Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Oct 12, 2008 18:43:56 GMT -5
August 19, 2009
Drew sat at the breakfast table across from his aunt, picking at his eggs as he scanned the Prophet for anything of interest. He still skimmed the want ads though he had given up finding a summer job weeks ago. With his Academy application still pending, no one was willing to take him on when there was a possibility of him leaving in less than a month. Now, he was spending most of his energy looking for anything that might be Deva related, but that scene looked as dead as well.
"Andrew, you know I don't care for that," his Aunt told him as she spooned sugar into her porridge. Drew thought he had been more subtle then usual, keeping the paper low instead of holding it full up as a wall between them, but apparently not. He folded the paper up and placed it to the side, planning to read it later. He hadn't found anything suspicious in there yet, but that didn't mean he missed something.
"So what are your plans today?" the woman asked and Drew fought the urge to shrug and smirk his answer... another thing his aunt didn't care for.
"I know some people were probably going to start getting their stu... things for school this week," he answered. "I thought I might go over to Diagon and see if I could meet up with anyone."
"If you go, perhaps you might pick up some unicorn horn powder? I'm running low," she answered. It would be easy enough to have it ordered and delivered, but she knew her nephew enjoyed the excuse to get out.
"Of course..." Drew was in the process of answering when Rumie the house elf entered bearing an envelope.
"An owl has just delivered this from the Ministry," the house elf announced in his squeaky voice, hopping over to Drew and handing the wax sealed parchment to him. Drew raised an eyebrow as he turned it over in his hands, his eyes growing wide when he saw where it had come from. He looked up at his aunt before looking down again at the envelope, not quite sure if he was imagining it or not. Taking a deep breath, he broke the seal and pulled out the contents and read the letter within. His face broke into a wide smile and once he got to the end, he jumped out of his seat and whooped loudly.
"Andrew!" his aunt admonished, but it held no real concern. Her simple smile conveyed that she was proud of her nephew. She let him jump around for a moment, accepting a boistrous hug and kiss from the boy before pouring some cream over her strawberries. "I suppose you won't be going to Diagon now?" she asked, knowing he would most likely be rushing over to the Hjorts' house as soon as he was excused. She didn't even bother waiting for him to ask and with another smirk waved him off. "Go... go. Tell that pretty girlfriend of yours you've finally found yourself some employment."
"Thanks, Aunt Abigail!" Drew called out as he rushed out of the dining room, swinging a convenient house elf around as he passed. The small creature squeeled nervously and smoothed the drapery she wore as soon as she was back on her feet.
Drew was out of the door by this time, doing a quick turn on his heel and disappearing with a pop. A second later, he appeared just outside the Leaky Cauldron, the safest place to apparate to when he was going to see Felicity. From there it was a short run to her house and within moments he was striding up the Hjort porch steps as fast as he could without crashing into the door.
Taking a deep breath, trying not to get too hyper over his news, he rang the bell, only to back it up with a knock on the front door. It was then that he realized Felicity might not even be home and he probably should have called first. He always managed to forget that part.
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Post by Felicity Hjort on Oct 12, 2008 22:50:37 GMT -5
Bustling around the house, with her children and grandchildren out and about doing their own things for the soon starting schools, others at their places of employment, Meadow whipped the frosting she had just concocted for the cake she was planning on baking that day. However, though lost in her own thoughts about the possibilities of things that might happen to her family if she were gone (such as with Felicity gone, who would pass along desserts and make dinner?), the woman broke down, tears straining down her face. This wasn't supposed to happen, things were not supposed to happen like this. She was supposed to be with Ib forever and always, she needed to be present to take care of her children and grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Who was going to do all of that if she was no longer there?
Without treatment, the older woman hurt, and hurt badly. Though, she knew they couldn't afford treatments, not unless her children dipped into their saved funds for their own children, and she wouldn't allow that. Meadow Rose was too proud of a woman to not allow her babies to have a chance at university if that was their dream. Why prolong the inevitable? That was how she looked at it, or tried to look at it. One day she was going to pass, just, she knew with magic in her blood she was supposed to live longer. So why in Merlin's name was this happening?
Hearing the doorbell, she quickly wiped at her tears, doing her best to clean her face, only succeeding in smearing confectioners sugar across the high cheekbones from her apron. When mixed with the slowly falling tears, it made a mess of her well-done face. The make-up tricks were something a nurse showed her so she could hide what was happening better from her family, though she was losing a fighting battle. Having lost too much weight for her frame all ready, the woman was miserable. This wasn't what Ib had married, she wasn't the same person.
Turning the knob on the door, she pulled it open, a fake smile set in place.
"Andrew!" her smile turned into one of delight. "I wasn't expecting you today. Come in, dear, come in. Felicity's still at work, I don't believe she'll be home until later this afternoon. It's actually one of her longer days since she has Thursdays off." After the past weeks, she would've thought Drew would've learned by now. "How's your Aunt? And Snowflake? Your parents?" She was sure his parents were supposed to be back from the convention thing his father had traveled to about magical transportation.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Oct 12, 2008 23:59:25 GMT -5
Hopping nervously on one foot and then the other as he waited for the door to be opened, he tried his best to settle down as he heard footsteps approach. He was grateful that they didn't have the heavy sound of Mr. Hjort's, but he couldn't figure out if it was Felicity or her mum coming toward him.
As the door swung open, revealing Mrs. Hjort, Drew's initially wide grin faultered as he saw the streaks of what looked like flour on her face. Despite her cheery greeting, he could tell she had been crying. It probably wasn't the best time to share his good news. Besides, he wanted Felicity to be there when he announced it.
"I'm good, Mrs. Hjort. Everyone's good. How are you feeling?" he answered, trying to keep his smile in place when he knew the woman probably wasn't feeling well at all. "I just wanted to see Felicity and forgot what day it was. Is it okay if I wait for her?"
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Post by Felicity Hjort on Oct 13, 2008 0:16:47 GMT -5
"Well enough, dear," she answered with a sad smile. Felicity had confronted the older woman a few weeks before about her condition, having heard she and Ib discussing everything a while before. It saddened her that she didn't feel she could tell everyone, hadn't wanted to with Felicity, but with the weight loss, she knew there wasn't much hiding it from many more people. And in a way, she was glad someone outside of her family knew, it was nice that such a young gentleman as Drew cared enough to ask without making it notable of what he was asking about.
"You know you're welcome in my home when she isn't here," she added with a happier smile, stepping aside to lead him into the kitchen. It seemed her kitchen was almost like their place, whenever he was too early for his young love to arrive, the woman always had a batch of chocolate chip cookies waiting for him. "Come, come, you can help me whip up a cake I'm making for practice for Rufus' birthday coming up in a few days." Though, really, the cake was in remembrance of Garret's birthday, Meadow didn't want to bring too much up. Her sister was all ready spending the day at the grave site, but the cake was something happy, a remembrance of a great man.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Oct 13, 2008 1:30:16 GMT -5
Drew smiled a little easier, always feeling welcome with Mrs. Hjort. And the kitchen was always the best place to hang out. The living room was where Felicity's dad usually stayed, but Mrs. Hjort's kitchen was always warm and friendly and smelled of something good to eat.
"A practice cake? Does that mean we'll have to practice eating it too?" he asked following her into the kitchen. He realized he had esentially invited himself for dinner, but didn't think Mrs. Hjort would mind. He stepped over to the sink and started washing his hands, ready to do whatever was needed and hoping to let Mrs. Hjort rest a little. "So what can I do?"
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Post by Felicity Hjort on Oct 13, 2008 1:59:51 GMT -5
Laughing heartily, she shook her head, forcing the red locks with gray to sway gently. "I don't think any of my children know how to practice eat, only how to really eat," she winked before pulling a mixing bowl and wire whisk from their places. "But of course, the cake will be for dessert tonight and if it turns out nicely, that's what we'll be having on the child's birthday. I wanted to try something different today. It's called a chocolate pudding layer cake. It's apparently something really tasty according to this...oh, what is it called? Eeee-Mall my cousin sent Meridith a few days ago."
The Hjort's didn't have a computer in their home, Ib believing he got along just fine without one his children and grandchildren would be all right as well. Of course, he wasn't opposed to one of them purchasing their own, but he wasn't about to waste money doing it when it was better spent making Meadow comfortable and putting food in all of their bellies.
"So, let's see what this recipe says she gave me..." Glancing down over the ingredients list, she started calling it out, knowing that by now Drew knew where most of her things were located. "And we have to make the pudding first and let it cool a while before adding it to our cake mixture. So, I guess we'll start by cheating and making pudding from a box rather than from scratch. If it isn't any good, then I know next time to make it all from scratch."
Running around the kitchen, she dug through a cupboard while she hoped Drew would grab the milk and a pan for her to start cooking that up in.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Oct 14, 2008 21:26:09 GMT -5
It was good to hear the woman laugh, making Drew temporarily forget how sick the woman actually was. She still looked thinner, more pale, more tired, but the sparkle in her eyes out shone all of that.
"That sounds really good," Drew told her, thinking anything with chocolate was worth a try. Without being asked, he got the milk and then figured they'd need a saucepan as well so he pulled one out of the cupboard.
"If you want, I can do the pudding while you do something else," he told her, thinking she should probably rest a little. "If it's not from scratch, that is. And I've always thought the box is pretty good."
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Post by Felicity Hjort on Oct 14, 2008 22:19:05 GMT -5
"My cousin always thought he was a great chef, but once he left the UK he really did become one. His cooking wasn't anything to brag about here but once he got a few tricks up his sleeve out there in the United States of America, well, then he was allowed to brag around here. Now and again he'll send Meridith a few recipes through that Eeee-Mall and I'll give her a few to send back, but he does have some yummy ideas here and there." It'd been a number of years since she'd seen the old bloke, but she knew he was trying to get back to his home shores to be there with her. They hadn't ever been really close, but she knew he was hoping to get a few of her recipe books in the family's grief. Well, unlucky for him she'd all ready told Ib that he was to stow them in Felicity's wall where her things went when she was home from Hogwarts.
"Ah, that'd be kind of you Andrew, helping an old woman out," she laughed and winked again. her age was catching up to here, past sixty years old now, and Felicity was just getting older which meant she herself was gaining too. Running the water in her sink, she started a bit of a bath for the dishes, hoping to get a few out of the way before starting their dinner in a few more hours. And before that she needed to make a snack for her children to munch on when they walked through the door. Maybe just celery and carrots with a little bit of sour cream and dill dip. It wouldn't hurt them to have a bit of something healthy, and that way the cookies would be Drew's.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Oct 15, 2008 22:37:52 GMT -5
Finding what he needed and taking up the box to read the directions on the back, he started heating the milk and digging in a drawer for a spoon. The calming sound of the water splashing over the dishes in the sink filled the quiet nicely as he slowly stirred the pot. He wasn't sure what to say to Mrs. Hjort, dying to share his news, but wanting Felicity to hear it first. It was okay though. The kitchen was warm and comfortable so that the silence didn't feel awkward to him.
He shot a quick glance over at Felicity's mom, actually having something he wanted to ask her as well, wondering what she'd say. "Mrs. Hjort? I was thinking... I mean, I know you have Mr. Hjort and the other kids... but I was thinking that... if you needed something or help or anything... I could stop by even when Felicity's at school?" While he liked hanging out at the Hjort's house (despite being terrified of Felicity's dad), and he wanted to help Mrs. Hjort out, he really felt like being allowed to still visit would help him not miss Felicity so much while she was away.
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Post by Felicity Hjort on Oct 15, 2008 23:03:29 GMT -5
"Yes dear?" the Hjort woman turned toward Drew, wondering if he needed help finding something. The majority of time he spent at her home she noticed was in her kitchen, where Felicity baked him a snack or helped with dinner and he pitched in. Or while he was waiting for Felicity to arrive he'd sit with Meadow and munch on whatever she had ready for him. There were a number of times when she'd told him to help himself, become more acquainted with the area where all of the Hjorts spent much time. Homework, telling tales of school and activities, where much advice had been given, and always where there was something left out for snacks. It was the heart of the their home.
A slightly hidden smile emerged on her lips, crinkling the corners of her mouth and eyes as it became more and more apparent. When Felicity had first written home of the boy, of course she hadn't liked it at all. There'd been no spark of interest at home with any of the boys, or girls, and she hadn't expected her youngest daughter to find such a spark when she wasn't there to give advice over late night milk and cookies. And then with the fight that was still fresh in Meadow's mind Felicity had written home of to Jacob and Lindsay, both of whom had approached the woman though Felicity didn't know of it, she hadn't been all too sure then either. And coming home for Christmas break with two dates lined up, one in which ended with her daughter having a boyfriend, well, it'd been quite an experience to not be right at hand for it all, but rather a bystander. And since then, a year and a half later, they two were still dating, with only a minor break. It was amazing.
Turning the dish water off, Meadow dried her hands on the dish towel she kept close at hand near the sink before bustling over to the tall boy.
"Andrew, dear, you're more than welcome in my home whenever you'd like to stop by. In fact, I'd much enjoy your company now and then, especially since you'll be one of my few bridges to our world after Felicity leaves. Ib doesn't want me out and about too far from home, and in his opinion just around the corner is too far when he can't come and get me if I decided I wasn't feeling too well." Wrapping the boy in a warm embrace, the woman chuckled to herself. "And I think Felicity would be right upset with you if you didn't stop in to see her dear old mum and dad now and again. I can just imagine the letters now if she knew you weren't stopping by."
Winking at him, she released Drew from her grip with a friendly pat on his arm. Felicity would be right upset though.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Oct 16, 2008 23:14:22 GMT -5
He knew he wasn't Mrs. Hjort's son. She had enough kids of her own to worry about the likes of him. All he was was her daughter's boyfriend.
But being so far from home, he had really started appreciating his own mother a whole lot more. He thought he was probably too old to be missing his mommy, but sometimes he really needed one and it was awfully nice to have Mrs. Hjort step in. Aunt Abigail made a great surrogate grandmother while he was in the UK, but when it came to home cooked meals and hugs, Drew was glad Mrs. Hjort was there.
He had been nervous to ask her, feeling like it was an imposition, but as she hugged him, he relaxed. It was pretty good to know he was welcome and while he doubted Mr. Hjort really wanted him around, he was glad Mrs. Hjort did.
"Okay," he said with a relieved sigh as she patted his arm. He had been concerned about basically inviting himself over, but now it was like he was expected to still stop by. "Thank you."
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Post by Felicity Hjort on Oct 16, 2008 23:38:17 GMT -5
"Now, now, no thanks needed," she told him kindly. "It'll do both of us some good I'm sure in the end of it all. Felicity'll be happy you're stopping in, I'll get to hear how happy she is through her letters about you stopping in, you'll hear how happy she is you're stopping in, it'll give me someone to converse with, and you'll get some more meat on those bones of yours by eating my cooking, I hope."
While Meadow knew he was eating well, as she doubted he ate any differently when he was outside of her home, she thought he was a tad too thin. Of course, it didn't matter much what she thought as long as he was happy and Felicity liked him as he was, but really, she did think a few more pounds on the boy wouldn't hurt any bit. Ib hadn't looked quite so stretched when they met finally, though he had been tall and thin just like Andrew, except shorter and not as thin. Her cooking had put a few pounds on the man, and he looked all the better for it, too.
None of her sons were that thin either, or her grandsons. Not to say what he was eating wasn't the right kind of cooking, it was obviously keeping him healthy and fed, but he just wasn't putting on the weight he could use.
Returning to her sink, she gently scrubbed at the morning dishes that had been left behind as she let Drew alone to finish his task of cooking the pudding up.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Oct 17, 2008 0:57:39 GMT -5
Drew gave a low giggle, a noise usually reserved exclusively for Felicity, but something that was impossible to keep in when Mrs. Hjort teased him about his weight. While all the Thornton men were long and lean and Drew was no different from any of them, it was still something his mother said everytime she saw him. His mom usually stuffed him with chiles rellenos and enchiladas, but he was just as happy to have Mrs. Hjort's shepherd's pie.
The pudding was about done and Drew did a final bit of stirring before grabbing a bowl and spooning the warm velvety chocolate into it. "Just needs to cool a bit, right?" he asked, thinking he could stick it in the fridge and start on the cake if that was what was needed.
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Post by Felicity Hjort on Oct 17, 2008 22:38:52 GMT -5
Lapping warm soapy bubbles over the dishes as she scrubbed here and there, Meadow let her mind wander; not ignoring Drew per se, but not really talking with him either. It was nice to have a presence in the home, being alone nowadays wasn't her favorite of activities. Just knowing someone else was there put a good feeling through her bones. In all actuality, she rather enjoyed Andrew's company, even if Ib wasn't quite so fond of the young man.
"Hmmm, dear? Oh, yes, yes, here in the refrigerator we should be able to make room for it somewhere," she answered, being drawn from her thoughts as she dashed across the kitchen to bustle around inside of it. There had to be room somewhere, with the leftovers as they'd just had those for dinner a few nights before. It seemed more and more often leftovers were becoming the meal of choice, but half the time the Hjort woman wasn't sure where the leftovers were coming from.
"Here we are, Andrew, it'll slip in right between the bean soup and chicken bake here."
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Oct 17, 2008 23:50:43 GMT -5
Drew's stomach gave a low rumble in response, the mere mention of food reminding him that he hadn't eaten in almost an hour. He was pretty sure the soup and chicken were for dinner, and even more sure he was expected to stay, so even though he was starving, he wasn't about to ask for a snack.
He slipped the pudding into the fridge and wiped his hands off on one another as he stood up and stepped back to shut the door. "Shall I start on the cake now, or do you want me to help with the dishes?"
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