(A/N: I just realized the story has over 100 followers! Wow! I just wanted to say thank you for all of the support. I am posting two chapters today since they are both relatively short Enjoy and thanks again...carrytheotter)
Ch 87: A Father Daughter Lunch Date
Despite pulling his robes more tightly around him, the cold, damp Scottish wind still managed to cut straight through to his bones. Looking around at the grey hills, Ron chuckled thinking it was a good thing Scotland didn't film its tourism commercials in February. Making his way from the gates at Hogwarts over to the castle, he let his eyes wander over this place that held so many stories in his life. While sometimes he would catch himself seeing into times gone by when he would round a certain corner or glance down a hallway, today he was smiling, thinking only of his lunch date. As he walked through the large front door to the castle, he was assaulted with a hug from the exact person he was looking for.
"Dad!" she smiled as she hugged him tightly.
"Hi, Rose," he grinned as he embraced his daughter. "I've missed you!"
"Me too," she said. "Hungry?"
"Always," he laughed. "Great Hall?"
"Actually, I asked Professor Longbottom if we could eat in one of the smaller rooms, and he said sure. I'm just not in the mood to share you with all those auror-wanna-be's today."
"Perfect," he smiled. "Should we swing by the kitchens and grab some sandwiches?"
"Actually, I already talked to the house elves, and it's all set up. Come on, I'll show you."
He was soon following his daughter to a small room that had a table laden down with food choices.
"Merlin, Rose! How many people did the house elves think were coming to lunch?"
She laughed, "Well, when they heard it was for you they were fighting over each other to get to do something for you. You have quite a lot of fans in the kitchens, you know. There was one who insisted that this chicken was your favorite."
"Correct, actually. Is that an elf who was here when I was a student?"
"No, I don't think so. But, apparently the stories about you are things of legend in the kitchen. They'd probably all faint if you went by to thank them later."
"Good idea. I'll do that. But now, I want to hear about you. How are you? How are classes?"
"Oh, I'm good. I'm still a bit disappointed I didn't make the team this year, but I have been practicing a lot on my broom like we talked about. Should have more time for that as the days start to get longer."
"I am so proud of you for sticking with it like that. Have you thought about asking if you could practice with the team some time? Maybe offer to be on a practice squad they could scrimmage against some times. Would help all of you, really."
"Wow, that's a great idea, Dad. Do you think they'd really let me do that?"
"I don't see why not. Who is the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain this year?"
"Her name is Mary Katherine McLaughlin, and she's only a sixth year, so I am sure she will be captain again next year too."
"I am not familiar with the name. You like her?"
"Yeah, I do. She's tough, but she's fair, you know?"
"Best kind of leader, in my opinion anyway."
"I think so too."
"How about the boys? What are your two shadows up to?"
"They're not my shadows, Dad," she protested.
"Well, you guys are always together. I think it's great. Just wondering how they are."
"They're good. Can't tell you how much Scorp has talked and talked about how great it was for you to invite his family over at Christmas. And before you say it, I know that was a thank you for his dad for helping Mum, but he still really appreciated it."
"Sad when someone being nice is unusual," Ron said as he bit into some of his favorite chicken.
"True. But you have to admit – it wasn't just being nice. It was much more of an olive branch, so to speak."
"Fair point," Ron agreed.
"How is Hugo doing? I know you've each told me about how well the anniversary went, but how is he really?"
"Amazing, I think," shrugged Ron. "He was so focused on being positive and remembering the good things about Fi, Dennis and the Creeveys. I know he has sort of latched on to George as a role model for that, which is great for both of them."
"Those two years went really fast."
"It's almost dizzying how our lives have changed so much so quickly," Ron agreed. "But the next two years will go by just as quickly. Think about it, before you know it you are going to be worrying about your O.W.L.s and Hugo will be an experienced second year."
"So weird!" she laughed.
"I know you will look out for him next year. Though, my money is absolutely on him being in Slytherin, so I guess we need to put Scorp and Al in charge of keeping track of him, huh?"
"You really think he'll be Slytherin?" Rose asked skeptically.
"You really don't?" he retorted with equal disbelief.
She thought for a minute before saying, "No. I really don't. I think he'd do well in any of the houses, honestly. But I think he would be happier as the most conniving Ravenclaw than the most artsy Slytherin."
"Huh. Hadn't thought of it that way. Well, I am relieved that is not my problem to solve. The Sorting Hat seems to know what it's doing, even if sometimes we don't see it for several years."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, look at Neville. He was in my year in Gryffindor. He was the most nervous kid. Was terrified of some of our professors, got beat up all of the time by – well – by Slytherins. He was nice as could be, but it struck everyone as odd that he wasn't in Hufflepuff. I mean – you have never met a nicer, more loyal friend. And courageous was not exactly a word that you would have thought off to describe him. But then a few years go by, the war got worse, Harry and I skipped out of school on our mission and suddenly Neville is leading the resistance at the school. Gin & Luna helped, but they were both gone before the year was out. He organized everything, protected the little kids, taught the older kids Defense, then challenged Voldemort to his face when we thought Harry was dead and even managed to pull the bloody Sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat to help finish him off. Can't get much braver than that. And only six years prior than that he would get physically ill just thinking about going to potions class. Pretty amazing, huh?"
Rose had been completely caught up in the story as Ron spoke. "Wow. I guess I never heard it all quite like that," she admitted. "I know you've told me what happened, but sometimes I forget how real it all was. And that you were just kids. How did you do some of that when you were only my age?"
"Don't make it more than it was, Rose," Ron warned. "I didn't set out at eleven to take on a psychopath. I just knew I needed to be there for my friend. So, when he needed help, I went. At eleven all I did was play a great game of chess."
"Not what I heard," she countered.
"Then you heard from someone who wasn't me or Harry, and so it was someone who wasn't there and is in no position to be revising history."
"Fair point. But I've never known McGonagall to spin yarns, have you?"
He blushed a bit at this. "No," he admitted. "She is certainly not one to embellish her tales like some do. But, like I said, she wasn't there."
"Hmm," Rose pondered. "I get it. We'll move on. But that doesn't mean I've changed my opinion."
Ron laughed and put his hands up in defeat. "Alright, we'll agree to disagree. I am smart enough to know when I shouldn't push an argument of logic with an infamous Granger Girl," he said with a wink, which made Rose dissolve into a fit of giggles.
"I guess I do argue like her, huh?"
"Yes, and you should be so proud of that. Your mum is amazing, and you are a lot like her in your brilliance and your passion. Don't change a bit, Rose."
They chatted on through lunch, and then Ron helped her transport the extra food back to the Gryffindor common room. The Fat Lady crooned over him for a bit, but he got a kick out of seeing his old home and knowing he was bringing food that his boyhood self would have loved. Once they had dropped off the food, they headed back so she could get to the dungeons for potions and he could swing by and thank the house elves in the kitchen before meeting up with the students working on the fitness part of the auror development group.
