9:30 am Saturday Morning - The Headmaster's Office

[healerdavies]

Rhiannon Davies entered the floo in her kitchen one minute before her appointment with the Headmaster of Hogwarts. She'd spent the last three days preparing her home for the return of her three eldest.  Once in the Headmaster's office she cast a quick cleaning charm on herself and stepped forward to greet him warmly

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[_albus_]

"Good morning, Mrs. Davies." Albus rose from his chair as she entered his office, and greeted her with a kind smile. "I'm pleased to see you, even if the cause for our meeting saddens me. Please, have a seat." He gestured towards the chairs in front of his desk. He wished to speak with her before allowing the children to be taken from the school.

[healerdavies]

"Good morning," She smiled and took the offered seat, holding Rose in her lap. "I trust you are well?"

"I'm not going, Mum," Roger growled from his seat beside her.

"Shush. Let the Headmaster speak," she snapped serenely. She didn't expect Roger to understand or agree. But River's resistance was a surprise. Roger probably put her up to it.

[_albus_]

"I am very well, thank you. As are you, I hope." Mr. Davies words did not surprise him. The young man was very keen on staying at Hogwarts.

"Tea?" A small trail of steam was emanating from the teapot on the desk, 5 pairs of cups ready.

[healerdavies]

"Yes, we are well. Robert stays entirely too busy, but that's what he likes." She, of course neglected to mention her own activities. Her children came by their work ethic honestly after all.

"Why thank you," Rhiannon answered and waited for the Headmaster to pour.

[_albus_]

Albus poured tea for them all and sat back in his chair to once more regard Mrs. Davies.

"So, Mrs. Davies, you have not reconsidered taking your children home then? I can assure you fully of their continued safety here." He gazed at the children shortly. All of them sensible and level headed students would would not seek to break rules.

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"Yes I did. I talked it over with Robert again in light of your letter - "

"You didn't talk it over with me!" River piped up indignantly.

"Listen sweetie," Rhiannon turned to her and began in a placating tone.

Roger rolled his eyes. A vein in his temple started to throb at that tone that belittled them and informed them they had no choice in their own destinies. "Mother, I'll never get an apprenticeship if I don't graduated from Hogwarts. You know this. There's no better qualification than that I was trained in Potions by Professor Snape and in the medical wing by Madam Pomfrey!"

[_albus_]

Albus held up his hand at the children's protestations.

"Now, now, children. Let your mother finish." There was light beratement in his voice, even if it was gentle.

"What did your husband have to say in this matter?" He once more turned his attention to Mrs. Davies.

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"Thank you Headmaster," Rhiannon nodded to him.

Roger closed his eyes and literally bit his tongue.

"Robert wants the children home and I agree. Hogwarts is a target and our tiny little home on the Isle is not. We've never had enemies."

Like certain red-haired Ministry employees, went unspoken.

"We've taken extra security precautions too. I can get them through their OWLS and NEWTS, and that's what gets one an apprenticeship!" She looked pointedly at her eldest son.

River looked devastated, that she finally realized her mother was really taking them home.

"I'm not halfway through the books," she said quietly. Sadly.

[_albus_]

"It saddens me to say this, but we are all targets, Mrs. Davies. Now more so than ever, I fear." He was reluctant to draw in purity of blood as an issue, but for Riddle it was, and none with muggle heritage could feel safe these days.

"It is no longer a case of having enemies. We have a common enemy," Albus looked intently at the woman over his half-moon glasses "And he will not hesitate in his quest, no matter where it leads him, no matter the cost."

Albus paused for a moment, the soft sounds of the instruments scattered around the office filling the silence "Hogwarts is the safest place in Britain. I would send all children home now, this very instant, if I could be sure it would be safer anywhere else."

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"Yes, that's what Robert told me you would say." Rhiannon said while sipping her tea. "I appreciate your concern, Headmaster, really I do. But I am firm in my decision. Children? Are you packed and ready to go?"

Rose nodded solemnly. While Roger looked a bit angry.

"Mother, I'm not going. I need my education here at Hogwarts." His voice was firm. Inwardly he also knew that here at Hogwarts was the only way he might help out in getting Ginny back.

"Your resources can't compare to the labs and medical wing. The study groups, what to speak of the library. I'm finally allowed access to the Restricted Section this year. Don't pretend you have a copy of the Marquis de Neuroses illuminating work Mysterious Mental Ailments of Muggle Serfs and the Wizards Who Own Them. I'm reading it on the recommendation of Healer Bantry of St. Mungo's. The only place safe enough for a copy of this book is here

[_albus_]

Albus pretended not to understand the Gaelic words, although it was a language he was proficient in to a certain extent. It was a private message after all.

"Mrs. Davies. It does seem like your son is unwilling to go home." The eldest girl was clearly not happy with the decision either, but had not voiced anything yet.

"And as he is of age, I am afraid, he cannot be forced." He took no pleasure in using legalities in accomplishing his goals, but he believed firmly that the children would be more unsafe outside the walls of Hogwarts than within.

[healerdavies]

Rhiannon blinked. She'd forgotten that Roger was indeed 17 and of age. It had never come up before. They'd never butted their stubborn Scottish heads over something this important before.

She wished once again that Robert had come with her. His long hours just weren't worth all the money he made, to her mind.

"Oh dear," she said softly.

Sensing weakness, River spoke up quickly. "Just like you and father, I'm reading all the books in the library in my spare time! I'm only on Isis Isley's Egyptian Heat: Romance of the Old Kingdom."

Rhiannon burst out laughing, remembering that moldy old treatise. "You're certainly right. I haven't got that sort of book at home."

She shrugged at the Headmaster, feeling defeated and trying to make the best of it.

[_albus_]

"Mrs. Davies. You have heard the opinion of your children in this matter, and mine. Do you still want to take them home with you?" If Albus is not very mistaken, she is faltering in her determination.

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"Oh dear," she said again. Robert's not going to like this. She hadn't planned for open rebellion from her normally submissive, though opinionated, children.

She looked into Rose's eyes, still sitting on her lap. "Do you still believe your mother knows best?"

Rose nodded solemnly and Rhiannon smiled.

"Well, Headmaster Dumbledore, once again, I place my children in your care. I trust you will not disappoint me. But let me take Rose, at least until the holidays. We'll see how things stand then."

"And you two," Rhiannon turned a severe face to her two eldest. "I heard about the disappearance of Ginny Weasley from Rose. I trust the two of you will keep me better informed of your daily lives from now on. I know you don't want to hear it, but your father and I love you dearly and we worry about you."

Roger nodded gravely trying to keep the smile of victory off his face and the bitter thought out of his mind. All he worries about is whether or not I become a Healer and reflect well on the family... on him.

[_albus_]

"Your children will be safe, Mrs. Davies. I am afraid I will not be able to force them to communicate home their experiences, but I am sure they will follow their Mother's wishes," he said kindly, glancing at the two eldest over the rim of his glasses until he caught their eyes.

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Roger nodded solemnly, horribly embarrassed that he'd gotten himself into this situation in front of the Headmaster.

River struggled to hide her smile. She would kill her mother if she missed her first Yule Ball. She still hadn't decided who was going to ask her, but she was determined to go.

Rose watched and listened with big eyes.

Rhiannon smiled and tried to hide her disappointment. All her instincts were screaming Nest! She couldn't imagine what The Weasley's were going through.

"Very well then, Headmaster Dumbledore. I'll let them stay. I wish you all the best in these difficult times."

She let Rose get to her feet then stood to hug her older children good-bye.