DISCLAIMER: Everything that doesn't belong to me belongs to JK Rowling and vice versa.
Late April brought heavy rain, which pervaded everywhere so that even the warmest of places felt perpetually damp. The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade was one of the few places that retained some cosy heat. This was where Harry, Ron, Hermione and Andromeda were sitting with mugs of steaming Butterbeer. The pub was crowded, of course, as the rain pelted down outside, but they had arrived early and were perfectly comfortable. It was a good place to have a nice, simple chat.
'I reckon they were Unspeakables,' said Ron for the thousandth time, on Essa, Kate and Brian.
Hermione sighed. 'They still sound like Aurors to me,' she said. Everyone was getting very tired of hearing this argument. 'After all, we don't know what Unspeakables do, and they're hardly likely to send a bunch of them off to reveal themselves to You-Know-Who, undisguised.'
'The Slytherins are already getting into the Quidditch spirit,' Andromeda said, changing the subject rather obviously. 'Malfoy's made a load of badges again, like with the Triwizard Tournament –' she sneaked a quick glance at Harry – 'but this time they say 'Slytherin for the Cup.' Not very original, is it?'
'At least they don't say 'Potter Stinks',' Harry said fairly.
The conversation moved from this to a heated debate between Harry and Ron over whether the Wronski Feint was necessary (amid many sighs from the girls), then back to Essa, Kate and Brian, then (with yet another less-than-subtle subject change from Andromeda) to their enormous Easter holidays workload (the holidays were almost over by now) and finally to Andromeda's uncle. 'I haven't heard from him lately,' she confessed. 'I'm starting to get a bit worried.'
'When did you last write to him?' asked Hermione.
'At least a week ago,' Andromeda replied, 'and he usually writes back within three days. I don't know, maybe he's got bored of me.'
'How could he?' said Harry. Ron snickered and Harry blushed. 'Shut up, Ron.'
Just then, something completely unremarkable happened, but something that caused Ron to almost hyperventilate. Hermione lifted her hand to tuck a tuft of her behind her ear. The sleeve of her robes slipped back slightly, revealing a gold bracelet with a cat charm on it. Hermione lowered her hand and straightened the sleeve of her robes, looking at Ron, who had gasped with a mouthful of Butterbeer and was now having a very loud coughing fit.
They waited for the coughing to subside, then Harry said, 'What's wrong, Ron?'
'Nothing,' Ron said hurriedly. He had gone red. He took another gulp of Butterbeer. 'Er, I think I might go back up to the castle – feeling a bit sick…'
As he hurried away, aware of the others' bewildered stares, he couldn't put the bracelet out of his mind. Months ago he'd bought it and sent it, and Hermione was still wearing it. She really liked it! But she didn't know it was he who had sent it. Ron didn't know what to think. Why was he so bothered about this? He knew really – but he couldn't bear it. She had never shown any sign of thinking of him as more than a friend – except at the Yule Ball – but even then, he had kissed her first – why was this so difficult?
Back at the Three Broomsticks, conversation had turned to Andromeda's family. 'I've got two sisters and a brother,' she began, after hearing Harry and Hermione's rather short family histories. For some reason this was something they had never discussed. 'They're called Persephone, Ariadne and Jason – my dad has a fondness for mythological names, but Jason's sounds perfectly normal. It's very unfair. Anyway, Persephone's eleven – she's coming here next year – Ariadne's next, she's eight – and Jason's the youngest and is six. My parents are called Emelus and Graínne, but you know that – my mum's Irish, that's why I've got a bit of an accent, used to hearing her talk. Though it's pretty much gone now, I've been away from home for so long. I've got about a million cousins on her side, but only a couple on my dad's. I don't know much about my dad's family. His parents both died before I was born. He's got an twin brother called Erasmus. That's about it.'
'Do you get on well with your family?' asked Hermione.
'Usually. Jason's OK, and Ariadne. I have the most arguments with Persephone, but we're still OK. I get on great with my parents. They're very open – they treat us as equals, not as children. That's what I like most about them.'
'You've been to Ireland, haven't you?' Harry asked, remembering a conversation they'd had before.
'Every year before I came to Hogwarts, and a few times while I've been here. We used to go every Christmas but it got a bit too stressful travelling on Christmas Eve – my dad had to get time off work, the shop's particularly busy around that time – and we stopped a couple of years ago. I do love it there. All my cousins are there, and they're very friendly. When I was unhappy in Slytherin it was my favourite place to be. But that's changed now.' She grinned at Harry.
When they had finished talking, Harry, Hermione and Andromeda returned to Hogwarts. It was getting late and would be dark quite soon. Ron was nowhere in sight when they arrived in the Gryffindor common room – something was bothering him, and Harry didn't know what.
A letter arrived for Andromeda that afternoon. Perseus had to chase her around the castle before she noticed him. It was from Callidus. She read it with trepidation:
Dear Andromeda,
I am sorry I haven't written for longer than usual. I hope I didn't worry you. The reason for the delay is that I was weighing something up in my mind, something I have been planning for a while. I have decided that the time has come for us to meet. If you would like to meet me, write back straight away. Suggest a meeting place if you like.
Your uncle,
Callidus Green
Excited, Andromeda turned the note over and wrote quickly on the back.
I'd love to meet you. How about the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade?
An XXX
She was finally going to meet her uncle! Filled with apprehension, Andromeda went to find Harry to tell him the news.
'I'm really not sure about this, An,' said Hermione. Harry rolled his eyes.
'I think you should go,' he said firmly, 'but I'm coming with you.'
'Good,' said Andromeda, smiling, 'because I've already told him I will.'