^^Forrest though. I like to think he looks a little nerdier than John Patrick Amedori, but still, what a cutie.
Warning: Sexulish content midway through. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's not that bad, honestly, but just a fair warning, it's there. Don't be immature about it please, I think we're past that.
Chapter Seventy-Seven
International Quidditch Tournament, June 2021
The fields surrounding the stadium were filled with tents, each holding a Wizarding family. Harry Potter and his family were roped off from the rest, something Harry always felt sad about – his kids could never just be part of the crowd. However, he was now sitting in the Bowen family tent, and felt so pleased with the situation he couldn't stop smiling.
"Happy you could make it, Harry." Sonia Bowen plopped down on the couch beside him.
"Me, too. I insisted. Wouldn't miss Ella's game for the world."
Ginny rushed past them, butterbeer in both hands. "Me neither! She's wicked on the pitch, just marvellous!"
Harry chuckled. "She loves writing in her column about Elle, can't wait to see her tomorrow."
"She is wonderful, isn't she?" asked Andrew, smushing into the corner beside Sonia, who slung her arm around him.
"My therapist was very impressed when I told them she was my niece." Said Sonia, watching as Max leaned over to whisper in Teddy's ear. "Excuse me now, I've got to go badger my son about his wedding." She blew out a long breath of air. "Can you believe that? My son's wedding." She bounded off, leaving Harry and Andrew to themselves.
"Where is Ella anyway, Andrew?" Harry looked about the room, searching for that short haze of sunshine curls.
"Picking up Forrest, that boy she met in Montrose. He missed the game, had to work. He'll see the one tomorrow."
"Is he nice then?"
Andrew had not met Forrest yet, but had heard a lot about the young man. "He owns a bookshop and adores her completely, by the sound of it."
"What happened to that other bloke, the seeker on her team?"
Andrew's heart sank for a moment, recalling the state that relationship had left his daughter in. "That...it ended, on mutual terms. It was a bit rough, but Ella's okay. She's taking this one slow."
Recalling their own relationships in their youth, Harry smiled over at Andrew. "Seems like years ago that I covered for you that one New Years," He laughed. "And you snuck out to see Amara."
Andrew laughed quietly. "That night was...perfect and a fail all at once. Weird to think that we were the same age James and Hester are now."
The two fathers glanced at each other, and then looked around the room. "Where...um, where are they?" asked Harry, clearing his throat.
"I can't recall seeing them since supper." Andrew and Harry wore matching creased brows.
"They're probably just taking a walk." Suggested Harry slowly.
Andrew nodded. "Yes...a walk, you're right."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Do you..." James Potter was, as usual, lost for words around Hester Bowen.
The tent his Dad always used for Quidditch tournaments wasn't the nicest, but it was cozy, and he had a room that he shared with Albus. Tonight though, everyone was at the Bowen tent, and the room was empty. No one would be back for hours. He had set a candle on the bedside table, which Hester thought was quite sweet.
"Should I take my top off?" she asked, though she never had before.
"If you – um – if you'd like."
"James," she huffed, though she seemed nervous. "This isn't the first time you've seem my breasts."
Maybe it was her use of the words breasts, how formal she was, but James knew then it was okay. He undid each button of her white, sleeveless shirt, kissing her skin after each one. Soon there was nothing between them, and he pressed his lips to her soft neck.
"It's okay," she whispered into his hair. "I love you."
James smiled and nuzzled her neck. "I love you, too."
Everything was going rather well, nothing hurt and both were comfortable, when Hester glanced to the side – and let out a shout.
"My hair!" she screamed, and James jumped out of bed (and Hester), grabbing his wand.
"Aquamenti!" he shouted, putting out the ends of Hester's hair. Once the candle, the bed and Hester were completely soaked, they stared at each other. James, completely naked, stood in the narrow gap between the beds. "You okay?" he asked, smiling sheepishly.
To James' surprise, Hester began to giggle. "You – I'm sorry." She gasped. "But it's sort of funny, don't you think?"
Though still mortified, James began to laugh. With a wave of his wand, the bed and Hester were dried and he climbed in beside her. "It could have been worse, for our first time." He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her.
"Jamie?"
"Hmm?"
"I do love you," she whispered. "Even if you set me on fire accidently."
He laughed into her kiss. "I love you, too, and I'm sorry Hessie. I wanted it to be special."
"Jamie, we're in a tent older than both our parents put together, and this bed is uncomfortable and smells a bit like grass." Hester said, then pressed her mouth to his, breathing him in. "But I am with you, and that's what matters."
"You are all that matters." He replied, a little choked up. "Do you still want to heal the world and I'll write about it?"
Hester nodded. "I'd do anything with you, and I'm happy that we did this, that we waited for now."
"Me, too." James had never felt so in love with another human before. "I don't want to think about a time without you by my side."
"We're getting rather sickly sweet," Hester said. "And we should probably get back, our folks might be wondering where we are."
"Just one more moment, Hes." James held her tighter. "I don't want to ever forget what you feel like right in this moment, not ever."
Softening, Hester nodded. "Okay, just one moment."
Fireworks went off in the distance, but Ella wasn't paying any attention. She was waiting for the sound of a rattling, ancient car – the signal of Forrest's arrival. He had listened to the game in the shop she knew, and though he felt terrible for missing it, she wasn't upset. This was her job, and the store was Forrest's.
Just as she was getting worried, the car came over the hill, and Forrest honked twice at the sight of her. "Hullo!" he called, shutting it and walking over. He had a bouquet of wild flowers in one hand, and a smile brighter than any star.
"C'mere." She insisted, opening her arms.
"I'm sorry I missed the game," he said again. "But that damn collector –"
"Forrest, really, it's okay." Ella couldn't stop smiling now that he was with her. "I'm just happy you're here now. C'mon, everyone is dying to meet you."
Linking arms, they headed off. "I've got something to show you," she said, tugging him away from the tents. They reached the stadium, and Ella raised a finger to her lips and ducked under a cloth flap, pulling him along. They were beneath the stands he realized, and after crossing beneath the beams they ducked under another flap – and were on the pitch.
"Whoah." Breathed Forrest. "It's huge."
The stands towered above them, the sky a framed oval, millions of stars blinking above them. They walked across the pitch, arm and arm, when Ella stopped abruptly, brow furrowed.
"Ella?" Forrest turned to look at her, worried when he saw her frown. "You okay?"
"You haven't kissed me yet." She stated.
Forrest blushed deeply, and his eyes widened behind the thick lenses of his glasses. He resembled an adorable bug. "I – well –"
"I've done everything to signal you – and you still haven't." Ella didn't want to admit it, but she was scared. "Do you...do you not like me?"
"Ella –"
"Because if you don't, then that's oh-okay." She whispered, obviously not okay in the least. "But Forrest, if you don't I can't take you to my family. I just can't."
"Oh, Ella." Forrest stepped forward, looking everywhere but her.
"Look at me, Forrest. Please."
Taking a deep breath, Forrest looked up. "Can I – um – show you?"
"Sure, but –?"
He didn't let her finish, just gently pressed his lips to hers, hands hovering over her shoulders. He pulled away, blushing furiously.
"Oh." Ella touched her lips with her fingers, as if to see if they were still there.
"I wanted to give you space," he explained, gaze on their feet once more. "I didn't want to just blurt out that I loved you and pressure you –"
"You love me?" asked Ella breathlessly.
"Of course." Forrest took her hands carefully in his. "How could I not?"
"I – but you're so perfect."
He laughed and crushed her to him, holding on tight and breathing in her smell of wind and sea. "Ella, just let me love you, okay? If you're all right with that."
Clutching him, fistfuls of wavy brown hair and tears slipping down her cheeks, all Ella could do was nod, and nod and nod until she couldn't hold herself up, and Forrest supported all her weight. Somehow, Ella knew he would always be around to do so.
In darkness, Ella snuck from the team tents to her families'. In the room she usually shared with Hester and Maeve, she slipped into Hester's bottom bunk.
"You awake?" she asked.
"Yeah, took you long enough." Moving over, Hester spoke softly, so as not to wake their little sister. "Mae's been asleep for ages."
The sisters lay side-by-side, gold and bronze, breathing synchronizing. "It's been a crazy day." Said Ella, taking Hester's hand under the light quilt.
"I had sex with James." Blurted Hester.
"No way." Gasped Ella, turning her head to gape at her sister even in darkness. "Why didn't you tell me beforehand!"
"You were busy, and we decided quickly." Shrugged Hester. "I'm sorry. I did everything you said though, don't worry."
"You took the potion I gave you, the morning after one?"
She nodded. "Yeah, tastes awful by the way."
The sisters fell silent, then Ella whispered: "I kissed Forrest."
"For the first time?" asked Hester, surprised.
"Yeah." Ella grazed her lips with her fingers – they still tingled pleasantly. "It was wonderful."
"So was James." Said Hester, and then added thoughtfully, "Until he lit my hair on fire."
"What?" Elle giggled. "No way."
She nodded, showing her the singed hair. "I'll fix it tomorrow, but it happened. There was a candle involved."
"Geeze." Ella shook her head, then snuggled closer. "Seems crazy, how our lives are going." She listened for soft breathing. "Imagine, Maeve will be at Hogwarts this September, and one day we'll have to give her potions and advice and –"
"She's still little, shush." Hester said. "Just...let's enjoy her innocence for a while longer."
The sister's fell asleep, as they had many times growing up. Andrew found them that way in the morning and smiled. His girls were good friends, and he was glad they had a bond as strong as he and Sonia had. He didn't know what was going on in their lives as exactly, but he was glad they at least had each other.
A/N: Awwwww. I feel like the last few chapters I've started each note with "awww". The sad stuff is kinda over.
Question: Ella is in the international tournament! How cool is that!
REMINDER: I'm taking questions! Leave one below, doesn't necessarily have to be about the book.
Only 2 chapters and an epilogue left! I actually meshed 2 chapters together...sorry. Happy Holidays!
Rose