Coming Thro' to Rye PV Clifton Troublefield Fin

The two badgers continued their way in the underground tunnel and the staff member seemed a far distance by now. Maybe he gave up, thinking it was one of the ghosts from The Mermaid Inn playing tricks with his mind because they would have heard footsteps echoing in the tunnel but nothing. They were alone for the moment - good or bad.

At least his father knew where he was and it seemed Clifton had alerted him somehow that they needed him, and also verified that it actually was his dad. It was amazing what that little device in Clifton's hands could do - music, communication, flashlight. She didn't even know all the millions of other applications it could be used for.

"I think it's about time we track down that Leo guy. He obviously knows something and I think it's only right that you know it, too," Alina filled the silence. This was something she had given much thought on from when he first told her about the attack at football camp. His parents seemed clueless to the world of magic and it seemed as though they were being open with him about the adoption so maybe they weren't hiding anything, but what about this guy? If he was from their world - the magical world - he had to know something. Why else was he assigned to help Clifton enter their world? Why else was he protecting him? WAS he protecting him?

The two found their way to the end of the passage but she wasn't so sure if they should open it. They knew what was behind them...a long empty passage into the darkness, but they didn't know what was in front of them. While she didn't know many spells yet, and they weren't to use them outside of school, Alina wished she had her wand with her but it was back resting in her luggage in the closet of Clifton's guest room.

Safe for Now - with @Alina Rosier

"Okay, no matter what is on the other side we stick together," he muttered, sensing her nervousness match his own. He turned off his phone light, gripped Alina's hand tighter, and pushed the rotating cupboard open.

Clifton climbed through first, wanting to make sure the coast was clear, Alina following directly after him. Both were instantly pulled into an adult's arms and Clifton's first instinct was to fight, but he stopped himself when he realized it was his parents.

His real parents, this time. Because his mom was holding onto Alina and practically sobbing.

"Any other circumstances, and you'd be grounded for weeks, young man. Sneaking around like that," his dad said, though there was a proud smile behind it. Clifton returned the embrace, craving his strong, solid presence.

"I'm glad you're both okay," his mom said, pulling away and brushing Alina's hair out of her eyes. Then pulling her into another hug. "I finally figured out how to lock them out of my phone, but the car..."

"We found the car."

It was the first time Clifton realized they weren't alone. The Olde Belle Inn kitchen was teeming with police authority on radios and uncertain looking staff attempting to serve up their guests' meals.

"Whoever took it left it abandoned a few blocks from the park."

Josh let go of Clifton and stood up to face the officer. "Were there any tracking devices on it?"

The officer shook his head. "No tricks. They just left it. Not even any fingerprints besides those that belong to your family."

Clifton could tell the cop was a little skeptical of the whole thing. And the comment made his parents exchange confused glances. He scowled, wishing he could explain, but knowing it'd have to wait. He was almost certain he'd heard of some sort of potion that could make you look like someone else. It had to be that.

"Well, thank you for your help," Esme said, coming over. "We'd better get the children home for now."


"Home?" Clifton said as they crossed the parking lot toward his dad's car. "We can't go home, they'll find us."

"Leo's counting on that," his dad replied. "So yes, we're headed home. He said he found the attacker from soccer camp. Now he wants to trap these ones."

"You mean they're not the same?"

"I don't know," his dad said as they all climbed into the car. "But I'm going to make sure he explains it tonight."

Alina asked about the car and Esme released an overwhelmed sigh. "I am so sorry, you two! I don't know what happened. I had my purse and Clover and I was literally getting in the car come get you both when the security system went off. But you know how it can be on the fritz sometimes. Thanks to someone's curious tinkering."

She looked back at Clifton who shrugged sheepishly.

"Anyway, I went to shut it off but I left my purse in the car. When I came back to the garage, the whole thing was gone. The car, my phone, my wallet--all of it! So I left Clover at the neighbors and borrowed their phone to call your father. And work, of course, but I won't go into that saga. Your dad tried calling you, but I'm assuming you were already halfway across town?"

They took turns filling her in on their part of it on their way back. His parents listened intently, their expressions becoming increasingly worried. Clifton wished he could comfort them--afterall, the important thing was that they'd made it, right? But their worries seemed deeper than he could grasp right then.

They pulled up to the neighbors and his mom got out of the car to grab Clover. After a long moment of nothing but the quiet radio, his dad looked at them through the mirror.

"We'll take it easy for the rest of the day. Until Leo gives the okay, I don't even want anyone outside, got it?" Then he shook his head and turned his gaze out of the window. "But after this they aren't going to run our lives. I don't care what Leo says, you both deserve that theme park."


He was glad they were still going but, for once, an afternoon of vegging--and getting answers from Leo--sounded more than perfect.

Being stuck indoors for the afternoon and into the evening didn't feel like they were stuck inside as there was plenty to do to occupy themselves. Plus rain had started to fall on the town of Rye outside which Alina found to have a calming presence about it with the rhythmic sound patterns against the windows and rooftops of the house. Maybe it would keep any intruders at bay as well.

His mother canceled whatever meeting she had planned, putting it off for now. She was now making one of the few meals that she always got compliments on and Clifton's father decided to lend a helping hand. Alina and Clifton took some time to play with Clover before she went up for her afternoon nap.

Clifton finally gave Alina a tour of his bedroom and what he thought was mundane fascinated her. She loved seeing the model airplanes and his telescope for star gazing, but what amazed her most of all was his seashell collection. He had so many different kinds and sizes, more than a museum might have. And then when she thought he couldn't possibly have any more, he pulled out a box from under his bed and together they made matching seashell necklaces. She put his around his neck when it was completed and he helped her with hers. Apparently it was some left over craft that he had to make the year prior for school. Alina adored it!

As dinner was finishing up, Clifton's dad made the mistake of showing their guest UNO. A simple card game and yet the girl had a competitive streak in her and that combined with beginners luck had her winning every time. She tried not to gloat, and the parents seemed to understand, but she won back any points that she might have lost when she heard little Clover on the monitor. "May I?" she asked, wanting to go get her. His mother was happy to have the help and Alina skipped up the stairs before even Clifton could join her.

Clover was happy to see her and outstretched her arms to Alina to pick her up and Alina reached down into the crib to do so. "Have a good nap, Clo-Clo?" she asked, not remembering that the Troublefields could hear her downstairs (although it really didn't matter). "Come on, beautiful, you woke up just in time for supper!" She picked up the little girl and she took a grab for her necklace. "No, no, Clove...we can't grab the necklace. Your brother made it for me just this afternoon. We have to be careful with it. It's very special to me, just like he is." The little girl made a sort of huffing sound and Alina smiled, doing the same and mimicking her. This caused the girl to laugh and the two continued the game all the way downstairs.

Secrets and Reveals - with @Alina Rosier

The Troublefields stared at the monitor, unabashedly listening in when they heard Alina's voice.

"I like her," Esme smiled.

"No, no, Clove...we can't grab the necklace. Your brother made it for me just this afternoon. We have to be careful with it. It's very special to me, just like he is."

Clifton laughed a little and his dad nudged him with a grin. "Yeah, I'd say she fits in pretty well."

Alina came down the stairs, playing a little game they must've invented. Clifton watched, a calm and curious smile on his face. Could she even get more amazing? He was more accustomed to his friends not even paying attention to Clover or thinking she was a nuisance when she messed up the video games.

She helped Clover into her high-chair and Esme came around with one of her bibs.

"Thank you, Alina. I didn't expect you to do all that."

"Eena!"

All of the Troublefields stopped and turned toward the little girl who still had her arms stretched out toward Alina.

"Now how's that fair?" Josh laughed. "I can hardly get her to say Dad!"

Esme shrugged. “Guess you’ll just have to learn how to make little stuffed animals.”

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Clifton's parents exchanged glances and Clifton felt nervousness cinch his stomach. As much as he'd wanted Leo to explain his past, Clifton wasn't so sure that he'd like it. He suddenly wondered if it was better to stay ignorant. After all, wasn't that what his real parents had wanted?

Alina found her seat next to him and he felt her fingers slide through his and give his hand a reassuring squeeze. He rubbed the back of her hand in return, though it was probably more out of nervousness than anything. His mom welcomed Leo in and his dad got up to find an extra chair for the table while Esme fetched him a glass of water.

The large lion of a man sunk down into the chair, looking exhausted. "Well. I can't say I found the whole lot of them, but I did catch one trying to sneak back here. Hopefully, I taught him a lesson that he'll share with his friends."

It wasn't exactly a friendly "hello", but that's usually how it was with Leo. He jumped right in.

"Don't they give you some sort of backup?" Josh asked, subconsciously beginning to pass food around the table though it was clear no one had much of an appetite at the moment.

"Not for this one," Leo shook his head. "It's not big enough. As far as the Ministry's concerned, this is all more of a personal side hobby."

Clifton tried not to take that personally. "What's not big enough?"

Leo looked over, as if only now realizing he was there. "This case. They've got hairier problems to deal with than a bunch of fanatic..." The big man seemed to sense everyone's steady gazes and he cleared his throat, picking up on what Clifton really meant. "I'm happy to fill you in after supper, Cliff. You sure you want everyone list--"

"Yes.”

When no one’s gaze lowered, he adjusted himself in his chair. "Well. Alright. But it's not pretty."

Leo began with a big, long sigh.

"First, Clifton, you should know that you're as Troublefield as they make ‘em. I've watched you. You've got Josh’s head for things and Esme’s free spirit. But whether you like it or not, you are your parents.”

"I knew your dad some in school. Sylas Fletcher. He was a year behind me and was the most curious, tinkering kid I ever knew. But he took it too far, see. Went down the wrong rabbit holes. He didn't have much support from home, so it was easy to do I suppose."

Clifton frowned. “What kind of rabbit holes?”

"Well,” Leo gave a heavy sigh. “To put it short, Cliff, come fifth year your dad and a few of his friends were expelled for meddling in the dark stuff. I don’t know much of the details. I was focused on my studies to become an Auror.”

“You mean dark mag--”

“I don’t think he meant anything by it,” Leo hurried on. “He was just a lot like you. Curious about things, especially when someone told him it was off limits.”

“Years after graduation, I’m off on assignment when I’m told that…” Leo’s expression hardened. “When I’m told that my wife is gone.”

He paused for a moment and when he began again his voice became stiff and heavy, like a weight he was dragging. “Someone had broke into our house and she was dead. So I apparated back and there was my old schoolmate Fletcher. Standing right over her. He looked a right mess and I should’ve dug further into the facts, but I didn’t. I attacked your father and turned him in on the spot.”

“Later, I learned he was the head of some small group of authority-undermining wannabes. They were after a Ministry record they thought that I had and Fletcher had tried to stop them, knowing something like that was biting off more than they could chew. Things got out of hand with his cronies and my wife, sensing real danger, had stepped in to protect him.”

“The Ministry was ready to send him and his friends to Azkaban when I also learned he had a child on the way. Your mother, Emilia, came to me. Apparently against his wishes. She was a nice girl from what I remember from school. Pretty. Came from a pureblood family that--to my understanding--disowned her once they learned of your father. And, well,” he rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. “About you.”

“There was nothing I could do to help him by that point, though I tried and tried to keep your mother out of it. But Emilia...Well, she was also like you. She loved people, deeply. She had a heart of gold. I only wish she’d known how to spend it. Even in school, she was always giving everything to anyone, even when they didn’t des--” he stopped himself. “Even when it wasn’t in her best interest. But her parents had kept her very sheltered and so when they cut her off, she was scared. I think your father was all she knew.”

“And so she added herself to the crime by telling about the group’s treasury. A massive amount of money that they had built up mostly by robbing people, magic and muggle alike and when your father knew he was in trouble, he hid it from the rest of the group. Probably as a punishment. I think she hoped that by telling the Ministry about the stolen money, she could earn some sort of mercy for her and Sylas, but it backfired. Bad.”

"I didn't get word of what she'd done until they were both sentenced to Azkaban as common criminals and I was being put in charge of their wishes for you. I offered to take you myself once you were born but they wouldn't let me since I was too close to it all. They were so careful with you. Emilia, through tears, even insisted that your new family be the ones to name you.”

“Eventually, we got it all figured out, as Josh and Esme probably explained. Almost a year later I picked you up from...”

Clifton’s brows furrowed. "Azkaban?"

Leo shrugged. “It happens more than you might think. Even in muggle prisons. But yes, my Hufflepuff friend. From Azkaban. Thankfully, it's nothing like the old days or I doubt that would've been the case. You were with your mother for only a few hours before a nurse brought you to me and I brought you to your new home.”

Clifton had an overwhelming amount of questions, many of which he knew even Leo wouldn’t be able to answer. So he settled with a quiet: “If...if your wife died, why did you help them? Why did you care?”

Leo gave another long sigh and swirled the ice water in his hand.“I didn’t. Not to start with. Not until I learned about you. They may have robbed me of her, but I couldn’t get it out of my head that I was the one that robbed you of them."

Clifton soaked in the words, but didn’t look up. There was too much. It was getting his emotions all tangled up, leaving him a weird sort of numb instead. He felt Alina give his hand another steadying squeeze.

“These people,” he said. “They’re after the money then? But what memory would they be after? It sounds like I hardly even saw my parents.”

"Well, as far as the Ministry is concerned, the treasure is a rumor. But these attacks are plenty real, so I've tried to sort that out.” Leo straightened in his chair, all business again. “And I've found that I don’t even think they know what memory, which is what makes them so intrusive. They just know that you're Sylas’ child and must carry some sort of clues since Emilia was always let in on his secrets. Some believe your parents are still in contact with you. Others aren’t after the money at all. Just revenge. Something to hold against your parents once they’re released. I don’t believe my wife was the only victim.”

“They’ve been using what memories they’ve gathered, and some muggle help, to find you. Which reminds me.” Leo’s gaze flickered over to Alina. Then back to Clifton. “What memories did they see?”

Clifton finally looked up, wary. “They didn't catch us today. But the one at camp saw a lot...Why?”

“Any involving your friend here?”

Well duh, was what he almost said. That had been the most invasive part. He was pretty sure the man had seen everything. The dance, the stargazing, even the special kiss he and Alina had shared in the library. And he hated it.

“These people are cowards,” Leo continued. “And they’re a little clumsy in their efforts, but in some ways that only makes them more dangerous. If they already know you both are close,” he looked back at Alina, “Then I think she needs to decide how much she really wants to sign up for.”

There was so much information given that evening. Clifton Troublefield, the son of Sylas and Emilia Fletcher - both former students of Hogwarts. The two had gotten mixed up in the dark arts and so far that they got themselves sent to Azkaban. A group of individuals were now after their son, Josh and Esme's son, HER Clifton, for money and/or revenge. Stupid gits.

Speaking of stupid gits, Alina looked to the most recent guest to join The Troublefield's family dinner that evening in Rye, England.

Alina wasn't much of a fan of this Leo guy lately, not since she felt he should have shared more information with Clifton and long before this. They needed this information, but they needed it much sooner than now. Alina shot him a bit of a glare. "I don't need to decide anything, thank you," she snapped a bit. "I've already 'signed up' as you put it. I'm already invested."

And invested she was - into Clifton, into whatever Clifton needed help with, and with whatever affected him and his family. She was a Hufflepuff, after all - just and loyal, patient, true, and unafraid of toil.

She did sympathize with Leo for losing his wife and having to bear witness to finding her lifeless. She glanced down, thinking back to the time with her mother. Her seven year old self had been playing outside in the garden with Bella and as the sun began to set she came in for a quick drink of water. Upon entering the Grand Foyer of their home back in France, she remembered seeing her mother lying on the floor. Instantly she was concerned, thinking she must have fallen and maybe hit her head, lying there unconscious but upon further inspection she found her not breathing. Her skin was pale and her body cold and her eyes... it was something that she would never be able to remove from her memory. "Excuse me," she whispered softly, "I only need a moment," she then kissed Clifton's cheek before smiling to the other Troublefields and stepped outside for a moment.

This wasn't about her and she didn't need to make it about her, but if she stayed in that current mindset she knew what would happen and it might scare little Clover or worry the Troublefields. She stood there, eyes closed and looking up, allowing the pouring rain to fall down upon her face, calming her thoughts.

Her first signs of magic were all the same - setting fires when she thought of the evening she found her mother dead. A book on the mantle in the living room, a tea towel hanging in the kitchen, the necktie around the neck of her father, a book in the library at school. She didn't need it to happen there tonight.

Weathering the Storms - with @Alina Rosier

Clifton thought about following, but the quick kiss on his cheek seemed to say that he needn’t worry and that she really did need to be alone for a moment. So he stayed put, staring at his empty plate to keep from glaring at Leo.

Why had he said that to her? Since when was he so impersonal? Like he was simply analyzing potential breaches to a security system instead of talking with people. It was a side of Leo he wasn’t very familiar with. Normally, Leo was making him laugh or cheering him on. But in one fell swoop he’d succeeded in both making Clifton feel guilty for having close friends and making Alina sound like some flimsy tagalong.

The room was silent until they heard the door close behind Alina. Then it erupted.

“This isn’t some work interrogation, Leo,” Esme was, as always, the first to jump in. “Why do you need to know what memories those creeps saw? You might as well do the spell yourself!”

“I am trying to protect him. Both of them. If they get any more information on--”

“Look,” Josh’s level voice flattened Leo’s argument before it even finished. “I know what you’re trying to do, and I’m grateful. But I think you’re forgetting your audience. Alina is our guest. She's Cliff's closest friend. And this isn’t the sort of stuff eleven and twelve year olds should have to deal with in the first place. I mean, you make his parents sound like…”

“Criminals,” Esme snapped. “With a release date. Thanks for the heads up. What do you expect us to do when they’re released, Leo? What if they’ve changed their minds? And, for the record, I think that these eleven and twelve year olds did a better job protecting themselves today. What are you trying to do, separate him from those who can help?”

“It wouldn’t have lasted long,” Leo insisted. “What do you want? I’ve already broken a promise telling you everything. But they won’t change their minds. The law won’t let them.”

Clifton numbly stood up from the table with the idea of heading to his room. About the same time, the chaos caused Clover to burst into sobs. Normally, Clifton might’ve let his parents deal with upsetting her, but the way Alina took care of her stuck with him and, amid the onslaught, he changed course and headed back to her. He cleaned her up a little and then took her out of her highchair and carried her up toward her room.

They were nearly up the steps when he heard his mom’s voice go up a notch, probably only now realizing her children had fled and blaming it on their guest. Clover continued to cry and he tried to comfort her, but he must not have had Alina’s gift because it didn’t work. He laid her in her bed, deciding she probably wouldn’t get a bath until tomorrow anyway, and tried everything. Pete. A small picture book. One of her teething toys. But she only tossed them aside and continued crying. And the adults down stairs continued yelling. And his mind continued spinning.

Clifton finally gave it up and sunk down on her toy box, Pete still in his hand. He buried his face in his hands, wishing so badly for it to stop so he could think.

And then, with a suddenness that startled him, Clover stopped crying. He looked up, then hurriedly got his feet again to check on her. She appeared to be sound asleep, her little chest rising and falling. Clifton’s brows furrowed in confusion and he checked her forehead for a temperature; not that he would’ve recognized a bad temperature, just that it was what his mom always did. Then made doubly sure she was breathing. He realized it must’ve been his magic. It’d been so long since he’d seen a random occurrence of it, that he’d nearly forgot he could do stuff like that.

He smiled with relief and brushed at her whisps of light-colored hair. “Goodnight, Clo. Glad someone in our family is normal.”


He watched over her for several minutes, but when it was clear that the war downstairs was not about to subside anytime soon, Clifton decided to check on Alina. He snuck down the stairs and then stepped out onto the back patio. The rain pounded on the gazebo-like covering above him and from the dim light of the porch lamps he could see her standing out in the middle of the lawn, soaking wet and face tilted up toward the rain.

With a sullen sort of curiosity, he stepped out into the cold, wet grass to join her. He crossed the lawn to her, but didn’t interrupt. It was only after a long moment of blinking rain out of his eyes that he said:

“I like him better when he’s trying to be a fun uncle. Not a private investigator."

He knew that wasn’t the heart of the problem though. If it was, Alina would’ve let the man have it--all of it--then and there. Something else was bothering her. He didn’t know what, he’d been too lost in what Leo was telling him to notice much of her reactions. A few ideas came to mind from what she had told him about her own past, but this didn’t seem like the time for guessing games.

All he knew was that she was hurting. And so was he. And he wished the rain could wash it all away. But it wouldn’t. It would just make them wet and then they’d still have to go back into that house eventually. He’d still be the child of two lowlife criminals and she’d still have her haunting past.

Finally, no longer caring if he interrupted, Clifton found her hand. Then, without a word or an invitation, he drew her toward him and wrapped her in a tight, sopping-wet embrace. None of them spoke, simply letting the rain, rumbling thunder, and distant flashes of lightning express what neither of them felt like explaining.

"I don't care," she broke the silence finally. Alina looked over to him. The three adults in the house, whether they liked it or not, had been talking so loudly that she heard every single word of it from outside as he had from upstairs in Clover's room. "I don't care who your parents are, what they might have done, or who is after you. I'm here. I'm here FOR you. I'll do anything I can within my power, however small that might be, to protect you. I'm not some threat and that jerk in there better damn well realize it because I'm not going anywhere!"

She sighed because it wasn't lady-like to curse like that but she didn't much care at the moment. Leo had her furious but it was probably a good thing because now her thoughts were on that instead of what they were on previously.

Alina looked to him apologetically but he knew her short temper. Upon realizing that she smiled and reached up to push aside some hair that was causing some water to drip in his face. "We should get you inside," she whispered. It was safer there, especially with the darkened skies. Leo had chased one of those guys off, but what if he tried to come back? What if others were coming?

"Do me a favor...don't let me get too close to that man once we do go inside. I can't promise I won't try and knee him right in the balls." Again, not very lady-like and she cleared her throat, pretending as though she didn't say that last part.

Taking Clifton by the hand she trudged back into the house with him and shut and locked the door behind them. "A bit wet out there," she said with a small smile to Clifton's parents, ignoring the other man entirely.

Drying Off - with @Alina Rosier

"I don't care who your parents are, what they might have done, or who is after you. I'm here. I'm here FOR you. I'll do anything I can within my power, however small that might be, to protect you. I'm not some threat and that jerk in there better damn well realize it because I'm not going anywhere!"

She sighed and looked down. Clifton looked down too. He didn't know what to say to that. He appreciated it more than he would ever find the words for. Clifton was about ready to throw in the towel on his own problems and here she was determined to stick it out with him. For him, she'd said. She was so brave. So strong. All of his Hogwarts friends were. He hadn't realized how comfortable his life was until meeting some of them. He may have attracted silly mishaps and sorry luck, but he hadn't realized how much he purposefully dodged the heavy stuff. How often he brushed off his parents' concern or walked out of their arguments.

And, suddenly, he was ashamed that he'd ever been even secretly afraid of helping Alina face her grandmother. Because sure. Maybe all of this was still a bit new to him. But since when had that ever stopped him from anything?

"Well," he smiled and turned his gaze back to her with a shrug. "I'm not some threat either and Grandma Rosier better damn well realize that too because I'm not going anywhere either."

It was probably the first time Clifton had ever cussed in his whole life, thanks to his upbringing. But her words had put it best. She smiled and brushed at his hair, making him feel not so guilty about it.

"We should get you inside," she whispered. "Do me a favor...don't let me get too close to that man once we do go inside. I can't promise I won't try and knee him right in the balls."

She cleared her throat, probably realizing her own words, and Clifton laughed.

"I don't know, I might like to see that."


They walked back inside, acknowledged their presence to his parents, and then Clifton led the way toward the guest room, figuring it was late and she'd probably want to get out of her wet clothes. Along the way, he grabbed a few snacks from the kitchen for them both, only now realizing how hungry he was from not eating dinner.

They hung out for a few minutes in the guest room, sitting on the floor and chatting quietly until it was clear Leo had left. A few minutes later, his mom poked her head in.

"Hey, you two. We're...really sorry about all that. May we come in?"

Clifton shrugged, which wasn't much of answer but they came in anyways.

"Thank you for putting your sister to bed, Clifton. And I'm so sorry about what he said to you, Alina. The man is...well, an idiot sometimes."

"We wanted to tell you that the plan for the theme park is still on for tomorrow, if you both still wanted to go. Alina, I know it's your last full day here, so wanted to leave it up to you guys."

"Leo doesn't think it's a good idea, but that's sort of why we want to do it."

His dad shook his head a little with a smile. "We want you both to have some fun this summer. Like kids your age should. And besides, Alina. The family car is nothing compared to some of those rides."

Clifton nodded in agreement, suddenly excited at the idea of showing her some of it. Honestly, it sounded like the perfect sort of escape right now.

"We were planning on heading out first thing tomorrow," Esme said. "Which means it's your bedtime, young man. Five minutes and I better hear you brushing your teeth."

Clifton wanted to roll his eyes, but didn't. Even if he didn't agree with the way Leo had portrayed his biological parents--"Just like you only more stupid"--he at least knew that, in different circumstances, he could have a lot worse problems than a mom reminding him to brush his teeth.

Esme and Josh stepped out and, with a sigh, Clifton turned to Alina. "Guess that's my que."

Reluctant to leave, he slid his hand over hers. "Alina, I..." he shook his head, not sure how to say it. "Thank you. All of this has felt so...I don't know, lonely?" Gah, that sounded pathetic. "I mean, not like sad, depressed lonely. Just...like it's something I have to carry by myself so that I stop stressing my family out, but...what you said. About staying..."

Clifton finally gave it up and, similar to how she'd once done, he leaned toward her and gave her as meaningful a kiss as he knew how, hoping it would fill in some the gaps.

"See you tomorrow, Mademoiselle Rosier."

Then, still damp from the rain, he got up and left to follow his parents' orders. All the while, distracting himself from all of the depressing questions about his past by mentally making a list of all the things he would show her at the theme park. Starting with lemon flavored cotton candy.

After he left she stayed up a bit, thinking through the events of the day and all the information that was given. Surely Clifton was up too, not sleeping right away but she let him be to his own thoughts and gave him time to process it all. He had two great parents and all in all, despite his flaws, this Leo guy was trying to help. He was taking this all on even when the Ministry wasn't. She really needed to cut the guy a bit of slack. ...A bit.

Alina finally found sleep that night as the rain began to fall again peacefully on the rooftop. The thunder now was just a rolling sort, not anything that would wake little Clover up in the next bedroom over. It was a comforting sort of storm and she wished back in Updown Court she could hear the falling rain on the rooftop like this but it always held an expansive silence.

Morning came upon the town of Rye and Alina woke when stretching out and accidentally knocking her pillow off the bed. She usually woke before the other girls at school to get her shower in and so she deemed herself awake and got ready for the day. It wasn't every day a pureblood witch got to go to an amusement park and she was excited to go. She showered, changed, did her hair up some, and made sure her bag was packed and ready to go. She'd bring her wand this time...just in case.

Not sure if any of the Troublefields were up yet, she made the bed in the guest room and got the rest of her things ready. She was sad that she'd be leaving this house come that evening but it had been a wonderful stay - despite the chaos. She then headed downstairs to the living room where she tinkered with the radio and the television while waiting for the others.

Probably about to regret all the waffles - with @Alina Rosier

"This is a good song," Clifton commented, coming up behind her and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I think you're the only person I know who gets up early during the summer."

His family was close behind him. His mom handed Clifton Clover's bag so she could finish fiddling with a bow in his sister's hair while his dad went on a search for where he'd last left the car keys.

"We'll grab breakfast on the way," Esme smiled at Alina. "It's tradition. There's a fun waffle place on the way. And thanks for making the guest bed! You didn't have to do that. I hope you know you are welcome to come stay in that room whenever you feel like it."

Joshua announced that he'd found them and, wanting to beat the crowds, his parents rushed them out to the car.

The waffle place was one of Clifton's favorites. One waffle was as thick as two and they let you add whatever toppings you wanted. Clifton probably had enough sugar piled on his to last him a week. Though it did feel a little odd acting like nothing had happened the night before. He knew that was his parents' intention, the way they casually chatted and joked. It was definitely a nice break but Clifton knew it couldn't last forever. At some point, he--and his family--were going to have to face this.

But for now, it was Alina's last day visiting. And he was going to make it her best one yet.


"Okay," Esme said as they stood just inside the gates, taking in all the movement and noise. "I'm sure you both don't want to go on Clover's favorites, so you're welcome to go on the rides you want. But stay together. We'll meet you both back here at the Ferris Wheel and we can get some treats for the ride home. If your stomachs are still up for it."

"But first," Josh nudged Clifton. "I'm going to win this year's round."

Clifton grinned in challenge. "And break my streak? I'd like to see you try." He turned to Alina. "Come on! Bumper cars. It's a good warm up for probably the best chapter of Muggle studies ever."