Saturday, 21 September, 13:40 GMT, present day
The Dark Mark branded wizard uttered Stupefy as the black Squib rushed forward, wielding his wand. The Muggle athlete swerved but not enough to fully evade the stunning spell. The young man was lifted off of his feet for a moment. He landed on his rear end near the old oak tree in the Chiswick backyard.
He blew out a breath as he shook his head, trying to focus. He searched the ground for the thin stick. He grabbed the wand that landed near the roots of the tree. He aimed it at the wizard who approached. He uttered the disarming spell, Expelliarmus.
The wizard waved his disfigured right hand as he uttered the shield charm, Protego, protecting himself. He quickly waved his wand hand again and aimed it at the novice wizard-in-training, hurling the disarming spell.
The black man quickly waved his own wand, casting an apparition spell. He suddenly found himself stuck up in one of the highest branches of the oak tree he had been sitting under only moments ago.
Then he heard a snap. He quickly looked around as leaves and twigs hit him as he fell through boughs.
"Holy shit," the young man yelled as he saw the ground quickly approach. He crossed his arms over his face as he braced himself for the impact.
o-o-o
Saturday, 21 September, 12:30 GMT, present day
Phillip had arrived at the old Granger-Malfoy home, carrying in his hand a bag in which had several containers of Hawaiian style poke. He had practiced apparating, landing quite unceremoniously on the front lawn. He looked around, making sure nobody had noticed.
He rang the doorbell as he adjusted his coat. The door opened almost immediately. The young platinum blonde wizard looked him up and down before nodding for him to enter.
The grey-eyed wizard swiped at the older man's back, dusting some grass off, "I see you landed on the front lawn again."
"Well, at least I didn't splinch myself this time," Phillip smirked.
They both laughed as Phillip took his coat off. Draco placed the coat on the coat rack.
"I brought some pupus for an after-training snack," Phillip said as he handed Draco the bag.
"Brilliant," Draco nodded. "Let's go have lunch."
o-o-o
Saturday, 21 September, 13:10 GMT, present day
Draco and Phillip sat outside on the back patio steps that led to the half-court basketball court. Phillip and the Malfoys had finished the rotisserie chicken lunch ten minutes ago. Payton and the kids went to the living room to catch up on some Muggle television while Phillip and Draco went to the backyard to get ready for the usual wand training session.
They looked up as the patio door opened. The pair stood up as the new visitors stepped out onto the patio deck.
"Look who wanted to train today," Hans said as he led the group toward where Phillip and Draco stood.
Heath stood next to his twin as the other two visitors caught up to them. Payton also accompanied them onto the deck. Draco nodded at the new guests.
"Phil," Draco said as he turned to face the wizard-in-training, "I'm not sure if you ever met Ronda Potter."
"Potter-Jankovic now," the ginger Auror said as she extended her hand.
Phillip shook it. "Em, I don't think we were ever introduced. But, I think Drew pointed you out a couple of times at different get-togethers."
"And this is Harlin Jankovic," Draco said as he waved towards the former Death Eater. "Ronda's husband. They're newlyweds, actually."
Phillip nodded at the wizard, placing his hands in his pockets as the wizard extended his disfigured right hand. Harlin smirked a little as he retracted it.
"Yeah, I remember you," Phillip said as he took in a deep breath.
"Well," Ronda said as she turned to Payton, "We'll let you boys play your little backyard games."
"Yeah," Payton said smiling. "Ronda and I will be talking about maternity amongst other domesticating things."
Everyone laughed. The boys watched as the two witches entered the house. Phillip still seemed to be on the defensive.
"Alright, then," Draco said as he took a seat on the patio deck. "Odd man out. You guys pair up, ten minute duels, then the odd man calls it at ten minutes. Then we rotate. I'm the first odd man."
Phillip took in a breath as he headed toward the green lawn. Heath paired up with him. He wielded his wand in his right hand, taking his defensive position. But, in the back of his mind, he knew he would soon duel with the former Death Eater.
o-o-o
Saturday, 21 September, 13:45 GMT, present day
"Arresto Momentum," Harlin said as he waved his wand at Phillip. Phillip suddenly felt himself suspended in air. He uncovered his face as he hung, spread eagle as if he were trying to balance himself. He looked up at Harlin.
"Levicorpus," Harlin cast the spell that hung Phillip from his ankle and led him away from the roots of the oak tree. Phillip hovered over a patch of grass waiting for the wizard to let him flop to his embarrassment. But his dueling partner gently lowered him to the ground.
Harlin offered his mangled hand to the fallen novice. Phillip looked at the extended limb and then up at the wizard. He nodded as he took his hand. The wizard helped him up.
"Not bad, Phil," Harlin said.
"Thanks," Phillip said as he dusted himself off.
"Alright," Draco said as he turned to the pair. "I think we can call an adult-beverage break."
The boys nodded as they headed to the patio deck. Draco headed to the refrigerator, taking out the bag of appetizers Phillip had brought with him. Heath grabbed five green bottles of beer from the freezer chest. Hans grabbed a set of six inch paper plates and some plastic forks.
The Malfoys brought everything to the picnic table where Phillip and Harlin sat. Heath passed around the beers as Hans passed around the plates and utensils. Phillip stood up to take the bag of food from Draco.
Phillip removed six clear containers full of food. Harlin looked skeptical. Phillip smiled inwardly. He pulled the lids off of the sixteen ounce tubs and placed a plastic serving fork in each.
"So we got spicy ahi tuna, ahi limu poke," Phillip began as he pointed to two tubs filled with seasoned cubed raw fish. He pointed to a tub full of mayonnaise covered imitation crab and broccoli, "Imitation crab salad.
"That's tako poke," he pointed to a tub full of sliced up cooked octopus, "some vegetation, wakame seaweed salad.
"And last but not least, boiled peanuts," he said as everyone laughed.
The Malfoys quickly started to pile their small appetizer plates with small portions of each tub. Phillip nodded at the newcomer.
"It's an acquired taste," the black man said as he, too, piled some seafood onto his plate. He grabbed one of the spare chopsticks he had packed as he watched the brown-haired wizard gingerly take some pieces from each of the tubs.
"Did you go to Hawai'i for these?" Draco asked as he took a bite of the spicy ahi.
"Yeah," Phillip said as he ate a slice of tako. "Did a midnight run to Aston's restaurant last night. He says, 'Hi,' by the way."
Harlin slowly took a bite of one his ahi limu poke and chewed. He nodded his head before taking a swig of his Heineken. "That's pretty good."
"Alright, Harlin," Hans said. The group laughed in unison. They continued to enjoy their pupus and their drinks.
o-o-o
Saturday, 21 September, 14:15 GMT, present day
"So, you're pretty good with the wand, Phillip," Harlin said.
"Well, the boys have been training me for the past five months or so," Phillip said.
The pair sat on the patio deck watching Heath and Hans duel. Draco was in the washroom.
"I would have thought you would have hurled some Unforgiveables at me," Harlin smiled.
They both laughed. "I'm told they're illegal," Phillip said as he took a drink of his beer.
"Well, I wouldn't have blamed you if you had," Harlin said as he sipped from his bottle. "Seeing as I almost killed you."
"Yeah, twice," Phillip said laughing.
"Yeah, sorry about that," Harlin said, also chuckling. "Your grandfather was a bit intimidating."
Phil shrugged. He took another sip from his bottle.
"So, how's everything going with you?" Harlin asked.
"Not bad. I'm still rehabbing and trying to get a basketball contract, but other than that," Phillip nodded, "everything's all good."
Harlin laughed. Phillip eventually joined in.
"So, how's everything with Drew?" Harlin asked nonchalantly.
"Drew?" Phillip asked. He shrugged and then added, "Fine, I guess."
"Wait, you two aren't together?" Harlin feigned ignorance.
"Uh," Phillip paused, "we're just friends."
"I just thought," Harlin shrugged, "You two were like peas in a pod. She was with you in the alley years ago and then at your house that night."
Phillip laughed. He gulped. "Even if I did have feelings for her, I don't think she wants anything to do with me."
"How do you know?" Harlin canted his eyebrow at him.
"She doesn't answer my calls and her text message replies are very cordial," Phil said as he seemed to stare off into space.
"So if you did have feelings for her," Harlin said, pausing, "Would you actually tell her?"
Phillip studied the older man's face. "Expressing one's feelings through the digital platform is so impersonal. You can't really gauge the person on the other end of the line. If I were to tell her that I love her, I would want to be there corporally.
"I just want to be able to say it to her when we're alone in the same room together," Phillip shrugged.
"Wow, and she thought I was a hopeless romantic," Harlin muttered.
"What was that?" Phillip asked as he drank the rest of his Heineken.
"Um, I said, 'You're very sentimental'," Harlin covered himself.
Phillip laughed, "Well, don't tell the boys that. I'll never hear the end of it."
Draco stepped out of one of the outdoor washrooms and grinned. "Do not go in there for a good ten minutes," he said as he waved his hand behind him. "So, don't tell the boys what?"
The younger Malfoy brothers nodded as they approached the patio deck. Phillip and Harlin stood up to stretch.
"Don't tell you guys that you're great trainers," Harlin said as he downed the rest of his beer. Phillip nodded at the former Death Eater.
"Ah, you're right," Hans said. "You'll never live that one down."
The boys laughed just as Ronda and Payton walked onto the patio deck. Ronda raised an eyebrow at Harlin. He burped and smiled.
"A wizard can only drink so much fruit punch and pumpkin juice," he said as everyone laughed. Ronda leaned into him as he wrapped his mangled hand around her waist.
"Well, it's almost half past two," Heath said as he looked at his wristwatch. "Caroline and Catherine might be wondering where we've been."
The boys nodded. "Well, we'd better get a move on, too," Ronda said nodding.
"Alright, then," Payton said as she hugged Ronda. "Glad you two could drop by."
"Saturdays at 13:00, wand training for this guy," Draco said jerking his thumb at Phillip who laughed. "You guys are welcome anytime."
"Thanks mate," Harlin shook Draco's hand and then extended it to Phillip.
Phillip nodded and shook his deformed hand. "You're not as bad as I thought you were."
Harlin laughed, "Don't tell Ronda that," he nodded at her. They all laughed again.
"Shall we?" Ronda said to Harlin.
"Yup," he nodded. "Adieu to all of you."
The newlywed couple walked back into the house followed by everyone else. They all headed to the fireplace where the visitors took turns flooing to their destinations.
Phillip pulled his coat on. "Well," he said as he hugged all three of Draco's children before hugging both Payton and Draco. "Same time next week."
Both Draco and Payton nodded. The older kids waved at their Uncle Phillip before heading back into the living room.
Phillip looked at the fireplace for a moment. He took a breath. He looked at the Malfoys.
"You know what?" he said as he pulled his coat tighter. "I think I'm going to walk home today."
Both Draco and Payton looked at him funny. "You alright, mate?" Draco questioned.
Phillip laughed. "Yeah, I just thought it's a nice day for a walk."
"It's ten degrees out, Phil," Payton said smiling.
Phillip shrugged and smiled, "Well, that's a nice temperature for the first day of fall. Besides, I might end up in the North Pole or something if I apparate or floo."
"You're incorrigible, Phil," Draco said laughing.
"I'll catch you guys later," the tall black Squib said as he kissed Payton on the cheek and then shook Draco's hand as he hugged him.
The couple watched as Phillip took a step out the door. He turned back and nodded before taking his leave. The couple shrugged as they watched him hit the sidewalk in front of their home.
Phillip took in the crisp afternoon air. It was cold but he welcomed it as he walked briskly down the street on his ten block trek. He thought about what the former Death Eater had said and smiled. 'One day,' he thought to himself.