Authors' note: Tonight's chapter features two storylines---the Liam/Darla one and you find out what happened with Brittany and the modeling agent. And---you get some Harry/Hermione :)
Please read and review and take a look at the reader questions at the end of the chapter! Please keep asking!
Darla set out with her fiancé and son towards town for lunch. They were going to grab a bite and chat about the upcoming wedding. They'd set the date for August third of that summer, which would be easy since neither of them wanted anything over the top.
Rafe was walking ahead of them, stopping to look in the shoppe windows. Darla reached for his hand. "Nice to take a break from the chaos, eh?"
"You can say that again," Liam replied. "Its fun, but I enjoy some peace and quiet."
Darla smiled at him. "You don't get that around the Weasleys."
"Suppose I'll get used to it," he grinned back at her.
"You'd better," Darla said stopping to give him a kiss.
Liam slid his arms around her.
"Mummy!" Rafe called out.
"What is it?" Darla asked.
"I'm hungry," Rafe said grinning at her. "Come on!"
Darla shook her head as Liam scooped him up. "I'm hungry too..." he squeezed Rafe's side.
Rafe laughed. "Put me down!"
"I don't think so," Liam chuckled. "In fact..." his voice died as he saw who was sitting inside the cafe.
"They're right on time," Darla said with relief.
"What... are they doing here?" Liam managed.
"I invited them to lunch," Darla said. "They're going to be my family, too..."
"Darla," Liam began. "You don't understand..."
"It's just lunch," Darla cut him off.
"You don't KNOW my father." Liam said sharply.
Fiona spotted them and stood up. She waved enthusiastically at them.
"Oh no," Liam groaned.
"Conor's there too," Darla said. "Come on."
"You should have told me," Liam muttered.
Darla opened her mouth to say something but Rafe spotted Conor and started to squirm in her arms. Darla set him down and the little boy ran across the restaurant.
"Hi!" Rafe squealed.
Conor picked the little boy up and spun him around. "It's the best man!"
"That's me," Rafe said delightedly. "Who are they?" he pointed to the older people.
"I'm Liam and Conor's mother," Fiona said. "I met you when you were just a baby."
"Oh," Liam replied, his curious gaze moving to the older man.
"And this is our dad, Thomas," Conor said, not looking at his father as he made the introduction.
"Hi!" Rafe grinned at him.
Thomas just nodded in response.
"Hi Mum," Liam said tersely. "Conor..."
Darla kissed Fiona on the cheek. "Thanks so much for coming."
"It's so lovely to see you," Fiona said. "My future daughter in law."
Darla smiled. "It's lovely to see you, too. Um, why don't we all sit down?"
Liam took an uncomfortable seat and Rafe crawled over to sit in his lap.
Darla extended her hand to Liam's father. "Hello..."
William grunted. "Get me a drink."
Darla withdrew her hand and her smile faltered a bit. She sat down beside a tense Liam.
"It's not even one yet," Liam said. "You don't need a drink."
Fiona let out a nervous laugh. "Brighton sure is lovely. I haven't been here in years."
"It's nice," Conor nodded. "Sunnier than London."
"Me, Ellie and Gwyn built a big castle," Rafe told them. "Liam took a picture of us with it!"
"How lovely," Fiona said, a false brightness about her as her husband thumped the table with his fist.
"Where's that damn waiter?" Thomas grumbled.
"Relax, Thomas," Fiona placed a hand on his arm.
Liam picked up a menu and held it out before him and Rafe. "Let's see what we want, buddy."
"A big cheeseburger," Rafe announced.
"And chips?" Liam asked.
"Go for it," Darla smiled at her son.
Rafe grinned. "Yay!"
"This is ridiculous," Thomas shoved his chair back and stumbled to his feet.
"Thomas, please," Fiona pleaded.
He ignored his wife and headed off to the bar.
"Where's he going?" Rafe asked Liam.
"Nowhere good," Liam said. He couldn't help but be angry with Darla for not telling him about this.
"He'll be back," Fiona said, but she did not sound as if she believed that.
"Better if he never came back," Liam muttered.
Darla looked at Liam. "I'm sorry."
Liam flexed his jaw. "We'll talk later."
"Don't be angry with her, son," Fiona said. "She was only trying to get us all together."
"Nothing good ever comes of that, does it?" Liam asked sharply.
"I'm going to go and check on Thomas," Fiona said quietly.
"Rafe and I will go use the loo," Darla said, taking her son.
"But, Mummy, I don't have to," Rafe protested.
"Just try," Darla said as they walked away.
"I knew it was a bad idea," Conor said to his brother.
"I had nothing to do with this," Liam said angrily.
"Dad's not going to change," Conor said. "But, you know...perhaps Darla had to see this for herself."
"She just could have told me," Liam replied, glaring over at his parents. "What did our mother have to do to get him to come here? What's she going to have to put up with later?"
Conor shrugged. "If you'd have known, you wouldn't have come."
Liam glared at him.
"Don't be mad at her, mate," Conor said. "She thought she was helping."
"I told her how bad Dad was," Liam said. "I didn't ever want to see him again, ever."
"Well, she comes from that great big family, right?" Conor asked. "Family means something to her that we have no clue about."
"Still," Liam said. "I didn't want her to meddle. Not in this. Not with HIM."
"What do you want to do?" Conor asked.
"I don't know," Liam muttered. "Let them go home."
Conor nodded and smiled reassuringly at Darla who had just returned to the table with Rafe. "Rafe, do you know that just behind the restaurant here, you can see some boats?" Conor asked.
"Boats?" Rafe brightened.
Conor stood up. "Yeah. If your mum doesn't mind, how about you and I go take a look at them?"
"Can I?" Rafe asked pleadingly.
"Sure," Darla replied.
Liam looked over at his fiancée when his brother took Rafe to the window. "You shouldn't have done this."
"I can see that now," Darla said quietly. "I just wanted to help."
"You can't," he told her. "Not with this. You have to understand, my family isn't like yours."
Darla sat back down. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have interfered."
"Look," Liam said in a kinder tone. "I love you, Darla. But this is something you can't fix."
"I love you too," Darla said. "Your mother rang the other day to see how you were and I thought it might be worth a shot. I shouldn't have gone behind your back."
"It's hard for me to say I don't want my mother in my life," Liam told her. "But if she won't leave my father, then I can't have her around."
Darla reached for his hand. "You and I are going to have a great family all our own."
"Right," he squeezed her hand.
"So, we're okay?" Darla asked.
Liam nodded. "But please... just talk to me next time you feel the urge to host my family reunion."
Darla chuckled. "Okay, deal."
Liam leaned in and gave her a kiss.
"Eww," Conor said as he and Rafe sat back down. "Rafe, mate. Do they do this all the time?"
"Yes," Rafe said.
Darla laughed. "We have to behave now, Liam. The children are back."
Conor lowered his voice. "Where are they?" he asked his brother.
Liam shrugged. "Let's just order. Rafe, you still want that cheeseburger, right?"
"A big one," Rafe nodded eagerly.
Darla smiled and motioned for the waiter.
"I'll just order it at the bar," Conor said. "What's everyone else want?"
"A cheeseburger actually sounds good to me, too," Darla said.
"Make that three," Liam said. He knew why his brother was going up to the bar- to make sure their father wouldn't come back by them.
Rafe climbed back into Liam's lap. "Can we go on the boat when we get back?"
"Maybe," Liam replied. "If no one else is using it."
Darla smiled. "If not, we can go for a walk on the beach."
"Swim?" Rafe asked.
Darla nodded. "Sure, but only if Liam promises not to splash me anymore."
"Don't splash Mummy," Rafe looked up at his soon to be stepfather.
"She splashed me first," Liam said with a grin.
I most certainly did not," Darla replied.
"Oh, did your hand slip then?" Liam asked teasingly.
Darla poked him, relieved that he wasn't angry with her about his parents.
"Bad Mummy," Rafe laughed.
"That's right," Liam said. "Bad, bad Mummy."
"Two against one," Darla said. "Not fair."
"We blokes stick together," Liam told her.
"Right," Rafe said happily.
*** *** ***
Ashley was quietly sketching on the deck under the moonlight. Ashley was enjoying the rare peace and quiet. Most of the family was in town at the arcade, but Ashley had wanted a few moments to herself. Kevin had left that morning to rejoin his band on tour.
She had to admit she missed having him there. Even if her sister was vying for his attention, Kevin never seemed to mind humouring her. He was a great guy who always made her laugh and made her feel safe.
Ashley dragged her pencil along the page. Safe... she liked feeling safe but at the same time, she wanted to break free of so many things. That was one of the reasons she was looking forward to her art trip. It was thrilling and exciting and scary all at the same time.
She resumed her sketching and didn't notice when a figure approached her. "Ash?"
Ashley looked up from her sketchbook. "Zander?"
"Hey," he said, dropping into the sand next to her.
"Hey," Ashley said softly.
"Brit went to her photograph session yesterday," Zander told her. "She's been talking about it non-stop since then. I had to get out of the house or I was going to go mad."
"Oh," Ashley said.
"I just thought I'd tell you," Zander said. "I know you're still mad at her--"
"Believe it or not, I actually hope this is legitimate and she does well," Ashley said. "I never want to see her fail."
"Well if you'd listen to her, you'd think she's already some sort of supermodel," Zander rolled his eyes.
"Getting on your nerves just a little?" Ashley asked.
"Just a little," Zander smiled at her.
A companionable silence fell over them and Ashley stared out at the ocean. "It's a nice night, isn't it?" she asked.
Zander nodded. "Sure is. And quiet...."
Ashley laughed. "Practically everyone at my house has gone into town."
"How come you didn't go?" he asked.
"Didn't really feel like it," Ashley replied.
"Kevin left?" he asked.
"This morning," Ashley replied.
"He's a good bloke," Zander had to admit.
Ashley nodded. "He is." She looked down at her sketch book.
Zander fiddled with a handful of sand. "He really cares about you."
Ashley felt uncomfortable talking about Kevin about Zander. "I'm sorry about what happened with Debra. I hope it wasn't because of--"
"It would have happened whether she walked in on that or not," Zander said. "We weren't long term."
Ashley looked up at him.
"It's not a big deal," he shrugged.
Ashley shivered in the cool night air.
"Here," Zander pulled off his long sleeved shirt.
"You'll be cold," Ashley said, shaking her head.
"I've got a t shirt on," Zander said. "I'll be fine."
"Thanks," Ashley said softly as he draped the shirt over her shoulders.
Zander opened his mouth to say something when they heard a wailing sound from a few houses down the beach. "Is that Brit?"
"I don't know," Ashley said standing up.
Zander stood up as well, concerned.
"Let's go and see," Ashley said setting her sketch book down on the sand.
They hurried down the beach to see Brittany huddled over, crying. "Brit?" Zander asked. "What's going on?"
Brittany continued to sob and Ashley sat down beside her. "Brit?"
"He left with all my money!" Brittany bawled. "The pictures, everything...it was all fake!"
Ashley and Zander shared a look. Zander sat down on the other side of his cousin. "Slow down...and just tell us what happened."
"I called to find out about my pictures," Brittany said, her voice choked. "And the line was disconnected."
"Oh, Brit," Ashley said softly.
"And so I Apparated to the studio, and it was totally empty," Brittany continued. "Almost like nothing was ever there at all!"
"Maybe we should contact the police," Zander said.
"I already asked my dad about it," Brittany said miserably. "He's talking to them now, but he reckons there's nothing we can do."
"I'm so sorry," Ashley said.
Brittany hardly knew what to say to Ashley. She'd treated her so horribly these last few months.
"I know you probably don't believe this, but I was hoping that this was going to work out for you," Ashley said.
"You were?" Brittany asked.
Ashley nodded. "Of course. I never wanted this to happen to you."
"I paid him everything I had!" Brittany wailed again.
Zander excused himself for a moment and came back with a box of tissues. Brittany gratefully took one. "Go ahead," Brittany said to him. "Tell me you told me so."
Zander shook his head. "That's all right, Brit."
"I'm such an idiot," Brittany said, wiping at her eyes.
"You're trusting," Ashley told her.
Brittany nodded. "He just fed me all that rubbish and I bought into it. It was everything I wanted to hear."
Ashley forgot her angry feelings towards her friend and put an arm around her.
Brittany rested her head on Ashley's shoulder. "I'm so sorry for how I treated you, Ashley."
"We can talk about that later," Ashley told her.
Brittany nodded. "Thanks."
"Maybe they'll catch him," Ashley tried to be optimistic. "And he'll have to give you your money back."
"Maybe," Brittany said quietly.
"Or," Ashley said. "When you are famous someday, you'll see that bloke begging for a quid on the side of the road and you'll walk right by him with your head high."
Brittany smiled through her tears. "I like the sound of that."
Ashley hugged her friend tightly.
"Or she could always hex him," Zander said thoughtfully.
"That's a good idea," Ashley raised an eyebrow.
"Only kidding," Zander said.
"If I saw him I'd bloody kill him," Brittany said angrily.
"I can tell my Uncle Ethan," Ashley said. "See if the Aurors can do something about it."
Brittany shook her head. "I doubt it."
"It couldn't hurt," Zander said.
"If you think it might help," Brittany said tentatively. "You'd do that for me, Ash?"
Ashley nodded. "Of course. He shouldn't get away with this."
"Okay," Brittany wiped at her eyes.
"They're all in town now, but I'll talk to him the moment he gets home," Ashley promised.
"Thanks," Brittany said. "Ugh... what a night."
"Anything we can do?" Zander asked.
Brittany shook her head.
Ashley smiled at her. "You'll be fine, Brit. You're down, but you're not out."
Brittany burst into tears again. "You're being so nice to me and I don't even deserve it!"
"Brit, come on," Zander said. "That's not true."
"I've been awful to both of you, but especially you, Ash." Brittany said. "I'm so sorry."
"We both said some bad things to each other," Ashley said. "I'm sorry, too."
Brittany wiped at her eyes again. "What a horrible start to the summer."
"It'll get better," Ashley reassured her.
"I don't know what I'm going to do now," she moaned. "I'll never get a start. Not without any money."
"You could get a proper job," Zander suggested.
"How boring," Brittany said. "But I suppose I'll have to."
Ashley nodded. "You could work in a boutique or at a pub."
"A boutique," Brittany said. "Definitely."
"Tomorrow, we'll look in the papers," Ashley said. "And see what's out there."
"Thanks," Brittany said softly.
Zander looked over at Ashley and smiled. After the horrible way that Brittany had treated her, she was still here comforting her friend.
He felt a tingle in his stomach, one that he hadn't felt for awhile. True, kissing her at school had made him see Ashley in a different light again, but he hadn't let those thoughts linger until now.
Ashley looked over and met his gaze.
Brittany was completely unaware of what was going on between her two best friends. "I'm glad you're both here."
"We wouldn't be anywhere else," Ashley said.
Harry and Hermione had joined everyone else at the arcade that night and were enjoying some time off by themselves. Hermione had to admit she enjoyed the anonymity of the Muggle world.
They were standing in the queue waiting for their turn at one of the games. "So," Harry said to his wife. "Do you want the stuffed panda or the teddy bear if I knock all those bottles down?"
Hermione laughed. "The panda bear."
"It's as good as yours," Harry said as he handed the man behind the counter his money.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Hermione teased.
"You have to knock them all down," the man told Harry.
"Got it," Harry said, taking aim.
Hermione smiled. "Go, Harry!"
Harry threw the ball and knocked two of the three bottles down.
"Tough break," the man said.
"I get another try," Harry said defensively.
"You'll get it this time," Hermione said supportively.
Harry nodded and took aim again.
The ball breezed past the last bottle.
"One more try," the man said in an oily tone.
"Yeah, yeah," Harry muttered.
Harry narrowed his eyes and took aim for the last time, then threw the ball as hard as he could.
The ball hit the bottle and the bottle crashed to the floor. Hermione clapped her hands. "Third time is the charm!"
"That's right," Harry said with a grin as the man handed him the panda.
"My hero," Hermione said dramatically.
Harry wrapped his arms around her, bear and all.
"I feel like a teenager," Hermione admitted.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "It's nice."
"Except you don't have to kiss me good night outside my front step before you leave," Hermione said with a grin.
"I can just snog you in bed later," he commented.
"You think I would do that on a first date?" Hermione asked him, swatting at his arm.
"You kind of did," Harry pointed out.
"Me?" Hermione asked innocently.
"After that dance," Harry said. "That was rather like our first date."
"It wasn't a proper date," Hermione corrected him.
"So we got all dressed up, went to a hotel, and had a bite to eat, did some dancing and it wasn't a date?" Harry asked. "I even drove. And you had a flower, didn't you?"
"As I recall," Hermione said nudging him. "The 'bite to eat' was half a sandwich and crisps."
"I still shared with you," Harry replied.
"Very true," Hermione said smiling at him.
Harry slid his arm back around her. "Right now, I feel like I did back then."
"Me too," Hermione said, leaning against him.
Harry kissed the side of her head. "And we're back at where we were at that time too. Just us in the house..."
Hermione laughed. "Yet, we're busier than we were back then."
"You being the Minister," Harry nodded. "Me in the running to head the Auror Department..."
Hermione touched his arm. That day's paper had a front page story about Josephine and her "triumphant return" to London.
"I just... I really want to do it." Harry said. "And if I don't get it, I hope Neville does."
"You've both worked so hard for this," Hermione said.
"And then we get someone who just waltzes in and acts like she's already gotten the position," Harry's tone grew dark.
Hermione led him over to a quiet spot on the pier. "When this is all over, she'll go back to Australia."
"Good," Harry said as she placed the bear on the bench and sat down. "My life can go back to normal, where I'm not questioned and belittled over EVERYTHING."
"I know how you feel," Hermione said. "It would be nice to step away from all this stress and just...be."
"You're saying you want to retire?" Harry asked in surprise.
Hermione smiled. "Maybe, I don't know."
Harry stared at her in shock.
"These last few weeks have really taken it out of me," Hermione said. "And being here has made me realise how nice it is to not worry about...anything."
Harry slid his hand into hers. "Yes... it is nice."
"And it would be nice to travel with my husband," Hermione said.
"That sounds great," Harry nodded.
"All the places we've always wanted to go," Hermione said thoughtfully.
Harry put his arm around her. "We could take another tropical holiday in the winter."
Hermione smiled. "That would be lovely."
Harry leaned in and kissed his wife.
"I love you," Hermione said softly.
"Love you too," Harry said, his forehead resting on hers. "I always have."
"Always will," Hermione said with a grin.
Harry stood up and offered her his hand. "Dance with me."
"Here?" Hermione asked.
"Sure," Harry replied. The pier was mostly deserted.
Hermione smiled. "Okay."
They didn't need music, Harry thought as he pulled his wife close to him.
"Did you ever think all those years ago that we'd end up here?" Hermione asked.
"Maybe not at first," Harry replied.
Hermione laughed. "Me either."
Harry slid his arms down around her waist. "You're as stunning as you were back then."
Hermione smiled up at him. "Flatterer."
Harry grinned at her. "You do bring out the best side of me, Hermione."
"And you do the same for me," Hermione said softly.
"I'd do anything FOR you," Harry said intently.
"Would you take me home?" Hermione asked.
"If that's what you want," Harry replied, skimming his lips over her neck.
"Yes," Hermione whispered.
"Don't forget your panda," he said in her ear.
"Can't forget him," Hermione said.
Harry laughed as she picked up the giant bear.
"I bet Ellie and Gwyn will probably take it from me," Hermione said.
"Think you'll be all right if they do?" Harry asked, straight faced.
"I'll just bring you back here to win me another one," Hermione said nudging him.
"And give that smarmy git the satisfaction?" Harry asked.
Hermione laughed. "You could always try another game."
"True," Harry said as they headed away from the noisy arcade towards the exit.
"Or I could win you something," Hermione said.
"I like that idea," Harry said. "Maybe my prize can be one of those see through things you wear once in awhile."
"Harry!" Hermione swatted at him.
"That's the perfect prize for me," Harry said with a grin.
"Well, maybe I'll do that tonight," Hermione said coyly.
"We'd better hurry home," he said quickly.
Hermione laughed. "Come on, then."
They hurried home, glad the house was dark and that they would be alone.
Hermione took his hand and led him upstairs to their room.
"Close your eyes," she purred in his ear.
"Whatever you say," Harry said.
Hermione ran her hands lightly over his shoulders and down his back before slipping into the closet.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, his eyes still closed.
"Just a minute," she said teasingly.
Harry smiled. This was just what he needed to take his mind off of everything that was going on at Headquarters.
She emerged from the closet and turned out the lamp. "Okay."
"Can I open my eyes then?" Harry asked, his back to her.
"Yes, you git," Hermione laughed.
Harry opened his eyes and turned around. "Whoa..."
"I can't believe I still fit into this," Hermione smoothed the lacy lingerie over her skin.
"You look beautiful," Harry said reaching for her.
Hermione smiled at him as he drew her into his arms.
"This definitely brings back good memories," Harry said.
Hermione laughed. "This is never a memory, Harry. We're still rabbits."
"Always," Harry grinned.
Hermione pulled her husband close and kissed him passionately.
The two of them shut out everything and everyone that night and just enjoyed being together. Harry forgot about everything that was going on with work. The only thing that mattered at this moment was his wife and how much he loved her.
*******************************************************************************
Authors' questions...thanks for submitting them again, you guys! Please don't hesitate to ask us questions---we love answering them!
(1) Is there any television character that you would relate Katie to? She seems a lot like Blair from Gossip Girl. A
bitch but can still be lovable...
Blair would be a great comparison. Katie has her strengths and weaknesses as a character, but she is the Slytherin with a heart of gold... well at least part of it.
(2) Are grandkids going to ever be put into different houses besides Gryffindor?
Here and there, but it does make it easier for us to write them when they're in the same house.
(3) Is there potential for Nick and Julie to ever have a storyline again?
We've been asked this before, but unfortunately we really don't have a storyline thought out for them. But, they will be heavily involved in the lives of their two daughters!
(4) Will Hermione ever retire as minister?
Not in her lifetime ;) !
(5) Can you tell us how soon Zander and Ashley will get together?
Who says they're going to get together? She's happy with Kevin.
(6) Most characters with the exception of Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ethan seem to be quitting education right after Hogwarts. Prime examples being Ron, Luna, Jon, Allie, Maddie, Frankie, Saffron, RJ, Andrew, Alexa (considering she dropped out). Any particular reason for that?
I guess since JKR never disclosed school afterwards, we never really went on it either... and most characters knew what they wanted to do while in Hogwarts.For what it's worth, Alexa does have a journalism degree (she did not drop out from UCLA--she just transferred to university in London---Kingston University. Which you will hear about when she re-enters the story. .