Time's a-Changing

Chapter Two

Breathing Easy

Anthony pulled his wand out from inside his sleeve when he heard his father shout his name, and sat up in his bed, pointing the wand at the door. He was panting softly and sweat glistened on his face and neck. He had been having a bad dream again. Upon seeing his father giving him an inquisitive smile, he scowled slightly and lowered his wand. "Merlin, Dad. I could've hexed you."

Gavin grinned down at his son and threw a pair of Anthony's jeans at him. "Get up. There's been news." Kneeling down by his daughter Trish's bedside (Trish had an uncanny ability to be able to sleep even if the wireless was on the loudest setting), he shook her gently. "Trish, honey. Time to wake up." He gave her another shake, this time a little harder, and watched her stir.

"Whadthehac Da," she mumbled incoherently. Opening her eyes a fraction, she saw her father's nose right in front of her face and she shot up, banging her head against the headboard of the bed. "Bloody hell, Dad!"

Gavin stood up and laughed. It was the first time he had really laughed since he had moved his family to his wife Marie's parents' old cottage in the French countryside. Putting the wireless down on the dresser, he turned back to his children, who were both sitting on the edge of the bed wondering if their father had gone crazy. "Here, listen for yourself."

"--being rounded up as I tell you this. Bodies are now being removed from Hogwarts, some of Death Eaters and others of the brave fighters who helped The Boy Who Lived defeat the Dark Lord. And yes, we have now confirmed that The Order of The Phoenix were among the fighters and many of the of-age students stayed behind to fight as well. We will have the names of the fallen heroes of Hogwarts when the list comes in. And yes, my friends, if you have just joined us, the war is over. The Dark Lord has fallen and the Death Eaters who weren't captured at Hogwarts are on the run."

Anthony had been tense as he listened to the report and when the announcer's words had changed to cries of joy from the rest of the station news team, he looked from his sister to his father. "Is... is it true, Dad?"

"Your aunt thinks it is, and you know how informed she is with the French ministry. And it's on all the other stations, too."

Anthony's next words were drowned out by Trish's screech and he saw his sister throw her arms around their father. Standing up, he walked over to his father and sister and hugged them too, his eyes filling with tears. As they broke apart and made for the stairs, the wireless continued in the background. "My sources tell me that it was the Boy Who Lived himself who brought the Dark Lord down. Harry Potter and his friends, the Muggle-born Hermione Granger and pureblood Ronald Weasley, son of Ministry employee Arthur Weasley, managed to sneak into the school in the middle of the night and right under Severus Snape's nose, round up the Order of the Phoenix and as many fighters as they could. It's being reported that they got the under-age students out through a secret passageway that links the school to one of the shops in Hogsmeade village."

The report broke off again with cheers, and both Trish and Anthony went up to their mother and hugged her tightly. Pulling away from them, she smiled and looked over to Gavin. "Danielle said she'll go and check what's going on with her Ministry and will Floo over later." Gavin nodded, brought the wireless back into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of tea.

Walking into the kitchen after her husband, Marie eyed him and waved her wand at the cupboard, from where four glasses and a bottle of wine came flying. "Oh to hell with tea, Gav. I think a nice glass of wine's in order." With another flick of her wand, three glasses filled with wine went flying to the rest of her family and she took hers. "A little early, don't you think, Mum?" Anthony asked his mother suspiciously.

"Oh rubbish. If what that lot -" she pointed to the wireless, "- are saying is true, we could all use a drink now." She raised her glass. "To the heroes of Hogwarts." The other three murmured the same softly and each took sips of the wine.

Sitting down, Anthony looked back at the wireless as another voice began to speak. "We have just confirmed that Kingsley Shacklebolt of the Auror office has been named temporary Minister of Magic and that he was one of the survivors of the Battle of Hogwarts."

Gavin put his glass down and removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes. "That's been one of the best moves the Ministry has made since..." He paused, unable to complete his sentence because at that moment, he really couldn't remember the last time the Ministry had made a good decision.

"Speaking of the Ministry, love..." Marie looked up from the eggs she had just put on the stove, "If the war's over, shouldn't you be getting back to see what you can do to help?"

Gavin looked back to his wife then at his children. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. When he finally opened them, he looked directly at Anthony and grinned. "The Ministry has survived without me for months; they can survive another day or so, right?" Getting up and grabbing a piece of toast of the table, he motioned to the door. "Fancy some Quidditch practice, son?" And as Anthony grinned back and nodded, the two Bleeker men headed out into the cool morning and summoned their brooms for what seemed like the first time in years.