Mary had never seen Rion like this before. His green eyes sparkled and his freckles were overshadowed by a blush that began as soon as she mentioned the name.
"Dean Thomas? He's in our tent?" he asked, the timbre of his voice rising on his question along with his coloring.
Mary smiled. She'd been aware for some time that Rion was gay, kbut she had never known him to be interested in a particular boy. Of course, she had no idea what he might get up to at school, except what Regina would tell her, but she was willing to bet she was witnessing her son's first real infatuation.
"Yes, he's looking after your grandmother so we need to get you all sorted so that we can go back there. I don't want to move her again."
"Right," Rion answered, hurrying to his cot and using his wand to quickly summon all of his belongings into his rucksack. "I'm ready."
"Gran must be so much better if she was able to survive the transport," Regina said, her tone breathy with hope as she moved at a more leisurely pace to her current blue and silver headquarters. She wore flat-heeled leather boots over her jeans and a strapped harness with a sheath across her back, into which she slid her sword.
Her mother bit her lip and turned to help Marty with his packing, thinking of the best way to respond.
"You can know for yourself if you hurry," Reg pointed out, finishing his own preparations. "I want to see this young man that your mother has been living with," he said, winking at Mary.
She rolled her eyes, moving to stand in the crook of his arm, as they all huddled together.
"Accio tent," Reg commanded, exposing them all as the shelter folded itself and took its place in the satchel on his back. "Your turn, Mary."
She removed her Encompass and thought of the area outside of her own camp. There was the feeling of being pulled across the forest, as if by a hook on the tree where she had first spotted Reg's woodpecker, then they were there.
She used Cherry to slice an opening in the shield and they all stepped through, Marty running ahead of everyone. Mary smiled at his energy. He seemed to have lost even more weight.
"Now, let's go meet this young man and goblin," Reg said, beginning the short walk to the tent. "Come on, Rion."
Mary looked at her eldest. After the excitement he had shown before, now he looked toward the tent, the previous sparkle in his eyes gone. "Rion?" she asked, "Aren't you coming?"
"In a minute," he said, shuffling his feet in the snow. "I just want to…um…walk around a little."
With a thin smile, she walked over to put her arms around him. "I missed you and your handsome face."
He snickered. "I'll be in soon. I missed you too, Mum."
She swirled Cherry in front of him and a soft, thick scarf that matched his green eyes wrapped around his neck, and she left him to gather his nerve. Catching up with Reg, she told him Rion would be along in a minute.
"He can take his time," Reg said, putting his arms around her again. "I want you to myself before I meet your young admirer."
She giggled as she laid her head on his chest, hoping the cold would cover her own blush.. "Reg, he's not an admirer."
"Oh, come now," her husband said, lowering his head to rub his cheek against hers and nuzzle her neck, "A woman with your eyes" he kissed each one, "and legs," he placed a hand on her thigh, "who had just saved his life. I'd be surprised if he wasn't."
She shook her head and he whispered to her, "You are what we used to call a WILSMO."
Mary crinkled her eyes and nose. "A WILSMO?"
He nodded, turning again to resume the walk toward the tent. "Witch I'd Like to See More Of."
She giggled again as they entered the tent. Regina sat by her grandmother's bed while her father embraced her youngest. The two guests stood in a corner, attempting not to interfere with the reunion. "How is she, Regina?" Mary asked, heading over to her mother's bed where her daughter sat.
Regina lifted her head and Mary saw the tears running down the sharp planes of her diamond-shaped face, dripping onto her layered, thin sweaters. She put her arms around her, "Just stay with her, darling. She missed you."
"Jack, who is this young man you saved?" Reg asked, placing an arm on his father-in-law's shoulders and leading him to where Dean stood. He extended his hand. "I'm Reg Cattermole."
"Dean Thomas, and this is Griphook," Dean said, shaking the hand and putting his other one on the top of the goblin's head."
Reg bent down to the diminutive creature and shook his hand as well. "You're safe here. My wife is incredible, isn't she?"
Dean nodded, "Yes, sir, she is."
Mary sidled her gaze to her husband and caught his wink. "What's that delicious smell?" Reg asked. "The kids and I have had to live with my cooking for too long."
Dean grinned. "It's Southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. I told Mar—your wife that she had the best supply of food I've seen in months."
Reg smiled again. He'd regrown that annoying mustache and Mary saw that it twitched with mischief. "Yes, she is well stacked…er…stocked."
She dropped her head, glaring at the ground. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to shave that mustache and ram it down his throat.
"Now that there are others to look after Mrs. Watts," Griphook said with a bow, "if you'll excuse me, I'm going out." He left without another word to anyone.
"How did you learn to make fried chicken?" Reg asked now, coming to put a possessive arm around Mary and kiss the top of her head.
"My step-dad's mother was American, from Georgia," Dean explained, spooning mashed potatoes in a bowl and handing it to Regina for Patsy. "She taught him and he taught me. I made some johnnycakes for you," he told Mary, as he flipped the last ones onto the stack on the table. "I know you liked them."
"Thank you," Mary said, picking one of the golden rounds from the table and tearing off a piece to pop in her mouth.
Plopping down next to her, Reg put his chin on her shoulder. "That does look good. Let me taste it, Love."
She growled under her breath as she bent her elbow over her shoulder to give him a bite, resisting the urge to smash it into his face.
Reg took her hand, nipping her fingertips along with the johnnycake. "Mmm, they're both delicious."
She gave him a little smack in the mouth, causing him to snicker, as Dean moved over to Patsy's bed. "Regina, Mr. Watts, why don't you go eat with your family? I'll take care of her."
"Behave yourself," Mary admonished her husband through clenched teeth.
Jack pulled a pipe from his pocket. "Thanks, Dean, I'll just step outside."
Mary sighed. Her father had stopped smoking before this ordeal.
Reg leaned close to whisper in her ear, "Did you miss me?"
She rolled her eyes again. "If I say yes, will you stop teasing that boy?"
He raised his hand, "Slytherin's honor."
"Hmph!" Mary grunted, kissing his stubbly cheek.
"Ahem!" Regina stood in front of them, arms crossed in apparent disgust, "Do you two need a separate tent?"
"Maybe we should set up a shield to keep them out," Marty grumbled around a mouthful of the crunchy drumstick he held in greasy fingers.
"Absolutely not," said Mary, leaning over the table to grasp her children's hands, "I won't be separated from any of you again."
Regina lowered her eyes then moved closer to whisper to her mother, "She's not going to make it, is she?"
Mary sighed as she lay her head on her daughter's. "We'll have her through Christmas."
"Hey, Rion," said Dean as the last family member finally entered the tent. "Hope you're hungry."
Mary looked up to see Rion drop his head and mumble a thank you then load a plate with food. She smiled at him and finished her statement to Regina, "We'll make sure it's the best one your grandmother's ever had."
There was a moment of quiet and then Reg looked over his shoulder and said in a booming voice. "Dean, you said your step-dad's American? Who's your dad?"
"Reg," Mary whispered, aghast at her husband's lack of tact.
"I don't know who my dad is," Dean explained, moving closer to the table. "He left my mum. I'm on the run because I don't have proof that he was a wizard."
Reg smiled. "Yes, he was a wizard. You look just like him."
Dean stared, as did Mary's children and she asked, "Who are you talking about?"
Reg fumbled with his place setting as he answered in a low voice, "He was my best friend in the Slytherin house. He refused to join the Death Eaters." He looked up into Dean's confused, eager face. "He would have left to protect you and your mum. That's the kind of bloke he was. His name was Noble Shacklebolt."