Chapter 14 Family

Harry took the letter to Emily's home and was greeted by an excited Sarah. "My Grandparents are coming to visit soon."

"Are they really?" Harry smiled at her.

"Mum phoned them and asked Grandpa about the magic – guess what," Sarah wriggled in delight, "Grandpa believes me and said he was coming to explain."

"Well that's good news," Harry ruffled her hair and allowed her to lead him in to meet Emily.

Emily looked up from her place behind the reception desk, and Harry was shocked to see how exhausted she looked. "Hi," She said quietly.

"Hi, can I speak to you?"

"Yes, come into the dining room for a minute." Harry followed her and noticed Sarah returned to play in the garden.

"I spoke to my Dad after you'd gone. He and my Mum are returning at the end of the week."

"Returning?"

"They retired to Spain a few years ago. Mum has arthritis and the climate there is better for her"

"So are you ready to give the magical world a chance?" Harry held his breath as he waited for her answer.

"Well, it looks as though I have no choice," Emily said quietly. "I can't believe my own father lied to me for all these years."

"I'm sorry, Emily."

"My whole world seems to be collapsing; everything I ever thought I understood is crumbling and I don't know what's real anymore."

"I know how difficult this is, I remember when I first found out," Harry said quietly. "But I was much younger then and my life had been truly miserable up until then. To be honest it was a great escape for me."

Emily sat down at one of the empty tables and let her head fall into her hands. Her voice was muffled when she finally said, "When you returned my memories of that day you arrested Mr Smith, you returned much more than you realised."

"More how?"

"Well vague childhood memories, stories my father used to tell Janice and I at bedtime. Stories about a magical world hidden from normal eyes, stories about a School for witches were lucky children got to study…things I had forgotten about….I think I always knew about your world."

"Did you father somehow remove those memories?"

"No, I just forgot about them, I can't pretend to understand this whole thing but I think that Dad stopped telling us those stories and I only remembered them when strange things started happening with Sarah."

"Are you still angry with me?"

"Yes, you stole something from me," Emily put up a hand to stop Harry from replying. "But now I remember the fear and confusion of what I saw that day…I guess I understand why you did. But you should have told me before we…."

"I meant to," Harry cut in quietly. "I promise you that I did, and I understand why you still don't trust me…but I can only say I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too," Emily replied. "I would like some time to think about this all….I need to speak to my parents and maybe understand a little better."

"Um…I have a letter for you; it's from my friends mum. She thinks that she might be your Dad's cousin."

"Small world."

"Isn't it," Harry smiled a small smile as he handed her the envelope. "Read it and think about it, maybe your Dad would like to meet her."

"I will," Emily took it, "and I'll call you…after."

"Thank you," Harry said, and stole a quick kiss from her. "I'll be waiting for you."

Harry returned to his flat, more hopeful than he had been since their first night together almost two months ago. Maybe Emily's father would be able to make her understand better than he could.

The next two weeks went by slowly, work was dull, and his friends were all busy making wedding arrangements. Neville invited him to dinner with Ginny, Frank and Alice. They arranged to meet at a restaurant in wizarding Paris, famed for its good food and atmosphere. The evening was pleasant and Harry tried to look surprised at the newly-weds news. Ginny was expecting their first baby, Harry was pleased for them (although he had glimpsed Ginny's aura at work and already figured out what it meant.) Alice was in tears and Frank looked as though he would burst with pride. For his part, Neville was beaming at his beautiful wife.

Jealousy reared its ugly head as Harry watched the intimacy of the pair. But the jealousy was for the obvious love they had for each other and the openness of their relationship…he wanted those things with Emily… but only time would tell if that would happen.

Harry's phone was ringing when he returned home that night. It took him a few moments to recognize the noise and another few to locate it. He usually left it at home, since it didn't work at the ministry or any of the other magical places he went.

"Hi Emily," Harry answered the phone.

"Hi Harry, I was wondering if you would like to come and meet my parents… they uh arrived a few days ago and we have talked a bit…."

"I would love to meet them, when can I come?"

"Are you busy tomorrow evening? Around nine," Emily replied.

"No, I'll be there," Harry grinned at the phone. "So how are things?"

"Sarah is happy; Dad's been filling her head with all sorts of stories."

"How are you doing?"

"I think I'm okay….I want to speak to you about it when I can see your face."

"Are you alone now?"

"Yes, I'm in my room."

With a pop Harry disapparated to her and smiled at the shocked look on her face. "I guess I should hang up now," she whispered into the phone.

Harry's smile grew, "I guess you should."

He watched as she put down the phone and he flipped his mobile shut and stuck it into his robes pocket. Only then realising he hadn't changed after dinner. Hopefully Emily wouldn't be disturbed by his wizard robes.

"Um what are you wearing?" Emily ventured.

"Oh, I was out earlier with some friends and didn't change yet."

"Is that the kind of thing you usually wear?"

"Sometimes, these are my dress robes though- the ones for work are navy."

"God, I still find you attractive in a dress…how weird is that?" Emily muttered.

Harry ignored the fact that she had said he was wearing a dress and focused on the fact that she said he was attractive. Smiling he said, "I have a nice emerald green pair that match my eyes."

"So with all your super-powers, you wizards never got around to inventing trousers?"

"We don't have super powers per say…well maybe some of us do…kind of," Harry blustered a bit. Should he tell her the whole story and risk freaking her out again or should he wait and see if she had gotten used to the basics? He waited to see what she was going to say.

"Can you promise me you will never steal my memories again?" Emily said quietly, lacing her fingers together nervously.

"I solemnly swear I will never, ever wipe your memories again," Harry replied.

"Okay."

"Okay?" Harry held his breath, "Does this mean you're willing to give us a chance?"

"I think so…but I don't know if I can ever fit in, in your world."

"Then I'll come to yours."

"But wouldn't you miss it?"

"Not as much as I've missed you."

"What about your job?"

"I could work here with you…or I could commute."

"Commute?" Emily laughed, "I suppose that's a way of looking at it…in fact I wish I could get around so easily."

"Do you want to try it? Harry asked quietly.

"What?"

"I can take you with me…"

"Where?"

"Anywhere you want."

"How?"

"Are you going to ask me one word questions all night?"

Emily laughed a little and then shook her head, "I'm afraid to ask you anything, because once I start thinking about it, my head fills up with so many questions that I'm afraid it will burst."

"How would you like to take a few days away, on our own? Your parents could look after Sarah," Harry waited hopefully.

"I don't know if I'm ready to trust you completely yet," Emily answered honestly.

"Well I have more to explain to you and I would like the chance to do it…and your bed is entirely too distracting."

"Harry!"

"What? I can't help it, every time I look at it I remember the last time I was in here," Harry smiled.

"Let's go ask my parents what they think."

"What if they hate me?" Harry hung back as Emily went to the door.

"They won't, Dad is curious to meet you, and he is related to your friend by the way."

Harry allowed himself to be dragged into her private sitting room and introduced to her parents, Fred and Sarah Prewett. Fred looked like your average man as far as Harry could tell. He was obviously at home in the muggle world and didn't have a trace of the quirkiness Harry had always connected to squibs.

They agreed that they would watch Sarah and take over running the B&B for a few days and Emily went to pack some clothes. Harry answered Fred's questions about his past and the Weasleys. But Harry was happy when Emily returned, shyly holding a small grey hold-all.

"I promise to take good care of her," Harry stood and shook her father's hand. "I have a mobile phone so you can call her anytime."

"I'm going to trust you young man, and maybe we will get in touch with my cousins when you return," Fed replied.

"Are you ready?" Harry asked, as he turned to Emily. She nodded her head, looking a bit wary. Harry wrapped his arms around her and smiled down at her, whispering, "Don't be afraid. I won't let anything happen to you." With a pop he disapparated.