Author's Notes: I'm going to be real with you- I got hit with something on Thanksgiving and my brain is working at the speed of smell. It's pretty bad. I'm bedridden most of the time and it's a miracle I even managed to write at all. I've been sick for two months now. SO I tried really hard with this, my amazing beta Arnel tried hard, but this is what it is because I struggle sometimes to string words together.
I know most of you are going to be really unhappy about Nat and Al but ya gotta trust me, it isn't time yet.
But I hope you like it anyway. Please consider leaving a review. I respond to all of them.
Also if you want to read one of my original stories you can find it on * on* Search for Sarah Jaune. No HP there, just my original stuff. It's very cheap, I promise. Coffee costs more and it's only a once a month cost.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Chapter 62
"Is it supposed to be like this?" Lena asked as she and Al ran in circuits around a track Al didn't even know existed in the bowels of the Ministry.
"Dunno," Al admitted as he glanced over at her. Lena Rice had been in their year at Hogwarts and he could honestly admit he hadn't ever given her a second thought. He'd had so many other things going through his head, that she wasn't one of them. Plus, she'd never hit on him which was a bonus. She was tall, at least five foot nine and slim. She had hair just about as black as his and it was short, cut in a bob around her angled face. Her eyes were some kind of blue that didn't want to settle into one color or maybe they were hazel. He didn't really know. All he knew is she was keeping up with him on the track and she'd been keeping up with him all week for training.
He liked Lena and had decided almost immediately they'd be friends, which was good since they'd be working together for the next many decades. She was smart, funny, nice, and tough as nails. He wasn't going to mind that she would have his back.
"How is it that you don't know?" she demanded in her voice that was lower than most girls. "Your dad is the head Auror for Merlin's sake!"
"He never talked about what training would be like and I didn't ask," Al told her honestly, puffing slightly as he kept up his pace. "I thought it would be cheating to ask since no one else gets to know."
"That's what I like about you, Albus," she said as they hit their third mile. "You have a good sense of what's fair. Now tell me," she said with a laugh. "Why haven't you asked Nat out yet?"
Al felt himself flush, even more than the heat the run was generating. "It's… she's… she's not into me."
"That's just crap. I know she's into you," Lena informed him with a sniff of disdain, even as her eyes laughed at him. "What are you waiting for?"
He didn't want to admit that he was afraid of mucking the whole thing up and ruining their friendship. He didn't want to tell her about how Nat kept trying to fix him up on dates. Nat needed to live with his parents for her own safety and what if he made everything awkward? "Well, who are you dating?"
"No boyfriends right now," Lena huffed as they rounded one of the corners. "I dated Smitty there for a few months this past year."
Al nearly tripped over his own feet. She'd dated one of his dormmates and he hadn't noticed? "Uh…"
"I know, I know," she laughed as she pushed his shoulder. "You're always so wrapped up in Nat to even notice which is why I think you're crazy for not asking her out."
"What happened with Smitty?" Al wondered, needing to change the subject.
"Pshh," she blew the sound out through pursed lips. "You know him! He cheated on me with a fifth year Hufflepuff and I dumped his arse."
Unfortunately, he did know Smitty. "Why did you even date him?"
"He's a great kisser," Lena giggled. "I was young and stupid and thought I could change him. But now I'm at least six months older and wiser. Come on, let's race to the end," she called out as she took off at a flat run ahead of him.
He quickly overtook her with his much longer legs, but he only beat her by two strides. They were both panting and laughing as they made their way to the training room for their next round of torture.
"Let me have her," Teddy said as he reached for Amelia who was babbling happily in the late evening sun as the waves crashed on the beach in front of them. They were at least five minutes late starting the wedding, but he wasn't about to complain since his daughter had just thrown up all over his wife.
"I have it," Fleur murmured as she waved her wand to clear up the spit up from Victoire's baby blue dress.
"Thanks," Victoire laughed as she pulled out a rag to wipe up Amelia's face.
Amelia, pink cheeked, chubby, and now over seven months old grinned toothlessly at Teddy while drool kept dribbling down her chin. Toothless for now, but they were coming in soon. They had Fred's wedding this weekend and James' wedding next weekend. It was going to be fun keeping the babies happy.
Next to him Olivia let out a squeal of joy and he turned to see his other baby lunging for him out of Nat's arms. "Really?" Nat laughed as she passed the baby over so he had both on his lap.
"Maybe I should check on Emma?" Victoire said as she turned in her seat.
"Lily has her, darling," Fleur soothed. "You saw how excited she was to take care of her. You sit and enjoy Fred's wedding."
"I know you're right," Victoire sighed as she leaned her head against Teddy's shoulder and turned to grin up at him. "It feels like yesterday it was our turn."
"It does," he agreed, kissing his wife softly as he valiantly fought to keep the squirming babies from flinging themselves from his arms. They were just learning to crawl and didn't exactly like being kept on anyone's lap.
And they were very willing to tell everyone.
"Here," Nat took Olivia back and stood up, walking around with her off in the sand.
"Might as well join her," Al muttered from behind Teddy as he plucked up Amelia and went to follow.
"Those two…" Victoire sighed sadly as she watched them.
Teddy turned to study his brother and the love of his brother's life. Al was so much taller than Nat and he wore navy blue dress robes he knew were new and yet were already beginning to strain at the shoulders. Nat was dressed today in a sunny yellow dress with flower sort of things on it. Teddy didn't know what they were exactly and had even opened his mouth to ask Victoire when another baby behind him let out a bellow and he turned to see James rising with his tiny son in his arms.
Well, he wasn't as tiny has he had been. Alex was now four months old and he was starting to finally catch up to his slightly older cousins.
"You're alright," James chuckled as he soothed the baby, walking back and forth.
"Maybe I should head to the house to feed him again," Caroline said.
"He just finished eating, but he burped and startled himself awake," James grinned as he soothed Alex's back and rocked with him.
"It will be fine," Ginny said patting Caroline's knee. "If the babies cry, they cry. It isn't like Fred doesn't know how this works. He and Eva wanted them here."
"It's a good thing they're running late," Bill muttered from the other side of Fleur, affirming Ginny's statement. "With all these babies we definitely won't get through without a few interruptions."
Teddy glanced over to the bride's side of the aisle and saw Eva's grandparents had already been seated along with her great grandmothers and one brother. She had a sister who would stand up with her as her maid of honor. Fred had picked his best mate from school; a bloke Teddy had only met once for the stag night. Of course, he knew all about Colin, since Teddy had been the one to vet him to make sure he could be here for this event.
It was difficult to keep anything like this secure, but they all knew the risks and everyone was willing to play along. All their lives were at risk and Eva's parents, who were magical, understood all too well.
"Here, come to Grunkle Ron," Ron said as he came down into the sand and took Alex from James. Lily had informed all her uncles they were now 'great-uncles' and thus 'grunkles' and every single one of them had run with it, save Percy who was always too dignified for his own good. But of course, they would since it was Lily. Teddy grinned as the older man rocked the baby expertly. "Sit with your wife James, and enjoy. They're ready to start now."
Harry was not sitting with them. He was standing guard, as were a dozen Aurors.
Teddy glanced over to see his Aunt Hermione staring forward towards the ocean, with a silent Rose and Hugo next to her.
It broke his heart to see them broken. They'd mended things for a while, but it hadn't lasted. Hermione wanted to be Minister, which was fine, but she didn't seem to have any semblance of how to balance work and family. The current Minister was not at the office twenty hours a day. She worked ten, sometimes twelve, and sometimes in the evenings, but she was home every night. Teddy knew from his odd shifts at the office that Hermione was there all the time.
It left no time for her husband or her children. She was rarely at family functions anymore. Even Percy wasn't nearly so bad. He wanted to be Minister, as well, but he didn't keep the hours Hermione did and it showed. He had his wife's hand in his as they sat together. Audrey was whispering to Lucy, who had her brown hair up in some kind of knot in the back. On the other side of Lucy sat Molly and her husband, Brayden. Brayden's arm was around his wife and she had her head on his shoulder.
"I don't even know what to do without three children sitting on me," Victoire told him and he turned back to her, placing his arm around her and nuzzling into her ear.
"You think about making the fourth one with me when we get home," he growled just so she could hear.
She snorted out a laugh. "You are a funny man. We aren't doing that for at least a year. I am so tired."
"We can practice," he laughed as he heard the music start. The procession started with the mothers being seated, escorted in by George, then Fred, and then the best man and maid of honor walked in to stand up with the little man who would perform the ceremony. They'd do all of this again in a week for James, but it would be a much simpler affair at Ivy Run in the back gardens since Caroline only had Honor for family. They didn't need security for that wedding.
He turned to watch Lily in a long, flowing golden gown leading Emma by the hand. She stopped at the edge of the make-shift aisleway and knelt down to whisper in Emma's ear and he watched his beautiful girl in her puffy white gown move down the seats while very carefully dropping one red rose pedal at a time. Her wispy blonde hair was held back with a red bow and she was so adorable it made his heart melt. At soon as she reached the end, she went straight over to Poppop and Gran, who were in the front and he let out a sigh of relief. She'd done exactly as she was supposed to. Lily scooted around the seats and went to sit in the back with Scorpius and finally it was time for the bride. He rose and grinned as he watched Fred's face light up with delight.
It was his favorite part of any wedding.
They moved into the house for dancing. Bill had worked to enlarge the living room so they could have a reception, even if it was a small one.
He'd heard stories of Bill and Fleur's wedding and how it had been a grand affair. Every other wedding since, he knew, had been kept small and private.
"Do you miss the big weddings?" Teddy wondered as he hooked an arm around Ginny's shoulder and pulled her to his side, enjoying having his honorary mother wrap her arm around his waist.
"Not even a little bit," she assured him with a poke to his stomach. "You don't remember Auntie Muriel, do you?"
"Didn't she die before I was born?"
"Sadly, no," Ginny sighed.
Teddy couldn't help but laugh. "Ginny!"
"Well, she was an awful cow. One can't help wishing for death for awful cows," she told him without the slightest hint of remorse.
Teddy bent to kiss the top of her head. "You are one of my favorite people in the world."
"Coincidentally, you are one of mine," she grinned up at him. "Now, go dance with your wife while your children are sufficiently distracted."
"She's dancing with her dad, but I might snag Rosie. She's looking… I dunno."
Ginny's lips pinched into a hard line. "Hermione left already."
Teddy hadn't realized, and even though he trusted her he still scanned the room. "Rosie it is, then."
"Yes," Ginny pushed him gently. "She needs some cheering up. I'll make sure Ron knows to get her for the next dance."
He made a beeline for his little cousin just as the next song came on, a slow ballad he didn't know. She had her arms around her waist, almost like holding herself together. She looked nice tonight in a pale green dress with her auburn curls pulled back with a massive clip. "Come and dance, Rosie," he said with more happiness than he actually felt. He truly felt sick for her. Her homelife was falling apart around her.
"You don't have to," she told him. Her blue eyes looked to be on the verge of tears.
"Of course, I don't have to," he chided as he took her by the shoulder and led her over to the others. "But I want to. Come on," he coaxed as she let him take her hand. They danced for about twenty seconds in silence before Teddy asked, "Didn't Andrew want to come with you?"
It would have been easier on her to have her boyfriend there and he was already cleared as far as security was concerned.
"His sister had a recital tonight," Rose explained. "I actually wanted to go to it, too. Then we realized it was the same night, but she had another one at the end of the summer so I promised I would go to that."
"What kind of recital?"
"Ballet," Rose told him and the first genuine smile he'd seen appeared on her face. "She danced for me yesterday and she was really good! She's still so little, but she's more graceful than I'll ever be."
"Victoire was talking about dance for Emma but she's still young yet and then Caroline said she wanted to take her to cheer, which I have to admit I know nothing about," Teddy chuckled.
His cousin's face finally relaxed completely. "I know both and I have to tell you, I think Emma is more of a cheer girl than a ballet girl."
"Really?"
"She can try both, but don't be surprised if she picks cheer."
It was an idea. She'd be able to start both after her next birthday. Still, it caused a pang. "My baby is getting big."
"All the babies are getting big," she pointed out as the song ended. She rose up on her toes and put her arms around his neck for a solid hug. "Thank you."
"Anytime," he promised and meant it as Ron came over to claim the next dance.
~*~
James wasn't nervous about his wedding to Caroline since they were already married and, praise Merlin, sharing a bed. Even a year before he hadn't wanted to even hope that would have been something he could have in his life and he loved her enough to let it be. Sharing her bed was… amazing. He definitely didn't want to stop, but if she needed it for whatever reason he would because somewhere along the lines of learning to love her, he'd learned that loving her meant putting her first before anything else. It was a constant miracle to him she wanted him and she'd been able to move past what her father had done to her and even to loving a child she hadn't birthed. He would never take that for granted.
He grinned at his mother who held Alex in her arms in the front. They didn't have a bride and groom side for this wedding since Honor would be standing up with Caroline and there would be no one left.
It didn't matter. She was his family now and now she had a large brood of people all there to support her, even Louis who had made it back from Egypt just that morning to stand up with him. It had been months since he'd seen his cousin and best mate and he grinned as he spotted the familiar thatch of red hair, quite a bit longer than it had been in their Hogwarts days, as he escorted Honor in. His sister-in-law was still so painfully shy, it was hard to get a word out of her. Half the time she didn't even live with them, preferring to stay with Lily and Nat at Ivy Run but when she was at home, he could get her to smile and talk. She adored Alex, which helped.
She had her coal black hair pulled back from her face and hanging straight down. She grinned at him, her dark hazel eyes flashing and he grinned back. It helped to have Louis there. He could relax anyone.
She took her place on her side as Emma and the house-elf, Teeny, in matching green dresses that nearly matched the one Honor was wearing, began to walk down the aisle for the second time. He grinned at his niece and her best friend as she carefully dropped pink flower petals all along. Teeny had her own basket but she kept watching Emma and dropped one every time Emma did. They were supposed to turn and sit with his mum, but Emma bolted over to Honor and took her hand instead and a moment later, Teeny had Emma's other hand, both of them having dropped their baskets. At his mum's questioning glance, he shrugged. If they wanted to stand, they could stand.
A moment later he turned to see his beautiful wife standing at the end of the aisle on his dad's arm. Unbeknownst to him, his father had offered Caroline, and Honor when her time came, to walk them down the aisle. He'd never thought she'd accept, but she had. She beamed at him, her blue eyes full of light and happiness as she walked towards him and his father handed her over to him.
He couldn't even hear the words being said as their souls were bound, but he felt it the moment they were joined. It was like nothing he'd ever experienced before. It was like the first time they'd made love, only it never seemed to end. He felt a joy and connection to her he couldn't possibly begin to describe. When they kissed, he felt it in her as well. He felt their connection down to his core.
Then his son started crying and he grinned before breaking the kiss.
Not to be outdone, Olivia joined in shortly followed by Amelia. Everyone laughed as the ceremony broke up to tend to the crying babies.
"Come on, pumpkin," Caroline grinned as she took their son from Ginny. "You did so well and I bet you're starving and ready for a new diaper."
"Let's go up to my old room," James said as he put his hand on his wife's back. He could tell for certain there was no way she could nurse in the dress she was wearing. The top was not meant to come down that way. "I didn't get to tell you earlier, but you look absolutely beautiful."
"Thanks," she smiled as they walked together up the stairs as Victoire settled on the couch to nurse the twins. "She had the right idea with her dress."
"But it wasn't her wedding," James pointed out as he kissed her cheek and pushed into his room to find the nursery his mother had set up there. The room still had a bed for anyone who needed it, but it now boasted a changing table and cots for three babies. The odds that all three would sleep at the same time were slim, but he appreciated his mother's optimism.
Forty minutes later they rejoined the party. Caroline had told him he could go down without her, but he threw that suggestion out the window. "It's our wedding and I'm spending the day with you."
"But you haven't seen Louis in ages," she reminded him as she handed Alex to him after he helped her zip up the back of her dress. "I should just change so I can nurse him down there, but the dress is pretty and I want to wear it."
"Then wear it," he said as he held the door open for her. "We can come back up here again in a few hours for another feeding and you can change then if you want."
"I think I might," she admitted. "We still have to get pictures."
He'd forgotten about that part. "Hopefully the twins are happy again."
He found Louis talking to his Uncle Bill outside and he finally had a chance to hug him. It was a side hug, since he held his sleeping baby in one arm, but it felt good all the same. He'd really missed him. He'd only seen him once when he'd been in Egypt for a game in January. "It's good to see you, mate!"
"You, too!" Louis laughed as he clapped him on the back. "Look at you," he pointed down at Alex. "I sort of figured you'd marry first, but didn't expect this."
He hadn't told Louis the truth about Alex because it wasn't the sort of thing one put in a letter that could be stolen. James glanced to his uncle who shook his head slightly. "Right, well…"
"Let's move a bit further from the children," Bill suggested and James nodded gratefully as worry stole over Louis' features.
"What's wrong?" Louis demanded first of his father and then of James as soon as they were about fifteen feet from everyone else. Everyone knew, of course, except Emma and there was no telling what she'd remember or repeat.
So, James told him the brief story of what happened.
"But…" Louis glanced down at the sleeping baby and then back to Caroline. "But… mate, I'm so sorry."
James nodded as his throat seemed to be too tight to speak. "It was a trying time, but it brought Caroline and me closer together and I don't regret my son."
Louis' mouth firmed and he needed, his blue eyes meeting James' head on. "I wondered why you didn't tell me she was pregnant, only that you had a baby. I thought that was something you'd tell me. Looking back, I thought maybe you were acting odd in January but didn't want to say anything. I didn't expect this."
"He couldn't put it in a letter," Bill explained as he rested a hand on his son's arm. Louis wasn't quite as broad across as his father yet, but he was getting there. Louis was already slightly taller. "Also, I expect you met in a pub while he was in Egypt for the game and that was no place to share that kind of secret."
"You're right," Louis sighed. "I—"
"Uncle Jamie!" a small voice squealed as a little ball of energy in a green dress barreled towards him and held her arms up. Somewhat behind her was Teeny, twisting her tiny hands.
"I can pick you up," Bill offered but Emma wouldn't budge.
James knelt and scooped her up in his free arm as he blew a raspberry into her cheek. "What's the matter, darling?"
"No cake Gamma says," Emma told him pitifully. "Me and Teeny wants cake Uncle Jamie!"
"I see," James nodded seriously as he pressed his forehead to hers. "Gamma said I had to come cut the cake?"
"Yes!" Emma agreed, clearly pleased he understood and would get her what she wanted.
"Can you take Alex?" James asked his uncle, but to his surprise, Louis offered.
"I have him," Louis said as he carefully took the sleeping baby.
"Alright," he said as he reached down and scooped up the elf in his other arm. Teeny giggled as he blew a raspberry in her cheek as well. "Let's go talk Gamma into some cake."
First, they had to take pictures, which did not please Emma, but were thankfully over in less than ten minutes.
He found his cousin still holding Alex, who was sound asleep even through all the chaos. "Want cake?" James asked as he sat next to him, plopped his piece on a table next to him.
"Thanks," he said as he attempted to eat one handed. "How do you not drop stuff all over him when you're eating?"
"Oh, it's easy," James assured him. "I drop stuff all over him and the dogs lick it clean before my wife notices."
Louis burst out laughing, nearly spewing cake everywhere. Alex let out a grunt and then settled back in to sleep. "He is really asleep."
"I think he's in another growth spurt," James told him. "How on earth did you hold off the girls from taking him?"
"Told them they got him the rest of the time and it was my turn," Louis informed him. "Then reminded them there were two other babies and that did the trick. I held both twins this morning for a bit. It's difficult with two and they wanted to crawl everywhere."
James grinned. He'd really missed his cousin. "How is the job going?"
"It's been alright," Louis said between bites and James saw there was something there he wasn't saying. "I'm already read to come home. There is a possibility I'll transfer back this year."
"Yeah?" James asked, not wanting to get his hopes up. "You know, we wanted to ask you to be his godfather, but with you out of the country…"
Louis' expression froze for a moment, then his blue eyes lit with joy. "I'd love that. Yeah, I know it would be hard with me being away, although I hope nothing ever happens to you."
"Me, too," James agreed as he studied his son. "But we know it pays to be prepared."
"What are you two discussing?" Caroline asked as she sat next to James with her own piece of cake.
"That is not the same cake," Louis pointed out with his fork, pointing towards her.
"No, this is the cake for Nat," Caroline agreed. "I don't like all that sugar and I think it disagrees with Alex."
"I brought home some doughnuts a few weeks back and she had two," James explained to Louis. "Three hours later, Alex wouldn't stop crying and he had a horrible night." At his cousin's blank look, he said, "Breastfeeding."
"Right," Louis agreed, shifting a little uncomfortably. James let it go, though. His sister breastfed in front of him, but he was still a single guy.
"It might not have been the sugar, but I'm not willing to risk it," Caroline added as she studied their son. "He's just… he seems a little more sensitive than other babies."
"Shouldn't James be eating sugar-free cake then, too? In solidarity?" Louis wondered, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
Caroline eyed him, but smiled and shook her head. "No, he works out so much he can burn it off. When he retires, then maybe we'll talk about it. Anyway, Louis, how long are you back?"
"Right now, only two days," he groused as he finished off the last of his cake, "but I'm hoping to transfer back to England this year."
"Oh, good!" Caroline sighed happily, beaming at him. "We were hoping you'd be Alex's godfather. I want my sister to be his godmother, but she's a little reluctant at the moment. Of course, if something happened to us, she couldn't take him on right now. She's too young."
"I would be honored," Louis promised her seriously. "But please stay safe as unlike this bloke here, I'm not exactly ready to be a daddy."
James finished his cake just in time for Alex to grunt, shift, stretch and fill his nappy. "That's my cue," he said as he took his son from Louis.
Louis laughed and gladly handed him over. "Talk your sister into changing his nappy. I bet she would."
"Nah," James held the baby up and kissed his cheek. "I don't mind."
And truthfully, he didn't, although he did snag Lily to help him since he was pretty certain he was going to be in for a mess and kicking legs could make it even worse. Thankfully, as Louis predicted, Lily didn't mind. Moments after he was changed, Caroline came in to change her dress and feed him again.
"You go on," Lily told him, shooing him to the door. "I want to sit with my sister while he eats."
"Alright," James agreed as he left them chattering and laughing. He closed the door and felt the happiness straight down to his toes. Life was very, very good.
~*~
Andrew studied Rose as they walked through the extensive gardens at his home. She wore a simple sundress today, much as she had for James' wedding. He'd been excited to bring Claire to the wedding and after an initial bout of shyness she'd started to play with Emma and Teeny, the house-elf. It was Claire's first time seeing a house-elf and it had taken his sister a moment to get over her initial hesitation. He'd pointed out she was the big girl and could help by playing with them, Claire had been more than happy to sit and play with the doll house. She was getting so big. She'd be seven soon and his aunt was slowing down even more.
"Why are you looking at me? You're going to trip."
"You're so beautiful."
He watched her face, as he had done the day before at the wedding and noticed, yet again, her mouth twist at his words. At least she wasn't arguing with him. "Thank you."
He wanted to ask why she didn't believe him, but he knew the truth. It didn't matter if she was beautiful in his eyes. She had to see it for herself. At least she didn't look down on herself. She didn't think she was unworthy of love or attention.
It was what he saw when he looked at her mother. He saw a very unhappy woman who didn't feel worthy of love or attention. But Rose wasn't damaged by war and years of conflict. Her parents both loved her, even if they didn't know how to love each other.
He was ready. Alright, he wasn't quite ready, but he was ready enough to ask her. He'd asked her father the day before. Rose had known he was going to and she'd encouraged him, telling him it would make her father feel better about the whole thing. He hadn't thought Ron would tell him no, and he hadn't been disappointed. He'd only asked Andrew about her schooling and Andrew had explained about how he would cover her schooling once they married in a year and then he'd made Andrew promise to be a better husband than he had been.
Andrew hadn't known what to say. If he agreed, he'd be insulting his future father-in-law. If he disagreed, he was saying he wouldn't be a good husband.
He went with the truth. "I'm going to love her with my whole heart and put her first."
It had been good enough for Ron.
Andrew pulled her hand just as they reached a bench and he sat her down before kneeling in front of her. Her eyes softened as a smile touched her lips. "Yes."
"I haven't even asked you," Andrew laughed as he pulled the ring from his back pocket. "I want to do this properly."
"Alright, be proper."
He grinned. He couldn't help it. "Rose Minerva Weasley, I love you. You are my best friend and the person I want to build a family with. Will you marry me?"
"Yes," she whispered as she cupped his cheeks and kissed him lightly. "A thousand times, yes."
He was lost in the kiss for so long he nearly forgot the ring until he realized he was still holding it. "Here," he said breaking the kiss to slip it on. It fit perfectly, as he knew it would since he'd had her finger sized.
"It's beautiful," Rose told him honestly.
"You're beautiful," he promised, running his thumb along her cheekbone. "One day you're going to believe me."
~*~
"Please relax," Al told his brother as they made their way into the Muggle pub. He had his hand around Nat's waist, keeping her close. The man at the door hadn't believed her age and had given them a hard time until she'd produced the fake ID his dad had made for her, well for all of them, but he'd let the rest of them go. "Mum has everything under control." The barman hadn't even questioned Lily or Honor, both of whom had just turned sixteen. He glanced quickly over his shoulder and saw Scorpius bringing up the rear. Good.
"It's not just Alex," he heard his brother mutter as he kept Caroline's hand firmly clamped in his.
Al knew it wasn't just concern for leaving the baby, although certainly Alex was perfectly safe in his own bed with his doting grandmother watching him. Harry was standing guard somewhere, along with Teddy, Bill and another Auror who had volunteered. Then there was Caroline to consider. Sometimes she didn't do well with crowds.
James didn't get a stag night. Caroline didn't get a hen night. They never had the chance to go out and do anything as normal as have a pint. So, for this, Louis' only other night in England, Al had convinced his father to let them go to a pub.
To his relief, Al saw Louis already had a large table in a back room. He was glad he'd set his cousin the task of reserving the room. "We're still waiting on Rose, Andrew, and Hugo," Al told them. "I also invited my other Auror trainee."
"You did?" James asked him curiously as Al held out a seat for Nat to sit down.
"She had a really rough week," Al told him by way of explanation. It wasn't his business to explain Lena's endless family drama. "I told her we were going out for a pint and she asked if she could come along."
"It's fine," Caroline told him as she sat. "I like Lena. She's a nice girl."
"Yeah," Al agreed.
"I don't remember her, at all," James admitted.
"Who are we talking about?" Louis wondered.
"Lena Rice," Lily explained after she thanked Scorpius, who had just draped a shawl over her shoulders. Al would have told her to wear something more than that thin dress but he knew it wouldn't have done him any good. Whatever. "She was a Ravenclaw in Al's year."
"Yeah, doesn't ring a bell," Louis agreed as a waitress came over to take drink orders.
Nat chose water, which didn't surprise Al. She'd also already eaten since she couldn't be sure she'd be able to eat anything. He ordered a pint of whatever lager was on tap and turned to grin at Nat, who wasn't exactly grinning back. "What's up?"
"Nothing," she assured him, plastering on a fake smile. Then she turned to Lily and started to speak to his sister.
Alright…
Sighing, he turned back to his brother and spotted Lena wending her way through the tables with Andrew, Rose, and Hugo right on her heels. He noticed, with relief, she was in jeans and some kind of jumper thing. He'd forgotten to ask her if she knew how to dress as a Muggle. Most of the students at Hogwarts did, but it was always prudent to ask. "You made it!"
"Thanks for inviting me," Lena called out happily as she said hello to everyone.
Louis stood and held out the seat next to her, holding out his hand. "Louis Weasley."
Lena was tall for a woman and wearing boots, but Al realized his cousin was still a couple of inches taller. He hadn't really noticed how much he'd shot up while in Egypt.
"I know," Lena told said, shaking his hand before they both sat while Rose, Andrew and Hugo rounded the table to fill in the remaining seats. "You dated one of my roommates."
Louis cocked his head to the side and studied her. "Ravenclaw a year behind me, had to be Poppy, right?"
"Right," Lena agreed as she sat down. "Nice to see you again, Rose."
"You, too," Rose agreed as she leaned into Andrew, who had his arm draped around her shoulder. "So," she looked around at everyone. "I know this is a celebration of James and Caroline, but I wanted to share my news," she said as she held up her hand to show off something.
Was that a ring?
Much squealing interjected itself onto Al's brain as he realized his cousin, and his first best friend, was engaged. Engaged. He congratulated them, as did everyone else as the first round of drinks hit the table.
"I feel like an ass," Lena said as she made to stand as the congratulations died down. Al could see her cheeks were bright red. "I didn't realize this was a family thing when I invited myself along."
"Stop," Caroline told her, grabbing her hand and keeping her leaving. "This is my first night away from the baby and I want you to stay. We married last year in a Muggle ceremony but had our souls bound yesterday, which was the first time Louis could get back to be there."
"I missed my other cousin's wedding the week before, but James wanted me to be his best man," Louis explained.
"Oh, it's nice you could make it back," Lena said as the conversation shifted around them.
Al tuned them out and turned to see Nat staring into her glass of water. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, but didn't answer.
"When were you thinking of marrying?" he heard Lily ask Rose, and his cousin's answer of the next summer.
"Hey," he said to Nat again as he reached over to take her hand under the table. He gently squeezed her fingers. "Are you hungry?"
She shook her head and it seemed as though she forced herself to meet his eyes. "I'm fine, Al. Stop worrying about me."
"Nat, you'll be my maid of honor, right?"
They both turned to see Rose's smile fixed on them, but something else was in her eyes. "We don't want a big party, just one attendant."
"Sure," Nat agreed quickly. "I'd be honored."
"I was hoping you'd be my best man," Andrew said to Hugo, who gaped at him. "I lost my brothers, but I'll be gaining one when Rose and I marry."
Hugo laughed and nodded. "Sure, I can do that."
"Oh, this is going to be so wonderful!" Lily sighed happily as she glanced up at Scorpius. "We can dance all night at their wedding."
"You'd think you'd be tired of it, since we've had two weddings in two weekends," he commented as he kissed the tip of her nose.
"Never!" Lily promised dreamily. "When we marry, I want it to be hours and hours of dancing."
Al nearly choked on his beer. "Lily, you are sixteen!"
"And Rose is eighteen," Nat pointed out to him. "Your mum married at sixteen."
Merlin, that was a terrifying thought.
"I'm not talking about now, Albus," Lily beamed. "I'm just planning ahead and letting Scorpius know what I want."
"You were going to get whatever you wanted anyway, and just expect him to show up on time," Al pointed out with a long sigh. He seriously hoped his father wasn't close enough to hear this conversation. "It's your wedding. He's just a necessary accessory."
Rather than looking affronted, Scorpius only grinned at him. Such was the price of being with Lily and his best mate seemed to be happy to pay it.
Al blew out a breath as the wedding talk picked up again. At least whatever had been bothering Nat was over. She seemed happy enough now and thinking of his baby sister marrying was giving him a stomach ache. Maybe he should lay off the beer for the night.
Then Lena laughed and he felt Nat tense next to him and he realized it was Lena. Lena was the reason Nat was so tense.
"Come on," he said to Nat as he pushed back his seat.
"What?" Nat demanded as he pulled her away from the group and into an empty corner.
"What's wrong with Lena?" Al demanded bluntly. "I can tell you're uncomfortable with her."
"It's nothing, Al!" Nat said as she tried to pull out of his grasp. She stopped and looked up at him. "Let me go."
He did, but as she began to walk away, he whispered, "Please," and even to his own ears it sounded pathetic. Shoving his hands in his jean pockets, he waited while she turned back to him. "Please tell me, Leah. I hate when you're upset. If she's ever been mean to you—"
"No, it's nothing like that," Nat said as she moved back to him. She worried at her bottom lip and then finally said, "you talk about her all the time. I feel like I'm being replaced and I'm jealous and I'm sorry about it. I mean, I know I'm going to be replaced at some point. I won't be your best friend forever."
"Why won't you be my best friend forever?" he demanded more forcefully than he meant to, but he felt a desperate sickness at the thought of not having her in his life.
"You'll get married someday." She sounded exhausted and exasperated all at the same time. She tucked a strand of her strawberry blonde hair behind her ear and stared at the floor. "Look at James and Caroline. Sure, Louis is James' best mate, but Caroline is his best friend and that's how it's supposed to be. It's how it'll be with Rose and Andrew. It's already that was with Scorpius and Lily."
He thought about Nat marrying someone else and not being his best friend anymore and he felt simply sick at the idea. "No."
"It'll happen and I thought… I thought maybe it was happening now. With Lena. She's really pretty."
"What?" Al asked, confused. When her words finally registered, he shook his head. "No, no way! Lena is a pal! I don't see her like that, at all."
Nat studied him for a long moment and then nodded slowly. "Alright. Let's go back to the table. I think they're ready to order."
Whatever he'd said seemed to make Nat relax at the table, but he made sure to talk to her more than Lena. He let out a slow breath as they made to leave the pub. He was helping escort the girls back to Ivy Run and he knew he wouldn't get a chance to talk to Nat alone.
What a mess. The worst part was he didn't know how to get out of it.