11 June 17 1992
"So what's the surprise?" asked Harry for the fifth time when Jennie parked her car.
"For the fifth time, you'll see in minute, really Harry!" she scolded him jokingly and ran from her side of the car to his and helped him out, holding her hand across his eyes.
"Now, I'll lead you… don't peak!" she ordered and Harry let her lead him; she coached him up to her front door and giggled when she removed her hands.
"Look!" she said happily and they boy did look; Jennie saw how his green eyes took in the red ribbon she'd tied around the door.
"What's this?" asked Harry confused and Jennie giggled.
"This little man, is your new home from June 17 to the August 25 every summer until you're done with school!" she said happily and the look on Harry's face was priceless.
"I can live with you for real? I thought you meant that I could stay over and such… I can really live with you?"
"Really", beamed Jennie and Harry jumped on her.
"Oh thank you thank you thank you!"
"I'll take you like the arrangement then?" joked Jennie as she handed him the keys and gestured to the door, he unlocked it slowly as if he were afraid it'd disappear but of course it didn't so he rushed inside and Jennie followed him, giggling at his excitement.
She found him in the living room where she'd placed a chocolate cake and bottles of cold lemonade, and he beamed when she sat down beside him on the couch.
"Thanks Jennie", he smiled and kissed her cheek, something he didn't do that much so Jennie felt ten times more successful than before.
"You're quite welcome", she smiled and offered him chocolate cake and lemonade.
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"The kid's going to stay here every year?"
Jennie felt her mouth grow thin, quite like Minerva's, and looked at Daniel.
"Yes. Is there a problem?" she asked, her voice tense, and Daniel grimaced a little.
"Well, I'd hoped to move away with you to a new place."
Jennie gaped at him, she couldn't do anything else.
"Right… and when were you planning on asking me if I want to move away with you?"
"You don't want to?"
Jennie sighed and rubbed her temples.
"I had no idea you felt this strongly about me Daniel, why the heck haven't you told me earlier?" she asked with a groan and finished her coffee.
"Don't you feel that strongly about me?" asked the now sad looking man carefully and Jennie winced.
"Of course I feel strongly for you! I simply don't want to move, more importantly, I can't, and I told you this! Jeez!"
Daniel cleared his throat, looking sad and a little annoyed.
"I thought you'd place me before a stray kid…"
"Shut up! Don't you dare call him a stray kid, and don't drag him into this! This has to do with you and me!" snapped Jennie, amazed that the man she actually loved could say such things.
"Okay, okay, that was low, I'm sorry, but this makes me sad and mad!"
"I understand that, I'm not stupid!"
"I know you're not stupid! What I don't is how you feel" complained Daniel and raised his hands in frustration.
"What I think is this; I'm in love with you, very much so in fact, but I can't and don't want to move right now. I have an almost son who needs me, as I've told you, and if you can't accept that I don't now if we can work… I do hope you can, though", said Jennie softly and Daniel groaned, ruffled his hair, looked up towards the ceiling and sighed.
"I don't know if I can Jennie… something with that very cute boy is amiss, and I know you know what it is, but you won't tell me."
"I would if I could, but I can't Daniel, and I'm so sorry", she replied and she meant it, for she thought Harry needed a father figure, and he liked Daniel and Daniel liked him; it would be so perfect.
"Then I don't know if I can do this", whispered Daniel and Jennie felt a soft ache starting to eat on her.
"You're… leaving?"
"I don't know… give me a little time to think okay? Like, give me the week out?"
"Absolutely, whatever it takes", agreed Jennie, now quite desperate for anything that could make Daniel stay.
"Okay. Well, I'll leave you now; say hi to Harry for me, and sweet dreams."
Jennie watched him as he rose from the table, and he walked around and kissed her and even to it was filled with love she could feel something else as well, insecurity, and it killed her.
"Goodnight Daniel, sleep tight."
She sat at the table, heard him walk into the hall open the door and close it, watched hi, through the window as walked away in the night.
Then, and only then – when she was sure he'd really left – Jennie allowed herself to weep.
A/N. So what do you guys think of this? A Little more about Jennie's life in this chapter, but she does have a life other than caring for Harry and I think it's important to show that as well, don't you?
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the HP universe/characters/anything HPrelated
CLAIMER: I do own JENNIE ANDREWS and THE PLOT
Happy reading!
Here's chapter eleven, enjoy it =)
Also, since J K Rowling never has given us a date for when the summer holidays ends, I've decided that it ends - in this story - on June 10, giving the kids time to pack and such after the feast which I've decided is on June 6 - so there you go