Everything's Happening Today
Title: Everything's Happening Today 
Rating: PG-13
Length: 3,500 words
Pairings: A bit of Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione
First posted: 2nd April 2009, in snorkfics
Summary: Six months after a certain headline-making tribunal, Harry and his friends have a busy day. Light-hearted coda to A Law of the Medes and Persians and In The Bleak Midwinter.
Notes: Written for shiiki's request on the timestamp meme -- Medes and Persians, six months after the ending.
"Why is it that everything's happening today?" grumbled Ron.
Harry rolled his eyes. He was sure his friend's peevish mood was due less to the fact that several things would be happening at the same time, and more to the wait for said things to actually start happening. Personally, he was perfectly willing to bring down two pixies with one spell. "Works out nicely though, doesn't it?"
"I suppose so." These words were muffled by the last of a pint of the Leaky's Cauldron's finest, and Ron put his glass down with a bang. "When are they getting here? I've got loads of work to do for George at the shops, you know ..."
"Hard taskmaster, is he?" Harry inquired cautiously. He ignored Ron's half-hearted glance at his watch, which looked like it was done purely for effect.
Ron winced. "Yeah. But he works even harder than me, to be fair. I suppose it keeps him from brooding."
Harry nodded. He'd only seen George occasionally since the summer; the man always managed to put on a good show, but as a solo performance rather than a double act it felt forced. "So he's handling it?"
"More or less. Like all ... yeah. Anyway. He's started to see Angelina this last couple of weeks, would you believe? That might do him some good."
"Angelina?" Harry's eyebrows rose. "Angelina Johnson, you mean? But didn't she use to ..."
"Yeah." Ron shrugged; his expression suggested that he'd prefer not to know. "Up to them, isn't it? At least he's not yelling at me and Verity so much. It's no picnic trying to run two shops between the three of us -- if one of us goes off somewhere, the others don't have any cover."
Harry snorted. "Right. Well, it's not like you're far away, so yelling's all he's got to do if he wants you. Or you can Apparate up to Zonko's and miss the fun if you prefer ..."
Ron smirked at him. "Nah, no point. Now the school holidays have started and all the kids have gone home, we've lost our main market segment for that shop anyway."
Harry choked with laughter as he drained the last of his own pint. Six months ago, there was no way Ron would ever have used a term like 'market segment'. In another six months, he might even be able to say it with a straight face. Harry smirked right back. "There are compensations though, yeah?"
The tips of Ron's ears went slightly cerise, but he nodded briefly and glanced nervously towards the bar, where one of their old DA colleagues was helping out Tom the barman. "Do you think we've got time for another?"
"No, definitely not," replied Harry as he looked over Ron's shoulder. He could feel himself beginning to grin.
"Sure?"
"Yeah." Harry nodded towards the door, where two figures wearing red and gold scarves had just appeared. "They're here."
Ron positively leapt from hs seat and rushed to embrace a smiling Hermione. Harry shook his head ruefully as they kissed; it couldn't have been that long since they last met up in Hogsmeade, when ... but then again, there were things he'd prefer not to know too. And really, most of his attention was reserved for Ginny, who proceeded to welcome him in exactly the same way.
It took a minute or two before the wolf-whistles from the other patrons became loud enough for the couples to break apart, in some embarrassment. Harry and Ron carefully avoided looking at each other -- by mutual unspoken agreement, both avoided direct comments on the subject of relationships with their girlfriends -- although there was a glint in Ginny's eye, which left Harry too regretting that what was about to happen would get in the way of a little private time.
"Good term?" he asked her.
"Pretty good, yeah. A bit hectic with the younger kids asking us questions all the time, and people working on repairs and getting in everybody's way -- they still can't persuade Trelawney to leave her tower long enough for them to straighten it. But no war, no dark wizards plotting, no Ministry interference ... Kingsley's been too busy with the trials even to see McGonagall, hasn't he?"
"Probably. Everybody has." Kingsley Shacklebolt's no-nonsense competence had managed to get things up and running again remarkably quickly, and no-one was seriously challenging his position any more, but bringing the remaining Death Eaters to justice had been a lengthy process. "The worst's over, though. Your dad told me the other day that he thought Kingsley was planning something new."
"Huh?" This was clearly news to Ginny. "I bet Dad's involved in it then. What are they up to?"
Harry shrugged. "No idea. There's some kind of closed session of the Wizengamot going on. But it's been hectic here too."
"Sounds fun, though. Actually ... school's been fun as well. I never thought I'd say this, but even the lessons are."
"Good." He was pleased, although he couldn't help but feel just the tiniest bit disgruntled at what she hadn't said. "Did you, er, miss me?"
"Yes, "she said, rolling her eyes. "Of course I did, you idiot."
"Right. Because ... well, I missed you too." Fortunately, he was saved from the need to say any more when their friends joined them. "What's it like being Head Girl?" he asked Hermione.
"It's a lot of work on top of my N.E.W.T.s -- I'm so rusty, I hadn't realised quite how much I'd forgotten -- and of course it's a big responsibility trying to get it right and set an example ..."
"Come on, you're practically the Queen of Hogwarts," said Ginny impatiently. "Everyone looks up to you, except for a few of the thicker Slytherins who haven't quite grasped the idea that things have changed yet."
"Oh... well ... maybe," said Hermione, blushing.
Ron hugged her. "They'd have to be thick if they didn't. Are you getting the midgets to follow the school rules?"
"Of course! ... mostly, anyway. At least there are proper rules again. Not like last year." She sent an apologetic glance in Ginny's direction.
"Nobody talks much about that," said Ginny, and Harry could feel her shudder. "Half the school can see Hagrid's Thestrals now. Must have been even worse for you, though." Harry gathered from that that Hermione too had found it hard to talk about their unwelcome extended camping trip; though he couldn't blame her, it wasn't exactly a pleasant memory. "Anyway, I saw you and Luna having a charmed-snowball fight with a bunch of Hufflepuff fourth-years last weekend," she added mischievously. "Is that in the prefect rules?"
"Yes, rule 34b(2), prefects should make use of opportunities to demonstrate useful spells to younger students where appropriate," said Hermione with a perfectly straight face, although Harry had his suspicions.
Apparently so did Ron. "That's not a real Hogwarts rule!" This confident declaration sounded less convincing when, after a moment, he asked, in an uncertain voice, "Is it?"
"Well, you'd know if it was or not if you'd ever read them," said Hermione with equanimity. "Anyway, why not have a snowball fight when it's snowing and there aren't any classes on?"
"Things going all right this winter then?" said Ron, exchanging a knowing look with her, to Harry's puzzlement.
"Best in years. I'm glad term ended yesterday, though, I'm looking forward to seeing this. When will she get here?"
"Any minute now," said Harry, glancing at his watch. It had taken him more than a year, but he was finally getting the hang of telling the time from a constellation of moving stars. "Technically I'm not actually supposed to be on duty, but seeing as who it is I said I'd stick around to keep an eye on things, and anyway ..."
"... you want to be there to let everybody know where you stand," finished Ginny. "So do I." Harry nodded; he did have an additional reason for wanting to be there, but that one was meant to be a surprise.
"Don't we all," said Ron. "She's late, isn't she ... oh, hang on."
Many of the Leaky Cauldron patrons had been covertly staring at Harry's party, possibly wondering if they could ask for autographs (which in Doris Crockford's case would be for about the tenth time). They now had another entrance of interest to watch, as Andromeda Tonks strode in with a determined look on her face. She was accompanied by a large and elaborately-decorated pram, which rolled gently along beside her as she walked. It stopped at her command as she joined them, and she accepted hugs from the younger people.
"How is he today?" asked Harry, peeking at the occupant of the pram, who was fast asleep.
"He must know it's a special occasion -- he's remarkably well-behaved for a change," replied Andromeda with a smile. "As was the pram -- I think my grandson deserves to travel well for his first time out in public after his quarantine, don't you?" There was a hint of sarcasm in the way she said quarantine; she'd never made any secret of her impatience at Amos Diggory's edict. "Of course, I had to pretend to be pushing it along the Charing Cross Road, but it seemed to know what I wanted. Thank you again, Harry."
"No problem," he said. "You might have ridden in it yourself once!"
"Where did it come from, then?" asked Ron, with a baffled look.
"Kreacher found it up in the loft at Grimmauld Place," explained Harry. "He was really excited. He actually Apparated downstairs and told me, hang on, 'a member of the Black family should use it until Master needs it for his own children' -- erm, not that that's likely to happen for ages yet," he added hastily when a slight awkwardness fell on the party. "Happy to oblige, anyway." The elf's remark had given him an idea for today, too.
"Bless. I'm getting quite fond of old Kreacher," said Ron, and Hermione smiled. "Ready to go? After you, Mrs Tonks."
"Thank you, Mr Weasley."
*****
Harry's attention sharpened as Andromeda led them out through the back of the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley. The reformed Ministry had maintained a high level of popularity, but there were still an uncomfortable number of people around who had not made their peace with the new order. If they saw something that annoyed them -- such as the offspring of a werewolf appearing in public, for example -- they might take exception and make trouble. He'd had to arrest several for doing so in his six months of on-the-job Auror training, even if strictly speaking he wasn't supposed to do that. (Numbers in the office had fallen so low, as a result of war losses and Kingsley's clear-out of the hopelessly compromised, that in practice the distinction between qualified Auror and trainee had become very blurred.)
Today, however, there didn't seem likely to be a problem. A few shoppers nodded to Andromeda in recognition as they passed, although most paid them little attention at first. But as they continued to make their way up the street, Harry could see people beginning to point and whisper -- and in a few cases, scowl -- as they realised who the baby in the pram must be. Teddy himself had woken, his hair changing colour to match the awning of each shop they passed, all oblivious to the fact that he'd been something of a newspaper celebrity a few months before. Harry sympathised.
They stopped outside Gringotts, and as a few bystanders made hesitant approaches Harry began to feel a little on edge. He surreptitiously took the Sneakoscope Hermione had given him out of his pocket, prodded it with his wand, then relaxed when all it did was produce a couple of half-hearted pirouettes before dropping limply back into his hand. His godson clearly wasn't in danger today -- at least, not unless an infant's mind could be damaged by exposure to inane questions. Although the general consensus among the small crowd that had gathered around them seemed rather to approve of Teddy, and even his parents, there was much surprise that he was merely changing faces rather than sprouting fangs. Andromeda Tonks was fielding this nonsense with admirable aplomb, but Harry was sure it wouldn't be the last time she needed to do so.
"Shouldn't we go in, Andromeda?" asked Ginny, who had clearly been thinking along the same lines, and Mrs Tonks nodded in relief.
"Nice one, Ginny," he muttered to her as they entered, and she squeezed his hand in reply. So far so good.
It was the first time he'd actually set foot in the place since their expedition to Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. Tact had seemed the wisest course. All his business had been conducted via his new owl, which had returned with a reply to his latest query just that morning; he was curious, not to mention nervous, to see what the reaction would be. There was a definite double-take from the goblins on the door as they entered, and several more inside the building stared at Harry and his friends with ill-concealed disapproval. Ron seemed inclined to say something about this, until a nervous Hermione poked him sharply in the ribs.
Andromeda Tonks ignored this byplay and strode up to the nearest available goblin teller, the pram following her like an obedient dog. "Good afternoon," she said in a crisp voice.
The teller looked up, paused for a fraction of a second when he saw her companions, then spoke with a polite, if stiff, formality that Harry was quite happy to take. "Good afternoon, madam. I am Kordrak, how may I assist you?" Judging from the glances he was giving Harry, he was uncertain what to expect.
"I wish to open an account for my grandson, Teddy Remus Lupin, and make an initial deposit for him."
"Of course, of course!" Kordrak seemed relieved that this would be an ordinary everyday transaction. "A very simple process, I have the forms here, and I trust that we will enjoy a long and satisfactory business relationship with Mr Lupin." He blinked as he caught sight of his new client, who was gazing at him raptly; there was the suggestion of a few hairs forming on Teddy's chin, and Harry wondered if all Metamorphmagi tried to imitate everything they saw at this age. There weren't really that many people who would know, although since Andromeda seemed to consider this entirely normal the answer was quite likely yes. "Ah, there will be a small preparation fee of two Galleons, and if you wish to procure a vault for Mr Lupin's exclusive use we can of course arrange this. Fees start at fifty Galleons for a vault with basic safeguards, which is still nevertheless perfectly secure, that is to say, um ..." He pursed his lips as he remembered who he was talking to.
Andromeda had winced at the price. "I think we can do without the vault for now."
"Certainly, madam. Perhaps later, nearer the time your grandson is due to attend school?"
Harry smiled to himself. "No, I think we'll set one up for him now," he said, and everyone stared at him in surprise.
Andromeda's reply was indignant. "There's no need for that! I can make the arrangements later if I have ... if I think it appropriate."
Harry shook his head. "I know, but we might as well sort it out while we're here, right?" He addressed the goblin directly, trying to match him for politeness; there was no need to antagonise them further. "I'd like to transfer ownership of a high-security vault to Teddy, please, together with its contents. The number is seven hundred and eleven. Your records department kindly confirmed for me yesterday --" he took a piece of parchment from his pocket and laid it on the counter "-- that it would be in order. I know there's a ten-Galleon transfer fee, but there's more than enough in the vault to cover that."
If Andromeda had been indignant before, she was almost angry now. "Harry! You can't give Teddy your own vault ..."
"I don't think he is," said Ron, sounding puzzled. "I've seen his vault before, it's number five hundred and something ... er, I think. Not that one, anyway."
"Oh," said Hermione softly. "Harry, did that vault ..."
"Belong to Sirius? Yeah." He turned to Andromeda Tonks, his expression determined. "I didn't want it and I don't need two. Teddy's as much his heir as I am, in truth. I'm sure Sirius'd agree with that. Let me give it to who can use it best. Please?"
Andromeda was nonplussed. "But, Harry ..."
"You might as well," offered Ron, for which Harry was grateful. "He can be a stubborn sod when he wants to be, so you'll probably end up doing it anyway," he added, for which Harry was less grateful, but it did at least have the desired effect as Andromeda shrugged and turned to Kordrak to discuss the formalities. Hermione beamed at Harry, and Ginny's look -- which suggested she planned to express her appreciation in a practical manner at the earliest suitable opportunity -- was having a powerful effect on him. He really needed a distraction about now --
"Good afternoon, everyone."
Harry spun round in surprise; he'd rarely been more relieved to see his boss. "Kingsley? What happened to the special session?"
"Done and dusted," replied Kingsley Shacklebolt with equanimity. "I find that if you have a few words in the more influential ears beforehand, things tend to go remarkably smoothly."
"But you didn't have a Gringotts visit on your agenda, did you?"
"No, but their Director invited me to call at my own convenience to discuss a new charter. So since you told me you'd be here it seemed as good a time as any to arrange a preliminary meeting. I was rather hoping I'd catch you all."
"You were?" said Ron, looking rather flattered.
"Is something the matter?" asked Hermione with a frown.
"Not at all, Hermione. I simply have some news you might find interesting." He took a large sheet of folded paper from the pocket of his robes and handed it to her. "Barnabas Cuffe was kind enough to owl me a proof of the front page of tonight's Evening Prophet. I dare say I wasn't really supposed to pass it on, but I think I can trust you all with it. So does Arthur. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment." He winked at them and disappeared through the most ornate of the doors lining the entrance hall.
"Well go on then, what does it say?" cried Ginny. Andromeda turned to listen, and even Kordrak's aloof expression failed to conceal that he was trying to eavesdrop.
Hermione unfolded the paper. "Hang on a minute ... YES!"
"What?" chorused everyone else.
There was a gleeful grin on Hermione's face. "Listen to this! 'Special Session of Wizengamot Agrees New Guidelines -- Official Wrongdoing to be Prosecutable -- Muggle-born Registration Commission Under Investigation' ... they've said that active support for the laws the Death Eaters wrote, even if it wasn't illegal at the time, can still be a 'crime against humanity'! I bet that phrase was Kingsley's idea. And the first person whose actions they're going to look into is Umbridge! Ha! She stuck her neck out a bit too far this time, didn't she?"
Harry grinned. "That's what I call perfect timing. Everything's happening today!"
"That's what I said," muttered Ron, but he was grinning too.
*****
The celebratory mood lasted all the way through the rest of their visit to the bank and for a good couple of hours back at the Leaky Cauldron. Harry was glad to see the others eventually leave, though. Once Andromeda had taken Teddy home, and they'd waved Hermione off to her parents' house accompanied by a slightly nervous Ron, he finally had Ginny to himself -- for an hour or two, at least.
"How soon do you have to be back at The Burrow?" he asked, hoping that she wouldn't reply "in the next few minutes".
"Oh, didn't I tell you? I sort of gave Mum and Dad the impression that I'd be staying in town for a day or two after school broke up, now I'm of age. You know, do a bit of shopping for presents and all that. Of course we don't have much money, so renting a room here's going to cut into that ..."
"Couldn't you stay with a friend or something?" he asked, feeling his way carefully.
"Well, it would be handy." Ginny had an innocent expression on her face that didn't fool Harry for a moment. "Do you know anyone round here with a house that's mostly empty?"
Harry nodded solemnly. It seemed that the day might have further interesting happenings. "I think I do. Tell you what, grab my hand and I'll Apparate us straight there ..."
Additional Notes:
The meme only promised a drabble. I set out to write a ficlet. Clearly, I am far too verbose. :) Still, it was the only request. And yes, I know it's fluffy and with very little plot -- so shoot me.
The reason why everything's happening today is of course that it was more convenient for me that way when summarising events. :)
Rating: PG-13
Length: 3,500 words
Pairings: A bit of Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione
First posted: 2nd April 2009, in snorkfics
Summary: Six months after a certain headline-making tribunal, Harry and his friends have a busy day. Light-hearted coda to A Law of the Medes and Persians and In The Bleak Midwinter.
Notes: Written for shiiki's request on the timestamp meme -- Medes and Persians, six months after the ending.
"Why is it that everything's happening today?" grumbled Ron.
Harry rolled his eyes. He was sure his friend's peevish mood was due less to the fact that several things would be happening at the same time, and more to the wait for said things to actually start happening. Personally, he was perfectly willing to bring down two pixies with one spell. "Works out nicely though, doesn't it?"
"I suppose so." These words were muffled by the last of a pint of the Leaky's Cauldron's finest, and Ron put his glass down with a bang. "When are they getting here? I've got loads of work to do for George at the shops, you know ..."
"Hard taskmaster, is he?" Harry inquired cautiously. He ignored Ron's half-hearted glance at his watch, which looked like it was done purely for effect.
Ron winced. "Yeah. But he works even harder than me, to be fair. I suppose it keeps him from brooding."
Harry nodded. He'd only seen George occasionally since the summer; the man always managed to put on a good show, but as a solo performance rather than a double act it felt forced. "So he's handling it?"
"More or less. Like all ... yeah. Anyway. He's started to see Angelina this last couple of weeks, would you believe? That might do him some good."
"Angelina?" Harry's eyebrows rose. "Angelina Johnson, you mean? But didn't she use to ..."
"Yeah." Ron shrugged; his expression suggested that he'd prefer not to know. "Up to them, isn't it? At least he's not yelling at me and Verity so much. It's no picnic trying to run two shops between the three of us -- if one of us goes off somewhere, the others don't have any cover."
Harry snorted. "Right. Well, it's not like you're far away, so yelling's all he's got to do if he wants you. Or you can Apparate up to Zonko's and miss the fun if you prefer ..."
Ron smirked at him. "Nah, no point. Now the school holidays have started and all the kids have gone home, we've lost our main market segment for that shop anyway."
Harry choked with laughter as he drained the last of his own pint. Six months ago, there was no way Ron would ever have used a term like 'market segment'. In another six months, he might even be able to say it with a straight face. Harry smirked right back. "There are compensations though, yeah?"
The tips of Ron's ears went slightly cerise, but he nodded briefly and glanced nervously towards the bar, where one of their old DA colleagues was helping out Tom the barman. "Do you think we've got time for another?"
"No, definitely not," replied Harry as he looked over Ron's shoulder. He could feel himself beginning to grin.
"Sure?"
"Yeah." Harry nodded towards the door, where two figures wearing red and gold scarves had just appeared. "They're here."
Ron positively leapt from hs seat and rushed to embrace a smiling Hermione. Harry shook his head ruefully as they kissed; it couldn't have been that long since they last met up in Hogsmeade, when ... but then again, there were things he'd prefer not to know too. And really, most of his attention was reserved for Ginny, who proceeded to welcome him in exactly the same way.
It took a minute or two before the wolf-whistles from the other patrons became loud enough for the couples to break apart, in some embarrassment. Harry and Ron carefully avoided looking at each other -- by mutual unspoken agreement, both avoided direct comments on the subject of relationships with their girlfriends -- although there was a glint in Ginny's eye, which left Harry too regretting that what was about to happen would get in the way of a little private time.
"Good term?" he asked her.
"Pretty good, yeah. A bit hectic with the younger kids asking us questions all the time, and people working on repairs and getting in everybody's way -- they still can't persuade Trelawney to leave her tower long enough for them to straighten it. But no war, no dark wizards plotting, no Ministry interference ... Kingsley's been too busy with the trials even to see McGonagall, hasn't he?"
"Probably. Everybody has." Kingsley Shacklebolt's no-nonsense competence had managed to get things up and running again remarkably quickly, and no-one was seriously challenging his position any more, but bringing the remaining Death Eaters to justice had been a lengthy process. "The worst's over, though. Your dad told me the other day that he thought Kingsley was planning something new."
"Huh?" This was clearly news to Ginny. "I bet Dad's involved in it then. What are they up to?"
Harry shrugged. "No idea. There's some kind of closed session of the Wizengamot going on. But it's been hectic here too."
"Sounds fun, though. Actually ... school's been fun as well. I never thought I'd say this, but even the lessons are."
"Good." He was pleased, although he couldn't help but feel just the tiniest bit disgruntled at what she hadn't said. "Did you, er, miss me?"
"Yes, "she said, rolling her eyes. "Of course I did, you idiot."
"Right. Because ... well, I missed you too." Fortunately, he was saved from the need to say any more when their friends joined them. "What's it like being Head Girl?" he asked Hermione.
"It's a lot of work on top of my N.E.W.T.s -- I'm so rusty, I hadn't realised quite how much I'd forgotten -- and of course it's a big responsibility trying to get it right and set an example ..."
"Come on, you're practically the Queen of Hogwarts," said Ginny impatiently. "Everyone looks up to you, except for a few of the thicker Slytherins who haven't quite grasped the idea that things have changed yet."
"Oh... well ... maybe," said Hermione, blushing.
Ron hugged her. "They'd have to be thick if they didn't. Are you getting the midgets to follow the school rules?"
"Of course! ... mostly, anyway. At least there are proper rules again. Not like last year." She sent an apologetic glance in Ginny's direction.
"Nobody talks much about that," said Ginny, and Harry could feel her shudder. "Half the school can see Hagrid's Thestrals now. Must have been even worse for you, though." Harry gathered from that that Hermione too had found it hard to talk about their unwelcome extended camping trip; though he couldn't blame her, it wasn't exactly a pleasant memory. "Anyway, I saw you and Luna having a charmed-snowball fight with a bunch of Hufflepuff fourth-years last weekend," she added mischievously. "Is that in the prefect rules?"
"Yes, rule 34b(2), prefects should make use of opportunities to demonstrate useful spells to younger students where appropriate," said Hermione with a perfectly straight face, although Harry had his suspicions.
Apparently so did Ron. "That's not a real Hogwarts rule!" This confident declaration sounded less convincing when, after a moment, he asked, in an uncertain voice, "Is it?"
"Well, you'd know if it was or not if you'd ever read them," said Hermione with equanimity. "Anyway, why not have a snowball fight when it's snowing and there aren't any classes on?"
"Things going all right this winter then?" said Ron, exchanging a knowing look with her, to Harry's puzzlement.
"Best in years. I'm glad term ended yesterday, though, I'm looking forward to seeing this. When will she get here?"
"Any minute now," said Harry, glancing at his watch. It had taken him more than a year, but he was finally getting the hang of telling the time from a constellation of moving stars. "Technically I'm not actually supposed to be on duty, but seeing as who it is I said I'd stick around to keep an eye on things, and anyway ..."
"... you want to be there to let everybody know where you stand," finished Ginny. "So do I." Harry nodded; he did have an additional reason for wanting to be there, but that one was meant to be a surprise.
"Don't we all," said Ron. "She's late, isn't she ... oh, hang on."
Many of the Leaky Cauldron patrons had been covertly staring at Harry's party, possibly wondering if they could ask for autographs (which in Doris Crockford's case would be for about the tenth time). They now had another entrance of interest to watch, as Andromeda Tonks strode in with a determined look on her face. She was accompanied by a large and elaborately-decorated pram, which rolled gently along beside her as she walked. It stopped at her command as she joined them, and she accepted hugs from the younger people.
"How is he today?" asked Harry, peeking at the occupant of the pram, who was fast asleep.
"He must know it's a special occasion -- he's remarkably well-behaved for a change," replied Andromeda with a smile. "As was the pram -- I think my grandson deserves to travel well for his first time out in public after his quarantine, don't you?" There was a hint of sarcasm in the way she said quarantine; she'd never made any secret of her impatience at Amos Diggory's edict. "Of course, I had to pretend to be pushing it along the Charing Cross Road, but it seemed to know what I wanted. Thank you again, Harry."
"No problem," he said. "You might have ridden in it yourself once!"
"Where did it come from, then?" asked Ron, with a baffled look.
"Kreacher found it up in the loft at Grimmauld Place," explained Harry. "He was really excited. He actually Apparated downstairs and told me, hang on, 'a member of the Black family should use it until Master needs it for his own children' -- erm, not that that's likely to happen for ages yet," he added hastily when a slight awkwardness fell on the party. "Happy to oblige, anyway." The elf's remark had given him an idea for today, too.
"Bless. I'm getting quite fond of old Kreacher," said Ron, and Hermione smiled. "Ready to go? After you, Mrs Tonks."
"Thank you, Mr Weasley."
*****
Harry's attention sharpened as Andromeda led them out through the back of the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley. The reformed Ministry had maintained a high level of popularity, but there were still an uncomfortable number of people around who had not made their peace with the new order. If they saw something that annoyed them -- such as the offspring of a werewolf appearing in public, for example -- they might take exception and make trouble. He'd had to arrest several for doing so in his six months of on-the-job Auror training, even if strictly speaking he wasn't supposed to do that. (Numbers in the office had fallen so low, as a result of war losses and Kingsley's clear-out of the hopelessly compromised, that in practice the distinction between qualified Auror and trainee had become very blurred.)
Today, however, there didn't seem likely to be a problem. A few shoppers nodded to Andromeda in recognition as they passed, although most paid them little attention at first. But as they continued to make their way up the street, Harry could see people beginning to point and whisper -- and in a few cases, scowl -- as they realised who the baby in the pram must be. Teddy himself had woken, his hair changing colour to match the awning of each shop they passed, all oblivious to the fact that he'd been something of a newspaper celebrity a few months before. Harry sympathised.
They stopped outside Gringotts, and as a few bystanders made hesitant approaches Harry began to feel a little on edge. He surreptitiously took the Sneakoscope Hermione had given him out of his pocket, prodded it with his wand, then relaxed when all it did was produce a couple of half-hearted pirouettes before dropping limply back into his hand. His godson clearly wasn't in danger today -- at least, not unless an infant's mind could be damaged by exposure to inane questions. Although the general consensus among the small crowd that had gathered around them seemed rather to approve of Teddy, and even his parents, there was much surprise that he was merely changing faces rather than sprouting fangs. Andromeda Tonks was fielding this nonsense with admirable aplomb, but Harry was sure it wouldn't be the last time she needed to do so.
"Shouldn't we go in, Andromeda?" asked Ginny, who had clearly been thinking along the same lines, and Mrs Tonks nodded in relief.
"Nice one, Ginny," he muttered to her as they entered, and she squeezed his hand in reply. So far so good.
It was the first time he'd actually set foot in the place since their expedition to Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. Tact had seemed the wisest course. All his business had been conducted via his new owl, which had returned with a reply to his latest query just that morning; he was curious, not to mention nervous, to see what the reaction would be. There was a definite double-take from the goblins on the door as they entered, and several more inside the building stared at Harry and his friends with ill-concealed disapproval. Ron seemed inclined to say something about this, until a nervous Hermione poked him sharply in the ribs.
Andromeda Tonks ignored this byplay and strode up to the nearest available goblin teller, the pram following her like an obedient dog. "Good afternoon," she said in a crisp voice.
The teller looked up, paused for a fraction of a second when he saw her companions, then spoke with a polite, if stiff, formality that Harry was quite happy to take. "Good afternoon, madam. I am Kordrak, how may I assist you?" Judging from the glances he was giving Harry, he was uncertain what to expect.
"I wish to open an account for my grandson, Teddy Remus Lupin, and make an initial deposit for him."
"Of course, of course!" Kordrak seemed relieved that this would be an ordinary everyday transaction. "A very simple process, I have the forms here, and I trust that we will enjoy a long and satisfactory business relationship with Mr Lupin." He blinked as he caught sight of his new client, who was gazing at him raptly; there was the suggestion of a few hairs forming on Teddy's chin, and Harry wondered if all Metamorphmagi tried to imitate everything they saw at this age. There weren't really that many people who would know, although since Andromeda seemed to consider this entirely normal the answer was quite likely yes. "Ah, there will be a small preparation fee of two Galleons, and if you wish to procure a vault for Mr Lupin's exclusive use we can of course arrange this. Fees start at fifty Galleons for a vault with basic safeguards, which is still nevertheless perfectly secure, that is to say, um ..." He pursed his lips as he remembered who he was talking to.
Andromeda had winced at the price. "I think we can do without the vault for now."
"Certainly, madam. Perhaps later, nearer the time your grandson is due to attend school?"
Harry smiled to himself. "No, I think we'll set one up for him now," he said, and everyone stared at him in surprise.
Andromeda's reply was indignant. "There's no need for that! I can make the arrangements later if I have ... if I think it appropriate."
Harry shook his head. "I know, but we might as well sort it out while we're here, right?" He addressed the goblin directly, trying to match him for politeness; there was no need to antagonise them further. "I'd like to transfer ownership of a high-security vault to Teddy, please, together with its contents. The number is seven hundred and eleven. Your records department kindly confirmed for me yesterday --" he took a piece of parchment from his pocket and laid it on the counter "-- that it would be in order. I know there's a ten-Galleon transfer fee, but there's more than enough in the vault to cover that."
If Andromeda had been indignant before, she was almost angry now. "Harry! You can't give Teddy your own vault ..."
"I don't think he is," said Ron, sounding puzzled. "I've seen his vault before, it's number five hundred and something ... er, I think. Not that one, anyway."
"Oh," said Hermione softly. "Harry, did that vault ..."
"Belong to Sirius? Yeah." He turned to Andromeda Tonks, his expression determined. "I didn't want it and I don't need two. Teddy's as much his heir as I am, in truth. I'm sure Sirius'd agree with that. Let me give it to who can use it best. Please?"
Andromeda was nonplussed. "But, Harry ..."
"You might as well," offered Ron, for which Harry was grateful. "He can be a stubborn sod when he wants to be, so you'll probably end up doing it anyway," he added, for which Harry was less grateful, but it did at least have the desired effect as Andromeda shrugged and turned to Kordrak to discuss the formalities. Hermione beamed at Harry, and Ginny's look -- which suggested she planned to express her appreciation in a practical manner at the earliest suitable opportunity -- was having a powerful effect on him. He really needed a distraction about now --
"Good afternoon, everyone."
Harry spun round in surprise; he'd rarely been more relieved to see his boss. "Kingsley? What happened to the special session?"
"Done and dusted," replied Kingsley Shacklebolt with equanimity. "I find that if you have a few words in the more influential ears beforehand, things tend to go remarkably smoothly."
"But you didn't have a Gringotts visit on your agenda, did you?"
"No, but their Director invited me to call at my own convenience to discuss a new charter. So since you told me you'd be here it seemed as good a time as any to arrange a preliminary meeting. I was rather hoping I'd catch you all."
"You were?" said Ron, looking rather flattered.
"Is something the matter?" asked Hermione with a frown.
"Not at all, Hermione. I simply have some news you might find interesting." He took a large sheet of folded paper from the pocket of his robes and handed it to her. "Barnabas Cuffe was kind enough to owl me a proof of the front page of tonight's Evening Prophet. I dare say I wasn't really supposed to pass it on, but I think I can trust you all with it. So does Arthur. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment." He winked at them and disappeared through the most ornate of the doors lining the entrance hall.
"Well go on then, what does it say?" cried Ginny. Andromeda turned to listen, and even Kordrak's aloof expression failed to conceal that he was trying to eavesdrop.
Hermione unfolded the paper. "Hang on a minute ... YES!"
"What?" chorused everyone else.
There was a gleeful grin on Hermione's face. "Listen to this! 'Special Session of Wizengamot Agrees New Guidelines -- Official Wrongdoing to be Prosecutable -- Muggle-born Registration Commission Under Investigation' ... they've said that active support for the laws the Death Eaters wrote, even if it wasn't illegal at the time, can still be a 'crime against humanity'! I bet that phrase was Kingsley's idea. And the first person whose actions they're going to look into is Umbridge! Ha! She stuck her neck out a bit too far this time, didn't she?"
Harry grinned. "That's what I call perfect timing. Everything's happening today!"
"That's what I said," muttered Ron, but he was grinning too.
*****
The celebratory mood lasted all the way through the rest of their visit to the bank and for a good couple of hours back at the Leaky Cauldron. Harry was glad to see the others eventually leave, though. Once Andromeda had taken Teddy home, and they'd waved Hermione off to her parents' house accompanied by a slightly nervous Ron, he finally had Ginny to himself -- for an hour or two, at least.
"How soon do you have to be back at The Burrow?" he asked, hoping that she wouldn't reply "in the next few minutes".
"Oh, didn't I tell you? I sort of gave Mum and Dad the impression that I'd be staying in town for a day or two after school broke up, now I'm of age. You know, do a bit of shopping for presents and all that. Of course we don't have much money, so renting a room here's going to cut into that ..."
"Couldn't you stay with a friend or something?" he asked, feeling his way carefully.
"Well, it would be handy." Ginny had an innocent expression on her face that didn't fool Harry for a moment. "Do you know anyone round here with a house that's mostly empty?"
Harry nodded solemnly. It seemed that the day might have further interesting happenings. "I think I do. Tell you what, grab my hand and I'll Apparate us straight there ..."
Additional Notes:
The meme only promised a drabble. I set out to write a ficlet. Clearly, I am far too verbose. :) Still, it was the only request. And yes, I know it's fluffy and with very little plot -- so shoot me.
The reason why everything's happening today is of course that it was more convenient for me that way when summarising events. :)