[Hogsmeade] And then there was two [Addison/Open]

[Alicia Kennedy]

It had been many a moon since Alicia Kennedy had set foot into Hogsmeade, and even more moons had passed since she had last seen her mother. Well, that's how it seemed to her anyway, and with such a tight knit family, being apart for a few weeks since the holidays felt like forever for the fourth year Hufflepuff. She was sure Brooke didn't feel the same. Brooke could not wait to be back at school, not because of it being school, but because she was away from parental eyes and she had many boys drooling over her and visa versa.

The past week Ali had been feeling rather...hormonal...and was missing her mother and father a hell of a lot more than she thought she was. Maybe it was because it had dawned on her she would not see them until christmas, which was over 3 months away from when the holidays ended. This had caused her to go into a state of depression not to mention the horrid weather to go with it. It has been said many times that bad weather is more likely to get people depressed. No wonder so many people were emotional in Britain.

Ali had owled her mother and demanded that she made time to see her, even for just an hour, just to stop her feeling so homesick. She soon recieved a letter back asking to meet in Hogsmeade the next day. Ali had soon cheered up that she was not going to have to wait to see her mom. Although her dad was still busy, she guessed she would have to wait until christmas for him.

This afternoon was the time of the meeting, and Ali's face was looking rather refreshed out in the sunny glow of the autumn weather yet with a windy chill surrounding the air. Ali had her mittens on and a warm brown coat with a cream fluffy lining inside that kept her nice and toasty warm. It was a christmas present from Bryn two christmas' ago and she was growing out of it already, but she had worn it a heck of a lot.

As she almost ran down the worn path to Hogsmeade, she was grinning from ear to ear as she imagined seeing her mothers hair and her bright eyes looking back at her, actually ecstatic to see her. She knew she would be, she was sure her mother missed her as much as she missed her mother.

As the small chipped stones changed beneath her feet to big awkward cobbled stone, she smiled, awaiting the mere minutes that her mother would pop up and restore Ali's happiness at least until christmas. Walking slightly lopsided on the pavement in her ugg boots that matched her coat and her skinny jeans were tucked into them, she patted her padded hands together in excitement. It was a pity Brooke and Bryn had other plans, but if anyone else was to come it would be Bryn. He had Prefect duties though but Ali was sure he would be alright.

"Mom!!" Ali shouted as she spotted her mother outside a Quill shop and instantly her legs began running towards her without her telling them too. She ran, her blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders before she jumped into her mothers arms.
"You have no idea how much I missed you"

[Addison Kennedy]

She would have been lying if she said she never worried about her children when she wasnt with them. She knew Hogwarts was supposed to be one of the safest places but over the past couple of years it hadnt been known for being safe. Vinnie was always telling her nothing would happen to their babies, but as far as Addie was concerned, Vinnie didnt know that for certain did he? She knew Bryn and Brooke could handle themselves, it was more Alicia she was worrying about, Alicia seemed more fragile than her elder brothers and sisters, a lot more delicate, like a glass orniment, if you handled her too hard, or shook her up too much she might break. Deep down, Addie knew Alicia was made of stronger stuff, but it was a mothers job to worry about her children.

"Mrs Kennedy?" Came a voice at her door, her little runaround. Addie has requested for him to let her know when the time was nearing her meeting with Alicia. "It is almost time for you to meet your daughter but there is a problem now." Addie looked up and raised her left eyebrow, signalling for the guy to continue. "The Italian board want to meet with you, today. You have been working so hard to get the Italians to take notice and now they have agreed, but you would need to fly out sort of, nowish." He looked a little nervous, Addie simply smiled. "I cant, Greg. Re-schedule for tomorrow, I have a prior engagement with my Daughter and I wont just push her off again for another meeting. I keep putting things off and I promised today I would so, do your thing and re sort this."

The weather was what Addie had expected as she picked up her files, put them neatly in her bag and stood up. While I'm out, I may as well buy some new quills since I keep breaking mine. So, with a quick twirl infront of the mirror, making sure she was presentable, she headed out into the cold air and began to make her way down to Hogsmeade. She could have easily apparated, but she had time and she liked the feel of the brisk air on her face.

Once she got into Hogsmeade, Addie made her way over to the quill shop, quickly heading inside and browsing around. Addie was a flashy sort of woman, she liked the bill feathered quills and stuff like that, yet to look at her, you wouldnt think she was more than an ordinary business woman, certainly not with seven children anyway. But here she was, buying phoenix feathered quills and other such items before heading out into the street and carefully putting them in her bag.

"Mom!"

There was no mistaking that voice. Addison's head looked up and sure enough she saw the blonde curls of her daughter bouncing around her face. Addie opened her arms, knowing full well Alicia would want a hug, but she didnt expect how hard Ali would collide into her. "Oomf!" Came Addie's voice, followed by a short chuckle. She stroked her daughters hair as the child clung onto her for what seemed like, dear life. "Oh Alicia, it's only been a couple of weeks." Though Addie had missed her children a lot too, but with her busy lifestyle she didnt really have the time to ponder on it, which was good really. She didnt want to be in a state of depression. "You really are a big softie, come on. Lets go and get something to eat and you can tell me all about school and how your brother and sister are doing."

[Alicia Kennedy]

Compared to Brooke, Ali was pretty much the total opposite. If Brooke was in Ali's position now, she sure as hell would not be running up to her mother for a hug, but simply striding and accepting a small necessary hug from her parent. It's not that Brooke loved her mother any less than Ali did, but Brooke was awkward at the best of times and unlike Ali did not like to show her emotions too much. Ali however was very open with things and didn't keep any secrets of her own, instead harbouring her twin siblings' worries and embarrasing stories.

Ali loved her mother, more than anything in the world. Family was the single most important thing to her and nothing else compared, not even friends. Her family were her best friends, and that's all there was to it. Many people had different opinions on best friends, but although very young, Ali had a good intuition and a wise head on her shoulders about the real world. She was not one to like fakery and she could see right through the people who were.

Being back in her mother's arms had caused Ali's face to crack into a wide grin that was unmovable. Even burrowed into her neck she was smiling so hard her cheeks began to hurt. The smell of her mom's perfume wafted up her nostrils, a scent that smelt like home to her. Ali couldn't help but give a little laugh at her mother's 'oomph' noise as her body collided with hers.

"I know but it feels like forever" she said as she felt her mother beginning to stroke her hair. Ali's eyes closed in bliss for a moment just enjoying the closeness once again. Ali decided after a moment to let her go.
"I'm not a big softie...i'm a little one" she said in attempt to be cute as she hunched up her shoulders, squinted her eyes and began walking next to her mother.

"Bryn and Brooke? Terrors as usual...well more Brooke actually. Bryn I haven't seen as much of since he was made Prefect, but he's still around even though he seems to be quite tired all the time. Brooke on the other hand, I actually caught her climbing a tree the other day!" she said in shock as her eyes widened, reliving the event as if it was right in front of her again.

"It actually scared me mom, she had high heels on too and she almost fell, so I ran back in and found Professor Hubbles to bring her down. She has been acting rather unlike herself recently" she continued, placing a finger gently across her lips in thought before tapping it twice.

"So how is work? And where are we going? How is Dad? Is Nicolette alright? I've been meaning to owl her but i've had so much homework i've barely had time to owl you..."

[Addison Kennedy]

Difference. Thats what each of her children had, some level of difference that defined them and who they are as people. Ali wasnt afraid to show her emotions, she didnt care if she was seen hugging her mother in the street of Hogsmeade, Ali didnt care if she told someone she loved them. If she felt something, she would tell someone. Addie admired Ali for this, she was one of the sweetest kids you'd ever meet. Bryn and Brooke, to anyone who didnt really know them would say they were exactly the same, in many ways they were, but even them two were different. Bryn was more passionate about things than Brooke was, he could hold a grudge longer and he was a lot more protective than Brooke was. Out of all of Addie's children, Brooke was the most difficult to explain. Her personality seemed to change from one day to the next, every time Addie tried to catch up with the girl. she seemed to move again so eventually Addie waited for the girl to slow down. Brooke couldnt help being fast, she was quick with everything she did yet somehow remained to be thourough about it. It amazed her if she was honest, how different her children were.

Addie knew it was strange to see such a close family as theirs, a lot of the time once peoples children were gone for school it was the parents time to kick back and relax. Personally both Addie and Vinnie couldnt do that. The quiet of the house drove them both crazy so they worked more than they should to keep their minds off it. After having seven kids, you get used to loud, bustle and constant moving which ends when they dissapear. Addie only has four children left at home now, Alicia, Bryn, Brooke and Nicolette. Once they had gone for school, Addie felt the house was too quiet, and now only Nicolette and the nanny was home it was a bit difficult to get used to the silence.

With Ali in her arms, Addie let out a soft sigh. She had missed her daughter dearly and wished she could see Bryn and Brooke too. She continued to softly stroke Ali's hair until Ali was ready to let go of her, it didnt seem like she would do anytime soon as Ali's head buried in her neck. Addie could have held all of her children forever, she would have too if she could. Held them all in a protective bubble away from the world and keep them safe. But that was impossible for any mother, you could only shield them from so much.

"I know it does." Addie knew all too well, it felt like a lifetime had passed each time she saw her children again. So much had happened in her work recently that it only added to that, making it feel even longer.
"Well you're my little softie" Addie laughed as she let her daughter go and gave her a kiss on the top of her forehead before folding her arms back over her chest and listening to Ali speak as the two of them made their way to the three broomsticks for some lunch.

"Why doesnt that surprise me." Addie smiled as they walked slowly down the street and Alicia was telling her about Bryn and Brooke. "Being a Prefect is tiring," She told Ali, remembering when Addie was too a Prefect. "All the responsibilities a Prefect is given is hard. Not to mention they have to stay up later than anyone else, get up earlier than anyone else, they have more work than most sixth years do with the Homework and then the Prefect duties. But it'll be a good lesson for Bryn, he'll learn to grow because of it and he'll get used to it soon enough."

"Brooke was climbing a tree?" Addie asked, her voice raised and her eyes wide. That didnt sound like a normal Brooke thing. "Brooke climbed a tree in high heels? Has she got a deathwish? Which tree was it, please dont tell me it was the willow." Addie ran a hand through her hair, looks like she would have to talk to her daughter. "Apparently a lot of the children havnt been acting themselves, people around here arent either, its causing quite a stir really, nobody knows whats going on." Addie turned to her daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Listen carefully Alicia, and pass this on to Bryn and Brooke, the Ministry has sent a woman in, Esther Has--" Addie couldnt pronounce it, "She is not a nice woman, she's been sent to monitor the children and the adults, if you see her be careful what you say, be as nice as you can and dont take chances. She wouldnt think twice before sending you into detention in the Forest, okay?"

"Work is work, I went to Beverly Hills last week and I was supposed to be going to Italy today." She told Ali, "As I was heading out my secretary told me the Italian Board agreed to meet but I pushed it back so I could come and see you. You would love Beverly Hills though, I'm thinking of taking you all there for Christmas Holidays but I'll have to speak to your brother and sister first." Addie ran another hand through her hair and smiled, "We're going to the three broomsticks for lunch and then we're going on a shopping spree. Your dad is fine, he's working overtime at Mungoes, apparently people are becoming more and more psychotic and more people are being admitted every day, he's swamped." Addie half smiled, Nicolette was really sick which was why she hadnt been sent to school yet, she was supposed to come to Hogwarts this year but she was too Ill and it didnt look like she was getting any better, only worse. "Nicolette... she's doing the best she can but she is still really unwell." Addie was worried, that was easy to see, when Nicolette was born she had the same bone marrow disease Addie's sister Alicia had had, and this scared her. "I'm sure she will be okay though."

[Alicia Kennedy]

Ali missed being at home. It was only 3 years ago that she was still at home everyday her twin brother and sister in their second year at Hogwarts and she remembered how much they started changing and enjoying school. It was in their third and fourth years that school became more of a chore to them than an excitement and Ali remembered the feeling of them all coming back home for Christmas to spend their holiday together as a united family.

She remembered back to when Bryn and Brooke snuck some brandy from the cupboard and had sipped some and tried to get Ali to drink some but just the smell made her stomach turn and it was Brooke who got caught with the bottle in her hands by their mother. Boy did she get such a telling off that even Alicia felt embarrassed even though she didn’t touch it.

Ali really missed just being around her mother constantly. Ali was the one who would be by her side and helping out while her mother was cooking in the kitchen, and she would always get the bowl snatched off her after melting chocolate by the twins and instead would be left with just the chocolaty wooden spoon which had much less chocolate on than what she hoped for.

Ali laughed behind her hand before looking at her mother.
“Yes, she actually climbed a tree. Crazy I know, I don’t know what got into her, but it was rather amusing mom” she replied. It was then her mother began telling Alicia a tale of Esther Van Haegstagt or somebody or other. An evil woman who worked for the ministry apparently and Ali knew it was important to pay attention to her mother’s words by the look on her face. She gulped back a hard lump as the fear began rising slightly within her as she even thought about detention in the forest.
“She sounds awful” she simply said after a moment’s silence. It soon passed when her mom mentioned Beverley Hills and the mention of that state made Ali gasp in delight.

“Beverly Hills?! Gosh, Did you see anyone famous?!” Ali exasperated as she pressed her hands together in utter glee. Inside she felt like jumping up and down and screaming but she restrained herself and waited until her mother released the news on whether she did meet anybody or not.

“Italy? Mom, you shouldn’t of cancelled I know how important work is, we could of met some other time” she said her eyebrows knitting together in slight annoyance at her mother, but in truth Ali should of known better. Her mother was not one to break a promise unless she really had to.

Nodding as her mother continued to answer the list of her questions, she grinned when she found out her father and sister were doing well.
“Oh, yum!” she smiled as she began to think of the pleasant hot food available at the Three Broomsticks.