have Cannon logos on them?" Ginny wondered.
"Bras and knickers," Lily grumbled. "I offered, but no one took me seriously. I thought we could do an advert with Billy in Cannons boxers, and me in a Cannon bra and knickers, but I didn't get too far. For some reason everybody laughed when I suggested it."
Ginny thought that it was very like Lily, not to know when she was pushing things too far. She shook her head, looking at Donna Lionheart, who laughed back.
"You show less than in a two-piece bathing costume!" Lily protested.
"I guess the world of the Magi is just not ready for adverts for undergarments, not ones that show moving photographs," Ginny told her daughter.
You could tell by her expression that Lily was not convinced.
James Potter's Chudley Cannons lost in the first post season game in June, and their season was over. They won two-thirds of their games over the year, more in the spring season. They were still a little weak in reserve players, but the success of the team would, they hoped, allow them to recruit a couple of needed players.
Saturday June twenty-second, twenty-twenty-four, was the wedding of Ivana Romanoff and Hudson Jordan.
Friday Ivana came to Ginny concerned. "Some of the girls tell me that the first time should be the most fantastic experience, and others say it can hurt or be not very pleasant. I don't know what to expect or believe."
"It is your first time," Ginny replied. "Look at the book and do the spells they advise you do for the first time. Take your time, and tell Hudson to take his time. It will probably be a little awkward.
"Do you like to fly?"
"I don't mind," Ivana replied. "It is not my most favorite thing to do, but I can fly."
"Do you remember your first time on a broom?" Ginny kept on.
"It was pretty awkward," Ivana frowned.
"But it got better?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, much easier," Ivana agreed. "Sex is like that?"
"Not exactly," Ginny replied, "but it is a physical thing you do, and if you are patient with each other it should get more natural and easier. That is what a honeymoon is all about. Learning about your partner's body, and about your own, and how to enjoy each other."
Ivana blushed. "We've never seen each other naked. We've been pretty good, although it has become harder not to touch and let him touch and I'm looking forward to not having to stop."
"You will be fine," Ginny told her foster daughter. "Just be patient with each other."
Lily looked on as the large crowd gathered for the wedding. She could have had a large wedding, as big or bigger than the one for Ivana, but instead she had baby Will. Well, she had a loving husband, a career working with her mother that maybe had started too soon, but that suited her, and a healthy baby.
It may have been the best they could do under the circumstances, but the circumstances were not that bad. And they were going to be going on a honeymoon to Resort Cleo the next two weeks. She had never anticipated going on a honeymoon with a nursing baby along, but it was better than no vacation at all.
Lily looked at Victoire. Her baby had dropped, and Lily thought there would be another cousin soon. Lily wondered if Victoire would even make it through the wedding.
Sunday morning June twenty-third Harry and Ginny hosted Ivana and Hudson for breakfast before they left on their honeymoon on Resort Cleo. The couple had spent their wedding night in Ivana's room at Grimmauld Place. Lily, Bill and little Will were also there, as the two couples were going to Resort Cleo together. Also present were Ginny, Harry, Minerva and Gregory, but no one else.
Ivana sat next to Ginny and grinned. She whispered, "It was better the second time."
"Practice makes perfect," Ginny whispered. "Use the spells to keep from getting sore."
"I did," Ivana whispered. "It was rather natural this morning."
Ginny quietly showed Ivana three fingers. Ivana giggled, and nodded 'yes.'
The two witches composed themselves as breakfast was served.
After the couples left Ginny told Harry, "I think those two couples are going to enjoy this vacation."
"What were you and Ivana giggling about?" Harry wondered.
"She said the second time was easier than the first, and by this morning it was almost natural," Ginny laughed. "I don't think they had any problem consummating their marriage."
"What does consummating a marriage mean?" Minerva asked.
"A husband and wife have to love each other, kissing and more, after they are married," Ginny explained.
"And more?" Minerva asked, eyes wide open. "Are you going to tell me what the more is?"
"Yes," Ginny replied, "When you get older."
"I think it has to do with boy parts and girl parts," Minerva thought. "I've seen boy babies and girl babies. We are different down there. Is it fun?"
"Very enjoyable, if you are old enough and married and love each other," Ginny replied.
"Was Lily Luna old enough?" Minerva wondered.
"Just," Ginny replied, "although it would have been better if she had waited."
"I'm going to be a good girl and wait," Minerva huffed. "I love babies and want babies, but not when I should be in school."
Sunday June twenty-third Teddy and Victoire's second, a girl, Saturn, was born. Sunday afternoon, shortly after the big noon meal at the New Burrow, Teddy brought Victoire and Venus back from St. Mungo's. He took the two girls up to their quarters, before coming back down.
"Mother and daughter and fine, although a little tired," he told the assembly. "I'm going to spend the afternoon with them. Josefina, could you keep the rest of the flock down here until dinner? We will introduce their sister to the rest just before or after dinner."
Josefina nodded 'yes.'
Molly volunteered, "There is plenty of help to watch the children." Molly thought that this summer there would be two infant, but a whole flock of toddlers.
The first part of July was the annual gathering of Witches and Wizards. For a second year in a row Hermione was elected Chief Mugwump. The laws, standards, and agreements that the communities of Magi and Elf were living and operating under were continuing to undergo major changes, and the challenges of maintaining secrecy was becoming more and more difficult. Albus, Galadriel and Thorin were at the heart of most of the discussions.
"I've explained why it is Witches and Wizards, with Witch first," Albus explained for he thought the fiftieth time, as toward the end of the conference he was questioned again about putting the witches first. "I'm not a prince with a subordinate consort princess. I'm not even all that thrilled about being royalty of any sort, but because of the prophesies I am, we are, but even that will change in time."
The very conservative wizard objected, "But you are the one doing the governing, not that …" The wizard looked at Cleo, who was still in her usual colorful dress, being just as exuberant as was typical for her. The wizard whispered, realizing he was just about to insult Cleo, and politically that would not be the best thing to do. "You govern, not your wife."
"It is not that simple," Albus responded.
Cleo's major contribution was mostly to maintain peace. She was tall for a woman but nowhere near as tall as Willimena Van Lente, who towered over most of the males. There just seemed to be a lot of Cleo. When she put her hands on her hips and glared at you most of the beings attending the conference would try to calm down, rather than to have her confront them.
During one very contentious debate Cleo stormed over to the two groups. She took out both of her wands and examined the principal antagonists, fury in her bearing. The people involved cowered, and did their best to calmed down.
Dan Van Lente was watching, and he told Albus, "Mamma ain't happy ain't NOBODY happy!"
Albus laughed. Dan was really on to something. From then on when Cleo confronted beings who were arguing Albus, and eventually many others, called it a "Mamma ain't happy" moment. Cleo didn't have to be involved in the details to have a major influence on the beings there.
The evening after the major confrontation, as they were getting ready to go to bed, Cleo told Albus, "Your Aunt Hermione and many other beings have told me how much they appreciate me calming down people, confronting them when arguments get out of hand." She looked hard at Albus, obviously very frustrated. "The problem for me is that it is HARD, and hard on me, and when I am finished it takes me some time to calm down. I was supposed to nurse the babies right after, and I had the most horrible time trying to let my milk down. I finally had a healer help me with a spell and a potion."
"I keep having wizards complaining that you are not doing anything," Albus huffed. "What you do to calm down warring parties is maybe the most important thing someone does."
"I know it is important, but it is hard," Cleo confirmed.
Friday afternoon Raphael Vaud, the head of the Swiss Aurors, arose to speak. "At the last ICWW we agreed to establish a task force, an honor guard of sorts, to guard Cleopatra and Albus. I am here to report on the progress in establishing that honor guard."
Raphael took a moment to compose himself. "We are working on it. It has not been easy.
"First, I want to say that we have recruits from all over the world of the Magi, from every continent and almost every major country. For that we thank you. We wanted fifty Aurors. We have thirty fully trained Aurors who are working with us, and another thirty who are working to become qualified. We have also lost ten Aurors who found that being immediately available, within minutes, was too difficult. Being on the honor guard is a difficult and demanding honor, and we encouraged anyone who found being immediately available too difficult, for themselves, their families, their jobs, to resign. We expect we will not have any trouble keeping the ranks filled once we have every one trained, but even the first thirty are a long way from being ready, for reasons that are not their fault.
"It is reasonably easy to make a Portkey to transport you from one location to another. It is not at all easy to make Portkeys to follow not one but two people as movable destinations, for fifty other people. We have practiced with a couple of people numerous times, and have done three full mobilizations. The most charitable way to describe the results is that we have learned much, and have much more to learn.
"As head of the Swiss Aurors this honor guard is under my command. I promise you a yearly update at the ICWW, and if any of you have more questions or concerns someone in my office will do our best to answer you.
"Thank you."
Harry and the rest of the beings involved in security, Magi and Elf, always gave a sigh of relief when there was no obvious trouble at something like the ICWW. The security beings knew that there were beings outside who would torture or kill you if you let them, and the prophesies about The Lord of the Dementors was always on everybody's mind, but this ICWW was peaceful, except for the occasional arguments, and 'mother Cleo' seemed to have tamped down even those.
2023