In this chapter there is a poor use of Zulu, I want to apologize for butchering anyone's native tongue. All translations are via Google.

Part Two
Seven
"A Suitable Suitor"

The Great Hall was buzzing. Breakfast was over in fifteen minutes. Students were rushing to get something to eat before the food disappeared.

Liam was going over his notes for his History of Magic quiz. It was tomorrow but he was going to be taking it today during lunch. He was leaving early in the morning. He was going to Sydney to take Elianna to her school formal. He couldn't wait to see her, it had been too long.

He would land in the north of the city on Friday afternoon. Leave on Monday morning which would put him back in Scotland on Sunday night.

He looked up as two owls carrying a large box flew into the great hall.

Last week he had asked his mother to find him something purple to wear. He planned on wearing one of the black tuxedos he already owned. But Elianna wanted them to coordinate. He recognized that box. It was one of Jeffery Ramble's wardrobe boxes. He had a feeling his mother commissioned her stylist to find him something to wear.

The owls let go of the box right above him. It was going to crash down on the table and send food everywhere. He didn't know what he was thinking or how much the box weighed, but he jumped up and caught it before it hit the table. To his great relief, it was as light as a feather only an awkward size.

"Malfoy what the hell is that," Justin yawned as he approached the table.

"Mail"

Justin helped him put the package on the floor. "I can see that but why so big?"

"You'd have to ask the sender… I'm going to take this down to the dorms before class. Save me a seat in transfiguration?"

"Yeah"

(***)

Liam pulled the tab. He stepped back as the box unfolded itself into a royal blue velvet-lined travel wardrobe. It had multiple tuxedos, dress shirts, ties, bow ties, cuff links, socks, and dress shoes, all in different shades of purple. It also had a garment bag for travel. There were two envelopes on the shelf with the pocket squares.

The door to the boy's dorm opened, Justin entered and tossed his books on his bed. Then looked in the trunk, "So that's what was in the box, snazzy."

"Yup," one note was from Jeff with instructions on how to send what he doesn't want back. It also included instructions on how to tie a bow tie and fold a pocket square. The one from his mother stressed to him to send back what he wasn't going to use. She had to pay for everything he kept.

"This is for the school formal?"

"Yeah"

"This blazer is fly as hell," Justin pulled out a dark purple blazer with metallic paisley's on it. "Who made this? I may have to get one." He tried it on.

"It is pretty cool but I don't think it's me," Liam looked through the other pieces.

"It's not, I'm the life of the party," Nott popped the collar and strutted across the room.

"That's true… Elianna and purple," he pulled his card case out of his pocket. "Elianna… Elianna!"

"Yeah," he heard her groggy voice before she appeared in the mirror, "hi babe, what's wrong?"

"Sorry to wake you, but I thought you might want a say in what I'm going to wear."

"Yeah," she perked up. "What did you get?"

"I bunch of stuff. My mom had her stylist send me clothes," he turned the mirror around so she could see.

"Oh wow, it's a good selection."

"Yup, including the shiny thing Justin's wearing." He held the mirror so she could see him posing in the full-length mirror.

Justin turned around and struck a pose for her, "do I make this look good or what?"

"You do look quite fly Justin," Elianna laughed, "Liam can't pull that look off."

"No, he can't"

Liam turned the mirror back to him. "All right let's pick something, so you can go back to sleep, I can get it packed, and I can send the rest of this stuff back."

They went through all the clothes and put together something they were both comfortable with. She went back to sleep and he began to pack the stuff away.

"I know I've never asked but why didn't you tell me about Elianna?"

"Um… well we were trying to keep it quiet until the right time. I expected to tell you before anything made the papers."

"But you told Evie."

"Yeah but Evie dates muggles."

"That's because she won't date anyone who brings home less than 500,000 after taxes." Justin was exaggerating but she did have certain standards. "That's rare even in the wizarding world. She has to widen her pool."

Liam sighed, "I'm sorry."

"You thought I was going to be a bigot," he gazed at him. Justin wasn't a fool. He knew what Liam thought of him.

The truth was, yes, "I wasn't sure. You and I have similar backgrounds so there was a chance."

"I may have some prejudice but I would never do that to you. I trust you like a brother."

Liam looked at him. He should have known better. Justin Nott is a good person… deep down, "again I'm sorry, I should have told you as soon as it was something."

"It's all right man. I wondered and thought I should bring it up." He was a little insulted his best friend kept this from him. He didn't bring it up because of all the attention he was getting. He didn't want to pile on. But all that had died down.

"I'm glad you did."

"So are you getting laid this weekend," Justin grinned as Liam laughed. "I hear that's the thing with muggles and school formal."

"No, I will be spending the weekend with her parents. She's hosting the after-party which her parents will also be at then I'm coming back here."

"I'm sure you can find some time to sneak away for hours of passion."

"I'm going to be honest with you from now on, but on the subject of my sex life you will get nothing."

"Oh my god man, you're in love. Yuck!"

(***)

At 3 am Liam's alarm went off. He knew he was asleep but he was so excited he felt like he hadn't slept at all. He sat up and turned off the alarm. He always kept his curtains imperturbed, most of the guys did. They did it because they were wanking, except for Topper who often brought his girlfriend into the room. Liam did it because he was usually talking to Elianna.

He pulled back the curtains and swung his legs off the side of the bed. He put his socks on and slid his feet into his trainers. He grabbed his glasses from the nightstand. He slept in the sweatpants and t-shirt he planned to travel in. He gathered his things and crept out of the dorm. In the hall, he put on his coat, his rucksack on his back, the garment bag on his shoulder, and left the dorms.

He had permission to leave so he wasn't concerned about running into anyone. He didn't even encounter a ghost as he crossed the entrance hall. He pushed open the heavy door and slipped out into the cold early morning air.

He lit his wand and walked the path to Hogsmead. Outside the village, he found the glass cola bottle. At 3:29 it began to vibrate, at 3:30 it illuminated blue light, and pulled him away. He braced himself to land…

(***)

"Ah! Babe," Elianna screamed as Liam hit the ground. She jumped out of her car and went running towards him, "are you all right?" She dropped down on the grass next to him.

"I'm fine," he winced. He had the wind knocked out of him. "I usually have a more graceful landing." He sat up and looked at her. There she was, his girl, in her school uniform in the middle of a field on the edge of Berowra Valley National Park. "God I missed you."

She wrapped her arms around him, "I missed you too," she began planting kisses all over his face. "Let's get you up," she climbed to her feet and pulled him up. "Let me help with your bag."

"Love relax, I got it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, now how did you get out of school early?"

She smirked, "I faked cramps."

He laughed, "That worked at a girl's school?"

"Well if I hadn't taken drugs I would have cramps so it was only half a lie," she reasoned.

He put his bags in the backseat of her mustang. He took off his peacoat and tossed it back there as well before climbing into the passenger's seat. "I like you." He leaned over and kissed her.

"Babe," she spoke against his lips, "you didn't brush your teeth."

He laughed, "I rolled right out of bed."

"Yuck," she scrunched up her nose as she started the car. "But I still love ya."

"Thanks"

"Are you tired?"

"A little but I've only got you for two days. I can sleep when I get home. Did you want to do something?"

"If you want we could go to the beach or something. My parents won't be home until six so we could always go back to my house and fool around."

"Or we could go to my grandparent's house where nobody is, and not worry about getting caught fooling around."

"Sounds like a plan."

Liam pulled out his phone and turned it on, "service… it's so nice to be back in civilization."

"Any good messages?"

He smirked, "some giddy girl sent me a very sweet turned naughty text."

"Who," she tried to sound outraged.

He leaned over and kissed her on the neck. He then went back to his phone, he texted his mother to let her know he landed all right. He knew she was asleep and wasn't going to get this until she left the house. But he wanted her to know that he was thinking about her.

"Is everything all right?"

"Yeah why," he asked putting his phone away.

"All of a sudden you seem somber."

"Oh… I guess it's the sleepiness kicking in."

(***)

At the Malfoy compound, Liam got out of the car and went over to the keypad by the gate. He never told his Grandparents he knew how to get into the house. He liked to have a few things up his sleeve. Besides they wouldn't be pleased that he was there.

They haven't spoken to him since he made it clear that Elianna was not going anywhere. A couple of spells and the gates began to open. He walked through and waved her to follow. He went over to the garage and opened the door, she pulled in.

There was nothing in the six-car garage but a carriage and some junk.

"This is a lot of space for no cars."

"It is isn't it?" He took his backpack out of the car, "but my Grandparents won't get behind the muggle modes of transportation. They don't like that my parents bought cars and learned to drive."

"I've been meaning to ask you how you walk from Dural to Bondi Beach. It's like a forty-minute drive."

"Magic," he answered simply. He opened the door that led to the house. The garage is connected via a long hallway. On the opposite end was the entry to servant's quarters and the other entered right into the kitchen.

"Welcome to Casa de Malfoy," Liam held the door open for her.

"Wow," she looked about the kitchen. "Your grandparents are loaded, aren't they?"

"I guess you don't want to see the water feature in the foyer or the ballroom."

"There's a ballroom?"

"Yes, we can practice our dance steps… by the way I can't dance."

"You can't?" This was surprising, "you know we're going to a dance tomorrow?"

"Yeah but I figured you'd dance with your friends. I'll sway with you during the slow numbers and if a mosh pit forms I'll jump in."

She stared at him, "Which way to the ballroom for dance practice?"

"This way," he led her up into the family room, across the games room, out into the foyer. When they got to the water feature he pointed across the octagon shaped room into the ballroom. Elianna took a peek inside but she vetoed the dance lesson.

They continued down the hall to Liam's regular room. He excused himself into the bathroom to freshen up.

Elianna went to look out the window. There was a garden full of sculptures outback. The Malfoy extravagance was something to marvel at. It was weird to think of her guy as someone related to people who lived like this.

She turned from the window. She placed her bag down on the table and pulled out her book. She climbed on the bed to wait for Liam.

"I leave you alone for a few minutes and you've already got your nose in a book," Liam came out of the bathroom. He went over to his rucksack and put his toiletry bag away.

"Huh," she looked up distracted.

He shook his head. He climbed onto the bed. He took hold of her legs and pulled her towards him as she laughed. "Wait let me mark the page."

He tossed the book aside and kissed her. His skin was damp, he smelled like soap, and tasted like mint. She wrapped her legs around his waist. Liam's hand found its way up her skirt and rested on her thigh.

They rarely got moments like this but it didn't take much for Liam to get Elianna to melt. She pulled at the hem of his t-shirt; he leaned up and pulled it over his head. He then took her hands and pulled her into a seated position. He pulled her sweater over her head, her school pinafore underneath.

"How much are we taking off?"

"We," she fell back. "I thought you were doing the removing of garments."

He smirked and picked up her leg. He pulled off one of her knee socks, "how much can I take off," he moved on to the next sock.

"All of it"

"Oh really," he raised an eyebrow.

"Yup, except for my knickers," she laughed.

He stared at her. She sat up again. They were so close their faces were almost touching. She ran her hand through his hair and then began to play with his earlobe. He flushed; she knew she was making him nervous.

He pulled the zipper at the back of her dress down. She took her arms out.

He leaned in and kissed her. He took his time and savored every moment of it as his hands moved to her shirt. He began to unbutton it.

"I love you," he whispered in her ear. She felt it everywhere, more than touches, more than kisses.

April 2023
New York, NY

"Thank you for coming tonight," Evie thanked Elianna profusely. "I needed a buffer."

"You don't like Wilbur?" Elianna looked over to where Wilbur was standing with Liam. He was explaining something with dramatic gestures. They spent the evening bowling, perhaps he had finally figured out the perfect arm.

Evie was looking too, she sighed, "He's the son of one of my mother's friends."

"Ah, this was a setup," this entire evening now made sense.

"I should save Liam, you two have been through enough," She went over to Wilbur and looped her arm through his. "We should get going before my mother begins to worry."

The action made him look as if she had just kissed him, "Of course."

"Liam thanks for coming tonight," she kissed Liam on the cheek. "Elianna it was so lovely to meet you."

It was shocking. She couldn't remember ever seeing Liam talk to a girl. Except for the homeschooled Hogsmead girl he was seeing, well sleeping with. That was until her parents found out. They had her shipped off to Beauxbatons faster than you could say, "my daughter's dating a Malfoy." To be fair the girl started it.

"I'll see you tomorrow at the portkey." She pulled Wilbur along. Before they made it to the corner of the busy Time Square street they disappeared.

"Let's get you back to the hotel."

"Is it far from here?"

"About twenty blocks"

"Let's walk," He reached for her hand and she took it.

Today Elianna and her father went sightseeing while her mother was off working. They got on one of those hop-on-hop-off double-deck buses. They went up to the top of the statue of liberty and the empire state building. Her parents went to some event, and Liam came and popped them into Time Square.

As they walked they discussed the night. Especially the look on Wilbur's face when Elianna explained she was going to be a surgeon. The idea of chopping people up seemed too much for him to comprehend. They had a nice discussion on muggle vs magic medicine.

"The girls at the bowling alley were talking about you," Elianna told Liam as they stood at a corner waiting for the walk light.

"Oh, what were they saying?"

"Oh you know they couldn't believe there was a cute redhead." She looked up at him. He was blushing, "they were disappointed you were with the girl with the Diana Ross hair."

"I guess that's you"

She nodded, "she does have big hair."

"I like your hair"

"Thank you, I like my hair too."

They got quiet as they approached the street with the hotel on it.

"So this is it," Liam stopped and faced her.

"Yeah," she sighed, "Evie's cool, and well Wilbur… he's a piece of work."

"He is I don't think they're going to work out."

Elianna chuckled, "you're probably right."

"So tomorrow we're doing MOMA and a Broadway matinee." Her parents were spending the day going to a list of events. She was going to meet up with them for dinner and the next morning they were going home.

"Yes, I can't wait."

"Good, I'm glad you're excited… um… I was I am a bit concerned about last night in the hot tub." He was nervous so he decided to talk fast. "I-know-that-we-haven't,-you-know-or- discussed- you-know,-and-we-were… progressing, I-don't-want-us-to-do-anything-that-would-make-you-uncomfortable. I-care-about-you,-I-love-you,-and-I-always-want-you-to-feel-safe-with-me. I-think-you-were-into-it-but-we-aren't-in-the-same-place-often, we-should-discuss-how-physical-we-want-to-get…" he was rambling and didn't think he was making sense. "I poured out a bunch of gibberish."

Elianna was staring at him, her mouth hanging open slightly. He said a lot of stuff but one thing was playing over in her mind.

"I should clarify what I'm trying to say," Liam went on.

"I love you."

He smiled, one thing made it through the nonsense. He kissed her.

She broke the kiss but didn't pull away from him, "I was very much into last night… but I'm not ready to do more. I think that you know should be off the table until you and I can spend some time together in the same place."

"Ok," he kissed her again.

"I should go before my mother ruins the moment again," she didn't bother to untangle herself from him.

"Have a good night," he didn't move.

"Good night"

"We're still here," Liam rested his forehead on hers.

"I know… It's hard to say goodbye to you."

"You're going to see me tomorrow."

"I know but I don't get to be with you enough."

"I agree but one day we're going to get to see as much of each other as we want. And we'll see each other again soon."

"Ok," she untangled herself from him. "My parents have to be at their thing at eight."

"Text me when they're gone. We can go to breakfast before the museum."

"Ok."

"Have a good night."

"Good night"

"I love you"

"I love you," she kissed him on the cheek. Then she walked down the street to the hotel. Liam stayed on the corner until he saw her disappear into the lobby. He smiled, turned, and disappeared.

(***)

"You're falling asleep," Elianna ran her hand through Liam's hair.

"I'm relaxed… Keep me up."

"Are you hungry?" She wondered what time it was, it had begun to get dark. "It's probably dinner time."

"You want to go out?"

"No I'm too comfortable… we could get a takeaway. Is there a floo?"

"Yeah but I don't think there's powder. We can order take out from anywhere, accio phone. What are you in the mood for?"

"Sushi, noodles… tempura," she mused.

He laughed, "so everything."

"Fuji House does takeaway and you can order online."

As Liam pulled up the site, Elianna's phone rang. She climbed out of bed and went over to her bag. She sighed when she saw who it was, "hello mum."

"I just got home and you're not here."

"You've always had keen powers of perception," there's a lot of tension at the Peterson house right now. The only reason they agreed to this was so Liam didn't arrive in secret and do untoward things with their daughter.

She should have put her bra back on before she answered the phone. Although standing there in nothing but her knickers made her feel quite cheeky. She needed a cigarette to complete the look.

"And of prediction, I predict that you have a grounding coming your way."

She rolled her eyes, "what is it that you need?"

"I want to know where you are."

"Liam and I are having dinner."

"So he's made it here all right," she sounded annoyed.

"Yes, he did. We shouldn't be back too late."

"You know I don't like you eating junk."

"I do know I'll see you later."

"Elianna—" she began but Elianna hung up on her. She turned her phone off.

"Is everything all right?"

"Yes fine," the careless way she dropped her phone into her bag gave away her frustration.

"I know it's not. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No I don't, I want my tempura…" she climbed back on the bed, "she thinks were up to no good." She started talking about it anyway, "Off robbing a bank or something."

Liam sat up and pulled her onto his lap. "We could go do that and prove her right. Then take our ill-gotten gains and runoff."

"We'd finally get some peace… how do you feel about Africa? Most of the continent doesn't extradite." She took his phone, "but after dinner."

(***)

"We're going in this way," they got out of the car in her driveway. She unlocked the side door of the house. There were stairs right across from the door. The only light illuminating the space was coming from the top of the stairs.

"Yo," Elianna shouted as they went upstairs into the kitchen.

"Yo?" Yvonne couldn't believe her daughter sometimes.

"Hello mother," she smiled, "Is that better?"

"Much" Elianna rolled her eyes and her mother ignored her. "Liam."

"Hello Mrs. Peterson," he didn't know what to say. The woman was staring at him with her eyes narrowed.

"How was the trip over?" She did not want this boy in her house. She was thankful all these weekend shenanigans were happening with muggles. She didn't even want to contemplate what people would think. Children are a reflection of their parents and this was only going to end with devastation.

"I had a rough landing but as easy as always."

"I'm glad to hear it." She didn't sound glad to hear it at all. Too bad he didn't knock himself out and the whole weekend would be off.

When Ginny called them to confirm the arrangements for the weekend she was surprised. The woman had a phone, knew how to use it, and didn't let Yvonne's shortness deter her from allowing the kids this time together.

"Well Dad had a late meeting tonight but are you guys all stuffed on junk food or will you be needing something else?"

"Mum I'm sorry we didn't come right home and that we had Japanese," she sucked her teeth. "We had a lovely day, we only have the weekend. So we're going to go get settled and then watch a movie. Does a movie sound good babe?"

"Yeah… If I knew you had planned dinner I would have insisted we come back." Liam didn't want her parents to hate him more than they already did.

"It's fine, there's popcorn in the cupboard," Yvonne excused herself.

Liam went over to Elianna and lowered his voice, "why didn't you tell me we were supposed to be here?"

"We weren't," she assured him, "she just wondered where I was with my bad boy beau."

"I'm trying to make a good impression so for the rest of this weekend what your parents say goes."

Elianna tried to look hurt, "you're taking my parent's side over my mine?"

"Damn right"

"What happened to the boy who was going to rob a bank and run off with me?"

"We weren't in your parent's house then."

"I didn't realize you were scared of them."

"Oh, you have no idea love."

She took his garment bag off his shoulder, "let me show you where you're staying." She walked over to the French doors leading off the kitchen and opened them. There was a small window-filled room, with a built-in couch and a writing desk. She opened the door on the left wall, "this is your room," she turned on the light. "I realize that the windows in here only look into the study."

"I assume they capture the light from that wall of windows."

"Yes, they do." She placed his bag down, "I wanted you in here because," she went through the door on the opposite wall and across the hall. "This is my room."

"That's so sweet, you wanted me near you."

He looked around her room. The walls were purple, tons of books, and, doors that led to the front patio.

"Love you've got a serious book collection." There was a desk built-in under the windows. Underneath was filled with stacks of books. There was just enough space for her legs so she could sit at her computer.

"They're under the bed too."

"That's where you sit and talk to me," he pointed to the left side of her bed. He recognized the setup on her end table. There was a framed photo of her with Jane and Carrie; there was a framed photo of them. He picked it up. It was in the bowling alley when she came to New York. "This is a new addition to your nightstand."

"We're public now so if I've got it I might as well flaunt it," she shrugged.

He put the photo back, "did I mention despite my lack of dancing abilities, the pain of finding something to wear, and parents, I'm so happy to be here?"

"I'm happy you're here too."

(***)

When Mr. Peterson arrived home he heard the television in the basement. His daughter was in there having a make-out session with that boyfriend of hers. He went in through the back door hoping to catch them in the act and curse the boy for the rest of his days.

"Hi Dad," Elianna said when he appeared in the doorway. The basement was a finished space with cozy seating, a huge television, a pool table, and lots of board games. It would also be center stage for the party tomorrow.

To some relief and mild annoyance, he didn't get to act fatherly. The two were sitting on the couch watching a movie. They were both in their pajamas sitting next to each other completely respectable.

"Sawubona sithandwa… Liam."*

"Hello Mr. Peterson," Liam stood up. He went over to shake his hand. "It's nice to see you again."

"You as well," he eyed the boy who wears glasses. He made note of that for when he had to describe him to the authorities. "Are you excited for formal?"

"I don't know I've never been to one. I'm not looking forward to the dancing but meeting more of Elianna's friends should be fun."

"Do you golf?"

"Daddy," Elianna warned.

"No"

"Well, I have a tee time tomorrow. My friend has canceled on me. Why don't we golf in the morning? Elianna will be busy getting her hair and nails done or whatever young women do."

"Dad no," Elianna didn't want to give her father a chance to berate Liam.

"Elianna hlukana nayo noma awuyi ndawo kusasa,"* he hissed at his daughter. If she didn't stay out of it, she wouldn't be going anywhere tomorrow. He would put Liam on the first portkey to anywhere that wasn't here.

"In English," she hissed, "This is a bad idea."

"It'll be more fun than sitting around here waiting for you."

"It's all right. Mr. Peterson I would love to go."

"Great tee time is at 9 am we'll leave here at 8:30."

"Perfect"

"You kids have a good night."

"Good night."

Mr. Peterson left and Liam went back to his seat on the couch.

"Do you know what you agreed to?" Elianna asked staring at him.

"Yes I do"

"Are you sure because…"

"He wants to grill me and lay down the law," it was obvious.

"This is going to be ridiculous."

"You're right but if he wants to."

"You following my parent's wishes is unattractive."

Liam shook his head, "What was he saying about me in Zulu?"

"Nothing, he was scolding me for getting on him about wanting time alone with you. You would think he would leave it alone." At the very least not speak a language everyone in the room can't understand. She knew it was an intimidation tactic but she was upfront with them about Liam escorting her. They offered him accommodation in their home, it didn't seem right to go through all this trouble to be rude.

"A Suitable Suitor"

*Zulu translations:
"Sawubona sithandwa… Liam." = "Hello dear… Liam."
"Elianna hlukana nayo noma awuyi ndawo kusasa," he hissed at his daughter. = "Elianna stay out of it or you're not going anywhere tomorrow"