Disclaimer: I do not own anything harry potter related

A million apologies could not tell you how I feel about the lateness of this chapter. Thank you to everyone, I hope you enjoy.

The Quidditch Chronicles XXI

So apparently I'm a grown up now. Its not like what I thought it would be like. Everyone always asks what you would like to be when you grow up? They usually mean a career, but I would like to be strong, smart, loving, gracious and a million other things that Sophie seems to have that I sometimes lack. But , here I am all grown up and I don't feel any different. Colin and Brigette are getting married, I'm starting summer training, Jonah beginning his first job; everyone is off doing all these grown up things. Grown-ups aren't all that great anyway. They argue and whine and yell and cry and pout and laugh hysterically and embarrass themselves and make mistakes just like any kid. Even worse, their mistakes have repercussions that are far greater than any Hogwarts student might be able to create. Certainly, there has to be more than being an adult than being adult age and out of school. Maybe I don't have it all figure out, but I do have this…I have a grown-up love. I have that true, deep, lasting kind of love, the kind people spend their lives and waiting and searching for.

"Mum, please enough already" pleaded Cal from where he was standing against the railing of the stone loggia in the back of Potter Manor. Ginny had insisted upon taking some pictures of the new graduates and Cal was fine with that, but they had been at it for more than ten minutes now.

"Caliber, do me a favor and just shut up and smile" commanded his mother.

Cal's cheeks were sore and his eyes were glazed from all the camera flashes. First, there had been five pictures of just him, then him and his siblings, then him and his friends, then him and his parents…it just never ended.

"I think we can release him now" said Harry wryly.

"He's our first-born, already an adult and growing up and…"

"Mum, you have five more that will all go through the same thing; I bet you all of this will be boring by the time you get to Dane"

"That is exactly why you should appreciate it. Just a couple with Sophie and then you can go off and do all those things I pretend I don't know about" said Ginny taking the camera from Hermione.

Cal called Sophie over from where she was talking with Dailey and Tabitha.

"I really am sorry about this" he whispered to her as his mum positioned them into a picture worthy pose.

Sophie just laughed and smiled for the camera.

"Okay, you're finished I'm through with you" said Ginny handing the camera to Harry.

"Finally! Thanks mum" Cal said and he and Sophie went off to join their friends.

The party which had begun three hours earlier had started with a rather formal dinner and had quickly moved into a lively nighttime soiree. Cal wrapped his arm around Sophie and scanned the party scene. He could see Luella and Vance Bartley dancing wildly on one corner of the dance floor. Fabian was busy hitting on Dailey Segerstrom's little sister Marley and Jonah and Tabitha were now snogging behind the bar. Caliber knew that couldn't end well, but he never did understand their relationship. Colin and Brigette had actually disappeared a while ago, but it was easy to guess what they were getting up to. Cal was convinced that now they were engaged, they were going to be positively insufferable.

After a few hours alternating between the dance floor and the bar Sophie was completely partied out. She had to admit that these rich kids and their families had incredible party stamina.

"Let's get out of here" Sophie finally murmured to Cal at around 2 AM.

Cal grabbed Sophie's hand and they ran straight up to Caliber's bedroom. It wasn't a complete escape as you could still hear the party down below.

Cal threw himself down on his bed and waited for Sophie to join him. But, she seemed to be more entertained by his bedroom décor. She was running her hands over the mantel of the wood fireplace that was positioned across the room from his bed. She picked up the model sailboat Cal had made when he was seven with his father one rainy day. On the same corner table were some picture frames. One was of Caliber and his three brothers and father playing the snow. Another showed Cal and his friends standing on the balcony of a palatial white home, the busy Monegasque in the background. This must have been one of the many summers spent at the famous Baccarat Monte Carlo estate.

"What are you doing?" Cal called to Sophie from the bed.

"I'm just looking around. I spent an entire week here and I never really saw the inside of your room"

"Well, then what do you think?"

"It's perfect, it's perfectly you, right down to that slightly grassy smell"

"Thanks, I think. Are you going to spend the night here? Fabian and Luella and everyone else are"

"No, I better not, with everything going on with my father; I really don't think I should leave my mum"

"They can spend the night here too. I don't mean to sound pretentious but we have plenty of room"

"Yeah, but I think the situation is uncomfortable enough…it's just my mum has always been so private about the whole thing"

"No I understand. I hope she's enjoying the party"

"Are you kidding? If it weren't for the fact that my fa-,Samuel, gosh I do not even know what to call him, anyway if he hadn't showed up, my mum would be going crazy. You should have heard her going on about your house. Oh but don't mention it to her, she would be totally embarrassed if you knew about her starstruck ways"

"I promise not to say a word. You know, you look a lot like her. Except you definitely have your dad's eyes"

"Speaking of my parents, I should probably get back to them"

"I wish you could stay"

"Me too, in the absolute worst way" Sophie said. She kissed Cal deeply then got up from the bed where she was lying next to him.

"I'll see you out"

"No, it's okay. I would rather leave as inconspicuously as possible. Tell your parents I apologize for sneaking out on them" and then Sophie left.

Cal meanwhile lay back on his bed thinking about the very eventful day. He couldn't imagine trying to be Sophie at the moment. He was extraordinarily lucky that his family, though occasionally chaotic was crazy in only the best sense. But, Sophie's father was an interesting character and at the party he had sat himself in a corner of the loggia with a drink and spent his time just looking out at the Potter's expansive gardens. Cal figured he was trying to avoid attracting the attention of anybody who might know him. The party was filled with illustrious company including Oliver and Gabrielle Delacour-Wood, not to mention many of St. Mungo's biggest donors who knew all about the scandal involving Sophie's father, even if the general wizarding population had no idea. He could tell that Sophie was trying really hard to have a good time at the party, but still she was tenser than usual. He wondered if there was anything, he could possible do to absolve some of her stress.

He heard a knock his door and said, "Come in"

Luella entered the room looking a little tired, but as beautiful as ever in a white lace Valentino dress.

"You knocked, you never knock" said Cal in mock shock.

Luella smiled, "Just wanted to make sure I was not interrupting anything. I was wondering where you disappeared to. Where's Sophie?"

"She left, she wanted to leave quietly. Where's Vance?"

"He's meeting up with the band. They are leaving for Amsterdam in just a couple of hours. It's the first stop on their European tour. I'm going to join them in Paris in a couple of weeks"

"Here today, gone tomorrow" remarked Cal lazily.

"Such is the problem with dating a famous rock star. You know, you're going to be in the same situation with Sophie once the Quidditch season starts. At least you'll be within England most of the time though, so you won't be too far"

"I know, I've thought about that. I was thinking about talking to Coach Haxton, about seeing if I could defer into the reserves for a year so I could stay local"

"Cal, that's a very noble thing to do, but I think maybe you should discuss that with Sophie first. From what I know of Sophie, from what I've learned about her these past few months, she wouldn't want you to give up your life long dream, even if just for a year, to take care of her. She needs your support, but she does not need to be waited on hand and foot. In fact, she would hate to be responsible for you staying with her"

"But, she wouldn't be responsible, it would be my choice"

"I know, but Sophie would still feel that she's holding you back"

Cal sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Sophie was thinner and more fragile than ever these days, but Luella was right. If there was one thing Sophie hated it was to be dependent on someone else. That spirit was just one of the many reasons he loved her.

"Are you going to be busy tomorrow?" asked Cal

"No, I'm going to be hung over tomorrow" Luella answered massaging her temples with diamond-adorned fingers.

"Can you come with me to the shops then?"

"Do I ever say no to a shopping trip? Besides, I wouldn't dare let you go alone. Anyway, I'm awfully tired. I'm going to bed," said Luella before leaving the bedroom and heading to one of the eight guest suites.

Cal, now alone again, stared at his ceiling and smile to himself before slipping into bed himself.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

"This is where you live?" asked Samuel glancing around the dark narrow alleyway where the dingy flat building stood. The tall, gray stone building wasn't so much disgusting or dirty, but sad looking.

"Yes" answered Sophie flatly. Lucy glanced at Samuel, but didn't say a word. Lucy opened the building door and led the way up to the fourth floor of their building.

"You know if this is an imposition, I can always book a room at a hotel" said Samuel as they entered the small four-room flat.

Lucy opened the linen closet that doubled as a kitchen pantry, took out an extra blanket and pillow, threw them directly at Samuel, and then walked straight to her bedroom and slammed the door behind her.

Sophie half-smiled amused by her mother's obvious contempt for her ex-husband. "Well you can sleep on the couch. We usually get up pretty early, and mum will be gone by sunrise"

"Ok, good night" said Samuel

Sophie walked to her room and went to sleep.

The next morning when Sophie woke up, Samuel was still sleeping in the main room. Sophie tried to be quiet as she tiptoed into the closet sized kitchen that housed only a stove, a sink and two cupboards.

She prepared some tea and toast for breakfast. While waiting for the water to boil she looked out the window of the London flat and sighed not sadly, just heavily. Her neighborhood was a long way from Godric's Hollow. But, Sophie loved it just the same. This little flat was where Sophie grew up, it was small, and plain, and comforting. In fact, she hardly remembered the suburban home where she had spent her toddler years…when it had been Sophie, her mum, and also Samuel, her dad. Strange, but that tiny little girl seemed like a completely separate person, not because she was young or naïve or any of those things, but because she couldn't remember that family. Sophie, no matter how hard she tried, could not remember really sitting on her father's lap or playing with her father. The few memories she had of her father she thought were all happy, but they were rather hazy.

They must have been happy though, because once when Sophie was about eight, she had snuck into her mum's room to play with her makeup. While rifling through her drawers she had come across a picture of her and her father and mum playing at a park. Samuel had one arm around Lucy and his other arm was holding Sophie's hand as she stood on the top of, what must have seemed a very high jungle gym. When her mum entered she was shocked at Sophie's discovery and hurried Sophie away. That was the last time she had seen the picture, it was the only picture she knew of that contained her father's image, but when she went back to look for the photograph, it was gone.

The person, now stirring in the living room, hardly seemed like the man in the photograph, the man that had been, and still was, her father.

Samuel walked into the tiny kitchen, still in his rumpled suit from the night before. He sat down at the two person table across from Sophie.

"Tea?" asked Sophie flatly, though not impolitely.

"Yes, thank you" Samuel said, as Sophie poured some tea for him.

They sat in silence for a while. Samuel was looking at her from across the table, but Sophie refused to look him into the eye. This was just too weird for her. She bit her lip nervously, thinking about what she could, or should say to this man. But, shouldn't he have been the one making explanations.

"Why are you here, I mean, why did you come back?" Sophie asked bluntly.

"That is a very good question, and I'm afraid I will be unable to provide any sort of satisfactory answer"

"Try"

"About once a year I write a letter to your mum. It's never very long; I mostly ask how the two of you are doing. She never writes back. Well, she writes back maybe once every four or five years. But, Lucy she wrote back this time write away. She told me that I really didn't deserve to know, but that she felt that she should mention that you were graduating. I don't know if you know about these letters. Don't be angry at your mum for not telling you. All these letters represent are evidence that the two of you are still alive"

"I'm not angry at her. I just think it's a little odd. That still doesn't explain though why you decided to show up now".

"Sophie, I'm running out of time with you" at hearing this, Sophie immediately panicked that Samuel already knew she was sick.

But then Samuel continued, "I already missed out on your entire childhood, I don't want your entire life to bypass me. I know your mum doesn't want me here, but you don't know how hard it is to know you're out there and you exist and I can't ever know you or see you"

"I know exactly how hard it is. I've grown up entirely without a father. And then here you are and I don't know if I like you or I don't like you. I don't want to forgive you for leaving us and I don't want to like that your back here. You've just totally complicated my life all over again", said Sophie, growing more agitated by the second.

"I mean, can you believe that I didn't know for more or less my entire life the truth about why you left. All this time, I thought you had run off with your secretary or something. Mum never brought it up and I certainly never wanted to upset her. I found out at a ball over winter break. I was angry at mum when I found out the truth, but I was even angrier that you could do something like that. You hurt people when they trusted you to heal them. And you want to know what's worse? Cal and all of his friends knew about it. Cal's family is friends with Gabrielle Delacour- Wood. Cal's aunt is Gabrielle's sister. Do you have any idea how humiliating that situation is? Not to mention, I want to be a healer, I've wanted to my whole life. I'm thinking about enrolling as Sophie Bedlam in the fall instead of Harlow, just to avoid any suspicion"

"Sophie, I am sorry for everything and I don't think I can ever atone for the pain I've caused you and your mum. You have to believe me when I say I wouldn't have left if I could have figured out how to make our family work. But, I couldn't take you to Canada with me. That was part of the deal, that I live under complete surveillance, and that's no way to raise a family. And anyway, your mum didn't want to have anything to do with me after the scandal broke. Rightly so, of course, I would have been appalled by myself as well. I was being exiled from England, and I couldn't ask Lucy and you to have to live like convicts with me. I'm not asking you to forgive me, just to let you know who I am. Your already so grown up and to think I missed out on eighteen years with you. And here you are and you're the smartest witch of your year and you're beautiful and you have a boyfriend and you and your mum…believe me when I say that just because I needed to leave, I never stopped loving you or your mum for that matter. I'm just as in love with her now as I was when I met her"

"I really do appreciate you talking to me about all of this. I still can't figure out how I feel about you. That's going to take a while…forgive me, but I can't see you as my father"

"No, I understand, you can just call me Samuel"

"Okay well, Samuel, I'm going to work. I have a summer job as a waitress. I'll be back around five or so"

"Okay, I'll see you later"

Cal trudged into the dining room where his sisters Charlotte, Tierney and his brothers Dane and Jude were already sitting down to breakfast. Also at the expansive table sat Fabian, Tabitha and Jonah. Everyone including Cal was still wearing pajamas.

Cal yawned loudly and sat down helping himself to some pancakes and pumpkin juice. No more than five minutes later Luella came in and sat down beside Cal.

"Good morning, graduates," said Ginny entering the kitchen with a platter of fresh pancakes. Hermione followed with new pitcher of pumpkin juice.

"Did Colin and Brigette not stay here last night?" asked Hermione noticing the familiar faces missing.

"No, they are at the Crown Royale at the McCains suite. Brigette said that's where they are living until they find themselves a flat" explained Tabitha.

"Being newly engaged, they probably wanted some privacy last night anyway" joked Fabian.

"Really Fabian, Tierney and Dane are sitting right next to you" chided Hermione.

"Mum, they didn't understand that, I bet Charlotte didn't even get it"

"Actually I did, and they didn't wait till they got to the Crown Royale either. Colton, Delilah and I found them in the garden house" remarked, Cal's thirteen-year old sister Charlotte with a look of amusement and mild disgust on her face.

"You better have one of the housekeepers clean up in there later, Mrs. P" said Jonah laughing.

"Oh goodness, well at least they're getting married. I know Harry and I were the same way on the day of our engagement" said Ginny a little wistfully.

"Mum, I'm trying to eat here" said Maxim disgusted.

"What time did you want to leave?" Luella asked Cal.

"Probably in about an hour or so" Cal answered.

"Where are you two going?" Ginny asked.

"Luella is helping me with some shopping" Cal said.

"I've got to head out. Today's my first board meeting at Pearlsteen International," said Jonah rising from his chair, "I'll see you guys later. Thanks for breakfast, Mrs. P".

"Anytime, Jonah. Good luck today" replied Ginny.

Slowly everyone began to trickle out of the dining room. Hermione and Fabian left to meet Ron and their Weasley's other daughter Leona because they had Chudley Cannon tickets. Tabitha went home to pack before her family's annual trip abroad. They always explored the most exotic places like Morocco or Thailand. Charlotte, Maxim and Jude all went off to enjoy their first day of summer vacation in the river that ran along the edge of the Potters property, while Ginny took Dane and Tierney to go watch their Daddy's first day as assistant coach of the new England national team.

Cal told Luella to come shopping with him, but he hadn't said where, so Luella was a bit surprised when they ended up outside Jane Diamonds.

"Are you buying me a graduation gift or does this involve a particularly special item and a special person?" asked Luella skeptically.

"The latter" said Cal. Luella gasped excitedly.

"I didn't tell you, because I actually only decided last night, but I think this is right. I know its right" continued Cal.

"Well, how come you didn't ask Fabian to do this then?"

"I love the guy, but he cannot keep a secret"

"When are you planning on proposing? Have you talked to Sophie about it? What did she think? Maybe you should ask her friend Dailey for advice on the ring instead?" Luella asked all her questions rapidly and joyfully.

Cal laughed, "I don't know the answers to any of those questions actually. Sophie and I have only ever mentioned our future in passing and it's never been about marriage. Anyway, I know Dailey knows her better than anyone, but you're my best friend and I really trust you. We have to keep this a secret though because if the press find out they'll go crazy. Plus, then she won't find out before I even ask her and then if she says no, it won't be a big deal"

"She won't say no"

"She very well might. I mean I know I have limited time with her, but I would much rather marry her for a week than never marry her at all"

"Say that when you propose, that's golden" said Luella leading the way into the world-famous jewelry retailer.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Biltmore, welcome to Jane Diamonds" greeted a saleswoman immediately recognizing the tabloid favorites.

Cal and Luella said hello back and then immediately headed to the engagement ring room.

"I don't even know where to start" confessed Cal looking down at the glittering diamonds. After a good hour spent wandering the expansive engagement ring department looking at everything from marquis to oval, to canary yellow to pink diamonds, Cal was still very lost.

"Is there something I can help you with?" asked a different salesman.

"Yes, actually, I would like to purchase an engagement ring" answered Cal.

"Do you have a particular style in mind?"

"No, I have no idea actually"

"Are you the fiancé?" the sales attendant asked Luella

"No, no I'm just a friend helping him out"

"I see, well any man would be just as lucky to have you," the sales clerk said flirtatiously.

"Sir" Cal said trying to get the sales clerk's attention back to him.

"Yes, of course, what is your budget?"

"I don't have one actually", Cal said scratching the back of his head self-consciously.

"My favorite kind of customer, okay, well take a look at these here" said the salesman bringing them around the counter to a set of rings with twisted bands, carvings, and multiple diamonds.

"No" said Luella, "this is just much more complicated than anything Sophie would ever wear"

"Tell me more about this Sophie, then, the personality of the woman in question is very important" said the salesman.

"Alright, well she's beautiful, stunningly so. However, Luella is right; she is a simple kind of girl, very unfussy. She's very smart; she's studying to become a Healer. She's incredibly kind, but she's spirited"

"Hmm, I'm thinking a solitaire ring might be best" the salesman said, leading them to a display of simple, single diamonds on a plain band.

"These are perfect" Cal said immediately drawn to a brilliant-cut 6-carat ring, "may I see that one near the back"

"Of course"

"It's gorgeous, Cal" Luella said a little breathlessly.

"Try it on" Cal said.

"No, I couldn't. It's Sophie's"

"I just want to see it on"

Cal slipped the ring on Luella's slim, elegant ring finger.

"Its magical properties are such that the ring attaches to the finger of the betrothed until death do you part. The accompanying wedding band attaches to both the husband and wife until then as well. It's the purest quality diamond available and I guarantee you will be unable to find anything comparable"

"Cal, you have to buy this one. You just have to" Luella said looking at the gorgeous diamond and sighing deeply. She took it off her finger, gave it back to Cal, and hugged him tightly. She couldn't believe her best friend going to propose.

Cal took a deep breath, "Yes, this is the one"

"Excellent, it's been my experience that no woman can say no to a ring like that"

"I sure hope so," Cal said smiling.

1 Month Later

"Dammit, Jonah, push harder," yelled Colin who was doing his best to move his brand new furniture into his brand new townhouse. Unfortunately, they had not gotten very far.

"I'm pushing as hard as I can. It's not my fault you're too weak to pull the damn thing," Jonah yelled back.

"Will you two stop yelling? Colin I told you we should have just hired movers" said Brigette who had just walked downstairs after unpacking yet another box of shoes.

"Brigette, I told you, they're a waste of money and they steal all your good silverware. It happened to this guy at work" said Colin.

Brigette rolled her eyes and looked at Fabian and Cal apologetically.

"Why did we agree to help them move again?" Cal muttered to Fabian from where they were carrying boxes into the kitchen.

"You, I have no idea, probably cause your just a good friend. But they promised they would name their first-born son after me"

"And if they have only daughters?"

"That's what their counting on" said Tabitha entering the kitchen with another box.

"Where's Sophie?" Cal asked noticing she was the only one missing from the scene as Luella was on tour with Vance and the rest of The Crucibles.

"She's just lying down for awhile on the bed upstairs. She's a little tired. She's okay" Tabitha said seriously.

'Should I go check on her?" Cal said his brows knit with worry.

"She's asleep, Cal, she's okay" Tabitha insisted.

Unfortunately, Sophie's health in the last month had seriously deteriorated. She had quit her job as a waitress at a restaurant near her flat, but was still trying to complete her summer course work before beginning healer training in the fall.

Sophie physically was beginning to look and feel a little worse for the wear however. Her skin had paled to an absolutely ghostly white since her blood vessels weren't being filled fast enough. She was weak and incredibly thin from all the nausea she experienced as a result of not getting enough oxygen to the brain. She was cold all the time wearing layers of jackets and sweaters even now in the middle of July. Cal was again terrified to touch her sometimes, feeling she might break in his arms. But, Sophie had remained incredibly strong and positive through all of it.

Cal decided to go check on her anyway. He slipped into the dark guest bedroom that had only a bed and some sheets as makeshift on the windows that overlooked the Thames. He sat on the edge of the bed very gently, trying not to wake her.

"Cal" came a tiny voice.

"Hush, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you"

"No, no it's fine, do you think you could take me home? I'm just so tired and I don't want to impose"

"Of course, yeah, of course" Cal said, "I'll be right back, just let me get you stuff and call Jonathan with the car"

"How is she?" Brigette asked when Cal returned from upstairs.

"She's alright, just tired. I'm going to take her home and then I'll be back," Cal said gathering a bag with blankets, water and medication.

"Hey mate, don't worry about it, I think we can manage it" Colin said clapping Cal on the back. As he said that, Fabian toppled over a box of linens sending bed sheets all over the foray.

"We may hire some help," said Brigette firmly.

"Hey Ms. Bedlam" Cal said opening the door of Sophie's tiny flat. He held Sophie in his arms and Jonathan had Sophie's bag behind him.

"Cal, how are you? Come in, come in" Lucy said ushering them into the flat.

Cal walked into the flat, Sophie still asleep in his arms and feeling like nothing against his quidditch toned muscles. He went back into her bedroom and laid her very gently on the bed. Jonathan left her bag beside the bed.

"Thanks Jonathan"

"No problem, Caliber, I'll be waiting in the car"

"How is she today?" Lucy asked arranging her pillows and sheets so that Sophie was more comfortable.

She's okay, just tired I think. If you have the time, I'd like to talk to you for a minute"

"Of course, sit down in the living room and I'll make us some tea," Lucy said leading the way out of the bedroom and into the multi-purpose main room where Samuel was still spending nights on the couch. During the day he had begun working on getting a work permit to do medical research for St. Mungo's like he had been doing in Canada.

"Is Mr. Harlow here?" Cal called from the couch doubling as Samuel's bed.

"No, he had a meeting this afternoon at the Canadian consulate"

"Oh, well I wanted to discuss something very important with you" Caliber said taking the cup of tea handed to him by Lucy.

Lucy sighed and took a sip of tea, every discussion she had these days seemed filled with heady topics.

Cal took a deep breath and said, "I want to ask Sophie to marry me"

"Oh Cal"

"Ms. Bedlam, I know we don't have any idea how long Sophie is going to last, but this is something I have to do"

"Cal, don't you think you should think about this? I really do feel your subjecting yourself to unnecessary grief. We have to be realistic"

"With all due respect Ms. Bedlam, I am being realistic. Sophie is the one, and I would want to marry her, even if we had a million years to live still. Of course, I would have preferred for us to wait a while and explore ourselves and our careers and whatnot a little more, but we don't have a while"

"Look, Cal, I'm not going to say no. I know that you love Sophie and I know that she loves you more than anything else in the world. I'm just worried that you're making this harder on yourself than it already is. You're an incredibly decent fellow, and I would be honored to have you as a son-in-law"

"Thank you Miss Bedlam. Thank you, thank you, thank you"

I apologize more times than you could possibly know and I won't make excuses but finally I have posted a new chapter. The problem is mostly that I don't have a clear outline for the next few chapters. A million thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed and been a supporter of my writing. Please read and review.

-prinadean