The Importance of Being Different

Hermione, Anne, Irwin, Harry and Ron were all sat around the kitchen table at 12 Grimmauld Place. Hermione’s parents would be landing in two hours and they were all having a quick breakfast before heading to the airport to welcome them.

“So, what are you guys planning on doing?” asked Hermione.

“NEWTs,” said Anne and Irwin simultaneously.

“They still having those?” asked Ron as he buttered a slice of toast.

“Well most people are waiting till next year but for those who want to take them, they are being held in the Ministry.”

“Since when?” stammered Hermione.

“Since yesterday,” shrugged Irwin, “they’re in March.”

“March!” Hermione screamed, “but they’re not meant to be till May!”

“Yeah well things aren’t normal at the moment Hermione,” Harry pointed out.

“March is so soon though,” sighed Anne, “we’ll never be ready on time.”

“You were born bloody ready,” said Ron.

“Not to mention,” said Harry, “you spent the last five months reading and rereading your textbooks.”

“Besides,” said Irwin, putting an arm around her shoulder, “they wouldn’t dare fail you, you killed Voldemort.”

Anne sighed slightly as she took a quick bite from her toast.

“What you two doing?” asked Irwin looking at Harry and Hermione.

“We’ve been approached by the Auror office,” said Harry beaming.

“You mean Kingsley?” asked Irwin.

“Well yeah,” shrugged Ron.

“That’s still great,” said Anne.

“And I’m sure the moment you get eight Outstanding NEWTs the Department of Education will be jumping over fences to get you,” chuckled Irwin kissing her on the head.

“You lot ready?” asked Mr Weasley coming into the kitchen wearing a muggle coat.

“Yep,” said Ron finishing off his toast.

“I cant believe they’re nearly here,” said Hermione getting up from the table.

“Come on Hermione,” chuckled Harry as Ron gave Hermione a quick kiss, “let’s go introduce your parents to your boyfriend.”

Anne and Irwin got into the car with Remus, Tonks and Teddy. The others all got into the Weasley car and both cars drove off to Heathrow airport. The Muggleborn parents were meeting their children there, they had rung around with flight details the day before.

They got to Heathrow with an hour to spare and got the banners out of the back of the car.

Sirius and Arthur were holding up a massive banner which read Welcome Home from Aussieland which had kangaroos and koalas painted all over it.

The Muggleborn children’s familys came to join them under the banner and waited anxiously for their children. They hadn’t seen them in five months and hadn’t even known what country they’d been in. All they had known was that their kids had needed their passports and that they were safe.

Anne held hands with Olivia whilst they waited for them to come through customs.

Olivia was slightly nervous that were quite so many people here, but she was happy, because Anne was back, and she was never leaving again.

At half past ten, the group of ten muggleborns including Brenda Potger, her aunt and uncle and Mr and Mrs Granger came streaming through the customs gate.

They were looking around frantically for their families but then they saw the huge multi coloured banner.

“Mum!” screamed Hermione running over to her parents, “Dad!”

“Hermione,” said Mr Granger giving her the biggest hug he had ever seen.

“Anne!” called Brenda waving frantically as she pulled through two large suitcases.

“So you lot defeated Voldemort then?” she asked as she gave Anne and Irwin a hug.

“Yep, no more trouble from him,” chuckled Irwin.

“And the best part is,” said Harry, “you can still take your OWLs, and they’re in March.”

Brenda’s jaw dropped open.

“He’s joking,” said Brenda laughing nervously, “right?”

“I’m afraid not Brenda,” said Irwin laughing slightly.

“Well bugger that,” muttered Brenda.

“You glad to be home though?” asked Anne.

“Never been happier in my life,” beamed Brenda.

“We’d best get you home Brenda,” said Keith, “oh by the way Anne, expect something in the post over the next few days.”

Anne looked at Keith slightly confused as the Potgers left the airport.

Irwin shrugged at her and they all headed back from the airport.

“Annie, Mum and Dad really want to see you today,” said Irwin when they got back from the airport.

“Um I kind of promised I’d hang out with Livi,” Anne muttered.

Olivia had been very clingy since Anne had come back, hardly ever letting go of her hand and insisting on still sharing a room with her even though Olivia had been sleeping on her own for five months whilst Anne had been away.

“Hey Livi,” said Irwin crouching down to her height, “want to meet Averett and Aislynn?”

Olivia nodded enthusiastically she had heard a lot about them.

“Scamander Hollow it is then,” beamed Irwin as they headed over to the fireplace in the kitchen.

“Take hold of my hand and don’t let go ok?” asked Anne.

Olivia nodded, she had already flu travelled a few times before.

Anne stepped into the fireplace with Olivia and took some flu powder.

“Scamander Hollow,” Anne called clearly dropping the powder into the flames.

“Anne!” screamed Aislynn.

“Woah there Ais,” said Anne as she stepped out of the fire.

“You beat lord Voldemort,” said Averett, “that’s so cool!”

“Is it true that you stabbed him in the heart with a glass dagger?” asked Averett.

“And here was I thinking Tom didn’t have a heart,” chuckled Irwin as he stepped out of the fire.

“Livi,” said Anne gently as Olivia hid behind her, “this is Averett and Aislynn Irwin’s little brother and sister.”

“Hi!” beamed Averett waving, “want to meet my grindylow?”

“I don’t think so Av,” chuckled Irwin, “I’d like to see it though.”

Averett shrugged and raced up to his bedroom Irwin only a few steps behind him.

“Hello Anne,” said Newt beaming as he came into the living room, “Gwen and Landon need to talk to you and Irwin about something.”

“Thanks Newt,” Anne beamed as Newt went to go check on his animals.

Aislynn was looking at Olivia confused, didn’t Olivia like her?

“Aislynn, would you like to show Livi your art?”

Olivia seemed slightly nervous and tried to hide even further behind Anne.

“I’ll come with you,” Anne added.

Aislynn had held her little hand out for Olivia’s and Olivia took it gingerly.

Aislynn led Anne and Olivia up to her room talking about how excited she was about next year.

“I’m going to be eleven next month,” she explained proudly, “I want to be a Ravenclaw.”

“Like Anne, Irwin and Julian?” asked Olivia.

“Yep,” said Aislynn as they arrived in her room.

Last time Anne had been in here the walls had been scattered with Aislynns drawings, but now the walls had been painted by Aislynn with several large murals.

The first mural took up the emptiest wall over her bed and was a portrait of the Scamander family, including her granny Tina who had died three years ago. They were all in the garden outside the house and were all laughing and smiling.

Newt and Tina were sat on a picnic blanket under a large tree and Gwen was unpacking the basket. Averett was climbing the tree to try and reach a bird’s nest, Rolf was helping his brother climb the tree and had his hands held out for the bird’s nest so he could put it down safely. Irwin was at the edge of the mural and was dipping his toes into the lake, Aislynn was lying next to him and had making a flower garland whilst she talked to Landon who was lying in the grass next to her.

The other murals weren’t as big because the walls had things on them. One of the walls was mostly windows, another wall had a large number of bookcases, and the fourth wall was the built in wardrobe.

The wall with the windows facing out over the garden, was painted with different scenes in the garden in different scenes. One section was the big oak tree in autumn when the leaves began to change colour, another section was the hill covered in snow during the winter, one of the sections was a smaller less detailed version of the family picnic scene over her bed and the final section was of Averett and Aislynn playing in the lake with Rolf and Irwin.

The wall with the bookcases was different again. This final wall had Aislynn’s artistic representation of photos of her friends and family. One of the paintings was of a very nervous seven-year-old Irwin who was gingerly trying to hold a new-born Aislynn and Rolf was showing him how to hold her properly. Another picture was of Aislynn when she was five in the kitchen with Tina and Gwen, making biscuits.

Anne noticed that in the pride of place and the biggest painting of all on this wall was a picture of Anne and Aislynn. The photo had probably been taken a few years ago, as Aislynn looked about eight. She was jabbering away to Anne as Anne patiently brushed out Aislynn’s hair into two little plaits.

“Do you like it?” asked Aislynn biting her lip slightly.

“I love it Ais,” said Anne giving her a huge hug, “you are a wonderful artist.”

“Thanks Anne,” she beamed.

“Anne dear,” said Landon from the doorway, “Gwen and I need to talk to you and Irwin.”

Olivia walked back to Anne to retake her hand.

“I’m afraid this is a private conversation sweetheart,” said Landon, “why don’t you play with Ais?”

Olivia seemed slightly close to tears, she didn’t want Anne to leave her again.

“I’ll just be downstairs Livi,” said Anne giving her a hug.

Olivia nodded and Anne left the room and Landon shut the door.

“That kid’s really attached to you,” said Landon as they walked downstairs.

“Don’t I know it,” muttered Anne as they headed downstairs.

“So whats up?” asked Irwin as he sat down on top of the kitchen table.

“We need to talk about your wedding,” said Gwen.

“Oh,” muttered Anne pulling at the end of one of her plaits as she sat down.

“We know the agreement was after Voldemort was gone,” said Gwen.

“And after your exams,” nodded Landon.

“But the exams are in four months.”

“Don’t remind me,” groaned Irwin, as he swung his legs back and forth.

“How do you feel about an April wedding?” asked Gwen.

“So soon?” stammered Anne.

“Don’t you want to marry me?” chuckled Irwin.

“No its not that,” she stammered, “its just they take an awful lot of organzing.”

“Which is why we’re sitting you two down now,” said Gwen.

“We know you’re going to be studying a lot, but we think you should have a big wedding.”

“Celebrate the end of the war,” nodded Landon, “but you two don’t have to do any work.”

“Our wedding present to you two is the wedding,” beamed Gwen.

“What?” asked Irwin confused.

“The flowers, catering, dresses,” she nodded.

“We are going to plan and pay for everything,” said Landon.

“You’re joking,” said Irwin.

“Every choice is going by you two, but the brunt of the planning falls onto us,” said Gwen.

“I know you’re not out daughter Anne,” said Landon as he reached for her hand, “but you might as well be, and we can’t wait to welcome you into our family officially.”

Anne looked up from her shoes and Landon pulled her in for a hug.

“So, April?” asked Gwen smiling.

“Yes!” said Anne and Irwin beaming.

“How about April fifth?” asked Gwen getting out a notebook.

“Well I’d never be able to forget our anniversary if it’s my birthday, will I?” asked Irwin.

Anne nodded in agreement.

“One decision down,” said Gwen jotting that down.

“Five hundred and fifty-five to go,” chuckled Landon who had now been through all this twice, once for Mary and then for Gwen.

“Oh,” said Gwen, “do you want a muggle wedding dress or formal robes?”

“Wedding dresses are gorgeous,” admitted Anne.

“Correct answer,” said Gwen jotting that down too.

“How many bridesmaids?”

“Um two,” said Anne.

“Let’s leave the ladies to it,” said Landon as Irwin got down from the table and they both left the kitchen.