RP: Guess who's coming for dinner?

[shh_arabella]

Date: 13 April 2005
Characters: Arabella Figg, Caradoc Dearborn [Cai]
Location: Arabella's cottage on F Street
Status: Private
Summary: Caradoc comes for dinner and collects his house elf.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_caradoc]

"Hello, Arabella. How are you, Auntie?" He grinned. "Is my elf giving you grief yet?" He whispered while she hugged him.

"So you found yourself an owl already? What else have you been doing with yourself besides cleaning and organizing? Your house looks wonderful."

[shh_arabella]

"I'm a bit tired, dearie, but thank you for asking," she replied. "I'm an old woman, you know. Half-six is practically midnight to me." She winked at him. "I'd not moved in almost 50 years, you know. I'd forgot how much work it is to set up house from scratch, even with a head start as I had here and a wonderful helper like Cai. She has been a great help, you know."

Cai suddenly appeared, gazing in bright-eyed adoration at Caradoc. "She's missed you very much," Arabella said matter-of-factly. "Talked about 'sir' an awful lot, not that I blame her."

[shh_caradoc]

"I can imagine, Arabella. I'm glad Cai was a help. She can be a bit tiring herself some times."

Caradoc looked at Arabella and winked. "Cai, do you think you're ready come home? You can still visit here and help Mrs. Figg a couple of times a week, but you could work on the claim again. Would you like that?" The little elf launched herself at his legs.

"Oh yes, Master. Cai is liking helping Mizzes, but you is needing Cai, Master for house."

"Indeed I am. Why don't you head home then. Mind the dining table though, I am working and it cannot be cleaned up yet."

"Yes, Master. Cai is being back Mondays and Fridays, Mizzes." The elf disappeared.

"Nice to have your home almost to your self, again?"

[shh_arabella]

Arabella watched carefully as Caradoc gave very specific instructions to Cai about what to do and what she shouldn't touch. She'd not got used to the elf grabbing her legs, so it was a relief to know her legs would be grabbed only two days a week, rather than seven.

"Thank you, Cai," Arabella said, smiling at the elf. "I'll see you Monday." She breathed out a loud sigh after Cai disappeared.

"Cor, yes, dearie," she said, laughing. "Are you hungry? Because I'm sure I'll have some pot roast left over, if you want some to take home."

[shh_caradoc]

Caradoc broke out in laughter at her set up for Mr. Potter. "The poor lad. I'm not so sure any more that he'll want to see you, then. Hopefully he found out you weren't really eccentric somewhere along the line, Arabella."

He nodded. "I think if she came by on Monday and Friday mornings it would work. The local market is still a bit lean. I've been supplementing in Exeter and Tregaron as needed, but once school begins, I'll have to shop on Saturdays. I'm thinking you could tell Cai on Fridays what you need, or if you'd like to accompany me, then Saturday I can shop. Cai can bring your groceries on Monday if you don't join me."

"I plan to keep her busy on the claim, so she'll be too busy to bother you too much. And please tell me if she shows signs of getting out of hand. I love her to pieces, but she's definitely got a mind of her own."

[shh_arabella]

"It's possible he wouldn't want to see me, no," she said, feeling a bit sad at the prospect. She'd always liked Harry immensely. Even when he was little, she could tell he had tremendous magical energy, and it was awful to be forced to pretend to be a dotty old lady around him. "I should hope a good sponge cake or treacle tart would remedy that."

She nodded when Caradoc explained his plans about shopping. "That would be quite acceptable."

"Speaking of sponge cake," she said, "you look about done with your meal. Are you ready for pudding? I decided not to make sponge cake this time. Don't want to be too predictable, you know." She gave him another wink. Had she thought of him as a surrogate son, she'd not be winking, but a surrogate nephew was another matter. "I made an apple tort. I hope you like it."

[shh_caradoc]

"Dinner was delicious, Arabella. I'm sure anything you made for pudding will be wonderful. I'm very fond of fruit anything."

Caradoc considered something he had thought of earlier to ask her. "Arabella, what do you think about visiting America? My family is having a large party the last weekend of April. It's a combination anniversaries, birthdays, Mother's Day celebration for all the events occurring in April and May. It's a family tradition, and as my new surrogate aunt, you would be very welcome if you'd like to join Cai and I for the journey."

[shh_arabella]

"America?" Arabella raised an eyebrow. "I've not been past London to the east nor Torquay to the west. America would be quite an adventure." She thought for perhaps five seconds, then said, "All right! If you insist. How would we get there? By Portkey?"