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Author: Erica Evans Story: Secrets That Were Kept Rating: Young Teens Setting: AU Status: WIP Reviews: 0 Words: 38,764
"I'm coming, I'm coming," he exhaled, racing down the stairs and tying his tie at the same time. He raced into the kitchen, grabbed something and then ran back up the stairs. Ginny glanced down at the letter in her hand. ......One more thing, in America, people of magic generally stray away from the robes. I noticed when I was there that it seems to be a fading tradition in England as well. I noticed many just wore robes as coats and cloaks, but here we frankly don't wear them at all........ After Harry had read this he had insisted that the entire family go out and buy new Muggle clothing. Ginny felt much lighter and feminine in the summer dresses they had bought. "Harry! Ron and Hermione will be here any moment!" she cried at him. Ginny abandoned her attempts to hurry him along and went to check on her own children. Ron, Hermione and their children Paul, Caitlin, and twins Andslen and Abanine were all coming with them to the United States. Harry had dragged his best friends' family along with his own on his shopping spree. He wanted everyone to be comfortable. Hermione and Ron were first coming to their house with their children and then they were all going to travel by Floo Powder to the Distance Jumper Station. It would be too difficult to use a Portkey or Floo Powder to travel to the United States. They had booked eleven spaces on a Distance Jumper to the United States and it left in forty minutes. "Boys, are you ready?" Ginny asked hopefully, walking into Darenn's room. "Yeah, Mum. We've just put the last bit in," James said. Ginny looked at the trunk. Both boys had to sit on it to get it shut. "There, see, I told you they would fit," Darenn announced, getting off his brother's trunk clearly pleased with himself. James simply shrugged and hoped off as well. "So Mum when do we..." James started, but was stopped by his trunk flying open and things falling to the floor. "What is this?" Ginny asked, picking up a small yellow round yo-yo. "That, um..." James said. "Is this one of those trick yo-yos?" Ginny asked, eyeing them. "Well, it, um..." Darenn muttered. "One of those Screaming Yo-Yo's from Zonko's?" she asked again. James and Darenn looked at each other. "We're sorry, Mum," James said. "But you see, Uncle George told us to bring some fun stuff," Darenn started. "When we went to America," James finished. "We just wanted to have some fun," Darenn said, pouting slightly. Ginny looked at them. George was going to hear about this. She smiled and laughed to herself. "Well, as long as your father doesn't see them," she began and her son's faces perked up. "Oh thanks, Mum!" James cried and scooped up a handful of other joke items that had fallen from the overstuffed trunk. "And if your father doesn't find out that I said it was okay," Ginny said mischievously, and left the room. She walked back down the hall and something collided with her legs, nearly knocking her over. "Oh!" she gasped, steadying herself and looked to see what had run into her. Sitting at the base of her legs looking up at her was a little red haired girl with a huge smile upon her face. "Abanine Weasley!" Ginny heard Hermione cry coming into the hallway. "I'm a Blugger, Mummy!" the little girl cried getting up. "I had to smack into Auntie Ginny 'cause she's the Chaser!" "Abby, sweetie, do you remember what we talked about?" Hermione said, picking her daughter up. "The Kidditch match is on time out while we're at Uncle Harry and Auntie Ginny's," said a little boy identical to the little girl, coming out from behind Hermione. "That's right, we're on a time out so Daddy can Charm Master everything!" Abby cried from her mother's arms. "Yep, so we have to be quiet so Daddy can work, right?" Hermione asked. "Oh, that's right!" she whispered as Hermione put her down. She scampered off down the hall with her brother, leaving Ginny and Hermione behind. "Quidditch match?" Ginny asked, eyeing Hermione. "Oh, Abby and Andy have been playing 'Quidditch Match' for days and the only way to get them to stop is to tell them that Ron has to work," Hermione explained as the walked back into the sitting room. "Honest, the mind of the six year old amazes me." Ginny laughed and sat down next to her on the couch. Ron was the Head Charm Master for the Department of Magical Games and Sports. He was in charge of all the precaution charms regarding the Quidditch balls and stadiums and he worked closely with the Department for Wizarding Secrecy. "Where is Ron?" Ginny asked, realizing she hadn't seen her brother yet. "He's coming," Hermione replied. "I came through with Abby and Andy to get them out of the way. He'll be along soon with Paul, Caitlin and the trunks." "So how have you been?" Ginny asked. Hermione looked exhausted. "Well, life was definitely quieter before Paul came home," Hermione replied. Paul was the same year as Darenn at Hogwarts. "I'll agree with that!" Ginny agreed, laughing. "James and Darenn have been nice to have around, but they are certainty different from Reagan." "Boys usually are," Hermione said laughing. "Yeah, do you remember how Ron and Harry were?" Ginny asked. "Were?" Hermione giggled. "How about still are. Just don't let Harry say anything about the Cannon's depressing season, and we'll all have a lovely holiday." "Yeah, and I think we all learned not to say anything bad about Harry's Aurors," Ginny laughed. "Yeah, he might Stun us or something," Hermione said trying to suppress her laughter. "But in all fairness, Harry does have a splendid team of Aurors and he is excellent at what he does." "And Ron is an excellent Charm Master," Ginny said trying to calm down. "But," Hermione said. "Neither of them have changed much." "True, they're both still hopeless and foolhardy," Ginny said, smiling at her sister-in-law. "And stubborn and impulsive," Hermione said grinning back. "And supportive and loving," Harry said from behind them. Both women jumped and turned around. "And caring and affectionate," Ron said walking up next to Harry. "Harry, are you about ready to go?" Ginny asked, getting up from the couch. "Yeah, I am," he grinned at her. "Am I really that hopeless?" "Oh, now we both know the truth in that," Ginny said kissing his cheek. Hermione patted Ron on the back and they left the room. "What are we going to do with those girls?" Ron asked, shaking his head. "What we always do," Harry said, looking towards the fireplace. "Can we win?" "Have we ever?" Ron laughed. "Then I doubt there's much we can do about them," Harry chuckled shaking his head. He heard a faint pop and Ron's son, Paul, was standing in the fireplace holding a trunk. "Is Caitlin coming?" Ron asked, helping his son from the fireplace. "Yeah, she is," Paul replied, brushing off his robes. He looked up at Harry and grinned. "Hi ya Uncle Harry!" Paul said. "Hi Paul," Harry replied, taking the trunk from him. "James and Darenn will help with the rest of trunks." "Okay, I'll go get 'em!" he replied eagerly. "You know I think our children are more excited about this than we are," Harry said, turning to Ron. "Yeah, we tried to explain to Abby and Andy that America wasn't in my mother's garden," Ron said. "They still don't get it." "Well, the Distance Jumper will be an experience for them," Harry said and then suddenly realized that they were going to be late for their trip. "Harry, we'll make it," Ron said, seeing the horror on his friend's face. "Let's just hurry to make sure," Harry replied as he left the room. He passed James and Darenn in the hall on their way to get the rest of Ron's trunks and Harry went to get their trunks. "Ginny!" Harry cried from James' room. "Ginny! Come here please!" "Yes, Harry, what?" She asked looking quite annoyed. "Where is James' trunk?" he asked looking around the room. "It's in the study," she replied, folding her arms. "And Darenn's?" he asked. "It's in the study." "Oh. Well, I wanted to make sure everything was going okay," Harry said, trying to cover up for his over reaction over nothing. "Harry," Ginny said, coming over to him. "You need to calm down." "I know," he sighed. Ginny put her arms around him and he sank into her arms. "But we do need to go," she said, staggering under his weight. "I know," he sighed and straightened. She flashed him a smile and left the room. "Pull yourself together, Potter," Harry said to himself. "You fought Voldemort, you can definitely do this." "Okay, we need to get through to Kings Cross as quickly as possible," Ginny said as Harry walked into the study. Hermione was standing holding Abby's hand and Ron was holding Andy's hand. James, Darenn and Paul were fidgeting excitedly and Reagan and Caitlin were trying to pay attention. "Harry! So nice of you to join us!" Ron said, patting him on the back. "Are we all ready to go?" Harry asked, looking anxiously at them. After a few eager nods they turned towards the fireplace. The fireplace in the study was the one that was used for their formal travel; the fireplace in the sitting room was used for casual traveling and for family and friends. "Ron, you'll go first with Andy," Ginny instructed. "And next will be James, Darenn and Paul with your trunks." As she said this each took their turn in the fireplace yelling "Kings Cross!" as they stepped into the flames. Harry watched as each person disappeared into the fireplace. "Harry, take a trunk and Apparate to meet everyone at Kings Cross," Ginny said motioning towards a trunk. "Are you Apparating also?" He asked and kissed her cheek. "Yes, Harry, I'll be right behind you," she said, smiling at him. He stepped back, holding the trunk in one hand and waved his wand with the other. For a brief moment he felt the familiar floating sensation that Apparating gave its caster. But as soon as he realized it was happening, it was over and he was standing in a large room in Kings Cross Station. Luckily, everyone made it to Kings Cross Station without any problems, though Ginny didn't think Harry could take much more. The Distance Jumper Station was a long platform towards the end of Kings Cross Station, on the wizarding side. Harry led the way towards the ticket counter with his family trotting along behind him. He smiled and handed the man at the counter their tickets. "There ya go, Mr..." the man said looking up at Harry. "Mr. Potter." "Thank you," Harry said, taking the tickets back from the man. "You're very welcome," he said. "You don't remember me, do ya?" "Excuse me?" Harry asked. "Morgon Quiggley, Mr. Potter," he said shaking his hand. "I was in me first year when you was in your seventh. Can't expect you to remember me all that well. Why, I even considered trying out for Quidditch, but I wasn't half the Seeker you were!" He nudged Harry on the arm at this and smiled brightly at Harry before turning to the rest of them. "Well, aren't we bringing the whole family along today!" "Yes, well, we do need to be off," Harry said looking towards the Jumper Gates. "Well, if I don't believe my eyes! I have not one, but two Weasley's here at my counter. Isn't this a grand day!" He shook Ron's hand vigorously and turned to Ginny. "Miss Ginny Weasley, I do remember you. I have to admit that I had the biggest crush on you until the end of my second year when you finished school. It certainty is a pleasure to see you again." "It's Ginny Potter now," she said pulling her hand away from Morgon's lips as he pulled them close to kiss them. Harry giggled to himself and he saw James snicker at Morgon as well. "Yes, well," Morgon said, smiling sheepishly. He looked past Ginny and turned his googly eyes to Hermione. "And if it isn't Hermione Granger," he said, shaking her hand. "Yes, and you're making us late for our trip," she said sternly, taking her hand back. She pushed towards the front of their group and lead the way with Harry close at her heals. "It was nice to see you all again!" Morgon called from behind them. "Man, was he creepy," James said to Paul. "Yeah, did he see the way he was looking at your mum?" Paul asked squeamishly. Both boys shuddered and continued to follow their parents. "Okay, this is our gate," Harry said stopping in front of a door marked Gate 3. "Are you Potter and Weasley, Jump 6132?" the employee said. "Yes, that's us," Harry said quickly, trying to avoid another run in with a former Hogwarts student. He smiled and ushered them into the Distance Jumper. "Wow, this is cool," Reagan said, following closely behind her father. They had walked into a room with five long pews in the middle. Harry watched as Reagan traced her finger along the back of the wooden bench and took her seat next to him. The peculiar thing about this room was the walls and the ceiling, or the lack of them. A thick metallic silver goo was glistening, covering the walls from ceiling to floor. They all settled down and watched as the employee described to them how the Distance Jumper worked. "Distance Jumpers work in the same way as Apparating. The Jump Master will say the incantation and all the contents of the room are transported instantly to another location. In your case you will end up in San Francisco, California." He turned to the metallic goo in front of him and touched it with his wand, muttering something. He turned back to Harry and his family and smiled. "Have a nice trip," he said and walked through the goo in the direction that they had entered from. "This is defiantly interesting," James said. "I wonder what this stuff is," Paul pondered looking around. "Don't touch it," Hermione said as he reached out towards the wall. "You'll mess up the spell he just placed." Paul looked questioningly at James and shrugged his shoulders. Harry laughed to himself; he was used to Hermione's know-it-all attitude. "Daddy, do they have Quidditch in America?" Andy asked. "Yes, they do. But not everyone loves it as much as we do," Ron answered patting his youngest son on the knee. "But we brought our own set so we can teach your new cousins, just in case they don't know how." The little boy smiled and nodded in approval. "Dad, when is something going to happen?" Darenn asked, looking at Harry. "Just wait, it's almost done," Harry said reassuringly. Everyone sort of looked around, wondering when something was going to happen. No more than a few minutes went by when a young blond woman walked through the metallic goo. "Oh, no, is something wrong?" Ron groaned. "No, Ron everything is fine," Harry answered. "Welcome," the young woman said. "My name is Suzanne and I am please to be the first to welcome you to the United States." Ron wore an expression of total confusion and Ginny looked at Harry questioningly. "You mean its over?" James asked, astonished. "Yes, you arrived just a moment ago," Suzanne replied. As she spoke two young men came through the goo and began to move their trunks to the other side. "When...?" Ron asked, looking at Harry. "Didn't you feel the tingling sensation running through your body a moment ago?" Harry asked, standing up. "Yeah, but I just thought it was nerves," Ron answered. "Well, that was us Jumping to California," Harry explained. Everyone looked at him like he was crazy. "We just all Jumped from London to California. That was the spell that the man put on the inside of the room. He did the first part inside, to secure the room and then the Jump Master finished it on the other side. We were instantly transported here. It's the same principle as Apparating." Harry had forgotten that he was the only one that had ever used a Distance Jumper. He had to use them all the time when he traveled with the Aurors, so he was quite used to them. "Come on," he said and stepped through the goo with everyone staring at his back in amazement.
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