jmsoftball9: I think people will always beat around the bush with their feelings, and much more often then you'd think… First of all, it's already very hard to determine your own feelings, there's just never a guarantee or a clear answer to what it is you're feeling, or for how long you'll feel that way… Adding the uncertainty of what the other person must be feeling, if he or she feels the same… or not… It's just so easy to get hurt, and people sometimes prefer to suffer in silence instead of making a potential fool out of themselves… afraid of losing their self-respect in addition to have their heart broken… But then again, these comments don't really have anything to do with the story, but I was intrigued by your review, so I annoyingly decided to give my opinion…
Ravenclaw's heir: In the first chapters, they were both around twenty… So now, more then seven years later, I'd say they're both around 28…
down2earthangl85: Check 'Prologue', it's Firelight, starring one of the greatest actresses all time: Sophie Marceau
Muirnin: Oops, I did it again… Sorry!
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Chapter 19
Later that morning, Hermione arrived at the classroom carrying a tray with tea… The spectacle she encountered there aggravated her.
Lily was clinging to her father's neck. She didn't want to let go, while he was pleading to her: "Lily, you promised… Please, don't…" Seeing Hermione, he turned to her: "It's too hard… This isn't working…"
Hermione showed no mercy for his weakness: "She's just taking advantage of the situation, that's all…"
Mr. Potter straightened at that, lifting Lily, who still was hanging on tightly, even more form the ground: "Can't a father care for his child as he wishes?"
Hermione showed no exasperation, but said firmly: "Care for her all you wish, sir, but try to avoid pitying her…"
The remark made him turn away from her, and he addressed his daughter again, his voice soft but firm: "Lily! Please?"
Lily didn't say anything when she slowly let her arms loosen the grip on her father. After helping her to the ground, Mr. Potter hesitantly headed for the door: "You'll be alright, then?"
Lily just spat out bitterly: "You don't care either way… Go ahead and go then! You don't care…"
A pained expression came over Mr. Potter's face, but to Hermione's relief, he strode from the room, not turning back anymore. Closing and locking the door behind him, Hermione turned towards Lily, who had stubbornly again taken her place at the fireplace, her arms crossed.
"Now it's just you and me again…"
Ignoring the look of rage that passed on Lily's face, Hermione resigned herself to another test of wills like the one yesterday afternoon… Appearing unperturbed, she again set to making more cards… It seemed to be a good method to pique Lily's curiosity…
*
Harry wasn't in the mood to entertain guests, so he was glad Ginny had invited Neville to come visit her at work. He knew Ginny was very proud of her work, and he couldn't blame her for being enthusiastic about helping people. Though he was thorn between wanting to know what had happened last night between Neville and Miss Granger, he tried to tell himself it wasn't any of his business.
But excuses kept flying through his head: he had to know what was going on! He had a right to know if he was going to have courtship happening under his roof! And what about when they'd leave for America? Who was going to teach Lily? And why would Neville want to marry her anyway? He had only met her for a few moments? How could he possibly have lost his heart during that time? And she, why would she want to marry, when…
Shaking his head, he walked around his study, aggravated. Picking up a random book, he thought about flinging it through the room, like he had seen other wizards and witches do in a moment of frustration. Gazing at the object in his hands, though, he couldn't help but feel foolish even contemplating throwing a childish tantrum…
At the precise moment he put down the book sheepishly, an owl pecked the window of his study. Recognising the Weasley family owl, Harry hurried to let the animal in, receiving a grateful peck from the bird. Taking the letter, Harry dismissed the owl, sending it to his kitchens for a snack.
Opening the folded parchment, he recognised Luna's delicate handwriting.
Dear Harry,
Before you worry yourself, Ronald and I are in excellent health, and so are our children, bless The Goddess. We do find ourselves hoping you and Lily are too, although from Ginevra's most recent writings, we can deduct you both are.
Coming Thursday is Halloween as you should very well know. And Ronald and I agree that it would be best not to leave you alone in that big mansion of yours. Consequently, you can expect us and the children coming over Wednesday night. As you probably receive this note Friday, I apologise for the short notice, but it couldn't be helped.
Just so you know, Mama Molly is plotting to invite herself as well, and you do know what this means?
Consider yourself a warned man, Harry Potter!
With great affection,
Mrs. Ronald Weasley
Harry shook his head at the strange letter. Not that he wasn't used to this change of casual greetings, to formal endings, from Luna. And Ron inviting himself wasn't unusual either. Harry wasn't as smooth of a host as he sometimes wished, and he never remembered to renew the standing invitation to his home for his best friend… Ron was always welcome, and the House Eves loved the Weasleys and the extra work their visits caused.
The fact that Mrs. Weasley was almost certainly coming over too, meant the world to him. Even though he'd be subjected to a few days under Molly's watchful eye and constant hints about her unmarried daughter living there with him, couldn't erase the fact that he knew Molly coming for Halloween signified for certain that she considered him as one of her own.
Halloween would be a real family affair this year…
At this thought Harry's heart skipped a beat: a family affair! Miss Granger was going to be there, too!
This caused him more distress than the knowledge that Molly was probably going to take advantage of the situation and plan an All Saints ball at his mansion, the first of November…
Searching his mind frantically, he calculated the risk of having his secret bond to Miss Granger being exposed. Only Ron knew… Well, hopefully he had long since forgotten the name of Lily's real mother, Harry had only mentioned it in passing…
And if Ginny hadn't noticed anything strange yet, surly Molly wouldn't either?
And Miss Granger would never do anything to compromise him, so that left him safe, wouldn't it?
Before his worrying mind could remind him of the possibility that Miss Granger could've accepted Neville's offer, another owl asked its way into Harry's study. Well, for the two minute warning he got… This time it was indeed from Molly…
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