If I May Be So Bold (A Harry Potter Universe Fanfiction)

41.

March 2035

JAMES

James and Juni stopped by the ministry at quarter to eleven the day of Ella's last outreach concert. They picked up Elise — who was surprisingly easy to extract from her work, ready to go even — and then took the floo network together to Hogsmeade.

As they walked to the assisted living home, Elise wrapped one arm around Juni's shoulders and held James' hand with the other.

"Do you think she's nervous?" she asked.

"Probably. Because we're coming," James said.

"Yeah, because you're gonna see her and her boyfriend together," said Juni in the most traditionally annoying little sister tone he had ever heard.

"You just wait till it's you someday," Elise said.

"It won't be the same," Juni said. "Ella doesn't have it in her to tease anyone. She's too nice. I have to handle that for both of us."

He and Elise both laughed. "You handle your younger sister responsibilities admirably," said James.

"Thank you," said Juni with a smile and a nod like she was quite pleased with herself.

It was good to see her acting like herself again. He hoped she didn't slip back into that sad state from the beginning of the week again when she went back to school.

They reached the door of the assisted living center and James reached for the handle, stepping back to let the two of them in first.

The choir kids were all huddled up in the lobby and James spotted Ella on the far side of the circle. She looked up at the tinkle of the bell, made very brief eye contact with him, and then made a jerky movement of her arm that looked suspiciously like dropping Logan's hand.

He glanced at her and she whispered something.

Logan made a face at her and they both sort of laughed.

"Oh my god, James," Elise said, steering him away. "That poor girl."

"I'm allowed to look at my own daughter," James said irritably.

"Well you could be a little more subtle about it," said Elise. "Juni, I apologize in advance for whatever happens when you start dating. I cannot be held responsible for your father."

Juni laughed. "I don't care what Dad thinks," she said.

"Hey," said James, giving her hair a playful tug.

"I'm my own person," she said, parroting something Elise had always said when they were little — be your own person. Don't worry about everyone else.

They turned into a large room scattered with sofas and cushy chairs, some of which were occupied by elderly witches and wizards. Many others were parked in their wheelchairs alongside the furniture which seemed to be widely spaced exactly for this purpose.

There was an area near the windows that seemed to be set up for the kids to sing, so they headed towards the back where they could stand and listen. A few other parents he recognized were back there already.

"Alright," said Elise, her tone business-like. "Let's set some ground rules for after."

Juni snickered.

"I don't need ground rules," James said. "She's my daughter."

But Elise listed some off anyway, mostly circling around the fact that he was not, under any circumstances, supposed to embarrass her in any way.