Let this promise in me start | Lee & Chrissy

[Deleted]

May 2025

Lee had all but made up her mind and she was ready to extend an invitation. It was kind of nerve wracking - deciding to parent a teenager would be no easy feet, she had barely had time to see her over the term and already it wasn’t easy when they did see each other. Lee was impatient and logical and Chrissy… wasn’t. She was young and cared more about what was going on around her in that moment then she cared to watch out for the potential consequences. That would be the hardest to work with. But it didn’t matter. Lee loved her, and, maybe even more than that, Lee couldn’t stand the thought of her going back to that foster home. She didn’t belong there. She deserved more.

So she sent Chrissy an owl and asked if they could have lunch during that May Hogsmeade weekend, the last one of the term. Lee knew it was short notice to be asking, but she hoped that Chrissy might want to stay with her. She would be extending the same invitation to Maize (not to adopt her - just to stay with her for another year if she wanted) but she had to check with their parents about it first. For Chrissy all she had to check with was the MACUSA, and they barely batted an eye at her adoption inquiry. It was becoming more and more apparent what they thought of their orphans.

Lee sat on the edge of her seat as she waited for the young girls arrival at the Three Broomsticks. It was getting rather crowded, maybe she shouldn’t have chosen such a public place to ask. But this was the best place, she figured, that way she could make sure Chrissy was eating a good meal along side it all. She knew Hogwarts fed the kids, but she still had the worry every now and then that they weren’t eating enough. A little black bow with a velvet, white bow sat, poking slightly, out of her purse draped over the back of her chair. She felt rather antsy, she imagined that this was similar to what people felt when they were about to propose marriage. She was on the verge of making the biggest commitment of her life.

@chrissy

[Deleted]

May 2025

The last time that Chrissy had seen Lee had been during the Flower Festival the previous month, during which they had nearly risked a falling out over the fact that she had actually made a friend in an older girl named Summer. Even with that, Chrissy wished that she were able to see Lee more often, but their schedules never really matched up. Lee was busy with the investigation into what had happened with Azkaban, and Chrissy was busy with school—never mind the fact that she was only allowed outside of the Hogwarts grounds on certain weekends.
 
Chrissy could hardly believe that it was May, anyway. She felt as though she had just started school at Hogwarts. Things on that front had gotten slightly better, but they weren’t great. She still missed Ilvermorny, although she suspected that she wasn’t the only one who did. She hoped that she wasn’t the only one, even if other people seemed to have integrated into life at Hogwarts more easily than she had.
 
The May Hogsmeade weekend would be her last before the summer, which was another frightening prospect. She assumed that she would be staying with Lee and returning to Hogwarts in September, but what if she wasn’t? An owl from Lee asking her to meet for lunch almost seemed to confirm that something was up, but Chrissy agreed to the lunch date. It was Lee; she couldn’t say no.
 
On the day of their lunch plans, Chrissy made her way towards the Three Broomsticks not knowing how to feel other than anxious. She tried to tell herself that it was nothing; there was nothing wrong with the fact that Lee had asked her out to lunch. It was a nice thing to do, and Lee was her guardian in Britain… It wasn’t weird, but the Gryffindor couldn’t help but feel weird about it. So much for the bravery that she was supposed to have, she thought.
 
The Three Broomsticks was getting busier as Chrissy entered it, and her eyes darted around to see if she could find Lee. It was better if she was already there—and it didn’t take long for Chrissy’s eyes to lock onto the redhead. Lee was perched on the edge of her seat, which did little to ease Chrissy’s mind, though she managed a smile as she approached her. “…Hi, Lee.”

@alyra

[Deleted]

Lee fought the urge to stand when Chrissy came into the bar, she wasn’t a formal person by any means but this meeting made her feel oddly formal. She hoped that Chrissy couldn’t sense her nerves. She was being a freak. Surely the girl would know something was up. Lee hadn’t asked the girls to a real lunch since their first Hogsmeade weekend. Every time she had seen them since then had just been luck or planned activities, but nothing sit down and formal. “Hey!” Lee greeted back when the girl came to sit with her, she gestured to the seat across the table. She could sense a little worry in Chrissy’s voice and wanted to do everything in her power to calm her. Though her nerves were making her clunky. “Sit down. How’s school going? Are you ready for exams?” she asked, wanting to attempt some aspect of casuality.

[Deleted]

May 2025

"Hey!" Lee greeted her, motioning to the seat across from where she was sitting. "Sit down," Lee told her, but the speed at which she tossed questions at her just wasn't… like Lee. "How’s school going? Are you ready for exams?"

Chrissy had already made her peace with the fact that she wasn't going to do too well on any of her exams. There was just too much material to cover and too little time in which to study it to know what all was expected of Hogwarts's fourth-years. She had missed a whole semester, and it seemed likely that she would be repeating the year because of it.

Her eyes met Lee's, but she quickly looked down and away from her. "No, uh, not really?" she replied uneasily to the redhead, seating herself at such an angle that she could keep an eye on what was happening in the pub—just in case. She didn't lean back into the chair and kept bolt upright instead. "I mean, we've, um—We do exam review in class and stuff," she explained, "but… yeah." She didn't know what else to say about school, other than that she guessed that it kept her busy. And she had actual teachers again to whom she could go with her questions—not that she had gone to them for additional help.

Off the subject of how Hogwarts was, Chrissy turned the question to Lee. (Not that Lee was in school, though she was working.) "…How's the, um… investigation going?" She doubted that Lee was able to divulge anything major about the investigation and what she really did in a day's work, but she hoped that whatever Lee was doing was going well.

@alyra

[Deleted]

Lee listened as Chrissy admitted that she wasn’t really ready for exams. She explained that they would do review in class, but that she didn’t feel ready. Lee couldn’t tell whether Chrissy was feeling defeated and disappointed by this admission or if she had simply already given up. “That’s okay - it’s only fourth year, exams don’t really matter until next year anyway.” It was true, fifth year was the first year that they mattered career wise. “Maybe over the summer we can work on some of the subjects you think you want to pursue.” she suggested. However, by doing so, she had, without trying to, brought up that she was expecting Chrissy to want to stay with her for the summer. Maybe Chrissy would want to go back to the United States. Lee didn’t think she would, but she didn’t want to assume either.

@chrissy

[Deleted]

May 2025

Lee reassured her that it was okay that she wasn't prepared for her end-of-year exams. The fourth-year ones didn't really matter, she explained; the ones the next year would. Chrissy nodded her head, understanding what Lee had said though remaining thoroughly skeptical. She understood the material that was new to everyone and didn't think that she would flunk out on that; it was just all of the cumulative stuff that still didn't make sense.

"Maybe over the summer we can work on some of the subjects you think you want to pursue," Lee continued, and it was at that point that Chrissy's eyes met hers again. They didn't budge as she took in Lee's words after the fact, and Chrissy sat there in silence.

First, Lee seemed confident that she was going to pass, and Chrissy wasn't certain that she would be able to hold up her end of the bargain. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it sounded like the first definitive answer that she had gotten from anyone about what was happening with the summer or the next school year after that.

Of course, she would need to have some sort of a plan for her future beyond Ilvermorny, too… She didn't know what that would look like, but she knew that she would need some way to support herself. A MACUSA job of some sort had always been her end goal, but she had to question how she was supposed to be able to make a living for herself in New York City.

"Wait. Lee?" Chrissy began, just to make sure that she hadn't been overthinking everything. "Does that mean I'm staying here?" she asked. Come to think of it, Lee hadn't answered her when she had asked her how work was. "Like, for sure?"

@alyra

[Deleted]

Lee was so wrapped up in her own head about all of this that she hadn’t even realized that Chrissy had asked her about her own job. It was why she was here, after all, but it just didn’t seem important right now. Wow. that was a first - this woman was a crazy, work-obsessed, dragon lady. Weird. Chrissy didn’t comment about her summer suggestions, but instead jumped right in to asking if that meant that she would be staying for the summer. Lee sighed, she felt bad that Chrissy had gone the whole term, not knowing what would happen to her next term and over the summer. Lee had wanted to fill her in but it was all so back and forth with the MACUSA for a while that it would have just confused her more than enlightened her. “I was thinking it would be nice - if you wanted to, of course.” of course Ilvermorny would be open again in the fall, but as of now Lee had no idea how long her assignment here would continue. Whether Chrissy would want to stay here with her, or return to Ilvermorny, would have to be worked out. “Actually I wanted to talk to you about the future plans today…” she swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ve been in contact with the MACUSA and we have a couple options for you to decide on.” she didn’t want to give Chrissy too much to think about at once.

[Deleted]

May 2025

"I was thinking it would be nice—if you wanted to, of course," Lee clarified of her mentioning that they could discuss which subjects she wanted to focus on for the future.

"Actually," she continued, "I wanted to talk to you about the future plans today…" Chrissy watched Lee but didn't know how to respond. "I’ve been in contact with the MACUSA and we have a couple options for you to decide on."

Chrissy blinked. She had "options". From MACUSA. She didn't know what they were, but Lee's lack of immediate enthusiasm was telling. It wasn't that she was surprised that Lee had been in contact with MACUSA back home; she worked for them, and Chrissy herself was still technically their ward. She still had reason to be skeptical, though, and she guessed that they had found her another placement. It wouldn't have been the first time for her to start over.

At the same time, Chrissy had never been given too many options. She had to do what MACUSA felt was in her best interest, and that was that. "What did MACUSA say?" Chrissy wondered. She doubted that there was much of a difference between the options they were giving her, regardless of what they were.

@alyra

[Deleted]

Chrissy sounded kind of uninterested to hear what the MACUSA had to say about her, and Lee couldn’t blame her, but Lee also didn’t want to jump ahead of herself and get Chrissy all worked up one way or another until she told the girl all of her options. Lee wanted to stress that this was all about Chrissy, and this was all hers to decide - she’d make sure of it. “Well, in regards to them, you can stay here for the summer and return to Ilvermorny and your foster home in the fall, or, you can go back at the end of term.” she explained. Lee wished that they had ordered before they started this conversation so that she could at least fidget with her glass of butter beer to calm her nerves. “Or…” she cleared her throat. “I’ve been thinking… if you want… we can just cut the MACUSA out of it…” she offered. The lump returned to her throat. “If that’s something you’re interested in…” she raised an eyebrow, wondering how direct she’d have to be with her asking.

@chrissy

[Deleted]

May 2025

"Well, in regards to them, you can stay here for the summer and return to Ilvermorny and your foster home in the fall, or, you can go back at the end of term," Lee explained, which didn't sound too far off from what Chrissy would have expected of MACUSA. So she could either go back to California in a few weeks or after the summer was over. Either way, she'd be going back to the US eventually.

"Or…" Chrissy waited as Lee cleared her throat. There was apparently a third option on the table. "I've been thinking… if you want… we can just cut the MACUSA out of it… If that's something you're interested in…"

Unsure what Lee meant, Chrissy sought clarification. "Wait… Cut MACUSA out of what?" It didn't make sense. Was she just going to try to override the American magical government?

@alyra

[Deleted]

Chrissy’s confusion confirmed Lee’s fear that it was impossible to beat around the bush with a 14 year old. She’d have to just come right out and say it. All of this was rather odd to her, since at work and in her own personal life she was a woman who liked to get things done and she said what she wanted to say without a filter. But this was different. This was a child. Err, teenager. Same thing? “I guess what I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to go back at all, if you’d rather just stay with me, to the foster home, I mean. I’ve been going back and forth with the adoption agency at the MACUSA and it’s all set… if you want it to be. I’d understand though if you’d rather go back to California.” she explained.

@chrissy

[Deleted]

May 2025

What Lee meant, she said, was that she didn't have to go back to her foster home at all, if she didn't want to. She had been "going back and forth with" the adoption agency attached to MACUSA, and it was "all set"—again, if she wanted it to be. However, she said that she understood if she wanted to go back to California.

Adoption? Lee wanted to adopt her? It took a moment for Chrissy to realize that she hadn't misheard what Lee had just told her. She wasn't ungrateful—far from it—but it was a lot to take in so suddenly. She was closer to Lee than to anyone else in the entire world; it wasn't completely out of left field, since Lee had been her guardian for the past semester anyhow… Had this been in the works the whole time?

Chrissy remained speechless, but she knew that she needed to say something. She had never had to make such a significant decision before. That kind of thing had never been left to her to decide. However she answered was going to change her life forever, wasn't it? She wasn't sure if she could do that right then and there. "Lee, I-I…" she stammered, trying to make sense of the thoughts flooding her head all of a sudden. Of course she would never have her parents back; they were dead. The alternative was what? Bouncing from foster home to foster home again until she eventually aged out? Then why was this so hard? "I-I don't know what to say," she admitted.

@alyra

[Deleted]

Chrissy was definitely hesitant and lee expected her to be. She couldn’t even imagine what it would be like being in her shoes. She had a loving family. A preppy, rich, Los Angeles family, who loved one another and cared for each other. Being alone was a forign concept to Lee. But at the same time, she wanted Chrissy to know that she didn’t have to be on her own anymore if she didn’t want to be. This was the most impulsive thing that lee had ever done, but it felt the most right. “It’s okay if you say no, or if you want time to think about it.” Lee admitted. “But if you wanted to, you’re already family.” Lee added. She had started to bond with the girl and she liked the idea of having her with her, she didn’t like sending her back, not knowing what kind of life she was going back to.

@chrissy

[Deleted]

May 2025

"It’s okay if you say no, or if you want time to think about it," Lee reassured her. "But if you wanted to, you’re already family."

Chrissy nodded. She knew that Lee wouldn't have agreed to become her guardian in the first place if she didn't already think of her as family… at least a little bit. It was a lot to think about in just a few minutes' time, and she was glad that Lee wasn't forcing her to come up with an answer then and there. "…I know," she said softly about Lee's "family" comment, before pausing. Somehow, she still felt bad about leaving Lee hanging.

"Is it okay if I take some time to think about it?" she asked. She had to do it for the sake of confirmation—never mind that Lee had already said that it was okay. If Lee was expecting her to say yes, she didn't want to ruin their lunch for her.

@alyra

[Deleted]

Chrissy asked if she could have some time to think about it and Lee nodded. Of course she would allow her all the time she needed, she didn’t want the girl to have to make a snap decision or even to feel as if she had to. She wanted it to be an informed decision and one that all parties were comfortable with. “Of course. And if you have any questions about any option I’m happy to answer what I can.” of course she didn’t know everything about what would happen either way, but she could do her best to infer what might come to pass.

In the meantime, however, they were sat down to have lunch and yet there was no food in front of them. “Are you hungry? We can order.” she offered, flipping the menu over on the table and taking a look. She had only been here a handful of times, just when she would meet up with the girls on their Hogsmeade weekends.

@chrissy