RP: Parents Just Don't Understand
Date: 28 February 2005 *takes place before the date with Ernie*
Characters: Eleanor Branstone, NPC’s (her parents)
Location: Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
Status: Private
Summary: Eleanor visits her parents to take advantage of their video rental account. She could really do without the interrogation, however.
Completion: Complete
Eleanor looked over her list for the tenth time that day. Dinner was in the slow cooker, the house was clean, the wards were set to accept Ernie, and she’d made sure there were no undergarments hanging in the loo (she reckoned Ernie wouldn’t make a big deal of it, like Henry’s friends, but better safe than sorry). All she had left to do was pick up the videos and get herself ready.
She dialed her parent’s number, and asked her father if he would be home for a while, then Apparated over. She could have gone to Exeter and rented the videos on her own, but it seemed like a good excuse to go visit her parents for a bit. Letting herself in the front door, Eleanor called out a hello and hung up her coat.
“Hello, dear, this is a pleasant surprise,” her mother, Cornelia, told her, wrapping her in a hug.
“How’re you feeling?” Eleanor asked. “Back doing any better?” Her mum had been in a car accident in December that had laid her up for a while.
“No fussing Elle,” her mother admonished. “I’m fine. The doctor even cleared me to go back to work. Sally sends her love, by the way. Did you get her letter?”
“I got it. Did Sally really get one of those Karaoke machines?”
“Yes,” her mother said with a sigh, rubbing her temples. “Awful thing. You should hear Albert try to sing, it’s horrible.”
Albert was one of the regulars. A chronic chain smoker whose voice sounded like he’d smoked at least three packs a day for the last thirty years. Eleanor couldn’t even imagine what his singing voice was like.
“Come on, then,” Cornelia told her. “Your father is in the dining room. He’s become fascinated with airplanes, and has found himself a new hobby.”
Eleanor’s eyebrows rose in alarm. Her father had discovered a variety of different hobbies over the years. Once he’d decided to figure out how the wiring in the house worked. They didn’t have electricity for a week until he’d worked it out.
The dining table was a mess of tiny plastic and metal parts, and her father was bent over what looked like a small engine. “Hullo dad. Er, what’ve you got there?”
Janus Branstone looked up from his engine with a grin. “Hello there, Ellie! It’s a model plane. I have to put it all together, and then it will fly. It’s got one of those radio controllers. Marvelous, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, that’s neat dad. You know you can get them all put together, right?”
Janus opened his mouth to say something, but Cornelia quickly interrupted, “There is coffee in the kitchen, dear.”
Eleanor nodded and quickly went to retrieve a cup. She was familiar with her fathers rants, and wasn’t eager to sit through another. When she returned most of the model parts had been cleared from the table.
“So what brings you over today, Ellie?” her father asked.
“I was hoping you’d run me over to rent some videos. I’m having a friend over for dinner tonight, and we want to watch some movies.”
“That’s wonderful dear! Is this a friend from school? Do I know her,” Janus asked curiously.
“Er, no. It’s not a school friend, and you don’t know him.”
Janus’s head snapped up from his model pieces, and Cornelia raised and eyebrow.
”Him?” Janus asked. “You’re having a man over? At night? Will Rose be home?”
Eleanor rolled her eyes. “Yes I am, and no she won’t. She actually moved into her own flat last weekend. Honestly dad, it’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big… Eleanor, you’re only twenty-two!” he spluttered.
“Plenty old enough to have a male friend over,” Eleanor said exasperatedly. “You and mum were married by my age,” she reminded him.
“Oh sweet merciful heavens,” Janus muttered, dropping into his chair. “Elle, you aren’t… thinking of marrying this boy, are you?”
Eleanor’s jaw dropped. How did he get that idea from what she’d said? “Oh for Merlin’s sake-“ she stopped when she saw her mothers lips press into a tight line. “Sorry, I forgot,” she said quickly. “And no, dad, I’m not. He’s not even staying the night. Will you stop overreacting?”
Janus cocked an eyebrow. “But he is the kind of friend that would wish to spend the night?” he asked shrewdly.
Cornelia cleared her throat before Eleanor could respond. “I think we should go get those videos if you are having a guest over,” she told her daughter. “Let’s leave your father to his model, shall we?”
Eleanor shot her mother a grateful look, but her father had jumped up from the table before they got a chance to leave the dining room. “No! No, I’ll take her.”
Eleanor groaned, but her mother gave her a pat on her shoulder and told her to go get her coat on so she and her father could have a talk. When her father came out into the living room, Eleanor groaned again.
“Don’t worry, your mum’s told me she will skin me if I give you too much trouble,” he muttered. “Shall we?”
Eleanor nodded and followed him out to the car. She had gotten the same kind of treatment the first time she’d told them she was going on a date with Matt. Her mother had been thrilled, and Eleanor suspected she was hoping that if she found a nice Muggle boy to settle down with she would give up on her magical heritage. Her father’d had kittens, however. She had been eighteen at the time, so she supposed it was to be expected, but apparently her father didn’t care how old she was when it came to dating.
“I can ask questions about him, can’t I?” Janus asked, once they were on the road.
“I guess.”
“What’s his name? Is he a Wizard? How long have you known him?”
Eleanor shook her head in amusement. “His name is Ernie. Yes he is a Wizard, and I’ve known him for a few weeks. I met him at the bookstore.”
Janus nodded. “Are you dating this boy, dear?”
Much better than being asked if she were considering marriage, or if Ernie wished to stay the night. She’d have to remember to thank her mother when they got back. “Yes, I suppose you could say I am dating him. This is only our second date, and I promise that I’m not going to rush into anything.”
That’s a relief. I would hate to see you get hurt again. So, what did you do on your first date?”
Eleanor rolled her eyes. Couldn’t he ask her about school, or work? “He made me dinner and helped me brew my allergy potion, actually.”
“So this date occurred… at his home? He didn’t take you out for dinner?”
“Bit hard to brew potions in a resturaunt, dad,” she reminded him.
“So are all of your dates going to occur in each others homes? I’m not sure that’s such a great idea if you wish to take things slowly. What with beds being so readily available.”
“Dad!” Eleanor exclaimed.
“Sorry! Sorry, I forgot. So what does this Ernie do for a living?”
“He’s an Auror,” Eleanor told him, relieved that they were turning into the car park of the video store.
“Well, that’s something, isn’t it? I suppose he could be killed in the line of duty and you’d be so upset you’d never date again, right?” he asked hopefully.
Eleanor glared at her father. “That is not funny,” she said in a low voice. “I’m telling mum you said that,” she threatened before climbing out of the car and stomping off into to the shop.
Apparently he had decided it was time to drop the subject. Eleanor picked out her videos without her father making any comments aside from expressing his relief that she had gotten ‘guy movies’. He even remembered to ask her about school and work on the way back to the house.
“I’ve got to go dad, I’m just going to go inside and say bye to mum,” she told him, practically running into the house before he could start up about Ernie again.
She found her mother in the kitchen washing dishes. “I’m going mum. Could you possibly make sure that dad doesn’t try to Apparate over later?”
Cornelia smiled. “He’s just trying to look out for you dear. His hearts in the right place, even if he should keep his mouth closed.”
“I know,” Eleanor told her, shaking her head.
“Before you go, dear, can I see your wand for a minute?” she asked, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
“What for?” Eleanor asked suspiciously. The last time her mother had asked to see her wand it had taken her a week to find it again.
“I just want to show you something, I’ll give it right back. I-I know that you need it.”
Eleanor’s jaw dropped. Her mother wanted to show her a spell? Pulling it out of her coat pocket, Eleanor handed it over and watched carefully as her mother showed her an intricate wand movement, and the accompanying incantation. “Go on and give it a try,” Cornelia said, handing the wand back.
Eleanor did as her mother suggested, feeling a slight tingle when the spell was cast. “What was that?” she asked.
“Contraception charm. Just in case.”
Eleanor was so mortified that she completely forgot what a huge step it was that her mother would show her how to do any sort of spell. “You two are awful. I’ll call you later,” she muttered before storming out the back door.
Characters: Eleanor Branstone, NPC’s (her parents)
Location: Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
Status: Private
Summary: Eleanor visits her parents to take advantage of their video rental account. She could really do without the interrogation, however.
Completion: Complete
Eleanor looked over her list for the tenth time that day. Dinner was in the slow cooker, the house was clean, the wards were set to accept Ernie, and she’d made sure there were no undergarments hanging in the loo (she reckoned Ernie wouldn’t make a big deal of it, like Henry’s friends, but better safe than sorry). All she had left to do was pick up the videos and get herself ready.
She dialed her parent’s number, and asked her father if he would be home for a while, then Apparated over. She could have gone to Exeter and rented the videos on her own, but it seemed like a good excuse to go visit her parents for a bit. Letting herself in the front door, Eleanor called out a hello and hung up her coat.
“Hello, dear, this is a pleasant surprise,” her mother, Cornelia, told her, wrapping her in a hug.
“How’re you feeling?” Eleanor asked. “Back doing any better?” Her mum had been in a car accident in December that had laid her up for a while.
“No fussing Elle,” her mother admonished. “I’m fine. The doctor even cleared me to go back to work. Sally sends her love, by the way. Did you get her letter?”
“I got it. Did Sally really get one of those Karaoke machines?”
“Yes,” her mother said with a sigh, rubbing her temples. “Awful thing. You should hear Albert try to sing, it’s horrible.”
Albert was one of the regulars. A chronic chain smoker whose voice sounded like he’d smoked at least three packs a day for the last thirty years. Eleanor couldn’t even imagine what his singing voice was like.
“Come on, then,” Cornelia told her. “Your father is in the dining room. He’s become fascinated with airplanes, and has found himself a new hobby.”
Eleanor’s eyebrows rose in alarm. Her father had discovered a variety of different hobbies over the years. Once he’d decided to figure out how the wiring in the house worked. They didn’t have electricity for a week until he’d worked it out.
The dining table was a mess of tiny plastic and metal parts, and her father was bent over what looked like a small engine. “Hullo dad. Er, what’ve you got there?”
Janus Branstone looked up from his engine with a grin. “Hello there, Ellie! It’s a model plane. I have to put it all together, and then it will fly. It’s got one of those radio controllers. Marvelous, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, that’s neat dad. You know you can get them all put together, right?”
Janus opened his mouth to say something, but Cornelia quickly interrupted, “There is coffee in the kitchen, dear.”
Eleanor nodded and quickly went to retrieve a cup. She was familiar with her fathers rants, and wasn’t eager to sit through another. When she returned most of the model parts had been cleared from the table.
“So what brings you over today, Ellie?” her father asked.
“I was hoping you’d run me over to rent some videos. I’m having a friend over for dinner tonight, and we want to watch some movies.”
“That’s wonderful dear! Is this a friend from school? Do I know her,” Janus asked curiously.
“Er, no. It’s not a school friend, and you don’t know him.”
Janus’s head snapped up from his model pieces, and Cornelia raised and eyebrow.
”Him?” Janus asked. “You’re having a man over? At night? Will Rose be home?”
Eleanor rolled her eyes. “Yes I am, and no she won’t. She actually moved into her own flat last weekend. Honestly dad, it’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big… Eleanor, you’re only twenty-two!” he spluttered.
“Plenty old enough to have a male friend over,” Eleanor said exasperatedly. “You and mum were married by my age,” she reminded him.
“Oh sweet merciful heavens,” Janus muttered, dropping into his chair. “Elle, you aren’t… thinking of marrying this boy, are you?”
Eleanor’s jaw dropped. How did he get that idea from what she’d said? “Oh for Merlin’s sake-“ she stopped when she saw her mothers lips press into a tight line. “Sorry, I forgot,” she said quickly. “And no, dad, I’m not. He’s not even staying the night. Will you stop overreacting?”
Janus cocked an eyebrow. “But he is the kind of friend that would wish to spend the night?” he asked shrewdly.
Cornelia cleared her throat before Eleanor could respond. “I think we should go get those videos if you are having a guest over,” she told her daughter. “Let’s leave your father to his model, shall we?”
Eleanor shot her mother a grateful look, but her father had jumped up from the table before they got a chance to leave the dining room. “No! No, I’ll take her.”
Eleanor groaned, but her mother gave her a pat on her shoulder and told her to go get her coat on so she and her father could have a talk. When her father came out into the living room, Eleanor groaned again.
“Don’t worry, your mum’s told me she will skin me if I give you too much trouble,” he muttered. “Shall we?”
Eleanor nodded and followed him out to the car. She had gotten the same kind of treatment the first time she’d told them she was going on a date with Matt. Her mother had been thrilled, and Eleanor suspected she was hoping that if she found a nice Muggle boy to settle down with she would give up on her magical heritage. Her father’d had kittens, however. She had been eighteen at the time, so she supposed it was to be expected, but apparently her father didn’t care how old she was when it came to dating.
“I can ask questions about him, can’t I?” Janus asked, once they were on the road.
“I guess.”
“What’s his name? Is he a Wizard? How long have you known him?”
Eleanor shook her head in amusement. “His name is Ernie. Yes he is a Wizard, and I’ve known him for a few weeks. I met him at the bookstore.”
Janus nodded. “Are you dating this boy, dear?”
Much better than being asked if she were considering marriage, or if Ernie wished to stay the night. She’d have to remember to thank her mother when they got back. “Yes, I suppose you could say I am dating him. This is only our second date, and I promise that I’m not going to rush into anything.”
That’s a relief. I would hate to see you get hurt again. So, what did you do on your first date?”
Eleanor rolled her eyes. Couldn’t he ask her about school, or work? “He made me dinner and helped me brew my allergy potion, actually.”
“So this date occurred… at his home? He didn’t take you out for dinner?”
“Bit hard to brew potions in a resturaunt, dad,” she reminded him.
“So are all of your dates going to occur in each others homes? I’m not sure that’s such a great idea if you wish to take things slowly. What with beds being so readily available.”
“Dad!” Eleanor exclaimed.
“Sorry! Sorry, I forgot. So what does this Ernie do for a living?”
“He’s an Auror,” Eleanor told him, relieved that they were turning into the car park of the video store.
“Well, that’s something, isn’t it? I suppose he could be killed in the line of duty and you’d be so upset you’d never date again, right?” he asked hopefully.
Eleanor glared at her father. “That is not funny,” she said in a low voice. “I’m telling mum you said that,” she threatened before climbing out of the car and stomping off into to the shop.
Apparently he had decided it was time to drop the subject. Eleanor picked out her videos without her father making any comments aside from expressing his relief that she had gotten ‘guy movies’. He even remembered to ask her about school and work on the way back to the house.
“I’ve got to go dad, I’m just going to go inside and say bye to mum,” she told him, practically running into the house before he could start up about Ernie again.
She found her mother in the kitchen washing dishes. “I’m going mum. Could you possibly make sure that dad doesn’t try to Apparate over later?”
Cornelia smiled. “He’s just trying to look out for you dear. His hearts in the right place, even if he should keep his mouth closed.”
“I know,” Eleanor told her, shaking her head.
“Before you go, dear, can I see your wand for a minute?” she asked, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
“What for?” Eleanor asked suspiciously. The last time her mother had asked to see her wand it had taken her a week to find it again.
“I just want to show you something, I’ll give it right back. I-I know that you need it.”
Eleanor’s jaw dropped. Her mother wanted to show her a spell? Pulling it out of her coat pocket, Eleanor handed it over and watched carefully as her mother showed her an intricate wand movement, and the accompanying incantation. “Go on and give it a try,” Cornelia said, handing the wand back.
Eleanor did as her mother suggested, feeling a slight tingle when the spell was cast. “What was that?” she asked.
“Contraception charm. Just in case.”
Eleanor was so mortified that she completely forgot what a huge step it was that her mother would show her how to do any sort of spell. “You two are awful. I’ll call you later,” she muttered before storming out the back door.