Glenda was half way through her coffee before her brain finally rebooted, "oh where are my manners, I'm sorry but I just got a bit overawed there, I'm Glenda Bulstrode."
Dan was laughing, "don't worry Glenda, you should see the effect Harry has on the witches just walking down Diagon Alley, Hermione's almost had to draw her wand a couple of times."
"I thought they were after you dad," answered Hermione
"No, that was just the wizards," chipped in Harry drawing laughter from all the table and Glenda finally got to say what she needed to.
"I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for what you did for my daughter, Millicent told me they wouldn't have made it if you hadn't turned up and got them out of there. For that the Bulstrode family owes you a debt that can never be repaid."
Harry again took the tearful witches hand, "if there is any debt then it is from the Potters to your daughter, her actions that night did us a great service and, should you ever need anything you only have to ask."
Glenda could feel the sincerity pouring out this young wizard as her daughter made her way over, "mum, this is Joan who just might challenge her mother as the smartest witch I know."
Watching Millicent's interactions with this young girl was yet another whole new side to her daughter that hadn't been revealed before, her head was already spinning and she'd been forewarned by Millicent that the shopping experience would have that effect on her, perhaps she needed something stronger than coffee.
Emma recognised the look, "hi Glenda I'm Emma, and don't worry I know exactly how you feel. The first time we met Harry he informed us he was marrying our daughter and then we had to fight our way out the bank, Dan still has that goblin's sword hanging on our wall."
Glenda was beginning to get her head round the problem she was having, she was looking at this situation as a pureblood. This was where a lord who you owed a life debt to would have had you kissing their boots while they deliberated over what they wanted, these people were..?
Just people didn't sound right for this extraordinary group but it was the best she could come up with, little did she know that she would have made Lord Harry James Potter's day with that sentiment.
Glenda had tears running down her cheeks, the day had been one revelation after another but nothing had prepared her for the sight that was before her eyes, this Italian genius of a robe maker had surpassed any and all expectations she had. Her daughter, Millicent Bulstrode, was beautiful and the proud mother couldn't contain her tears of wonder and joy.
They'd came in earlier and Hermione had told the woman that Millicent was going to become the youngest ever recipient of the Order of Merlin, first class, and she plus her mother needed something to match the occasion. Glenda wasn't fooled, it was the Potter name that had the whole shop buzzing round them rather than any award.
They had then went to other shops, the muggle side was out of this world, and she'd even had her hair 'styled' but it was their return to the dress shop that found Glenda having to sit down as her wobbly knees threatened to give way.
The garment was almost a combination of a dress and a robe, ivory in colour and made of the finest silk. It had long sleeves but was cut so you could see part of her shoulders and low enough at the front to display some cleavage. It clung to her bust, waist and hips, beautifully emphasising her figure before continuing on down to her ankles with a slit up the side to aid walking as the garment clung to her legs. The green trim around her neckline sparkled as she moved and on closer inspection was discovered to be emeralds.
Glenda had never seen anything so fine in all her life, it was aristocratic without being ostentatious and made Millicent look elegant and refined. Glenda was then dragged into a changing room where her robe matched her daughters in colour and material but was cut more in keeping with her age, shape and station as mother of the award winner.
Both Bulstrode women stood together in front of a mirror and desperately wanted to hug each other but were afraid to mark these wonderful clothes, little Joan Potter broke the ice.
She handed over a long velvet box, "aunt Millicent you look beautiful, this is for you."
She bent and kissed the girl before opening the box to find a delicate white gold bracelet that was encrusted with emeralds, her hand was shaking so much that Emma had to put it on the girl's wrist.
"Lady Potter, you haven't let me pay for a single thing all day, this is too much!" moaned an amazed Glenda.
"It's still Hermione and it's not too much, and we'll all be there tomorrow night clapping louder than anyone else."
Hermione hugged Millicent; "you know Ron's going to flip when he sees you in that?" The girl's nervous laughter indicated that she was still unsure of the Hermione / Ron dynamic so Mrs Potter tried to put her mind at ease, "the only reason I used to argue with the lazy git is because I could see there was a good wizard in there somewhere, it just needed the right witch to bring it out and I'm pleased he found her."
Hermione could see the beginning of tears in Millicent's eyes so quantified her statement, "I still say your much too good for him though." This had them laughing as Millicent lost the last of her fears while the dress was pronounced finished.
....
Join my P*atreon for early access to 60+ chapters ahead of the public release.
Link : pa*treon.com/thebookaddict (Remove the *)
Free members can get 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.