The Threads That Bind Us

Chapter 34

Fidelity stood by the window, watching as Noah approached the house. Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and nerves. He was here-finally meeting her family, and she knew exactly what awaited him.

The morning had already been chaotic. Her siblings had arrived in a flurry of energy, filling the house with noise, laughter, and the occasional bout of bickering. Now, it was Noah's turn to step into the whirlwind.

"Do you think he's ready for this?" Fidelity muttered to herself as she caught sight of Carter lounging on the sofa, a mischievous grin already forming on his face.

"Ready for what?" Carter piped up, clearly catching her words.

"For you, Carter," she shot back with a teasing smirk.

Weston was in the kitchen, already helping their mom with dinner preparations. Hadley was sitting by the fire with Millie in her lap, looking calm as ever. And Sydney-well, Sydney had been giving her those knowing glances all morning.

"Okay, he's here," Fidelity announced, drawing a deep breath as she turned toward the door.

Her mom, Vanessa, poked her head out of the kitchen. "Oh, good! Let's make him feel welcome, everyone."

Carter shot her a teasing look. "Let's see if he survives dinner first."

"Be nice," Fidelity warned, though she couldn't help the laugh that escaped.

The doorbell rang, and Fidelity hurried to the entrance, her heart skipping a beat. She opened the door to find Noah standing there, looking a little nervous but still smiling that calm, steady smile that always put her at ease.

"Hey," he greeted softly, stepping in and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before looking around. "So... ready?"

"As ready as you are," Fidelity whispered, squeezing his hand.

They stepped into the living room together, where the full force of the Gardner family awaited.

"Everyone, this is Noah," Fidelity announced, her voice bright but cautious.

Noah gave a slight wave, and Carter was the first to stand. "So, this is the guy who's got Fidi all worked up." He stepped forward, giving Noah a once-over before clapping him on the shoulder. "I'm Carter, her favorite brother."

Noah chuckled nervously but kept his composure. "Nice to meet you, Carter."

Hadley stood next, holding baby Millie in her arms. She smiled warmly, though Fidelity could see the way her eyes scanned Noah carefully. "I'm Hadley, the oldest, and this is Millie." She gave a friendly hug before taking a seat again.

Clara and Oliver both gave him polite smiles before returning to their conversation.

"I'm Weston," came the voice from the kitchen. Weston entered, wiping his hands on a dish towel. "So, Noah, are you thinking about any career paths after Hogwarts? I've heard you're quite the academic."

Noah blinked, slightly caught off guard by the question so early in the introductions. "I, uh, well, I'm leaning toward something in magical law or possibly diplomacy."

Weston nodded thoughtfully, already analyzing Noah's response. "Good options. You'll have plenty of room to grow in those fields."

Then came Sydney, who simply gave Noah a knowing smile. "I'm Sydney. It's nice to finally meet you." Her tone was light, but the glint in her eyes suggested she'd be watching him closely, already piecing together the story of how Fidelity had fallen for him.

As the initial introductions passed, Noah looked at Fidelity, grateful for her presence by his side. Her family was warm but intense, exactly as she had described. Yet, he could feel the closeness between them, the easy laughter and the teasing that signaled a deep bond.