AN: I know it's difficult, but you have to imagine the time this sets in. I know lots of you don't get why you can put yourself into so much of emotional pain, but it really was impossible for Hermione to keep that child. Hermione from this period has a very specific mentality linked to that era. You know: all the Jane Austen books, and the angst based on a sense of honour? That's how you have to see Hermione's story here. She's a woman in a unique position, and she doesn't want to be submitted into marriage, she wants to stay independent. The situation she got herself in when she decided to help her dad, was an opportunity for her. An opportunity to harvest a lot of money without losing her independence, and her good reputation, since it was all done in secret…
Forest: I know the film got bad reviews. I, on the other hand, like the lack of dialogue, because it's replaced with powerful glances and emotions displayed so clearly on Sophie Marceau's face. She really is a brilliant actress, but it's true the good stuff in the film is basically all her work. I didn't think the man playing Goodwin (Harry, here) was that bad, since really, a gentleman is supposed to hide as many emotions as possible, and the rare puppy dog stares he displayed only made those moments more powerful. The scenes in the firelight are perfect, and again, Sophie Marceau is brilliant in her portraying of angsty character…
EmilyPotter & Hilary: nothing's wrong with the baby, the nurses were just checking! Don't worry too much!
October: I like to think I'm blending the characteristics of both worlds, while not betraying the soul of what makes the HP characters come alive. I'm trying to stay true to JK's characters, but the actions of those fictional persons would be different during the 19th century, during different circumstances… So I'm using some elements of the movie's characters to complete the picture of our favourite fictional persons acting during a different era…
Austenlover: The fact that it's a girl is of no consequence. If you read the reasons Harry wants an heir carefully, you realise he doesn't want an heir in the meaning of having someone to carry the Potter name after him, he couldn't care less about that. He just wants someone of his on this planet, he wants someone to call his own family, someone to love and be loved in return (watched Moulin Rouge too many times)…
***
Chapter 8
It was the year 1846 when Harry Potter found himself guiding Neville Longbottom to a London party of so-called society wizards.
He himself detested this sort of gatherings, because it was guaranteed that at least one of the women present was going to make a pass at him. His marital status held no meaning to these kind of women, since they more often than not were married themselves…
If Mrs. Weasley knew the depth of the traitorous affairs going on during her beloved parties in the rented ballrooms of Diagon Alley, she would be mortified. Mrs. Weasley, a plump but dignified red-haired woman of class, was his best friend's mother, mistress of the Burrow. She was like a surrogate mother if Harry needed one, and she certainly acted the part whenever he came through London.
It was for her, mostly, that he even bothered to attend these social gatherings. He had been called from his house in the country to lead an old Housemate from Hogwarts through the workings of the British Ministry of Magic.
Even though Harry Potter had jeopardised his position as Auror somewhat by 'prying into businesses that weren't his concern', and he had been given leave for a few months to 'cool down', he had been called back to 'help' Neville Longbottom. Harry knew the Ministry had meant it to be an insult.
Neville Longbottom was one of the few wizards that followed the same migration Muggles had been doing for many years now, by travelling to the Americas and seeking his path through life there. Now he had been sent by the limited 'civilised' wizarding community there (the natives were considered wild) to observe the British magical government, and to rapport useful proceedings as to reform their own.
The British Ministry faked their pleasure at being considered a roll model but didn't dare offend the attaché openly. Thinking they could humiliate Harry by shoving the ungraceful task upon him, they were gloating like the hypocrites they were.
Harry, though, didn't mind at all. He was still furious about the reprimand he got from the corrupt ministry members. After all, he had been following up on yet another rare lead on his godfather's death. He had just discovered a link between the Lestranges and the Malfoy family: their wives had been sisters, who coincidentally turned out to be related to Sirius.
It had been long since he had found any information about the Lestranges here in Great-Britain, and he had jumped on the possibility of inquiring after Narcissa Malfoy. After much insistence that he'd speak to her, however, he was accused of harassing a respected member of society and forced to take a leave from work…
Now when he was first called back, he did experience some fury at their self-righteous and innocently concerned expressions when they told him what was expected from him. But he refused to let them have the pleasure of even seeing him scowl. So acting honoured and pleasantly surprised, he welcomed his old school acquaintance and set to his task with enthusiasm.
The expressions of pure disappointment of the Ministry's hypocrites and the easy company of Neville made it so that it wasn't an act anymore. He genuinely found pleasure in talking with the American Brit and even invited him to his home in the country once they concluded their business here in London.
Of course with his stay in the city, he had promised Mrs. Weasley to come to one of the balls organized by her. She had ordered him to bring the mysterious 'American' with him, and though Harry loved her dearly, he knew the main reason he had to bring Neville was to have something 'exciting' happen at her gathering.
Sure enough, the minute he set foot in the music filled large room, Mrs. Weasley dragged her husband with her when she hurried towards the two men.
"Harry! My boy! Oh, you must do something about that hair of yours!"
Half amused, half wary she was going to try and flatten it like she used to do before he grew up, he smiled at the predictability of the woman's greeting. He felt fortunate, though, that he had warned Neville beforehand of the woman's… enthusiasm.
Ignoring her exaggerated, disapproving peering at his dark locks, he laid his hand on Neville's shoulder: "Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, may I introduce to you… Neville Longbottom. Mr. Longbottom, these kind people are Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weasley…"
Neville bowed his head slightly: "Enchanted to meet you, Madam, Sir…"
Mr. Weasley cleared his throat, and sporting a genuine smile he greeted the younger wizard accordingly. A polite conversation ensued on explaining the reasons of Neville's visit from the Americas, and his past in Gryffindor with the Weasleys' youngest son.
Speaking of which, had just arrived. Hurrying his wife with him he walked towards his parents and arriving there, he totally ignored them in favour of Harry and Neville. Clapping both of them hard on the back as a show of affectionate camaraderie, he started a conversation about Quidditch and how the good old baskets at Hogwarts had really been the most perfect sized goals ever.
This was a much debated topic everywhere around the country, and honestly Harry loved the game as much as the next wizard, but he couldn't bring up the passion his best friend had for the obsession about the baskets' width… (*AN* below)
Harry's attention drifted and he saw Luna placating her mother-in-law who was steaming about the blunt behaviour of her son, and the lack of greeting to his parents. The evening wore on without much more incidents, they drifted apart and mingled with other guests…
Harry was approached by more then one woman who wanted to dance, and Neville was looked at, but not spoken to often. Harry answered all offers with 'I don't dance', and discussed the hypocrisy with Neville about the curiosity of some of the guests, and the disdainfulness against the 'traitor of his home country' from others.
After several hours of watching Ron dance with the blushing Luna, and hearing him debate more Quidditch related business with anyone who would take the challenge, the original group joined for conversation. Talk turned to the Weasley grandchildren. Once there wasn't anything to be told about Ron and Luna's offspring, which took a while, Mrs. Weasley asked Harry how Lily had been lately.
Harry never liked speaking about Lily too much in front of strangers, but he considered that Neville would visit his house shortly anyway, so there was no harm about speaking freely.
"She's doing quite well, Mrs. Weasley. She chased away her most recent governess again, though…"
"Again!" Mrs. Weasley sounded horrified, but she also knew that pushing Harry at being more strict with the girl was a sure way to make him furious, and she didn't seem to want to spoil the mood. The thin line her lips formed, though, conveyed her sentiments on the matter, however.
Harry was relieved when she dropped the matter after that short outburst. The tension between the group started to get palpable, and Mr. Weasley, bless his soul, tried to change the course of topic.
"So, how is our Ginny doing?" after he uttered those words, though, he himself along with Harry and Ron visibly cringed. Luna had her indifferent air about her, though she, too, knew which box of Pandora had been opened. Neville really was oblivious, though.
Harry replied tightly: "She's doing as well as can be expected. She's been a tremendous source of help around the house…"
Neville, who had no idea on how things had evolved after his graduation from Hogwarts, asked innocently:
"Oh, has little Ginny Weasley become Mrs. Harry Potter? Congratulations, Harry! Why didn't you tell me before she gave you a daughter? How old is she anyway?"
This was too much for Mrs. Weasley, who took off in a huff, demanding to go home, even though she was one of the hostesses of the party. Mr. Weasley tilted his head apologetically to the party of friends and family and took off after his wife.
A bewildered Neville stared and asked: "Is it something I said?"
Ron barked a laugh at that and clapped the confused wizard hard on the back: "You really put your foot in it, old mate!"
***
Please, review?
*AN*: if you have no idea what I'm talking about, you should purchase 'Quidditch through the Ages', the profits of these sails go directly to good causes…
They used to play Quidditch with baskets instead of loops, for the Quaffle to be thrown at, but because here wasn't any possibility of regulating baskets' diameter, there were a great variation of goal sizes. There was always much debate on what the perfect basket would be, and teams across the country debated and quarrelled about the size. At last, the Ministry decided to switch to loops with a certain width… to great aggravation of some of the hard-core Quidditch fans…