Return to Hogwarts

Return to Hogwarts

Chapter 1: Ravenclaw Reunion

Mandy closed her eyes as she rubbed her temples. It was nearly time to go home, and personally, she was more than happy to do so. Her supervisor had stopped by just five minutes before, informing her that she was supposed to finish the report that evening. The same report he had just told her about two hours before and on which Alexander should have commented. In addition, he was late, and she therefore was late as well. Glancing back at the clock, Mandy chewed on her bottom lip. Where the bloody hell is he! She sighed and whirled around in her swivel chair.

'Thank Merlin you're here! Seton was going to have my arse,' she said as Alexander finally sailed into the room.

'Sorry, Amanda, I had to finish going over that last bit, the conclusion was a bit sketchy,' said Alexander, handing over the report. Smiling in appreciation, Mandy grabbed it.

'Quite alright. I am just glad you have it in. Thanks for the help.' Mandy nodded at the younger man, smiling before turning back to her things. The man left as Mandy immersed herself in her work again, triple checking the evidence presented in the report and ensuring that everything was as it should be. Finally satisfied, and with only five minutes to spare she sat back in her chair and smiled. The day had been incredibly stressful and she was just happy to have a few minutes to herself. Glancing at her desk she smiled softly as her husband, daughter and son al waived at her. Granted little Robert was only a year old, but he drooled so nicely in the moving picture. Standing up, Mandy picked up the report and walked to the main office where she was to hand it in.

Nodding at the secretary, she walked past and to Mr. Seton's office. 'I've got the report.' Seton, who was on the phone, shushed her, and pointed at the corner of his desk indicating where she should place it. She nodded and placed it there before walking right back out. If there were any problems, she was quite sure she would hear about it this weekend. Walking back out of the office, Mandy made her way back to her own office and collected her things, happy to note that it was time to head home. As Gringotts was protected against apparating, she had to make her way out of the employee offices in the back and through the large marble halls, past the goblins that most people met upon arriving at the bank and out into the fresh air of Diagon Alley.

Mandy smiled to herself as she watched people milling around the streets. The streets were quite busy, although not nearly as busy as they usually are just before Hogwarts begins. She could still remember the days when she would run through the streets with her siblings and parents in tow, attempting to purchase school supplies whilst trying to weasel a few new books out of her parents so she would have extra reading materials at school. Of course, her father loved indulging her, even as her mother was quite firm about overspending.

Biting her lip, Mandy contemplated heading back into Flourish and Blotts for a quick browse through their shelves to see if anything caught her eye. Deciding it wouldn't be such a good idea, Mandy finally apparated out of the alley. She arrived seconds later at her flat in London. It had been protected to ensure that one could hear anyone apparate in and out of the home, while at the same time limit apparition to the foyer, so no one could sneak up on the family. It was a large flat, with plenty of room for the entire family. Her daughter and son each had their own room, although Robert had just barely moved into the nursery. She of course, shared a bedroom with her husband and then there was the living room, and a large spacious kitchen with and attached dinning room. Just outside of their Living room was a rather large balcony, with spells to ensure that the children could not be hurt, in spite of the fact that the door outside was always locked.

As soon as se appeared in the home, her nearly four-year-old daughter greeted Mandy: Danielle. The little girl was already quite pretty with long, dark brown hair and full light pink lips, and a cute button nose. Mandy knew she would become a beauty when she was old enough, as she was the perfect blend of her parents. She'd run up to her, and Mandy had immediately scooped her up into her arms, settling her upon her him. She smiled at her daughter, hugged and kissed her hello before walking with her to the kitchen where she could hear some commotion.

'Bloody Hell!' was the very first thing out of Terry's mouth as Mandy entered the kitchen. Shaking her head, she admonished her husband.

'Trevor Boot! We won't have that kind of language in our house, not with our children around,' she chided covering her daughter's ear with one hand. Dani, of course, looked at her parents in confusion. Mandy sighed and placed her daughter on the ground, as Terry turned around. He blushed slightly, giving his wife an apologetic look.

'I'm sorry, Mands... he just shot some strained peas in my eyes,' said Terry as he picked up a cloth and started wiping at the green goop in his eyes. He shook his head as he observed the little boy who was gleefully banging his spoon on his plate. Mandy bit her lip and tried hard not to laugh as she observed her husband. He wore one of her frilly purple aprons, which was now covered with splotches of green goop and looked incredibly ridiculous on the man.

'That's alright...' said Mandy softly still biting her lip, 'you should still be careful; Dani loves to emulate her father. Don't you love?' she added smiling down at her daughter, who just stared up at her bother, clutching the woman's leg. Mandy smiled and patter the little girl's head. Looking back up at her husband she walked over to him (having first pried Danielle off) and wiping a bit of the peas away from his lips, kissing him softly. She then laughed and wiped the peas on his apron, 'you look ridiculous, darling.'

'I know, but you try feeding Robbie, the child will not take his food,' said Terry shaking his head in frustration. Having spent the entire day with the children Terry was exhausted. How Mandy managed it for most of the week was completely beyond him. Kissing Mandy yet again, he gave her a pleading look and held out the spoon for her to take. Laughing softly she took the thing and sad down on the kitchen table, next to Robert's high chair. Meanwhile, Terry picked up his daughter, gave her a squeeze and carried her into the dining room to place her on her booster seat, 'now sit still, mummy will finish feeding Robbie, and then we'll eat super.'

'Yes, daddy. What're we having?' Danielle said looking up at her father wide-eyed. She squirmed in her seat, trying hard to turn around and look at her mother.

'Chicken curry,' Terry responded smiling at his daughter, as he looked over at the table making sure everything was set. He smiled and ruffled the girl's hair who just squealed and whinged about being touched. Chuckling, he walked back into the kitchen where his wife was having amazing success with his son. Terry shook his head in disbelief. 'Brilliant! How in Merlin's name do you do it?' Terry asked looking at his son in frustration. Mandy looked up as she fed the boy his last spoonful of peas; grinning wickedly.

'It's a female thing, love, you wouldn't understand,' she retorted smiling in satisfaction as Robbie gurgled happily. Terry laughed and shook his head as he picked up his wand and levitated the hot dishes from the stove and into the dinning room, pulling out her own wand, Mandy flicked it to shut off the stove, and used a cloth to wipe her son's mouth before picking him up. Balancing him on her hip, she flicked her wand a few more times, and the highchair folded itself and moved to stand next to the refrigerator. She smiled at the gurgling baby ash she bent him over her shoulder and burped him. As she did so, Mandy walked into the living room where Dani and Terry were already waiting. Kissing Dani on the top of the head, she smiled at her husband. 'I'm going to put Robbie down to bed, yeah? Then we can sit down for dinner.' As terry nodded in agreement and started doling out potions with his wand, Danielle scrunched u her face in protest.

'But mummy! I'm hungry!' She cried as Mandy headed out of the room, cradling little Robbie in her arms. She stopped and turned around shooting her daughter a displeased look. Terry in the mean time chided the little girl, shaking his head.

'Mummy will be right back, as soon as Robbie's sleeping,' Dani let out a whine and crossed her arms but said nothing further as her mother walked out of the room, 'really, Dani, it's only a matter of minutes,' said Terry shaking his head as he sat down at the head of the table. The dining room held their better, more elegant furniture, and though the family ate there every night for dinner, the couple tried to keep it clean and formal looking. In the centre of the room was the large, six-person wooden table and matching chairs, with lovely candelabra hanging above. As they had purchased a home in muggle London, it ran on electricity, although both Mandy and Terry used their wands to operate everything within the home. In the corner by the door leading to the kitchen was the china hutch with their more precious chine, most of which had been acquired at their wedding. Their best pieces of course were the silverware Terry's best mate and best man Anthony Goldstein had given them. Mandy preferred the crystal candlesticks her maid of honour Lisa Corner had given them.

'Very well, Robbie's finally asleep, he was quite tuckered out,' said Mandy smiling as she walked back into the dining room. She smiled at her husband and daughter before sitting down at the table. She looked at her daughter and nodded. 'You may eat now, Danielle,' she nodded in approval, and that was all the little girl needed before she started gobbling down her food. Terry laughed softly as he took a bite of his food and shook his head. Mandy grinned, 'she's your daughter.'

'Yours too; she takes after you,' he retorted smiling at his wife, who just shook her head laughing softly. They both ate in silence for a few minutes before Terry looked up: 'oh, Mands, there's a letter for you from Roger on the counter. His owl just came in this morning.'

'Is that so? What's he say?' she said looking up from her food and raising a brow. Terry shrugged in response, normally he would read the letters, as he knew his wife wouldn't mind, but he'd barely had the time that morning.

'I really don't know; Dani and I were busy ready, weren't we pumpkin?' said Terry smiling at his daughter as he took another bite. The little girl grinned and nodded excitedly.

'Aye, mummy, and then daddy let me watch the telly for hours and hours!' she said grinning as Terry shot her looks trying to get her to shut up. Dani, of course, was completely oblivious to it as she looked at her mother for approval. Mandy smiled at her daughter, nodding, before looking up at her husband and shaking her head.

'I can explain! You see, we were readying one of those children's stories and then Dani asked to watch the telly and...' he trailed off realizing that nothing he was saying Mandy actually believed, 'alright, alright. Football was on the telly, I just had to catch the match.' Laughing softly Mandy shook her head. Typical. It wasn't that she minded the occasional hour or two of watching television; she just preferred that her daughter read.

'It's alright, just don't get her hooked on it, you know we can't have that,' Mandy chided softly, as she took a bite of her food. Terry nodded and smiled at his wife. He was doing his best, and she knew that and understood, which just made him love her more for it. Gazing at his beautiful wife, Terry smiled, oh how he loved the woman. He could not wait to get her alone in their bedroom later that night...

'Oh and there was a letter from Hogwarts,' Terry coughed clearing his mind from all improper thoughts as he thought back to the invitation he had just received via owl. Mandy looked up confused, it was far too early for Danielle to get a letter, and it had been ages since either one of them had received correspondence from their previous school. Terry nodded at her look, 'aye, it seems Granger, Weasley and Potter have arranged a ten year reunion for our class.'

'Mummy you know a Weasel?' Danielle piped up looking back from one of her parents to the other. Mandy looked from her daughter to her husband and started laughing. Terry shook his head laughing softly, before patting the girl on the head.

'No darling, Weasley, they were... people your mum and I had classes with back in school,' said Terry smiling and shaking his head before looking back at his wife, 'it seems Hermione, Ron, and Harry have decided to hold a reunion of sorts this summer. Of course everyone in our year is invited,' Terry said shaking his head, there were people he would prefer not to see, but he supposed he would have little choice. As an Auror, he had watched as many of the former Slytherins escaped the ministry's grasp, just because there was insufficient evidence. Voldemort had been killed just after their seventh year, and yet there still had been minor insurrections in spite of the fact that most of the former Death Eaters had been captured. He knew Malfoy and Nott were behind the latest bit, but had no proof to place either in Azkaban with their fathers. He still could not believe that Morag was with that snake. Of course, he hadn't been at the wedding in spite of the fact that Mandy had received the invitation two years ago; he could not face Morag MacDougal... Nott.

'Really? That would be lovely. It's been ages since we've seen anyone besides Lis, Mike, Tony, Cho and Rog. It'll be nice to see Su and Pads again. Oh and the rest of the school of course,' Mandy said looking off into space as her mind wandered back in time. 'Kev is still married to that Lara-lass isn't he? And Phen? Did he ever move in with that bloke? What was his name...?' She mussed, thinking about all of those members of her previous house. Terry shrugged slightly. He really didn't know, since their wedding Terry and Mandy only kept in contact with a handful of their former friends, Mandy had Lisa and Roger, while he had Tony and Mike (who had married Lisa three years ago), and of course Tony's wife Cho by default.

'Yes, love; this is bound to be an experience...'