It's been 15 years since the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry always experiences a little jolt in his stomach when he realizes what day it is, but Ginny is pressed against his chest, and the house is still quiet, and like any normal day he has already slept in much later than he should have and is not entirely certain he has clean socks. He does not look forward to the dutifully somber expressions of the fresh Ministry workers for the next 24 hours, and sighs loudly at the thought.
"You sprung a leak, Potter?" Ginny mumbles.
Hermione is staring at a book, but for once is not really reading it. Its cover is worn, and the letters peeling so that soon it might be difficult to discern the title. She makes a mental note to look into restoration, but is distracted by Ron's arms snaking their way around her waist.
"I'd say let's be late, but my boss might flog me." He says in her ear. She rolls her eyes, but a smile's already creeping onto her lips. Hermione sets down The Tales of Beedle the Bard -- time to take the kids to Molly's, anyway.
Percy and Audrey step off the elevator, ducking from an already expanding flock of paper notes zooming over their heads. It's a little bit later than Percy normally likes to get to work -- nothing quite like getting there when all's still quiet, he always says -- but they took extra time this morning to let Molly read The Daily Prophet's story on the 15th anniversary aloud at breakfast. Audrey's office had, as usual, worked with the Prophet on the story, and of course he thought it important for the girls to understand the importance of the day.
Audrey catches his hand and squeezes it like every morning before they part to go to their separate offices, but this morning she pulls him to her and adds a kiss to the ritual. It's not strictly office appropriate, but he doesn't object.
Neville didn't even plan a lesson for today, there's no point. "Circle up!" he says when his first class files into the greenhouse. There's an audible sigh of relief and some excited chatter as they sit cross-legged on the floor of the greenhouse. Neville sits down with them, not minding the first coat of dirt on his robes for the day. "Okay, what do you want to know?" There's a shy silence before an especially bold Ravenclaw boy blurts out: "Sir, did you really chop off a snakes head?!"
"MUFFIN ME." George calls. He's standing several feet away from the cashier's desk, where Fred is perched, legs dangling off the front, a box of pastries in his hands. He grins, and artfully aims a muffin projectile at his father's chest. George catches it, although there are some crumb casualties, and the shop staff cheer loudly from the shelves where they are stocking up for the day.
"Nicely done. Congratulations, you've maintained your status as my son for today. Now go give one to your sister."
As George takes a bite, he stares at the portrait by the door, where his brother's likeness has decided to honor today's occasion by displaying his backside. "Morning, Freddie." He says quietly.
At 63, Arthur is not quite as adept at keeping up with flocks of small children, but he has to say he thinks he's doing a pretty damn fine job. At current, James and Louis are outside flinging (or rather, attempting to fling) gnomes over the wall. Molls and Dominique are at the table, furiously discussing September 1st (which is ONLY 4 months from now, Papa), their favorite subject since Molls had turned 11 in December. Lucy, bless her, is quietly coloring with Albus and Rosie. Arthur, for his part, is currently employed as a set of monkey bars for Lily and Hugo. He doesn't mind; he enjoys the children, especially on a day like today.
The door to the kitchen opens, and Lily and Hugo go scrambling off of him -- it did not take them many years of life to learn that the kitchen door opening usually means food. Fleur and Molly haven't stopped chatting about some recipe for pie, and Arthur's decided it is best not to interrupt them in hopes that the pie itself will emerge this evening.
Ginny is about to hex the next co-worker who asks her how to respond to a reader comment. They've been coming in all morning, as they usually do in response to their annual feature, and Ginny's become the residence expert. She's about to shut her office door when an intern rounds the corner and stops dead in her tracks as the two lock eyes.
"Are you here to ask me something about Quidditch?" Ginny asks her.
"Er..."
"Then turn around."
Wide-eyed, the intern turns on her heel and speed-walks back down the hallway.
Growling, Ginny sits down at her desk, trying to focus on finishing this story about Oliver's new coaching position. She wanted to leave early today; the Burrow sounds far more attractive this afternoon than the office.
Victoire and Teddy are sitting on the bank of the Black Lake. Teddy found a candle that floats in the water at his last Hogsmeade trip, and they watch, silently, as it drifts out to the center.
It's Victoire's 13th birthday, but she won't celebrate until tomorrow. It was her decision, ever since she was 9. Every year she lights a candle instead, for all the family she'll never be able to meet.
She glances over at Teddy, who's staring blankly over the lake. He met with Neville yesterday about his career plans, and Victoire thinks it's only made today harder on him. He wants to be an auror, of course.
Silently she takes his hand in hers. He smiles at her, squeezing her fingers, grateful for something to hold on to.
|| On this day in OCOL Timeline ||
Arthur and Molly are 63.Bill is 42 and Fleur is 36. Charlie is 40, is still working with dragons, and still refusing to get married. Percy is 36, and Audrey, George and Angelina are 35. Ron and Hermione are 33, and Harry and Neville are 32. Ginny is 31.
Teddy is in his 5th year, and is 15. Victoire is in her 2nd year, and is 13. Molly is 11, Dominique is 10, Lucy, Louis, and Fred II are 9, and James is 8. Roxie, Rose, and Albus are 7, Hugo is 5, and Lily is 4.
