At lunch time her Father would be returning to Cooper Cottage to talk with Amelia Cooper, the woman he had loved, the woman that he had left and the woman for whom he wanted to return to. Up to now Toby was still unaware that his Father was, in fact, alive. Amelia had decided that Toby didn't need to know until she knew exactly what was happening for she had asked for a week to figure things out about what Robert Cooper's presence all mean't. Of course after a week Amelia was planning to let Toby know, mostly due to Hallie's persistent and stance that Toby needed to know, because even if Amelia and Robert would part ways he was still Toby's Father and he had a right to see his son. However, before that moment occurred Amelia had a few things to discuss and Toby being around would be something Amelia would rather not have to juggle. As a result Hallie had offered to take Toby to Hogsmede for the afternoon her Father and Mother would reunite once more.
After getting buy each of them a bag of assorted sweets from Honeydukes Hallie and Toby were now walking up to the top of a hill that overlooked the wizarding village of Hogsmede. The hill was a lot steeper than Hallie remembered, clearly her physical ability was decreasing the older she got, but still at twenty years old she wouldn't have expected to notice. Maybe, however, that wasn't become she was an less fit but more she was dragging a weight along with her.
Upon reaching the top of the hill Hallie collapsed onto her bag and lay, spread-eagle, on the grass looking up at the clouds. The sky was mostly a wonderful blue but there were patches of white cotton candy decorating it nicely. Pushing herself onto her elbows the blonde glanced around at the scenery. It was picturesque. Across the valley were mountains that Hallie had always wished to explore. To her right was Hogwarts castle, a place she would always be able to call home and hoped that, one day, she'd be able to return as a teacher when her auror days grew short. It had been so long since Hallie had walked within the walls, practicing jinxes on passing Slytherin's, frantically studying around exam times and sneaking down to the kitchens with boys after midnight.
'It's beautiful.' Hallie said after her breathing finally returned to normal as her eyes turned from Hogwarts to the village below. There was a lady, who had to be in her sixties, dragging what looked like a ferret by a leash and a group of children jumping over an enchanted skipping rope. This is what happiness was. In spite of all the pain Hallie had felt throughout her life: The loss of a Father, a brother, feeling the numbness of grief, the loss of her own child. It was moments that this that reminded the blonde that life was worth living because you never know what beauty you could come across. Hallie's Father was alive, the grass was green and the birds were singing. Yet, there was still that shadowy cloud over the mountains in the distance tugging at Hallie's throat. Her Mother and Father would be talking now and Hallie needed to tell Toby about their Father.
Just five more minutes. Hallie told herself. The moment with Toby, simply sitting content with the bags of sweets in their hands was something she didn't want to ruin. It was rare that the Coopers got to be happy. Maybe Toby would take it well, maybe he wouldn't, but however her brother took the news it would change this moment, this moment of pure tranquility.
'Is there anybody at school you have your eye on?' Hallie asked, decided to preserve the brother-sister moment the pair rarely had.
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