Authors' note: Thanks to everyone who keeps reading and reviewing. More fun at Brighton for the HP crew...Ethan gets "the talk" from Maddie's brothers...even RJ. As always please leave us a line or two at the end of the chapter to let us know what you think.
This chapter marks the end of their Brighton visit- the next one starts a few months after they're back- and gets more into the real life things that are going on.
"There you two are!" Hermione said. She'd been coming from upstairs into the sitting room.
"We're sorry Mum," Ethan said. "We were out there and we um… lost track of the time."
"I'm sure you did," Hermione shook her head. "Maddie when you get a chance I'd like a word. I have something I'd like to show you."
"Sure," Maddie blushed. "Let me go… change into something and I'll be right down."
Ethan watched her go and looked back at his mother. "We really didn't mean to make you worry." He said.
"Nick told us you two went off on the boat. If you'd been much later your father and Ron would have been out looking for you," Hermione said. "Ethan… are you and Maddie… are you two-"
"No Mum we're not," Ethan replied. "Maddie's already told me she wants to wait until she's married." He smiled. "I told her that was fine with me."
Hermione seemed to be taken aback for a moment then hugged her son. "You're so much like your father. You're so sweet just like he is."
"Like I always said, a chip off the old block," Ethan laughed. "I love her Mum. I'd do anything for her."
That almost made tears gather in Hermione's eyes but Maddie chose that moment to come back downstairs, dressed in pyjama bottoms and a t shirt. "Okay," she said softly. "Sorry about that."
"It's okay love," Hermione smiled at the young woman. "I just wanted to show you something I came across in the library- it's a book on Seers."
Maddie sent Ethan a smile over her shoulder as she followed his mother into the library and he headed upstairs to change.
"I thought we could look through it with your mother, if you like," Hermione smiled at her. "I knew I had something up there but I wasn't sure where- it gives details on how Seers in the past were able to keep the visions fresh in their heads for scrutiny and also some tips on keeping their cool in tough situations like you faced the other night."
Luna looked up as her daughter entered with Hermione. "I was getting worried about you sweetheart," she chastised gently but with a smile. "You and Ethan had fun out there?"
"Yes Mum," Maddie said.
Luna smiled. She knew Maddie probably didn't wish to discuss her outing with Ethan in front of Hermione.
"It certainly was a beautiful day," Luna said motioning for Maddie to sit down beside her.
"Yes it was," Maddie agreed. "Ethan let me drive the boat."
Hermione grinned. "With how much he loves to be out on the water, it's so hard for me to picture that scared little boy who used to be so frightened about the water."
Maddie laughed. "He acts as if he was born in it now." she blushed. "He's a very good teacher."
While Maddie, Hermione and Luna looked over the book, the three Weasley brothers stood outside Ethan's bedroom door.
Jon knocked on the door. "Open up, Potter. We know you're in there!"
Ethan opened the door and looked out. "Hey guys," he greeted them.
Jon, Josh and R.J. stood side-by-side, their arms crossed and stern expressions on their faces.
"Out pretty late, weren't you?" Josh asked coolly.
"We lost track of time," Ethan looked between the three of them. "Plus I was letting Maddie drive the boat and she wanted to go slow. She's never driven anything before."
"She's also never had a boyfriend before," R.J. pointed out, looking directly at Ethan.
Ethan crossed his arms too. "Do you think I'd use that to take advantage of her?" he suddenly realised why the three of them were there.
"I don't know, Ethan," Jon said walking around him. "Would you?"
"Never," Ethan said immediately.
"What are your intentions toward my big sister?" R.J. asked imitating Jon's stance.
Ethan stared at them. "Maddie's already made herself perfectly clear on what she will and won't do before she gets married," he replied. "She even asked me if I wanted to bother if I knew I wasn't going to... take her to bed before she got married. Know what I told her?"
"What?" Josh asked, his arms still folded.
"That I'd be crazy to let something like that stop me from being with her," Ethan replied. "She's an amazing person- I consider myself lucky that she's said she loves me as much as I love her."
Jon, Josh and R.J. exchanged looks. For the longest time, neither of them spoke.
"Okay then," Jon finally said. "That's...that's good to hear."
Ethan shook his head and suddenly grinned. "Did you think all three of you would have to go big brother on me?"
"Two of us anyway," Josh said looking at R.J.
"Age is nothing but a number," R.J. said finally breaking into a smile.
All four of them laughed. "I'm sure she appreciates the thought," Ethan said.
"Maybe you shouldn't tell her," Jon joked.
Josh shook his head. "Listen, Ethan. We're just looking out for Maddie...."
"Understandable," Ethan said. "I'll probably be the same way with any bloke Saffy brings home."
"Merlin help the bloke that Saffy brings home," R.J. said with a shudder.
Ethan laughed. "It'll be the guy against me, Dad and Nick."
"Mental note to self, never date Saffron Potter," R.J. muttered.
"You couldn't you idiot," Jon said. "Not if Ethan here marries our sister."
"I wasn't saying I was going to," R.J. said quickly. "I was just saying that I wouldn't want to put up with that kind of pressure..."
"Sure," Jon said with a grin.
"Shut it Jon," R.J. retorted.
"This morning it was the two of them picking on me," Josh whispered to Ethan. "Now they're fighting."
"Guess that's how it is having brothers aye?" Ethan laughed. "Sort of makes me glad I have sisters instead."
"You can take either of them if you like," Josh said laughing at his brothers' verbal sparring.
"You like that Hufflepuff girl, don't you?" Jon asked with a grin. "That one we saw you with when we picked you up at Kings' Cross. What was her name, R.J.? Was it Bonnie? Connie?"
"Connie- and I don't like her, not like that anyway." R.J. snapped.
"Nah he likes that girl in Gryffindor," Josh said. "What was it- Julie...Julia Winters or something? Maddie was talking about her."
"Her name isn't Julie. It's Juliet, Josh," R.J. corrected. "And I don't like her. We're just friends."
"Suuuure," Jon and Josh chorused together.
"I don't," R.J. said defensively. He started back for the stairs, but Josh and Jon weren't finished with him yet. They followed him with Ethan in tow.
"Go away," R.J. said walking into the sitting room where Luna was sitting with Maddie and Hermione. "Mum? Can you get these two wankers to leave me alone, please?"
Luna looked up and saw her twin sons grinning with Ethan behind them shaking his head. "What's wrong?"
"Ron Junior here has a girlfriend," Josh said before R.J. could get a word in edgewise. "Juliet Winters."
"Do you realise brother, dear," Jon asked putting an arm around R.J. "That if you two got married, she wouldn't have to change her monogram..."
"Mum," R.J. pleaded. "I'm not getting married. Maddie tell them that Juliet and I are just friends!"
"I thought her name was Julia," Maddie said in confusion.
"I thought so too," R.J. said. "But it's actually Juliet. Her mother's this big Shakespeare fan...."
"He knows an awful lot about his future wife, doesn't he?" Josh asked Jon.
"Shut up!" R.J. snapped. "You two are driving me mad!"
"Jon, Josh that's enough," Luna said. "Leave your brother alone."
"We were only trying to learn more about our future sister-in-law," Josh argued when he saw the look on Luna's face, he decided it might be a good idea to let this drop...for now. "Come on, Jon. Let's go and get some butterbeer."
"You're on," Jon said following him into the kitchen.
"They were only having a go at you, R.J.," Maddie told her younger brother who was sulking in a chair. "Don't take it so seriously."
"Yeah but just this morning they were arguing with each other and then everything's fine between them and they gang up on me," R.J. complained.
"After the three of you ganged up on me a few minutes ago,'" Ethan pointed out.
"Ganged up on you?" Maddie asked. "Whatever for?"
"Butterbeer sounds really good actually," R.J. made a hasty escape.
"Ethan?" Maddie asked. "What did my brothers do?"
"Just gave me the big brother talk," Ethan said. "No big deal."
"The big brother talk?" Maddie asked. "You mean they wanted to know what your intentions were toward me...something like that?"
Luna and Hermione tilted their heads and said "Awwww...."
"Mum that's not cute," Maddie flushed. "Ethan I'm so sorry I had no idea they'd do that."
"They were looking out for you," Luna said. "They might not have gone about it in the best way, but it is sweet."
Maddie shook her head. "But they know Ethan wouldn't do anything bad to me."
"They do," Luna said smiling at Ethan. "They just wanted to hear it for themselves. Don't be too hard on them, Madeline."
"They weren't that bad, Maddie," Ethan said.
"Are you sure?" Maddie asked.
"Yes," Ethan said smiling reassuringly at her. "And I think we all came to an understanding. So, no harm done."
"All right," Maddie sent him a shy smile.
Saffron walked into the room and plopped down beside her mother.
"I am so bored!" she said leaning back on the sofa.
"I'm sorry sweetheart," Hermione stroked her daughter's hair back.
"I wish I could go flying," Saffron said softly. "But I know I can't."
"I'm glad you're being mature about it," Hermione said.
"I'm trying," Saffron said smiling at her mother. "Did you want to go for a walk or something? Before dinner?"
"I'd love to," Hermione replied. "Maddie, feel free to keep that book if it's of any use to you all right?"
"Okay," Maddie said. "Thanks, Aunt Hermione."
Saffron grabbed her jacket by the door as Hermione did the same.
"Thanks for agreeing to come with me, Mum," Saffron said as they walked out onto the beach. "I've had about enough of playing exploding snap with Katie and Ashley."
"I'm always happy to spend time with you," Hermione replied. "You're my girl Saffy."
"We haven't had that much time together over the holiday," Saffron said apologetically.
"Everyone's been a bit busy haven't they?" Hermione asked. "You helping Uncle Ron beat your Dad with the sandcastles..."
"You don't think he's mad at me for that, do you?" Saffron interjected.
"Of course he isn't," Hermione said.
Saffron smiled. "I just felt bad because Uncle Ron and Caroline were all by themselves and Daddy was with Katie and Ashley. They needed my help a lot more than Dad did."
"You three built a lovely sand castle," Hermione grinned. "I think it was worth it to see the look on your Dad's face when you joined their team."
"That was great, wasn't it?" Saffron said with a laugh.
"I'll certainly never forget it," Hermione laughed as she bent over to retrieve a small white shell that was half buried in the sand.
"I really like it here," Saffron said looking out at the ocean. "You know what I've been doing almost every morning? I come out here and just look out at the ocean."
Hermione grinned. "I've done that too a few times. Your dad found me out here just a few days ago."
"Dad got up early?" Saffron asked amazed.
"Amazing but true," Hermione said, slipping the shell into her pocket.
"He's been spending a lot of time with Katie and Ashley," Saffron said quietly.
"He misses them," Hermione replied. "With Nick doing that new album and Julie facing the end of her school year we haven't seen them in a few months so he's making up for lost time." she put an arm around her daughter.
Saffron nodded. "He hasn't seen me since January either. And then I couldn't come home for Easter break because you were out of town..."
Hermione realised where this was all heading. "So you want to spend some time with your Dad, is that it?" she asked gently.
Saffron shrugged. "Don't tell him, Mum. I don't want him to spend time with me out of some sort of obligation..."
"Spending time with you is never an obligation for him Saffy," Hermione replied. "He loves you so much."
Saffron sighed. "Before I came downstairs, I was with Katie and Ashley playing another game of Exploding Snap and Dad came in and the two of them just took him over, Mum. I felt like I was in the way. He didn't even notice when I walked out."
Hermione stopped and pulled her daughter close for a hug. "I have an idea," she said.
"What?" Saffron asked.
"After dinner why don't you ask your dad to go somewhere tomorrow, just the two of you?" Hermione suggested. "I bet he'd jump at the chance to spend the day with you sweetheart."
"Yeah right," Saffron said. "It's not important, Mum. Let's just keep walking."
"I think you should," Hermione said. "You can go into town, go out on the boat, go down the beach somewhere and make your own sand castle..."
Harry came down the beach with Katie on his back and Ashley tugging on his hand.
"There you two are," Harry said. "Ron just ordered pizza..."
Saffron saw her father with her nieces and shook her head then took off running down the beach.
"Saffy!" Hermione called out, but Saffron was already gone.
"What's wrong with Auntie Saffy?" Katie asked.
Hermione looked at Harry. "She feels um..." she tried to think of a delicate way to phrase this in front of her granddaughters. "She wants to do stuff with you Harry."
"She can go out with us on the boat tomorrow!" Katie said excitedly. "Grandma, Grandpa said he was going to take us out tomorrow."
"He did, did he?" Hermione reached for her youngest granddaughter. "I think your Grandpa needs to go talk to your aunt right now."
"He does?" Katie asked. "But the pizza's going to be here any minute!"
"Come on girls," Hermione said. "Why don't you and I go back up to the house so Uncle Ron doesn't order the wrong type of pizza. You know how he likes those anchovies..."
"Ew anchovies are so gross," Ashley agreed. Hermione gave her husband a look as he headed down the beach where Saffron had disappeared.
Saffron was further down the beach throwing seashells back into the ocean. Tears were flowing down her cheeks when she heard her father's familiar voice behind her. She didn't say anything; just stood there with her back to him.
"Saffy," Harry slowed down. "Why did you run off back there?"
"It's not important," Saffron said throwing another shell into the ocean.
"Anything you do is important to me," Harry replied, catching her small fist in his. He saw the tears on her face and felt his heart break. "Why don't you tell me why you're crying?" he asked gently.
"I-I'm not crying," Saffron whimpered.
"Saffron," Harry said. "Come on you know you can tell me anything."
Saffron looked up at her father, but couldn't find the words to tell him how she was feeling.
"It's nothing," Saffron said wiping her tears away. "Really. You should get back, Dad. I'm just going to stay out here for awhile..."
"You're not staying out here alone," Harry replied.
"As if you'd notice," Saffron retorted before she could stop herself.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "I beg your pardon?" he asked.
"I'm away at school most of the year," Saffron began. "Christmas holiday at the Burrow, you spent all your time with Katie and Ashley. I couldn't come home for Easter break because both you and Mum were out of town. And now, we've been here and every single time I turn around, you're with them again, Dad! Every single time!"
Harry was speechless for a moment. "Saffy I'm sorry." he said. "I don't mean to spend all my time with them and not you. I thought you were having fun all on your own here and didn't need your old dad bugging you."
"Well you were wrong," Saffron said quietly. "I'd have been better off just staying at Hogwarts this summer."
"Saffron Grace," Harry replied. "You would not be better off at Hogwarts. You belong here with your family." he hugged her tightly. "I love you so much. You're my baby girl, whether or not you like me to call you that."
Saffron hugged him back. "You do?"
"Are you kidding?" Harry grinned at her. "I love spending time with you Saffy."
"You've spent all your free time with Katie and Ashley," Saffron argued. "A few minutes ago when we were all upstairs you...you even told them they were your f-favourite girls...."
"Of course I told them that," Harry said. "They are my favourite girls. But so are your Mum, and Julie. And you- always you Saffy."
Saffron gave him a weak smile.
"I'm sorry, Dad," she said hugging him again. "I just..."
"Its okay love," Harry replied. "I'm sorry that you felt neglected."
Saffron nodded. "I just felt left out and since I'm sharing a room with them, I have to keep hearing them go on and on about how much fun they're having with you, Dad. I know they don't get to see you that often, but neither do I.'"
"Okay," Harry said. "Tomorrow- I'll have Ethan take the girls on the boat and you and me will spend the whole day together. We'll do whatever you want to do."
"You don't have to," Saffron said, though she was secretly pleased to hear this. "I heard you promise Katie and Ashley."
"They might have more fun with Ethan," Harry grinned. "Maybe he can get Maddie to go out there with them. He'll have them all whipped around on there."
"You go just as fast," Saffron said genuinely laughing for the first time that evening. "You just tell Mum you go slow..."
"What she doesn't know doesn't hurt her right?" Harry poked his daughter in the side as they started to head back towards the house.
"Can I tell you something, Dad?" she asked him.
"Of course you can," Harry replied.
"I kind of like it when you call me your baby girl," she admitted. "Not when you say it in the middle of Kings Cross, of course. But I do like it."
Harry laughed loudly. "Just not in front of anyone else eh?" he scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
Saffron giggled. "Dad!"
"Would you rather be on a piggy back ride?" Harry teased her.
Saffron just kept laughing as Harry effortlessly carried her back toward the cottage.
"There we are," Harry said. "I like to see my girl laughing. My baby girl." he tickled her side.
They were both still laughing when they finally made it back home. Harry set her down on the patio and Saffron grinned at him. "You won't tell anyone I was crying, will you?"
"You mean aside from the full page ad I was going to owl into the Daily Prophet? And the article I was going to ask your Aunt Luna to write?" Harry teased her.
"Promise me, Daddy," she said folding her arms. "I mean it."
"I promise Saffron," Harry said. "Shall we shake on it? Pinky swear?"
Saffron nodded. "Pinky swear."
Harry did just that. "And a hug," he added.
Saffron hugged him back and laughed as he lifted her off the ground. "Thanks, Dad."
"Anything for you love," Harry kissed the side of her head.
"We'd better get inside, huh?" Saffron asked. "Before there's no food left."
"Right- I hope your Mum talked Ron out of anchovies." Harry grimaced.
"We can only hope," Saffron said opening up the door and seeing everyone gathered around the kitchen table. Hermione looked up at them and was relieved to see both of them with smiles on their faces.
"Any pizza left?" Harry asked lightly.
"We let Ron order what he wanted and then we ordered some for the rest of us," Luna answered.
Hermione stood up and walked around the table. She ruffled Saffron's hair. "Everything okay love?"
"Good Mum," Saffron said. "Thanks for taking a walk with me."
"No problem," Hermione said smiling at her. "Ethan saved you some of those breadsticks you like so much."
"Thanks Ethan," Saffron beamed at her brother who grinned back and ruffled her hair.
"How'd it go?" Hermione asked in a hushed tone to Harry.
"Its fine," Harry said quietly. "I'm going to ask Ethan to take the girls out for me tomorrow and I told Saffy I'd take her wherever she wanted to go."
"I feel so stupid for not seeing how she was feeling before," Hermione said softly.
"Tell me about it," Harry said. "I suppose I have been a bit wrapped up in Ashley and Katie but I thought she was having fun with everyone else."
Hermione nodded. "She was, but she missed you. We should both make sure she doesn't feel like that again. I miss her so much when she's away at school."
"I do too," Harry agreed. "We'll both make sure we're free and take her out into Diagon Alley when we go shopping for her school supplies later on in the holiday."
"Yes we will," she said smiling at him. "So, come on. Let's get some food before it's all gone."
"Right," Harry gave her a quick peck.
"Got any of those breadsticks left, Saffron?" Ron asked as he finished off his sixth slice of pizza.
"Maybe a few," Saffron replied. "But Uncle Ron haven't you had enough?" she giggled.
"Never!" Ron said reaching for another slice of pizza. "Save a couple of them for your old godfather."
"Only if I don't eat them first," Ethan joked.
"I thought you saved them for ME?" Saffron asked him.
"I did," Ethan said. "Otherwise you know there wouldn't be any left."
Saffron smiled at him and looked around the table. She felt better than she had in days. Her father was sitting directly across from her and she shared a secret smile with him.
"This is really an amazing book," Maddie was sitting at the corner of the table on Ethan's other side.
"You'd been engrossed in it all evening," he teased her. She hadn't touched any of her food.
"I know," she marked her place carefully and set the book on the shelf behind her. "Are you making fun of me Ethan James?"
"No," he said nudging her. "You just reminded me of my mum for a few moments. Nose stuck in a book...oblivious to everything and everyone around her. That's all, Mads."
She grinned at him. "You'd better get used to it. I think I'll be doing lots of reading over the next few months."
"You should see some of our training manuals," Ethan said. "You and I can just sit and read to our hearts' content."
"We have such an exciting future," Maddie laughed, biting into her pizza. "Reading on the sofa side by side."
"That sounds like a very romantic date," Ethan said grinning at her.
"I guess as long as I'm with you it doesn't matter, at least not to me," Maddie said softly.
"I feel the same way," Ethan said.
"Would you guys mind?" R.J. asked teasingly. "I'm trying to eat."
"Speaking of which," Jon said with a gleam in his eye. "What sorts of things does the fair Juliet like on her pizza, R.J.?"
"Pineapple," R.J. answered automatically, then scowled. "Jon will you knock it off?" he snapped.
"Who's Juliet?" Ron asked.
"R.J.'s girlfriend," Jon said in a falsetto voice.
Ron grinned. "You didn't mention anything, R.J. What's she like?"
Luna covered her mouth with her napkin to try and stop laughing.
R.J.'s face was nearly purple. "She...is...not...my...girlfriend." he said through clenched teeth.
"Who is she then?" Ron asked curiously.
"A friend!" R.J. snapped. "That's all!"
"Then how come you kissed her on the train?" Saffron asked innocently. "On the way home in that little compartment next to the loo?"
"Oooooh," Jon and Josh chorused before cackling like hyenas.
"That's my boy!" Ron said raising his glass at his youngest son.
R.J. shook his head. "You're a bloody spy," he said to Saffron. "It was... a goodbye peck that's all." he said. "She said she wanted something to remember me by this holiday."
"Sounds like she got it," Julie couldn't help adding.
The whole table broke up into laughter as R.J. shot her a dirty look.
"Sorry, R.J.," Julie apologised. "You opened the door and I kind of ran through it..."
"It's all right I guess," R.J. grunted. "If you two sods would just bloody shut up." he said to his brothers.
"R.J., language," Luna reminded her son.
"Sorry, Mum," R.J. said slumping in his chair.
"Don't take it personal mate," Jon said to his brother. "It's a rite of passage. I gave Josh here grief when he fancied Julie. Everyone gave me grief over Allie. And now you're getting it over this Juliet."
"Hold on," R.J. said looking at Josh. "YOU fancied Julie? When?"
Julie and Josh both turned red. "A long time ago," she said. "When you were still a baby."
R.J. felt as if he'd been handed a huge birthday present. "She turned you down, didn't she Joshie?"
"I met Nick," Julie said in Josh's defence.
"You used to fancy my mum?" Ashley asked Josh who sank lower in his chair.
"Well can you blame me?" he asked sheepishly.
Ashley giggled. "I guess not."
Nick nudged his wife. "I still think you picked the right bloke." he teased.
"So do I," Julie said leaning against him.
"And I know for sure that I made the right choice." Josh smiled at his wife.
"Third time was the charm," she joked.
"Right," Josh gave his wife a kiss.
Ron smiled at his family and friends. He raised his glass again. "To everything being as it should be."
"As it should be," Harry echoed.