Chapter 13:
*Two Months After the Weekly Prophet's First Edition*
"Good morning, the usual?" Dudley stepped forward to the booth. Patrick, the older gentleman who ran the newsstand smiled, waving The Weekly Prophet.
"Yes, please." Dudley and Patrick exchanged money before Dudley carefully rolled the pamphlets under his arm to keep safe. As he entered his work building, Alice, the secretary greeted him.
"Morning, Alice." Dudley said handing her a pamphlet.
"Thank you." Alice took the pamphlet while lifting the tape dispenser.
"Anything good?" Dudley asked as he taped the edges of two pamphlets. He had yet to actually read the pamphlets, that was saved for his office.
"Yea, I guess it's the anniversary of their war's end. Said to expect fireworks. Love fireworks, will have to look for them this Friday." Alice smiled holding the pamphlet up for Dudley to see the moving photos of past years fireworks.
"Probably around London." Dudley nodded, as he picked up his briefcase, the rolled pamphlets and two taped pamphlets in the most ungraceful manner. When in the elevator, he waited for the doors to close before removing the previous weeks pamphlets and added the new ones. Dudley then waddled down the hall to the lunch room leaving two on the table. He pinned another to the wall above the coffee pot before retreating to his desk, to read the last Weekly Prophet he bought.
Harry stood in front of the mirror feeling tense. He had his black wizard robes on, something he hadn't worn in a long time. He kept adjusting them and pulling at his sleeves as if they were too short. Tonight, hundreds of witches and wizards had agreed to leave their homes dressed in traditional magical clothes. They would be recognized immediately as witches and wizards by the muggles. Harry of course understood Kingsley's idea, show the wizarding world peacefully celebrating together with the announcement of fireworks in the Weekly prophet. This still made Harry on edge. He did not typically go out on this night. Normally the family stayed at the Burrow for dinner, drinks and fireworks. These fireworks of course by George.
Teddy and James came flying into his room, pushing his worries to the back for now. Teddy spun around to show his brand-new robes. He had enjoyed going to Madam Malkins in Diagon Alley as these were truly his first robes. Harry and Ginny had spent the last few years focusing on looking as muggle as possible.
Harry couldn't help but laugh as Teddy told him all about the fireworks, again, after Harry had told him a few hours earlier. Teddy explained about all his favorites done by Uncle George, and how he hoped they'd happen tonight as the boys walked down the stairs. Harry led the two to the couch where they continued to jump in anticipation.
It took a few minutes for Harry and Ginny to calm them down. They were nervous, even knowing the auror presence would be tripled this year. They explained to the boys the safety rules, before moving to their backyard to apparate. The family appeared a few streets away from Diagon Alley. As they approached the main street, they were surprised to see the street crowned with people and vendors, both muggle and wizarding. The nearest vendor was to their right in a food truck. The man inside shouting "pizza". Next to his truck was a wizarding man selling hats that magically changed colors. The family moved slowly into the large crowd. They passed a muggle vendor selling plastic toy wands that shot out lights from plastic streams. Surprisingly he had mostly wizard children in line with their parents, looking at the foreign muggle 'wands'.
Harry smiled as he watched the groups seamlessly mingle. As they approached the meeting spot, he saw Hermione talking with her parents and he assumed other members of her muggle family. Coming closer to his family, he wondered how many muggles here were related to witches and wizards like Hermione's family.
After Hermione introduced him to her Aunt Carol and Uncle Daniel, he turned to Ron who held little Rosie in a muggle carrier strapped to his front. Ron gently bounced as the three-month-old stared at him with her bright blue eyes. Ron looked both thrilled and exhausted as he carried his daughter.
"Say hi Uncle Harry." Harry awkwardly waved at Rosie, who gave a look clearly inherited from her father. Harry laughed as Hermione called to Ron, pointing towards the rest of the Weasleys approaching. For the next hour the very large family moved through the crowds. Teddy, James, Victorie and Dominique had their face painted by two muggle women. Next, they jumped in a large bouncy house. Victorie and another girl enjoyed jumping together, before waving their good byes.
When Harry was in the fried dough line waiting with Teddy, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He assumed it was a Weasley or someone wanting to thank him again for defeating Voldemort. Instead, he turned to face his cousin.
"Dudley!"
"Hey, I was hoping to find you here." Dudley pulled Harry into a hug. "It's great to see you. I haven't heard from you in a while. Everything ok?"
"Yea, just so much going on recently. You remember Teddy, right?" Harry ruffled Teddy's blue hair.
"I do, it's great to see you again Teddy." The two men caught up as they moved through the line and grabbed fried dough for their families. Dudley chuckled as Teddy viciously added powdered sugar to his dough.
Harry and Teddy followed Dudley with their trays to where Victoria sat with their children. After a quick hello, Harry lead them to where the Weasleys had set up camp on a small hill overlooking the park. The Dursleys joined the Potters on their blanket. As Emily took her first bite, Victorie came running over to point out they both had butterflies painted on their faces. Not wanting to be far from his daughter, Bill came to join them from his blanket. Bill expressed his delight at the number of muggles who joined and how thrilled he was that there didn't seem to be any issues so far. Dudley explained that he had seen a man being taken away from the crowd when they first arrived and that he knew a few police officers where keeping watch in the parking lot they had come from. As smoothly as the night had seemed, there had been some arrests and a few people, removed from the premise. As the firework time came closer, Mrs. Weasley pulled out brownies she had made for everyone. The kids began running around the blankets together and when Emily suggested TV tag the group came to a halt, listening intensely to a game they had never heard of.
The children ran back to their parents as Kingsley's voice echoed throughout the park. Harry could not see him, but knew he'd be using his wand as a microphone.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank each and every one of you for attending our celebration tonight. We celebrate tonight the eighth anniversary of the end of the war against Voldemort." A large cheer emerged from the crowd with many releasing multi-colored sparks into the air.
"I don't need to remind you, of the loved ones we lost all those years ago. But instead ask that we all take a minute of silence to remember them and the sacrifices they made." During the moment of silence Harry could not focus, he could hear a commotion happening to their left. Two aurors he worked with her dragging a muggle away from the park. He held a large sign that was being dragged with him.
"Thank you. Now let the celebration continue." As Kingsley finished the first firework rose quickly in the sky. Ginny, along with a few other adults, placed quieting spells over the children's heads. Harry was pleased to see that when she offered Emily the same, she stepped forward without hesitation or fear. Harry enjoyed the large firework display, but still missed their traditional family evening. After tonight he knew it might be difficult convincing Teddy to return to such a relaxed night, especially as his hair was changing colors with the fireworks. As the fireworks continued, Harry felt Dudley tap on his shoulder again. He pointed between his son Daniel and Teddy. Daniel was nearly ignoring the fireworks and starring in amazement at Teddy's changing hair. Harry laughed, causing Teddy to turn to him before moving back to the dragon shaped firework taking form in from of them.
"Good morning!" Kingsley said happily as he entered the dining room at Grimmauld Palace.
"You're looking cheerful today." Bill smiled.
"Yea, celebrating well into the night?" George smiled. George and Angelica both tried to ignore their alcohol induced migraines. The two had stayed out late and truth be told, neither made it to their bed that night. Angelica fell asleep with her feet over the top of the couch and George slept sprawled out on the coffee table.
"I am, I am!" Kingsley dropped multiple muggle newspapers on the table before flying them towards the group.
London Telegraph
This week Memorial Hospital made an astounding announcement; an inhouse quadriplegia patient has walked for the first time in 15 years. Elijiah Jefferson, 32, was hit by a drunk driver shortly before his 18th birthday. Elijiah had dropped off two friends on Elm Street before turning onto Birch Street, where he was hit by a large SUV that ran a red light. Elijiah's civic was totaled and Elijiah had to be cut out with the jaws of life. After waking from a four week medically induced coma, Elijiah awoke to realize he could not move.
Seven weeks ago, a wizard doctor approached the hospital Elijiah was at. This doctor gave multiple potions to the hospital, one called an Anti-Paralysis Potion. Dr. Brooks, Elijiah's doctor, was one of the doctors in the room when the wizard doctor visited. After a serious discussion, the two decided to try the potion.
"After the first potion, I was devastated because it didn't work right away. It wasn't until the second day I angrily went to lift my hand and realized it moved." Elijiah told the London Telegraph. After each potion, Elijiah felt his muscles rejuvenate and soon was able to wiggle his toes. "I cried when I saw I could move my toes. My parents cried. My brother cried. It was unbelievable." With the help from Dr. Brooks, a physical therapist who wished to be unnamed, and a walker, Elijiah took his first three steps in 15 years.