Chapter 412 - Easter Sunday Ⅲ (1/2)

A Bend in Time EsliEsma 38760K 2022-07-25

The two McGonagall brothers flash Elphinstone, a grin, before following after the skipping eight-year-old girl. Her father, Malcolm scoops her up in his arms and whirls her around causing her to shriek with delight, before putting her down. Faking that he is rather winded, Malcolm says, ”Morag, you've grown again. I can hardly lift you!”

”Really, Da?” Morag excitedly said almost jumping in delight. ”Do you reckon I can go to Hogwarts early?” Robert Jr. let out a snort earning a fierce scowl from both father and daughter.

Malcolm shakes his head causing his daughter's face to plummet. ”But-,” Malcolm said.

”But what Da?!” Morag eagerly exclaimed.

”There's going to be a new primary school for children to start at the end of August,” Malcolm explained. ”You and your brother will be both attending Duo.”

”Really, da?!” Morag squealed as they stepped into the cottage. ”You're not playing a trick on me, are you?!”

”Nope,” Malcolm promised as he crossed his finger over his heart. ”I swear that you'll make a lot of friends, learn new things, and know a lot more than I or your mum ever learned.”

”Yay!” Morag squealed in delight as she raced down the hall and shouted, ”I'm going to school!”

”Thank goodness,” Malcolm murmured under his breath. ”Someone else can deal with all of that ferocious energy.”

Robert Jr. chortles with glee and claps a hand onto his brother's shoulder. ”You and every other parent with children is praising the Minister.”

Malcolm glowers at his brother and shoves his hand's off. ”Just wait until your little Jessica starts to get into everything. Trust me, you won't be able to count down the days until she's able to go to school. That little gal is going to be another whirlwind, mark my words.”

Robert Jr. pales a bit at his brothers' words, all the while, while Elphinstone stares at them with a mixture of envy and longing. He'd been an only child, and he'd never conversations like this. It was a bit refreshing to be part of such a family scene even if only as a bystander.

Elphinstone steps into the kitchen and freezes at seeing Minerva. Her usually pinned up dark hair is down in silky, loose curls. Her face is bright with just a touch of color on her lips. Her dress is form-fitting showing off her rarely-seen curves. She was utterly breathtaking.

Elphinstone flushes at being caught with his mouth open as Minerva arches her brows at him. Elphinstone shuts his mouth with a loud snap and eagerly hurries forward to help. The adults carry out the main entrees: a golden Cornish Hen, a perfectly baked Shepherd's Pie, potato salad, and other platters. And for dessert: Sticky Toffee Pudding, Trifle, Victoria Sponge Cake, and a few lighter desserts like gelatin.

The food is swiftly and rather neatly placed on the table. Elphinstone is teased by the McGonagall brothers, but he was not going to fall flat on his face again with food in his hands and in front of Minerva. He'd never be able to live down the sheer mortification of such a scene.

With the last of the entrees on the table, everyone began to take a seat. The children were sitting between their parents and separated from each other lest they get any funny ideas. Elphinstone awkwardly glanced around until Minerva gently tugged on his hand for him to sit next to her. Feeling an awful lot of warmth creeping up his face again, he quickly sits down trying to ignore his pounding heart.

Thankfully with the entire now assembled, Isobel loudly says, ”Let us say, Grace,” and bows her head and begins. Elphinstone tries to be reverent but much like the children, he peeks at everyone across the table. It was a bit of a fascinating experience for him as he was not truly religious, to begin with. That did not mean he discounted the idea of a God, it just tended to work out very well with the fact that he was a wizard.

Isobel mutters, ”Amen,” and everyone mutters the same as their heads go up.

The sound of clinking can be heard as dishes are passed around. The single adults serve themselves first, while the four parents at the dinner table serve their children first, before finally serving themselves. The sound of eating can quickly be heard as only the odd comment or two is made such asking for the rolls to be passed or the gravy.

After a bit, the adults begin to chatter with the children shouting at each other from across the table. Minerva turns to the side and says, ”I hope this isn't a bit too much, Elphinstone.”