Coming Thro' to Rye PV Clifton Troublefield Fin

She moved the sand dollar from one hand to the other as she investigated it, never really having seen one besides pictures before. "I like her," she said, speaking of his mother. "Your dad seems nice too," she added. It was nice, and she liked the interaction they had with one another. Despite many years of marriage, they still seemed to be very much in love.

Alina moved her other hand over the water to skim the top of it and create her own very little wave and felt the sunshine warm her face. This was the perfect sort of weather for being at the beach and she didn't even care if she was there in her regular clothes, nor that he was in his own. It almost made it more memorable this way.

"How do you not spend every moment here?" she asked, meaning the beach - the ocean. It was easy to fall in love with. She rested back until she could float on her back and smiled. He didn't have to worry about her in the water, she had her experience. "I think I could do this every day."

She knew the ocean could hold dangers but there were none that day, nor could there be. Somehow the higher powers that be brought her Clifton and while he was with her she really believed herself to be invincible. Still floating on her back, she watched as a seagull flew over. "We should probably head back for the picnic soon." His mother and her had set it up so nicely, it really needed to be appreciated.

Clifton agreed. She was always so good at being mindful of stuff like that and he was immensely relieved that she liked them and seemed comfortable here.

The two swam back and rejoined his family. His dad had made most of the food, of course, but Alina and his mom had made it look terrific and even with sandy clothes and hands, Clifton thought it was far better than stopping at a crowded restaurant for dinner on the way home.

The drive was much more subdued. The initial novelty of a new visitor had worn off a little and Clifton knew his family was tired from the previous night. As exhausted as he was, he'd been waiting all day to really talk to Alina and the thought made him almost antsy with energy. It seemed like couldn't get home fast enough.

Finally, his dad pulled into the driveway.

"Alright, Cliff," he said. "I don't care if you have a friend over. Ten thirty and you go up to your room and go to bed, got it?"

"Got it," Clifton nodded, already unbuckling his seat belt. He reached over to help with Clover's so that his mom could get her out.

"The guest room isn't very big, Alina," his mom said, getting out and then opening the door on Clover's side. "But I think it will work for a few days. Cliff, make sure you show her where it is."

"Okay. But first, I want to show you something else," he smiled as he climbed out after Alina. He took her hand and led her around to a small gate that led to the backyard. "The trampoline. One of the best muggle inventions ever. Even better than the dishwasher." He shut the gate and led her across the small yard toward it the big, round thing near the edge of the yard.

He climbed on and then helped her up. "It's no astronomy tower, but it's still a pretty good view once more stars come out."

They bounced for a minute, just so he could show her what it was. She laughed at the weird, rubbery feel of it and Clifton resisted the urge to use his momentum to launch her higher. It would be so easy with how small she was, but it wasn't really why they came out here and after a few moments, they both slowed and stopped, enjoying in the crisp, summer evening air.

Finally, Clifton positioned himself directly in front of her and took her hands in his. "Okay. Tell me all of it."

The trampoline was fantastic! It seemed to serve no other purpose but for enjoyment and it definitely provided that. The two spent a good amount of time just bouncing around and one would think such a repetitive act would grow tiring after some time but it didn't!

As the evening grew, he stopped jumping and came to her, taking her hands into his own, saying, "Okay. Tell me all of it."

All of it. A summer-so-far worth of details. The ups, the downs. She watched him, thinking HE was the one with the scratches all over his face, the one that sent the half-written letter just recently...shouldn't he go first? But she knew ultimately it didn't matter because he would share with her soon enough.

Alina pulled them both down to sit upon the bouncy surface of the trampoline and sighed. "After a far-too-embarassing departure from the Station," which she knew he saw because he referenced it in the letter, "we arrived home to a new set of hired help. They never stay long. But one of them is my father's assistant name James and he's fun and helpful, and just the best," she was glad to have met him. "We started off with a playful feud right away because he said the females of the house weren't to be in my father's office with him gone and he was to make sure of that. Now, granted the only other members of the house are females so he wasn't making it a political statement but nonetheless it was fun trying to sneak in and having him rig up buckets of water and everything else to stop me." She had mentioned before about the games that her and Bella played with the staff. The staff enjoyed it too.

"Summer started with showing my father my report card in which he instantly saw the House, which I knew would happen. We talked and...apparently he was supposed to be sorted into the Hufflepuff and he felt like he never really belonged in Slytherin. He said he was glad I was there because the hat probably had some weird way of knowing where we belonged and if you protest then its seven years worth of not truly fitting in or developing into the person you were to be. It was like he had regrets about it. We've had many conversations since then about his time at Hogwarts and I've even been able to ask him about my mother and I'm so confused. I'm certain he loved her, at least at some point in time, so the distance the two had..." she shook her head, not understanding it. If he loved her and she loved him, why did she shut herself in her room for YEARS? Why did he go off and be with other women?

"James and I became a detective agency of sorts. We discovered that my father is looking for houses in France but I don't think it's to move there. They're not houses quite up to his standards like the one in Aveyron or ours now. Maybe a sort of vacation home?" That would eliminate one of his fears. "We also found out that my mother was a Squib, that's someone from a magical family but isn't of magic themselves. Then we found medical records of her with some major social anxiety or something...but one of the doctors had written a note in the caption next to it, thinking it was the Imperius Curse which is dark stufff. Like, one of the unforgiveable curses dark stuff. It's a curse where you control someone. I don't understand why that theory of whatever doctor wasn't explored."

"Bella's...." she sighed, she knew she was talking WAY too much but she wanted to share everything, just as she wanted to know all about his summer so far. "Bella's different. Slytherin hasn't done her well, Clive. I love her dearly, I do. I always will, but its like the few not so great traits that she did have only got strengthened and became her identity now. She's all about her appearance and how people perceive her and nothing is good enough for her. She's been spending a lot of time with Grandmother and I think she's planning to go to Beauxbatons for the rest of her schooling if accepted."

"And then our Grandmother, that old hag THREATENED me! I'm almost sure of it. It was when we first got back and she had seen my report card and was disgusted that I was in Hufflepuff. She insulted my father, her own son, and then my mother, and then said something about how she should have done us all out - meaning me, Bella, and my mother. That also has me wonder if she didn't have something to do with my mother's death. I tried to tell Bella without really telling her, you know? Just to watch herself... But somehow I think those two are on good terms anyway and my grandmother is probably proud of the person Bella is becoming."

"I'm not jealous about that either. I don't want anything to do with this woman. I really don't. She scares me and she appalls me and I can't imagine my father growing up with her. I guess you could say I'm developing a soft spot for him in a sense. We've been closer than we've ever been before. He's still gone a lot - still gone too much; but it's nice when he's home."

She realized she just talked an entire speech to him and smiled, letting some silence fall for a moment. "Other than that....you know, swimming, painting, spending time out in the garden, and writing letters to friends. That's been my Summer." Alina laid down now and looked up at the clouds. Reaching up she took his hand again and squeezed it. "Your turn."

Clifton laid down next to her on the trampoline, resting his head on his arm. He watched the lazy clouds drift by, but they seemed to move too slowly for his fast his brain was working to process it all.

So her dad was that person behind the trophy they saw. He even had the makings of a Hufflepuff, just a messed up background. Not that that could entirely discount all of the things he'd done to his own family, but Clifton liked that Alina saw hope in him. Lots of it.

What he did not like was the image of this grandmother. Cornering Alina in a giant, empty mansion. Anything could've happened and--if Alina and James' research was any indication--anything would have.

Clifton was unfamiliar with all of the unforgivable spells, but he pieced this one together from the other things she'd said about mental illness and her mother suddenly shutting herself off from her family. There must've been a spell that seriously tampered with someone's head. It wouldn't surprise him after last night.

But how could someone--even Alina's grandmother--do that? Not just to her daughter-in-law, but to her own son? He didn't know, nor did he want to.

He squeezed her hand tightly. "When we go to your house, we stick together. Or promise me you'll at least stay close to James. Deal? We'll keep a close eye on Bella too. Maybe we can talk her into hanging out with us more."

It didn't sound likely, but it was at least worth a try. He was sad to hear how much she'd already changed since he'd met her.

"And, as far as my parents know, you're house is practically Hogsmede." Not just so they wouldn't try to stop him from going to her place, but because he knew that their worry would make him lose his nerve.

Because if that woman could abuse and threaten her own put-together granddaughter, where might an energetic, half-American, Hufflepuff boyfriend stand? Clifton only hoped he wouldn't get Alina in worse trouble, but he knew better than to bring it up. They were a team now. He'd have to be some kind of idiot to not be scared, but that didn't mean he had to show it. After all, she'd stayed strong all this time, hadn't she?

"Don't worry," he smiled. "James sounds brilliant. We'll sort it out."

She squeezed his hand but looked over at him, expectantly, and he chuckled. "Right. My turn."

He turned his face back toward the sky, then frowned a little, not sure where to start.

"Um. Well...turns out I'm not muggle born."

He sensed her confused gaze and hurried on. "Well, let me back track. I'm really sorry about your owl. At soccer camp that night I was writing your letter, someone attacked him. I heard him screeching, so I left my dorm to see what was going on and this...creep jumped out and grabbed me. I don't know who he was, but he was a wizard because he had a wand."

"Anyway," his gaze shifted uneasily as he relived some of the confusion. "He forced me to the ground and then did this spell that I guess let him see my memories? I don't know, I kicked him pretty good before I could tell what was going on. Then I ran and hopped the fence and his cronies chased me with their car for like six blocks."

He stopped, realizing how absolutely mad this was sounding. But she seemed to follow, so he continued. "And then I ran into my family friend, Leo. He's the guy the ministry sent to tell my family about Hogwarts. Anyway, he saved me and drove me home, except he wouldn't tell me what was going on! Not really. He just said something about how those people are after something and that they need one of my memories to find it."

"Like I'm some stupid algebra notebook they can just flip through or something," he said, surprised when tears threatened to leap to his eyes. He hadn't even gotten to the most frustrating part yet.

He sighed. "Anyways. I...sort of figured it out by the time I got home. Not the memory part. The family part. You've met my parents, they don't know the first thing about magic. So why else would those people be after me? And I had to know, so when I got home I asked my mom who my real family was. She sort of freaked, so that probably wasn't the best plan. They didn't tell me for sure until this morning. That I'm not theirs. I mean, I am, but...well you get it."


He was quiet for a long time, battling back the surge of emotion he'd been distracting himself from all day. Then, when he felt brave enough, he faced her again.

"They gave me up, Alina. And they didn't even take the time to name me."

And, finally, his bravery betrayed him and the tears won out. Embarrassed, he released her hand and sat up, trying to regain control. He wanted to be strong for her right now, not...this.

He didn't need to be strong - at least not all the time. She moved over onto the trampoline surface next to him and brought her arms around him, pulling his head close to hers, not caring if he was crying and hoping she brought him some comfort.

She came from an awful family but at least she knew where she came from. To not know...there had to be so many questions, so much frustration. "It's okay," she whispered to him. "It's okay. I'm here for you. Any way I can be." The team.

He could cry for five more minutes or the next three hours if he so wished and she just kept on holding onto him. "You know, James is pretty good at researching. I joke that he's really a secret detective from the Ministry of Magic but he laughs it off. Maybe he can help answer any questions you have or at least find us some clues?" It was worth a shot anyway.

And then there was his friend. "And maybe this Leo guy can tell you more. I mean, he's got to know something." She wondered what sort of memory they were looking for and when. Surely it was something from long ago because otherwise he'd probably remember something so remarkable in his life. That was her guess, any way.

"I feel like between birthday parties and theme parks, swimming pools and exploring forests, we've got a lot of work to do this summer but I'm ready for it."

She was scared, not to be with him and not for anything that might happen to her but for him. If these guys had tried to attack him before and didn't get what they had wanted, wouldn't they attempt it again? Maybe over the summer they'd also have to have some study sessions, sharpening up their Defense Against the Dark Arts...just in case any mystery guys or grandmothers needed to be kept in check.

At first, Clifton was even more embarrassed when he felt Alina’s arms wrap around him to comfort him. After all, she seemed to have dealt with so much more over the course of her life than he had and he'd never seen her get all choked up. But it felt so good that he gave in, resting his head against hers and listening to her soft voice.

He liked her ideas. They were logical and grounding and gave him a direction.

"I feel like between birthday parties and theme parks, swimming pools and exploring forests, we've got a lot of work to do this summer but I'm ready for it."

She sounded so resolved and it bolstered him.

“Yeah,” he laughed a little between sniffles. “I’m ready for it too.” Ready to be done with this frustrated, angry, sad, runny-nose gunk. “I promise I won’t be a crybaby boyfriend all the time.” Then, his usual smile returned behind the drying tears and he added. “Only on Thursdays.”

Even though he began to calm down, he was grateful that she still held him. It was the safest he’d felt in awhile. And not just because it was easy to let his guard down around her. More and more it felt like they were almost combining their guard. He wasn’t sure how else to think of it, he’d never had a friend that he could share the same fears and hurts with. Up until now, it’d hardly gone further than sharing the same jokes.

“Not to state the obvious,” he smiled. “But I really like you.” Then his expression turned somber again. “Thank you, Alina...I don’t always know how to say it all, but...thanks.”

After savoring another moment, he slowly pulled away as better words began to piece themselves together in his head. “And, one day, Miss Rosier, when you’re a world-famous healer, I’ll brag to everyone that I was the first one you doctored up.”

Was ‘doctored up’ the magic term? He didn’t know. Nor did he care.

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand and standing. Her excitement about the trampoline had reminded him how fun it was and finally telling her had left him feeling lighter. “We can save detective work for later. I think we’ve still got a few minutes of daylight for jumping before my parents call us in.”

The sun did set on their time on the trampoline and the two went back inside the house. It was so small in size next to hers and she felt Clifton might think that was a bad thing but it wasn't. The warm glow of the lights inside made it feel welcoming and warm, much like the Hufflepuff Common Room and she loved it. His dad sat looking over something in the living room, with some sort of older sounding music playing and his mother was off getting Clover to bed.

"Promise me we'll do more of the bouncy floor while I'm here," she said to him, speaking of the trampoline but forgot the term for it. She knew it wasn't bouncy floor though...that just didn't sound right. Clifton told his father that they were going to head up for the night. "Goodnight, Mr. Troublefield. It was a pleasure meeting you." It was a statement that could have been so standard, so textbook, but she said it in such a way that it was pleasant and meaningful...because she did mean it.

Together they went upstairs and he showed her where she'd be staying and said where the bathroom was, and where his room was. "Can I see yours?" she asked, curious about all the football posters on his wall and clothing-packed closet his mother probably had him adorn. He obliged and it was exactly as she would have pictured it. "All it needs is a photograph of the two of us!" she smiled, sort of teasing, sort of not.

His mother popped in, wishing them both a goodnight and they returned it. She then went to head downstairs, ready to stay up a little while longer. Alina was tired though and could tell Clifton was too. "Not to state the obvious, but I really like you," she came over and kissed his cheek before pulling herself closer to him for a warm embrace. "And in my mind you're only stronger for showing that side of you today," she pulled back so she could see those brown eyes of his.

Fais de beaux rêves, Monsieur Troublefield," she whispered as she got to his door because she knew little Clover had already gone to bed. It was her native French for 'make beautiful dreams' which was the French equivalent to 'sweet dreams' used with someone you're close with. With one more smile, she turned and headed to the guest room for the night which she found to be much more than adequate.

Finally getting to this! Been jotting down snippets all day.



Clifton smiled as she left. And it stuck there as he located and changed into his night clothes. And while he rewrapped his angry looking ankle. And while he looked up to greet his mom who had stepped into his room.

"Alright, no staying up Cliff. You had a late night last night."

Fais de beaux rêves, Monsieur Troublefield. He had no idea what it meant outside of maybe some form of goodnight. But he liked how it sounded. Especially the way she said it, so soft and meaningful. Like her kisses. Like tomorrow held even more promise than today.

And "Monsieur Troublefield" made him sound even more grown up than she already made him feel.

"Mom," he sighed. "I need to learn French."

She cocked a brow, then saw his already unraveling bandaging attempt. She shook her head and crossed his room to fix it. "You need to learn how to take care of yourself. I mean, the trampoline? Didn't that hurt?"

"A little," he shrugged, climbing into bed. "But it was worth it. She's never seen a trampoline before."

"And that's why your injuries always last twice as long than they need to," she said, rolling her eyes. "It's always 'worth it'." With a smile, she pushed his bangs back and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Alright, lover boy. Get some sleep."

Esme quietly stepped out and went down the hall toward Alina's room. She said a quiet goodnight to the girl and then went to find the man who had taught Cliff to stay up reading or studying or what else in the first place.


Clifton came down the next morning and nearly stopped-mid yawn when he saw the spread that both his parents had put out. Breakfast was basically the works with toast, eggs, sausage, fruit smoothies, and even lemon poppyseed muffins.

"What, are we feeding my whole football team?"

"A nice thank-you would suffice," his mom teased, whipping a dishrag at him. "Help set the table."

"So what's on the list today?" his dad asked. "Slip n' slide birthday party?"

"Around tenish, yeah," he said, reaching for the plates.

"And fixing your hair," his mom said, fussing with his bedhead. "You need a trim."

"Mo-om," he groaned with a laugh. "It's fine. Besides, don't you and Dad work today? I can get one when I get back from Alina's."

"Well, if if I didn't have that client today..." she finally stopped fussing when his dad handed her a pitcher of smoothie. Clifton gave him a grateful smile as she walked it over to the table.

"Think you and Alina can hold down the fort?" his dad asked. "Your mom will need you to watch Clover when you get back, so don't stay more than a couple hours, got it?"

"We won't," Clifton smiled, sorting through the silverware. Only then his dad started touching his hair. What was with them this morning? Clifton stopped and looked up to see a worried expression on his dad's face.

"Be careful," he muttered. "If they can find you at football camp--"

"We will," Clifton interrupted tersely. "Everything will be fine." He didn't want to think about that right now. Today, he was going to show Alina what it was like to be a normal kid. Not a paranoid, hunted, misplaced, orphan one.

"Sorry," Clifton muttered when he saw his dad's gentle warning expression. "We'll be careful."

"I hope so. And call us if you need to." he smiled, ruffling whatever smoothing his mom had done. Then looked up as Alina entered.

"Morning, Alina," he grinned. "Sorry if us loud mouths woke you up."

"No need to apologize, I was awake," she told him and looked to his parents. "Good morning," she gave them both a smile and then smiled back to Clifton. "It's probably I that needs to apologize...I was snooping a bit in the guest room. Well, actually I was placing my suitcase away in the closet when I saw the family photo albums and curiosity got the best of me..."

She came over and sat next to Clifton and smiled wider, "you were adorable when you were younger." He could try to deny it all he wanted but she had seen proof. Non-moving picture sort of proof. His mom offered her a plate and Alina placed some of the items onto it and took a moment to glance around. His mother, his father, his little sister, Clifton, and her the guest. Part of her wondered if they often ate meals like this - all together at the same time. Usually for her it was her and Bella at the same time and that was it.

She didn't ask though and went ahead and ate her breakfast and her mind moved from family photos to meal attendees to birthday parties. A slip and slide Birthday... what exactly was that? She imagined how if she ran around in the ballroom back home in only her socks how she slid across the floor, sometimes throwing off her center of gravity and slipping to the floor. Sure it could be fun to do this mock sort of almost ice skating but she didn't see making an entire Birthday party about it. Then again, what did she know about Birthday parties?

The staff might make a cake for her and Bella and her father might sing Happy Birthday. They'd often get a gift, but then that was about it. No party. No real celebration. Alina was curious to see how muggles did it.

After all were done eating, her mother and father went to gather up the dishes. "I don't mind helping," she said, standing up. They told her it was fine and that she was the guest but she looked over to Clifton with her bright green eyes. "I want to see how the dishwasher works!" she whispered to him. It was one of the inventions that he told her about. So far she was amazed by the cassette player, the phone from the car ride, the bouncy floor, and the radio playing older music from last night. Her home didn't have any of those inventions, although it did utilize some non-magic components like air conditioning, heat, regular lights with light switches.

"Well, actually I was placing my suitcase away in the closet when I saw the family photo albums and curiosity got the best of me...You were adorable when you were younger."

Clifton's hold on his plate slipped just slightly as he was trying to balance a heap of scrambled eggs onto it.

His mom chuckled. "I've been wondering where that went."

"You looked through my baby pictures?" Clifton laughed, a hint of color filling his cheeks at the thought of all the weird ones, like the Halloween that his mom went all out on the puppy dog costume or--her favorite--a candid shot of him wearing underpants on his head and flexing.

"Nice find," his dad grinned, probably thinking of the same photos.

Clifton set his plate back down and looked over at her. "Alright. Apology accepted, but on one condition. You teach me some of the cool French you know. Now that you can properly blackmail me, I at least want to know what you're saying when you do it."

Other than his parents recounting some of the memories the photo album suddenly brought up, the conversation became relatively normal after that as they finished eating and began cleaning up. Or it was, until:

"I want to see how the dishwasher works!"

His parents looked first at her, then at Clifton. Clover broke into happy jabbers at Alina's enthusiasm and Clifton laughed a little.

"It's...like the car," he tried explaining to his parents. "We'll take care of the dishes."

His mom smiled at Alina. "That's the first he's volunteered all summer. We need to have you come over more often."

Clifton led the way over to the dishwasher and began loading it. And, because she was Alina, she quickly caught on and jumped in to help.

"This isn't the fun part yet," he smiled. "Normally, I have to wash them all by hand and it takes forever. And the water gets all gross. But with this..." He put the soap in, then theatrically shut it and pushed a button. It made a few beeping noises before the water began loudly pouring in.

"Viola!" he grinned, leaning up against the counter. "It does it all for you. Even dries them."

He wanted to laugh. If he wasn't actually bringing Alina with him today, there was no way his friends would believe him. He hardly believed him. A girlfriend that whispered French well-wishes at night and who dove right in to morning chores the next day? It almost didn't seem fair to have both, but there she was. Standing right in front of him, looking around his kitchen like it was some sort of art gallery.

Clifton waited until his dad realized the time and darted out for work and waited until his mom took Clover upstairs to wash her up. Then he found Alina's hands and gently pulled her toward him.

"Good morning, Miss Rosier," he smiled, before leaning toward those bright, green eyes and kissing her.


He pulled away again just as they could hear his mom coming back down the stairs.

"Cliff," she called down. "One of our clients is about to tear her extensions out over last week's design changes. Might be a long phone call. You think you and Alina could walk to the party? I can pick you up on my way to work later."

"No problem," he called back. Then smiled at Alina. "We can go early and walk through one of the old neighborhoods on the way. They're the best part about living in Rye."

"Oh," he added. "And, I don't remember if I told you. It's a water party. Thought I'd give you heads up this time instead of like yesterday."

He laughed. "Muggles aren't usually that weird, I think we're just the exception."