The Flight Of The Vulture

Chapter 23: Just Enough

September 6th, 2004

Belle began setting her table. Her daughter had written the night before to say she had come home early from AMPECC, the big editor's conference in America. She also mentioned she was bringing a friend.

Belle couldn't remember that conference ever going for less than a month. She distinctly remembered her daughter mentioning the conference was in November. Samantha also hadn't brought a friend over for dinner since before the war. The whole letter was very suspiciously out of Samantha's character in the last six years.

"Maybe it's a guy." Ed looked up from his Daily Prophet, he had Samantha's little Pygmy Puff on his shoulder. "Maybe that's where she actually went away to, maybe she's got a boyfriend we don't know about."

"Maybe." Belle summoned her napkins from the kitchen, "It's still very odd to be so secretive."

"She's never been particularly forthright in the past about her romances now has she?" Ed mentioned before folding up his paper. "If it is a friend I hope it isn't the vegetarian one who hates alcohol and tried to convince me I had tiny bugs flying around in my brain. She really likes to ramble."

"Oh, but I love sweet Luna." Belle giggled, "She's a character, but sometimes I'd like to hear rambling in our home again."

Belle stopped, her eyes reaching a photo of her two children that sat on a window sill in her dining room. It was a photograph from when Jack and Samantha were only toddlers. Jack had his arm around Samantha, he was kissing her cheek while she giggled.

"I miss him too." Ed admitted as he stood and went to put a record on. She heard The House Of The Rising Sun begin to play.

"The Animals for dinner?" Belle asked as he leaned against the doorframe of the dining room.

Ed nodded, "Remember how it was one of the only songs he'd sleep to?"

Belle smiled a little, but her heart stung as she remembered. "Let's grab the plates. Samantha should be here soon and the potatoes are done."

They were almost finished setting the table when Ed sat in his chair and Belle heard the door open.

"Mum, Dad!" Samantha stepped into view, she was wearing her old red Augury cloak and a big smile on her face, "I have a surprise."

A tall man with dark curly hair down his back stepped into view beside their daughter. He was wearing a white shirt and dark pants with a chain around the belt and tiny black bracelets. His face was worn, but his eyes still held the dark brown color they always had.

She realized who's face it was staring back at her and she lost feeling in her whole body. She didn't realize she'd dropped a plate till she heard it crash on the floor.

His face was one she'd been mourning merely moments before, one she'd been mourning for seven years.

How was he even alive?

Belle ran to embrace her son. It was her Jack.

He still smelled like her son. It really was the beautiful little boy who garbled at everything and the smart young man who talked beyond his years.

Ed joined her less than a click later. Belle could feel his tears upon her shoulder.

She heard another full set of sobs come from beside her. She turned her head to see Samantha completely sobbing and smiling all in one. Her little lion hadn't shown a real emotion like that to anyone in years.

Belle, Jack and Ed all let go their arms and beckoned Samantha to join their hug.

After a moment that Belle wished would last forever, they all released each other.