Chapter 31
“What do you offer?” Fortinbras asked. “Isadora is an expert in her trade, with decades of experience behind her.”
Harry considered that for a few moments. “I would offer her a home, a smial of her own, outright, not rented. With room for her looms. A stall for whatever she wishes to sell, whenever she wishes to use it. With contracts to ensure that none of it can be taken from her.”
“A contract would do that?”
“It would.” Harry nodded. “But this has been thrust upon you, with little opportunity to consider it. Think on it. My friends and I are departing in the morning, but if my offer is one that you would like to discuss further, send me a letter and I will return to Tuckborough. I will meet with you and whomever you wish. For now? With your consent, I would purchase these cloths.” He selected four pieces of cloth and placed them aside.
~~~
June 22nd 2920
“Oh, they’re pretty, Harry.” Tonks said as Harry returned to their wagons, her eyes on the fabric in his arms.
“They are.” Harry grinned. “And I may have just scored us the weaver, too.”
“Oh? Nice…” Tonks grinned, nodding.
“A weaver, Harry?” Lily asked. “For the Willow?” They’d taken to shortening their village's name to just Willow or the Pond, depending on who was speaking. It might not have been as magically iconic as the full title, but it didn’t need to be, not when most people who would visit it were muggles. The formal name for the village would remain The Whomping Willow’s Pond and would be on any maps that they sold, in any of their stalls. As well as the sign welcoming people to the village.
“Yep.” Harry nodded. “Hobbit lady called Isadora. She’s a weaver, this is her work, but from what she said, the locals are after gaudier stuff than she makes. To the point, that’s she worried about being about to keep her home.”
“Oh, no…” Lily shook her head.
“Unfortunately, yes.” Harry replied. “I’ve offered her a place with us. A smial of her own, with room for her looms and a stall space, for as long as she wants it.” He held up a hand when Lily opened her mouth. “I told her not to decide now, to think on it, talk to people she trusts and send me a letter when she makes a decision. I’ll come back and sort it out, see to the contract and will help her transport her possessions back to the Willow.” He shrugged. “I don’t expect to hear from her for a few weeks, maybe even a couple of months. Possibly not until next summer.”
“Oh, good.” Lily sighed. “That will give us time to at least see to building a smial for her.”
“I’d be more inclined to put her in a temporary smial and let her design her own. Then see to building it for her.” Harry countered. “It would be more ‘hers’ then.”
“Yes, it would.” Lily nodded. “Oh and that lad? The one you sent after plants?”
“Yes?”
“He’s already been back, twice. Each time with a pull-wagon’s worth of plants.”
“Excellent.” Harry grinned. “Anything good?”
“Two more Whomping Willow seedlings.” Lily answered. “Which reminded me to check on yours, on their gender. Both of what you have were male. Both what he’s brought are female. Then, there’s a couple of flutterby bushes, a Niffler’s fancy and what I think could be a magical mandrake.”
“Great.” Harry grinned.
“I’m going to pull out a book and see if your lad can find us some of the rarer plants.” Lily said. “I’d really like to have a full herbology greenhouse. We’re a few plants short of it, but I’m not familiar enough with the local area, to know if they’re likely to be found here.”
“We can only ask him.” Harry agreed.
The hobbit lad appeared two more times before Lily got a hold of him. He started to argue that Harry had first call on his time, until Harry joined them and said that he’d pay two tharni for each plant on Lily’s list. Then the lad frowned, his eyes narrowed in thought and he nodded sharply and vanished into the scrub, his hand-wagon forcing its way after him.
Twice more, the lad deposited plants beside Harry’s wagon, the third time he appeared, the last rays of the sun were bathing the field and turning the light golden.
“Sunset…” The lad sighed.
“Sunset.” Harry agreed. “Show me what you have.”
The lad huffed and spent five minutes laying out his collection. Three Whomping Willows. Four magical mandrake seedlings. Two Alihotsy. Two Niffler’s fancy. Two baneberry seedlings. One clump of Bitterroot. Two Cobra Lilies. Three dittany plants. A pair of Starthistle clusters. A Flitterbloom with pups. A Lady’s Mantle. A pair of coppiced Wiggentrees. Three flutterby bushes. And at least a dozen other muggle plants that could be used in magical potions.
“What will you give me for them?” The lad asked.
“Hmm…” Harry hummed as he counted. “Twenty-two single plants. Six grouped plants, either in clumps, clusters, with pups or coppiced. All of them on Mrs Potter’s list. Plus another sixteen plants that I’ll pay for… So? Two tharni for each of the single plants, four for the grouped plants and one for the common plants. That’s… Eight-four… Hmm… And you did like I asked and brought me living plants that I can pot and grow on, so I think that deserves a little more. Let’s say… Ninety tharni?”
“Ninety…?!” The lad gasped. “Ninety?”
“Ninety.” Harry nodded. “Would you like that all as tharni or would you like some as castar?”
“I… I…” The lad stammered.
“Twenty castar and ten tharni?” Harry offered.
“… but Lena’s purse…?” The lad whispered.
Harry looked at the lad. “Fifteen castar, ten tharni, a purse for your sister and a purse for you.”
The lad blinked. “I have a purse, can I get a little lockbox, instead?”
Harry grinned. “Come on, let’s see what we can find for you and your sister.”
“We’ll see to the plants, Harry.” Fred told his friend.
“Thanks, Fred.”
~~~
June 23rd 2920
The wagons rolled out of Tuckborough sometime around mid-morning. Harry had had an early visit from the Thain, in regard to Isadora and his offer, but once Gerontius knew that Harry was genuine in his offer, the Old Took agreed to talk to the hobbitess when she was ready.
Both Bilbo and Belladonna rode back to Hobbiton with them, Belladonna riding with the other ladies and Bilbo with Harry, only this time, Harry got to have Teddy with him. The little boy was growing like a weed. Yes, he was still in the carrier, but now he was able to hold his head up and so, was facing forward.
Harry spent the entire journey through the hills east of Tuckborough, telling tales of his time at Hogwarts, making sure to keep it middle-earth-friendly. The expressions on Bilbo’s face made the whole thing enjoyable, far more than Harry expected.
“Such adventures…” Bilbo sighed.
“Adventures are one of two things, Bilbo.” Harry shook his head at the smaller male. “Either they’re light-heart fun, where everyone enjoys themselves…”
“Or?” Bilbo asked, when Harry paused.
“Or you’re terrified. Not the entire time, I’ll grant you, but a fair part of it. They start light and easy and go bad, quickly. Those sort of adventures, it’s rare that everyone survives.”
“Oh…” Bilbo looked surprised, then thoughtful. “And what were your adventures like? Really?”
Harry sighed, sadly. “My… adventures weren’t filled with fun and laughter. My friend… Ron was Fred’s younger brother… We fought a troll, we were eleven and fought a troll. Just the two of us. And we won. Through what one of our teachers called ‘sheer dumb luck’. And that was probably the least dangerous incident.”
“… oh, Nienna wept…” Bilbo whispered.
“Pretty much.” Harry nodded. “It was… it was bad. At times. Not all the time, just two or three times a year.”
“Two or three times a year…” Bilbo dropped his head into his hands.
“I survived.” Harry said. “But many of my people didn’t. The last time I saw George, Fred’s twin, he told me to live for them and I am. I’m building a home. I’m forging a new life, for myself and my family.”
“Forging a new life?” Bilbo grunted. “Is that what you’re calling it? You’re building an entire town, from scratch.”
“Better than trying to take over one already built.” Harry countered.
“True.” Bilbo nodded. “So, are you open to new residents? I know a few young hobbits that want to marry but without somewhere to live, it’s been delayed.”
“Do they have trades?”
“Oh, yes.” Bilbo nodded, again. “Stonag is a baker and Lorenna is a button-maker. Then there’s Anneg, he’s a butcher, he’s rather sweet on Kestrel, who’s a candle-maker.”
“How urgent is it for them to get out of wherever it is they are?” Harry heard more than he thought Bilbo wanted him to.
“For Stonag and Lorenna, not at all. But Anneg and Kestrel…?” Bilbo paused. “If they don’t get out before the harvests start next month, I don’t think they’ll ever get another chance. Kestrel’s father is ill and is not expected to live out the year. When he dies, his cousin will take over as head of the family and he’s been angling to marry Kestrel off to his daughter for years.”
“So, they need to marry before his father dies?”
Bilbo shook his head. “No, because of his illness, Branston has been forced to give up his position as head of the family, Canton will take over on the first day of Wedmath, which is the 24th of July. If Kestrel’s not married by then…”
“Canton calls the tune.” Harry grunted in disgust.
“Yes.” Bilbo nodded.
“And what does… Anneg(?)… Anneg’s family have to say on the matter?”
“They have no problem with the match.” Bilbo answered.
“What’s involved in them marrying?”
“The heads of their families acknowledging it and them showing the keys to their home, to their families.” Bilbo shrugged. “It’s often done as a big flashy event, declaring themselves in front of the whole village, with a lavish party afterwards. But sometimes, it’s quieter, just the heads of the families, a couple of witnesses, usually family members but not always, and the couple themselves.”
“And how long would it take them to pack their possessions? Ready for a move?”
“A matter of hours, I should think.” Bilbo pushed his jaw out in a thoughtful expression. “Anneg is a butcher, he takes his knives everywhere, give him a table and he’s right to go to work.”
“And Kestrel?”
“He’s a candle-maker, but he’s only just finished his apprenticeship and has yet to have anything more than a few hanging-frames. Canton doesn’t approve of his trade and has actively slowed his acquisition of wax-pots and the like.”
“Excellent.” Harry nodded. “When we reach Hobbiton, talk to them. We’ll be staying for the markets tomorrow and leaving on Saturday. If they’re interested, that gives them a day to pack and speak to they heads of family. Send them along to me, I have door-locks and they can show off the key and lock. We’ll see that they have a home and a place to work, of their own.”
“That’s…” Bilbo paused. “I’d suggest taking an extra day and talking to father about it. Have him speak to Edridge Hyssop and Branston Wibbley. Wedding Anneg and Kestrel can happen anytime, but you’re offering them more than just a home.”
“The wagons should reach Hobbiton mid-afternoon.” Harry said. “I can take you on ahead as soon as we hit the flatlands, that would give us a chance to get things started.”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
“I’ll talk to the others, as soon as we hit the flatlands.” Harry offered.
Harry and Bilbo sat in Harry’s little sulky, with Golly in the shafts, as the golden pony trotted happily past the Green Dragon and through Hobbiton. Around a few bends and they slowed to a halt at the little gate in the wicker fence, in front of Bag End.
“I’ll take Golly around to where we camped, earlier, and get him settled.” Harry said. “Give me half an hour and I’ll head to the back door.”
“Right.” Bilbo nodded and climbed down from the sulky.
Harry didn’t wait to see Bilbo into the smial, instead he clucked to Golly and told him to ‘walk on’. Twenty-five minutes and Harry was tapping gently on the Baggins’ smial’s back door, which was quickly opened by Bungo.
“Ah, young Harry. Come in, come in.” Bungo smiled, gently, as he welcomed Harry.
“Master Bungo.” Harry gave him a half bow.
“Now, lad, Bilbo’s gone to fetch Branston Wibbley and Edridge Hyssop.” Bungo said. “Branston is probably going to bring his elder son, Robin, as he’ll need the help to get here. You’re lucky they’re just around the corner, or we’d have had to go to them and that could’ve been problematic. Canton is out and about this week, gone to Michel Delving, Waymeet and Whitwell to see to about some deliveries that have been damaged, or so I hear.” He waited until Harry pulled off his boots, before continuing. “You’ve probably got a half hour before either party arrive, so take advantage while you can, get cleaned up and I’ll see to a snack for you, as well as putting some scones in the oven for our guests.”
“That would be grand, Master Bungo, scrubbing down a pony, usually means that I need a scrub-down, too.” Harry huffed.
“Well, at least the bathrooms are empty, you won’t need to fight for one.” Bungo laughed and patted Harry on the shoulder. “Down there, turn left when you hit the west hall and straight ahead from there, bathrooms will be to your left and right, use whichever you like. Come back to the kitchen when you’re ready.” With that Bungo disappeared through a door just inside the back door.
Harry blinked a couple of time, before shaking his head and following the directions. It turned out that Bag End was even more impressive than he’d expected, with four large bathrooms. Two were light and bright, with windows out onto the lush gardens, and the other pair were darker, cosier, giving a more decadent atmosphere. Harry didn’t have time for decadence and took his little pack into the nearest bathroom, quickly running hot water into a tub and stripping off his travel clothes.
He took ten minutes to scrub himself clean and dress in a change of what he called his market clothes. Not quite formal, but far better than workman’s wear, he figured they would be suitable for a meeting like this and if he needed to go formal, Bungo would tell him and he could excuse himself and transfigure them into something better.
Joining Bungo in the kitchen, only took a few moments and Harry gratefully accepted the mug of tea and the still-warm pasty. He’d barely finished the savoury treat, when he heard Bilbo opening the front door and inviting someone into the smial.
“Come through to the parlour.” Bilbo could be heard saying. “And I’ll let father know we’re here.”
“Thank you, Master Baggins.” The voice was deep and rich, and reminded Harry of Hagrid’s booming voice. It was followed shortly after, by Bilbo appearing in the kitchen.
“We heard, son.” Bungo spoke before Bilbo could. “If you’d see to the pot of tea and pull the scones out in a few minutes, that would helpful.”
“Of course, father.” Bilbo answered.
“Harry?” Bungo dragged Harry’s attention from his mug of tea to the older hobbit. “With me, if you please.”
“Of course, Master Bungo.” Harry nodded and placed his empty mug on the plate that had held his pasty. He followed Bungo into the parlour and waited for the hobbit to introduce him.
“Branston, Robin, Edridge. Thank you for coming.” Bungo said and waved the hobbits back into their seats. “This young dwarf is Harry, he’s a Journeyman Locksmith and Master of Knives, as well as being the leader of a group of dwarves that have purchased land on the east of the Brandywine.” Harry bowed and sat where Bungo gestured, but otherwise stayed quiet. “Gorbadoc and Orgulas have both given their consent for Harry and his people to build a new settlement there. Tentatively, they are calling the settlement ‘The Whomping Willow’s Pond’, but that can be refined in time, they have until the first building inspection to decide on a name.”
“And what does that have to do with us?” Edridge asked.
“Not so much you, as your sons.” Bungo corrected. “Master Harry is looking for residents. And Bilbo thought of your sons.”
“Oh…” Edridge blinked. “What would…” He trailed off. “But the lads don’t have…”
“Yes.” Bungo nodded. “We are aware. But Master Harry is a dwarf and they tend to think a little differently than how we hobbits do. Bilbo told him of our traditions of a couple declaring themselves before family and the showing the key to their home.”
“Yes?” Edridge asked. “Finding a home for the boys is…”
“Canton’s made it nigh on impossible.” Robin muttered.
“He’s only thinking of his family.” Branston objected. “He has no sons and Kestrel is the only one of my boys not already married. If he can marry Kestrel off to his Wren, it would keep his business in the family. I don’t approve and he knows it.” Just those few words and Branson seemed to be short of breath.
“Which is why he’s making it hard for the boys to find a home.” Robin continued. “If he can delay them marrying until he’s head of the family, he can stop them permanently.”
“Do you approve of the match between Kestrel and Anneg?” Bungo asked.
“We do.” Robin might have been the one to speak but Branston nodded his agreement.
“And you, Edridge?”
“I do.” The dour looking hobbit nodded. “I know my lad and he’ll not look at another, whether they marry or not.”
“Good.” Bungo nodded. “Master Harry has made the same offer to a Tuckborough weaver, who is an older hobbitess. The offer consists of a smial of their own, work space, market space and a contract to ensure that it cannot be taken from them, unless they break faith with the contract.”
“My lad wouldn’t break faith.” Edridge objected.
“Neither would Kestrel.” Robin stated.
“And I wouldn’t think otherwise.” Bungo agreed. “But that’s the standard contract that Master Harry is offering, and not just to your lads. Each person’s contract will have additional clauses that pertain more to them, due to their trades, than to others. For your lads? Harry is also offering door-locks, two of them, both with keys. Plus, three sets of hinges and door fittings.”
The gasps were quiet but clear. In the Shire; locks, keys, hinges and door closing mechanisms were in short supply. To offer the fittings for three doors and two locks, with keys? That was showing a high regard for those it was offered to.
“When would this need to happen by?” Edridge asked.
“Harry’s people are on the road from Tuckborough, right now, and will likely arrive in the next few hours.” Bungo replied. “They’ll be here for the market tomorrow and unless you have a compelling reason for them to delay, they were planning to depart for the Willow’s Pond on Sterday.”
It was at this point that Bilbo joined them, carrying a large tray with the fixings of tea and sweet scones. He laid them on the low table that sat between the two groups of seats. With barely a glance at his father, Bilbo set about pouring tea and fixing scones to each person’s preference.
Edridge accepted a plate, which he laid upon the arm of his chair, while his mug stayed in his hand. “That doesn’t leave them with much time to see to… to anything really…”
Bungo glanced at Harry and gave him a slight nod.
“It doesn’t.” Harry agreed. “But can you honestly say that if they were given time, that someone would not see that something still blocked them?”
Edridge huffed. “No, I cannot.” He conceded with an apologetic glance at Branson.
Robin nodded. “Given half a chance, Canton would just about anything he could, to ensure the Kestrel doesn’t marry before Wedmath.”
“He would.” Branston nodded. “Thankfully, he’s not expected home until Sterday afternoon.”
“So, you think they should wed before then?” Edridge asked.
“I would have them declared, wed and departed before Canton can stop them.” Branston slumped back in his seat, his chest heaving and his face going pale. For a few minutes, Robin fussed over his father, until the hobbit’s colour returned.
“My mother has completed her healer’s training.” Harry said. “Would you permit her to examine you? You never know what a fresh set of eyes may see.”
“Canton’s wife is our healer.” Robin said.
“And Canton is the one that would benefit the most from your father stepping aside.” Harry replied. “I mean no ill will, but the fact that she is family… It would automatically bar her from treating him, were you dwarves.”
Robin blinked and looked at his father. “You don’t think…?” He gasped.
“You lose nothing by allowing a second healer to examine you.” Bungo suggested. “Whether Canton is involved or not, means little, just yet. But getting Kestrel married and out of harm’s way…?”
“Far more important.” Branston nodded, tiredly.
“Indeed.” Edridge agreed. “Alright, gentlehobbits. When do we do this? And where?”
“And do we tell anyone in advance?” Robin asked. “Wren would kick up such a fuss, if she knew in advance. I wouldn’t put it past her, to send a runner for Canton, the minute she was told.”
“Hmm…” Bungo hummed as he thought. “What if…”
The five hobbits then began a discussion that was as convoluted as any essay or plan, that Hermione had ever created. The upshot of this discussion was that the two hobbits would be presented to their families the next evening, well before Canton was to return, and that they would ride out with Harry’s caravan, on the Saturday morning. Between now and then, Harry would retrieve the door fittings and Bungo would hold them until the declarations were to happen.
Anneg would pack his things and bring them to where the caravan were camping, while Robin would see that Wren and Canton’s wife were kept occupied, giving Kestrel a chance to pack his possessions. Then, Bilbo and Colin would sneak said possessions from Kestrel’s rooms to the caravan.
After the declaration and presentation, the newlyweds would join the caravan, where they would stay in one of the tents that Edridge would see went with them. Harry had made no bones about what was facing them, as initially, they would have to live in a home above ground. They would have to choose the location of their smial and design it, while Harry and his people would see to the building of it. Once the building was complete, their contracts would be signed and they would be founding residents of The Whomping Willow’s Pond.
It took Harry nearly an hour to explain to the other magicals, what had been decided and to brief Lily on what he knew of Branston’s condition. She instantly agreed to speak with the hobbit and with Belladonna at her side, the two females vanished into the halls of Bag End, before heading out onto Bagshot Row.
~~~
June 24th 2920
The market went well, with James selling the last of his white pottery and Lily the last of her ready-made potions, although she did buy a number of glass phials. Some of which were ones that she’d sold earlier in the day, but many were exotic shapes and obviously came from much further afield than the rolling green hills of the Shire.
Anneg had turned up, just slightly before full dark, sliding into the camp almost soundlessly. He remind Harry of a Bull Terrier, solid, calm and every movement had a purpose. Kestrel, by contrast, took after his namesake, he flitted in at Anneg’s side and while he sat beside his new husband, he gave the impression that he was in constant movement.
“Everything went alright?” Harry asked.
“It went.” Anneg sighed.
“Wren wasn’t happy.” Kestrel chattered. “She made such fuss. Mama and Aunt Esther ended up taking her away and giving her and Aunt Fern a talking to. Aunt Fern admitted that Uncle Canton ordered her to give papa holly pollen, knowing that papa is allergic to it. Papa called the Bounders and sent them after Uncle Canton.” Like many hobbits, Kestrel used the term Aunt or Uncle when talking about older relatives, regardless of how closely related they were.
Harry blinked and his brows rose sharply. “How is that going to affect you?”
“It’s not.” Kestrel shook his head. “I- we weren’t aware of any of this. We were kept busy with well-wishers. It wasn’t until the Bounders had left, that papa even told us.”
“Mr Wibbley is rather angry, and quite rightly so.” Anneg said in his calm voice. “Father said that your meeting yesterday prompted Mr Wibbley to permit your lady-mother to examine him and that her conclusions, combined with the suspicions raised in your meeting, were the basis of the of his calling the Bounders.”
The magicals looked at each other in surprise.
“I guess Harry gets his ‘saving people’ thing from his mum.” Fred offered.
“Don’t bring me into Harry’s dramas.” Lily objected. “He did this, I just did what he asked.”
“And he usually says something along the lines of ‘I was just helping a friend’…” Remus snickered, causing Fred, Lavender and Colin to nod in agreement.
~~~
June 25th 2920
A good chunk of Hobbiton turned out to farewell Anneg and Kestrel as they left Hobbiton, with Harry and the other magicals. What seemed to surprise both hobbits, were the gifts they were given. Apparently, gift-giving was a farely rare thing, usually reserved for family. But Kestrel and Anneg were given many items, most of them small and most just pressed into a hand or slid into the back of James’ cart, which now held all the worldly possessions of the two hobbits. Many times it was just a few coins or a couple of pot-plants, sometimes it was a blanket or a pot but in a few rare cases, it was a piece of furniture. By the time they’d reached East-West Road, there were a pair of armchairs, a small spice cabinet, desk and a bedframe with ticking mattress, crowding the back of James' cart.
The two hobbits smiled and thanked everyone that stopped them, Kestrel laughed and chatted with everyone, while Anneg would give them a simple smile and duck his head, happy to let Kestrel dominate the conversation. But not even the multiple stops could delay them all that much, it was still well before mid-morning when they turned east onto the Road.
As they had, on their way to Hobbiton, the caravan stopped at Hildibrand and Tansy’s. Again, they used the field that butted up to the smial, all of them smiling at the joy Sigi showed, in finally being able to introduce his betrothed, Violet, to his young friend, Colin. The three of them vanished into the scrub and returned an hour later, carrying two large baskets of mushrooms that were presented to Fred with the request for mushroom, sweet potato and spinach pies.
Fred was heard to laugh and retreat to Tansy’s kitchen. The resulting smells were heavenly and the glistening frittatas that Fred and Tansy placed on the table, came as a surprise to Anneg and Kestrel, but after their first slice, they guarded the plate in front of them and gleefully engaged in mock knife and spoon fights with Sigi, the winner taking the plate.
The look on Sigi and Hildibrand’s faces when that winner turned out to be Kestrel, was hilarious.
“Never underestimate a sneaky little brat.” Harry laughed, throwing a cheeky look at Sirius and Remus, both dwarves snorted their tea, ending up with Sirius in a coughing fit, that somehow had Teddy laughing.
~~~
June 26th 2920
They reached the gate to what had been the much enlargened Smedley farm and that was now jointly owned by the magicals, shortly after lunch, pulling the wagons to a halt in the remains of the farmyard.
“Home, sweet home.” James whispered to his wife, before raising his voice. “Harry? Who’s going to stay where?”
“Well, we’ve got three homes on this property and another two on the place to the east.” Harry replied. “The big house, here, has four bedrooms while the other two have three each. The two on the next place are four and five bedrooms. I think it might be best to stay on just one property, for the moment, anyway.” He was greeted by nods and a couple of ‘yes, Harry’s’. “So… I think Anneg and Kestrel should take the little cottage, it’s supposedly three bedrooms, but when Orgulas and I did the inspection, we weren’t certain that it was meant to. Whoever had it, converted the attic into a bedroom, but they didn’t do a very good job of it.”
Everyone nodded and the hobbits grinned brightly.
“That leaves nine of us and two houses.” Harry continued. “I suggest that mum and dad, along with Remus and Tonks take the smaller house, while Fred, Colin, Lavender, Sirius and I take the big house. I also suggest that we use the big house for most meals.” He looked over at Anneg and Kestrel and waggled his eyebrows. “But if you want a bit of private time, that’s fair, too.”
“I think I’d like that.” Kestrel blushed but he’d got used to the teasing manner of the dwarves, after a few hours.
“Fair enough.” Harry grinned. “Fred, you go with them and once the cart is unloaded, unhitch Storm and bring him back over here. In the meantime, we’ll put our wagons where we need them and see to unloading the basics.” He looked from face to face and gave each of them a smile. “We’ll take a couple of days to rest and plan, before we start work.” He waited until Fred, Anneg and Kestrel were out of earshot, before continuing. “But I feel like we need to brief the hobbits on magic. Mum? Are there other wards that you know of that work like the Fidelius? I don’t want to stop people coming in, I just want them to not mention magic once they leave.”
“Oh… Um…” Lily bit her lip.
“There’s the magical disinterest charm.” Tonks offered. She turned to James. “You were an Auror, you should know what I’m talking about.”
“The Disinterest Charm?” James answered. “It’s what’s used on the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron and the Bubbling Kettle. But that’s only targeted at muggles, we’d have to alter it to include the locals, as well as us magicals.”
“Or there’s the Indifference Ward.” Sirius added. “We used it on a few pranks in fifth year, remember? Letting the Nifflers out and enchanting the Ravenclaws’ library into growing legs or wings.”
“Oh, yeah,” James grinned, “we spent three years working on that, we altered a notice-me-not so that the only thing people inside the charmed area couldn’t see, was magic. And we made it so that we could add people to it, so that certain students could see and interact with magical items.”
“That’s right!” Remus laughed. “We had Lockhart convinced that he’d lost his magic, him and Lucinda Brightman.”
“Yes!” James nodded enthusiastically. “That’s what we want. How can someone talk about magic, if they can’t see it.”
“But the Grey Wanderer?” Lily asked, using the pseudonym that Harry had encouraged, when he’d mentioned the possibility of name-based taboos. “We don’t know if he can see through our wards, not once he’s inside them.”
“That’s a possibility.” Harry grimaced. “Can we add a confidentiality oath? We’re going to be living and working with muggles, both hobbit and dwarf muggles, we’re going to want to tell some of them, particularly in the early stages.”
“I think Harry and I need to sit down with Fred and Remus and work out exactly what we need this ward to do and how to exclude people from it, and write our own ward scheme.” Lily said. “But like Harry said, let’s take a couple of days to rest and make some plans, before we get too in involved.”
~~~