The Importance of Being Different

Eventually Gwen had gone through the wedding albums with Anne and they were joined by Aislynn and Olivia. Olivia was going to be her flower girl and Aislynn her bridesmaid and Luna was obviously going to be her maid of honour.

Eventually, Anne and Olivia had to head home for dinner.

Anne was discussing wedding plans enthusiastically as they all ate beef casserole and mashed potatoes.

“Gwen and I are going to go dress shopping next week,” Anne explained.

“Can I come?” asked Tonks.

“If you’re feeling up to it,” said Anne.

“I always feel up for shopping especially wedding dresses.”

“Mistress Anne will look beautiful whatever she wears,” said Kreacher.

“Thank you Kreacher,” Anne blushed.

“Unless she turns up starkers,” muttered Julian.

Harry, Jack and Julian all chortled into their beef stew.

“I get to be a flower girl,” said Olivia proudly.

“You’ll do a wonderful job Livi,” said Sirius ruffling her hair.

“Can we change subjects,” groaned Jack, “weddings are boring.”

“I’m afraid that apart from exams that’s all Anne’s going to be talking about, for the next few months,” said Remus.

“I’m starting to wonder which one she’s more excited about,” smirked Sirius, “sitting her exams or marrying dreamboy.”

“Maybe I’m looking most forward to getting rid of you lot,” said Anne glaring around the table.

“Code red,” muttered Julian.

“She’s a week early,” nodded Harry with interest.

Anne just poked her food with her fork and pushed her plate away, she wasn’t interested in her food anymore.

“What did we agree?” asked Remus.

“No discussion of code at the table,” sighed Julian.

“And?”

“No teasing her about it,” said Harry.

“Because it just makes her worse,” said Sirius smirking.

“Now you’ve bloody done it,” said Tonks shaking her head as Anne stormed out of the room.

Tonks heaved herself up from the table and Remus tried to follow her.

“No Remus,” said Tonks firmly, “I’ve got this.

“You sort out this lot,” she said glaring at Julian, Harry and Sirius, who were trying not to laugh.

Tonks slowly but steadily walked her way up the six flights of stairs from the basement to Anne’s room.

“Why can’t you live on the bottom floor she panted as she reached the top floor.”

Tonks went to knock on the bedroom door.

“Come in Dora,” called Anne.

“How did you know it was me,” Tonks said breathlessly as she sat down on Anne’s bed and got herself comfortable.

“The heavy breathing,” shrugged Anne who was unpacking her textbooks from their camping trip as she had to get studying again.

“I’m having a baby in three weeks,’ Tonks pointed out.

“I know,” said Anne looking at Tonks stomach.

“Whats up?” asked Tonks, “other than the guys being gits?”

Anne sighed slightly.

“I love my family so much, Harry, Sirius, Julian, Remus, Olivia, Teddy, you. Sometimes I feel I like want to live here forever, but other times.”

“You cant wait to move out?” suggested Tonks.

“Yes,” Anne sighed.

“Well, we’re not in hiding anymore, you can move out whenever you like.”

“Yes but now Irwin and I are getting married we’ll be moving out sooner rather that later.”

“Are you leaving again?” asked a small voice from the doorway.

“Livi,” Anne said getting up from where she had been kneeling down.

But Olivia had run away to go and hide.

“You seen Livi?” asked Anne as she ran into the sitting room.

Julian indicated his head to behind one of the sofas.

“Livi,” asked Anne leaning her head behind the back of one of the sofas were Olivia was crawled up crying.

“You said you wouldn’t leave again!” she sobbed.

“This is different,” Anne tried to explain, “Irwin and I are getting married, we’re going to want our own house.”

“You’ve had enough of me?” sobbed Olivia, “or do you just think I’m a freak like everyone else?”

“No,” said Anne, “its just this house is pretty hectic, and Irwin and I are going to want some space, we want to start a family, have kids.”

“So you’ve had enough of me?”

“No of course not,” said Anne as she joined Olivia behind the sofa and held her hand.

“I’ve had enough of Harry and Julian,” she said in a stage whisper.

This seemed to cheer Olivia up slightly.

“I’ll tell you what,” said Anne after giving Olivia a hug, “I’ll have to talk to Irwin and it will take some paperwork, but would you like Irwin and me to adopt you?”

“Really?” asked Olivia excitedly.

“I know I’m not really old enough to be your mum,” Anne muttered, “but I love you Livi, and I know Irwin feels the same way.”

“So I could live with you and Irwin? You’d be like my mummy and daddy?”

“Exactly,” nodded Anne smiling.

Olivia threw herself at Anne and gave her a huge slightly teary hug.

“I love you Anne!”

“I love you too Livi,” chuckled Anne, “but we still need to talk to Irwin, and sort out the paperwork.”

Olivia nodded enthusiastically and they went down to the kitchen together to find some ice creams.

Olivia had double chocolate and Anne had vanilla with fresh strawberries. They were halfway through eating their ice creams when Remus and Sirius came down to the kitchen.

“So we hear you and Irwin are thinking of shaking up together?” asked Sirius.

Remus gave Sirius a firm jab in the ribs and Sirius stopped fooling around.

“Um yeah,” said Anne, “Olivia wants to come too.”

“Thought she might,” nodded Sirius.

“So first of all,” said Remus, “would you like Elm Grove?”

“What?” asked Anne.

“If you don’t want it,” said Sirius, “we’re going to offer it to Harry when he wants to move out.”

“Um, I don’t know,” said Anne thinking, “that place has so many memories from growing up, I want to make my own.”

“That’s fine,” nodded Remus.

“Do you know how much your parents left you?” asked Sirius.

“Well no,” Anne admitted, “but I know it’s a lot.”

Remus handed her a slip of parchment.

“You’re of age,” said Sirius, “it’s all yours.”

Anne turned over the piece of parchment.

That was a lot of numbers. Twenty-six million galleons, twelve sickles and fifteen knuts to be exact.

“Are you sure?” asked Anne.

“That’s the current balance in the Anne Potter vault,” nodded Remus.

“And that’s only half of it,” added Sirius, “the other half of the money is in the main family vault which is Harry’s.”

She could buy a thousand houses or fifty large estates with the money in that account.

“So where do you want to move to?” asked Sirius grinning.

“Um well I need to talk to Irwin,” Anne said, “but Wales is a beautiful country.”

“I need to go ring Irwin,” Anne said getting up from the table.

“Come on Livi,” said Anne taking Livi’s hand and they walked up to Anne’s room and then they both sat down on her bed.

“Irwin!” Anne called as she pulled out one of her mirrors.

“Hey there my beautiful goddess,” beamed Irwin, “miss me already?”

“Hi Irwin!” waved Olivia.

“If isn’t my little fairy princess?” asked Irwin beaming at her.

“We’ve got a few things we need to talk about.”

“Wedding talk?” asked Irwin.

“Kind of,” Anne shrugged, “I’m thinking we need to get a house.”

“Sounds great,” nodded Irwin, “but we’re seventeen, where do we get the money for a house?”

“Well ive come of age and inherited my half of the Potter fortune, which according to this piece of parchment contains about twenty six million galleons.”

“If people ask,” chuckled Irwin, “I loved you before I knew you were that rich.”

“I know that,” said Anne shaking her head.

“Any ideas on location?”

“Wales?” suggested Anne.

“Oh Mum will be pleased, Wales works for me.”

“Great,” nodded Anne, “theres one more thing.”

“My ears are all yours.”

“How would you feel about us adopting Livi?” asked Anne worried that he might say no.

Irwin looked confused for a moment.

“Wait a sec,” said Irwin, “I thought we already had!”

“We need to fill in the paperwork,” Anne pointed out.

“Paperwork, shmaperwork,” said Irwin, “who cares? I’m going to move in with a beautiful goddess and a fairy princess within the next five months!”

“I’ll get in touch with Percy,” said Anne, “if anyone can speed up the adoption process he can.”

Olivia’s eyes lit up like stars, for the first time in her life, she had the possibility of a proper family with a mum and a dad.