Author's Note:
Reviews are always welcome. Pleas be kind and happy holidays ~ Charmsandtealeaves
Chapter 3:
The drive to the older Potter's home was uneventful just as James had promised. The main roads leading out of London had been cleared and salted, snow piled on either side of the street. Much to the delight of warmly dressed children who jumped around in it, or were using it to create snow people with bright orange carrot noses. It wasn't until they hit the country roads that things became slightly more difficult, with some more roads being more accessible than others. But James appeared to know these roads and paddocks like the back of his hand. Where one way was cut off, he found another with ease.
"My family has lived in this region for generations" James explained, "We know most of the farmers round here. Some of the land even belonged to my family way back, but my grandfather sold some of it off when it became clear my father wanted to attend University and it would be too much to handle by himself. Most folks don't mind you passing through so long as you make sure to close the gates behind you and you don't let stock out."
"So long as we don't get your precious beamer stuck in one of these paddocks Potter." Lily worried, noticing the slurry of icy mush that they were leaving in a trail behind them.
"Eh if it does it does. I'll ring dad and he can come out to fetch us in one of his four-wheel drives." James shrugged "Did you know Dumbledore grew up out here too?" he asked conversationally.
"Really?" Lily had not in fact know that.
Thought it seemed no one really knew much about Albus Dumbledore's private life. Lily had done extensive research on the man and his company when she had applied to be an intern during her final university year.
"His family owned a reasonable sized plot beyond that brick wall you can just make out over there. Its considerably smaller now, his brother Aberforth keeps some goats on it. But Aberforth's main profession is local bar keep. It's funny, come spring he sometimes has to bring the young ones into the pub with him to bottle feed. Imagine walking into your local and being greeted at the door by a goat"
"So, your family knows his then?" Lily inquired. "Must be weird working for Albus if you know him outside of work too"
"I don't know him at all really. I'd say I know more about Abe, but he's just as private as his brother. They don't get on well from what I've gathered. Definitely not since the sister died anyway. There's still a lot of talk around that locally even though it's been more than 50 years now. My family have never been ones to buy into gossip and rumour. When the Dumbledore's had to downsize their land in a hurry, my great grandfather helped them out. We were good to the Dumbledore's so they do good by us." James shrugged.
"Small town syndrome. Everyone thinks everyone else's business is somehow their own. Secrets are never secret, because even if you keep the truth hidden someone else has a version to tell" Lily replied. "I grew up in Cokeworth. Nothing ever stays secret there."
"Yeah, I remember you saying" James commented. Lily looked at him puzzled. "When you first interned at Phoenix, the icebreaker?"
"Bloody hell you've got a good memory for that Potter. Even I don't remember what I said at that ice breaker that was years ago!" Lily was impressed.
"That's why clients like me" He laughed, "If my memory of that time serves me correctly… You're from Cokeworth, your favourite season is autumn and you used to have a cat called Periwinkle. You're interesting fact about yourself was that you once found a fossil that ended up in the Natural History Museum."
"Okay, still impressive but borderline creepy there Potter."
"In my defence you did make yourself rather memorable. You broke Rookworth's nose in that first week" James countered.
"That slimy bastard kept squeezing my bum. I gave him fair fucking warning first" Lily argued.
"Hey preaching to the converted here Evans. In your shoes I wouldn't have even given the git warning. I'm glad Dumbledore had the sense to toss him out." James agreed, turning into a long driveway.
They pulled up outside an old but well-maintained stone cottage. Smoke was coming from the chimney in a steady stream against the greying sky. A large wreath was in pride of place on the front door and fairy lights glittered in each of the windows. It was certainly very inviting. Snow crunched underfoot and James let them in without so much as a knock. Calling out to his parents as they crossed the threshold.
Inside was a sight to behold. It was clear the Potter's must love Christmas. From her position in the entryway Lily could see the Potters had a real-life tree, not some plastic thing, planted in what looked like half an old wine barrel in the sitting room. It was beautifully decorated with baubles, tinsel and various other festive ornaments. The glowed in the amber light produced by the roaring fireplace, as if fairies were dancing through the branches. Mistletoe hung from the wood beam that led to what Lily assumed was the kitchen judging by the harmony of smells wafting from it.
A petite old woman came through the doorway, dressed in an apron that was splattered with flour and other food stains. Her grey hair was tied up in a loose bun on the top of her head. She wiped her hands clean on herself and embraced James carefully avoiding tarnishing his clothes. James kissed her cheek gently in greeting as he returned her embrace. She turned her attention to Lily and held her arms out for a hug.
"So glad you could join us Lily dear" The woman greeted Lily, introducing herself and her husband who had followed closely behind her. "I'm Euphemia, and this is Fleamont."
James was the spitting imagine of his father. They had the same height and wayward hair, though Fleamont's was a much more pronounced white. Both were older than what Lily had been expecting. Though perhaps that was because she had pictured her own parents on the drive over. Had the Evans not died in a car crash they would be in their late forties and early fifties, having had Lily in their early twenties. The couple in front of Lily now looked at least a decade older than that. Lily accepted the hug and handed Euphemia the bottle of red she had been cradling.
"I hope this is okay. I wasn't well stocked at home" Lily apologised, allowing James to take her coat from her and hang it up beside the front door.
"Oh, don't you worry about a thing dear! We never expected anything in the first place. Come on through. Perfect timing you two, we were just finishing setting the table." Euphemia gushed, ushering them through into the kitchen- dining area.
The table was beautifully set with a festive red and gold tablecloth. Lily wasn't sure how they were even supposed to fit with the array of food before them. James had not been wrong there was enough to feed a small army. Though she distinctly noted five empty plates at the table when she had been anticipating four. Oh god. Who was the missing fifth plate? Potter's girlfriend? This was going to be much more awkward than Lily had first anticipated.
A side entrance to the kitchen swung open, letting in the swift chill of the frozen air outside. A large shaggy black Irish wolfhound came bounding into the room, snowflakes sticking to the long tendrils of fur. Lily assumed this was the Toby that James had mentioned in the car, though how on earth he managed to keep such a beast in an apartment in London she could not fathom. A set of heavy footsteps followed Toby through and the door was swung closed with a flourish.
"Blimey it's getting worse out there" A gruff voice shivered. Someone Lily recognised much to her surprise. The heavy foot falls had belonged to Sirius Black, another man she knew from working at Phoenix law. She had known that he and Potter were close friends at work but she had certainly not expected him to seem so at home in the Potter's kitchen, shucking off a pair of wellington boots.
"Evans! Well, well, well, looks like I'm not the only stray for once. Though I do have to admit Prongs I thought you were pulling my leg about this." Sirius remarked cheerfully.
"Please ignore my son, he's tactless. And neither of you are strays thank you very much young man." Euphemia scolded, taking her place beside her husband at the head of the table.
"You and Sirius are brothers?" Lily whispered to James confused, as he pulled out a chair for her.
"Yeah. Not by blood like. It's a long story, not really appropriate Christmas material. I'll fill you in later." Came James rushed reply as he shuffled into his own seat.
"Toby, basket" James ordered. The large hound obediently flopped himself into a basket beside the table tail thudding loudly against the floor as it wagged.