A Trip To Godric's Hollow

Sunday 22nd December 2026

Christmas was in sight. In three more days Hallie would be waking up to a garden full of snow and visiting her Mother's where a delicious roast dinner made of love would be waiting. Hallie loved Christmas, it was her favourite time of the year a time for family and despite not living at home anymore Hallie was more excited than ever for this would be the first Christmas in five years where she would get to spend it with Toby, her brother.

The whole day had been planned out. She'd wake up with Theodore, have breakfast exchange presents and then head to the lake district to Hallie's childhood home. Hallie had recently visited Theodore's family, the Rookwood's. She knew she wouldn't have been spending Christmas day with them but what had happened at the house wasn't a pretty occasion. Torture. Arguments. Cutting ties. Hallie had accepted the events of last week but felt she couldn't talk about them to Theodore. As a result she'd arranged to meet a good friend of hers in Godric's Hollow for a catch up. There she'd be able to really dig deep into her thoughts about the Rookwoods.

Godric's Hollow was beautiful in the winter and the Cooper's used to visit one day every year until Robert had passed and Toby had vanished. Hallie would be visiting the village on Boxing Day with Toby and her Mum but today was the first day of snow the village had had this Winter and Hallie was too impatient to wait four more days.

CRACK. Hallie had arrived, greeted by the crunch of snow beneath her wellingtons. The village was beautiful, as though from a childrens fairytale. The cottages looked live gingerbread houses with christmas lights in the windows and icing dripped on top. A few of them had smoke puffing from the chimney tops and a group of carolers were stood outside the nearby church.

Maura Angela Goldstein soon to be Hiroku appeared with a pop that almost made her fall unsteady into the snow.  "Got to work on that!" Maura thought to herself shaking her head before chucking to  herself.  Walking through the village of Godric's Hallow she gasped. It looked so beautiful,  it reminded her of those villages on greeting cards.  She was in awe of the place when she saw her best friend Hallie. "This place looks beautiful Hal."said Maura.

Maura had so many things she had to tell her, Maura was just dying to tell her.  So many things happened to Maura she  couldn't express how happy she was.  She was now having a baby girl and she was engaged to Ryo now, she couldn't be happier. Despite everything that happened to Maura, she still managed to smile and be happy about her life.  Maura felt nothing could bring her down, she was walking on sunshine!

A feeling that only Ryo gave her lately,  Maura didn't think she couldn't love him more then she did, but that wasn't until he asked her to marry him. Maura loved him more then anything,  she wanted nothing more then to spend the rest of her life with him.  Maura smiled at the thought of being married to Ryo and her name being Maura Hiroku, the name sounded so sweet and right to her.  Although Maura couldn't believe the day after Ryo asked her to marry him she gotten her letter! Out of all days, but Maura told them she was engaged and pregnant with Ryo's child they supported her and Ryo together.  Maura was beyond happy,  she wanted no one but Ryo,  she would simply kill herself before she lived without him.

'Isn't it?' Hallie agreed, opening her arms wide to engage in a hug with her best friend. Her best friend who she'd been through so much with: the break up of her teenage boyfriend (Henry), torture, mugging, new starts, pregnancy, the marriage law and now the pair would be going through raising a child because of course Hallie was going to be the best auntie she could - even if not an auntie via blood.

Hallie could tell simply by the look on Maura's face how happy she was, clearly something good had happened. Had Ryo finally proposed? Or was it simply the hormones form pregnancy, the realization that in six months or so Maura would finally hold her child. 'We're finally happy.' Hallie beamed before putting her hands in her coat pocket to keep warm.

We're? Was Hallie happy? Come to think of it she didn't have anything bad to say about her life. Sure her marriage to Theodore wasn't exactly what she'd intended but the trainee auror was beginning to think that perhaps the match wasn't as bad as she'd first thought. Hallie had grown over the past three months when she'd first met Theodore. She was further away from the girl she was as a student, possibly more mature. Moreover she'd been through more than before: Hallie had been reunited with Toby, she'd feel from a burning tower and even got married. Sure the marriage was outside of love but maybe their was some element of magic, slowly, enchanting the pair.

"This is one of the most beautiful things I ever seen."said Maura softly looking at the village and smiling. They been through alot this year, but it only made them stronger as best friends, and made there bond stronger then blood. Hallie was like a sister to her now, a sister that Maura looked up to and would always protect. Maura realized that they weren't the same person as they were last year, they were different and more mature. Maura realized she wasn't the same girl as she was last summer, being tortured two times and being pregnant sure lead towards her becoming more mature.

Hugging her best friend her engagement ring sparkled in the snow. "I'm happy Hal, I'm pregnant with Ryo's baby girl and now I'm engaged to him!"said Maura happily. "He asked me to marry him a couple of days ago in the library and naturally I said yes!"said Maura happily. "Isn't this ring just beautiful?"Maura asked her softly showing her the engagement ring on her left hand. Maura nodded and smiled. "Yes we are Hal, that we are."said Maura hugging her back.

"This is going to be one of the best Christmases ever!"said Maura softly. She was spending it with her best friend, Ryo and her family this year, something she haven't done in ages. Her parents were always hounding her to bring her boyfriend home for Christmas, and now she was! She couldn't wait to see the look on their faces when she tells them her and Ryo are engaged! She knew they were going to be thrilled, just like she knew Hallie was going to be as well.

A pair of blue eyes caught the stone of Maura's ring finger. It was beautiful but not extravagant, after all Ryo had only just graduated, yet it was beautiful. Hallie could hardly contain her excitement and her smile was maintained. 'Congratulations.' She said, minding her step as she dodged over a rock by the hedge they were walking besides. 

'Do you have any plans for when the wedding yet?' Hallie asked her friend as the pair strolled past the cottages. It felt as though they were wandering aimlessly but Hallie knew exactly where they were going, a place that Maura would respect and understand. 

They'd arrived. The cottage was derelict, the garden untamed and the cottage besides was the same. A sigh outside the house read:

It's ruined state as a momentum to the Potters and as a reminder of the violence that torn apart their family.

'It was here where You-Know-Who saw his first downfall.' Hallie said, not taking her eyes from the ruined house. 

Maura smiled happily. "Thankyou Hal, I just llove it."said Maura softly. "I know it's not much, but it's beautiful to me."said Maura admiring her ring. Watching her step, Maura walked beside Hallie through her small village. Maura never been through here, she wanted to so many times but she never gotten the chance until now.

Maura shook her head. "No we don't yet Hal, but were working on it."said Maura softly. Maura knew they weren't wondering aimlessly although it felt like it until Hallie lead her to a famous house that the whole wizarding knew of.

Maura looked at the house with her locked into the once beautiful house that once stood there. From what she read, it was a horrible but yet wonderous night for the for the wizarding world. Maura wouldn't know what to do if she ever lost her family the way the Potter's did, she hoped none of her friends ever betrayed her. Although Maura would never betray any of her friends, no matter if they killed her or not. She rather die then betray her friends to anyone.

Hallie smiled. 'Well, I'm here if you ever need any help, but I can imagine you and Ryo would want to plan it how you like.' Although Hallie and Maura were best friends and understood each other there was something between Ryo and her, something indescribable. Perhaps it was just love? Unconditional love. Hallie hoped so, it gave her hope. 

'It makes you realise doesn't it.' Hallie said, not taking her eyes from the house. 'That there will always be darkness. Sometimes they'll win, and sometimes they'll lose but the darkness will never completely go.' She didn't want to put a downer on things but she couldn't help it. Standing here, gazing at the ruined cottage provoked emotion. 'Guess we just need to not let them beat us.' Hallie concluded, turning to Maura with a faint smile. 

'Anyway. I visited Theodore's family.' Hallie began, linking her arm with Maura's before continuing their walk towards a hill that looked down at the entire village. That would be a sight for Maura, a beautiful sight. 'At first I was horrified by the whole thing. Obviously they hated me because of my blood line and all that rubbish, tortured each other over it, literally, but ever since the visit I think I'm starting to understand Theo more. I feel - I don't know how to describe it but - I think maybe - I don't know, I think...' Hallie stopped. She was rambling, avoiding what she wanted to say, get around her feelings in a way that for once wasn't dramatic. 'I think I'm falling for him.' She said honestly her eyes holding an innocent sparkle like the time they had when Hallie had fallen for Ryo.

Listening to stories from Theodore's mother, learning about his upbringing it had really opened her eyes. Hallie was starting to fall in love with her husband and, dare she think it, warming to the idea of being a Mother to his children. 

Maura looked at Hallie and smiled.  "I know Hal, and I bet I'll need your help!"said Maura honestly.  She knew her and Ryo were going to plan it together as well, both of there favorite color was yellow so it wasn't going to be hard in planning what colors they wanted.  Maura thought it was funny how much in common they had, they basically loved the same color and they loved the same season. Maura thought her and Ryo were meant to be and were soulmates.  Even if the ministry didn't think so, and tried keeping them apart Maura knew better.

Maura nodded.  "Even though darkness tries to take over, goodness will always break through!"said Maura softly.  "It'll may never go, but a little hope is better then no hope."said Maura her eyes still locked to the house.  Maura returned the faint smile.  "We beat them once Hal, we can do it again!"said Maura softly.

Maura walked along with Hallie listening to what she said, but as they reached the bottom of the village she gasped.  "Wow..."said Maura softly to herself.  "Sorry..."said Maura softly still listening to what she was saying.  Maura rolled her eyes. "Typical Rookwoods, think nothing more then themselves!"said Maura darkly.  Maura stopped and looked at Hallie like she was crazy.  "Are you crazy Hal? he haven't shown any affection towards you and yet your falling for him what the hell?"Maura asked her shaking her head.

Ok... maybe over time Theodore might warm up to Hallie, but Maura always knew him as a prick.  Maybe there was a side of him that no one else knew but him.   Maura didn't know, but there had to be something that Hallie was attracted to him and drawn her into him.

Hallie bit her lip. She'd had a feeling that Maura would react this way, her friend had never shown a likening towards Theodore. Then again neither had Hallie until recently. Even the blonde didn't know exactly what had caused her mind to change, perhaps she was one of them girls who fell easily for men? It had been known to happen with her, like the time she had fell into a state of obsessive infatuation over Brian Sullivan after, what, a lame drunken kiss? 

'He has shown-' Hallie paused. What she wanted to do was shoot Maura down, reel of list of cases when Theodore had shown affection but he was still withholding sex from her. Despite all the obvious signs she'd given him he still wouldn't give her what she needed. 'He's kissed me, and when we were at his parents Teddy barely took his arm from around me.' 

Had Hallie just called Theodore Teddy? She'd never called him Teddy before, it was something that his Mother'd named him, a somewhat Motherly comforting nickname. Yet here Hallie was repeating that behaviour with a slight slip of the Tongue. 

The pair began to walk the snowy path up the hill. 'There's more to him than what meets the eye.' Hallie said softly, 'At least, I think there is.' 

"About damn time."Maura muttered darkly to herself although she was sure Hallie could hear her. Maura didn't like Theodore at all, Hallie knew that she didn't. Although she was supportive of any relationship that she was ever in. "Took him long enough, I mean you gave him enough damn signs!"said Maura shaking her head. "Anyways... I'm happy for you!"said Maura giving her a faint smile.

Maura stopped in in tracks in when she heard Theodore Teddy. "Did you just call him Teddy? Hal do you realize you fallen heads over heels in love with him?"Maura asked him smirking. "Wow... your like me when I talk about Ryo!"said Maura honestly. "Wow... Hal, your eyes are sparkling!"said Maura smiling. Maybe Theodore was changing, maybe she should give him chance.

Maura shrugged. "Of course there is hal, there always is!"said Maura softly. "It was like that when I was with Ryo and no one understood why I was!"said Maura. "Although I know there's more to him to meets the eye!"said Maura smiling. "They only show them true selves when there around the one they love."said Maura softly. "Theodore loves you Hal, but he has a different way of showing it!"said Maura.