Disclaimer: I don´t own anything except my OCs and the plot.
A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay, I really thought I could update faster but life happens. I don't know if I'll update again this year, but just in case, I hope you have great holidays! This is my favorite season of the year and I think we all need something good after this awful year. Thank you so much for the reviews and the favorites! Stay safe.
Chapter 5: I'm So Excited, Emma POV
After 40 minutes driving -and getting a little lost too- I arrived at the Granger's house. Just this morning Hermione, their daughter, texted me the address and all the details of her birthday party. Thankfully, this month I had all my weekends free from work and even though at the beginning I was a little unsure of coming, now I was really excited. The last party I went to was for Fred's birthday in July with his old friends (as in I was the only person below 40 years old) and before that, I wasn't even in England yet.
Throughout the week Hermione and I got to know a little more about each other via texts, and I'm happy to say she is as lovely as her parents. I thought it would be awkward at first seen as her parents were the ones who introduced us but once we discovered our mutual love for books the conversation flowed more easily. She told me a little about her husband and some of her friends, so hopefully I won't be too lost.
To say I'm awful at choosing gifts it's putting it mildly. Even more so for people I don't know that well. So with a little help from Lorena -my sister- and Gwendolyn Granger, I decided to buy Hermione the entire set of Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments. Yes, the six books. And a bottle of wine too. Cassandra Clare is a very good writer and I think Hermione would appreciate them. The downside is that I didn't think they would weigh this much, and between the books and the wine I couldn't even close the car's door.
"Oh! Here, let me help you." I heard a male's voice behind me just before someone took hold of the books for me.
"Oh, thank you! I really didn't think this through." I said with a relived smile on my face. I turned around to see a dark-haired man wearing round glasses. He had an oddly shaped scar on his forehead and the most striking green eyes I've ever seen. He seemed to be around the same age as me, probably a friend of the Malfoys.
"It's no problem. Are you here for Hermione's birthday?" he asked while looking at the presents.
"Yes, indeed! I'm Emma, it's nice to meet you." I said, giving him a handshake.
"Ah, you're the doctor Scorpius has been talking about", he said with a chuckle. I couldn't help blushing, I've never thought a kid who wasn't a patient or related to me would like me so much. "My name's Harry Potter, nice to finally meet you too".
"Actually, Hermione has talked about you too" I said, and we started walking to the front door of the Granger's house. "We've only known each other for a week or so, but she talks about her friends a lot. You're the policeman, right?".
He looked at me with a blank stare before replying, "Um, yeah, something like that". We continued to make small talk until John Granger opened the door for us. He seemed really happy to see us as walked us to the backyard.
I could see a few kids playing, and some people around my age talking between each other. The backyard was beautifully decorated with a few round tables and flowers on every surface available. The garden had kind of a rustic vibe, which made everything look homelike and inviting. John took us to the presents table and I thanked Harry for his help. He left us to go greet a handsome brown-haired man who I guess was the boyfriend Hermione told me about. John told me he was going to go look for his daughter and son-in-law and to make myself comfortable. I felt a little out of place for a moment and started to fidget with the hem of my dress.
I was debating between waiting for John or going to introduce myself when I heard a little voice calling my name before a pair of little arms wrapped around my legs.
"Scorpius!" I said with a delighted smile on my face. "How are you, Hon?" I bended over to return the hug. I was so distracted by the kid that I didn't notice the looks some of Hermione's guests were giving me.
"I'm good and I'm happy you came", he said with a big smile on his face. "I can introduce you to everyone now!"
"You're such a gentleman," I chuckled when he preened at my compliment, "but, don't you think we have to wait for your parents first?"
He seemed to think really hard for a moment before replaying, "No, I know everyone!" With that he took my hand to take me where the "grownups" were.
"Uncle Harry, Theo! This is Emma." Scorpius was really excited to be introducing me to his parents' friends. For what Hermione told me, all her friends were really close to each other, to the point where all of them considered each other family. That made me kind of nervous, it wasn't always easy to introduce yourself to a such a tightknit group like that. Harry seemed amused while Theo was more guarded.
"I actually met her when I arrived, bud." Harry said, an amused smile still on his face. Scorpius looked a little disappointed, so Harry tried to fix it, "but! Theo, here, doesn't know her yet".
"Theodore Nott, a pleasure miss…" Harry's boyfriend said, extending his arm to offer me a handshake. He seemed to be more formal than Harry -he was even wearing a suit-, but for a british man I wasn't surprised. I actually thought it made them more attractive, what with the accent and the gentlemen manners and the impeccable taste in clothing.
"Torres, but you can call me Emma, I know my last name it's a little difficult to pronounce", I said returning the handshake and giving them a little smile, hoping that my nerves didn't show too much.
"Are you from Spain? Yo sé un poco español, pero no muy… ¿fluido?" (1) he looked a little unsure, but I was pleasantly surprised.
"¡Pero tu pronunciación es muy buena!" I said encouragingly. "And no, I'm from Mexico." (2) Scorpius started tugging at my hand, already bored with our conversation.
"Well, bye! Come on, Emma, I'm going to introduce you to aunty Luna." I could barely wave at them before Scorpius started dragging me to a beautiful blonde woman standing next to a brunette man, both of them carrying blonde toddlers, twins by the looks of it, probably their children. "Aunty Luna! Uncle Rolf!"
"Hello, Scorpius, it's been a while since we saw each other." The blonde woman said, a calm smile on her face. She had the most ethereal voice I've ever heard. It was actually a little unsettling being near her, but not in a bad way. Her presence was so commanding that I barely noticed her husband, but it wasn't authoritative or aggressive, it was more in the way that she was so calm and collected that my naturally anxious energy felt drawn to her. "Come sit with us so you can see your cousins".
Scorpius seem to forget the introductions as he went to take a sit with the woman on one of the tables. I felt like I was getting out of a trance, it was so weird. I was so distracted that I hadn't notice her husband was still standing next to me with an amused smile on his face.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm Emma, it's nice to meet you." I said to him, an embarrassed blush on my cheeks.
"Don't worry, Luna usually has that effect on people. When I first met her I couldn't talk for like fifteen minutes afterwards." He laughed a little. "I'm Rolf Scamander by the way, and this little man here is Lysander. Luna is carrying Lorcan." He pointed to the toddler in his wife's arms, it looked like both of them were asleep. "It's nice to meet you too. Come sit with us, Scorpius can finish the introductions latter, besides, I don't see everyone here yet."
I went to take a sit with them, relieved to notice that Hermione's friends were as nice as she is. The conversation with the Scamanders flowed more easily than I was expecting, specially after Rolf told me he was from the United States, one of the countries besides Mexico that I traveled to the most. Luna and Scorpius seemed engrossed in a conversation about some kind of animal I've never heard of and Rolf explained that he and his wife were zoologist. We talked about the places in Mexico that he visited because of his work and I told him about my trips to New York -where he is originally from- and my love for Friends, the series that inspired my sister and I to choose NYC as a holiday destination. Sadly, he told me he hasn't really seen the series, so he didn't get all my references.
While we were talking more people continue to arrive and Gwendolyn Granger came out to the backyard to greet everyone. I couldn't help but feel real appreciation for her and her family. They were making me feel so included and welcomed and I felt the ever-present ache of missing my family and friends diminish a little.
"So sorry for taking so long! Hermione and I were looking for the wireless, I know some of our guests appreciate good music." John Granger said, carrying a strange looking radio and setting it on the presents table. He threw an exaggerated wink in my direction and my smile grew a little more.
Hermione came out after her father with baby Leo in her arms and whom I suppose is her husband behind them. They greeted a few of their friends before coming to meet me. I rose from my place and she surprised me when she gave me a little hug in response to my congratulations for her birthday.
"Love, this is Dr. Emma Torres, she treated Leo while we were on Italy." She gave him a pointed look, but I wasn't really close to her yet, so I didn't understand a lot of her mannerisms. "And, Emma, this is my husband, Draco." She said still looking at him, with the most serene smile I've ever seen on her face. Her husband reminded me a little of Theodore, with the more reserved attitude. He was an incredibly handsome man with grey eyes, platinum blond hair and really pale skin. I wondered for a moment if he was albino. Their children clearly took after him in looks.
"Oh, I get it now!" I said, exited. They looked at me with confusion clear on their faces so I explained, "the names, you and your children have stars names."
"Ah yes, it's a family tradition." He said, still more guarded than Hermione but with a smile on his face now.
We did a little of small talk and Hermione let me carry little Leo. The baby was just as beautiful as his brother and was so calm, he didn't even fuss when his mother let him go. Afterwards, Draco went to help John with the wireless and Hermione took me to complete the introductions that her son started. She went from couple to couple, and I was surprised to notice I was the only single person on the place. She told me one of her best friends, Neville I think, hadn't arrived yet, and that he was the only single one of their group. Poor guy. I remembered she told me in one of her texts that he had broken up somewhat recently with a long-time girlfriend. I just hoped it wouldn't be awkward between her friend and I, being the only single ones in a sea of couples.
Tonight's the night we're gonna make it happen
Tonight we'll put all other things aside
"The Pointer Sisters!" I exclaimed happily, turning to look at John Granger standing by the radio.
"I knew you would get it" he said with a satisfied smile on his face.
Give in this time and show me some affection
"Wow, she really knows them", one of Hermione's friends (Ron?) said, surprised, while I started dancing a little with baby Leo still in my arms. This was one of my absolute favorite songs. Leo started to giggle and I could feel my heart melting and my smile growing for this adorable child.
We're going for those pleasures in the night
"Hello, everyone! I'm so sorry for being this late, I just couldn't escape some of the students today." I heard a deep, masculine voice say from the entrance of the backyard. When a happy chorus of 'Nev's' and 'Neville's' came from Hermione's guests I turned around to look at the newcomer.
I want to love you, feel you
Wrap myself around you
I stopped dancing immediately, I could even feel the music and the voices of the people surrounding me vanish into background noise. My mind seemed to be having trouble processing the sight of the beautiful, beautiful man greeting everyone with a warm smile on his face.
I want to squeeze you, please you
I just can't get enough
I felt like my brain short circuited, I was even starting to think that my sight was failing me because it just couldn't be possible for a person to have a halo of sunlight surrounding them (like he appeared to be) when the sun was facing the other direction.
And if you move real slow I'll let it go
I think I stopped breathing altogether when he turned and looked directly at me. I didn't know if I had to start screaming at the sky, thanking God for this man or if it was better for me to go running out of this place to cry a river in my car because things like this don't happen in real life.
"And here's my beloved godson!" he exclaimed with that rich, beautiful voice, and started to come my way with his arms extended.
I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
Dios mío. A part of me knew this man only wanted to hold his godson, and seen as I was carrying the baby, the only logical thing to do was to come our way. But another part of me, completely distracted and exhilarated by the sight of this man coming my way with his arms extended and a beautiful smile on his face, was telling me to just get it over with and throw myself in his waiting arms.
Thankfully (or not?), Hermione seemed to notice that something was wrong with me and approached me before his friend to make the introductions.
"Nev, this is Dr. Emma Torres," she said, taking Leo from my arms to give him to Neville. She sent him a pointed look and, and as the fog in my brain started to clear, I noticed she seem to give those looks to everyone. I wondered if it was a mom-thing or just a Hermione-thing.
"Ah, of course! The doctor Scorpius can't seem to stop talking about", he said. I could feel my nerves growing again and I started to fidget with my hands in case they started shaking. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, doctor."
His smile was so beautiful. And the way his eyes wrinkled a little made them stand out more and I noticed they were a beautiful hazel color, more green than brown. I just couldn't stop thinking the word beautiful and it was irritating me but I just couldn't seem to stop. It was like God took everything I could possibly like in a man and gave it to him.
"El placer es… digo, lo siento," (3) I cringed, and I could feel a blush spreading in my cheeks. "God, sorry, I still forget sometimes to speak in English. But the pleasure is mine, you can call me Emma."
Hermione was giving me strange looks and my blush intensified. Thankfully, Neville didn't seem to notice. Before he could respond, Luna came out of nowhere, her arms now free. She put a hand in my arm and the other on Neville's and the silhouette of his bicep- noticeable even through his sweater- distracted me, but not enough to not notice the strange things Luna was saying.
"Your auras are changing", she said, as if it was the most normal thing to say. Even Neville seem a little confused. "Come sit with us, you have to sit close so they can settle." And with that she dragged us to her table, where Rolf was waiting with an amused smile still on his face. I didn't know whether to thank her profusely or go running out of there, so I settle for taking a sit with Rolf to my right and Neville to my left, little Leo still in his arms.
After a few awkward moments of silence Neville started catching up with the Scamanders, apparently, they were out of the country a few months thanks to their work and they haven't seen their friends in some time. I was still really unsettled, and the rich timber of Neville's laugh wasn't helping, but at the same time I just wanted to hear it more.
Some time later, Leo started to fuss, still in Neville's arms (lucky him), and extended his little arms towards me. Neville seem to understand and gave me the baby and with his weight in my arms I could finally settle my nerves and join the conversation like a normal human being. After some time, Rolf and Luna took Leo and their kids and went to join the other children still playing. I thought the conversation between the seemingly perfect man and I would turn awkward again but, thankfully, that wasn't the case.
I was actually having a great time, and I learned a few things about Neville. I was also enjoying the way he blushed when I said a few words in Spanish, having forgotten to translate in my brain thanks to my nerves. Hermione and a few of her friends joined us for a while, but I just couldn't concentrate in anything other than this handsome, awkward, blushing man with a beautiful smile and the most perfect accent I've ever heard.
Just what have I gotten myself into?
1. I know a little spanish, but it's not too fluent.
2. But your pronunciation it's really good!
3. The pleasure is... I mean, I'm sorry.