Ginny's last year as Muggle Studies teacher at Sylvan Hills Academy of Sorcery was bittersweet. She was happy to be going home to England at the end of the year, yet sad to be leaving such a great school, such wonderful students, but most of all, sad to be leaving Dr. Peyton Holt.
Dr. Holt was Ginny's colleague at Sylvan Hills. He taught Defense of the Dark Arts. Dr. Holt and Ginny were the youngest teachers at the school, Ginny being 29 and Dr. Holt, 32. Being the youngest professors in a school would naturally bring two people together, and it did. The two would often collaborate on classes together, especially during the week-long Dark Arts history lesson, when Ginny would recount her involvement with the defeat of the greatest Dark wizard of them all, Lord Voldemort. Soon, their professional relationship turned into a close friendship.
At first glance, it seemed that the two had nothing in common. Ginny Weasley, a petite redhead with pale features, was the youngest of seven from a poor English family. She was unusually bright, and did very well at Hogwarts School. Ginny was able to go to a prestigious university in France on a full paid scholarship. On the other hand, Peyton Holt was the only child of a prosperous Wizarding family from Fayetteville. Tall, broad shoulders, with lustrous black hair and bright blue eyes; he was a graceful Quidditch player until a terrible accident ruined his chances of being a professional. He turned his attention to his favorite subject, Defense of the Dark Arts, and attended Rothschild University, the Yale of American Wizarding institutions, where he graduated summa cum laude. Peyton then studied with the masters in Romania and New Orleans for two years before taking the job at Sylvan Hills Academy.
He still carried himself like an athlete, a "gunslinger" as the locals called the more self-assured Quidditch players. Dr. Holt's soft Southern drawl intrigued Ginny, who loved the way he said "Ms. Weasley". She soon grew to love him, yet knew that because she had to return to England eventually, it would be a terrible idea to get involved with him. She tried her hardest to keep it platonic.
Their last evening together before she returned to England started quite normally. While living in Arkansas, Ginny had fallen in love with fried catfish, and Peyton took her to her favorite restaurant in the nearest Muggle town. He met her at Louise's Fish House, wearing a first-rate wool suit of the deepest blue to bring out his sparkling eyes. Ginny, on the other hand, wore an emerald green dress, which played up her coloring. She smiled when he pulled her chair out to seat her.
"Good evening, Dr. Holt," Ginny said. "You're such a gentleman! Is today a special occasion?"
"It might very well be a special occasion, Ms. Weasley. My, my, you look lovely," he drawled. Ginny giggled like a love struck schoolgirl.
The couple sat, talking about the many adventures they had had over the years with the many students in their classes. Dr. Holt recalled the boggart in the cupboard that scared one of Ginny's students, and Ginny reminded him about the first time a child fainted during her lecture about Voldemort. They laughed and smiled like lovers at the table, and then the conversation turned to Ginny's departure the next day.
"Ms. Weasley, I wish you could stay."
"As do I, but my green card has expired, and I know that my family misses me."
The good doctor hid his eyes from her gaze. "I…I will miss you," he whispered shyly.
Ginny turned a deep shade of pink. "I will miss you too, Peyton…er, Dr. Holt. In fact, I was wondering if you would like to visit me in England over the summer?"
"Yes! I mean, of course. How long?"
"Oh, well, maybe a week. Maybe two. However long you would like to stay," Ginny said. "My family would love to meet you. I've told them so much about you. I'm sure my brothers would like to talk Quidditch."
It was Dr. Holt's turn to blush slightly. "You've told your parents about me? I would be honored to meet them."
Ginny smiled. Her heart thrilled that, just perhaps, there was a future for her and Peyton after all.
Peyton took her hand and stroked it softly. "You know how much I enjoy your company. Has anyone ever told you how extraordinarily wonderful you are?"
"My family has, and Harry and Hermione…"
The waitress intruded on their conversation, startling them. "Hon, want some more sweet tea?"
"Uh, sure, yes, please," Peyton said, as the waitress placed their plates filled with hush puppies, corn on the cob and fried catfish on the table.
They sat in an awkward silence for a few moments. Ginny paid an exorbitant amount of attention to the Sweet'n'Low packets. Peyton swallowed hard. He took her hand again. There was a slight twinkle in his eyes.
Peyton faltered for words. "Where were we?"
Ginny cleared her throat. His hands were so comforting, soft yet rough, with the work-a-day calluses of an honest man. They were the hands of someone who could cradle and protect her. "You said something about me being special."
"I meant every word I said, Ms. Weasley. In fact, you're very special. I've never met another person like you. These last few years, we've worked close together. We've shared so much, good times, bad times, our dreams for the future."
Ginny realized that something serious was going on. It was unlike Dr. Holt to be so sensitive. "I don't understand…" Ginny said, her eyes welling with tears.
Peyton let go of Ginny's hand. "No, I mean…" he sighed and shook his head. He had a nervous expression. "We've shared a lot over the years, and I want to share more with you." His voice was husky with emotion. They looked into each other's eyes, neither one sure what the other would do. "My dreams for the future include…my life wouldn't be right without…I mean, I love you, Ginny. Do you feel the same?"
"Oh!"
The fish was never eaten.
Dr. Holt was Ginny's colleague at Sylvan Hills. He taught Defense of the Dark Arts. Dr. Holt and Ginny were the youngest teachers at the school, Ginny being 29 and Dr. Holt, 32. Being the youngest professors in a school would naturally bring two people together, and it did. The two would often collaborate on classes together, especially during the week-long Dark Arts history lesson, when Ginny would recount her involvement with the defeat of the greatest Dark wizard of them all, Lord Voldemort. Soon, their professional relationship turned into a close friendship.
At first glance, it seemed that the two had nothing in common. Ginny Weasley, a petite redhead with pale features, was the youngest of seven from a poor English family. She was unusually bright, and did very well at Hogwarts School. Ginny was able to go to a prestigious university in France on a full paid scholarship. On the other hand, Peyton Holt was the only child of a prosperous Wizarding family from Fayetteville. Tall, broad shoulders, with lustrous black hair and bright blue eyes; he was a graceful Quidditch player until a terrible accident ruined his chances of being a professional. He turned his attention to his favorite subject, Defense of the Dark Arts, and attended Rothschild University, the Yale of American Wizarding institutions, where he graduated summa cum laude. Peyton then studied with the masters in Romania and New Orleans for two years before taking the job at Sylvan Hills Academy.
He still carried himself like an athlete, a "gunslinger" as the locals called the more self-assured Quidditch players. Dr. Holt's soft Southern drawl intrigued Ginny, who loved the way he said "Ms. Weasley". She soon grew to love him, yet knew that because she had to return to England eventually, it would be a terrible idea to get involved with him. She tried her hardest to keep it platonic.
Their last evening together before she returned to England started quite normally. While living in Arkansas, Ginny had fallen in love with fried catfish, and Peyton took her to her favorite restaurant in the nearest Muggle town. He met her at Louise's Fish House, wearing a first-rate wool suit of the deepest blue to bring out his sparkling eyes. Ginny, on the other hand, wore an emerald green dress, which played up her coloring. She smiled when he pulled her chair out to seat her.
"Good evening, Dr. Holt," Ginny said. "You're such a gentleman! Is today a special occasion?"
"It might very well be a special occasion, Ms. Weasley. My, my, you look lovely," he drawled. Ginny giggled like a love struck schoolgirl.
The couple sat, talking about the many adventures they had had over the years with the many students in their classes. Dr. Holt recalled the boggart in the cupboard that scared one of Ginny's students, and Ginny reminded him about the first time a child fainted during her lecture about Voldemort. They laughed and smiled like lovers at the table, and then the conversation turned to Ginny's departure the next day.
"Ms. Weasley, I wish you could stay."
"As do I, but my green card has expired, and I know that my family misses me."
The good doctor hid his eyes from her gaze. "I…I will miss you," he whispered shyly.
Ginny turned a deep shade of pink. "I will miss you too, Peyton…er, Dr. Holt. In fact, I was wondering if you would like to visit me in England over the summer?"
"Yes! I mean, of course. How long?"
"Oh, well, maybe a week. Maybe two. However long you would like to stay," Ginny said. "My family would love to meet you. I've told them so much about you. I'm sure my brothers would like to talk Quidditch."
It was Dr. Holt's turn to blush slightly. "You've told your parents about me? I would be honored to meet them."
Ginny smiled. Her heart thrilled that, just perhaps, there was a future for her and Peyton after all.
Peyton took her hand and stroked it softly. "You know how much I enjoy your company. Has anyone ever told you how extraordinarily wonderful you are?"
"My family has, and Harry and Hermione…"
The waitress intruded on their conversation, startling them. "Hon, want some more sweet tea?"
"Uh, sure, yes, please," Peyton said, as the waitress placed their plates filled with hush puppies, corn on the cob and fried catfish on the table.
They sat in an awkward silence for a few moments. Ginny paid an exorbitant amount of attention to the Sweet'n'Low packets. Peyton swallowed hard. He took her hand again. There was a slight twinkle in his eyes.
Peyton faltered for words. "Where were we?"
Ginny cleared her throat. His hands were so comforting, soft yet rough, with the work-a-day calluses of an honest man. They were the hands of someone who could cradle and protect her. "You said something about me being special."
"I meant every word I said, Ms. Weasley. In fact, you're very special. I've never met another person like you. These last few years, we've worked close together. We've shared so much, good times, bad times, our dreams for the future."
Ginny realized that something serious was going on. It was unlike Dr. Holt to be so sensitive. "I don't understand…" Ginny said, her eyes welling with tears.
Peyton let go of Ginny's hand. "No, I mean…" he sighed and shook his head. He had a nervous expression. "We've shared a lot over the years, and I want to share more with you." His voice was husky with emotion. They looked into each other's eyes, neither one sure what the other would do. "My dreams for the future include…my life wouldn't be right without…I mean, I love you, Ginny. Do you feel the same?"
"Oh!"
The fish was never eaten.