Grandma Kate

Happy Birthday Crumplehornedki! Part Two

2009-12-04T15:00:49Z

CHK's party is still in full swing now that it is December 4 in North America. Let the Leather Festivities Continue!

Everything that happened when it was December 4 down under is at

http://grandma-kate.livejournal.com/78058.html

grandma_kate @ 2009-12-03T09:04:00

2009-12-03T17:04:32Z

Because of the way the world turns and the placement of the International Date Line, I decided that I had better post the no stress birthday celebration page for crumpledhornki on what is still Thursday morning in California.

Happy Birthday, Sandy. CHK was one of my first Live Journal friends and we helped each other because we were both so new at all of this. Her family has the same number of children and gender birth-order as mine had, so I feel an extra bond with her. May her next year be happy and healthy.

Our celebration in CHK's honor (or honour) is a Leather Fashion Show, for obvious reasons. I had been going to print a picture of my outfit but decided instead to just post the URL. My choice of color (or colour) is red rather than black and whatever size a 38 DDD would be in British sizing rather than the extra small illustrated.

http://www.eleathershop.com/product_detailByLang.asp?ID=481&CatID=38

There are lots more choices at -

http://www.eleathershop.com/leather_lingerie.asp

I haven't found anything else suitable for my age group but I will keep looking.

A No Stress Birthday Celebration for Crumplehornedki?

2009-12-03T05:43:46Z

I don't usually post this often but moonette1 is not feeling well so I thought I'd volunteer to host a birthday page for crumplehornedki on her birthday December 4.

I thought he pictures that megan29 posted to illustrate her story at my birthday marathon were very clever so would like to suggest that we have a virtual leather fashion show for Sandy. That way, anyone can post what they want to when they have a few minutes and she can have a look see when she has time. OK?

Thank you to St Margarets and those who joined her

2009-10-02T01:09:46Z

The ever gracious stmargarets surprised me today with a written version of Molly Weasley's pendant that warms up when people are thinking loving thoughts about her. She even found a picture of a bear in a heart to represent what my magical pendant would look like. Dear Oatmeal collects bears so they are now a part of my life.

You will never know how much it means to me to have friends celebrate as I finish re-writing the Harry Potter stories from Molly's point of view. Nearly three years ago, I started out writing one story to answer the questions my grandsons had about who took care of Harry after his parents died and before he was left on the Dursley's doorstep. It was accepted at Phoenix Song. One thing lead to another, so I wrote a story from Molly's POV for each of the Harry Potter books, plus a Christmas Memories story and what I thought might happen in the year after the Battle.

Now, I am finished with that phase of my life. My husband's health is going to take more of my attention but I intend to keep reading, reviewing, and posting here and at Phoenix Song. I don't want to lose touch with the friends I have made. Thank you for rejoicing with me. I feel the warmth.

News from my daughter-in-law

2009-08-17T01:47:06Z

This is part of a press release from www.fire.ca.gov that my son's family received as an email late this afternoon.

"Mandatory Evacuation Lifted in Bonny Doon Area

As of 3:00 PM, Sunday August 16, 2009, residents with proper ID will be allowed to return to their place of residence. Residents should be aware that both fire and law enforcement equipment will still be working the area. Residents should remain diligent in their efforts to drive safe and be aware of their surroundings during this time."

The rest of the email is about where the roadblocks are and a warning that they may have to evacuate if the fire endangers their area again. The Lockheed Fire is 50% contained so it is in better shape than some of the other California fires. It's obvious that we have smoke in the air.

Thank you for your good thoughts. I will be able to sleep better tonight knowing that my family is going to be able to return home tomorrow.

See what Collinda made for me!

2009-06-23T17:00:00Z

My friend hgrhfan35 made this for me to celebrate finishing all the stories about Ginny at Hogwarts as told from Molly's point of view. I love it.

If I've installed it properly, it will show Molly and Arthur and 'Ginny growing up before our eyes', in a new window when you right click it.

Moonette's Birthday Magical Mystery Tour III

2009-06-22T16:04:43Z

During which there are some unexpected events and a happy ending...

Perhaps Brown's Hotel did not mind the after-hours 'Cream Tea That Became Breakfast' because we were such lively guests. Or it could have been the promise of exceptional gratitudities. But, most likely, it was the more than occasional Obliviate that Niall or Bill or Molly performed. No sense in making the help feel like they were not appreciated.

The cake was beginning to tilt a bit. Kate began to think it was one of those crock pot cakes that had pockets of hot fudge sauce, only greatly engorged. Surely, there couldn't be a man crouched in there, waiting for the Birthday Song to be sung. He'd be in no shape to do any bootie wiggling after hours up to his neck in hot fudge sauce.

Perhaps someone has a suggestion of how to solve that problem?

Moonette's Birthday Magical Mystery Tour II

2009-06-20T23:15:29Z

We've been on the journey for quite a while. It begins back at
http://grandma-kate.livejournal.com/68544.html

The Actual Party Begins...

As some of us may remember, the plans were to have an angsty Quidditch Match at Hogwarts, explore an island in the Hebrides (said to contain Magical Creatures and Scots worthy of Myths and Legends), and have a proper English High Tea at Brown's Hotel in London. 'What happens on the Magical Mystery Tour Bus and at its various stopping points, remains on the Magical Mystery Tour Bus.'

There are loads of descriptions of Afternoon Tea at Brown's (including the Strawberries and Cream variation with Rose' Tattinger's Champagne), but the one Clement posted at this site is more informative than most-
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/259991

Whenever you are ready to proceed.

Moonette's Birthday Magical Mystery Tour Bus Tour I

2009-06-19T16:44:39Z

Ginny Potter stepped away from the Floo Connection and wondered why she had agreed to drive a group of tourists anywhere they wanted to go on the Magical Mystery Tour Bus. She was only doing it as a favor for her mum's friend, grandma_kate. It wasn't that Grandma Kate wasn't a nice old lady, but Ginny was beginning to have doubts about the rest of the passengers, as described to her in far too much detail by her mother. Until last week, she hadn't even known that her mother (and occasionally her father), had been going on jaunts to celebrate the birthdays of a loosely connected group of witches and Muggles, most of whom write stories about Harry and her and their friends. Mum had said that they usually used Portkeys to get to the site of the party, but that Kate Wallace had insisted that the journey was the very foundation of the adventure. Then Kate had convinced her mother that her only daughter was the only qualified tour bus driver trustworthy enough to Apparate this festive group around.

When Kate had Floo Called to make the final arrangements for the weekend, she promised that the guest list included experienced relief drivers. She also suggested that Ginny bring her Firebolt along because they were going to play Quidditch during the Hogwarts leg of the trip. As a special incentive, she had also promised Ginny a proper High Tea at a reputable Muggle establishment when they returned to London. She said that it would include an enormous chocolate cake. Ginny was hooked because everyone knew that she did love chocolate.

So, here she was, about to put on the Magical Mystery Tour Bus driver's hat and Apparate the bus to the convenient alley next to Kings Cross station. Mum, Kate, Nic Meath, two of his grandchildren, and a friend of theirs were going to meet her there and vouch for the rest of the people who were taking the tour. Kate said that Nic's granddaughter's boyfriend was Oliver Wood, who had ben the captain of Harry's first Quidditch team. Ginny remembered Oliver and had been in the same class with Sara Meath. She wondered if that dishy Dom Meath, the former Puddlemere player, was the other grandchild.

The whole trip was in honour of the birthday of a woman named moonette1. Her Very Good, Very Close Personal Friend was Oliver's uncle. Both the birthday girl and her VGVCPF were Healers. Kate hinted that that having a couple of Healers was essential to the success of the trip. Ginny, nevertheless, packed the emergency first aid kit.

Before she left for Kings Cross, Ginny attached the requested extra carrier to the top of the bus. Surely, Kate hadn't said that there would be 300 well-oiled Spartans (complete with armor) riding in the third class seats up there. Apparently they were some sort of combination honour guard and personal recyclers that were magically bound to the birthday girl. Last of all, Ginny levitated the bar with the initials 'A.P.W.P.D.' engraved on a brass plate onto the bus and set it up in the back row. Whoever had sent it had enchanted the liquor compartment, mahogany bar complete with brass rail, and padded bar stools with very strong spells. Ginny packed a big jug of Sobering Potions.

Another thing that puzzled Ginny was the guest list. She'd never driven a party that included royalty. The birthday girl was a Grand Duchess. The Queen of Fluff had an entire section, reserved for people properly attired in turtlenecks. Much to Ginny's surprise, several of her brothers and doppelgangers that resembled them except for eye colour, were also expected. Why would any of her brothers want to ride around the British Isles on a weekend? Perhaps they had been promised that they could play Quidditch on the Hogwarts pitch. Sure enough, Hogwarts was listed as the first stop, followed by the Isle of Lewis. The destination list seemed to change every time she looked at it, but the bus could Apparate anywhere.

It was always a good idea to be prompt when transporting new witches, wizards, and Muggles, so Ginny was determined to arrive early at the appointed meeting place.

Happy Birthday to Moonette, Grand Duchess of Flangst

2009-06-17T12:04:30Z

Although we won't be jaunting around the British Isles in the Magical Mystery Tour Bus until it has become Friday, Pacific Daylight Time, we can begin to wish our dear stiletto-shod friend fortuitous encounters with handsome scarred men and unnatural twists of fate that complicate relationships and plots.

Many happy returns.

PS. I am posting this without limiting it to my flist, because I know that some of [Unknown LJ tag]'s friends may not have received advance notice of the planned Magical Mystery Birthday Tour on Friday and Saturday. I will post about our departure from Kings Cross sometime Friday (Moonette and I are both on California Time, unless Arnold has sold the rights to it to raise money for our nearly bankrupt state). All are welcome as we have adventures that may include, but are not limited to- playing Quidditch on the Hogwarts pitch, overcoming creatures of myth and legend , ogling Scots in kilts, and having High Tea at Brown's Hotel.

Moonette's Birthday Magical Mystery Tour Bus

2009-06-12T15:08:06Z

This is a reminder that although Our Grand Duchess of Flangst's birthday is actually June 17 (which is Wednesday, for those of us on the Pacific side of the US), her daughters are winding up the school year so she'd rather have the celebration Friday night staggering on into Saturday. Sunday is the US Fathers Day, so it might be difficult for her then.

Therefore, the Magical Mystery Tour Bus will Apparate from Kings Cross sometime on the afternoon of June 19 PDT. I will leave this post public because some of moonette1's friends are not on my flist. Everyone is welcome to read and/or participate in the celebration. If you are joining us, you might want to

We'll start out with Ginny Potter driving but I am sure that some of the more macho guests will be certain that they can manage the Apparation Charms as well or better than she can. (Silly guys!) We'll stop at Hogwarts for supplies ( and some reinforcements). stmargarets has suggested a Quidditch match before we are off to jo_blogs's suggestion that we next go to the Isle of Lewis in search of scarred men in kilts and other adventures.
http://www.isle-of-lewis.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebridean_Myths_and_Legends

Some people are writing stories for the birthday girl. I assume that people will post them whenever they want to. The Magical Mystery Tour Bus can Apparate us anywhere that suits our fancy, but I'd like the final stop to be in London at Brown's Hotel for High Tea and Birthday Cake sometime late Saturday PDT.

G7Y Un-betaed Part 2

2009-05-08T14:46:29Z

The first half seems to be up as far as Molly and Arthur in bed, as usual. I almost did this as two chapters because it is a lot longer than what I usually write, so maybe that is something else I need advice about. Fingers crossed on formating.

The next morning during breakfast, Bee arrived at the Burrow with two notes. One was for Harry, the other for Molly and Arthur. Harry took his with a big smile as he excused himself to get ready for work. Molly gave Bee an owl treat and she flew outside and perched on the garden bench. Pie flew down from Harry’s room and joined her. Ron looked disappointed that no owl came for him. George looked a bit hung over. Molly opened Ginny’s letter and read it aloud.

Dear Mum, Dad, George, and Ron,

We arrived safely after a long train tide. Our Head Girl is a stickler for meetings and patrolling but I love her, anyway. I didn’t even get a chance to open the box that George gave me, but I will as soon as I get a moment to myself. Hermione says I can sleep in the Head Girl’s room if I want to but I think I want to get better acquainted with the second year Gryffindor Seventh Year girls. I was surprised that Lavender Brown came back because she had such a hard time recovering from that awful werewolf attacking her. She and Parvati Patil are best friends and they are rarely apart. Parvati’s twin sister, Padma, is a Ravenclaw but spends quite a lot of nights sleeping here. She always asks about George and wants me to tell him that she is thinking about him.

Professor McGonagall is a good Head, better than what we had last year. And thank goodness, the Carrows are gone. I think you know Sturgis Podmore, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. He survived being in Azkaban for six months so he has had some practical experience. Professor Phoebus Penrose has come out of retirement to teach Muggle Studies. He recognized my name and asked if I was ‘Arthur’s wee bairn’. It was so embarrassing.

I will write more when I get a chance. We have a great many new students since some of them were in hiding last year. Tell Ron that Hermione is still working on her tome to him.

Love, Ginny

‘So Sturgis and Professor Penrose are teaching at Hogwarts. They are both good wizards. Percy is always quoting
A Study into Muggle Suspicions About Magic,’ Arthur said, nodding his head.

Ron suddenly became interested. ‘Is he the one who says that Muggles think that Quaffles are from outer space?’

Arthur nodded. ‘More or less.’ He stood and kissed Molly and called up the stairs to Harry that it was time to leave. Harry appeared with a letter in his hand and went out to give it to Pie, who followed Bee as she flew north.

Molly was happy to see that Pig arrived almost immediately with an obviously shrunken letter for Ron. She gave him an owl treat and he fluttered into Errol’s old cage while Ron stuck his letter into the pocket of his magenta work robes. He and George left for the shop while Molly sat down to re-read the letter from Ginny and have a second cup of tea.

Before she started washing Ginny’s and Hermione’s sheets in the laundry cauldron, she went out into the garden and picked a bouquet of flowers for Fleur and used the Floo Connection to wish her well and deliver her birthday flowers.

‘Zhank you, Muzzer Weasley,’ Fleur responded as she took the bouquet. ‘You grow such beautiful flowers at ze Burrow. Eet is zo warm there. I will put zhem on ze table for dinner.’

‘Are you still feeling well? What does your midwife say?’’

‘Yes, ze bebe is growing. Ze midwife is ‘appy I do not ‘ave ze morning sickness.’

That evening when Arthur and Harry returned from the Ministry, Molly remembered that Harry had gone to see the small cottage that was next to the Tonks’ home the night before. “Did you like the little house that you looked at last night?

‘It’s not quite a house. It used to be a pony shed, but Ted Tonks added a small kitchen and bathroom. I think he and Andromeda thought that Tonks might want to live there sometime. A young couple leased it for a year last September, but they fled from Voldemort after they’d only lived there a month, so it’s been standing empty for eleven months. It’s really small but I’m inclined to move there when it is available on the first of October. Is it all right for me to live at the Burrow until then? I’ll need your advice about furnishing it when I am ready to move.’

Molly readily agreed to Harry staying, saying, ‘You are always welcome at the Burrow, son.’

*****
Even though it had been four months since Fred died and she tried to act normal when her family was around, Molly still felt very much at loose ends. Now that he was the Senior Advisor to the Minister for Magic, Arthur frequently had night meetings and occasionally accompanied Kingsley on overnight trips to foreign meetings. He always arranged for one of the boys to be at the Burrow when he was gone, but Molly missed his familiar warmth next to her in bed.
Her old friend Corinne was the only one who seemed to understand.

‘Amos doesn’t need to be gone overnight as many times now, but I remember how awful it was when he was in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and had to check on werewolf hostels every full moon. I was a mess for at least a year after Ceddie…’ Corinne began to cry as Molly comforted her with a cup of tea.

‘Finally, I began volunteering at St Mungo’s in the newborn nursery every full moon. A surprising number of little witches and wizards are born at the full moon.’ Corrine smiled at Molly. ‘You and Arthur helped more than you know. I was also comforted by my talk with Harry. He was with Ceddie when he was killed and it helped that he said Ceddie didn’t suffer.’

‘I wonder if I should start volunteering somewhere? If Ginny becomes a Healer, I might go to St Mungo’s and be a Pink Witch,’ Molly thought aloud.

Corrine finished her tea and said, ‘Molly, you have a lot to give as a volunteer but we’d better get our practice in before it’s too late.’

Molly and Corrine went outside and dueled in the garden and scared a few Garden Gnomes.

*****

The conversation that she’d had with Corrine was much on Molly’s mind when she met Kate Wallace for lunch in Diagon Alley around the middle of September. Molly was glad that Kate had returned to London after many months abroad. The star of Bedside at St Brigid’s and her partner, Head Announcer Nic Meath, had been warned by a member of the Order of the Phoenix when they were about to have the Imperious Curse cast on them so they would be more manageable at the Wizarding Wireless Network. Molly knew that Station Manager Trixie Quafflebaum suspected that both of them had re-programmed the station so that Pottercast programs could override the network. They first fled to Kate’s family home in Tralee, but it soon became evident that were endangering her Irish relatives, so they Portkeyed to the United States. They kept abreast of information about what was happening in the British Isles, and returned from San Francisco about two months after Voldemort was defeated.

‘How has Nic adjusted to your return?’ asked Molly. ‘Did he like the United States?’

‘He’s come with me a few times when I visited my daughter and her family there. He likes the City because of the theaters and symphony,’ Kate laughed and continued, ‘Nic loves everything about San Francisco, actually. It is beautiful and has a large and active wizarding community.’

‘I heard his distinctive voice on the wireless the other day so I know he’s back at work.’

‘He’s working only part time now. After all, he will be 80 late in January. Death Eaters did considerable damage to our house and terrorized our house-elf. He’s so good at home repairs, both magically and in the Muggle way so he has enough to keep busy,’ said Kate, as they finished lunch. ‘I’ve decided to stop being an on-air performer. I was seventeen when I became the first Fiona, nearly fifty years ago. It’s time to do something else.’

‘What will you do? Will you teach again?’ asked Molly.

‘I have a few ideas for new shows so I think I am going to produce some of them,’ said Kate. ‘Quite a few of the on-air talent that fled Voldemort has returned. They have joined with stage actors into a Guild so they can’t be removed without cause. We are just beginning to see the possibilities in making wizarding movies and transmitting a magic versions of Muggle television.’

‘Arthur is very keen on Muggle Tell-a-Vision,’ said Molly. ‘He saw it in a shop window. He said that it looked like a wizard picture with everyone moving. He thought it was brilliant of Muggles to have figured it out without magic.’

‘Yes, I wouldn’t be surprised if television caught on in the wizarding world. Some of the receiving devices look like magic mirrors. They hang right on the wall.’

Molly could hardly wait to tell Arthur what Kate had said that night. He listened with great interest but then said, ’So many of the on air talent at WWN were Muggleborn or married to Muggles. They really need to lure them back but no one is sure where all of them are hiding. Kate is going to have to either find them or look for new actors, writers, directors, and technical people.’

Arthur snuggled his beloved wife. ‘I’m so glad that everything worked out for Kate and Nic. He’ll be happy refurbishing their double row house. Kate always says he has always been so good with tools.’

Molly smiled. ‘You and your double-entendres! I wonder if anyone is thinking loving thoughts about me? Does my necklace feel warm to you?’’

*****

Molly and Kate talked several times over the Floo Connection or in person during the rest of September. When Molly realized how many witches and wizards who were Muggleborn or married to Muggles had gone into hiding, she felt that she must do something to help find them and bring them home. She and Kate decided to write a letter to Minister for Magic Shacklebolt requesting a meeting about what they proposed to do to seek out the expatriate witches and wizards. They wanted to start trying to find former employees of the WWN, but were more than willing to widen their search.

Kingsley was interested in their idea so a meeting was set up for the first of October. Kate and Nic said that the meeting that they had with the Actor’s Guild Representative Audrey Anderson had been productive. She wanted to be kept informed about any progress that they made in finding witches or wizards, especially those for whom she would be negotiating salary and working conditions.

Molly had a hard time falling asleep as she snuggled next to Arthur on the last night of September. Her mind was racing. She kept thinking about their children. Ginny was too busy at Hogwarts being a Prefect and getting ready to organize the Gryffindor Quidditch team to write to anyone except Harry. Meanwhile, he was unusually busy at work while looking forward to moving this coming weekend. Ron was also stretched too thin between helping George at the shop and working on projects for Minerva at Hogwarts. At least he was able to see Hermione. George seemed almost normal one day and completely depressed the next. Percy was still single, but at least she’d see him tomorrow at the meeting. She was sure that there was a nice young witch just waiting to meet him. Charlie seemed comfortable living with Kathleen, although there had been no mention of marriage. Bill and Fleur were having a baby- her first grandchild. Molly finally fell asleep smiling at the thought of a blue-eyed baby boy.

Un-betaed Ginny's Seventh Year Part 1

2009-05-08T14:39:40Z

Live Journal may not be set up for taking so much text in one post so I've chopped this in half. Thanks to stmargarets and crumpledhornki and mollywheezy for letting me know about the problem.

Author: Grandma Kate
Story: Ginny's Seventh Year at Hogwarts
Rating: Everyone
Setting: After DH- Pre Epilogue

The Harry Potter Universe belongs to J.K. Rowling. I’m just borrowing the characters for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended.

A/N This story is told from Molly’s Weasley’s point of view and continues from where Ginny’s Sixth Year at Hogwarts leaves off. It takes place the year after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, therefore eighteen years before the Epilogue.

1: The New and Improved Hogwarts- September 1998

Molly was up early the morning that Ginny and Hermione were leaving for their last year of Hogwarts, but let Arthur have a bit of a lie-in as she headed into the loo. She was still a bit worried that Ron wouldn’t take advantage of the opportunity to audit classes when he had the opportunity and she was certain that Harry was going to be too busy with his Auror responsibilities to manage to sit for his N.E.W.T.s at all. Hermione had more influence with Ron than she did with Harry so she was relieved that at least Ron would be prepared. Neither Ginny nor Harry seemed to realize that they might regret his choice to have his scores waived so he could start his Auror career a year early. She shook her head. Minerva and Kingsley thought that they had been so clever, awarding Harry ‘life experience’ credit.

She knocked the door of Ginny’s room and heard Hermione answer, ‘Ginny and I are both awake. We’ll be right down.’ Harry and Ron were less reassuring with their moans, but she was sure that Hermione and Ginny would make them get up to come to see them off on the Hogwarts Express. Molly gave an audible ’Humph!’ as she went down the stairs to the kitchen.

She was still muttering as she started porridge, some water for tea, and a small pot of coffee for George and Hermione. Molly realized that someone must be up because she heard water running in the upstairs bathroom. Nevertheless, she was surprised when George was the first one down the stairs. He was dressed in his magenta work robes so she knew he planned to go into Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes before joining them at Kings Cross Station.

‘Good Morning Georgie,’ said Molly. ‘Going into the shop for a bit? Do you have time for breakfast?’

‘Do you have any coffee?’ asked George, looking a bit queasy. ‘And maybe a bit of toast?’

Molly poured George a mug of coffee and floated a jug of milk to his place at the table. Summoning the butter and the apple butter, she waved her wand. The toast buttered itself and fell in a stack on a plate. The jar of apple butter and a knife settled down next to the toast.

‘I may be coming down with something,’ said George, sipping his coffee. ‘I feel a bit queasy this morning.’

‘Arthur says the Muggles are convinced it’s exposure to germs that make people sick. Or is it jeans?’ said Molly. ‘You have obviously been exposed to one of them.’ She looked sadly at her son and thought, ‘and exposed to far too much fire whisky if you ask me, but nobody does. Poor Georgie.

George nodded back at her as Ginny and Hermione came down the stairs, arguing.

‘If you had done as I suggested,’ Hermione stated in a rather firm voice.

‘Yes Mum!’ answered Ginny in a sarcastic voice.

Molly looked at the girls. ‘Ginny, what are telling me ‘yes’ to?’

‘I was talking to Hermione,’ Ginny said, coming over to kiss her mother. ‘She thinks I should shrink my robes and put them in my knapsack. I want to keep them in my trunk like I always do. She already put hers in her beaded purse.’ Ginny made a face at Hermione. ‘Morning George,’ she said, ruffling his hair. George shook his head.

‘Suit yourself. Good morning, Mrs Weasley. Thank you again for putting up with me for the last week of the summer. My folks needed some time alone together and I needed to be here at the Burrow.’ Hermione picked up a bowl from a stack of them on the table. ‘May I have some porridge? I like the way you make it.’ Hermione looked very emotional to Molly.

‘Certainly dear,’ she said as she gave the full bowl back to Hermione. ‘I’ll teach you how to make it over the Christmas holidays. You’ll be back for them before you know it.’

‘I guess I am a bit nervous, going back to Hogwarts after all this time.’

‘Harry says he can’t get it out of his mind when he is there… the battle and all that happened then,’ Ginny said as she started on her porridge. Ron and Harry clumped down the stairs.

‘Morning, little girl students,’ said Ron, putting his arm around his mother and sister before nuzzling Hermione.

Harry kissed Ginny and grinned at her until she stopped glaring at her brother.

George got up and started toward the door, hugging Molly on his way. ‘I’ll be there before the train leaves.’

Ron and Hermione and Harry and Ginny didn’t eat much even though Molly kept offering them more food. Arthur came down the stairs, drank some tea, and ate some toast, before he commented, ’Time to bring the trunks down. The Ministry car will be here in a few minutes.’

The four teenagers went back up to the girls’ room to get the trunks. Molly called up the stairs after five minutes to say that the Ministry car had arrived and the trunks floated down the stairs, followed by their owners and boyfriends, all four with swollen lips and disheveled hair.

After so many years of starting for Kings Cross and having to return multiple times for something that had been left behind, Molly was surprised by how quickly they arrived at the train station with only two students. No one spoke much on the trip. When they were out of the Ministry car, Ginny slipped her knapsack on her back and locked arms with Harry as he pulled her trunk behind him. Hermione clutched her beaded purse in one hand and held Ron’s hand with the other. He dragged her trunk along with an increasingly distressed look. Molly and Arthur held hands, as well.

‘I can’t believe that this is the last time we will be putting a child on the Hogwarts Express,’ said Molly, starting to tear up. ‘Ron, are you sure that Hogwarts is restored enough for classes to be held?’

Ron nodded. He spoke in the patient voice that he had used whenever they had discussed this topic before. ‘Don’t worry, Mum,’ he said. Professor McGonagall and Minister Shacklebolt wouldn’t have sent the letters out if the school wasn’t ready.’ Molly gave him a hug. ‘Geoff me! I’m not going off to school. Pick on Ginny.’

Molly turned to Ginny who was clutching Harry almost like she used to hang on to her Dance with me Harry Potter doll before she was sent up to bed. This Harry Potter was clutching back.

‘Let’s get these trunks up on the train,’ said Arthur, in what Molly thought of as his cheery voice. She looked at him to see if he was already crying as much as she was.

Harry and Ron picked us the trunks and paused. ‘Where do you want these?’ Harry asked.

‘We have to go up front to the Prefects’ car,’ said Hermione. ‘Good-bye, Mr and Mrs Weasley. Thank you for having me visit.’

Molly threw her arms around Hermione. ‘Good-bye, my dear. Write to us. Let us know if you need anything.’ Hermione smiled as she backed away toward Ron. Then Molly attacked Ginny. ‘My baby is going to school for the last time. Write and tell us if there are any problems or if you need something.’ Ginny nodded, holding hands with Harry as they headed for the first carriage.

Ron and Harry climbed the steps and stowed the trunks. Then they stood at the foot of the steps while both girls stood on the bottom step. Arthur had tears in his eyes as he said, ‘it doesn’t look like George will make it.’

At that moment, George ran down the platform with a box with the distinctive WWW logo on it. ‘I forgot you were Head Girl and Seventh Year Gryffindor Prefect,’ he wheezed. ‘I was at the wrong end of the train.’ He handed Ginny the box and said, ‘Ginny, honour Fred.’ She nodded.

Neville Longbottom and his Grandmother walked slowly down the platform to the same carriage that Ginny and Hermione were in. ‘It won’t be the same without you,’ he said as he clasped Ron and Harry on the back. Augusta Longbottom kissed him on the cheek when he bent down so she could reach him. Hermione moved to let him go up the steps.

Molly felt tears pouring down her cheeks but through them, she saw Ron kiss Hermione and Harry kiss Ginny. The whistle blew and the train hissed steam so the girls climbed the steps and waved out the window. Both boys ran alongside the train until it left the station.

‘I’ll be home a bit later than usual tonight,’ said Harry, walking back to where Molly and Arthur were standing. ‘I am going to look at a cottage next to Andromeda and Teddy’s. It’s small but becomes available the first of next month.’

Ron and George kissed Molly and they and Harry went to the alley to Apparate.

“Mollywobbles, I fancy a cuppa and some of the excellent scones at our tea shop,’ said Arthur, guiding her out of the station.

Molly drank her tea slowly, holding hands with Arthur across the small table. ‘I’m worried that Hogwarts may have too many bad memories for Ginny. They tortured her. Fred died there.’

‘And Harry finished off Voldemort and you outfought Bellatrix Lestrange. There are good memories to help with the bad ones.’ He kissed her before he left for the Ministry and she headed back to the Burrow to do some garden cleanup.

As they were getting ready for bed that night, Molly began to cry again. ‘George is so sad that he doesn’t know what to do. Ron can’t be at the shop all the time to keep him doing what he needs to do there. Now Harry is looking for a place to move to that is closer to Teddy. He isn’t home yet tonight.’

‘Mollywobbles, the changes we are all going through are not the end of the world. George will learn to cope. Ron has his own life to lead. Harry will always think of the Burrow as home.’ Arthur reached for the pendant between Molly’s breasts. ‘Is it still warm?’ She nodded. ‘Someone who loves you very much is thinking of you.’

‘And who might that be?’ asked Molly with a smile.

*****

Happy Birthday to my new friend mollywheezy

2009-03-04T12:05:20Z

It's your birthday, mollywheezy! May you have a delightful day of celebration and a year full of enjoying what you read and what you write.

Happy Birthday to felixfelicis1

2009-03-02T12:12:42Z

Ryan, may you have a year that is as busy as you want it to be. Your daughter is growing right before your eyes making memories you will never forget. Thank you for being my friend.

Gakked from girlyswot

2009-02-26T16:36:17Z

This result seems to be fairly common. Maybe too many of us identify with Emma Thompson.

Your result for The Jane Austen heroine Test...

Elinor Dashwood

70% romance, 45% sauciness, 52% etiquette, 75% intelligence

You're always aware of social obligations and have more than your fair share of sense. You would never say something out of anger or in poor taste. This may lead some (like, perhaps, your saucy little sister) to accuse you of being cold. Nothing could be further from the truth! It's just that you don't believe in making a scene. Respectable gentlemen everywhere swoon for you (though you'd never admit it). But you only have eyes for one. He is lucky to have you.

Ideal matches: Edward Ferrars, Mr. Knightley, Captain Wentworth

Guaranteed heartbreak: John Willoughby, John Thorpe

Not worthy of your affections: Frank Churchill, Captain Benwick

Take The Jane Austen heroine Test at HelloQuizzy

meme from stmargarets

2009-02-23T17:22:11Z

"A) People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blog and replace any question that they dislike with a new, original question.

B) Tag eight people. Don't refuse to do that. Don't tag who tagged you. I tag:

Ha! I'm going to refuse to tag. Come and get me meme police! Er - I tag anyone who wants to do it. :)"

1. Make a list of 5 things you can see without getting up:
a. Big Mama's big screen
b. a room full of frogs (a legacy from my second husband)
d. a mosquito hawk on the window screen
e. The Brain that Changes Itself book that I am reading

2. How do you style your hair?
Traditional Japanese woman cut- short in front, long in back but up with a grabber

3. What are you wearing now?
long red night shirt with a cream terry robe and cream slippers

4. What’s your occupation?
retired educator/wise woman

5. The best thing to happen to you as of late?
I finished collecting the tax data right on time

6. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
competent

7. What's your current fandom/obsession/addiction?
I just saw the new Australian trailer for Half-Blood Prince so I guess it's still HP

8. What was the last thing you ate today?
wheat toast, instant coffee, and cran-raspberry juice

9. What was the last instant message you received?
a shout-out from my grandson Devin

10. What websites do you always visit when you go online?
Live Journal, my family blog, The New York Times

11. What was the last thing you bought?
groceries- are there shops that sell other things?

12. What are you listening to right now?
Dear Oatmeal talking to his bears on the way to soak in the hot tub

13. What do you think about before you go to bed at night?
I hope I'll fall asleep but listen to NPR in case I don't

14. What was the last cd you bought?
Probably the Mama Mia soundtrack

15. What is your favourite weather, and why?
when the leaves change in fall because it looks good

16. If you could play any musical instrument, which one would you play?
cello

17. How are you?
Good, thinking about what I need to write for October, 1998

18. What's something you'd like to say to someone right now?
I wish I'd reminded dear Oatmeal to take a towel when he went out to the hot tub.

19. What's one of your favourite movies?
Love Actually

20. What's your dream job?
Being retired but still active and alert

Round the Bend

2009-02-19T18:23:52Z

Yea me! I finished the gathering of data for our taxes this morning while the California Legislature finally voted to pass a Budget. It was only 106 days late. Sigh! Now the voters will have to decide which of the many measures on the ballot May 19 will pass or fail. Some of them are good ideas (no pay for elected officials until there is a Budget passed) and some of them are pretty bad (removing the guaranteed funding for the schools).

The whole Budget process is complicated because a two-third approval is needed for it and raising taxes. All the Publicans took a vow to never raise taxes or fees for services, but three of them negotiated something extra that they wanted and the impasse was finally broken this morning.

We are now at 72% of normal rainfall after a very wet week. We have two days of sunny weather before the rains return Saturday. The important measure of snow moisture content won't be taken until March 1. We may have three storms between now and then if the computer models are correct.

The daffodils are blooming, the tulips have buds, and the ranunculus seem to be bigger than usual. Tomorrow is Hoodie Hoo Day in the Northern Hemisphere. Time to go out and yell for winter to go away.

My excellent beta sibtrelawney and pre-beta bookish_327 switched order this time and the fifth chapter of Ginny's Sixth Year was gone over first by Gerry, and then Bethany. They both found mistakes and had questions, so I am indebted to them both. Another chapter should be up at Phoenix Song this weekend. Since there are no quotes from JKR in Ginny's Seventh Year, I may start posting chapters here if anyone would be interested in reading the rough draft.

I have a question about what I am writing

2009-02-14T12:28:24Z

As most of you know, I have been learning to write fiction by using the plots and characters of JK Rowlings (along with some that belong to St Margarets, Moonette, Dogstar, and Gabriella duSult). With lots of help and advice I have managed to write a number of Molly-centric stories. So far, so good, as I allude to what is happening in the Harry Potter books and Molly's reaction to it. Except for the premise that Molly and Lily were friends and that Harry spent the 'missing 24 hours' at the Burrow, I've stuck rather close to canon.

Now, I am writing Ginny's Seventh Year at Hogwarts and there is no canon. JKR has revealed bits and pieces of what she would have written if she had wanted to and has stated that she wants to be the one who decided who marries whom and what they call their children and what they do as gainful employment. I, along with a number of fan fic writers, wrote stories about the lives of her characters that do not follow her later pronouncements.

When I decided on characters and plot for the year after Deathly Hallows, I wanted to strike a balance between what had happened in my earlier stories and what is now considered to be 'the official version'. Maybe you can give me some advice about whether I would be walking into a storm of controversy if, for instance, Bill and Fleur have a son before the official Victorie. I am not as bound to Percy and Penny (probably because I was so fond of St Margarets' Audrey and she fits in well with what Molly and Kate Wallace are up to about the still missing WWN
on-air talent and writers).

I'd appreciate any thoughts you might have about how much I should stray from canon. Philippe needs to be born in January, 1999 but Fleur is unaware that she is pregnant during the Battle of Hogwarts. Molly realizes that life goes on and it helps get her through the grief about Fred.

Star in your own romance novel...

2009-02-12T12:30:27Z

I try not to post too often but heard about this on NPR this morning and couldn't resist. The woman being interviewed said that there was a big demand for 'erotic novels' for Valentine's Day.

http://www.bookbyyou.com/romance/default.asp

Actually I got quite a few sites by Googling 'personalized romance novel'. Or you can get a children's book about blue -eyed, blonde-haired Mary Sue and her orange cat Pumpkin. or a mystery, or whatever.

Round the Bend

2009-02-11T22:14:27Z

'Rain, glorious rain, we suddenly have it!' Northern California has been in a terrible drought this year, the third year of the climate change effect that so many places are suffering from. Our unusually warm weather has been due to a persistent high pressure ridge that has shunted all precipitation up towards Canada and is probably responsible for the unusually cold temperatures the US has had east of the Rockies. We were at about half of the snow pack that we need for water for the summer and fall but, as the weather prophets on TV say, 'The storm door is open.' The computer long range models predict rain for the rest of the month. This story from AccuWeather explains it better than I can-
http://www.accuweather.com/news-story.asp?partner=google&traveler=0&article=5

We have snow down to about 2000' and all the ski resorts are booming. We may even see some grandkids if they have time to come up to go snowboarding. One family was on a ski weekend when it snowed in the central Sierras two weeks ago.

My tulips and daffodils are up and the daffodils have buds that will open within the week and some trees are already blooming. It is a balance between needing rain and not wanting rain when the almond orchards are in bloom. I vote for water to drink in the summer.

I continue to pray for those suffering losses in Australia. God grant them solace and strength.

My thoughts and prayers are in Australia

2009-02-08T03:33:22Z

This is the latest update that I could find about the Australian brush fires
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20090208/D9673J8G0.html

crumplehornedki has just moved there so I am most concerned about her and her family. It sounds horrendous.

Happy Waitangi Day to my Kiwi friends.

2009-02-05T10:28:38Z

Since the celebration starts on the day before and because we have the International Date Line between us, I may be the first to wish crumplehornki a great national day.
http://www.bambooweb.com/articles/w/a/Waitangi_day.html

grandma_kate @ 2009-02-01T20:38:00

2009-02-02T04:43:02Z

I've been watching the Super Bowl most of the day, which was unusual for me since I no longer follow professional football. I wasn't too impressed with the commercials but thought the game was pretty good. I ate guacamole and hoisted a good bottle of ale in honor of Saint Brigid's feast day.

The second chapter of Ginny's Sixth Year is up at Phoenix Song.

Happy Birthday Berte!

2009-01-27T16:51:15Z

May you have a delightful year, made all the sweeter for much love and splendid health.