Chapter 2: The King's Arms, Lunch, and Diagon Alley.
Saturday, June 30th, 2018, Cont.
Jimmie pulled up to the intersection of Crediton Lane and Goldcross Hill Rd, which turned into Hushlane End in Tedburn St Mary, and if one kept going east for another seven and one-half miles, they would be in the outskirts of Exeter. The intersection where Jimmie was now, was about one and three-quarter miles from his destination. Just as the song changed on the stereo to 'Life's Been Good," Jimmie turned the bike to his left, and opened the throttle, where he was off again like a bullet.
When Jimmie made it to the edge of town, he slowed the bike, and quickly selected another song, which he played very loud, and that was 'The One I Loved Back Then.'
"Sing it George," Jimmie shouted out with a laugh while thinking of Goodnight, as he opened up the throttle, and roared through the town at seven twenty-five in the morning.
.
I stopped off at the Quicksack, for some beer and cigarettes,
The old man took my money, as he stared at my Corvette.
He said, I had one just like her son, in 1963,
'Til the man down at the bank took her from me.
.
Oh She was hotter than a two dollar pistol,
She was the fastest thing around.
Long and lean, every young man's dream,
She turned every head in town.
She was built, and fun, to handle son,
I'm glad that you dropped in.
She reminds me of the one I loved back then!
.
Jimmie drove past The King's Arms, and tuned right up the hill on School Lane, where he opened the throttle, and didn't slow down until he made another right into the parking area of his old primary school - the Tedburn St Mary School. The school had just shut down for the summer, so he drove to the end of the lot, and turned, where he noticed the headmaster staring out of his living room window, which was at the house next door, and here, Jimmie waved at him before he barreled out of the lot, and made his way back to The King's Arms parking lot.
.
Then I handed him my keys, and said, here take her for a spin,
The old man scratched his head, and then he looked at me and grinned.
He said, son you just don't understand, it ain't the car I want,
It's the brunette [blond, Jimmie corrected] in your 'vette that turns me on!
.
I had one that was hotter than a two dollar pistol,
She was the fastest thing around.
Long and lean, every young man's dream,
She turned every head in town.
She was built, and fun, to handle son,
I'm glad that you dropped in.
She reminds me of the one I loved back then!
.
Lord, she was hotter than a two dollar pistol,
She was the fastest thing around.
Long and lean, every young man's dream,
She turned every head in town.
She was built, and fun, to handle son,
I'm glad that you dropped in.
She reminds me of the one I loved back then!
She reminds me of the one I loved back then!
.
Jimmie pulled the bike into a space at the back by the garage, and left the wheel of the sidecar just on the white line to his right to annoy Bill, his soon to be father-in-law. There was a reason behind this, as he took a look at the sign posted on the establishment when he walked toward the front of the building.
.
.
Welcome To
The Best Pub In Devon
En-Suite Accommodation
Cask Ales and Fine Wines
-~-Prime Steaks-~-
The Freshest Fish and Shellfish
But Remember
PLEASE PARK PRETTILY
The Home of TEDBURN SAINTS
.
.
Jimmie pushed open the huge oak door at the front entrance, and there he noticed Bella at the front desk. "Bill at the bar?"
"Hello, Jim!" Bella said with a smile. "Yes, he is, and he's getting everything ready for the day."
"Lemme guess," Jimmie chuckled, "Goodnight's still having her beauty sleep?"
"Oh, go on with ya," Bella chortled, "you know how we women like to lie in when we're young!"
Here, Jimmie kissed his future mother-in-law on the cheek, before he turned, and made his way into the dining area and up to the bar. "Hello Bill! Fine morning, isn't it?"
"Lo, Jimmie! Didn' spect to see you this early. Mary's still sawin' logs."
"It's all right," Jimmie said, "couldn't sleep this morning anyhow, so I thought I'd come on down. Anything I can help you with?"
"Matter of fact, there is," Bill stated. "You can help me bring the new casks into the cellar, and help Mr. Chambers bring his luggage down when he checks out this mornin'. I almost wrenched my back helpin' him to take it up to his room yesterday afternoon.
"Might oughtta tell 'im who you are as well," Bill whispered, "as he sales whiskey in this area. Gotta whole trunk full of fifths from different distillers."
Jimmie gave Bill a huge grin at this. "I'll give him one of Da's cards then. Now, let's go out an' wrestle those casks in."
The two left out of the back entrance, with Bill patting Jimmie on the shoulder.
Jimmy and Bill emerged from the cellar, with Bill muttering and shaking his head.
"Now, Jim, whatta ya gotta do tha' for; parkin' tha' way! Ya know tha' annoys the hell outta me," Bill complained, as he walked back behind the bar. "If I let ya off'n the hook, others'll think they can do it too!"
Jimmie snorted and grinned. "Course it does, but you can blame Goodnight, since my darling fiancée puts me up to it. She thinks it's a right gas, you know!"
"Yea, yea... She would, wouldn't she," Bill snorted, as he walked over toward the bar. "Grab a table, lad, and Bella'll bring ya some brekkie. Same as usual?"
"Yup!" Jimmie said, as he pulled out a chair at a small table for two close to the bar.
Bella brought out a full English breakfast to Jimmie, which he tore into with gusto. He had a plate with two eggs sunny side up, back bacon, two bangers, beans, fried tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast. Jimmie didn't do black pudding, thank you very much. He topped that off with a glass of milk and some tea.
Just as he finished, a blond storm came flying around the corner, and latched her arms around his neck, before she gave him a huge wet kiss on the cheek. "Jimmie!" Goodnight squealed.
"Hello gorgeous! Fancy meeting you here!"
Goodnight swatted Jimmie on the shoulder at this. "Bit early, aren't you?"
"Nope, can't stay away from you, my darling fiancée," Jimmie replied with a smirk.
"You're incorrigible, you know that? I heard that song by the way. Woke me right up!"
"Why..." Jimmie started to retort, until Mr. Chambers came out of the loo. Jimmie had stopped short, because Mr. Chambers was looking oddly at Bill, who was now behind the bar.
"Mr. Gudmundsson," Chambers stated, "you've got some lad passed out in your loo!"
"What!" Bill and Jimmie said at the same time, as Jimmie quickly stood from the table. Bella and Goodnight followed the men, and stood outside looking in.
Jimmie and Bill walked into the men's loo, and sure enough, there was a man passed out in the toilet stall. "Tha's tha' Gamp boy again, " Bill growled. "He musta slipped in here las' nigh' as we were closin', and passed out after I'd checked the room. Damn drunk, and I'd bet he's a druggie too. Assaulted his wife, an' she an' her daughter had ta leave town for her mum's. Divorced him, she did."
"Get up ya drunkin' sot, it's time ta leave," Bill said, as he nudged the man with the toe of his shoe.
Gamp grumbled, groaned, and then looked up at Jimmie and Bill with wild glassy eyes, which seemed unfocused. Worse, he snarled, lurched up at both, and started swinging.
When Jimmie saw the punch coming toward his soon to be father-in-law's face, his hand snapped out, and his magic took over, as Gamp's fist landed in his palm, where it was like hitting a stone wall. Jimmie's hand hadn't budged a fraction of an inch after the loud smacking sound from the punch rang out.
"There will be none of that in this establishment," Jimmie growled out, as he clasped his fingers around the fist, and squeezed. The Gamp fellow fell to his knees with a whimper and cry, since Jimmie was close to breaking his hand.
"Now," Jimmie said, as he grabbed the man by his collar, and lifted him upright, while bending Gamp's arm behind his back, "it's time for you to leave!" Here, Jimmie frog marched the man to the door, which seemed to open on its own, where Jimmie released his hold, and put the sole of his boot to the man's backside, where he kicked him out onto the brick paving.
When Jimmie turned around, he saw Bill tighten his lips and nod, as he gave him a look of respect, before heading back behind the bar. There would be no talk with the lad about respecting his daughter after that, no sir, and no way!
Next, though, Jimmie noticed Mr. Chambers, who gave him an appraising look before sitting himself down to breakfast. Bella, who witnessed the incident, smirked, and walked back toward the front desk.
Yes indeed, Bella thought, her daughter had picked well, and just think, their wedding was just a month off at St Leonard's Church in Exeter, and the reception would be held at Potter Manor. Here, Bella sighed, as they were nowhere near as wealthy as the Potters, especially after the war, and they had worked out a deal with Sir Harry and Dame Daphne, where the Potters would cover most of the expenses because of the large crowd that was expected. It didn't bother the Potters at all, though, and they seemed to be fine with it. She and Bill would pay for the dress and cake, and Bill demanded that he would supply the booze. What Bill didn't know, was that Sir Harry had cut a deal with their liquor distributor, and they would only charge them wholesale for the event. Here, she watched as Jimmie turned to head back toward the bar, and had to hold back her chortle.
Jimmie didn't make it two steps back toward the bar, until Goodnight latched her arms around his neck, and kissed him square on the lips. That didn't stop until her father cleared his throat, which caused Goodnight to release Jimmie, and blush.
"Er, yes," Jimmie muttered, as he adjusted his collar, "I'll, uh, help out until lunch if you don't mind. Also, I need to order two lunches for Mum and Da', and drive down to the grocery before we go home, if that's all right?"
"Uh, eh, yes, yes, it... it, is." Goodnight stuttered, but still quickly gave him another peck on the cheek, before hurrying into the hotel's kitchen where her mother joined her.
Jimmie walked behind the bar beside Bill, where he found him a bottle of Fentimans Victorian Lemonade in the cooler, and on the sly, he used a bit of magic to remove the cap before he took a swig. Fentimans was a low alcohol content 0.5% fermented drink used to make other drinks, and Jimmie loved their Lemonade.
Once Jimmie set his bottle down behind the bar, he looked over at Mr. Chambers. "Care for an early nip before you have to leave us? Mr. Gudmundsson has a new rum in stock, and it's much better than that old grog that comes from Puerto Rico. Maybe a good Rum and Coke, courtesy of Jamaica, of course?"
Bill had to turn his back to the two, so that he could smirk while drying a glass, and hold in his laugh. Jimmie was quite the salesman!
"Here, beautiful, this is mum's helmet, and I'm sure that it will look as good on you as it would on her, or your mum," Jimmie flattered, as he handed Goodnight the white biker's helmet from the sidecar.
"Jimmie, I swear," Goodnight replied, as she put the helmet on, and climbed into the sidecar, "I don't know what to do with you sometimes. Slytherin gave you a very velvet tongue, and you were always a cunning linguist."
"Why, thank you my dear," Jimmie replied with a smirk, while catching what she meant as he straddled Sirius' old Royal Enfield, and kicked it to life. "Ready?"
Goodnight selected some music on the stereo's CD player, which was what Jimmie also enjoyed, and hit play. "Ready!"
Jimmie eased out of the parking lot, and back out onto Hushlane End, but went east toward the small grocery. It was a small "best-one" called "The Village Stores," which they parked in front of, and quickly went inside. Here, Jimmie bought three gallons of milk, and two gallons of orange juice, since they would all be home in a few days. There were only three different items on Winky's list.
While Jimmie was busy with that, Goodnight went by the magazine rack, and bought a new Devon Magazine and TV Guide, before she then then found her beau in the next aisle, who was trying to discern the last item that Winky had written down.
"Goodnight, what's this?" Here, Jimmie handed her the list, and he noticed her blush red to her roots before she sniggered.
Next, Goodnight walked around the corner, and up the adjacent aisle, where she snatched up a pink box off a shelf. She turned smartly on her heel, and brought it over to Jimmie, where she held it out to him. "Here."
"N...n..n - NO, I'm not touchin' tha'!" Jimmie said, who was now blushing, and backing up. Here, Goodnight couldn't hold it in, and she let out an unladylike snort, and a laugh.
"Why not, Jim," Goodnight said with a smirk, "since you know all about the other things that go in that same spot, and believe me, I would know! After all, we'll be married before long, so you'll have to get used to this."
Jimmie sighed, and shook his head, as she dropped the box into the basket. "I'll never live this down," Jimmie muttered, as he made his way toward the cash register, while staring at the pink box of tampons.
As they were leaving the store, Jimmie was seriously thinking about clothes for Winky, though he would never actually do that to the elf.
They traveled on a little ways down the street, and Jimmie filled up the bike with petrol at Fry's, where they pulled back out, and headed toward Potter Manor.
"Take Church Hill Road, Jimmie," Goodnight remarked, as she fiddled with the stereo, "as I don't want to go the long way." Finally, she found the song that she was looking for, which was 'Kokomo.' Jimmie promised to take her there on their honeymoon.
Jimmie turned up Church Hill Rd, where he opened up the throttle, and they were off. He remembered hearing another song that was sang to that very tune, which was about something connected to camels, but he decided he best not mention that to Goodnight as he chortled, though he did smirk when thinking about what that song was about.
They roared up Church Hill Rd, and stayed on it as it turned west, while following it to where it intersected with Crediton Lane. They were out in farm country now - Jimmie's home ground - with two huge fields to either side of them bordered by hedgerows. Jimmie noticed the flock of sheep in the one on the right, as he pulled up to a stop by the white road signs.
When he saw that nothing was coming, he went straight ahead, but the scenery changed from the hedgerows to a tree lined road, which was almost like driving through a green tunnel. Goodnight and Lily Helen always complained about it giving them the spooks, especially when it was close to dark. Unfortunately, it stayed like this for about one-fifth of a mile, where the road came to a hard left, which Jimmie shot around with a booming laugh, while receiving a glare from Goodnight.
The road came to a fork at Ford Brook, where a low water bridge existed if one went north toward Medland Lane, which had a little water across it, so Jimmie took it easy, as Goodnight would kill him if he splashed her. Here, he went left, and south toward the front drive's lane. On the way, they passed Frogmill Studio on the left, which was a two story stucco house with a thatched roof. It was a nice little farm in its own, which was also a B&B.
Just as they passed the property, Jimmie made a right, and roared up a private drive, which had a sign at the junction that stated: "Private - Lodge Farm."
"Won't be long now, Goodnight!" Jimmie said, as he followed the road up past the lower fields, which once was part of their manor. He passed the barns and the smaller brick farmhouse, which set below their terraced garden, where the drive went uphill, and they came to a stop at the roundabout in front of Potter Manor. "Hop out, and I'll put the bike up."
Goodnight climbed out of the sidecar, and removed the helmet, which allowed her long and straight blond hair to flow out over her shoulders like it always did. After she removed their lunches from the sidecar, Jimmie quickly put the bike in the garage, and walked back out carrying the groceries, as Goodnight carried the four boxed lunches for her, Jimmie, Sir Harry, and Dame Daphne. Her and her mother had fixed them while Jimmie was helping her father tend bar, as the day's crowd had started coming into the hotel's restaurant and pub to dine.
Jimmie fumbled with the patio's gate, where both hands were full, but he got it open, and the two made their way around to the side door of the manor close to the kitchen.
"Mum, Da', we're home," Jimmie announced, as he walked through the kitchen's door, and headed directly toward the kitchen's island to drop off the groceries, and that damned pink box hidden in one of the bags. Here, he turned, as he watched Goodnight place their boxed lunches on the table, and then hug both of his parents before she sat down, and smirked at him.
Jimmie took a huge breath, and made his way over to the table, where he patted his da' on the shoulder, and kissed his mum's cheek. Finally, he took the other chair beside his fiancée, where he grit his teeth, and waited for Goodnight to drop the bomb.
"Dame Daphne," Goodnight started, but Daphne cut her off.
"Call me Daphne or mum, dear, since you're going to be my daughter-in-law before long."
"Right, er, mum, guess what Winky had Jim pick up at the store?"
Just as Daphne started to ask what it was, Winky spoke up from across the kitchen, as she was emptying the shopping bags.
"Yous be getting everything, young master James," Winky said, as she held up the pink box. "I's be putting this in the Good Dame Daphne's bath!" Here, Winky scurried out of the kitchen.
Jimmie hung his head and waited for it, which didn't take long, as his father belted out a loud booming laugh, and his mother did as well, but not quite as loud, while Goodnight was sniggering at his expense.
"Oh, mum," Goodnight said with a chortle, "You should have seen Jim's face when I first tried to hand that box to him! The poor man had no idea what that was on Winky's list, and I thought it hilarious!"
They could all hear Jimmie grumbling beneath his breath, as he was glaring at the table like it had committed some major insult against him.
"That's married life, Jim," Harry said, as he broke into another laugh, "so, son, get used to it!"
Everyone began opening up their box lunches after the amusement wore off, which was a big helping of fish and chips. Here, Jimmie hightailed it over to the kitchen counter, where he retrieved some silverware and brought it over. He was hoping that this would all blow over very quickly, and more, he hoped that his siblings never heard about it - ever!
As everyone started to dig in, Goodnight spoke up. "I forgot to tell you about my big, strapping, and brave soon-to-be husband, who had to stop a guy from punching Da'. Jimmy kicked him out like a professional bouncer!"
"Did he now," Harry said, as he looked over his glasses at Jimmie.
Jimmie proudly straightened up at this, though his mum looked worried until Goodnight explained what had happened.
"Magic?" Harry asked.
"A little," Jimmie admitted, "but nobody noticed besides Goodnight, Bella, and Bill. I made sure to not break the statute."
"Good," Daphne said, as she went back to finishing her meal. "We'll leave for Diagon Alley after we dine, so hurry it up you two, or we'll be late."
Jimmie and Goodnight nodded, and the four soon finished. "Well," Harry said, "I've got some paperwork to finish, so I'll be in the office. By the way, I'm proud of both of you, and we'll be sitting right at the front during graduation. You can count on that!" Here, Harry stood from the table, patted Jimmie on the shoulder, and left for the great hall.
"Come on, you lot," Daphne said, as she stood while looking at the clock, "we're scheduled to be at Twilfitt and Tatting's within the next thirty minutes."
Jimmie and Goodnight stood, where Jimmie took her hand as he led her out into the hall, and down to the great hall, where he held out the vase of floo powder for her to go after his mum. Daphne called out "The Leaky Cauldron," where she stepped into the green flame, and disappeared. Here, Goodnight quickly gave Jimmie a peck on the lips, smiled, and did the same, with Jimmie following up the rear.
The hearth of the Leaky Cauldron's floo flared green, and out stepped Dame Daphne, who was quickly greeted by Hannah Longbottom. "Here for lunch, Daphne?"
Just as Daphne started to answer, Goodnight stepped out, and it wasn't but a few seconds when Jimmie did as well. "Can't, I'm afraid, as we're almost late for an appointment at Twilfitt and Tatting's. We may stop by for afternoon tea on the way back, though."
"Great," Hannah replied with a smile. "By the way, Neville says that Harry, Al, Lily Helen, and Scorpius were still complaining about not being able to come."
"Doesn't surprise me," Daphne said with a slight snort, as she led her son, and soon, daughter-in-law, toward the back, as Hannah was chortling about their children's antics. Little Frankie and Alice were just as bad.
Once in the rear courtyard, Daphne tapped the correct bricks, and the wall opened, where the three made their way into Diagon Alley proper. "Come, children," Daphne said, as she looked at her watch, "or we're going to be late. We're pushing it as it is."
Jimmie took Goodnight's hand, and they followed Daphne down the cobblestone alley, where they eventually came to the shop. Daphne opened the door, and the overhead bell rang, causing Padma Higgs to step out of the back. She, of course, was once known as Padma Patil, a Ravenclaw that married Slytherin's ex-seeker, Terence Higgs, who was only one out of a very few that were decent wizards. Terence worked in the DMLE, and was a friend of Harry's, to the point of having a few drinks together, and talking about Harry and his years as a seeker.
"Ah, there you are," Padma said, as she greeted Daphne with a quick hug. "All right, who goes first, young James, or Miss Gudmundsson?"
"You go first, Goodnight," Jimmie said, as he gave her a quick peck on the lips, and stood to the side. Padma handed Goodnight her robes, and she left for the dressing room to change.
Jimmie was now looking toward the rear of the shop, as his mum had walked over to a rack on his left, and was looking at a dress while speaking to Padma about the material. Goodnight hadn't been gone long, when Jimmie felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Funny that, as he saw no one else here when they entered.
Jimmie quickly twisted around, and saw an Asian wizard standing in the middle of the aisle. The man had drawn his wand, and was aiming it toward his mother. "Get down," Jimmy yelled, as he sent a pulse of wandless magic into his mum and Padma, which made them topple into the rack of dresses.
Just as Jimmie did this, he dropped to the floor, and rolled, while drawing his own wand out of his sleeve. He watched in horror, as the Asian yelled "Avada Kedavra," where the green curse left his wand, and careened into the wall where his mum had just been standing; cracking the plaster.
Jimmie's wand moved lightning fast during this, as a red spell left it, and struck the Asian in the face - stunning him. Next, with a few quick flicks of Jimmie's wand, he cast the Impediment Jinx and the Incarcerous Hex, which froze and bound the wizard in thick ropes.
"Mum, Mrs. Higgs, are you all right?" Jimmie shouted, as he quickly stood. Goodnight came from the back in a run at this, and was wearing nothing but her bra and panties, as she held her wand dead steady, and was ready to do battle.
"Nothing hurt but my pride, James," Daphne groaned, as Jimmie quickly helped her up from the tangle of dresses on the floor. He helped Padma up next, and then turned to ask after his fiancée's well being, but he had to stifle a laugh.
"Dear," Jimmie said, while trying to hold in his laugh as he noticed his mother gawking at Goodnight, "I think you're missing something!"
Goodnight didn't care, as she ran to Jimmie, threw her arms around him, and hugged him close. "I'm all right, sweetheart," Jimmie muttered, as he rubbed Goodnight's back, who was now sobbing.
"Mum, better send your patronus to Da', and then another to the aurors," Jimmie said, as he gently led Goodnight back toward the changing room. He was shaking slightly, himself.
At this, Daphne conjured her doe Patronus, and Padma her mongoose as well. Both were wondering how Jimmie had sensed the wizard that did this.
