A brief Return

[Liberty Kaelen]

Libby had been waiting for this day to arrive since she'd come back to Hogwarts. After packing up her clothes she was going to need, she left the grounds, apparating out of the school. She couldn't wait to get home. It had been six months since she'd left her husband and her son to return to Hogwarts for gradution, and at the half-mark, it was time to revisit them.

She apparated loudly, her body being pushed together, before the familiar surroundings of her bedroom at the pub fell across her view. She smiled excited, as she looked around. There was no longer a cot in the room, and instead, Libby walked out and across the corridor into the nursery she and Alex had made for Keanu before he was born. There she found everything she'd hoped for, including a small boy, who was sat proped up in his cot, flinging a small toy around. At almost a year old, he was getting alot bigger than Libby was remembered.

She knelt down beside him, lightly stroking his soft cheek with her fingers, "Mummy's home" she said as he looked up blankly at her. The look in his eyes was almost painful, and of course, Keanu didn't recognise her. However he didn't make a sound as she stood up and lifted him out, balancing him on her hip as she walked out of the room, and headed downstairs.

It was quite late in the afternoon, and the pub was growing busy. She smiled when she spotted a black haired man talking to a local, as walking up behind him with Keanu, she leant over his shoulder. "You look like you've got things settled round here" she said quietly, waiting for him to turn to see her suprize return.

 

[Alex Corvus]

Alex slid the cleaning cloth around one of the many glasses the pub possessed, listening to the squeak that confirmed it was clean. He had learnt to function quite well as a somewhat single dad to Keanu. No matter how much Alex had not wanted children for many years, he had found it difficult not to treasure every moment he spent with his little boy. His little boy had grown considerably over time, and Alex was already considering taking him to a 'father and baby' socialisation class in an attempt to find him some friends before he started at school.

Having checked on Keanu only three minutes previous, Alex continued serving his customers: The business had really taken off since October when Alex had set up a fancy-dress night. He now did frequent pub quizzes, every thursday night. Of course, nothing could be amazingly easy when he had to race upstairs every fifteen minutes to check on his son. But Keanu had been a good boy for his father, and had even started calling him 'Papa'. Most of his words were gurgles, but the tiny child had already shown his talent. Alex couldn't wait for the day he could tell his son that they were a wizarding family. Though Liberty had said they were to live as muggles for the time being, Alex had secretly taken a single wizarding photograph of his baby boy. It was one he would treasure forever.

"Hello, Alex," a short, elderly man said in French as he approached the bar. Alex smiled at him; the silver-haired man had been as good as a resident of the pub since just before Liberty had left for her final year at Hogwarts. He was a strange man, though his heart was solid gold- he was the sort who bought upset strangers drinks and he had once talked a man out of taking his own life. "Ah, Dorian, I was wondering when you would turn up.. I see you've left the dog, today?" Alex spoke a decent amount of French, though he was thankful that Dorian mostly understood English and didn't get offended by the odd mispronunciation, hither and dither. Dorian shook his head, "I'm afraid she's been sick again," he shook his head. Alex didn't normally allow dogs in the pub- other than helper ones- but he had made a special exception for Dorian's twelve-year-old terrier, Muddle. After all, she seemed to be the only thing keeping the old man going. "Sick as, eh?" Dorian added as he supped the pint Alex had quickly poured him.

They had just got onto the subject of turning the place into a bed and breakfast, when somebody leant over his shoulder. Alex turned round, his eyes instantly meeting those of the woman holding his son. His expression was frozen in shock for a moment, before it cracked into a wide smile. He couldn't help ignoring a couple of customers who had arrived at the bar, he was too busy kissing his wife. It had been lonely without her. "If I had known you were visiting, I would have made more of an effort.." Alex glanced around at several glasses littering the area behind the bar. He continued to beam at Liberty, "I've missed you so much."

 

[Liberty Kaelen]

Libby didn't care about the mess around her. It's not like she could've done a better job, besides, Alex had been looking after their son. She kisses him back, one arm wrapping around him, pulling the three of them close to each other. "I've missed you too" she replied, looking into his eyes. "Sorry i didn't give you any warning" she smiled, Keanu still balanced on her hip, her hand round his back. "It is the Christmas holidays though, so i thought i should spent it with my family" she said, looking from the small boy in her arms to her husband, who'd been doing such a good job of running the place.

As she looked around, things were already different, however these were to do with the fesitivites. There were sparkling lights above the bar, that danced across to highlight the occasion, and a huge Christmas tree in the corner of the room, not to mention the odd bauble dangling from wherever was possible. Libby smiled to Alex, proud of what he had achieved. "How have you been?" she asked him, wanting to tell him about Hogwarts, but knowing that would have to wait, not because she had the son they were supposedly bringing up as a muggle for the time being, but because there was a house full of muggles too.

At Hogwarts Libby too had learnt a little more french, meeting the new students there had boosted her knowledge. Things wern't going as well as she hoped though, and everytime she considered dropping out, she had to remind herself about graduation. She would be sad to leave the magical world behind in just six months, but the thought of coming home for her family brightend her spirits. She knew deep down, that once Keanu was old enough to know, she would return, possibly becoming a Professor or member of the ministry. Ether way this wouldn't be the last time the wizarding world heard of Liberty Corvus.

"How has he been?" she asked, refurring to Keanu, bobbing him up and down and stroking his dark hair. "He takes after you" she smiled, looking at the boys features. He had the same dark eyes, the same dark hair. She just hoped when Keanu grew up he would share the same attitudes.

 

[Alex Corvus]

"I've been alright," Alex replied honestly. Dorian had been good entertainment and comfort through the time Alex had been alone. "There's been a lot to get on with- to keep me busy. Keanu's been busy, too; lot of growing for a young lad to do." Alex withdrew from his family, momentarily, to serve a couple of customers their drinks. He returned with a warm smile. He thought of the lounge, upstairs, that he had taken a long time to perfect the festive decorations of. Up there, he had put up a tree, and its base, though currently empty, would soon be surrounded by presents. This Christmas would, hopefully, be the greatest Alex had ever had. And he was hoping to make it one of the best for Keanu and Liberty, too.

Dorian, who was now sat with a couple of female tourists, nodded respectfully in Liberty's direction. Alex smiled at him. "Dorian has been a great support," Alex added, looking to his son, who he then lightly covered the ears of, "he's even bought Keanu a present." Alex removed his hands and Keanu gurgled happily. "Are you inviting anyone over for Christmas?" he enquired, not wanting Liberty to suddenly spring any surprises on him. Alex had no family he could easily bring- his mother was the only family he had, and she was a squib.

Alex had hoped to invite Dorian along, although, when he had mentioned this to Dorian, the man had politely declined and explained that he needed to be with Muddle- just the two of them, as it may well be the last Christmas she saw. This deeply saddened Alex, and he understood. He had even spent several hours debating whether or not he could secretly use a wizarding cure to help the poor animal. But Liberty would have murdered him, alongside the Ministry. He had tried to think of all sorts of get-outs to justify doing such a thing, but so far, he had found none.

"You could invite that charming friend of yours," Alex said, sarcastically. He did not think highly of that blonde girl, the one who had probably ended up in Alex and Liberty's bed with Tobias. "I'm sure she'd be a riot." Or cause one, more likely.. Alex thought to himself as he poured another customer a drink.

 

[Liberty Kaelen]

"I've got to go back after the holidays" she began, not wanting to hide anything. This wasn't a perminant stay, but she couldn't just leave her family in France while she celebrated Christmas at Hogwarts. "I should be graduating in March, and then i'll be home for Keanu's first birthday" His birthday was something that Libby was also looking forward to, and something she'd wanted to plan since he'd been born. It was unbelievable that her son was already 9 months old, and gurgling by the sounds of it. As if on que, Keanu wriggled in her arms, longing to get to his father. The words "papa" were spoken repeadly, and Libby had to hide her smiles from the customers as his words were the first to her ears.

There was something else she was going to need to discuss with Alex, something to do with the pub, and other magical professions. Hopfully Keanu would prove to have some magical ability, and although he was going to need to be sent to a muggle primary school, Alex and Libby were going to have to decide which magical school to send him to. Libby, having experience on each, was keen to talk to Alex about his future, as well as their own. Libby had been up for the idea of owning a pub, however it wasn't something she was going to call a career.

When Alex asked if she was inviting anyone, she thought of her family, and her friends from school. "I could i suppose." she hadn't really thought of it to be honest. Maybe a Christmas with just the three of them would be better? Then again, It had been a while since the family had visited, and prehaps that's what Alex wanted. "I could invite my parents and siblings?" She asked. It suddenly hit her. This would be the first Christmas without Cedric. Her smile dropped a little, and she lifted her son into the arms of his father, before helping out the newly arrived female customers, and handing them each a drink before turning back to her boys.

"Larissa?" she asked, her eyebrows raising. She hadn't spoken to that girl since her wedding night, and she didn't even think she'd met Keanu yet. "I'm not sure" she said honestly. They hadn't been the closest of friends for some time, and Libby wasn't keen on the idea of her being around those she loved. When they'd been younger, Libby had relied on Larissa, however through the years, Lissy had proved herself that prehaps she wasn't to be trusted. She hadn't even wanted to know what had been going on when she had caught her and Robert in kitchens at their wedding, and had always put it to the back of her mind, but if she went around with anybody, who says she wouldn't have done anything to Alex?

"What about you? Anyone you want to bring along?" she asked, secretly nervous he hadn't found some other young girl to spend his time with. She turned to smile at Dorian, and was grateful in her heart that he'd been there for her husband, and Libby made a mental note to give him a gift of thanks.

 

[Alex Corvus]

Alex fixed a small smile onto his face. It was partially false. "No," he replied, "there's nobody I would rather spend Christmas with than you." He did love his wife, and he did mean that he wanted to spend Christmas with her and Keanu, but he would have liked there to have been someone else he could invite along, should Liberty run off at the last minute to be at Hogwarts with all her friends and colleagues. Though he had been getting used to being alone, each time Liberty returned, only to leave again, it started the solitude of his life off, again.

---

Alex closed the pub door after saying goodbye to Dorian. He locked it all up and began cleaning and putting away several glasses. After another five minutes, he arrived upstairs in the lounge where Liberty and Keanu were. He sat down and smiled at his son, before looking to Liberty. "I think we should talk about his future," Alex began, "Keanu is growing fast, and if we're going to raise him as a muggle, we need to start making decisions about that, now." Alex rubbed at his eyes, tired from work, tired from everything.

There suddenly came shouts from outside, and for a moment, Alex imagined they were for him. They were just a group of young people having a good time. Young people. People his age. Alex was still only young, and yet, he felt so old. He was wondering if he would ever reclaim any possible youth, again. He would have liked to have been out there with those other people, having a laugh, not having any responsibilities to get home for. But then again, he would not dream of giving up his only son, the child he had not asked for, but had proved himself something wonderful.

---

---

 

[Liberty Kaelen]

Libby had been upstairs with Keanu all afternoon, trying to reconnect with her son. When Alex had been downstairs, she had secretly gotten a little teary, worrying over the fact Keanu might not recognise her as his mother. It was heartbreaking to think her only child did not want to be with her, nor know anything of her. After laying her head down on the carpet of the lounge, Libby was dozing in and out of sleep as Keanu played happily in front of her. So many thoughts ran through her head, and she considered whether she'd been a good mum, leaving him with Alex. She didn't doubt Alex could handle him, but had she been a bad wife too? At school she didn't need to think of these things, and instead just concentrated on her friends and getting back into the school routine. Tobias had told her marrying and becoming a parent would take everything away from her, and he had been right. Many things had happened this year, and all Libby wanted to do now was sleep and forget it all.

Libby woke, hearing children's screams outside, and she was scared they would be bugerling the pub. She noticed Alex standing beside her, and she lifted herself into a sitting position, with her back against the bed, smiling as she caught sight of her son fast asleep on the carpet beside her. "Yes" she agreed. They really did. "Once i've graduated, i'm putting everything magical behind me" she said, looking to Alex, "But once Keanu, or should Keanu, go to a magical school, i want to get a new job." she said truthfully. She'd wanted to work in a pub, but it wasn't what she wanted to do forever. "And talking of magical schools, which would be best for him?" she asked. Hogwarts seemed the obvious answer, since they'd both attended, however she wasn't just going to forget about the others.

 

[Alex Corvus]

Alex had been thinking of Keanu's future for the past few months. Well, he had little else to do in the evenings other than read muggle books in an attempt to understand how exactly muggles survived without the use of magic. He had, on one of those evenings, reached the conclusion that sending his son to Beauxbatons would be easier, should they remain here. Although, Alex honestly felt that Keanu would benefit further from being at Hogwarts. Both his parents had attended a Hogwarts, and both had been- or at least appeared, happy with the arrangement.

"How long are you planning on us staying in this country?" Alex asked, unable to keep the slight glare from occurring. They had moved between countries, and Alex just wished they could settle down somewhere. He liked the pub and he had grown fond of the regular customers, especially Dorian. Though it was a little difficult trying to build up a social life outside of the pub, Alex was sure he could manage it if they were staying. But then again, that was the million dollar question. He could raise he son in France, he could send him off to Beauxbatons for his education, but not if they were to up and leave at the drop of a hat, just as they had the previous times. "I'm hoping to stay a few more years, in the hope that I may actually make a couple of friends and gain some form of social life."

He couldn't say he was truly angry with Liberty, but he was annoyed, to say the least: She could leave him with their child and the pub to disappear off to school where, for all he knew, she could have a full and varied social life. Heck, maybe she parties every night to celebrate being away from Alex and her son. Meanwhile, Alex would be stuck in the pub, tending to customers and running upstairs to check on his son.

 

[Liberty Kaelen]

Libby couldn't tell Alex was annoyed, and simply thought about what they should do. The whole point of her being in New Zealand in the first place was to graduate, and besides Ric, who else was there to talk to? She wanted to stay in France, once she'd left Hogwarts for good, and she was sure they'd be here for some time, but prehaps Hogwarts was the best choice, afterall they'd both attended. "Of course, at least until Keanu is old enough to go to Hogwarts or something" she replied, needing to tell him the other important factor in her life. "I think, If Keanu goes to Hogwarts, it would be a good idea if we moved back of New Zealand, eventually i mean. He, and Natalie will both be attending, and i think i want to try my hand at actually becoming an Astronomy Professor. For the time being we can keep the pub" she had grown quite fond of the place, and didn't particularly want to give it up any time soon, "I'm happy to stay here. I want to. For now" she said, looking up at Alex, trying to work him out.

She stood up, taking her sleeping son in her arms, before carrying him off to his nursery, and tucking him into his cot, turning off the lights, and wandering back into her and Alex's room. "We can live in France until Keanu attends Secondary school. But once he does, it might be better for us to move somewhere else." she hoped she was making the right decision. For Keanu's and Alex's sake. If they ever had any more children, it would just make things complicated. What would they say if they asked where their brother was? Libby shook her head, for now she would keep her head in the present, and concentrate on the schools and future jobs when Keanu was old enough.

She ran a hand through her long brown hair, and began to change for bed. She was tired, however seeing Alex again had put her in a slightly strange mood. "I really did miss you" she said truthfully. Before she'd been back to Hogwarts, the longest time apart was when she was in Durmstrang, and even then she could sneak out to see him. She beckoned one finger at Alex, signalling for him to come closer. She didn't want him feeling left out or upset, and planned on making him feel wanted and special again..