Chapter Four: Love Actually

The next morning Bailee awoke to find herself still on Alec's couch. She rolled on her side and saw Alec, lying on the opposite couch. She sat up and stared at the smiling Alec, "Good morning."

"What time is it?" Bailee wanted to know, but more importantly she wanted to know why she spent the night at his house.

"After nine, don't worry we don't have to be at work until eleven. Well you don't, but I have to go the Ministry today at ten thirty." Alec replied sitting up.

"Oh." Came the soft reply. Bailee stood up and placed the green afghan that had been covering her on top of the sofa. Then she fixed her rumpled dress. Alec stood up at stretched, and then he walked over to Bailee, hugging her.

"I have to go home." She told him.

"Why? What's the rush?"

"I've never…I mean…we didn't…last night…" Bailee stumbled over her words.

"No, we didn't. Don't worry Bailes, you just had a bit too much wine. You crashed and I ended up on the other couch. I didn't want to wake you up, you looked so peaceful." Alec explained, smiling at her.

"Oh, okay, well that's a relief."

Bailee watched Alec, while he started picking up the empty wine glasses, he turned at looked up at her, "What?"

"I mean that we didn't have sex…I…well…I guess I better go home and wash up." Bailee replied quickly and apparated to her cottage.

Alec stared at the spot where she was standing in confusion, what had just happened? He sighed and carried the glasses into the kitchen. Then he walked into his own bathroom and stared at shower for himself.

After Alec was fully dressed he decided he'd go to Bailee's cottage to see if everything was alright. He didn't mind being late for work, so he used floo powder to get to Bailee's. He stepped in her living room to find Bailee collapsed on her black leather sofa reading the Daily Prophet. Her place was messy in comparison to his own.

"Bailee?"

Bailee turned and looked at him behind her paper. She had her hair wrapped up in a towel and looked rather cute in her pink top and jeans. Alec sat down on the edge of the sofa as Bailee carelessly tossed her paper on the floor.

"Hey, I thought you had to be at work…"

"Work can wait." Alec replied.

"Uh, ok, for what?"

"About last night, I never took advantage of you." Alec stared down at the Daily Prophet. He noticed that his father Draco Malfoy, was on the cover, but he didn't bother reading the headline.

"Oh, I know that. I would have felt it right?" Bailee joked, even though she knew Alec was being serious. She sat up so he could have more room on the sofa. He inched closer to her.

"Did something happen?"

Bailee turned away from him and stood up. She walked over to Osiris' cage and used her wand to clean all the dead rats. Then she picked up a couple of rolls of parchment and turned back around, "when?"

"Bailee…a lot of things could have happened since we were last together. I just want to know why you freaked out like that." Alec stood up.

"Fine, I had sex with Rhett Wood! Is that what you wanted to hear? I didn't want to have sex with him, but these things happen don't they?" Bailee exclaimed.

"Did he…"

Bailee turned away again and unrolled the first parchment. It was a letter from Trent, inviting Bailee to have dinner with him and Jamie. Bailee couldn't read the location though because her eyes were too blurry.

"He did…when did this happen? Why didn't you report him?" Alec demanded walking towards her.

"It was, shortly after your wedding…it was all over the papers about you and Raven…anyway. I was at a post-Quidditch game party for my brother and Rhett was there, and I got drunk. And we went back to his flat and then the next thing I know, he was done and it took me a while to register what had happened." Bailee replied.

Alec placed his hand on her shoulder, "you should have told someone…"

"Why? What does it matter? I was lonely, you were gone. It was going to happen sooner or later." Bailee snapped pulling away from him.

"It does matter…he…"

"Look, I've forgotten about it and so should you. Anyway, my brother beat him to a pulp when he found out, so I don't think Rhett will be bothering me anymore. It was so long ago…" Bailee trailed off. She leaned against the counter and took her hair out her towel, then she used her wand to dry the remaining wet strands.

"I won't forget about it, but I will drop the subject. May I walk you to work?"

"Sure."

"But first may I kiss you?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

Bailee smiled happily to herself the next week as she entered the Weasley employee lounge. She put on her name tag and then walked behind the counter, sitting in her chair. It was good to be back at work, it seemed as though it had been ages since she sold a Skiving Snackbox.

"Wow, don't you look pleasant today." George noticed, smiling at her.

"Thank you." Bailee replied, walking over to the window and watched Alec as he walked back to his cottage.

"So things have improved between you and Alec?" Fred wanted to know.

Bailee turned and nodded at him. Then she walked back to her Uncle George and began helping him unpack a large box of headless hats. Once they restocked the shelves Bailee dared her uncle George to walk around Hogsmeade with the hat on. He grinned and placed the hat on his head and then walked into the sidewalk, in the middle of a group of Hufflepuffs. It was rather amusing, seeing their shocked expressions.

"What do you want me to do with this box of fake wands?" Bailee asked her Uncle Fred, as George walked back into the store, taking the hat off.

"Start setting them up on the shelf there, and then mark them as half price." Fred replied pointing to a shelf on Bailee's left.

"Right then..."

Bailee carried the box with her and got to work making a rather neat display of fake wands. She was pleased with herself, as she set up a glittery sign that said "Fifty percent off!" Then she walked back behind the counter and sat down.

"Nice job." Alec stated walking into the shop, he knelt down beside Bailee and nodded his head.

"Oh good, Alec you're here! I need help moving a crate of Fever Fudge out of the storage room." Fred spoke walking to Alec.

Alec stood up and walked into the back with Fred, while Bailee began to set up a plate of Hiccup Sweets, as samplers for all the Hogwarts students passing through the store. Alec would walk back and forth helping Fred around the store, occasionally sending sweet glances towards Bailee's direction.

The Hogwarts crowd left in the afternoon, leaving the store completely empty. Bailee put away the left over hiccup sweets and then walked into the employee's lounge where Alec was sitting.

"Do you want to walk to the Hogshead with me?" Bailee inquired sitting on the couch beside him.

Alec brushed back his hair and turned towards her, "I can't, I'm sorry. I didn't want to tell you this because I didn't want you to worry, but my parents are in Hogsmeade. I'm meeting them for dinner. I have to leave work early to look more presentable."

Bailee sat back just staring at him. She wasn't sure of what to say. She wanted to know exactly why Draco and Pansy were in Hogsmeade. She remembered the last time they showed up unannounced. It was many years ago, but it was the reason that Bailee and Alec split up the first time. Deep down inside, Bailee had known better than to get close to Alec. She was more scared then anything of getting hurt again. She knew she couldn't bare it a second time, it would just be too much.

"Oh," She replied, "okay, then I'll see you later anyway since I have a dinner date with Trent and Jamie."

"Yes you will see me later." Alec agreed, but Bailee wasn't so sure.

He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek and then walked out the employee's lounge. Bailee sighed softly to herself and rose to her feet. She walked into the store and asked her uncles if she could get off work early.

Hours later, Bailee was sitting inside the Leaky Cauldron with Trent and Jamie. She hung her head miserably as Trent and Jamie made goo-goo eyes to one another.

"Why don't you stay here in London a couple of days Bailes? You can help me pick out the perfect wedding dress." Jamie suggested after dinner.

Bailee booked a room at the Leaky Cauldron and then spend the following afternoon with Jamie. How she secretly envied Jamie's luck, but at the same time how she admired Jamie. Jamie didn't love her older brother because he was rich and famous, she loved him for him. Trent had never been in a relationship like that before in his life.

"Your world is so cool! When your brother told me that he was a wizard at first I didn't believe him, and then I went to your house and I saw everything. I saw his wand and his broom and the quitich pitch. It was incredible." Jamie spoke as she lead Bailee into a rather large bridal shop.

"That's Quidditch." Bailee corrected her, but smiled.

"Oh, right, I forgot. But anyway it's all so cool." Jamie gushed as they strolled inside, receiving odd glances from the sales clerks.

"I guess from a muggle's point of view it would be cool. I've never known anything other than magic." Bailee admitted truthfully.

Jamie smiled and then began to focus on the vast selection of wedding dresses instead of magic, any bride would have a tough time choosing. It only took Jamie ten minutes, however, to find the dress of her dreams. It was strapless and tight until it reached the waist, then it was very flowy, when Jamie moved the bottom would swish.

"Oh! Perfect!" Bailee squealed, giving her approval.

"This is the one!" Jamie agreed.

After Jamie changed back into her normal clothes, she helped Bailee find the perfect set of brides maid's dresses. The one Bailee tried on was light blue and ended above her knees. She felt like a faerie princess in that dress. It had tiny straps and at the waist went very wavy.

"This is so beautiful, you must make all your brides maids wear this dress. There are even blue ballet slippers to match." Bailee spoke admiring her reflection in the mirror.

She'd never admit it, but she felt magical in that dress. Jamie could sense her enthusiasm and like the idea of the blue dresses.

"Let it be so!" She stated clapping her hands. She was beginning to get a good idea of how she'd do Bailee's hair as well as her own. It'd be perfect.

Bailee was so happy about the dress that when she had finally arrived home a day later, she completely forgot about Draco and Pansy Malfoy. It wasn't until she was feeding Osiris that she remembered. He had a bunch of letters waiting for her, and one of them was from Alec.

She unrolled the parchment and read it carefully:

Dearest Bailee:

Please come to my place tonight . I do nothing but think of you constantly, and wonder where you are. I don't want to wait anymore. I need to see you tonight.

With love,

Alec

Bailee wasn't sure what the note had meant. It had only been two days since she last saw Alec. She wondered how urgent it was that he had to see her that night. She sat in her living room and read the note over and over again. Was he going to tell her that he was never going to see her again? Bailee sighed and walked into her bedroom.

She noticed the dress on her bed, waiting to be back on her body. She put on the dress and pranced in front of the mirror trying to cheer herself up. If Alec were to tell Bailee that it was over, she had to be prepared. She wondered if she should even go to his cottage at all?

Around seven, she decided that she should in fact just go over to his cottage. Maybe if she wore the dress, he'd forget about leaving her and realize that he wanted to be with her forever despite his parents. She grabbed her cloak, and slowly walked down the darken street to his house. She nervously approached his doorstep and paused before knocking. She waited a minute or two and then was about to leave when he opened the door.

"Come in," he said. "I was hoping you'd come. But I wasn't expecting you to, truthfully".

"I, well, I'm here." She spoke quietly. She noticed that Alec was clad in a dark blue robe. Maybe he had just got out of the shower?

She followed him inside the warm cottage and sat down on the couch, telling herself over and over again not to break into tears. Alec's cottage was nice and cosy with dimly lit candles. It was then that Bailee realized, Alec had planned this.

"So you're not going to leave me?" Bailee blurted out as Alec poured her a goblet of elderflower wine.

"Why would I leave you? I was so worried about you! You just disappeared for two days with no word at all!" He exclaimed almost spilling his wine.

"I'm sorry Alec, when you said your parents were in Hogsmeade I automatically began to think all these bad things. You remember what happened the last time don't you? I had a dinner date with Trent and Jamie and I ended up spending more days in London than I planned on. I was so scared that you were going to tell me you'd never be able to see me again." Bailee spoke on the verge of tears.

"Bailee, listen to me, I am not going to leave you. I am a grown man, twenty-three years old. My parents can no longer tell me whom I can and can't be with. You really have nothing to worry about." Alec spoke sitting down beside her and taking her hands in his.

"Really?" Bailee wanted to know.

"Yes, really. I love you, and I love that dress you're wearing."

Bailee smiled, "Good, because it's the dress I am wearing in Jamie's wedding."

"And I love that dress even better on the floor…" Alec whispered.

"I…" Bailee swallowed and drank down all her wine, then she turned towards Alec.

How long had they waited for this night? Five years? It seemed like so much more, like an entire life time. Alec laughed as Bailee had drunk all her wine in one gulp.

"What?" Bailee asked, her heart leaping with fear, hoping he wasn't laughing because he was playing a cruel joke on her. But he smiled and shook his head. "Nothing," he said. "It's just that...you seem nervous."

"Me? Nervous? Why would that be?" she asked. "I'm perfectly comfortable." She hoped it didn't sound like too much of a lie.

"Good," said Alec, and he leaned forward and started kissing her. She kissed back, her passion rising for him once again, all the memories flooding back to her of when they'd been truly together at school. But the memories didn't hurt like they had been. In fact, they only intensified all her emotions. ***haha you have to email me to read this part***

"That...was....amazing," Alec sighed.

"So were you," Bailee whispered.

"You're staying the night, aren't you?" he asked. "Please say you are."

"Of course," Bailee replied. "You thought I was just going to shag and run?"

"Well..." Alec said teasingly. Bailee gasped in mock outrage, and they both laughed and cuddled closer together under the blankets.

Alec wrapped his arms around her and they both fell into a deep sleep. The next morning Bailee awoke early and quietly left Alec's room. She leaned against the doorway and stared him as he slept peacefully. Then she put on her clothes and quickly left his cottage. Alec awoke minutes later to find himself alone.

He rose out of bed, disappointingly and walked into his bathroom. As he stepped into the hot shower he pondered why Bailee had left. She had in a way, just shagged and ran. But as she promised, she had also stayed the night. He leaned his forehead against the cold tiles and closed his eyes. Maybe she was still scared that he'd end up hurting her. What did he have to do to prove his love?

He sighed softly to himself as he walked into the Ministry of Magic. He stepped into his cubicle on the second level of the Ministry, at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He hung his cloak and sat down at his desk. He should have begun to work but he couldn't tear his mind away from Bailee. If only he didn't have to be at the Ministry, he could go to her cottage and talk to her.

"Alec?"

Alec nearly fell out of his chair, as the person that he just stepped into his cubicle had scared him from his thoughts. It was Bailee's older brother, Trent Potter.

"Yes?" Alec replied standing up and placing his hand over his heart.

Trent leaned against the cubicle calmly, as he ran a hand through his spiky black hair. This time he was dressed more wizard like, in all black robes. Alec fixed his dress shirt and stared at Trent quire, "did you need something?"

"I was just in the Ministry to see my dad, you haven't seen him have you?" Trent responded.

"No, I don't think he's here yet."

Trent began to respond but noticed a picture of his sister sitting on Alec's desk. It was during the Halloween Ball of Bailee's last year at Hogwarts. He picked it up at stared at it, his sister looked so happy.

Trent turned back towards Alec, "good because I wanted a word with you."

Alec stared at Trent quietly as Trent began to speak again. Alec nervously played with his tie and sat back down his chair. Trent hopped up on Alec's desk and glared at him. "I am really glad that Bailee is so happy. I haven't seen her happy in such a long time. I just want you to know that if you step out of line," Trent paused almost using the word "again", but stopped himself, "If you step out of line, I'll have to hurt you. I can't stand to see my sister hurt ever. What with that Rhett incident and everything…"

Alec sat still for a moment he was unsure of what to say. He knew that he had broken Bailee's heart the first time, even if it wasn't purposely. He knew Bailee's heart was just like a delicate flower and he himself couldn't bare to see her hurt.

"I understand Trent, I do. And believe me I would never do anything to purposely hurt your sister. I love her deeply." Alec replied without hesitation.

"Well good, in that case, do you want to come to my wedding?"

"Of course."