CHAPTER 3
AN: Spot the "Keeping Up Appearances" reference
The front door led into a brightly lit sitting room. The silence broke as soon as Harry took a step in.
"So, Pops, what did he say?"
Harry looked at his daughter bouncing on the balls of her feet. "How long have you been waiting to ambush me?"
"I was so excited, I've been pacing since you left."
He placed his keys on the hook by the door. "Why don't you ask him yourself?" He stepped aside and let Tom come into view.
"You're here!" The child sprang forward before stopping short. "Welcome, sir. Come in, come in."
Tom raised his eyebrow at Harry who replied. "Go on then."
Rose ushered Tom further into the room whereupon sitting she looked expectantly at her father who nodded. "Hale," the child called out. A pop and the house-elf appeared. "Can we please have tea for three?" The mean looking elf gave a snarled smile and popped away.
Harry took a seat next to her, flipping through a handful of letters he had picked up from the entryway. "More holiday cards. That makes one hundred and twelve."
"Seriously?" inquired Tom.
"Oh yes. This is what I get for being on the cover of international newspapers. Everyone and their third cousin twice removed wants to invite me over for mulled wine and a hot mince pie." Hale appeared with a full service tray and set up the tea on the table between them. "Thank you, it looks lovely." The house-elf beamed. "Can you please send a thanks, but no thanks in response to these, Hale?" Harry passed the greeting cards to him.
"Of course Master Harry," he took them and popped away.
"Your house-elf handles your correspondence?" Tom asked after Rose passed him a tea cup.
"Just the ones I don't want to deal with."
"Which is a lot of them," chimed Rose.
"Yes, well. Some people are too persistent. Now, Rose, please tell me you at least did some work while I was in London."
"Yes, I did. The chapter summaries are on your desk."
"Very good."
"You give her homework during the holidays?"
"I would think you would approve. From your letters, I know you're a hard task master."
"Are you as harsh a grader as I am?" ask Tom.
"Probably. I can show you some of her older assignments and you can decide."
"I would be honored to be able to say that I assessed the great Rose Potter," Tom said sarcastically.
"She's also a Black."
"Pardon."
Harry looked over at Rose before responding. "People lose their minds over her name. When she wants to fly low, she's Rose Black."
"I don't want people staring at me," Rose mumbled into her tea cup.
Harry petted her head. "Yes, it is uncomfortable for me dealing with the press but that's something I brought onto myself. You shouldn't be harassed by something you can't even remember. You can be Rose Black as needed. You are mine after all."
"I am. Though you are a bit young for parenthood according to her next door. She left you a message on the anasphone inviting you to her candlelight supper tonight by the way."
"She's a nightmare."
"She thinks you're attractive."
"She's old enough to be my grandmother."
"You should be honest and tell her you like blokes."
"Thanks for the social advice, Rose. I'm sure you have more where that came from."
"Mrs Crane does say I'll be a heartbreaker."
"I'll ground you until you're one hundred if you make me a grandpa before you're thirty." Tom almost spit out his drink at Harry's comment.
"You don't mean that, Pops. You're such a push over when it comes to me!" Rose's laughter was so full of joy that it was infectious.
Harry chuckled. "Of course I don't mean that. Though I would appreciate it if you did not make me a grandfather before I'm done having children. It would be strange to have your siblings only a couple of years older than your own."
"Yes, you have a point there. That would be weird, even for us."
"I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, I'm…"
"Here if I need guidance. I know, Pop, I know."
"I've told her," Harry looks at Tom, "that if my reputation causes her problems she can say that we're not related."
Before Tom chimed in, Rose responded. "I'm not ashamed to be your daughter. Plus, it would be a political and social nightmare if the lie is discovered." Then she sniffed and stuck her nose in the air. "I shall overcome any challenges, Father, let the commoners entertain themselves with speculations." Then she burst into giggles.
Tom actually laughed and said, "You do make a good impression of a British Pureblood, good job."
"Thank you," she beamed at Tom.
"When you're done with your tea, you can crack into the new runes kit," Harry offered.
"Really?! I'm done. Thanks." And with that she was out of the room, running towards the study.
"No running in the house!"
"Sorry!" Rose shouted back but thundering steps could still be heard up the stairs.