The weeks passed quickly. Lizzy and Darcy had a variety of spats, as any couple will do, but they sorted through their issues quickly and become increasingly close. Largely thanks to Lizzy's efforts, however, they did not alienate any of their friends. They continued to eat breakfast with their own housemates and alternate tables for lunch and dinner. Lizzy also insisted that at least once a week she sit with just her sisters for a meal. They frequently studied with others in the library, and Lizzy continued to assure she and Darcy interacted with others, especially on the dance floor, whenever they went to Hogsmeade.

Fencing lessons with Albert continued, though Darcy had felt compelled to ask Elizabeth to leave him and Albert be. He had struggled with whether or not to answer when Elizabeth asked why, but ultimately decided to tell her the truth: he could not concentrate on Albert when he knew Elizabeth was there thinking of him as a father. She had blushed violently and agreed not to observe Albert's lessons anymore, though she did demand instruction from him in their tower whenever she wanted a break from studying. Such impromptu bouts of fencing practice always ended up being interesting, as Menace wove himself around their feet at the most inopportune of moments.

Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw faced each other on the Quidditch pitch with Ravenclaw just barely winning. Higgins had been almost insufferable in Albert's presence for a week after, but their rivalry eventually became friendly again and the two houses were able to coexist peacefully. Lizzy had enjoyed watching the match immensely, as she was able to notice a great many things about Ravenclaw's team that she had not in their weekly scrimmages. She was cautiously optimistic about Gryffindor's odds when it came their turn to play Ravenclaw.

Two weeks before Easter break was to start, Caroline finally approached Bingley and they had a civil, if strained, conversation. In the days following, the pair came to some sort of truce, the terms of which only Bingley, Caroline, and Jane knew, and Bingley announced that Caroline would be returning to Netherfield with him.

"Perhaps you would rather stay in London," Elizabeth ventured after watching Caroline scan Darcy up and down after Bingley shared the news.

Darcy furrowed his brows and looked down at Elizabeth, feeling angry with the suggestion. As he observed her own tense expression that was directed at Caroline, however, he fought a smirk. "Surely you're not jealous, Elizabeth?"

"Certainly not!" Elizabeth snapped.

Darcy had to roll his lips in and bite them to keep himself from snickering.

"I'm not," Elizabeth insisted, turning her fiery gaze toward Darcy. "I have no fears you would choose Caroline over me, but that does not mean I approve of that look she gave!"

"Does this mean you are ready to admit I'm handsome?" Darcy asked, raising a brow in imitation of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth huffed and resolutely turned her head away.

Just a few days before the students were to leave, Elizabeth and Darcy sat in conference with Jane, Bingley, and Mary at a secluded table in the library.

"Reggie and Louisa have said that everything seems perfectly safe around Longbourn," said Bingley, holding up his most recent letter from his older sister. "Louisa has visited Mrs. Bennet a fair few times, as well as other ladies, and has heard no reason to be concerned. Reggie has ridden the area twice in the last week alone and has nothing to report."

"My sources say the same," Darcy said unhappily, thinking of the reports he had received only that morning from the three magical servants he had sent to Hertfordshire, one of which had been hired temporarily at Longbourn.

"This is a good thing, is it not?" Jane asked. "Why do you all seem so very concerned?"

"Oh, Jane, you still think so well of everyone," Elizabeth sighed, then smiled sadly at her sister.

"The longer we go without news of Wickham or Malfoy, the more concerned we ought to become," Darcy said as he rolled his fingers across the tabletop. "Neither of them take defeat well, and both are currently in dire straits. Desperate men are the most dangerous."

"It seems to me as though we have done nearly everything we can to prepare," Jane reasoned. "Reggie, Louisa, and Darcy can all use their wands freely, in addition to those that you sent, Darcy. Lizzy and I can keep our wands on us the entire time we are home, just in case. I do not think it would be right to abandon the trip now because of the fear that something might happen. I will not live that way," she said sternly, looking at Bingley.

Bingley patted Jane's hand. "I wouldn't want you to, Jane."

Elizabeth arched her brow expectantly at Darcy.

"We've argued this enough, Elizabeth," said Darcy through his teeth. "I have already agreed to your terms, and you to mine."

"Terms?" Bingley asked interestedly. "What terms are these?"

"Darcy has agreed not to behave as my personal shadow while we are in Hertfordshire," Elizabeth said pompously. "He will, instead, behave as though he is there to support Bingley, and I will act as I normally do when home." Elizabeth bobbed her head to the side before adding, "Or as normally I can, considering how things stand between me and my parents."

"And you?" Bingley asked, turning to Darcy.

Mary suddenly bit down on her fingers to keep herself from laughing, though she still spluttered a bit around her improvised gag.

"At the first sign of trouble, I throw Elizabeth onto the back of a thestral and lock her up in one of Pemberley's cellars for the duration of the break," Darcy said, crossing his arms and arching his eyebrows at Elizabeth.

"Mr. Darcy!" Jane exclaimed in shock as Bingley and Mary dissolved into a fit of laughter.

"It won't come to that, Jane," Elizabeth said with a wave of her hand.

Darcy grabbed Elizabeth's hand in both of his before she could set it back down. "But those are the terms you agreed to," he growled.

"Yes, yes, Darcy," Elizabeth said while rolling her eyes. "Should a rabbit dare to dart across my path without noticeable provocation on one of my walks, you may whisk me away to a prison safeguarded by a dragon."

"The Darcys haven't had a dragon for several generations now, but perhaps I should look into what it would take to acquire another," said Darcy. "And I shall be with you on your walks."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes again. "We came to terms on that, too, remember. You cannot be seen from the house! Mrs. Bennet would lose her mind."

Darcy felt familiar anger beginning to claw at his insides at the mention of Mrs. Bennet, and so quickly changed the subject before he could get himself into trouble. "What else needs to be discussed?"

"Kitty and Lydia," Mary quickly supplied. "We need to settle on what they can know. I think we should simply tell them all, that way they can be on their guard."

"I don't think they need to know everything," Elizabeth countered. "I wouldn't want them fearful in their own home!"

"Lydia, fearful?" Mary snorted.

Elizabeth sneered playfully at Mary in reply.

"I agree with Lizzy," said Jane. "Kitty and Lydia have both grown considerably at Hogwarts. I think it would be fair to give them the credit of trusting them to follow a set of rules that we state explicitly are for their safety, rather than scare them into submission. We can consider this a trial of sorts, even. We are only away a week for Easter. Let us see how they behave now, and we can adjust plans for the summer."

Bingley and Darcy wisely refrained from commenting unless asked as the three elder Bennet sisters discussed how to best approach the youngest two.

Once details were settled on how to handle Kitty and Lydia, Darcy offered to transport everyone back to Hertfordshire in his carriage.

"Oh, no, I think we had better take Piper's," Elizabeth said quickly. She patted Darcy's arm as she continued her explanation, "We Bennets need to be seen driving back into the area. Piper will drop us off at the inn he usually does and we will hire a coach from there. You, Charles, and Caroline can take your thestral-drawn directly to Netherfield's stables."

"We could make a stop to trade out the thestrals," Darcy pressed.

"Darcy, no," said Elizabeth with finality. After allowing a moment for her refusal to settle, she smiled archly. "You will just have to deal with Caroline on your own."

Darcy's face contorted to a devilish grin. "Are you sure that's what you want, Miss Not Jealous?"

"You're entering dangerous waters, Darcy," Mary cautioned.

Darcy thought the danger was worth it for the possessive glean in Elizabeth's eyes.


Lizzy, Jane, and Mary waited until they were only two hours from Longbourn before talking to Kitty and Lydia about everything they had agreed on. The youngest Bennet girls were told that Lizzy had come to a truce with Mrs. Bennet and that they should behave toward their mother without reference to their second eldest sister's last interaction with the woman.

"But Mama was being so unreasonable!" Kitty exclaimed.

"How could she think we would let Lizzy marry that odious Mr. Collins?" Lydia argued.

"Enough, Kitty. Enough, Lydia," said Lizzy firmly. "If I can set it aside, you can certainly do so. She is your mother and will be treated with the appropriate respect." She felt somewhat guilty with the lie that she had set the issue aside. Being cast out by her mother was still incredibly painful, but Lizzy had made up her mind to assure whatever peace she could, and so swallowed her own pride for her sisters.

Jane squeezed Lizzy's hand before starting on the subject of safety. She admitted to Kitty and Lydia that everyone was still worried for Lizzy and made the girls promise to keep their sisters appraised of their whereabouts at all times. Furthermore, they were made to swear they would not leave sight of the house without Jane, Lizzy, or Mary. Lydia had fought the order with Jane and Lizzy for a solid five minutes before Mary lost patience and harshly interfered, though the interference was certainly effective for ending Lydia's ranting.

"Are you ready, Lizzy?" Jane whispered into her sister's ear as the hired carriage began slowing to a stop in Longbourn's drive. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were coming out the front door.

Lizzy felt her chest tighten considerably at the sight of her parents, but she forced herself to nod to Jane.

Jane was not fooled. "Mary," she said at a normal volume, "stay with Lizzy. I will handle Mama."

Mary nodded her understanding.

Mrs. Bennet began her excited cries the moment the carriage door opened and could not urge her daughters out fast enough. Kitty greeted her mother pleasantly and earned an affectionate pinch on her cheek.

"Lydia, child! How you've grown!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, pulling Lydia into a hug.

"Hello, Mama," Lydia said coolly.

"Is that any way to greet your mama?" Mrs. Bennet asked.

Jane quickly stepped from the carriage and greeted her mother as though absolutely nothing was amiss. Lizzy had to admire the acting skills of her sister. Jane had always been able to smooth over any situation.

While Jane continued to occupy Mrs. Bennet, Lizzy climbed out of the hired carriage with Mary and looked around. Things seemed different. Trees that had long been overgrown had offending limbs removed. The drive looked more even. Several windows had been replaced. Lizzy looked to Mary with a raised brow. Mary, in reply, glanced to Mr. Bennet, who was only just being seen to by Kitty and Lydia.

Lizzy allowed herself to look shocked for the briefest of moments before schooling her features again. Had Mr. Bennet actually put forth more than the bare minimal effort to keep the house and farm running? Perhaps there was hope for him keeping the promise he had written about, after all.

"Mama," Lizzy said civilly after Mary had suffered through Mrs. Bennet's attentions.

"Lizzy," Mrs. Bennet replied, her expression and tone suddenly devoid of the enthusiasm that had been used on her other children.

"I see you are well," Lizzy said in attempts to draw her mother into some sort of conversation.

Mrs. Bennet looked to Mr. Bennet, who frowned and shook his head at her, before answering. "I am healthy, yes," Mrs. Bennet said shortly.

Lizzy decided that would be enough and moved on to her father. Before she could say a single word, he drew her into an embrace. Lizzy found herself completely and totally surprised. Her father squeezed her hands, patted her shoulder, or kissed her cheek or forehead often when she was home, but she could not clearly remember the last time he had hugged her.

"I am glad you've come back, Lizzy," Mr. Bennet said into her ear.

Part of Lizzy wanted to cry and cling to her father, but another part, the hardened part that worked to keep her from hurt, strangled the comfort she felt and compelled her to pull from her father's arms. "It is good to see you, Papa," she allowed herself to say.

Mr. Bennet's eyes clearly showed the hurt Lizzy's cool manner inflicted, but the sad and self-deprecating smile he offered her admitted his guilt.

The inside of the house showed as much improvement as the outside. Lizzy noticed immediately that some wallpaper had been redone. She allowed herself a moment of amusement with the thought that permitting Mrs. Bennet to pick a new wallpaper might have been a reward from Mr. Bennet for good behavior.

"What is in that basket, Miss Lizzy?"

Lizzy turned at the strident tones of her mother and looked down at the basket she had forgotten was hanging from her arm. "My cat," she said unwillingly.

"Cat?" Mrs. Bennet squealed. "Not in the main house!"

"Oh, Menace is a sweetheart!" Lydia declared. She fearlessly reached into the basket and withdrew Menace, who looked less than pleased at being disturbed, though he remained pliant. Menace tolerated Lydia's attentions well enough. He had learned that she was as stubborn as he was.

"Menace?" Mrs. Bennet asked, her voice pitching up an octave and causing Mary to wince.

"Lydia, please put Menace back," Lizzy evenly demanded. "He will stay in my room, Mama. I could not very well leave him at school."

Lydia stroked Menace a few more times before settling him back in Lizzy's basket, all without complaint. Lizzy did not miss the fact that her father raised his brow in response to Lydia's quick compliance.

The Bennet sisters begged off to refresh themselves after their long journey. Lizzy had been just about to open the door to her bedroom when Jane walked by and grabbed her wrist.

"You'll be staying with me, Lizzy," Jane said decidedly.

"Jane, I can – "

"This is an entirely selfish decision on my part," Jane interrupted. "I want to enjoy a few nights spent with my sister before a date is set for my wedding. This way, we can simply enjoy the time rather than counting down days."

Lizzy allowed herself to laugh and entered Jane's room. She rolled her eyes good naturedly when she saw that Jane had already arranged for her trunk to be brought into the room.

Jane took Lizzy's basket, set it off to the side on the floor, and opened it so Menace might be able to get out and stretch his legs whenever he so chose. She then jumped onto her bed and patted the spot beside her. "Come, now. Let's dissect our reception home."

"I think not," Lizzy said as she opened her trunk and began pulling things out. "Let us simply say it went very much as we both honestly expected and be done with it. Am I allowed into my room at all to put things away, or shall I just take over all your space?"

Jane frowned at Lizzy's avoidance, but seemed to think better of arguing. "I suppose I will let you put some of your things in your room," she said with an exaggerated sigh. "It would be better for you to think of the space as a glorified closet while we are here, however. I am determined you will sleep with me and expect to hear no argument to the contrary."

"Yes, Head Girl," Lizzy said with mocking obsequiousness.

Lizzy and Jane giggled as they moved Lizzy's trunk in the most awkward method possible and had to start grasping their sides from laughing when Menace darted out the open door. It took all five sisters working collectively to corner the cat and stuff him back into his basket, a fate he was most certainly not happy about.

Gasping for breath, Lizzy and Jane finally got Lizzy's trunk into her own room and started unpacking the items within.

"Jane, give me a moment with Lizzy."

Lizzy felt all the air go out of her as she looked at her father, hands clasped behind his back, in her doorway.

Jane grasped Lizzy's hand and looked at her questioningly. Only after Lizzy nodded did Jane leave the room, though she gave her father an uncharacteristically stern look before doing so.

Mr. Bennet gently closed Lizzy's door. "How have you been enjoying school?" he asked uncomfortably.

"I don't think there is any point in prevaricating, sir," Lizzy said flatly. She stood tall and proud with her arms crossed. She found she lacked the patience to ease her father into the conversation he was gearing toward. She wanted to simply get it done and over with.

"Did you read that letter, Lizzy?" Mr. Bennet asked after recovering from being addressed in such a manner by his daughter.

"Yes," Lizzy answered simply. She was rather lacking in charity, also, and did not want to make things easy for her father at the moment.

Mr. Bennet nodded in acknowledgement of Lizzy's answer, then fell into deep thought. As he considered his next statement, he wandered further into the room and sat in a chair by the window.

Lizzy waited a few moments to see if Mr. Bennet would speak again, then shrugged and continued putting her things away. He would speak when he was ready, or he would leave without further comment. Either way, she was not going to press him on the subject.

Lizzy's trunk was nearly empty before Mr. Bennet spoke again.

"I meant what I wrote, Lizzy," Mr. Bennet said quietly. "I am so very sorry that I did not interfere more forcefully on your behalf. Since you left with your sisters – "

"I did not choose to leave," Lizzy interrupted coolly. "I was thrown out."

Mr. Bennet bowed his head, conceding Lizzy's point. "Since your mother sent you away, and since your sisters went with you, I have come to realize how abysmally I have failed in my roles as a father, husband, and landowner. Ever since Mrs. Bennet and I gave up on having any sons, I have allowed myself to become increasingly lazy, laboring under the misplaced belief that whatever I did could have little effect on any others."

When Mr. Bennet paused to offer Lizzy a chance to make comments, she only cocked an eyebrow.

"I have been a great fool, Lizzy, and I hope you may eventually be able to forgive me for the pain I have caused you by way of my indifference," Mr. Bennet said thickly.

Lizzy noticed her father was on the cusp of crying and, again, was of two minds. Part of her wanted to rush to console him and assure him all would be well, and the other part of her was infuriated by his late epiphanies and thought he rather deserved to be miserable.

"I have been in pain," Lizzy chose to admit. "I have no wish to attempt to explain to you the depth of emotion I have felt the past months due to Mrs. Bennet's thoughtlessness and your apathy." Mr. Bennet flinched, but Elizabeth plowed on. "I had thought I would be able to count on you as an ally when Mrs. Bennet finally crossed the border into the realm of the truly insensible. When you only watched as I rode away with my sisters, I realized I was completely alone and untethered with no one to act as my protector." She recognized her voice sounded cold and detached, and she knew her face matched. Though she did not show it, she recognized in that moment she had adopted Darcy's preferred method of protection from emotions.

"I'm so sorry, Lizzy," Mr. Bennet said miserably, putting his face into his hands. "Please forgive me."

"I no longer need you in my life," Elizabeth said, and she realized she meant it. At that very moment, she could walk out of Longbourn, never to return, and she would be able to make her own way in the world. She knew she had the support of her sisters, of Bingley as a brother, of her closest friends, of her professors. Of Darcy. "Whether or not you remain a part of my life is entirely dependent on you, sir. Actions speak louder than words."

Mr. Bennet sniffed greatly as he again exposed his face. A numbness overtook Elizabeth, and so she only looked at the tears streaking down his cheeks with cold indifference.

"I wish to be a part of your life, and those of your sisters, no matter how silly they might be." Mr. Bennet's lips twitched upward ever so slightly with the jest he had used frequently in years past to some amount of success.

"You are mistaken, sir," said Elizabeth evenly. "I have no silly sisters. Not any longer." Mr. Bennet's joke had the complete opposite effect of the one he desired. Elizabeth turned her back on him to begin properly arranging her schoolbooks on a shelf. She heard Mr. Bennet rise a few moments later, and he left without any further words spoken.

After hearing the door close, Lizzy heaved a great sigh of frustration. She threw her Astronomy book onto her mattress with all her strength to great effect. The action left her feeling more clearheaded.

When the door opened again, Lizzy did not even have to turn to look to see who had entered. "Not now, Mary, please," she said shortly.

"I thought you might like to know that Darcy is in the trees just beyond the stables, presently," Mary said quietly. "He hopes you might join him."

Lizzy scoffed in annoyance as she felt a tear fall down her cheek. She wiped it away irritably and sniffed, determined to keep herself from falling apart completely.

"Lizzy, go," Mary urged gently. "Please."

Lizzy simply stood and stared at the ceiling, blinking rapidly with gritted teeth, for several moments before stamping her foot and grabbing her bonnet to jam it onto her head. When she began fighting with the ribbons, Mary came forward and carefully pushed her sister's hands out of the way and tied it herself, then held Lizzy's outerwear for her.

"Thank you," Lizzy tried to say kindly.

"Mama is in the parlor, so take the long way out so she doesn't see you," Mary suggested.

Lizzy nodded once. She did not feel up to speaking, presently.

"Elizabeth! Dear God, what's happened?" Darcy asked as soon as he caught sight of Lizzy.

Lizzy shook her head and stomped past Darcy without stopping. He simply fell into step beside her. She could feel him look at her concernedly nearly every other step.

"Please, Elizabeth, tell me – "

Lizzy cut Darcy off with a sharp glare and picked up speed until finally breaking into a run. She knew he would follow.

The woods around her childhood home were so familiar Lizzy was able to get herself safely to one of her favorite clearings without thought and without incident. She had hardly stopped before Darcy pulled her into a tight embrace and she began sobbing into his chest.

When Lizzy finally regained equilibrium, she was kneeling in the dirt and leaves, still in Darcy's arms, with no recollection of lowering herself to the ground. She realized her bonnet had come off at the same time she recognized Darcy humming a lullaby.

"Will you tell me now?" Darcy asked gently after finishing his tune.

Lizzy sighed and pulled herself free so she could fidget and use her hands freely as she repeated her conversation with Mr. Bennet.

"I think you spoke well, Elizabeth," Darcy offered.

Lizzy nodded and absentmindedly drew figures in the dirt. "I feel relieved, I think." She bit her lip as she considered her statement and was thankful Darcy did not interrupt her processing. "I told him what has been on my mind. I do not like causing him pain, but I cannot regret my speech. It's all just so much to deal with," she said frustratedly, gesturing wildly at her head.

Darcy gave a soft chuckle at Lizzy's antics. "I have hope for him, I suppose," he said as he casually extended an arm over the single knee he had raised from the ground. "Your sound rebuffs have proved rather effective on men that have cared for you in the past."

Lizzy smirked at Darcy's comment and observed his form. "You look rather dashing when you strike that pose, Darcy," she said, choosing to redirect the conversation rather than dwell on their last conversation in the trees of Hertfordshire.

Darcy looked his relaxed pose over quickly. "Handsome, even?" he asked annoyingly.

Lizzy rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. She did like it when he joked with her.

"Am I to 'ask' Mr. Bennet for a courtship, still?" Darcy asked after watching Lizzy draw a few more patterns.

Lizzy sighed and looked back to Darcy's face. "I will ask nothing of him, and neither will you," she said decidedly. "If you would like, when you and Charles come to call, we can go to him in his bookroom and inform him."

"Will you allow me the opportunity to speak to him alone?" Darcy asked cautiously.

"That depends on your intention," Lizzy countered.

Darcy shrugged. "I simply want to speak to him, as Muggles would, man to man with the purpose of letting him know you will be cared for with or without him."

Lizzy drew her brows together. "That sounds suspiciously like you would be informing him of an impending marriage," she said shrewdly.

Darcy inhaled sharply. "That thought certainly has appeal," he admitted. "I have too much respect for you to try to take advantage of your raw emotions, however. No, I only mean to let Mr. Bennet know that you do not need him for anything, thus further discouraging him from slipping back to indolence."

Lizzy was greatly mollified by Darcy's declaration of respect for her person, and so she smiled brightly at him. "That you can certainly do with me in the room, Darcy," she said.

"I thought the message might be received differently if it were exchanged only between me and him," Darcy reasoned.

"Perhaps so," Lizzy conceded, "but I will not give Mr. Bennet the opportunity to affront your honor by asking after your intentions and attempting to tease you. We will stay together for the entirety of the interview."

"And if he asks me to leave?"

Lizzy's face clouded with anger. "As I told him, I no longer need him in my life. And as I told you, I will not be consulting my parents regarding my decisions. If he demands you leave or refuses 'permission,' then – "

"I meant leave the room, Elizabeth," Darcy interrupted with a slight smile.

"Oh," Lizzy said with a blush. "I will interpret such a request as an end to the conversation and we will both leave."

Darcy nodded. "How is Menace this afternoon?"

Lizzy felt a great deal of relief as conversation moved onto the ordinary. The sun had changed positions quite noticeably by the time she finally rose and said goodbye to Darcy. He promised he and Bingley would call early the next day.

"Where have you been, Lizzy?" Mrs. Bennet shrieked almost as soon as Lizzy walked through the door.

"Out," Lizzy said simply. Remaining cool and collected, she removed her gloves and had started on her bonnet before Mrs. Bennet began again.

"Have you no consideration for my poor nerves? To be gone for so long, and without any indication of where you would be! I insist you cease such nonsense, Lizzy! I have never liked it."

"You managed months without confirmation of my whereabouts, madam," Lizzy said coolly, "I should hardly think a few hours could cause you distress." She hung her outerwear and left her mother gaping like a fish in the entryway.


Dinner was a highly uncomfortable affair. Mrs. Bennet tried many times to draw Lydia into talking of neighborhood gossip to no success and became increasingly frustrated. She tried Kitty, as well, with many a sideways look at Lydia to see if her youngest would engage due to jealousy, but failed there also. She skipped over Mary entirely. Lizzy she looked at in consideration, but moved on in favor of Jane after a stern look from Mr. Bennet.

"Jane, dear, now that you have come home, we shall set a date for your wedding and get the banns started," Mrs. Bennet declared.

"We may set a date, Mama, but there is no cause to read the banns yet," said Jane. "Mr. Bingley and I will not be married before the end of June."

"So long?" Mrs. Bennet asked shrilly. "You have already been engaged three months!"

"And I shall be so at least another three," Jane calmly replied. "Mr. Bingley and I do not want to marry before school is finished."

Mrs. Bennet waved her hand through the air as if trying to fan a bad odor away. "What is school to a wedding? Come now, Jane! You will send for the rest of your things and remain here at Longbourn until you're married."

"I will not," Jane said firmly.

Mrs. Bennet drew breath to argue further, but was interrupted by her husband.

"Mrs. Bennet, that is enough," Mr. Bennet stated.

Mrs. Bennet looked as though she had swallowed something exceptionally bitter, though she abandoned the subject.

"Kitty, Lydia, tell your papa of your time away," Mr. Bennet requested.

Kitty and Lydia exchanged confused glances with each other, then their elder sisters. They had grown used to their father begging for their silence, not asking them for details.

"I have enjoyed school very much," Kitty said after an encouraging nod from Jane. "I have a great many friends, and my head of house says I am doing exceptionally well in my studies."

"And she is not alone in such opinions," Jane added with a pleased smile.

Kitty beamed at the praise, then turned and gave her attention to Lydia.

"I did not like it at first," Lydia admitted, "but I love Hogwarts so dearly now. There is always such fun to be had!" Now that the girl had started speaking, she gained energy and could not wait to tell tales of her adventures. "Just last week, Travis Finch and I had a bet on who could make it from Charms to the Great Hall the fastest. He took a wrong secret passageway and was good and lost for a full fifteen minutes! It was ever so fun to laugh at him for it. How embarrassing to get lost after being at Hogwarts for so many months!"

"I hope you did not tease him too badly, Lydia," said Lizzy with an arched brow. "You may very well find yourself getting lost at some point. Those corridors can be monstrously tricky if you don't pay close attention."

"La, I haven't been lost since the beginning of November!" Lydia laughed.

"And have you had opportunity to practice dancing with Mr. Travis Finch?" Mrs. Bennet asked interestedly, inserting herself into the conversation.

Lydia snorted. "Dance with Travis? Certainly not! I had much rather learn to play Quidditch!"

"I did not know you were interested in playing, Lydia," Lizzy said eagerly.

"Well, you've been so busy with – Ow!" Lydia glared at Mary, who must have kicked her under the table. She took a deep breath before returning her attention to Lizzy. "I would like to learn."

Lizzy released the breath she had not realized she had been holding and was ever so grateful for Mary's well-timed interference. "What position do you think you might try for?"

Lydia grinned wickedly. "Beater," she said conspiratorially.

"Beater?" Mrs. Bennet asked sharply as Lizzy laughed delightedly. "That does not sound like an appropriate role for a young lady!"

Lizzy chose to ignore her mother's objection. "You have your work cut out for you, Lydia! Levi is the oldest out of him and Julian, and he's only a fourth year! You've certainly got some work to do to outperform either of them, and you'll have to outperform them, since neither is leaving any time soon! I happen to know the team captain very well, you see, and they will not go easy on you when it comes time for tryouts."

Lydia giggled. "La! Gryffindor's captain is such a tedious bore!"

All the Bennet sisters fell to various stages of amusement. Lydia and Kitty giggled freely while Jane and Mary stifled laughter with their napkins. Lizzy looked challengingly at her youngest sister, though her eyes shone with joy at the joke.

Mrs. Bennet, of course, had to have her share of the conversation. "Lydia, I forbid you from participating in such a role, or in the sport at all! It is simply unbecoming and I will not have it from any of my daughters," she said with finality. "What man would want a wife that would boast of being a 'beater?'"

"Oh, it's very common for girls to play at Hogwarts, Mama," Kitty assured. "There's even a professional Quidditch team made of just women, the Holyhead Harpies!"

"Harpies!" Mrs. Bennet squealed.

"What should I care for finding a husband, anyway?" Lydia asked. "I can have just as much fun, if not more, as an unmarried witch than one with a husband."

Mrs. Bennet looked as though she might pass out at a moment's notice, or suffer a fatal apoplexy, as a result of Lydia's exclamation.

"How are the Gouldings?" Jane asked a little louder than was necessary.

Mrs. Bennet did not recover her spirits.


Author's Note

Get wrekt, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Hope you enjoyed the domestic view of the Bennets! Please be sure to leave a review with your comments and suggestions.