Relative Chaos

Author’s Note: Sorry I haven’t been around. I would like to make an apology for some mistakes I have made in the story. Gilbert’s wife’s name is Susan, not Serena. I had forgotten that I had mentioned her. And the babysitter’s name is Erica, not Rebecca.

Relative Chaos

Hermione Potter

Chapter 4: It’s A Girl!

         “And today’s game is Mosaic Pictures. Object of the game is to look at the pictures in the book and decipher what the image is! The first to guess 5 right wins this one.” James announced while everyone was gathered in the dining room. Gilbert, Elizabeth, and Harry each had a thick book which was filled with images that made up bigger images.

             Harry quickly looked at everyone who was watched and saw Hermione sitting patiently, watching with a smile on her lips. But his short spree of glee disappeared when he discovered his girlfriend with her fists in the air impatiently rooting him on.

             “Ready, set, GO!” James announced as Lily took out the answer key for each page.

             The three quickly set off to win this one.

             Harry turned the pages and began to see what it was.

             Well, there’s a beak....and white feathers....His eyes widened. “Page 5! It’s a hen!”

             “Right! Point to Harry.”

             Hermione clapped happily for him and smiled victoriously at him. He smiled back at her and gave him a thumbs up. From then on the competition grew fierce.

             “Page 34, Tulip!” Gilbert cried out.

             “Point to Gilbert.”

             “Page 15, cherry pie!” Elizabeth answered.

             “Point.”

             “Page 25, cookies!” Harry called out.

             “Wrong.”

             Harry began to grow irritated as the game went on. Every time he had tried to get a point, Gilbert had turned to the exact page and got the photo easily. It was really starting to piss the hell out of him.

             Fifteen minutes in the game, Elizabeth was in last place. Harry was in the lead. And Gilbert was second. Just one more photo and Harry would win!

             “Page 32. Scrambled eggs,” Gilbert quickly said, hoping to catch up to Harry. He wasn’g going to let his little brother show him up again.

             “Point.”

             “PAGE 28, LEOPARD!” Harry called out. He looked at his father intently and his breath caught in his throat, waiting for his mother’s verdict.

             “Looks like we have ourselves a winner! Harry has one the Mosaics!” Lily announced, clapping.

             “Way to go!” James smiled, clapping his hand on his son’s back. He knew that with just enough of a push that Harry would go far. He just needed a boost of confidence.

             “How is this even possible? I mean I would have won at least one game by now!” Elizabeth loathed, throwing down the book and stomping up to her room, slamming the door where everyone could hear it.

             Everyone looked at one another before Gilbert shot up and accused Harry, “You so cheated!”

             “I did not. Just because I’m smarter than you doesn’t mean that I cheated. You’re just too dim to realize that I won and you lost! To me.” Harry smirked with victory, his arms crossed over his chest. Gilbert growled lowly and turned to his parents. “I’ll be on a walk. SUSAN, TELL ERICA TO LOOK AFTER THE KIDS!” Gilbert shouted loudly before he walked out of room and out.

             “Oh Harry! You did it!” Ginny squealed, swinging her arms around his neck and suffocating him. He smiled and looked down at her. “Thanks for cheering me on.” he said sincerely.

             She giggled and shook her head. “Oh Harry, it was all you.”

             She let her arms fall and her eyes sparkled. “I’m going to go into town and do some shopping. And I’ll pick you up a nice surprise.” He nodded with a relieved sigh and turned to see that he was the only one in the room. “Hey, where did everyone go?”

             “We’re in the kitchen, sweetheart. Come have something sweet to eat,” Lily called lovingly.

             He made his way through into the kitchen and saw James, Lily, Grandmum Alice, Grandpa David, and Hermione sitting at the kitchen table munching on caramelized popcorn. He took a seat beside Hermione and let them continue their conversation while he began eating himself.

             “Oh Hermione, you know you’d make a lovely Healer. You were such a good and prominent student at Hogwarts. I’m surprised that you didn’t have every organization in the world begging you to help them promote,” Alice chuckled, watching the young girl’s cheeks turn a shade of bright pink.

             “Oh please, Alice. I’m sure that not every one of them would be,” she replied teasingly, a bit of embarrassment tinted on her voice. They all rolled their eyes and chuckled. They knew that Hermione would make it far in life.

             “Hermione, have I ever spoke to you about how lovely you look these days? Not that you weren’t blossoming before. But you’re radiant these days,” Lily said adoringly, running a hand down Hermione’s face.

             “Thank you. But you really don’t need to be doing this. I’m getting really embarrassed,” she smiled.

             “Aye, if I was just a few years younger, I’d consider dating you,” James let out a heart laugh, earning a smack from Lily. “Am I right or what Harry?” Everyone turned to look at him expectantly. Including Hermione.

             “Uh...I...Yeah..I mean...any guy would be lucky to date her,” he turned away from their burning eyes. Hermione frowned a bit and turned to the others. “I should really get back to the shop. I’m sure that there are customers wondering why there isn’t anyone there,” she forced a smile.

             “Oh Hermione, take a break. You’re always working. You need a few days off. And if you do not, I will forbid you from working till the Potter Cup is over. You got that?” Alice demanded.

             Hermione sighed and nodded. But I should get back. I told Mr. Addamsbee that I’d help him pick out a gift for his wife. But I’ll be back tonight for the next game. Around six is all right?”

             “Absolutely. We’ll see you tonight then sweetheart. Take care,” Alice gave a friendly smile.

             “Here’ I’ll show you to the door,” Lily suggested, getting up from her seat.

             “Aye. Whaddya say to a game of Quidditch?” David grinned, getting up.

             “You wouldn’t last a minute, old man.” James challenged.

             “Hey, you got those Qudditch genes from me. We’ll see who wouldn’t last a minute,” David replied, summoning his broom. “Are you coming Harry?” he asked his grandson.

             “You know I wouldn’t turn down a game,” he grinned before getting up and following them out into the backyard.

             After the men had filed into the backyard, Lily had come back into the room and sat beside her mother-in-law. “I’m sure that you’ve been dying to say that you can not stand that girl,” Alice started, folding her hands.

             “Hermione?”

             “Of course not. I adore that girl. I’m talking about that woman Harry brought here with him. You know I always wanted Hermione as a granddaughter. I always figured she’d end up with Harry,” Alice explained, a sigh escaping her lips.

             “We all can’t have our wishes come true. But I do agree with you,” Lily said, a sparkle in the corner of her eye.

             “That night the same number of people were gathered into the living room of the Potter home. Gilbert, Harry, and Elizabeth sat on the floor in front of the coffee table, a Monopoly game board in the middle of the table. The rules of the game were obvious.

             “Now you all know the drill. We played this game a lot. So whoever wins, wins this round.” James explained.

             “Whoever rolls highest number goes first,” Lily instructed, taking out a dice.

             Elizabeth: 5

             Gilbert: 2

             Harry: 4

             Gilbert sighed and watched as Elizabeth and Harry made their moves.

             An hour later, Gilbert was in the lead and had earned a lot of property. Harry and Elizabeth were tied for second and everyone was silent as they watched the game. Ginny was bending over the table and watching like a hawk. Making sure no one would cheat.

             Hermione sat behind her, a cup of hot cocoa in her hands. She rolled her eyes at Ginny and leaned back against the armchair, sipping quietly.

             The silence was broken when the door bell rang. “I’ll get it. But who could that be?” Lily questioned rhetorically, walking to the entrance and opening the door. The others continued to play, wanted to win the Potter Cup. A bit of chatter could be heard from the other room but no one bothered to listen.

             Then Lily entered the room, a young woman behind her. Everyone turned to look. The woman had soft blonde curls cascading down her shoulders, bright blue eyes that shined and she was dressed warmly in an overcoat and a hat.

             “Elizabeth sweetheart, there’s someone here to see you,” Lily said softly. Elizabeth looked at the girl confused. “Do I know you?”

             “Well, no. We met briefly. But do you remember a man named Matthew Pearson?” she questioned softly. Elizabeth nodded. “I dated him for a bit. How did you know that?”

             “You gave birth to a girl about two years into the relationship....,” she trailed off.

             “And I gave her up for adoption. If you are here to question me about the pa-,” But she was cut off by the woman’s next statement.

             “I’m your daughter.”

Author’s Note: Hello all. I’m sure you’ve anticipated this chapter and I deeply apologize for the shortness of it. But I hope that you can all understand that I have been quite busy the past few months. Trying to get my grades up in chemistry and math. As well as rehearsing for my school’s production of Grease. =] Woo, I’m Jan if any of you are wondering. Hehe.

P.S. Review please! I’d be deeply grateful and plus, I’ll write more. =]