7. Summertime Shenanigans
When Alastor awoke the next morning, he found himself in an unfamiliar room, but he didn't panic. It took less than a heartbeat for him to remember where he was: Willow House in Liddell, the Pomfrey home. Rremly still slept in the other bed, his tousled brown hair all Alastor could see of him. Content to stay snuggled under his covers for a few more minutes, Alastor let his gaze wander the room.
The covers of both beds and the carpet were all a deep, rich purple. The walls were whitewashed, with a cherry wood nightstand between the two beds and a mirror on the wall above it. Two paintings hung on the walls above the beds. Over Alastor's was a view of the orchard, with different birds flying in and out of it. The one over Rremly's was a view of the pastureland: a wide expanse of rolling hills, whose grass moved in the wind and the one willow tree's leaves swished in the breeze. In the wall directly across from the nightstand was the closet, with slender double doors that opened out. Though it looked small, it had been enchanted to accommodate whatever was put into it, and one could walk right into it without a problem.
To the left of the closet and right across from Alastor's bed, was a small writing desk. The door leading to the hallway-and the rest of the house-was to the left of Alastor's bed. To the right of the closet, directly across from Rremly's bed, was a bookshelf. The only window in the room was between Rremly's bed and the bookshelf. Drawn to it, Alastor got up and padded over to lean on the windowsill and look out into the orchard. Mr. Pomfrey and Poppy were up and dressed already, picking apples. She was perched in one of the trees, picking apples and tossing them down to her father willy-nilly. Their laughter floated to him on the summer breeze that blew through the window.
Without warning, the door was thrown open and a small hurricane named Stewart Pomfrey burst into the room, startling Alastor and waking Rremly. Stewart sang:
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen;
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.
Oh Lord our God arise,
Scatter our enemies,
And make them fall
Confound their politics
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix
Oh save us all.
He was prevented from continuing due to the fact that Rremly had seized a pillow and thrown it at Stewart. "Oy! That's not bloody fair! I come in to serenade you and you throw a pillow at me!"
"Stew, did it ever occur to you that some of us like to sleep in?" Rremly asked, his voice slightly scratchy from sleep as he tried to smooth his tousled hair.
Alastor was too busy laughing to pay much attention to anything, and was thus unprepared to have a pillow thrown his way. "Hey!"
"Pillow fight!" Stewart whooped, proceeding to grab a pillow from Alastor's bed, jumping onto Rremly's, and thumping Rremly with it.
Letting out a laugh, Rremly seized the other pillow from his bed and began to retaliate. After only a moment, Alastor grabbed the pillow by his feet and joined the fray, whooping and hollering. The appearance of Mrs. Pomfrey several minutes later stopped the three of them. Alastor glanced at the other two boys, unsure of what to do. Stewart was grinning and Rremly was taking the opportunity to catch his breath. She calmly walked over to Alastor's bed, picked up the remaining pillow, threw it right at her son—toppling him over—and with a smile said, "When you're all finished with your game, do come and attend breakfast like the civilized handsome young men you are." With a wink, she turned and left the room.
Alastor glanced at the other two. "Breakfast?"
"Food!" Stewart tossed his pillow aside and ran from the room.
Exchanging looks, Alastor and Rremly changed as quickly as they could and headed for the kitchen, to find the other four already seated at the table. They slid into the two empty chairs at the table, Rremly beside Stewart and Alastor beside Poppy. He couldn't help grinning a little. This was a great start to the summer holidays.
The six of them were just finishing up when there was a knock at the front door. "Stew? Would you get the door please?"
"Sure, Dad!" Stewart bounced out of his seat and into the front room.
This confused Alastor. The first-born wasn't supposed to answer doors. That fell to younger children. He glanced at the girl sitting beside him. Well, maybe Stewart had been asked because he had a younger sister, but no younger brother. Alastor nodded to himself and resumed finishing off his breakfast, which was really quite delicious.
"Al?"
"Yes, Poppy?" He looked down at her and couldn't help smiling. She looked so sweet and innocent, but he remembered the imp throwing apples hither and yon for her father to chase down.
She studied him for a moment, her gray eyes boring into his brown ones. "Would you like some more?"
"No, thank you," he answered, his smile broadening.
Mrs. Pomfrey commandeered his attention. "Is it not good?"
"Oh, no, Mrs. Pomfrey," Alastor hastily replied. "It's quite delicious. I just don't eat a whole lot anyway."
She nodded as she flicked her wand and sent his plate over to the sink, her smile very understanding. "I see."
"Al! Rrem!" Stewart re-entered the kitchen with Griffith, Percy, and Belladonna close behind. "Let's go!"
Though puzzled, Alastor let himself pulled from his seat at the table and out the back door. "Go where?"
"The secret place," Stewart told him in a mysterious whisper, a daffy grin on his face. "Only Griff, Percy, Rrem, and I know about it, but you and Bella will, too."
Percy nodded as the six of them trotted down the slope leading to the pasture. "Yes, we showed it to Rrem when he stayed over the spring holidays. Really wish you could have, too."
"So do I," Alastor murmured, but the trio, acting rather boisterous because of the summer day, didn't seem to hear it. Only Rremly and Belladonna noticed. None questioned him about it, at least, for which he was glad. Rremly just wrapped his arm around him as they walked, while Belladonna patted him briefly on the shoulder.
They romped their way across the pasture: racing each other, leap-frogging over one another, and generally just being boys (Belladonna was considered one of the guys). Alastor had never felt so alive.
The days passed quickly, with the six spending most romping and playing outside, sometimes joined by Percy's brothers and cousins. Poppy and Rolanda would often tag along after the boys, and they seemed to really like Belladonna. What surprised Alastor was that no one minded! In fact, they were encouraged to tag along. If one of the girls happened to lag behind, one of the others would go back and offer the girl a piggyback ride. It wasn't always the girl's brother who would give her a piggyback ride, either. Percy, Stewart, and Griffith treated Poppy and Ro like sisters. Even Rremly and Belladonna gave a piggyback ride more than once. Alastor wasn't sure if he should or not, but one afternoon, Poppy lagged behind and Alastor was the only one who noticed. He glanced from Poppy, to the others' retreating backs, and back again.
Coming to a decision, he walked back to Poppy and asked, "Want a piggyback ride?"
"Yes, please." She smiled brilliantly up at him. With only a little scrambling and one false start, they headed off after the others. "Thank you, Al."
He smiled. "There's no need to thank me, Poppy."
"I must be awfully heavy, though," she commented, her breath tickling his ear.
He shook his head. "Not at all. I could carry you all day."
"You might have to." Though her voice was soft, he heard what she said anyway because her mouth was next to his ear.
He waited a few beats before asking, "And why would that be?"
She waited so long before answering that he wondered if she would. Finally, she replied, "I think I sprained my ankle."
"Perhaps I should take you back to the house so your mum can take a look?" he suggested, making to turn back.
Her grip tightened around his neck. "No, if you could just carry me...?"
"As long as you promise to let me take you to your mum once we get back," he answered firmly.
He felt her nod. "I promise."
"All right, then, on we go." He continued after the others.
It turned out that Poppy had sprained her ankle. She was forced to stay off it for a few days, but the others catered to her every whim so eagerly that she was never bored. The others were more than willing to give her piggyback rides if she wanted them and all seven of them were happy to fetch and carry for her. Alastor was fascinated by the sweet way she accepted the attentions of her brother and friends and thanked each of them. Stewart would often entertain his sister with wonderful mad-cap stories, or sing silly songs to pass the time. Griffith would joke and perform silly dances as Stewart sang to make Poppy laugh. Percy was happy to read to Poppy for hours on end, his already-deepening voice soothing and lyrical as he recited sonnets, poems, and plays. Rolanda would bring her friend flowers or berries from the fields around the three houses, often scratched and juice-stained from her efforts. Rremly would bring Poppy food and drink, offering her a shy smile and pat her hand, shoulder, or back comfortingly. Belladonna often came and talked about their latest shenanigans and was more than happy to show off any scratches on her arms or legs as well as any and all tears on her pants (she adamantly refused to wear skirts or dresses). Alastor himself was content to merely spend time with her, talking about anything and everything. He would sit near her during the stories, listening quietly, and watching.
His favorite part of his time with the Pomfreys arrived every Sunday afternoon. As they had their tea, Stewart and Poppy would entertain the rest of them by singing or playing instruments. Sometimes, Mr. and Mrs. Pomfrey would join in. All four had wonderful voices and Alastor seemed to just soak the music up. More than once, he'd fallen asleep to the sound of singing or music playing and woke to the sound of Stewart singing 'God Save the Queen' at the top of his lungs. Overall, it was a wonderful month and Alastor was sad to see it come to an end.