Hello my friends. Sorry about not posting in awhile. I had some nasty college finals along with a case of writes block.

So far, I've only received one email back from my betas on chapter six. I couldn't wait to post it since it had been so long. Enjoy the long awaited mess.

Many thanks to Juryu for her quick reply. And I do mean QUICK.

Thanks to my reviewers: speakerknee and my good pal Acree.

Vielen Danke Die Grosse J und Die Grosse C.

As always, I don't own Harry Potter.

ON WITH THE SHOW!







Ch five---Realizations on what is what.

Later one evening Delia and Severus were out on the balcony outside Delia's bedroom. They were enjoying the cool evening. The back yard was small compared to everyone else's. That is because a bigger garage had been added on to the house. Severus had bought a bottle of wine earlier that day. He had borrowed Josie's car and explored Derby while Delia went to the store with Elle. As he figured, there was not much here. However, he did find two liquor stores. He did not understand the over 21 rule. He thought it was stupid. Delia was reading a letter from A.J. telling about how Nell was doing. She was enjoying her time out doors. Delia liked A.J. He was really nice.

"I truly feel sorry for A.J." Severus said. "You do realize he was a former Death Eater."

"I knew. When we were staying at his house, I saw his Dark Mark by accident. I went down to the kitchen for a drink and he was in there washing his hands. I saw it. A.J. sat me down and we talked. You know he didn't want to join. He was forced into it or he would be killed."

"He didn't want to join! You know he created several horrible poisons. He was under watch and wand point when he did. He spends his days looking for antidotes for the evil he has unleashed. That's why he's very quiet. He used to be my old Potions teacher. I learned everything from A.J. He ended up in Azkaban. He was there for two years, Delia. Dumbledore finally got A.J out." Delia looked forlorn. She knew A.J.'s story all to well. He had told her himself that night. Delia reached out and held A.J.'s hand in a friendly gesture. She purposely grabbed his arm his Dark Mark was on.

"A.J, thinks the world of you," Severus said. "You remind him of his wife. I never knew her, she passed away before I was born."

"I really feel for A.J.! I knew he lost his wife. She was a Muggle and passed away due to breast cancer. They weren't married fifteen years! A.J. was about your age if I recall correctly."

"You are right," Severus said. "The man works day and night. So far he's came up with one antidote. However, it only works as a multi-purpose one for everything else. He's made money off it. For all the wrong reasons."

"I'm going to put A.J. down on my VIP list for Quidditch matches," Delia said benevolently. "He better come or I'll beat him up!"

Severus laughed, "A.J. is a really big Quidditch fan. Why wouldn't he be there?"



***



Delia woke up sometime in the middle of the night. She has just had a weird dream. Instead of going to Hogwarts she had became professional ice skater. She had said Quidditch to Elle. Elle looked at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. Delia woke with a start and she now found herself down stairs watching ESPN. Delia really hated late night TV. She got off the couch and decided to try the warm milk thing. She opened the fridge to realize Josie or Elle must have used the milk. She shut the door and wrote on the shopping list-milk. Delia dug around in the kitchen and gave up. If she wanted milk that badly she could throw on some clothes and go to the store. Delia went back to watching ESPN. For some reason or other ice- skating came on TV. She quickly changed the channel to Cartoon Network. Barney and Fred cracked her up easily. For some reason this one was not. Insomnia kills, Delia thought. Delia contemplated a sleeping potion or a very large sleeping pill. She decided against it. She clicked off the TV and moved to the armchair.

She stretched out and tried to get cozy. She moved back over to the couch. That did not work so she tired the floor. She was about to doze off when she heard someone come down the stairs. Severus shook his head. He would never understand Delia sometimes. He walked over to Delia. She opened her eyes.

"Don't tell me you have insomnia too!" she said. "I'm going to start the insomniacs club if you do. I'm the president!"

"No, I just woke up and realized you were gone. I had rolled over to your side of the bed. It felt odd. Usually, either you are cuddling me or I'm cuddling you. I came to see if you were alright."

Delia thought to herself, Ahhhhh he missed me. He got lonely! "As you can see, I'm cool. You should go back to bed. I'm wide awake now."

"I know something has to be wrong if you are up this late. What is it?" Severus asked his voice full of worry.

"I fine, really. I just woke up and couldn't fall asleep."

"That's not like you. I know it's not. Are you upset over something?"

"No, I'm fine. A-OK. Never felt better. Fine and dandy."

Severus glared at Delia as if she were a second year telling him a tall tale. "I don't believe you. If you were fine, you would be in bed. Did I wake you up? I didn't kick you off the bed, did I? Have I been taking up too much of the bed?"

"No, you are fine. You didn't do anything wrong! I think I just had too much pop."

"I know how to get you to sleep!" Severus said pulling Delia off the living room floor. "We are going upstairs. When you get to the bedroom, take off your shirt and lie down in bed."

"I'm not in that frame of mind!" Delia exclaimed climbing the stairs with Severus in tow.

"I'm not, either. I am going to rub your back until you fall asleep."

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to jump to conclusions. Generally, when you tell me to take of my shirt…you know. Of course I'm going to think that!" She walked into the bedroom. She took off her shirt and lay down on her stomach.

"Do you have any massage oil?" Severus asked.

"Yep. Elle keeps bringing me the stuff all the time. I like it better then lotion for my hands and skin in the winter. There should be some in the top desk drawer by the computer."

Severus walked over and opened the drawer. "Delia, you only have a drawer full! What kind do you want?"

"Doesn't matter. It's all good."

He grabbed one labeled 'jasmine.' He came and sat at the edge of the bed. He unscrewed the lid, poured a little of the oil into his left hand. He set the bottle and cap on the nightstand. The room began to fill with the fragrance of jasmine. He rubbed his hands together, to spread the oil around. He put his hands on Delia's shoulders. His hands felt warm against her skin. He gently started to rub.

"Just as I suspected you are tense," he said. "What's been bothering you?"

"Nothing, honestly. I'm fine. Who do you think you are? Sigmund Freud?"

"No. I just know when something is bothering you. I bet I can pin point it."

"If you are so smart then why don't you, Siggy," Delia said. "I have one sleepless night and you're ready to get inside my head. That's one scary place...ahhhh…I think you found a sore spot!" Delia gritted her teeth. Severus rubbed the sore spot a little harder. The massage felt good in a bad way.

"I think that's sore from where you fell down at the rink earlier. I'll be careful. If something hurts, say so. Otherwise, I'll take your silence as yes. He noticed Delia was relaxing somewhat. She wasn't as tense as before. In his best German accent he said, "Now dear I haff figured out your problem."

"Oh great, what is it Siggy?" Delia said unenthused.

"You are suffering from what I call nervous tension," Severus said in his German accent.

"I pay you bucoo bucks just to hear that? Man, you are a dorkus, Siggy. For five bucks I coulda told ya THAT one."

"Ah, was ist causing dis tension?"

"I don't know. You are the psychoanalyst. You can guess it."

"Do you haff a man?"

"Yep."

"Does he love you?" Severus asked in the mock German accent.

"He better!"

"How do you know dis?"

"Because I know. Don't mess with women, Siggy!"

"When was dee last time you twzoo made zerious love?"

Delia decided to get droll and play along. "We made love this morning in the basement, on the pool table. I tell you it was the best. I made'em scream. I'm quite a horny little beeotch sometimes. I tell you we were going for hours."

Delia could tell she made him hot for her. His caressing turned more or less into a seduction. He slowly ran his fingers up and down her spine. Severus immediately dropped the German accent, "A pool table…mhhhhh. Where did you say this table was?"

"Basement. I should say billiard table. It's a bit bigger then a pool table, enough room to fold laundry on. You are right, this works nicely to put someone asleep. You are doing a fine job." His hands had not left her back they were just as soothing as before, if not more so. He bent down and kissed the back of her neck.

Delia giggled into her pillow, "Hey! I'm trying to sleep here!"

"Or are you?" Severus asked. Delia rolled over and pushed Severus away. She jumped off the bed. "Where are you going?"

"I have this sudden urge to play pool," she replied nonchalantly.

"I thought you weren't in that frame of mind."

"I'm not. But you can come along if you like."



***





Delia that afternoon had tried to explain baseball Severus. He didn't quite understand it. He was confused as to what a walk and strike out was. For that matter the phrases confused him. An example of this 'bottom of the first and top of the second.' Then didn't understand the middle. How could you have a middle in ending. All he got out of it was you get a ball and run. That was it. To him cricket made more sense. He tried to explain that to Delia but she was just as confused. So they both gave up. Severus said he's just watch the Fourth of July game and that was it.

"Speaking of the Fourth of July," Delia said. "We need to call up everybody and plan this shin dig! I'll get on the hob and call up everybody."

Severus just looked lost and tried to watch TV. He had a headache. He wanted to go brew a Potion and send a letter in the owl post. He missed the cool serene atmosphere of his dungeon and the simmering cauldrons. Normally at this time he would have been at the house in Germany. He still didn't have anything done to it. He knew the living room was in desperate need of help. But he was in Kansas. The mystery of Delia's mysterious life was slowly leaving.

Delia came back into the living room chatting on cordless phone. Severus sat there confused. He hadn't said a lot the whole trip. He gave her a strange look while she was talking to Danae. He tried to hold her hand but she quickly pulled it away and went off to the kitchen. Severus scowled at the TV. Elle had been running in and out watching the Days Of Our Lives. She was even taping it so watch it later. Josie had gone work that morning. Severus wondered if Elle even made money or went to work. She did own a business. Elle returned to the room and started crying over the misfortune of some person on the TV. This was all too much for Severus. He stomped upstairs into the bedroom. He figured he might as well take a nap.

Delia finally finished the calling everyone. They would meet tomorrow night for the planning. Delia went upstairs and found Severus asleep. She kissed his forehead and he woke up.

"Oh sorry! Didn't mean to wake up!"

"I wasn't asleep. I heard you come in. I was hoping you'd come in and I predicted that you would."

"I thought you bad at Divination!"

"Not all the time. I should have Madame Trelaweny's job."

"Oh god, then she's be teaching Potions. Let's not go there. Trying to scare first years more now?"

"Potter."

"Oh no, not this again. Let's do something. I'm bored."

"What? There isn't anything to do. Besides Elle is home."

"Ha, ha ha ha ha ha. Very funny."

"We can always put a Silencing Charm on the room!"

Delia rolled her eyes and left the room. She'd rip of his shirt later.

***

Later that evening Delia and Severus were sitting in the back yard. Delia had been having friends come in and out all day. Severus hadn't said much. He was having a hard time understanding everyone. Then he would speak and it confuse everyone. So it was better if he just stayed quiet. However, he couldn't help but hear Delia and Elaine from basement when he stood in the kitchen.

"So Dee," Elaine said. "Don't you think he's a little old for you?"

Severus clinched his teeth and thought I'm not that old. He heard Delia reply, "So? Doesn't bother him or me. We get along fine! Why should you care?"

"I just don't want you messing up your life that's all. He seems a bit odd. How did you meet him?"

"School. He graduated before I did. We've just been friends that's all until recently."

"What does he do for a living?" Elaine asked.

"Why are you asking all of this?"

"God. You are snobby Brit! I'm your friend, you know."

"I'm not a snob. I just don't like all the prying. He does have a job and makes money. That's all that's necessary for you to know."

"How old is he?"

Severus thought that this was preposterous and none of Elaine's business at all. He knew if Delia came out with the truth it would just sound weird. It only had to make since to the two people involved.

"Hey, Dee! I asked how OLD is he? He looks about thirty. How did you meet him? Don't lie!"

"Elaine!" Delia shrieked, "I said to stop prying. Leave. Go home. It's none of your business."

"Fine. Be a snob. Go ahead and think you are better then us. Go back to England to with your old man. You are only with him for the money."

"GET OUT!" Delia shouted in Elaine's face. Severus came down stairs. He wasn't about to let Delia be talked to that way in her own home.

"I couldn't help over hearing," Severus said in his silky voice, "what was being said. If you want to know so much why don't you ask me Elaine?"

'Why would I want to ask you? You snob! Going around in clothes from Harrods or whatever. You look as if you are going to a funeral. If you had class you wouldn't wear that!"

"Oh my dear you don't even know what class is."

"Delia's only after you for your money and then she'll leave. Like all snobs do."

"Think what you want to think. You don't know the full story."

"Delia will leave you and you'll be broke. Or are you having an affair with Delia? Have a wife and three kids? Did you tell them you were going on a business trip? Delia's family likes affairs. Her father, her mother and now Delia."

"ELAINE! GET OUT!" Delia and Severus shouted at the same time. Delia was enraged and her face was red.

"It's not your house. Last time I checked it was your fathers."

"Leave before I do something I'll regret later," Delia said softly.

"What's that? Hit me. I'll press charges."

"I'm not going to hit you. LEAVE! NOW!"

"Fine. I will. I'm not your friend anymore. You aren't invited to the Fourth of July party. I'm calling everyone and telling all of them the planning has been moved to MY house. Good-bye." With that Elaine was up the stairs and gone.

Delia was still feeling miserable about it later that evening. Severus had tried his best to cheer her up. That wasn't working. Delia has removed herself from everyone in the house. She was down in the basement. She had locked the door and was blasting CDs.

Josie had tried calling Delia to dinner. That didn't work. All Delia did was turn up the stereo. Everyone had tried everything they knew of. Josie explained to Severus that Elaine had been Delia's friend since kindergarten. Severus didn't say anything, he just nodded.

Josie and Elle had learned to ignore Delia in one of her finks. They knew Delia would sooner or later get over it. Severus on the other hand couldn't stand Delia locking herself away. He went down to the basement.

Delia was in the basement eating a box of chocolates and shooting a round of pool. She had a No Doubt CD blasting in the room. Delia looked up from the shot she was about to make and glared at Severus. She laid the cue down and turned down the stereo.

"I had the door locked! What do you want?" Delia asked irritated. She threw a chocolate cover cherry in her mouth. She returned to her pool game. He leaned against the downstairs bar and watched Delia.

"If you want to play," Delia said, "grab a cue and jump in. You can be solids."

Severus picked a cue from the holder in the wall. He took a shot and missed. "I hope you know I'm bad at this. I wouldn't bet money on me."

"Oh really," Delia said clearing the table. "I'd bet money on me."

"Fine. We'll bet a Galleon that I can't sink the last two balls in three shots."

Delia looked at the table. The only remaining balls on the table were the thirteen and fourteen. They were at opposite ends. The cue was in the middle.

"You are on. I'll raise it to five Galleons and thrown in five bucks!"

"Deal!" Severus gave Delia a smile. He took the first shot. It went lopsided and ended up across from the thirteen. Severus shot it in. The cue ball hit the rail.

"Ohhh one more shot left," Delia said. "Then you'll have to pay up."

"Or rather," he said in the silky voice he used only at times for Delia as he sank the last ball across the table. "It is I who will be reeking in the benefits."

Delia dropped the cue stick she was holding in astonishment. "I have been hustled. You know, I should have known better."

Severus laughed a deep throaty laugh. He put the cue on the table and then wrapped his arms around Delia. He gave her a kiss on her forehead. Delia closed her eyes after she laid her head down. She breathed in his cologne. She then thought to herself, hey I know why Elaine is jealous! Delia smiled.

"Let me go upstairs and pay you. Since you won the bet and all."

Severus pulled Delia closer and tightened his arms around her. "Maybe...I don't what money after all. I want something else."

"What do you want?" Delia asked.

"A kiss from a entrancing lady."

"I can have that arranged. When do you want it?"

"Now is good for me."

Delia pushed back Severus hair and pulled his face down closer to hers. She gave him a warm tenderhearted kiss.

"Hey!" Josie called out. "No nicking in the basement!" Delia laughed and held Severus's hand. "I love sneaking up on people! Especially, my daughter's private moments with her fiancée!"

"Mom!" Delia exclaimed.

"Hey! Me and Elle are going to a party at this club. We want to know if you two want to come along."

Delia shrugged her shoulders. "If Severus wants to go, I'll go."

"I don't see why not," Severus said. "It would get us out of the house."

"Great!" Delia said. "I'm hungry."

"You should have eaten dinner!" Josie said. "But we'll stop at Taco Bell. Elle wants some anyway."

"Wha ho!" Delia shouted. "Taco Bell!"

Severus just looked lost. He wasn't going to ask. He would just wait and find out.



***

Delia woke up in at 3:30 A.M.. She pulled herself away from Severus. He rolled over and didn't wake up. Delia giggled and thought he had too much to drink at the party. She dressed in jean shorts with a orange t-shirt. She grabbed some socks and tennis shoes before she left the room. She opened the back door and stepped out into the night.

Kansas always seems to have a calm about it at this time of the night. Summer nights seemed very soft, Delia mused to herself. The breeze was just enough to rattle wind-chimes in the neighborhood. The air was fresh and fragrant with the smells of summer flowers and freshly cut lawns. The sky was clear with the light from the full moon, which made everything look silvery.

Delia unlocked the garage side door with her wand. She pulled her bicycle off the wall. She exited the garage with her bike. She shut the door behind her quietly and took off on the bike down the driveway. Severus had woken up to see Delia take off. He ran out to the street to see if she was there but she was long gone.

Delia enjoyed the coolness of the Kansas summer nights. To her this was the best time in the world. Everything was still and quiet. The crickets chirruped quietly. Dogs would bark off in the distance at one another. There were few cars out on the streets. The city of Derby had a calm tranquility of Suburbia. Delia smiled and couldn't believe this is what people wanted to achieve in life and nothing else. To Delia, there was a big wide world out there and she was going to see all of it she could. She didn't want to waste away in a small town the rest of her life.

As Delia rode around the sleepy town. She passed houses of all shapes and sizes. She rode though the old section of Derby then the new. Her mothers lived in the older part of the newer section, right in the middle of town. She realized to herself she wasn't much of a Kansan anymore. She had been sent away for schooling. She had been overseas for seven years with only a few weeks back here and there. That was a good enough chuck out of her life.

To her friends in Kansas, she was more British. To her friends in England, she was just a yank. An American witch. Delia knew if her Kansas friend ever found out they would go ballistic. Kansans were quite strange. Her friends' parents didn't know why Delia's parents were sending her away for school. The schools in the area were just fine. Not many kids in the area were sent off to boarding school. Most families moved to the Derby area for the schools.

Delia stopped her bike ride in the middle of a park. She parked her bike and took a breather on the park bench. She put her face in her hands. She would be nineteen soon and she felt older. She was going to be a professor. If she were to tell anyone here they wouldn't believe her.

Then it finally hit her. She was Delia. Just not the Delia everyone here expected her to be. She was a professor, a pro Quidditch player and a Hogwarts graduate. She was what she had made herself to be. She decided right then and there to stop playing who she was a year ago with her Kansas friends.

With a grin on her face she left the park bench. She hopped back on her bike and rode off in the summer dawning sunshine. She looked at her watch and giggled. She could make McDonalds for breakfast. They had just opened thirty minutes ago.



***

When Delia returned back to the house, she was greeted with silence. Everyone was still asleep. Delia found Severus asleep on the couch and wondered why. She grabbed her car keys and purse from upstairs. She headed out the kitchen door quietly. She took a deep breath before starting the car. She was off down the drive way. It was time she took action.

She drove out of Derby. Once in the county she picked up speed. She turned on the radio, but quickly turned it off the morning blab. She drove in silence to her father's new residence. Delia hadn't been there yet, but knew where it was. She had been given a key. She was told to drop by when she felt like it.

Delia turned her Honda off onto a street many miles later. She looked at the houses and gulped. Her father had gone all out. He had purchased a house by a golf course. She found the address and parked out in front. She didn't know if he was there or not. His car wasn't in the drive, but another car was. Delia opened her car door and contemplated if this was the right decision or not. She got out and shut her door, shaking her head.

She walked up to the house. It was bigger then the one in Derby. She still wondered why her father had gone all out. She opened the gate that led into the front garden. She walked up to the front door and unlocked it.

Delia was amazed her father had everything in order. He already had livingroom furniture. She glanced in the kitchen and noticed it was in a pristine state. The house was neat as a pin. She walked up the stairs and couldn't help but feel odd. She paused midway, looked at one of her old ice- skating pictures, and resumed on up the stairs.

Upstairs was strange and funny. It was bigger then the living room and upstairs at Delia's mothers. She wondered what her father was going to do with four bedrooms. She found what was the master bedroom, rather presumed. She knocked on the door and said, "Dad...Delia...I'm comin' in."

Delia pushed open the door and screamed. Her father woke up startled along with a woman. The woman shrieked back at Delia.

"WHO ARE YOU?" she cried.

"Estelle," Albert spoke in a calm voice, "it's just Delia."

"Erm...uh...Dad," Delia managed to speak. "I'll...uh...just get goin'...I-I- I...can see...you're...uhhhhh...busy..."

"No," he said. "Just meet me down stairs."

Delia didn't argue. She went down to the kitchen. She all of a sudden felt the urge for a cup of tea. She banged around the kitchen for tea. She couldn't find any and kicked the sink cabinet in frustration, knocking a hole in it.

"All you have to do is ask," Estelle said. "Destroying things won't solve your problem."

Delia looked at Estelle in her bathrobe. She was taller then Josie and had dyed blonde hair. Her nails look as if she had just had a manicure, they were painted red and didn't looked chipped. Delia's foot hurt all of a sudden.



"Where's Dad?" she asked.

"Gathering his senses. You walked in and gave him a start. You know I've never met you, but I've seen you in many of your ice-skating things."

Delia felt furious. She wanted to kick the other cabinet in. She ignored Estelle and went back looking for tea. She kept opening cabinets, shifting through them then banging them shut.

"WHERE IS THE TEA?" Delia cried. "You would think that there'd BE tea!"

"There isn't any," Estelle said.

"My father does not have tea! My god!" Delia took matters into her own hands. She took out her wand from her pocket and transfigured a coffee filter into a tea bag. She made her tea. Delia did her best to pretend Estelle wasn't there.

"Would you PLEASE stop staring at me?" Delia asked annoyed. "I am a witch!"

"Your father has told me. I also presume you do know who I am."

"Doesn't take a genius to figure that one out!"

"Holding back the anger isn't helping you, Delia." Estelle said soothingly.

"What are you?" Delia asked in a sarcastic voice. "A therapist?"

"Yes, I am. I told your father I'd come smooth things out before he came down."

Delia threw her cup on the floor, shattering it. She pushed past Estelle and thundered up the stairs. She met her father in the hallway, fully dressed.

"WHY WASN'T I TOLD SOONER?" Delia bellowed with tears in her eyes. "It's not like I wasn't a damn letter away." Delia turned and pounded on the wall. She was crying in racking sobs. Estelle came up. She stood around quietly. "Thanks for lying to me!" Delia turned walked out, ran down the stairs, and slammed the door. She started her car and left.

***

Delia returned home late in the afternoon. She walked in the kitchen to Severus and her mothers. Delia threw down the shopping bags she was carrying.



"I'll go call Albert and tell him," Elle said.

"Been to the mall?" Josie asked.

"Duh...can't you see?"

"Delia," her mother said curtly. "Do use the English language properly."

"Stop treating me like I'm a kid!" Delia shouted back.

"Then stop acting like one!"

Elle came back into the kitchen and said, "Don't you ever worry us like that again! Do you know what you put us through? Where did you go all day?"

"I went to the mall and cooled off," Delia replied. "Then I went to the rink and blew off steam. I ate something at Wendy's then came home."

"You could have used the phone," Severus said.

"Sorry," Delia grumbled picking back up the shopping bags. "I'm going for a bath."



***



Severus went into the bedroom to find Delia had everything out of her closet. "I thought you were going for a bath!"

"Changed my mind," she replied. "Cleaning out junk. I'm going to have a yard sale and get rid of ninety percent of this."

Severus cleared off a chair and sat down. He had no clue what a yard sale was. Delia sorted through her old skating dresses and threw them in a box along with four pairs of ice skates. She sorted though several old toys, books and board games.

She pushed the boxes to the other side of the bedroom and collapsed on the bed. "Done. Ladies and gents an end of an era has happened in my life." She put her hands behind her head as if she triumphed a major accomplishment.

"Are you all right?" Severus asked concerned. The look on his face was that of worry.

"Couldn't be any better," Delia drawled.

"I hardly think so. You take out at night on your bicycle, you return home get the car and end up at your father's house. You kick a cabinet in and leave. No one sees you until a few hours ago. You clean out your closet and say it's an end of an era. There is something upsetting you."

"Ok-ay," Delia said taking in a deep breath. "Think for five secs how I feel. My father sends me a letter telling me about the on goings. He's drunk as a skunk when he writes the letter. Mom and Elle send their defenses saying the same thing. I come back here and find out about what you know so far. I have a fight with Elaine. I go to see my father and am introduced to Estelle. Come to find out, she's seen me and I haven't seen her. She then tells me to stop letting the anger get to me. She's trying to be my new best buddy and smooth it all out! All I simply wanted was to be TOLD the truth sooner then finding out the way I did."

Delia closed her eyes and continued, "I have no qualms about how they all have chosen to live their lives. I know it's not typical text-book-cut-and- paste-a-family-in-Derby-style...but they are my family. If Elaine wants to talk, she can. I'll be going home soon anyway. So why should she bother me? She can't take what's what for what it is. So I'm kicked out of the Fourth of July ritual. I'll just do something else with you. That's all that matters to me. Anyway, it's time I say good bye and part with some things and friends that are from my past life. What use am I going to have for all my old ice-skating stuff? My friends here are all parting. I may see then again, I may not. We are from two different worlds."

Severus nodded and said, "If that is what you want...then do so. I'm sorry you found out things the way you did. You love your family and they love you. In the end that's what count."

"I am going to go apologize to Estelle and fix the cabinet and cup I broke. That was very irrational. I'm also sorry I ran out with out telling anyone where I was going." Delia walked over to Severus and gave him a hug. "Thank you for listening. Now, I'm going to go take that bath. You'd think after three hours at the rink, I'd be sore. I'm not."

Severus laughed and said, "You will feel it later."



***

"I just hope my grandma is awake!" Delia said banging on the door. "She did just get back from Germany last night. Like always, she forgot to pay the phone bill!"

An elderly woman with gray hair answered the door. "Ach! Delia! Wie geht's?" She threw her arms around Delia, and squeezed.

"Oma...es geht mir gut! Was ihre reise gut?"

"Of course, silly! Wo is er? Severus?"

"Ja," Delia said. "Er heisst Severus!"

"Guten tag, Frau Wheelrite!" Severus replied.

"He speaks wonderful German!" her grandmother replied. "Such a gentleman too. Please come in. I didn't pay the phone bill on time. I was visiting my sister." Delia and Severus followed into the kitchen. "By the way, Severus, you may call me Gretel. My son has told me all about you."

"I'll make some lemonade," Delia said cheerfully. :Since it's so freakin' hot."

"Yes! Good idea. It's hot out there," Gretel agreed. Delia took out a drink mix out of a cabinet. She found a pitcher and added water. She then added the mix, causing the water to turn yellow. Her grandmother brought over a tray of ice and dumped it in the pitcher. "I'm afraid that is all the ice. I will have to get some."

Delia grinned, "Not if I'm around!" She refilled the ice tray. With a flick of her wand they had more ice. Her grandmother chuckled and sat down at the table in the kitchen. Delia brought over the lemonade. She then brought over the glasses with the newly frozen ice in them. "Everybody dig in!"

"So what brings you to my house?" Gretel asked.

"One you had to meet Severus," Delia replied. "Then I'm having a yard sale next weekend. Is there anything you want rid of?"

"I will sort some things and bring them over. I take it your mother and Elle are in on this too?"

"Oh yah! They have the house topsy turvey!"

Severus laughed. As soon as her mothers heard yard sale, they went crazy sorting through stuff. Severus didn't get it and hid as best he could. That didn't work because Josie had him moving things in no time. The mysterious life Delia had once led was slowing turning out be less mystical.

After a big lunch Delia and Severus left. Gretel said she was going to rest. She was still recovering from the jet lag. She would be by later with some things for the yard sale. Delia then dropped Severus off at the Bistro. He said he needed to talk to her father.

"If you need a lift back to Derby call me, Mom or Elle. Somebody will be around. If not I have Elle's cell phone."

"Your father said he would take me back," Severus replied opening the car door. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I was thinking about going shopping!"

Severus rolled his eyes and shut the car door. He spoke through the open passenger window, "Don't spend too much!"

"I will!" Delia said putting the car in gear. "Bye!"

Severus waved as Delia drove off. He took a deep breath and opened the door to the Bistro. It was time to tell Albert what Elle and Josie knew.