Mia began to stir as she felt the warmth of the morning sun filtering through the curtains of her room. She reached out her arm, expecting to find her boyfriend beside her, but was disappointed to discover the cold, empty mattress. Sitting up in bed, she stretched and rubbed her eyes in an attempt to fully awaken.
"I see you've woken up, princess," came her boyfriend's hoarse voice.
Mia looked towards the source of the voice and saw her boyfriend standing there with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Water droplets glistened on Jace's chiseled chest, following a path down to his well-defined abs before disappearing beneath the towel.
"I'm awake," Mia replied, her eyes wide, "I'm very awake."
Jace chuckled as he settled on the edge of the bed to put on some boxers. Once satisfied, he turned and approached his girlfriend, who was still eyeing him with dilated pupils.
"See something you like?" Jace teased Mia with a smirk.
"Come here," Mia said, reaching for his gold chain.
Jace laughed and allowed his girlfriend to pull him back onto the bed. With a swift motion, Mia turned Jace over and straddled him.
"Good morning," Jace greeted her, his gaze filled with tenderness.
"Very good morning indeed," Mia replied with a mischievous smile as she ran her nails over her boyfriend's abs. God bless the person who invented Quidditch
"They're...They're waiting for us for breakfast," Jace moaned, feeling how his girlfriend's hand was getting dangerously close to his boxers.
"I think they can wait a little longer," Mia smiled, as she rolled her hips making Jace groan.
"Princess, as much as I'd love to continue," Jace began, "they are waiting for us for breakfast, and if we don't show up, your parents and uncles are going to kill me."
"Okay," Mia conceded, getting up from her position over her boyfriend.
"Where are you going?" Jace protested, "you can't leave me like this."
"I'm going to take a shower," Mia hummed, "you can either use your hand or take another shower."
Jace quickly jumped out of bed, scooped up his girlfriend, and declared, "We're taking another shower."
Mia laughed and allowed her enthusiastic boyfriend to lead her into the bathroom for their shower.
After Mia and Jace finally finished their shower and made their way out into the garden, they were met with the amused and knowing gazes of their entire family.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Mia asked nonchalantly, taking a seat at the table and pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"Took you long enough," her uncle Sirius chimed in with a mischievous smile.
"It was very hot last night," Mia responded casually, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Super hot," Sirius replied, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Princess, I think you should stop talking," Jace advised, glancing nervously at James, Regulus, and Harry, who were all glaring at him.
"They're not going to do anything to you," Mia reassured him, looking at her father, godfather, and brother, "not if they want to keep their precious hair intact."
In response, James and Harry immediately covered their hair with their hands, while Regulus subtly touched his neck, causing laughter to erupt around the table. Sirius was laughing uncontrollably as he pointed at his brother, and the rest of the family joined in the merriment as they continued enjoying their breakfast.
"High five, Star," Theo said with amusement as Mia enthusiastically high-fived him.
"What are we going to do today?" Blaise asked, his tone tinged with sadness, "Today is the last day of summer vacation."
"We're going to spend the day at the beach, and tonight we'll celebrate Mia's birthday," Enzo announced with a smile, brightening the mood.
"Can I call Lavender?" Ron asked, his cheeks slightly flushed.
"Of course," Mia replied with a warm smile.
"Thanks," Ron said before heading into the house. A few moments later, Ron and Lavender returned hand in hand.
"Hello, everyone," Lavender greeted the group.
"Hello!" The group responded in unison.
As they continued to chat and enjoy their breakfast, the sun was rising higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the garden. After about half an hour, many began to get up, clearing their plates from the table in preparation for their trip to the beach. With so many people in the mansion, the scene was bustling with activity and filled with cheerful chatter.
Mia, Theo, and Jace were among the last to leave the table, deep in conversation.
"We're camping out here tonight, right?" Theo asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"Like every year," Jace confirmed with a smile.
"I thought that now that you two are a couple, you wouldn't want to camp like we did when we were kids," Theo admitted, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks.
"Teddy, our traditions aren't going to change just because Jace and I are a couple," Mia reassured him, her voice soft and affectionate.
"Princess is right," Jace chimed in, "you're our best friend, and camping out the night before we return to Durmstrang is our tradition. We're not changing it."
"Well," said Jace, tapping the improvised microphone, "a few people and I have prepared a surprise for the birthday girl."
Suddenly, Sirius, James, Ron, Harry, Enzo, and Alec all stood up from their seats. Sirius positioned himself behind the drums, while Enzo and Alec picked up two guitars, and James took the bass. Jace, Ron, and Harry each grabbed a microphone.
It's a beautiful night, Jace sang, his voice ringing out as he pointed to the moon.
We're looking for something stupid to do,
Hey baby, I think I want to marry you, all the guys pointed to their girlfriends and wives.
"Well, I know a little chapel
on the boulevard,
we can go,
nobody will know,
oh come on girl," Ron and Harry sang in harmony.
"Who cares if we're trashed?
got a pocket full of cash," Enzo and Alec chimed in, pretending to throw fake bills into the air.
we can make blow,
shots of Patrón," Sirius pretended to drink a shot.
and it's done girl.
"Don't say no, no, no, no, no," the boys sang, their voices enthusiastic.
Just say yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," the girls joined in, their smiles wide.
and we'll go, go, go,
If you're ready, like I'm ready."
All the girls got up and joined the performance, singing and dancing with their husbands and boyfriends.
"Is it the look in your eyes," Jace sang to Mia, gazing into her eyes.
or is it the dancing juice?
Who cares baby?
I think I want to marry you." Mia, amused, pointed to her finger.
"I'll go get a ring,
Lets the choir bells sing oh, oh," Jace continued singing.
So what you wanna do?
Let's just run girl,
and if we wake up,
and you want to break up, that's cool, all the boys made a sad face
No, I won't blame you,
It was fun girl.
"Don't say no, no, no, no, no," the girls repeated with delight.
Just say yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," the boys echoed, their voices full of enthusiasm.
and we'll go, go, go,
If you're ready, like I'm ready."
"Because it's a beautiful night,
We're looking for something dumb to do,
Hey baby, I think I want to marry you."
As the song ended, Mia rushed over to her boyfriend, a radiant smile on her face, and kissed him passionately while the whole family applauded and cheered.
"I love you," Mia whispered to Jace.
"Someday I'll marry you," Jace told her,resting his forehead against hers.
"Not before asking our permission," James, Regulus, and Harry all said simultaneously.
Suddenly, there were thumps and muffled screams as Lily smacked James and Regulus on the back of the head, while Pansy did the same to Harry.
"Ouch," James exclaimed. "that hurt, Lils."
"That's what happens when you talk too much," Lily scolded him.
"He's going to have to ask for my permission," James insisted, sounding a bit petulant, "I'm her father."
"You're so old-fashioned," Lily rolled her eyes.
"I asked your parents for permission to get married," James defended himself, "I hope Jace does the same."
"James is right," Regulus added, "Mia is the daughter of one of the most important pureblood families in the magical world and heir to a royal family. Asking for her hand in marriage is practically mandatory."
Sirius chimed in looking at Enzo, "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Good cop, bad cop," Enzo replied, amused, pointing at James and himself. "Also, Jace has had my blessing practically since they met, but I can do it again."
Enzo approached Jace with feigned seriousness and looked him up and down. "Do you love my daughter?" he asked Jace.
"Yes," Jace answered earnestly, "more than anything in this world."
"And are you going to take care of her and protect her every day of your life?" Enzo inquired, with a twinkle in his eye.
"Until my last breath," Jace promised, his voice filled with conviction.
"Do you plan to marry my daughter in the future?" Enzo asked, now smiling warmly.
"If she accepts," Jace said, looking at Mia with unwavering love, "then yes, absolutely."
"Then you have my blessing," Enzo declared, shaking Jace's hand with genuine warmth and happiness.
"TIME FOR PRESENTS!" Sirius shouted, his excitement palpable as he clapped his hands like an excited child.
James handed a package to his daughter, a warm smile on his face. Mia eagerly tore at the wrapping and unveiled a Gryffindor Quidditch jersey with the number seven on the back and the combined last name: Borghese-Potter.
"It's my number when I used to play Quidditch," James explained, pride in his voice. "Since you're going to Durmstrang, I'll never know which house you'd belong to if you'd gone."
Regulus couldn't resist adding, "I believe she would've been a Slytherin; Narcissa and I are Slytherins, and we are her godparents."
"Thank you very much, Dad," Mia said, giving her father a grateful hug.
Ron stepped forward, slightly blushing, holding a package of his own. Mia accepted it with a smile, tearing it open to reveal a traditional burgundy Weasley sweater with a white letter M, various Weasley Wizards Wheezes items, and Honeydukes sweets.
"Thanks a lot, Ron," Mia said, a warm grin on her face.
Blaise eagerly handed her a box. When she opened it, she found a beautiful silver necklace with amber stones.
"My mother thought you would like the necklace," Blaise explained. "She sends her sincerest congratulations and hopes to see you at Christmas for the New Year's concert."
"Tell your mother that thank you very much for her gift and that we will go visit her," Mia replied with a warm smile.
Sirius couldn't contain his excitement and presented his gift, a leather jacket with the Queen emblem on the back. Mia couldn't help but smile at her uncle Padfoot's choice.
"This is mine and Barty's," her godfather told her, handing her a folder. As Mia examined the documents inside, her eyes filled with tears.
"What did your godfather give you?" James asked, curious about the contents.
"It's called the CAS project," Regulus explained, "and Mia has just become a senior partner."
"What is the CAS project?" Pansy inquired.
"The CAS or Cassiopeia project is a Barty project in which I have invested money," Regulus clarified. "When Barty was in hiding, he specialized in magical imprints, and thanks to that, he was able to avoid possible enemies. He also used it to find Mia."
Mia, moved by the gesture, could hardly find words. "This is... This is awesome."
"All thanks to you, Cassie," Regulus told her in a soft voice. "We are going to unveil it next year, and we need more investors if we want to expand."
"I'll invest," James declared, eagerly followed by Sirius, Alec, Enzo, and Theo.
Regulus smiled and continued, "This gift is from your uncle Lucius and your aunt Narcissa. They are sorry they can't be here."
Mia opened the gift from her aunt and uncle, revealing a beautiful silver dress, along with some earrings and a diamond bracelet.
"Tell them thank you very much," Mia said warmly, "and that I will visit them."
Theo, his turn now, handed her a relatively large box. Mia's curiosity peaked when she heard a bark from inside.
"Is... is it a dog?" Mia asked, a mixture of surprise and excitement in her voice.
Theo instructed her to open the box, and Mia did so eagerly. Inside was a corgi puppy, wearing a Union Jack scarf. Mia immediately picked up the adorable pup, cuddling it with delight.
"He's so cute," Mia said, her heart warmed by the thoughtful gift.
"It's my payback for the scooter that you and Jace gave me," Theo teased, sticking his tongue out at Mia.
"I'm going to call you... Winston," Mia decided, looking into the corgi's expressive eyes.
"A very English name," Theo noted with a chuckle.
"He's my London boy now," Mia said, hugging Winston affectionately
Enzo was next, and he tossed car keys to his daughter. Mia caught them and realized they belonged to a car.
"Guys, time to sleep," Lily announced. "Tomorrow we have to go to London."
Harry and his friends protested, especially Harry, who had grown accustomed to having his sister at Hogwarts. Just as he was about to leave for the house, he turned around and hugged Mia tightly.
"I'm going to miss you so much," Harry confessed.
Ron, Blaise, Pansy, Lavender, and the others also joined the emotional hug.
"We'll see each other on vacation," Mia reassured them, ruffling Harry's hair.
"GROUP HUG!" Sirius suddenly shouted, and everyone quickly gathered for a final, joyous embrace, cherishing their last day of vacation together.
As all the lights in the house suddenly went out, Mia, Theo, and Jace found themselves alone outside, bathed in the gentle moonlight and the soft glow of a small bonfire they had lit.
"We've come a long way," Theo whispered with excitement in his voice.
"Only two more years, and we'll be adults," Mia replied, her voice filled with anticipation.
Jace chimed in, expressing his deep affection, "I love you guys so much. You're my family, and I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world."
Theo playfully teased, "You love Mia more than me."
"Shut up, Teddy," Mia responded with a playful swat as she lay on her boyfriend's lap.
Jace picked up a nearby guitar and strummed a few chords softly, accompanying them with a gentle whistle.
"Oh, home, let me come home," Theo sang, a smile on his face.
"Home is wherever I'm with you," Mia sang, closing her eyes with contentment.
"Oh, home, yes, I am home,
Home is when I'm alone with you," Jace sang, his voice a tender serenade.
Soon enough, the soothing atmosphere and the melodious music lulled Mia to sleep. Jace continued to softly stroke her hair, his eyes filled with love and admiration.
"You love her, don't you?" Theo asked as he watched Mia sleep.
"With all my soul," Jace replied, his gaze never leaving his slumbering girlfriend.
Theo recalled a moment from the past, saying, "I still remember when I hit you for being an asshole."
Jace chuckled softly. "I was quite an asshole back then."
"Mia once told me that in another life, you would have been infinite," Theo said in a soft voice. "I'm glad it's this one."
"I would find her in any other life," Jace said, his gaze still on Mia. "Because she's the love of my life. If she weren't, I'd know I didn't get my love wrong. I must've gotten the wrong life."
"Take care of her," Theo said, lying down and looking up at the night sky.
"Until the very end," Jace replied, snuggling close to his girlfriend, cherishing the moment with his chosen family by his side.