New Year's Eve's Afternoon

Wotcher. James again. Obviously.

Well, now that I've been thoroughly berated by my pint-sized little sister, time for food. Actually, it's always time for food. But right now especially. Because it's now afternoon and I may have slept in but I'm still starving! And yes, I know I sound like my Uncle Ron. That's what every adult in this family tells me. Even a lot of the kids, since they have plenty of experience with his appetite too.

I head downstairs to find my entire family, well, my entire immediate family sitting there waiting for me. I get the feeling I'm about to get interrogated. Please let Dad be the one to do it. He may be Head Auror but Mum is brutal when she wants something.

But Merlin just ain't listening to me today, because Mum says, "We hear that something big happened at the party last night."

Lily bloody ratted me out! I thought she approved! "Lily! I thought you weren't going to say anything!"

"I never promised that. I said I approved. But then you went and said you wanted to keep it quiet. And that I do not approve of."

"So you decided to set Mum on me? You might as well have thrown me to the werewolves!"

"James. Stop arguing with your sister and answer your mother." I hate it when Dad uses that tone. It's the tone that says if you don't do what he just told you to, he's going to Imperius you and make you do it.

Might as well get this over with. At least, mostly. "I got a girlfriend."

And of course, Mum squeals so loudly I think she's going to break my eardrums.

"Oh! Finally! Honestly, your father and I were starting to get worried. I even considered the possibility that you might be gay. Obviously that wouldn't matter to us, but when you never seemed to show any interest in girls…"

"Is that what the whole bloody family thought? That I was gay?"

"Language young man. And yes, I think so. Though most people didn't mention it. Didn't want you to feel bad if you were I think."

"Well, no need to worry Mum. I've never had a girlfriend because I've only ever wanted one girl. And I didn't think I had a chance with her."

"Who? If we assume it was one of the girls invited to the party last night…"

"It's Ally, Mum."

"Ally? Ally who?"

Is she really that dense? She's my mother and I love her with all my heart, but really? "Ally, Mum. As in Alice. Alice Longbottom."

"Ally? But she's Lily's age. And—"

"I know, Mum. That's why nothing's happened before now."

And then Albus had to open his big mouth. I love him, but sometimes I really hate him. "There better not be anything happening now. She's only fourteen."

"Al. I know you love her like a little sister, but I'm in love with her. I would never mess around with her like that."

"Love?" And here comes the squealing. Again.

"Ginny, how about you let James explain exactly how this all happened? That way we'll know all the facts."

I'm not sure if I should be smiling gratefully at my dad for stopping the squeals or glaring for making tell everything. I had really been hoping to scrape by with the smallest details.

"Well, if you want to know everything, I'm going to have to go back to the beginning of my fourth year…" And so I tell them. Every little detail. None of them interrupt. I think they can't believe I actually agreed to tell them everything. I'm normally one of the most private members of the family. Not real big on sharing. But seeing as how I want to marry Ally one day, they deserve to know. And yes, I said marry. That's how in love with her I am. She's it for me. If she'll have me. Or I guess, it's if she'll keep me, since she currently has me.

When I'm done, they just stare. Even Lily, and she already knew most of it.

And then the squealing starts again. Again. "Oh, I'm so happy you found someone Jamie! And someone who's already practically family! No need to worry about dying from the shock of meeting our huge family!"

"Ginny. Wait a moment."

"What, Harry? This is so exciting."

"James. Does Neville know?" And I saw Mum's eyes open wide with realization.

I look down at my lap. "No. We haven't exactly had a chance to tell him yet. We are going to tell him."

"Lily?" Of course Dad remembers what Lily was saying earlier.

"Well Daddy, technically he just said he wanted to put off telling Uncle Nev for as long as possible because he's scared of how he'll react."

"James, I understand that you are worried about Neville's reaction. Understandably so. He is after all very protective of Ally. But he is still one of my best mates. And as such, he will not kill you. He has also known you your whole life and knows you are a good kid and wouldn't just be messing around with her. You need to tell him. As soon as possible."

"Yeah, Dad, he'll know all that. When he thinks it all through. But he's not going to think it through! He's going to murder and then realize latter that it might not have been a good idea. He doesn't think logically about protecting Ally!"

"She won't let him hurt you. If she really loves you, she will defend you to her father. And you know he can never say no to her."

"Then how do you propose we tell him?"

"Well. You are of age now and as such can go to the adult New Year's Eve party. You are also allowed to bring one guest. Normally we insist that everyone there is of age. However, under the circumstances, I think you should bring Ally. It might also be better if you wait until he has at least one thing of firewhiskey in him. He always becomes a right sap when he's drunk. Should make him more amendable to your cause."

I stare at for a moment before realizing the plan is actually quite brilliant. I've only seen Uncle Neville drunk once before but Dad was right, he is a sap. This might actually work.