#albus severus potter x eliza battiste

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Salient

Last Chapter! FFN and AO3

Today's the day my friends. We've reached the conclusion of this story, and I want to thank every one of you that has taken the time to read this obscure little ship of mine. It's been so fun to have you follow along as I discovered and developed this story from a one-shot that @thisismegz requested to this little novel when she asked to know how Al and Ellie got together. I hope you've had fun. I hope you've laughed. I hope you've felt connected to Al and Ellie in some way. And I hope you know how grateful I am for you coming along with me. Thank you.

Chapter 42 - Epilogue

Ellie looked out the window for the fifth time that day. He'd set off the wards when he got back, and he promised to text her. She should probably stop watching for him. So, she turned to watch their daughters playing out back while her mind wandered.

She liked to let her mind wander; it usually took her to wonderful ideas to explore in her paintings.

Al had been gone for two weeks. He'd been at a special conference for the Wizarding World, pushing for them to start embracing a culture that interacted and cooperated with Muggles. Bringing back the old ways, as Nmi' liked to call it.

Her husband had managed to do some pretty amazing things in the ten years they'd been married. She could open up a laptop and a hotspot on her phone in Diagon Alley and do just about anything she wanted to. Ellie smiled at the memory of doing exactly that while she had waited for Al to get out of a meeting with the Wizengamot a few years back. The younger generation seemed to agree with the progress Al was working towards, and it helped that George and Ron sold phones now, not just the Potterbox line.

Newfoundland was a bit of a guinea pig in all of this. The Elders thought what Al was doing was needed, and much of what Al wanted they pushed to accomplish in the magical community here at home. Some of the more traditional members of the community held strong, but a lot of the people she'd grown up with felt Al was on the right track.

Her phone buzzed and Ellie grinned at the text message.

Al: T-minus 5 minutes.

Their girls were having fun and playing well, so Ellie determined she would just let them be and she moved to the front porch to watch him appear behind the tall evergreen trees in front of their home.

She adjusted one of her paintings on the way out, the girls loved to touch them. As long as they weren't touching the ones that were going in her gallery that was fine, but Al liked them level.

Ellie took a deep breath and bit her lip as she waited for him to appear. She looked at her phone again, two minutes left. Two weeks was too long. They'd come with him next time. She'd check the girls out of school and they'd stay with Harry and Ginny and make a vacation of it.

Ellie looked at her phone again, one minute left. She took her wand out of its necklace and twisted it into her hair. Al loved it when she did that, and she really wanted an enthusiastic greeting.

And then the wards went off and Ellie ran towards the spot that Al landed as he dropped his bags and wrapped her up in his arms. He was home!

His lips claimed hers in that way that made her spine tingle and one of his hands came to cup the back of her neck, tilting her face to give him better access to her mouth.

"I missed you," she murmured between kisses.

"Merlin, I missed you too, El." He started to kiss down her neck and Ellie melted into him. Pulling her hair up had been the right choice.

"The girls are around back," she let her hands tangle in his hair and smiled when his green eyes looked back at her with mischief.

"Are you asking me to stop?"

Ellie bit her lip and took a deep breath. "Well, not really, but they've missed you too, and I have something to tell you before I can tell them."

Al straightened; concern written all over his face. "Is everything alright?"

Ellie let her hand rest on her abdomen and smiled at the sight of it.

"More than," she looked back at her husband, "Al, we're going to have another baby."

The look of concern that had crossed his face was gone in an instant replaced by a broad smile and then he was kissing her and holding her and spinning her around their front yard.

This is why she'd waited thirteen days to tell him. She wanted him to hold her and kiss her and spin her around just like he had with their first two.

"How do you want to tell the girls?" Al finally asked as he set her down on the ground again.

"I want you to tell them," Ellie smiled up at him. "And then I want to put them to bed just a little bit early."

Al laughed and picked up his bags before taking her hand. "Let's get to it then, I brought them home George and Ron's new video game prototype to try out."

Ellie laughed, "They're going to be glued to the television for the rest of the week."

Al kissed her, "Maybe, just for a day or two, but is it such a bad thing if it gives us a few hours to ourselves?"

"I suppose not." And she kissed him.

A/N: Till the next story my friends. :)

#Salient #Last Chpater #al x ellie #albus x oc #albus x eliza #albus severus x oc #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #albus severus potter x oc #eliza battiste #Native American OC #First Nations OC #Canadian OC #al goes to muggle university #making muggle technology work with magic #next generation #next gen fanfic #harry potter fanfiction #fluff #romance

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

Hooray for Friday updates! I'll be back on February 29th with chapter 29. (Because I'm sort of geeking out over posting on leap year, and how the numbers work out with this story, but I'm weird that way...)

Chapter 28

"Are you ready?" Ellie raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yes?" Al nodded.

"Then perhaps we should stop standing on the pavement and go knock on the door?"

"Right," Al nodded again.

Originally, Al had not been all that nervous to bring El to meet the Ron Weasley clan. But that was before Rose had called him that morning to let him know she had a new boyfriend who would be joining them, and who that boyfriend was.

They'd known Scorpius alright while in school. They didn't necessarily run in the same circles, but Al thought him a good bloke from the moment Scorpius stood up to some older kids picking on a group of first years, being only a first-year himself. So it isn't like Al disapproves of Rose and Scorpius dating, he's just not sure what to expect. He hasn't seen the man in years, he has no good point of reference.

To put it simply, Scorpius is an unknown entity in Al's perfectly measured procedure, and now, who knows what the results will be?

"Come on," Ellie rolled her eyes and pulled him forward. "I'm sure your cousin's boyfriend is a lovely man."

Al followed, part of his brain agreeing with her, the other part panicking in protest.

"Right."

Hermione opened the door as they triggered the wards and waved them inside.

"Come in, come in, it's getting cold out."

"Isn't it lovely," Ellie slipped her jacket from her arms.

Hermione chuckled, "I suppose it can be."

"Aunt Hermione, this is Ellie," Al took El's jacket, "Ellie this is my Aunt Hermione."

"I'm so glad to finally meet you!" Hermione waved their jackets out of Al's hands and into the cupboard.

"Al!"

Al turned just in time to catch Rose mid-air as she flung herself at him.

"Hey, Rosie," Al set her down and turned to Ellie.

"Ellie, this is my cousin Rose, Rose this is my girlfriend, Ellie."

Rose threw herself at El, who laughed as she wrapped her arms around Rose's middle.

"Rosie," Hermione chided, "Let the poor woman breathe."

"It's fine, really," Ellie grinned as Rose pulled back. "I love hugs!"

"Well then you'll love, Rose," Hugo stuck his head out into the entryway and rolled his eyes. "Rose will hug anyone."

"That's Hugo," Rose stuck her tongue out at her brother. "The baby of the family."

"Rose, stop it," Hermione chided as she gave the three of them a nudge towards the sitting room. "You're adults now, so act like it."

"Adults with Weasley siblings for our examples," Hugo grinned before ducking behind his book to avoid Hermione's death glare.

"He's got a point, love," Ron chuckled and came in from the kitchen. "Ginny, my brothers, and I still end up bickering like children from time to time."

He held out his hand to El. "It's nice to finally meet you, Ellie. I'm Ron, Al's uncle."

"Thank you all for having me," Ellie shook his hand and Al scanned trying to figure out where Scorpius was hiding.

"He's not here yet," Rose eyed him.

Al tried to look calm, "Oh?"

"I've known you since we were born, Al." Rose rolled her eyes. "I know what you're doing."

"I'm just reminiscing about how this place hasn't changed much." Al avoided his cousin's gaze.

"How about we turn on the wireless and have a drink while we wait for Scorpius to make it." Ron waved his wand at the radio and quiet music filled the air. "I've got some hot wassail on the stove as well if you're of a mind."

"Really?" Ellie's smile beamed. "My aunt only makes it at Christmas time. I love wassail!"

Ron grinned. "I've always said it makes no sense to save the best things for once a year. Follow me, Ellie, and we'll fill you a mug."

Ellie gave an excited squeak and Al chuckled as he kissed her cheek before pushing her towards Ron and the kitchen.

"Why didn't you say that you disapproved of Scorpius?" Rose pulled on his arm once Ellie had disappeared into the kitchen.

"Because I don't," Al blinked at her.

"Then why are you freaking out?"

"Rose, Al is fine," Hermione cut in.

"No," Hugo called from his book, "Al's definitely freaking out. He's doing that thing where he looks at everything then stops and zones out with that panicked look in his eyes and then repeats it over and over."

"See!" Rose pointed at Hugo. "He knows too!"

"Rose," Hermione's voice was firmer, but Al was peeved now and let Rose have it.

"No, they're right. And I'm panicked because you took a safe, predictable scenario and then last minute threw in a wild card!"

"Scorpius isn't a wild card!" Rose shot back.

"He is for Al," Hugo turned the page of his book.

"You knew him in school!" Rose protested.

"I knew of him and we left Hogwarts years ago! So excuse me for being nervous that I brought the girlfriend that I kept from the family for over a year to meet you on the same day that you spring someone I can't calculate on me."

"I told you," Hugo looked up from his book, "I told you to wait for next time."

"Al, if you're feeling uncomfortable, we can reschedule this." Hermione put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's always hard to have things sprung on you, especially when you're already nervous."

Al shoved his hand in his hair. "No, I want to be here. I want you all to get to know Ellie." He turned to Rose. "And I am happy for you, Rosie. Just, let me work through this alright. I'm learning not to try and treat life like an experiment with controllable variables, but it's taking time." He smiled, "And most all of El's patience."

It was Rose's turn to look panicked as she threw herself at him. "I'm sorry! I've been so nervous because Scorp and I have gotten so much crap because he's a Malfoy and I'm a Weasley and I just wanted you to be excited for me because so many people were wary at first and I just needed someone to love it and I wanted it to be you but I didn't think about how I'd changed plans on you last minute! And..."

"Breathe, Rose," Hugo put his book down and smiled at Al. "You going to be alright, mate?"

Al nodded as he disentangled himself from Rosie. "Yeah, I might still do some of my tics, but I'm not leaving." He smiled down at Rose, "I am happy for you. And I know someone who was happy for you the moment they found out you we dating and loves that you and Scorpius are together."

"You do?" Rose furrowed her brow.

"Ellie."

"Yes?" Ellie walked in, steaming cup of wassail clasped in her hands and a happy smile gracing her lips.

Al reached for her, "I was just telling Rose how you were excited to find out she has a new boyfriend."

"Oh!" Ellie nodded. "I love hearing about how people met and got together. My grandmother tells me stories all the time of how half of St. John's relationships started."

Al smirked, wondering how many of those stories were actually told to Naomi verbally.

"That sounds a right side better than the stories my grandmother told me." Scorpius walked into the room and Rose's whole face lit up like a bright white LED lightbulb as she ran to him.

"Scorp, you remember Al," Rosie wrapped her arms around Scorpius' middle.

"Of course, it's good to see you again. Rose tells me you're blurring the lines between the Wizarding World and the Muggles."

Al nodded and shook Scorpius' proffered hand. "We had a successful test run for the production of one of my product ideas this morning. But I've got a lot of help from Ellie, here. Ellie, this is Scorpius Malfoy, one of our old classmates. Scorpius, this is my girlfriend, Ellie Battiste."

"Nice to meet you," Ellie shifted her mug to shake his hand.

"Is that wassail?" Scorpius' eyes went wide.

"Dad made some," Rose nodded. "He doesn't see the point of only having it in December."

"I knew I liked your dad," Scorpius nodded to the room, "I'll be back in a moment."

The rest of the evening went much smoother than Al had originally anticipated. Everyone loved Ellie, and Ellie's lack of any history on the matter helped Al to see Scorpius through fresh eyes. He hadn't held any hard feelings for Scorpius, but Al realized that he had held a lot of pity for him. Having El there helped Al to see Scorpius without that pity, and that made it easier to get to know him.

As the evening drew to a close, Al went into the kitchen with Scorpius for one more mug of wassail.

"I'm really glad you were able to come tonight," Scorpius leant against the counter. "It's been really important to Rose."

"I'm glad I came. It was good to actually get to know you." Al filled his mug before setting it down to grab El's.

"Are you alright with Rose and me then?"

Al chuckled, "She'd kill me for trying to give that sort of permission."

Scorpius gripped the counter behind him. "Look Al, everyone at Hogwarts knew how you and your brothers handled the guys that broke Lily's heart. Honestly, I'm surprised anyone was willing to date her at all. But what I'm going for here is that you're not upset it's me Rose is choosing."

Al studied Scorpius for a moment. "As long as you're choosing each other, Scorp, I couldn't be happier."

Relief seemed to wash over Scorpius as his whole body relaxed and he smiled.

"Thanks, Al."

"Anytime, but can you be straight with me on one thing?" Al filled Ellie's mug and picked up his.

"Sure?"

"How long have you and Rosie actually been together?"

"Not long…" Scorpius looked down at his mug.

"This is definitely not a brand new relationship, Scorp."

Scorpius sighed, "What gave it away?"

Al chuckled, "You didn't knock when you came in today."

Crimson colored Scorpius' cheeks, "Yeah, Ron told me to stop knocking about three months ago."

"And…"

"And he told me to stop calling him Mr. Weasley and call him Ron for Merlin's sake about four months ago."

"And…"

Scorpius finally looked up, "And I got the courage to ask Rose out six months, two weeks, and five days ago."

Al tapped his mug against Scorpius'. "Cheers, mate. I'm happy for the both of you."

Scorpius grinned and pushed off the counter. "Thanks, Al."

#Salient #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #albus severus potter #albus x eliza #al x ellie #Canadian OC #Native American OC #not cursed child compliant! #making muggle technology work with magic #al goes to muggle university #romance #fluff #next gen fanfic #next generation #harry potter fanfiction #scorose #scorpius malfoy x rose weasley

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

Next chapter goes up on March 13th and then we should go back to Saturday updates again. :)

Chapter 30

It hadn't been a hard decision once Al really thought it through. He'd taken advantage of Ellie needing to work one of her shifts and had braved the Christmas crowds for some jewelry shop hopping. It had taken the better part of six hours, but Al finally had a ring that felt like Ellie, and a significantly lighter bank account.

But currently, he had a Portkey to catch.

"Do you have everything?" Ellie called out from his front room.

Al slipped the ring box in his pocket. He didn't trust it anywhere else for this journey.

"If I'm missing anything I'll buy it while we're there." Al chuckled and threw his duffle bag over his shoulder as he walked out of his room. "Or live without it for a night."

Ellie laughed and moved to kiss him. "I love you, you know?"

"I certainly hope so," Al teased.

Ellie shoved his chest and tried to pull away but Al kept her close.

"I love you too."

"That's more of the response I was hoping for."

"Let's get you home." Al kissed her again.

The rest of their day went quickly, and Al was finding himself hard-pressed to find a quick moment to talk to John. He was about ready to throw surprise to the wind and just ask him at dinner when Naomi grabbed his elbow and pulled him into the hallway near the stairs.

"He'll say yes." She chuckled before Al could protest. "But my son is not known for keeping secrets."

Al blinked, maybe one day Naomi's gift wouldn't leave him feeling shell shocked. More importantly, what was he going to do now? If John couldn't keep a secret he'd have to ask him and then pop El away right after, which he wasn't positive he could realistically pull off...

"I give you permission to marry our Ellie, Albus. Do you feel better?"

Al's mind suddenly stopped and he laughed, "Actually, yes. That seems more appropriate somehow."

Naomi patted his cheek, "The old ways usually are. The lake is a good idea, you'll want to do it at sunset."

Al felt the nerves resurface.

"She's going to say yes," Naomi grinned.

"I like to think so," Al felt his face grow hot, "but I still want this to be special for her. She deserves that."

"I have full confidence in you, Unjann."

She slipped back to the kitchen, leaving Al to stare after her.

Apparently he needed to ask El tonight because they wouldn't be around for sunset tomorrow. That wasn't out of the question, but it definitely hadn't been his original plan...

Thankfully, Naomi seemed intent on making it happen. Dinner magically was ready almost two hours earlier than planned. Naomi blamed it on old age and her memory slipping. Then she insisted that John and Lisa help her take around the few gifts she hadn't managed to deliver to her friends since it was still early. When Lisa suggested Al and Ellie come along, Naomi tutted that they'd already had a long day and to let the young couple rest a bit.

If Al hadn't been scared out of his mind he would have laughed at Naomi's antics.

Before he knew it, Al found himself alone with Ellie as the sun started to set.

"Well, that was strange." Ellie frowned at him.

"Er, I suppose," Al felt his hand going for his hair and shoved it in his pocket instead. The ring box pressed against his fingers and he snatched his hand back out.

"Hey, El," Al swallowed, "Why don't we go back to that little lake you painted? You said last year I needed to see it in winter."

Ellie's face lit up with an excited smile. "That's a great idea! You'll love it, especially with what the sunset does to the snow and the water and the areas that ice over. Come on." She grabbed his hand and practically skipped out the front door, grabbing their coats as they went.

As his feet hit the ground, Al took in what was probably the most peaceful scene he'd ever been in. It was quiet, quieter than he was used to the woods being in summer and fall and spring. And aside from his and El's footprints, the snow was mostly untouched. The ice and snow along the bank of the lake caught the setting sun's light to paint rainbows on their surface. And the frigid water sparkled as the light flitted through the tree branches.

Al didn't dare breathe at first, worried he would break the image surrounding him.

"It's perfect, isn't it?" El squeezed his hand.

Al grinned at her as his nerves tried to kick back into full swing.

"Your home is beautiful, Ellie." He pushed the nerves down and stepped closer to her. "Just like you."

Pink tinged Ellie's cheeks but she smiled up at him.

"Why thank you, I find my home rather captivating as well."

"You know, I was thinking," Al pulled her other hand into his. "And I realized that my home is wherever you are. Wherever you are is where I want to be."

Ellie's smile was bright as the setting sun in the distance.

Now or never. Al let go of her hands and slipped the box from his pocket, opening it in front of her.

Ellie's eyes grew to the size of the lake in front of them.

"Eliza, you captivated me from the moment I laid eyes on you. You believed in me when I wanted to give up on everything. You've fought for me when I wasn't worth fighting for. You've been my foundation. And I want to be yours. I want to be who you turn to. I want to be your support. I want to be the one who believes in you. I want to be who you fight with. I want to be the one who annoys you. I want to be the one you trust with everything. I want you to be my home."

He dropped to one knee, soaking his jeans which almost made him laugh.

"Eliza Naomi Battiste, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?"

"Of course!" Ellie's eyes shone with tears and she moved to join him in the snow but Al shot up and caught her around the waist.

"Don't get your jeans all soaked as well!"

But then she was kissing him and laughing and clinging to him like he might disappear if she let go, and Al could only laugh through the adrenaline that coursed through his system.

She wanted him, and nothing else mattered.

#Salient #albus severus x oc #albus severus potter x oc #albus x eliza #al x ellie #albus severus potter #Canadian OC #Native American OC #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #eliza battiste #not cursed child compliant! #making muggle technology work with magic #al goes to muggle university #romance #fluff #next gen fanfic #next generation #harry potter fanfiction #proposal chapter

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

Thanks, everyone, for understanding the late posting. My kid is fine now, and gorging on ice cream on the couch next to me, because I'm that mom. 

Assuming no other freak accidents, I'll post again on May 9th.

Chapter 38

They settled into a routine once summer courses started up. Ellie painted and worked to get her artwork into galleries. Al went to class and worked on his coursework. It ended up being a peaceful and content term filled with the newlywed bliss that Al had expected and been teased would be his reality.

But during the break between summer term and Al's final term began Uncle George popped over because he was "in the neighborhood."

Shite.

"It's good to see you, George." Ellie moved a canvas still in it's wrapping off of the sofa.

"Is something wrong with the line?" Al cut right to the point.

George huffed, "You're absolutely ruthless, you know?"

"George, you never come into the Muggle world without a purpose."

"Fine," George moved to sit on the edge of the sofa. "How are things coming on the next iteration of the Potterbox? Do you think it can be finished in time for the Christmas line?"

Al blanched.

"George, Al will let you know when it's ready." Ellie's voice had an edge to it. "Next time, text him and he'll let you know one way or the other."

George shook his head, "I'm no good at the texting. It's easier to just show up and ask in person."

"You could call then," Ellie moved back to the large painting table Al had bought her before they moved all her things in. "I assume you do know how to punch ten digits."

George blinked, and Al finally recovered from the initial anxiety that had seized him.

"It's fine, just, George, I'm not anywhere close to giving you the next iteration of the Potterbox, and I warned you of that last year."

George nodded, "Yes, I know, but I'm getting the preliminary meetings set up for the Christmas line and wanted to know if I needed to include you in it." Then George turned to Ellie. "I wasn't trying to impose on you."

Ellie huffed, "You do realize how much you stress him out with this right?"

"Ellie, love," Al cut in, "I'm alright."

"You went into freeze; you most certainly were not alright."

"I think I'll leave the two of you to sort through this," George stood and pulled Floo powder from his pocket. "I'll wait for you to contact me about the next iteration."

"George, wait," Al grabbed his arm. "I'm working on it, please don't think I'm not."

George smiled at him, "Let me know if you need anything, or if you improve the process for our current iteration. We could get you a greater profit margin if you cut down the cost of production."

"I'll text Ron and set up a time to come in and talk to the two of you." Al let his hand drop from his uncle's arm.

"I look forward to it, Al." George smiled at him before stepping through the grate.

Once the grate had ceased to burn green, Al turned to find Ellie staring him down with her grizzly bear stare.

"Where does he come off?"

Al stared back at her, incredulous. "He's the whole reason you get to paint all day."

Ellie bristled, "No, you are. You could have sold the Potterbox without him."

"Right," Al snorted, "I forgot that I'm going on to get my MBA in both marketing and sales once I've graduated with two bachelor's degrees."

"You're upset," Ellie turned away from him. "When you've calmed down, we can talk about it."

"You're upset too," Al shot back, "so don't throw all of this on me."

"I'm not," Ellie spun back around, "I am upset, at George for showing up and throwing you into an anxiety attack!"

"He didn't throw me into an anxiety attack!"

"Yes, he did!"

"Just because he took me off guard doesn't mean I had an anxiety attack!"

Ellie glared at him. "Fine, deny it."

Al shoved his hand in his hair. "I've got a paper to finish."

Then he stalked into their room and his desk. But he didn't get anything done. Instead, he sat and brewed in his anger. Just because he was easily taken by surprise didn't mean he constantly had anxiety attacks, or that he couldn't handle his own damn uncle on his own. He cringed with embarrassment at how rude Ellie had been to George.

Al grabbed his phone to try and distract himself with something, anything really when it rang in his hand with a number Al didn't recognize.

"Hello?"

"Get your arse down here and meet your niece!" Jamie shouted into the phone and laughed. "We're in room 634, just tell them your name and they'll let you in."

The line went dead.

Well, Al would just have to put his marital problems on hold for a moment and go be an uncle.

The thought of him having marital problems already left him feeling mildly sick.

"El," he stepped out and holstered his wand, "Allie had the baby. Jamie just called and told me to get ourselves down there."

Ellie smiled, "Let's go."

She summoned her sweater to her and then twisted her wand up into her hair. The image made Al's chest hurt. Why did they have to do this now? Why couldn't they have the time to fix things first?

But then they were grabbing Floo powder and flying through the network to St. Mungo's. The elevator ride up to the new sixth-floor maternity ward (Aunt Hermione had made so many changes that Al honestly didn't know how she managed to be at all the family gatherings) was silent and Al felt more awkward and upset than he did before Jamie called with the happy news.

"Oh good!" Al stepped out of the elevator to see Grandma Andromeda. "James was starting to forget who he had and who he hadn't called."

"Are we the last ones to make it?" Ellie asked.

"No, Lily and Lysander haven't made it yet, but Teddy and Victoire and Johnny are in with your parents and the Longbottom's." Andromeda smiled at Al.

They followed her down the corridor and into Room 634.

Even with how upset he still felt, Al had to smile when they walked into a room that only lacked Lily and Lysander. Allie's little sisters were standing next to the bed with Hannah and Neville behind them. Al's parents and the Lupins were opposite them, and Jamie had managed to squeeze in next to Allie and the baby on the bed.

"See, I told you I called Al!" Jamie pointed at them. "I told you!"

Harry chuckled, "No one doubted you, son."

"Want to hold her?" Allie held the baby up toward Ellie.

"Yes!" Ellie rushed over and Al just watched as his wife took this little girl in her arms.

And for a moment, time stood still.

Seeing Ellie beaming down at this tiny little girl, smiling down at her new niece like she was the sun, her wand twisted up in her hair, it left Al mesmerized by the image of it and paralyzed by the feelings it pulled forward.

Lily and Lysander showed up shortly after that, and Ellie relinquished her turn to Lily. But as she returned to Al's side, he knew he needed to work this out with her. He wanted to really enjoy this moment, and he wanted to do it with her.

"Jamie, have you eaten?" Al looked at his brother.

"Eaten?" Jamie blinked at him and Al chuckled.

"I'm going to grab you something, does anyone else want anything?"

Harry reached into his Auror robes and tossed Al a pouch. "Grab drinks and some bakery items for everyone, son."

Al caught the pouch and then turned to Ellie.

"Want to come with me? Help me carry things?" He held out his hand and held his breath.

Ellie nodded and took his hand, "Of course."

He wasn't sure how to start this, and so the silence that had followed them up the elevator followed them down to the fifth floor.

"El," he finally managed to say something as they walked out of the elevator.

"Al," she looked down at her feet.

"I'm sorry for getting so upset. I felt embarrassed and I didn't handle it well."

"I'm sorry for being so protective," Ellie squeezed his hand. "I just hate seeing anyone make you uncomfortable and I felt like George watched you grow up and should know better. I shouldn't have been rude to him over it."

Al pulled her closer and kissed her hairline. "I love you."

"I love you too," Ellie smiled up at him. "And I'll do better to tune down the bear in me."

Al chuckled, "So you agree that it's a bear that you embody when you get upset?"

"Oh yes, Nmi' has told me that my whole life. She always says God pity anyone who goes after my children."

Al laughed out loud. "You looked pretty amazing holding our niece."

"It felt pretty amazing." Ellie leaned into his shoulder.

"Are we alright, then?"

"Yeah, I think so, but I'd like to prolong the make-up just a bit." She looked up at him and winked.

Al chuckled, "You wouldn't be mine if you didn't."

Ellie laughed, "And you wouldn't be mine if I didn't have the assurance you could deliver on that."

Al nearly choked on air right as the witch behind the counter asked what she could get them.

Merlin, she was going to be the death of him!

#Salient #al x ellie #albus severus potter #albus severus potter x oc #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #eliza battiste #albus x eliza #Native American OC #Canadian OC #al goes to muggle university #making muggle technology work with magic #next gen #next generation #next gen fanfic #harry potter fanfiction #romance #fluff

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

I need more hours in the day. Here's to hoping we all get a few more as summer comes closer. If all goes according to plan I should have the next chapter up on May 2nd.

Chapter 37

"Are you ready, love?" Ellie called from their sitting room.

Al smiled. Being married to Ellie had been wonderful for so many reasons but Al's favorite was that she was in the same flat as him, permanently.

"I think I am," Al came out of their bedroom and threw on the blazer Ellie had picked out for him.

Apparently, that was the right move to make because Ellie immediately made her way to his side and began kissing him.

"Hi," Al chuckled when she pulled back just enough for them to catch their breath.

"You shouldn't be allowed to look so good." Ellie bit down on his lip.

Al stole a kiss before responding. "I'll remind you that you chose this outfit for me."

"Call me a glutton for punishment then," El moved one of her hands up to his hair. "Besides, you can't tell me you don't like the attention."

Al hummed as her fingers tightened their grip in his hair. "I'm rather fond of it, but if we're going to make it out of here, this should probably be put on hold."

"Always the voice of reason," El gave him a pout.

Al kissed her again, "Just a bit more sharing, and then you have me all to yourself aside from class and experimenting."

"You're such a workhorse," Ellie laughed but pulled away to grab her white sweater. "But you're right. Aunt Susan and Uncle Charlie put a lot of effort into this, we should at least be on time to it."

Al grabbed her around the waist for one more kiss before they set out to Apparate to the alley near the diner.

Al was pleased to see his parents climbing out of the Carrera a way down from the diner as he and El walked around the corner.

"You found it," he called out to them as his dad shut the passenger door behind his mom.

"We did, though the GPS thought we wanted the next street over for a moment there." Harry laughed and took Ginny's hand.

"I'm telling you, love, it wanted us to go to that little Indian place I saw the sign for." Ginny pulled Al and Ellie into a hug.

"It was tempting, but I thought we ought to settle for some traditional fare today while we celebrated with our kids and their friends."

"There's an Indian place down there?" Ellie asked. "I've lived here for four years and I didn't know that."

"You were sort of busy," Al led them all to the door that had changed everything.

But while the first time Al walked in that door it was for a quick moment to warm up, this time he welcomed the cool air inside and a promised evening full of friends that had been a part of his life for the last four years.

Susan hustled out of the kitchen and smiled brightly. "There's the beautiful bride!"

Ellie moved out from under Al's arm and hugged her aunt.

"Aunt Susan, this looks amazing!" Ellie gestured to the trays of food lining the bar. "Thank you so much!"

Susan beamed, "Well your uncle is hoping your friends will get the word around about how good the food is and drum up some new customers."

"If we open the door and let the aroma out into the street that would probably work too." Ginny chuckled.

"You're too kind, Ginny." Susan looked down at her watch before taking in a sharp breath. "Charlie's going to need a hand in a moment. We'll be out here for good at the top of the hour. Till then, just give a shout if you need something."

"Thank you," Al nodded as Susan scurried back to the kitchen.

"Here are the printed photos your parents and we liked best," Harry pulled an envelope from his mokeskin pouch and handed it to Ellie before pulling out a roll of tape as well. "We thought they could be taped up on the far wall back there."

"I love it!" Ellie took the envelope and tape excitedly and moved to the back wall, Ginny trailing along behind her.

Al took a seat and watched his wife and mum tape still wedding images of him and El up on the wall.

"When does it start to feel real?" Al turned to his dad.

"Which part?" Harry grinned.

"That the wedding actually happened. That I'm not just in a really good dream. That I'm not going to wake up and be back at square one."

"I'll let you know when I find out." Harry teased.

Al rolled his eyes but was surprised when his dad continued with a more serious tone.

"There are still days that I wonder what in the world I did to get your mum to even acknowledge my existence, let alone marry me. But I've been living in this dream for more than three decades now and it's still going. It is my reality, even when logic says it shouldn't be, and I can trust that."

Al let his dad's words process for a moment.

"This is what growing up is, isn't it? You keep pushing forward even when it's hard, even when everything says you shouldn't be where you are, you keep moving forward and living your life, dream and all."

"Even if the dream has it's scary moments as well," Harry put a hand on Al's shoulder, "if you keep pushing through, you'll end up back in the happy parts. Remember, there are good things now, and there are better things to come. Don't give up on them when life gets tough. Keep moving forward, together, and one day you'll be giving this speech to your son or daughter."

Al chuckled, "That feels light-years away."

"Don't blink then," Harry smirked.

The bell sounded as the door opened behind them. "Who's ready for a party?!"

Al turned to find Craig waking up and smiled. This was definitely going to be a fun night.

And it was. Al was surprised at how much fun it was to have this Muggle celebration and El by his side through the whole thing.

But what made the whole thing even better, was going home with Ellie, and sliding into their flat as she pushed his blazer off his shoulders, pressing her against their bed and finally falling asleep curled against one another.

It was a dream, and Al was determined to live in it for the rest of his life.

#Salient #al x ellie #albus severus potter #albus severus potter x oc #albus x eliza #albus x oc #albus severus x oc #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #eliza battiste #Native American OC #Canadian OC #al goes to muggle university #making muggle technology work with magic #next gen #next gen fanfic #next generation #harry potter fanfiction #romance #fluff

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

I'm probably not going to post this next week. My husband surprised me with a little Valentine's getaway. :) So if I manage to get everything written by Thursday morning, I'll post then, but if not, then I'll be back on Friday, February 21st.

Chapter 27

"It's not going to work, Al." George shook his head as he leant over the conference room table in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes offices. "That's far too detailed a process. I'd need to train people to do everything, nothing in your process allows me to flick my wand and walk away."

Al bit back his initial retort that this had been George's boiled brained idea in the first place.

"You do realize that it's blocking magic, right? It's done by hand to ensure magic doesn't leave traces where it can ruin the phone."

Ron wore a frown as he stared at the list of steps Al had written down.

"What's his name?" He muttered. But before Al could clarify, George spoke.

"I get that, Al, but we have a standard for the wages we offer. For how long it takes you to make the one case and what we pay our employees, I'm losing money making them this way. Explain again why I can't just make duplicates of your case."

"What was his name?" Ron muttered again.

Al didn't give it heed this time.

"It's just like I told you, duplicating it messes with the spell layering and makes the case and screen protector obsolete." Al shoved his hand in his hair. "I've made this as condensed as I can. If we change my process at all it will leave traces and ruin the phone. I've got more failed attempts in my flat than I ever want to count trying to do this differently. This is it, George, this is how it has to be done. If I have a breakthrough later I'll let you know, but if you want these on the shelves for Christmas, then this is how it's going to be."

George huffed and threw himself into the back of his chair.

Al tried not to glare at him.

"What is his name?!" Ron said again, this time with a bit more force.

"Who's name?" George snapped at him.

"The American car man!"

Al laughed, "You do realize you've just described a quarter of their population, right?"

Ron rolled his eyes, "No, I mean the first one."

Al blinked, "The first one?"

"Yeah," Ron nodded, "the one who made cars a thing."

"What do cars have to do with anything?" George groaned. "We're talking about our new Christmas line being short a product."

"Wait," Al felt realization dawning as he followed Ron's train of thought. "Are you talking about Henry Ford?"

"That's it!" Ron slammed his hand on the table. "I remember now! I was reminiscing with Harry and Hermione about the old Ford Angelina a few years ago and Hermione told me that the man who started Ford was the first to use a line to make cars and that cut time and cost and made cars available to most everyone."

"An assembly line!" Al grinned. "Ron that's brilliant!"

"What's an assembly line?" George sat forward again.

"Muggles use it for everything," Al conjured a piece of paper and pulled out his pen. "You have stations, run by people or robots…"

"What's a robot?" George frowned.

"Nevermind," Al chuckled, this was novel enough to explain without throwing robotics into the mix.

"In an assembly line you have stations run by people and they only do one or two, possibly three things, before passing it off to the next person, who does the next one or two things. It cuts production time because rather than one person or team having to keep checking their list to make sure they've done all hundred-odd steps, each person only needs to remember to do one or two things before passing it off. It cuts down on mistakes that way too. And it would work really well here!"

Al pushed the paper he'd been writing on towards his uncles. "See, the first person simply makes duplicates of our different case models. The next person casts these first two spells. Then the next person does just this one. And we go down the line just like that."

"I like it, George," Ron pulled Al's papers closer to him. "And I bet we could do this with other things we decided weren't cost-effective before. We could be the first Wizarding company with Muggle style assembly lines."

"I'd want to run a trial," George tapped his fingers on the table. "Let's send out a memo that we're offering some overtime to try out a new process, have them write down their input and ideas at the end, give them food after, you know the drill."

"I'd like to be there to help them know what they're doing, explain things better."

"Right," Ron pulled out a pen and started writing on the paper Al had used to map out his assembly line. "I'll text you once I have a firm date."

George handed him a piece of parchment, "Write down the days you know are not an option for you. We'll plan around your schedule."

Al jotted down the few days he knew he couldn't make anything happen and then wrote his course schedule out too.

"You spend this much time in school?!" George frowned at the course schedule.

Al smiled, "This is a light semester. I've had a semester with 26 credit hours before. I had to get all sorts of forms signed to make that happen, but it was worth it to get the professor I wanted for the class I needed."

George shook his head. "Hermione has let her crazy rub off on you."

"Eh!" Ron threw his pen at his brother. "That's my wife you're talking about!"

"And I love her dearly, Ron," George chuckled, "but did you see how many hours a day Al is in classes? It's amazing he hasn't morphed into a textbook!"

They laughed and Al caught a glimpse of the wall clock. Ellie was done with her last class.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to get going." Al slipped his pen back into his pocket.

"Hot date?" George teased.

"Something like that," Al grinned, feeling bolder than he ever had as a teenager about his relationships.

Ron winked at him. "I'll show you out."

George saluted his nephew as Al walked out with Ron and towards the fireplaces.

"Your aunt would very much like to meet Ellie," Ron spoke quietly.

Al rolled his eyes. "Mum told you about El too, eh?"

Ron grinned, "She's trying to push you to share your life with all of us a bit more. When you went Muggle, you fell off the planet for some of the family. We're all thrilled with what you're doing, but we do miss having you about. Just think of it this way, Hermione is a safe card. You're bringing your girlfriend who grew up in both worlds to meet your aunt who, to a lesser extent, also grew up in both worlds."

Al sighed; stupid logic and Ron's ability to wield it.

"Send me a text of when you want us over. We'll be there."

Ron put a hand on Al's shoulder and smiled encouragingly. "How about we do it after the testing of your assembly line?"

"Alright," Al nodded, "I'll talk to El, but that should be alright."

Al was surprised to find that his anxiety about El meeting Ron and Hermione wasn't nearly as high as he would have anticipated. But maybe that was because he hadn't told her yet. Ever the scientist, Al decided to test his theory and called Ellie as he sat down on his sofa.

"Hey, love, how did it go?"

Al sighed into the soothing sound of her voice.

"I think it went alright, we're going to give it a try in an assembly line format and see how it fares."

"That sounds brilliant!"

"Yeah, and after, Uncle Ron wants us to come to dinner with him and Aunt Hermione."

It was quiet for a beat and Al managed to find all his anxiety again.

"Al? Are you there?"

"I'm here." He swallowed.

"I said that sounds wonderful! Do you have a date yet?"

Al felt relief rush into him as he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Maybe next he'd figure out how to fix cellular service so it never skipped or dropped signal.

"Not yet, but I'll let you know when I do."

"Are you busy?" Ellie's voice had a sing-song quality to it that reminded him a bit of Aunt Luna.

"No."

Then his door opened and Ellie walked in as she disconnected their call.

"Me either."

She laughed as Al took three large steps to wrap her in his arms and kiss her soundly.

#Salient #albus severus potter #albus x eliza #al x ellie #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #Canadian OC #Native American OC #not cursed child compliant! #making muggle technology work with magic #al goes to muggle university #romance #fluff #next gen fanfic #next generation #harry potter fanfiction

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

This is it until 2020, my friends! Happy Christmas! Happy New Year! And I'll be back with more stories on January 4th.

Thank you, @gryffindorhealer, for the name Potterbox!

Also, Portent is technically the next chapter in this story, and you can enjoy Jamie and Ted finding out about Ellie a little sooner than Al had planned here.

Chapter 21

It required a few trips to the Hogwarts library, but Al finally found out that he could give priority to spells the same way he could to computer code, and that was the breakthrough.

Well, the first part at least.

The phone case did beautifully in keeping his phone from dying whenever he did magic around it or used magic to move it.

But the phone couldn't receive calls or make calls or access the WiFi or use data or send texts or anything else that had it accessing the cellular network or WiFi when magic was being used. The phone functioned exactly as it should unless Al was using magic

Then his mobile stopped being a communication device until the magic stopped.

At least it kept technology from dying completely around magic, Al had reminded himself again and again. And it helped that Ellie loved her new phone case.

"Can I paint it?"

She turned it over excitedly in her hands.

"I guess so," Al said as they rummaged through his cupboards for what they needed for dinner. "You'll want to put that white stuff on it first, like all the other cases you've painted."

Ellie grinned as she popped the case on. "Have you thought of what you're going to call it?"

"It doesn't even work properly, El," he shook his head, "So no, I'm not thinking about marketing right now."

Ellie rolled her eyes at him, "You'll make it work, you always do."

Al hoped she was right.

"Merlin! I know just the name!" Ellie cried out causing Al to drop the pasta box. "You should call it a 'Potterbox'!"

Al stooped to pick up the box as El's words processed.

Then he laughed, and then he laughed harder, and then he was gripping his stomach as his body and mind finally found an outlet for the strain the case not working right had put on him.

"That's absolutely bril, El," he reached out for her as he tried to calm himself, loving how quickly she agreed to come into his embrace. "You're a right gem, you know that?"

Ellie grinned up at him and slid her arms around his neck and pushed up just a fraction on her toes. "I always enjoy hearing it."

"I'll set a reminder to tell you more often then," Al teased, slowly closing the distance between them.

"If I hear any of them I'll take your phone case off and levitate it into the pond." El smiled and tilted her lips towards his.

"I'll just have to be sneaky then, won't I?"

Al finally brought his lips to hers and couldn't help but enjoy the easiness of it. They'd been together a year now and he knew her. He knew what she liked and what she didn't in so many aspects. He knew what to do if he wanted her to smile against him, or to laugh, or to grip her fingers in his hair. And it felt like home.

The oven clock read a bit later when they managed to get back to making dinner.

"Have you called your mom yet to set up a time for me to meet everyone?"

Al tried to look relaxed, even when his gut reaction was to curl in on himself.

Midterms had been over for almost two weeks now, and he still hadn't managed to make himself follow through on his promise.

"Er, I was planning to do it tonight actually."

Maybe it would be easier if he had El with him and put the phone on speaker. Maybe she'd get excited and just ask for him. Or maybe his mum would be so excited to have El on the line that he and El would conveniently forget to bring it up because his mum would want to know everything that had been going on since the last time they had lunch with his parents.

"No time like the present, love." Ellie smiled sweetly at him.

Al held in his groan of protest.

"Sure," he tried to sound confident, "I'll just put it on speaker."

Al tapped the picture of his home to call the landline.

"Potter's," his mum's voice came with the sound of typing in the background.

Al sighed, she must have been on a deadline which meant this call would need to be straight to the point or she'd ask to call him back.

Wait, maybe that was a good thing…

"Hi, Mum, how are you?"

"A bit busy dear, is this important or can I call you back?"

Ellie looked up at him and Al knew from the look on her face he was balancing on a knife-edge.

"Just wanted to set up a day to bring Ellie over and introduce her to my siblings, perhaps over dinner?"

The typing stopped.

"That sounds wonderful! How does Sunday sound?"

Al looked at El and she smiled.

"That sounds perfect, Ginny," Ellie said.

"Wonderful! I'll send owls to Jamie and Ted and I'll let Lils know tonight when she gets home from Dominique's."

Al tried to calm the anxiety in him with a deep breath. "Thanks, Mum, we'll let you get back to work. Text me with what to bring and we'll see you Sunday."

"Perfect! Love you both!"

Ellie beamed. "We love you too!"

Al slid his phone back into his pocket and turned to see the water boiling on the stove.

"That went well, right?" He asked as he poured the pasta into the pot.

"Exceptionally so," Ellie winked at him. "But I think you could use a nerdy documentary to relax to. So why don't you go and pick something while I get the sauce going?"

Al pulled her in for a quick kiss before she pushed him toward the telly. He had been making a point to find documentaries that were applicable to his experimenting to help Ellie start to learn a little bit about what he was doing on a scientific level. But today he decided on a documentary that focused on quantum mechanics because it just seemed appealing.

Snuggled up on the couch with El, bowls of pasta in their hands, Al let his mind unwind as the narrator took them through the basics of quantum physics.

"So there's really space between everything?" Ellie asked enthralled.

Al nodded, "Yep, you don't actually touch anything, you just get close enough to function on a macro scale. There's space between every molecule of oxygen and nitrogen and hydrogen and all the other gases that make up the air we breathe."

"I wonder if magic is in the space between everything." Ellie mused as she continued to stare at the screen.

Al felt everything in his brain shift.

What if Ellie was right? What if there was magic in the space between. What if he could pull magic from those in-between spaces? What if he could pull magic from in between the waves of WiFi and cellular signals?

Tomorrow was Thursday. Al smiled. He'd have all morning tomorrow to see if Ellie was right, and he'd bought a few old routers recently too. He had everything he needed, and tomorrow he'd find out if the answers to making technology and magic work lay in the quantum world.

#Salient #albus severus #al x ellie #albus severus x oc #albus x eliza #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #Canadian oc #Native American oc #not cursed child compliant! #making muggle technology work with magic #al goes to muggle university #romance #fluff #next gen fanfic #next generation #harry potter fanfiction

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

See you back on February 1st.

Chapter 25

Al had become accustomed to his extended family encroaching on his life as he grew up. Someone was always trying to be involved in what everyone else was doing. It was a normal part of such a large family, specifically a family that went through the hell they had. But when Al "went Muggle," as his Grandma Weasley called it, things quieted down considerably.

For one he was harder to contact. He didn't have an owl and wasn't home for long periods throughout the day, causing any owls who were sent to have to wait for him - something none of them thanked him for. Another thing was his heavy course load kept him from the big family gatherings outside of the Christmas ones. And it made it harder to connect with some of his more traditional family members. Uncle Percy, for example, couldn't seem to get his head around Al's reasoning for going Muggle, let alone half of what Al talked about from the Muggle world. So over the last nearly four years, Al had grown accustomed to the distance growing between him and his extended family. It was probably why he felt so at home with El's family, they filled that void a bit for him.

Given all that, Al's jaw nearly fell to the pavement when he pulled out his ringing mobile to see Uncle George's contact card.

"Have you pulled that old brick back out?"

"Hello to you too, my favorite nephew."

"No," Al might have put too much force into his voice, but Uncle George only called you this favorite when he wanted something.

"Now, now, let's not be hasty," George laughed, "Ron and I are in your neck of the woods and thought we'd see if you'd let us stop by."

Al paused about fifty feet from his building door, momentarily debating if he wanted to turn around. But ducking Uncle George had always ended in unpleasant ways.

"What do you mean by my neck of the woods?"

George sighed, "Fine, we're in the shop but we want to talk to you. Can we come visit our dear Muggle embracing nephew?"

Al rolled his eyes as he climbed the stairs to his flat door.

"Sure, my flat is connected to the Floo network and I'm home for the day. I might have company later tonight, but I'm free for the next few hours."

"Hosting unspeakable parties, are you?" George's voice was almost hopeful.

Al set his bag on his desk in his room and rolled his eyes. "If it helps you sleep at night, sure, assume that I'm hosting crass parties as I juggle 22 credit hours."

"I will, but we sell much better juggling balls than those hour ones. Want me to bring you some?"

Al laughed at the seriousness in George's voice. "Maybe another time, see you in a bit."

After disconnecting the call, Al pulled a bag of crisps from his kitchen and three glasses of water before sitting down at his table to wait for the Wheeze duo to arrive.

It was only a few minutes before the fireplace burned green and out walked his two favorite uncles.

"This is why you're my favorite," Ron grinned as he dusted himself off. "It's as clean in here as it is in my home."

"All thanks to your wife, I'm sure," George ribbed.

Al knew better, Uncle Ron was rather good at keeping his home clean and functioning when his entire family wasn't looking over his shoulder all the time.

"So what's the surprise visit for?" Al cut in.

"We can't just want to visit our nephew?" George reached for the crisps.

"I told you he'd see through it. He's too much like Hermione." Ron chuckled.

"Fine," George grumbled, "ruin all my fun."

He turned to Al, "We're here about your box thing."

"Box?" Al gave Uncle Ron a perplexed stare.

"Your mum called it the Potterbox," Ron chuckled. "You realize your dad had to suppress his desire to tell you not to use your last name. Hermione talked him out of bringing it up with you. Pointed out that it would be good to put the focus back on Potter's being inventors rather than world-saving heroes."

Al blinked as his brain caught up. "Mum and Dad told you about the phone case?"

"They told him," George pointed to Ron, "and he told me. We think this has some serious potential for you and the Wizarding World and we want to look into the possibility of getting you into production."

"But they aren't done," Al protested. "They only protect the phone from magic. They don't let you use the phone and magic at the same time."

Ron shrugged, "Fine, show us what it does now."

Al briefly considered telling them no, but quickly realized he was fighting a losing battle. They'd only argue it couldn't hurt anything to show them, and they'd be right. So he swallowed the rest of his objections and pulled out his phone and his wand.

"Shut off your phones," he stood and retrieved the safe box from his room.

George frowned, "Should I have brought mine?"

Ron shook his head as he handed over his, "You'd break yours if you took it out of the Muggle room."

Al chuckled, after Ron, George was definitely the most Muggle wise of the lot, but Ron was right, George tended to ruin his Muggle technology.

"Right," Al picked up his wand, "the case protects the phone from magic entirely."

He levitated it up off the table and grinned as Ron's eyes widened in surprise.

"I can Apparate and use the Floo network with my phone in this case and it still works."

Ron reached out and turned Al's phone to see the screen, lit up and displaying the time.

"So what's the problem?" George frowned at him.

"Here," he handed Ron the bag of crisps, "Levitate this and I'll show you."

Ron took it one step further and started levitating crisps toward George's mouth; who happily crunched on them as they came within munching distance.

Al turned the phone to show how he couldn't connect to WiFi or data; he couldn't get a signal and so the attempted phone call to Ron's mobile didn't go through, and neither did the text message.

"See," Al shook his head. "It doesn't do anything but protect the phone from magic killing it."

George and Ron shared a long look before George grinned.

"I'm in. We could call it the Potterbox Protector. It'll be the base model and then as he gets the kinks worked out we move on to the one that lets you make calls and whatever else. Then we introduce the new Potterbox, the Potterbox Communicator."

"We need something better than Communicator," Ron shook his head. "Protector sounds brilliant, we need something even better when he gets the next iteration done."

"Have you heard nothing I've said?" Al interrupted.

"Yeah, it's not what you want it to be, but what it is right now is still brilliant and I want to sell it." George pulled out his wand and conjured a pen and paper and started jotting down notes.

"But…"

"Al," Ron slid his wand back on his holster and reached for the safe box. "If we sign you on for the Protector then when it's ready for the next phase we'll have production down and ready to move right onto the next, plus we can still sell the Protector as a base model. This case of yours has a lot of potential and we can reach your target audience."

"But…"

"We'll need you to come by and show us your procedure for enchanting the cases." George interrupted. "Ron you're in charge of getting that setup."

"Right," Ron retrieved his phone and stood with George. "I'll text you and we'll find a time around your classes."

"But…"

"You're a right genius, Al," George folded his paper into his pocket. "You'll be as well known as your great-grandfather."

"But…"

"We'll be in touch," Ron pulled Floo powder from his pocket and with a step over the grate, he and George were gone.

Al blinked.

If the half drank glasses of water weren't on his table, Al would wonder if that hadn't been a very strange dream.

His door opened and he spun around to find Ellie walking in.

"Hi, love," she stopped in the doorway, "Is everything alright?"

Al plopped down on the couch with an 'oof'.

"I have no idea."

#Salient #albus severus potter #albus x eliza #al x ellie #albus severus potter x oc #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #Canadian OC #Native American OC #not cursed child compliant! #making muggle technology work with magic #al goes to muggle university #romance #fluff #next gen fanfic #next generation #harry potter fanfiction

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

Happy New Year! Here's to a year full of growth and joy for all of us! I'll have another chapter for you on January 11th!

Go read Portent first if you didn't read it after Chapter 21 (it's actually Chapter 22 of this story but I won't be posting it here) then read this. ;)

Chapter 22

"It's been great having you around, lads." Al grinned after tucking his wallet back into his pocket. "But I've got classes to get to."

Ellie had kissed him when she'd handed back his card and Al's high spiked again. Not even the impending finals prep was enough to bring him down.

"Al," Teddy put his hand on Al's shoulder, "I'm, I'm sorry."

"Me too," Jamie nodded. "I didn't think that someone could use a wand as a hair thing."

"You can make it up to me by accepting Mum's invite to dinner for Sunday. It's El's and my idea, and I'm bringing El to introduce her to everyone."

Jamie laughed, "Dad's ruined all of us."

Al stopped walking, "What?"

"Dad never calls Mum, Ginny, always Gin. I'm pretty sure the only time you've called Vic by her full name was at your wedding, Ted." Jamie smirked at Al, "And you're calling Ellie, El."

Al shook his head and started again towards his flat, "And I've never heard you call Allie, Alice. You're just as bad as we are."

"Of course I am," Jamie grinned. "We've been raised with the understanding that shortening names is a form of endearment."

"And we're all named for other people so we have our own names have nicknames as well," Teddy added.

Al chuckled, "You have no idea how weird it is for El's grandma to call me Albus."

"You need a long white beard, I bet Uncle George could help with that." Jamie laughed.

"Wait," Teddy eyed Al, "You've met her grandmother?"

Al nodded, smiling as he thought of the strange fondness he was developing for Naomi.

"How long have you been with Ellie?"

"A bit over a year now."

"A year?" Teddy and Jamie said in unison.

"And we're just now finding out she exists?" Teddy added.

Al sighed as they approached his building.

"I like to keep good things to myself. I'm pretty selfish that way, but El's doing her best to break me of that."

"So…" Jamie paused as if he was trying to find the right words. "If you need a jewelry store recommendation, Allie loves her ring."

Al felt Jamie's words knock the wind out of him.

"I, er, I'll let you know, if, if I need, er…"

"Hey," Teddy put his hand on his shoulder, "We're here if you need someone to talk to alright? Jamie's experience is a bit more recent than mine, but we're both here for you."

Al felt a bit of relief blossom in his chest, "Thanks, both of you."

"We'll see you, Sunday." Then Jamie chuckled. "You know, if I didn't know you as well as I do, I'd almost accuse you of setting us up. We can't tease you at all on Sunday since we sat there and lectured you about telling a witch you're a wizard."

"I'm not that on top of my life," Al laughed, "but I'm glad you stopped by."

Teddy and Jamie stepped over the grate and Al grabbed his pack and headed to class. Trying not to focus too hard on Jamie's offer for a jewelry store. He didn't have a job to have the money to buy a ring (it didn't feel right using his dad's inheritance for it) or the certainty that he and El could make a long-distance relationship work while he finished school, let alone if he was ready to relocate not just his country, but his freaking continent, because he'd never ask El to live anywhere but her home.

Al's internal turmoil was interrupted by his text notification as he sat down at a desk.

El: Your brothers are funny. ;) I can't wait for Sunday. Love you.

He felt lighter at just seeing her words.

Al: You made a good impression on them too. Love you.

El: Want me to bring leftover food from here to reheat tonight?

The professor walked to the front of the room and Al moved his phone to his lap.

Al: Sounds good, I haven't had a chance to shop so my cupboards are a bit bare.

El: We should definitely make that part of our evening. Now pay attention to your professor, slacker. ;)

Al grinned before sending one more text.

Al: Love you.

Then he slid his phone in his pocket and picked up his pen.

Maybe, maybe he'd talk to her about the future. Probably not tonight, but maybe after Sunday. Maybe they could figure something out. Maybe he could come to love St. John's the way Lisa did. Maybe…

Suddenly Craig bumped Al as he slid into his seat, giving a wave to the professor as he did.

"Hey mate," Craig smiled at him, "Work's pretty backed up, had to leave them hanging even with being late."

"You didn't miss anything important," Al whispered as the professor continued to answer questions from the assigned coursework.

"If you want something part-time, let me know." Craig pulled out his notebook. "It'd be nice to have someone competent working with me."

"What do you do again?"

"Run security analytics for companies, fancy talk for I'm trying to hack into all of our clients so we know how to stop the hackers from doing it for real." Craig clicked his pen mindlessly as the class continued to ask questions.

Al felt his phone vibrate and slid it out of his pocket as Ellie's response lit up his screen.

El: Love you too!

"Ask me again in the summer," Al whispered to Craig after a moment.

Craig nodded just as the professor moved onto his lecture.

Maybe, maybe Al had a solution to the money problem. Maybe. But he definitely had a deadline for talking to El now. That thought sent his heart racing.

He tried to set all that aside and focus on the lecture. It wasn't like he could have that conversation with her this moment anyway.

#Salient #albus severus #al x ellie #albus severus x oc #albus x eliza #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #Canadian OC #Native American OC #not cursed child compliant! #making muggle technology work with magic #al goes to muggle university #romance #fluff #next gen fanfic #next generation #harry potter fanfiction

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

And we’re back! Next chapter hits October 12th. 

Chapter 10

"Have you ever thought about how far we've come?" Al asked Henrik as they walked to their study group.

"You mean from being children?" Henrik chuckled. "Because I still feel like I'm a child most days."

"Well there's that," Al grinned, and pulled out a digital watch, "but look at this. I mean this is one of the places we started and now I can buy a watch that is basically my phone."

Henrik took the proffered watch from Al's fingers. "Wow, I haven't seen one of these in ages. It's set wrong," he frowned before shrugging. "Did you find it in an old drawer?"

"Basically," Al shrugged, avoiding the question and reason this watch was set back there and a half hours, "I almost want to pull it apart and see the differences between how this works and the things we're learning to create in our courses."

"The biggest difference will be the single layer PCB and fewer microchips." Henrik nodded. "But we definitely should play with it sometime. Maybe we can get the readout to tell time in binary."

"Now you're talking," Al took the phone back from Henrik, "But let's do it after finals."

It wasn't something he hadn't noticed before, the difference in the circuit boards, but Al had been focusing his experimenting more on the microchips being the offenders than the fact that the circuit boards were a different style.

Maybe he'd been chasing the wrong variable?

Al did his best to push that puzzle aside in exchange for focusing on his study group. His experiments really needed to be on hold until he finished finals, but the issue of how to try and test the different styles of circuit boards continued to run on the hamster wheel in the back of his mind.

So much so that his girlfriend noticed later that evening.

"You're distracted," she sighed, and Al realized he hadn't even been looking at his textbook. They'd been studying as they ate dinner together at his flat since both had finals the next morning.

"Sorry," Al ran a hand into his hair, "I finally figured out how to ask Henrik about my experimenting, like you said, and he had an idea, but I have no idea how to test it."

"Well, talk to me about it."

Ellie sounded just a bit exasperated, which Al found odd, but he complied.

"It's the circuit boards, see a circuit board can have multiple layers. The digital watches have one layer and our phones and computers use multiple layers. But, the problem could also have to do with microchips, which I've already been playing around with. And I'm realizing that I've not been isolating my variables but I'm not sure how to now either."

Ellie looked pensive, and as she processed his words, Al noticed the dark circles that were forming under her deep brown eyes. That seemed strange, he'd never seen her look so worn before.

"Build something you can test then," she finally spoke. "When I want to paint something but don't have a good reference for it I go make myself a good reference. Build what you need."

Al nodded, but his mind was far from his experiments now.

"El, have you managed to sleep?"

"What?" She blinked at him.

"You look really tired," he ran a hand along her cheek, "and, and you're missing some of your, of whatever makes you so you."

Ellie closed her eyes and sighed, "I haven't slept much no."

"But, you only have the one final tomorrow, right? All your other classes were papers and paintings." Al's confusion increased.

"School isn't why I'm not sleeping, Al."

"Then why not?"

Ellie slumped over her text and closed her eyes. "My grandma is ill, and I'm not going to be able to get home till August and I'm worried…" she took a deep breath as her voice caught.

Al moved to wrap Ellie in his arms, "Hey, I'm sure she's going to be alright." He ran a comforting hand along her back. "Why don't you just go home after finals?"

"It's part of my arrangement with my aunt and uncle," Ellie's voice was thick and Al wondered if she was holding back tears for his benefit or because she'd already cried herself sick and didn't care to repeat the process. "I work all year except for two weeks in August when I get to go home. In exchange, I get room and board and my paycheck."

"Wait," Al paused as her words set in, "you don't go home for Christmas break? Or ninety percent of the summer?"

Ellie shook her head no and Al wanted to scream. That wasn't right, it wasn't fair, it wasn't what Ellie deserved!

"What if I could get you a major discount on a Portkey?" Al suppressed the urge to scream with the desire to mend it all. Dad got wicked deals on Portkeys and sure Al would have to tell his parents he was dating Ellie but it would be worth it if it meant he got her home.

"I wouldn't be able to explain to my aunt and uncle where I was," Ellie shook her head.

Then Al had an idea, "Tell them you're with me, at my flat."

Ellie went very still in his arms. "Are, I mean, would you, would you be alright with that?"

Al leant his forehead down to rest against hers, "There's very little I won't do for you, El. I'll even pay for the Portkey if it would get you home sooner."

Al watched as tears welled in Ellie's eyes.

"Whoa, I'm trying to help, not make it worse." He pulled her into him but was surprised when she started laughing.

"You are helping and you're making it better not worse." She laughed and cried into his shoulder.

"You're crying because you're glad?" Al felt like his brain had been given a bad bit of code and he got stuck in an infinite loop.

"Yes," Ellie looked up at him, tears streaking down her face, "what kind of discount can you get me? I want us to leave Friday after your last final. I'll need to be back Sunday evening so I can start work Monday morning, I work full time during the summers."

"Us…" Al echoed.

"I want you to see my home, and I want you to meet her..." Ellie's voice caught again and she stopped talking to breathe deeply.

"Of course," Al pulled her into him again, feeling so many things at once he thought he might explode, "of course I'll come."

He was excited that she wanted him to come, scared to death to meet her family, scared to death to introduce her to his parents, excited to see her home, but more than all that, he was anxious to get started, to pack, to nail down their plans and be ready to head out in two days.

"Come on," he pulled her up as he stood, "you're going to meet my parents."

Ellie's eyes went huge, "What?"

Al took comfort in knowing this was just as nerve-wracking for her as it was for him.

"My discount comes from Dad, he'll be able to get us the Portkey all set up in the next hour assuming he's not out on assignment. Mum will know one way or the other, so we'll start there."

Al pressed his lips to hers, "They'll love you, I promise."

Ellie leant into him and for a moment he just held her, allowing the feeling of her heart beating against his to calm his own nerves.

"Let's go," Ellie yawned, "because this is going to put me to sleep."

Al rather liked the idea of Ellie falling asleep against his chest.

But he set that aside for another, less busy moment, instead, leading Ellie out to the small alley they used to Apparate.

One wonderful thing about his parents living in Godric's Hollow was that Al could Apparate right in front of his parents' house, something only he and a few other family members could do thanks to his dad's wards.

Al was ready to go charging in when Ellie sighed happily, "This is beautiful!"

Al stopped and looked around. It looked like home, same as it always had. But Ellie's eyes shone as she slowly took everything in. So Al tried again, tried to see it all with new eyes, through Ellie's eyes.

The homes were in a nice row along the cobblestone road, their front gardens all in varying levels of overgrowth, the stone of their exteriors worn from centuries of housing wizards behind their walls. Spring was in full bloom, all the flowering plants putting on a bright show of pinks and yellows, whites and purples, oranges and reds, all backdropped by the different greens from leaves and stems and lawn. The sun hung low in the sky, causing the sky to shift color from blue to pink to orange.

And as Al really looked, he suddenly seemed to really hear as well. There were birds singing, and the rustle of new leaves in the gentle breezes that accompany spring. He could hear his own breathing, which seemed appropriate since he wasn't sure he'd really lived in Godric's Hollow before this moment standing in front of his childhood home with El. It hit him then, that she was the catalyst. Ellie was what made him actually see, and he hoped she always felt like he saw her.

"You're right," he whispered, "I'd never noticed before now, but it's beautiful." Then he smiled, "Just like you."

Ellie's smile blossomed along with a pink tinge against her cheeks.

"Come on," Al kissed her briefly, "let's get you that Portkey."

Al tapped his wand against the door and pushed it open.

"Mum? Dad?"

"Al?" Harry popped his head out of the hall that led to the kitchen with a smile that Al knew his dad reserved only for his kids. "Welcome home, son! Who's this lovely lady?"

Right on cue, Ginny stepped up behind Harry to look around him at said 'lovely lady,' a similar smile on her face.

Al took a deep breath, "Dad, Mum, this is Ellie Battiste, my girlfriend. Ellie, these are my parents, Harry and Ginny Potter."

Ellie stepped forward, her hand held out, but Ginny ignored her hand entirely and pulled Ellie into a hug that Al knew from experience felt an awful lot like Grandma Weasley's.

"It's wonderful to meet you!"

Ellie laughed as Ginny released her. "You too, Mrs. Potter."

"We're Ginny and Harry to our friends," Harry shook her hand, "and any friend of Al's is a friend of ours."

"Thank you, Harry," Ellie smiled.

"Dad, can you get us a Portkey for Friday?" Al stepped up behind Ellie and slipped a hand around her waist.

"Al, if you're eloping, can you at least let your father and I be witnesses?"

Al felt his mouth go dry and his stomach plumet. "No! I mean, we're not, I, er, I…"

"Gin, please stop breaking our son," Harry chuckled and put a comforting hand on Al's shoulder. "Come sit down, both of you, and we can look into getting you a Portkey."

Al focused on not looking at Ellie, he was scared to death to find out what expression might be upon her perfect face.

"Now, Ellie, where about in Canada are you from?"

Al looked sharply at his father as he helped Ellie to sit. "We hadn't mentioned she was from Canada."

Harry rolled his eyes at him, "Al, who am I aside from being your father?"

Al looked down and suppressed an embarrassed groan, "Sorry, this is stressful."

Harry chuckled and ruffled Al's hair, "You're doing just fine." Then he turned to Ellie, "I'm the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, I've spent time in Canada, and I recognize the accent. You sound a touch different than the Canadians that I worked with though."

"I'm from Newfoundland," Ellie's smile seemed to give Al a bit more courage, "Specifically near St. John's. Is there more that you'll need to know?"

"We can get the details hammered out in a moment. My next question is what you'll be doing."

"Ellie's grandmother is sick," Al jumped in. "We're not eloping," he shot his mum a look.

"Not yet," she shot back, and Al felt his stomach drop again, but Ellie laughed.

"Don't worry, Ginny, I'm an only child, my parents would kill me if I eloped."

"We'll get along just fine," Ginny reached out and squeezed Ellie's arm.

Al was pretty sure he wasn't going to live through this.

"When did you want to leave?" Harry chuckled and gave Ginny a look Al remembered from childhood. He was glad that he'd be in his own flat tonight.

"Friday around noon," Ellie started but Al cut her off.

"Friday at eleven," he shook his head, "this final is a joke. If it takes me an hour to finish it then I'll buy the second Portkey."

Harry chuckled, "There's so much of your aunt in you sometimes it scares me."

"And we'll need to be back Sunday night, I have to work Monday morning," Ellie added.

"Alright, I'll get this all filled out, and I'll cut you a deal," Harry nodded as he summoned the parchment form and a pen. "If you can spend this evening with us and let us get to know you, I'll pay for the Portkey."

Al held his breath and looked at Ellie, who smiled widely and nodded, "I'll stay all night if you want me to."

Ginny laughed, "We won't keep you all night," she summoned the tea tray and tapped her wand against the kettle to warm it, "but I definitely would like to get to know you. You've managed to get my normally myopic son to act like his father after we got together after the war."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Al's handling this loads better than I did, give the poor boy some credit."

Al groaned and put his head on the table. Ellie's laughter pulled his eyes back up to her, and her smile made him feel like maybe he'd make it through this evening alright.

And he did, to the extent that he was sure his parents were quite pleased with Ellie. They returned to his flat by floo, Portkey in hand. He was about to move to the door to Apparate her home when Ellie grabbed his hand and stopped him.

"Come on."

Al followed her, slightly perplexed, to his room. Ellie kicked off her shoes and pulled him down to his bed with her.

"Er, what, El, I'm, I, I'm definitely, but, your final, and…"

Ellie chuckled and pulled the covers back. "Just sleep next to me, Al, I don't want to go back to my room. It's small and cramped and smells like varnish and I'm tired."

Al smiled, she was cute when she was tired. Quickly kicking off his shoes and setting an alarm on his phone, Al slid onto the bed and wrapped himself around her.

"Thank you," she sighed happily.

"Anything for you, El," he kissed her hair.

And as they dozed off to sleep, he genuinely felt he'd do anything for her, because he was starting to realize that he was quickly falling in love with Eliza Battiste.

#Salient #al x ellie #albus severus x oc #albus severus potter x oc #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #albus x eliza #not cursed child compliant! #Canadian OC #native american oc #making muggle technology work with magic #romance #fluff #fluffy #harry potter fanfiction #next gen fanfic #next generation #fanfiction

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

See you again November 23rd!

Chapter 16

There's a point in most inventors' lives where the invention takes over them. Where they eat sleep and breathe it. Everything takes second chair to the invention, making it work, getting it to the next point, researching it. Al thought that this point had already come and gone for him, and that it had led him to go to university.

Al was wrong.

That time was now.

Al barely scraped through his finals for the summer semester, his high grades up to that point carrying him through. He was constantly begging Uncle Neville to let him into Hogwarts' library and scouring through the books for hints about what spells might help him. He went home with El one night to simply pick John's brain for anything that could help. Al forgot to respond to text messages, return phone calls, and emails. He frequently forgot to eat and often didn't realize he should go to bed until after five in the morning.

He was constantly thinking about how to make this phone case, and it was complicated. It needed to be able to be enchanted while still being in contact with the phone, and he needed to be able to use the same methods on the screen protectors.

There was a lot to figure out!

At least that's what his brain shouted anytime Al began to feel like a bad person for having fallen off the face of the Earth.

He was pouring over a book he bought that morning, or maybe it was last night...it was recently, he was sure of that - when his bedroom door opened.

He looked up to see a rather determined-looking El.

"When was the last time you checked your phone?"

Al blinked, "Er…"

"Alright," she moved closer, "what was the last thing you ate?"

Al furrowed his brow, "It was, er, I think…"

"Well then," she sat on his work table where he was reading, "could you venture to tell me what day it is?"

"Wednesday," Al grinned, feeling far too chuffed. He knew it was Wednesday because he'd set alarms for all his Fall classes after he missed two of them. Several weeks in and Al was sure that was the only reason he wasn't failing his courses.

"Wrong," Ellie made a sound like a buzzer, "it is eight o'clock Thursday morning."

Al blinked. That couldn't be right. He began rummaging around for his phone before finally remembering it was in the safe box.

"I don't have class on Thursday until two," he tried to look less frantic as he retrieved the safe box and his phone.

"Al, I think you need help, or maybe you need to choose between your course load and your inventing, or simply do something different, because you're not alright." Ellie sighed as Al turned his phone back on and dozens of missed notifications began sounding.

Al tried to separate everything in his brain but couldn't seem to think straight. Every thought was a jumbled mix of spell books and Muggle textbooks and trying to make the two merge, and then random pieces of his courses jumped in for an extra touch of confusion.

"Al, love," Ellie reached out and took his hand in hers, "maybe you should try and get some sleep before your class."

"You're not at work," was all he finally managed to say.

"Nope," she grinned, "your obsession over this has made me quite worried about you, so I asked one of the other servers to switch a shift with me, skived a couple of classes for it, and now I'm here to give you the chance to come to your senses. If not," she set down a card on his table and slid it towards him, "you gave me permission a while back to use this if necessary."

Al stared down at Ellie's old card he'd used to write his parents' names and numbers on when he'd been trying to assure her that he wasn't a stalker.

"You'd, wait, would you really, you think, El I'm alright, I promise." Al turned his gaze up to El and was met with the force of a grizzly bear in her stare.

"I don't believe that for one second," she held his gaze and Al momentarily wondered what it would be like to kiss her in her current frame of mind.

But then she hopped off the table and pulled on his hand until he stood.

"Now, go shower, then you're going to eat something, and then you're going to bed."

"It's fine, El, really," Al hedged, looking back down at this book.

"Would your mum say this is fine?" El smirked at him.

Al heaved a sigh and shook his head.

El wrapped him in her arms and held him for a long moment. She rested her head against his chest and he could feel her chest rise and fall slowly against him. After what was probably only a minute but felt like five, she spoke.

"There," she smiled up at him.

"What?" Al could feel the fatigue seeping into his brain.

"Your heart rate slows down when I hug you."

She pressed her lips up to his for a soft kiss and Al felt a part of his brain push through the fatigue enough to simply point out that El was probably right about all this.

"Now go shower," she murmured against him, "because I love you, but you stink."

Al gave her chuckle. "Maybe, but I'm not nearly as bad as Dad when he gets back from some of his undercover missions."

Ellie laughed and gave him a gentle push toward his door. "I'm sure. Go get clean, I'll make breakfast."

Al had to admit that he did feel better after his shower. He also felt like maybe he ought to reread the chapter he'd been on. So he picked up the book on his way to the little table.

El had made the spinach omelet that he normally ordered when he went to the diner and Al smiled.

"You're pretty amazing, you know?"

He looked up at her, expecting to see her bright smile. Instead, Ellie was frowning at his open book next to him.

"Alright, El?"

El continued to frown at his book. "Tuck in, then get some sleep."

She moved to the sofa and picked up her hoodie.

"You're leaving?" Al felt blindsided.

She sighed before looking up at him. "When you have time for me again, let me know."

And quietly, Ellie slipped out the door.

#Salient #albus severus x oc #albus x eliza #al x ellie #al x el #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #albus severus potter x oc #not cursed child compliant! #Canadian OC #Native American OC #making muggle technology work with magic #al goes to muggle university #romance #fluff #next generation #next gen fanfic #harry potter fanfiction

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

Next chapter goes up August 17th! =D

 Chapter 3

Al quickly shoved his experiments into their bag and grabbed his things. He was running late today, but he had tried something that seemed like it could work and had lost track of time going down what had ended up being a pointless rabbit hole.

Al was useless on Wednesday, and his heart wasn't in his experiments Thursday morning. He was too wrapped up in his head, trying to decide how to handle how much of a stalker he had been and whether or not to admit it to Ellie or to pretend nothing had happened.

When it was time to leave, he still hadn't decided.

Walking into the caff, Al's nerves calmed for an instant when Ellie turned and smiled at him.

"I missed you on Tuesday," he blurted out before he could think better of it.

Ellie blushed and smiled broadly. "I...thank you."

They stood there a moment before Ellie cleared her throat, "Usual?"

"Er, yeah, thanks," Al took his regular seat at the bar and Ellie set his tea down in front of him with a small smile. He watched as Ellie went back into the kitchen, her hairpin catching his attention as it always did.

Al sighed as the door closed behind her. This was getting ridiculous. He was getting to the point where he was bordering on stalking her. And he was starting to question if he was only doing it because she was maybe, potentially, a witch.

No. A voice in his head snapped at him. He wasn't only into her because he suspected she was a witch. Ellie was beautiful inside and out. He wanted to get to know her better and hear all about growing up in St. John's. He wanted to hold her hand. He wanted to know if her lips were as soft as they looked. And fine, yes he wanted to know if she was a witch too, but that wasn't going to change that he wanted to date her.

Well, he hadn't been raised by Harry and Ginny Potter and without learning a fair bit. Gryffindor courage and all that aside, if he learned anything from his parents, it was that you had to go out and get what you wanted, whether that was destroying Voldemort or playing professional Quidditch or in Al's case, getting a date with his waitress, you had to go get it. Granted he could probably ask his parents to use their Ministry contacts and figure out if Ellie was a witch, but that felt far more terrifying than simply asking the woman to dinner. Al knew what his family was capable of when romantic entanglements became a family affair. He'd played a key role in the orchestration of playing Jamie and Allie. So no, he really didn't want to get his family involved until he absolutely had to.

So when Ellie walked back out with his omelet, he decided to live up to the Potter reputation.

"Would you like to grab dinner with me?"

The plate clattered a little as Ellie nearly dropped it in front of him. "I...I…"

The order bell rang and Ellie looked momentarily torn before giving him a regretful look and leaving to grab the order.

Al wanted to die.

He ate his omelet in five large bites and downed his tea, burning his tongue and throat in the process. He needed to get out of there. He'd hand her his card, assure her he wouldn't bother her again and go find a hole to die in.

Ellie came out and delivered the order before heading for Al.

"Sorry," he handed her his card. "I didn't realize you weren't interested. I won't bother you anymore."

Ellie bit her lip, "Al, it isn't that. I, I just…"

"You don't owe me an explanation, Ellie." Al cut her off.

She looked like she might say more but apparently decided against it. Ellie turned to the cash register and ran his card.

Al tried to smile when she handed him his card and receipt. "You're lovely. Thanks for letting me get to know you a bit."

Ellie looked mildly distraught and Al kicked himself.

"Don't worry about this, really, it's fine."

Ellie nodded but she still looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Al stood and moved to leave before pausing.

Al turned around.

He had nothing to lose, right?

He gestured to her hair and this time he did smile. "Your wand is beautiful."

Ellie went very still and stared at him with wide eyes. Al congratulated himself. She'd now think he was crazy and so she wouldn't worry about having hurt him. She'd be grateful to be rid of him. That was good. And he'd never come back to this place.

He walked out the door and squinted at the sun in his eyes. Craig was going to have a field day with this, but Al wasn't sure he cared. He'd spent a month trying to win over a girl, going so far as to stalk the poor thing, and she had been completely uninterested. He was an idiot.

"Al!"

Al froze.

"Al!"

Afraid he was imagining her voice, slowly he turned around.

Ellie came running up to him, her cheeks flushing in the still cold March weather. She pulled her wand from her dark hair causing it to fall in long cascading strands down her back.

Al thought she was beautiful beforehand, but he wasn't prepared for how gorgeous she was now. Her skin was slightly darker than his own, but the sunlight and her dark hair seemed to pull more hue out of her skin and made it look like she was glowing. Her eyes were like honey and he could see flecks of gold reflecting against the sunshine. He was so awestruck that he didn't notice her wave her wand just slightly. He jumped when a blue light began to shine from its end.

"I thought you were a Muggle." Ellie's voice was quiet as the light faded. "And I, I didn't know what to do."

Al finally managed to come to himself, "Why would it have mattered? If I was a Muggle?"

Ellie bit her lip, "I, I, the last Muggle I dated, he thought I was crazy when I tried to tell him, and he well, I was almost deported. So I…"

Al closed the distance between them and gently took her hand. Ellie went silent and looked down at their hands.

"I'm sorry."

Ellie looked up and Al found that every fiber in his being wanted to lean down and kiss her. His brain reminded him she was already skittish enough though, and somehow he restrained himself.

"I'm sorry I made things hard on you. I suspected, hoped really, you were a witch since the first day we met."

"Really?"

Al smiled and stepped closer, maneuvering her hand a bit more securely into his own.

"Really. So would you be willing to go to dinner tomorrow?"

Ellie smiled wide and Al was pretty sure she was going to kill him looking like this.

"Here," she slipped a card into his free hand. "This has my cellphone number on it. I need to get back. I'll be in enough trouble as it is."

She squeezed Al's hand before releasing it. Al looked down at the card in his hand and suddenly remembered the problem he had been mulling over the last two days.

He now had two of Eliza Battiste's artist cards.

"I'll text you, tonight," Al pushed down the guilt that climbed up into his throat and smiled at Ellie.

Ellie had stepped back, but she looked up at him and bit her lip. Her brow furrowed a moment before she stepped forward and pressed up on her toes to place a kiss on his cheek.

Al nearly turned to capture her lips with his but thought better of it.

Ellie pulled back slowly and smiled at him. "Can't wait."

"Me either," Al felt far warmer than he should for the temperature around them.

Ellie winked at him and slowly began walking back toward her work. She gave him a small wave before disappearing behind the door.

Al looked down at the artist's card in his hand and pulled out his wallet to look at the one he obtained by stalking her. He had no choice now. Dinner the next night needed to be seasoned with a healthy dose of honesty.

Shite.

#salient #harry potter fanfiction #Albus Severus x OC #Al x Ellie #fluff #making muggle technology work with magic #albus severus potter #albus severus potter x oc #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #canadian oc #albus x eliza #al goes to muggle university #romance #humor #obscure ship #but oh how I adore them

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Now that Patient and it's 5K+ word chapters are done, Salient gets weekly updates! See you all Saturday, Sept 7th!

Chapter 6

Al had spent all morning Saturday powering through his homework. He managed to finish it all and get a bit ahead before noon, then he moved from school work to cleaning his flat again. He finished cleaning it, then cleaned it a second time, and then realized he didn't have anything planned for the date yet.

And in his panic, he could only think of one thing he wanted to do. But it felt weird and on that same wavelength as stalking her had.

Al wanted to watch Ellie paint.

Not in a creepy way! He reasoned in his head.

There's something about seeing someone doing what they love, in their element, that absolutely fascinated Al. He reasoned it probably started with watching his parents have Seeker scrimmages over the back lawn when he was little. It was only reinforced on the rare occasion he got to watch his dad work on new defense spells, and the consistent opportunity to watch his mum write her articles. You can see a whole new side of a person when you watch them doing their passion, and Al was keen to see every side of Ellie she might be willing to show him.

He passed his phone back and forth between his hands, trying to convince himself to just have her come over and watch Star Wars or some other safe and semi-normal date activity. But his mind was obsessing and Al couldn't get it to stop.

"Just text her and ask," he told himself. "Worst that happens is she says no."

Or calls Mum.

Shite.

Al took a deep breath. He was overreacting. He just needed to approach the question in a not creepy way. Word it better. He could do that.

He opened his text messages

Al: Hi Ellie. I'm excited to see you :) What do you think of starting out our date by letting me see some of your other pieces? I'd love to see something you're working on right now.

He read the text twenty times before finally hitting send. He wanted to be sure it didn't sound like he was being weird because he usually came off as weird...at least that's what a lot of people had told him.

He agonized about that a bit while he waited for his phone to chime with her response.

After an eternity of five minutes, it did.

Ellie: Sure, I know just the one to show you too! See you in thirty minutes?

Al let out an explosive breath. He wasn't sure how he'd done it, but he had somehow managed to not come off as a stalker, and he felt like flying.

Al: Can't wait. See you in thirty.

Al managed to sit still all of thirty seconds before he started to fidget. In order to keep himself from stress cleaning (again), and to make some attempt at clearing his mind, he decided to go on a long walk before walking to Ellie's.

The walk was good. It threatened to rain but thankfully didn't. And Al managed to push his mind over to other things like his experiments and classes. So by the time he was standing in front of Ellie's door, Al felt halfway normal again.

Then Ellie opened the door.

Damn this woman was hell-bent on doing him in. Or maybe he just needed to grow accustomed to her in clothes other than her work clothes? He liked the implications of the second option.

"Hi!" She grinned up at him and Al wasted no time in closing the distance between them to kiss her.

Kissing Ellie was its own kind of magic and Al loved it. It was the kind of magic that trickled down his spine and quieted his mind. It was the kind of magic that made charms and transfiguration feel like parlor tricks and sleight of hand.

"Hi," he whispered against her when she pulled back to take a deep breath.

"Hi," she giggled, "Want to come in?"

He nodded against her forehead, "Only a lot."

She reached down and took his hand and winked at him. "Then follow me, Mr. Potter."

Al swallowed, he kind of liked how she said Potter, like each letter deserved to be said. But it still put his mind on his parents. "Mr. Potter is my dad, El."

"It's you too, silly," Ellie laughed as she led him up the steps.

"Yeah, but I think of my dad when I hear it." Al looked around as she led him through another door and into her aunt and uncle's sitting room.

"Well, then remind yourself that it's me saying it and not anyone else." She winked at him as she pulled him up another staircase.

"That helps," Al chuckled as his nose picked up the smell of something odd.

Ellie led him down a narrow corridor and opened a door to what had to be her room.

There was a large table that took up the majority of the small space littered with paint splatters and three table easels each holding a half-finished canvas. A folding chair was similarly covered in paint. Tubs were under the table full of paint tubes and canvases - both finished and new. The only other piece of furniture in the tight space was her small bed pushed up against the other wall, and Al was sure he noticed paint stains on her pillowcase.

He also realized the smell had been coming from her room.

"Is that the paint I smell?" He noticed her room didn't have a window, which he didn't think suited her at all.

"The varnish, actually," she picked up her wand from her bed and sent a wave of fresh air around them. "I just finished varnishing this one." She pointed to an open tub under the table where a painting of a dock reaching into a body of water sat.

"It's beautiful," Al grinned, resisting the urge to reach out and touch it.

"But you wanted to see something I was working on," she moved to the easels on the table.

Al nodded and came to stand beside her. It was only then that he noticed the three canvases had the same color scheme.

"I can't tell what it's going to be, but are they a set?"

Ellie nodded, "They're a set, and they're in the ugly stage right now."

"Ugly stage?" Al laughed as he wrapped a hand around her waist.

Ellie leaned into him and Al grinned like an idiot. "Some mediums look beautiful from start to finish, like watercolor. Others, like acrylic, look awful for the first eighty percent of the painting before they start to look like something might be salvageable, and it isn't until the last ten percent or so that the painting looks beautiful."

Al chuckled, "So these are acrylic?"

Ellie nodded against his shoulder.

"Do you only paint in acrylic?"

"No, those books," she pointed to a tub under the table, "are all the watercolors I've done since I moved here." She pointed to another tub, "And these are all oil paintings."

"What about those three tubs?" Al pointed to the last three tubs big enough for paintings.

"Those are acrylic paintings."

"So you obviously prefer acrylic," Al chuckled.

Ellie smiled up at him, "I guess I do."

Al held her gaze for a moment, loving that her smile was directed at him.

"So what will these three be?"

Ellie's smile went just a touch sad, "They're home."

"St. John's?" Al pulled her a bit closer, determined to ease the sadness out of her smile.

"And all around the island. My dad and my grandma have a special connection with the land and nature. They took Mum and me all around Newfoundland while I was growing up."

"I bet it was brilliant."

Ellie sighed, looking back at the three canvases. "It's the best sort of magic."

Al held her, not sure how to dissolve the melancholy that had fallen so quickly. Ellie reached out and touched the closest canvas, and Al had an idea.

"Why not finish them?"

"Oh, Al, that'll take me a few hours." Ellie laughed.

"Alright," he pulled her chair out for her and threw his coat on her bed. "This is better than sitting on my couch watching Star Wars together."

"You, you really want to watch me paint? I warn you I'm no Bob Ross."

Al chuckled, "I have no idea who that is, but I honestly believe he can't paint half as well as you do."

"Al," Ellie hedged, looking uncertain.

He pulled her into him and kissed her softly before pulling back a fraction, "Paint, El."

"Do I earn kisses for finishing paintings," she murmured against him before pushing forward and kissing him again.

"You don't earn kisses, El," he smiled, "you get to experience how much will power I have at not simply kissing you all day, every day."

Ellie laughed, her broad smile breaking their kiss completely.

"Now paint," Al grinned and sat on her bed to remove his shoes.

Ellie was nervous at first, her movements jerky and she fumbled with brushes and paint. But Al grinned when her brush hit paint. Her very posture changed as she zoned in, painting through this 'ugly stage'. And Al sat on her bed and watched as she worked. It was amazing to see how masterfully she handled her materials. Moving between the three canvases with each bright color she squeezed out of white tubes smeared in paint. He zoned in with her, mesmerized as the images began to break through the paintings.

Al nearly jumped out of his skin when someone knocked on the door.

"Eliza," a vaguely familiar voice called out.

Al watched Ellie as she came out of her trance, looking much like a little girl being woken early from a nap.

"Yes, Aunt Susan?" Ellie didn't sound like herself, and Al frowned.

The door opened and the woman who'd been his waitress the day Ellie had been set up in the gallery came in.

"Eliza," she paused, "oh dear girl, please tell me you did not make this poor boy sit here and watch you paint."

Al felt outraged at Susan's words and opened his mouth to say so but Ellie beat him to speaking.

"We, I, he wanted to see what home looked like."

"And you have plenty of pictures on your phone, I'm sure." Susan shook her head. "I'm going to throw some dinner together, will the two of you be joining us?"

"No," Al spoke before Ellie could. "I've made other arrangements."

Susan squinted at him, "Oh, you're the boy who asked after Ellie a few days ago."

"That's me," Manners be damned. Al wanted to erect a brick wall between this woman and Ellie.

"Thanks, Aunt Susan," Al turned to see Ellie had returned the paintings.

"Of course, dear," Susan smiled at her back before turning and closing the door.

Al stared at the closed door for a moment, trying to gain control of his indignance.

"She means well," Ellie's voice seemed to seep into his anger like a stream of cold mountain water. "She thinks I'm too caught up in my art to see the real world, and that I'll end up alone and a starving artist."

Al moved from the bed to Ellie's side before kneeling next to her folding chair.

"You see the world better than she does because of your art." He ran his fingers against the paint on her hand. "I won't lie, I kind of want to yell at your aunt right now."

She laughed and leaned down to kiss him. Al would have sacrificed both knees for her to keep kissing him right there, but eventually, she pulled back.

"Thank you."

"Do you want to eat now and finish these after dinner or finish these now and eat later?" Al pressed his forehead against hers.

She glanced at her palette before looking back at him.

"Food now is good. I'm basically out of paint on my palette so I'm not going to be wasting anything. And we don't have to come back and have me paint. We can do something you like too."

Al pressed forward and kissed her briefly. "Please never think I don't like watching you do what you love."

She grinned, "I'd like to see what you love too."

Al smiled, "What's your calendar look like this week? I can always do with an extra evening experimenting."

Ellie brought a paint-smeared hand up to his face. "How about tomorrow?"

"Sounds perfect," and he kissed her.

#Salient #Al x Ellie #albus severus x oc #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #albus x eliza #geeky albus #painter ellie #making muggle technology work with magic #albus goes to muggle university #albus living in the muggle world #Canadian OC #fluff #romance

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One more warning that this is NOT Cursed Child Compliant...

Chapter 5

They ate in silence for a few minutes before Ellie asked a question that Al was very accustomed to answering.

"What was it like growing up famous?"

Al chuckled, "Thankfully, I'm not famous. Dad and Mum are. But it was still weird. My first day at Hogwarts, a reporter wrote a gossip column saying that I'd come to her from the future claiming that Voldemort had tried to come back through an illegitimate daughter, and I had stopped her."

Ellie laughed, "That's crazy."

"Yeah, but for the most part everyone is focused on Mum and Dad, less on me and my brothers and sister."

"So we'd be safe in Diagon Alley?"

Al hesitated, "Probably not. When my brother Ted was a teen that same reporter followed him and his now-wife around at the World Cup to try and stir up controversy about Dad and his friends. The rest of us have since tried to lie low."

Ellie blinked, "I thought your dad saved your country, and probably the rest of the Wizarding world subsequently. Why on Earth would reporters want to drag him through the dirt?"

Al shrugged, "Mum always says it's because they're jealous. Grandpa Weasley says it's because small minds have to occupy themselves somehow. I don't know, but I do know I like being a nobody in the Muggle world."

"So there are no benefits to being the son of famous war heroes, and a famous Quidditch star?" Ellie chuckled.

"I guess the lifetime Harpies' tickets Mum gets," Al tried to think of anything else, "And seeing Dad on Chocolate Frog cards is pretty cool. But that's about it. Mostly, we get left alone, as long as we're good and boring."

"But in the Muggle world, you don't have to be good and boring?" Ellie smirked at him and Al rather liked the way his chest warmed at her teasing.

"I tend towards good and boring anyway."

"I disagree," Ellie leant closer across the table, "I find you anything but boring."

Al suddenly found it hard to swallow.

"Why are you really living in the Muggle world, Al?"

Al took a large gulp of his water before breathing deeply. He was so thoroughly gone for this woman. It was sort of pathetic but, Merlin, he didn't care.

"I, I'm trying to solve something," Al took another drink, willing himself to stop acting like a nervous little git.

"Solve something?" Ellie frowned, "Like a mystery?"

"No, more like a puzzle," Al hesitated. "Are you sure you want to hear about this? My brothers assure me this is boring and my sister once told me it was definitely not dating conversation."

Ellie laughed, "I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't willing to risk it. Tell me about your puzzle, maybe I can help."

Al had to temper his excitement. She was willing to listen to him, not geek out with him.

"So, I don't know how much you've tried to mix the Muggle world with the Wizarding world, but when you mix technology with magic the whole thing is a nightmare."

Ellie nodded, "Ruined a phone on accident that way."

"Right," Al nodded excitedly, "so as a teenager I'd buy old used phones and computers and try to make them work while doing magic around them. But as I neared the halfway mark of my NEWT year, I realized I still didn't know enough to figure it out. So I badgered Aunt Hermione into helping me get into Muggle university. I figured if magic wasn't teaching me the solution, then I'd need to get a Muggle degree before I'd have a chance at solving this."

Ellie looked at him expectantly and Al sighed, "Only, I'm starting to think maybe I was wrong. I'm nearly two years in and nothing I've learned so far is making a difference."

She frowned, "Al, you do realize most of the classes that might help you are going to be starting next year or the year after, right?"

Al blinked. He actually didn't know much outside of what Aunt Hermione had told him, and she'd handled putting his classes together for him. He just followed the spreadsheet she made.

"Er, so I should have moved those classes from next year to last year?"

Ellie laughed, "No, it's just like magic, you can't learn NEWTS until you've learned OWLS."

"So I'm supposed to spend the first two years learning the basics and then I get the good stuff the second two years?"

"That's sort of simplified, but pretty accurate all the same."

"How do you know so much?"

Ellie grinned, "My mum is a Muggle. She's actually from around here. The waitress that helped you when I was gone is my mum's sister. She and my uncle own the place and offered me the job when Mum told them I'd be coming to university here."

Al's excitement bubbled beneath the surface as Ellie revealed more about herself. He loved puzzles and seeing another facet of Ellie was thrilling.

"What took your mum to Canada?"

"Mum visited St. John's after she finished A-Levels. She and Dad had a summer romance while she was there." Ellie smiled, "Mum decided to stay."

"So why did you leave?" Al pressed his luck, seeing how much more of herself she was willing to show him.

"I wanted to see the world. I love St. John's, and I want to end up back there, but I wanted to see what else was out there. This was as far as I could get with what I have, but I feel like it's been good for me." Ellie sighed, "But I do miss home."

"Benefits of the Wizarding world," Al smiled, "home is a portkey away."

"Not when you live with your Muggle aunt and uncle." Ellie gave him a sad smile. "They don't know I'm a witch, or that Dad is a wizard, or that Dad's whole family is magical. Mum says it's best that way."

Al frowned. He didn't like the way Ellie's demeanor had changed, but he didn't have answers to her problem either, and that left him feeling helpless.

He didn't like that feeling, especially not in regards to Ellie.

"Hey," Ellie tapped his foot with her own and Al looked up to see her smiling again. "Tonight's my last night in that gallery. Want to go look at my art with me?"

Al smiled, "Definitely."

Al decided to take an Uber from the restaurant to the gallery. He wasn't sure he knew the area well enough to Aparate without running into trouble. Ellie didn't seem to mind, at least Al hoped her holding his hand the whole ride was a good indication that she didn't mind.

Ellie smiled brightly at the lady tending the gallery that evening before pulling Al back to the small corner that held her five canvases.

"You're incredibly talented," Al stepped closer to Ellie, tentatively interlacing his fingers with hers. He tried not to sigh in relief when she squeezed his hand.

"Thank you."

"Have you ever painted with magic?" Al asked, remembering his silly attempt to talk to the painting of the old woman.

Ellie sighed, "Yes, but it's different. Painting with magic takes a lot of the process away from you. You really can end up with the painting dictating to you. Not that it doesn't feel like that happens in Muggle painting too, but…"

She frowned, and Al watched as she worked out what she wanted to say. She was really pretty when she was thinking.

"You know how technology to wizards who have never interacted with Muggles comes off as weird or a trick? Well, I can paint things the Muggle way that can feel like magic but aren't."

"Your bear," Al nodded. "It was a black bear and a polar bear depending on where my eye focused."

"Exactly!" Ellie nodded excitedly. "I love that I can make magic happen without a wand. And I want to get better at it. I want to show that there's Wizarding magic, but that there's magic in the Muggle world too. Artists and inventors and people who innovate new and amazing things are magical, just in a different way from the people who use wands."

Al grinned down as Ellie gave her impassioned little speech. She was so right. He'd learned as much having spent the last two years living in the Muggle world. Craig, for example, was a wizard of computer coding. He really could make a computer do almost anything. And Al's goal to merge Muggle technology and magic was going to show their world how right Ellie was.

"You're amazing," he suddenly realized his feet had moved closer to her. She smiled up at him with dark eyes, her lips mere inches from his.

"I think you're pretty amazing too."

Al could feel his heart beating against his ribcage as he closed the remaining space between them.

"May I…"

Ellie cut him off, pressing up on her toes and bringing her lips to his.

She started to lower down but Al followed her, maintaining the kiss as she put her feet flat on the floor. The feeling of kissing her lips was thrilling and he wanted to savor the way she made his mind quiet so completely and focus solely on her.

Al once heard his dad describe the first time kissing his mum as stepping out of time. Al didn't understand what his dad meant until this moment, in this gallery, kissing this woman, this wonderfully impassioned, beautiful woman.

After several long moments, Ellie pulled back just slightly and squeezed his hand still intertwined with hers.

"I've wanted to do that for weeks," she gave a small chuckle as her cheeks flushed with pink.

"Me too," Al ran his free hand through his hair, not sure what to do next. They stood grinning at each other like fools in the silent gallery. And if he was being honest, Al would have been content to stand there with her forever.

It was the gallery attendant that ultimately brought them back to the real world.

"Ms. Battiste," she walked up from behind them, "were about to close. Were you going to take your paintings tonight or come back and get them in the morning?"

"I can take them tonight," Ellie let go of his hand as she turned. "Just let me go grab my box."

"Excellent," the woman nodded before heading back to her post.

Ellie extended her hand out to Al, "Shall we do a bit of magic?" She asked him in a flawless imitation of his own accent.

"Merlin, you're full of surprises aren't you?" Al laughed and took her proffered hand.

"Says the man who tonight told me he's Harry Potter's son." Ellie winked at him.

She pulled him out and down a little side street where she pulled out her wand.

"Keep watch, yeah?"

Al nodded as she summoned a large box. He felt the familiar flow of magic around them as Ellie's box materialized on the pavement. When it stopped, he bent down and picked it up for her.

"I can get it," Ellie quickly held out her arms.

"I'm sure you can but I'm going to ask if you want to get it?" Al grinned as Ellie's arms fell back to her sides.

"When you put it like that," Ellie chuckled.

Al helped Ellie pack up her paintings before thanking the attendant and stepping back into the side street to send her paintings home again.

"So," Al pulled Ellie into his side as they returned to the pavement. "I honestly thought I'd be lucky if you stayed through dinner tonight and have nothing else planned for our evening. Anything you'd like to do?"

Ellie shivered against him, "I'm actually working tomorrow because I missed Tuesday. So we should plan to see each other after my shift if you're not busy and then take me home so I'm not completely useless."

Al experienced the most bizarre combination of feeling both excited and disappointed at the same time. He didn't really want the night to end yet, but his heartbeat on overdrive thinking about seeing Ellie again outside of her work.

"How about I pick you up at 4? We can decide what we'd like to do then?"

Ellie grinned as her teeth chattered, "Sounds perfect."

"Here," Al threw his coat off and draped it over her shoulders. "Don't you have a warmer coat?"

"Of course I do," Ellie snuggled back into his side. "But I was concerned about making sure I looked pretty tonight and that doesn't usually include synthetic down coats with windbreaker covers."

Al laughed, "Ellie, I thought you were the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen when you were in your work uniform. If you'd looked like this when I first met you I probably would have been so tongue-tied I would have walked right back out the door in shame for even attempting to talk to you."

Ellie laughed and pulled him down another empty side street.

"Don't be silly, it's not like you aren't good looking."

Al liked how that felt, to be called attractive. It wasn't something he really thought of himself as, but Ellie thinking he was made him want to hold his head a little higher.

He wasn't sure what to say, so he kissed her instead.

While their first kiss had been soft and tentative, this one was more confident on both their parts. He pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her waist. She linked her arms around his neck, pressing herself into him and causing his jacket to fall off her shoulders and pool around her waist where his arms held her close. He gently ran his tongue against her and smiled when she sighed into him, parting her lips to give him entrance. When her tongue reached out to his, Al had to exercise all his self-control not to Aparate them to his flat on the spot.

"Ellie," he whispered as he continued to kiss her.

Her reply was a soft moan which almost did him in.

"We should get you home because I'm losing the will power to keep this appropriate."

She smirked against him. Apparently, she was rather pleased with what she could do to him. Which, unfortunately, or perhaps, fortunately, ended up being even more arousing.

Ellie stepped back before he could decide.

She handed him back his jacket before taking his hand and turning. Al felt the familiar sensation of being pulled through space before his feet hit the pavement of another side street.

"Just this way," Ellie tugged on his hand and led him out to the main street.

"Wait," Al took a moment to get his bearings, "isn't your work just over there?"

Ellie laughed, "Yeah, my aunt and uncle didn't want to live very far from it."

It was only a few yards more before Ellie stopped in front of a door and pulled her key from her coat pocket.

"Thanks for not giving up on me." Ellie smiled up at him.

"Thanks for giving me another chance." Al closed the distance between them and pulled her close. "Tomorrow we'll do something warmer."

"Warmer is good," she snuggled closer to him.

"Anything with you is good," he rested his forehead against hers.

"So tomorrow?" She tilted her head up just slightly.

"I can't wait," and he kissed her.

#Salient #harry potter fanfiction #Albus Severus Potter #Al x Ellie #Albus Severus x OC #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #albus x eliza #canadian oc #obscure ship #al goes to muggle university #making muggle technology work with magic #romance #humor #fluff

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Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

Two Chapters this week, because I'm a little obsessive about setting a precedent for chapter length in stories and keeping to it. I'm weird, I know. ;)

Chapter 4

Al had spent the rest of the day freaking out because he had a date with Ellie while also freaking out that he had to tell her how he'd sort of, basically, stalked her.

Craig had high-fived him when Al admitted he had a date with "the mystery girl" and then proceeded to tease him mercilessly. If Al hadn't owed Craig for the two weeks worth of notes he would have told him where he could stick it.

But now, checking over his perfectly clean flat - so he stress cleans, don't judge - Al was definitely stuck in the camp of freaking out because he needed to be honest with Ellie tonight. And he wouldn't blame her one bit if she freaked out at him. The more he thought about it the more ashamed of himself he felt.

He left for the restaurant feeling mildly sick.

Great.

Al made it to the restaurant just ahead of Ellie and he very nearly fainted from lack of oxygen after seeing her walk up.

Her hair cascaded down her back with a plait running through part of it, and for the first time, Al saw her in something other than her uniform. He realized her uniform had hidden her really, and seeing her in something that Dominique would call tres chic was jaw-dropping. He was suddenly very grateful he hadn't seen Ellie outside of work before now. There's no way he would have tried to approach her if she'd looked like this the first time he saw her.

"Your face leads me to believe that I clean up well enough."

Ellie slid her arm around his and Al immediately liked the way it made him want to stand a bit straighter.

"More than enough. Merlin, Ellie, you're gorgeous."

Ellie blushed but her smile was rather smug.

"You clean up nicely, yourself."

Al hoped that the dim light kept her from seeing his blush. "Should we go in?"

"Please," Ellie shivered against him. "I thought I dressed warm enough but I definitely didn't."

Al did his best to channel Jamie and Teddy as he tried to casually take his arm out of Ellie's and move it to wrap around her. He held his breath, sure that she'd step out of his embrace. To his happy surprise, Ellie stepped closer into his side. He chose to ignore the part of him that questioned if it was only because she was cold.

Merlin, he was hopeless.

They didn't have to wait long for a table, and Al managed to keep the conversation flowing by asking Ellie questions, several questions. He needed to not be talking because his guilty conscience was eating at him.

Once they were seated and had placed their orders, however, Al couldn't manage to keep a neutral face.

"Is everything alright?" Ellie frowned. "You look, well I'm not sure what but it doesn't look happy."

Al swallowed hard and pushed a hand into his hair. "Er, well, yes and no. I'm great in that I'm so, so glad to be here with you."

Ellie blushed but smiled. "I'm glad to be here with you too."

"But," Al hesitated, "I, I should tell you something. And, and I, well, I'll totally understand if you decide to leave..."

"What are you talking about?" Ellie's smile faded from her face.

Al sighed and pulled out both of her artist cards he had, laying them on the table.

"I gave you two cards?"

"No," Al looked down at the little otter pup, realizing it would probably be the last time he saw it, "when you weren't at work on Tuesday, I asked the waitress where you were because my brain started to panic that you might have gone home to Canada. The waitress said you had some artwork selected for a gallery and so when I left, I started trying to find the gallery. When I couldn't find anything online, I changed tactics. I went to the art department, lied to one of the professors, and managed to get them to tell me where the gallery was. Then I went to the gallery and on my way out, took one of your cards."

Al was honestly too scared to look up at Ellie, so instead, he kept his eyes focused on the little prints of her painted otter pup.

"That sounds pretty stalker-ish," she said it cautiously, and it felt like a knife in his chest.

"Oh, believe you me, I've kicked myself for that a million times now."

"Al," Ellie sighed, "Why didn't you just wait till Thursday?"

That was a good question. One he had to think about. Why didn't he simply wait when he knew she was physically still in the UK and everything was fine?

"Because," he finally looked up at her, "because I had been trying for a month to get you to trust me, and I guess I felt like nothing was working because you were still guarded - which I totally understand now. So I justified it by saying I was getting to know you, or at least more about you. It's no excuse," Al pulled a hand over his face, "and I was serious yesterday when I thought you weren't interested. I was going to leave you alone. I just, Ellie, you're," Al looked down at the cards again, "you're so captivating and amazing and I want to know everything about you. I want to go to Canada and see where you grew up. I want to watch you paint. I want to see you away from work. I want to ask you so many questions. And I want to give all of that to you too. I want to do this right and I'm sorry I screwed it up right at the beginning but I promise I'll keep your boundaries from now on if you'll give me a chance."

Ellie sighed and Al looked up as she ran her finger against the condensation of her water glass. "I guess I can see where you were coming from. But if we're going to do this, I want a guarantee that you're not going to willfully go behind my back when I'm not ready to share."

Al nodded, "I promise if you don't want to tell me when I ask I'll back off and wait."

Ellie bit her lip and stared down at her glass. Al wished he had something that could reassure her, something that would make her feel more at ease. Then a terrifying thought struck him. One so terrifying that he recoiled from it.

But it also felt like a perfect solution. One that might give Ellie the piece of mind she needed to trust him. So Al braced himself before pulling out his pen and flipping over one of Ellie's cards.

"Here," he wrote on the card before handing it across the table, "if you feel at any point that I've crossed a line, text either of these numbers. They'll get back to you before they go to bed."

"Who are Harry and Ginny?" Ellie looked down at the card confused.

"Have you noticed the last name on my card when I pay for my breakfast?"

"You're kidding," Ellie's eyes were wide, "you're not, no way, holy shit…"

"Dad's capable of putting me in prison if he wants to and I definitely want to stay on Mum's good side, but believe me, the thought of losing out on getting to know you is plenty motivation to keep my promise."

Ellie looked up from the card and grinned, "I'm not sure if I'm more surprised that Harry Potter has a cell phone or that you're willing to give me your parents' contact info to prove you'll keep your word."

"So you'll give me another chance?"

"I think you've persuaded me," she nodded and slipped the card into her wallet, "but don't think I won't use this."

Al felt like he could fly and he was sure the look on his face had gone goofy.

"I won't forget it." Then he tentatively reached across the table and took her hand, "Thank you."

Ellie smiled, "Thank you for being honest with me."

The waiter appeared with their food and Al reluctantly let go of Ellie's hand. But she was still smiling at him, and Al thought that maybe, maybe she was just as happy about being on this date with him as he was to be on this date with her.

#Salient #harry potter fanfiction #next generation #next gen fanfic #Al x Ellie #Albus Severus Potter #Albus Severus x OC #albus x eliza #merging muggle technology and magic #fluff #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #canadian oc #al goes to muggle university #romance #humor #obscure ship

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Salient

Chapter Update! FFN and AO3

Can I just say thank you to all of you who were interested in my very obscure ship?! Because I am just so very grateful!

Next chapter goes up August 3rd (it could go up the second but my plans aren't final yet).

Chapter 2

Al quickly shoved his experiments into their bag and grabbed his things. He was running late today, but he had tried something that seemed like it could work and had lost track of time going down what had ended up being a pointless rabbit hole.

It had been three weeks since he had met Ellie, and Al had felt like maybe he was making more progress in his experiments than he was with getting Ellie to trust him. Al brooded a bit about that as he walked the five minutes to get his omelet and his few moments interaction with the most amazing woman he'd ever had the chance to lay eyes on.

Only when he walked in the door, he didn't lay eyes on her.

Al sighed and took his normal seat at the bar watching the kitchen door expectantly. He was very confused when the door opened and rather than seeing Ellie, an older woman strode out and began making her way to him.

"What can I get you?" She pulled out her pad and Al stammered a moment before repeating his usual order.

"Be right up," the woman moved to refill a patron's drink before going back into the kitchen.

Al pulled out his phone to check the day. Did he perhaps think it was Tuesday when it was in fact Monday? His phone assured him it was really Tuesday... Perhaps Ellie would come out momentarily?

But the older woman seemed to be the only one serving. Al ate his food, thrown off by the lack of consistency, and his mind raced to find the reason for it.

Was she ill? Did she have to change her schedule? If she did, why wouldn't she have said something when he was there Thursday? Or had something happened in the four days that had passed and had she needed to return to Canada? Had she thought to leave him a note? Maybe if he asked, that would signal the woman to pass on a message?

It was completely outside of Al's comfort zone, but the thought that something had happened to Ellie was enough to push him over the edge.

"Beg your pardon," Al said to the woman as he handed her his card, "but where is Ellie today?"

"Eliza?" The woman shook her head. "Silly girl got called yesterday to have some paintings put up in some building today and so she begged to have us switch her shift. I told her I'd handle it."

"Thank you," Al took his card back and nodded to the woman. "Have a good rest of your day."

Al had his phone out before he hit the door as he searched for art galleries that might possibly have an artist named Eliza or Ellie in them. He should have tried finding out her last name but that was probably pushing things into the creepy stalker phase more than he already was as he scoured the internet.

When his internet searches came up with nothing, he changed course from his flat to the university. Maybe he could talk to someone in the art department?

That had required more internet searching, as Al realized he had absolutely no idea where the art buildings were. Then he had to scour their university page to figure out who might be the right person to ask. He settled on three professors and then tried to think up a plausible story. Finally settling on his lie, he approached the first professor's open door.

"Excuse me," he tapped lightly on the door frame.

Professor Mirdha looked up from her computer and smiled, "How can I help you?"

Al took a deep breath, "I'm looking for a particular student to do a commission piece. My mum likes a certain style of painting and when I explained to a friend what I wanted painted they mentioned a painting by an artist named Eliza they'd seen that would match. My friend didn't recall her last name though so I thought I'd ask around here and see if I could find her and see if she's interested."

Professor Mirdha laughed, "I know exactly who you're talking about." She stood and moved to a filing cabinet, rummaging through before pulling out a small canvas.

"I assume this is the painting your friend saw, we had a select few student pieces on display not too long ago."

Al felt the air in his lungs get lodged in his throat. The painting was of a bear, but as Professor Mirdha moved in the light, it switched between being a black bear and a white bear. Ellie had even managed to paint the faces in a way that melded the two facial structures, tricking the mind into pulling the correct features out based on the color it saw more of on the bear.

"It's amazing," Al resisted the urge to reach out and take the painting from the woman holding it.

"You're in luck, Eliza was asked to showcase a few paintings in a gallery this week, I believe she set up today and should still be there." Professor Mirdha wrote in loopy handwriting on a sticky note before handing it to him. "This is the gallery, even if she's not there, she is supposed to have her cards there and those will have her preferred contact information on them."

"Thank you," Al looked down at the address before jumping at the sound of the clock bells chiming.

He glanced at his watch and nearly had a panic attack. He was going to be late for class if he didn't run.

After finding a secluded spot he summoned his books and then booked it to his first Tuesday class. But he might as well have not gone for how much he got out of it. His eyes kept straying to the sticky note stuck to the back of his phone case.

"Al," Craig kicked his foot, "Come on mate, I'm not letting you have my notes if you don't even try to pay attention."

Al shook himself and tried to focus again on Professor Randal's lecture, but the sticky note was like a siren's song and he kept going back to the major question burning through him.

Should he go to the gallery?

At the end of class, Craig pulled out his phone and started taking pictures of his notes. "It's a good thing we're friends because if I didn't know better I'd say you've lost your marbles."

Al sighed as his phone lit up with Craig's texts. "I'm just distracted today. I'll be alright by Thursday."

Craig shook his head, "You've been a bit off for the last month, today is just worse than most days. What's going on?"

"Nothing that's really all that interesting," Al dodged, hoping to get his friend off the scent.

"If I didn't know better," Craig paused and squinted at Al. Then his eyes went wide, "I bet you have!"

Al shook his head and let out a nervous chuckle, "What are you on about?"

Craig nudged him with his elbow, "I think the question I should be asking you is who are you on about, eh?"

Al shouldered his bag and headed for his next class, "What do you mean?"

Craig waggled his eyebrows, "I mean that you've met someone. You're completely off your game like I was when I got my first girlfriend in A-levels."

"I don't have a girlfriend," Al said it with just a bit too much bitterness in his voice and immediately regretted it.

"Ah, so you have met someone and you haven't managed to make the right move on her!" Craig's excitement mirrored his excitement from figuring out how to securely lock down a database last year he and Al had built while the rest of their class struggled to build the database itself.

"I bet I can help you," Craig grabbed his arm to stop him at the point they usually parted for their separate classes.

"I don't think so," Al shook his head carefully. Craig wasn't really into building relationships at this point in his life, and Al was only interested in that when it came to Ellie.

"Just listen," Craig shook his head, "If you want the girl to like you, first make sure she knows you like her."

Al sighed, "Thanks, Craig. I'll see you tomorrow in class."

Craig nodded, "Make sure you focus, I can't help you in the hardware realm."

Al flipped him off but laughed as they parted ways and he moved on to the next class, forcing himself not to let his mind drift for too long to the gallery address currently in his pocket.

It wasn't until after he'd grabbed dinner with his IT study group that Al finally had a chance to decide if he was going to go to the gallery or not.

He sat with the address opened on his Uber app, sorting through all the options.

If he went, and she was there, he'd have to explain how he tracked her down, and the more Al went over what he'd done to get the gallery address, the more he felt like it came out of a True Crime episode. But if he didn't go, then he'd agonize over not seeing her and not seeing her paintings. If the one he saw of hers was any indication, he would be missing out on seeing something incredibly special.

After nearly an hour of going back and forth, Al finally bit the bullet and requested the ride.

The gallery was small, and according to the sign on the door, Al only had about fifteen minutes before they closed. The curator smiled warmly and directed him to Ellie's paintings in the far corner. There were five in total. Four of them were paintings of wildlife in habitats that Al guessed were of her home in St. John's, but one of them was of a beautiful woman. She looked very similar to Ellie, but her skin was darker and where Al had only ever seen Ellie's hair up, this woman's hair fell long around her shoulders. But what caught Al's eye was what was in the woman's hand.

A wand.

The very hairpin that was always pinned up in Ellie's hair was painted in this woman's hand, held in a way that only someone who had held a wand could paint it.

The woman held the wand over a fire, and the picture glowed with a second light, a light that Al was sure came from whatever spell the woman was casting in Ellie's painting. He wondered if the painting was a magical one. Trying to look as though he was examining it closer, Al stepped right up to the woman and whispered.

"Your wand is a work of art."

He held his breath, hoping the woman would move, or answer, or do anything, but the picture remained perfectly still. He stepped even closer before trying again.

"I too am a wizard," he tried again, but the woman did not move.

Al sighed. He should have known better than to think Ellie would paint a wizarding painting to put in a Muggle gallery, assuming she was capable of painting a wizard painting at all. He thanked the curator and picked up one of Ellie's cards on his way out. After requesting his ride, he looked down at the card in his hand, admiring the perfect otter pup she had chosen to use. He turned it over and looked down at her name, Eliza Battiste. Her phone number sat directly under her name.

Al shook his head as he climbed into the car that pulled up; if anything happened to Ellie he was going to be suspect number one.

#Salient #harry potter fanfiction #albus severus potter #albus severus potter x oc #al x ellie #albus x eliza #albus severus potter x eliza battiste #canadian oc #fluff #fluffy #making muggle technology work with magic #al goes to muggle university #romance #humor #obscure ship #but oh how I adore them