Mother's Day

IV

The next day was as magical as the first. After a breakfast fixed by Willow, Harry and Ron took their broomsticks to the back yard and with the help of a Muggle Repelling charm from Hermione, they showed Willow the finer points of flying. Willow stood amazed as they flew through the air and bickered.

"They're like an old married couple," said Willow as they took to casting hexes at each other.

"We've been friends for ages," said Hermione. "Those two have been inseperable since then."

"Don't you mean 'insufferable'?" joked Buffy.

"You mean there's a difference?" retorted Hermione with a smile.

"So why choose Ron over Harry?" asked Willow, eyeing Buffy at the same time.

"Harry is nice and all, but he is far too moody for consideration."

"Thank you," said Buffy.

Hermione just grinned. "Besides, he's much more Buffy's type."

"Oh, thank you so much for that," said Buffy. Willow just laughed. "So, you want to hold Liam?"

Hermione smiled. "Thank you."

"I enjoy my little guy," said Buffy, "but I love having company to hand him off to." Buffy took Liam and placed him in Hermione's arms. Hermione smiled and began to play with Liam, who was soaking up all the attention. "You're good with babies," commented Buffy.

"I'll need to be if I'm marrying a Weasley," said Hermione. "Though he's daft if he thinks that I'm having seven of these little joys."

"Ron has five older brothers," added Buffy for Willow's sake.

"And a baby sister," said Hermione, tickling Liam and watching him smile.

"Whoa," said Willow. "Do all wizarding families have so many kids?"

"Nope," said Buffy. "Harry's an only child, but that's..."

"A long story," finished Hermione.

"Okay," said Willow.

"Harry's parents were murdered by that same curse that he survived," said Hermione. "He was a year old."

"Oh goddess," said Willow.

"On the suck scale from 1 to 10," said Buffy, "Harry's life ranks at about an SAT score."

"He doesn't seem too bad off for it," said Willow. "A bit broody at times." Willow looked up as green sparks flew from Harry's want and hit Ron. She could see one of Ron's hands go up to his mouth, and hear a retching sound, followed by a large green slug falling to the ground.

"Then again..."

*****

"That was bloody funny!" yelled Ron as he wiped slime from his chin.

"I thought it was both funny & historically accurate," returned Harry. He spared a quick glance at the girls talking. "Your blushing bride-to-be is getting maternal," yelled Harry.

"She's a natural," said Ron as he cast another hex at Harry, which hit him but didn't do anything more than make him hot.

"Hopefully your lack of skill at spells isn't continued into the baby making department," said Harry.

"Ha ha," said Ron, dodging a hex from Harry. "Maybe you should be down there being a good stepfather?" Ron grinned and suddenly aimed his broom straight down, towards the ground, and shot forward.

"You're dead Weasley!" yelled Harry as he easily pushed the broom downward. Suddenly, Harry found himself loosing grip on the broom handle. His hands were sliding forward and the downward angle was pushing him forward. He tried to squeeze his legs tighter, but it failed to stop him sliding off the broom and fall towards the ground.

Willow was the first to see the incident and let out a surprising sound. Buffy jumped to her feet and began to move, but before she should Hermione produced her wand and pointed it at the ground under Harry.

"Terrus Softus," she said as pink and yellow sparks came from her wand and settled over the ground like a cloud. A second later, Harry hit the ground and sunk into it.

"Neat," said Willow, still in a bit of shock of what was going on.

"Any way you could bottle that for when Liam starts to walk and more aptly climb stuff?" asked Buffy as she sat back down.

"We can come up with something," said Hermione. Liam reached out Hermione put her wand in his hand.

Harry's head could be seen rising above the ground, a scowl on his face. Ron swept over his head and landed next to the girls. He got off his broom and took a mock bow. "Thank you, thank you."

"You could have hurt him," said Buffy sternly.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist," said Ron. "Harry Bleedin' Potter will not be dispatched from this mortal coil by a Slippery Sweat hex."

"Slippery Sweat?" asked Willow, trying to hide the mental image those words were bringing to mind.

"You cheeky monkey!" Ron said with a grin. "No, it was originally developed by a few Quidditch players during the-" Ron's explanation was cut short my Harry slapping a giant slug into his face.

"Think you dropped something," said Harry with a grin.

*****

The group left home and visited the local mall, where Ron got his first taste of American commerce and Muggle culture. As punishment for causing Harry's fall, Ron was assigned to carrying Liam, which didn't have the desired effect as he spent the time explaining the rules of Quidditch. Liam, however, seemed more interested in Ron's nose.

A few step behind the others, Buffy and Harry walked. "So," said Harry, "have you heard from him?"

"Subtle Mister Potter," said Buffy. "And no. He's still in L.A. from what I can gather, not that I gather much these days. Except baby puke covered laundry."

"If you want, I can-"

"No," said Buffy. "Let's just let that sleeping dog lie."

"In other words 'sod off'," said Harry with a smile.

"What can I say, I'm practicing my subtlety. So, change of subjects? How's your love life?"

Harry laughed. "Same as before," said Harry. "Not many women want to be associated with a convicted criminal."

"Doesn't stop Sirius."

"Not much does, except maybe the opportunity to pick on Snape and the occasional slap in the face."

"Now now," said Buffy with a motherly tone. "How is ol' Snape these days?"

"Always striving to show his complete inability to get appointed to the Dark Arts position."

"Surprised Dumbledore hasn't offered you the position."

"He has," said Harry, "every year. And I always tell him no."

"Why?"

"Oh I don't know - maybe has something to do with the job being cursed."

"And when did you let a little curse stop you?" joked Buffy, eyeing the scar on his forehead. "Besides, you'd be great as a teacher."

"Not so much," said Harry. "I couldn't stand to teach Slytherins. But you would be good."

"Bad idea," said Buffy. "The fact that I have destroyed three different schools should go to prove how bad an idea that would be."

"Point taken," said Harry.

"So, what are you going to do about Willow?" asked Buffy.

"Ah, to the quick," said Harry. "Exactly what we talked about - we will cast a Memory Charm on her before we leave."

"So, the longer you're here, the more you'll have to remove?"

"Tired of us already?" asked Harry with a mock laugh.

"No!" said Buffy, her eyes getting wide. "It's just-"

"I'm kidding Buffy," said Harry. "I know. We need to leave soon."

"But you don't want to, do you?"

Harry laughed. "Leave a place where I'm liked? Can't see why I would want to do that."

"Not that. Take away her memories."

"No," said Harry solemnly. "But my name is pretty much shite in magic circles. You know that, so what I want doesn't matter."

"But what about Dumbledore-"

"Buffy." Harry stopped and took Buffy by the hands. "Everyone is doing everything they can. If it were up to me, I would say to hell with the lot of them and undo the binding."

"No you wouldn't," said Buffy, "but thanks for the delusion. Just promise me that if she does get her powers back you'll be there for her."

"When," corrected Harry, "and yes, one eye on her and one eye on Liam. And we'll still come visit. Ron & Hermione are convinced to kidnap you and bring you to the wedding."

"We'll see," said Buffy.

Ron came running to them with Liam held at arms length. "Oy mum, young Master Summers needs a change of nappy."

"Weasley," said Buffy, "time to learn to change a diaper. Think of it as training."

"I don't plan on changing a diaper without my wand present," said Ron as he handed Liam off.

"And father of the year goes to..." began Harry under his breath.

*****

The group ate dinner out that night. They were able to get a private dining room at a local Indian restaurant. Being a Saturday night, it was like they got it by magic. Ron & Harry bickered, Willow and Hermione talked about magic and England, Buffy inserted herself in both conversations whenever not cleaning off Liam's drool. The conversation was good and much laughing was had by all.

But all good times must come to an end.

They arrived at the house. Ron, Hermione, and Harry began to pack their stuff. Willow was sad to see them go, as was Buffy.

"You guys will have to come back when Xander & Dawn are here," Willow said. "I want to see Giles' face when-"

"Willow," interrupted Buffy, "rambling again. I'm sure they'll come back."

"We will," said Hermione sadly.

"But you won't remember it," said Harry.

"What do you mean?" asked Willow.

"Part of your binding is that you can not be exposed to magic," said Hermione.

"Which we broke quite splendidly," added Ron.

"More specifically," said Harry, "no witch or wizard can reveal themselves to you until you have had the biding released. You don't know it, but the magic communities on two continents are looking closely at you on a regular basis."

"Why?" asked Willow.

"You scare them," said Hermione.

Tears welled up in Willow's eyes. "But I've... I didn't..."

Ron put his arm around her. "It's alright. Just think of it as being a temporary reprieve from an unjust crime. You'll be right as rain in no time. And you'll have we three to welcome you back."

Willow turned into Ron and hugged him. Ron returned the embrace. "You get your memories back and I'll personally give you a tour of Diagon Alley."

Willow pulled away and looked at him with tear stained eyes. "Promise?"

"Cross my heart," said Ron. "I'll even see you become an honourary Weasley. Maybe we can get Ginny & the twit to break up and-"

"Ronald!" yelled Hermione. Willow was grinning and crying.

Hermione gave Willow a hug as well. "I can't tell you how much we don't want to do this."

"Will you get in trouble? Show showing me?"

"Probably," said Harry. "But Ron's dad's important and Hermione is loved by the wizarding community." Buffy snorted. "And I'm used to being in trouble."

Willow broke free from Hermione and hugged Harry, who whispered in her ear. "We'll be there," he said.

Willow smiled and stepped back. "So what now?"

Hermione took out her wand. "You'll remember some friends of Buffy came for a visit. All the magic bits will be left out and you won't remember our names or faces. But you will remember everything else."

Willow nodded. "Okay... I'm ready..."

Hermione said some words and waved her wand. Willow's head became engulfed in a colored fog and her face took on a passive look.

"She'll wake when we leave," said Hermione on the verge of tears. Ron wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You guys better be off," said Buffy.

They took turns hugging Buffy and saying good-byes and promises of future visits. Harry & Buffy's exchange took longer, each whispering to the other. They gave Liam kisses and made the baby laugh.

"Do you think he'll remember?" asked Buffy.

"Most likely," said Harry.

"Do it," she said. Hermione pointed her wand at Liam, when touched her arm.

"I will," said Harry. He took out his wand and touched the baby lightly on the forehead. The coloured fog covered his head and Liam began to smile.

The trio turned and the door opened for them. They said some parting words and walked out the door, it closing behind them. Buffy took a quick moment to compose her self and looked to Willow. The clouds faded and Willow began to smile.

"That was fun," said Willow. "Like Giles only with swearing."

"Yeah," said Buffy. "Those three are great."

"Maybe we should see them if we get to England."

"Maybe," said Buffy. "Maybe."