"That's enough for today." Eden seethed, but could tell he would ignore her plea.
Gathering up their dishes, he proceeded to wash them by hand.
"Don't you have an elf for that? Or in the least a spell?"
"My mother used to make us wash the dishes by hand when we were in trouble. It seems I kept the practice."
She watched as he dried them by hand too, tucking them back into cupboards. Eden glanced at his sitting room. She couldn't help but notice how sparse his bookshelf was. And most of the literature was on a topic she knew all too well.
His walls hung scattered pictures with not a single frame that matched. A family portrait before pyramids from a newspaper clipping. An older couple she assumed to be his parents. She leaned in, noting the way his mother smiled and his father laughed. Such warmth had never known.
There were red heads everywhere. A rather proud one, with his wife and children. One with scars twirling a lovely blonde. Twins in front of a brightly colored shop. Another holding up a baby, the girl behind him scalding. The only red headed girl raced on her broom. Another picture of her, dressed as a bride standing beside...
"Is this not Harry Potter?"
"What would you know if it?"
"What witch or wizard wouldn't? I could still read." Her nerves grated against his nonchalant tone.
"He's my brother in law."
"Truly?" She looked around at all the red heads, making sense of it. "You're a Weasley."
"Yes." She snorted.
"My father hated yours."
"I suspect mine couldn't have cared less." She studied the man again. He seemed pleasant enough, far more pleasant than the men she'd grown around.
"You have quite the big family. Are some here in Romania?"
"It's just me." She realized he wasn't in any of the photographs, save for the clipping of his family by pyramids. Even then, he was behind and mostly hidden.
Yes, the humble dwelling spoke it all. It was just him.
She tapped the spines of his books. He came before her, leaning against the wall.
"I've a few colleagues here, and they stop by on occasion. We need to settle on a story."
"How do you mean?"
"You shouldn't go by your name for one. So what shall we call you?"
"You may decide, considering I'm here against my will."
He ignored the last comment. "Guinevere." He stroked his chin. "The meaning suites you. And now to the story."
"I suspect you have that sorted as well."
"You were sent to America before the war, where your parents passed. You came back to England recently, and we met in London."
"Well enough, but why would I be here with you?"
"Because," He moved off the wall. "We're engaged."
YOU ARE READING
Shadow and Flame
Hayran Kurgu***Newly Revised*** After receiving a mysterious letter, Charlie Weasley is prompted to head back to Hogwarts. A girl has been missing for years, the case shrouded in a mystery only he can solve. Will the shadows of the past overtake him? Or will th...
