THE BOY WITH DRAGON POX
Summary: A young Muggle is in hospital and the doctors are looking for a
blood donor from a close relative. Harry has a plan to help. Pre Epilogue.
Disclaimer: I'm not JKR. Any character you might recognize belongs to her
genius. She's a much better story teller than I am, too.
Chapter Two: Meeting with the Minister
"Kingsley," Harry Potter said jovially, holding the elevator grate open.
"Good to see you again."
Kingsley Shacklebolt frowned and said in low, quiet tones, "I have a
certain notice on my desk at the moment, Potter. Care to explain?"
"Certainly, sir," Harry cheerily answered. "Your office or mine?"
"Better yours," Kingsley said. "Secretaries are always chattering. I was
one for some time, if you remember."
"Of course, sir," Harry said, stepped into the lift behind the
Minister and pushed the button for level two.
Shacklebolt sat opposite Harry and pursed his lips after hearing about
the hospitalized boy. "I understand your reasons but did you have to have
contact with the Muggle police?" he asked and got a nod. "Michael Statterin
you say?"
Harry nodded again.
"I'll look into it. I'm sure Filius or Minerva will have records on the lad
and his family," Kingsley said. "Wizard? You sure of this?"
"He has Dragon Pox, I'm pretty sure of that, though Madam Pomfrey
should have a look along with Neville ," Harry said. "Seems he's a wizard in
the making. Since he is, assuming I'm right so far, then he might as well
have a little exposure to our world before he has to enter it like I did: cold
and hard with bunk on how to deal."
"Yes, that can be rough on a Muggle born wizard," Kingsley agreed.
"His parents? You think they'll handle it at his young age? Will they be a
problem?"
"With a healthy son, no, no problem at all," Harry said and leaned
forward. "If someone came to you and said they could cure your daughter of
a fatal disease, wouldn't you accept the help and anything that came from
it?"
"There is that," the Minister agreed, nodding his head.
"You know how much I've been trying to set up some form of
cooperation between our world and the Muggle world," Harry said.
"Yes. I've read all the white papers you've sent," Kingsley said. "Your
points are valid in every way but there is a long precedent for the Statute.
So far, I don't see much to change my mind on that."
Harry sighed. An old argument. "There's always the Jugson case,"
Harry said. "If we could have had help from the police we would have found
him long before we did and those Muggles he killed would still be alive. I
don't see how two dozen murders is proper justification for secrecy. Nor do I
see their deaths as the price we must accept for our safety."
His voice rose and his hand slapped the desktop. "They had families,
Kingsley. They left behind orphaned children, I have a particular affinity in
that area, you know. We could have prevented it but for an ancient rule we
haven't questioned in decades."
Kingsley sighed while waiting for the Auror sitting in front of him to
calm down. "In my heart I hear you. As Minister, I must enforce the law just
as you must as an Auror," he said heavily. Then he leaned in a little closer.
"I do, however, agree there needs to be a bit of room to maneuver.
"You want this Constable O'Neil, you want him as liaison between the
Muggle police and the Auror office?" he asked.
"Yes I do," Harry answered.
"You trust him?"
"I think he's an honest man that thinks of others before himself,"
Harry said. "When we apparated I did a bit of legilimency to be sure I was
doing the right thing. If there had been a doubt, I'd've Obliviated him right
then.
"But if I had, then Michael, the boy in hospital, would be doomed."
Harry sat back a little. "So yes, I trust O'Neil."
Shacklebolt let out a long sigh and nodded his head. "Keep it low key.
It gets out of hand I won't be able to protect you as I'll be removed from
office and you'll be in the cell next to me in Azkaban. There are always
people looking at this Ministry with envy for the power it has."
He sighed again and sat back in his chair. "If only they could see the
terror I feel every day for fear I'll make a mistake, to be responsible for so
many people, they just don't know, they don't understand. Don't make us
targets."
Both men looked at each other then Kingsley said, "It might be better
to meet him out of this arena, away from watching eyes."
Harry grinned. "I do believe I should tell Ginny to make dinner for at
least two guests. Do you think I should bring Ron Weasley into this?"
Kingsley sighed at the turn of words. "You never do go part way with
anything, do you Harry? Since you've likely put him neck deep in this
already, yes, Ron. Hermione too. She's Muggleborn. She'd be a help. Need a
babysitter? My wife adores your Lily."
"I think we'll be okay for this first meeting," Harry said with a grin. As
soon as Kingsley Shacklebolt left, he turned to his fireplace, tossed a pinch
of Floo powder on the grate and murmured clearly, "Godric's Hollow, Potter
House." As soon as the green mist coalesced he said, "Ginny, love of my life.
Guess who's coming to dinner?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry met Constable O'Neil and Eleanor Statterin at a cafe'‚ in Old
Martson that had seen better days. The Pot and Bowl needed a few gallons
of paint, the wood scrubbed, new curtains; all in all, somewhat of a tawdry
place to invite friends. "Good to see you could make it, Robert, Eleanor.
How's Michael?"
"Pretty much the same," Mrs. Statterin answered. "So, we're going to
dinner?" Her eyes flicked around the store room at the back of the cafe'‚ with
its overstuffed shelves and dusty containers.
Harry grinned. "Yep. You'll like my wife's cooking. It's going to be a bit
of a picnic. You're going to meet some of my friends, Ron and Hermione,
you'll like them, and a few others. Anyway, Ron works with me and will be a
big help along with Hermione. We've all been friends for, well, since I was
eleven. Met them on a train to school. Bit of a story, that. Along with Neville
and Madam Pomfrey, perhaps a Healer from St. Mungo's too, if possible."
"St. Mungo's?" Eleanor asked.
Harry sucked in his breath. "This is all for Michael. I have, lets see,
how to put this. Let's just say for now there's some information I have
available that'll help your son. Ron's daughter, Rose, she had something
much the same not long ago but you'd not know she was deathly ill today.
"Now I have to ask a favor of you, Eleanor," Harry said. When she
gazed at him cooly he said, "I have to ask you to not say anything about
what you might learn tonight. Not to anyone except your husband and I'd
like to be there when you do."
"I see," she said, glancing at the constable by her side, then around
the dimly lit room. "Well, Frank's sitting with Michael while I go to dinner
with a stranger in this ... place. Sure. What else should I do? Dance a jig in
public? Of course I promise, if it'll help my son. You a father?"
"Yes ma'am," Harry said. "Three so far. And I'd give my life for them in
a heartbeat, just like you would for Michael, so I accept your word to keep
this under your hat for a little bit. We'll bring Frank into it after you are
conversant in some things you, uh, won't quite understand at first."
At her frown he went on, "Sorry to be mysterious but I can promise
you'll understand by the time you return in a few hours. You ready?"
A long sigh came from the anxious mother. "I don't really know but
that's not going to stop me. I'm up for a leap of faith right now."
Harry stood and led the two to the back of the room, standing them in
front of a monstrous fireplace that would have been the rage two hundred
years ago. He took a pinch of Floo powder and tossed it on the cold grate.
"Ginny. I have company coming," he said into the green, flame-looking
mist. A glance at Robert and he said, "Security. Call ahead or it's lockdown.
For, uh, work, and the kids."
A face appeared composed within the cold green flames. "Okay
sweetheart. Good luck," the wavering image said out of the hearth.
"Uh, what was ... what did I just see?" Eleanor asked.
"This is going to be interesting for you," Harry said. "Trust me. I
showed Robert a bit of this yesterday and he trusts me now, more or less."
"I'm not going to blow eats again, am I? Not a good way to ingratiate
one to one's hosts," Robert said.
Harry laughed. "Oh no. This is much more sedate. No problem at all.
All you have to do when I toss this powder onto the hearth is hold my hand
and we'll be at my home in no time. Literally."
Eleanor had a nervous look when she asked, "Robert? What is this?"
He grinned back. "I trust Mr. Potter. Let's just do as he asks. I'm sure
it'll be as interesting as he says."
"Ah, jeez," she said. "I can't believe what I'm seeing anyway. Might as
well find out what's behind the looking glass."
Harry snickered and said, "Bit of a blow up over that one. Anyway, just
take my hand and step into the flames. They're quite harmless."
She did as asked and Robert joined her, stepping into the maw of the
green lit fireplace with cold fire dancing about her feet. She stared at it.
Harry took a handful of Floo powder, loudly and clearly said, "Potter
House," and tossed the dust at their feet.
Ginny smiled at her guests then stood back as Mrs Statterin let out a
shriek, looked around wild-eyed and slowly caught her breath.
"I was like that the first time I traveled by Floo," Ginny said with a
grin. "But then I was only six. Mum said I nearly blew her shoes off I
squealed so loud."
She reached out to take the woman's shaking hand. "There you go
dear. Let's get you a cloth so you can clean up a little. Always the problem
with the old Network. Dusty fireplaces. Gets you all smutty."
"Mummy? Who's all these people?" a cute red haired girl with wide
eyes asked when she skidded to a halt close to the fireplace.
"Lily flower, please introduce yourself properly to Mrs. Statterin and
Mr. O'Neil," Ginny said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Lily Luna Potter," the girl said and
shyly held out her hand.
"Good to meet you, Lily Luna," Robert said. "My name is Robert
O'Neil," took her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "This is Mrs. Statterin, my
friend. She has a boy I think is just your age."
Lily turned to the gaping woman at the hearth. "You do? Is he coming
to play too?"
"Uh, no, not this time," Eleanor managed to get out, gazing at the
young girl in front of her, perfectly at ease with people standing in her
fireplace.
"Can I have a cookie mummy?" the small girl asked.
"Not before dinner sweetheart," Ginny told her daughter. "Now, why
don't you go out and play with your brothers. Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione
are coming so you'll have lots of cousins to play with."
"Can I get our brooms out?" she asked excitedly.
"Yes dear," Ginny answered, "but you can't go past the fence."
"Oh goody," she squealed. "Nice to meet you. Bye daddy," she said
and was off in a swirl of red hair.
Ginny turned to the mother still standing at the hearth. "Come along
and I'll get you a hot towel, dear. This must be a little overwhelming to you."
Eleanor stopped, turned, stared at the huge Brown owl perched by the
door and smiled weakly. "It was until that darling girl of yours introduced
herself. She wasn't worried so no reason for me to be. Might I ask where I
am and what just happened?"
"Welcome to Potter House. Let's get freshened up, shall we?" Ginny
said as she led her away. "You see, the Floo network ..."
O'Neil turned to Harry. "That wasn't as bad as that other thing.
Apparate?" and got a nod. "Yes, well, it's all very strange still but then your
wife was there and that lovely bundle of energy introduced herself so
politely, it ... just like with my kids. Not quite what I was expecting."
Harry laughed. "I should show you Knockturn Alley then. That's an
eyeopener. Come along and I'll show you the washroom. Old Floos are so
messy. Glad I got this modern one installed when we built the house."
When they came out there were others in the living room. They all
stood up in the presence of guests and Harry said, "I'd like to introduce
Robert O'Neil of the London Metropolitan Police and Eleanor Statterin,
Michael's mother."
Introductions were made and they all shook. Ron leaned in close to
murmur to Harry, "Muggles? You sure about this?"
"Absolutely," Harry said with a grin. "This is the opportunity I've been
waiting for and there's a child with Dragon Pox in a Muggle hospital that
needs our help. He's the main focus for now. He's going to be getting his
Letter in a few years anyway, might as well bring the family into our world
and get them used to it."
Hermione moved in close. "You're completely mental, Harry, but at
least I know Ron's in good company. How many rules are we going to break
this time?"
"A few," Harry replied with a conspiratorial grin.
"Should we hold anything back?" Hermione asked.
"I don't think that'll be necessary," Harry said. "Shacklebolt's going to
be here."
Hermione's eyes flared wide. "Jumping right off the cliff as usual," she
said with a grin growing. "Count us in."
There was a shriek outside and Lily stomped into the house. "Mummy!
Hugo took my broom and won't give it back."
Ron started to move but Hermione put a hand on his arm. He settled
and told the girl, "Tell him if his father has to come out there to make him
behave it'll be a grounding and no broom for a month."
Lily got a grin on, turned and ran out through the door with red hair
dancing about her shoulders. "Hugo, you give me my broom back right now
or else I'll ...."
Ginny called after her. "No hexing young lady or it's the same for you."
Robert looked around at the people he just now was beginning to
understand and appreciate as being just regular folks. "Brooms? Hexing?"
"They're just practice brooms," Ginny said. "Not fast enough to injure,
not seriously, though they all have skinned knees and elbows. Toughens em
up and they have so much fun."
"I see. I think I see," Eleanor said. "You all are friends then?"
Harry laughed and said, "That's a longer story than we have time for
but I will say all of us have saved each other's lives many times over. More
than friends. I trust them, I have trusted them with my life and many
others'. I ask that you trust them, though you're lucky enough not to have to
eat mushrooms and trout for weeks on end to be able to do that."
Hermione snorted. "Harry, I tried everything I could to make them
palatable. You know that."
Harry smiled. "Yes you did and it was always wonderful to eat your
delicious cooking." They traded knowing looks.
Eleanor couldn't keep up with everything being said but understood the
root level of things. These people were as close a family as could be. A lot of
love was in this house. She could trust them. It was as simple as that.
She waited and when no one spoke she said, "I heard you say you
think my Michael has something the doctors don't understand?"
Hermione said, "It's not that they don't understand, it ..." and she saw
the look she was getting. "Harry says it's Dragon Pox. Rose had it and we
nearly lost her it came on so fast. Sometimes it goes epidemic, like in
seventeen thirty two when ..."
"Hermione," Ron said softly.
Hermione got a look then asked, "How long has Michael been sick?"
Eleanor thought back. "It's been a few weeks. We took him to the
doctor and he said the lab tests said he might have leukemia. White blood
count or something. But you're saying it's this ... What is Dragon Pox?"
Hermione paused, glanced at Ron then said, "It's a long story. The
important part is it's a sickness only wizards and witches get. You do
understand what that means?"
"Wizards? Witches?" Eleanor asked. She had a look of incredulity for a
moment then relaxed and said,"So you're saying Michael ... he's a wizard?"
Hermione started to laugh from a memory of her parents but thought
of the distraught mother anxiously sitting in the chair looking for guidance.
"It seems that way," she replied seriously.
"Happens to the best of families," Ron said.
He smirked and Hermione frowned at him. "Ronald. Really. This is
serious."
"Sorry dear," Ron said.
"Yes," Hermione said with amused exasperation and turned back to
Eleanor. "Yes, it means your son is a wizard in the making, though we'd have
to check with Professor McGonagall to be sure. Anyway, if it's Dragon Pox it
can be cured but it's a bit difficult. He'll have to go to St. Mungo's Hospital
for treatment, of course. Is that acceptable to you?"
The mother sat still a moment. "If it'll help my son, anything."
There was the sound of a deep voice then a rushing sound and Ginny
got up. "Company's here. If you'll excuse me," and left the room. A moment
later she led a tall, handsome black man dressed in a three piece suit and a
gold ear ring into the room. Ron and Harry stood up instantly.
"Eleanor Statterin," Harry said. "Allow me to introduce Mr. Kingsley
Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic for the United Kingdom."
"Sit down you two. You're not fooling me for an instant," he said in a
deep voice that matched his size and the men traded conspiratorial grins. He
turned to the stunned mother. "I am honored to meet you, Mrs. Statterin.
Please, call me Kingsley, my lady." He took her hand and touched his lips to
the fingers resting on his palm then nodded to Robert solemnly. Both felt
they had been singled out for an award just for being who they were, the
man's charisma was so strong.
He looked around the room. "I take from that introduction you have
told these two just about everything?" he asked and got nods. "I see. Full on
charge, Harry, yes? And you, Weasley, you went along with this crazy
scheme despite the Secrecy Statute?"
"Of course I did, sir," Ron said without hesitation. "Any mate of Harry's
is a mate of mine."
"I'll never be able to keep you two under control," Kingsley said with a
growing grin. "Dumbledore trained you well and I'm proud to have you
working in the Ministry no matter the trouble you cause me."
Both Aurors stirred uncomfortably. Kingsley went on to say, "And for
your further information, I'll never admit to having said that to anyone
outside this room."
The three of them shared amused looks and Kingsley sat down, Ginny
and Hermione moving to fetch tea, leaving two Muggles, the Minister of
Magic and two unruly Aurors in the room to chat.
"So you see what we must do to help your son," Harry was saying.
"The only real problem is to secure permission and a modicum of
understanding." He gazed cooly at Kingsley. "A little cooperation between
our Healers can surely lead to better care, especially if someone comes in
that one hospital can't help with."
Kingsley nodded his head, "Yes, yes, and the next thing is to have St.
Mungo's brewing up Skele Gro for their bone healing."
Harry nodded. "Seems like a good idea to me."
Kingsley rolled his eyes. "You need to spend a few years reading our
history pertaining to contact with the Muggle world. It hasn't turned out very
well. Not once. It's why we have the Statute. You must understand that after
all this time."
"To tell the truth, Minister, we're falling so far behind the Muggle
world, in a few years they'll be able to do everything we do, only with
technology instead of wands. They have X-ray machines that can see into
your heart and watch it beat. I've seen it myself. We can't do that. We have
a lot to learn from their medical knowledge," Harry said. "Have people in the
Ministry looked at it from that angle?"
Kingsley sighed. Ginny and Hermione came out from the kitchen with
tea followed by Neville and Hanna Longbottom along with two black haired
children, the girl with an Elf owl on her shoulder. Standing alongside was a
sharp featured, matronly woman dressed in very old fashioned clothes. The
two dazzled visitors and the Minister remained seated as the new folks
hugged and shook hands, spending a minute catching up.
"You two go outside and play," Neville told his children. "They have
their brooms out so be nice and they'll share."
Ginny piped up saying, "If they don't, tell them I said to share or I'll
come out there and make sure and they won't like how I do it. Scoot. Have
fun."
The two kids sprinted out the door, the girl stopping to put her tiny owl
next to the huge Brown owl already there, reached into her pocket and
handed both birds a treat, told hers to play nice then joined her brother. The
two owls looked at each other a moment then turned to look out over the
field as the two kids ran across the grass, seeming to think avoiding
recognizing each other was best all around.
Harry spoke up. "The Minister and I were talking how Muggle medicine
could help at St. Mungo's."
Kingsley sputtered his tea, holding the cup away from his clothes.
"That's not exactly what we were discussing, Potter."
Harry snickered. "Madam Pomfrey, allow me to introduce Eleanor
Statterin. She has a boy in hospital with what I think is Dragon Pox."
The older woman's eyes flared. "Oh my. Tell me, how long has he had
red spots under his chin? Has he a rash on his feet? Green complexion?"
The conversation waxed and waned, two, sometimes three strings of
talk going on at once until Lily came in to tell Ginny she was hungry and she
really just had to have a cookie.
"Half a cookie and I better be able to see half a cookie on the table
when I get out to the kitchen, little lady," she told her daughter. "We better
get things started. Hard to say what the boys will get into if we don't get
them fed pretty soon. If they get hungry enough best be counting your
fingers on a regular basis."
After they all ate their fill of steaks, burgers and salads, the adults
settled in the living room with tea, the kids heading upstairs to play with
flying dragon toys.
Eleanor sipped her tea and said, "I hope you understand what I'm
going to say and not take offense but you all seem so different than I'd
imagined up to a few days ago. You have kids that need hugs or time outs,
you're roasting over propane, there's a dishwasher, all the kit I'd expect to
see anywhere in London. And you all talk about such regular things like how
the kids are doing in school and what kind of car is reliable. I thought that if
you're wizards, you could just poof something you wanted into existence."
Hermione started out, "Well, according to Gamp's..." and Ron put a
hand on her arm.
"It's not that easy. Loads of restrictions," Ron said. "Hermione could
tell us all the rules but you wouldn't understand and we'd be here all night
discussing the ins and outs of how it all works."
Hermione huffed and said, "Ronald."
"You would dear," Ron said.
Hermione let out a sigh with a contrite grin. "Yes, I guess I would."
"I keep telling you to apply to Hogwarts," Ron said. "No one knows
more about both our worlds than you do. You're wasted at the Ministry.
You're smarter than all of us put together."
Hermione politely blushed, gently squeezing her husband's hand.
"What we need to do is make a plan, Ron," and she caught Harry's eye. "A
real plan, not like we did before when everything went bunk and we'd just go
along until we could get away. Without half my skin burned off this time if
you please."
Ron looked innocent and Harry snickered, saying, "I promise. And no
dragons."
"Yes. Good idea," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "As long as you're
both in on this, let's see how you've thought your way through it then."
Harry turned to Ron and nods were exchanged. Harry said, "Basically
two ways things can go. First the easy way: Eleanor talks to her doctors and
they agree to let Michael be seen by another doctor they don't know and
have never heard of in a hospital that doesn't exist.
"Second: the hard way. They make a fuss and we intervene. Then
either they let Eleanor and Frank take him out of the hospital, there could be
a real put out made then, or we go in with wands blazing and do what needs
to be done."
Kingsley spoke up gruffly. "I'd not be in favor of taking the boy out of
the hospital by force. All kinds of repercussions to deal with."
Harry responded, "Then we have to hope the first way is on for them.
That's what I'm working toward."
Kingsley gave Harry a stern look saying, "And you'll happily make all
the trouble in the world, more trouble than you can imagine, if they can't be
bothered to see it from your all-knowing point of view?"
Harry cooly returned the look. "We're talking about a boy's life. That's
the only thing we need keep in mind." He glanced at the boy's mother and
tried to look reassuring.
"Yes, well let's try to keep things tidy, shall we?" Kingsley said. "I need
you two to keep me informed. Privately. For now, I should be getting home
or my kids will be putting up a bother and I'd rather not have to call you two
rogues in to justify my missing another evening with my wife."
He turned to the mother and said, "It's been an honor to meet you, my
lady. I hope we can work things out in a calm and considered manner. That
is, without letting these two gentlemen run roughshod over the British
Medical system so I have to pay a courtesy call to the Prime Minister. Again.
"I must bid you all a good evening and my thanks for a most delicious
feast, Ginny. As always, it's been good to be in your home once more. As
soon as my son is better I'd like to invite you all to my place for dinner.
Professors Longbottom and Pomfrey, it's been good to see you again. Please
stop by the Ministry if you get a chance." He got up, lightly brushed his lips
against Mrs. Statterin's fingers, nodded to the quiet constable, gave
Hermione and Ginny a hug, Ron, Neville and Harry got warning looks, and
headed out to the kitchen. There was a rushing sound from around the
corner.
Ron grinned and said, "Well, that went pretty good, Harry. Just like
you said it would."
Hermione gaped. "You planned this all out?" and got a grinning nod.
"That was ... Brilliant."
Harry's grin widened, "Thanks, Hermione. Coming from you that's a
high compliment."
Eleanor looked around the room. "So, you're going to help Michael?"
Harry smiled. "Of course we are. We just had to get Kingsley on our
side in case something went wrong and we couldn't get your son to St.
Mungo's without having to resort to, uh, doing things in an untidy manner.
"And if we do, the Minister will back us up. I'm sure of that," Harry
said. "Did you hear him say he was going to give the Minister a call?"
Hermione frowned. "That's not what he said at all. He said he didn't
want to have to make a courtesy call, likely to explain why two Aurors that
should know better went rushing in with wands out and expect him to make
amends simply because you're too hasty to do this the right way. Calmly and
with a proper plan, for once."
Harry kept his grin. "So, you're going to help us then, Hermione?"
She smiled back and said, "Of course," then frowned.
Harry chuckled and held out his hand. Ron sighed, dug in his pocket
and handed over a few sickles with a grin.
Hermione frowned harder. "Ronald. Just you wait until I get you home.
Betting on me. I never."
Ron put on a look of purest innocence. "But dearest, you don't know if
I was betting for or against you."
The Longbottoms joined in the laughter that followed, Madam Pomfrey
smiling to herself, the three wives and mothers exchanging looks before
giving each other smiling nods.
Harry said, "And now we have to get Madam Pomfrey and Neville into
Radcliffe to take a look at young Mr. Statterin, with your permission of
course, Eleanor."
Eleanor shook her head with an amused smile. "I wondered if you
were going to include me in this plan of yours. Of course she can take a
look, just to make sure if nothing else. I'll talk to Frank and we'll make the
arrangements.
"But now, though the meal was most enjoyable and the company
probably the most interesting I've ever encountered, I'd like to get back to
Michael. Frank's had a long day at work already. He's got to be dead on
his feet and he's absolutely barmy at checkers."
Ginny took her hand. "I'm so sorry to have kept you so long. The men,
you know how they can be when they're planning something naughty. Let's
get you freshened up and we'll get you back to your family. Someone has to
make up for the way Harry and my brother have treated you."
Harry stopped and exclaimed, "Ginny, we've been perfect gentlemen!"
"Of course you have, sweetheart," Ginny said and strode away with
Eleanor, a grin on her face.
Harry muttered quietly, "One of these days I'm going to come out on
top of these conversations. Always wanted to throw snowballs in hell."
"I heard that," Ginny said, turned to the mother as she walked, "If
Michael turns out magical, please allow Hermione, Hannah and me to help
you get through things. We'd be most honored to assist in any way," she
said.
Ginny squeezed Eleanor's hand. "And if he isn't, you're always
welcome to come visit. I'd love to meet your husband and son. I can Floo to
London or wherever so it's really no trouble."
Ron laughed and went to the door to call his kids, Hermione fussing
over them for a bit before Flooing them home.
Harry looked at Constable O'Neil. "You were rather quiet tonight. Any
thoughts you'd like to add before I take you home?"
Robert gave Harry a level gaze. "I was here for Eleanor so I let her
lead. But I want to say that before I met your friends I wasn't entirely sure I
was right in trusting you and letting Eleanor trust you. Now I'm sure. I'd be
proud to be of service to your Auror department. It's been a most fascinating
evening, but it's really time I get home to my family too. Is there any way
you could drop me off near my car at Radcliffe?"
Harry smiled. "How's your stomach?" He laughed at the look he got
saying, "Sorry. Joking," and grinned.
The Boy WIth Dragon Pox by PhoenixFire9605
Chapter Notes: Chapter Two of Fve.
Chapter Endnotes: Three more chapters.