Authors' note: We didn't have that great of a response to the last chapter. We know this is a busy time of year with people finishing up with school, going on vacations, etc. But, we just want to make sure that there is still interest in the story because we do have loads more story to tell. Tonight's chapter deals with Katie and Caroline and Maddie receives a visit from a special guest. Some BIG things are happening soon, especially for Harry and Hermione. We do plan to post the next two Saturdays and then will take a hiatus through the end of July and early August. We have a project we're working on and we will periodically post something on "Affairs".
The next day, Katie and Caroline were sitting on the beach together a fair distance away from their families. Katie didn't want to sit next to her parents as it hindered her ability to watch the blokes walk by.
Caroline smiled at her friend. Though she was still hesitant, she had to admit, Katie was more like the way she used to be. They had a good time at the arcade last night.
"Caroline," Katie said. "Check out that one over there!"
"Katie!" Caroline giggled. "You're like a kid in a candy shoppe."
"I can't help it," she said. "He's gorgeous."
"And he's taken," Caroline said as a girl sauntered up to him and put her arms around him.
"Whatever," Katie muttered.
Caroline laughed. "There's plenty of fish in the sea."
"Thankfully," Katie grumbled, giving the guy one last look before turning away.
Caroline picked up her book and started to read.
"Caroline," Katie pulled her arm. "Come on... why are you reading here? There's too much to... see."
"Blokes, you mean?" Caroline asked with a grin.
"Exactly," Katie said, stretching her bikini clad body out. "And ours for the taking."
Caroline set her book aside. "Where's Ashley today?"
"Somewhere with Zander and Brit," Katie said. "Apparently they all made up last night."
Caroline smiled. "It's about time! You wouldn't believe how tense the Gryffindor table was the last few weeks of school."
Katie shrugged. "I feel bad about Brit losing all her money, but I guess they're trying to help her find the guy to get it back."
"That was terrible," Caroline said.
"I'd never fall for something like that," Katie reached for her bag to get more sunscreen.
"You wouldn't?" Caroline asked.
"Of course not," Katie replied.
"Well, I mean it was something she wanted more than anything," Caroline said thoughtfully. "And it's easy to see how she would be misled."
"I guess," Katie conceded, sitting up straighter as a few blokes walked by.
One of the blokes winked at Katie.
Caroline watched Katie smile back at him. She looked at the guy and her gut tightened. There was something shady looking about him.
"Katie," Caroline cautioned.
"Hmm?" Katie asked distractedly.
"Let's go for a walk," Caroline said.
"With them," Katie's eyes gleamed.
Caroline shook her head. "I don't think so."
"Why?" Katie asked.
"For one thing, they look to be about eighteen," Caroline pointed out.
"We should tell them we're seventeen," Katie said excitedly.
"No, we shouldn't!" Caroline protested.
"Why?" Katie asked. "Come on, let's go have a little fun. Our parents won't even know we're gone."
"There's something about them that doesn't seem right," Caroline said.
Katie rolled her eyes. "Caroline come on... what could be better than a little summer romance?"
"Katie!" Caroline called after her friend, but Katie was already on her feet following after the boys.
Caroline sighed. She didn't want to go over there, but she couldn't leave Katie to herself either. She gathered their towels and bags and reluctantly followed her friend.
"Three of them," Katie whispered. "Now...which one to choose..."
"How about none," Caroline said. "I don't want to do this."
Katie linked her arm in Caroline's. "Don't be such a spoil sport. This will be fun."
Caroline tried to smile but had never felt more unenthusiastic.
The boys stopped walking and turned around. "Hiya," the tallest one said.
"Hello," Katie purred.
One of the other boys looked appraisingly at Caroline, which made the younger girl feel incredibly uncomfortable.
"I'm Jeffrey," the boy Katie was eyeing up said.
"Katherine," Katie said smiling flirtatiously at him.
"Well..." Jeffery said, looking her up and down.
"This is my friend, Caroline," Katie said grabbing Caroline's arm and pulling her closer.
"Hi," Caroline managed shyly.
"You two have to be the prettiest girls on the beach today," Jeffrey commented.
"We know," Katie said, tossing back her hair.
"I'm Tim," Jeffrey's friend said looking at Caroline.
"Hello Tim," Katie purred. "You all just came along at the right moment. "We were so bored..."
"Is that so?" Tim asked.
"Mmmhmm..." Katie smoothed her bikini bottom over her hips.
"We were going to get some ice cream," Jeffrey said. "Care to join us?"
"We would love to," Katie answered for both of them.
Caroline shook her head. "Actually, we were just heading back home..."
"No you weren't," Tim said. "We were watching you two for awhile."
Caroline shuddered. "Katie, come on..."
"We are so in the mood for ice cream," Katie said, taking Caroline by the arm.
"Yeah, come on," Tim said.
"Katie..." Caroline whispered. "I don't want to do this. I have a really bad feeling--"
"Can you give us a minute?" Katie asked the boys.
"Don't be long," Jeffrey leered at her.
Katie pulled Caroline off to the side. "Caroline, we're not in the Princess Club anymore. Those blokes are hot and they're obviously interested."
"Yes but they're creepy," Caroline said. "I don't like the way they're looking at us."
"Do this for me," Katie begged. "Please?"
Caroline sighed. "Just a little while. And I'm not going off anywhere with them."
Katie beamed at her. "Thank you. You are the best. The best, bestest friend ever."
Caroline managed a smile.
Katie sauntered back over to the blokes, falling into step beside Jeffrey. Caroline hung back, not liking the way that Tim was gazing at her.
"So," Katie said flirtatiously. "I haven't seen you lot around here before."
"We're on break from University," Jeffrey said.
"We've just finished a year at boarding school," Katie said. "An all girls boarding school... so we were very, very bored."
"Is that so?" Jeffrey said with a grin.
"Uh huh," Katie said.
Jeffrey put his arm around her. "Well, welcome back to civilization, Katherine."
Katie grinned at him. "Time for a little celebration."
"Absolutely," Jeffrey said leading the way to the ice cream stand.
"You're not as chatty as your friend," Tim said to Caroline.
"I'm shy," Caroline replied quietly
"I like them shy," Tim commented.
Caroline quickened her step. She suddenly wasn't very hungry.
She winced when Tim came and put his arm around her. "Come on," he said. "I don't bite."
Caroline shrugged out of his hold on her. "I'm fine. Thank you."
She noticed a flash of anger in his eyes and quickened her step again.
They arrived at the ice cream stand and joined the queue.
Caroline tried to stand close to Katie but Jeffrey seemed to have other things in mind as he ran his hand down Katie's smooth arm.
"What do you want to get?" Jeffrey asked her. "It's on me."
"Hmmm..." Katie said. "It all looks good..."
"It definitely does," Jeffrey said looking at her.
"I'll go for the strawberry swirl," Katie said. The bloke behind the counter looked quite familiar to her.
"And for you---?" the bloke asked Caroline. "Hiya, Caroline."
"Bradley?" Caroline asked.
He smiled at her. "I didn't know you were in Brighton."
"We come here almost every year," she said. "Family holiday."
Tim put his arm around Caroline possessively.
"Just get her the ice cream, mate." he sneered at the boy behind the counter.
"She didn't order yet," Bradley retorted.
Caroline shrugged Tim's arm off. "I don't need anything, thank you."
"Hey!" Katie exclaimed, when Jeffrey's hand cupped her breast.
"Get your hands off her," Bradley said, his face gone dark. "And the two of you better get out of here before--"
"Before what?" Jeffrey asked.
"Come on Jeff," Tim said in disgust. "These two aren't worth it."
Jeffrey glared at Bradley before following his friend.
"What a jerk," Katie said, trembling a bit. "I can't believe he just did that!"
"Are you okay?" Caroline asked.
"Fine," Katie replied. "thanks to... I'm sorry, what was your name?"
"Bradley Hathaway," Bradley said. "Ravenclaw, fourth year...well, fifth year coming up." Katie wondered why she did not remember him if he was in her year and how Caroline seemed to know him.
"Katie Malfoy," she said. He was even cuter than those two losers that had just walked off.
"I know you," he said. "We've had a couple of classes together."
"We did?" she asked. "Why didn't I ever notice?"
He laughed. "I'm not sure. Alright, you wanted the strawberry, but what about you, Caroline?" He grinned at the younger girl and Caroline blushed.
"Um... I'm okay. I don't have any money on me." Caroline said shyly.
"It's on me," he told her.
"Really?" Caroline asked. "Bradley, you don't have to do that."
"It's no problem," he said to her. "What do you want?"
"Just chocolate is fine," Caroline said, still blushing.
"Coming right up," he said with a grin.
"He's cute," Katie hissed in Caroline's ear. "How do you know him?"
"He plays Quidditch," Caroline replied. "We played against him."
"Why haven't I ever noticed him?" Katie asked. "He's gorgeous."
"He is," Caroline agreed.
Katie put on her best flirtatious smile as Bradley came back over. "There you go, girls."
"Thanks," Caroline said. "This looks really good."
"So how long are you lot staying here?" he asked.
"A couple of weeks," Katie replied. "So, do you live in Brighton then?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "This is my first summer working here at the beach."
Katie grinned. "Lucky you."
"Yeah it's pretty cool," Bradley smiled back at her.
"This is the best chocolate ice cream," Caroline commented.
"We make it here," Bradley told her. "Every morning."
Caroline grinned. "My little sisters and brother are going to love this."
"Be sure to bring them by," Bradley said.
"I will," Caroline promised. A customer came up and Bradley excused himself.
"We're coming back," Katie said. "Later today. With kids. So we can stand here a long, long time."
Caroline giggled. "Katie!"
"Seriously," Katie said. "I cannot BELIEVE I never noticed him before. I must be blind."
"It was pretty great of him to save us like that," Caroline commented. She turned serious all of a sudden. "Are you okay? I can't believe that jerk did that to you!"
Katie shook her head. "I'm fine. I would have liked to slap that jerk."
"Me too," Caroline said. "I'm glad you're okay."
Katie nodded. "Sorry I got you mixed up in that. But on the bright side, I might not have met Bradley if it hadn't happened."
Caroline smiled. "He's a great guy."
Katie nodded, barely listening. Her mind was back, already thinking on her conversation with the other boy.
Neither Caroline nor Katie saw that the boy in question was stealing a look in Caroline's direction.
"I'll tell Em about the ice cream and we'll be back there before you know it," Caroline said.
Katie laughed. "Em will never want to leave."
"Then you'll have more time to talk," Caroline said.
Katie smiled. "You truly are the brains behind our friendship, Miss Weasley."
Caroline smiled back as they reached the spot where their families were gathered.
"Sissy!" Olivia squealed.
"Hi Livvie," Caroline said as Olivia barrelled into her. "Want some?" she offered her cone.
Olivia nodded. "Please!"
"Here you go," Caroline handed her sister the rest of her ice cream.
"We can go later and get you more," Katie told her.
"I'm okay," Caroline said. "But we'll definitely take the rest of the kids."
"Absolutely," Katie said happily.
*** *** ***
Maddie awoke very early the next morning before everyone else. She carefully slid out of bed so as not to wake up Ethan.
She pulled on a pair of shorts and a shirt, then grabbed her trainers out of the closet.
Maddie gave Ethan one last look before quietly heading out of the room.
She liked taking early morning walks before anyone else was up to clear her head. With everything she'd been through in the past year, some time to herself was necessary.
And this way she would not worry anyone or scare her children.
She tied her hair back and slipped quietly out of the house, taking a deep breath and feeling thankful that it was another nice day.
She had done this nearly everyday and no one was any the wiser.
Maddie headed down the pavement towards the beach. It was the perfect place for her to go let out her emotions. Whether she wanted to cry, laugh, or scream... she could do it in peace.
Her thoughts always turned to Gregory. When she looked at the other babies, she could just see him sitting there with his siblings.
She bit down hard on her lower lip as she reached the beach and headed along the shoreline. The pain wasn't as sharp, but the loss of her son still left a raw feeling inside her.
She felt a soft breeze blow across her face. "Madeline..."
"What?" Maddie turned around.
"Hello," a woman's soft dream-like voice called out to her.
Maddie turned again and staggered back as she went into a vision.
Though she had never met the woman, she had seen photographs of her. This was her maternal grandmother.
"Hello, Madeline." the older woman smiled gently at her.
"Grandmother," Maddie whispered.
"Hello love," Sabrina Lovegood smiled at her granddaughter.
"What are you doing here?" Maddie asked.
"I've come to help," Sabrina said. "You're hurting, Madeline."
Maddie nodded. "Very much so."
Sabrina reached for her and drew her further into her vision. "He's safe, with me, Madeline."
"What?" Maddie asked.
"Your Gregory," Sabrina said softly.
"He is?" Maddie asked in a whisper.
Sabrina nodded. "With us, he's happy and healthy. On Earth... he wouldn't have survived long, even if he'd been born to you."
Tears welled up in Maddie's eyes.
"He's at peace here," Sabrina touched her cheek.
"My Gregory," Maddie said softly.
Sabrina sat down. "Be happy again, Madeline."
"I want to be," Maddie said. "I want to for my children, but there's this ache in my heart."
Sabrina smiled at her. "Unfortunately there will always be an ache there. But you'll be able to dull it a bit with the company of your other children. Let Gregory's memory live on through them."
Maddie nodded. "What---what does he look like?"
"Like your husband," Sabrina said. "Your eyes... your nose..."
Maddie smiled through her tears. "Really?"
"You'll meet him someday," Sabrina said. "When it's your time."
"You'll take good care of him, right?" Maddie asked.
"He's my great grandson," Sabrina said. "He'll be right by my side."
"And Hope?" Maddie asked.
Sabrina laughed. "Who do you think welcomed him?"
Maddie smiled. "Kiera said that to me the other day. That she was playing with him. It was---it was a comforting thought for me to know that."
"They're inseparable," Sabrina assured her.
"I'll tell Drew that," Maddie said as Sabrina hugged her tightly.
"I hope I've done some good here today," Sabrina said. "Done some healing..."
Maddie nodded. "You have."
"Tell my daughter that I'm proud of what wonderful children she's raised," Sabrina said. "I talk to her every day, in some way."
Maddie smiled. "She's a fantastic mother."
"Yes she is," Sabrina kissed her lightly on the cheek. "I'll always be here for you, Madeline. To guide you in your visions, and to help you."
"Thank you, Gran," Maddie said softly.
"We'll be watching over you," Sabrina said, standing up.
"Gran?" Maddie asked.
"Yes?" the older woman turned back around.
"Will you tell him that I love him?" Maddie asked. "That I will always love him."
"I will," Sabrina nodded. "But he knows that."
Maddie smiled and watched as her grandmother disappeared.
She gasped as she snapped out of her vision and looked wildly about the deserted beach.
Gregory was...fine. He was happy and safe where he was. Maddie knew that her therapist and family kept telling her this, but it did not seem to carry the same weight as it did at this moment with her grandmother.
She drew her knees up to her chest and stared out over the ocean. A feeling of peace that she had not known in months settled over her.
This ache would not ever go away, but for the first time, she actually believed it was possible to move on with her life.
Taking another deep breath, she stood up and headed back to the house.
The house was still quiet and Maddie tiptoed up the stairs.
Letting herself back into the bedroom, she kicked off her trainers and slid into bed, snuggling up next to her husband.
"Mmmm," Ethan murmured.
"Ethan," she whispered.
"Hmmm?" Ethan asked.
"I need to tell you what just happened," she said softly.
Ethan opened his eyes and looked at her. "What?"
"I went out for a walk," Maddie said. "Out on the beach... and I had a vision."
Ethan put his arm around her. "What kind of vision?"
"I saw my grandmother," Maddie said. "She's with Gregory, Ethan."
"What?" Ethan asked, taken aback.
"He's okay," Maddie felt tears spring to her eyes. "She told me he's happy, and he's healthy."
Ethan smiled. "He is?"
Maddie nodded. "And Hope is there. They play together."
Tears welled up in Ethan's eyes. "Kiera was right."
Maddie nodded. "Ethan... I feel so much better now. I feel at peace, finally."
Ethan gave her a kiss. "What else did she say?"
"Just that he's waiting for us," Maddie said softly. "And we'll see him again someday."
For the first time in what seemed like forever, Ethan saw the light in his wife's eyes. "We will," Ethan said softly.
Maddie smiled at him. "Knowing that... it just helps me so much."
Ethan hugged her to him. He could not tell her how happy that made him.
Maddie contentedly rested her head on his chest.
"We'll always miss him, Maddie," Ethan said softly.
"We won't forget him," Maddie agreed. "Not ever. My grandmother said there will always be an ache in our hearts."
"There will," Ethan agreed.
"But now... I think we can deal with this better," Maddie said. "Together."
"Yes," Ethan said kissing the top of her head.
Maddie smiled up at him. "I'm sorry to have woken you up..."
"No need to apol-" Ethan started to say, but was interrupted with a knock on the door. "Mummy!" Gwyn called out.
"I guess we would have been up anyway," Maddie said, pullingthe covers back.
Gwyn opened the door and jumped on their bed. "Wakey, wakey!"
Ethan laughed and reached for her. "What are you doing up so early?"
"No-ah and Aidan woke me and Ellie up," Gwyn giggled.
"I see," Ethan kissed her cheek. "Are you hungry?"
"Yes," Gwyn replied.
"How about Daddy makes you some French toast?" Ethan asked her.
Maddie shook her head. "How about Mummy makes it?"
"Yummy," Gwyn declared.
"This is a real treat," Ethan said with a grin.
Maddie still had her shorts and shirt on so she held out her hand to her daughter. "Let's let Daddy get dressed and he can join us downstairs."
"Kay," Gwyn said taking her mother's hand.
Maddie smiled at Ethan. "Don't' be long."
"I wouldn't miss it," Ethan said.
"Let's get Kiera," Gwyn said to her mother.
Maddie smiled. "Okay." She let Gwyn lead the way to the room Kiera was sharing with Emma and Casey.
All three of the girls were still asleep, and Gwyn carefully crept over to her sister's bed.
"Kiki," Gwyn whispered.
"Sweetheart," Maddie touched Kiera's shoulder. "Wake up."
Kiera opened her eyes. "Mummy?"
"Hi love," Maddie said. "I'm making French toast for your sister and Ellie and the boys. Would you like to join us?"
Kiera grinned sleepily at her. "Of course!"
Maddie smiled and smoothed back Kiera's blond hair.
Kiera noticed a change in her mother and her smile widened.
"Okay, baby?" Maddie asked her.
Kiera nodded and sat up in her bed. She hugged her mother.
Maddie kissed the top of Kiera's head, knowing what her daughter was thinking.
"I love you, Mummy," Kiera said.
"Love you too, sweetheart," Maddie said softly.
Gwyn climbed onto the bed and joined their hug.
"It's all okay," Maddie murmured. "Things will be better now, I promise."
"They really will," Kiera said softly.
"For what?" Gwyn asked innocently.
"For all of us," Kiera said squeezing her mother's hand.
****************
Just had two reader questions this week...
(1) How come Lavender never had a kid? She was married before Seamus so it wasn't like she was a nun. Saffron came around the time they got back together.
Lavender never really wanted to have children. She and Seamus were both busy with their careers and it was never something that either of them wanted. But, Seamus is over the moon about having Gabe as a son and Lavender enjoys spending time with her stepson and doting on Ethan, Julie, Saffy and their children.
(2) Why do you never experiment with unconventional couples. Like a guy who's been an ex of your sister. Similarly perhaps one of the childhood crushes could have gone on to something despite the age difference, like Ashley/Andrew, Emma/Gabe, Adam/Ashley etc. The closest we've had is Ethan/Maddie but they were just about 3-4 years apart.
We think the problem with that is that most of those were just childhood crushes and most of them are so closely related anyway. BUT, you never know...we just might surprise you...never say never, right?