Pffft i love that Mochael's mum is down and ready to adopt Pen at a drop of a hat. I can imagine scenes where Pen and the Marauders 2.0 just hanging around at Michael's house and his mum just barging in and is like, "I'm planning to adopt!"
"That' great Mrs. Stir---"
*thrusts adoption papers and pen to Penelope* "Its you. Sign here."
OR just increasingly funny scenes where she, with no subtlety AT ALL, mothers Pen like "Oh no its raining really hard, how about you stay in this room that I totally obviously did NOT pick out for you" or "What?! Your family left you on the holidays?? Not to worry my dear you can stay with us! Oh, theres already a christmas sweater with your name on it as well as gifts? How ever could that happen???"
Just basically Molly Weasly-ing Pen into joining the family. And on the other side Violet feels a disturbance in the force BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO STEAL HER UNOFFICIAL DAUGHTER
Helen Stirling is one of the toughest witches out there. She lost her parents during the war when she was only 15 and was placed in the wizard version of foster care. She ended up working for the daily prophet, working to make a name for herself among all her male colleagues (many of whom suggested she would be better working for Witch Weekly). It was ironically Ginny Potter nee Weasley who helped Helen seal her reputation as a serious reporter.
She landed an interview with her and was the first person not to ask Ginny about what it was like to date Harry Potter or what shampoo she used. Instead Helen focused on questions about Ginny's career and her view of women in quidditch and how she battled sexism. This impressed Ginny and cemented Helen's reputation as a reporter who focused on what was important rather than trivial things.
At some point she married her husband and they had Michael. Unfortunately, Helen loses the love of her life to a freak potion accident when her son is only five but luckily she has her sister-in-law Janet and her family to help her through.
Despite her badass reputation, Helen had always wanted a big family and while she love Michael, she always wished for more children. John of course was like a second to her, especially when her and Janet raise their children together after Janet's husband dies of cancer a few years after his brothers death.
It was no surprise then when her son brought his friends over that first summer after Hogwarts, that she also took the Marauders 2.0 under her wing and treats them like family (especially Phillip). It gets to the point where when the Marauders are in trouble, rather then send a howler, Ginny and Angelina will have Helen write them a long letter telling them how disappointed she is (except for Phillip, Phillip is an angel who can do no wrong).
It's Helen who basically becomes Phillips mother after meeting him the summer after first year. Phillip actually ends up spending every break with her and Michael after second year when he tells her how much he hates going home. Phillips father was not brave enough to challenge to fearsome Stirling woman who threatened to air all his dirty laundry in the next edition of the prophet!
It's Helen who John decides to come out to as gay before his mother (Francesca was the first though) during his fifth year and its Helen who reminds him that his family will always have his back. (If she sends her son and his friends a few treats after they get in trouble for hexing a group of boys making fun of John for being gay then no one needs to know).
And it's Helen who figures out that James clearly has a crush on a certain redhead and then informs Ginny. It's also Helen who James frantically writes to during fifth year, asking her how he could invite Penelope to the Yule Ball after she'd been ditched and how he can do this without making it look like he's pitying her. Helen gently suggests getting the young lady some flowers and letting her know he wants to go as friends but he'd planned on asking her before.
She can't help but smile at Phillip's report about how Miss Featherington granted James a kiss on the cheek and how he hadn't stopped smiling for a whole week.
Helen finally meets Penelope the summer before sixth year. It had been a chaotic few months with Phillip's father going on trial for the murder of his brother and finding out George Crane had gotten Marina pregnant. Helen didn't even bother asking any questions when she heard the news first break and instead informs Phillip that he would be living with her and Michael from now on. Marina's parents also agree to let the young man visit his niece and nephew once the children are born, taking pity on the young who just lost his entire family.
So you can imagine her surprise when the morning after they get home from Hogwarts, Michael informs her at breakfast that two young ladies by the name of Eloise Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington will be arriving in an hour.
"You mean James' Penelope?" she asked curiously as her son nodded.
"Yeah. We all got pretty close this year and their basically honorary Marauders so she and Eloise are really worried about Phillip. I figured they could stay with us for a bit while we get Phil settled in," he replied with a shrug before a mischievous grin appeared on his face.
"I may have also forgotten to tell James though," he chuckled just as a knock sounded on their door and Michael went to answer it.
Helen found herself having to hold back a laugh when a very disheveled James, wearing only his Holyhead Harpies boxers, stumbled down for breakfast an hour later and he muttered a good morning to everyone, clearly not noticing the two young ladies sitting with them.
"James, don't be rude," she said calmly, taking a sip of her tea, "it's not polite to not greet our guests. Especially when Miss Featherington has spoken so highly of you."
At those words, James' head snapped up, freezing upon noticing Penelope and Eloise's presence at the table, the later of whom was snickering while her friend smiled at him.
"Hello James," greeted Penelope cheerfully as the young man ears turned red before rushing upstairs, muttering something about changing. It did not escape Helen's notice however, how the young redheads cheeks turned pink as she watched him go.
Helen would spend much of that summer (in between helping Phillip deal with his grief and dealing with nosy reporters trying to question the youngest Crane) getting to know Penelope Featherington and could easily see just why James was so enamored with her.
The curly red haired witch was of course lovely, with her curvaceous figure, large blue eyes, freckles, and bright smile. But she was also incredibly witty and kind, quietly helping out Phillip in their garden, the two of them not saying enough but calmly working to degnome the garden.
It worried her how Penelope and Phillip shared quite a few similarities, both not used to praise and unsure of how to process it and the girls parents clearly didn't seem to worry to much for their daughter considering that they were fine with her staying with Michael's family without having met them and didn't seem to care when she would be back.
"I usually spend most of the summer with the Bridgertons while they travel," she explained when Helen had broached the topic with her.
"What about your sisters?" she inquired as Penelope shrugged.
"They usually travel with mum. I had to go with them sometimes but we don't really like much of the sames things. My mother's in fashion as our my two older sisters so they usually attend a lot of fashion shows and parties. It also doesn't help that I'm not as pretty as my other sisters so I usually end up staying in the hotel or wandering around the city by myself so I was fortunate enough that Violet offered to let me stay with their family. They are actually in Paris now, though Felicity will be leaving next week to stay with Hyacinth for the rest of the summer," she replied and Helen's heart ached for the sheer loneliness that emitted from that statement.
"My dear lass, you are very lovely. You just haven't learned how properly showcase your looks. I know you said you usually go to Diagon Alley with the Bridgerton but why don't you and I take a bit of a girls trip this week. The boys have something going on at the Weasley's so it will be nice to have someone to accompany me," she offered as Penelope beamed at her before agreeing.
Helen had spent that day helping Penelope find clothes that complimented her and reassuring her that one ice cream was not going to hurt her. She was also delighted that Penelope was looking into working as a writer for the Daily Prophet as well and was quick to give her a tour of her office, offering her some pointers for getting a job in the future.
But she was also delighted to watch the James behaved around Penelope. The boy was normally so confident and charming that it was a pleasant surprise to see the way he stumbled over his words with Penelope. She had gleefully written Ginny about how James had been so distracted by Penelope walking down in her lovely one piece that he'd been tackled in by Fred. Or the way James had been unable to make a single marshmallow without burning it to a crisp every time Penelope shot a smile at him during their weekly bonfires.
Sadly Penelope would be going to stay with Eloise the last two weeks of break, as the Bridgertons were throwing a going away/graduation party for the third eldest who had landed a job studying animals around the world or something. Still Helen had hugged the girl and reassured her that she was welcome in their home anytime.
Helen had seen Penelope once more when she and Janet went to drop off the boys at the train, as the boys headed off with her and Eloise. She stood with Janet, Ginny, and Harry as they waved goodbye to their children as the Hogwarts express left the station.
"I give them till Halloween before someone makes the first move," sighed Ginny as her husband looked curiously as her.
"Hmm... I'd say Christmas at the latest," replied Helen as the two women looked at each other and giggled while Harry looked on in utter confusion.
Helen had tried not to feel so smug when she'd walked into the kitchen at the burrow (the Weasley's holding their annual Christmas eve party for family and friends, somehow being able to fit everyone in their home) only to look out the window right as James pulled Penelope into a kiss. And from the way the young lady stood on her tiptoes while wrapping her arms around the young man's neck, it was very clear that James' affection was clearly not one sided.
Of course, Lily Potter had chosen that moment to enter the kitchen and had also spotted her brother.
"MERLINS BEARD! JAMES IS SNOGGING PENELOPE!"
The result was the kitchen suddenly being flooded with Weasleys and Potters that resulted in two very embarrassed teens, a sobbing Molly Weasley, an oddly smug Teddy Lupin along with his fiancee Victorie Weasley, and a very contemplative looking Michael.
"I'm not sure if I should clap you on the back or punch you for snogging my technical sister," he'd said seriously, once the two had come back inside. James had merely stuck his tongue out at his best mate as he wrapped an arm around a very red Penelope's shoulder.
"Go easy on the guy Michael. After all, he still has to tell Eloise that he's seeing Penny now," sighed Phillip as James suddenly turned pale. (Speaking of Eloise, Helen had suspected that Phillip harbored romantic feelings for the young lady in question with how frequently he mentioned her in letters).
The rest of the year went smoothly, with Michael once more inviting Penelope to spend part of the summer with them before she headed off to Aubrey Hall with Eloise for the end of the summer. Though Eloise spent a few weeks with them, with Helen reassuring Violet that she would ensure Eloise and Phillip had separate rooms (they'd started sometime in February according to Michael).
She shouldn't have been surprised when Penelope had approached her one day, blushing as she asked Helen for advice on contraceptive potions.
"I mean James and I haven't done anything yet but well we've talked about it and-" Penelope rambled before Helen stopped her. She loved the girl like a daughter but she did not need to know THAT much about her love life with the boy she had known since he was a child.
"No worries Penelope. Why don't we talk to Janet later? She's the expert on potions like that," assured Helen as Penelope relaxed.
"Thank you Mrs. Stirling. I'm sorry, I know it must be awkward but it's not like I can go to my own mother about this," she sighed as Helen gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"Penelope you know you can come to me any time if something is bothering you. I'd rather that than have you get your information from sources like Witch Weekly. And how many times have I told you call me Helen," she jokingly admonished as Penelope relaxed.
It was the first of many heart to heart conversations the two would have through the years.
Helen was there for Penelope when she'd come to her in tears, holding her as she raged about Colin attacking James after what had been a wonderful night before.
She was there when Penelope's mother didn't bother showing up for her graduation and offered to let Penelope stay with them until she and Eloise finally found an apartment in London.
She had watched with pride as Penelope made a name for herself at the prophet, going from an advice columnist to writing more serious articles.
She'd cried with joy when Penelope and James had come to her house and announced their engagement.
She'd been the one to go with Penelope to help pick out her dress robes for her wedding, breaking in to tears when Penelope shyly asked her at lunch afterwards if she would walk her down the aisle.
She'd sat with Penelope in her apartment bathroom a few months later, holding her hand and reassuring her that everything would be okay as they waited for the results of the pregnancy potion reminding her that James loved her and all would be well.
So naturally it was also Helen, who held her all but adopted daughter a few weeks later as she collapsed in her arms at St. Mungos, sobbing hysterically as Helen held her tight, knowing that there was nothing she could do this time to take away her pain.
Yes Helen had thought Penelope similar to her in many ways.
But this was one similarity she wished they had not come share.
