Three dollars and some change

This post is rather Harry Potter heavy. FYI.

Firstly, some blather about Inevitable. I've got 10 kb of the next chapter written, which makes more sense when you know that adds up to 1,500 words. It's got a whole hell of a lot of stuff happening, and we'll dart back and forth between Hogwarts and St. Louis, in an interesting way. It's going to be a long chapter and I can probably get it out by Friday... I hope. We'll see.

But anyway, let's play a rousing round of "Guess who the mean author sets in her sights in this chapter!"

[Poll #726557]

I'm a mean, mean author. But, in my defence, I can say that this round of character, er, "development" is vital to the plot and gives our heroes the important clue to answer not one, not two, but two and a half questions that have been plaguing them in the story, and will help them move on.

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First two set years after the end of the books, last two set "back in the day". My fave is the second.

Title: By Hand
Characters: Molly

Molly sat in the darkness of a single candle, waiting. Arthur would be home soon. Once, when the house was full of nine people, Molly craved silence. Now, with only Ginny and Ron home during the holidays, the silence settled into her bones in the night, leaving her wishing for what had once been.

Shaking her head at her introspection, Molly picked up her sewing. Bill and Fleur had told her there was another Weasley on the way. For this new baby, Molly sat up in the dark, stitching by hand, as she had for each of her own children.

Title: Name Change
Characters: Ron, mysterious witch

"We should get married," Ron said, slurring his words a bit.

His drinking partner giggled. "We can't get married."

"Why not?" Ron carefully poured another round of firewhiskey, emptying the bottle into her glass. "We're adults, right? Fought in the war and all that? You like me!"

"Yes, but--"

"And!" Ron exclaimed, lifting his glass, "You like my butt."

The giggling turned into a full-blown laugh. "I'm not changing my last name to Weasley, you berk! Got my career to think about, independent woman and all that."

Ron shrugged. "I can live with being Ronald Tonks. What about it?"

Title: London Calling
Characters: James, Lily

James stared at the table. "Lily?"

His pregnant wife looked up. "Yes?"

"About the table setting..."

Lily maneuvered over. "Do you like it? I got it in London."

"It's..." Hideous was what came to mind.

Lily stared at him with wide green eyes for a minute before she grinned. "It's interesting, I know," she said, hugging him.

The baby kicked hard enough between them for James to feel it. "I liked it," Lily continued. "It's kitsch."

James frowned. "Is that muggle for 'bloody awful'?"

The baby kicked again. "Good boy," Lily said to her stomach. "Your father has no taste."

Title: Value
Characters: Lily, baby!Harry

Lily stared down at her tiny son, green eyes closed in sleep. Carefully, she lifted the child into her arms.

When Lily was a girl, she'd wished her family had been rich, able to afford nice dresses and all sorts of toys and books.

She hadn't known, what it was to be a mother. A sword hung over their heads, hovering, waiting to fall on her precious, tiny boy.

It wasn't until she'd held Harry for the first time that she had realized exactly how little value money or power held for her any more.

All that mattered was love.