Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the related titles.

A/N: I apologize for the lack of update, but like I said before, I wanted to try and get IDTCO caught up with this one. Seeing as that will probably not happen, I'm just going to update this as I go. So...Here you are! Hope you like it!

Chapter 17: Not Quite The End

Maddy was going to stay longer than she had planned. Another day was in order. She wasn't quite ready to return home.

Elizabeth and Mrs. Wormwood, apparently had a row early in the morning before Maddy had come down for breakfast. Maddy had been quite confused to see Mrs. Wormwood huffy at the dinner table.

"Miss Maddy, I know you don't work here anymore, but would you do me a favor and find Elizabeth. She's not in her room, and I'm afraid she may do something stupid…you know how teenagers are these days…"

Maddy nodded, "Yes Ma'am…I was one once…"

Mrs. Wormwood lifted her glass, "To Better Days…"

Maddy lifted her glass as well, though she did not believe that her teenage years were 'better days'. She agreed that she would look for Elizabeth for her.

So she did. She looked around the entire house, but could find no trace of the sixteen-year-old. She was in the library when she thought she heard someone sniffle. A bookshelf on the other side of the room gave a loud 'thump' and Maddy pressed her ear up to it.

Low sniffling could be heard from behind the books. Maddy searched the wall and could find no secret entrance. She pressed her hand up against the side.

"Alohomora…" she murmured.

Slowly, the bookshelf began to move. It turned inward and formed a small doorway. On the other side was a small room with an armchair. With a hiccup, Elizabeth jumped at the sudden light. Elizabeth, a bottle in her hand, glanced at Maddy and turned away. Maddy stared hard at the bottle and then looked up at the pale teenager.

"Are you drinking?!" Maddy asked, incredulously.

Elizabeth looked in Maddy's direction, her eyes a tad crossed, "Like it's bad?"

"It is bad!" Maddy hurried forward into the secret room. "A girl your age should not be drinking alcohol!"

Elizabeth sneered, "What? Like you never drank when you were a teen? Oh no, Miss Maddy would never do that…she's an angel. Miss Perfect…"

Maddy raged, "I did drink when I was teenager, but it was only once and my Uncle nearly walloped me with a broomstick when he found out." She paused for a moment. "Well…actually, first he was angry, and then he asked me how I got a hold of such a rare drink, and then he sent me to my room."

"Jeez…what did you drink?" Elizabeth's voice slurred a little.

Maddy shrugged, "Absinthe…they don't make it anymore…."

Elizabeth's eyes bulged. "They haven't made that in ages. How did you get a hold of it?"

"Conjured it…it wasn't hard…" Maddy shook her head, quickly, "But that's not the point! I was stupid. I made some stupid mistakes when I was young…"

"And you think my life has been easy?"

"I know your life hasn't been the easiest in the world, but don't start drinking just because you and your mother got into a fight…that's no reason to throw your life away."

"I'm not throwing my life away…" Elizabeth insisted, "Daddy drank…"

"Yes, and look at where he is now…" Maddy could no longer stand how completely spoiled Elizabeth was, and how she appreciated little of what she had.

Elizabeth glared at Maddy for her comment, and took a swig of the brownish-orange liquid in the bottle. Maddy wrenched it from her grasp, though it wasn't difficult. Her grip was lax from the alcohol. Maddy looked at the label, and gasped.

"Where did you get this?" she asked, angrily.

Elizabeth shrugged.

"Elizabeth! This is firewhiskey! This is a magical drink! Who did you get this from?"

Elizabeth stared at the floor for a moment. "You…" she answered.

"Me?" Maddy said skeptically, "Why, I have never…I don't…where?"

"It was in some box you had in your room…I found it ages ago. I didn't know what it was when I found it. Thought it was some kind of…perfume…" Elizabeth hiccuped. "Then I saw Daddy one day, drinking something similar to it, so I decided to try it." She shuddered, "Beastly disgusting stuff…but it made me forget things…and now, all I want to do is forget…"

Maddy shook her head, "No, Elizabeth…don't forget. It's horrible to forget…someday, you'll want those things back, and it will be impossible to find them…all because of this…" she shook the bottle.

Elizabeth frowned. "Have you…have you ever drank to forget something?"

Maddy nodded, but did not explain. Elizabeth stared at her fingertips.

"I-I wasn't Miss Perfect either…" Maddy said softly.

Elizabeth looked up.

"I made so many mistakes…I thought I could change things I couldn't really change…I threw opportunities away for stupid reasons…I dated all the wrong people…" Maddy laughed grimly. "But, we all make stupid mistakes…and there's nothing we can do to change them…I mean, shit happens…"

Elizabeth didn't respond immediately. "At least you got to date…I have barely met any guy my own age…"

"Dating can be dangerous sometimes…" Maddy said, thinking of Terry and his old dominating and controlling hold over her. "You can't really trust anyone…"

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth was starting to focus better. She wasn't slurring as much and the hiccups had ceased.

"Sometimes…there are men out there who…who are not very nice…they try and get you do things, and when you don't…they get angry…and will hurt you…" Maddy said, her voice cracking.

"You know from experience?"

Maddy nodded, solemnly. "But then again, there are those, who do not approve of this…and come to your rescue…"

Elizabeth smiled feebly. "Thank God for that…"

"Yes, or I would probably not be here right now…" Maddy agreed. "You never forget something like that…"

"Do you remember anything? Who saved you?" Elizabeth was curious.

Maddy shook her head, "For years, it was just some faceless man in a doorway…I couldn't remember much. All I knew was, Terry attacked me because I wouldn't…wouldn't let him…" her voice broke off.

Elizabeth nodded, signaling that she understood. "And?"

"And, something made him go away…a spell or something…and I remember the shadowy form of a man in the doorway…and I passed out. When I woke up…Harry was sitting in the armchair next to me. We were back in the Common Room…I told him everything…he never let Terry anywhere near me ever again…"

"Harry did it." Elizabeth said immediately. "Harry's the one who saved you…"

Maddy smiled, "Yes…I know…It took me forever to figure it out…but in the end…I knew it was him…." She suddenly frowned, "I never got to thank him. I owe my life to him. Terry would not have left me alive…"

Elizabeth was flabbergasted, "That's so scary to think about…"

Maddy had no choice, but to agree. There was nothing scarier than thinking of the possibility, that at that precise moment, if something had happened, but didn't, you would be dead.

"Do you love him?"

Maddy looked up, "Who?"

"Harry…. Do you love him?"

"Yes…" Maddy answered quickly, "Of course, I love him…"

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, "Do you love your husband?"

"Yes…" Maddy said tentatively. What was Elizabeth trying to say?

"How can you love two men?"

Maddy chuckled and sat down on the arm of the chair. "My dear, there are two different kinds of love. You can love someone…and that could be anyone…or any number of people. Then, you can be in love with someone…and that should be one person."

"Are you in love with someone?"

Maddy nodded, "I do believe so…yes…"

"Who?" Elizabeth wanted to hear her answer. She thought she, herself, was in love with Maddy's husband, but perhaps, she only loved him.

Maddy didn't reply at all. She had never really thought about it. She truly loved both of them and trusted them with her life, but she could only be in love with one of them. Or so, that was her belief. At one point in time, she thought to be completely in love with both, but she couldn't be.

She thought her answer to be obvious. Well, maybe it wasn't so.

-----

Maddy left around noon the next day, and arrived home, still feeling very tired. She had thought about so many things the night before that she didn't seem to get any sleep.

Dismissing the chauffeur, she carried her bags up the front steps and opened the front door.

"I'M HOME!" She called out, hardly expecting anyone to answer.

Roberta stuck her head out of one of the doors and nodded in her direction, "Benvenuto indietro, Signora…" ("Welcome back, Madam")

"Grazie, Roberta…" Maddy said, dropping her bags by the coat rack. She looked around curiously. For some reason, she felt like there was someone else in the house. Someone other than the maids.

Slowly, she made her way toward the dining room and opened the door. The room was empty. The same went for Charles's study, and the library. She was starting to doubt her nerves when she opened the door to the parlor, and jumped.

Sitting on the couch, obviously waiting for her was…

"CHARLES!" she raced over and leapt on top of him. "You're home!"

She kissed him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

"Yes, I'm home…" he said good-naturedly. "But, to my surprise, when I arrived yesterday, you were not…"

Maddy sat back up, "Oh! I'm sorry…I was at the Wormwoods'…"

Charles nodded, "As I have been told. Whatever were you doing there?"

Maddy frowned. If he could fly off across the country for no good reason, why couldn't she? "They had a family tragedy and wanted me to be there…"

Charles opened his mouth to ask what the tragedy was, when Emma entered the room.

"Excuse me, but Ma'am?"

Maddy turned around awkwardly to look at her, "Yes, Emma?"

"A man showed up a couple days ago, asking to see you…I told him where you were and gave him the address…did you by any chance meet with him?"

Maddy nodded, "Yes, Emma. I did. Thank you, very much."

Emma curtsied and left the room. Charles looked at her inquisitively.

"Who was she talking about?"

Maddy smiled, "My Uncle Remus…he wanted to come and talk to me…I haven't seen him in such a long time…you know we should invite them over to dinner sometime if you-"

"Sure, sure, darling…" Charles cut her off, with a wave of his hand, "But now, we have other things to discuss…"

Suddenly, Maddy was brought back to reality. Yes indeed, there were things to discuss.

"Now, darling…Roberta tells me that there was a man here quite often while I was gone…I am assuming that it was Mr. Potter, am I correct?"

Maddy nodded, trying not to look too guilty.

"Yes, I thought so…" he cleared his throat, "Anyway…she tells me that you two seemed to have gotten into some kind of a spat…outside?"

Maddy nodded, again. "Just a conflict of interests…"

"Yes, that does happen…" he broke off and stared at her.

Maddy, who had been taught to fear too much eye contact for the idea of the other person being a gifted Leglimens, looked away. Although Charles was not a wizard, there was still that chance that the Ministry had bestowed some kind of power on him.

Can they do that? Maddy wasn't sure if they could.

Charles continued to stare, like he was trying to find something hidden deep below her skin. Maddy found it unnerving, and decided to question him.

"Charles…what are you doing on all your 'business trips'?"

He blinked a few times and spoke slowly, "Business, dear…not something you would understand…"

"I think I understand this kind of business a little more than you do…" Maddy said, matter-of-factly.

Charles looked taken aback, "Do you now?"

"What? Tracking down evil wizards? Like it's hard? All you have to do is scry for them!" Maddy said as if it was obvious. "It's a shame the Ministry's let old magic die out…"

Charles looked confused, and a tad shocked. He had never heard of scrying before, but he knew who the Ministry was.

"How did you-"

"How long have you been working for them, Charles?" Maddy demanded, "How long?"

"Ages…" he answered finally. "They needed me…"

"Why?" Maddy asked, doubtfully. "Why would they need a simple Muggle man like you?"

He didn't look confused at being called a Muggle. He had been called it several times at work. "I can get around easily. Fly wherever they need me and not have anyone ask any questions…"

"Except for your wife…" Maddy said, now feeling very angry, "Is that why you married me? 'Cause I was a witch, and I could help you if you ever got stuck or confused with your work? I could teach you our ways? Like your own personal tutor?"

"No! No!" He said quickly, "I love you!"

"You have a funny way of showing it." Maddy stood up. "Seeing you one week every two months is not enough for me, Charles! I can't live on that kind of affection!"

Charles seemed to be speechless.

"How could we ever raise a family that way? You leaving here and there all the time. Being called up in the middle of dinner. Leaving during the holidays. That's no way to live, Charles! Not with a family!" Maddy's face was turning bright red, "And not telling me! Not telling me that you work for one man that I truly hate!"

It was Charles's turn to stand up, "Rufus? You hate Rufus Scrimgeour? Why?"

"I have my reasons!"

"Well, come on…I'm listening!"

"Why do I have to tell you anything?" Maddy fumed. "Like you've been completely honest with me this entire marriage?"

"Oh and your life's been an open book?" Charles retaliated, "What's this I learned about you and Mr. Potter?"

"What about Me and Harry?"

"You were sweethearts in school! Head over heels, madly in love with each other…"

Maddy crossed her arms, "Is that what you hear, eh?"

Charles nodded, "Yes…that's what I hear…"

Maddy shook her head, slowly, then nodded, "All right. Yes. Harry and I were involved in school. But that was then…" Suddenly a thought struck her. "Wait…How did you meet Harry? You said that he was a 'good man' and you 'trust him completely'."

"He's an Auror…" Charles answered, "I met him through work…"

"Oh…" Maddy said in mock understanding, "So, that's why you trust him. 'Cause he's an Auror…I get it…"

Charles nodded, triumphantly.

"Well, here's a news-flash for you! There have been many Aurors who have turned out to be working for Lord Voldemort! The last person I would ever trust, is an Auror!"

"But you trust Harry!"

"I would trust Harry with my life!"

"But he's an Auror!"

"But I love him!"

Maddy didn't realize what she said, until it took full affect. Charles stared at her in horror. Surely, she didn't mean it the way it sounded.

"What are you saying, Maddy?" Charles asked quietly, "That you want to-"

"I don't know what I'm saying, Charles!" she said, miffed.

The phone rang shrilly and both of them stared at it.

"Don't answer it…" Charles said, instantly.

Maddy grabbed the receiver, "Yes?" Her tone was still curt.

"Maddy?" an excited voice said on the other side.

"Hermione? Listen…erm…right now is not a good-" Maddy started, holding a hand to the side of her head.

"Maddy! Maddy, listen! Ron's home!"

"WHAT?!" Maddy's hand fell.

"Ron's home! Isn't that great? I can't believe it! I am so happy!"

Maddy's tone took a drastic U-turn. "Oh my God! That is so awesome! Is he all right?"

"He's…He's wonderful. He's just so happy that he's home! Hell, I'm happy that he's home…I'm more than happy…I'm…I'm…" Hermione couldn't seem to find the right words.

Maddy laughed. If there ever was a couple that were so completely right, and completely wrong for each other, it was Ron and Hermione. It wasn't much of a surprise to either Harry nor Maddy when they first saw signs of their affections toward each other. Honestly, it used to make them laugh, because Ron and Hermione would deny it completely.

"Her…Hermione that's…that's great…I am so happy for you…"

Hermione paused for a minute, "Mad, is everything okay? You sound upset…"

"No…" Maddy shook her head, "No everything's fine…just a few messes around the house, that's all…you know…"

Maddy could hear a little boy giggling in the background. It made Maddy cry-laugh, because she could imagine Ron with his son for the first time in almost a year. It also made her long to have a child of her own.

"Do you want to talk to him?" Hermione asked.

"To Ron? Oh…no, I should leave you two alone…I mean, you have a lot of catching up…and you should really have today to yourselves…you and the family."

"All right…" Hermione said, "But we'll have to get together soon so you can see him."

"Yes, of course. Send him my love."

"I will…oh and Maddy, are you sure you're gonna be okay?"

"I'll be fine…I promise…" she replied, glancing at Charles.

"Okay. Love you."

"You too…"

"Bye."

"Bye."

Maddy hung up the phone and turned to Charles, who was looking at her, expecting an explanation.

"It was my friend Hermione…her husband Ron's back…he was in-"

"China…" Charles finished.

Maddy nodded. "Right…I forgot you knew…" She cleared her throat.

"Is he a…friend…of yours?" Charles asked, curiously.

"Uh…yeah, kinda." Maddy replied. "He's also…my cousin…sorta…"

"Ah…"

The two of them stood in silence for a few minutes, not sure of what to say. Both of them were thinking the same thing though. They were going to have to come to some sort of agreement.

"So…what do we do now?" Maddy said, finally.

"I dunno…" Charles said, shaking his head. "If you say you don't love me anymore…there's not much we can do…"

Maddy sighed, "I never said I didn't love you Charles…I just said…"

"You said you loved Harry…"

Maddy nodded, "Yes. 'Cause I do. Listen, Charles, Harry is the closest thing to family that I've ever had. I mean, we were practically brother and sister, and we even went by that when we weren't dating. We knew when Sirius's name was cleared, we would be brother and sister…and we were prepared for everything to end then…"

"But?"

"But, then Sirius died, and everything just sorta fell apart. We were at a loss, you know…and we weren't sure what our feelings were anymore. I still loved him more than anything…but he thought he didn't feel the same…and we kind of let it go for a while. Then he told me he loved someone else…and I went mad…and that's when everything ended…"

Charles nodded. Maddy copied him, and stared at the floor. Her heart seemed to leap each time she mentioned Harry's name, and it was strange.

"So…" Charles started, slowly. "Does this mean you want a divorce?"

Maddy breathed a sigh of relief. He had said it first! She didn't have to bring up the 'd'-word. She didn't answer him at first, and thought about her choices. She could continue a life like this, or she could be free to do whatever she desired.

"Yes, Charles…I want a divorce."

A/N: First of all, I want to apologize if I completely butchered the Italian thrown in there for a line or so. I got it from someone else, so blame them if it's incredibly wrong. I only speak a little...Second of all, I hope you're all still interested in this. Expect more frequent updates from now on. Please review in the meantime. Thank you SO much!