DISCLAIMER: Vidia, Adelaide, Sven Krum, and Tyche the kitty are all mine. Everyone else is not. Boo. :(
"Al, honey, would you get the door? I'm on the phone! Addie, not right now, Mum is talking to Aunt Aggy... Albus!" The doorbell was ringing off the wall outside of the Potter household and Ainsley Warrington Potter was much too busy to see who it was. That left her husband Albus to go and get it. There was a groan in the other room as a man emerged, the sound of the television shutting off in tune with it. The man was youthful and handsome, with chestnut brown hair and bright eyes. He was of medium build and average height, and he looked very tired. Fortunately, it was no longer his daughter Adelaide who kept him (and his wife) awake, only with the occasional "Can I sleep with you? I heard a noise!" No, it was just work that kept him busy, being Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, succeeding his wife when their daughter was born. Running a hand through his hair and yawning, Albus Severus Potter crossed past the staircase that lead to the second floor of his home and headed toward the front door.
Reaching for the handle, the younger Potter son almost fell backwards when he saw who was standing there, smiling at him. The woman was about an inch or so shorter than Albus, dressed in a long trench coat and patent black heeled boots. She held a large, plaid bag in front of her, both gloved hands clasped around its handle. Her dark brown hair fell in waves over her shoulders, contrasting her ivory-coloured skin. Her eyes were a luminous blue, and her pearly white teeth were fully displayed in her happy expression. A pretty blue scarf was tied around her neck, a very similar color to the scarf she'd worn years ago as a Hogwarts student. Albus stared at the woman, haven't having seen her much in about 3 years. The visitor chuckled at his expression, then spoke. She sounded almost exactly the same as she had 10 years ago.
"Is that all you can do when you see one of your closest friends, Mr. Potter? Didn't your mother ever teach you that it is rude to stare?" Albus continued to stare, but a smile broke across his tired face, immediately warming his whole face. He laughed.
"I'll have you know I get my manners from my father. And it has been ages since I've seen you, love, so you can't really expect so much when I'm still 'Awkward Alby'." Al chuckled, and the woman laughed with him before reaching in for a hug. He was so happy to see his old friend, as she'd been away for so long and only wrote letters from her out-of-country residence. He took her arm in his and they walked outside for a moment as he headed to the post box. She chuckled, shaking her head.
"I've finally come back and all you do when you see me is stare, and then go about your daily routine? Al, you are unbelievable!" The brunette chuckled as Albus took envelopes out of the box before turning back to her and sticking his tongue out in a very childish way. He led her along and picked up his copies of the Daily Prophet and The Quibbler before opening the screen door and gesturing for the woman to go in. She smiled and crossed the threshold, looking around at the lobby of the house. It was quaint and charming. Not much had changed since that previous time she'd visited, which was surprising because she hadn't been to the Potter house in about three years.
"Ainsley! Finish up your phone call! Can't keep our very special guest waiting, dear!" The woman smiled as Albus called to his wife. She heard a soft pattering of feet from the direction of the kitchen, and a young girl with curly, honey blonde hair appeared before the two adults. She apprised the woman standing with her father and, recognizing who she was, ran to her with outstretched arms. The woman easily caught the younger female, sweeping her up and spinning her around laughing.
"Auntie Vidia! I missed you! We all missed you! How long have you been back? Did you bring me presents?" The little girl spoke so quickly that the woman just laughed.
"I missed you too, Addie darling. I've been back for a few weeks, and of course I brought you presents! What kind of Auntie would I be if I didn't bring my favorite goddaughter presents?" She chuckled and kissed the little girl on the cheeks before setting her down and letting her run back to the kitchen to retrieve her mother.
Albus turned and looked at the woman called Vidia and grinned.
"I would ask you how you've been and what you've been up to, but I expect Ainsley and Addie will ask as well, so I'll save you the trouble of having to tell your story twice. But a few questions! One, why didn't you tell me you were back in England? And two, how long are you staying?" Vidia smiled at her friend, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger nervously. It had always been a habit of hers, even during their school days. She chuckled and was about to answer when a tall, willowy blonde woman walked, or rather, waddled into the room and gasped at her in delight. The pregnant Mrs. Potter engulfed Vidia in a hug.
"We have been wondering when you were going to come back! You've had all of us very worried about you, Vidia! Very, very glad to see you, all the same! Let's go into the living room so we can catch up, shall we? Most important questions, of course, are how long have you been back, how long are you staying, and… Are congratulations in order?" Vidia chuckled and followed the blonde into the other room, with Albus and Adelaide trailing behind the two women.
Everyone immediately turned to Vidia and waited for her to answer the burning questions that were on their minds. She blushed under their gazes and laughed.
"I got back a few weeks ago and have been staying with my parents at their house. As for staying, I couldn't really give you an estimate, but I believe it will be for good, if that gives you any satisfaction. And…" The brunette held up her left hand, which was bare of any jewelry whatsoever.
"I am still Vidia Dolohov, to answer your final question. Welcome home would be much more appropriate!" She smiled, nodding at Ainsley and placing her bag from her lap onto the ground. Ainsley and Albus exchanged a look, then turned to Vidia.
"What happened to Krum? He back out?" Albus said a little gruffly, frowning. He hadn't met Vidia's ex-fiancé, but he hadn't really been too keen on the man from Vidia's description. Nonetheless, he always wanted his friend to be happy, as did his wife. Vidia shook her head, sighing. She figured she would have to explain to everyone about what had happened, but she was very reluctant to tell the true story. So she told a white lie.
"We both backed out. Sven and I… we're just too different, and we both have our careers to think about. It was for the best, and we decided to stay friends. So now I'm back here, looking for a more local job! I love traveling, but my mother always tells me I could use a bit of stability in my life." She chuckled, sounding a little wistful. Ainsley caught her tone and sent a glance at Albus, but he was looking at Vidia eagerly so that she would go on with her story, so Ainsley just asked another question.
"So tell us all about Bulgaria and your travels! We want to know about your work, instead of just reading it in theProphet!" Vidia chuckled, rolling her eyes. Her job had also become less and less enjoyable as it conformed to her location of residence.
"Well you know I originally went to write about the cultures of other countries, but I slowly began writing commentaries on the Bulgarian Quidditch games and whatnot because my boss at the Prophet knew I was dating, and then engaged, to Svensklov. It was fun at first, but you know I don't really like sports, and therefore it wasn't my best writing. I only did it because I was living in Bulgaria and it was convenient, and the team let me travel with them to matches. I'm actually glad I'm back here at home, I can write much more interesting stories in my native country than anywhere else, it seems."
The Potters frowned, but Vidia noticed and laughed, so they laughed along with her. Just as they were about to ask more or see if she had any pictures, she picked her bag up off the ground. She seemed to have noticed Adelaide squirming in her chair, and was looking to remedy it. She smiled and pulled a small box out of her bag, holding it up for Addie to see. The little blonde squealed and ran over, taking a seat between her mother and godmother. Vidia handed the girl the box and winked at Albus as Addie pulled impatiently at the bow around it. She tore off the brown paper and pulled up the lid. Inside was a glass bird, perched on a branch. Addie carefully slipped the statue out of the box and looked at it. As soon as she touched the bird, however, it melted down into a basin below the branch. Addie looked horrified, and tears welled up in her eyes, but Vidia shushed her gently and told her to wait for a minute. Soon enough, a rush of air emitted upwards from the basin, and the bird was once again perched on the branch. Addie shrieked in delight and wrapped her arms around the older female, causing Vidia to smile. Ainsley got up and asked Adelaide if she wanted to take the glass phoenix upstairs after reminding her to thank "Auntie Vidia", and the two Potter girls plodded out of the room.
Albus looked at his friend and spoke up, breaking the silence after a moment.
"That was quite a gift. I hope you didn't spend too much on it. Lily and Aggy already spoil her as it is!" He chuckled and Vidia just smiled, wrinkling her nose with a laugh.
"She's my goddaughter and she calls me Auntie Vidia! You can't expect me not to give her nice things. She's so damn cute! She's getting big… I wish I could've been hear to see her first day at school…" Vidia sighed, looking at her boots.
"We really have missed you, Vids… Everyone has. Teddy's 30th birthday was last week. Victoire announced that she was pregnant again when we all went there for dinner. When she said she wanted a big family, she meant it!" Albus chuckled, rolling his eyes, and this little tidbit of news also cheered up the brunette a bit. It was nice to know that her friends still remembered her and that their lives were going well. She hadn't seen many of them for what felt like a very long time. She wanted to hear more.
Just then, Ainsley and Adelaide came back downstairs and walked into the parlor, announcing that lunch was ready. Vidia took that as her cue to leave, against the protests of her hosts. She hugged each of the Potters as they headed toward the door.
"Oh, Vidia! If you'll still be around in a week, they're having a party for Jackson Greyback. I don't know if you remember him, but we're supposed to be inviting all of the old gang, and we would love it if you would come. We promise we'll keep it a secret that you're here. It would be a lovely surprise indeed if you came." Ainsley smiled at her friend, and Albus nodded along with his wife. Vidia pursed her lips for a moment, then smiled.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world. I hope me appearing there doesn't steal the spotlight from the guest of honor!" She winked and everyone laughed at her joke. Vidia said goodbye again, promising for a second time to attend the party if Ainsley would send her the details of when and where the event was taking place. Albus walked Vidia outside, but stopped her before she disapparated.
"He's moved, you know. About a month after you left. He hasn't been around these parts for as long as you've been away…" Vidia blinked, staring up at Albus. The ghost of a frown passed over her lips before she just laughed.
"Always so cryptic, Albus dear. I haven't the foggiest who you're talking about! I'll see you and the family again soon love. Maybe we could have tea or something!"
Giving her friend a final hug goodbye, Vidia walked a little down the block and then disappeared, living Albus to scratch his head. It dawned on him that maybe she really didn't know who he was referring to, but he thought he'd seen a little sadness in her eyes, and decided she had. Shaking his head, he chuckled and walked back inside to his family. Vidia arrived back in her apartment and dropped her bag off on her chair. She looked around aimlessly before sighing and going to the kitchen. She made herself a cup of chamomile tea and got into her "writing chair" in the corner of the living room. She picked up her reporter's notebook, which was lying on the table between the chair and the bookshelf. Vidia uncorked her ink, still accustomed even then to using a quill instead of a ballpoint pen. She dipped the nib into the ink, scratched a little on the page to test, then started writing. Suddenly she stopped, staring at the page. In a flash, she threw her notebook across the room, which startled her cat Tyche, who was asleep on the windowsill. She blinked, feeling her emotions getting heavy. Vidia breathed in and out, trying to calm herself down. When she felt that she had resettled herself, she got up and gave Tyche a murmured apology as she picked up the notebook and reset it on the table. She grabbed her keys and decided to go for a walk to clear her head. It was strange how violently she'd reacted to what was stuck in her mind. Vidia had tried to forget Scorpius Malfoy for about four years now, and she had apparently been utterly unsuccessful.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Welcome to my second Next Gen story, written awhile ago in accordance with a roleplay I was a part of. If you want to see the events that sort-of precede this story, keep up with my other Next Gen story :) Vidia will always be my favorite creation. I also love writing for Albus. He's so adorably awkward, even as a father and husband. xD R&R to find out what Albus plans to do with the news of Vidia's return...