Chapter Seven:

Elijah strolled up the walk to his house, whistling happily. His mother was a genius! Christie was perfect. And tomorrow...no, today they were going out to Diagon Alley. He planned on holding her hand the entire time. To say he liked her was an understatement. He was ENTHRALLED by her.

He quietly opened the front door, frowning at the amount of light coming from the kitchen. It was two in the morning for heaven's sake! He cautiously poked his head around the corner and immediately paled in dread.

His mother was shushing his best friend, Zane Peters, who was sobbing inconsolably. Elijah's heart sank further at the sight of Zane's things piled on the floor by the oven.

"Tell me this doesn't mean what I think..." Eli croaked.

Zane stood and practically sprinted to his friend. The blonde wrapped his arms around Elijah tightly. Eli hugged him, rubbing his friend's back soothingly.

"They're gone...they..." Zane choked on his tears.

Elijah felt tears spill over as his shook with sorrow. As he suspected, Charles and Anne Peters were dead. They were Eli's father's childhood friends. His partners in creating WizTops. Family. And now, they were gone just like Dad.

"How?" he whispered.

"Plane crash," Hermione replied. "It's in their Will that Zane is to live with us."

The Peterses were international travelers. They had no permanent residence and Zane was homeschooled from the beginning. They had spent every holiday with the Davises. Zane was just as much a brother as Samson, Jonah, Daniel, and Jacob were. "It's...well it's NOT okay. But it'll get better, I promise," Elijah whispered. "Try to remember their life...not this."

Zane pulled away, nodding. He needed to hear that. "Do you still have the bunks?"

Elijah nodded. "Go on up. I'll be there in a minute." He watched him go. "What in the hell were they doing in a plane? We're wizards for crying out loud!"

"When they traveled so much the private plane ride was the only time to really have family bonding time." Hermione wiped her nose. "So...how was it?" she asked warmly.

The boy sighed, not knowing if he should be happy anymore.

Hermione realized this. "It's fine to be excited about something, Eli. If anything, Zane needs us to be normal. You know that."

He did know. Zane had done that for him after Dad. He grinned, remembering his fun night, he had.

"She is perfection," he breathed, dreamily. "I swear I feel thirteen all over again. You remember my first crush? How I could barely speak around her and all I did was stare? You know you were thirteen once...or sixteen, right?"

Hermione scratched her head. "I didn't really have time for crushes when I was thirteen...or sixteen for that matter..."

"Why? What were you doing?"

She had forgotten how little she spoke of her past. "Chasing werewolves with a Time Turner...and leading an underground group of students against the Man...toss in a few Death Eaters too..."

Eli stared at his mother.

"What? I was best friends with Harry Potter!"

Eli shook it off and continued, deciding that that was a discussion for another time. "Anyway, you should have seen the look on Gabrielle and Zambini's faces. Gobsmacked, jealous outrage! It was vindicating! I think I danced with every female relative she had, and her too, of course. You are a genius!" he beamed and then exhaled. "And I'll probably have to cancel now, but we were going to Diagon Alley today. She's not like other girls, you know? It's like, she's unaware of how perfect she is. Thank you."

Hermione cupped his stubbled cheek, kindly. "I'm glad. I'll explain the situation to Harry if you want."

"No, I better do it myself."

"You are growing up right in front of me."

"Mom...don't get all mother-hen on me. I still have two years of school left," he drawled.

"Go to bed, muffin," she said sweetly.

"Mom..." he whined.

She chuckled. "KIDDING. But seriously...you should get some sleep."

He kissed her cheek. "Night, Mom."


Harry was drinking coffee and reading Quidditch Weekly when there was a knock at the door. Smiling, he let Elijah in. "You did well last night...I'm pleased that it was mostly NOT an act," he grinned. "Chris said you two have a date?"

"Actually, I'm going to have to take a raincheck. My dad's best friend and his wife died in a plane crash yesterday. Their son is living with us now. I'd love to go out with Christie, but I think I should stay with Zane today. We'll see each other at the party tomorrow anyway," Elijah explained calmly.

Harry nodded. "Is your mother okay? How's she dealing?"

Elijah gave him a studying look. He knew what that really meant. Harry Potter was attracted to her. In the past he had scared possible suitors away because they weren't good enough for his mother...but how much better could they get next to this man? Potter knew his mother, they'd been best friends. He had the finances to take care of them...and while he was powerful and strong, there was a gentleness to his persona. He was a genuinely good man and if he could trust Elijah with Christie...then Eli would have to return the favor. He made a decision, smirking slowly.

"Uh...she's well. She's good about grief. I mean, she handles loss well."

Harry nodded. He did too...because of the war.

"But...I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you stopped by to help set up. I'll be distracting Zane and my brothers will be finishing their summer assignments. She'll be working alone..."

Harry's brows rose. That sounded a lot like a green light to pursue Hermione. He smiled slyly. "I could bring Christie...Molly said she would be over there preparing the kitchen for tomorrow. And Christie does like to cook..."

Elijah's blue eyes twinkled. "Only if you want to, of course."

"Right, right," Harry nodded nonchalantly. "What if I was around that area...say, three-ish?"

"I can't say anyone would object..."

Harry chuckled. "Chris! Elijah's here!" he called. He strolled out into his study.

Elijah exhaled happily at the sight of her.

"Hey," she smiled. "You're early."

"Look, I can't go today." He watched her expression fall to disappointment. "I want to, my best friend's parents died yesterday and he's moved in. So I think I need to just hang with him today."

"Oh..." She rolled her eyes and drawled playfully, "I suppose that's a reasonable excuse to ruin my day."

"Your father indicated that the two of you may or may not stop by to help Mom and Molly."

"Did he now?" She smiled up at his teasing expression.

"He did. I don't think I would protest the visit." He leaned down and pecked her cheek. "See you later."


"So, your mom said you were at a Ball with some chick she set you up with last night?" Zane asked. He certainly looked better than this morning.

Elijah laid back on the pier, his feet in the pond. Zane was doing the same beside him. They had gone running, flying, and swimming already. Zane had even laughed a few times.

"Yep," Elijah replied.

"So...is she hot?" he grinned mischievously. "I mean...was it fun?"

"I had a blast," he smiled. "And hell yes, she's hot."

"How hot?" Zane rolled over onto his stomach.

Elijah thought a moment, smirking. He replied, "Remember Adrienne Sexton? Hotter."

Zane's lime-green eyes got wide. "Dude...does she have a sister?"

Eli snorted. "Actually...yes...but, Gabrielle is...well, she's a bitch. Pretty, but her personality makes her ugly, you know? Here's my theory...judging by her current choice in boyfriend, she's had a series of assholes. I think she's been hurt over and over, and her body taken advantage of..."

"Slut by circumstance," Zane stated.

Elijah blinked a few times before continuing. "I think...that if she dated a real gentleman, she'd become someone totally different. Because there is no way that she can have two sisters so warm and kind...and not have the same qualities under all that crap...she might be the girl for you actually."

"I do like the misunderstood ones...I'll have to see for myself. How much of an asshole is her current beau?" Elijah bluntly relayed the whole torrid affair with Chris, Gabby and Zambini. Zane was shocked. "That is just...disgusting! What a...guys like that piss me off!"

"I know," Eli sighed.

"When do I meet this hotter-than-Adrienne-Sexton-chick?"

"She's coming over today with her dad. You know who her dad is?"

"Obviously not."

"He's Harry Potter."

"Sweet!" Zane caught his friend's bland expression. "No, not sweet, terrible! Why is this a bad thing?"

"I think he likes my mother," he said quietly. "And I think she likes him back. He's a nice enough guy...it's just..."

"He's not your dad."

Elijah nodded. They were silent for a long while. "But she deserves to be happy, even if it's with another man. It's been SIX YEARS...it's not like he died last week. She has a right to move on." He swallowed. "It's just that the way they look at each other and talk about each other...it's like they've loved each other all along."

Zane considered his friend's concerns a moment. "Be rational, Eli. Your mom was madly in love with your father. So...I guess if they get together, it's not that they loved they're first spouses more or less...just different. Understand?" He stared at the pier beneath him. "What I'm saying is, if Hermione falls for Potter, she's not going to forget Papa Derek. But she does deserve to be happy and like always she won't act on what she feels until she's certain you and your brothers are okay with it. Who are you to keep her from being happy again? Because you know she hasn't been truly happy in six years."

Elijah nodded. "You're right." He stood stretching. "Let's go in, I could use a nap."

"Yeah."

By then they were dry from their swim. They strolled, shirtless up the stone path to the house. Elijah paused smiling goofily at what he saw. Zane furrowed his brow, but followed his gaze. His eyes widened at the sight of a redheaded girl with jeans and a white tank top, hanging lanterns in the trees. "Is that her?"

"On second thought, I'll skip the nap."

Zane smirked. Oh the kid had it bad. "Definitely need to meet the sister."

Elijah looked over and both boys burst into laughter. Their voices carried, causing Christie to pause in her task and stare at her boyfriend's toned chest. She bit her lip shyly as he jogged up.

"Fancy meeting you here," he smiled. "I'm going to go get dressed. I'll be out in a bit."

"Oh, don't put a shirt on on account of me," she teased, as she played with his damp hair. She winked at the other boy. "Please, by all means continue your shirtless male bonding."

He narrowed his eyes. "What am I? A piece of meat?" he growled playfully.

"I think the nicer term is 'eye-candy,'" she replied, smirking.

Zane laughed at his friend's expense. Elijah chuckled. "Christie this is Zane."

"Will you be going to Hogwarts with us too?" she asked warmly.

"I think so, yeah."

"Wicked!" she smiled. "Hopefully you'll be in Gryffindor."

"We get sorted into teams. It's who we live with and the teams compete academically and athletically all year," Elijah explained briefly.

Zane nodded. "Cool. I'm going to go shower now."

Elijah smiled knowingly as his friend left so they could have some time alone. "You look beautiful toda...hmmm."

Christie pulled his head down so that she could kiss him. She pulled away, relishing the look of sheer wanting in his eyes. "God, I've been wanting to do that...and thank you," she breathed.

"Telling you how good you look earns a kiss?" he asked mischievously.

"Only when you're genuine."

"Well then, I should also say that you are...the most exquisitely gorgeous GODDESS I have ever been worthy to lay my eyes on. You are perfection and I am-mmf!"

Christie deepened the kiss this time, nibbling at his lips, smiling at the way his arms pulled her closer. She pulled away panting, pleased that he was too.

Elijah cleared his throat and loosened his grip on the girl. "Now...if you'll excuse me...I must go take a shower...a COLD shower," he said huskily.


Inside, Harry was lightly teasing Hermione for her need to have all the right silverware as he polished said cutlery. "All I'm saying is, is the Hermione I know would have found this frivolous and silly."

"Marry a blue-blood southern gentleman and then make jokes about me and my interest in presentation," she chided.

"I would but I'm afraid I am tragically straight," he stated.

Hermione blinked at him a few times. "You know you are so much bubblier without the weight of the world on your shoulders."

"And you're more fun when you aren't stuffing study guides down my throat," he drawled.

Both laughed at the exchange. Sighing, Harry wiped his hands. "Okay, this is just crazy-dad-who-wants-his-daughter-committed-to-a-convent talking, but do you think Eli and Chris are moving too fast?" he blurted.

Hermione put a hand on his hyperventilating chest. "Harry...it's okay. I seem to remember you and Ginny sneaking off to snog at their age. And you turned out okay..."

"Yes but I was also very apprehensive and careful because I didn't want to leave a little bundle for Gin when I died in battle. Kids these days are too free and think nothing will happen to them."

"Kids these days? Really? What do you propose, we resurrect Voldemort a second time? Harry, it'll be okay."

The man grunted, pouting into a chair. Hermione chuckled watching him. He was so cute. It was getting harder to be just friends. She climbed into his lap, grinning at his surprised expression. "Poor Hawwy Potteh...afraid of losing his little girl to the sin of the world," she teased.

He clenched his jaw. "I think I already have."

Hermione played with his thick, unruly hair. "Of all the things you learned during the war...no one is past redemption. Especially your children."

"Easy for you to say. You don't have any girls."

"Plus they're cute together. I wonder if they've kissed yet."

At that moment, Elijah entered the house and froze. His lips were swollen, hair tousled... "Well there's the answer to that question," Harry murmured, hiding his face in his friend's hair. "I'm ignoring the boner, I'm ignoring the boner. I will not embarrass my baby. Godric Gryffindor give me strength." He whispered.

Hermione started shaking in silent laughter. Harry snorted in hysterical amusement. Elijah swallowed and looked down, quickly placing his hand over his groin.

"Oh shut up," he growled. "It hasn't even been two days and she's got me wrapped around her damn finger. This does not bode well." He paused in his exit at the realization of his mother's position in the man's lap. "Mr. Potter?"

"Yes, Eli?"

"I'll watch my hands if you watch yours," he said, glaring at the hero. He stomped out of the room.

"Should I be afraid? And should I lock my daughter in the basement?" Harry asked.

"You shouldn't be worried because there's nothing between us," she stated calmly. "Nothing but friendship."

Harry cleared his throat. "Right."

Hermione paused at the split second of disappointment that flickered in his emerald eyes. "As for Christie...she can hold her own," she reassured him.

Christie strolled in not a hem out of place, hair ruffled, or any other evidence that she had been kissing. "I finished hanging the lanterns," she stated calmly.

Both adults burst into laughter, tears coming to their eyes.

"What?" she asked in confusion.