So not JK Rowling, it isn't even humorous.
My notes at the end of this chapter. If you're looking for a reply to a review, that's there, too.
Dedicated to those who read and don't review, because I know you're out there, and I'm used to be among you.
Part Twenty-Eight: Love is More Than Just a Four-Letter Word
"Hey, Mum," said Ron, wrapping his arms around his mother and leaving his trunk abandoned. Kali and Snape stood to the side, awkwardly watching the exchange between Mrs. Weasley and her two children as they stepped into King's Cross Station.
"Ron," she said, hugging him as tight as she could without cutting off his circulation. "And Ginny!" Ron was left as Mrs. Weasley pulled Ginny into her embrace. "How have your years been?"
"Wonderful," said Ginny, giving Snape a nervous glance.
"Hello again, Kali," said Mrs. Weasley, kindly. Then she looked up to Snape. "It's Severus, isn't it?"
Ron and Ginny exchanged cautious gazes.
Giving a curt nod, Snape said, "It is. Molly, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. I can't tell you how delighted I am you could join us for Christmas. We called a muggle taxi to take us back to the burrow, if you don't mind. When you have children, you have to find the best means possible to get around without apparation."
"I don't know why they don't just let us apparate. There's too many requirements to do anything," said Ron, looking rather forlorn.
"You know certainly well why they don't just let you apparate, Ron Weasley," said Mrs. Weasley. "Apparation is a difficult, dangerous business and if you aren't careful about it, you could go and splinch yourself. You wouldn't want that, now would you?"
Ron tried not to roll his eyes as Mrs. Weasley went ahead, presumably in the direction of the exit. Snape went ahead as well, catching up with Ron's mother, and by the time they had gotten into the taxi, they were already deep in conversation. Catching bits and pieces, Ron and Kali deduced that they were discussing the events of the upcoming holiday and were probably saving the conversation on the relationship between their children for later.
Leaning into Ron, Kali let her head rest on his chest as she stared out the window. His arm wrapped around her shoulder and his fingers were brushing over her shoulder, rubbing at the cloth of her cloak. The snow was coming down outside in a shower of light flakes that melted the minute they hit the ground. According to Mrs. Weasley, however, there was to be a great deal of snow over the night. Ginny cheered at this news. Christmas just wasn't right to either her or Ron without snowball fights with Fred and George.
Once they arrived, the taxi pulled up the driveway to the Burrow. Ron could feel his stomach clenching, a reaction that he found he got every time he brought someone new home. It was a sign of just how poor the family was and some people failed to take to a house that wouldn't stand if it weren't for magic. This same reaction had hit him when bringing Harry here for the first time and he could feel his face going red as he snuck a peek at Kali.
"I know it isn't much," said Ron, immediately starting to make excuses in automatic defense.
"What are you talking about, Ron?" she asked, helping Mrs. Weasley and her father to unload. Shoving his trunk at him, she went back for her own.
"Ron's embarrassed of where we live," said Ginny, simply. Turning away, she headed after her mother and Snape for the door.
"Are you really?"
Ron felt the flesh of his face growing extremely hot and he couldn't help but be glad that it was so dark out. "Er - not exactly embarrassed . . . It is home."
"It's wonderful, Ron. Don't get so distressed. I want you for who you are, not for how much money you have."
"Or lack there of," said Ron.
Kali just rolled her eyes. "You're being ridiculous." Leaning forward, she lightly pressed her lips to his and then grabbed him around the wrist. "Come along, now. We don't want to get sick out here."
Walking in, they were instantly hit with the smell of food, chicken if Ron's nose was serving him correctly. Fred and George were in the kitchen working on dinner, a task that Fred claimed fell on them once they had 'accidentally' replaced Mrs. Weasley's wand with a trick one. She was, apparently, not amused. The twins stared at Kali, both looking at her with identical looks of scrutiny on their faces. Ron led Kali into the living room, where Snape was already with his parents, only to be followed by Ginny and the twins.
"We'd like to thank you for having us," Snape was saying, and he gave Kali a stern look as she came into the room.
"Oh, yeah. Thanks." Snape half-rolled his eyes at her.
"It's nothing at all," said Mr. Weasley. "We're glad to have you. Admittedly, it came as quite a surprise when Ron wrote us and told us just who exactly your father was."
"It came as a surprise to everyone," said Snape. "Kailah failed to mention it to anyone for a solid two months."
"It wasn't two whole months," she protested. "Don't you go acting like it hurt your feelings. You told me that you didn't care one way or the other if I told people."
"It was two whole months and I'm not acting like it hurt my feelings. I have no feelings."
"Sorry. I forgot."
"They banter a lot," explained Ron.
"It's how we show our love for each other," added Kali.
"If there was love to show, that is," said Snape.
"I keep forgetting you're incapable of human emotion."
"That isn't the only thing you continuously forget."
"If you're referring to my history in Potions -"
"You are not what we expected," said Fred, interrupting. Ginny elbowed him in the ribs.
"What do you mean?" asked Kali, eyes narrowing.
"Nothing," said George quickly. "Supper is almost ready."
"Very well," said Mrs. Weasley. "Ginny, why don't you show Kali where she'll be sleeping. You'll be sharing a room with Ginny. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all."
"Ron, if you'll show Severus to Percy's old room, that would be wonderful. Percy is coming home tomorrow. I set up the cot in your room. Fred and George are in their room. I think that covers sleeping arrangements."
"Er -" said Ron, watching as Ginny went to get her trunk and then disappeared upstairs with Kali on her heels. "I can do that." Ron was aware of Snape right behind him as he retrieved his trunk and headed for the stairs. Going up the winding stairs, they finally stopped before a door and Ron opened it to lead Snape inside. "This is where you'll be staying."
Snape didn't say anything. Instead, he leaned against the jamb, cocking an eyebrow, and watched Ron squirm.
"I'll just be going then," he said, heading for the door.
"Mister Weasley."
Ron stopped in his steps, slowly turning to face Snape. "Yes, sir?"
"I appreciate you opening your home to my daughter on Christmas. I'd also like to congratulate you on succeeding in not hurting her thus far."
"Thank you, sir."
"May I ask you something?"
"Of course." You always do anyway, Ron thought. Since when are you getting polite about things?
"Do you love my daughter?"
Ron felt like his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets and roll onto the floor. This wasn't the first time Snape had asked him that question but Ron didn't have a problem with the answer last time. When that question had been asked the first time, Ron hadn't loved Kali yet. Snape had been pleased with the answer. Now, by telling Snape he didn't love Kali, he'd be lying. Taking a deep breath, Ron tried to pick the right words to say. Neither option seemed like a pleasant one.
"I don't know how to answer that," Ron finally said.
"Mister Weasley, may I suggest that you tell me the truth. If you lie to me, I will find out. I don't take very well to those who lie to me."
"In that case, sir, I'm going to have to say yes."
For the first time in his life, Ron thought Snape looked torn. By now, Snape should be telling him that he should just wait until they get back to class because Ron had only a few weeks until being poisoned in potions. Instead, he wasn't looking at Ron, but instead focusing on a point just over Ron's head. He seemed to be contemplating, turning things over in his head. The entire situation was making Ron feel very uneasy.
"Good," was Snape's final response.
"Excuse me, sir?"
"I do not have to explain myself to you, Mister Weasley. Did you tell Kailah yet?"
"No, sir."
"I suggest, then, that you do it soon."
"I was planning on it, sir."
"Mister Weasley?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Stop calling me 'sir'."
"Sorry," mumbled Ron.
"I'll see you at supper."
Ron nodded and, with the feeling of being dismissed, left the room. Retrieving his trunk from the hall, Ron headed up to his own room, passing Ginny and Kali on the way. Once he made it up to his room, he shoved his trunk into the mess under his bed and headed back downstairs.
The meal had been decent. Snape had eaten far less than the rest of them, something Kali attributed to the fact it was Fred and George who made it. Over supper, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had been constantly asking Snape about Ginny and Ron's progress in class, while Fred and George asked Kali what it was like growing up with Snape. Everyone had been given a surprise as Snape had nice things to say about both Ron's and Ginny's schoolwork and Kali had nice things to say about Snape, himself. By the time they were done eating, Fred and George were wailing about Ron turning into Percy and Mrs. Weasley made them clean up the kitchen without magic to make them shut up.
Snape had been talking to Ron's parents from dinner until long after the teenagers were sent up to bed. Every so often, Fred or George would sneak to the top of the stairs for a total of five minutes until Mrs. Weasley would yell at them and tell them to stop spying. By the time they went to sleep, all they had found out was that Ron's Potions marks were high, he was correcting the Potions exams while at the burrow, and Kali was a pain in the arse.
When Kali awoke the next morning, Ginny was kneeling beside her and gently shaking her arm.
"I thought you might want to get up early," said Ginny. "You could still get in the bathroom. Once the boys wake up, you won't have a prayer."
"Thanks," said Kali, rubbing at her eyes and padding out of the room in the direction for the bathroom. She locked herself in, took a shower, and went through her morning primping routine. Once dressed and freshened up, she headed back out of the bathroom to see Ron leaning against the wall, waiting to get in. "Good morning," she chirped.
Grimacing, he said, "How can you always be so happy in the morning? I need twenty more hours of sleep."
"There's nothing strange about being a morning person. I can't help that you're lazy." Reaching up, Kali slipped her hands into Ron's hair and pulled his head down for a kiss.
"Go Ronniekins!" came a sleepy, but teasing voice. Breaking apart, they saw Fred stroll past them, wink at Ron, and disappear into the bathroom.
"You just lost me my bathroom time and sentenced me to teasing for the rest of the day."
"I'm sorry," said Kali, not looking sorry at all.
She headed off back to Ginny's room, told her of the events post-bathroom, and they went down to breakfast together. All three parents were already seated at the kitchen table, eating breakfast, and picking up on whatever conversation they had been having the night before. When the girls entered, the room went silent and then Mrs. Weasley jumped up to start feeding them both.
Fred entered ten minutes later, smirking at Kali over her sausages and eggs, and once in a while mouthing the words 'nice snog.' When George and Ron showed up, it was evident that Fred had told his twin what he had seen in the hallway. George was occasionally poking Ron in the ribs and grinning. Kali wasn't completely surprised when Mrs. Weasley deemed actions like this normal in the Weasley house.
"It's snowing out," said George.
"You're very observant," Ron replied.
"When we're done eating, we should go play in the snow."
"Play in the snow?" said Kali. "Aren't we a little old to play in the snow?"
"You're never too old to play in the snow," said Fred, knowingly.
"You can't have snow without having a snowball fight," agreed Ron. "You can be on my team."
"I'm sure she will," said George, smirking.
"Shut up, George."
"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Ron. It'll be Fred and I against you, Ginny, and Kali."
"Is that fair, George?" said Fred. "Ron and two girls?"
"You're right. Us against three girls doesn't seem fair."
Ron smacked George in the arm.
"Be nice to your brother, George," said Mrs. Weasley, off-handedly. "And stop hitting him, Ron."
"Sorry, mum," they chorused.
Ten minutes later, they had dressed for the snow and were ready to go traipsing out. It had snowed over the night as predicted and there was now a good nine inches on the ground with snow still falling from the sky. Ron sighed, almost making it out the door when Mrs. Weasley grabbed him and pulled a wool-knit hat onto his head. This gave Snape just long enough to see Kali's undone cloak and she was grabbed by the arm and pulled to the side.
"Honestly, Kailah. You're seventeen and you act like a child. Didn't Serena teach you to button up when you go outside in the snow?"
Fred and George watch Snape fuss over Kali with equal parts disbelief and amusement.
"Gods, Daddy, stop it." She tried to swat away his fingers but it was to no avail. "Come on, Daddy. Stop it! I already told you, I never button up when I go out because I never got pneumonia."
"You don't want to get it, either. I swear to you, Kailah, if you get pneumonia, you're making your own potion to cure it. Don't think I'll just whip it up and make you well again."
"You'd let me poison myself?"
He only smirked.
"I hate it when you do that, Daddy. You look positively evil."
"I do not."
"You do, too. It's the same look you give Neville in class when you suggest testing potions."
"Actually, it's been me on the receiving end of those looks lately," said Ron, tugging at the knot Mrs. Weasley had tied under his chin to keep the ridiculously large hat on him. Kali surveyed Ron and then, unable to stop herself, began to laugh.
"You look ridiculous."
"I try," said Ron, dryly.
They headed outside after that, and after quite the effort, Fred and George were defeated by the vengeful team of Ginny, Kali, and Ron. Sometime near the end of their fight, Kali had fallen in the snow and claimed she couldn't get up in the position she was laying in. Fred had reached out to help her us and using him for support, Kali pulled herself up and sent Fred into the snow in the process.
"That's what you get for thinking you could beat me just because I'm a girl," she had said before kicking snow at him and running off to tell Ginny.
Now they were eating soup, drinking tea, and sitting at the kitchen table, trying to warm up. Fred and George were whispering in the corner and from what Kali could gather, they were trying to devise a way to get back at them for the defeat. Snape had just draped a quilt around Kali when the door opened and Percy came in, brushing the snow off his cloak before removing it all together.
"Sorry I was late. Mr. Jones needed me to come into the office today for some very important ministry business. Can't tell you what it was, of course -" he said, voice trailing off as he caught sight of Snape. "Eh - hello there, Professor."
Fred snickered. "Hello there, Percy. Doing some important ministry work, are you? This isn't like the faulty floo powder, is it?"
"I wouldn't expect you to know anything about how important ministry work is, with that shop of yours. Eh - Professor, to what do we owe the pleasure?"
Both Fred and George had to bite down hard on their lips to keep from laughing.
"Hi, I'm Kali Strauser," she said, extending her hand.
"That's Ron's girlfriend," said George. "Fred caught them snogging in the hall this morning."
Ron and Snape seemed to have similar reactions to this. Both had groaned and buried their faces in their hands, avoiding having to look at Kali, Fred, George, or Percy. Kali, however, had taken it much better and only tinted a light shade of pink before grinning sheepishly at them.
"It was one kiss. It's nothing to get excited over. Besides, Ron had morning breath."
"Thanks, Kali," mumbled Ron through his hands.
"I can't help you had morning breath. I'm not complaining. All I did was state a fact."
"That isn't polite to talk about, Fred," said Percy, joining them at the table as Mrs. Weasley came in. "Hello, mum."
"Hello, Percy," she said, giving him a hug. "I see you've met Kali. She and Severus are staying with us over the holiday."
"He's my father," she explained.
"I didn't know you had a daughter, Professor."
Snape removed his hands from his face, sat up straight, and looked straight across the table to Percy. "Not many people did. She lived in America for sixteen years."
"With Servius 'the demon' Atwater. By the way, Daddy, Aunt Serena owled me. Servius may be participating in the student exchange between Chivington and Hogwarts. He's signed up but they don't know if he's going yet."
"What?" he said, shortly. "Please tell me this is a cruel joke."
She shrugged as she dipped a cracker into her soup. "Sorry, Daddy, but I can't. I don't want Servius at Hogwarts any more than you do. I'm still mad at him for selling Momma's invisibility cloak. That and he's a pain in the arse. He's worse than I am."
"I know, Kailah. Trust me, I know."
"I bet he's a Slytherin. Stupid, slimy -"
"Kailah, dear, are you forgetting who the Head of Slytherin House is?"
"Not at all."
"I get the feeling I'm being insulted."
"Well look who caught up."
"They do this a lot," explained Ron. Percy, open-mouthed, nodded.
"Kali," said Mrs. Weasley as she came into the kitchen once again, "I'm going into Diagon Alley to pick up some last minute things for Christmas tomorrow. I thought you might like to come with. I'd like a chance to get to know you better."
"I'd love to," she said, nodding. "Can I go, Dad?"
Waving his hand, he said, "Be my guest. Get lost on your way back, if you will."
"Funny, Daddy," she said, standing up to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Kali left for Diagon Alley with Mrs. Weasley, leaving the Weasley children back in the kitchen with Snape.
~*~
"Thank you for inviting us," said Kali as they finished dinner. "I'm having a wonderful time."
"You don't need to thank us again," said Mrs. Weasley as she began to clear the table. "We love having you, don't we, Arthur?"
"Very much so," he answered. "We've heard all about you from Ron's letters, we feel like we know you. It was an honor to finally be able to meet you. Every bit as pretty as Ron said."
Both Ron and Kali blushed at the compliment but Snape only looked at Kali, beaming.
"She has her mother's face," said Snape.
"It's nice to have something from Momma," she replied.
At that moment, the door swung open and Charlie Weasley walked in, brushing off the snow from his cloak.
"Charlie!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley. "What are you doing home? I thought you couldn't come home for the holiday."
"Didn't you know I was coming? I thought I wrote you to let you know I could come home," he said, staring at her. "I know I did. I wrote the letter and I stuck it in my pocket until I could get Mercury to send it." He paused, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a piece of parchment. "Hey, mum. I'm coming home for Christmas," he said, weakly as he handed it to her.
"It doesn't matter, Charlie," she said, standing up to embrace him. "It's wonderful just having you home."
"I could have sworn I sent it. I even remember sending it." Sitting down between Fred and Percy, he let his elbows fall to the table top. "Hey, Perce. How's the floo powder?"
"Very funny," said Percy.
"I could have sworn . . . I must be going mad." Lifting his head, he looked straight across the table to see Snape staring at him, an eyebrow arched, and looking at him much the same way he had in school. Just seeing this caused him to let out a small shriek. "Oh gods, I have gone mad. It must be the dragons. I could swear that Snape is sitting right across from me."
"No, he's actually there," said Fred. Snape's condescending scrutiny turned into a sick amusement.
"He is?" asked Charlie.
"I am," said the cool, silky tone that Snape loved to use so much.
"Maybe I was better off with the dragons."
"Daddy!" screeched Kali. "What did you do to these people to make them hate you so much?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Kailah."
"This poor boy thinks he'd be better with dragons than at a dinner table with you. He thought he was mad when he saw you sitting here. You've driven this boy to the point when he thinks he's lost his sanity. That should say something."
"I'm sure you think it says something."
"I think you need to be nicer to your students. I think you need to learn about a little something called tolerance."
"I never learned tolerance for Dru. What makes you think I'll do it for you?"
"Because I'm your flesh and bone. I'm you darling little girl. You're only little girl."
"What, exactly, is going on here?" asked Charlie.
"I'm so sorry!" said Kali. "I'm being rude. My name is Mikailah Strauser but feel free to call me Kali." She reached across the table to shake Charlie's hand. "This greasy git," she said, motioning to Snape, and causing all the Weasley children (sans Percy) to stifle laughs, "is my father."
"I didn't know you had a daughter, Professor."
George laughed and said, "That's what Percy said."
"Oh. Er - I mean - not that I'm not pleased to be breaking bread with you, but what is Professor Snape and his daughter doing here at the Burrow?"
"Kali is my girlfriend," said Ron.
This must have been either very funny to Charlie or he thought it was a joke because he instantly began to laugh.
"He's serious," said Fred. "Kali really is Ron's girlfriend."
"You have a girlfriend, Ron?" asked Charlie, looking at Kali and trying to suppress his laughter. "Your girlfriend is Professor Snape's daughter?"
"It isn't really as funny as it sounds," said Ron, harshly.
"For once, I agree," added Snape.
Kali threw her hands up and shrugged. "I think it's hysterical."
"She's really cool," Fred assured Charlie. "She kicked our arses in the snowball fight today."
Charlie's face fell at this information. "You had a snowball fight without me?"
"Yeah," said George, "but it's okay because we can have another one tomorrow."
"I call Kali," said Fred. "She's vicious with snow. I could use someone like that on my team."
"Is this all for real or did the dragons really do a number on my head?"
"This is all very real," said Ron, softly.
Charlie's case of the chuckles seemed to diminish. "Hey, Ron. Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"Just come on."
Grabbing their cloaks, Ron and Charlie said good-bye before letting themselves out into the cold.
"Are you okay?" asked Charlie once they had walked around the snow-covered garden for at least ten minutes.
"Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. You looked odd in there. Is there something wrong?"
"No," said Ron, shaking his head. "Nothing is wrong."
"Is she really Snape's daughter?"
At this, Ron laughed. "Yes, she is. Came as quite a shock to me, as well. We were together for a few weeks before she told me that one."
"Is that horrible?"
"It's actually not as bad as I thought it was going to be. He's been incredibly nice about it. As nice as Snape can get, anyway. Every once in a while Snape threatens to test my potions out on me in class but it hasn't been that terrible."
"She's pretty."
"You don't have to tell me that," said Ron. Charlie laughed.
"I suppose not. I know we don't talk much considering I'm in Romania most of the time, but if you ever need a big brother to talk to, I want you to write me, okay?"
Ron blinked a few times, his mouth opening and closing. "Are you serious? Really?"
"Yeah. I know you're a lot closer to the twins and Percy than we are, but it doesn't seem like you would go to them if you needed to talk about something serious."
"No offense, Charlie, but you aren't really the serious brother. That is Percy."
"I know that, but Percy is the one you talk to about your career. You would be very lucky if he found the time to sit down and listen to you talk about your girlfriend. I'd be more than willing to listen."
"Where did this come from?"
"Actually, I was hoping I'd get a chance to talk to you when I came home. You're part of the reason I did come home. I feel like I'm starting to lose touch with the family and we've never been as close as I hoped we could be. I know it must be tough for you being the youngest brother out of six."
"It isn't all roses and sunshine," said Ron with a bitter laugh.
"If it's any consolation, you're mum's favorite."
"I am not."
"You are too. We all think so."
"What are you talking about, Charlie?"
"Me. Bill. Fred. George. Percy. Even Ginny. We all think you're mum's favorite. It's because you're her baby. Ginny's the youngest but she's the only girl. She doesn't count. Mum's had all these boys and you're the baby."
"Maybe those dragons are getting to you."
"Maybe," he said, shrugging. "Will you come to me if you feel the need to talk? I don't care if it's just going on about nothing. You could just be updating me on what's going on at school."
"I'd like that," said Ron, nodding. "Now that you're making me come to you, I could use a little reassurance."
"For what?"
"I'm in love with Kali."
"Are you really?" Ron nodded. "But you're my little brother. You're too young to be in love."
"Er - Charlie -"
"I know you aren't a kid anymore. It's just . . . you feel like you are to me."
"I want to tell her soon."
"Okay."
"Snape knows."
"What? You told him?"
"He asked me," said Ron, flailing his hands. "The man is crazy! He keeps breathing down my neck and asking me about Kali. He is a very overprotective father and sometimes he scares me."
"Ron, there comes a time in every young wizard's life when Snape scares him."
"It isn't like that. . .he seems to want me with Kali because he thinks I won't hurt her, and I'm not planning to, but at the same time, he seems to keep expecting me to do something awful to her."
"You just said he's an overprotective father. It's a natural thing. Nothing to worry about. I just can't believe out of all the girls you could have fallen in love with, you picked Snape's daughter."
"I know," he said, sighing, as they reached the door to the house. "Can you keep Fred and George distracted long enough for me to have some time with Kali? Ginny and Percy, too. Get them upstairs or something."
Charlie nodded. "I can do that. I have so many dragon stories that they'll be listening for hours."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Charlie pushed open the door and held it for Ron as they entered. Making their way into the living room, they found Kali telling the remainder of the Weasley family about her time living in America. Snape was adding his own personal commentary and by the squabble currently going on between the two, his commentary was unappreciated. Twice now since Ron and Charlie had entered, still unobserved, Snape had resorted to calling her a Hufflepuff.
"Er - Kali," said Ron. "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure," she said, climbing off of Snape's lap. "You behave yourself. I'm just going out back with Ron. If I hear that you were bad -"
"Just go, Kailah," he said.
As Ron and Kali went outside, they could hear Charlie ushering Ron's siblings upstairs and Ron smiled at this. Once they hit the cold, Ron wrapped his arm around Kali's waist and they set off in the direction of the path he and Charlie had made not that long ago. Snow was falling again, hitting the ground and catching in both Kali's and Ron's hair.
"What were you talking to your brother about?" she asked.
"He wanted to tell me that he wished we were closer and that he wants me to start writing him."
"That's great, isn't it?"
"Yes. It's wonderful. I'm getting a good feeling about it."
"Then I'm happy for you."
"Look, Kali, I want to tell you something." He stopped walking and turned to face her, taking her hands into his. "Tomorrow is Christmas and I want to let you know that you aren't really getting a present from me. I wasn't able to find a present that was good enough for you. Instead, I'm going to be doing something for you. I told my mum about it so tomorrow night at midnight you'll get my gift."
"You're doing something for me?" asked Kali, grinning. "I have no idea what you could possibly be doing. I'm rather nervous."
"So am I," he admitted. "I didn't want you to think I hadn't thought of you tomorrow morning. Now, I'm telling you ahead of time because you may not like what I have planned. I'm going to tell you what it is before and then I'm letting you make the choice of whether you want to do it or not. Please don't hate me, either, if you don't like it."
"Why would I hate you if I didn't like it?"
"It's something kind of big, Kali. Know ahead of time that I want to do this purely out of my affection for you."
"I would think no less, Ron. If it turns out to be something I don't want to do, though I have no idea what this could be, I won't hate you. Don't be nervous."
"It's just that I couldn't take it if you hated me because I love you."
Kali raised her eyebrows and loosened her grip on Ron's hands. "You love . . . you love me? Me? Are you sure?"
Ron nodded. "I'm sure. I love you."
She was silent for some time, staring into Ron's anxious eyes. Her lips were slightly parted as she searched for words, turning thousands of possibilities over in her head. His words were still playing over again in her ears and tears began to spring to her eyes, prickling at the corners and then glossing over the brilliant shade of blue.
"I'm sorry," said Ron, wiping away her tears. "I take it back. I don't love you. Please don't cry." Kali couldn't help but laugh, causing the tears to stream down even harder. "Oh gods, I made it worse."
"No, Ron," she said, rubbing at her eyes. "Don't take it back. I love you, too."
"You love me, too?"
"Yes, you idiot," she said, lightly punching him in the arm. "I love you more than anything."
"Okay," he said, "and now I'm crying, too."
Kali laughed as she wrapped her arms around him and angled her head up to meet his lips.
~*~
"What are they doing out there?" asked Mrs. Weasley, coming up next to Snape and peering out the window.
"From what I can see, your son just told my daughter that he's in love with her."
"And?"
"My daughter has returned the sentiment and now they are kissing."
"How serious do you think this relationship is?"
Snape sighed. "I'd say a tad more serious than I'd care for. I can't help but feel that Kailah is too young to be in such a serious relationship. Then again, Dru and I were both in our seventh year when we got together."
"So were Arthur and myself."
"This isn't a bad thing, right? We discussed the seriousness of this both last night and this morning and we agreed it wasn't a bad thing."
"Right." Mrs. Weasley sighed as she handed Snape, who was still watching them through the window, a cup of tea. "Ron's my baby. It's scary when they grow up."
"Tell me about it," he said with a bitter laugh. "Kailah is my baby."
"What do you suggest we do?"
"There is nothing to do but support them and be there for them. Contrary to most of the boys my daughter has thought it wise to date, I trust your son. Mind you, I don't like this at all, but I trust them. You've raised a wonderful son."
"Likewise with your daughter. I suppose we pretend we know nothing when they come in."
"That's the plan. Nothing has changed."
Both glanced back out the window at Ron and Kali, embracing each other in the snow. Nothing indeed.
Once again, not what it could have been, but this story is already going to be 48 chapters long. Really, some things had to get cut, like the scene where Snape would be alone at the Burrow while Kali and Mrs. Weasley are shopping.
For those who are wondering when Draco and Harry are finally going to shag (I know you're out there!), not yet. Sorry, but I'm focusing more on the plot, Draco's process of healing, and there is no room for shagging yet. It is planned, so for those who read Overheard, Draco will actually get some. It just doesn't feel right for it to happen yet.
And now to my reviewers:
Isolde: You *sputters* don't like *sputters* Ron? Wha – how? Well, I'm glad you like Ron in my story. I think everyone should like Ron. He's – like – Ron. Thank you for not thinking Kali is Mary Sue. I don't think she is, either. She kind of comes across that way in the beginning, but I think it's unfair to label her Mary Sue just because she came from America, met them on the train, and was in Gryffindor. I mean, where else would she meet them, anyway? And they don't really associate with anyone who isn't in Gryffindor. Ah, well.
Ari: Thank you for your lovely review, and your complement that I am one of the best Harry/Draco people. I can't say I agree, which is probably for the best, but words like that motivate me to continue writing, and produce more stories. As for Draco not being so nice . . . he's kind of broken right now. He pretends to be better, but he really isn't, and as a broken person, I've had him draw into himself rather than explode. So . . . I guess I just made Draco human? I mean, he's mean in canon, but that's really only Harry's view of him. It's time to look at Draco's many facets.
Tine: Sorry about the wait. I could not sit up on Monday, much less update. This is what happens when you spend eight hours in 39 degrees wearing only jeans and a sweatshirt. Damn Hersheypark orientation. The time travel thing . . . I don't think you have to worry. I'm pretty sure I worked it out just fine.
SparkySparkles: Chapter 29 and 30 are Christmas. 29 is at Sirius's, with some angsty!Sirius, and an amusing gift from Harry to Draco. Chapter 30 is Christmas as the Weasleys, with a snowball fight including Charlie, naked baby pictures of Ron, and the not so long awaited time travel.
Dracavia: I have been completely flattered by the reviews you've been sending my way. I don't know what to say but thank you for reading, and thanking your beta for recommending me.
Arwen Undomiel: Thanks for your review, and for your constant reviewing on Overheard, which was the first Harry Potter fiction I decided to write, and I still have quite the sentimental attachment to it, even if Life Left Behind is the one I'm writing the sequel to.
Annakas: Sorry you don't like Kali. And I will never understand why people put Draco in Gryffindor. He is just not Gryffindor material.
Daisy8781: Honestly, those who do not have Alan fantasies don't know what they're missing.
Skysong: I find it fairly flattering that I'm following along the standards in a case like this so far. I just hope I don't seriously slip. What can I say? I haven't exactly been there, but I know those who have.
The Insane Floo Pot: I actually have the time travel all sorted out. Yes, I do. I think. I hope. Will find out Monday, won't we? And I like the idea of Kailah and Snape being able to be close, despite the fact he wasn't there as much as he would have liked. My thoughts on that have always been: Snape sends her away because of becoming a spy. When Voldemort is thought to be gone, Snape is one of those who isn't convinced, and doesn't want to take any chances. Being a father, though, he visits her a lot as a child until Voldemort starts becoming active again, and he had to take up that annoying double agent role. Now, he's around her all the time, and she's quite the little pain in the bum.
Er – I don't remember who asked about Buckbeak, but my only excuse for the fact that despite Sirius being free and still having Buckbeak – well, I didn't think of it. That's my only excuse. I blame it on my inability to think that far ahead. Thank for the excellent point, though. Oh well. What's done is done.
If you have a question, or want a more personal reply, you can email me at angeldlsm00@hotmail.com.
If you have AOL Instant Messenger and want to talk to me, my screen name is LavnderRain00 or FoxyD227, both of which I go on and switch back and forth between.
And if you go to live journal, I'm there, too under the screen name lavnderrain.
