Never A Tale Of More Woe

June eased into July: the sun shone more brightly, the birds sang more sweetly. It was perfection, and for Anna and Max, it was if they were living in bubble of happiness, a bubble secure from the trials and tribulations of reality. They spent all the time they could together, and gloried in each other's company. That it couldn't last, both knew, yet neither accepted, and on that day in the middle of July, they had no thought but for the present.

It was early evening, not quite six o'clock, and they were sitting under an old tree in the school gardens, not far from the groundsman's cottage. Max was leaning against the trunk, reading the Daily Prophet, while stroking Anna's hair. Anna, lying with her head in his lap, wasn't doing anything, just lying quite still, her eyes closed, feeling the sun on her face and Max's hand in her hair.

"Puddlemere United won the last Quidditch match against the Cannons," he remarked idly.

"Mm."

"The Thaddeus Bindleweed Institute has developed a new invisibility potion, only now they can't find the broomstick they tested it on."

"Mm."

"The Minister of Magic shrank by three feet, turned green and blue, and has gone off to fight pixies."

"Mm." Max poked Anna's head.

"Are you listening to me?"

"Mm." Max rolled his eyes, flung his paper down, and wiggled his knees, so Anna slid sideways and landed in a heap on the grass. She looked up indignantly, pulling a leaf from her hair.

"Max! What did you do that for?"

"Ah. She speaks. I am honoured." This time it was Anna who rolled her eyes.

"Ma-ax! Don't be so facetious. I'm just a bit… distracted, that's all." A small frown creased her brow, and she twisted round till she was leaning against Max, who automatically put his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry. What's the matter - can I help?" She shook her head mutely.

"No, it - I - it's nothing." Her voice was far from convincing, however, and Max shook her slightly, his concern growing.

"Anna! Tell me!" Anna reached into the reticule lying by her side, and pulled out a somewhat crumpled letter.

"I got this this morning," she said reluctantly. "It's from my father." She bit her lip and stopped, but Max looked at her uncomprehendingly.

"Your father writes to you every week," he said softly. "What's different about this one?" Anna shrugged.

"It's just - he's full of ideas - well, plans, I suppose. For when I come home."

"Of course he is. He hasn't seen you for months, Anna."

"No, not holiday plans, Max. Life plans. You know, marriage, and that sort of thing. He wants me to have a season, in London or Harrogate. Then settle down and make babies." Max twisted round and looked at her sharply.

"What are you talking about? You make it sound like you're just going to be leaving here and never coming back." Anna dipped her head, refusing to meet Max's gaze.

"We never talked about it. I - I told you what my father was like."

"No, you told me he was a Muggle and that he wasn't awfully keen on magic. But I assumed - he let you come here, didn't he? You never said anything about just…disappearing!" His voice rose in anger, and Anna responded in kind.

"You never asked! You were always telling me about your plans for the future, but you never asked about mine! It hadn't occurred to me," she added scathingly, " that you would be interested." Max leapt to his feet and glared at her.

"If you must know, little Miss Perfect Ravenclaw, the reason I never asked was because I assumed…" He trailed off at this point, looking slightly sheepish, and Anna shot a triumphant look at him.

"Assume makes an ass out of you and me," she said with saccharine sweetness. "It seems to me that you've been making far too many assumptions, Max. Anyway, what were you going to say?" He walked off a couple of paces, and came back, and stared at her.

"I assumed," he said quietly, "that you would be with me."

"What?"

"I said, I assumed -"

"No, I heard what you said. I just - what did you mean?" He crouched beside her, and took her hands in his, laughing softly.

"This isn't quite how I meant to do it," he said ruefully.

"Do what?" asked Anna, breathless with anticipation. She stared up into Max's face, and the world seemed to contract until it contained nothing but him, her and the tree she was leaning against. All she could see was the love in Max's face; all she could feel was the pressure of his warm hands clasping hers. He reached out one hand, and stroked her cheek lightly, one finger sliding beneath her chin, and raising her face until it was below his. He bent forward and brushed a kiss against her lips, then leant back on his heels and smiled at her.

"I love you, Anna Chartwell. I can't imagine my life without you in it. Please say you'll marry me."

"Marry - yes! Yes, I will!" His face broke into a wide smile, matched only be hers, and he caught her in his arms.

"Oh, Anna! I promise you won't regret it, darling." She clung to him, and whispered,

"I couldn't."