Francis had forgotten how tiring having a new human being could be. It wasn’t as if he was new to this game, he’d been a father first to his late wife’s son, Thomas, and then by blood the first time with Ambrose. He had been a few weeks from his 30th birthday, and with Tim he’d only been 32. He was now 46, which in wizard terms wasn’t ancient, but enough of a difference. Francis was adjusted to life with teenage boys, or young men, if he considered Ambrose would not be returning to Hogwarts in September.

He and Ambrose were fresh from the Gringotts mine carts, having taken a trip to the Pepper family vault. The younger Pepper had just set up a proper account of sorts, ready for his new employment. Francis had withdrawn an amount to help pay for upcoming wedding costs and also yet more things for growing mini-humans and exhausted wives-to-be.

“It’ll go further,” Francis told Ambrose, “for the time you’re living with us, but the moment you move out you’ll never see your vault so bare. Best use the time now to save as much as you can, help your future self.” He hoped the advice wasn’t going in one ear and out the other of the future beast handler apprentice. “We’ll talk about chipping in for the floo powder until you’ve passed your test.”

Francis glanced from Ambrose as they walked steadily down the long bank hall. His eyes caught sight of a familiar face who he hadn’t seen for a while. “Gosh, think that’s Sandy Misslethorpe,” he said to Ambrose, nudging him to look up and look too. Catching the other wizard’s eye he raised a hand in greeting and smiled. “It is, fancy running into you here.” The three wizards drew together out of the main thoroughfare below the tall goblin desks.

“How are you doing? We were just here setting Ambrose up, I don’t suppose you’ve seen each other for a while - not since one of my brother’s gatherings?”[1]

1.	The Peppers have a gathering every summer and host it in Monty’s back garden. Up to you if Sandy was there last year: The Great British Summer but he’s invited to Francis and Gabrielle’s wedding in July. Maybe they met when Claire was in Spell Damage if not before?

"Francis!" Sandy was happy to see him. "And Ambrose. How lovely to see you both." Sandy was sure Ambrose was tiny last year. He was looking grown up. "I am doing very well thank you." Sandy replied. "Needs must when you run a business." He did not want to say exactly why he was here. It was private to Witch Weekly. "I have not seen your brother since the Leaky Cauldron." Sandy said. He had looked after people burned and hurt. "I trust you are all doing a lot better now. Of course! Congratulations on your new arrival." Sandy remembered. "You are a big brother!" Sandy said to Ambrose.

Ambrose felt like he’d inched onto the first rung of adulthood. He had a month to go until he found out how awful his OWLs were, and he had much else on his mind. Going to Gringotts to set up his own accounts for his Ministry wages had felt daunting, but a right of passage. He was glad his dad was around to back him up with the goblins. They were odd looking people and Ambrose had always been a little bit apprehensive around them.

The wizarding community being as it was (tiny, close-knit and often inbred) any time he was in London with his father they invariably ran into one or more people who wanted to stop and chat, or even worse, his father wanted to chat. If Ambrose was lucky, it was someone interesting but his father also kept some really geeky friends. Comparatively, if Ambrose was out with his uncle Octavius, or rather Monty as he was now insisting on being called since his time-turner incident, they would run into all manner of really odd people who were intriguing and surprising.

“I have not seen your brother since the Leaky Cauldron.” Ambrose nodded, remembering that his dad’s friend Sandy was a healer as well as owning something… Ambrose forgot which magazine it was. One he didn’t read. Uncle Monty had spent some time in St Mungo’s after the attack. Ambrose was glad they had arrested the man responsible. He’d not been born, but he had been one of the usher’s at his dad’s wedding. Well, first wedding. He had to go get measured for something to wear for the wedding next month after they were done at the bank.

“Congratulations on your new arrival. You are a big brother!”
“Yes,” Ambrose replied a little meekly. It was daunting to be a big brother to something so tiny. Babies cried, smelled odd and good Merlin, Ambrose didn’t want to think about nappies. He would muck out a whole yard of winged horses than change those. He and Tim had been checking out anti-smell charms, though as both were still under the trace until Ambrose’s 17th birthday in September, they had to manage with clothes pegs.

“I was too young to remember Tim being really little, so Amelia’s a bit of a learning curve. She’s lovely though.” He blushed, a humble big brother. He felt awfully grown up. “We just hope she’s got her mum’s good looks rather than dad’s.” Ambrose joked.

Sandy laughed. "I am sure she has the best of both. I can see your father in you too." He smiled at Ambrose. "No bad thing. Amelia is a nice name. Is she named after someone?" Sandy was a dad but he did not talk about them. He was divorced. His kid was Ambrose's age. "How is Gabrielle? Are you all getting any sleep?"

“She’s named after those on both sides,” Francis replied, deciding to go into detail would be unnecessary given they were all blokes. The significance of the names of daughters was something witches tended to be concerned most about. Ambrose’s middle name, Augustus was a family name, as was Francis’, Albert. It was more of a hat-tip on the Pepper side.

“Gabrielle’s doing well, absolutely overjoyed to be a mother. Suits her.” Francis smiled, happy about it all. “Should have done it sooner. You’ll see when we get married, more beautiful than ever.” Francis rocked gently forward and back on his feet, proud of his wife-to-be and very much in love. “Amelia’s the cutest thing, she’ll steal the show at the wedding, and rightfully so.” He glanced to Ambrose and gave his eldest a smile that hopefully conveyed that it did not change his love for his sons.

“Did I read you’ve taken something on at the hospital?” Francis asked, looking back to Sandy. When Claire was in St Mungo’s he would see Sandy regularly when visiting, because Sandy worked on the same floor. Since her death there’d only been reason to go to St Mungo’s after the Leaky Cauldron incident and then when Gabrielle discovered she was pregnant, although she’d favoured Muggle doctors.

"Yes. Yes I have." Sandy said. "Deputy Head Healer. I hope it is the right choice." He swallowed. "I have my attention fully occupied with work. I am not on the wards so much." He told Francis. "But I do not have a family to occupy my time." He smiled. "I am very glad to hear you are all happy. And Gabrielle is well. Are wedding plans going to plan?"

“Of course,” Ambrose replied politely, “Gabrielle runs a Government Department, so juggling a newborn baby with wedding planning is a walk in the park.” He gave his father a smile that suggested it wasn’t entirely, and Francis returned it with a raised eyebrow that this was a bold suggestion.

“We’re just off to get Ambrose measured for the day.” Francis agreed, “And, as well as it can be in the circumstances. Amongst family and friends.” Gosh his father could be rather sweet and mild with people, Ambrose thought. He and Tim were awfully similar, whereas Ambrose took after his late mother far more.

“Hopefully see you at the wedding, rather than at work.” Ambrose said, rather excited about what was going on in his life than continual discussion about the wedding and Amelia. “I’m starting as an apprentice beast handler.” Ambrose told Sandy proudly, broadening his shoulders and smiling.

"That is very good news." Sandy said. "You must be very excited Ambrose. And you must be very proud." Sandy smiled. "Are you seventeen already Ambrose? How did your NEWTs go?" Sandy asked. He must have got confused how old Ambrose was. "That is quite the risky job. I hope I do not see you in the hospital too much."

“Hopefully see you at the wedding, rather than at work.”
“Uh, yes.” Francis added to his son’s bright statement. As much as Ambrose was bursting to tell everyone about his new job, Francis was inwardly worried he’d hurt himself, but was trying hard not to sway Ambrose’s enthusiasm for a worthy career.

“… you must be very proud.” Sandy said to Francis, who gave a smile and a nod, hoping the knot in his stomach would eventually ease. Ambrose in the field made him as nervous as the wedding.
“I hope he is not in hospital at all,” Francis replied a little more firmly this time. “It’ll be a while to train up as an apprentice. What with him being younger. Won’t find out about OWLs for another month, will you?”

“No…” Ambrose replied, taking his father’s prompting. “Fingers crossed though.” He gave an uneasy smile and actually crossed his fingers in his pockets. He had a feeling he’d be getting no more danger than paper cuts for a while. “I don’t think dragons need me to write essays on the orbit of Mercury, though.” Ambrose added, feeling bold in the presence of another adult who was showing interest in him. “I hope I’ve done alright, s’what I mean.” He gave his father a bashful smile. “You got lots of OWLs right, Sandy, you’re a healer?” Ambrose asked, “You’d want a healer to have all the OWLs.”

"Lots of OWLs Ambrose." Sandy agreed. "And NEWTs. You want a healer to have all of those more than OWLs." He smiled at the young man. "But exams are not the only way to measure skill and intelligence. If you can make a dragon happy it does not matter what you got in your exams. It matters that we are not burned to a crisp because of you." Sandy hoped this made Ambrose feel better.

"I am glad to see you both." Sandy said. "But I must not delay you. Also I must get on." He would see them at he wedding. He hoped he did not see Ambrose in hospital!

END