Mother/Son Tea (Cole)

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Daphne knew Cole was anxious to speak to her and her husband about something very important. Unfortunately, Theodore was abroad on his usual business and could not be there to hear whatever this news was. Daphne made the best of it and set up a high tea for her son and her, so that she could at least here and give her response.

Being a mother, she had any number of things she felt Cole had to tell her going through her head, some of them reasonable, some of them outrageous. Whatever the case, she had that mother's worry which she would try to hide with her usual coolness. If there was one thing Daphne Nott could do, it was remain calm and collective upon hearing earth-shaking news.

With the tea prepared, she waited at the table on the balcony. A house elf asked if he should be on alert to answer the door.

"I highly doubt my own son would need to knock on the door of his own home," she said sharply to the elf. To her, no matter what this would always be Cole's home. The House Elf asked her forgiveness. "It's quite alright, Fildy. I'll alert you should I need you." And so, Fildy made his way out.

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

Cole was less than excited to be going back to his parents house. He loved them of course and it was always nice to see them, but the conversation.that he was prepairing to have with his mother was going to be less than wonderful and would probably result in a less than happy family. He was glad that it was only his mom who he would be talking to, for the most part, she was better than his father about these type of things.

Cole didn't even touch the Gold knocker on the front door, he simply twisted the handle and let himself in. This was his parenta house after all, and he knew that he was always welcome there. While his key got moved to the back of his keyring, he would always have it. Cole knew that he would find his mother on the balcony, it was her favorite place for tea, and it was a decent day. He greeted the house elf with a nod when he saw her skimper past and into the kitchen then he escorted himself to where his mother was waiting, taking a deep breath before going out. "Hey Mum." Cole smiled and approached her, ready to give her a hug before sitting down.

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Daphne rose when Cole arrived, embracing her son and kissing him on the cheek.

"My son, the stranger," she said, half serious and half amused. "You've run off to your Quidditch Pitch and left me behind." She then smiled and patted his cheek. "It's good to see you again, Cole. I have missed you." She then motioned for him to seat himself as she herself sat down. She poured herself some tea and passed the pot to Cole. "I had the kitchen elves make your favorite blend." She sipped from her cup and smiled. "I've always liked this one myself."

She knew Cole wanted to tell her something, but the fact was that she missed him and wanted to know how his life was going in general.

"So how are you these days?" she asked. "Quidditch practice going well? Are you still seeing that lovely young lady... Katrina I believe?"

Daphne hoped so. Katrina was Slytherin, Pureblood, and Respectful- three things Daphne wanted in whoever Cole dated. The fact that her brother-in-law Draco apparently liked the girl was a bonus.

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

Cole kissed his mother on her cheek as well before he sat down. He had of course explained to his parents that he would be devoting almost all of his time to Quidditch now that it was his job. He knew that his father was less than pleased by his sons choice of profession, but he was glad that his mother seemed to have gotten over the shock and had at least come to terms with the idea of her son playing Professional Quidditch. "I'm sorry mum." He insisted. "I'll try to come around more often." He promised. He did miss spending time with Thalia. He made a mental note to get intouch with her as soon as possible. When his mother asked about Kat, Cole started to feel a little sick: damn nerves. "Yes. Katrina and i are still together and its going very well actually..." he paused and tasted his tea, making a note to figure out where to get some for his flat. In typical man fashion: Cole sucked at shopping. "I actually wanted to talk to you about Katrina. About her and I." He added with a shy grin.

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Daphne chuckled a bit. Deep down, she felt a bit foolish for being so selfish. Her son was an adult now after all and had his own life. But she wouldn't show that to Cole. The woman was too proud to display a chink in her armor such as self-ridicule.

"Well I suppose I should have known after your graduation that I couldn't keep you forever," she said. "I suppose I'll have to come to the same terms with Thalia soon."

She the raised an eyebrow about Cole wanting to talk about him and Cole. Katrina was among the possibilities Daphne had developed in her mind earlier regarding what Cole wanted to speak about. Now she wondered if she would like or be shocked at what he was about to say. She refrained from making any verbal assumptions though.

"Oh," she said. "You of course have my full attention. Please go on, son." Daphne secretly braced herself.

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

Cole always tried his best to be perfect. He wanted to be the perfect son and set his mothers mind at ease. He wanted to make his father proud. But since his graduation, Cole knew that he had been dificult. He had given up a nice paying job at the ministry for a less dignified job playing Quidditch. He couls have fallen in his fathers footsteps, but instead he chose to avoid that life. He had made a choice that he never thought he would have the courage to make: Passion over security. "Thalia's smart mum, you know she'll make good choices." His sister was probably a shoe in at the ministry.

Cole's face blushed as he began to explain to his mother the situation at hand. He knee she was envisioning everything: he had gotten her pregnant. They were running off to get married. Of course, it was none of that, but it was something in the same ball park. "You know that her mum passed away recently... and i've been worried about her and about what she's going to do... so..." he paused and took a deep breath in, letting it all out with his next statement. "I've asked her to move in with me to my flat." He admitted and waited for her reaction.

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Daphne agreed about Thalia. Thalia had been far too dedicated to her studies to not pursue an admirable career after Hogwarts. Still, she knew no matter what the job, she would long to have her daughter at home as she did her son now.

"Please understand I have nothing against you pursuing a career in Quidditch," she said. "I want you to be happy. But please understand I am a mother and therefore I at times feel the pain of not having a son she loves dearly at home. When Thalia is gone, I will feel the same of course."

Well, for the time being, the news Cole gave her didn't sound so bad. It was what Daphne envisioned for the long term that bothered her. The two would move in... then they would potentially be tempted to have relations prior to marriage... and that would lead to Katrina giving birth out of wedlock. And what would that mean to the image of the Nott Family?

"Katrina has had my deepest sympathies for the loss of her mother, but as I recall her mother left her a rather nice house and a considerable financial inheritance," said Daphne. "Can she not live well enough there until a wedding can be arranged?"

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

Cole was glad to hear that his mother was no upset about this choice of profession. It actually made him feel a lot better about his own decision. It was only his dad whom he had to convence. And he would be able to do a lot better job of that if he ever saw his father. He hadn't seen him once since the Holidays. But he vowed to himself now to make weekly visits to his mother a regular thing. When she expressed her concerns reguarding Katrina, Cole had to bite his tongue and wait for her to finish. "I want her with me, mum. I don't want her on her own." Cole knew that his family were all made of Pureblood Slytherins that simply by association tied them to the dark arts and thus placed them on the evil side of every war. "You know what's happening out there. It seems like its getting worse everyday." Cole knew in the end, he would back whichever side his father did. But ubtil the two where able to converse in private, Cole relied on his families background. "And besides, I'm not ready to get married yet. I'm not even ready to propose yet." He admitted.

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Daphne was a conservative witch, always had been. In fact, it had taken her a good long time to grow out of her blood purist mentality. To hear her son wanting to live with a girl without even so much as an engagement arranged prior threw her for a loop.

"I am quite aware of the wrongs happening in our society, son," she said bluntly. "And while I admire you wishing to protect her as a good man should do for the woman he loves, I cannot approve of you living with a girl out of wedlock, and potentially giving into physical temptations. And don't say you won't. You're both teenagers and you're lustful. And while I feel that is quite natural at that age, I feel living in the same place and one as small as your flat is encouraging such lust on a dangerous level. Suppose you give in, and the girl becomes pregnant. With your respective ages and both your lives as busy as they will be, would you be responsible enough to take care of a child?" Daphne sighed a sipped her tea. "I'm sorry, son, but I have to think of the long term consequences of this, and so should you."

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

Cole sighed to himself and the mind headache he was getting out of his forehead with his thumb and pointer finger. He knew this conversation was going to be less than easy, but he had thought that, since it was only his mother and not both of his parents, it would be at least a little smoother than it was. "Mum..." he said sounding a little more agrivated than he meant to. So, Cole took a deep breath before continuing. "Mum... with all respect: I am an adult. I have my own place, a secured job and i make more than enough to live on. And while I respect your judgement and understand where you're coming from, I am going to have to say that this is going to happen whether you like it or not." He didn't mean to sound harsh. But Cole had spent his entire life being the perfect son and the spitting image of his father. He was going to take another trait from his father and tart to run his own life. "I know what our names means and the honor that it holds. Katrina knows it to. And we won't do anything to bring dishonor to the family. But once she graduates, I am going to move her in with me." He said in his normal calm, but deep voice and he kept his glance firmly on his mother.

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Part of Daphne wanted to be appalled by this rebelliousness in her son. But another part of her had to admire him growing up a bit and having his own mind about things. All in all though, she wasn't happy about this.

"You have a good case I suppose," she said. "I don't agree with this decision, but I should have more confidence in you as a mother. So, I will say this: If she does move in, I will not openly protest it. Merlin knows I might grow used to it. However, should something happen, I will not accept any responsibility to help remedy the situation. Am I clear on that, son?"

Was it heartless to say such a thing? Maybe. Did Daphne believe she could be that cruel to a potential grandchild born out of wedlock? She could never be cruel to a child, but she still had to be firm with her son.

"Now then," she said. "Tell me. Once she moves in, what plans do you have for you both?"

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

Cole knew that his mothers comment about not taking any responcibility should have hurt.him, but shockingly to himself, it didn't. It realived him. He didn't want to her expect.to have a mesa to clean up. He wanted her to let him do it. He needed to be let alone to do it. If he was going to be grown up enough to lice with his girl friend then he would also need to be grown.enough to take reaponcibility for their actions without the aid of his mother. "I'm not asking for any help, mum. I just don't want to keep anything from you." He said. "That is why I wanted to tell you."

When she asked about his plans for the two of them, he wasn't entirely sure how to answer her. He wasn't completely sure what she meant. "I love Katrina. She won't be going anywhere. But honestly, we probably won't spend any more time togethet than we normally wpuld. She's going to be busy with her mums house and I'll be busy with Quidditch..." he insisted.

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(Note: I'm making a granduncle for Cole on the Greengrass side. I think Cole will like him.)

So it seemed Cole had cared little for her approval or disapproval to begin with. He was merely telling her what was going to happen no matter what. She could only wonder what Theodore would say had he been there. She felt Cole was most fortunate that he wasn't.

"Well, far be it from me to get in the way of what you have your heart set on," she said, a slight bitterness in her voice before sipping her tea.

She then listened as Cole said he and Katrina wouldn't be around one another a great deal for a while. That was somewhat of a relief, though Daphne was a bit confused.

"It seems a bit funny that you are both so eager to move in together and then not be around one another that often," she said. "But I suppose I am getting older and I don't quite understand the mindset of you young folk these days." She then realized she was being a bit TOO hard on Cole. She and her son already seemed distant. She shouldn't make it worse, despite not agreeing with his decision. "Son, whatever I have said today or how I might make you feel, I want you to know I love you and want what is best for you." She closed her eyes. "If you truly love this girl and she you, then I am happy for you both in general. I truly am."

COLE THEODORE NOTT

[COLE THEODORE NOTT]

Cole smilied and looked out at the view. He did really love Katrina. He always knew that he would fall in love one day, but he never expected it to hit him like this. He never thought he would upaet his mother because of it. "She's the best thing for me, mum. She really is. I don't know how I got so lucky." He admitted with his boyish grin and rubbed the back of his neck before finishing his tea. "One day I would like to marry her. But not too soon. I hope, when that day comes, you'll all aprove." He said. He felt silly about.the butterflies in his tummy.

((Short I know, sorry. Im trying to steal back muse))

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Daphne meant it. She was happy for Cole and Katrina. She liked the girl, not only because the girl was all those little things Daphne originally wanted in a girl for Cole- Slytherin, Pureblood, and so on, but also because the girl was strong after the loss of her mother and that Katrina was genuine. True Daphne put up her little acts in certain social situations, but she appreciated one who acted like themselves.

"I want you to be happy, Cole," she said. "And if Katrina makes you happy, then..." Daphne sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before opening them, unable to believe what she was about to say. "You both have my blessing regarding her moving in with you." Daphne did this because above all else, above any of her conservative beliefs, she loved her son. She could not bare knowing she had hurt him by not standing by his son when he needed her most. She then smiled. "Do me a favor though, will you? Bring her here often? I should like to get to know my future daughter-in-law better."

(No worries. When this is over, I would love for Cole and his granduncle Philo to RP together. Philo is very fond of Cole.)

COLE THEODORE NOTT