Disclaimer: We're still on vacation in JKR land.
A/N: The reviews are getting slimmer, but that doesn't stop us! OH NO! We will prevail!
Jordan gazed out the window, watching the Scottish countryside pass him by. It was the last day of Christmas Holidays, and him and Taryn had said a tearful goodbye to their grandparents that morning.
"Remember what I told you . . . " Tom had whispered into his ear as they embraced tightly. Jordan had nodded in response and quietly boarded The Hogwarts Express. Taryn silently followed, looking back with tears in her eyes as the train pulled out of the station.
Now they were minutes away from rejoining the wizarding world. As they pulled into Hogsmede Station, Jordan was surprised to find his father standing on the platform beside his mother.
"He came." He spoke in awe, pointing out the window. Taryn glanced in the direction he was pointing and raised her eyebrows.
"Now there's one for the books." She laughed quietly, gathering her satchel and moving into the aisle. Jordan followed suit, placing the guitar he had been playing back in its case and standing behind his sister. As he waited for the train to come to a complete stop, he fingered the Crest that hung from his neck.
"Have things changed?" He whispered to himself, earning a curious glance from Taryn.
"What are you on about?" She raised her eyebrows, turning to smirk at Jordan. He shrugged, dropping his hands to his sides and staring blankly ahead. "You're so strange."
"Mmmhmmm."
Rolling her eyes, she muttered her new favorite mantra, "Boys!" and moved forward to exit the train. Once she was off, she ran into her mother's outstretched arms. The two hugged and danced around, happy tears in their eyes. Severus and Jordan looked on, amusement and embarrassment evident in their expressions.
Realizing he was blocking the exit, Jordan hopped down off the step and stood before his father.
"You." Jordan nodded solemnly at his father. Severus repeated the movement, wiping his face clean of emotion.
"You." The older man echoed. It was then that he noticed the rather large object in his son's hand. "What's that you're carrying?" he inquired, pointing at the guitar case.
"A guitar." Jordan answered bluntly, raising his eyebrows in challenge, as if to say, 'What's it to you?'
"What the devil are you doing with a crazy thing like that?!" Severus snapped harshly, fixing his son with a piercing glare. Jordan shrugged, swinging the strap over his shoulder.
"I don't expect *you* to understand." He muttered, breaking eye contact. Spotting Beth, he made a mad dash for his friend before Severus could utter another syllable.
"Beth!" He yelled out, waving frantically for the young Potter's attention. She turned around at the call, smiling widely at the approaching male. Once together, they embraced tightly.
"Jordan!" She breathed out, grinning happily. "It's so good to see you. You won't believe how lonely it is here without you."
"I can imagine." Jordan laughed, shifting his guitar from one shoulder to the other. "Where's R2W?" he inquired, gazing around the station.
"Uncle Ron grounded him, so he couldn't come out to meet you." Beth explained, staring with avid curiosity at the guitar case. "What's that?"
"My guitar!" Jordan grinned. "My Grandfather got it for me for Christmas, and taught me how to play a few chords."
"So, it's an instrument?" Beth still seemed confused, eyeing the big bulk warily.
"Yep. It makes the most beautiful sound." He explained as they made their way to the castle. "I'll play it for you sometime."
"I'd like that." Beth smiled shyly, blushing as the two made eye contact. Jordan, being his father's son, attributed the red tint of her cheeks to the frosty air. Stopping momentarily, he took off his scarf, wrapping it around Beth's neck.
"This should keep you warmer." He smiled down at Beth, causing her blush to deepen.
"Thanks." She whispered, fingering the crocheted fabric wondrously.
At last, they reached the castle, running up to Gryffindor Common Room, where R2W sat waiting.
~*~
Back at the train station, Hermione, Severus and Taryn were having a heated discussion.
"Why are you so mean to him, Dad?" Taryn frowned at her father, indicating Jordan who had sped off moments before.
"It's none of your bloody business!" He snapped, shoving his freezing hands into the pockets of his cloak. Shocked at the outburst, Taryn glared at her father.
"Fine!" she huffed, running off to catch up with some friends. Severus sighed heavily, turning to face his angered wife.
"Hermione, he ran off before I had the chance . . . "
"No excuse." She folded her arms over her chest, walking slowly in the direction of the castle. "You acted like you didn't like the gift my father gave him."
"It's just a bunch of foolish nonsense." He called out, defending himself. Jogging, he caught up with his wife, slowing to walk beside her.
"Foolish nonsense?" Hermione scoffed, walking faster. "What about that silly little crest you gave him?"
"It was my way of apologizing." He explained, quickening his pace to stay beside her.
"Well, it didn't work."
"He was wearing it!" Severus pointed out. Hermione stopped abruptly, turning to glare at her husband.
"Severus! That's not the point."
"Than what is?" He sighed in defeat, restarting the trek back up to the warm, inviting castle.
"The point is, Severus, your son doesn't believe you love him." Hermione frowned, following him once again. "And that's entirely your fault. You never show him any affection. You think he's so different from you . . . but he's not." Stepping into the castle, Hermione stopped in the foyer. Turning, she faced her husband. "And on more thing . . . "
"What?"
"You're sleeping on the couch tonight."
"But Hermione! The boy doesn't appreciate what I've given him!" Severus whined, stomping his foot in protest and crossing his arms over his chest.
"He appreciates more than what you think." She snapped, glaring at Severus. "Stop that, you're acting like the children you oh so despise teaching."
Severus gawked at his wife, barely registering that Albus had joined the couple in the foyer. Hermione smiled weakly at the old man.
"Please excuse us, Albus." She said, placing a warm hand on his elderly shoulder.
"That's quite all right, my dear. I just wanted to welcome you and the children . . . " he glanced about the hall, gazing over the rim of his half-moon spectacles. "Where are they?"
"Who knows?" Severus snapped, agitated that their discussion had been interrupted.
"Severus was just off to fetch them." Hermione smiled sweetly at her husband, further angering him. "Weren't you, dear?" She ground out, while retaining some modicum of pleasantness.
"Of course." Severus forced a polite smile before stalking off to find his children. Albus chuckled lightly, a merry twinkle ever present in his eyes.
"He'll come around." He spoke knowingly, watching the retreating back of his Potions Master.
"I know." Hermione sighed deeply, turning to smile warmly at the old man. "It will just take some time."
"Everything takes time, my dear." Albus nodded solemnly. "Rome wasn't built in a day."
"True." Hermione laughed, a sparkle returning to her own chocolate orbs. "It was built in two."
"Ah, yes!" Albus grinned. "One of my ancestors was part of the group of wizards and witches who created it!"
~*~
"What's that you have there?" R2W asked curiously, walking over to where Beth and Jordan had just sat down.
"It's a guitar." Jordan said, removing the instrument from its case. He allowed Beth and R2W to examine and awe over it for a while, before pulling it into his lap. Grabbing a pic from the front pouch of the case, he began to play the song Tom had written for Jan.
"WOW!" R2W exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the muggle contraption. Jordan laughed, turning to Beth to see what her reaction was. She was leaning back against the couch, eyes closed, taking in the music.
"You're just like me." Jordan said, his finger's halting on the guitar. Confused, Beth opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows at Jordan.
"What do you mean?" She inquired, shifting awkwardly in her seat.
"The first time I heard my Grandfather play guitar, I sat back, closed my eyes and let the music overcome me." He explained, grinning shyly. "That's what you were just doing."
"Well, it was beautiful." Beth breathed out, smiling lightly.
"My Grandfather wrote it a long time ago for my Grandmother."
"I didn't know you could sing." R2W spoke up suddenly, causing Jordan to tear his eyes away from Beth.
"I didn't know either." Jordan admitted, punching R2W on the arm playfully.
"What do you plan on doing with it?" R2W asked, running his fingers over the strings.
"What do you mean?" Jordan asked while swatting the offending hand away.
"The guitar?" R2W prompted. Beth nodded, curious to know the answer herself.
"I'm not sure yet." Jordan said, gazing at the floor. "I was thinking . . . well. Yeah."
"Well what?" Beth raised her eyebrows inquiringly. Jordan glanced back and forth between the two several times, not knowing quite what to say.
"I was thinking about writing a song." He stated at last, absentmindedly strumming a few chords. "For him, about him . . . about us." He spoke quickly, stammering over the lines. Resting his chin atop the body of the guitar, he stared blankly at the scarlet rug beneath his feet.
"Cripes! Are you mad?!" R2W exclaimed, receiving a nasty glare from Beth.
"I think it's a wonderful idea." She said, smiling reassuringly at Jordan, who now looked doubtful. "You have quite a talent." R2W snorted, rolling his eyes in mock disgust.
"You're just saying that because you have the bloody hots for him!" Beth's eyes widened, face turning red from both embarrassment and anger. Standing, she moved in front of R2W, pulled back her arm and hit him square in the right cheek.
Frightened from her actions, she ran up the stairs and into her dormitory. Jordan stared wide-eyed at R2W, before running after her. R2W followed hesitantly.
He entered the 5th year girl's dorm room and glanced about for Beth. She was on the bed farthest from the room, curled up in a ball, tears streaming down her face. Jordan frowned, walking over to stand beside the bed.
"Beth, calm down . . . "
"She's bloody mad." R2W muttered, hand covering the right side of his face. "I knew *you* would hit me if I told her you liked her . . . I never thought she would!" Jordan glared at R2W, kicking him swiftly in the shins.
Beth sat up, blinking away the tears. She and Jordan stared awkwardly at each other, neither noticing R2W wincing in pain. Finally, Jordan broke the silence.
"Why don't we take him down the hospital wing to get something for his newly blackened eye?" He smirked, pointing behind him to the young Weasley. Beth chuckled lightly, nodding as she hastily wiped away the tears.
"I don't find this at all amusing." R2W grumbled, one hand on his face, the other on his shin. Beth smirked, moving to stand between her two best friends.
"Such is love."
"Who said anything about love?" Jordan inquired, completely confused. Beth rolled her eyes, whacking him upside the head.
~*~
A/N: The reviews are getting slimmer, but that doesn't stop us! OH NO! We will prevail!
Jordan gazed out the window, watching the Scottish countryside pass him by. It was the last day of Christmas Holidays, and him and Taryn had said a tearful goodbye to their grandparents that morning.
"Remember what I told you . . . " Tom had whispered into his ear as they embraced tightly. Jordan had nodded in response and quietly boarded The Hogwarts Express. Taryn silently followed, looking back with tears in her eyes as the train pulled out of the station.
Now they were minutes away from rejoining the wizarding world. As they pulled into Hogsmede Station, Jordan was surprised to find his father standing on the platform beside his mother.
"He came." He spoke in awe, pointing out the window. Taryn glanced in the direction he was pointing and raised her eyebrows.
"Now there's one for the books." She laughed quietly, gathering her satchel and moving into the aisle. Jordan followed suit, placing the guitar he had been playing back in its case and standing behind his sister. As he waited for the train to come to a complete stop, he fingered the Crest that hung from his neck.
"Have things changed?" He whispered to himself, earning a curious glance from Taryn.
"What are you on about?" She raised her eyebrows, turning to smirk at Jordan. He shrugged, dropping his hands to his sides and staring blankly ahead. "You're so strange."
"Mmmhmmm."
Rolling her eyes, she muttered her new favorite mantra, "Boys!" and moved forward to exit the train. Once she was off, she ran into her mother's outstretched arms. The two hugged and danced around, happy tears in their eyes. Severus and Jordan looked on, amusement and embarrassment evident in their expressions.
Realizing he was blocking the exit, Jordan hopped down off the step and stood before his father.
"You." Jordan nodded solemnly at his father. Severus repeated the movement, wiping his face clean of emotion.
"You." The older man echoed. It was then that he noticed the rather large object in his son's hand. "What's that you're carrying?" he inquired, pointing at the guitar case.
"A guitar." Jordan answered bluntly, raising his eyebrows in challenge, as if to say, 'What's it to you?'
"What the devil are you doing with a crazy thing like that?!" Severus snapped harshly, fixing his son with a piercing glare. Jordan shrugged, swinging the strap over his shoulder.
"I don't expect *you* to understand." He muttered, breaking eye contact. Spotting Beth, he made a mad dash for his friend before Severus could utter another syllable.
"Beth!" He yelled out, waving frantically for the young Potter's attention. She turned around at the call, smiling widely at the approaching male. Once together, they embraced tightly.
"Jordan!" She breathed out, grinning happily. "It's so good to see you. You won't believe how lonely it is here without you."
"I can imagine." Jordan laughed, shifting his guitar from one shoulder to the other. "Where's R2W?" he inquired, gazing around the station.
"Uncle Ron grounded him, so he couldn't come out to meet you." Beth explained, staring with avid curiosity at the guitar case. "What's that?"
"My guitar!" Jordan grinned. "My Grandfather got it for me for Christmas, and taught me how to play a few chords."
"So, it's an instrument?" Beth still seemed confused, eyeing the big bulk warily.
"Yep. It makes the most beautiful sound." He explained as they made their way to the castle. "I'll play it for you sometime."
"I'd like that." Beth smiled shyly, blushing as the two made eye contact. Jordan, being his father's son, attributed the red tint of her cheeks to the frosty air. Stopping momentarily, he took off his scarf, wrapping it around Beth's neck.
"This should keep you warmer." He smiled down at Beth, causing her blush to deepen.
"Thanks." She whispered, fingering the crocheted fabric wondrously.
At last, they reached the castle, running up to Gryffindor Common Room, where R2W sat waiting.
~*~
Back at the train station, Hermione, Severus and Taryn were having a heated discussion.
"Why are you so mean to him, Dad?" Taryn frowned at her father, indicating Jordan who had sped off moments before.
"It's none of your bloody business!" He snapped, shoving his freezing hands into the pockets of his cloak. Shocked at the outburst, Taryn glared at her father.
"Fine!" she huffed, running off to catch up with some friends. Severus sighed heavily, turning to face his angered wife.
"Hermione, he ran off before I had the chance . . . "
"No excuse." She folded her arms over her chest, walking slowly in the direction of the castle. "You acted like you didn't like the gift my father gave him."
"It's just a bunch of foolish nonsense." He called out, defending himself. Jogging, he caught up with his wife, slowing to walk beside her.
"Foolish nonsense?" Hermione scoffed, walking faster. "What about that silly little crest you gave him?"
"It was my way of apologizing." He explained, quickening his pace to stay beside her.
"Well, it didn't work."
"He was wearing it!" Severus pointed out. Hermione stopped abruptly, turning to glare at her husband.
"Severus! That's not the point."
"Than what is?" He sighed in defeat, restarting the trek back up to the warm, inviting castle.
"The point is, Severus, your son doesn't believe you love him." Hermione frowned, following him once again. "And that's entirely your fault. You never show him any affection. You think he's so different from you . . . but he's not." Stepping into the castle, Hermione stopped in the foyer. Turning, she faced her husband. "And on more thing . . . "
"What?"
"You're sleeping on the couch tonight."
"But Hermione! The boy doesn't appreciate what I've given him!" Severus whined, stomping his foot in protest and crossing his arms over his chest.
"He appreciates more than what you think." She snapped, glaring at Severus. "Stop that, you're acting like the children you oh so despise teaching."
Severus gawked at his wife, barely registering that Albus had joined the couple in the foyer. Hermione smiled weakly at the old man.
"Please excuse us, Albus." She said, placing a warm hand on his elderly shoulder.
"That's quite all right, my dear. I just wanted to welcome you and the children . . . " he glanced about the hall, gazing over the rim of his half-moon spectacles. "Where are they?"
"Who knows?" Severus snapped, agitated that their discussion had been interrupted.
"Severus was just off to fetch them." Hermione smiled sweetly at her husband, further angering him. "Weren't you, dear?" She ground out, while retaining some modicum of pleasantness.
"Of course." Severus forced a polite smile before stalking off to find his children. Albus chuckled lightly, a merry twinkle ever present in his eyes.
"He'll come around." He spoke knowingly, watching the retreating back of his Potions Master.
"I know." Hermione sighed deeply, turning to smile warmly at the old man. "It will just take some time."
"Everything takes time, my dear." Albus nodded solemnly. "Rome wasn't built in a day."
"True." Hermione laughed, a sparkle returning to her own chocolate orbs. "It was built in two."
"Ah, yes!" Albus grinned. "One of my ancestors was part of the group of wizards and witches who created it!"
~*~
"What's that you have there?" R2W asked curiously, walking over to where Beth and Jordan had just sat down.
"It's a guitar." Jordan said, removing the instrument from its case. He allowed Beth and R2W to examine and awe over it for a while, before pulling it into his lap. Grabbing a pic from the front pouch of the case, he began to play the song Tom had written for Jan.
"WOW!" R2W exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the muggle contraption. Jordan laughed, turning to Beth to see what her reaction was. She was leaning back against the couch, eyes closed, taking in the music.
"You're just like me." Jordan said, his finger's halting on the guitar. Confused, Beth opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows at Jordan.
"What do you mean?" She inquired, shifting awkwardly in her seat.
"The first time I heard my Grandfather play guitar, I sat back, closed my eyes and let the music overcome me." He explained, grinning shyly. "That's what you were just doing."
"Well, it was beautiful." Beth breathed out, smiling lightly.
"My Grandfather wrote it a long time ago for my Grandmother."
"I didn't know you could sing." R2W spoke up suddenly, causing Jordan to tear his eyes away from Beth.
"I didn't know either." Jordan admitted, punching R2W on the arm playfully.
"What do you plan on doing with it?" R2W asked, running his fingers over the strings.
"What do you mean?" Jordan asked while swatting the offending hand away.
"The guitar?" R2W prompted. Beth nodded, curious to know the answer herself.
"I'm not sure yet." Jordan said, gazing at the floor. "I was thinking . . . well. Yeah."
"Well what?" Beth raised her eyebrows inquiringly. Jordan glanced back and forth between the two several times, not knowing quite what to say.
"I was thinking about writing a song." He stated at last, absentmindedly strumming a few chords. "For him, about him . . . about us." He spoke quickly, stammering over the lines. Resting his chin atop the body of the guitar, he stared blankly at the scarlet rug beneath his feet.
"Cripes! Are you mad?!" R2W exclaimed, receiving a nasty glare from Beth.
"I think it's a wonderful idea." She said, smiling reassuringly at Jordan, who now looked doubtful. "You have quite a talent." R2W snorted, rolling his eyes in mock disgust.
"You're just saying that because you have the bloody hots for him!" Beth's eyes widened, face turning red from both embarrassment and anger. Standing, she moved in front of R2W, pulled back her arm and hit him square in the right cheek.
Frightened from her actions, she ran up the stairs and into her dormitory. Jordan stared wide-eyed at R2W, before running after her. R2W followed hesitantly.
He entered the 5th year girl's dorm room and glanced about for Beth. She was on the bed farthest from the room, curled up in a ball, tears streaming down her face. Jordan frowned, walking over to stand beside the bed.
"Beth, calm down . . . "
"She's bloody mad." R2W muttered, hand covering the right side of his face. "I knew *you* would hit me if I told her you liked her . . . I never thought she would!" Jordan glared at R2W, kicking him swiftly in the shins.
Beth sat up, blinking away the tears. She and Jordan stared awkwardly at each other, neither noticing R2W wincing in pain. Finally, Jordan broke the silence.
"Why don't we take him down the hospital wing to get something for his newly blackened eye?" He smirked, pointing behind him to the young Weasley. Beth chuckled lightly, nodding as she hastily wiped away the tears.
"I don't find this at all amusing." R2W grumbled, one hand on his face, the other on his shin. Beth smirked, moving to stand between her two best friends.
"Such is love."
"Who said anything about love?" Jordan inquired, completely confused. Beth rolled her eyes, whacking him upside the head.
~*~