Evergreen

“It’s only fair that I return the favour then, can I-” Sei whispered in a gruff-like  manner, as though he was holding back something. His eyes, the colour of the ocean, were alight on hers in a rather intense manner, and Hariel stood frozen underneath his gaze…and especially the way he stood so close to her. 

It made her feel a certain way she could not describe…

Her mind was struck dumb. And so she could only nod.

And then, like a sudden gust of warm wind , his lips brushed against her cheek, and it seemed like time had stopped for Hariel felt a sudden warmth spread through her whole being, it danced along every one of her nerves, she felt alight like a supernova.

She felt her breath hitch by the warmth of it all then, but most especially by Sei’s close proximity to herself… She could smell him, she then realised.

He smelled of musk and …the sea , if she had to describe it, for she had no other description for it…

It was intoxicating. 

She was intoxicated.

She was overwhelmed.

But she was altogether: lost in the sensation…of him.

And then it was over. With a slow and deliberate movement, Sei then pulled away, little by little as if he was wrought to be separated from her.

She did not notice him stare at her lips for just a second before his eyes had met hers, now darkened with something Hariel could not put her tongue to… it filled her with a sudden surprise…and anticipation?

What.

“Ah good morning Harry, did you sleep well? And are you preparing breakfast? Let me lend you a hand,” She then heard Remus’ voice groggily say from behind her, which made her then get her head out from remembering the moment she had spent with her new friend, Sei.

She almost jumped in surprise by his interruption, entrance, but… she was very glad for it. 

Because it was best she didn’t think of … that.

Him. 

And his pretty eyes.

They were friends, simply friends. And it had been her fault to begin with, so it was understandable…not that she minded it in the slightest…

They’re friends.

And looking up from the bowl of  pancake batter in her in her hands, she simply nodded to Remus when he walked towards her and put his hands on the counter in front of her with a smile in greeting, which she returned.

“Morning, and sure, will you cut the fruits then?” She then asked, which he nodded to and went to gather the fruits from the fridge to wash and prepare them for their breakfast. 

The rest of the occupants of the house were still sleeping in, seeing as it was still early, but it wouldn’t be long until they awoke by the smell of breakfast.

And it was no surprise that Theo was the next to wake up, he walked groggily down the stairs, still dressed in his pyjamas, which hung sloppily on his form, which she only huffed at with a laugh.

The Lord of the Ancient and Noble House of Nott, everyone, my best mate and brother. Absolutely hilarious, especially when his hair stood upright on every end. Theodore made quite an unsightly sight, what would those bats say?! She thought in humour.

“Morning.” Theodore grumpily said, while he patted his face in exhaustion, before he glimpsed at the ready spread on the table with a smile in delight.

“Good morning Theodore,” 

“Morning Theo,” Remus and she then replied with a smile at the boy.

“Should I put the table then?” He then simply said, which was a usual thing in their household, seeing as it was always the three of them who were the ‘early risers’ in their family.

“Thanks,” Hariel then said, before the three of them then finished putting their breakfast together, and before the rest of their household came downstairs, Theodore then suddenly walked closer to her with a certain seriousness, which took Hariel by interest by the suddenness of it all. 

“Harry, I’m planning on taking Suzan out for the day,” He whispered, which Hariel then grinned at.

“That’s fine, have fun.” She teasingly told the boy while she playfully punched him on his shoulder, which he rolled his eyes at with a grin of his own, before he went towards the stairs when they heard someone, most definitely Susan, walking down the stairs, for they all knew how Nymphadora’s footsteps sounded like, and Teddy’s as well, even though they did not let him down and up the stairs by himself, what with how little he still was. 

Magical or not, they would rather not chance it, Remus most definitely not, the mother-hen.

And speaking of the man, Hariel had a sudden thought, especially because of Theodore.

“...No.” Remus told her after a moment of thinking, while he shook his head at her. Which made her then pout at the man.

The ridiculous man.

“Ah come on, uncle Remus! When was the last time the both of you even went on a date, huh? Without anyone else for that matter?” Hariel firmly whispered to the man with a raised brow, which made Susan, who was behind her, busily eating her breakfast giggle at them then.

“Be careful, Susan ! You could have choked on that!” They then heard Theodore chide to his fiancée in worry, another mother-hen, Hariel thought while she rolled her eyes in fondness .

Were all the men in her life mother-hens? For her other cousin most definitely was, she was glad that Draco is spending his time away with Astoria in France, the prat. She thought with fondness.

“I don’t know Hariel, Teddy -” Remus then started to say from behind the counter, which she stood in front of with her arms set against it while she talked to the older man.

“Teddy will be fine, I’ll be taking care of him, I’m his godmother for a reason you know, you wouldn’t have bestowed that honour on me otherwise,” She then cheekily told the man, which he couldn’t help but smile at then, and Hariel then grinned, for she knew he was going through with it after all. The good man.

“Fine.” He then said with a huff, while he then smiled at her in humour.

“There’s no saying no to you huh, pup .” 

“Of course not, old man .” Hariel then replied in jest, which made him roll his eyes at her then for her cheek.

“No to what?” They then heard Nymphadora grouchily say next to them, which surprised the both of them, seeing as they did not realise that she came downstairs already, with an awake Teddy in her arms, who gummily smiled at the both of them in greeting.

Such a precious child, that one.

“ Nothing dear , we made some breakfast, would you like some tea with it?” Remus then quickly asked before he then took his son in his arms to give him a kiss on his forehead in greeting which the little boy giggled at, at the way  his morning stubble grazed against the toddler’s face.

“ Oh! Yes please, darling .” Nymphadora then exclaimed in pleasure, before Hariel’s older cousin turned to give her husband a kiss in greeting, all the while she cuddled up to him with their son squished between the both of them, which made Hariel smile warmly at the sight. 

This is why she had done it all, for them all.  

For them all to be together and happy, she wouldn’t have it any other way, and if something got in the way of that- well she’d make certain that not even the fates dared to lay their grubby hands on what is hers.

Hers to protect.

And hers to love.

It’s the only thing she knew how to, her whole life. 

She did not care if little by little her humanity would be pecked away from her bones, for her family was her humanity. 

She would do it, if it meant to keep them just as they are.

“ Oh look at this , there’s going to be a Black and white film showing at the park, at night, shall we go?!” Suzan, who walked next to her with Theodore then excitedly gushed when she saw the poster on the noticeboard next to them, during their walk into the now very awake city.

“Oooh what film is it going to show, we should make a picknick for it, what do you think Remus, wouldn’t it be nice?! It’s going to be Teddy’s first picknick and movie showing as well, well in public !” Nymphadora then as equally gushed to her husband when she glanced at the poster in excitement and wonder.

Hariel could only laugh at the men who stood open mouthed at their significant others’ wide and excited gazes.

“It seems we are going to watch a movie later on, and we’ll have a picknick as your mum’s said, are you excited Teddy ?” Hariel then softly murmured to the young boy in her arms, who was looking at her in curiosity with his big bambi eyes.

“Uh-um- sure, Suze, whatever you want. ” 

“Alright, Nymphadora, whatever you would like ,” 

Both men then simultaneously answered, which made the women in front of them very happy by the cheers they then let out, and the kisses on the cheeks they gave their men afterwards, which made both men redden because of it, and Hariel couldn’t hold it in anymore, she laughed, and laughed-more like almost barked in laughter, like how her Papa did,  which made her godson then shriek in laughter because of it as well.

After Theodore gave her a meaningful nod, Hariel then simply smiled at the boy, seeing as she understood what he was saying without saying anything, for his eyes said enough. 

It seems that he’d be taking Susan now out for the day, for their little date ,  and with that she then meaningfully jabbed Remus on his back, which made him then suddenly stand at attention, while he looked at her in alarm at her action, and seeing as he didn’t seem to understand her meaningful glances towards an oblivious Nymphadora, she then quietly elaborated.

“Take your wife away with you, so you could spend the day together and spend a lovely date together, uncle Remus. Now then, we’ll be seeing you both later on, won’t we Teddy?!” She then said the second bit a bit louder so that Nymphadora could hear it, her older cousin then looked at them in confusion, but Hariel only smirked at her before she quickly kissed the older woman on her cheek and walked away with her godson still in her hold, who only giggled at his mother and father in goodbye.

“What was  that about, Remus? And where is she going off to with our spawn- I mean child?Remus?Why are you suddenly pulling me away with you, Remus-” Hariel then heard her older cousin say in wonderment behind her.

While they were a distance away from her godson’s parents, Hariel then looked at the way Teddy was gazing around the shops along the way in clear interest with a warm smile.

“We’re having fun, right, Teddy?” She then conversely asked him, which made the boy’s attention then quickly turn to her with a ready gummy smile on his cute and chubby little face when he heard her speak to him.

Merlin, the kid was too adorable for his own good.

“Yes!” He excitedly yelled, before he then as suddenly turned his head to the side to gaze at something that had caught his sudden fancy.

“There!” The boy then shouted in excitement,which she raised her brows at, before she looked at the direction he was pointing at- a skateshop , she then smiled at this.

He was truly her godson , she thought in humour. 

Remus is so going to kill me, but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him~

“Want to go there? Do you want your auntie Harry to buy you a board? Just for you~” She then cooed at the boy, who excitedly nodded his head at her, his eyes were shining in pure unadulterated happiness at her then.

How could she say no to him afterwards? 

Only a monster could say no to that cute face!

Hariel and Teddy then found themselves at a nearby park, which had a place where they could skate on, she had decided to buy them both their very own brand new skateboards, seeing as Hariel had left hers in England and hadn’t thought to bring the beaten up thing along with her, she was meant to buy a new one either way, so this was perfect.

And especially the excitement, curiosity and concentration radiating from her godson was all worth it. They were having a splendid time, all considered.

As she instructed the boy to balance on his board first, all the while she held his hands to keep him from falling off of his little Spiderman man themed skateboard, she then smiled at  the way he wobbled upon it at first, before he stood firm on  the board.

“There you go, you’ll be a pro in no time, little tyke!” She then praised, which Teddy smiled at in pride at his accomplishment.

“Now, try to kick off the board with your foot, try it gently alright.” She then softly murmured to the young boy, all the while she still crouched down to his level, while she still softly held him upright.

“Just like I showed you before, Teddy, d’you recon you’ll give it a try?” She then asked, which the boy furiously nodded to in excitement, which made her laugh then,

“Alright, go on then!”

“Whee!” Teddy then screamed when the board moved for a bit in front of him.

“You’re an expert already, Teddy! Good job!” She then shouted in pride, which the boy then giggled at in response, all the while he continued to push forward on his board.

And that was how Poseidon, or rather ‘Sei’ , found them after he came back from his meeting in Olympus.

Zeus was annoyed.

It took him quite some time to get his dastardly wife off his back before he could return to- watch her, as he had been doing for some time now, abiding his time to first learn more about her before he would truly introduce himself, which was rather new for him.

But while he perched on the windowsill, which oversaw her office, he knew, which she had been spending most of her time in, he found then realised that she wasn’t in the house. He checked from every corner of the wards which would let him oversee the house, but yet - no was was in the house.

It’s been a couple of days now, and yet again- she, nor anyone else for that matter, well whom lived with her, her family, they weren’t there.

She was gone, and the only living thing in the house was the darned owl, who he knew, despised him, even if her Mistress had thought otherwise- which was another thing he was quite baffled by, but it had served him well, seeing as it let him stay close to her.

She was gone.

And with that realisation he then returned to Olympus in anger, especially because he felt the incessant calls calling him to come hence.

“Why are you so happy.” Zeus grouchily said in annoyance when he saw the way his brother walked into the hall with a certain jump in his walk, that and the clear grin he was failing to hide from his stupid face.

“Cheery are we?” Poseidon then remarked with a raised brow in response while he took his seat, they were one of the first to enter the hall, which again, was quite a surprise, especially for his older brother, seeing as he knew poseidon to be quite the sloth.

“You do know our vow, don’t you, brother. Should I remind you again? ” Zeus then asked, when Poseidon would not be forth coming on his sudden mood.

“I know it, you need not remind me, I expect you’ll hold your own oath as well, little brother .”Poseidon then sneered, which made Zeus then gnash his teeth, at the clear impudence of his brother.

Should he remind him that he was answering to the King of Olympus? King of the Gods. His King all things considered. 

“Welcome brother, it is good to see you so early for once. And husband. ” Hera then politely remarked when she entered the hall, the other Gods and Godesses walking just behind her.

It was when he returned, and walked to a park in annoyance from the meeting before, especially at the talk he had with his little brother- that he saw her once more, by chance.

And with just looking at her, in this park with the sun’s rays kissing her skin…he had forgotten his annoyance from before, for it was simply nothing.

He was utterly captivated by the sight of her in front of her, and most especially at the way she seemed utterly happy while she taught her godson, the little Teddy, how to ride a skateboard, which the boy delighted in he could see, and most especially hear by the shouts of joy coming out of the boys mouth whenever the skateboard rolled away.

The boy once more wore the colours of his godmother, and it was that sight especially that struck him then, for they seemed like mother and child then.

Lost in the moment of his thoughts at the sight of them, he did not realise that he had been spotted,until Hariel called him over with a smile in greeting.Which he stood dumbstruck to.

It was when he had joined the both of them and Hariel had explained their sudden presence at the park, that the woman then turned to him with an unexpected question.

“Have you ever skated before?” She curiously asked him, which he shook his head at, not realising where this sudden question was leading to…

Her eyes then filled with a certain glint, which he then froze at.

“Want me to teach, come on, it will be fun!” She then said, and he then begrudgingly allowed her to teach him how to ride a skateboard.

He was going to regret this, wasn’t he? But then again, how hard could it be, was it not a bit like surfing?

It was when he clumsily attempted to balance himself on the board that he almost fell off of it, which made the little boy erupt in laughter at the sight he had made, well would have made if his godmother had not had a firm grip on Poseidon.

And what a grip it was…

She was anchored to his side with quite a reassuring strength that he found himself intrigued by, and alse craving more of with each passing moment that he got to be in such close proximity to her.

And it was because of that, that he did not mind making a fool of himself if it meant he could keep her for a moment longer.

And amidst the laughter and joy, and sudden warmth of her person against him… his thoughts then turned to the morning from before and the moment they had shared between one another.

While she did not bring it up, he was constantly reminded of it, every moment that he spent away from her, but most of all- in her presence.

He was entirely intoxicated by her, he realised. 

He yearned for her.

“Messy, are we, little man?” Hariel cheerfully said while she wiped the obvious smears of ice cream from little Teddy’s face, after they set on one of the tables in the park, after Poseidon had bought them the ice creams, which Hariel begrudgingly let him do, even if she was nought to. Which Poseidon had delighted in.

But especially the sight in front of him had him utterly transfixed once more, especially because of the sight the three of them might have made to the onlookers.

They looked like a family.

Especially because the little tyke had morphed his features into a mixture of both Hariel and him, which Hariel had only huffed at with a smile, seemingly used to the way the child changed his features on a whim.

And Poseidon was once again utterly amazed by the boy’s gift, but furthermore at the way he looked like their child .

And a darker part of him grew warm at that.

Their son.

And that is what they must have looked like for the onlookers, especially by the warmth that engulfed them, all because of her.

Hariel.

She simply exuded it, the tenderness and warmth of a mother.

And Poseidon was entranced by the sight of it. 

A part of him wants it to be true, this dream.

And without a thought he then slipped his spoon and made a small mess with the bit of ice cream from it against his own face, on accident.

He then watched as the young boy giggled at the sight of him, and raised to grab her hand in his towards him, to help him clean his mess as well. 

And not expecting it in the slightest, Poseidon stood stock still at the way she then did come closer to him after a moment, 

“Well, it can’t be helped can it? It seems I have two messy eaters on my hands now,” then cheekily said, which her godson giggled at, all the while Poseidon stood quiet underher ministrations, and at the way she softly wiped the creamy mess from his lips with a certain tenderness.

He was once more entranced by her, and especially by their once more close proximity.

He felt her soft and warm breaths against his lips…

Not once did she look him in the eye during it all.

“There,” She then softly said, before she pulled away from him, to once more sit on her seat.

And Poseidon once more felt bereft by the loss of her closeness.

“Thank you.” He then simply answered, after a moment, which Hariel simply winked at with a smile, which he then stood dumbstruck to, not having expectedit in the slightest…

He felt his breath leave him at the sight of her then.

“No problem. Say Sei, I have a question.” She then suddenly asked him, which shook him out of his reveries.

“Yes?” He then answered, his gaze fixed on hers then, all the while the young Teddy then once more sat in her lap and grabbed her curly locks to play with them once again. He knows that they feel soft to touch, what with the way he had been close to almost nuzzle his face against her hair from the morning before…

“I’ll have to go with Teddy for now, but I wanted to ask, seeing as you’re here, if you’d like to join us this evening to watch aclassic film showing at, this park in fact, now that I think of it?” She then said, all the while she looked around the park in realisation, especially when they saw a couple of people bring stuff out from a rather large van, a large white sheet for one.

And Poseidon could only nod in agreement.

“I’m glad,” Hariel then warmly said before then nodded with a smile.

“Well then, see you until then.” She told him before she stood up to leave, but before she could leave, he quickly stood up and walked over to her then, which took her by surprise, by the suddenness of it.

But then by the action he did afterwards.

“Until then, Hariel.” He softly told her, after he pecked her on her now reddened cheek, and Poseidon stood transfixed at the sight she made.

He liked it, and felt proud that he was the cause of it.

The possessive and dark part of him wonders what his little brother would do if he saw the both of them, seeing as Poseidon did not forget Zeus’ interest in her from in the past.

And he was not foolish to think Zeus had let go of that interest, for it was unlike him to do so, Poseidon thought in anger, before it left him at the realisation that Zeus had not in fact acted on that impulse, for Hariel wouldn’t have been with him then, and clearly untouched. He thought in pleased possessiveness. 

He would let it stay so.

It was later that day that Hariel and her family found themselves at the park from before, with a picknickbasket in hand, as agreed. Which Remus, Theodore and Susan and her had put together for the occasion, seeing as Nymphadora could not be trusted with making food, however it simple might have seemed, for the woman had a certain gift to make things taste rather…unappetizing.

“Hey Harry, is that your new boyfriend over there?” She heard her older cousin in question then suddenly remark when they set up their blanket on the ground in preparation for the picknick and eventual movie.

“What boyfriend?!” Hariel and Remus both then remarked, one in confusion, and the other in indignation.

Which she turned a curious brow to, seeing as Remus had no cause to act in such a way, seeing as he knew she never had a boyfriend to begin with, and she’d tell him first if she did.

“Hariel.” She then heard Sei warmly greet her from behind her, which then made her turn to him in surprise.

He was smiling at her, and he was dressed rather nice, and she then had to stop herself from smiling, for he was wearing one of the new sets of clothing she had gotten for him this morning.

Which had seemed so long ago, even though the day had not yet ended.

“Sei!” She greeted with a smile, before she moved to introduce him to the others,

“Well I’m glad you made it, you’ve met Nymphadora and Remus before, and of course Teddy, but I’d like to introduce you to some of my best mate, who are part of my family as well really. Theodore and Susan.” She said while she introduced him to the both of them, who were looking at their interaction in clear interest, and humour.

“Hello, I am Sei. It’s a pleasure to meet the both of you.” Sei said with a smile towards the two, Theodore simply nodded to him, while he continued to look at him in an assessing way, while Susan giggled at him, before she glance at Hariel in a sudden way with a knowing smile.

“Hello Sei, we haven’t heard about you, which is quite the shame really.” Susan then said, while she pointedly looked at Hariel then, who only huffed at the girl.

“I thought Nymphadora explained? But well, either way, this is Sei.” Hariel then said, while she gazed at him, and found himstaring at her then, but before they could continue staring at one another, they were interrupted by Nymphadora then pulling Hariel with her to where an annoyed looking Remus stood, who had been firmly gazing at Sei the whole time.

“It’s nice to see you once more, Sei! But well, I’m afraid I have to take her away for the time being, seeing as Remus is being a pain in the arse and everything, hope you don’t mind? Of course you don’t! Well do have fun talking with each other, you three, I’m sure there’s lots to talk with one another about,” Nymphadora then added with a knowing look at the couple in front of them, who then seemed to understand what she meant by the way they then looked at Hariel and then away after a moment, with red tinting their ears. Which Hariel was confused over, but she couldn’t read much further into it, for Nymphadora then pulled her along with her to where Remus was sitting with a chatty Teddy, who he was entertaining for the moment.

“Well…Sei, was it?” Theodore, then after a moment blankly said, which made the man in question then turn his gaze away from Hariel’s back to his sudden serious one, which he raised a brow to, at the boy’s expression, and question, seeing as he knew the boy, Theodore to know that he had infact heard correctly what his name was.

But well, Poseidon would play this little game then.

“Yes. Theodore, was it?” 

“And I’m Susan, hello.” Susan then interrupted, before she smiled at him, but her next question had them both widening their eyes in shock then.

“Say, do you fancy our Harry as well then? More then friends? Did you know that  Theo and I did once upon a time, before it went away with time, seeing as we found that we have come to love one another more as family, as anyone else for that matter. But well don’t worry, Hariel has that effect on people, its one of her many charms.” Susan then told him.

“Susan!” Theodore then exclaimed in indignation while his cheeks reddened at the confession, which Hariel in question had not once come to learn of during all of the years they have spent with her.

Seeing as she was quite oblivious in that aspect.

“I can believe that,” Sei then said with a smile, “she does have that effect on everyone she meets, you simply can’t help but be enchanted by her shine. And yes, I am interested in her in that way, but I am alright with being friends with her for the time being. It is what she wants .” he then explained, even though he was loathe to, on any other occasion, but he felt that he could with them for some reason, that and he knew of their characters, they weren’t ones to blab.

And Poseidon was intrigued by them, and furthermore- he wanted to learn more about Hariel, and what better way than by her dear friends?

Nymphadora curiously watched from the movie infront of them to the pair in front of her, who were softly murmuring to each other. 

Hariel and her new friend , Sei.

They couldn’t fool anyone, let alone her. And she was one of the very best aurors in fact!

But well, while Nyphadora watched the scene in front of her with warmth, she then realised something.

It was strange really, but then again, when she met her Remus she had fallen in love at first sight as well- but the pair in front of her…

They seemed to be more than even that, for there was an obvious rope that binded the both of them together, especially in that moment, where the both of them seemed to be in their own world.

They were something else, and Nymphadora knew that they weren’t going to be just simple friends. 

Harry could try and fool herself, but Nymphadora knew, and she wanted her baby cousin to fall in love, to truly fall in love- for she deserved it, just like any other person. 

And it was clear that Sei was already falling for Hariel. 

For his eyes told her everything when he looked at her baby cousin, she thought while she glanced at the pair, who were holding hands now, after Sei teasingly brought Hariel’s hand towards his to measure the size between them both, and it was clear that there was a difference for the man’s hand enveloped hers wholly, which Hariel grouched at at the man, who simply grinned at her expression, before he rubbed at her forehead in jest after he said something to her, which made her then begrudgingly smile at the man. 

And now they were holding hands after it all, while they then continued to watch the movie in front of them.

They weren’t fooling anyone.