Friday, July 4th, 2014. 9:05 PM.

  Leaky Cauldron, Diagon Alley, City of Westminster, London, UK

  Ginny stared across the booth table at Harry.

  “Is the man MAD?”

  Harry shrugged. “You are definitely asking the wrong person about that. All I can say is that he seemed very sincere, and made some good points. Which was also very odd, come to think of it.”

  “What will Emily say?”

  He snorted. “My money is on it being Emily’s idea. Quiet, but deadly, that one. Hidden depths. The way she handles Aunt Petunia, in and of itself...”

  “There is that,” Ginny admitted. “Seems uncanny at times.” She paused. “Oh, Gods, the idea is beginning to grow on me. Am I a bad mother for wanting to dump my own son on someone else for a while? Just until the Cup is over?”

  “No more than I’m a bad father for wanting an uninterrupted workday once in a while. And the more I think on it, the better it looks.”

  Ginny raised a quizzical eyebrow.

  “No, seriously. Not just for us, but for James. It might be just what he needs. Away from his siblings and all that baggage of love and competition, away from his increasingly stressed parents. And where will he be? In a place with his best friend, who believes he can do no wrong. Under the full-time supervision of a subtle woman who readily sees through him, and will guide him into taking responsibility for his own actions. It will be a holiday to him. With the added benefit of tiptoeing around Aunt Petunia.”

  “Benefit?” she said sceptically.

  “Definitely,” said Harry. “My aunt will be on her best behavior around Iris. Even her best behavior, though, is just the thing to convince a sarky young boy that he is not the centre of the universe.”

  The grin that came to Ginny’s face could not actually be described as evil. But not for lack of trying.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Their drinks arrived, delivered by the landlady.

  “Hannah!” Ginny said. “So good to see you. How’s Neville?”

  “Better than I deserve.” Hannah handed the drinks around. “A Bungbarrel Spiced Mead for you, and a Dragon Barrel Brandy Spritzer for Harry here.”

  “Got time to join us for a minute?”

  “Thought you’d never ask,” replied Hannah, pulling a glass of elf-made wine out of thin air. It was a brand whose color gradually shifted through a mixed rainbow. Apparently the taste changed to match. Hannah noticed Harry’s interest.

  “Sort of the grown-up equivalent of Bertie Botts Jellybeans. A lot fewer really bad combinations, but you might avoid taking a sip when it’s purplish-red on top and dirty white on the bottom.” She paused. “Unless you really, really like turnips, I guess.”

  Ginny and Harry chuckled.

  “Business going well?” Harry asked.

  “It only has to go through the start of the school year as far as I’m concerned.” she smiled broadly. “I’ve got the Matron job at Hogwarts, starting this fall.”

  They both congratulated her. Ginny asked, “What are you going to do with the Cauldron?”

  Hannah flipped her hands out in a sort of ‘up in the air’ gesture. “It’s on the market, but we’re in no hurry. Neville and I will be keeping the apartment through at least the next school year. Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks has some nieces who want to try their hand at service. If it works out, they and their aunt may club together and buy it.”

  Harry said slyly, “You mean you’re not going to move in with Augusta and Algie full-time?” Hannah gave him a level, considering look.

  “You know, until this exact moment, I was going to comp your drinks. Now I’m seriously considering poisoning your next round.”

  “Leave me out of this,” said Ginny hastily. “I don’t even know this man. Who are you, anyway?”

  “Pax intrantibus, salus exeuntibus,” Harry said, laughing. “Except I really don’t want to leave yet. Forgive me?”

  “Fortasse,” Hannah said, rising. “Just maybe. I do love Augusta, but at a distance is best. Great-Uncle Algie, on the other hand, can bugger right off. Trying to force magic out of a terrified little boy. ‘Best interests at heart,’ my arse.”

  “Hannah!” Ginny choked out, trying vainly to stifle laughter. “I thought you were more refined than that!”

  “Pfft! You try running a bar in the magical community for a few years. That was refined.”

  Hannah turned toward a new group who had just walked in, young folks from the look of them. One of them caught Harry’s eye and winked.

  “Isn’t that Harmonia Howle from D&W?” Ginny whispered.

  “Yep,” said Harry. “And a bunch of her co-workers.” About half of which might as well have had ‘MUGGLE’ tattooed on their foreheads. They were wearing their robes like Hallowe’en costumes. Hannah approached with a smile as they settled around a big table in the center of the room. She obviously wasn’t fooled, and just as obviously didn’t care a whit one way or the other. Harry grinned. Harmonia even had the greeter bell from over the shop door on a chain around her neck.