Astoria yawned. She was sure she had heard a knock at the door. Was Abby here already? It was only six in the morning. They didn't have to be at her families mansion for hours. She stretched and slid her legs off the bed and then lifted her torso up.
"I'm coming!" she called out. "Give me a moment!"
She pulled herself off the bed and slowly hobbled out of her bedroom and to the front door of the apartment. She opened the door and there stood Abigail Dawson. Her hair had grown out since they first met and she had dyed it purple. She knew how much Astoria liked purple. Aside from her hair, she was wearing a nice black blouse and a black skirt.
"Good morning, Abby. You look nice," Astoria said, though she wasn't sure how clear she was. She didn't like talking to people right after she woke up.
"Thanks," Abigail said and gave Astoria a hug.
"How do you get this energy so early?" Astoria asked.
"I don't know. I just woke up. I'm excited!" Abigail said.
"That's wonderful. I need to shower. And then I should probably eat as well," Astoria said.
"Okie dokie," Abby said then went and plopped herself down on Astoria's couch.
A short while later Astoria was showered, dressed and fed (Abigail made omelets.) They then sat on the couch and went over the plans for their visit to Canterbury. They were traveling by train. Normally, Astoria would simply apparate down to the Greengrass mansion but with Abigail that wasn't a good idea.
"My father may seem a bit austere. Just ignore him. My mother is nice but she may seem disinterested. And my sister… well I just hope she's not there," Astoria said.
"Got it," Abigail said.
Astoria sighed and fell back against the back of the couch.
"I'm nervous," Astoria said.
Abigail touched her shoulder and said, "It'll be fine. We'll get through this."
"I know. They don't really like Muggles but they don't hate them like other pure blood families. And they didn't support You Know Who. In fact, they were against him. He was bad for business you see," Astoria said. Abigail nodded.
"But still. I worry about how they will react. It's a lot to take in," Astoria said.
"That you're bisexual and have an American Muggle girlfriend?" Abigail asked.
"Yes. That," Astoria said.
The train ride wasn't a long one. Only about an hour. From there it was a simple matter of taking a taxi to the mansion. The estate was fairly large but it didn't really stand out from any of the Muggle estates nearby. The gates to the estate were adorned with the letters "GG" for Greengrass.
Her family wasn't about extravagance and spectacle but they enjoyed a nice style of life for themselves. And Midas believed, as his parents and their parents before him believed, that your home should reflect your status at a minimum. The Greengrass mansion and estate did that well.
After the taxi dropped them off at the front door Astoria and Abigail knocked on the door. After a moment the door opened and standing there was Daphne, Astoria's sister. Daphne was older than Astoria and they both took a great deal after their mother. Daphne was a little shorter and a bit less skinny. And her hair was darker. But no one would ever doubt they were sisters.
"Hello, sister. Who's this?" Daphne said, gesturing at Abigail.
"This is Abigail," Astoria said.
"That's her name. That's not who she is," Daphne continued but just then Astoria's father showed up behind Daphne. He was an older man, having just turned seventy. Though in truth as a wizard he would live for many years still. He was tall and broad. He was imposing both in size and his attitude.
"Astoria, my dear, is this a Muggle you've brought to our home?" Midas said. His tone was droll and cold. Even now it gave Astoria chills.
"Yes. Her name is Abigail," Astoria said, her voice shaking a little.
"Hmmph. Fine. Come in then," he said and gestured them both in. Astoria and Abigail walked inside while Daphne glared at them. They walked through the foyer and then down a short hall which led directly to the large family room. Noriko Greengrass was seated in a chair and sipping tea. There was a pot and some cups on the coffee table clearly intended for anyone else who might want some.
"Hello, mum. This is Abigail Dawson," Astoria said, trying to cut past any questions.
"Pleased to meet you, Abigail," Noriko said warmly.
"Hello. Nice to meet you Mrs. Greengrass," Abigail said.
"Please, call me Noriko," she replied. Abigail just nodded and smiled.
"Mum, Abigail is-"
"An American and a Muggle," Noriko said. "Yes, I can tell. I wasn't born yesterday you know."
Noriko was sixty-four years old though she didn't look it. Looking at Noriko often felt like looking into a mirror and seeing an older reflection of yourself, Astoria had thought. Though, Noriko kept her dark hair cut shoulder length always whereas Astoria always preferred to let it grow long.
"Well, that's not all, mum. She's… Abby is my girlfriend," Astoria said, feeling petrified as the words slipped out of her mouth.
"You're a lesbian? Hmm. That would explain why you've never had a boyfriend I suppose," Noriko said. She didn't sound judgmental but it still bothered Astoria.
"No. I'm bisexual. We both are," Astoria said. Noriko furrowed her brow.
"Dear, I don't care if you're gay. You don't have to say you're bisexual. Everyone knows that's just what people call themselves when they are feeling confused about their sexuality," Noriko said sounding confident.
"We aren't gay! If I were gay I would say I was gay! I'm trying to be open with you, mum, please respect my identity!" Astoria said, trying very hard not to yell.
"Okay, okay. You're bisexual," Noriko said, sounding bored
"Thank you," Astoria said and sat down across from her mother. Abigail sat next to her. Astoria knew her mother still didn't understand but at least she dropped it. That was something.
From there her mother asked nearly every question she seemingly could conjure up about Abigail and their relationship. She was thankful her mother didn't ask about sex. Noriko didn't always have the best tact and sometimes crossed lines that were uncomfortable for Astoria.
As it was she and Abigail hadn't done anything other than the occasional snog. In fact, neither of them had ever had sex with anyone. For Astoria it was a simple matter of having spent her teenage years thus far avoiding people. She hadn't dated and she hadn't had sex. She hadn't really wanted to. But now that she had a girlfriend she had found that she was suddenly interested in sex. She wonder if she needed to feel close to someone before she could desire to have sex with them?
She had even been reading some Muggle books offering advice on sex. She had even picked up books that were labeled erotica. She knew their was wizard erotica but she had never read any herself. She found the text to be very tantalizing. Though she worried that everything she read seemed to imply that to truly please a woman you needed a penis. She didn't have a penis. She hoped that would be okay. In any event, she had some ideas.
"Astoria?" Noriko said impatiently.
"Huh? Oh. Sorry," Astoria said.
Noriko laughed and turned to Abigail and said, "She's always been like this. Off in her own little world."
"I think we all get lost in thought now and then," Abigail said. Noriko raised her eyebrows at this then took a sip of tea. At this point, Midas walked in the room. Astoria felt her body stiffen in the presence of her father.
"I am sorry, Abigail, if my wife has been asking you too many questions. We don't often have Muggles in our home," Midas said. Though he said he was sorry it was clear from his tone that he was not, not that it mattered. Noriko hadn't asked Abigail anything about being a Muggle.
"Of course, when I say that we don't often what I really mean is we don't ever," Midas added sharply. Abigail look up at Midas who now stood behind Noriko, looking austere and cold as ice. Astoria wanted badly for them both to leave there as quickly as possible.
"I am sorry if my presence in your home has been a problem, sir," Abigail said, trying to sound as polite as possible.
"Hmm? No, it's no problem, " Midas said but his body language showed his discomfort. Astoria knew her father. He didn't hate Muggles. But they made him uncomfortable.
He had never really talked about it but even mentioning Muggles seemed to make him nervous. But he could never hate Muggles. After all, they had no way of affecting business. And money was the only thing Midas cared about.
Noriko on the other hand never seemed to care. Perhaps, she was simply raised in a different environment than Midas. Blood status was considered an important issue among the pure blood families here, though Astoria hoped that with You Know Who defeated things were changing.
"I think we're going to go," Astoria said. "Abigail can you call a taxi?"
"Okay," Abigail said and pulled out her phone to make the call.
"Go? You've only been here for a few hours," Noriko said.
"I know. I'm just… feeling tired," Astoria said and began to head of out of the room while Abigail was still talking to the taxi service. This visit had been a mistake, she thought. She had been a fool to think they'd accept Abigail.
Astoria marched to the door with Abigail following her closely behind. Daphne was waiting there but looking away.
"Goodbye, Daphne. We're leaving," Astoria said.
"I know. Hey, listen, sis… are you sure you want to go to Draco's gathering next month? I mean you don't really know anyone there," Daphne said.
Astoria had forgotten about the invitation she had received awhile back to go to this gathering. She wasn't sure why she had been invited. Perhaps, it was merely the Greengrass name. In truth, she hadn't actually planned on going. She hadn't even really considered it.
"Why shouldn't I go?" Astoria asked to her own surprise. Yes, it bothered her that Daphne didn't want her to go.
"I don't know," Daphne said. "Just didn't think it would be your scene."
"Well, I am going. So that's that. Now, move out of my way," Astoria said. Daphne moved aside and Astoria and Abigail walked out the door.
"Hey, Astoria!" Daphne called out.
"Yes?" Astoria said, turning around.
"I love you," Daphne said.
"Oh. I love you too," Astoria said, feeling embarrassed. Her sister had never told her that she loved her before. First time for everything she supposed.
"Taxi will be here soon," Abigail said.
"Good," Astoria said. "Listen, Abby, I'm really sorry about all this."
"Don't worry about it. I've had meetings with people's parents that went far worse," Abigail said.
"Really?"
"Oh god yes. Seriously, when I was fifteen I met my boyfriend's parents and they spent the entire time lecturing me on safe sex and they were trying to give us sex advice. It was so awkward."
Astoria supposed that would've been terrible but she wasn't entirely convinced it's not exactly what her mother would've done given enough time. Astoria was interested in raising the topic of sex with Abigail but she wasn't sure how to.
While they waited for the taxi Astoria looked over at Abigail. She looked her up and down quickly then looked away. She had spent many nights alone in bed, her hand between her thighs, imagining what it would be like to be with Abigail. What it would be like to please her, to be at her service and to see her face at the moment of climax.
Astoria felt warm and tried to put the matter out of her mind. This wasn't the time or the place. And they still had a ride back over to London to get through.
It rained for most of the ride back. Astoria and Abigail didn't say much. Abigail did hold Astoria's hand for awhile but eventually Astoria pulled away. She just wasn't comfortable with that sort of affection, especially not in public. If the back of a taxi could be called public.
They got back to Astoria's apartment just before sundown. Astoria walked inside and fell straight down on her couch, laying across it. Abigail walked over and sat on the floor in between the couch and the coffee table. She could've sat in one of the other chairs but clearly she wanted to be near Astoria.
"I'm exhausted. I can't move," Astoria said. The day had really drained her of all energy.
"Yeah. Pretty tired too," Abigail admitted.
After a minute, Astoria pulled herself up.
"I'm going to bed. Are you going to crash here on the couch?" Astoria asked.
"Could I stay in the bed with you?" Abigail replied.
Astoria was caught off guard but quickly said, "Yeah, if you want."
"Sorry the bed is a bit more comfy."
"It's okay. I have plenty of room. It's not like we don't watch television there all the time."
Astoria couldn't believe it. Yeah, they had kissed and cuddled in bed a few times and passed out while watching television together. But Abigail had never asked to come to bed with her before.
Astoria went into the bedroom and took off her dress and put on a white teeshirt instead then hopped into bed, planting her face against a pillow. Behind her she heard Abigail enter the room and shortly she was in bed as well, next to her. Astoria glanced over at Abigail who was laying on top of the comforter, eyes closed but clearly not sleeping. Abigail had removed her skirt and blouse and was now in Astoria's bed wearing only trunks.
Astoria wanted to roll over and kiss her but she didn't have the strength. Instead she just slid a bare leg next to Abigail's and then felt as Abigail pushed her bare leg back against her. This small act of affection made Astoria's heart pound and she felt her nether region become aroused.
There was nothing to do for it right now. Instead she closed her eyes and again imagined herself and Abigail naked and pressed against each other, mouths locked together and their hands exploring one another's body. She thought of pushing her face into the hot, swollen flesh between Abigail's legs and the sweet sounds of her moans.
She wished she had the strength to do something. The ache between her legs was proving to be a distraction for sleep and she knew it wouldn't be appropriate to touch herself without even asking Abigail if it was okay. And she certainly couldn't ask her that. She couldn't even bring up the subject.
Astoria didn't need to have sex with Abigail. She did want to. And more than that she wanted Abigail to want to. She needed to find a way to ask her about it. She could drop hints or just casually mention sex. But she knew if she just started talking about sex she would know something was up.
Abigail was snoring lightly beside her now. She had no choice but to lay there until exhaustion overcame her arousal. It took hours.