The Order of the Phoenix had known about the group called "Dumbledore's Army" since it was first formed in October 1995. One of their own members, Mundungus Fletcher, had followed Harry and the other students into the Hog's Head that day in disguise as an old woman and ended up hearing the whole thing. Unfortunately Fletcher hadn't been the only person snooping: petty criminal Willy Widdershins had also been in the dirty old pub, and he immediately went scampering off to Umbridge to let her know what he'd heard. And so from that meeting on, the group went underground.
Now for most of the Order of the Phoenix, the knowledge of a secret student organization forming with Harry in charge was anxiety-inducing. All of them knew how much Fudge was looking for an excuse to expel Harry from school, and without his wand and without Dumbledore's protection, Harry would be even more vulnerable when Voldemort came after him. There were a few Order members that were proud of what Harry was doing, though. Of course Harry's godfather Sirius Black was his biggest fan, but Jacob Cromwell and Nymphadora Tonks also passionately supported Harry's decision.
"Hey, that old fink Umbridge wasn't doing her job to teach her classes, someone had to step up and make sure those students learned something," Jacob said coolly.
Tonks nodded. "Look, I'm not trying to have a go at the staff...but since the adults in their lives weren't giving them what they needed, we can't really be surprised that Harry and the others decided to go get it themselves."
Even the more level-headed Remus Lupin had to agree with this.
"They're right, Molly," he said softly. "As risky as Harry's and his friends' activity is, this is their answer to our fight. Same as Jacob and his friends dealt with Hogwarts's Cursed Vaults during the First War," he nodded to Jacob, "or his sister Carewyn and her friends took over breaking their curses, in his stead," he glanced at Tonks. "Harry and the others are too young to fight in the War itself, but their education is another battlefield this War is being fought on...so they've elected to fight back."
When Dumbledore's Army was discovered by Umbridge in April 1996, however, the fallout was worse than anyone could've predicted. Harry avoided getting expelled, thank goodness, but Dumbledore had been forced to take all the blame and then flee the school, admittedly after giving Fudge and his support staff a good trouncing. This, however, put Umbridge in charge as Hogwarts's new Headmistress and the school itself without Dumbledore's protection. To make things harder for Arthur and Molly Weasley in particular, their twin sons Fred and George physically withdrew themselves from school in order to evade unjust punishment from Umbridge. It was the day after the Weasley twins left Hogwarts that the Order of the Phoenix — sans Dumbledore — met at 12 Grimmauld Place for a meeting. The hope was to reassert the group's shared purpose and come together to take the next steps in protecting Harry from Voldemort.
What it did, instead, though, was put to light just how many cracks were in the group's ranks.
Jacob arrived slightly late to the meeting. When he strolled in, he already found Sirius, Lupin, and Tonks sitting at the far left end, with Arthur, Severus Snape, and Mad-Eye Moody sitting on the right. Molly was currently standing since she was clearing some dishes: at the sight of Jacob, she tried to greet him warmly.
"Oh, Jacob, dear...glad you made it. Here — I set aside a plate for you...be sure to eat it before it gets cold — "
"Thanks," Jacob said a bit uncomfortably, "but Pip already stuffed me full of waffles before I left the Ministry." Sensing Molly was going to argue, he cut her off by saying, "I'll eat it for supper later. Thank you."
To make his point, he even conjured up some tinfoil and magically wrapped it around the plate.
Molly reluctantly accepted this and went back to clearing the rest of the table. Jacob sidled into the seat on the other side of Sirius: the older man gave him a small smirk.
"So? Anything exciting happen at the Ministry today?"
"Besides bumping into old Lucius Malfoy downstairs again?" said Jacob. "Sadly no. Couldn't even get away with threatening his Death Eater arse too badly, let alone give him the curse to the face he deserved."
Sirius snorted. "At least you were able to do more than clean up hippogriff spit-up today. Though I did leave the bit on my dear old mum's frame: I reckoned it adds character."
"Matches her charming personality," Jacob said sarcastically as he and Sirius exchanged rather wicked smirks.
"You said you saw Lucius Malfoy, Jacob?" Arthur took interest at once.
Jacob turned to the Weasley patriarch with a more serious expression. "...Yeah. He claimed he was there to meet with Fudge after the Wizengamot had finished meeting, but I knew that was bull…Pip told me Fudge has had to skip out on his usual Wizengamot duties thanks to how much old Umbitch has been monopolizing his time.”
Lupin’s eyebrows rose with interest. “Really?”
He glanced at Snape, who had likewise cocked his brows, but far more cynically.
“Our new Headmistress,” the word left the Potionsmaster’s lips with notable disdain, “has sought out some assistance in punishing student misbehaviors. I gather from Minerva that the only reason your sons didn’t get expelled and then subsequently arrested on trumped-up charges of unlawful magic earlier today,” his black eyes flitted over to Arthur and Molly, who both shot up straight-backed, “is that Cromwell’s sister shot down the feasibility of Umbridge’s entire legal argument.”
The Weasleys both gave a shared exhale of relief, Arthur giving Molly’s hand on his shoulder a tight squeeze. Jacob leaned back in his chair with his arms resting behind his curly head, looking incredibly proud.
“That’s our Carey!” said Tonks with a huge grin at both Jacob and Moody. The grizzled ex-Auror nodded.
“Your boys were lucky, Arthur,” he said gruffly. “Hopefully they’ll use their new-found independence to help the cause in more ways than just shooting off magic sparklers.”
He then turned to the others assembled.
“This actually leads into the subject of our meeting nicely. With Professor Dumbledore now having to stay under the radar for a while, we will need to ensure the safety of both Potter and the Hall of Prophecies more than ever.”
Sirius’s gray eyes immediately flashed at Snape.
“Right. Which reminds me, Snape — care to explain to everybody why you put an end to Harry’s lessons?”
The rest of the table gave a start. Lupin shot Sirius an extremely aggravated look: clearly he had not wanted Sirius to come at the issue this aggressively. Snape himself only gave the slightest flicker of a reaction: a chilling of his usual stoic expression.
“Potter has learned more than enough in his lessons with me,” he said very icily. “I see no need to put further effort into a boy too lazy to practice.”
“Severus,” said Molly, her brow creasing with immense disapproval, “Professor Dumbledore said it was essential that Harry learn Occlumency! Harry is a good student…I’m sure if he’s having trouble with the material, there must be another approach — ”
“Occlumency is not a complex concept,” Snape said dully. “Both Cromwells studied Occlumency with me, and they both got farther in one week than Potter has gotten in months…and this is even while both of them were obnoxiously over-emotional children.” His eyes flitted briefly toward Jacob, who only shrugged amusedly. “The younger Cromwell was even the same age exactly as Potter is now, come to think of it.”
“Yeah…but even Carey told me once she’s better at Legilimency than Occlumency,” Tonks interjected. “She said that Occlumency involves a lot of compartmentalizing and depersonalization — forcing yourself not to feel, even when you feel really deeply. I could see Harry having trouble with that…I probably would too!”
“Of course Pip finds Legilimency easier — she’s been doing it subconsciously since she was a baby,” said Jacob. “Both of us were born with that potential. But Snape does have a point: Occlumency requires regular practice to master. It’s like learning how to sing. If Potter isn’t practicing the techniques on his own or warming up beforehand, then he won’t amount to much.”
“But Harry was also not born with the natural talent for mind-related magic that you and Carewyn were,” Lupin reproached Jacob gently. “No student can successfully practice something they haven’t mastered under a teacher’s tutelage first…” He glanced at Snape with a much harder expression. “And regardless of what you feel about Harry on a personal level, Severus, Professor Dumbledore impressed upon all of us the importance of him learning Occlumency…you more than anyone.”
“The way I carry out my orders is for me alone to determine, Lupin,” Snape shot back. “I will not teach a student too lazy and arrogant to put in the work needed to succeed. Perhaps if Potter comes back to me ready to actually follow instructions, then a compromise can be reached. If Potter is unwilling to register the seriousness of the matter and put in the work needed to keep the Dark Lord from his mind, then on his head be it.”
“The problem with that is that it would not be just on Potter’s head, but on all of ours, Snape,” Moody growled. “Lest we forget that Potter has heard plenty of things that Voldemort would find very, very useful…about all of us.”
The table went silent. Moody’s magical blue eye swiveled over all of them before landing on Snape again.
“You will follow Dumbledore’s orders, Snape — as all of us will. And anyone with a tie to Potter,” he shot a beady eye at both Sirius and Lupin in particular, “must be ready to convince him to do the same. Dumbledore wants Potter to learn Occlumency. That sadly requires both a willing teacher and student.”
“Remus and I have already told Harry he needs to learn Occlumency, Mad-Eye,” said Sirius. His fists were balled up on the table in frustration. “We’ve told him there’s nothing more important. Harry’s a smart kid — he knows it’s not good that Voldemort can see his thoughts. But he can’t be expected to learn a damn thing from an insecure prat who's determined to treat him like rubbish — ”
“Sirius — ” Lupin tried to urge caution, but Snape interrupted.
“What I'm doing is refusing to coddle him the way you and Lupin always have, Black. Potter has been shown more than enough favoritism, same as his father, and rest assured, the Dark Lord will show him none of it.”
“Favoritism?” Tonks repeated with an incredulous smile. “Like what, getting thrown off your Quidditch team for no reason, being banned from Hogsmeade, and having your hand cut open on the daily just because some sadistic old cat-lady hates you? Come off it, Snape!”
“Just because You-Know-Who will treat Harry badly doesn’t mean we should,” said Arthur. Although Lupin failed to completely bite back a smile at Tonks's words, Arthur remained completely serious. “Molly was right before, Severus: there has to be a better approach. Maybe you and Jacob could teach Harry together? You seem to know a lot about the subject, Jacob — ”
Jacob burst out laughing. “What, you think Snape here would allow me in his classroom any more than I already have been? Sorry, Arthur — not happening.”
“Even if I hated myself enough to elicit support in my lessons from the likes of Jacob Cromwell,” Snape said through a cold leer, “Dolores Umbridge detests Carewyn, only slightly less than the other way around. She would sooner hire a werewolf to teach classes before taking on her brother.”
Snape sneered at Lupin. Although Lupin didn’t rise to the bait, Sirius did.
"Don't take pot shots at professors who earned more esteem and respect from their students and coworkers in a single year than you got in fifteen, Snivallus -- "
"We are getting off-topic," Moody shut this down tersely.
"Yes," said Molly, her eyes flitting reproachfully between both Sirius and Snape. "I believe we've had quite enough squabbling. We're here to do what Professor Dumbledore has told us to do...to determine how best to protect Harry from You-Know-Who."
"Seems to me that might be part of the problem."
Everyone looked at Jacob in surprise and confusion. Jacob leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"What?" said Molly, startled.
"Doing what Dumbledore told us to do," Jacob said in a very matter-of-fact sort of voice. "We're assuming that that's synonymous with keeping Potter and everyone else safe, when it's not."
Everyone at the table looked unsettled by this.
"Jacob..." started Lupin, but Jacob cut him off.
"Dumbledore's wanted to keep this whole prophecy thing secret from Potter from the beginning. But old Dumble's not at Hogwarts now -- he can't take care of the school or any of its students, let alone Potter. And if Potter hasn't been practicing Occlumency regularly, that puts him at more risk than ever. We can't keep this from him anymore: he needs to know the extent of the danger he's in — "
"No!" Molly interjected, her voice betraying a higher pitch of both righteous anger and anxiety.
"Dumbledore explicitly ordered that Harry would not be told, Jacob," said Arthur in a sterner-sounding voice. "It's too dangerous."
"More dangerous than the kid walking around blindly?" Jacob argued. "Be serious. The only support from the Order that Potter's got left at school are Snape, McGonagall, and Hagrid...and forgive me if I don't expect Hagrid will be spared from Umbridge's reign of terror much longer. Therefore you," he glanced at Snape, "and McGonagall are the only ones left who can tell Potter the truth he needs to protect himself."
"What Potter needs to protect himself is to do what Dumbledore instructed him to do and properly learn Occlumency," Moody said sharply. "Only then can we ensure Voldemort has no eye into our affairs. Anything any of us might tell Potter could be easily intercepted by Voldemort, if he doesn't learn to shut him out."
"Aren't you usually the one crowing about 'constant vigilance?'" Jacob challenged him without backing down in the slightest. "How the hell can Potter be vigilant in protecting himself if he doesn't know what Lord Moldy Shorts is up to?"
"Jacob has a point, Mad-Eye," Tonks said in a bracing sort of voice. "I'm no expert in Divination or anything...but well, if the prophecy we've been guarding is about Harry and You-Know-Who, maybe there is some value to Harry learning what's in it. Then maybe Harry would know enough to counteract it, or..."
"Bear in mind that in arguing for Potter to be told of the prophecy, you are deigning to insinuate that you're a wiser person and mage than Albus Dumbledore," Snape murmured coldly.
Tonks faltered. Jacob, however, did not.
"In this situation? Yeah, I reckon so."
Arthur's brows came together reproachfully. "Jacob..."
"Maybe you all have forgotten this," Jacob spoke much more coldly than before, "but when I was at school, I got roped into marching to my psychotic grandfather's drum against my will, and that resulted in the oh-so-wise Albus Dumbledore expelling me, rather than doing anything useful to help my friends, my family, or me."
His skull-like blue eyes flashed with contempt upon Snape.
"I know full well what it's like being a little teenage puppet yanked around on strings by some evil old geezer with no idea why or any real control over my life. And you damn well know my sister knows that feeling too, Snape, given you were her Head of House -- thanks in no small part to Dumbledore deciding not to tell her anything about what happened to Olivia, Ashe, or me."
"Don't blame Dumbledore alone for that, Cromwell," said Snape, "you kept more from your sister and mother than he ever did."
Jacob bared his teeth a bit. "Maybe...but I actually figured out how wrong I was to keep secrets from the people I care about and am trying to do better. Something old Dumb-Dumb hasn't bothered to do."
The ex-Ravenclaw looked from Sirius and Lupin to Tonks, seeking support.
"I know everyone at this table wants to protect Potter...but knowledge is power. Knowledge is protection. So what if Voldemort finds out Potter and we know what he's up to? What harm could that really cause? But what if the opposite happens? What if, while Potter is not using Occlumency successfully, Voldemort gets into his head the way we fear and uses what he finds against Potter? Uses it to get him alone, outside of school, and there's no way we can get there in time to help him? No one can fight off an advance properly without knowing who their enemy is. So it was when Carewyn, the Circle of Khanna, and I fought R, so it is now that we're fighting Voldemort."
Tonks opened her mouth to say something, but Lupin spoke first.
"Jacob, I understand Harry's situation has a lot of parallels to yours and Carewyn's. But we don't know the contents of the prophecy — Dumbledore does. And as much as you might not trust Dumbledore, we all do. If he doesn't believe Harry is ready to know its contents, we must respect that."
"No, we don't — " Jacob argued, but Moody had heard enough.
"Jacob, you chose to join the Order of the Phoenix after correctly assessing that it was better to fight Voldemort's rise together than hold onto old grudges. Your sister has been balancing much more precariously on the edge by refusing to properly join and fight the way she should, but at least she's not suggesting contradicting her direct superior's orders. Albus Dumbledore may not be able to be physically here at this moment, but he is still the leader of the Order of the Phoenix, and it behooves us to stay in ranks until he returns to Hogwarts. And judging by the fact that no Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher has lasted for more than a year in ages..." Moody smirked, "...my Death Eater replacement included...I have more than enough faith Umbridge will be on her way out quite soon."
Jacob looked disgusted. "So you'll just cross your fingers and pray Voldemort ignores how easy it is to get into Potter's head? Even if Hogwarts does retain all of his protective charms after his departure...you really think Voldemort won't take advantage of the fact that Dumbledore's not there to try anything?!"
"No, we will do what we can to restart the lessons Dumbledore ordered Potter should take," Moody said harshly. “And we will keep a closer eye on both Potter and the Hall of Prophecies, to ensure the first doesn’t seek out the second.”
He shot a look at Sirius. "Considering Potter seems to have some secretive way of getting in touch with you enough to still tell you things, Sirius, I'll leave it to you to convince him...in whatever way Dumbledore would most approve of," he added pointedly. "After all, you do always seem to be itching to do something useful for the Order. This is your chance."
Sirius frowned deeply as Moody turned to Snape.
"And as soon as Potter comes back to you, Snape, I expect you to stop using your lessons as an excuse to mistreat him. Just because Carewyn Cromwell was stoic enough to tolerate your teaching style without complaint doesn't mean everyone else is going to be. Adapt your teaching style to the student you've got. That's even something a mentor in the Auror Department learns how to do, I'm sure a long-tenured professor like you can figure it out."
Snape regarded Moody with visible contempt, but didn't argue the point. Jacob had slouched back in his chair, his hand resting over his mouth as he stared in aggravation up at Moody. The ex-Auror met his gaze head-on without blinking.
"This meeting is adjourned," he said. "We'll be in touch."
One by one the table's occupants left. Jacob didn't get up until after Snape, Arthur, Molly, Lupin, and Tonks had already left; when he did, both of Moody's eyes, crazy blue and normal brown, went to him like a shot.
"Jacob," he said, "I know you and your sister have a lot of resentment still for Albus Dumbledore. But I also know that you both know how much bigger this is than that. We must be vigilant: we can't afford to have dissolution in our ranks. The Death Eaters are not going to break ranks...they'll follow Voldemort until either he wins or he falls, without question. If we don't do the same, they'll pick us apart until there's no one left."
"Not exactly inspiring me to want to not break ranks, Mad-Eye, if it means I'll be acting just like old Voldie's gang of yes-men," Jacob muttered coldly.
He got up from his chair. When he made as if to go, though, Moody actually tried to grab his shoulder — Jacob, however, sensed the move before Moody made it with his Legilimency, and he dodged him with a glare. Amazingly this seemed to make the slightest wry smile flicker over the ex-Auror's face before he then became more serious again.
"Don't do anything reckless, Jacob," Moody whispered. "This whole situation is not something that could be explained succinctly...especially when we don't know the vast majority of what the situation is, to begin with."
His brown eye actually narrowed a bit more solemnly.
"Remember yourself, at that age. If all someone told you was that there was a prophecy with your name on it at the Department of Mysteries, are you sure you wouldn't immediately barrel into danger to try to figure out what it said?"
Jacob stared Moody down out the side of his eye for a long moment. Then, adjusting the collar of his tan robes, he glanced at Sirius one last time and headed out without another word.
Even with how quickly he strode out of the room and then Grimmauld Place itself, Jacob's mind was whirling faster still.
Finally! The last contribution of the HPHM Cardverse AU made by @ariparri
This contribution is however rushed and a bit confusing but I did my best xD
Anyways, meet the Runaway Candidate...
𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲
Jacob Bennett Avery is the first son of Bruce and Mabel Avery. He was born as the candidate for being the next King of Diamonds. As Jacob Bennett grew up, he spent all his time being under Bruce's care. Bruce would often force him to study both etiquette, self defense and academics, any things that's needed for a King. Jacob Bennett would sometimes sneak out of his study room to hangout with his younger siblings. He is very fascinated in treasure hunting as he always reads books related to it as a form of coping mechanism.
When the day of his coming of age almost arrived, Jacob Bennett planned his escape and prepared the things he needed for his freedom. He also wrote a letter to his family, a letter filled with his true feelings, his realization of him not being suitable as the King of Diamonds and an apology for his mother and siblings for running away from home and swore he would never get back to the Avery Manor as it is his fate. His escape made his family devastated, Bruce and Mabel had an argument and eventually got into a divorce. The people in Diamond Empire knew about his escape and earned the title; "The Runaway Candidate". This embarrassed Bruce and decided to use his second son Malachi as Jacob Bennett's replacement.
Jacob Bennett didn't go too far during his escape. He stayed in the Diamond Empire as he lived in the streets. He became an anonymous bandit, stealing everything he finds interesting (mainly food and treasures) and would sometimes be seen leaping through the rooftops of everyone's houses and was feared by people. He met Olivia Green during one of his "hunting season" in which he stole the gal's prized possession but he immediately got confronted by her (mainly just her smacking him with her satchel or something). He returned the object he stole from her and she left with an angry look on her face. The interaction made Jacob fall in love with her. This made Jacob watch her secretly but still made Olivia notice his presence. The activity continued till Olivia decided to confront him, again. They became friends after a lot of confrontations and hangouts.
A year later, Jacob heard a rumor from the vendors that his mother and sisters went to the Country of Spades after divorcing his father. This made Jacob plan to travel towards the Country of Spades to see them. When he arrived, he got into trouble right away after he stole something that was meant for Patricia Rakepick, the former Ace of Spades and the current ruler during that time. He was brought to Rakepick and she decided that Jacob would be put to prison for both stealing and offending the queen. He stayed in prison for months and met his sister Maya who got dragged by the knights towards her cell. The two escaped together with the help of the Escape Artist (Jacob Cromwell by @carewyncromwell sorry for tagging you :'D). Jacob, Maya and their sister Marigold escaped from the Country of Spades and went back to Diamond Empire. Upon his return, he was confronted by his brother and the current King of Diamonds, Malachi and the siblings reunited.
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𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐭:
• Just like his siblings, Jacob is kind, friendly, charming and intelligent. He can also be foolish and impatient.
• Jacob became a traveling treasure hunter for the Diamond Empire and also became a knight of the Empire, not a high ranking knight. He was offered by Malachi to be the Duke of Avery Manor but he refused.
• He's shy around women. When confronted by Olivia he would just be quiet. But after he and the gal became friends, he felt comfortable interacting with her.
• He is still called as the "Runaway Candidate" not by the people in the Diamond Empire, but also from the people in other regions.
• He is also a strategic person like his brother Malachi.
• He likes giving gifts especially to Olivia. He would give her red and yellow roses as a sign of love and friendship. He also accept (and assumes) that the gal didn't like him back but all his focus is their closeness as she was his very first friend aside his siblings.
• He's currently staying at the Joker's domain for a treasure hunt.
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I just realized that his description is very long that the other contributions haha.
Finally done with my contributions! I could finally rest and maybe start some ideas for this au related to my children :))
OC Halloween Challenge ⍚ Day 24 ⍚ Multiverse AU ⍚ Jacob Venturi ( mine) Jacob Cronwell ( @carewyncromwell ) and Jacob O’Donell ( @unfortunate-arrow ) meet each other.
“So you’re Jacob…he’s Jacob…I’m Jacob and all three of us knew R-”
“Yes, now that we all know each other can we figure out how the feck we all ended up in the same portrait”
A collection of stories featuring HPHM MC Carewyn Cromwell, her older brother Jacob, and their circle of associates set prior to, during, and directly after the Second Wizarding War, first depicted in the original Harry Potter book series.
x~x~x~x~x
Prologue: 1990
Albus Dumbledore's Letter to Cornelius Fudge
Mia Flume and Jacob Collide for the First Time Since School
Why Mia Hates Jacob
Carewyn is Named Head Girl
Jacob's Relationship with Horace Slughorn
Jacob and Carewyn Go to a Slug Club Party
Carewyn, You Really Are Tricky Enough to be a Lawyer
1991
Talbott and Carewyn Talk Before the Valentine's Day Ball
Talbott Receives Great News
Jacob and Carewyn Study Together for their NEWTs
Jacob and Carewyn Graduate
Carewyn's Testy Relationship with Dolores Umbridge
Carewyn Helps Talbott and Tonks and Meets Kingsley Shacklebolt
1992
Bill Weasley Tries (and Fails) to Connect With Jacob
Jacob Befriends Lugh Hopper @thatravenpuffwitch
1993
Carewyn Advocates for Hagrid (and Earns Fudge's Respect)
1994
Jacob Befriends Olympe Maxime
Hagrid Encourages Carewyn
Carewyn Visits the Burrow (And Gets Pranked!)
Carewyn and Ginny Go Shopping for Dress Robes
1995
Why Rita Skeeter Never Wrote Any Dirt on Carewyn or Jacob
Carewyn Learns About Cedric's Death
Jacob Meets with Dumbledore After Cedric's Death
Mia and Callie Flume Learn Jacob's Coming Back to London
Remus Lupin Tries to Recruit Chiara Lobosca
Carewyn Bonds with Percy Weasley
Carewyn Clashes with Her Uncle Blaise Over a Time Turner
Florian Fortescue Makes Mia Question Some Things
Carewyn and Remus Have a Meeting of the Minds
1996
Mia Learns About the Azkaban Break-Out
Carewyn Attends a Meeting of the Order of the Phoenix
Mia and Ambrosius Flume Worry About the Ministry's Shadiness
Carewyn Prevents Umbridge from Charging the Weasley Twins
Jacob Argues with the Rest of the Order of the Phoenix
Mia's Nephew is Punished for Being in Dumbledore's Army
Mia Reluctantly Mends Fences with Jacob
Bill Weasley Sits in on One of Carewyn's Trials
Mia Goes to Jacob for Help
Orion Amari Becomes a Single Father
1997
Mia and Jacob Investigate Together
Carewyn Visits Bill After the Battle of the Lightning-Struck Tower
Mia Learns What Happened to Florean
Mia Makes Peace with Silas at Florean's Funeral
Carewyn is Almost Caught by Her New Boss Corban Yaxley
Mia Saves Jacob in Little Hangleton
Carewyn Saves Erik Apollo
Dirk is Arrested and the Flumes are Interrogated
Carewyn Helps Ron at the Ministry
Jacob, Mia, and Pitts Save Hogwarts's Halloween Feast
Carewyn Saves Orion and Eos Amari (+extra artwork)
Callie's Christmas Broadcast at Potterwatch
Orion Thinks of Carewyn While In Hiding
Carewyn and Talbott's Miserable Boxing Day
1998
The Death Eaters Attack Honeydukes Sweetshop
Jacob Gets Wounded and Carewyn Meets Tristan Cromwell
Mia and Jenie Recover at Silas Fortescue's House
Mia Visits the Wounded Jacob at His Flat
Remus Lupin Gives the Flumes Some Good and Bad News
Jacob and Mia Go to Shell Cottage to Visit Ollivander
Jacob's Traumatic Time at the Battle of Hogwarts
Carewyn and Jacob in the Middle of the Battle of Hogwarts
Mia and Jacob Reunite After the Battle of Hogwarts
Charlie and Carewyn Lean on Each Other
Carewyn Reconnects with Headmistress McGonagall
Jacob and Mia Say Goodbye at King's Cross Station
Erik Does NOT Like Carewyn's Uncle Blaise
Carewyn Meets Draco Malfoy in Azkaban
Carewyn Visits Orion and Eos's Cottage
Orion Protects Erik from Dementors
Carewyn and Orion Finally Talk Everything Out
1999
Jacob and Blaise Meet Carewyn's New Boyfriend Orion
Orion Meets His Future "Mother-in-Law" Lane Cromwell
Carewyn and Harry Potter Meet in Court (featuring Night Rhea @night-rhea)
Carewyn as Chief Prosecutor
Carewyn and Erik are Observed by Carewyn's Father
Bill and Carewyn's Letters Circa the War
Orion's Best Friend Skye Parkin Talks to Carewyn
Beyond
Two Years of "Firsts" for Mia and Jacob
The Vanishing Cabinet (featuring Mia and Jacob)
Tristan Seeks Employment Help from Carewyn
Orion Supports Carewyn After Erik Moves Out
Tristan Visits his Aunt Lane to Chart His Way Forward
Carewyn Supports Orion After Eos Leaves for Hogwarts
Jacob Goes Up to Send Sparks on His 40th Birthday
x~x~x~x~x
“We’ll get to really start working at making things better next year, won’t we? Once we get to the Ministry?”
Talbott smiled. “Yeah. Then I can take out the wrongdoers, and you can prosecute.”
Carewyn nodded. “And then we can go out for coffee and do it all over again.”
Talbott inclined his head in agreement, his grin and eyes both gleaming with determination.
“Sounds good.” (x)
Carewyn Cromwell chose to become a lawyer at the Ministry of Magic upon her graduation with the hope of helping people. She had little interest in earning any fame or monetary reward for her work: so long as she herself felt she was doing some good in her own way, Carewyn felt the hard work she'd put in would be worth it.
It took a while before Carewyn felt like she did any real good, though. 1994 in particular was a really rough year for Carewyn, when she faced two very significant legal failures back-to-back.
The first failure was when Carewyn lost a case she'd helped file against a new law drafted by Dolores Umbridge to drastically restrict employment options for werewolves, to the point that they wouldn't be allowed to work in any position involving other people or even animals while being open with their condition. And sure enough, her good friend Chiara just barely avoided losing her job at St. Mungo's Hospital for Maladies and Injuries altogether by electing to work from home for less salary. (Supposedly the pay deduction was due to Chiara no longer being able to "fulfill all responsibilities of her previous position," rather than just being because she was a werewolf, but Carewyn still thought bitterly that the Hospital staff was taking full advantage of the fact that Chiara would've had no choice but to accept such blatant mistreatment, since finding any better offer under the current restrictions would be close to impossible.) Worse, Chiara's old friend Remus Lupin had been effectively cut out of any position as a private tutor by the measure.
As if all that wasn't bad enough, though, around the same time Lucius Malfoy had gotten Carewyn's friend Rubeus Hagrid into a lot of trouble. When Hagrid first wrote to Carewyn pleading for her help in defending his hippogriff Buckbeak in court the way she'd been ready to for Hagrid just a year ago, Carewyn reminded him that she was a lawyer for cases involving people, and that Buckbeak's case wouldn't go before the Wizengamot, but Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. Carewyn still did everything she possibly could to help -- she spent close to two weeks researching old cases and sending Hagrid helpful advice prior to Buckbeak's hearing, as well as before the appeal. Sadly all of this work was for naught. Hagrid was not a strong enough public speaker to present a proper legal defense, and Lucius Malfoy bullied the Committee into doing what he wanted, so in the end, Buckbeak lost his case and his execution date was set. It was a blow that hit Carewyn even harder than it should've: not just knowing that Lucius Malfoy got his spiteful way or that an innocent creature was going to be killed, but that she'd failed Hagrid. Failing the first member of Hogwarts's staff to ever speak warmly and affectionately of her brother Jacob while everyone else only spoke of him sadly or distrustfully flooded Carewyn's whole frame with shame.
Just about all of Carewyn's letters written in early 1994 were very sparse. Her brother Jacob, as well as her mother Lane and her closest friends, all pinpointed this to be symptomatic of depression, and Jacob mentioned this to Hagrid himself in his own letters to the gamekeeper. Although at the time, Hagrid was in such a bad emotional state himself that he could do little else but simply write shaky, tear-stained letters reassuring Carewyn that Buckbeak's fate wasn't her fault and that he appreciated her help, he felt bad that he couldn't do more. And so after term was over and Buckbeak had miraculously escaped, Hagrid actually asked Carewyn to meet him at the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer and a talk.
Carewyn was in work-worthy dress robes, though considerably darker than usual. She'd been subconsciously gravitating toward blacks and grays a lot the last three months, and even her usual dark makeup was sparser.
Although Carewyn greeted Hagrid cordially when she entered the pub, the gamekeeper showed no restraint. Instead with a single massive step, he'd crossed the room and opened his arms to pull her into a big bear hug.
"Jacob's tol' meh yeh've been gloomy lately," he said.
Carewyn shook her head, her eyes averted. "Gloomy? Of course not. I've just...been busy is all."
"Don' give meh that rubbish," Hagrid scolded her lightly. He pulled back just enough to look at her better, and his expression saddened. "...I remember how yeh looked afta Rowan died, Carewyn...an' I can see that same look in yer eyes now. The guilt's written all ova yer face."
Carewyn didn't look up. Hagrid's eyes softened as he offered her a small smile.
"I said befo', Carewyn, wha' happened was not yer fault. An' don' worry...Beaky's good! He flew to freedom! No one can 'urt 'im now!"
Amazingly, though, this didn't seem to comfort Carewyn that much.
"No one can hurt him as long as the Ministry doesn't catch him," she murmured. "A scenario we wouldn't have to consider at all if I'd actually managed to do what I was supposed to..."
Just like Lupin and Chiara wouldn't be struggling to make ends meet, if I'd helped them the way I should've.
"Wha' yeh were supposed t' do was yer job," Hagrid told her firmly. "Which is bein' as good ova lawyer as yeh can be. That's wha' yeh always do. Even fer cases tha' weren' yers t' take on..."
"But I didn't! I should've been better, Hagrid -- I should've been able to help you and Buckbeak, I should've known Lucius Malfoy was going to do something shady: I could've done something, anything, to counteract him, if I'd just been -- "
Hagrid brought his large hand down to pat the top of Carewyn's head. Carewyn kind of flinched in response to the gesture, not sure quite how to respond to it: even if it was clearly trying to be reassuring and not condescending, being patted like a dog still wasn't something a lady-like person like her found particularly comfortable.
"Now yeh listen t' meh, Carewyn Cromwell," said Hagrid. "I may not be th' smartest bloke 'round, an' I may not know much o' nuthin' 'bout Wizarding Law..." he smiled. "Bu' I do know you. An' one thing I've never doubted 'bout yeh, fro' the moment I gotchu an' Rowan outta that Devil's Snare, is tha' yeh're a fighter. Not a fighter like yer brother, always gettin' into trouble an' losin' 'is temper when his friends got 'urt, bu' a fighter fo' others. Remember, yeh lit yer wand as bright as yeh could, not just t' save yehself, bu' t' help Rowan, since she hadn't gotten Lumos down yet. An' yeh proved me right ova an' ova again, breakin' curses an' fightin' Dark wizards, all t' save Jacob an' protect yer friends."
Hagrid's smile broadened to the point that his dimpled cheeks were more visible through his thick black beard.
"Me droppin' me notes an' stumblin' on me words weren't yer fault, Carewyn. Nor was Lucius Malfoy being a dodgy berk. 'Onestly...I'm jus' grateful knowin' tha' when I was in trouble, I knew I coul' write t' yeh, an' even now tha' yeh're all grown-up an' living yer own life an' living yer own dream, just like Jacob is his..." His black eyes actually betrayed some tears. "...well...tha' yeh'd still wanna help."
Carewyn's blue eyes grew a little smaller and sadder hearing this. Biting her lip, she immediately opened her own arms and tried to give Hagrid a hug in return.
"Of course I wanted to help you, Hagrid," she whispered. "...I wanted to help you much more than I did..."
Hagrid gave Carewyn another big squeeze.
"I know. Bu' even I can't carry th' world on me shoulders, an' I'mma lot bigger and stronger than yeh."
Carewyn choked back a laugh as she covertly wiped her eye on her sleeve. Hagrid smiled.
"It turned out all righ' in th' end. It always does. So keep doin' what yeh've been doin', an' don' let th' world get yeh down."
Carewyn's eyes never rose to look Hagrid directly in the eye, but her mouth slowly spread into a smile all the same.
Simple and plain and not much to ask from somebody...
You matter to me --
I promise you do...you -- you matter too...
I promise you do...you'll see..."
~"You Matter to Me (cover)" by Natalie Weiss and Brad Greer
x~x~x~x~x
the previous part to Mia's story // why Jacob is so badly hurt
x~x~x~x~x
Just before noon on the 16th of February, Mia Flume Apparated to London, right outside a Muggle complex. She immediately felt guilty doing it, as the CRACK alarmed a poor little old Muggle lady walking her dog. Fortunately the woman had chalked Mia’s abrupt appearance up to her bad eyesight and quickly led her Pekingese off along after her up the street, even as the little dog barked loudly back at Mia.
You idiot! Mia berated herself. Next time, figure out a safe place to Apparate into this neighborhood where you won’t scare the Muggles half to death…
Adjusting the tin of cupcakes under her arm, she took a deep breath and strode right up to the complex and up the stairs to Jacob’s flat. When she reached the landing, she paused with her knuckles on the door. Then, hardly knowing why she did it, she knocked a familiar rhythm.
Ma-ma Mi-a. Here I go a-gain.
There was a shuffle. Then, a moment later, there was a familiar thumping in return.
My my. How can I re-sist you?
Click. The door was magically unlocked from the inside, letting it fall open ever-so-slightly. Mia pushed open the door the rest of the way and came inside.
She found Jacob lying down on the couch in the living room, covered with a blanket. At the sight of Mia, he bolted straight up.
“Hermia!”
His face was pale with both anxiety and relief at the sight of her, but it quickly crumpled up into a wince in response to his abrupt movement. The blanket he’d had over him slipped, exposing the multiple bandages on his shoulders and arms.
Her brows knitting together over her green eyes, Mia very quickly shut the door and strode over.
“So you were hurt.”
“This? Ack…don’t worry! It looks worse than it is!”
Jacob threw the blanket off of him up onto the back of the couch, his mouth forced up in a painful smile and his eyes drifting aimlessly rather than staying on her.
“Sorry about the mess — ” he bit back a hiss of pain, “ — kind of been a bit distracted lately, forgot to clean — Pip’s always getting on me about that…”
He was thoroughly prepared to get to his feet, but before he could, Mia had put down her cupcake tin on the side table and seized his ankle to keep it from leaving the couch.
“Don’t get up,” she told him quietly.
The words should have been stern, but they came out oddly soft. Jacob was so stunned that he froze, letting Mia sit down on the couch beside him, her hand still holding his ankle as she looked him over. Peeking out from under the bandages was both dark, half-dried blood and bright orange burn paste. Jacob’s messy curls also looked significantly shorter than she’d seen them last, only just passing his collarbone — had some of it gotten burned off, so he'd had to cut his hair?
If this was how bad he looked a day and a half after everything happened — even after he must’ve used healing potions and spells…
“You went into the Fiendfyre, didn’t you?” Mia asked very quietly. “You stopped it from spreading — from torching everything else.”
Jacob didn’t respond well to this question. He looked so uncomfortable and guilty that he hung his head.
“I couldn’t do anything else,” he mumbled. “I was the only one who knew the proper countercurse: if I didn’t do it, no one else could’ve.” He looked down at his own injuries ruefully. “…Probably wouldn’t have been so hard for me to do, if I’d just gotten there sooner...”
“You still saved the town,” said Mia reproachfully.
“But not your shop!” said Jacob, his voice strangely harsh with frustration. “I couldn’t save any of it. Even though I should’ve, even though I know I could’ve, if I’d just — ”
“Cromwell, don’t you dare try to minimize what I just said,” Mia shut him down very sharply. “You saved the entire bloody town of Hogsmeade. Myself and my mother included! That lead Death Eater you were protecting us from? That was Snape — the very man who killed Albus Dumbledore — and the Fiendfyre was so out-of-control that no one in Hogsmeade would’ve been able to contain it! We all could’ve died if you hadn’t shown up!”
Jacob looked a bit staggered. “But I — ”
“But nothing,” Mia cut him off. “I'm not going to sit here and listen to you making excuses for why you’re a terrible person when I’ve already come to grips with the fact that you’re not.”
“What? I wasn’t doing that! I just…”
Jacob stumbled over his words, not sure how to articulate what he wanted to say. His eyes flitted down to Mia’s hand on his ankle and stayed there.
“…I just...wanted to help," he mumbled. "I wanted to help you -- help your parents. And I really wanted to save Honeydukes. I know how much it means to you. And you've lost so much already...” His blue eyes grew a bit darker. “…I wanted to help you, more than anyone. Because...well, you're my friend. You've helped me feed all my tenants out of your own pocket. And I didn't want you to lose your shop or your parents too, after losing Fortescue.”
Mia’s scorn actually cracked a bit here, her green eyes betraying some genuine compassion.
“...You did everything you could," she said quietly. "And just like with Florean...just like with Tia, Olin, and Skylar…you did more for us than anyone else did. And we're grateful for it.”
Jacob didn’t answer: his skull-like eyes stayed on her hand holding his ankle. Taking stock of Jacob’s focus at last, Mia quickly let go with a sharp clearing of her throat. Before she could reach for the blanket on top of the couch, though, Jacob put up a hand to stop her.
“It’s okay — ” He winced immediately after making such a quick movement. “…I...honestly was just keeping the blanket on to cover the bandages. You know, in case the landlord came by.” He gave an over-the-top goofy grin. “Didn’t want him asking me why I was dipping myself in ‘pumpkin mash’ instead of going to a doctor.”
“Soaking in murtlap essence would soothe the pain, you know,” said Mia.
“Heh, yeah — Pip’s friend Chiara suggested that too, once my wounds close up. She’s a great Healer — she worked at St. Mungo’s, before the War…”
Mia took out her wand and silently summoned one of the Wiggenweld chocolate cupcakes out of the tin she’d brought. “Well, for now, this’ll be a start.”
Jacob accepted it gratefully. He took a big bite, relishing in the taste and exhaling as the potion set in. Mia could see the wound twinkling with green sparkles; even if it didn’t seal up anything, it was clearly still healing.
“Thanks, Hermia,” Jacob said after a moment. “For this.”
“I think I have a lot more to thank you for,” said Mia. She smiled slightly as Jacob took another bite. “But you’re welcome.”
Even once he'd finished the cupcake, Jacob’s face remained quite serious.
“...Have you found your father?”
“No, but Callie and Potterwatch are looking for him and I’m sure they’ll find him.” Mia cocked her eyebrows coolly. “Meaning you can stay here and focus on recovering.”
Jacob gave a wince that fortunately was more out of amusement than pain. “You sound like my Pip. She explicitly told me she'll be checking on me at irregular intervals via our Two-Way Mirrors to make sure I'm not on my feet.”
He gave a heavy sigh.
“But…sad to say, you’re both right. With Yaxley breathing down my neck and trying to prove I was in Hogsmeade that night, I can’t afford to let anyone see me like this. So until I’m healed, I’ll have to keep my head down.”
He smiled at Mia. “Fortunately I have a few tricks, to keep me off my feet!”
He slid both his blackthorn and aspen wands out of the pockets of his sweatpants and pointed them idly toward the kitchen. From a distance, he levitated a pot out of the cupboard, filled it with water, and then set it on the stove to boil.
“Got any lunch plans?” he asked brightly. “I can make a pretty good Parmesan Garlic Orzo.”
Mia blinked. “Orzo?”
“It’s a type of pasta from Italy shaped like rice,” Jacob explained eagerly. “I got the recipe from this dame I met in Venice, after I attended one of her cooking classes. She’s actually the person who bought me that!” He indicated the Venetian mask on his wall. “I wore it when she took me to a Carnival masquerade — bloody groovy time, even if she did mostly go out with me to get back at her ex...”
Mia cocked her eyebrows condescendingly.
“I can’t decide what’s classier," she said sarcastically, "that woman doing that, or you actually going along with it.”
Jacob laughed. “Hey, at least she was honest from the start! I always appreciate it when people tell things to me straight — even though I'm the furthest thing from 'straight' myself.”
His smile spread into a fuller, more playful grin.
“So? Taking me up on that orzo? Considering all the tasty things you've sent me before, I'd love to return the favor.”
Mia considered Jacob for a minute. Then after a minute, she gave him a wry smile in return.
“…Well, I suppose if this is something you can cook well, it gives me good motive to make my own judgment on it. All right — I’ll stay for lunch. But only if you put me to work helping and you stay on the couch the entire time.”
~*~
Jacob had Mia be his hands in the kitchen, when he needed a more careful touch than his wands could provide. She was helpful in making sure all the ingredients were properly portioned out and everything was seasoned right. Within a half-hour, the meal was ready, and the two ate it together on the couch rather than at the table so Jacob didn't have to get up.
"I have to admit, Cromwell," Mia said, indicating her plate with her fork once she'd taken her first bite, "this...is really good."
Jacob beamed so brightly he resembled a sunbeam. "Glad you approve!"
They ate in silence for a minute or two before Jacob spoke again, his hand covering his mouth still half-full of food.
"Did you two ever cook together?" Seeing Mia's confused expression, he swallowed the rest of what he was eating and then clarified, "You and Fortescue."
Mia was startled by the question. "Oh! Well..."
The interest in Jacob's face confused Mia. It made her feel oddly self-conscious alongside the usual dull ache that accompanied missing Florean.
"...Yes," she said at last very quietly. "Yes, we did." She looked down at her dish full of food. "...Why do you ask?"
"I was curious," said Jacob. "I mean...given that everything I ever tasted from either of you was delicious, I figure anything the two of you worked on together was probably amazing."
Mia looked up out the top of her eye uncomfortably. Jacob's gaze had drifted away from her, up toward the ceiling, and become oddly pensive.
"I never got to cook anything with Ashe," he admitted. "The closest we ever got was brewing potions side by side...or that one time when Ashe sneaked Liv and me into his dormroom and we mixed drinks all night while everyone else was at that Slug Club party."
A sad smile ran over Jacob's face as he recalled this. His smile then turned a bit more cynical as he looked back at Mia.
"...Sorry. I'm probably being tactless. My mind just kind of returns to Ashe, more often than not...especially when I'm talking to anyone about relationships or traveling or school or whatever. But I reckon you probably don't want to hear any of that...and well, I really didn't know Fortescue all that well! I'd love to hear you talk about him, if that's okay."
Mia stared at Jacob for a moment, unsure of how to answer. Then, averting her eyes again, she frowned.
"...I don't know," she said at last. "Talking about Florean with others..." She took a deep breath. "...It's not always easy for me. Even at the funeral -- when I was talking to Florean's grandfather..." She swallowed. "...even then, it was hard. Even when I know it was hard for him too." She paused. "...Sometimes...it's just easier for me to remember Florean silently, rather than reminisce about him with anyone else. That way...no one can remind me of the truth. Use past tense, when talking about him. ...Then I can pretend he's still here. Supporting me. Watching out for me."
This admission was one Mia felt rather embarrassed about. She'd fully averted her eyes at this point, forcing back her emotions as best she could and trying to put on a brave face.
"Even if he's not, and I know he's not, and I know it's stupid of me to do it. It's just...easier to mourn him alone. It's better than making people walk on eggshells about it with me...afraid they'll make me cry."
Despite how embarrassing Mia found her sentiment, however, Jacob didn't look the least bit judgmental. He even nodded sympathetically.
"I get wanting to be alone with your feelings. With the memory of him -- just for a little while."
His skull-like blue eyes drifted away toward the ceiling again...almost as if imagining someone was floating up there. It made Mia speak without fully thinking.
"Do you do the same thing? With Duncan."
Jacob looked at her, surprised. Mia tried to backpedal.
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, I only -- "
"It's not that I don't want to," said Jacob bracingly. "I just...know I tend to ramble, when it comes to Ashe. I've had people tell me it makes them uncomfortable..."
"Well, I'm not," Mia said at once.
Jacob's expression seemed to soften. "...Hm...well...tell me if that changes. I'm not that good when it comes to this kind of thing..."
Mia adjusted herself on the couch, resting her plate in her lap. Jacob's face became sadder again, but also somehow still alight with a smile, as his eyes returned to the ceiling.
"Every day on my birthday...no matter where I am, even if I'm in transit...I find the tallest, most remote place I can find...and I shoot up sparks."
Mia tilted her head, her eyes slightly confused.
"Sometimes for just a few minutes -- other times, when I'm really down, for a half-hour or more," said Jacob, his smile rather full despite the sadness in his eyes. "But when Ashe passed on...seeing how upset I was...he told me that I'd better not be right behind him. He said he only wanted to see my stupid mug again after I'd turned old and gray...lived a long life worth telling him about."
His blue eyes actually filled up with tears at the memory.
"...So every year..." his voice actually choked, "...I throw up those sparks to prove to Ashe -- I did it. I made it another year. And even if I know it's stupid...I hope somehow, some way...he sees them."
Despite herself, Mia felt her eyes flooding with tears too.
"...You really loved him."
Jacob looked at her, smiling through his own tears, and nodded.
"Still do. I reckon I always will." His grin spread. "Just like I reckon you'll always love Fortescue, right?"
Mia tried and failed to swallow back the lump in her throat. She looked down at the meal in front of her -- then, after a pause, she nodded.
She ate the next few bites of her meal in silence. Then, after taking a very difficult breath, she spoke again.
"...Florean was the one who taught me how to make ice cream."
Jacob's head raised in interest. "Yeah?"
Mia nodded. "I'd reached out to him through post when I first wanted to make my No-Melt ice cream. He sent me back a lot of letters, trying to answer all my questions, but eventually it got to the point where showing was better than telling. So Florean invited me over to his shop in Diagon Alley. It was the first time I'd been anywhere outside Hogsmeade, since graduating. He apologized in advance if he disappointed me upon meeting," the memory made her choke back fresh tears. "...He was self-conscious about his stammer and thought he'd be terrible at teaching me anything in person."
A broken smile ran over her face and she shook her head, even as her tears streamed down her face.
"...But...he was wonderful. As good as any professor at Hogwarts. Smart and encouraging...but also so in love with his shop and his work. ...I'd never met anyone so passionate about his craft, in all my life..."
Jacob ate and listened patiently as Mia cried. She wiped her nose on her sleeve and took another shaky breath.
"...Florean would've liked this," she indicated the food in front of her. "He...always said he wished we could take enough time off to visit Italy together...try some authentic gelato."
But I was always just so worried about Dad and Mum and the shop -- leaving them for even a day, it...scared me. Because what if it had been Dad's last day as himself, and I wasn't there? What if Dad got loose as a dog and anyone in town found out the truth about his condition? What if I'd left Mum all alone, to pick up the pieces...?
A pang of longing rippled through her.
No matter how nice it sounded...no matter how much I wanted to go...
Jacob's face was oddly empathetic as he reached out a hand to take hold of Mia's shoulder.
"I wish you could've too," he murmured. He offered her a smile. "...Maybe after the War, I could bring you some gelato? You know, when I next come back to London."
Mia felt her own face break out into a small smile too as she wiped her eyes with both hands.
