Chapter Two
Welcome Back Potter
"Flight 682 from London to Chicago has now arrived at
gate B26." the intercom rang through out the terminal and Ron
waited at the gate with a red rose in hand. Harry and Hermione
were waiting a few feet away also wanting for Harry's sister,
Heather to come home for the Christmas holiday.
Once the unloading of the passengers begun, Ron rocked
back and forth from the heals to balls of his feet. Once he spotted
her coming off the plane, the two of them raced toward each other
to embrace. Ron kissed her passionately on the lips as he ran his
tongue around them expecting entrance in her mouth. She parted
them appreciatively to allow his tongue inside.
After a few minutes of heavy snogging, Harry cleared his
throat to make them realize both he and Hermione were still
there. "Sorry, Harry." Heather stepped away from her fiancé and
hugged her soon to be sister-in-law and brother. "How are you
guys doing? How go your classes?"
"Well, concealment and disguise is going well. Harry and
Ron are doing just as well as I am." Hermione offered.
"We had problems though in Stealth and Tracking today,
though. " Harry admitted as he took Heather's carry-on bag.
"You mean you two had problems in Stealth and Tracking
today." Ron pointed at them as they headed down to baggage
claim.
"What do you mean?" Heather asked as she breathed in
the scent of the rose Ron handed her.
"Harry and I lost our tempers with our Stealth and Tracking
Professor, Professor Knut. She sentenced the entire squadron to
perform drills for the episode. We have to come in every morning
bright and early for the next week." Hermione groaned.
"You lost your temper with Professor Knut? The Professor
Hazel Knut?" Heather's eyes grew large in disbelief. "She's the
best Stealth and Tracking teacher in the United States! How could
you loose your temper with her?"
"The woman is impossible." Harry declared. "She must know
our Uncle Severus because they are a lot a like."
Heather laughed. "Speaking of the devil, he and Aunt Petunia
Are expecting again."
Silence emanated between the four of them until Harry,
Ron and Hermione came back from their shock. Harry was
the first to speak. "I know it's rather weird, you know. The ages
between Dudley and this new baby after all are like what 18
years. Do they really want this baby or was it an accident?"
"I think we can safely assume an accident." Ron grinned
evilly. "How far along is she?"
"She's only in her first trimester." Heather noted as the
four of the headed down the escalator.
Hermione decided to change the topic. "So, Harry and I
decided on a date for our wedding."
"Really?" Ron and Heather exclaimed. "When?"
"May 4th."
"That's two days after graduation. Do you think you'll have it
planned on time?" Ron asked.
"Well, with Mrs. Nelson's help I think we will." Harry stepped
off the escalator and he waited for the rest of his group to get off to
go to baggage claim.
"My mom's helping you guys? Is she excited?"
"Well, we haven't asked her yet." Hermione admitted as
Heather pulled her luggage off the baggage claim and Ron carried
it out of the airport and to the car garage.
"I am sure she'll say yes even though the beginning of spring
is probably one of the busiest times for her socially since it is the last
month before the season starts. Where am I putting my luggage?"
"The luggage will go in Harry's car and you'll ride with me."
Ron said as Harry opened his trunk. Harry and Ron inserted the
luggage inside. After putting the luggage inside the trunk of Harry's
Ford Mustang, Ron grabbed his two helmets from the back seat.
He handed Heather one and then started the bike.
"Ready to go?"
Heather nodded as she put the black helmet on and hopped
on the bike behind him. She took hold of his waist and Ron revved
the engine. Ron's motorcycle lead the way out of the garage, off the
exit ramp, and out onto the highway.
*****
Danielle MacNeal strode down the hallway of her dormitory
with a large smirk on her face and the latest evidence of her perfection
at hand. She had just come from her student advisor's office where
he presented her with a copy of his recommendation for Head girl.
Since Heather Potter no longer attended the Chicago Institute of
Witchcraft and Wizardry, she knew the Head girl ship was hers.
"Hey, Danielle." Her roommate welcomed her once Danielle
opened the door. "How did your meeting with Professor Matteson go?"
"It went well." Danielle said vaguely. "Any messages for me?"
"Yeah, some British guy named Draco Malfoy called. He said
it was rather urgent."
Danielle smiled. "My dragon called?"
"Oh that was your boyfriend then?"
Danielle nodded as she went over to the phone and called the
number. She had bought Draco a cell phone while she was still in
England after the Chicago Institute did not have a fireplace and the
one in the lobby wasn't private enough for the situation. Even Draco,
who had protested about muggle things at first, had liked the privacy
of the line. "Hey Draco, this is Danielle. What's up?"
"I've got it."
"You've got it?"
"That's what I just said."
"How much did that rat want for it?" Danielle asked
as she sat down on the arm of her couch.
"Too much."
"Then why did you want to pay for it then?"
"I have my reasons."
"And one of them wouldn't be to impress a certain
American girl would it?"
"That wasn't my reason, but it was an added plus."
Danielle smiled. "Then what was your reason?"
"They are Mr. and Mrs. Scarhead, Mudblood Granger,
and Weasel." Draco noticed Danielle's irritation when he
mentioned Heather Potter. "What's wrong? Potter isn't back
at the institute is she?"
"As far as I know she's still at Hogwarts." Danielle stood
up and walked over to the window. "So you still are going to pick
me up at Heathrow?"
"If you're still planning on staying here at the manor."
"Only if your mum is still going to first your Aunt Bellitrix
and dad in Azkaban, then?"
"Yeah, then she's going to visit some friends of hers from
Hogwarts."
"Your mom only has the one sister?"
"The only one she talks to. She has another sister, but
she married a muggle."
"Umm…Ew!"
"Tell me about it. My Aunt Adromeda has a child too. She's
older than me and an auror."
"I still can't believe they would hire someone like her. Why
can't they just restrict it like thy did in my great-great grandparents
day? Aren't there better qualified wizards out there or they
really just that desperate?"
"I guess they couldn't "find" any." Draco rolled
his eyes. "I have to go. My mum wants me to see her off."
"Tell your mum I said hello."
"Will do." Then Draco sheepishly added. "I love you."
Danielle's smile grew large. "I love you too."
"I will see you when you get there." Draco said before he
hung up the phone.
"Well?" Danielle's roommate asked.
"Our plan is in the works."
*****
By the time Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Heather made it
back to the Nelson estate, Roger and Virginia had returned home
from work and the charity event. They were sitting at the dinner
table waiting dinner on the rest of the inhabitants of the house.
"Welcome home, Miss Potter." Louise Goodie said
half heart fully as James followed behind to retrieve Heather's
luggage to put them in her room. "Your parents are waiting
dinner on you. I'd advise you to wash up quickly to prevent the
meal from being ruined."
Heather nodded as she took off her coat and Ron took it
to hang in the closet by the door. Ron took off his boots and
followed Heather up the stairs to wash up. "Want some help?"
Heather chuckled as she opened the door to her bedroom
and Ron followed in behind. She shut the door behind him and
once again she made contact with his lips with her own. "I missed
you." He mumbled against her lips.
"I missed you more." She pulled away from him to look
into his eyes. "Let's just get married now. I Los Vegas is nice
this time of year."
Ron chuckled. "I think your mum and mine would have a
slight problem with that."
"I think your right," Heather laughed, "but I want to be your
wife."
"And I want to be your husband." Ron touched her forehead
to hers. "We just have to wait until you're out of Hogwarts."
She looked at him oddly. "Is that all it would take?"
"Yeah, because by then you'll be of age…"
Heather pulled back and grinned at him. "What if I had
graduated early?"
"Like how early?"
"Like at the end of this term." Heather bit her lip in hopes
he would understand what she was trying to help him.
"I thought you had to be 18 to graduate." Ron was confused
more than ever.
"Only if I graduate from a school in the States. Professor
Dumbledore had the examiners for the N.E.W.T.s come back
early just right before Christmas. He had a professor from the
Great Lakes Academy begin my Auror training at the beginning of
Term and told me I would be joining your squadron at the beginning
of next term." Heather said in one breath.
"Really?" Ron almost laughed. Now it was clear why their
squadron sergeant had left a vacancy in their team. "You're the
team member Professor Duckhorn told Harry about."
"Yeah, Paula Duckhorn is a friend of not only my parents but
Albus Dumbledore. They set it all up with head Auror Nicholas
Alexandrea. He was great to come all the way to Hogwarts to help
to train me." Heather mentioned. "Did you know my godfather's
cousin was an auror?"
"No, I didn't know that." Ron looked down at her hands, noting
Heather still wore her engagement ring. " You know when you become
an auror you won't be able to wear your ring."
"I know that's why I don't normally wear it to my classes."
Heather watched his reaction. It wasn't my choice not to wear it.
If it were up to me I would wear it and never take it off."
"I know." Ron cupped her face with his hand. He gazed
deeply into the Chocolate depths of Heather's eyes. A wall of
silence fell between the two until Heather decided she couldn't
stand it anymore.
"Ron, I know you have to get up early tomorrow, but I
need you tonight." Heather pleaded, longingly. "Make love to
me tonight."
Ron kissed her cheek softly. He nodded but before
he could verbalize it, a knock on Heather's door told them
they need to be getting down to dinner. "We'd better go."
Heather nodded and opened the door to her bedroom.
Ron and her walked down the corridor, down the stairs, and
into the dinning room to eat.
Heather's parents, Harry, and Hermione were in mid-
conversation. Virginia Nelson's expression made Heather
smile for her eyes were large and she was listening attentively
to what Hermione was saying. It was obviously to Heather,
Hermione had just asked Mrs. Nelson to be her wedding
planner. "I know a great cake baker whom I know would
love to do your wedding cake."
"That would be nice." Hermione nodded her greeting
as Heather sat down on the chair across from Harry.
"Trust me, you'll love it!" Mrs. Nelson assured them,
but from the look on Hermione's face; she wasn't quite
convinced.
Mr. Nelson decided to talk to his daughter.
"How was your trip, honey?"
"It was good." Heather nodded.
"It went well, Heather. Please speak proper
English. " Virginia nagged, then went back to her
conversation about the wedding with Harry and
Hermione.
"Yes mum." Heather paused, then leaned
in closer to her father. "I am just glad it's finally over."
"I'd bet." Mr. Nelson cut his steak and dabbed it
in the steak sauce. "At least you won't have to worry
too much about the return trip."
"I know." Heather agreed as her plate was placed
in front of her. "When will you send for my car?"
"I have already contacted Arthur Weasley and
as soon as the cargo section of the jet is fixed Ron's
father has already agreed to bring it to the airport."
"Heather, you're going to be going back to
Hogwarts in a few weeks. Do you really need to bring
your car over here when you are just going back?"
Harry asked as he only caught the trail end of their
conversation as he grew tired of hearing about
Mrs. Nelson's plans for his and Hermione's wedding.
"That would be true if I would be going back
to Hogwarts."
"Then you're going back to the Institute?"
Hermione asked as Mrs. Nelson stopped talking when
she heard Heather was not going back to Hogwarts.
"No, I am going to be attending the Great Lakes
Academy for Auror Training and Advanced Magic."
Heather grinned playfully at the tree people who didn't
already know her plans.
"But you're not of age!" Virginia protested. "Not
to mention its extremely dangerous to be an auror. Why
would you want to go into a field and have a high
possibility that you could get seriously injured or even worse
killed? Merlin, Lily and James would kill us if they knew
we would let you do something like that."
"James was an auror. Lily was an unspeakable. Both
very highly dangerous jobs, my dear. Heather would just be
following a proud line of her family and doing something to
protect society." Roger defended as he took a drink of his
glass of Merlot.
"Not to mention, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were my
age when they applied for Great Lakes." Heather gestured
toward the three of them. "Besides, Hogwarts won't allow
me to return now that I have taken my N.E.W.T.s and
graduated early. It was all planned so I could graduate
with them."
"Wait." Harry exclaimed, exasperated. "You're the
person Sergeant Duckhorn told me about? The team
member who would be joining us this up coming
semester?"
Heather smiled and nodded vigorously. Harry and
Hermione looked at each other as if they were waiting for the
other to speak for them. "Are you sure about this Heather?"
Hermione asked once Harry nodded at her for her to speak.
"I mean you haven't been on our squad since the beginning
of term."
"I have been training all semester and I head auror
Alexandrea came over to train me personally while classes
at Hogwarts continued. He was also helped the new
Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor with her lessons."
Heather took a bite of her potatoes.
"That's exactly my point, you may have been
training with one of the professors, but you haven't
been able to establish the bonds with our squadron."
Hermione offered.
"So, you don't want me on your squadron?"
Harry caught the defensive tone in her voice and he
Knew whatever Hermione said next could be dangerous.
"That's not what I am saying." Hermione sighed and
Harry knew she was trying to chose her words carefully to
avoid the battle between them going to a full out World War III.
"I'm just not sure if you're really ready to join our squad."
"Professor Alexandrea thought so." Heather was growing
more irritated and Harry knew there was no way of getting around
her temper this time. "He felt that I needed to join the squad now
otherwise I would have to join up next year. To be honest, I think
I should have waited now." Heather abruptly stood up and left the
room.
Hermione rolled her eyes irritably and Ron was the first
to speak. "Come off your giant's shoulder, Hermione."
"It's my fault, really, Ronald." Hermione rolled her eyes
sarcastically. "Every time something or someone doesn't go
or think her way she grows mad and throws a temper tantrum."
"It's not like that at all, Hermione." Ron defended.
"Oh, really?" Hermione huffed. "Then I'd really like to
know what it was."
Ron said nothing, but Harry knew it wasn't out of lack
of an answer. Hermione took the lack of an answer as if he
didn't know how to respond rather than an a desperate attempt
to control his temper. "I think the lack of an answer means you
agree with me." Hermione took her fork and knife and began
cutting her meal. Ron abruptly stood up and as he walked out
magically knocked over the rest of the chairs and shattered the
glass of the portraits on the wall.
No one spoke a word until he left. When he did, Mrs.
Nelson sighed. "I just replaced that glass." Mrs. Nelson began
to pull out her wand, but Louise Goodie beat the mistress of the
house to it.
"Reparo." She muttered and the glass and broken pieces
of the chair repaired themselves. She quietly sighed and muttered
to herself. "This family is completely crazy."