Disclaimer: Any thing you recognize is not mine.

Chapter 7 – Weekend in High Wycombe

The doorbell rang. Elizabeth smiled and ran to open it expecting it to be James. She was surprised to find a woman waiting for her.

"Hello, I'm Anne Gordon. I live next door. I know this is last minute, but on Monday night my husband and I are having a Christmas party and it starts at 6. We hope you and your husband can make it."

"Sure, I think we can make it."

"Great." Anne smiled.

"Thanks for the invite. We'll see you Monday." Elizabeth said as she closed the door.

Elizabeth returned to the kitchen and finished preparing breakfast. Elizabeth heard the door open. "Is that you, James?" she called.

"Ya it is. You left the door open." He said.

Elizabeth stepped out of the kitchen into the hallway to see James. They stood in the hallway for several seconds staring at each other. Then, impulsively, Elizabeth ran and hugged him. He hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.

"Did I tell you that you're an idiot?"

"Enough to last me a lifetime, love."

"Come on I have breakfast ready," she said leading him into the kitchen. "So we're invited to a Christmas party this Monday."

"Really? Where at?" James asked as he cut his eggs.

"Next door."

Before James could reply, the phone rang. Elizabeth got up to get the phone from the other room. When she reentered the dining room, she was not on the holding the phone and her arms were crossed against her chest and she was staring pointedly at James.

"What," he asked.

"Were you going to tell me that St. Mungo's told you to lay off the arm?"

James winced and swallowed, "I was going to get around it eventually. Besides they said it would be fine within the week." He said trying to be charming.

Elizabeth wasn't buying it, "That's no excuse James."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it was a big deal."

"It's alright." She said as she picked up her plate and then walked to the kitchen to put her plate in the sink. She stood there for a minute taking it all in. Then she promptly walked out of the kitchen and upstairs to bring the bags down. As she was bringing the second bag down, she saw James watching her bring the bag.

"Ready?" he asked.

She nodded and took his hand in hers as they wheeled their bags outside and locked the door. They took the tube to Victoria and then boarded the Overground train to High Wycombe. They sat side by side, hands entwined, talking and laughing sporadically throughout the train ride. It was high noon when they reached High Wycombe. They got off and Elizabeth began searching for her grandparents when they heard a voice behind them.

"Hey pumpkin, you're going the wrong way."

Elizabeth whipped her head around to see her grandfather, she immediately let go of James's hand and ran to hug him. He was a tall man of at most 62 years.

"I missed you, grandpa."

"I missed you too, pumpkin." He said and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Now, where is this friend you brought home?"

"James Potter, sir," James said, holding out his hand.

"Michael Bones," Elizabeth's grandfather said taking his hand. "You wouldn't be the same James Potter that made pumpkin's life a living hell, would you?"

Elizabeth cringed as she grabbed the handle of the suitcase tightly. "Grandpa," she hissed.

And to add to her horror, James answered, "Yes I am that same James Potter, sir." James then put a comforting hand on hers as to coax her into letting her grip on the handle go without breaking eye contact with Elizabeth's grandfather.

Michael saw this exchange and smiled, "Alright kids, let's go." He took the bag from both James and Elizabeth, as they walked toward the car.

"Do you want to sign your death warrant or something?" Elizabeth whispered harshly, when her grandfather was a little ahead of them.

"What are you talking about?" James asked nonchalantly.

"You just told my grandfather that you bothered me in Hogwarts." She said pointing out the obvious.

"What was I supposed to say? No, sir, I'm not that James Potter, you must be confusing me with another James Potter. Honestly there's only one James Potter in our year and that's me." James replied sarcastically.

"Maybe you could have, I don't know," she said mockingly, "sugar coated it." She huffingly accentuated. James laughed and put his arm around her, even though Elizabeth wasn't amused.

Michael took that particular moment to turn around. He saw his granddaughter trying very hard not to be amused as James laughed into the side of her neck with his arm around her shoulders supporting his weight. She finally gave in and laughed with him unconsciously wrapping her arm around him. He turned back around and smiled.

They stopped at the car, loaded the bags in and began their drive. The countryside was bright green from rain as the snow did not come till late January nowadays. On the left was a columned structure at the top of a hill, which James pointed out.

"That's West Wycombe Park," Elizabeth said as she turned around in the front seat to face James. "I'll take you there tomorrow."

They reached the house 5 minutes later. Elizabeth's grandparents lived at the edge of the park. As they entered, Michael called out, "Helen, we're home."

Helen appeared from the kitchen and put her hands on her hips much like James's own grandmother would do.

"Grandma," Elizabeth cried and ran up to her giving her a hug.

"Hey pumpkin. My my you're big."

"Where's your friend?" Elizabeth blushed and called for James.

"Hello Mrs. Bones, I'm James Potter." He said shaking her hand.

"Darling, it's Helen or Grandma if you'd like." Elizabeth nearly died on the spot if when she suggested it. "Come on into the dining room, I have lunch ready."

Before they went in Elizabeth pulled James to the side, "Don't call my grandmother, Grandma."

James smiled, "Why not?"

Elizabeth knew that her grandmother was teasing her. She had written to her last month explainer her feelings for James, but she wasn't going to tell James that. Not over her dead body. "Because …," but she couldn't finish and James smirked and walked through the door. Elizabeth groaned.

In the evening, after coming back from town, they began decorating.

"James, come help me set up the lights on the house. The girls will begin the tree." Michael called. Elizabeth breath hitched as James replied he'd be right out.

"Don't worry," her grandmother said after James had left the room, "your grandfather won't threaten him."

"Who said I was worried?" Elizabeth replied nonchalantly.

"Darling, who do you think your fooling?"

Elizabeth didn't reply and began stringing popcorn. An hour later, she was half way through stringing when James and her grandfather returned. James sat down next to her and began helping her string popcorn. She suddenly felt self conscious and in her fluster she pricked her finger with the needle.

"Oww," she cried out. As she examined her pricked finger, James turned to see her bleeding finger and immediately put it in his mouth to stem the bleeding. After a few second, James realized what he did and awkwardly let go of her finger.

"Sorry," he began but she put a finger to his lips.

She smiled, "Don't be sorry," and she began stringing popcorn again. After they had finished stringing, they began trimming the tree. Michael and Helen came in to put up the ornaments.

"James would like to put up the star." Helen asked.

"Are you sure? I mean this your family tradition."

"It would be an honor if you put the star on our tree." Helen replied.

James topped the tree off the five pointed star and stepped back.

Helen sighed and leaned into Michael, "It's perfect."

"Grandma, you say that every year." Elizabeth said laughingly.

"That's because it's that season, pumpkin."

They continued to admire their handwork on the tree and the rest of the house and then retired to bed.

Elizabeth was down in the kitchen early the next morning in her tartan Christmas pajama bottoms and a small tank top.

"Hey pumpkin, did you sleep well?" her grandmother asked.

"Yes, I did. Thank you. How about you?"

"Well enough. Could you wake up James?"

Elizabeth groaned as she exited the kitchen. She walked up to the guest bedroom and gently opened the door. James was lying on his side facing the wall. Elizabeth walked over and shook his shoulder, "James wake up." He barely stirred. "James, Grandma's making chocolate chip waffles." She tempted. No result. God he sleeps like bloody rock, she thought. She stood there for a couple of seconds debating on what to do. She went up to his ear and whispered, "James." He stirred, then she yelled, "Wake up," with all her might. He woke up with start and bumped foreheads with her.

"Oh damn Merlin, I'm so sorry," a wide – awake James apologized.

"It's okay. That wasn't a smart idea on my part." Elizabeth consoled as she rubbed her forehead. "That is going to bruise."

James winced, "Let me see." He stepped forward and examined her forehead. He rubbed his fingers over her forehead, when Elizabeth winced at his touch; he blew on the bruise and then kissed it. "Come one, breakfast is waiting for us."

After breakfast, Michael dropped them at West Wycombe Park around the corner.

"Do you kids need me to pick you up?" he asked.

"No Grandpa, we'll walk home."

"Alright, be sure to leave at 2 then. Have fun." He said as he sped off.

"Come on," Elizabeth said as she turned to James. "We'll go to the mausoleum first."

They walked through the mausoleum and through the park to the upper courtyard that could be seen from the road.

"Should we have lunch?" Elizabeth proposed.

"Sure."

The set up their picnic and sat down. Helen had packed them sandwiches, some crisps, and water.

"So have you decided what you want to do when you leave Hogwarts?" Elizabeth asked.

"Quidditch, but if that's not possible I'd probably work in the Department of Games and Sports at the ministry. You?"

"I was on the Healer track since we finished our OWLS."

"Ahh," he said knowledgably, "so it'll be Healer Sexton. Merlin I hope you're not in the maternity ward."

She nudged him, "No, I'll be in the pediatric ward."

He looked at her. "What?" She finally asked.

"I was just picturing you in your blue Healer robes with kids all around you in the pediatric ward." He smiled.

She smiled and continued eating her sandwich. They finished their food and cleaned up.

"We should head back," Elizabeth observed.

"Lead the way." James said.

"Would care to take a tumble?" Elizabeth asked.

"Excuse me." James cocked his eyebrow in amusement.

Elizabeth blushed, "Get your mind out of the gutter. I didn't mean it that way. I meant down the hill." She explained pointing to the edge of the courtyard.

"You want to 'tumble' down the hill with me." James said, amusement coating his every word.

Damn, I can't even say literally or figuratively, because it'll be just another bloody sexual innuendo to him. Elizabeth thought, so she boldly proclaimed, "Yes I want to 'tumble' down the hill with you."

They walked over to the edge and pushed their picnic basket down the hill.

"Do you want to be on the top or the bottom?" James smirked.

Elizabeth blushed, "Top."

James laid down and Elizabeth laid down on top of him. He wrapped his arm around her waist to hold her in place and she snaked her arms around his neck.

"Before we do this, I have to ask. Are we going to hit any rocks?" James asked.

"Nope."

"How do you know?" he asked.

"Because I've done this before."

"Really," James said amused. "So I'm not the only one you've 'tumbled' down this hill with."

Elizabeth blushed, "No I've tumbled down by myself. You're the first person that's tumbled with me."

"Okay, you ready?" he asked. She nodded. He leveraged is weight against hers and they began tumbling down the hill. When they reached the bottom of the hill, James landed on top of her.

"No rocks." He said.

"Told you so." She smiled. They laughed as he got off of her and lifted her up. They picked up their picnic basket.

"Okay, lead the way." She nodded and they navigated their way through the tall grass. They walked and they talked. The sky was beginning to darken.

"Lizzy, it's getting dark. Are we still far?"

"No we're almost there. Probably another half an hour."

"Okay, stay close."

The sun had just set when Lizzy unlatched the gate in the backyard.

"Grandma we're home," she said, as she opened the back door.

"Thank Merlin. Come and grab some dinner," she called from the kitchen.

"Did you kids have fun?" Michael asked. They both replied that they did.

After dinner, Helen said, "You two should head off to bed. You've got a train to catch."

Elizabeth nodded and after cleaning up she got ready for bed. However, she was unable to sleep. After a couple of hours of trying to sleep, she got up and walked down the stairs. She saw the kitchen light on and walked in to find James drinking a glass of water.

"Hey. What are you doing up?" she asked him.

"Couldn't sleep. You?" he replied.

"Same. I was going to go outside and look at the stars. I used to do that when I couldn't sleep, especially around Christmas time."

"Why?"

"Well around Christmas time, it was because I thought I could see Santa Claus. Every other time it was to see the constellations."

James nodded and put his glass in the sink. He took Elizabeth by the hand and said, "Let's go find Santa Claus." He led her to the back door and into the backyard. They lied down in the damp grass in a T formation with Elizabeth's head resting on James's stomach.

"Look there he is." Elizabeth pointed.

"Who? Santa Claus?" James said looking to where Elizabeth was pointing.

"No silly, Orion. See there's his belt." She said pointing to the three stars in a row.

"I thought we were looking for Santa Claus." James chuckled.

"Ya well," she started lamely, "after years of looking. It was always just Orion and me."

"You used to talk to a constellation." James exclaimed.

"I fell in love with that constellation." Elizabeth said seriously.

"Your first love was a constellation?" James asked incredulously.

"Don't be ridiculous," Elizabeth said dismissively, "My first love was Fitzwilliam Darcy."

"Yes because a fictional character is so much better." James countered sarcastically.

"Oh shut up." She embarrassedly said. James smiled up at her and then looked up at the sky.

"We're such idiots." Elizabeth said after a while.

"Why?" James asked.

"Because Christmas isn't for another week."

"So, if he's making a list. He's got to leave the North Pole some time." James reasoned.

Elizabeth smiled and lightly shook her head against his stomach.

"And there he is." James said pointing at a shooting star. "Make a wish Lizzy."

"You too James."

After a few second Elizabeth got up and James sat up. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and held her hand out to James. James took her hand, but instead of pushing himself up he yanked her to the ground. She fell next to him, as he laughed. Elizabeth turned on her back, her red hair sprawling over her tank to her waist, blue eyes glaring at James.

"What is so funny?" She asked.

"Nothing," he said lying on his side facing her and then began laughing again.

"James," she whined, as she began to get up again.

"Oh no you don't." James said grabbing arm pinning her back to the ground. Elizabeth locked eyes with James. Elizabeth sat up without breaking eye contact. Each daring other to make the first move. James began to move forward as if in a trance. Elizabeth instinctively moved forward in the same trance. Their noses were almost touching when a hooting owl causing both of them to look in the direction of the noise breaking the trance. They turned back to each other and Elizabeth became increasingly aware of their proximity, and before James could even say anything, she got up. James felt her hair against his face as she stood up. She walked into the house only looking back at him before she stepped in. James shook his head and walked towards the house as well.

Back in the sanctity of her room, Elizabeth wondered how she was going to get any sleep now. Either way she did the best she could and waited for the next morning's encounter.

The next morning, James was down before Elizabeth.

"Sleep well?"Helen asked.

James hesitated because in reality he hadn't, "Well enough."

Helen smiled knowingly, "You know James; when I was growing up, my mother told me that there used to be a prince who fell in love with a common girl. They became friends and when the opportunity presented itself he told her how he felt. She, although in love with him, declined out of fear of being played. In her mind, he was the prince. He could have anyone he wanted. But he was adamant that was not the case and he proved it to her."

"How?" James asked. Helen smiled and James had a sickening feeling he had been caught.

"He showed her. Even though the first time he tried, they were interrupted. He tried again."

Before James could reply, Elizabeth walked into the kitchen, "Morning Grandma, James."

James nodded and Helen replied, "Morning pumpkin. You better eat your breakfast and get ready so your grandfather can drop you off."

An hour later, James and Elizabeth were standing in the living room ready to go.

"Alright, so since it's Christmas," Helen told Elizabeth, "your grandfather and I would like to give you this," holding out a package. Elizabeth took the package and began examining it.

"Open it pumpkin," Michael told her impatiently.

Elizabeth tore off the paper and opened to box to find a new pair of sapphire dress robes. She looked up at her grandparents

"It's for your graduation." Her grandfather told her.

"Thank you so much. They're beautiful." She said hugging them.

"James, this is your present," Helen said giving him another package. "I hope you don't mind it's small. We had very short notice."

"That really wasn't necessary. You didn't need to go out of your way to give a present."

"Oh nonsense," Helen exclaimed, "Go ahead open it."

James did as he was told and opened his gift. He received a golden snitch. "Thank you," he said. He took the snitch out of case and let it fly a bit and easily caught it. He grinned, as he put it back in the case. They left for the station.

As Michael was unloading the car, he called James over. He pulled out an opened deck of cards from his pocket. "I expect you play a good game, son." He said giving him the deck. "If you play your cards right, you'll probably beat me."

James nodded and put out his hand, which Michael shook. "Go on, catch your train."

James took the bags and went over to where Helen and Elizabeth were standing.

"Well have a good term you two." Helen said.

They reached home around 4.

"I'm going to take a nap." Elizabeth announced. She hadn't slept well the previous night for obvious reasons. "Can you wake me up in an hour, so I can make dinner."

"Sure." James said.

Elizabeth walked up the stairs to her bed. James went to the kitchen and began preparing the only meal he knew how to make: linguine with a cabarnet marinara sauce. After that was done he went to store to get bread and chocolate. Upon his return he made the tomato salad for brushetta. At six he went upstairs to wake up Elizabeth.

Elizabeth groggily woke up to someone lightly shaking her. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw James smiling down at her. She smiled back. "Hey."

"Hey." He replied back.

She sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked at the clock, "James it's six. I told you to wake me up at 5. What are we going to do about dinner?"

"I'll show you," he said taking her hand and leading her downstairs to the dining room. It was dimly lit with a bread plate, tomato salad for the brushetta and a pot of linguine. Elizabeth turned around to face James.

"You made me dinner." She stated.

"You make dinner for me all the time." James shrugged.

Elizabeth hugged him. "Come on let's eat."

They sat down for their dinner.

After Elizabeth was done, "I'm stuffed," she exclaimed.

James laughed. "I'm going to clear this out."

"Great. I'll help. We'll get done faster." She said picking up her plate and the empty bread plate. They put everything in the sink.

Elizabeth was about to start the faucet when James said, "Wait. I have something for you. Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Because it will make it only better."Elizabeth complied, "now open your mouth."

"James," Elizabeth complained.

"Just do it. It'll be worth it in the end."

Elizabeth opened her mouth and felt something smooth and square in her mouth. As the substance melted against her tongue, she tasted dark chocolate and orange. She opened her eyes to see James holding a bar of her favorite chocolate. She finished eating and asked, "How did you know?"

"The same way about Berlin." He smiled. They got to work. As Elizabeth finished drying the last plate and moved toward cupboard next to the wall to put it away, she asked, "What the sauce that you used with the linguine? It was amazing."

"Cabarnet marinara." James replied.

Elizabeth placed the place in the cupboard and smiled, "Trying to take advantage of me." She joked. She turned around to find James right behind her blocking her path out of the corner.

"Do you want to me to?" James said staring at her. Elizabeth held his gaze. He leaned in, "You better tell me now because I'm not going to stop."

"I'm not stopping you," were the last words Elizabeth uttered before James caught her lips with his own. He snaked his around her waist and pulled her closer and she locked her arms around his neck. He tasted like chocolate and oregano, she noted. They pulled away for air.

"I guess you're not sleeping on the couch anymore." She laughed.

"I'm not sleeping in the bed either." James replied kissing her again.

I'm really happy with this chapter. I think it's my favorite so far.

A/N: let's assume snitches are cheap to buy

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