Disclaimer: I don't own the universe of Harry Potter nor the characters within. I only own my OCs and the plotline. All rights to JKR. No profit is being made from this.

Author's Note: I've had to split this chapter as it's way too long for one chapter alone. Hope that's okay with everybody. Please review so I can know how to improve this story that is very close to my heart! – El x

Cleo Bay's POV.

Letters to My Brown Eyed Beauty

Chapter Fifteen

Cleo Bay fixed her blue dress, smoothening it out before turning away from the mirror, to look up at her brother. She gave him a small reassuring smile before sitting beside him. Jayden Bay was sitting on his younger sister's bed, face full of worry as he stared at the ground. Jayden had been this silent since they'd heard the news that Hamish was allowed out for the night's antics. He never spoke when something was wrong, choosing to bottle it all up instead.

"Jayden, listen to me," Cleo said, softly, "He will be all right, I promise."

"What if he has some sort of attack during the Halloween Ball?"

"Then I will be there, and I'll rush him over to St Mungos," Cleo said, reassuring her older brother that she would look after Hamish. She squeezed his hand, trying to show him that he could trust her. She wasn't a little kid anymore and Jayden had to accept that. They were all growing up.

It was just then that Hamish stepped through the door. He was wearing a black tux and a yellow bowtie. Cleo grinned up at him. The bow-tie had been the boys' idea. Jayden had insisted that it was a cute touch for his house. Jayden may be a Slytherin, but he couldn't help that he was proud of his brother. Hamish had interjected at the time that Lilies were yellow and that's why he wanted it. The other two siblings had rolled their eyes at him. Lily Potter was a year older than Hamish, but he couldn't help but have a crush on her. Even despite his absences from Hogwarts the past two years.

Cleo was so happy Albus had arranged for Lily to be his date tonight.

"Are you ready to go, Hamish?" Cleo asked, smiling. Jayden shook his head as he stood up. He accepted that tonight was happening regardless of what he thought.

"Do you want to be cliché or original," the older boy asked, confusing Cleo. Hamish shrugged in response.

"How about an Iris," Jayden suggested, transfiguring a flower in the palm of his hand. Cleo smiled, knowingly.

"But what about a Lily," Hamish asked, biting his lip. Jayden shook his head, "I've never met a Lily who likes lilies, Ham."

Jayden had a habit of being insensitive about things, but he was growing up. He cared about his family, despite their house differences. They were all different in their own ways and that's what made them special.

Cleo knew they had to stick together no matter what the world may bring.

They were stronger together than apart, and everybody knew it.

Amy Scarlett's POV.

"Oh, don't you look gorgeous, sweetheart," Amy's mum gushed over her. Amy blushed, staring at her reflection before biting her lip. Her purple hair was pulled up to a half bun, curls cascading down the front of her face. She hardly ever wore many dresses and she was nervous. Amelia smiled warmly down at her daughter, "This boy, whoever he may be, that you want to impression, is in no way going to be able to take his eyes off you. I can guarantee it," she commented. She did the finishing touches of her daughter's hair before looking at her daughter's face in the mirror.

"Who is he, honey?"

Amy stayed quiet, fidgeting with her fingers. She couldn't tell her mother who the boy was, he just wouldn't understand. She felt as if she'd disappoint her mother with the news, so she kept quiet.

Amelia handed Amy her dress, helping her slip into it. She half considered going in a scary costume with Scorpius, but she had decided against it. Her mother said that a pretty dress beat an ugly costume any day when you're trying to get a boy's attention. She knew she shouldn't like him, but she couldn't help it. It went against everything she knew, and it slightly made her uncomfortable. She was going to break so many rules by admitting to herself how she felt.

The dress was a dark, green and strapless. It reached just above Amy's knees. Amy loved it, she knew it fit her perfectly. She wondered for a moment if her hair was okay.

"What if I had my hair down?"

Amelia shook her head, "You'll hide your pretty shoulders," she smirked, teasing her daughter. Amy blushed bright red, "They're only shoulders, mum!"

There was a knock on the door, interrupting the two.

"Come in," they said at the same time.

The door opened only enough for the figure to slip through, before closing the door after them. The man had wrinkle lines across his eyes and forehead. His silver eyes looked tired and worn out. His robes were in pristine condition, without a wrinkle in sight. His robes were embodied with a family crest. He was the complete look of a Wizarding royalty and he knew it. He held himself with pride and an air of power beneath him. His platinum blonde hair was neatly combed.

Those grey eyes always got the two Scarlett girls.

The love that used to shine in Amelia's brown eyes, no longer did. It sparked with anger instead. Amy frowned a little, disheartened but pretended not to notice the eye argument the two adults were having in front of her. They never spoke words, only through their eyes.

The man's eyes always bore regret and sadness.

"How is my little princess," he asked, smiling. "I'm not little anymore," the fifteen year old grumbled. "Right, I definitely didn't notice that the dress was above your knees," he said, sternly, raising an eyebrow at her.

"But, on the bright side: I am still your princess," she said, grinning, trying to make him forget that the dress was above her knees. He chuckled, and his eyes sparkled with happiness. It wasn't a recent look for him whenever he peered down at Amy. She meant a lot to him and she knew it.

He nodded with a smile, "Well, by the looks of things, you ditched the dress up. So did Scorpius. Is there any particular reason you're so dressed up?"

Amy blushed, knowing that he could see right through her.

"I'll see you down stairs, darling," Amelia said before kissing her daughter's forehead and then leaving.

"Who is the lucky kid who thinks he's worthy of the attention of my daughter?"

Amy shook her head, "Nobody," she muttered. She was lying, and he knew it. He was important, all right, not just to her but to so many other people.

He didn't push his daughter for anything else. He knew she wasn't ready to share yet. He was just going to have to accept that she was old enough to make her own choices now and he hoped that it was somebody worth her attention.

Amy knew that look in her father's eyes.

He was trying to calculate who it could be. He always had high hopes she'd marry a Slytherin or even a Ravenclaw. He just never wanted a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff. He also told her she was free to fall in love, she had no obligation to anyone. She was free to make any choice she wanted, even if it was Hufflepuff or even a muggle, her father would learn to accept it.

In time.

Time was all they had these days.

James Sirius Potter's POV.

James turned to his father, Harry, "Dad, is it okay that I'm going? I knew it's the anniversary of," he trailed off, not even being able to say the words. He began unbuttoning his shirt, deciding he wasn't going at all. James sat on the bad, putting his head in his hands. "I'll send Cleo a letter, say that I won't be accompanying her to the ball tonight."

He began mumbling to himself, running a hand through his hair, messing it up. He stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "You've been waiting for your chance with Cleo for how long? You're not going to give this up. Your grandparents will understand. I want all of my kids there. Go button up your shirt, put on a time and look your best. Make your grandfather very proud."

James smiled nervously before doing as he was told.

"What's her favourite flower, son?"

"Lilac flowers," James answered, without skipping a beat before freezing. He turned around to look at his dad who was smirking. "What does that have to do with anything?" He demanded, a little grumpily for being caught out. He knew everything there was to know about Cleo Bay or so he thought anyway. Harry pulled out his wand, transfiguring a small lilac flower in the palm of his hand.

James smiled, "How did you do that?"

Ginny Potter barged in a moment letter. "What tie are you wearing," she asked, beginning to fret like her own mother. She looked at the two boys in the room before frowning a little. "Everything okay? I thought you planned to talk to him, y'know, his first real date," she said, looking at her husband before shooting her eldest son a glare. James ignored it, choosing not to deal with it.

"James," his mother said, warningly.

"I know what you're thinking," he said quickly, "But I'm still… I've only snogged a couple of girls or maybe seven…but still!" James said, feeling horrified that his mother was interrogating him with her eyes. He kept most of the truth to himself. He did a little bit more than just kiss the girls. What Ginny Potter didn't know wouldn't kill her.

His mother regarded her son warily before slowly asking, "Which tie, James?"

James thought for a moment, "What about a blue one? It matches her house which she'd do because she's Head Girl. Her favourite colour is yellow though," James said, beginning to ramble. Ginny froze, "Head Girl?"

Harry nodded, "Cleo Bay, Gin."

Ginny's eyes widened before spreading into the biggest grin.

James raised an eyebrow at her, "What?"

She pulled James into a hug, ignoring his protests, tearing up a little. "I'm so proud of you, James!"

"Why," he said, feeling like he couldn't breathe. "I'm not even Head boy. I made Quidditch Captain, remember?"

His mother paid him no mind, mumbling to herself.

Eventually, James broke through, "I think you've gone barmy mother." Ginny smiled even wider, if that was even possible, "My baby boys in love, Harry."

"Mum," James groaned, "I'm not a baby. I'm seventeen!"

Harry chuckled, deciding to excuse himself while his wife had the whole "first love talk" down pat. James couldn't wait to run away as well. He was scowling at his mother the entire time.