ernie + megan
WHO: Ernie MacMillan & Megan Jones
WHAT: Old friends give comfort.
WHEN: After Ernest's funeral.
WHERE: MacMillan hoome.
RATING: PG
STATUS: DOne




Megan couldn't believe that Ernie's dad was gone and it was all so sad. However, Megan didn't really have anything to say that hadn't been said already. She didn't know what the right thing to say was and what wasn't right. All she could do was just be there if he needed anything, but Megan was sure he had had a lot of offers already.

Ernie appreciated all the owls that kept pouring into his house, but he couldn't help getting annoyed when yet another landed near his head. He sighed, took the package, and offered the owl a treat for his trouble. Ernie could almost pretend he was functioning again, but then another letter or gift would arrive citing condolences and it brought Ernie right back into reality. His father was gone. The funeral had been proof of that, but he could nearly pretend it wasn't so when some family and friends gathered at his house afterward. However, that owl crashed his dream.

He placed the box down without opening it. He would bother with it later.

She left the group of people she had been talking to, in search of Ernie, knowing he was probably somewhere else since she couldn't see him anywhere. Megan didn't have to go far, just in time to see an owl fly off. "Hi, Ernie," she said softly. "Can I get you anything?"

Ernie fought the urge to tell her that he simply wanted to be left alone. She was just being nice after all. "I'm fine, thanks." He forced a smile as he hugged his friend. "Enough food out there? Drinks?" Concentrating on those things eased his mind and gave him something else to think about.

Megan smiled back, weakly, as she hugged him. It had to be rough for him. She wished she had something to say, although giving him a hug was about all she could do. "Yes. There is plenty of food and drinks out there."

There was nothing to say and Ernie wished everyone would get that. There was no reason to feel awkward or stumble through conversations. Ernie knew the whole situation was crappy and he didn't expect anyone to have the magic answer to make it all better. He hugged her back, kissing her cheek as she pulled away. "Good. I'd have to run out." He smiled slightly. "How are you though? Have you gotten a flat yet?"

Someone else might have been able to do that for him; there was a feeling that he needed to get out if there was an opportunity. How was she? Well, she was feeling sorry for Ernie among other things. "I'm good, I suppose. Tired, more than anything." Megan shook her head, "No, I'm living with my aunt at the moment. Though, I think I'll talk to Susan about moving in with her." She did need someplace to live, apart from family, and Susan still had room.

Ernie had no intentions on leaving his mother after what happened and while that was his choice, part of him still felt jealous of Megan's plans. He had thought he'd find a job, save some gold, and lease his own place, but it seemed life had other ideas. He was going to live at home until things settled and that was that. "That might be fun," he said, trying to keep the longing from his own tone. "You'll have me over sometimes, yeah? We can have Hufflepuff reunions."

Megan had wanted to ask him what his plans were, yet she refrained. She didn't want to cause any trouble, if he wanted something that he couldn't have currently because of what happened. "Might be. Oh, of course I will! Hufflepuff reunions are a must," Megan told him. "I'd miss you and everyone else too much if we didn't have any reunions."

"Of course you'd miss me." Ernie forced himself to act like his normal self. "Who wouldn't? Though you need to let Hermione act as an honorary Hufflepuff."

Her smile got a little bigger. "I will. It might just end up being more of a Hogwarts reunion, if anyone wanted to bring a Ravenclaw or Slytherin to be an honorary Hufflepuff. Everyone is welcome."

"How big is this place?" Ernie shot her a teasing smile and found it actually came naturally. Maybe life really wouldn't always feel so dark and lonesome. Ernie knew his father wouldn't want him to wallow, but it still felt nearly impossible to live an entire life without him. However, small moments like the one he was having with Megan proved that life did indeed go one. "We might have to rent more space!"

"I don't know, I've never been there!" Megan said as she rolled her eyes. "I guess I should get this run by Susan before I plan anything that gets too big. I haven't moved in yet." She decided that she really did need to talk to Susan about this. "If anything, we can probably have these parties at my aunts' place. It has a large yard that can probably hold us all."

"Even Smith's ego?" Ernie teased, resting his back against the wall. It felt good to concentrate on the small day to day things rather than the monumental loss. Their conversation was exactly what Ernie needed.

Megan laughed, "I don't think anything is big enough to hold his ego. You won't tell him I said that, will you?"

Ernie pretended to consider her request. "Hm...what's in it for me?"

"Whatever you want that I am able to give you, Ernie." Megan told him.

"Now that? Is such a non-answer!" Ernie playfully shoved her in the shoulder. "Even if I asked for all the chocolate frogs in the world? I need to beat Hannah at collecting you know."

"Well, I can't possibly give you all the chocolate frogs in the world." She tried to say it seriously, but she kept giggling in between every few words. "That is why I gave you such an answer. I can, however, look and see if I have any extras of cards you don't have because if Hannah is beating you, then I must have ones you don't. How is that? And you won't tell Zach?"

"Fine, fine, if you insist." Ernie acted like he was making a great concession. "I won't tell Zach if you find me some cards I don't have." He held his hand over his heart. "Promise."

"Thanks. I'll send you one each of my extra cards. I promise to do that." Megan hoped that this was really helping Ernie because it was helping her feel like her normal self.

Oh, it was helping alright. More than she could possibly know. "Then we rub Hannah's face in it?"

Megan made a teasing face at Ernie. "That's not very nice, so you can do that yourself. I am going to remain neutral in this collection."

"Oh, alright, if you insist." Ernie sighed deeply, pretending her neutrality was a great slight.

"I do." Megan laughed. "How is it that Hannah is beating you? Give her all your extras? Slip her chocolate frogs that ended up having the cards you did not have?"

"I don't know that she is, but better safe than sorry!" His chuckle ceased as he glanced at the clock adorning the wall. "I really need to get back out there." He didn't really fancy the idea, but he couldn't leave his family to deal with everything.

"It is better to be safe." Megan smiled, nodding her head. She gave him another hug. "Okay."

He hugged her again, allowing himself to linger a few more moments than ordinary. Eventually, he let go. "Thanks, Megan." She had no idea how much their short talk meant.