Chapter 21: How The Other Side Lives
Pepinot, Eliza's owl flew through the open window at lunch, landing gracefully in front of me. I had owled her the day before telling her that I needed a place to stay. One because the Potter's thought it was inappropriate for me to be sleeping in the same room as Al, and two they didn't want me to be alone while Al was working with his internship at St. Mungo's. It's not that they don't want me there; Mrs. Potter claimed she didn't want me to feel awkward spending the days with her and Lily. To be honest I really didn't want to spend my summer with Mrs. Potter and Lily. Sure they were both relatively nice to me but Lily was still wary about me blabbing the whole pregnancy scare to her mother. And Mrs. Potter didn't know how to tactfully ask me how I was doing with my mother's death. So in all reality I was relieved when I opened Eliza's letter saying that she was expecting me at three today. I showed Al the letter, he nodded at me and led me upstairs. We packed my things without words. It didn't take very long for us to gather everything. I basically wore pajamas all day every day. He waited outside while I changed my clothes and shoved them into my trunk. He shrunk the rest of my belongings so they fit into my trunk and then sent it downstairs ahead of us. We walked down hand in hand slowly and somberly. Mr. Potter was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He nodded to Al before pulling me into the living room. He stared at me a moment, thinking. He started a couple times before finally settling on his words.
"Riley, I know this has been difficult for you. I know it will take time for you to heal. I've been in positions similar to yours and I do not wish it upon anyone. But I want you to know that we all care for you…" I raised my eyebrow. "Yes even James cares, in his own perverse way. But what I want you to realize is that people do care, and the more people care about you the more they hurt knowing you're in pain. Think of that next time you look at Albus." He nodded at me and I nodded back. Smiling he pulled me into and awkward hug before he walked out of the room. The moment he left the rest of the family poured in. Mrs. Potter gave me a huge hug. Saying she was sorry I couldn't stay and that I was welcome anytime, blah, blah, blah, etc. etc. Surprisingly Lily walked up to me and awkwardly stood in front of me she gnawed at her lip and then apparently on impulse threw her arms around me squeezed me for point two seconds then let go, said thank you and hurried out of the room. James nodded in my general direction before looking at his mother. She rolled her eyes and nodded her head and he hurried out of the room as well. Before I could even think to say anything Al took my hand and walked us outside to the apparation point. I got one last look at the Potter house before Al side along apparated me away.
Al, apparated us to Eliza's house. I was a little hurt that he'd been here before, and I never had. I guess all these wizarding folks knew each other and liked to throw a lot of shin digs. The Redding's house was huge. Like three stories tall and a football field wide. There were these huge white columns that rose up from the front porch supporting the overhang. And large French doors open to let in the summer breeze. The front yard was huge with trees sporting multicolored leaves shading the grass below. There were two massive Great Danes lying under a tree with pink leaves, they didn't give Al or myself a second glance. That was all I managed to take in before a loud squeal echoed through the house and Eliza came running at me. She pounced on me and hugged me tightly.
"I'm so glad you're here, even if it is for a short time. But know that you can stay as long as you want, you don't have to ever leave. Ever." She looked me dead in the eyes, I wasn't sure if I should be thankful, or fear for my life. Eliza had a way of making people think she was up to something at all times.
"Thanks for letting me stay, but I don't want to impose. I'll be getting a job and then saving up for a flat." My voice was gravely and Al looked concerned.
"Pfft, whatever." She waved me off and turned to Al. "Potter you've dropped her off, you can go now. Scipio will get her bags." The moment she said the name a little floppy eared elf appeared at her side.
"Scipio, take Miss Hamilton's things to the guest room closest to mine in the East Wing."
"Yes, Miss Redding. It would be my pleasure." The elf grabbed my trunk and disappeared. Al looked furious.
"Redding you know house elf slavery is illegal now." He said glaring at her. She rolled her eyes.
"Yes I know that Pot Head, all our elves are now being paid, courtesy of your bat shit crazy aunt. None of them have ever thought of leaving or spending any of the gold though." He glared at her before turning to me. He took my hands and pulled me into his embrace. I did what Mr. Potter said and really looked at him. I immediately felt guilty. He looked so tense and strung out. He had dark circles under his eyes and it looks like he lost a lot of weight. His hair looked dull and lanky. He looked downright miserable.
"I think it's time for me to leave you." He said miserably.
"Yes, yes it is." Eliza snapped. I could hear her foot beginning to tap.
"Shut up Redding." He spat over my shoulder. In a softer tone he spoke to me. "Listen Riley, I know you're sad, and I know you're grieving and I can't begin to understand the pain you're going through. But just remember, your mother wanted you to be happy. It probably won't happen today or tomorrow, but promise me you'll try to look past the bad. She's in a better place, and you can grow from this." He said rubbing small circles on my back.
"Oh Merlin Potter, you're not her therapist. I'm her best friend I'll make her happy, you can just shove it and go work on your damn internship. Au revoir." Al glared daggers at her before giving me a swift peck and walking away a few steps and disapparating. I felt my heart sink lower into my chest. It was going to be weird not having him with me. I almost started to cry. I guess Eliza saw this and she began talking at speeds faster than I ever thought possible. She grabbed my arm and pulled me into the foyer. Eliza spent the next three hours giving me a tour of her house. I would think an hour would be sufficient for a tour but no, she ran up and down the hallways shouting out what random rooms were and who stayed there. I was completely and utterly lost by the time we got to her bedroom, and it truly was a sight to see.
It had high vaulted ceilings with emerald green walls and silver trim, not just the color silver, real silver. Her bedspread was white with black lace and French doors were on either side of her room. Both of them were open, one revealing a closet the size of my old bedroom and the other led to a balcony overlooking the fountains in her back yard. It was altogether beautiful, my mother would have loved this. I sat on a chair and stared out into the distance. Eliza started to talk about how annoying Albus was and how he needed to stop babying me. How I was a big girl and all I needed was girl time. I didn't know what I needed, other than my mother to not be dead, my brother to not have such a small dorm, and my father to not hate me. But Eliza was trying not to focus on the negatives in my life. She started talking about how her relationship with Louis was going. Garrett was finally able to get over his girly grudge against him so Louis now had no problems showering her with affection so they're now officially going out. I almost gagged at this but I held it in. Eventually Eliza got tired of talking and hit me with a sock. She asked if I wanted dinner and I shook my head. She left me on the balcony.
This went on for days. I would wake up and sit on the balcony coming down for a meal or two. I didn't say a word the entire time. Her parents, Xavier and Genevieve were generally pleasant to me but they never engaged me in conversation. They had their own lives. When I heard them speak it was mainly in back handed compliments. Mr. Redding was the owner of the Daily Prophet, not editor, no he owned everything. And Mrs. Redding was the Editor for Witch Weekly. They competed with each other in sales, readership and pretty much everything else in life. But somehow they did it lovingly. No wonder Eliza can be crazy bipolar. One night after dinner I was sitting on the balcony like always staring out at nothing when Eliza came in. She didn't say anything she just stared at the back of my head. After a few minutes she punched me in the arm. I winced and rubbed my arm.
"I know what will cheer you up." I glared at her. Apparently my apathetic nature was beginning to bother her. She gave me a triumphant grin. "Let's go ride Octavia and Seraphina." Great, just freaking great, she's trying to kill me with a horse. I didn't reply to her so she grabbed my arm yanking me into a standing position, which was rather surprising considering I have about 5 inches and twenty some pounds on her. She pulled me through her mansion and into the back where the stables were. She had the stable attendant saddle them up with a quick look. I felt really awkward because the attendant was Eddie Marks, he was a Ravenclaw three years ahead of us. Eliza apparently had no qualms with employing a fellow peer. She jumped up on the dapple gray horse and I struggled to get on the black one. This was terrifying. If her goal was to get my mother off of my mind she succeeded. All I could think about was the fact that this beast in between my legs had a mind of its own and at any point in time if it decided it didn't like me it would buck me off and trample me to death.
"Alright, forward." Eliza was apparently an animal savant, because these ginormous animals seemed to bend to her every whim like she was the Greek god Pan or something. Her parents probably enchanted the damn things, let's hope they did or I'm going to end up with a bad back and a hoof print on my face. Eliza clicked her tongue and the horses set off at a trot. If I was scared just sitting on one, there were no words to describe how terrified I was when the damn thing started to move. I gripped the reins like it was my lifeline. Eliza led the horses across her vast gardens and into the trees. I didn't really pay attention to my surroundings. Every uneven step the horse made had me gripping the saddle tighter with my legs and my knuckles to shine whiter as I held the reins. I didn't know whether I should keep my eyes open or as tightly closed as possible. I decided on keeping them open while staring intently at the black mane in front of me. Eliza led them through the trees all the way to the other side in what felt like hours but was really only fifteen minutes or so. The trees opened up to reveal a small lake with a small beach of crème colored sand wrapped around it. Eliza slid off her horse and petted its nose. She waltzed over to me and smacked my leg out of the stirrup.
"Are you going to get off or am I going to have to push you?" I swung my leg over the horse knowing her threat was not idle, and then proceeded to trip and fall to the ground anyway, my other foot still in the right stirrup. Eliza laughed at me, pulled my foot out of the leather trap and hauled me to my feet. She stopped laughing at the look on my face. Shaking my head I looked up to see the setting sun a few minutes away from touching the horizon.
"Wow." My voice was dry and croaky from lack of use. I'm not vain or anything but that sound I just made was seriously unattractive. I definitely need to work on that.
"Wow's right. You sounded like Professor Young from second year." I cleared my throat making it sound like I'd been a chain smoker my whole life. Eliza smacked my back, she probably thought I was choking or something from these bullfrog noises. I waved her off and looked back to the sunset. I felt and familiar sense of calm wash over me. My family used to do this all the time. We used to all love each other. We'd go camping and bond and all that shit, and we'd all watch the sunset together. Every summer until I got my letter, we'd go on a trip. We used to be such a dorky family, we'd sing and do all those stupid things like in crappy television sitcoms. God I wish I could go back in time. I closed my eyes and settled into the memories.
"A long, long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And, I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance, and
Maybe they'd be happy for a while
But, February made me shiver with every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep - I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride
Something touched me deep inside the day the music died
So, bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry
Them good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing...
This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die." I trailed off at the end and focused back on the sky.
"Riley?" I didn't turn to look at her I kept my eyes on the descending star.
"Did you know my parents were originally from America?" I saw her shake her head out of the corner of my eye. "Yeah they were. And they made sure my brother and I had an appreciation for American music. They used to sing that and other songs to get me to go to sleep. I used to think it was a happy song, now I just find it depressing." I picked up a stick and started poking the ground.
"You shouldn't." Liza said softly.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because, you haven't sang since Christmas Holiday's when you found out about your mum. She wouldn't have wanted you to stop, even if you don't hit all the right notes." I turned to glare at her. She grinned at me.
"It's not like you're any better, remember Hit and Miss Hippogryff." I said scoffing.
"Okay that's a really difficult song to sing." She whined.
"Uh, no it isn't. Katie's little brother was five at the time and he sang it perfectly." I said.
"Well, we can't all be gifted like you, now can we?" She looped her arm through mine and leaned her head against my shoulder looking back at the horizon. I looked back as well and watched the sun disappear. Before long the sky turned and inky black and one by one stars appeared overhead. Eliza stayed out with me for hours as I pointed out constellation after constellation and explained how they were named and formed. I knew she didn't care. She stopped taking astronomy as soon as she could, she hated the subject. But she let me talk no matter how dull she thought it was. People could say loads of bad shit about Eliza but I didn't care because I knew she was there for me, she would always be there for me. She just wasn't too fond of other people. I wasn't too fond of the horse ride back.
Don McLean – American Pie