Authors' note: Hi guys! This is Amy posting tonight. I would like to wish my co-author a Happy Birthday! October 30th is Heaven's birthday! And to all of our readers, Happy Halloween!
CHAPTER FORTY FOUR
"Make sure you don't eat all those chocolate ones," Hermione warned Harry. They were awaiting the arrival of Nick and Julie and the girls. They'd returned from Sydney that morning and promised to stop by after they'd settled back in. "Those are for Katie and Ashley."
"It's not me you have to worry about," Harry said carrying the platter into the sitting room. "It's Saffy."
"I'm not the one who just plopped six of them in my mouth," Saffron shot back with a grin.
"Nark," Harry replied. "I thought you were on my side Saffy."
"I am until you start trying to blame it all on me Dad," Saffron said plopping down on the sofa beside her mother.
"I hope they had a good time," Harry said. "Without running into them."
Before Hermione could respond, Saffron chimed in. "You mean Nick's horrible mum and dad?"
"That would be them," Hermione sighed. "Worst people you'd ever want to meet."
Saffron shook her head. "You obviously haven't spent much time with Smelly Snape."
Harry laughed. "They're tied with him. That's how bad they are Saffy."
"Poor Nick," Saffron commented. "That's pretty bad."
"He's lucky he didn't turn out like them," Harry said. "That's Greta's good influence. I wonder how Draco and Ginny got tied up with her in the first place."
"Best decision those two ever made," Hermione agreed.
The fireplace came to life at that moment and Julie stepped out with Katie, followed by Nick, Ashley and Greta just a split second later.
Harry, Hermione and Saffron stood up to welcome them, but before anyone could say anything Ashley launched herself at her grandfather.
"Ash?" Harry asked with a laugh. "Did you miss your old Grandpa?"
"Yes," Ashley said, burying her face in his shoulder. "A lot."
"I missed you too," he said hugging her tightly.
Katie giggled when Hermione picked her up. "Grandma! I can't wait to tell you about our trip! We had so much fun! Up until the point when I threw up..."
"You threw up darling?" Hermione asked.
"All over the mean man at the hotel," Katie said. "I would have felt sorry, but he was really mean, Grandma."
"Mean man eh," Harry looked over at his oldest daughter who nodded.
"Guess it couldn't be avoided," Nick said in a light tone to benefit his daughters. "We ran into my parents at the hotel."
"I can't believe I actually wanted to meet them," Ashley said sadly still holding onto Harry.
"Baby," Harry kissed her cheek. "It's their loss if they don't get to know what a sweet, beautiful little girl you are. You and your sister both."
"They're just not how I pictured grandparents to be," Ashley said resting her head on Harry's shoulder. "Not like you and Grandma."
"We want to be the best for you both," Hermione nuzzled Katie's soft cheek.
"You are," Katie said softly. "And we even brought you something from Cindy."
Ashley was so happy to be with her grandparents, she decided to let that slide and not correct her sister.
"You did?" Hermione asked. "That's very sweet of you both."
"Mummy where's our bag?" Katie asked excitedly.
"Right here," Julie said handing over the big bag the girls had packed the souvenirs and presents in.
"You did remember your favourite aunt, didn't you?" Saffron asked pinching Katie's nose.
"Yes," Katie giggled. "Ashley and me made something for you."
"Made something for me?" Saffron asked. "Should I be scared?"
"No," Ashley said to her aunt. "Here." she had drawn a picture of the Sydney Opera House from the picture book her parents had gotten her and she and Katie had carefully painted and coloured it in.
Saffron grinned at her nieces. "You guys! This is fantastic! I am going to put this in a frame and put it beside my bed at Hogwarts."
Ashley smiled proudly. "I'm glad you like it Aunt Saffy."
"I do," Saffron said. "And you two are going to have to tell me everything you did."
"Okay," Ashley agreed as Katie pulled out the gifts they'd gotten for their grandparents.
"Open the big one first," Katie told Harry.
"Okay sweetheart," Harry chuckled. "Hey look at this!" he said once he'd peeled back the paper.
"It's not a real one Grandpa," Katie said. "So it won't bite you."
"It's a... crocodile figure!" Harry laughed. "I'm putting this in my office."
"We saw real ones!" Ashley said. "And Katie and I even got to feed one!"
"That's so cool," Saffron said from where she was admiring her new picture. "I'd like to do that sometime."
"We should have asked you along," Julie said. "But I know you wanted to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. Next time we go, you can come with us Saf."
"Okay," Saffron agreed with a grin. "Can you take me backstage so I can see everything Nick?"
"Sure," Nick replied.
"I don't think so," Harry said quickly. "You're too young to see everything."
"Dad I'm fourteen," Saffron said. "I'm not THAT young!"
"I'd go with her," Julie offered. "You know I wouldn't let her get into any trouble."
"All right," Harry relented.
"What did you think was going to happen, Dad?" Saffron teased. "I'd go backstage and some guitar player would turn me on to sex, drugs and rock and roll?"
"Saffy!" Hermione said trying not to laugh.
"What? It's true Mum," Saffron argued.
"I worry because you are my baby," Harry clarified.
Saffron turned red. "You promised you wouldn't call me that in front of everyone." she whispered furiously.
"Well you are," Harry said with a grin. "But you're right, I did promise. In front of others, you are not my baby. How's that?"
Saffron shook her head but had to smile. "You're impossible Dad."
"Don't worry Harry," Nick said pulling on one of Saffron's plaits. "You know the blokes in my band. And if they did try to influence Saffron in any way, I'd hex them for you."
"You're a good man Nick," Harry clapped him on the shoulder. "I always knew I liked you for a reason."
Nick grinned and he and Julie took a seat on the other sofa while the girls continued doling out their presents to their grandparents and aunt.
"Mummy got these for you Grandma," Katie said handing Hermione a box. "They're earrings!"
"You're not supposed to tell her what they are before she opens it!" Ashley lectured her sister.
"She was going to see what it was in a minute anyways!" Katie retorted.
"You took all the surprise out of it!" Ashley shot back.
"Girls," Hermione said holding up her hand. "It's okay. I don't know what they look like, so I will still be surprised. No harm done."
"See," Katie stuck her tongue out at Ashley.
"Back to normal," Nick muttered, shaking his head.
Hermione opened the box and saw a beautiful pair of pearl earrings. "Oh, Julie! They're beautiful. You shouldn't have..."
"I knew you'd like them mum," Julie said with a grin. "And the girls did pick them out for you."
"They're lovely," Hermione said again. "Thank you...all of you."
"We're glad you like them Grandma," Ashley hugged her.
"I love them," Hermione said hugging her back. "Oh, sweetheart, we missed you so much."
"I'm so glad we're back in time for Christmas," Ashley said. "I didn't want to spend it in Sydney, even though it was a really nice city."
"We're glad you guys are back too," Saffron said. "I can't imagine spending Christmas without you. Hey, Katie? Are you still going to stay up to see if you can have a talk with Santa?"
"This year," Katie nodded. "I'll catch him before he goes back up the chimney!"
"The only reason she wants to do it is because he gave her the wrong doll last year," Ashley said. "She wants to tell him that he got it wrong. Have you ever heard of anything more ridiculous?"
"Shut up Ashley Beth." Katie retorted. "You got the right one so it doesn't matter!"
"You two fight more than Ethan and me," Saffron said with a laugh.
"That's saying a lot," Julie grinned at her sister.
"He keeps going on about me and R.J.," Saffron said. "I swear if he says one more thing, I'm going to kick him in the--"
"Saffron," Hermione warned.
"Sorry Mum," Saffron said sheepishly.
"Do you like R.J.?" Ashley asked intrigued.
"We're friends," Saffron said. "That's all."
"Oh," Ashley said. She wasn't about to tease Saffron about this as she could tell that her aunt wasn't keen to talk about this.
"How's Grandpa Granger?" Ashley asked instead. "Is he getting better?"
"Yes he is," Hermione said. "Thanks to your aunt here. She'll have to show you the early Christmas gift he got her."
"Oooooh," Katie said. "What did you get, Aunt Saffy?"
"He got me a set of pro golf clubs," Saffron said happily.
"Cool," Ashley said. "Can we see them later?"
"Sure," Saffron said. "They're upstairs in my room."
The girls handed out the rest of the souvenirs and then started telling their stories about all that they'd seen and done in Sydney. Katie went upstairs after awhile with Saffron to see the golf clubs and Ashley was going to join them before she doubled back and gave both Harry and Hermione another hug.
"What did we do to deserve all this?" Hermione asked.
"I'm just happy you're my grandparents," Ashley replied.
"We are too Ashley Beth," Hermione said kissing the little girl's forehead. "And don't you ever forget it."
"I won't," Ashley grinned at her grandparents and headed upstairs.
"She was really hurt by what happened," Julie said quietly once her daughter was out of earshot.
"She's been asking so many questions about them," Greta explained. "And she told me that one of the reasons she was looking forward to going was because she'd meet her other set of grandparents. I think Ashley thought they'd be more like you and Harry."
"How bad were they?" Harry asked.
"Pretty bad," Nick said. "Although," he chuckled. "You know how Katie said she threw up?"
"Aye," Harry nodded.
"It was all over my father," Nick reported with a grin.
Harry collapsed into a fit of laughter along with Hermione.
"It was priceless," Julie said chuckling.
"I wish I'd been there to see it," Harry chortled.
"And how about Ginny?" Hermione asked when she'd stopped laughing.
"She was strange," Julie said. "Like she was interested but didn't want Draco to see."
"That's the way she's always been really," Nick said. "Sometimes you think she really wants to care, especially about her brothers and me and Nana, but then she knows he'd be against it and that's it. She shuts down and acts like she doesn't care."
"That's her problem then," Greta cut in. "She doesn't act like her own person around him and now she's paying the price."
"Yeah," Nick agreed. "I've been making excuses for her for too long, haven't I?"
"She makes her own," Harry said. "I'd have thought after Hermione and I helped her and Draco out that they'd be at least a little grateful."
"They don't know the meaning of that word," Nick said. "And you know Nana tells me these stories about my mum when she was growing up and I wonder why I couldn't have had that person as my mother, you know? Instead, I get this..."
"She certainly changed a lot after we all went to Hillsdale." Harry verified. "She really became a different person."
"Someone who doesn't care about anyone but herself and my father," Nick said feeling the anger boil up in him again.
"Pretty much," Harry said, looking sympathetically at him. "I wouldn't worry about it Nick. Ash has plenty of family that loves her."
"And so do you," Hermione added with a smile. "You're one of us Nick."
It still amazed Nick how easily he'd been accepted into Julie's family despite of whom and what his parents were.
"Thanks," he said smiling at them. "I appreciate that more than you know."
Julie leaned against him. "I'm glad we managed to get a lot of our Christmas shopping done over there." she said. "But what did we miss? Anything new?"
"Actually there is something new." Hermione grinned. "But perhaps I should let Ethan tell you himself."
"Mum, I never see Ethan anymore," Julie said. "You should go ahead and tell me and if on the off chance my brother manages to pry himself away from Maddie, I'll act surprised when he tells me."
Hermione laughed. "All right. When we were at your grandparents' house last week he and Maddie decided to move in together!"
Julie grinned. "That's wonderful news!"
"I think she's mad," Saffron cracked, coming back into the room and catching the tail end of the conversation. "I mean, Ethan's flat is soooo ugly!"
"It's not that bad," Harry said in Ethan's defence.
"Dad it's BROWN," Saffron pointed out. "No one I know has dark brown walls!"
"I'm sure Maddie will redecorate," Hermione said.
"And I'll help her." Saffron said. "I have a good eye."
"I'm certain Maddie will be able to handle it," Harry said. "And you'll be back at school by the time she's ready to do all that."
"But you can help her move," Hermione said. "Ethan asked us if we'd pitch in and help."
"Do the heavy work," Harry translated with a grin.
"Just don't ask your Aunt Lav to do it," Hermione said shaking her head at the memory of Lavender "helping" when she and Harry moved into the cottage.
"Why?" Julie laughed. "Did she sit and paint her nails or something?"
"That's exactly what she did," Harry replied. "And directed us around like it was her place."
"That sounds exactly like Aunt Lav," Saffron said laughing.
"That cottage," Hermione said wistfully.
"Don't get Jules started about the cottage," Nick said with a grin. "She'll go on for hours about how much she misses it again."
"It was home," Julie said. "And as much as I love this place, it just wasn't the same."
"I agree," Hermione said.
"I like this place," Saffron said defending the only place she'd ever lived in other than Hogwarts. "I don't ever want to leave."
"You'd love the cottage Saffy," Harry told her. "You like places that are cosy."
"Doesn't someone else live in it now?" Saffron asked.
"Yes we sold it," Harry replied. "I haven't been back in that neighbourhood in years."
"And there will come a day when I won't be minister anymore," Hermione told her daughter. "And we'll have to move out of this place."
"I don't want to think about that," Saffron crossed her arms. "Some brat taking my room, marking up my walls..."
Hermione laughed and put an arm around her. "It might be some old bloke who converts your room into a study."
"Eww," Saffron said. "A guy living in my bedroom?"
"He might even paint the walls brown," Harry teased.
"I'll bloody come back here and paint them ivory again," Saffron pouted. "I don't want to leave this place!"
Hermione kissed the side of Saffron's head. "Sweetheart, chances are you'll have moved out of here yourself by the time I'm out of office."
"If I had a flat it would look much nicer than Ethan's," Saffron boasted. "And Ashley and Katie could spend the night every weekend."
"That would be fun Aunt Saffy," Ashley agreed.
"Of course it would," Saffron said as Ashley sat in her lap.
"We could watch scary movies," Ashley said excitedly. "And eat pizza at three in the morning!"
"Excuse me madam?" Julie asked raising an eyebrow.
"We wouldn't tell Mummy and Daddy right?" Katie whispered conspiratorially.
Saffron winked at her youngest niece.
"We'll have to see about that," Nick reached over and pulled Katie onto his lap.
Ashley looked around the room at her family. Her grandmother and mother were talking animatedly about something. Her grandfather was teasing Saffron as only he could and her father was tickling Katie and making her giggle. She'd felt bad about what had happened in Australia with her dad's parents. But now she felt sorry for them. They didn't have this.
*** *** ***
"She said my name and you know it," Jon said to Allison as they walked up the steps to her parents' home. Allison smiled down at the baby in her arms who was gurgling excitedly.
"It did sound an awful lot like Da," Caroline admitted.
"Well you still don't believe me when I told you she said Ma the other day," Allison pointed out.
"I never said I didn't believe you," Jon said opening up the front door.
"You did so," Allison reminded him. "You said and I quote "Yeah, uh huh sure love.'"
"I don't think I said it in that same tone, Al," Jon said defensively.
"Whose name did I say first?" Caroline asked curiously.
Allison and Jon both blushed. "You talked to Uncle Josh before you said Mum or Dad," Allison replied.
"Really?" Caroline asked.
"And he never lets us forget it," Jon said ushering his family inside.
"Hello!" Neville boomed as he caught sight of his daughter and her family coming in the door. "Happy Christmas!"
"Sorry we're late," Allison said giving her father a peck on the cheek.
"Look at all three of my girls," Neville said grinning at them. "You look so beautiful."
"We're all wearing red," Caroline said when Neville scooped her up. "Even Emma."
"So she is," Neville laughed. "And it's a beautiful colour on you too my little Caroline."
Caroline blushed and buried her face in Neville's shoulder.
"Happy Christmas, Mister Longbottom," Jon said holding out his hand. "You know for old time's sake."
"Of course, Jonathan," Neville grinned. "You're looking well."
Jon laughed. "It's all thanks to Al."
Allison took off Emma's small cloak and set it on the foyer table. "Mmmmuuh," Emma said suddenly causing Allison to beam down at her daughter.
"See?" Allison said happily. "She said Mum!"
"She said 'mmmmuh'," Jon said hastily. "Didn't she Neville?"
"It's the same as Mum," Allison argued. "Right Dad?"
"Caroline," Neville said quickly not ready to be roped into taking sides. "Let's go see Aunt Frankie, shall we?"
"Okay," Caroline giggled. "I brought The Little Mermaid with me to watch with her!"
Neville didn't let on that he had a feeling his youngest daughter would be a little too preoccupied to watch the movie tonight. At least she would if their special guest arrived when he was supposed to.
"You know who would love to see that?" Neville asked his granddaughter. "Your Aunt Chiaki loved that movie when she was a little girl."
"She did?" Caroline asked. "She can watch it too!"
"Watch what?" Chiaki asked coming out of the kitchen with a tray of biscuits.
"I brought The Little Mermaid Aunt Chiaki!" Caroline slid from Neville's grip and ran to her.
"Happy Christmas little one," Chiaki said setting the tray down before giving her niece a hug. "You look so pretty!"
"You do too Aunt Chiaki," Caroline reached for Chiaki's protruding stomach. "How's the baby?"
"Very active today," Chiaki said. "Kicking all over the place. Your Uncle Toshio thinks that if the baby isn't a dancer it will be quite the little footballer."
Caroline giggled as her aunt let her place her hand on her belly. "I think it's a little boy."
"You do?" Chiaki asked. "Well we are overloaded on the little girls in this family, aren't we?"
"I'll still be a good cousin either way," Caroline promised.
"Thank you baby," Chiaki said. "Do you want to go see Grandma and Toshio? They're in the sitting room?"
"Okay," Caroline agreed. "And I want to see Aunt Frankie too!"
"She hasn't stopped talking about Frankie since that one weekend she sat for us," Jon said to Neville. "Apparently she and Will were a big hit with Caroline."
"Will's a good man," Neville said trying not to give anything away. "He's good for Frankie."
"Aye," Jon agreed. "He seems like a really nice bloke."
"Who seems like a nice bloke?" Frankie asked coming up behind them.
"Me," Jon said grinning at her.
"In your dreams Jon," Frankie said kissing his cheek. "Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas Frankie," he said. "Have you seen Allie?"
"She's in the dining room with Emma repeating the words 'Ma' and 'Mum' over and over again while Emma just stares blankly at her," Frankie replied.
"No fair," Jon said putting his drink on the table. "She's coaching!"
"Coaching what?" Frankie laughed as Caroline threw herself into her arms. "Hey sweetheart."
"Coaching Emma to say Mum," Jon said excusing himself.
"They're trying to see whose name Emma will say first," Caroline explained. "I'm glad you're finally here!"
"I'm glad you're here too," Frankie gave the little girl a hug. "You look so pretty in your red jumper!"
"Guess what?" Caroline asked in a little voice. "I brought The Little Mermaid!"
"The Little Mermaid?" Frankie asked. "Oh- that's one of those Danny movies you like right?"
"Disney," Caroline corrected. "Aunt Frankie, I've told you that loads of times already."
"I know honey," Frankie kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry I keep forgetting."
"We can watch it now," Caroline suggested.
"No you can't!" Neville said quickly.
"Why not Grandpa?" Caroline asked confused.
"Yeah, why not Dad?" Frankie asked.
"We'll be eating soon," Neville replied. "And you don't want to start watching the movie and then have to stop right when it was getting good would you?"
"I suppose not," Frankie agreed. "Caroline after we open presents I promise we'll sit down and watch this okay?"
"Okay," Caroline said. "Did Santa bring you anything good?"
"Yes he did," Frankie laughed and showed her the bracelet that Will had given her a few days beforehand when they'd celebrated together alone.
"That's so pretty," Caroline said admiringly.
"And just wait until you see what I found for you," Frankie gave her another hug. "I think you'll like it!"
"What? What?" Caroline asked excitedly.
Frankie laughed. "You'll see after dinner sweetheart!"
"Let's eat really fast okay, Grandpa?" Caroline asked.
Neville laughed. "We'll try love. You'll have to tell your daddy not to go for thirds."
"We had loads of food at Nana's this morning," Caroline said conversationally. "Grandpa Ron ate soooooooooooo much."
"He always eats so much doesn't he?" Neville asked.
Caroline nodded and related to her aunt and grandfather how Ron had eaten almost an entire plate of sausages by himself.
Thankfully, Cho called everyone into the dining room where Jon and Allie had finally given up on coaching their daughter at least for the time being.
"Everything looks fabulous Mum," Frankie said admiring the table.
"Don't look at me," Cho said shaking her head. "This was all your Dad's doing."
"That's why nothing has been blackened," Neville joked.
"At least Al inherited her cooking skills from her dad," Jon said winking at his wife.
"Lucky for you," Allison returned with a grin.
"Let's tuck in," Chiaki said sitting down. "This is the first Christmas in ages where I'll be able to eat all the good stuff!"
"And I don't have to lift you," Toshio teased.
"Very funny Tosh," Chiaki said glaring at him. "Very funny."
"I'm sorry love," Toshio kissed his wife's cheek.
All throughout the meal, Neville kept checking his watch.
"You're not on some sort of timetable are you Dad?" Frankie asked. "Or do you have another Christmas dinner you have to go to?"
"No sweetheart of course not," Neville forced a chuckle as the doorbell rang. "I wonder who that could be.
"Frankie you go get the door." he said with a smile.
"I'll go and get it," Toshio said setting his napkin down.
"NO!" Neville said sharply. Everyone stared at him. "I really think Frankie should go and get it. Thanks ever so much though Toshio."
Frankie shook her head and stood up. "Okay Dad. Maybe you need to take it easy on the eggnog tonight."
"Sure, sure." Neville replied. He shook his head ever so slightly at Cho.
Frankie walked quickly to the door wondering what her father was on about. She hoped he hadn't bought her a dog or something like he had for Caroline last Christmas. She could barely look after herself, she thought opening the door. But it wasn't a dog or some other pet on her parents' front steps. It was Will, dressed in a nice suit and a Santa hat.
"Will?" she asked, taken aback. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Happy Christmas," he grinned, giving her a kiss before she could say anything in return.
"I-I thought you were in Devon with your family," Frankie said breathlessly a moment later when they pulled apart.
"I was," Will replied. "But I missed you. And I really wanted to see you today."
"We're still eating," Frankie said motioning over her shoulder. "This isn't really a good---"
"Of course it is," Neville said from behind her. "Hello Will. Happy Christmas!"
"Hello sir," Will shook his hand. "Good to see you again."
"Dad," Frankie said suddenly realising that Will must have been the reason why she couldn't watch the movie with Caroline and why he kept checking his watch throughout dinner. "What's going on?"
"Nothing Francesca," Neville replied. "Why would anything be going on? It's Christmas and everyone's here to celebrate."
Frankie didn't believe him for a second, but took Will's hand and led him into the dining room. Caroline practically launched herself at him.
"I didn't know you were going to be here!" she said laughing as he picked her up.
"Hello Princess," he swung her around. "How is her royal highness this evening?"
"Stuffed to the gills," Caroline said patting her stomach much like her Grandpa Ron had that morning at the Burrow.
"Um," Frankie said nervously. "You already know Caroline, of course. And Jon and Allie. And my mum. This is my older sister Chiaki and her husband Toshio. Chi, Tosh...this is Will Barron."
"Hello Will," Chiaki struggled to her feet. "You'll have to excuse me- I'm carrying a bit of extra weight right now." she smiled. "But it's lovely to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Frankie."
"Likewise," Will said shaking first her hand and then Toshio's.
"Excuse me so I can set another place," Cho said getting up and disappearing into the kitchen.
Frankie didn't know what to say. She didn't know what her father and Will were playing at but it was obvious to her that the two of them were in cahoots. What she couldn't understand though was how? They'd only met each other a handful of times.
"Thanks Mum," she said weakly as Cho set a new place beside her for Will.
"So Will," Jon said. "What's new and exciting? Aside from Frankie that is." he grinned wickedly at his sister in law.
"Shouldn't you be coaching Emma or something?" Frankie asked.
"She's fast asleep," Jon said looking over his shoulder to where Emma was sleeping peacefully in her seat.
"Well why don't you go snog your wife?" Frankie muttered under her breath.
"And miss all the fun?" Jon asked. "Not a chance!"
Everyone laughed at this, save for Frankie who looked as if she wanted to just run upstairs and lock herself up in her old bedroom.
"You should really try some of my dad's potatoes," Frankie said spooning some onto Will's plate. "They're really delicious."
"I didn't think I was hungry but this smells fantastic," Will said.
"Did your family have a big feast too?" Allison asked.
"Are you kidding?" Will laughed. "My mum made enough food to feed an army."
"Sounds like she needs to meet my dad," Jon laughed. "He eats enough to feed an army."
Everyone laughed again, except for Frankie who was suddenly very interested in moving the food around on her plate.
Allison tapped her sister on the shoulder while Will was talking to Neville and Cho.
"Smile Francesca," Allison whispered. "You look like Scrooge."
"I can't help it," Frankie muttered back. "I hate surprises like this."
"Surprises like what?" Allison whispered. "Your boyfriend surprising you like this on Christmas? I think it's very sweet."
"You would," Frankie rolled her eyes. "I already told him I was busy tonight."
"Frankie--" Allison argued.
"Did you go to Hogwarts too, Will?" Toshio asked.
Will nodded. "I was a year ahead of Frankie. I was in Ravenclaw."
"But we didn't really know each other back then," Frankie replied. "It wasn't until a few years out of school that we met at a pub."
"I noticed her in school though," Will said smiling at Frankie. "How could you not?"
Frankie turned so red she was almost purple.
"And the rest as they say is history," Will continued before taking a sip of his wine.
"I'm so glad you could join us," Cho said smiling warmly across the table at him. "What a lovely surprise!"
"I just hope Frankie's as glad as the rest of you are," Will glanced meaningfully at her.
"Of course," Frankie said forcing a smile.
Emma awoke and started to cry and Frankie seized her chance to escape. "I'll take care of it, Allie."
"It's okay," Allison said. "You don't really---"
"No I really don't mind," Frankie was already halfway out of the dining room.
"Want some company?" Will asked pushing back from his seat.
"I've got it," Frankie called over her shoulder.
Will stared after her wondering what he'd done wrong.
"I'd never see the day when I'd see Frankie volunteer to change a dirty nappy," Cho said trying to keep the mood light.
"You should go help her anyway," Neville told Will. "I think the only time she's even seen a nappy is that weekend she took care of the girls."
Will nodded. "Aye, if you'll excuse me..."
He found Frankie a few moments later in the sitting room with Emma. "Everything okay?" he asked softly.
"Oh!" Frankie's head shot up in surprise. "Everything's fine."
"She didn't need changing then?" Will asked stepping further into the room.
"No she's fine," Frankie kissed the little girl's forehead. "I think she's just a bit hungry is all."
"I could fetch a bottle if you'd like," Will offered.
"I'll just take her into the kitchen and feed her," Frankie said as she got up.
Will could tell something wasn't quite right with Frankie, but he decided to let it go for now. He didn't want to get into a row today of all days.
"You're a natural with her," he said instead.
"It's because I don't have one of my own," Frankie smiled at him finally. "I think it makes me a little more patient."
"When you have kids, you'll be much more experienced," Will said. "We'll be old pros."
Frankie's smile froze. "I won't be having kids for years," she said, choosing not to comment on his 'we' comment.
Will watched her as she set Emma in a high chair.
"You look beautiful tonight, Frankie," he said reaching into his pocket and feeling for the ring box. "Absolutely stunning."
"Thanks Will," Frankie said. "It's nice of you to say even though I'm just wearing this old thing."
"You look beautiful in that old thing," Will said knowing for a fact that Frankie had bought that very dress a couple of days ago. She'd even modelled it for him. "I hope it's okay me showing up like I did. I just didn't want to spend Christmas without you."
Something inside her softened at his expression and his words. "I'm glad to see you too," she admitted.
Will smiled. "And I finally got to meet the rest of your family. They're really great, Frankie."
"Yeah they are," Frankie guided the bottle towards Emma's lips and the little girl grabbed onto it with her hands.
Will took a deep breath. This was his moment. He knew her parents' kitchen wasn't the most ideal place, but it didn't matter. He took her hands in his.
"Frankie," he began nervously. "I love you very much. You know that, right?"
A gnawing sensation began in her stomach. "Yes," she said. "I know that."
"I've never felt this way about anyone before," he continued. "You make me so happy and I can't imagine spending my life without you."
"That's um... that's sweet of you to say Will," Frankie said uncertainly.
Will got down on one knee and pulled the ring box from his pocket. "Francesca Longbottom, will you do me the honour of being my wife?"