6. Liddell and Willow House
Alastor stared out the train window, a warm glow of happiness suffusing his entire being. He would be spending the first month of the summer holidays with Stewart and his family. Rremly would be there, too, and even Belladonna would be around as she was to stay with Percy and his family. The six would most likely be inseparable during their time together. However, as King's Cross Station grew steadily nearer, Alastor became more anxious. What if his mother had changed her mind? What if she dragged him away from his friends? He began to fidget, drawing the attention of the others.
"Al, relax. My parents already like you."
"It's not that, Stew," Alastor replied, forcing himself to stop fidgeting. "I don't want to be humiliated again."
Stewart and Griffith, who'd been playing Exploding Snap, exchanged sympathetic looks. "I don't blame you, Al, but you were there when your Mum said yes. I doubt she's going to change her mind at the last minute."
"Thanks, Stew." Alastor smiled at his friend.
Stewart smiled back. "You're welcome, mate."
"Would your mum change her mind?" Percy asked thoughtfully from where he and Rremly were looking over chocolate frog cards and comparing what each had. Belladonna, however, sat on Percy's other side enjoying a Licorice Wand, though she, too, looked at Alastor- her face inscrutable.
Alastor shrugged. "I really don't know. She's never let me stay at a friend's home before." In a softer voice, he added, "It wasn't as if I had any friends in the first place."
"What was that?" Stewart asked, grinning. "I didn't quite catch it."
Alastor mock-glared at his friend, having relaxed a little. "Never mind, Stew."
"We're here," Rremly announced quietly.
The six changed into Muggle clothes (in Percy's case, stylish Muggle clothes) and collected their trunks from the luggage van before exiting the train. Chattering like a bunch of magpies, they made their way over to where the Pomfrey, Hooch, Lockley, and Redgrave families were waiting.
"Alastor!"
"Yes, Mother?" He turned to look at her.
Her eyes flicked towards the gathered families before looking down at him. "Remember your manners. Always say please and thank you. We don't want others thinking the Moody family are rude and ill-behaved."
"Yes, Mother." He breathed a silent sigh of relief. "May I go?"
She looked at him sharply, but nodded all the same. "Yes, Boy."
"Thank you, Mother." His nervousness gone, Alastor turned to rejoin his friends. He didn't see Aurelius watching him with narrowed eyes.
The others were talking excitedly amongst themselves when Alastor joined them, feeling shy among so many strangers. "Mum, Da, this is Alastor Moody. Al, my parents, Patrick and Iris Pomfrey."
"Stew, aren't we forgetting someone?" The girl, obviously Poppy, asked, head tilted to one side, her tawny hair now taking on golden highlights rather like her mother's.
Stewart grinned. "I don't think so. Do you, Poppy?"
"Stewart Alden Pomfrey, might I remind you that I can still quarantine you even if you aren't sick?" she shot back. Alastor couldn't quite stifle an amused chuckle. Poppy turned to him. "I'm glad you find this amusing, as you'll be seeing a lot of this sort of thing at our home. I'm Poppy by the way, as my dear prat of a brother has quite forgotten his manners." She smiled brightly, extending her hand to Alastor.
He took her hand and gallantly kissed the back of it. "A pleasure, Poppy, I'm sure."
"Excuse me, Al, but there's more people for you to meet," Griffith interrupted, grinning cheekily. "Mum, Sis, this is Alastor Moody. Al, my mum, Julianna Hooch, and my little sis, Rolanda."
The girl, her dirty blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and her eyes a startling shade of yellow, shoved Griffith. "Little, eh?"
"Yes, little," Griffith returned, shoving her back.
Mrs. Hooch, a tall, lean woman with short spikey hair and yellow eyes, laid a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Griff, what have I told you?"
"Not to shove Ro because she's my sister," he answered, sighing heavily.
Rolanda stuck her tongue out at her brother and he stuck his out back. "Griffith, Rolanda, that's enough."
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Alastor smiled up at Mrs. Hooch before holding his hand out to Rolanda. When the girl placed her hand in his, he kissed the back of it, as he had Poppy's.
She made a face as she pulled her hand back and wiped it on her skirt. "Ew, cooties."
"Rolanda Peregrin Hooch!" Mrs. Hooch's voice made the girl flinch. "Not another word out of you until we get home, is that clear?"
Rolanda nodded, looking somewhat ashamed.
"Come on, Al, time for you to meet my family." Percy tugged both Alastor and Belladonna over to where his parents, brothers, cousins, aunts, and uncles gathered.
"Everyone this is Belladonna Breedlove and Alastor Moody. Mates, these are my parents, Sylvius and Pandora, my uncle Godffrey Lockhart, and my aunt Luna Lockwood," and here Percy winked, "and you of course know my brothers and cousins already."
They had, indeed, met Percy's brothers—Julian and Josselyn—as well as his cousins, Viatrix and Lucilla Lockhart, and Juno Lockwood.
Belladonna actually managed a smile for Mr. and Mrs. Lockley, and did her best to be at least a little ladylike and polite. "Hello," she said. "I'm pleased to meet you, and thank you for having me over."
"Hello." Alastor nodded to Percy's parents, musing that Mr. Lockley was rather sophisticated with his slightly curled shoulder length barley coloured hair, bright piercing blue eyes, and his narrow pointed nose. He also had to admit to himself that, looking upon Mrs. Lockley, he'd never seen such an elegant and beautiful woman in all his life. She had long curled golden hair that was swept back into a loose bun and kept in place by a stunning antique silver hair comb dotted with amethyst and topped with peacock feathers, drawing out the blue-green of her eyes. She had a stunning sculpted face and her lips were full.
His aunt, Mrs. Lockwood, was similarly stunning with her long wavy silvery-blond hair, ice blue eyes, and finely pointed features. Her daughter, Juno, looked as though she was inheriting her beauty. Even Mr. Lockhart looked remarkably handsome, sky blue eyes drawn out on account of his short sleek strawberry-blond hair. His face was thin, but pleasingly so, and his daughters Viatrix and Lucilla appeared to be taking after him. He also knew, without a doubt, that when Percy and his brothers grew older, they'd be just as handsome as their father.
Belladonna nudged him discreetly, bringing him back from his momentary staring. Alastor nearly blushed, and the families all smiled. Clearly they found him pleasantly amusing.
"Percy's told us all about you," Mr. Lockley said, eyes twinkling. "We find we'd rather like to get to know you better."
Mrs. Lockley smiled, seemingly in perfect agreement with her husband. "If you'd ever like to visit, please don't hesitate to tell us. We'd be more than happy to have you."
Poor Alastor could hardly think of a thing to say except, "Thank you."
A tugging on Alastor's hand reminded him that he had one more family to meet. "Come on, Al."
Alastor laughed as he allowed himself to be towed over to where Rremly's family waited patiently. "All right, all right."
"Mum, Dad, this is Alastor Moody. Al, these are my parents, Edmund and Minna Redgrave. You already know Holden."
Alastor nodded. "Hello." Mr. Redgrave was a man of average height, fine light-brown hair, and sky blue eyes, and appeared very much at home in tweeds. Mrs. Redgrave, just slightly shorter than her husband, had voluminous shoulder-length hazel hair and light-blue eyes and seemed very comfortable in her pleasant light yellow summer dress. They gave off a comforting warmth and seemed so natural and down to earth.
"I'm surprised you didn't kiss Mrs. Lockley's and Mrs. Lockwood's hands." Holden mused with a grin.
Alastor looked sheepish and suddenly worried. "Should I have?" He asked, suddenly wondering if he'd made some kind of faux-pas.
Holden couldn't help a laugh, himself. He smiled and clapped Alastor on the shoulder. "You were fine, Al. Don't worry about it."
"Well, shall we go now?" Mr. Pomfrey asked.
Unable to stop smiling-not that he wanted to-Alastor left platform 9¾ with his friends and their families, even if he hadn't been able to meet Belladonna's sad looking, pale-faced, rail thin mother.
"Welcome to Willow House, Al." Stewart gestured dramatically to indicate the two-story cottage.
Though much much smaller than the mansion Alastor had grown up in, it somehow seemed to be more welcoming than Moody Manor. Shaking his head, he followed Stewart into the cottage, vaguely aware that Poppy was behind him. Upon entering, he found himself in a small sitting room, decorated in plum and white: white wicker seats and a plum-colored sofa. Irises and orchids decorated the walls and so on. Through the door on the left was the dining room and kitchen, matching the sitting room in terms of colors and motifs. Through a door on the right, he spotted a restroom and guest room. Near the door on the right was a small stairwell with real vines growing up the balustrade. To the left of the railing, there was a stained glass door that opened onto a small little balcony, complete with one wicker, with wind chimes and hanging wisteria plants at strategic points. Up at the top of the stairs were three bedrooms. "Well, what do you think?"
"I think it's wonderful," he replied, smiling at the little girl.
She smiled brightly up at him, but Stewart's voice prevented a reply on her part. "I hope you don't mind that you and Rrem will be sharing the guest room, Al."
"Not at all, Stew," Alastor replied. "After all, I do share a room with four other boys at school."
Stewart nodded. "Good point. C'mon, let's go outside and play. The others are there already."
"All right." Grinning happily, Alastor allowed Stewart to tow him out into the backyard, with Poppy tagging along behind the two. It was a wide expanse of pastureland with a small garden and an orchard. He'd never seen anything so beautiful.