Question Chapter 19th
Chapter 19. Time to Reconnect Part 2.
Author Notes: In 16th chapter I bring up SVU and ‘The Fact of Life’ characters, they would be there and not moving to more chapters. It's just some introduction due Andy would work closely with them once she return to New York and so I put them there to avoid why they suddenly appear in this series.
Warning: Nope, no BETA yet.
Time to Reconnect Part 2.
(Hogwarts: Headmistress Office)
Time doesn’t seem to move for both of them. Neither Andy nor the Headmistress moved, Andy still stands in front of the desk while the older woman continued gazing out of the window as if she didn’t hear Andy calling her but she must for Andy saw the change of the Headmistress’s demeanor including how her back went rigid, a solid evidential she does hear what Andy said. “… Six years…” Minerva speaks hoarsely voice quivering with emotions. “So many words I wished to say, yet now I have no idea where to start.” Unclasping her hands from her back the Headmistress slowly turned around facing her one and only daughter who gone missing but now standing a few feet before her, a pair of gray-blue eyes trailing down and up leisurely taking her time to assure her that her daughter doesn’t miss anything. She marveled how her daughter has grown, far mature than six years prior until she sees her eyes. Yes that's so full of life, courage, determination and intelligent now filled nothing with fear, uncertainty and endless layers of pains, it hurt and yet it confirmed something Minerva had suspected for years of her daughter’s disappearance. Faintly her robes made rustling sounds as Minerva moved from her spot closing the short distances she needs to reach her daughter.
Standing in front of her mother Andy felt like a child again, like living for 26 years doesn’t hold a torch now confronted by her birth mother. The Headmistress’s presence enveloping her, trapping her, her heart thundering against her rib cages and bloods drumming in hearing ears. Unexpectedly her gazed dropped down to the floor, staring at their feet unable to meet her mother’s eyes, Andy’s mind continued creating images of what kind of look her mother has right now. Disappointment? Probably. Anger? The possibility is high. Rejection? That’s somehow more like it.
So deep in her own world Andy wasn’t aware how beads of sweats breaking out, coating her forehead and face with a thin layer of perspiration or how she wrung her palms anxiously. Cold. She feels cold and she cannot feel her body, it’s numb. It’s just like that night, the cold and the numbness. How she could tell her mother then? How she could tell her that she has a child? Would she be so enraged and decide to end her daughter’s life? Would it safe to tell her mother then? The corner of her eyes caught a movement Andy jerk and went stiff like a log when citrus invading her nostrils and warmth spreading around as she vaguely felt brought to the front and chin rested on a shoulder, her eyes gives a slow blink and realized why she could feel her body again, why her mind could work again.
Apparently when Andy busy with her own thought her mother decided to hug her, bringing their bodies together sharing her body-warmth to her daughter that she distinctly feel in dire need of such warmth and how Andy indeed need it. Keeping an arm around her daughter’s shoulder to keep her staying close to her Minerva is rubbing her free palm up and down Andy’s back, a ghostly smile formed on Minerva’s lips as she could feel the taut muscles loosen up under her fingertips. Looking up and around the smile widening turning into gratefulness as the Headmistress found portraits inside her office went empty, she sends a mental gratitude to be left alone with her daughter, to savor their reunion in private and the feeling of her daughter’s fists clutching on her back made her eyes fluttered close. She has her daughter again, safe and sound in her arms and Minerva has decided long ago, that is all matter.
(-*-)
(London: Ministry of Magic Office)
Bursting into her mother’s office Susan Bones only saw the Ministry who gives a slight start of the sudden interruption, few staffs of the Ministry jumped slightly looking at who dare interrupt their meeting and seeing Susan Bones standing in front of the door with her three friends that skidding to stop behind her looking to everywhere sans them, they gulps… audibly.
The look Susan Bones at very second have reminded them with her other mother, the famous stern Headmistress of Hogwarts and these stuffs that have been taught, sharing seven years longer in Hogwarts recognized that very look that many still feel tormenting them even now. Susan cleared her throat paying no heed of how these staffs jumped again. “Pardon me, ladies and gentlemen,” a pause as her lips pressed thinly, “but I need a few minutes with the Ministry,” she said through clenching jaw, releasing the handle of the door Susan took few steps clasping her palms in front of her with her back straight and stiff like a board. A tilt of her chin and cold, “Now” bring down the last effect.
Any other day Amelia Bones would burst out laugh of how her Senior-Staffs that the youngest would be 20 years older than her youngest daughter stumbling in their hurry to gather their items and run out of her office and closing the door as soundless as they could like the princess of hell is the one who enter her office and demanding a privacy to speak with her and they didn’t want to take any part of what they could guess an ugly confrontation. Keyword, any other day. Because right now, Amelia Bones swore she was squirming in her chair, she felt pathetic to be unaware how she reached up to loosen the collar of her silky-blouse and decided to surrender to her fate as a faint whimpering escaped her under the glowering look of her own birth-daughter that so alike with her wife. A look Amelia knew her wife used so many times to her when she want to know something Amelia at the beginning always insist it is a Ministry’s issue. But curse her wife whom always succeeds to interrogate her when she is not even an Auror! And only with that look! Again she mentally curses her wife to share her genes with their children, mysteriously -somehow- though, Andy never able to execute such look albeit Amelia guessed, to her family she never used such look- she pitied them who received that look from Andy when she was on-duty. But it seems her own birth-daughter who famous as the Gentle Angelic Susan mastered it without her knowing it.
“Do you have something to tell me, mother?”
Amelia visibly flinches, even her daughter’s voice and the question is same! The only thing that's different is ‘mother’ as her wife would say her name. She whimpers. She really did. Amelia didn’t care how entire Great Britain would laugh if they got a wind of how the Ministry of Magic that many feared and respect whimpering like a scared-child in front of her own daughter, birth-daughter! Again she reached up to loosen her collar, clearing her throat, “I-” she just said that when Susan’s eyes hardening, sharpening and gleaming dangerously in exact way her wife done make her squeaking out, “H-Have a seat, dear.”
A faint sniff and a stiff nod from her daughter, Amelia looked away to send mental curses again for her wife and how their youngest daughter inherits the regal Scottish’s lady’s behavior and attitude so much! Ending her mental curses with ‘Forgive me, Andréa,’ Amelia regarded her daughter whom by now sit stiffly on one of two empty chairs in front of her desk, took a deep breath and grimace of how her voice quivering even for her ears. ‘Damn you, Minerva!’
(-*-)
(Hogwarts: Headmistress’s Office: Residence)
Embarrassed of how her mother had carried her up like she was a mere infant and now tucked in one of the guest-rooms in the Headmistress’s residence which located next to the office, Andy curled under the blanket clutching to Minerva’s left wrist while the elder seated on the edge stroking her hairs repeatedly listening intently what Andy wished to tell her in a broken voice mixed with uncontrolled sobs. And now Andy wasn’t sure what to wait, Minerva didn’t appear surprise but yes she look sadder, sometimes her eyes flashed with angers but no, no sign of surprise.
“I confessed I had my own research to find why you gone and where you have gone,” said Minerva never once pausing in her task to love her daughter she just got again, she rubbed her thumb on Andy’s temple when she saw she tensed up and took her time to relax her before she continues. “I never able to find the details but from every source I met (and threaten) I always found that you are the last survivor and was captured.” The woman who has seen too many things in life exhaled quietly. “I tracked down the man you got entrusted after that night, but I was too late. The chaos back then prevents me to go to you immediately therefore I sent your uncle and his friend Leo to find you in my behalf before you suddenly disappear from the hospital. I cannot understand why you did that so once I able to find a free time which really late due to the circumstance, I went to his house. I know he was already dead but after searching for weeks I found he kept a journal, especially over the patients he got. I found yours.” She leaned down to kiss Andy’s head pulling away to look down through blurring vision as tears threatening to spill out, again.
“I learned from his journal. No details about ‘what’ you endured but from the results, I could guess. It sickened me.”
Andy recoiled at this as if she got a slap but her mother doesn’t allow her to hide behind her shell again.
“No, no, you misunderstand me, Andréa.” Minerva sighed she really need to pick her words carefully, Andy is so sensitive and vulnerable right now. “What happened to you sickened me,” she repeated now choosing her words carefully. “Of how I cannot be there on your times of need, no one was there to protect you let alone to be on your side to go through the ordeal to cure yourself and to give birth to your child.”
“You aren’t angry?” Andy swallowed down a sob, “I’m not disappointed you?”
“Oh foolish child,” Minerva smiled down sadly to her. “How come I could be angry when none of those things are your fault? How come you think you will be a disappointment to me? I have lived years before Amelia even born, my dear child. I have faced two wars and another one in my youth. I’ve been there when most of my friends died or struggling to survive. I thanked heaven every day that I was spared from what happen to them, to meet your mother, to have you and Susan, and for my little family continued to survive. Never will I be so ungrateful of the heaven’s greatest gifts granted to us. To be alive is one of those gifts, Andréa. To be healthy, to live a life where I have my family, a wife and two beautiful daughters, my half-brother and his wife with their children, and now, to have a granddaughter- I still and always will think it is a gift. One day once you are as old as me, have seen and witness what I have seen and witness, you will understand why I always grateful over small little thing happened to my life. And to be alive? To be healthy? Let alone to have a family? It is a blessing child. If you cannot be grateful even for the smallest thing, you will find nothing in this life could make you be thankful.”
Another kiss to her daughter’s head and Minerva pulled back smiling genuinely down to Andy who had stop sobbing but her tears still leaking out albeit now it is not over the fear of rejection. “You have grown up Andréa. There is nothing in me who reject you or think you as a disappointment. Even with such past you continued to fight back and love your daughter no matter what circumstance to have her. I am proud Andréa. You make me proud. Because I know how many people in this nation alone who wished to have a child but they couldn’t no matter how hard they try, yet so many others who had done the things to have a child consciously decide to have an abortion. Yet they acted like they have done nothing wrong. But you? You have done everything in your power, to love your daughter and to wake her while struggling with your own life. As your birthmother I feel nothing but proud.” Lifting up Andy’s right palm she covered it with her own palms, placed her daughter’s hand now as warm as hers, a sure sign Andy isn’t fretting anymore.
“And once again I am so grateful that you remember us, remember me. You aren’t alone. You have a family and the time you accepted your daughter as yours, you have your own family.”
“Mother.” Andy saw Minerva leaned forward close her eyes as her mother kiss her eyelids and cheeks, “have a rest now child, you are safe here with me,” said the Headmistress. “Perhaps we could have dinner together tonight with your mom and Susan. But take a rest for now and we will talk again later.” A pause and the Headmistress’s eyes twinkling slightly, “I certainly want to know who is this Miranda Priestly, she certainly a formidable woman to have your heart let alone to wake up Alexandra, yes?”
Andy blushed to the root of her hairs, caught off guard by the sudden question. “S-She is.” She said shyly blushing darker but cracking a tiny smile as her mother laughing warmly. “I too want to know how on earth you get an idea to contact Amelia in that despicable rendezvous place to have an affair.”
“I can’t help it.” Andy mumbled cutely clutching the blanket covering her body tucking her knuckles under her chin. “I don’t know how to meet her without her Aurors finding out I am here.”
“Mmm, I surely will tease your mom for that,” patting her arm Minerva rise regally from the bed. “Rest Andréa. Knowing your sister it will be a matter of hours before she barged into my office demanding your whereabouts to me and knowing Susan she would busy pestering you with questions of your love-life and Alexandra. She always loves children after all and her friendship with certain ‘Hero’ practically made most suitable suitors fleeing in fear,” she gives a mock huff. “I swear your sister is enjoying Harry or Hermione’s open-overprotective behaviors to her.”
Andy snorted and then snickers. “That’s Susan for you, mother. I still remembered how she practically clung to me when we were here and insisted to help me giving detentions to every pair we found inside the Broom’s Closet.” A pause and she giggles. “I do remember how we cannot see you or mom on the eyes for the entire term after finding you to having your own business in one of those closets.”
The blush Minerva is spectacular. “Hmm, well, yes, your mom is quite,” coughing into her right fist, even the tip of her ears turned red. “Apparently your mom still, eh, she always loves children.” Minerva finished weakly quickly looking away from blushing Andy though the brunette is snickering, aloud. “Alexandra could have an uncle or aunt to play, mother.” She bit down a giggle as the Headmistress now supporting blotch of red on her cheeks.
“I must say your cheekiness come from my half-brother, Andréa. Not me.” The Headmistress then gives a stern look. “Now sleep.” Forcing herself not to run out of the bedroom Minerva stride out closing the door behind her groaning as she heard her daughter exploded with hysteric laughter behind the closed-door. “Damn you Jed for the cheekiness and you Amelia.” She rolled her eyes, taking a few seconds to regain her composure before striding back to her office, her daughter might have returned into her arms but she has a school to lead and hundreds of students with their mischievousness to control.
(-*-)
(Ministry of Magic)
Harry and Draco are leaning in against the wall outside of the Ministry’s office, not caring at all to the bewildered assistant whom obviously wanting to know or learn juicy-gossip about what happens inside the Ministry’s office between two Bones. Hermione on the other hand was creating a hole, pacing right and left while biting her thumb, pausing to shoot anxiously look to the closed-door before pacing again, she really creating a perfect image of a caged-lioness.
“What you think happening inside the office, Potter?” Draco asked in a whisper keeping his voice only for his direct boss’s ears to hear.
“It’s Evans, Black unless you want me to refer you as Malfoy.” Shifting his legs and crossing his left foot over his right ankle, “methinks,” with a huff Harry crossed his arms on his chest, “Madam Bones is enduring the first-experience to be the one got interrogated by her daughter.”
Draco cringes and shivers, “That girl could be a great Auror anytime she wants,” he said jamming his hands into his pants-pockets. “Do you know many named her as the Angel of Hell when she entered the interrogation room? Or even the Valkyrie when she confronted anyone who dare to against her?”
Harry shot an incredulous look at him. “Why you think I always was begging and pleading for Susan to help us whenever we need to crack a thick skull?”
“Point taken.”
Both male-Aurors straightened their postures and Hermione jumped and spun around as they heard muffled shouts, “10 galleons Susan would come out dragging Madam Bones with her,” Harry said earning a lopsided smirk from Draco, “you got yourself a deal, Potter.”
“Evans!” Harry hissed cringing as Hermione shot a deadly glare to them obviously hearing their bets and the trio jump with the assistant let loose a frightened squeak as the door banged open with a furious looking Susan holding her mother’s right wrist.
“Susan dear,” Amelia tried hopelessly to stop her daughter who indeed dragging her out of her office.
“No, don’t you dare say ‘Susan dear’, mother.” Susan stride quickly tearing down the corridor paying no heed how many Ministry’s staffs take a dive or have their backs slams against the wall trying to be as thin as they could create a wide open path for her. “You knew. You knew since last night and before I confronted you, you never planned to tell me!” not allowing the Ministry she dragged whole the way to the Atrium to respond Susan went to one of the fireplaces, grabbed a handful of Floo-powder, throw it into the fireplace and snapped angrily, “Bones’s Manor!”
Knowing too well it will be a reunion that would take hours, quickly Amelia shouted, “I’ll leave everything to your hand, Ms. Granger!” She shot a look over her shoulder to her Deputy who rushing behind her with Harry and Draco trailing behind. “Yes, of course!” Hermione shouted back before Amelia got pulled into the fireplace disappearing with roaring green flame.
Staring blankly to the fireplace Harry looked to Draco lifting up his hand and palm facing up smirking as the blonde-Auror rolled his eyes reached into his pocket and ten golden-coins rested on his waiting palm. “And you already rich, Potter.” He growled angrily.
“And your betting-skill still suck, Malfoy,” Harry replied snickering on the glare come from him he quickly pocketing his moneys finding Hermione staring angrily at him before the brunette rolled her eyes and toss her hands up. “I give up.” Before stomping her way back to her office with Harry trailing leaving Draco smirking watching the pair leaving him inside the bewildered Atrium, “and you still a pussy-whip, Potter.”
(-*-)
(Bones’s Manor)
“Andy!”
The shout accompanied by a crash flung Rafael out and to the back of the sofa, his training for years let him aiming his gun to the intruders before he aware and it took him a few seconds before he understand he was aiming his gun to the owner of the manor and one beautiful scarlet-haired woman whom both staring at him. And how shock Rafael when he found the unnamed-woman too has her wand out and pointing at him, the tip of the wand glowing not in bright red like last night Madam Bones or Andy had done, but green. Wait. Green? ‘That’s Avada Kedavra!’ “Oh shit,” His mind concluded and instantly Rafael unlocked the safety of his gun but before a deadly spell or few bullets traded, “Stop!” Amelia interjected what would be a heated-battle.
Two fighters did stop and yet refused to look away from each other, trying to glare down their opponents much for Amelia’s frustration. “Susan, he is Captain Rafael Rivera-Spencer sends by your uncle to protect Andréa.” She told her daughter who refused to look away from a stranger inside their manor let alone lowering her wand, rolling her eyes Amelia turned to Rafael. “Rafael, she is my youngest daughter, Susan Bones.”
Even Rafael gives a slight nod he directed to the Ministry he still in a pose ready to pull the trigger and his aim unwavering just like Susan. The stand-down continued as neither of the two fighters want to lower their weapons until Amelia exhaled noisily, “Janice,” calling out her Elf-House.
“Welcome home, Mistress Amelia and Ms. Susan.” Janice popped into the living-room, ready to service her mistresses and evidently not caring at all over the dangerous situation between the her youngest mistress and guest.
Amelia need to reach up to pinch the bridge of her nose, her Elf-House is used over her wife and daughters’ eccentricities and so she didn’t even blink as her youngest daughter and her oldest-daughter’s bodyguard continued their stare-down. “Where’s Andréa?”
“Ms. Andy is not here, Mistress Amelia.”
“What?” Rafael choked out in surprise with Susan’s eyes tear away from him for the first time regarding the loyal creature with shock look. “Where she is, Janice?”
“Ms. Andy went to meet Mistress Minerva, Ms. Susan.” The tiny-creature grinned toothily.
“Hogwarts.” Amelia guessed the obvious answer.
“Yes, Mistress Amelia.” Janice grinned wider. “Mistress Minerva had flooed me, saying she and Ms. Andy would return home tonight to have a family dinner. I am currently working for the dinner, it would be ready in a few minutes.” Then she looked around again as if Rafael’s gun and Susan’s wand don’t exist in her view. “Do you wish to have teas, Ms. Susan? Mistress Amelia? Or a coffee to you, Mr. Rafael?”
Amelia shot a wary look to the duo that seems returning to whatever glaring-match they have, “Yes, we certainly need more than teas, coffees and snacks for now, Janice.”
The tiny-creature let loose a tiny squeal, “It’ll be served in a minute, Mistress Amelia.” And off she goes returning to her fortress i.e. kitchen leaving Amelia sighing and reached up to unclasp her cloak and took off her coat. Rafael though studying Susan intently, his eyes though landed on the black holster on Susan’s left hips that have some emblem embroidered on the leather and redirected his eyes back to the steel-hazel. “Are you a member of 19th Blackbird just like Andy?” Rafael inquired.
“And you clearly not from 19th,” Susan replied evenly never answering his question. “Which division you come from?”
“33rd.” Rafael answered her question from the corner of his eyes he saw Amelia who just take a seat stiffened apparently Andy forgot to inform her of that tiny information.
“Inactive?” Susan prompted.
“Personal reason.”
“Such?”
Rafael arched his eyebrow; clearly he wouldn’t get any trust from Susan unless he hides nothing to her. “… I’m from Illinois, 33rd Blackbird is in Qatar. My Ma remarried to my mom who got a cute girl and she too gives a birth to a beautiful daughter. I didn’t want to come home to find both of my sisters already teenagers and I missed many fateful days in their lives.” He lightly shrugged his shoulders. “I got a dilemma to accept my heritage as a centaur,” he earns two sharp intakes of breaths at that information but went on as if he didn’t hear any of it. “It happens after my dad passed away, landed my ass for few good months in a jail for youth mishap.”
Susan softened her look even her voice still hard like steel. “Where you know Andy?”
“Everyone in the Blackbirds of course knows the ‘Last Survivor’ since she becomes the youngest Lt. Commander, Ma’am.” Rafael huffed it appears that he need be the first one who drop his guard; flicking his thumb to lock his gun he lowered the weapon and just like he guess the green-glow fading. “The higher-ups in my division gathered Captains alike and told us one of us would be appointed to guard her after people back in government found her wandering around in New York. I volunteered and got selected, the next thing I know I packed my stuffs, take the first flight to New York, got debriefed and following Andy around, drove her to her work and piloting her to London.”
“And the last-night incident in the Diagon Alley?”
Rafael flinches. ‘Damn, this woman really is Andy’s sister, always thorough with the details.’ He sighed. “Blunder.” Putting his gun back into the holster he heaved aloud. “The order from above is clear and direct. Protect Andy with all costs and doesn’t stress her. I don’t think she should be our tour guide when she got a heavy baggage already, borrowing two officers from London Police Force seems a good idea back then.”
“Apparently it isn’t.” Lowering her own wand Susan nod satisfied of what she gets from him. “Who else knows Andy is here?”
“Few men from Blackbirds, two from my previous division and another two from France and Germany, they and the dead two London Officers,” said Rafael.
Trading a look with Amelia who already deep in thought Susan flicked her wrist sending her wand into a hidden holster under her sleeve, “forgive my rudeness, Captain,” she sighed her shoulders sagging slightly as Rafael waved his right palm. “All is forgiven, Susan. My Ma and Mom usually smacked my head after they found out I stalked my sisters and gives few rattles to their suitors’ chains. I’m a male so yeah I think I know about ‘boys’ and ‘hormones.’”
Susan’s lips pressed thinly to stop herself smiling at the image, “I think I could image that, Captain, I too have friends that could be overprotective even some of them acted like they didn’t care about me at all,” she said recalling one particular Slytherin Blonde-Auror that she knew had done many ways to watch her back that more often than not, illegal. “I will take a shower and change my clothes, Mom. I don’t want to greet Andy with my current clothes,” she said to Amelia who gives her a silent nod, “And Captain,” moving to the stairs Susan shoots a smirk, “it’s a Colonel for you.”
Stunned, Rafael stared unblinkingly until Susan disappeared on the second - floor. “… What’s with Brit-chic with angelic-smiles always having shocking ranks and turned-out a hidden femme-fatale?” He ponders aloud for Andy and Susan does have angelic-smiles, scratching the back of his head he felt eyes on him and turned his head around to find Amelia Bones looking at him with a straight face, the corner of her lips jerked upward as he jumped and spun around. “C-Coffee!” Rafael squawked. “I really need a good coffee! Oy, little elf -what’s her name again- oh right! Janice!” He rushed away not wanting to embarrass himself leaving the Ministry continued keeping her cool expression until he heard, “youth,” she tittered.
With Janice is supplying the tea and snacks Amelia savor her time quietly waiting for her wife and oldest daughter to return home. Her daughters are here, her wife too is here, and even with a visitor that quite entertaining, for the first time after six years, Amelia felt the heavy weight on her shoulders evaporated. She just hopes this sensation, this feeling, won’t end too quickly.