14 June: Give Up, Give In: Leaky Cauldron (Mary)

[Danick Amor]

check the grin, you're in love

Thursday, 14 June 1979

It was not too often that their days off were the same, but today’s free day wasn’t due to chance. Tomorrow was the last day of school for Hogwarts students - or so he had been informed - and it meant that the small village would be bustling with graduates and their families after the ceremony took place. And after having participated in the festivities himself the year prior, he was no stranger to the sheer amount of people that would be flooding the streets he had become to call home. While he wasn’t sure exactly how busy Gladrags would be, he was sure that his companion was going to have her hands with with students and parents stopping by for tea.

So in the calm before the storm, he’d convinced her to go on an excursion to Diagon Alley with him. Having grown up in a different country, the wizarding area in London was still exciting to him. Mary was an excellent tour guide, showing him all over England quite happily over the past few months. Their visits to Yorkshire had been some of his favorites, meeting her aunt and uncle in the wizarding village near to the town who were quite happy to take him in as if he was one of their own. Mary had so smoothly become one of his best friends, although he had still yet to tell her any truth regarding the life he’d left behind.

“Mary,” he spoke up suddenly, interest in his lunch gone as the patrons in the Leaky had started to thin out. They had spoken many times in the past months about his feelings for one particular Hogwarts student, but it was something he was still hesitant to discuss with too many ears around. “I was thinking of going up to watch the ceremony tomorrow. Would you like to come?”

[Mary Macdonald]

At her friend’s address, Mary looked up from her steak and kidney pudding with a beaming smile blossoming. "Oh honey, I was starting to think you’d never ask! I wouldn't miss it for anything." Attending a Hogwarts graduation ceremony with a Castelobruxo graduate wasn't something that the girl would've anticipated a few short months ago, but as the end of term crept nearer she had hoped that this would come to be. Besides attending to see old friends and acquaintances move on from their student lives, and to hear dear Ana's speech, she wanted tomorrow to mark a new start for Danny and Eddie. The unabashed romantic was rooting for the pair with all of her heart, and Danny making the effort to cheer the younger bloke on was a surefire way for them to get back on track. Even though the day was going to be horrendously busy at Puddifoot's, Mary had already worked out a little deal with the Madam to come in before sunup to take care of her usual morning duties. She'd be off to Hogwarts and then buzz back before the families and graduates set foot in Hogsmeade, apron on and smile ready for the lunch rush.

"We should go see Tris at Malkin's to find something spectacular for the occasion," she suggested excitedly. "She's always got the best creations, I could use a new purse - and - Danny - you'll go to the dance, won't you? We can find you a new vest for your suit!" Because showing support at the ceremony was only the beginning; he had to follow-up in the evening, and the dazzling festivities of a Hogwarts ball was the perfect setting for him and Eddie to recommit to each other. Perhaps Danny could even bring his guitar, but no, no, keep it simple, even an acapella version of one of his love songs would do the trick...

As much as Mary knew that her friend deserved to have tomorrow go well, she knew she needed it to too. The last month had been wretched and healing all at once. Her home had been attacked in earnest by the dark forces, senseless killings and wreckage flooding the peaceful village. The days spent piecing ruins of shops and homes and roads back together were through, but Hogsmeade had changed. No longer were the taverns busy after night fell. No longer did she walk the streets alone. The community had come together to repair what could be repaired, but who could forget the damage, even after magic covered up the bruises? They firmed their resolves and upped protections, tender markers left in places of death to remember the lives lost to evil. Would the families notice the one dedicated to Clarissa on Puddifoot's doorpost? The one she paused to press her fingers to each time she passed, after Apparating into the village from Roderick's flat? But tomorrow - tomorrow would be a good day. She would meet friends and families, treat them to specials at the tea shop, and send them merrily on their way to prepare for their dance. A successful day of peace in Hogsmeade could set them on the right track for the summer, lift the heavy air from their village. It will be a good day.

[Danick Amor]

He beamed at the girl across the table, pleased to hear that she would be willing to go with him. Ever since he had told her his feelings for the soon-to-be Hogwarts graduate, she’d been his biggest supporter. Every time he’d started to doubt himself, it was Mary that he ended up talking to. His father had stopped attempting to contact him, the only letters still coming from home those from Hugo or Hector, or occasionally his abuela making sure that he he was alright. He found that, while he did miss Hugo and his grandmother, he had really come to enjoy his life here. He’d started to finally put down roots.

And after this last month, both he and Mary needed something nice. Whispers of a magical war had long been heard, but it wasn’t something that was in his face. To know that so many of Mary’s close friends were involved in the war was boggling, because he’d never really thought things were that bad. But things were that bad, and the loss they had experienced was still eating at both of them. Hogsmeade had started to feel like home, and watching it be destroyed had been terrible. The panic he’d felt that day, the panic he still felt when he walked the empty streets late at night. And Clarissa, the sweet roommate who had lost her life, was a constant ache in his heart when he passed her room at their house. She had taught him how to cook properly, always been good for a laugh when he was feeling down.

“I think going to see Tris is a wonderful idea,” he answered with a grin, before he felt his heart sink in his chest. He did know about the ball, it was something he’d attended last year with Hugo to surprise Willa. He had considered going, his desire to see Eddie growing every day the graduation had gotten closer. Because as wonderful as the past few months had been, being able to reconnect with his Scottish Prince, nothing was official between them. Feelings were still kept deep inside, still unwilling to drag Eddie into a world that could be painful for both of them. If his father found out, who knew what the man would do? Even if he was across an ocean, there were still risks. “I don’t know mi cielito,” he answered, appetite gone as he thought of everything bad that could happen.

The patrons of the Leaky around them weren’t paying attention, and while it wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have in public - perhaps it was time to fully speak his truths. “I've only ever told this to Hugo, but my abuela, she isn’t...she isn’t actually my grandmother. She’s a witch that worked for my father, and shortly after I was born I was given to her. I didn’t know she wasn’t actually my family until I started at school and met a boy who claimed to be my brother. My last name is Amor because I am a bastard, the child of a rich pureblood wizard and a muggle.” He spoke quietly, leaning forward as he stared down at his food. “In a different world, I truly believe my father would support You-Know-Who. He’s not a nice man, and he’s never wanted anything to do with me. Not just due to my blood status, but due to the kind of person I was. If people found out about me, it could ruin him."

[Mary Macdonald]

Oh Mary, you've over-spoken again.

Feeling her friend's demeanor shift after he agreed to visit Tris made the girl's heart ache. Learning about Danny, Brazil, his history, and the varying legalities of living life in his truth, had been intriguing. She'd lived a life sheltered, unaware, of so much of the world. She'd not given much thought, if any, to what it would mean to love someone of the same sex - not until Mick and Bee had started dating, starting to open her eyes. So she'd learned that her usual enthusiastic remarks about people's love lives sometimes weren't appropriate, as her new friend's situation was more complex. Mary quieted to listen, simply so wanting things to work out between Danny and Eddie that it was difficult to rein herself in. But with the mysterious ways Danny began, the trust he was showing her, she found herself leaning in, meal forgotten.

He'd learned of her family situation near the holidays, as she'd invited him to join her and the Longbottoms. But his family wasn't often voluntary conversation, beyond his abuela . Who…wasn't his grandmother by blood? Mary understood unusual family structure better than some, due to her own, and listened carefully. She had questions bubbling, held in by pursed lips - had he ever met his mother? what was his brother like, and were they blood? why wouldn't his father raise him? - as he went on. Oh, Danny… The young woman reached to take his hand as he spoke about his father, a rare, rare thing.

"You've been shouldering this for so long, honey," she said with a quiet sigh, squeezing his hand tight. "Thank you for sharing with me. I'm here with you, always," Mary promised. "It could ruin him…" She turned his words over inside, thinking. It seemed like, even though his father hadn't been there for him in any way, that Danny still…didn't want to let him down. His heart was so good, and he had found a love that was pure… "You're my friend, so it's your happiness that I'm going to concern myself with," she said softly. "And we both know who makes you happy. From the sound of it…you don't owe your father anything, Danny." She knew it was risky to push him, especially as she'd recently tried and failed so incredibly spectacularly. Timing was a persistent demon of hers, but she didn't believe he and Eddie had lost their shot yet...

[Danick Amor]

It was strange to speak his truth to her so suddenly, but it had been weighing on him since he’d met her family around Christmas. To lose both parents so young was incredibly sad, and his heart went out to his dear friend. But, she did have a family that loved her, and he was so grateful for that. The Logans and Longbottoms had treated him like one of their own, and he had loved getting to learn about Mary’s life growing up. Alice had brought a scrapbook from their Hogwarts years, and he’d told stories of his escapades at Castelobruxo. He’d even brought his guitar along, playing songs for her family that he’d been working on. Since that night, he’d known he needed to tell Mary the truth about his family.

He smiled at her words, returning the squeeze of her hand. He knew she always had his back, that she would stand beside him. She’d been there for him these last few months, from venting about his growing feelings for Eddie to venting about the pureblood customers who turned their noses up whenever they visited Hogsmeade. And he had her back too, through everything that had happened to her this year - including the heart ache she had suffered only days ago. Mary deserved all the happiness in the world, and it hurt him to know she hadn’t found it with Zach when they’d been so good together.

She was playing his words over - it could ruin him - and Danny squeezed her hand once more. He still cared about pleasing his father, and apparently Mary could tell that from his words. “Thank you,” he said with a smile, “And I know you are right - on both accounts. I do know who makes me happy, and I don’t owe my father anything. Sometimes, I forget that.” He leaned back in his chair, nerves settling that he didn’t realize were tense. “I’m sure you have questions about my family. I am more than happy to answer them.”

[Mary Macdonald]

"If you ever need a reminder, you know where to find me," Mary returned, loosening her grip on his hand as her friend relaxed in his chair. As Danny went on, the young woman's heart felt like it was glowing in her chest, and she caught herself smiling at the warmth of it. The unruly thing had been through a whirlwind in the last month, and it was centering to feel like it behave normally, responding to Danny's extension of friendship. Mary's mouth opened, feeling a question on the tip of her tongue even if she did not know exactly which question it was, but she forced it closed. She did want to hear more about his family if he was willing to share, and she felt so honored that he wanted to let her in as he was. At the same time, Mary knew she was keen for distraction. He'd gotten her out of the house, out of Hogsmeade, and that was good.

A good day. You two can have a good day.

    You have these moments too, where you want to discuss your family. How things could have been, if they could be proud of who you're becoming...

Wait - did he say only Hugo knows this too?

Mary was taken aback at the thought, for Danny's best friend had returned to Brazil so soon after their arrival. Maybe it's not just that you haven't wanted to speak about your family. You also haven't had anyone to do that with. Danny. 

"I am curious," she began cautiously, "and I'm terribly grateful that you felt like you could tell me. If you change your mind about wanting to speak about them, just say the word. Okay?" I'm stuck on your father, though - sympathizing with You-Know-Who but having a child with a muggle? How could he have made such a drastic frameshift? Did you ever know your mum? From how you said it, didn't seem like she was much in the picture...Ease in, Mary. "Your abuela, your father, your brother...half-blood with a muggle for a mum, me too," she went on with a kindred smile. "And blood or not, your grandmother is your grandmother, and I want to know all about her and baby Danick. Were you a rambunctious youngster she had to rein in? Did she read you stories at night?"