Mama's Hands

[Aletheia Galatea]

It was better than nothing, Aletheia mused as she took a healthy gulp of her drink and drew on her cigarette again, and it was likely the most positive thing she was going to get out of her daughter. She had gotten a smile too, which was a rarity and she returned it automatically, wondering immediately how long it would be before she was gifted with another one!

"You're brighter than ten people Merry darling. I do worry about you when you start training with the aurors though: what if you get hurt?

  

[Galatea Merrythought]

“I’m sure it won’t be any worse than getting hit by a bludger,” Merry assured her mother. It wasn’t like Merry had grown up sheltered and pampered for her to mind getting hurt. She knew that she was going to get hurt when she had decided to enter the auror-training programme and it wasn’t going to make her back down.

“Besides, I am sure that my first year will only be boring things like paperwork and stuff. The worst that could happen to me would be to get a papercut.”

  

[Aletheia Galatea]

Aletheia hadn’t exactly been thrilled with the idea of her precious daughter getting hit by bludgers but wise for once in her life she kept her mouth shut. It was well past the point of reasoning with Merry about anything to do with her life anyway and she didn’t have the advantage of being Miss Webster.

“I suppose no one ever died from a papercut-”

As far as Aletheia knew… Merlin, people died of all sorts of things these days!

“Just promise me you’ll make time to come and see me and your dad, we’ll miss you so much darling.”

And they were both already dreading the thought of Merry leaving and it becoming immediately apparent how little they actually had to talk about.

  

[Galatea Merrythought]

Merry couldn’t help but laugh. A genuine laughter, not her usual snarky, dog-like one.

“Of course I will! It’s not like I’ll be moving out after all!” She was still planning on living with them and actually help them economically. They had done so all these years and she felt it right to do it for them now. Sure, with her training she’d likely not have that much time to spend at home, but she wasn’t planning on detaching herself from her family completely. Unless she married, which Merry somehow doubted.

  

[Aletheia Galatea]

Oh Merlin that was a relief! She hadn't like the ask - fearing the answer too much! - but the thought that her little girl wouldn't quite be leaving the nest yet was enormously uplifting and she smiled brightly for what felt like the first time in their conversation that day. She hadn't even had to ask Merry to stay, her daughter seemed to want to and though she doubted they hadn't heard the last of Miss Wesbter it was better than the alternative.

Of course she would have to find the money to habitually feed one more person but that was a small consideration!

"That's...that's wonderful," she stuttered out, sipping her drink again and reaching out a hand to take Merry's. "There's probably more you can learn about concealment and bad influences down our street anyway," she added in a bemused undertone.

  

[Galatea Merrythought]

Merry gave a laugh and placed a hand on top of her mother’s. “Certainly!” She’d certainly prefer to live in Hogsmeade’s slums than the ones in London. She could use her wand to protect herself if someone tried to attack her down the street, but in London she’d have to keep the statute of secrecy and all that. Besides, she’d miss her parents. They were the only family she had left.

“Just you wait until I become a proper auror!” Merry said, rather dreamily. “We could move to one of the nicer houses. Those closer to Bartonburg!”

  

[Aletheia Galatea]

The thought of moving away from their dire street cased a rare laugh of happiness to spill from Aletheia’s lips; it had always been an impossible sort of dream to think that they could get away. She had always known Merry would be better than them – or at least she had always hoped - and now her daughter would be the one to do what she and Thaddeus had been unable to do: actually create a life worth living.

“But they’re so much money love, we won’t want you spending it on us!”