Chapter Seven - Family Judgement
Jamie sat at the table, waiting as his mother finished sending all the dishes over from the stove. Remus and Alan were loudly teasing Daisy about John, while their father sat looking over the Prophet, shooting amused looks at his children every so often. Even as adults, it seemed as though they would never grow out of giving each other a hard time.
"Would you give your sister a break?" Iris said, walking over and sitting at the end of the table, a smile on her face.
"Yea, would you give your sister a break," Daisy quipped before sticking her tongue out at them.
"No. It's too much fun," Remus said, grinning. He grabbed a crisp and popped it in his mouth. Daisy narrowed her eyes at him. Iris found herself laughing softly. Even as they got older, some things would never change.
"How does Laura even put up with you," Daisy said.
"Easy. She loves me," he said, still smiling. Daisy rolled her eyes as Alan chuckled.
"What are you chuckling about? You've got no one," Daisy said.
"And I'm quite happy to keep it that way, thank you. Got too many couples in the flat as it is, with you three," he said. Iris looked up suddenly, whipping her head over to look at Jamie.
"Since when?" she asked, a shocked smile spreading across her face.
"I wouldn't get too excited," Oliver said. "He asked Lila Devereux on a date." Jamie shot his father a look as an uncomfortable silence fell over the table.
"Is this so?" Iris asked, a concerned look falling over her face. Jamie sighed.
"Am I going to get a lecture from you as well," he asked with a sigh. Iris furrowed her brow.
"I take it you've already gotten a few," she said.
"Not from me," Daisy said before taking a bite of her food.
"You can't be alright with this, Pix," her father said. Daisy shrugged.
"It's Jamie's life," she said. Remus and Alan looked at her and then at each other, shrugging.
"Not you two as well," Oliver said, becoming visibly upset with his children. "This is madness. It's the woman who tried to destroy Daisy!"
"Dad, I told you. We've put it all behind us. Daisy's made up with her," Jamie said.
"Don't you think we should give her a chance? You heard her story," Daisy said, looking at her father. Oliver was silent. He obviously wanted to say something, but the looks from his children told him to stay silent. He looked down the table, meeting Iris' eyes. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out.
"I'll admit it's a bit of a surprise… and not one that I'm entirely comfortable with… but… Perhaps, we should let Jamie make his own decision on this, Oliver," she said softly. Jamie looked at his mother. "Are you sure?" He nodded.
"She's… changed," he said. Iris nodded.
"Very well, then," she said.
"Iris, we can't go along with this," Oliver said. Iris looked at him.
"I don't think we have a choice," she said.
"But-"
"Oliver. It's his life, his choice," she said firmly. She looked over at Jamie. "Just be careful." He nodded. They settled into eating, with an uncomfortable silence filling the kitchen.
"Any other news to share?" Iris asked, looking around the table. She settled her sight on Daisy. "How's Toby?"
"Good, though busy. He's been working with the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad and they've had him on call most nights," she said. "Been working with Dominique."
"Heard she got overlooked for a special assignment again," Iris commented. Daisy nodded.
"Don't know why she didn't just go into auror training as much as she wants to work with them," Jamie said, glancing as his father who looked as though he was silently stewing.
"At the time she didn't think she wanted to," Daisy said. "But now she's say the reversal squad isn't challenging enough."
"I always thought Dominique was bright. She had the scores if she wanted to transfer," Iris said.
"What do you think she's been trying to do?" Daisy said with a smile.
"I can't seem to picture Dominique as an auror," Remus said.
"I could. You remember how quick she was dueling in school," Alan said. "She certainly would get us good before Molly stopped her."
They settled into more comfortable topics such as their various family members and friends with Oliver eventually joining in. Though she could still sense his frustration from across the table as he shot looks at Jamie. Iris sighed and shook her head.
"He'll never learn," she thought.
After lunch was finished and the dishes were washing themselves in the sink, Jamie found his mother in the library, cataloging some new albums she had picked up during the week. Between her work with his uncle's shop and catching the matches for all four of the Wood children, he wasn't sure just how she managed to find time to go digging through old record shops in muggle London to add to her collection.
"Lunch breaks," she said, glancing at Jamie and answering his unspoken question. Jamie nodded and stepped over to help her.
"Do you actually listen to all of them?" he asked. Iris smiled.
"Yes. I usually play them while I cook or work," she said. She looked at him. "You do care for her, don't you?"
"It's still… new. We've only met up a couple times," he said. Iris nodded and turned back to putting the records on the shelf.
"Don't forget, I can feel you," she said. "And you are definitely exuding more than a casual fondness for her."
"Forgot about that," Jamie said, picking up an album and looking at it.
"It's alright. Sometimes I think your father forgets as well," she said. Jamie looked at his mother, wondering just how she dealt over the years with being able to feel all the emotions from not just his father, but his brothers and sister as well. And then Harry too.
"I've learned to tune it out most of the time," Iris said, not looking at Jamie. "Just like I taught you to tune out other's thoughts."
"I canna lie, I'm glad I never got that gift," Jamie said with a chuckle. Iris rolled her eyes slightly.
"There were times I wanted to smack your father when he'd stay mum on his thoughts, but I could clearly feel what he was feeling," she said with a sigh. Jamie nodded and handed his mother another album. "So… in line with that… I can feel that you are feeling this is more than just a passing fancy."
"Maybe. Maybe not. I haven't quite figured it out myself," Jamie said truthfully. "Though I'd like it to be more."
"Well… all I can say is… I think you should give her a chance," Iris said, placing the album on the shelf and looking over at him.
"Really, Mum? But you said you weren't comfortable with it," Jamie said, a quizzical look on his face.
"I know, but… I just think back to that day she spoke with us. I could see that more than anything, Lila was just looking for acceptance. Something she never got growing up. And that's something I can relate to," she said softly, crossing her arms in front of her. "If your father and Harry hadn't shown up in my life… accepted me… secrets, fear and all, I could have been a very different person."
Jamie was silent a few moments. He had seen some things from his mother's past by accident, so he had an idea of what she was talking about. But she had never told him the full story.
"I think that's why once Daisy told us… I just… I couldn't be angry with her," he said, his brow furrowed.
"I know. Same here. And your father, he's not really angry with her as well. I think it's just, his protective nature kicks into overdrive whenever his children are involved," she said. Jamie chuckled.
"I'm fairly sure I could take him in any competition, so I'm not sure why he's still getting protective. I am 21 now," Jamie replied. Iris smiled.
"No matter how old or how big you all get, you're still his children. So he'll always be protective of you," she said. "And I am as well. But… I also know it's important for you to figure things out on your own."
"So, I have your blessing to date Lila?" Jamie asked, a twinkle in his eye. Iris laughed.
"I don't think I could stop you even if I wanted to," she said, going back to the stack of albums.
"Thanks, Mum," Jamie said. Iris turned to him, placing her hand on his cheek.
"Anytime, dear," she said.
"Well that was a tense family lunch," Remus said when the Woods apparated back to their flat.
"Da's bein' ridiculous," Daisy said, walking to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of juice.
"He's being like he was with you in Hogwarts," Alan said.
"I take it the family lunch didn't go well," Chris said as he strode into the flat, causing Daisy to jump.
"Christ, I didn't know you were coming over," she said, willing her heart to stop pounding from the fright. He laughed and walked over to the sofa, plopping down.
"Though Jamie could use some support. He mentioned he was going to tell your parents about Lila today," he replied. Jamie walked over and sat next to him, sighing.
"Dad's still the same. But Mum… she's actually okay with it," he said, looking over at his best friend. Remus and Alan sat in the arm chairs. Alan looked at the fridge, waving his wand. The door opened and four beers flew out and to the triplets and Chris.
"But she's uncomfortable with it," Remus added.
"I spoke with her alone and she pretty much gave me her blessing," Jamie said, taking a drink.
"Alright, one parent down, one to go," Chris said, clinking his bottle against Jamie's.
"And the rest of the family," Daisy said, rolling her eyes.
"And the team," Alan said.
"Why don't we have her sit in the players' box with us for your game versus the Harpies?" Remus asked. All the siblings looked at him.
"Not a bad idea," Jamie said, nodding slowly.
"And it'll give us a chance to get to know her a bit better," Alan chimed in.
"Then it's settled," Jamie said, grinning.
Decided to go ahead and post the next chapter. But, I'm a bit stuck later on. Not so much because I don't know what to write, but because it involves a lot of figuring out details that will come to play in later books. Man, now I understand a bit how Rowling felt...
ranger Lucy: I know, it's kind of like you want to smack him in the head at times. But... that's also kind of what makes Jamie so good. At least to me. He wants to believe the best in Lila.
As always, thanks for reading and reviewing!