They stumbled out of the ice cream parlor half an hour later, their stomachs uncomfortably full. The sugar high had just sunk in, and Teddy was wired, but they still had one non-negotiable task to complete before they could go home.
"Are you sure," Teddy asked, dragging out the word until it had about ten syllables, "that I have to get measured today?"
"Hey," she said. "It's not me making you, you're going to have to take up complaints with Harry on this one, bud."
She saw him chewing on his lip, dragging his feet as she tried to steer him towards Madame Malkin's.
"It won't take long," she said, trying her best to sound confident and soothing. "Then, we can get home and have pizza, yeah?"
"Fine," he sighed, in the dramatic way only an almost-teenager could. "Let's get this over with."
Her lips turned upwards in a bemused smile as she opened the door for him. She checked him in with a clerk, and they were told someone would be with them shortly.
Liv's eye was caught by the beautiful dress robes that hung along one wall. Two months ago, those would have stolen her attention. A Quidditch girlfriend had to have a high profile wardrobe, one task she didn't despise. She could easily imagine herself picking up the aubergine colored strapless number that one of the models along the wall wore. Or perhaps the emerald green lace robe that hung at the front of the rack... it would've looked lovely against her pale skin...
"Ron!"
While she had been distracted, Teddy had bounded off to the far side of the room in pursuit of two very familiar people. He had run right up to Weasley and given him a huge hug, much to the dismay of the witch doing his fitting. A lump of anxiety knotted itself in her chest, but she knew she had to follow him.
She tried to look confident, in the sultry, peeved way that used to be so natural to her, but she was pretty sure when she was trying that hard, it just came across as awkward.
"What're you doing here?" She overhead Teddy ask excitedly.
"Someone's dress robes were a bit tight," Hermione said, smiling. "And Charlie's wedding is coming up."
Ron flushed slightly, the top of his ears turning pink. He had gained some weight since he had switched departments, she noticed. The witch helping him had corralled him back onto the fitting platform and begun pinning his robes anew.
"Liv Wellwood," she said, sticking her hand out to shake Hermione's.
She was met with a warm smile. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Liv. I've heard lovely things about you."
Her hand found its way in her pocket and she awkwardly looked down. "Yeah, I'm sure Weasley has a few choice memories of me making an ass of myself in front of the department."
To her surprise, Ron did laugh at that and she felt her anxiety ease slightly. "Where's Harry?"
"Working," Teddy said. "And Nan's in Wales, so they stuck me with Liv."
"Stuck you?" Liv asked, looking shocked at the boy's teasing statement. "Well I think that's the end of our fun, Ted. When you get home we're washing all the floors like Muggles do, no takeaway and games."
He looked shocked for a brief moment, examining her to see if she was serious. But she was unable to keep her face serious, and he could see through the tease. Hell, washing the floors was the last way she wanted to spend her Saturday evening.
Ron and Hermione laughed at him, understanding what was going on. "Might want to watch your words there, Teddy."
Another witch came and started measuring Teddy for his robes, and he kept shooting sad looks at Liv. She just shrugged. "Just cooperate, it'll be over faster."
Hermione, laden with bags from other shopping excursions of the day, readjusted how she was standing as she watched her husband fuss more than the child next to him. Liv could see it when she moved, the way her stomach was swollen beyond the waist of her pants. For a brief moment, it was very clear she was expecting.
Liv turned away, so as not to stare, and when she had looked back, the oversized jumper had obscured things once more.
"I've been trying to make plans with Harry for weeks," she confessed, with a tone that implied Liv would be able to do something about it.
"This case he's been working on..." Liv sighed. "It's running him ragged."
"Well, we would love to have you two over one night this week if he can find time in that tight schedule of his."
She appreciated the invitation, she really did. But she was wary of living up to Hermione and Ron's expectations for Harry's girlfriend, whatever they may be.
Ron had finished getting his robes fit, and wiped a slight sheen off his forehead. "Well, I think that experience has earned me one of Hannah's home cooked meals."
"She's such a great cook," Liv said, going off the first thing he had said that she could agree with. "I'm glad we ran into you, I'll have Harry set a dinner up, yeah?"
Ron's face was neutral, but Hermione smiled and waved as they departed.
"Mathers and Cordova," Harry said, pointing to the two men to his left, who were squabbling over some Quidditch results. "You two take the north west corner of the stretch."
They leaned in, looking towards the map he was holding. His slender finger pointed out the area that he wanted them to patrol over the next few hours. The sun had just set fully behind the curve of earth in the distance, it's last arms of light streaking the sky a dark ochre.
"Got it," Cordova said.
"Halingsaur and Kinley- I want you two out east," he said. When they got to the forest an hour or so earlier, they'd marked the borders with brightly colored ribbons tied to trees.
"And where are you sticking us, boss?" Evanson asked, leaning over to peer at the map. She was referring to herself and Jed Bauer, the newest addition to his team. Harry still did not trust Bauer, and was not quite sure how he had made his way into the department in the first place.
"Bauer, I want you here at base," he said. "And Evanson, you'll come with me south."
She barely hid the scowl that crossed her incredibly expressive face. He wasn't exactly thrilled to be stuck in a twenty foot stretch of land with Holly for the foreseeable future, but a small part of him was intrigued. To see what had brought Holly and Liv together. To see if there was anything- anything, that could possibly lead to a reconciliation between the two.
"Everyone remember the charms?" He asked, looking to each member of his team for confirmation. A sea of dark eyes nodded at him, registering their comprehension.
"Let's move out then," he said, curling the map back up and stowing it in his rucksack.
Evanson had taken the initiative to move out before him, and was ten paces in front of him already. He hustled to close the distance between them.
"Can't keep up?" She asked, the tone of her voice halfway between a taunt and a friendly question. Surely the look on her face would've given a better indication, but he was on the wrong side of her.
"I did partner people for a reason," he said, bounding one step forward and matching her pace. He spent the entire walk south devoted to keeping within a step of her.
Dark had fallen completely by the time they got to their post. The nearly full moon cast a silvery shadow among the branches and bushes around them. He could just barely make out the pink ribbons that marked the southernmost border of their interest. As he allowed his mind to wander, the silky, pink fabric reminded him of the dress that Liv had worn to Finnegan's wedding...
He took a seat on a nearby stump, trying not to notice how rough it was against his legs. She refused to sit, preferring to pace a few yards away, her arms crossed tightly against her chest.
She angrily stomped towards and away from him, her feet crunching down dry leaves and weak branches.
"Evanson," he said, as her pacing began to annoy him. He didn't like pacing. It was wasted energy.
"What's going on between you and Liv?" she asked, accusatory. She had stopped, only a few steps away, and looked down at him.
"What?"
"You," she said slowly. "And Liv."
He was silent for a moment, considering his reply. Not responding did not seem like an option, as the scrappy, persistent blonde stared him down.
"That's a loaded question," he said.
"I've got time," she said, her hand finding its way to her hip.
He swallowed, before finding his voice again. "She's been staying with me since things with Ames went south."
He saw her comprehending the situation, as shock, anger, and sadness distorted her porcelain features.
"I don't think that was her intent," he continued, trying not to lay into her too hard for hurting Liv. "when she showed up on my doorstep after he had assaulted her again. But over the past few weeks, she's become quite comfortable where she is."
As soon as the word had left his mouth, she sunk down to sit on a log near him. As if it was too much effort to stand through hearing about the reality of Liv's life.
"Y'know," he said. "When I first started to get to know her, I really didn't peg her as the type of girl who would put up with that sort of behavior. But I think part of her was so afraid of being abandoned, again, that she clung to anything familiar."
Her eyes flashed in anger towards him- at his unspecified accusation. She opened her mouth to argue, but wordlessly closed it.
For a few minutes, awhile actually, the only sound was the light breeze ruffling the leaves among the trees. He leaned forward on the balls of his feet, feeling the satisfying crunch of a branch beneath him.
"You don't understand the situation I was in-"
"What it's like to have a child?" He asked. "You're right, I don't understand that. But I do understand how to maintain relationships with the people that are important to me under times of extreme stress."
"That's not fair."
He looked to her, waiting for her to go on. He saw her dark eyes shine extra brightly under the light of the moon. She sighed.
"I couldn't..." she started. "I didn't... I mean. No."
He let her sputter away for a moment, as she tried and failed to get any sort of traction in her words.
"I've seen the way she looks at you," she said, her voice tight as she worked to maintain her stony expression.
"Oh?" He asked, feigning disinterest.
"She adores the hell out of you," she said, not looking up to meet his gaze.
"Its mutual," he said quickly. He thought of Liv, who was probably camped out in the living room with Teddy right now. "She's been letting me in, slowly."
"I can't believe he hit her," she said, sighing and shaking her head in disbelief.
He briefly toyed with the idea of giving her more detail of Ames' crimes against Liv, but decided it wasn't his information to divulge. He had said enough, he thought, perhaps too much, as he observed the look of utter shock on Holly's face. The moonlight cast a long shadow across her face as she had to face the reality that she had abandoned her closest friend at a time she needed her the most.
He looked north, in the direction of the rest of their team, just in time to see a large waft of red light streaming up through the trees. Someone had activated the signal for reinforcement.
"Let's go."
He was tired. His body ached, the kind of ache that only came from staying awake all night and getting shoved into the dirt. Harry felt awful glad that was over with.
The large house was quiet, still in the way it could be only when all of its inhabitants were asleep. He dropped his rucksack directly in front of the fireplace, before loosening the laces of his boots.
On the coffee table, there was a game of chess in progress. Next to it, a piece of half eaten pizza. He squinted at it. Surely, Liv would not have left food sitting out overnight?
The downstairs was a mess. The they had ordered for dinner sat on the counter, half eaten. Teddy had spilled some soda on the counter, which had dried into a sticky, brown spot. It certainly seemed like they had enjoyed themselves, but he found himself resentful as he chucked the uneaten food in the bin.
Slowly, he worked his way upstairs, avoiding the creaky spots, so as not to wake anyone up. He quietly eased the door to his bedroom open, expecting to see Liv's slim body and dark hair against the cream-coloured duvet. To his surprise, the bed was empty.
He stripped off his dirty t-shirt, tossing it in the laundry basket. Liv had yet to sleep across the hall, but he wondered if she had done it because Teddy was here. Becoming slightly alarmed, he bounded across the hall to take a peek. The door was shut tightly, and it stuck.
He jerked the knob to the right, and it cracked as it opened. A candle remained lit in the corner of the room, its light bouncing off the walls. In the queen bed, Liv lay in what looked like the least comfortable position, an arm awkwardly around Teddy's body. Teddy's face, even in sleep, was incredibly flushed. Harry could see a few beads of sweat collected on his temples, despite the dim light of the room.
He noticed then, a pile of Teddy's clothes, discarded and making the room smell of sick. A handful of potions from his cabinet were beside the bed. Teddy must have fallen ill. Any resentment he had felt towards Liv melted away, as he knew she had been preoccupied with taking care of Teddy. His body was flooded with immense gratitude towards her.
"Harry?" Liv asked, her voice cracking from sleep. She sat up, blinking at him.
"Shh," he said, nodding towards the sleeping child. He reached out to feel Teddy's forehead, and found it scorched with fever. He selected the right potion from the bedside table, and gently nudged Teddy awake.
"I don't wanna," he said, not even opening his eyes. His face contorted with grief and anger. "Don't make me, Nan. You know how much I hate that rug!"
Liv had gotten to her feet. "He's quite ill, I did my best to keep him comfortable but he's been hallucinating from a fever. What time is it?"
"About five thirty."
"He could use another dose."
Harry nodded, propping Teddy up so he could shove some more of the children's Quik-No-Sick under his tongue. Teddy never fully woke up, but curled back into a ball as Harry leaned him back on the pillows.
Liv had wandered into his bathroom and wash wiping her face with a washcloth when he returned to his bedroom. Her face was incredibly pale, her dark eyes bloodshot. He shut the door behind him.
"He got sick around dinner time," she said, her voice raspy. "Started vomiting like he was possessed. Just... so forceful."
She paced the room, looking preoccupied as she spoke. "After he dry heaved for a bit, his stomach settled down but he began to run a fever and talking about things that made no sense. He sounded so scared. I had no idea what to do so I just started trying potions until he fell asleep."
"I am so sorry," he said. "I had no idea you were going to have to deal with that."
"I knew I couldn't contact you and I didn't know how to contact his Nan and I had no one else to go to, I just brought him up to that bedroom and stayed with him trying to soothe him. I must have fallen asleep an hour or two ago."
The emotion in her voice, the way she held her body, her pale arms crossed around her stomach, upset him. He had asked too much of her. "I hope I didn't let you down."
"Not at all," he said, reaching his arms toward her to encircle her in a hug.
She ducked out of it. "I'm probably covered in germs, you might not want to get too close."
"Oh come here, love," he said, gently rubbing her back with his hand. He felt the tension in her back began to ease. They were silent a moment, as he held her close to him.
"How did it go?" She asked, chewing on the inside of her lip. He could see she was clearly exhausted, but the look on her face said her mind was moving fast.
He nodded. "We got what we needed to close the case. Why don't I make us some tea?"
She followed him down the stairs without saying a word. He hoped a nice warm cup of tea would soothe her and help her get some rest. He had a burst of energy, and knew he would not wind down himself until she was asleep.
Author's Note: Happy Friday, folks! Leave me a review and let me know what you think Regular posting will resume on Monday! Thanks to my beta, potter-reading-coastie.