RP: Visiting an Old Friend

[shh_hannah]

Date: Aug 20th, 2005
Characters: Hannah Abbott, Ernie Macmillian, Eleanor Branstone
Location: Ernie and Elle's cottage
Status: Private, although Elle may be involved. 
Summary: Hannah makes good on her promise to visit Ernie after his accident.  Eleanor eventually joins them after work.
Completion: Incomplete.

Hannah felt horrible that she hadn't been

Comments

[shh_eleanor]

It had been good to get back to work. Perhaps Zach had been right when he'd said it wasn't good for two people to spend that much time together. Still, she'd been happy to get back home when he'd showed up to relieve her early. Even if she did still think it was unnecessary for him to do so. He made it very hard to argue.

The fliers he'd put up seemed to have helped too, and she was glad to be able to tell Ernie that she'd had a fairly busy day in the shop. Since he'd worried about the time she'd taken off of work.

After hanging up her bag, Eleanor headed toward the living room. She figured Ernie would be in there watching movies, but it sounded as though he had company. Her stomach lurched when she poked her head into the doorway and saw Hannah. Not that she was unhappy to see her, per se, it was just that she'd been worrying about the mention of a letter from Ernie's mother in Hannah's last owl.

Well, neither of them looked upset, but that didn't necessarily mean a thing. Ernie was king of the subject change, after all. And who knew how long Hannah had been there. So, smiling tentatively, she said, "Hello. It's good to see you again, Hannah. I hope you found the place alright. I should have owled you with directions."

She should have owled her back full stop, but it was too late for that now.

[shh_hannah]

"Lunch would be nice sometime; we'll have to set it up," she agreed. "Do you know when Eleanor is going to be home?"

"Yes, I did, and George seems to think it'd be good, but I have to interview with Fred still. With George there might be a conflict of interest, and anyway they'd both be my bosses." She smiled at him, "Really, Ernie, don't worry about it. I'll find someone else to discuss delicate female matters with, I promise."

At that moment, she heard the door open. Eleanor didn't look very happy to see her; she hoped she wasn't stepping on the other woman's toes by visiting Ernie while she was out. "It's good to see you too, Eleanor, I hope you don't mind my visiting. I wanted to check in on Ernie and I brought a couple of casseroles to make up for missing that dinner."

Hannah decided not to bring up the letter or Ernie's family business; that he could tell her about in his own time.

[shh_ernie]

Ernie wasn't prepared to see Eleanor just yet. He thought he'd have some time between when Hannah left and when she arrived home to determine exactly what he wanted to say to her. He didn't know about what he was more upset: that she'd owled Mother, that she'd kept it from him, or that she knew Mother had owled back. On the other hand, he didn't want her to spend one more minute fretting about what his mother had written.

Before he could make a decision about that, he realized that the letter was sitting on the couch. He reached around Hannah and snatched it up. "Er...I need some water," he excused himself to the kitchen. Not wanting to be a complete liar, he took a glass down from the cupboard and filled it, taking a long drink.

[shh_eleanor]

"Oh, no! I don't mind you're visiting at all," she told Hannah. Merlin, she hoped she hadn't made Hannah think she was upset that she'd come. Shaking her head, she actually went into the living room and took a seat in one of the chairs.

"I'm glad you could come, actually." She stopped short of saying that she was worried that Ernie would get bored all day by himself. "And that was very nice, thank you. You're welcome to stay for dinner if you'd like. Since you cooked and all." This time she gave her a genuine smile.

Oh, crap. Well, if she had been unsure before whether they had discussed the letter from Ernie's mother, she wasn't now. Eleanor shifted a bit uncomfortably in her seat as Ernie took off for the kitchen. Well, at least he hadn't come right out and accused her of sticking her nose in where it didn't belong. Of course, he could just be waiting until Hannah had left for that. Then again, his mother might not have even mentioned her. Seemed likely, actually. Although, she did realize that even if she hadn't, she was going to have to come clean about owling her. She just kind of hoped she had the chance to tell him herself.

Turning to look at Hannah again, Eleanor tried to think of something to say. "Er... so, how have you been? Are you still working at the Museum?"

[shh_hannah]

Hannah smiled back at Eleanor, glad the other woman didn't mind her intrusion. "If you're sure you want me around. I don't want to interrupt your schedule, and I didn't intend to invite myself."

She tried hard not to react to Ernie snatching the letter up, but she was pretty sure Eleanor had noticed. She let the other woman change the subject as Ernie fled the room. "I've been well. Sorry I didn't get here to visit sooner. Is there anything I can do to help you?" She looked at Eleanor sympathetically, "Ernie said today was the first day you'd gotten back to the shop. As for me, yes, I'm still working at the museum, and tomorrow I'm interviewing to work part time at the apothecary as well."

[shh_eleanor]

"Oh, yes, of course I do. I didn't have anything scheduled. And you and Ernie are best friends. I'm sure there is some unwritten rule somewhere that says it's a best friend's duty to drop in unannounced once in a while." There was also the added bonus that the longer Hannah stayed, the less likely it was for Ernie to bring up the letter from his mother. She knew she was being a coward in that regard, but she was really scared of what the woman might've said now.

"No need to apologize. Actually, we've had more visitors since Ernie got home than we do on any normal week. But I am glad you could come over. Especially today. I've been worried he'll get bored here by himself. That's really all the help I need right now. Keeping him entertained." That and she had more offers for help than she really knew what to do with. She also realized she was rambling. Shaking her head, she smiled. "Good luck with the interview. The apothecary would be a fun place to work. I stop in now and then, and I got a chance to chat with George Weasley once. He seems like a nice bloke."

[shh_hannah]

"Yes, I suppose I'm his best friend besides you. He's the closest thing I have to a brother. Still, I don't like to be rude." Hannah just hoped they wouldn't have to discuss the whole mess with his mother again; it really upset Ernie even though she was pretty sure he understood where she'd been coming from now.

"Yes, I suppose everyone wants to see for themselves that he's okay. Um, well, I don't think he was bored, but you are probably his preferred company." She smiled as Eleanor kept talking. She hoped her friendliness would put Ernie's fiancee at ease. "Thanks for the well wishes. I think it would be fun too; George and I get on quite well so far." Hannah tried her best not to blush.

[shh_eleanor]

"He said you're like a sister to him too," she said with a smile. "And that rule applies even more so to family. Merlin knows I'd be thrilled to see my brother drop in." After she'd questioned him about how he'd gotten there and whether Mum knew where he was, of course.

"I don't know about that. I think he's probably getting a bit worn out on my company," Eleanor said with a chuckle. "Maybe not so bad that I've stopped trying to follow him around everywhere to make sure he's alright."

Eleanor wasn't completely sure, but she thought Hannah's cheeks might have gotten just a bit pink when she mentioned George. "Are you two friendly then? He seemed very nice when I spoke to him. He didn't even mind when I went on about his portable swamp back in second year. Well, my second year, anyway."