By request here’s a quick little oneshot based off the Teacher/Parent prompt. It’s also posted over on AO3 with various other one-shots. Enjoy! For @ouraliceandthecatthings
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Harry glanced out of the office window again. The street lights were beginning to flicker to life as the sun settled in the West. He felt irritation rising as he glanced again at the wee child asleep on the couch against the far wall of his office. Her parents were supposed to have been there hours ago. He’d volunteered to stay until they arrived but he was sorely missing his Friday drinks with his principal, Uma, and the child’s teacher, Mr Legume. He supposed it would give the two some necessary alone time. Plus, as the new Vice Principal at Auradon Elementary, he knew he had dues to pay.
When Harry has offered himself, though, he didn’t realize he’d spend the better part of his evening consoling an upset child and hunting down her negligent parents. He brushed a stray wisp of hair behind little Ellie Charming’s ear and tucked the fleece blanket with the schools emblem emblazoned in it around the sleeping first grader.
The poor thing had been in a panic in the pick up lane when the last car had left and her ride still hadn’t come. She wanted her daddy, why hadn’t he come, was he hurt, did Mommy know she was still here?
The Father in question never answered either number they had on file and all his Harry’s attempts to call went right to voicemail. He did his best to remain professional as he left a message at each number.
The mother, Evie had been tracked down at work and had said she’d be there as soon as she could. Harry thought back to his own experience with a forgetful parent.
A soft knock on the office door caught his attention and he went to meet Ellie’s mother. Stepping outside the office he pulled the door shut behind him.
“I’m so sorry” she started almost immediately. “I came as soon as I could but my cars broken and I had to catch the bus-“
Harry held up a hand, “Mrs. Charming, yer excuses are no good here.” He needed to let her know that this was entirely unacceptable for any reason. “Yer daughter has been scared, upset, and…” he trailed off at the sound of sniffles coming from the woman.
“It’s not Charming.” She said quietly as a stray tear rolled down her check, “that’s my ex’s name.” She looked up at the ceiling taking what he assumed to be a calming breath. He heard her mutter ‘damn it Chad’ seemingly to herself.
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand she refocused in him and forced a smile. “I’m going to try this again” she said weakly.
Harry could only nod silently. She was flustered and he was thrown off. This wasn’t what he had prepared himself for, what he’d expected.
“I’m Evie Grimhilde. I’m Eleanor Charming’s Mom. Her father was supposed to pick her up for visitation this weekend but apparently it...slipped his mind.” She held out her hand as if trying to salvage some dignity.
Harry took the offered hand and squeezed gently. He felt like an ass. The woman in front of him was dressed in a light pink uniform dress that skimmed the tips of her knees and white apron he recognized from the retro dinner across town. The place had excellent pies if he remembered correctly. She’d obviously been at work without a clue that her daughter’s father had forgotten her.
Harry let his hand fall back and rubbed nervously at the back of his neck. He’d misjudged the situation and come off as a complete dick. Apologies didn’t come easy to him but he felt he should give it a shot only before he could, his office door was breaking open and a little ball of hair and bows was launching herself into her mother's arms. She was talking a mile a minute.
“Mommy! Daddy never came and you wouldn’t answer your phone and I was worried and Mr. Hook stole me some chocolate milk from the cafeteria and…”
Evie chuckled as she pressed two fingers to the little girl’s lips. Harry had to smile at the tender look on the woman’s face.
“It sounds like you’ve had a very eventful afternoon.” She said softly.
“I did, Mommy. I really did!” Little Ellie confirmed. “I’m also really hungry now.” As if on cue, the sound of her stomach growling hit both adults ears. Harry and Evie both chuckled.
Harry took in the pair, they were a matched set and the child was a cute version of her stunning mother. He watched as Evie played with the end of her braid. She chewed at her full bottom lip and glanced nervously at Harry.
“Well, baby, the fridge is kind of empty. I hadn’t really planned on you being home this weekend and was just going to go shopping after my shift on Sunday.” She sighed at the end, moving her fidgeting from her own her to smoothing down the braided pigtails of her daughter.
Harry could read between the lines, food for the weekend wasn’t in the tight budget. He thought back to his own childhood and the many nights he’d spent in bed with hunger gnawing at his belly.
“I’m sure we can scrounge something up though.” She added with false cheerfulness. Ellie didn’t seem to notice and nodded happily.
“I missed my dinner plans.” Harry said suddenly. Evie looked stricken.
Harry held up a hand quickly trying to back pedal and clarify, “Call me Harry, please.” He hoped she could see he had no ill intent. “I mean, if you two would like, I was thinking about grabbing some dinner. I would love some company.”
Evie was chewing her lip again, he wondered if she knew she did it when she was unsure. She looked as if she was about to politely decline but Ellie had other ideas.
“My Mommy doesn’t like peas or turkey and I don’t like vegetables but I’ll eat anything else. I really like fish and chips.”
“Eleanor Aurora Charming.” Evie chastised. “Where are your manners?”
“She’s fine Miss Grimhilde.”
“Well Evie, Miss Ellie. It’s been a while since I had the privilege o’two lovely ladies joining me for dinner.” He crouched down to Ellie’s level. “It would be my pleasure to show ye to the best chip shop I know.”
Ellie turned to Evie and grabbed her mother's hands in her own little ones. Harry had to chuckle as the little thing batted her eyes at Evie, smiling sweetly, “Pretty please Mommy?”
Evie looked from her daughter to Harry. He’d offered to be nice but now he was really hoping she’d say yes, particularly as she flashed him a shy smile.
“Well, I suppose. It’s not like we have any other plans.”
Ellie danced around her mothers feet “it’s a date! It’s a date. It’s a date!” Evie blushed furiously as Ellie dragged her to Harry and placed one of her Mother’s hands in his own. The little girl moves to the other side and took his other.
He should have felt awkward holding the woman’s hand, they’d only just met but as they walked to his car something told him this was the start of a new adventure.
