Chapter Fourteen
They had a long way to go still, yet Ava knew they were on the right track in finding her family.
By half past seven Ava, Lily, Sirius and James had everything they would need or could find a possibility of them needing during their "camping" trip safely packing into four rucksacks -one for each of them to carry.- They were able to fit the masses of equipment into four rucksacks with the use of various weightless charms and an undetectable expansion charm on each bag. James had safely hidden them out of sight in the ball room. Away from his parents prying eyes, in the case they did have to sneak out, yet easy to grab if his parents did consent to their unexpected camping trip. Although James would never admit to his friends, he didn't feel comfortable with the idea of sneaking out against his parents blessing in the current semi- crisis the magical world happens to find itself in. This was rather unsettling for him, he believed he had now grown up quite a considerable amount since he started dating Lily.
Lily had noticed James' new found maturity and she was glad that he was no longer the immature little toe rag, that would hex students in the corridors at school for fun, but she was also very grateful that he hadn't lost his sense of humour. It's one of the many traits that she loved about him. Yes, Lily Evans was sure she loved James Potter. And she would never tire of telling him that too. However she was not the type of person to get all gooey and romantic in public, she never felt the need to reassure their relationship with an enthusiastic make out sessions in public or at school. Actually she never felt the need to reassure her relationship with James at all. The two seemed solid. They seemed connected on a level that she couldn't explain with out sounding like a gushing teenage girl, even though she would actually be a gushing teenage girl.
James jogged back into the kitchen to see Lily and Sirius helping Ava set the dining table and dish up the cooked dinner, Ava had made for them all. He couldn't help but to notice the blush that crept on her as Sirius' hand swept across her hand as he muttered something in her ear causing her to laugh. James knew Sirius felt something rather strong towards their friend and James was now becoming certain that she felt the same way toward his best friend, even if she hadn't realise it yet. He also knew Sirius was trying desperately not to act on said feelings because of her predicament. They were rather cute together, he thought and he knew that the two would definitely make a great couple if they could put aside their stubbornness. Thinking this James shook his head at how- Lily would call it- fluffy he was being. He cleared his throat and spoke to Ava.
"Roast dinner on a Tuesday, in the middle of summer?"
"Shut up. It's the only meal I'm certain I can cook with out giving you all food poisoning." Ava admitted. "Do you want call down your parents James I'm just about done here."
"Already called them. They're on their way down." James laughed at her.
"Good, carry the spare roast potatoes across." Ava ordered whilst balancing three plates full of hot food on her arms. She was half way toward the table when Sirius picked up two of the plates from her hands.
"Where to chef?"
"The plate without the sprouts is Lily's the other one is Isabella's. So the right from the head of the table and the other head of the table." Ava organised. James had just placed the spare roast potatoes down on the table when Mrs and Mr Potter walked into the room.
"God Godric, who went to all this trouble?" Isabella Potter exclaimed looking at the table full of steaming food.
"I did, it's a small thank you for letting me stay the past few days." Ava said a little bashfully.
"Well you can stay more often, this looks delicious dear" Everard laughed, his face a pleasant mix of surprise and happiness. Ava wondered how one man could show so many emotions in one facial expression.
"Oh hush you, always thinking about his stomach. Thank you dear it's very sweet but you didn't have to go to all this trouble" Isabella spoke softly to Ava.
"It was my pleasure, really." Was the young witches reply.
Everybody then sat down at the table. Mrs and Mr Potter were each at the heads of the table and Lily and James were sat together on one side of the table and Ava and Sirius were sat together opposite them. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed a very delicious dinner and the evening seemed to be winding down. The mood through out the meal was pleasant but no one could hide the tension in the air. It was Sirius who ripped open the bubble of tension and breached the topic of their impromptu camping trip.