User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-02-24 14:55 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Iden was going to tell Maggie that his mum would be more than happy to take her Diagon soon, but was taken slightly aback by Sam. "Er, yeah. Do you know my mum?" he asked curiously.

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-02-24 17:42 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

"Yes, she and I were at school together. She was a couple years behind me. Before I started working at the International Magical Office of Law, I was in private practice. She was a client for a year or two," he responded. "I haven't seen her in years."

"Small world, had I known darling, I would have invited you along," Maggie said.

Michael got the feeling that this was good and squeezed Iden's hand. "Yeah, small world."

Sam helped himself to a plate of cheese and said, "So, Iden, how did you meet my son?"

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-02-25 02:34 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Iden looked at Michael for a moment and thought of the real answer. Well, I was looking for books on being gay right after a drunken snogfest in an alley outside a bar with some bloke I never saw again and Michael was reshelving the naughty books and there you have it. Soon enough we were drunkenly snogging in jazz clubs... Er, no. "Actually, he helped me find a book in Flourish and Blotts when he used to work there. They don't have the most customer-friendly filing system, so I needed the help," Iden said simply.

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-02-25 03:35 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Michael smiled at Iden's response. Good cover.

"We dated on and off for two years before the relationship really became serious," Michael said, adding to Iden's story. "That about the time I got the job at the library."

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-02-25 11:54 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Iden laughed, "Wow, I always forget we were wishy-washy for so long. We're, uh, both rather shy, actually. My friend, Hannah Weasley, got rather tired of it all and kept threatening to go ask Michael to be my boyfriend for me."

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-02-25 16:10 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Steven laughed at Iden's joke and Sam, Maggie, and Michael all gave him nasty looks.

"So, like, are you getting married or something?" Steven asked. Sam and Maggie's looks intensified, but neither said anything. Both were interested in the answer.

Michael stammered for a moment.

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-02-25 16:47 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Iden went a bit red in the cheeks and was suddenly rather interested in Michael's hand for a moment. "That's actually the second time we've been asked that today," he said lightly, knowing full well he wasn't answering the question. "Given the, er, conservative nature of wizarding Britain, I'm, er, not even sure it's possible. I mean, maybe in another country or under muggle law, but, er... Not ruling it out, or anything. Just don't know how we'd even go about it."

Kind of an answer. Didn't propose or say he wasn't interested. This seemed like an awful private topic for being discussed so openly.

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-02-25 18:27 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

"You're right to worry about the legal ramifications. Wizarding law in Britain does not provide for marriage between men nor does it prohibit it. If I understand correctly, the Muggles have something akin to marriage for gays. I think the situation is reversed in America," Sam said, musing on the details.

"Sam, that's enough," Maggie said. "We don't need to talk law. It's Christmas. Is everyone hungry, dinner's ready whenever you want to eat?"

"I'm starving," Steven said.

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-02-25 18:37 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

"I could eat," Iden said with a wide grin. As everyone headed to the food, Iden pulled Michael slightly back and spoke quietly in his ear, "If we're going to keep seeing our parents, we'll need a better answer to that question."

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-02-25 19:16 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Michael nodded and kissed Iden in response.

"Ew," Steve said, popping his head back into the room, "gross."

"Shut it, 'lil prat," Michael said with mock anger.

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-02-26 01:52 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Iden caught up with Steven and ruffled his hair. "If you stop eww-ing, I might be able to get you some autographs," he said and took a seat at the table.

"Dinner smells wonderful, Maggie."

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-02-26 04:07 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Steven almost squealed at the thought of getting autographs from Quidditch players. Obviously, like his older brother, he was a huge fan.

Maggie thanked Iden for the compliment and started passing around dishes of food as everyone found their seats.

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-02-26 21:50 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Iden remained rather quite but not pointedly so. He wasn't sure how dinners in this family usually went. He figured he'd let them set the tone of the meal.

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-02-27 00:23 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

The conversation was a little dry at first, everyone paying attention to their food.

"So, um, you'll have to excuse us," Michael said to Iden with a bit of a smile. "We're not used to having to maintain Christmas dinner conversation. We usually eat at my aunt's house with the rest of Mum's family. Dad, Steven, and I all got into the habit of just keeping our mouths shut, so we didn't embarrass ourselves in front of the Muggle family."

Maggie gave them all a sour look. Apparently, she'd never realized that they purposefully didn't talk to the rest of the family. "Well, no wonder my sister always asks me if my sons have friends. Speaking of your aunt, Michael, she wants to know what you do for a living. Can I tell her you work at the library?"

"Uh," he started, trying to think of the answer, "yeah, I think so. I'm pretty sure that the Muggle section keeps us on their employee list. There's some arrangement."

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-02-27 00:40 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

"Before next Christmas, you might want to pick up a few muggle magazines, brush on footballers and those mad Americans making fools of themselves on the telly. So long as you start a conversation with some little tidbit, the family will probably keep it going," Iden suggested. Not that he'd had a lot of dinners with muggle families, but when his mum was still working, she was always kept at least 5 subscriptions to muggle publications.

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-03-03 15:45 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Everyone around the table nodded a little bit at the idea, it sounding like a reasonable plan. Over the course of dinner, a variety of topics came up. Michael asked about Sam's work, and how it had been going. Maggie talked about the family, both sides, and what everyone was up to. Michael talked about work a little.

"So, Steven, we never talked about how your internship last year went. It all work out well?" Michael asked.

"Oh, yeah, it went pretty good. Nott Commodities is so huge. They do ridiculous amounts of work. And I got to do personal research for Mr Nott, himself, which was pretty cool. Apparently, he's in charge now," Steven replied.

"Yeah, I think I'd heard that. Theodore was in my year. We studied together a lot. He was brilliant. I always thought he should have been Head Boy, but he seemed to just let Draco Malfoy stay ahead," Michael said shrugging. Then he asked, "Doing anything more there?"

"Not for a while. They said I should get in touch with them after my O.W.L.s," Steven responded.

"Sounds like a decent place to work. Iden's brother works in H.R.," Michael said.

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-03-04 15:50 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

"Yeah, Ollie's been at Nott Commodities since he got out of school. He's, er, got a lovely cubicle," Iden said, mustering a grin. "Getting internships at your age, Sam. Very impressive. You know what you wanna do after the castle yet?" There, a topic that isn't his brother. Much better.

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-03-04 16:14 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Steve shook his head, "Not really. I suppose I've got a lot of options. I've been thinking business, but there are a few Ministry jobs that I think might be cool. Oh, and Gringotts has been doing some interesting things lately. I might consider them if those projects are still going when I get done."

Maggie smiled at Sam across the table. They were proud of both of their sons' accomplishments. Michael was a brilliant boy but a bookworm. They were excited when he found a career that meant he could use his smarts and his love of books together. Steve was just as smart but much more of a socialite and a doer, not as into books (but not opposed to studying hard).

"I don't get to Hogsmeade much these days, Iden. Anything changing lately?" Sam asked, trying to make pleasant conversation.

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-03-07 00:41 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

"Not on the main drag, no. That always stays the same, but the side streets are growing. A few new pubs have sprung up, no real competition for Rosemerta but good for handling overflow. The park's being taken care of by a small club of elderly witches who are doing wonderfully with it. Around my shop and the rather wild salon, a gallery opened. Oh, and the offices of Magical Music Magazine relocated to Hogsmeade next to my old flat," Iden reported, telling the truth without mentioning that the headquarters of alternative Britain seemed to be in Hogsmeade these days. Sam didn't need to worry about Steve getting alternatively influenced on Hogsmeade weekends.

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-03-07 00:59 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Sam was impressed that Iden seemed to know what was happening in the business world of Hogsmeade. That showed promise. He decided to give Iden a chance. The boy seemed to him to be nice enough with a good head on his shoulders, if a little odd. "I hope this one," pointing at Michael with a fork, "isn't too much of a bother to live with. He was never good about keeping his room clean when he was young. And we had to nag him over and over again to take out the rubbish. Is he any better now that he's a man?"

Maggie chuckled at Sam's ribbing. Steven knew better than to speak up; he was no better. And Michael just buried his head in his food, attempting to hide his embarrassment. He thought to himself, "Oh Merlin, just don't get mum started on her stories."

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-03-11 00:03 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Iden grinned widely. Was it the embarassing childhood story part of the evening? That sounded like too much fun. "He's not so bad now. I mean, we're both busy so cleaning and whatnot has to be a team effort. I can safely say he does his share," Iden conceded. "Other than messy, what was he like as a kid?" he asked, smirking at Michael.

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-03-11 00:33 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

"Oh, no..." Michael started to say, not liking where this was going.

Maggie didn't let him stop her. "Oh, he was adorable, when he was 6, he wanted to be a nurse like his aunt. It took Sam a year to make him understand that Wizard's became healers, not nurses."

Sam smirked. Maggie laughed. Steven laughed harder. Michael just put his head down on the table.

"He made me buy him a little hat with a red cross on it."

Another round of laughs.

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-03-11 01:05 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

Iden chuckled into his hand and looked at Maggie "Do you still have the hat or at least photographic evidence?" he asked through the chuckles. He rubbed Michael's shoulder lightly, knowing full well that he would likely take his revenge when he saw Moira next. Ah well, this was worth it. Well, this and the nurses outfit gag gift that Michael would someday get.

User: michaelcorner Date: 2010-03-11 01:41 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

"Oh, tell him about Morag Mc..." Steven started.

Michael interrupted, "Don't you DARE!" He looked at Steven and said in a menacing voice, "I will hex you so that every time you look at a girl, your face will break out in giant, purple pustules!"

Steven shut up fast and went back to eating. Sam and Maggie just started laughing again.

User: idenpuffed Date: 2010-03-11 01:47 (UTC) Subject: (no subject)

"I don't think he actually knows that hex," Iden told Steven authoritatively. "Hmm, Morag Mc- Mc- McDougal, right? Your year, I think. She sent Diggory about 15 valentines your first year. Did you date her, Michael? Did he, Steven?"