|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Author: Grandma Kate Story: Ginny's Seventh Year at Hogwarts Rating: Everyone Setting: Post-DH Status: Completed Reviews: 7 Words: 48,775
The Harry Potter Universe belongs to J.K. Rowling. I’m just borrowing the characters for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended. A/N- Even as those who loved Fred still mourn for him, they each begin to realize that life must go on. This story is told from Molly’s Weasley’s point of view and continues from where Ginny’s Sixth Year at Hogwarts leaves off. It takes place the year after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, therefore eighteen years before the Epilogue.
They were both disappointed when they got a short note from Charlie and Kathleen, saying that they wouldn’t be able to be back in England for Christmas. Some of the dragons were sick and that Kathleen was writing another story that was about pirates instead of vampires because she thought all the actual vampires she met in Transylvania were too strange to write about. Molly immediately finished Charlie’s Christmas jumper and sent it and his birthday presents off to him in Romania. She bought him a small set of dishes and pans so that Kathleen could cook all their meals in his cabin instead of ever having to go to the mess hall to eat. ‘The way to Charlie’s heart is certainly through his stomach,’ she muttered. ‘Let’s see how Grandmother Prewett’s Twice Spice recipe works in Romania.’ She used Christmas paper to wrap a knee-length dragon-covered nightshirt for Charlie and a very frilly, sheer pink nightgown for Kathleen in. Last, she wrote ‘OPEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS’ on a package with her recipe for Charlie’s favorite spice biscuits along with a supply of the special blend of spices to put in them. Arthur teased her about her choice of ‘spicy’ presents. She said that she knew that Kathleen had taken several pounds of Charlie’s favorite Moonsickles coffee when she went to visit him so she didn’t think they needed anything else. Arthur just smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Arthur, Percy, and Kingsley joined Molly and several other committee members at a meeting in the conference room at WWN the following week. Kate explained that it had taken Nic, Steve, and Lee several days to condense the twenty-five minute Tell-a-Vision version of the Battle of Hogwarts into the under ten-minute YouTube format. She asked them to watch and give feedback about both versions. She was most concerned about the quality of the shorter one that she planned to upload on the Muggle YouTube site because it was a Muggle copy of the original Magical version. The viewers congratulated Kate, Nick, Lee, and Steve on making two excellent productions for different audiences. Kate wanted to wait until Boxing Day to show the longer magical version on the brand new Tell-a-Vision, which was just starting to transmit, because she was sure that the converter box to enable existing Magic Mirrors to receive the signal would be a popular Christmas gift. However, she thought that they should post the short version on YouTube as soon as possible. She and Steve had a spirited discussion about whether it would attract more Muggle and expatriate witch and wizard viewers if they posted their YouTube segment on the Director’s channel or on the Reporter’s channel. Steve insisted that the Reporter’s Channel was more appropriate and more widely viewed. He said some perfectly awful music videos were all that was currently on the Director’s Channel. Nic was very keen to write a script for a documentary about Voldemort’s use of The Dark Mark and Dementors as a Cause of Global Warming while Kate thought that they should finish the postproduction tasks of the Tell-a-Vision version of The Battle of Hogwarts before they attempted one on what she called ‘Climate Change’. Apple finally suggested that rather than a making a film about Dementor-caused pollution, that they next film an awards ceremony where Harry would receive The Order of Merlin, First Class. Kingsley was enthusiastic about that idea but told Molly that he thought he’d need her help to try to convince Harry to participate. The more Molly thought about an awards ceremony honoring Harry, the more she thought that it might be easier to convince him to cooperate if Ginny thought it was a good idea. For that reason, she decided to wait to bring the matter up after the Hogwarts Express brought her daughter home for the Christmas holidays on Friday, a week. As soon as Molly arrived back at The Burrow, she walked up to Fred’s grave to discuss the reenactment and the proposed Memorial and Awards Ceremony. It always helped her to sort out her thoughts when she had time to visit with Fred in that quiet spot. She hurried down to start dinner when the wind picked up. That night, George, Ron, and Harry stood when Arthur proposed a toast to their second son, who had turned twenty-six that day. As he always did on these occasions, George raised his glass twice, drinking with his left hand for himself and then shifting the goblet to his right hand for Fred. Molly caught his eye and nodded in approval. On the following Friday, Harry and Ron wanted to surprise Ginny and Hermione by being the only ones meeting their train, so Molly prepared a welcome home dinner instead of going to King’s Cross. She and Arthur had already strung the outdoor Muggle lights that he had charmed to light magically, but they were waiting for Ginny to be home to cut their tree and to decorate the house. It would be their first Christmas without Fred, so Molly found herself spending more time thinking about prior holidays. Nevertheless, she tried to put a good face on everything as she greeted Ginny and Harry when they Apparated to the path leading to The Burrow. Ginny ran toward her with Harry close behind. Molly kissed her daughter and then looked around. ‘Where’s Ron? Isn’t he coming home for dinner?’ ‘He wanted to be sure that Hermione got home safely,’ said Ginny. ‘He said not to wait dinner on him.’ ‘If he missed a meal, that’d be a first,’ laughed Molly. ‘I think it must be love.’ Arthur, Molly, Ginny, and Harry tucked in to a marvelous meal, followed by Harry’s favorite treacle tart, and talked about what was happening at Hogwarts and the Ministry. Molly told Ginny that the three of them had seen both versions of the Battle of Hogwarts and that they thought that they were equally good for their different purposes. Harry said that he knew that the still-missing witches and wizards needed reassurance that Voldemort could no longer hurt them, but he also commented that he was relieved that his acting career was over. Molly smiled but was glad that she had waited to explain the plan for him to receive the Order of Merlin to Ginny before she broached it with him. When they started talking about Christmas, Harry said that he wanted a small tree for the Pony Shed, as well as a big one at Andromeda’s for Teddy’s first Christmas. He and Ginny volunteered to chop a tree for The Burrow after they spent some time with Teddy on Saturday morning. They also said that they wanted to do the cleanup after dinner, so Molly and Arthur decided that they’d take an early night. ‘Those two are up to something,’ said Molly, as she and Arthur snuggled before going to sleep. ‘They haven’t seen much of each other while Ginny’s been off at Hogwarts,’ commented Arthur. ‘I remember what it was like during our seventh year. We were already planning our wedding by Christmas.’ ‘Do you suppose that’s what they’re doing?’ Molly suddenly remembered getting the impression that they were wearing rings when they first got back from buying Ginny’s school supplies. ‘I guess they’ll tell us when they want us to know.’ “That’s exactly what we did with our parents when we were their age,’ murmured Arthur, reaching for Molly’s magical pendant to see how warm it was. Saturday morning dawned clear so Ginny was eager to be off to see what Harry had done to make the Pony Shed more homelike. She ate some tea and toast, rather than the proper breakfast Molly had prepared. She told Molly that she could hardly wait to see Teddy. Harry said that his godson was crawling and pulling himself up on furniture and walking while he held on to it. Andromeda called it ‘cruising’. Molly and Arthur kissed her before she bundled up and took the Floo Connection to Harry’s. When they arrived back at The Burrow in the late afternoon, Harry and Ginny were levitating a huge evergreen tree. They said that they had left a small tree at Fred’s grave, as well. Arthur helped set the big one in place, expanding the ceiling a bit, so it would fit. Molly assured him that there was nothing but out-of-season clothes in the box room just above the tree. She was happy at the prospect that so many of her family would be at The Burrow on Sunday to help decorate. Bill and Fleur were coming, even though she was eight months pregnant and moved like a ship under full sail. Percy said that he would come for brunch but had errands to run afterward. Molly wondered again if Kate and Nic knew any appropriate young witches whom they could introduce to Percy. Molly remembered that he and Penelope Clearwater had dated in school, but that they apparently had lost track of each other when she went off to teach Arithmancy at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. The team that Angelina played for, Puddlemere United, was not in the play-offs this year so she would be able to come with George. Molly was sure that George would hang Fred’s ornaments. Ron planed to bring Hermione but he and George would have to leave to open the shop at 1 PM sharp because it was their busy season. Molly also looked forward to making biscuits with the rest of the witches. They could ice them when they were cool. Ron arrived back at The Burrow in time for dinner, saying that George had asked him to clear out for the night. Molly raised her eyebrows and Arthur winked back at her. Ginny and Harry were full of news about what Teddy had learned to do. Not only was he walking around while holding on to people and furniture, he had cut two teeth, and was trying to repeat what people said to him. Harry and Ginny were each trying to get him to say their names but had not yet succeeded. Ron left after dinner to visit with Hermione so Harry and Ginny did the cleanup again while Molly set some bread to rise for the brunch the next day. The next morning, Ginny was up early for her. She helped Molly shape the bread and get the eggs, sausages, and bacon ready to cook. As they worked together preparing the food for the family brunch, Molly broached the subject of an awards ceremony for the defenders of Hogwarts. She explained that filming a documentary of it would be another outreach to the witches and wizards who did not yet feel safe enough to return to the wizarding world. Ginny asked many questions about the proposed ceremony and wanted to know if Harry was agreeable to the idea. Molly shook her head and said that she’d be the ideal person to discuss honoring everyone who had fought to defend Hogwarts with him. Ginny replied that she thought that he might be particularly interested in getting some recognition for the members of Dumbledore’s Army who had suffered a great deal from the Carrows. She also said she thought Harry would agree, so long as he was not singled out too much. She reminded Molly how much he hated being called ‘The Chosen One’. Ginny had not yet seen the rest of the family, so she was eager to catch up with what they each had been doing. When Bill and Fleur arrived, she greeted them warmly and looked pleased when Fleur began talking to her unborn baby, ‘Zhees ees your Aunt Zhinny,’ she said. ‘She and Tante Gabrielle are your only aunts unless ze brozhers of your fazher finally marry.’ Molly watched with some satisfaction as Fleur encouraged Ginny to feel the baby kicking, and then she swooped in to insist that Fleur must get off her feet. She escorted her to her own chair and ottoman. George, Angelina, Percy, and Harry all arrived at about the same time. Ron, looking frowsy, came down the stairs and greeted everyone before leaving to Apparate to Hermione’s. Molly tried, in vain, to tidy him up before he left but Arthur dissuaded her. ‘Hermione will do it as soon as she sees him,’ he muttered softly so that she was the only one who could hear him. Arthur Summoned all the boxes of ornaments and garlands from the attic. Ginny started opening the boxes that were full of the ornaments that she and her brothers had made over the years and began telling Harry about each one. George suddenly crowed and grabbed the ornament she had made when she was eight. It was a small figure made of clay dough with black hair and glasses. ‘Look at this one, Harry! She made it after we teased her about being too big to sleep with her Dance with Me, Harry Potter Doll any more. She tried to sneak it under her pillow when we were putting the ornaments away.’ Harry and Ginny both blushed and looked at each other with such sappy expressions that Angelina changed the subject to Fleur’s due date. Molly called them all to the table when Ron and Hermione arrived at the kitchen door. It made her feel more normal to have so many family members and potential family members eating together. After brunch, everyone pitched in to attach garlands to every wall and doorway and put all of the ornaments on the tree. Then, Ron and George took some small ornaments and fairy lights up to Fred’s tree. They said that they’d Apparate to open the shop afterwards. Molly, Ginny, Hermione, and Angelina began to mix a batch of biscuits while Fleur sorted through Molly’s cutters looking for the ones most appropriate for the Christmas holiday. ‘Muzzer Weasley, do you remember ze wedding party zhat I made from biscuits two years ago? Now I will make ze muzzer and bebe!’ Fleur smiled at Bill. ‘Eet must ‘ave ze fazzer, as well.’ Bill looked proudly at his very pregnant wife. Arthur suggested that Bill, Percy, and Harry go with him out to the shed to see if the Magic Mirror there could now play the small DVD disks that looked like the mirror ones Muggles played music on. Nic had told him that he thought it would even pick up Muggle television with the dual Tell-A-Vision converter box. The wizards came back in very excited and insisted that all the witches join them to see the ten-minute YouTube version of the Battle of Hogwarts before they began baking. As they watched, Molly apologized again for the language she used to describe Bellatrix Lestrange when she began fighting with her, but everyone else said that she was totally justified in saying what she had said. ‘She tried to kill Ginny,’ said Harry in a solemn voice. ‘I would have killed her myself, if you hadn’t done it. Thank you.’ ‘Mum did what needed to be done. Thank Merlin for our dueling champion mother!’ said Bill, with a pat on the back for Molly. ***** Arthur and Harry went into the Ministry on Monday while George and Ron worked long hours at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. Ginny spent as much time as she could with Teddy, but she went into Diagon Alley to eat lunch with Harry and to do a little Christmas shopping for both of them. Molly noticed that Harry followed Arthur out to the shed after dinner, so she raised an eyebrow at Ginny as they cleared the table and started the dishes washing. ‘Does Harry have something to talk to Arthur about?’ she began in a neutral tone. ‘You don’t miss a thing, do you, Mum?’ said Ginny. ‘We want to have a private moment with both of you before we start listening to Celestina Warbeck’s Christmas Special.’ ‘I can’t imagine what the two of you would want to talk to us about,’ said Molly, with a twinkle in her brown eyes that matched her daughter’s. ‘You’ll just have to wait and see what the surprise is,’ laughed Ginny. ‘It’s only one more night of suspense,’ ***** The Ministry closed at noon on Christmas Eve. Employees who followed a religion other than Christianity volunteered to provide essential services on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day so that most of their co-workers could spend the time with their families. Arthur arrived home mid-afternoon, carrying parcels from his last minute shopping. Molly and Ginny had prepared two different soups for their traditional Christmas Eve supper, along with many crusty loaves of bread. They also had filled a bowl with the traditional satsumas. ‘Percy asked me to tell you that some sort of emergency has come up at work so he can’t make it tonight, but he’ll be here early in the morning,’ said Arthur, kissing Molly. ‘Even more for me to eat.’ ‘Oh dear, Bill and Fleur have begged off, as well. Her feet are swollen and she needs to keep them elevated. As though we didn’t have footstools here. I’ve had seven children so I know how to take care of swollen feet.’ ‘George and Ron are coming as soon as they can shoo their customers out,’ Ginny reminded her, starting to slice a loaf of bread. Molly spotted Arthur palming a Satsuma, and playfully hit his arm. ‘Those are for dessert while we are listening to the Warbeck Christmas Special. Remember, Harry and Ginny want to talk to us before dinner.’ Harry Apparated to the end of the lane and Ginny ran to greet him without a cloak, even though it was windy and very cold. They came in the kitchen door with both of them wrapped in Harry’s cloak. ‘So, can we discuss what you want to here at the kitchen table, or is it something that we need to go into the sitting room for?’ asked Arthur in an overly jovial voice. Ginny and Harry looked at each other. ‘We’d be less likely to be disturbed in the sitting room,’ said Ginny. ‘The sitting room, it is,’ said Arthur, taking Molly’s hand. Molly sat in her usual chair while Arthur sat in his recliner in the upright position. Harry and Ginny sat together on the small settee. ‘You both have always been kind to me and treated me as if I were your own son. I asked to speak with you before the others came because I want you to know that my intentions toward your only daughter are extremely honourable, but not at all brotherly,’ began Harry. ‘As a matter of fact, we have come to an understanding.’ Molly looked shrewdly at Ginny. ‘It is my opinion that you came to this understanding before Hogwarts started this September,’ she said gently. ‘And now you want everyone to know.’ Ginny looked at Harry and held out her left hand. ‘I told you that the Disillusionment Charm wasn’t working when we first got home with my school supplies.’ Harry nodded, also held out his left hand, and then used his right hand to point his wand at both left hands. Rings became evident on their third fingers. ‘These are promise rings that have been in the Potter family for many generations.’ Harry stood and held out his hand so Molly and Arthur could read ‘WEASLEY’ engraved on his ring. Ginny did the same so they could see ‘POTTER’ on hers. ‘They are enchanted so that the names don’t appear until there is a firm understanding.’ ‘It would seem that you have settled it yourselves,’ said Arthur, taking Molly by the hand and helping her out of her chair. ‘I can assure you that you have our blessings.’ Molly lunged at the two young people. She was crying and laughing at the same time. ‘So you have made a promise to become engaged in the future, but this is not yet an engagement, with a wedding to follow soon?’ They both nodded. ‘Do you want us to say something this evening or wait until tomorrow?’ asked Arthur. ‘Let’s do both,’ said Ginny. ‘It will be just family tonight. We can tell the world after they all know.’ ‘And it will give me time to chill some sparkling wine,’ said Arthur with a smile. ‘We are delighted with your news. Ron and Hermione will be as happy as we are. We all could see how suited you are for each other.’ “I’m going to be happy that Ginny will be wearing a clear sign that she’s taken when she goes back to Hogwarts,’ said Harry, rubbing noses with his beloved. ‘It works both ways,’ said Ginny. ‘Those scarlet women at the Ministry had better keep their hands off you. You are definitely marked Weasley.’ Arthur went off looking for sparkling wine while Molly dried her tears. ‘I’m glad that you’ll wait to marry until after Ginny has finished her schooling.’ ‘I want to work for a year or so while Harry is finishing his two-year probationary period as an Auror,’ said Ginny in a soft voice. ‘It would give you time to start to learn to be a Healer,’ said Molly hopefully. ‘I always wanted to study Healing.’ ‘Or see if I can earn a living playing professional Quidditch.’ ‘It’s too rough a game for a small-boned girl like you,’ Molly said firmly. ‘I hope that a couple of teams are sending scouts to watch me play when we resume Quidditch.’ Ginny looked upbeat while Harry nodded and smiled. Molly had her doubts but said, ‘I imagine what will be, will be,’ as she started back toward the kitchen. Hermione noticed the promise rings as soon as she and Ron stepped out of the fireplace. She squealed and hugged both of them. ‘I knew it. You’ve been wearing it since August, haven’t you, Ginny? Your little finger was not as close as it would have been if you’d not had a ring on.’ Ron began pumping Harry’s arm while patting Ginny on the back. ‘You fooled me. I had a bet on New Year’s Eve for a proper proposal, but you’ve been promised since before Hogwarts started.’ George and Angelina walked up to the back door while Ginny and Harry were being congratulated. ‘You owe me, little brother,’ said George while Angelina hurried over to look at Ginny’s ring. ‘They’re not engaged, just promised,’ said Ron, ‘so no Galleons need change hands, yet.’ The eight of them shared a toast to Ginny and Harry before Molly ladled up the soup to take into the sitting room so they could listen to Celestina Warbeck’s Christmas Special. With fewer people present, she was pleased that there were not so many interruptions of her favorite program. Arthur asked her to dance when Celestina sang, ‘A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love.’ Harry, Ron, and George immediately asked their girlfriends to dance. The sitting room was very crowded with four couples and the massive tree. The Weasley parents called it a night as soon as Molly’s favorite program was over. The three younger couples said that they’d do the after-dinner cleanup. As Molly and Arthur snuggled before falling asleep, they talked about how happy they were about Ginny and Harry and whether Ron or George would be the next to make his intentions clear. Molly suggested that perhaps Percy would find a woman who would understand and appreciate him during this coming year. She decided that he needed to meet some more suitable witches and fell asleep thinking about weddings at The Burrow. As usual, Molly woke early Christmas morning to be sure that Arthur and her children had something to open when they first woke. Then she stuffed the turkey, put it into the oven, and set the breakfast bread out to rise. She was pleased that she had time to climb back in bed for a cuddle with Arthur before anyone else was likely to wake up. ‘How your feet can become like blocks of ice while you are wearing slippers with Warming Charms is one of the mysteries of the universe,’ muttered Arthur, as he felt her next to him. ‘Cold feet, warm hands,’ answered Molly. ‘It’s cold hands, warm heart,’ objected Arthur. But I am willing to find out what it is that is warm with cold feet.’ Molly snuggled closer. ‘I do believe my pendant is getting warmer.’ When Molly, Arthur, George, Ron, and Ginny came down the stairs for breakfast, Percy was already in the kitchen. He had put the Christmas breakfast bread in the oven and was scrambling eggs with his wand as expertly as a chef while sausages were popping in a skillet. ‘Living by myself has made learning to cook a necessity,’ he said with a smile. ‘Happy Christmas, Mum and Dad! Happy Christmas, George, Ron and Ginny.’ ‘Are you really going to cook breakfast for us?’ asked Ron. ‘George, do you think that it would be safe to eat?’ Molly swatted Ron. ‘Of course, it would be safe, and tasty, as well.’ ‘That’s right. He knows the proper thickness of a cauldron bottom to use for sausages,’ said George, brightly. Percy took the teasing with good humor and made a fine breakfast, which everyone enjoyed. Ginny offered to do the cleanup while Molly, Arthur, and their sons took some potted holly plants up the hill to Fred’s grave. Bill and Fleur arrived while they were still up on the hill, so Fleur sat at the kitchen table while Bill went to join his parents and brothers. She noticed Ginny’s ring when the younger woman began to wipe off the table. ‘L'anneau pour la promesse de se marier?’ she said with some affection. ‘Zo you and ‘Arry are to marry? Zhat is a very old ring. Eet must ‘ave been in ‘is family for many years.’ ‘Yes, Harry doesn’t even know how many Potters have given this ring to their intendeds. It will vanish when he puts an engagement ring on my finger. The one that he is wearing says ’Weasley’, and it will remain on his finger until I replace it with his wedding ring. It’s very old magic.’ Harry arrived on the porch and Ginny ran to greet him. ‘Was Teddy excited about the Christmas tree? Did you give him the round toy on a stick with the little balls that pop up when it’s pushed?’ ‘Happy Christmas, Ginny, my love. Happy Christmas, Fleur. The answers to your questions are ‘yes’ and ‘yes’. Andromeda has already cast a Silencing Charm on the push toy.’ Molly, Arthur, and their four sons began stamping the snow off their boots and came into the kitchen. ‘Are we ready for some presents?’ asked Arthur. The next few minutes were indescribable chaos, with presents being opened and thanks being shouted across the room. Molly was delighted with her presents but also took time to notice that Harry had given Ginny an emerald necklace. She was sure it was charmed to resist simple curses. Hermione drove her parents to The Burrow for Christmas lunch. Hugo and Jean did not like the way that using either the Floo Network or Side-Along-Apparation made them feel. Hugo enjoyed most aspects of magic more then Jean did, but they were both pleased to be invited for dinner with the parents of the young man who would probably marry their only child. Hugo followed Arthur and the rest of the men out to his shed to see what latest Muggle electronics had been made to work by magic. Meanwhile, Jean and Hermione visited with Fleur and helped Molly and Ginny put the huge Christmas lunch on the expanded table. Andromeda and Teddy arrived through the Floo Network. Molly was surprised to see that the not yet nine-month-old could stand without support. He still had to hold on to something or someone to walk, but Molly remembered that stage usually did not last long. Ginny scooped Teddy up and began repeating her name, laughing at his attempts to say it. She said that Harry had bet her that Teddy would say his name first. Arthur had brought home a baby seat that attached to the table, and Teddy was the first to sit in it. The men returned from the shed and they all began to eat. Pudding was served with two bottles of sparkling wine. There were many congratulations to the newly betrothed couple and wishes for a better new year in 1999. George and Angelina joined Ron and Hermione in cleaning up after lunch. Molly noticed that Ron was, at first, more interested in having a bit more of the turkey but George ended his snacking by encasing it in a large container and sending it to the cooling cupboard. While everyone was resting in the sitting room before another round of present exchange, Molly, Ginny, and Harry put on their warm cloaks and walked up to Fred’s grave. Molly told Fred that his little sister and Harry were now promised to each other, but they all hurried back to the warmth of The Burrow when the wind picked up and light snow began to fall. After all of the presents to and from the late arrivals had been exchanged, George and Angelina left to go to eat a late Christmas supper with her godparents, Athena and Kingsley Shacklebolt. The Grangers began driving home before the storm grew worse. Teddy woke from his nap in Ron and Ginny’s old cradle. Ginny and Harry took turns trying to get him to say their names, until Andromeda told them firmly that they could try again tomorrow but that now, she was taking him home before he got too cranky. Friday was Boxing Day. Molly and Arthur held an Open House at The Burrow in the late afternoon. The snow that fell on the previous day and during the night made the grounds look very festive. Kingsley and Athena Shacklebolt were the first to arrive and spoke at great length to Molly, Arthur, and Ginny about how helpful it would be for the next YouTube video to be a documentary of an actual awards ceremony where Harry was to be awarded The Order of Merlin, First Class. Ginny said that she and Harry had talked about a ceremony that honoured members of the Order and Dumbledore’s Army. Nic and Kate were the next to arrive, Levitating a case of California champagne as a present. Augusta Longbottom, with Neville and Hannah Abbot right behind her, came through the Floo Connection next. As soon as the idea of an awards ceremony was mentioned, Neville’s grandmother was very enthusiastic about it. ‘My Neville had an important role to play in the defeat of Voldemort,’ she said firmly. ‘I think that each witch or wizard who destroyed a Horcrux deserves the Order of Merlin, as well.’ Molly thought it was interesting that Ginny seemed to be aware of Harry as soon as he Apparated to the lane leading to The Burrow and ran to open the door before he stepped on the porch. After they embraced, Ginny led him over to Kingsley and said, ‘Minister Shacklebolt agrees with you that there should be an award ceremony honouring the defenders of Hogwarts.’ ‘I didn’t want to bother you, but if Ginny has already mentioned my idea, is it all right to tell you more about it?’ Harry looked confused. ‘Harry, I am very pleased that you were about to suggest something that has been on my mind for quite a while. Nic wants to film the Memorial and Awards Ceremony for the Muggle YouTube to try to get the news of Voldemort’s defeat to witches and wizards who are still unaware of it. It is a major component in our ’Reuniting Families and Friends’ Project.’ Kingsley shook hands with Harry. ‘It could also be shown on Tell-a-Vision. We can work out the particulars after the Christmas holidays.’ ‘I think we could make the arrangements by the middle of next month for a ceremony on the anniversary,’ said Nic. ‘Hogwarts might be the best location for the ceremony because so many of the students who will be honoured returned for this year.’ Corrine, Amos, Arnie, and Celestina arrived, so Molly and Arthur left to greet them while Nic, Kate, and Kingsley continued to ask Harry for names of witches and wizards to honour. George and Angelina ran to the Floo Connection to greet Lee Jordan and Holly Kirke. Molly was surprised that Ron and Holly immediately went off into the sitting room and began discussing something there. Ginny took Teddy out of Andromeda’s arms as soon as they arrived and walked him around the room holding on to his hands. Teddy spotted Harry and crawled over to him, pulling himself up using Harry’s trousers. Harry excused himself from the group he had been with, and he and Ginny took Teddy to sit on the floor by the tree and immediately resumed trying to get him to repeat their names. The time between Boxing Day and New Years Eve went by quickly for Molly. Ginny went to help Andromeda with Teddy most days, although she and Harry spent one afternoon at a Muggle cinema. Arthur was most interested in what they had seen. Harry said it was a new film called Shakespeare in Love and was about a Muggle writer. Arthur informed him that if it was about William Shakespeare, he was actually a wizard. Ginny said that a blonde woman pretended to be a boy but didn’t fool Shakespeare for long. Molly wondered why Ginny began blushing as she told them the plot of the movie. On New Years Eve, Hugo and Jean Granger invited Molly, Arthur, Ron, Ginny, and Harry to join them and Hermione to welcome the New Year in at their home. Arthur was beside himself with delight at the thought of a Muggle celebration, complete with the little paper tubes with feathers on the end that Muggles blew into so they looked like serpent’s tongues. George and Angelina were going to a party at Oliver Wood’s house while Percy chose to be alone on the last night of the year, so only Molly, Arthur and the three young people Apparated to the Grangers’ rose garden. They enjoyed an evening watching 1999 arrive on television in various part of the world. Hugo and Jean were most excited by the fireworks over Sydney Harbour since they had watched it on television from Perth last year, along with their friends, the DuSult family. The Harbour Bridge looked like a fiery waterfall. Several of the fireworks displays from China and France were also spectacular. Hugo said that governments all over the world were already making plans for the Millennium next year. They wanted to have a worldwide connection celebration then but were worried that something would go wrong with all of the computers in the whole world because of it being Y2K. Molly nodded her head and wondered whatever a Y2K was. All of them wore hats, blew noisemakers, and drank a glass of champagne at midnight. ‘Peace and Prosperity for the new year,’ Arthur said as he leaned in to kiss Molly. She was sure that Ron and Hermione and Ginny and Harry were likewise occupied.
|