Chapter Five: The Jitters

At first, I had the fleeting thought of switching name cards, so Hugo Weasley – who would be sitting on James's other side – would be next to me. But I soon renounced that idea – it had been practically a year since our New Year's Day meeting, in which he had proclaimed me "just a girl". We were a year older, and would be going to school together in less than two years. Age and time would hopefully change James's opinion on what girls could and couldn't do…

I calmly seated myself in my assigned chair, and grew eager when Luna sat down, her hair now lying loose on her shoulders. I jerked my head towards her, eyes round, and asked, "Could you tell me more about the Nargles?"

Luna smiled faintly, cocking her head to the side. "They're known to inhabitant mistletoe, you know. That's why I told Daddy that I wouldn't have a strand of mistletoe above my head and Rolf's at the ceremony." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Nargles on a wedding day are very bad luck."

I rested my cheek on my hand. "They sound horribly fascinating."

Luna turned her attention back to her plate. "They are…they're simply amazing."

I was so focused on these mysterious Nargles that I didn't hear the chair on my right side be pulled out, and then sat in. My heart lurching, my eyes slid sideways. He had grown several inches taller since I had last seen him, and his hair was scruffier than I remembered. There was a small cut on his forehead, and I wondered if he had attempted to give himself a scar similar to his father's, like he had done when we were six.

He turned his head to peer over at me. I couldn't help but let a blush overcome my face. It was difficult not to blush, especially when I replayed our last meeting.

"Hello, Alice," James gave me a small smile, one that was unreadable. It held no warmth, and no memories.

I stared down at my plate, non-responsive. Half of me was hoping that James had completely forgotten of last New Year's Day, and was eager to talk with me again. The other half was apprehensive, and just plain embarrassed whenever he was in the room. But, perhaps it wasn't only New Year's Day that ruined this friendship? Could it be that we were no longer neighbors, and people who spotted each other every day?"

My eyes still glued to my plate, I answered him, "Hi."

We didn't find a need to speak any further – James was brought into a conversation about the Chudley Cannons with Hugo, and the varied platters of food that Molly Weasley Sr., Hermione, and Victoire Weasley were carrying in from the kitchen heavily distracted me. As the many different aromas filled my nose, I could just feel the drool pour out of my mouth. No one had ever told me of Mrs. Weasley's legendary cooking. As the woman set out the food on the table, I was positive that I had died and had ascended into Heaven, what with all of this delicious-looking food. Inquisitively, as soon as the servers had taken their places at the table and Molly announced that we'd all dig in, my hand snapped out and the next thing I knew, I was saddling my plate with numerous portions of food.

As I began tucking into roast chicken, Liana, who was sitting across from me, giggled. Her plate was filled with only three different dishes, and she was eating as delicately as possible. "I see you haven't had much of Ma Weasley's cooking before, eh?"

"It's brilliant!" I wiped some sauce off of my chin. "The most delicious food I've ever had!"

As I made myself look like a pig over Mrs. Weasley's cooking, the other Weasleys studied me for entertainment. James found it particularly funny that I'd even lick chicken bones dry to get every bit of moist meat on my tongue. I purposely ignored the looks Mum and Dad kept shooting me – they were trying to tell me to stop acting so rude, but I couldn't help it, and no one else seemed peeved of my behavior. Mrs. Weasley blushed contentedly all throughout the meal because of my sudden love for her culinary creations.

By the time everyone's plates were crumb-free, and the serving platters were deserted, Mrs. Weasley magically sent the silverware back into the kitchen. I was feeling content and lethargic after dinner, but yet, I still bubbled up with joy when dessert was brought out. Somehow – I still don't know how I did it – I made room inside of me for chocolate tart and Yorkshire pudding. Once dessert was cleared away, it was time for everyone staying at the Lovegoods' to leave, for wedding preparations would begin bright and early the next day.

I was wondering if James and Albus would be boarding in a room near the one I was in with Liana and Rose as we trudged through the snow back to the Lovegoods'. A confused feeling rushed through me when Mr. Lovegood led the boys to the floor above us upon our arrival at the house. I fell asleep that night wondering why I was acting so childish…


The next day began at six a.m. for us. We gobbled down breakfast at the Burrow, and although some of us – mostly me - wished to continue eating, Mrs. Weasley bustled us out of the kitchen like a mother hen. Luna sent Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, Michael Scamander, James, Fred, and a boy who I later learned was Teddy Lupin to work on her wedding altar, for the ceremony would occur outdoors, in the backyard of the Lovegoods' home, among the wet snow – a charm that would weaken the coldness would be set on the yard.

The job Liana, Rose, Lily, Dominique, and I were given was to help Molly Weasley with the cooking preparations. Only Dominique and Liana knew how to prepare food properly, while the rest of us could barely make toast without burning it. My parents very rarely used magic in our home, to teach their children that you should never rely completely on magic. My mother cooked our food in London manually, and no one would help her out. This was likely the reason why I was clueless over using a cheese grater that day in the Burrow's kitchen. The girls laughed fondly over my naivety, while Mrs. Weasley pecked me on the cheek before guiding me in a proper lesson of cheese grating.

During this lesson, both Michael and James came in from the Lovegoods' yard, sweating, despite the chilliness outdoors. James blinked at me blankly before pouring himself a glass of water. Pretending not to care, I bent industrially over my bowl of freshly grated cheese. Michael, however, chuckled along with the girls when I dug the grater so deeply into a block of cheese that the dairy product bounced out of my hand.

Blushing now that the boys were present, I knelt down to snatch up the cheese. Michael, with his sturdy, eleven-year-old legs, reached the floor before me and had the cheese in his hand before I knew it. "Keep a firmer grip on it next time," he said to me, fighting back a smile.

Liana guffawed heavily. "Are you hiding something from us, Mikey? You were the one to say that a girl's place is only in the kitchen!"

Michael smiled gently, while James, hunched over by the sink, rolled his eyes. "Come on, Mike. We have to help Dad and everyone else finish the altar."

Michael nodded and followed him outdoors, but not before he turned back to us and gave us each farewell smiles. To me, he spoke, "Remember – grate the cheese lightly." He left us in giggles and red faces.

Mrs. Weasley sighed and wrung her dishtowel as Michael and James departed. "How I've always liked that boy! Liana, dear, your brother is one to look up to, you know!"

Liana rolled her eyes, but only when Mrs. Weasley had her back turned. "Yes, Ma Weasley."

I had been told by Liana herself that she didn't like being compared to Michael, and that he was no more interesting than her, but for some reason, I ached for the story behind Michael. There was something about him that I was interested in uncovering…


I spent the rest of the morning in the Burrow's kitchen, and was then granted a free afternoon because of my devotion to my cheese grating, as Mrs. Weasley said it. To my delight, I spent these open hours lugging my camera around, photographing every person in sight. I was overjoyed when Xenophilius Lovegood finally dubbed me the 'official' wedding photographer.

This 'promotion' brought me into a photo frenzy. I snapped a shot of Dad bent over a bundle of fungus in the Lovegoods' garden. I took a candid picture of my mother measuring a sleeve on Luna's wedding gown, while Luna narrowed down song selections to play at the wedding reception. Liana and Lily – being more bold and loud than Rose and Eleanor – posed for me with Lucy Weasley and Molly Weasley Jr. at the top of the tallest tree in the apple orchard. Rose and Eleanor finally agreed for me to snap their images when they were sitting on the back stoop of the Burrow together. Hiding behind a nearby bush, I even caught a shot of James and Albus helping the rest of the group put the finishing touches on the altar.

But there was one person who withheld to have his picture taken. Michael had disappeared shortly after coming to the kitchen during our cooking session. I finally pinpointed him behind the Lovegoods' house, buried beneath a Transfiguration textbook. Peeking out at him from behind the other end of the house, I no longer saw the quiet and considerate boy who had picked up my cheese for me. I saw a studious…and far too serious boy, one who considered himself older than reality.

"Michael!" I stepped forward from behind the wall. He jumped at my appearance, but soon settled down, eyes still glued to his textbook.

"I'm sorry, Alice, I can't play now. I have to finish some homework before Uncle Rolf comes tomorrow."

"I don't want to play. I just want to take your picture. Luna's father made me the wedding photographer."

Michael laughed coldly, shocking me a little. "Then why did he hire that man from Diagon Alley to photograph the wedding party?"

My heart sank with denial at first, but I soon brightened up. Deep down, I didn't really think that I was the actual photographer. "Where is there a rule that there can't be two photographers?"

Michael sighed. "Really, Alice, I need to look over this before the chaos starts tomorrow. When you're in school, you'll understand."

Disheartened, I slunk away, clutching my camera. Michael had seemed so gentle, so kind, and yet, he had snapped at me like James had on New Year's Day.

But I quickly forgot of Michael's attitude when Mrs. Weasley called us girls in to help her prepare the extravagant wedding cake for Christmas Day. This was a time to toss away what had happened that day, and have fun. We snuck frosting when Molly wasn't looking, and watched fascinatingly as she molded the tiny sugar figurines of Luna and Rolf for the top of the cake. This made me even more eager for Rolf's arrival the next day…


We awoke on Christmas Eve to find a wooden Christmas tree on the Lovegoods' main floor. Luna said that Nargles had been reported to now reside in pine trees, and that a wooden tree painted green would be safer than a real one. We exchanged presents that morning, instead of having to do so on the day of the wedding. I received a brand new set of dress robes from my father, to wear for the wedding. Mum gave me a silver pendant, while Luna provided to me a similar necklace, only one to "scare off the Nargles".

I was startled when James handed to me a wrapped gift. "Mum made me get you a present," he replied, blushing. "B-but I picked it out…well, made it…by myself."

Hesitantly, I unwrapped the colorful paper covering the present to reveal a photograph album. At first, I assumed that it was an empty scrapbook, for me to paste my original snapshots into it. But James then intolerantly seized the book from me, and unlatched the lock around the album that kept it from opening. He showed me the inside pages, and my mouth merely dropped open.

The thick pages of the album consisted of photographs of James and I dating back to the birth. There was the infamous shot of James exposing his bare bottom to the camera when we were eight months old, with me in the background of the photo bearing an amused face. I reminisced when seeing the photo of us covered from head to toe in mud, laughing as Mr. Potter used his wand to send jets of water towards us. The memory lane ended with the photograph of the two of us taken on the day before my family left for London for the first time.

I looked back up at the boy who was possibly still my best friend. "James…thank you!"

He shifted in his seat. "Dad said that I should make it…because you and I don't see each other much anymore. And Mum found all of the photos…"

I gleefully hugged the album to my chest. "Thank you so much…I love it!"

Throughout the rest of the day, I felt more jovial and flighty than I ever had before. I kept James's photo album tucked under my arm, but not until I pasted into the album the recently developed photo of James and his brother helping with the wedding altar. I skipped lunch at the Burrow to lock myself in the bedroom at the Lovegoods' and create a title card for my album – Alice P. Longbottom and James S. Potter: Birth to Death. I was a naïve child at the time, and was fully convinced that I'd treasure these photos until my breath's expiration time.

Rolf Scamander's arrival broke my eyes away from the album, and my feet out of the bedroom. Rolf arrived by Floo powder and landed precisely in the Lovegoods' fireplace. The noise of him spilling out of the fireplace and into the living room brought all of the house's temporary residents down to the main floor. Liana and I entered the room at the same time, and I witnessed Liana squealing in pleasure as she rushed forward to embrace her uncle. Michael even sulked downstairs from his room long enough to greet Rolf.

As I watched the Scamanders hug and kiss each other, I felt a ping of jealousy inside. Liana and Michael were clearly very close, and had a sibling bond that I failed to have with my brother and sister. The only people Liana had in this world were her brother and uncle, and soon to be Luna and Mr. Lovegood. At some points, even in my early childhood, I longed to be away from my pestering siblings and my prying mother. Seeing the way Liana loved Michael and Rolf made me feel both envious and guilty, and almost causing me to reach the point of a second chance with my family…

After spinning his niece lovingly around the room and shaking the hand of his nephew firmly, Rolf looked away from Liana and Michael to greet us, the people who were not family, and who now felt like intruders. As Luna's fiancée exchanged the common hellos with my parents, Ron and Hermione, and Mr. Lovegood, I observed him thoroughly. His blond hair was slightly too long and grungy – it was nearing his shoulders that day he came home. His face had burns and scratches, obviously marks from the mysterious beasts he had encountered over the years. But despite the scarification on his face, Rolf was handsome and young and the male equivalent to Luna. He spoke with a slightly more grounded tone than Luna, but not so grounded that he was a strict fusser.

Rolf glanced upon Rose, Hugo, Frankie, Eleanor, James, Albus, Lily, and I. He shot us each a friendly smile, and said, "Well, you lot must be the ones who have rescued Li-Li and Mike from boredom, eh?"

I couldn't believe it – his voice was just like Luna's…melodious. But the effect his voice had on me didn't stop me from asking a question that was throbbing inside me. With wide eyes, I approached him and asked, "Mr. Scamander, have you ever seen any Nargles on your journeys?"

His beam widened, and he bent down to be at my eye level. "You must be Ally Longbottom…I'd recognize that walk anywhere."

Liana appeared at his side. "Don't listen to him, Alice! He's seen plenty of Nargles, he just doesn't like to brag!"

Rolf laughed and drew Liana into a hug. "She knows me too well," he apologized to me.

"So you have seen them?" The more I heard of these creatures, the more I was fascinated with them.

He wiped off the smile to give me a serious glare. "Come to my room after supper. I have photographs of them."

I smiled at him, and he returned it. Our eye contact was broken when Rolf's new bride entered, eyes shining like never before.

Right when I saw the look shared between Rolf and Luna, I realized that I had just witnessed true love. I watched in awe as Rolf came up to Luna and wrapped his arms around her. Luna still maintained her dreamy and distant aura, but for some reason, seemed more serious when in her love's arms. A nine-year-old could only see the easy and wonderful part of love, and not the bumpy road needed to be taken to reach that worriless love. Little did I know, as much as I wanted this true love, I thought about who I'd finally have it with, and when…


Throughout the rest of Christmas Eve, Rolf did what he needed to in order to prepare for the wedding the next day. However, after dinner, it was time for him to move his bags over to the Burrow, where he would spend the night. Liana followed him there like a puppy, and as soon as Rolf deposited his bags into his bedroom, his niece dragged him outside to the apple orchard, for a game of Quidditch with the boys. I was lucky enough to be included, the Weasleys having possession of several spare broomsticks. Although Michael forced me to be the Keeper for his team, which caused me to be out of the way, I was fine with my position; free to watch how Rolf would treat the children he played with.

In that one hour in which we played Quidditch, I saw in Rolf a duplicate of my own father's behavior. Dad was one who never had a true family when growing up, and now treasured the family he had currently. For an unknown reason, I assumed Rolf had been in the same situation. He pretended – or was it his true playing skills I saw? – to be a dreadful Quidditch player, allowing the boys or Liana to catch the Quaffle when he could have easily gotten a hold of it. Rolf brought humor into his terrible playing, and dutifully accepted the mockery the boys and Liana brought upon him.

He'll be an amazing father one day, I said in my head, and then ignored Michael's yells to guard the goal posts, leading to me joining the action of the game. As the game slowly ended, jitters arose in all of us, as we thought of the wedding the next day…


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