Chapter Text
Kenneth's Decision
Wednesday — September 15, 2001
His twenty-fourth birthday was one of his best. It fell on a bloody Wednesday, which sucked, but he woke up to his very fit girlfriend straddling his thighs and tugging his cock, her hair a mused, sleepy, curly, wavy mess, and he groaned and pressed his palms over his eyes.
"Fucking hell," he muttered. "What time is it?"
"Six," she answered huskily, her palm twisting just right at the end of every slow, methodical stroke.
"Courtney…" He was already bucking into her hand.
"Happy birthday, handsome."
His breathing was shallow. "What are you going to do?"
"Suck you off."
He groaned again and kept his eyes closed. It wasn't as if he could stop her, and he didn't really want to. A moment later, she'd shifted down his legs and she had her perfect lips around him, her tongue doing the most bloody amazing, brilliant things. He was practically thrusting his hips while trying not to because he didn't want to gag her.
Then, after a few delicious minutes of kissing and sucking all over his erection, she dragged her teeth over him and he came so hard he actually yelled, his hips lifting off the fucking mattress. She giggled as she swallowed most of him down, and the vibrations from her mouth went to his very bollocks.
Kenneth swore like a sailor as his vision went slightly black around the edges.
Friday — September 17, 2001
They took Friday off to spend the day together and celebrate without the time constraint of rushing to work, though they were expected at Pucey Villa that night for dinner. That wasn't a problem, though. Eating dinner with Adrian's family on Friday nights was such a regular part of Kenneth's routine that he didn't even think twice about it. The Puceys were like a second family to him now, and he honestly preferred them to his own parents most days, though his father was a lot more mellow now than he'd been during the war.
In Kenneth's personal opinion, Cheffy had gone out of his way to bake a birthday cake. But then, for all the Parisian-born elf complained, he also secretly liked the opportunity to show off his talent.
As Alania used her wand to cut the vanilla-and-lemon cake with elaborate white frosting and raspberry drizzle (Gryffindor colors, Kenneth noted), she said, "Oh yes, I nearly forgot. Cheffy wants to know when Courtney's birthday is. He keeps a calendar of all our birthdays downstairs in the kitchens so he doesn't forget."
Courtney instantly shook her head. "That's not necessary!"
"Of course it is," Alania replied, floating her a piece of cake.
Something awful suddenly occurred to Kenneth. With a sinking feeling, he turned to his girlfriend and asked seriously, "Have you ever even celebrated your birthday?"
At that, the entire table fell silent. Alicia's eyes were suddenly blazing and livid, and Adrian's jaw locked. Atticus and Alania's expressions were stormy, and Bridget looked like she was ready to curse someone. Only Alexander remained impassive.
Courtney was clearly a bit embarrassed, but she finally shook her head mutely.
Alicia's mouth went into a thin line. "I should have guessed," she growled. "Are you kidding me? I hate that man!"
Courtney gave her a small, sarcastic, bitter smile. "Well, he hated me, remember? So, no, he never celebrated my birthday."
Through gritted teeth, Adrian said, "All the more reason for us to celebrate it."
"Aye," Bridget agreed, her lip curling. "He's in Azkaban, thank Helga, and you have friends who care about you, now. So we're going to celebrate it. And I won't ever say no to cake." She ran her hand over the bump on her belly; she was pregnant with her second.
"But," Courtney started.
Alania shook her head. "No buts, ma petite guérisseuse. We're celebrating your birthday. When it is?"
Courtney finally divulged the information. "November 13th. It's a Tuesday this year," she whispered.
The fact that Cecil had never celebrated her birthday enraged Kenneth, though he shouldn't be remotely surprised. He would make sure she celebrated it from this point forward. She deserved that.
To his surprise, Alicia smirked. "Somehow," she said, "that fits you. The 13th, I mean."
Courtney finally grinned a little. "I always thought so, too. A lot of people think it's bad luck, being born on the 13th of the month, and I used to think that too, until I decided to use things like that to my advantage. It's only superstition if one makes it out to be."
"And that," Alania decided, "is one reason you're a Slytherin. Cressy, dear?"
The little elf magically appeared. "Yes, Mistress?"
"Please tell Cheffy that Courtney's birthday is November 13th. We'll celebrate the Friday before, whatever that date is."
"Yes, Mistress!" Cressy vanished.
Kenneth glanced to her. "Ask for the following Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off, too," he said. "And we'll do something together."
Atticus chortled. "Stay inside and shag for three days straight?"
Bridget arched an eyebrow. "I'll hex you across the table, love. I'm not afraid to do it."
Her husband looked exasperated at that. "I'm just stating the obvious."
Actually, Kenneth had a better idea, but he wasn't going to tell Atticus. Or anyone else for that matter.
Wednesday — October 31, 2001
The next major thing on their agenda, however, was not Courtney's birthday, but the Galbraith's Annual Halloween Party, which was also on a bloody Wednesday. However, Kenneth had a distinct feeling that this year was going to be a lot better than the previous two years. For starters, he didn't have to stand on the sidelines and watch Courtney walk across the decorated ballroom wearing some skimpy outfit while knowing he couldn't touch her.
For another, she coordinated their outfits this year, which saved him the trouble of having to figure out what to wear, thank Merlin.
Which was how he found himself dressed as a Hogwarts' student, in his old Gryffindor uniform, while Courtney was wearing her old Slytherin uniform. Except… that pleated skirt was… awfully short. He did not remember those skirts being that short before, and he felt like he would have remembered if they had been. He'd been a horny eighteen-year-old dating one of the fittest girls in school his seventh-year, and he knew Karen's skirt had not been that short. Had Courtney deliberately shortened hers for tonight? His blood quickened. She probably had. Hell, it barely covered her arse. And she was wearing bloody knee-high socks. Which meant he was battling a hard-on before they even left Bothan Ròs.
A week earlier, she'd merely said, "Wouldn't it be fun to dress like Hogwarts' students again?" and he'd smiled and agreed because he figured that sounded kind of nostalgic. He should have known better than to underestimate his Slytherin girlfriend, damn it.
As soon as they entered the ballroom, Conall collared him and drawled, "Hey, Towler. Don't sneak into the cloakroom, yeah?"
A few people around them snickered and outright laughed at the implication, and Kenneth flushed. He barely remembered Bonfire Night the year before because he'd gotten so lit, but he knew he'd said something about shagging Karen in the cloakroom at Bess and Conall's wedding — because Chrysanthe, damn her, had set him up. He needed to get her back for that.
Annoyed, he replied, "I wasn't planning to!"
Courtney didn't say anything. She just led him onto the dance floor, and finally smiled up at him.
"Try not to step on my toes, please? I didn't reinforce these shoes."
His eyes were on her chest. She'd left the top three buttons of her snug uniform shirt unbuttoned, and the Slytherin tie was very loose, despite being tucked into her old Slytherin jumper vest. "I'll try," he said belatedly, and she rolled her eyes and smirked.
"You're so fucking predictable, Kenneth," she purred in a low voice, as she looped her arms over his shoulders.
It was an hour later before she finally pulled him off the dance floor, and he was nearly in agony from his damn hard-on. He thought maybe she wanted some fresh air, but to his surprise, she dragged him down several corridors until she found a fucking broom cupboard.
Kenneth nearly choked.
"Courtney!" he hissed, as she abruptly yanked him inside and locked the door with her wand, then cast Lumos. His breathing was much shallower all of a sudden, and he stammered, "What the hell are you doing?"
Brilliant, Towler. You know exactly what she's doing.
"About to shag your brains out, handsome." She grinned in the most naughty way imaginable. "Did you think I forgot Bonfire Night last year? Guess again."
He flushed. "Refresh my memory, please. I was a little smashed that night."
"You were," she murmured, backing him right up against the door, her hands falling lightly against his jumper. "But you specifically said you had a thing for shagging in dangerous places, and that's why you shagged Pickford all over Hogwarts, because you might get caught and it was wicked fun. I have a lot of lost time to make up for, Towler."
He sucked in a quick breath. It was true, he'd always had a thing for shagging in edgy situations, but… Merlin, she wasn't serious, was she?
"Conall said —"
"Conall Galbraith is delusional if he really thinks couples aren't sneaking off to shag tonight," she answered scathingly, while working Kenneth's old Gryffindor tie back and forth, loosening the knot. "And when we get back home, I think I want to use this to tie your hands up."
Okay, well, that just made him even harder.
"Courtney," he rasped, his breathing utterly fractious now. "What if someone walks in?"
"I sealed the door with two locking charms that Alohomora can't open," she replied, her hands falling to work his belt open. "Want to know what else you did last year?"
He swallowed. He was rather afraid to ask.
Her hands slithered under his jumper, tugging his button-down out from his trousers. "You were so trashed. When I got you back to Bothan Ròs, you actually told me you loved me and then you snogged me."
He sputtered in horror. "I did what?"
She burst out laughing. "I knew you didn't remember!"
"Are you serious? Fucking hell, I'm so sorry —"
"Oh, don't even start with me, Towler," she said, grinning. "I can't say I hated it. But that's why I was dressed like I was when you woke up sober. I was kind of hoping you'd remember what you did and shag my brains out, but you'd completely forgotten and you were too much of a gentleman."
He grabbed her hips and pulled her right up against him so she could feel his erection. "I'll have to make it up to you tonight," he growled. "I can't believe you didn't tell me sooner."
"What are you going to do about it?" she asked cheekily. "Punish me?" Her eyes flared at that idea.
"Definitely. I'm going to fuck you against this door in the most ungentlemanly way I can think of."
"I certainly hope so," she breathed. "That's why I wanted us to wear these old uniforms tonight. So we could pretend like we're at Hogwarts."
His hands slid under her skirt and he tugged her knickers down. "It is rather naughty and fun. Turn around against the door, yeah?"
They switched places, Courtney bracing her hands against the door and spreading her legs as Kenneth spooned up behind her and worked his trousers open.
"This one's gonna be kind of messy and fast," he admitted.
"Bloody hell, I hope so," she groaned.
He skimmed his fingers through her slick folds and she gasped in the most lewd, delicious way. Kenneth bit the inside of his lip. Damn, she knew how to turn him on.
Just as he began to ease inside of her, he felt someone try to turn the handle on the door. He and Courtney both froze, and they heard a male voice say, "It's locked, let's keep looking…" The footsteps faded away and Courtney visibly sagged in the dim light of her wand, which was still on a crate of cleaning supplies.
"Salazar," she whispered. "Hurry up, Towler!"
"What, before we end up in detention, Dagworth?" he teased, as he began to push into her tight body again.
She was breathing hard, gasping for air now, one hand on the door while the other pressed into her lower mons to help put pressure on her clit. In a broken voice, she stammered, "It would be worth detention for t-this."
Kenneth began to thrust hard, his eyes scrunching closed as he remembered how much he loved sneaking around his seventh-year. That Courtney would have been willing to do this with him in school felt like an extra thrill, especially knowing that he thought she hated him back then. He imagined it: meeting up with the Slytherin prefect he'd disliked and having an angry, sexy shag in a broom closet at Hogwarts five years earlier. Unconsciously, he groaned and his fingers dug into her hips as he snatched her arse into his pelvis. She eagerly worked herself back on him, moving with him, her muscles gripping him just the right way as he rolled into her over and over.
After a few minutes, he moved one hand to cover hers and leaned over her small back. "Going to cum for me, love?" he murmured in her ear. "Before we get caught?"
She whimpered. "I'm so close, you've no idea!"
He dipped a hand between her legs, into the slick juice dripping down her slender thighs, even as he kept thrusting into her. "Mm, you are, aren't you?"
She sucked in a quick gasp. "If you just touch me —"
"Like this?" He arched his hips slightly as he thrust particularly hard, and she groaned as his cock slid along her clitoris just right.
"Oh, gods!" Her fingers were practically clawing at the door, and he felt her muscles clench as she suddenly spasmed and let out a soft cry. It wasn't the hardest orgasm she'd ever had, but short and fast, and Kenneth tilted his head back as he let her muscles pull him back into her body.
"Damn it, Dagworth," he grunted, "I can't —!"
He came right after her, his hips snapping forward a final time, and Courtney hissed in pleasure as she braced her arms on the door.
Kenneth leaned over her back for a moment, with one arm beneath her, bracing her stomach and keeping her from falling, as he gasped for breath. His chest was damp under his old shirt and jumper, and his hips were sticky against his pants and trousers. It reminded him of a few shags he'd had like this in school with Karen, and it was thrilling to feel indecent in this way once more, even though he was five years out of Hogwarts.
"That was perfect," she finally said, panting for breath herself, but sounding very pleased.
"It was." He chuckled breathlessly.
It wasn't until they were home that evening and back inside the kitchen, warming up by the iron stove because it was so damn cold outside, that he thought to ask her something. As he stripped his jumper off and sent it to the laundry hamper in their bedroom, he mused, "I didn't hurt you at Galbraith, did I?"
She'd stripped out of her own jumper. "Of course not." She looked confused. "Why would you think that? I thought I was pretty clear that I very much enjoyed you fucking me fast and hard and sloppy in a broom cupboard, Kenneth."
"You were, but I just wanted to make sure I didn't hurt you. I'm always afraid I might. You're so much smaller than I am, and I get carried away sometimes when you wind me up —"
Her eyes flared (which in hindsight, should have been a warning sign). "You did not hurt me, Kenneth." Her hands slid up his chest to unbutton his old Hogwarts dress shirt. "Actually, I rather like it when you get a little rough. It does something to me…" She began kissing the exposed portion of his chest, slow and lazy, as she slipped the next two buttons open.
Kenneth swallowed. "I wish you wouldn't tell me that. I'm afraid I'll lose control one day, and —"
"I so hope you do," she breathed seductively. Then, quite suddenly, she curled her fist around his Gryffindor tie and she pulled him down so she could whisper in his ear. "I have a request, handsome."
"Oh?" His heart rate sped up.
"Mmhm." Her lips brushed his earlobe. "This Sunday, I want to shag your very fit brains out somewhere in your parents' house."
Kenneth's breath caught and his blood rushed south.
Oh, damn.
Talk about fantastically improper. If his mother knew his arrogant, abrasive, incredibly sexy Slytherin girlfriend wanted to shag him in his old bedroom, she'd have a damn stroke. He was absolutely going to say yes to that request.
Sunday — November 4, 2001
His nerves were completely on edge when they arrived at his parents' that Sunday.
His mother looked surprised when she opened the door. "You're early today, Kenneth."
"We are." Kenneth helped Courtney out of her fashionable, expensive coat. "I wasn't watching the time," he lied.
"I'm still working on dinner." She looked a bit annoyed.
"Don't worry about us, Mum." To his girlfriend, he added, "Since we have a few minutes, I can show you the downstairs." He smiled blandly at her, and her expression remained completely neutral.
"It's such a beautiful house," she confessed, smiling at his mother in a way he found rather nauseating, but she was trying to put Lorraine in a good mood so his mum wouldn't guess what they were up to. "I'd love to see more of it."
"Thank you," Lorraine said, looking like she'd rather eat stinksap. "I decorated myself. I can take you around, though —"
"I can do that, Mum," Kenneth cut in. "It's my fault for not paying attention to the time. And I know you're trying to get dinner on the table. I don't want to mess you up."
She pursed her lips and glanced at her watch. "Dinner is in ten minutes," she said flatly, apparently deciding that was not enough time for her son and his girlfriend to do anything untoward in her house. "And don't disturb your father, he's in his study, working on something for Kingsley. I told him not to, since it's Sunday, but he insists. It's obvious where you get that from," she added in a suffering sort of voice, as she turned to go back towards the stairs that led to the spacious, beautiful kitchen on the basement level.
Kenneth held his breath as she disappeared at the end of the hall.
"So," he said, coughing slightly. "Parlors are off to the right. Formal one is in front, family parlor is behind it —"
"I don't give a damn about that, Towler," Courtney hissed. "Come on." And then she was dragging him up the stairs.
Kenneth followed her, hurriedly casting a charm on their footsteps so his parents wouldn't hear them. His heart was about to burst out of his chest. Oh Godric, he was really about to shag his incredible girlfriend somewhere in his parents' house!
She murmured, "Which bedroom was yours?"
He didn't answer verbally, but pulled her quickly into his old bedroom. It was the same as it ever was, with the golden yellow wallpaper and the cream-colored drapes and trim.
Courtney barely spared it a glance. She locked the door, grabbed his collar, pulled him down to her, and whispered in his ear, "I didn't wear knickers today. Just for you, handsome."
Kenneth groaned. Bollocks, he was so hard he could hardly see straight.
"We don't have much time," she added, unfastening his trousers. "So hurry up, so I can make sure we look presentable before we eat dinner with your dear mum." She gave him the most wicked look he'd ever seen, that smile that made her look like the fucking viper she actually was, and he kissed her hard.
This was going to be one of his favorite shags, he just knew it.
If his mother guessed, she certainly didn't say anything. Courtney gave absolutely nothing away at dinner; she merely went on about how beautiful the parlors were. She'd even charmed Kenneth's face so his blush wouldn't be visible, because he knew he was going to be blushing the whole damn time.
That was a useful little charm, actually.
He was going to have to remember it.
Sunday — November 11, 2001
The next Sunday, Courtney had to work, which was probably best. Kenneth wasn't going to forget the previous Sunday any time soon, that was for sure. He'd lifted her right against his bedroom door and taken her just like that, with her legs around his waist, and in less than five minutes, which had given them just enough time to get back downstairs before Lorraine or Lionel discovered them.
When he arrived at his parents' on the 11th, he made sure to cast the charm on his face to hide his flush, just in case he suddenly remembered that bloody amazing shag in his old bedroom at some inconvenient, inappropriate moment during dinner.
On top of that, he had other things on his mind, too — something a bit weightier: Courtney's birthday, which was just two days away.
As Kenneth waved his wand and levitated the sprouts to his father, Lionel politely asked, "Courtney had to work today?"
"Yes, they rotate weekend shifts. And her birthday is Tuesday, so she's asked off for next weekend. I'm taking her on a short surprise trip to celebrate. Which reminds me; we'll miss dinner next Sunday."
"An entire weekend?" His mother sniffed. "That hardly seems necessary."
Kenneth couldn't help glaring at her. "As a matter of fact, her horrible stepfather never celebrated her birthday because he hated her so much. She's never had a proper birthday, and I intend to change that for her. She deserves a nice birthday, Mum."
His mother didn't respond to that, but his father gave him a small smile. "That sounds like a very nice thing to do, son. I can't imagine not celebrating your birthday growing up. Or Luke's," he added softly, going back to his chicken.
Kenneth felt a slight pang. "I can't imagine growing up the way Courtney did. At least I always knew you both loved me and wanted me and were proud of me."
His mother's expression softened slightly. "That is rather sad. You're right, your father and I have always loved you and Luke, and we always wanted both of you — so very much. And we're so proud of you."
"I know," he answered, giving her a small smile.
"But still, a weekend trip still seems a bit excessive. Couldn't you just take her out to dinner?"
"We go out to dinner all the time, Mum. I want this to be more special."
His father asked, "Where are you taking her?"
"The Dozmary, down in Cornwall." He smiled. "She has no idea. I'm going to surprise her."
His mother looked startled. "That's quite the expense, dear."
Kenneth shrugged. "I have plenty of money saved. My bedsit's rent wasn't that expensive and I haven't bought much I didn't need the past three years. And it's the off-season."
"Yes, but you should save that money for a house, or —"
"I live with Courtney, Mum. In a house." He didn't say that it was too small for a family; he'd worry about that later.
"I've been to the Dozmary Resort a few times," Lionel said, ignoring Lorraine's complaints. "For Ministry retreats and meetings. It's quite nice. I think Courtney will like it."
"I hope so. I have her another gift, of course, but I'll wait until Friday or Saturday night to give that to her."
It was burning a fucking hole in his pocket, because he refused to take it off his person for any reason. It had cost a damn mint, after all. Far more than a room at the Dozmary for a couple of nights. It had taken five months of his pay. Thank Merlin he didn't have rent anymore.
Both of his parents looked up at him. Kenneth had a wall of Occlumency built up in his head, having cast the spell at least twice on himself since he'd walked in the door of his parents' house, but apparently parents didn't need Legilimency to guess their children's decisions and actions. Rotten luck, that.
"Oh, no, Kenneth, you didn't —" His mother actually clutched her chest.
Kenneth didn't say anything. He'd once told his mother that if he got married, the first person he intended to tell was the girl he was going to propose to — not his parents. Well, that was out the window, it appeared. He wasn't sure how he could keep silent on the subject, but he wasn't going to lie. He liked to think he'd grown a little since that summer's day back in 1996, when he'd stormed out of the dining room in a towering temper because he and his parents weren't seeing eye to eye.
His father said thoughtfully, "That's a rather big decision."
Kenneth met Lionel's eyes evenly. "I've been thinking about it for several months. If I wasn't absolutely sure of it, I wouldn't be doing it."
His mother shook her head and looked away, clearly upset. "But you haven't even been seeing her that long! It's so sudden! And you probably spent a fortune, didn't you? Did you even ask your father where the best jewelry stores were? Did you think to —?"
"I had advice on that," Kenneth said testily. He didn't tell his mother he'd asked Alania Pucey the month before, or that she had been an enormous help. Far more than his father would have been, at any rate. Alania knew the best stores and could haggle like Kenneth would have never guessed. The woman was vicious.
"I just don't think Courtney is right for you! I wish you'd —"
"Mum, enough. I'm in love with her, and I'm going to marry her if she'll have me —"
"Of course she'll have you!" Lorraine threw up her hand as if this was obvious. "She's getting a handsome barrister and a Senior Assistant to the Minister, and you're getting —!"
"— I'm getting," he said through gritted teeth, "an amazing, beautiful, brilliant, respected Healer who loves me. Mum, do you really have any idea how fantastic she is at her job, or how crazy she and I are about each other? You can be angry if you want, but this is my decision."
"Kenneth, this is for the rest of your life!" His mother was suddenly close to tears, and that took Kenneth aback a bit. He was used to her arguing, sure, but not crying. She went on, almost hysterically, "She's arrogant and abrasive, she enjoys arguing with me, and I'm worried she won't treat you well! Her stepfather sided with the Dark Lord and was very nearly a Death Eater! Do you realize the implications of that, or how people will react? Rowena," she added as an afterthought, "I much preferred Karen! At least she was sweet and kind, for all she was loose and —"
Kenneth exhaled sharply in irritation. "Karen is gone, Mum. Forever. There's no use wishing otherwise. Painful as it was, I've accepted it and I've moved on. I love Courtney, now. I don't give a damn about Cecil Vanhausen; his crimes aren't hers, and anyone who thinks that can go to hell. She sided with the defenders, and that's well documented. As for me, she treats me far better than you can imagine. I can't go through life without her. I love her."
His mother got up then, shaking her head, and left the room without another word. It startled Kenneth so much that he started to stand up and follow her, but his father caught his attention.
"No, don't," Lionel said wearily. "Let her go for now. She'll come around."
"Will she?" Kenneth asked, feeling skeptical as he stared after her and slowly sat back down.
His father gave him a small smile. "She's just miffed because you didn't pick a Ravenclaw like your father did."
"I'm not you," Kenneth protested.
"Something I've told her multiple times. It doesn't change her mind." Lionel sighed and looked him in the eye. After a long moment, he said, "Believe me, we're immensely grateful to Courtney for saving your life. It's just… we're both concerned that you're in love with her for that reason alone."
"That isn't true at all," Kenneth said sharply. He could feel his temper rising, and he knew he didn't need to get angry about this. Not this time.
His father held up a hand. "Kenneth, calm down, please."
He clenched his teeth again. Why didn't they understand that he loved her for so many other reasons?
After a moment, his father said, "If that's not the reason, then… why don't you tell me why you love her? I'd like to know, if you're willing to share."
Kenneth met his eyes again. Without his mother nagging him, it was far easier to admit the truth and the depth of his feelings. His father was more understanding these days, and Kenneth didn't want them to think he only loved Courtney because she'd saved his life.
"She's so brave, Dad," he said quietly. "You have no idea how brave she is, or how beautiful I find that bravery. Merlin, it gets me every single day, whenever I think about how she was dealt the worst hand in life I can imagine, and yet, she planned her escape and risked her very life to get away from her stepfather and the Death Eaters. Gryffindors like to think Slytherins would save their own skin first, and there is an element of truth to that, certainly… but Courtney put herself at a huge risk in the Battle of Hogwarts — not just to save me, but to save others, too. If the Death Eaters had discovered she'd switched sides in the first part of the battle, they would have killed her outright. She also had to dodge all the spells that were going awry, and avoid the giants, acromantulas, and dementors to help the defenders. It's a wonder she didn't die that night. And on top of all that, she literally created spells on the fly to heal both me and Sloane Gahan. It was in that paper she just published. She's fucking brilliant."
He hesitated when he swore, but his father didn't interrupt, so Kenneth went on.
"Do you know she still has nightmares?" He looked down at his hands in his lap. "I can't stop them, Dad, and God, but I wish I could. I can only wake her from them. She comes around screaming in fear, panicking because she thinks they've killed me, and she can't bear the thought of losing me. Or else she dreams about how Vanhausen used to hex her for kicks to keep her in line, and how he would abuse her. She doesn't deserve those nightmares. But she gets up every day despite that, and goes to work to heal spell damage like what she endured, and God knows what else. How could she do that if she wasn't brave?"
His father remained silent, so Kenneth figured he might as well share the rest of it.
"She makes me feel like myself, again. Three years ago, I didn't think that would ever be possible. But when we're together, it's all I want. I love being with her. I love laughing with her, teasing her, even arguing with her. I love eating breakfast with her, having tea with her, walking in the garden with her, and I love the way she heals me whenever I get bruised up or break a bone because I'm not paying attention." He laughed. "Do you have any idea how many times she's had to heal me so far? I've lost count! Damn it, Dad, I even love brewing bloody potions with her!"
At that, his father chuckled. "Merlin, if you like brewing potions with her, it must be true love."
Kenneth licked his lips. "She has this little stillroom in her cottage — it's so small, we can both barely fit in there — but we work together really well when we brew. I never would have guessed that in seventh-year."
He couldn't seem to stop now that he'd gotten started. "When it's warm out, I love laying on the grass in the garden with her and watching the stars. I love having dinner with her and talking about mundane things, like how our days went or what we want to do on the weekend. I love discussing case law with her and talking about her next research article. I can't imagine life without her. I know it's forever and Mum thinks I'm too young, but she'd be pushing me to marry Viola or Patricia after just one or two dates, so what's the bloody difference? And besides." Kenneth swallowed. "I know better than anyone how short life is. I lost the girl I was going to marry three years ago. I was lucky enough to find that kind of love again. I won't lose it now. For Karen and Luke's sakes, I'm not going to wait around any longer when I know I'm madly in love with Courtney."
His father merely looked at him for a long moment, but finally, he smiled. "I can certainly understand the appeal of how beautiful bravery can be. I need to ask you a couple of other things though, and I don't want you to get angry with me."
Kenneth steeled himself. "Alright."
"I remember how much you loved Karen. Can you love Courtney with everything you are, and not second to Karen? I don't want you to always be pining for the girl who was killed."
Kenneth supposed he should have expected that question, but it didn't make it any easier to swallow. Still, he kept his temper. "Yes, Dad. I can't get Karen back. And Courtney isn't a consolation prize for Karen. She feels like a part of me I didn't even know was missing; like a puzzle piece that just clicks into place with me, exactly the right way, and now that I know it, I can't live without her. What she and I share… it's different from what I had with Karen," he mused, looking across the dining room, thinking. "It's not that I loved Karen less than Courtney, but I loved Karen differently from Courtney. I'm not explaining it well, I am?" He groaned and leaned his head back as he thought how best to explain it. "What I feel for Courtney seems so much more vivid, maybe because I was so depressed for so long after the war." His brow furrowed as he considered that.
Then, suddenly, he remembered something important. "Karen and I," he explained, "we knew each other a little before we started dating in seventh-year, but we weren't close friends or anything. So, from the very start, we were always boyfriend and girlfriend. We had to learn to become friends around fancying each other. But Courtney and I, we were friends first — for at least two years before I really started falling in love with her. In fact, I think of her as my best friend aside from Adrian, and she thinks of me as her best friend. Our love grew out of our friendship." He shook his head and whispered, "She absolutely takes my breath away, Dad. Every single minute of every single day. I can't live without her."
They were silent for a moment, but finally, Lionel said, "Thank you for opening up to me, son. I'm happy for you. I truly hope she says yes. Personally, I think she's good for you. Your mother and I disagree on that. Probably one of the few things we do disagree on, but I can see how happy you are with Courtney. I'll tell your mother to get off your back. And I'll tell her not to tip Courtney off either, so it'll be a surprise."
"Oh, fucking hell!" Kenneth blurted furiously. "She damn well better not!"
His father gave him a look. "I'll handle that. What does the ring look like?"
Kenneth didn't admit what it cost. All he said was, "Alania Pucey helped me with a good, reputable jeweler who didn't overcharge me." He pulled the box out of his pocket and let his father look.
Lionel drew a long, slow breath. "Oh, that is nice, son. Courtney's right, you do have very good taste." He paused, then added, "I have a final question. Does she love you for you?"
"Yes," Kenneth whispered, taking the little black velvet box back. "I know she does. She's fancied me for a long time. Since sixth-year."
"That long?" Lionel looked surprised.
"I didn't know back in school. I found out a year after the war ended, actually. But I figured Mum would think it was obsessive if she knew Courtney had fancied me for so long."
"She probably would. Though your mother fancied me since her fifth-year, so it's not like she has room to talk."
"And you? When did you start fancying Mum?"
His father shrugged. "My seventh year, which was her sixth. She was always watching me through the stacks in the library, and I rather liked the way she smiled at me. Kind of shy and sweet. We started dating towards the end of that year, but it wasn't until the next year that we got to know each other better. We spent the time writing back and forth each other, though I did take off work to visit her when she had Hogsmeade weekends."
It was embarrassing, hearing a bit of his parents' love story, and Kenneth decided that he would rather not, after all.
A couple of moments passed in silence then, before his father mused, "Well, I suppose that answers my other question."
Kenneth looked at him curiously.
"I was afraid Courtney thought she was in love with you because you were the one who landed Vanhausen in Azkaban. You essentially freed her, and I was concerned that maybe she was only interested in you for that reason."
Kenneth almost snorted. "Definitely not. One thing about Courtney; she doesn't need anyone. I like protecting her, sure, but she doesn't need me to do so. If she didn't love me, we wouldn't be together, believe me. She knows her own mind and she's not afraid to speak it."
"Yes," his father said, a smile tugging his mouth. "That much is evident when she comes around for lunch and goes head to head with your mother. Karen never did that."
"I hate it for Mum, but at the same time, it's kind of entertaining to watch."
"Be nicer to your mother. She doesn't express it well, but she does love you and she only wants what's best for you. We love you more than anything, but neither of us will ever get over losing Luke, and she's become more protective of you since the war because of that, even though you don't need her protection. I'll talk to her."
"I wish Luke were here," Kenneth said softly, gazing at the empty chair across from him.
At that, his father smiled wistfully. "He would have liked Courtney."
"Are you kidding? When I was dating Karen, he once had the nerve to tell me she was fucking hot — his exact words, I might add. He'd probably say the exact same thing about Courtney. I can't imagine how she would have reacted to him."
"Probably encouraged him," his father said in a suffering tone. "Which would not have made these dinners easier."
They fell silent for a long moment, but finally, Kenneth whispered, "Thanks for understanding, Dad. It means a lot."
His father gave him a small smile. "Thank you for explaining it properly without getting prickly with me like you do with your mother. I'm happy for you, son. I really am. You deserve to be happy, and if Courtney makes you happy, then that's what matters."
Kenneth smiled. "She does make me happy. I'll let you know what she says when I see you at work after next weekend."