June 6- Recourse

Ernie

"And that's me again," Anthony said, scooping up the rest of the Gobstones and Ernie's sickle.

"Dammit!" Ernie bellowed, sitting back on his knees and glaring at Anthony in disbelief. Anthony just smirked as he pocketed the fifteenth sickle and it clinked against the others he'd won that day.

"How do you do it?" Ernie demanded, standing up now and following Anthony over to the sitting room.

Anthony leaned back on the sofa with a cool confidence that Ernie had always hated, and admired. "You really want to know?"

"Of course I want to know! I was Gobstones champion at Hogwarts for five years! Then all of a sudden you start clobbering me!"

Anthony laughed. "Actually, it was Susan Bones that clobbered both of us, remember?"

Ernie huffed. He did remember. He had been studying too hard for OWLs and missed a couple of practices. She basically cleaned the floor with him.

"Alright, Goldstein, tell me. How are you winning?"

Anthony pressed his fingers together thoughtfully, as if they were discussing something much more serious than Gobstones.

"You have a tic," he said finally and Ernie scoffed dramatically.

"I do not!"

Anthony was smiling widely, his amusement apparent in the glint of his perfectly straight teeth. "You do, actually. And it's so damn obvious for a long time I thought you were doing it on purpose, to throw me off. Then I watched you play Susan and she saw it too, obviously, because she took you down with only that."

Ernie was furious. Hannah would've told him, surely, if he was giving away his carefully crafted strategy with something so stupid.

"What do I do, exactly?"

"As if I'd tell you!" Anthony replied, laughing. "Ask Hannah, I'm sure she's noticed it."

Ernie exhaled through his nose and adverted his eyes from the smug smile of Anthony Goldstein.

"Hannah and I haven't really…well, she's busy, you know? With the inn." He looked back to see that Anthony was no longer smiling.

"She's staying on there?"

Ernie nodded.

"So are you two just going to play out the summer and then call it quits or what?"

Ernie gaped at him. Ruddy Ravenclaws. They could just get right in your head sometimes!

"No, we aren't. I'm not." Ernie didn't want to speak for Hannah. Even though they had made up, she had been distant since Justin's return.

Again, Anthony did not disappoint with his keen insight. "If you are waiting for Hannah to ditch you, you are likely to get your heart broken. She's too nice. She'll drag it out forever and your friendship will suffer for it."

"You don't know what you're saying," Ernie replied too quickly, though he felt anxious. Was Hannah thinking about ditching him, but didn't want to hurt his feelings?

Anthony shrugged and stood up. "Whatever. You still want to get lunch? I'm starved."

Ernie frowned. "Well, yeah, but you have all my ruddy money now."

Anthony patted his pocket and it jingled. "Fine, lunch is on me. Stop pouting already."

"I'm not pouting. You know, sometimes I wonder why I still hang out with you," he complained, though half-heartedly, as he followed Anthony outside.

Ernie watched Anthony chat with the waiter at their café when he had a curious thought. After the waiter left, he asked, "You seeing anyone?"

Anthony shook his head. "No time. Between work and then school starting back up in the fall, who has time to date? Then we'll have NEWTs and if I get Head Boy..." he trailed off seeing Ernie's incredulous expression.

"Woah, what makes you think you'll get Head Boy?"

Anthony shrugged. "Don't you think they'll give it to a returning prefect?"

Ernie hadn't thought of that. "But, we're meant to have graduated. Won't they give it to an actual seventh year?"

Anthony gave him a knowing look. "Can't be sure. But I reckon I have a shot."

"If you do, than I do. I'm Prefect too."

Anthony let out a bored sigh. "Yes, I know. But not everything is a competition, Ernie."

"I'm not competing. I'm just saying, if you could be Head Boy, then so could I."

Anthony nodded absentmindedly. "Who do you reckon will get Head Girl then?"

Ernie thought about the prefects he knew. Hannah was out, obviously.

"Dunno, guess it would be between Padma and Hermione wouldn't it? Is Padma coming back?"

Anthony raised his eyebrows. "I don't know. I haven't spoken to her."

"Oh, I thought you two were like, a thing."

"Really? Why would you think that?"

Ernie blushed. He didn't really know how to come right out and ask…

"I don't know. You hung out together a lot."

Anthony rolled his eyes. "Yes, we were both Ravenclaw Prefects. Unlike you I didn't feel the need to hook up with my fellow Prefect."

"Shut it, Goldstein, you know I fancied her long before we were both prefects."

Anthony laughed at the memory they were likely both reliving. "Yes, I believe in what? Fourth year, was it? You told me if I even so much as looked at Hannah you'd punch me in the bollocks."

Ernie smiled. "Well you didn't. So I guess it worked."

"No, Hannah just isn't my type," he replied with a smirk that told Ernie if she had been his type, no amount of threats would've kept him away.

"Well what is your type then?" Ernie asked hastily, finally hoping to get to the point. But instead of answering Anthony said, "Why are you suddenly so curious about my love life, Macmillan? Thinking about switching teams?"

Ernie turned a bright shade of pink. "No! I wasn't asking for me! But wait…are you? I mean, on that team?" he finished quietly.

Anthony chuckled again. "Team Gay? No. You're trying to pair me up with Finch-Fletchly, aren't you?"

Ernie averted his eyes as Anthony brought his hand down on the table in raucous amusement. "Slick, Ernie! Completely slick!"

"How did you know, about Justin?"

Anthony goggled at him. "Um, well, I have eyes, and a brain. Why, is Justin not open about it? Because I'm pretty sure everyone in Ravenclaw knew."

Ernie worried his lip. Justin wasn't going to like that. "Ah, well, nevermind then."

Anthony grinned at him from across the table. "You're a good friend, you know that?"

Ernie shrugged. "Hufflepuff and all that," he muttered.

Anthony rolled his eyes again. "Yeah, and all that. Listen," he brought his voice down to a whisper and Ernie leaned in. "I'm definitely straight but I'm pretty sure our waiter was hitting on me. You want me to get his number for old Finchy?" Anthony waggled his eyebrows comically, causing Ernie to snort into his tea just as the waiter in question came with their sandwiches. Ernie kept his head down but his body gave him away, his shoulders practically vibrating from trying to hold in his laughter.

When the man walked away Ernie wiped his eyes and looked up at Anthony's smug, victorious face.

"You arse, Goldstein," Ernie said, still chuckling lightly.

"This is exactly why you hang out with me."

Ernie nodded. Anthony was correct, as usual.

"Oh good, you're home," his mother said as soon as he popped into existence in the living room. "I do wish you'd Apparate onto the patio though, darling. Your father's heart and all."

Ernie's father had been rather jumpy for the past few years, since You-Know-Who had been seen at the Ministry.

At the Ministry? My place of work? Merlin, he could be anywhere! his father had exclaimed, and since then had been worried that any minute the Dark Lord would pop into his house and murder his wife and child.

Not that he had any reason to do so. Ernie's parents were as pure as they came, following a long lineage that had him related, at least loosely, to all the members of the Black and Weasley families. His father was head of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes at the Ministry, and with few reasons to interact with the less savory committees and groups being formed in support of Lord Voldemort, was more safe in his position than some.

Ernie had been worried about his mother, upon returning to Hogwarts, as she was a top-ranking barrister by trade. Her position was likely to have her associating with many corrupt Ministry employees, as well as taking cases that would compromise her morals. However, in October, Ernie had received rather surprising news by owl. His mother was pregnant. She also made it very clear in here letter that she was planning on taking some time off from work because of this unexpected event.

Ernie knew this was merely an excuse to stay out of the public eye, as she had worked almost up until the day she gave birth to him, eighteen years ago. Something as trivial as pregnancy did not stop Clarissa Macmillan from satisfying her ambition to the fullest.

His mother bobbled out into the living room now, and Ernie grinned.

"Mother, you are huge," he said, walking over to give her a peck on the cheek.

Clarissa pushed him in the shoulder. "Ernest, you never tell a woman she's huge! Gods, have I taught you nothing?" She pouted at him but Ernie saw the glint in her eye that let him know he was off the hook.

Ernie was pleased that his parents were having another child, having always liked babies from a young age. He would frequently play with the younger siblings of his friends and for his sixth birthday had actually asked for a little brother.

Better late than never, Ernie reasoned, though he knew now the age gap would not lead him and his future sibling to have the same relationship he had craved as a child. It was likely that his own children would be closer to this child than he ever could.

"Listen, can you summon the china set for me dear? I have a terrible case of the dropsies today!" Ernie watched as his mother eased herself onto the sofa and let her head fall back on the couch.

"Sure, Mum. Is someone coming over?"

Clarissa shook her head, looking up at the ceiling. "I just want tea, is that too much to ask?"

Ernie chuckled at the dramatic tone of his mother's voice before going off to get the tea set. He began setting it up for her, as Ernie noticed she was now drifting off to sleep. He liked seeing her like this, at home, pregnant, drooling on the couch. As a child, Ernie only saw her when she was bustling from one court case to the next or reviewing case folders and files on the dining room table as his father placed plates around her.

"Mum?"

Clarissa woke with a snort. "Huh? Blimey, I have to pee, again. Help me up, will you?"

Ernie grinned and walked over to pull his mother off the sofa.

"It sure will be nice having two men around the house once she's born! There are a lot of cases to review."

Ernie stared at her. "You're joking, right?"

He saw the sides of his mother's lips turn up slightly as she pushed past him to the bathroom.

"Am I?"

Ernie grabbed the cake his mother had placed on the sideboard and sat at the table waiting for her return.

"Summon the tea, will you Ernest? I swear, I've broken more shite this week than I have in my entire life!"

Ernie swished his wand and said, "Accio tea."

A steaming pot a tea zoomed into the room and settled nicely on the table. Instead of praising her son for not scalding them Clarissa tutted, "When are you going to start doing silent magic, darling? It's not good form to be all 'Accio this!' and 'Lumos that!'"

Ernie frowned. "I don't say Lumos, mother, and besides, what's the difference? It's just tea."

His mother sighed and looked at him. "What am I going to do with you, hmm?" She smiled and began slicing the large apple cake as he poured them both tea.

Ernie enjoyed spending time with his mother, even when she was picking at him. For several years he practically had to burn the house down to get her to notice him. As a young child he spent most days in a formative wizard school called the Starward Academy. Even then his aptitude for reading and maths went unnoticed by his mother, though his father was always more than happy to pin a top mark onto the icebox.

That was where he had first met Anthony Goldstein. Anthony's father had insisted he needed to get an edge up on pureblood children that might be surrounded by more magic than himself, Anthony being a half-blood and living in a muggle neighborhood. Even then, Ernie and Anthony had constantly competed for the attention of teachers, fellow students, and even each other, strangely enough.

"So tell me, where have you been all day? I need help cleaning out the office before I'm too big to bend over."

Ernie glanced at his mother's rotund form over the rim of his teacup. "Mother, I'm pretty sure that day has come and gone. You're due any day now."

Clarissa simply waved him off as if giving birth was simply an errand to run on a busy day of other activities.

"I had lunch with Anthony. We talked about school next year."

His mother gave an approving nod. "Well, that sounds productive. And what's he up to this summer?"

Ernie frowned looking at his tea. "He's working at St. Mungos."

As expected, Ernie's mother's face lit up. "Already? Well, he certainly knows how to get his foot in the door! You know, you should take one of those internships at the Ministry. Mr. Fitzpatrick was telling me he has a slot open in Muggle Rehabilitation when I was there the other day for the Nott case."

Ernie furrowed his brow. "You took a case?"

Clarissa shook her head at her son. "You've become far too wishy-washy, son. Focus! I told you just the other day that I had taken a one-off."

Ernie searched his memory for any mention of a so-called 'one-off' but couldn't seem to recall. It was true he'd been extremely distracted recently, what with Justin's return and Hannah's...being Hannah.

"I'm totally lost," he finally admitted.

Clarissa tutted at him again, picking at the cake with her fingers and popping it into her mouth. "You are just like your father, I swear to it! Theodore Nott Jr., you know him, of course?"

Ernie nodded. Theo was in almost all his NEWT classes last year, except Dark Arts, ironically.

"Well, the boy's father just died, in Azkaban," she added quietly, "and they didn't want to release any of his assets to his next of kin, as that's not policy. But, I mean, honestly. The boy looked like he was starving to death! Besides, he had a clean record, no run-ins at school, top grades. It was cut-and-dry," she said with some finality, resting her teacup on her bulging stomach.

"Huh," Ernie said, letting his thoughts wander again. Something about what she said reminded him of last year, but he couldn't figure out why. His mother snapped her fingers at him and he turned.

"What has got you wool-gathering so much today, Ernest? You're usually sharp as a tack!"

Ernie raised an eyebrow. "Mother, when did you start using so many muggle idioms?"

Clarissa grinned. "They are wonderful aren't they? Dromeda told me one the other day, what was it? 'A watched pot never boils.' Isn't that rich?"

"So, wait," Ernie said, snapping himself out of his thoughts, "Did they release the Nott account?"

"Of course! I mean, the boy is still going to have a tough time of it, but at least-"

"But, it's pretty clear in the bylaws," Ernie cut in, regaining focus. "Section 42 states that no person convicted of murder may hold accounts, assets or investments, nor can they be transferred to kin or business associates."

Clarissa dropped her teacup. It rolled down her belly before tipping off onto the floor with a crash.

"Bugger and tosh! Reparo!" she shouted and the teacup sealed back together and another swish she placed it on the table. "How do you know all that?" his mother asked him now, looking amazed.

Ernie shrugged. "I had a lot of time to read last year."

Clarissa frowned automatically. Though she was often flippant about the big old "to-do" Voldemort was causing, he knew it was only because she had no control over the situation. She only let herself slip once, when she met him at the bottom of the stairs in the ruined Great Hall, only hours after Harry had defeated You-Know-Who. Ernie had been escorting Hannah to get some food, as he was not willing to let her out of his sight after the events of the evening ,when he was attacked by his very distraught and pregnant mother. That might've been the first time he'd ever seen her cry.

He watched now as her face returned to calm interest. "So you read law books? I was under the assumption that you were never particularly interested in what I do."

"Not just law books. The room was basically an anti-Voldemort bunker, so all the texts were about Defense against the Dark Arts. There were a few books about legislating dark magic and activities. I found those particularly interesting, so I sought out a few more."

Clarissa appraised him. "I see."

Ernie tapped his foot on the ground in irritation. He had basically just told his mother that he'd found something he was passionate about, in her field, and all she says is "I see."

There was an awkward silence for a moment as Ernie watched his mother think. He could always tell when she was thinking as she pursed her lips together tightly and raised her right eyebrow. Ernie slurped the sugary contents at the bottom of his teacup and she seemed to snap back to the present.

"So, as I was saying, Mr. Fitzpatrick. He needs someone with an O in Muggle Studies to help with the Rehabilitation Committee."

Ernie mulled it over. Could be nice, to get his foot in the door. Though Muggles was not something he was particularly interested in focusing on.

"Perhaps. But I don't have my NEWTs, Mother."

She waved him off. "Well, you should have. If it wasn't for all the war nonsense you'd have taken them and gotten your ruddy O. He knows the circumstances. And he knows you are going back in September. It's really just for the summer, dear. You'd be helping out with the effort."

Ernie nodded slowly, thinking of Justin's family. It would be nice to do something helpful.

"Yeah, ok."

His mother grinned at him, slapping her hand on the table and causing the sugar bowl to tip off the table. Ernie caught it quickly before she noticed. "Great, it's all settled then. You just need to go in Thursday for a quick meeting."

Ernie frowned. "I can't do Thursday."

"What? Darling, that's the only time he can do it. The MRC is stretched thin, Ernie."

"I can't. I have plans with Hannah."

Clarissa waved him off again. "Well, reschedule."

"I can't, Mother," he said, trying to emphasize the importance of the situation. "It's her only day off. I really can't."

His mother rolled her eyes. "Darling, sometimes you have to let your friendships take a back seat to ambition."

Ernie sat up straight. "I'm not a Slytherin, mother. And Hannah is more than a friend, you know that."

Clarissa sighed dramatically. "You know, you'd think I'd been hit with some sort of memory charm the way you and your father remind me of that. Yes, I know you are not a Slytherin, but you are your mother's son. Your ambition rivals my own at times, we both know this. Plus, combined with your father's work ethic I'm surprised you've been so lackadaisical this summer anyway."

"I haven't," he retorted quickly, though feeling slightly guilty that he had in fact allowed himself to be a lazy sack of potatoes for nearly a month.

"Well, I don't know what to tell you son, you've been saying you wanted a top spot in the Ministry since you were eight years old. Here's your window. Take the jump."

Ernie furrowed his brow. Did his mother just tell him to jump out the window?

"Ernie, you need to get your priorities in order," she went on, apparently now knowing what to tell him, "Fitzpatrick is expecting an owl from me tomorrow. This might be your only chance to get in at the Ministry."

Ernie's nostrils flared at the manipulative tone his mother was using.

"While I appreciate the vote of confidence, Mother, I'm not one to ignore the people I love in order to fulfill my ambition. And in case you haven't been listening to me, I'm not even sure I want to work at the Ministry anymore!"

Clarissa did not react to his raised voice but instead looked at him calmly, her long painted fingernails clinking against her cup. "This is news to me, son."

Ernie rolled his eyes and began cleaning up the table. "Mother, do you know how Anthony got in at St. Mungos? His aunt works there. She got him the position. And Hannah is at the Leaky because Tom got her in there."

"What's your point?"

"Nothing, Mother. It's nothing." Ernie waved his wand and silently the table was cleared. The dishes transferred to the sink and the tablecloth folded itself.

He walked into the kitchen to wash the dishes, leaving his mother silent at the table. A few moments later he heard the groan that meant she had stood up but ignored her until she was right behind him.

"Why are you doing those by hand?" she asked.

"I like washing dishes by hand. It's therapeutic."

His mother laughed. "Well if that's the only therapy you need, I suppose I didn't too bad by you!"

When Ernie didn't laugh his mother sighed and placed a hand lightly on his elbow. "Listen," she began quietly and Ernie turned off the tap, but didn't turn to face her. "I'm up to my neck in cases and I would like to get started on them before my clients sue me for negligence."

"You have ninety days from first file," Ernie muttered and she chuckled.

"How's about you help me? Besides, if you're with me, your father will likely let me go to the office. That way when she comes, you can get me to the hospital."

Ernie sighed and turned. "How are you so sure it's a girl?"

Clarissa shrugged. "I just know. So you want the job, or what?"

Ernie nodded, giving his mother a tight smile, though inside his heart was bursting with excitement. Sure, he was pleased to help out, but this opportunity meant spending more time with her than he ever had in his life, even with the addition of a new baby.

She patted his shoulder and said, "Good boy," before letting out a heavy sigh. "Bathroom again, I think. I swear, I can't keep doing this!" Clarissa waddled away from him and Ernie turned back to the dishes letting himself actually smile.

"Oh and Ernest?" she called from the stairs. He turned to look at her. Even in the dressing gown she had no doubt slept in, her hair pinned back with a quill and what looked like a massive pumpkin smuggled under her clothes, his mother was still a commanding, beautiful woman. She smiled at him now with confidence and approval clear on her face.

"Nice clearing charm, very fluid."

"Thanks, Mum."

Author's Note: Thanks for the follows, folks! It's nice to see the numbers going up and not down!

Wanted to take a second to thank my pre-reader, the lovely Miss MandyinKC. If you are enjoying my story, please go check hers out, as her feedback is what makes these chapters better.

I'm sorry for the delay on this week's chapter, I have a lot going on. Dean and Katie are up next and I hope to get them published quickly. I also has started posting some Theo drabbles under the title: Not That Kind Of Love. So if you're a Theo fan (Or a Daphne fan) feel free to check those out. They are basically just character work and all take place during Hogwarts. We'll be meeting Daphne in COD soon.

About OC: There are a lot of OC in the upcoming chapters, in addition to Ernie's mother in this one. I'd love your opinion on these characters and of course the story as a whole so please review! Thank you!