Albus Potter and the Prophesied Year

Ch 57 A Vacation, and Honor Guard Practices (2026)

Ginny was sitting on the beach at Resort Cleo, under a big beach umbrella. Minerva was sitting next to her, and Gregory was putting sand in a bucket and dumping it out, looking at things he found in the sand, and generally having a good time. The sun was out, a gentle breeze was blowing, and in general the day was as perfect as these days could be. The smell of the sea, and the profusion of flowers on the island, a riot of joyous odors attacking the senses.

Harry was talking to a couple of Aurors who were guarding the island.

Minerva looked at her father and asked her mother, "Does father ever really relax?"

Ginny looked at her husband, a pensive look on her face. "Yes, he does, but it is hard for him to relax. He is a very kind hearted individual in a most difficult job, and he is worried about our safety and the safety of every Magi, of everybody actually."

"I know he practices with the Honor Guard, and before and after those practices he comes back worried," Minerva told her mother. "You adults try to keep the worry away from us children, but I know Roxanne is worried too. I would hate to be married to someone in a dangerous job. I want someone who comes home to dinner every night, with a nice simple safe job."

Minerva looked at her mother. "Is that wrong? To just want a nice ordinary life. You and father know all these important people, and are busy and important yourself, and I'd just like to be ordinary."

"There is nothing wrong with that," Ginny responded, pulling her daughter into a hug. "I do sometimes envy people who live ordinary lives, without all the excitement and danger we have had in our lives." Ginny thought some more. "Actually, I would be bored to death without some excitement, but I don't need the danger. I'm glad I am working as a sport's editor and reporter. To be absolutely honest with you, I am even enjoying some of the chaos that surrounds Lily. She is really good at reporting and writing, if you can keep her focused. You just have to put up with a little complaining and chaos to work with her."

"I don't like the chaos," Minerva mumbled, crawling on her mum's lap. "I want to marry a farmer or someone who works in a factory or has some boring job, and he and I can be boring together."

"I can accept that," Ginny responded. Every child was different, even before they were born. She wondered about Gregory. So far he had been a very good baby, an active boy, and from what her mother said a very smart one, but not as wild as some of the youngsters.

It only took four and then five pregnancies to have normal. Well, she was finished. She's popped out enough babies, and it was time for the next generation to procreate.

Harry came over to the blanket and umbrella where Ginny and Minerva were sitting. Minerva rose and motioned for her father to sit down. "We are on this magnificent beach, father, on vacation!" she implored her father, hands on her hips. "Sit next to mum and relax like normal people do when they are on vacation."

"Normal people also do some exciting sports type things, Minerva," Harry replied. "What do you want to do?"

"I enjoyed it when we went sailing on Orwant's boat," Minerva replied. "Well, until the end of the day when the wind picked up and the boat started to lean over and, Mr. Smith, Orwant, loved it, but I didn't like it when the boat came about fast and the sail flew from one side of the boat to the other and people were cranking on the ropes to make the boat go faster."

"The ropes on a boat are called lines, not ropes," Harry smiled and told his daughter.

"And right and left are port and starboard, I know," she sighed. "I like smooth sailing, not exciting sailing."