The rest of the vacation went better. I apologized to Uncle harry for my outburst. He assured me that he understood I was upset and there was nothing to apologize for. That he had just been worried about me.
The day we were to leave Italy we would also be travelling to Diagon Alley to pick up school supplies. I was really looking forward to it before I had to come home and face my father. It turns out I was still pretty angry with him.
Fate had other ideas in store for me.
Well, if "fate" came in the form of a messenger boy who came running up to Uncle Harry when we stepped out in to Aunt Aly's office.
The boy who looked maybe Angus' age, was flustered and maybe a little star struck.
"Mr.… I mean Auror… I mean…" The boy stammered out holding an envelope out to Uncle Harry. He had that envelope in a death grip.
Uncle Harry was very kind as he gently pried the envelope away from the red faced boy and handed him a galleon.
"Th… thank you sir." The boy looked ready to bloody bow before he ran off again.
I could tell Albus was embarrassed. I elbowed him and gave him a frown letting him know to knock the crap off. I was NOT in the mood for Albus' theatrics today.
I would be in even less of a mood for it in a few minutes.
Uncle Harry opened the envelope and read the letter with a sigh. "We have to make a deter to the Leaky Cauldron."
Aunt Ginny looked at him confused and a bit concerned. "What is it Harry? Is there a problem?"
I knew by the way he looked at me that whatever the problem was I was somehow involved.
"Not a problem exactly…" Uncle Harry hedged. "Dudley is waiting for us there."
"Father?!" I squeaked. "MY father… the MUGGLE is waiting for us at the LEAKY CAULDRON?!"
"It isn't that unusual." Aunt Hermione smiled down at me. "My parents came shopping with me. They were very proud and pleased to be here."
"Your parents are not…" I didn't know what to say.
"Dursleys." Uncle Harry supplied.
"Well…" Aunt Aly looked kindly at me. "Let's not keep your father waiting."
I had hoped maybe it was a horrible prank played by one of the school bullies.
What a day it was to actually hope I was being bullied by Polly or Yann rather than meeting my own father.
Like a condemned criminal walking to the gallows I followed behind Uncle Harry as we made our way to the popular pub.
Scorpius reached out and squeezed my shoulder wringing a reluctant smile from me.
"It is going to be…." He hesitated, clearly not wanting to lie to me but wanting to cheer me up. "OK, probably dreadful, but we will be here with you."
Albus nodded. I don't know what I would have done without these two.
Uncle Harry made no comment but the small frown he wore told me he was almost as worried as I was.
We walked up to the Leaky Cauldron's front door and I took a deep breath.
"Are you alright?" Uncle Harry asked me, with a hand on my shoulder.
I nodded and then decided for honesty. "Well, I am a little worried." OK, mostly honesty.
Uncle Harry's smile told me he wasn't fooled for an instant. "Your father… he loves you. You do know that right?"
"I know I just…" I wasn't sure how to explain this. "I am used to keeping that part of my life separate from this part and it feels…"
"Like an intrusion?" He asked with a knowing nod.
"Yeah I guess something like that." I admitted.
"He is trying." Uncle Harry patted my shoulder. "Let him try. Let him in. Things might go easier for you if you both try."
With that Uncle Harry opened the door and we stepped in.
At first I was relieved, and also disappointed, when we did not see my father inside.
"He will be waiting in Muggle London." Uncle Harry explained noticing me looking around.
"Oh, right." I forgot that without a wand my father could not have got in. I wondered how he had even got a message through.
I guess they must have ways. I would remember to ask about that later.
A few minutes later my father walked in with Uncle Harry. His muggle street clothes looked distinctly out of place and it was clear he was uneasy as he looked around.
Let him in. Let him try. I could do that. I WOULD do that!
Forcing my face in to something of a welcoming smile I called out "Father! I am so glad to see you."
I walked forward for my hug and kiss.
"How is Angus? And Amata?" I asked once we greeted each other.
"Your brother is just fine. He made honor roll and the school's football team." My father looked a little less uneasy, but still not quite comfortable. "But that cat! Don't get me started."
I had left Amata at home when I went to Italy, assuming she would prefer the comfort of familiar surroundings.
We walked towards the exit. "Has she been naughty?"
With a wry smile my father said "That would be an understatement. She howled outside your bedroom door the entire time you were gone. I had the devil's own time getting her to eat."
"But… she did eat right?" I didn't know she would be so upset.
"Eventually, and when she was in your room." I reassured me. "I guess she just wanted to be near your scent, or something."
"I am so sorry, father. I will take her with me." I took the arm he offered.
He shrugged. "She missed you." He said simply.
"I missed her too." I watched the suspicious look on his face as he took in Diagon Alley in all its wizarding glory.
"So… this is where your lot buys their school supplies then?" He watched a young witch running after her small child.
Uncle Harry spoke up then. "Yes, but first we have to go to the bank."
The word "bank" seemed to make my father feel a little more at ease. It was something familiar I supposed.
Or he looked more at ease until he saw the goblins. I thought he was going to bolt out of the room.
"Goblins, father." I explained. "There are none better at protecting wizard money." That earned me a tight smile from the goblin who was handling trading our muggle money for wizard coins.
My father looked dubious but said nothing.
Madame Malkins went a bit better,
Or should I say a little more normal. My father was always ill at ease when helping me shop for clothes, but this was a discomfort I was used to.
"Why are you getting all of that green stuff?" He frowned. "I think blue would look a lot better on you."
"Green is my house color father. I can't wear blue! That is for Ravenclaws." I tried not to sound scandalized, but Merlin! It was the stripes and checks all over again!
Madame Malkin smiled sympathetically at my father. "I understand this must be pretty confusing for you. My own husband had NO idea how to help our daughters get dressed in clothes everyone agreed on.
My father nodded to her gratefully. "We rarely agree on what colors and patterns will suit." I wondered if he was also remembering stripes and checks.
But they are both purple indeed!
Our next stop was Flourish and Blotts to get my text books.
"Hi Miss Bones!" I called to the pretty red headed woman running the counter.
"Hello, Lilliana." She smiled at me. "Getting your second year books I take it? Do you remember where everything is?"
"Yes ma'am." I called happily. "Father, this is Miss Bones." I introduced, making my way over to the school section. "Miss Bones this is my father, Mr. Dursley."
Father shook the hand she offered. "Miss Bones."
"Please, Mr. Dursley, call me Susan. Would you care for some tea?"
"Dudley." Father returned. "And yes, I would love some."
I was soon joined by Albus and Scorpius, it had taken them a lot longer to get their supplies since they were taking more classes than I was.
"Oh hello, Harry." I heard Miss Bones call out from the other side of the room. "Have you met Mr. Dursley?"
"Er… yeah…" Uncle Harry sounded hesitant. "He is my cousin."
"Oh of course!" Miss Bones laughed easily. "I forgot."
"You know my cousin?" Father sounded surprised.
"We go way back." Miss Bones explained. "We were in school together."
"And fought in a war together." Uncle Harry said with a warm tone.
"You fought in a war?" It was my father's turn to hesitate. "That… errr… business with Harry when he was in school?"
"Yes," Miss Bones did not sound offended at my father's ignorance, for which I was incredibly grateful. "That was quite the "business" indeed."
I was worried, father did NOT like to be teased, but he surprised me by laughing. "I guess that was an understatement?"
"Just a bit. But it is alright." Miss Bones was quick to reassure him. "It is just nice that some people did not have to go through the full horror of that time."
She was such a nice lady.
Noticing that I had stopped to listen to their conversation Scorpius elbowed me. "Oi, Lils, get a move on! When we are done here we are heading to Finnegan's!"
My best friend and his unending need to shovel as much sugar in to his mouth as possible.
"Fine!" I grabbed the last of my books. "But you really should show some self restraint. For variety if nothing else."
"I am Scorpius the steadfast." He took some of the books up to the counter for me.
"Steadfast in your love for all things sweet." I put the books I was carrying down on the counter as well.
"Are you already finished, Lilliana?" My father sounded surprised.
"All done father," I nodded towards my books "and we are going to get ice cream, if that is alright with you?"
"Yes, it is fine." He stood up and shook Miss Bones hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Susan."
"You as well, Dudley." She walked over to ring up our purchases. "Perhaps someday you would like to come back and have another cup of tea. We can discuss that "business" when I was in school some more?"
My father surprised me by agreeing. "I would like that very much."
Father carried my books for me. "You seemed to get on well with Miss Bones." I began carefully.
"She is surprisingly normal." He smiled down at me. "And… I want to get to know your world better. I never want you to feel like you don't want to come home during the holidays."
Uncle Harry dropped me a wink. Let him in. Let him try.
...