Returning to England

"Well, I think we have everything," I comment, glancing at Parvati. "Not that we had a lot of time to unpack."

"I know I have everything," she says with a half smile. "I triple checked."

"So just time to say goodbye." Dad is going to be okay, as long as he takes it easy for a little while so I think we should go back like planned and not stay any longer. It was nice to see my family again, though I wish it hadn't been under these circumstances.

Parvati hands me my duffel as she takes her. "At least we're leaving with your Dad getting better."

"That's true. He'll be back on his feet before we know it."

Parvati squeezes my wrist, and we leave the bedroom, heading back downstairs to say our goodbyes to my family.

I give something between a pat on the back and a hug to Shawn and then Brian, which they return. It's a guy thing. Then, I say goodbye to Laura. I hug her, though I doubt I would have a choice, since she hugs me surprisingly tight.

"Very glad you stopped by little brother," she says quietly, hugging me as she says it, then lets me go.

I go to Mom last and she hugs me even tighter. "I am glad you came."

"Me too," I answer as we pull apart.

Mom still holds me at an arm's length, her hands on my shoulders. "You and Parvati should both come for Thanksgiving. We'd love to have you."

I pause. "I don't know..." It isn't that I don't want to see them. It is the cost, either with a plane ticket or portkey.

"I insist. Our treat," she says, probably knowing that is what I was worried about.

"What's a treat?" Parvati asks after she comes back into the room where Mom and I are.

"Mom asked us to come for Thanksgiving," I explain..

Parvati blinks rapidly for a moment. "Oh... that's the American holiday if I remember right?" She asks uncertainly.

I nod. "I can explain the whole holiday later. Now, on Thanksgiving, people get together for food and sometimes football and parades. The day after, lots of people go shopping."

A corner of Parvati's mouth quirks. "I'll file that reference for later. If we can go, I wouldn't mind. I'll have to talk to Padma first...."

"Your sister?" Mom asks.

She nods. "We have a lot of stuff going on at home, I want to make sure if it's okay with her."

Mom nods. "Alright." She hugs Parvati then. "It was good to see you too."

Parvati stills, then hugs Mom, smiling softly. "It was good to see you too."

Mom lets her go and I turn to Parvati. "We should probably get ready. The portkey will be starting in just a few minutes."

"Okay," she says softly, then turns to say good bye to Laura. We say quick goodbyes then, and Parvati grabs the portkey as we head outside. Luckily no one is around outside to see us disappear. I keep a hold of the bags and then feel the familiar pull of the portkey. Here we go.