Authors' note: We guess you could sum up this chapter with the word family. You get two family scenes in this one---one that centers heavily on the Weasleys and then the other that involves the Potter clan with a nice little flashback with Robert Granger. We hope you enjoy the chapter. Stay tuned for the new story---the first chapter of that one will be posted sometime this week.
With all that had been going on with Josh and Lizzy having their triplets and Toshio and Chiaki having their twins, it had been quite an eventful summer. Allison spent most of her free time helping out Chiaki and Lizzy when she could. Lizzy and Allison had both been extremely busy that they'd almost forgotten that Josh and Jon's birthdays were coming up. They both decided that a surprise party might be what was in order and they set about planning it with Maddie and Frankie's help.
They decided to have a barbecue in Allison and Jon's backyard. Ron had volunteered to take his sons out breakfast.
"Daddy's going to be so surprised!" Caroline said excitedly as she helped her mother with some last minute decorations. "I wanted to tell him so bad Mummy, but I kept it a secret."
"That's my good girl," Allison praised her.
Frankie came out of the house carrying a bowl of crisps. "How much longer until they're back?" she asked her sister.
"Probably another half hour or so," Allison replied. "Depending of course on how many servings of breakfast my father in law has."
Cho carried Emma outside. The little girl was still wearing her hula skirt and lei. "She wouldn't wear anything else," Cho said to Allison.
"Is that my little Hawaiian baby?" Allison laughed. "Come here sweetheart."
"Hooooo!" Emma squealed. "La. La. La."
"I think I am the aunt of the year for getting those for the girls," Frankie said proudly.
Emma toddled unsteadily over to her. "Aunt Frack!" she shouted happily.
Frankie scooped her up. "Frankie, sweetheart. Not Frack. Fran--kie."
"Frack," Emma nodded, her red curls bouncing.
Will laughed. "That would make me Uncle Frick, I reckon?"
Allison and Cho both laughed at that. "I think we've got everything put together," Allison said, looking around her backyard. "Thanks to my other Hawaiian girl." She grinned at Caroline.
"I'm the bestest helper," Caroline said proudly.
"That you are Angel," Allison kissed her head. "How about you go get yourself ready now? I'm sure Mia will be here soon."
"Okay," Caroline said grabbing Cho's hand. "Will you help me, Grandma?"
"I'd love to," Cho smiled at her. "We won't be long."
Allison watched as her mother walked with Caroline back into the house. Will was at the grill already cooking away with Toshio's help.
"I should probably go get changed as well," Allison said looking at her old t-shirt and shorts. "I look a mess..."
"I'll help you," Frankie offered.
"Thanks," Allison said gratefully. "I bought a new dress, but I wasn't sure how it would look. I'd love a second opinion."
"Fashion is my middle name," Frankie joked, shifting Emma to her other arm.
"You always look fantastic," Allison said smiling at her sister.
"I try," Frankie said with a grin as they went inside. "Where's Lizzy and the triplets?"
"They're going to be here soon," Allison replied. "Aidan and Casey were being a bit fussy."
"I can't believe Josh and Lizzy have THREE kids," Frankie shook her head as Allison went into her closet for the dress.
"Tree," Emma said as she sat on Frankie's lap.
"I know," Allison said. "Lizzy told me she can't believe it herself sometimes." Allison pulled out the periwinkle sundress and held it up for Frankie's approval. "What do you think?"
"I think it's going to look beautiful on you," Frankie said honestly, kissing the top of Emma's head.
"Really?" Allison smiled.
"Definitely," Frankie grinned at her. "What do you think Em? Does Mummy look gorgeous?"
Emma looked at her mother and nodded. "Mama!"
Allison leaned forward and kissed Emma's forehead. "Mummy's going to get changed in the loo and she'll be right back. You be good for Aunt Frankie, okay?"
"Good," Emma echoed.
"I really do love what you and Will did with your place," Allison said from the bathroom as she changed into the dress. "It was quite the transformation, Frankie."
"Thanks Allie," Frankie said proudly, toying with Emma's hair. "Will and I had fun redecorating."
"And how is married life?" Allison called out.
"So far, so great," Frankie laughed. "I don't know what I was so afraid of."
Emma giggled as Frankie tickled her side.
Allison quickly dabbed on some makeup and then grimaced when she saw her hair. "Frankie, I need you!"
"What's wrong?" Frankie was in the doorway in an instant.
"My hair," Allison groaned. "Can you salvage it?"
"Oh it doesn't look that bad Allie," Frankie said, handing Emma to her sister and grabbing a brush.
"I've always been so jealous of you and Chi," Allison said sitting down at the vanity table with Emma in her lap. "You both have Mum's hair."
"Your hair is fine," Frankie said. "It's straight and thick like ours, but yours is brown instead of black."
"Byoofull," Emma said squirming in her mother's lap.
"See even Emma agrees," Frankie said running the brush through Allison's hair.
"I guess," Allison said. "Sometimes I still feel so plain next to you and Chiaki."
"Are you joking, Allie?" Frankie asked. "You're gorgeous and always have been."
"That's what Jon always tells me," Allison replied.
"Listen to the git," Frankie said smiling at her sister. "He knows what he's talking about."
"Git," Emma repeated.
Frankie froze. "I'm sorry! That's a bad, bad word, Em. Don't say that, okay?"
"Mama?" Emma asked, looking up at her mother.
"Aunt Frankie's right," Allison said. "Bad word."
"Oh," Emma said, clasping her chubby hands together.
"So do you want to wear it up or down?" Frankie asked.
"Whatever you think will look best," Allison said. "It's gotten so long and I haven't had much time to do anything with it lately."
"I think it would look great up," Frankie said thoughtfully. "Especially since we'll be outside."
"I'll take your word for it," Allison smiled at her sister. "Thanks Frankie."
"No problem," Frankie said. "I'd better work quickly. We want to be ready for your husband, the g-i-t."
"Right," Allison laughed.
A few minutes later and Frankie was putting the finishing touches on Allison's hair.
Caroline came hurrying into the room with her grandmother in tow. "Mummy! It's about time...Oooh!"
"You look pretty Angel," Allison said. "Did Grandma do your hair for you?"
Caroline nodded. "I was going to wear my hula skirt too, but since Katie doesn't have one, I didn't want her to feel left out. You look really pretty Mummy."
"Thank you sweetheart." Allison said. "Daddy's going to be home any minute. Is your Aunt Lizzy here with the babies yet?"
"They're in the sitting room with Anna and Luke," Cho said.
"I can't wait to see them," Allison said, getting up and letting Emma walk over to her sister.
"Sissy git," Emma said reaching for her sister's hand.
"Emma!" Allison said. "No!"
Emma looked innocently up at her mother.
"That's my fault," Frankie apologised sheepishly.
"That's a bad, bad word Em," Caroline said with wide eyes. "You don't want to say that in front of Grandpa Ron. He gets in the doghouse with Grandma!"
"Maxi's house!" Emma said frowning.
Allison, Cho and Frankie couldn't help laughing. Cho knelt down in front of her granddaughters. "Let me let you two in on a little secret. Your Grandpa Ron stays in the doghouse."
"Why?" Caroline asked curiously. "Where does the dog sleep then?"
"With your Grandpa," Cho answered dryly.
"Max has really bad breath Grandma," Caroline answered. "I don't think Grandpa would like to sleep with him."
Cho laughed. "We'll just have to make sure Grandpa behaves himself, right?"
"Gamma!" Emma held her arms out.
Cho picked Emma up. "Do you want to go see your baby cousins? And then get ready to surprise your Daddy?"
"Dada!" Emma hugged her. "Eat!!"
"That's right," Cho said carrying her out of the bedroom. Allison, Frankie and Caroline followed.
Lizzy grinned when she saw her friends. "I'm sorry I'm so late. The yard looks fantastic, Allie."
"Thanks Liz," Allison hugged her friend. "You look great! I wouldn't have known you just had three babies a month ago!"
"You're such a liar!" Lizzy said hugging her back.
"I am not," Allison said. "Where are the three new ones? I've been waiting to give them kisses all morning."
"In the pram," Lizzy replied. "They're kipping."
"I guess I'll have to wait a little longer," Allison laughed, peering over. "They've gotten so big already." she whispered.
"I bet Sukie and Casey will be best friends," Caroline stepping on her tiptoes so she could look into the pram. "Just like Katie and me."
Lizzy smiled at her goddaughter. "I hope so sweetheart." she replied.
"Allie," Julie said stepping inside. "You lot better get out here. Josh and Jon are due any moment."
"Right Jules," Allison smiled at her. "Thanks." she took Caroline's hand. "Are you ready to surprise Daddy?"
Caroline nodded. "Let's go hide!"
Meanwhile Ron was leading his three sons up the walkway to Jon and Allie's house. Ron was trying to be as slow as possible just in case everything wasn't ready.
"Ow!" Ron yelped doubling over.
"What?" Jon asked, giving his father a strange look. "You've been acting mad all morning!"
"I think it might have been something I ate," Ron said clutching his stomach.
Josh stared at his brother incredulously. "Dad, you have a cast iron stomach."
"My whole life is flashing before me," Ron said dramatically.
R.J. turned away so his brothers couldn't see him laughing. His father was laying it on way too thick.
"Come on," Josh said. "I want to get home and spend time with my wife and kids already."
R.J. caught sight of Frankie in the backyard who gave him the thumbs up sign before ducking back behind the fence.
"Dad," R.J. said clapping his father on the back. "I think you're going to be okay. You know, to go inside..."
"Are you sure?" Ron moaned weakly. "I may need to sit out here for say, an hour... or two..."
R.J. nodded. "I'm positive. Things are fine. Come on now."
"If you say so," Ron replied as his youngest son gave him a look.
"Maybe Seamus should cast Dad in one of his films," Jon cracked, letting them in the front door. "He could win an award for worst performance of a stomach ache."
Josh laughed. "I thought Seamus liked his films making money..."
"Al?" Jon called out. "Caroline? Emma?" No one answered. "Where is everyone?"
"Maybe they're out back," R.J. suggested. "It's a nice day and you know how Caroline likes flying around the yard on that carpet."
"You think your weak stomach will be okay Dad?" Jon joked as he and Josh headed to the backdoor.
"Oh I think I'll manage," Ron replied. "Especially if R.J.'s girlfriend sends along more of that fudge anytime soon."
"Funny how that stomach-ache came and went," Josh remarked dryly.
"It still hurts," Ron wheezed.
"Is he getting crazier as you and I get older?" Jon asked his brother as he opened the door.
"SURPRISE!" everyone shouted startling Jon and Josh. Emma, who was a little late, waved enthusiastically at her father. "Eat!" she exclaimed running toward him.
"What's all this?" Jon asked, laughing as he scooped up his daughter.
"Eat Dada!" Emma squealed. "Git!"
"She certainly got that right eh Jon?" R.J. asked grinning at his niece.
Jon looked innocently at the group of friends and family. "I swear I didn't teach her that, Al. Al? Where's my..."
"Hi Jon," Allison smiled at him. "Happy birthday love."
Jon beamed at his wife. "Al...You look beautiful!"
"Thank you," she gave him a kiss. "And Frankie taught her to say that."
"Sweet old Aunt Frack," Jon teased his sister-in-law.
"I didn't teach her to say it," Frankie said defensively. "She was there when I said it and she sort of repeated it."
"You look gorgeous too," Josh said, his eyes on his wife who was standing next to the pram holding their three children.
"Happy Birthday Josh," she said giving him a kiss. "Were you surprised?"
"Quite," he laughed. "You sneaky bunch. I ought to sue the lot of you. And my father gave the worst performance of the year on the driveway and now I know why."
"He said he was a master of stalling," Lizzy said laughing.
Josh snorted as Casey opened her little eyes. "There's my girl," he said, lifting her up. "How's Daddy's little baby?"
Lizzy looked adoringly at her husband and daughter.
"She's already got you wrapped around her little finger," she said softly.
"All three of them do," Josh kissed Casey's head.
"Looks like your sons are going to sleep through the party," Lizzy said with a laugh.
"Seems to be the habit so far," Josh said as Caroline came running over with Katie on her heels.
"Can we hold one of the babies?" Katie asked eagerly.
Lizzy shook her head. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but the boys are still sleeping. And I think Casey wants to spend time with her Daddy."
"Please?" Katie begged. "We'll be really good."
"How about in a little bit," Josh suggested. "She's just woken up from her kip and sometimes she's a little cranky at first."
"Okay," Katie said with a frown.
"Happy Birthday Uncle Josh!" Caroline said hugging his leg since his hands were full.
"Thank you Caroline," Josh said with a grin. "You look gorgeous today as always. No hula skirt?"
Caroline shook her head. "Not today. I didn't want to wear one if Katie couldn't."
"Come on Caroline," Katie said tugging on her arm. "Let's go play on your swing..."
"Caroline!" Mia called out running toward them.
"Hi Mia!" Caroline said excitedly. "We're going to play on the swing! Want to play with us?"
"Sure," Mia said nodding. "Hi Katie!"
"Hello," Katie said icily.
"We have to take turns," Caroline said to her friends. "Cause there's only one swing."
"I should go first because I'm the oldest," Katie said smugly.
"Okay," Caroline said agreeably and Mia nodded. "Then Mia gets to go next, cause she's two months older than me. And I'll go last!"
"I bet you don't get to go to Hogwarts with me and Caroline," Katie said as they walked toward the swing set. "Because you're a Muggle."
"Uncle Will says I do magic things," Mia replied, unfazed. "He says I'm like him, and I'll get to be a Claw."
"A what?" Katie asked looking at her as if she'd lost her mind. She had promised her mother she'd be nice to Caroline's new cousin, but she wanted to make sure this girl knew who Caroline's best friend was.
"A claw," Mia replied.
Katie knew she was probably referring to Ravenclaw, but she wasn't about to help Mia out.
"Well Caroline and I are going to be Gryffindors like our mums," Katie said linking arms with Caroline.
"I hope I can get in the same house as you both," Mia said as she climbed up onto the slide.
Katie sat down on the swing and kicked off the ground.
"That would be really great," Caroline said climbing up the slide behind Mia. "Then we could all be together!"
"Really great," Katie muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Katherine Rose looks thrilled," Nick said as he handed his wife a soda. They were both keeping a close eye on Katie.
"She's jealous of Caroline having Mia as a friend," Julie said softly. "I don't know why. Caroline adores Katie."
"I think Katie wants to be her only friend," Nick suggested.
"Well that's ridiculous," Julie replied. "She's got to learn the world doesn't revolve around her."
"Greta told me that once when I was about Katie's age," Nick mused.
"And what did you say?" Julie smiled at him.
"I said the world should revolve around me and if it didn't, someone should do something about it," Nick said grinning back at her.
"Malfoy," Julie poked him hard in the shoulder.
"Don't look at me," he said cheekily. "You did marry me after all."
"Gamma Lu!" Emma called out toddling toward Luna.
Ron laughed. "I'm sorry, Luna. I just love it when she calls you that."
"I don't mind it," Luna scooped her up. "How's my little hula baby?"
Emma smiled and hugged her grandmother. "Git!"
Luna glared at her husband. "Did you teach her that Ronald?"
Ron shook his head. "I learned my lesson with Maddie, Luna. You know that."
"I'm afraid that's my fault," Frankie said sheepishly. "Em, sweetheart, Aunt Frack told you that was a bad word."
"Bad?" Emma asked thoughtfully.
"That's right," Frankie said. "Bad word."
"There's my niece!" R.J. said coming over to join them. "Who wants to go for a ride...?"
"Em!" Emma said reaching for him. "Em!"
"Hey baby girl," R.J. took his goddaughter and kissed her cheek.
He spun her around causing Emma to giggle.
"Ronald Junior you sure are good with her," Luna said grinning at her son.
"Yeah well..." R.J. turned red. "She's so cute. It's hard to not be good with her."
"That's because he thinks he has a way with the ladies," Drew teased her younger brother as she joined them.
"Just one," R.J. returned with a grin.
"And what's this I hear about your performance Dad?" Drew asked her father. "I think your acting needs a bit of work."
"I was desperate," Ron said defensively. "And I didn't know you lot had everything ready back here."
"It was close," Drew admitted. "But we pulled everything together. Isn't that right Emma?"
"Doo!" Emma clapped her hands together.
R.J. laughed. "So we have Gamma Lu and Aunt Doo."
"Don't forget about Uncle Frick and Aunt Frack over here," Will joked.
"Ease up on poor Em," Ethan said. "I remember when I was a kid, I couldn't say Chiaki's name. I kept calling her Kiki."
"I forgot about that," Drew laughed. "That was so cute. And you fancied her too."
"I didn't," Ethan said defensively.
"You so did," Julie said hitting her brother in the arm.
"Maybe just a little," Ethan muttered.
"I thought it was adorable," Chiaki reassured him.
"What can I say?" Ethan grinned at her. "I was an adorable kid."
"And modest," Hermione teased her son.
"He's completely adorable," Maddie wrapped her arms around him. "Still is..."
"This from the girl who's fancied him practically since birth," Jon teased his sister.
"I have good taste," Maddie grinned at her brother.
"Thanks for helping Allie plan all this," Jon told his sister. "Josh and I were so surprised."
"I'm glad," Maddie giggled as Ethan squeezed her side. "You guys are great and we wanted to have a party to show how much we love you both."
"Thanks Mad Dog," Jon said.
Ron grinned. "Happy Birthday, Jonathan. And I just have one question...."
"Acting lessons?" Jon said cheekily.
Ron glared at him. "No, smartarse. When do we eat?"
"Ask the hostess," Jon replied. "I'm the guest of honour!"
"Co-guest of honour," Josh said. "And I am the oldest."
"By three bloody minutes," Jon retorted.
"You know," Maddie said suddenly. "I'm starting to notice a pattern with Josh. Your life revolves around threes."
Josh looked at his sister with a raised eyebrow.
"You were born three minutes ahead of Jon," Maddie explained. "You are the oldest of three boys. You married the third girl you fancied. And you just had three babies..."
"I wonder what else Joshie here does in three's," Jon grinned wickedly. "Three poems perhaps?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Josh said clearing his throat. "I think it's time I unveiled it. You ready to hear it?"
"Do we have a chance to make a run for it?" R.J. teased, tweaking Emma's nose.
"You'll like it R.J.," Josh said. "Okay...here goes. Happy Birthday to my dear brother and me. It isn't so very hard to see. This party is the best thanks to my sister Maddie. She did such a great job; I think we should thank her. That comes from me and my younger brother, the Wanker."
"W-A-N-K-E-R," Ron finished with a grin.
*** *** ***
It took a bit of convincing on Hermione's part, but she managed to persuade her cousin into staying in London for two weeks. She took off as much time as she could from work, and Saffron, Julie and Ethan also stuck around as much as possible to spend time with their aunt, who was still taking Robert's death quite hard.
That evening Harry had made dinner on the grill, and they'd invited Elinore over again to join them. Seamus had also managed to make it over and they were all currently enjoying a large family dinner together.
"This looks amazing Dad," Julie said as her father set another large tray of food down on the table.
"Thanks Jules," Harry grinned at his daughter. "We've got quite the crowd tonight- and this is without Ron being here."
"Just Maddie," Ethan joked. "And she's almost as bad as he is." he poked his girlfriend's side teasingly.
"I promise to take it easy," Maddie said with a laugh.
"No need," Hermione said. "Harry made enough for an army."
"Well in that case I can't wait," Maddie grinned at her as Elinore and Lavender came outside.
"Gran," Saffron called out. "Come sit by me. I saved you a seat."
"Thank you sweetheart," Elinore smiled at her granddaughter. The younger girl had been a rather strong shoulder for her that summer.
Saffron squeezed her grandmother's hand as Elinore sat down. "I'm so glad you came tonight Gran."
"I am too," Elinore replied. "It's lovely to be around family like this. It really helps a lot."
"We'll always be here for you Gran," Ethan said looking across the table at her. "You know that if you ever need anything, I'd be there in a second."
Tears filled Elinore's eyes but she blinked them back. "Thank you love." she smiled at her grandson.
"All right, I have chicken, burgers and some ribs here," Harry said. "And for you Lav... a special treat." he smiled at her as he produced a dish of sushi that he'd seen in the shops that afternoon.
"Ewww gross!" Saffron said turning her nose up at the dish. "Dad!"
"Harry!" Lavender said in surprise. "That's...that's lovely. Thank you!"
Harry caught his wife looking at him with her eyebrow raised and he shrugged. "Glad you like it Lav." he smiled at her. "I aim to please."
"Aunt Lav," Saffron said. "How on earth can you eat that?"
"Thank you Saffy," Seamus said smiling at the younger girl. "Finally, someone is on my side. Fish should be cooked."
"Hear, hear." Ethan agreed. "I had sushi in Okinawa and it was terrible."
Lavender wrinkled her nose. "Ethan, not even I would eat sushi from Okinawa. They make the WORST sushi there."
"I think I might have found something even I wouldn't eat," Maddie said eyeing the dish suspiciously. "I have serious doubts that my dad would eat that either."
"Guess you're on your own there love," Seamus smiled at his wife. "And don't expect me to kiss you until you brush your teeth repeatedly."
Elinore smiled. "I remember that right after we were married, Robert let me in on a little secret. He absolutely adored sardines. Would just eat them right out of the tin. I was so disgusted; I teased him about getting an annulment right then and there. He used to tell me..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes filled with tears yet again.
"What did he say?" Hermione asked with a soft smile, trying to encourage all positive memories.
"He...he used to tell me that I signed on with him for better or worse and that I should have read the fine print," Elinore continued with a slight laugh. "So like it or not, I was stuck with him and his idiosyncrasies."
"That's the joys of married life," Julie teased.
"I wish I'd known about that sardine thing," Lavender said softly. "He used to give me a hard time about my sushi."
"Better the sushi than giving me a hard time about my terrible golfing scores," Harry sat down next to his wife.
"He always wondered if perhaps you weren't letting him win," Elinore said to her son-in-law.
"Believe me, I wouldn't have only beaten him once in the twenty or so years we've been playing," Harry said with a grin, making Saffron laugh.
"He said that he let you have that one," Hermione said laughing. "Felt bad for always beating the trousers off of you."
"Face it Dad," Saffron said, helping herself to some chicken. "You're just a bad, bad golfer."
"Everyone has one thing they're really bad at," Harry said. "I guess golf is mine..."
"And chess," Ethan pointed out.
"And Scrabble," Hermione chimed in.
Harry glared at all of them. "All right so I'm not completely perfect." he said in an injured tone. "But I make a damn good supper."
"You do," Ashley said smiling at her grandfather. "Almost as good as Malfoy Pizza."
Harry laughed. "I don't think anything beats Malfoy Pizza."
"It's too bad we never got the chance to make it for Grandpa Robert," Katie said quietly. "I bet he would have loved it!"
"I'm positive he would have girls," Elinore said. "It was right up his alley."
"Do you know what I keep remembering?" Hermione asked to no one in particular. "I remember when Julie was around four or so and she was already such a good reader. Dad asked if he could read to her and they sat up on his old favourite chair and he started to read and Julie...Julie thought he was going too slow and she grabbed the book and told him she could read it to him instead!"
Everyone laughed at that. "I'd forgotten about that," Julie admitted.
"I used to like going into his office," Ethan said with a grin.
"He had all sorts of cool gadgets," Saffron agreed. "And he gave me an old stethoscope one time and let me come in the exam room and 'help' him out."
"You looked so cute in your little lab coat," Hermione said smiling at her daughter. "Your grandfather always loved it when you three came to see him."
"Wish we still could," Saffron said wistfully.
"I've been meaning to clean out his things in the closet and his office at home," Elinore said quietly. "I just can't..."
"You're not giving Uncle Robert's things away are you Aunt Elinore?" Lavender asked in amazement. "You can't do that."
"Lav," Hermione said quietly.
"He hasn't even been gone a few months," Lavender argued. "I think it's a little early to be getting rid of his things..."
"Mum," Hermione gave her cousin a dirty look. "If you need help with any of that you know I'll be right there."
"I know," Elinore said weakly. "I don't know if I'll ever be ready. It's so hard to...to be in that house without him there. He's in every room. I never thought I'd miss him this much!"
"Oh Gran!" Saffron whispered as her own eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry," Elinore dabbed at her eyes with a napkin. "I told myself I wouldn't cry tonight and here I am a sobbing mess..."
"You don't have to apologise Mum," Hermione said softly. "We're all still hurting. We all miss him too."
"I think it's the worst in the mornings when I wake up," Elinore whispered. "I'm so used to him being there and he's not."
Hermione couldn't imagine what that was like. She squeezed her own husband's hand as she listened to her mother talk.
"I think you should come and stay with Seamus and me," Lavender said suddenly. "At least for a little while."
"Grandma, you're not leaving are you?" Ashley asked "You can't go!"
"Ash," Julie laid a hand on her daughter's arm. "That's not for you to decide."
"Gran's not going anywhere," Saffron said firmly. "Her home is here."
"Saffy," Hermione looked at her daughter. "If your Gran decides she wants to go visit your aunt in California that's up to her."
"Aunt Lav doesn't just want her to visit," Saffron said looking right at Lavender. "She wants her to move there. I heard her talking about it to Seamus earlier."
"Saffron," Harry said. "What have we told you about eavesdropping?"
"They weren't being quiet about it," Saffron said unashamedly.
"I think she should move in with us," Lavender said defensively. "I'm home a lot more than Hermione and Harry. And you'll be going back to school Saffy. And Seamus and I have a staff that can help look after her."
"But her home is here in London," Saffron argued.
"I appreciate what you're trying to do," Elinore interjected. "All of you. But, I'm not giving up my home. It's all that I have left of Robert."
"But Aunt Elinore--" Lavender began to object.
"Lavender," Elinore said gently. "I would love to come and visit you and Seamus, but I have no intention of moving. I can't. I won't."
"That's understandable Elinore," Seamus agreed. "We'd love to have you visit whenever you want for however long you want."
"Thank you Seamus," Elinore said. "Perhaps sometime in October would be nice. I want to be here for Hermione's birthday in September."
"How long will you stay?" Lavender asked, subdued.
"A couple of weeks perhaps," Elinore replied.
Lavender looked like she wanted to object and try to get her to stay longer but she kept her lips pressed together. "Just let me know when," she replied quietly.
"I will," Elinore said eager to move onto something that would get her mind off of Robert. "Julie, are you getting excited about starting your new job?"
"I really am," Julie smiled at her grandmother. "It'll be a real challenge working with older kids now, but it should be fun too."
"She'd been hunched over those books her Dad gave her all summer," Nick said with a laugh.
Julie gave her husband a look. "Better watch out Nicholas or you'll be my guinea pig for trying out all those defence spells."
"No thank you," Nick said shaking his head.
"You'd probably be a sight better than Dad," Saffron joked. "He's been teaching R.J. to drive."
"Have you really?" Nick chuckled. "How's that going?"
"He's doing quite well actually," Harry replied shooting a look at a giggling Saffron. "He has quite a bit to learn, but he's determined to get it."
"It's because he's so crazy about Lex," Saffron replied. "It's really actually quite sweet."
"Speaking of being crazy about someone," Elinore said smiling at her granddaughter. "I really enjoyed meeting your Sean the other night."
Saffron blushed as Ashley giggled at her. "He's really great."
"Sean and Saffron snogging in a tree," Ethan started to sing, but she threw a crisp at him. "Hey!"
"We aren't allowed to go anywhere on our own yet," Saffron said. "There's two people who won't let me date technically until I'm sixteen."
"Be happy my name isn't Neville and I'm not following you around Saffron Grace," Harry replied.
"Neville's Caroline's grandpa," Katie said. "He didn't like Caroline's Daddy because he and Caroline's mummy...."
Ashley rolled her eyes. "You are the nosiest person on the planet."
"Better than being the most stupidest," Katie retorted angrily.
"You're the stupid one," Ashley shot back. "Your grammar is atrocious for one thing and for another..."
"That is enough," Julie said sharply.
"She started it!" Ashley and Katie said at the same time.
"I don't care who started it," Julie replied in a calmer tone. "But if it doesn't stop, I know two little girls who will be grounded all weekend."
"Fine," Ashley said taking her plate and moving to sit on the other side of Saffron.
"I didn't want to sit beside you anyway," Katie said sticking her tongue out at her sister.
Nick shared a glance with his wife who rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Elinore smiled. "I know you two probably don't think this is possible, but one day I hope you'll be as close as your Grandma Hermione and Lavender. They didn't get along so well when they were growing up either."
"You didn't?" Ashley asked interestedly.
"No we didn't," Hermione admitted. "We weren't really close growing up. We were really different. I liked to read and go to museums in my spare time, while Lavender..."
"Liked pretty things," Lavender finished.
"Pretty, sparkly things," Hermione teased her.
"They used to have these horrible rows," Elinore said. "Which was made even worse because they shared a room. Lavender was always messy and Hermione liked to keep things neat and organised."
"Things haven't changed," Seamus said with a wink at Lavender.
"Very funny," Lavender said but she smiled.
"But you're so close now," Ashley commented.
"Things changed for all of us during that summer at Hillsdale," Hermione told her granddaughter. She could still remember a night like this all those years ago at her parents' house when Robert had sprung the summer holiday news on them.
***
"Hermione," Robert said. "Could you close your book? There's something I wanted to run past you girls."
Hermione didn't really want to close her book now when it was getting to the best part, but she relented when she saw the stern look on her father's face.
"Are we going to the Caribbean?" Lavender asked. "I've always wanted to go!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Then go," she replied.
"Where did you want to spend your hols?" Lavender asked sarcastically. "A library?"
"At least there I'd learn something," Hermione snorted.
"You're never going to find a decent bloke in some crummy, smelly library," Lavender shot back.
"That's where Mum met Dad," Hermione said smiling at her parents. "And I think he's a decent bloke."
Robert laughed. "Thank you dear."
"Don't you want the boy you date to be able to carry on a conversation?" Hermione asked her cousin. "To be able to talk about current events? World culture?"
"Who cares as long as he's cute?" Lavender asked, blowing on her wet nails.
Hermione rolled her eyes again. "You're impossible!"
"Girls," Robert said before Lavender could respond. "I have good news I wanted to share with you all. This is the last summer hols before Hermione goes off to University and Lavender starts looking for a job. I thought it would be nice to have a family holiday just the four of us..."
"What sort of holiday?" Hermione asked her father. "Like going to Athens or Rome?"
"A former associate of mine owns a resort that's not too far from here," Robert explained. "I met him when I was still running the dental practise with Ellie. I haven't heard from him in years, but he's written and asked if we'd like to take a long holiday."
"How long?" Lavender asked. "And where is it? What's it called? Is it on the beach?"
"It's not on the beach," Robert replied handing his niece a brochure that Vernon Dursley sent with the letter. "It's on a lake though."
"Hillsdale?" Lavender asked looking at the brochure. To her delight there was a very attractive lifeguard pictured inside. "This doesn't look that bad actually, Uncle Robert."
"You only like the blond on the front," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Do I have to go Dad? I really want to spend summer hols preparing for my first year at University. I have a lot of reading to do."
Lavender laughed. "You are some sort of defect Hermione. You're like a sixty-year old woman in a young girl's body. Don't you want to have fun? Don't you want to meet someone and fall in love?"
"Like that's going to happen there," Hermione scoffed.
"It probably won't if you sit there with your nose in a book," Lavender said frowning at her. "You wouldn't know how to have a good time if it came up and smacked you in the face."
"And you don't know how to be serious if a book fell from the sky on your head," Hermione retorted.
"I don't want to be serious," Lavender said airily. "Serious is boring."
"You don't have to go," Robert told Hermione. "But I'd really like it if you would. You're going to have a busy four years ahead of you at University and I'd love to spend some quality time with you before you go."
"How long is it for?" Hermione asked, knowing she was rarely able to say no when her father wanted her to go somewhere with the family.
"Two months," Robert replied.
"Two months?" Hermione asked. "Dad! That's way too long!"
"Merlin forbid you stay away from the library that long," Lavender said snidely.
Hermione exhaled. "Dad, I think it would be hazardous to Lavender's health if I did go because I honestly can't bear the thought of sharing a room with her for two solid months. It's bad enough I have to do it here."
"If I meet anyone like this I won't even be around," Lavender said with a coy grin.
"So you plan on sneaking out of our room every night to go snog some air headed blonde lifeguard?" Hermione asked. "I'm sure that's exactly what Dad had in mind when he thought of this holiday Lav."
"Look girls," Robert said, clearly losing patience. "I would very much appreciate it if you two could put your differences aside. Hermione, like I said, you don't HAVE to go, but I would love it if you did. You can bring along your books and spend the holiday reading by the lake."
"That'll have the boys running to her side," Lavender muttered under her breath.
"I think it sounds like a lovely idea," Elinore said to her husband. "Count me in."
"I kind of figured you were a given," Robert teased his wife.
Elinore laughed.
"Count me in," Lavender chimed in. "I'm going to need to go shopping for new swimming costumes and new outfits. Your associate is a Muggle, right? We'll have to keep what Hermione and I are a secret, right?"
"Yes," Robert nodded. "I used to deal with him when he worked in a drill factory and I was a dentist."
"I still haven't agreed to go," Hermione reminded her cousin. "Two months. I don't want to go into my first day of classes behind."
"How will you be behind in your FIRST day of classes?" Lavender asked exasperatedly.
"You wouldn't understand," Hermione said getting to her feet and grabbing her book from the table. "I'll think about it, Dad."
"Please do Hermione," Robert said. "I really think this will be a nice holiday for all of us."
A little later that evening, Hermione was sitting on her twin bed still reading when Lavender came into the room.
"You should really think about going," she commented as she cleared off the dirty clothes on her bed. "Uncle Robert would be really disappointed if you didn't."
"Don't try and guilt me Lavender," Hermione said, not taking her eyes off her book.
"I'm not trying to guilt you," Lavender said defensively. She handed her cousin the Hillsdale brochure. "It looks like a nice place."
Hermione didn't respond.
"Humour me," Lavender said plopping down beside her cousin causing Hermione to glare up at her from the book. "Look at it. They have a nice lake and there's something in there about dance lessons..."
"I'm not into dancing," Hermione replied. "And I don't care about any lake."
"What are you into exactly?" Lavender asked trying to get comfortable on her cousin's bed, but Hermione wasn't budging.
"Reading," Hermione snapped. "And studying."
"What about meeting a nice boy?" Lavender said picking up the untouched brochure and waving it in her cousin's face. "For all you know, the love of your life could be waiting here for you! He could be as dull and boring as you and you'll live boringly ever after..."
"Oh that really makes it sound convincing," Hermione said sarcastically. "Look, I know you're into boys, clothes, makeup and all that other junk. But I'm not. I'm perfectly happy going through my schooling and pursuing a future before I worry about settling down with anyone okay?"
"Fine," Lavender said standing up. "You don't want to meet boys, that's your hang up. But you really should do this for Uncle Robert and Aunt Elinore. They want to spend this summer with us. And if you're too selfish to take time out for your own parents, well...you're not the person everyone thinks you are."
Hermione made a frustrated sound. "FINE!" she said. "I'll go. Satisfied?"
"Completely," Lavender grinned. "I'll go tell Uncle Robert!"
Hermione fell back against her pillows. "Great," she muttered.
"You know," Lavender said from the doorway. "You might end up thanking me for this. This could be the summer that could change everything."
"Oh I'm sure it will," Hermione agreed sarcastically.
***
Harry listened to his wife's story and couldn't help but shake his head. All this time he thought he'd owed Hermione's coming along to Hillsdale to Robert, but come to find out, Lavender had a great deal to do with it as well.
"That's right," Lavender said gleefully. "You'd have never met each other had it not been for little old me."
"None of us would be sitting here right now," Julie shook her head.
"Harry and I would have probably met eventually," Hermione said defensively.
"Yeah right," Seamus said. "Your husband didn't exactly frequent libraries and museums Hermione."
"More like dance clubs," Lavender snorted.
"And pubs," Seamus said. "He, Ron, Dean and Neville and I..."
"My children, grandchildren and mother-in-law are here," Harry reminded his friend. "Please do not continue."
"Right," Seamus said. "Innocent ears are listening."
"I want to hear more about this," Saffron said leaning forward.
"I bet you do," Harry said. "But I don't think so."
"Come on Dad!" Saffron whined. "Spill your guts. Tell us about your sordid past!"
"Go read a history book," Harry returned.
"Like Isabella Marconi's book?" Saffron asked.
"That's fiction," Hermione cut in hastily.
"I might have taken a peek at it when I was in Flourish & Blotts," Saffron admitted.
"I'll burn it if you ever buy it," Harry said.
"I could only make myself look at a few pages," Saffron reassured him. "It was basically page after page of her going on and on about herself and these fashion shoots and then she talked about...you know..."
"The fiction," Harry replied. "Who wants dessert?" he changed the subject. "I have pumpkin pie and ice cream."
"I do," Lavender replied sweetly. "And I should get extra ice cream since I was the one who brought you and Hermione together."
"Are you sure you want it?" Harry teased her. "It's fatty, chocolaty and completely not diet safe."
"It's okay to splurge every now and then," Lavender said dismissively. "You hate this, don't you? Being indebted to me?"
"Don't tell anyone," Harry said as she helped him clear the table. "But I'm eternally grateful."
"It'll be our little secret," she said smiling at him. "And if it hadn't been for you, we'd never have had Julie, Ethan and Saffron. So, I am eternally grateful to you too."
"We can never tell anyone that we really do get along," Harry said once they were in the kitchen and the dishes were washing themselves in the sink. "It'd ruin our reputation as squabblers forever."
"We still have our moments," Lavender said.
"What would we do without them?" Harry asked dramatically.
"I don't know," Lavender said laughing. She turned serious though. "I'm worried about Aunt Elinore, Harry. Do you really think she's okay?"
Harry gazed at his family outside. "I'm not sure," he said. "I think life is getting a little easier day by day for her, but she's nowhere near where she was. I don't think she'll ever be the way she was again."
Lavender nodded. "I always thought they'd both be here, you know? That they'd always be here for me."
Harry nodded. "When Robert had his first heart attack I didn't think at first that he'd make it. But then he did... and I guess I got a bit spoiled by that. I thought the same thing you did."
"We all did," Lavender said. "It's been so hard Harry. I just wish I could do more for my aunt."
"She knows you care," Harry reassured her. "We all wish we could do more."
"Thanks," Lavender said hugging him. "You're not so bad when you want to be."
"Funny," Harry teased. "I was thinking the same about you."
*** *** ***