Chapter Fifteen

Rose talks to Professor Longbottom

Early the next morning the group was being roughly awoken by Hermione.

"Breakfast?" Hermione asked them when she managed to pull them out of their deep sleep. The breakfast was gratefully received by all most of who hadn't eaten in at least twelve hours even Neville popped downstairs to pick up some breakfast for Lavender who refused to move out of the bed she had now occupied for twenty-four hours.

"Did you give dad that letter?" Lily asked Rose quietly.

"Yes he asked me not to tell Professor Longbottom."

"But do you think the he will pay it?"

"I don't know giving the money to Max and Abi might mean that they move to the other side of the world it's hardly a happy solution."

"Did you get anywhere in Scotland dad?" Lily asked noticing that her dad was beginning to take notice of their conversation.

"No one recognised my description of them but there was a sense of magical trace running through the area I don't think they can be far away."

"How about Canterbury?"

"Dead end," Hermione added, "there was a trace of magic from Max's wand but it was short and days old."

"You can trace someone's wand magic?" Lily asked curiously.

"Why what have you done Lily?" Harry asked laughing.

"No just curious I don't think anyone has mentioned it at Hogwarts."

"No it's very strong magic we shouldn't really be using it here it was something I was taught in auror training."

There was a moment of silence as an owl dropped through the open window and lightly placed a letter on Harry's plate the entire group looked at the letter with apprehension Rose knew the writing was not that of Abi or Max but Ginny Potter's.

"She's found them," Harry said as he opened and scanned the page "they've agreed to come back home but they are to go to Beauxbatons in the New Year to finish their education and are to remain engaged."

"They haven't asked for money?" Rose asked.

"No," Harry replied, "read it yourself," Rose did so with Lily, Alizia and Hugo reading it over her shoulder.

"They're coming to the new years party Rose said and all the adults looked up."

"What?" Hermione asked looking across the table.

"It says that Aunt Ginny has encouraged them to come to the party to see their parents.

"I didn't read that," Harry said shaking his head.

"It's sandwiched in between a piece on wedding details and more wedding details you probably skipped through it Uncle Harry."

"Do you want me to go tell mum and dad?" Alizia asked in the silence.

"Yes Alizia," Hermione said, "do you want someone to come with you?"

"No I'm fine," Alizia said rather unconvincingly.

"I'll go," Rose said.

They climbed two flights of steps up the house that Rose knew so well perhaps only her parents house and her dorm room at Hogwarts were more familiar to her. The stairs creaked slightly and Rose knew from the experience of a hundred sleepovers that it was the third step from the bottom that was the worst. The pictures up the walls took you on a step through time near the bottom step was a picture of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny what Rose guessed to be just after the war in fact her dad still had a cut to his forehead. The next picture was Harry and Ginny on their wedding day then Ginny holding a baby James then Harry and her dad holding two babies with James running in and out of the picture the two babies being of course herself and Albus. Then a picture of all the Potter Weasley cousins from Teddy in the back to the youngest at the time, Fred, followed by a picture of Albus and James rolling their eyes at the camera dressed on Hogwarts robes. It was an expression mirrored in the next picture a new one that Rose hadn't seen before of James and Harry stood in front of be doors of the Daily Prophet building where James had begun his job as Quidditch correspondent. The last picture was one that changed every year with the three Potter siblings on their new year party with Lily dressed in a black dress Albus and James in dark robes fighting and Ginny's voice coming from outside the frame.

As Rose entered the bedroom Professor Longbottom and his wife were sharing darkness captured them immediately the heavy curtains were shut and the complete blackness that circled the room gave Rose the impression they hadn't been open in days. The four poster bed in the centre of the room also had it's curtains shut and Rose was unsure how to approach.

"Mum?" Alizia asked into the blackness and what Rose had taken to be a piece of furniture moved in the blackness.

"Dad?" Alizia asked.

"Yes," came the reply Rose felt heart broken at hearing that mournful voice Professor Longbottom so normally alive and jolly particularly when surrounded by his plants sounded yet he sounded like he was conducting a funeral.

"We've had some news," Alizia continued "Ginny has found them in Scotland they're engaged but they've agreed not to get married immediately and they are to continue their education in France not New Zealand."

"On what conditions?"

"Sorry Dad," Alizia asked confused.

"This Max must have asked for something for stopping the marriage, fees for Beauxbatons at least."

"Nothing as far as I am aware dad."

"Mmmmmm," said the Professor thoughtfully and Rose thought he was a great deal clever than the students who made fun of him gave him credit for.

"Will you tell mum?" Alizia asked.

"Yes of course Alizia," and then more quietly as if he thought Rose couldn't hear "you've been a rock."

And Rose had to agree with him Alizia was eminently more sensible away from her twin and she had virtually held up the family whilst her mother had seemed to melt away and her father die of grief.

"Do you think your Aunt did pay them not to get married?" Alizia asked when she had closed the door.

"I don't know," Rose replied "I could see them paying the rates for schooling perhaps but the rest seems a lot of money."