Dearest Harry - Eileen's Story

A/N Finally, at long last, the Epilogue. Please see end notes for thank yous and a couple of explanations. I hope you enjoy it. ~ Lucie

Epilogue – Nineteen Weeks Later

Eileen was delighted to see that Minerva had ordered éclairs today for tea today. Ever since the final battle they had met every Thursday for a chat but today was obviously special somehow, because since when had Minerva provided cream cakes? It was normally short bread, or scones and jam, never such extravagant fripperies.

She smiled at her friend. Minerva had hardly changed in sixty something years. Well in actuality she had, she was now the confident, efficient and somewhat formidable headmistress of one of the greatest magical schools in the world, but Eileen could still see frequent glimpses of the solemn little girl who had first befriended her on their first home-sick night in the Gryffindor dormitories.

She sometimes wondered how her son would have faired if he had not been sorted into Slytherin, if the hat had made a different choice and put him in Gryffindor as it had done with her. Perhaps then he would not have been as open to the influences of people like Mulciber, Avery and Lucius Malfoy? Of course the latter of the three had changed beyond all recognition now of course, since his time as a prisoner. Severus had had a hard time for so very long, he had been disliked and hated, which had made him withdrawn and defensive. But that had all changed now, thanks to Harry, because of her grandson, Severus’ bravery and his loyalty to the side of light was known to the whole world. Severus was respected and admired now, feted wherever he went, much to his own disgust.

She smiled to herself for a moment, when she thought of her bad tempered, prickly son. Somehow he had managed to survive for more than twenty years as a spy; he had saved her Harry time after time.

No, in truth, the hat had been right all those years ago Severus represented all that was best about Slytherin House. It was Severus’ cunning which kept his true loyalties undetected by Voldemort and his ambition which had set him on such a difficult path in the first place. What could have been more ambitious than to be a lead player in the scheme to defeat a seemingly undefeatable wizard, when almost everyone else had believed that all was lost? Severus was one of the bravest and most steadfast men that she had ever known she told herself proudly. He was a hero and Slytherin deserved heroes too.

“Harry seems so happy to be back, he has really settled in, he is a like a. different boy. ” Minerva said cutting into Eileen’s thoughts. The school had opened again after Christmas and the usual schedule had been altered so that the school year would end at the end of July, hopefully , giving the pupils plenty of time to finish their NEWTS. The staff would then get a very short holiday before the next school year began .

Harry had indeed been unsettled for a while, as if he did not quite know what to do with all these extra people in his life, he seemed to want to please everyone all at once but finally in the middle of February he appeared to have completely relaxed, realised that he could just be himself and that everyone would happy with that.

The children had all been in trouble for sneaking into Hogsmeade to celebrate Ron’s birthday and coming back rather the worse for wear, even Hermione, who as head girl had been lucky not to find herself suspended for the escapade. She was probably only saved by the fact that the head boy, Draco had been there too, and Minerva didn’t want to dismiss both of them at the same time. Then of course there was the fact that the head teacher seemed ready to indulge some of the students in her senior year far more than Eileen would have believed. So they had all gotten away with a stern talking too and a week of detention.

Eileen thought that it was this leniency on Minerva’s part and her own acceptance of Harry’s part in the escapade which had helped him begin to understand that he did not always have to get everything right for his family to care about him, that he could make mistakes, test the boundaries, get things wrong sometimes, they would continue to love him anyway.

Eileen was actually delighted with Minerva’s leniency if she were honest with herself. In her opinion the children who had fought alongside Harry and supported him, long before the adults had, deserved to act up a bit and finally get to behave like the teenagers that they truly were.

Minerva had originally asked Harry if he would like to be head boy and had received a polite but firm refusal. Harry had had enough of responsibility, he just wanted to hang out with his friends, study for his exams, and spend time learning about healing from Poppy Pomfrey. Harry had indeed decided that he wanted to be a healer and Eileen could not be more delighted.

It was good that the children had gone back to school, people were beginning to rebuild their lives and she thought that Hogwarts was a great place for all those children who had had to grow up too fast to have just the last little bit of their childhood before it was too late. She would see a number of them later and catch up on their news; she had grown close to several of them over the last year, Luna and Neville, two brave and somewhat quirky individuals, who had always supported Harry. Ginny who was finally free from the shadow of Voldemort, the girl fairly sparkled with happiness these days! And of course she was deeply fond of Harry’s closest friends Hermione and Ron and Draco, whom she hadn’t liked at all to begin with, but who had developed into a loyal and likable young man. She felt so lucky, so blessed to be welcomed into their lives

There had been some shock and consternation when Minerva had appointed Draco as head boy in Harry’s stead. Ron had even said something about the fact that nearly killing your headmaster obviously was not considered enough of a misdemeanour to stop the appointment. Fortunately Draco had taken the comment in the teasing vein that it had been meant and indeed the friendships that he had been building with Harry’s Gryffindor friends had not disintegrated upon the resumption of school. Harry had been delighted with Draco’s appointment as head boy though and Eileen thought that Minerva was right, the boy did deserve another chance, and so far, eight weeks into the new school year he was doing a really good job, well apart from the recent Hogsmeade episode that was.

Eileen thought that it was a good thing that Slytherin had one of its pupils in the senior post, that poor house had had a bad shock at the defeat of the Dark Lord and many of the children had lost their fathers to Voldemort or to Azkaban. Eileen suspected that a good number of them had expected to be hated and despised upon their return, only to come back and find that one of Slytherin House was in such a position of responsibility, it had been it seemed - well according to Harry at any rate - a very welcome surprise. Draco had after all taken the Dark Mark and apparently supported Voldemort, even if he had subsequently changed sides and fought at Harry’s side instead, it sent a very good message to the whole school Eileen thought, one about the possibility of redemption, of forgiveness. But she would ask Harry about it later, when she saw him for supper.

That was the other reason that Eileen loved her Thursdays so much, her weekly meal with her grandson. Eileen was very aware that it was an indulgence of Minerva’s which allowed such a treat. None of the other students got regular family visits like this. But then Eileen knew that her friend was of the opinion that Harry deserved the odd indulgence and they all knew that Harry would not allow such special treatment to go to his head. Severus came too whenever he could, spending as much time as possible with Harry, and with Remus too of course. Eileen was delighted that her somewhat dour son had found love at last. He truly was so much happier these days.

But those suppers were also a gift for Eileen weren’t they? Eileen would never stop regretting that she had not been there for Harry, that she and Severus had not taken him away from the Dursleys when he was still a little boy and Minerva knew it. Some things could never be repaired, it was too late to give Harry a childhood, but she could still love him with all that she had, something that was incredibly easy to do.

He desperately lapped up each hug or caress, each kind word that came his way and luckily Eileen always had plenty of those to give to her grandson. She knew that deep down she would never really forgive herself for the dreadful childhood that Harry had suffered. She felt that she should have known that Harry would need his other family, his uncle, his grandmother, but instead she had blindly trusted that Rosie’s daughter would be like her mother and father, kind and loving. She had never suspected that Petunia would turn out to be far more like Tobias. But she wasn’t going to think about that now. Harry would be here soon although sadly Severus wouldn’t make it this time as he was in Seattle, helping werewolves in Washington State. She was so proud of her son, he really had blossomed of late and was currently working on a serum based on the blood of werewolves who had already been cured, apparently this was modelled on the way that Muggles created vaccines, which prevented disease. Draco had explained it all to her one day a month or two ago. She would see Severus soon, she knew, but sadly not today.

She shook herself, she was becoming too maudlin she thought. Eileen decided that she was not going to waste this precious time with regrets, she could do her regretting at her leisure later.

“So why the éclairs, Min?” Eileen asked.

Minerva smiled in a very self satisfied way. We have a very special guest today, and he did so love éclairs, it is just so very sad that he can’t enjoy them quite as much as we do any longer. The headmistress rolled her eyes in the direction of the wall, and Eileen, followed her gaze, only to see the portrait of Albus Dumbledore, which had hung there, its inhabitant deeply asleep since the headmaster had died.

Only he wasn’t asleep any longer. Albus Dumbledore was awake at last.

She could not help the small gasp that escaped as she saw him gazing back at her.

“Hello, Eileen,” he said, in his kindly, twinkly way.

Eileen’s lips thinned, she felt the anger that she had held in abeyance for far too long, break free of its restraints, the fury that had sprung to her heart when she thought of this man, who was supposed to have protected her grandson, looked after him, of what he had allowed to happen, allowed to take place. Not to mention the way the man had used Severus.

“Don’t you hello me, Albus Dumbledore, and don’t you dare twinkle at me either! It is about time that you woke up isn’t it? What the heck did you think that you were doing with my grandson? Neglecting him, leaving him with those Muggles? Leaving him to fend for himself, putting him in danger, and then going off and dying and not waking up to offer him support! All this time, that he had to cope alone, or might have done, luckily he wasn’t alone, he had me and Sev and his friends, but he could have been, you didn’t care. He is seventeen, just a boy! What were you thinking?

“I have a good idea to go and find a nice bottle of turpentine and a rag to apply it!”

Dumbledore flinched.

“I know I deserved that,” he said contritely, “Minerva was not best pleased either, when I woke up. Hence the éclairs I think!” He looked somewhat ruefully at the confections as he spoke, “They used to be my favourites you know?”

Eileen was sure that she felt her blood boil.

“Cakes!” she exclaimed, “you are complaining about your lack of cakes, when my grandson was beaten and starved and ignored? Repeatedly put in dangerous situations and not given enough information? Unsupported for far too long? When my son assumed that his life was over and that he would die hated and reviled?”

“But I sent you the information that would help Severus, and Harry, did all right, he killed Voldemort, he survived.” Dumbledore said, as thought that made everything all right.

“Oh he did all right!” Eileen shouted, “but it was no thanks to you! He nearly didn’t survive, we very nearly lost him, and that was your fault Albus Dumbledore, for keeping too many secrets, indulging in too many misdirections! If it hadn’t been for Sev….” She broke off, uncertain of what to say, still trembling in fury.

How could she tell him about what Severus had been through? About her own illness and suffering about what they had all gone through come to that?

“If I had known the whole truth, Eileen.” Dumbledore said, “then Harry might not have had to stay with the Muggles.” Eileen couldn’t believe the utter gall of the man. His voice actually held censure, he was chiding her, challenging her.

“How dare you!” she said, coldly, “You could have told me, Albus, you could have told me that Severus was your spy, that he was not a Death Eater, or loyal to Tom Riddle. Not waited until you were already dead and it was already far too late for me to do anything about it! Do you think that I have not regretted the fact that I did not trust my son with the safety of my grandson? Not a day goes past that I don’t wish that I had made a different decision, taken Severus aside and told him the truth? I missed Harry’s childhood, I’d have loved him, looked after him, it could all have been so different. But I couldn’t take the risk, I just couldn’t. I thought that you would have ensured that he was safe, that Lily’s family were looking after him. I trusted you!”

“And as for Severus! He should have been able to come to me for support, instead he said nothing, not a single word! He struggled on for all those years alone. You could have given him permission to tell me, when everyone thought that Voldemort had gone, when everyone thought it was safe, I would have never risked the lives of my son and my grandson, I’d have died first!”

“We all trusted you, Albus.” Minerva said, her disappointment evident in her tone. “I told you that those Muggles were not nice, I didn’t like them. But what they did to Harry! They should not have been treated as well as they have been, they should have gone to prison, when I think of how he was treated!”

Minerva fell silent too. It seemed that she simply did not know what to say. She had been a good friend to Eileen, one of the few that had continued to visit her over the years and ever since Severus had brought Harry to Eileen’s doorstep they had grown even closer. Eileen had told her everything and in return, Minerva had shared stories about Harry and Lily that she had never told anyone before. Minerva McGonagall took her duties seriously and did not gossip about her students outside of school, but once she had known, once Eileen had told her of their relationship, Minerva had shown no hesitation in regaling her friend with tales of Harry and Lily’s exploits. They had both been favourite students of hers it seemed and Eileen had avidly listened to and treasured very single word.

But she had also heard what Minerva had not said. The times that she had worried about Harry, about his safety, the times she had had words with Albus about what he had allowed, no encouraged, the boy to do. But although she had known that Harry’s home was not a very happy one, Harry had kept his secrets well and Minerva had had no idea about what Harry’s life had really been like outside of school, until that fateful night that Severus had returned with a desperately ill, delirious child who had almost died.

But Albus had known at least some of what Harry had been through, even Petunia Dursley had apparently admitted that, all those months ago. But he had ignored the signs that Harry was an abused child, and so many of the others had not seen things either, all those little indications that seemed blatantly obvious in hindsight. But whilst the others, including Eileen herself had blundered about damning them all with their good intentions, all along, Albus had known the truth.

“I am sorry,” Albus said, “I made so many mistakes when it came to Harry and to Severus too for that matter. If I had my time again I would have done things differently. I would have confided more in you Minerva, you always told me that I should trust Eileen.”

Minerva snorted, as if she didn’t quite believe him.

“I have wronged both those boys, I know I have.” Albus said sadly, “and yet I loved them both, like the sons that I never had. How are they? Are they all right?”

He really did look subdued now, his eyes were no longer twinkling and even his beard appeared limp and unkempt. As she took in the forlorn looking figure in the portrait, Eileen found that she could not continue to be angry. She thought that the man had been a fool at times, had made mistakes that had cost her son and her grandson far too much. But really, Dumbledore was only a man really wasn’t he, he had indeed been a very powerful wizard, but he had never been evil, just misguided in some of his actions and he had tried to do what he thought was best, however wrong his plans had been.

Hadn’t they all learned an awful lot about forgiveness in the last year? From a boy who had had all too little understanding in his life and who should have hated them all, but who, quite remarkably did not.

She looked again at the man in the painting, he was forever trapped there now, he could not escape. He would never be able to touch her boys or hold them as she could, never sit down to eat a meal or share a Christmas with them, as she had not so very long ago, he could never experience their forgiveness, not the way that she had.

She saw the sadness and the guilt and the loss, it was evident in every painted line on the portrait’s face and she relented.

“They are fine, Albus,” she finally said, “ just fine.”

“Severus is doing well, he found the cure for lycanthropy. He doesn’t teach any more, but he is travelling and lecturing and curing werewolves.”

“He cured lycanthropy? He always was brilliant. He doesn’t teach any more?” Albus asked eagerly, desperate it seemed for news.

Minerva spoke this time, “No Albus, he is happy at last, he always hated teaching you know that. Lucius Malfoy is the potions master at Hogwarts now, he was very ill for a while, his magic was badly damaged, but it seems to be recovering now. He and Narcissa are currently fighting to have their assets returned, they were confiscated by the Ministry, but it seems that such an action was illegal. Sirius Black is helping them; he insisted that if his funds were never taken from him when he was sent to Azkaban, then the Malfoys should be allowed to keep the majority of their funds too. We think that they will have to pay a fine, a very large one probably, but they will not be poor, they’ll be able to rebuild the manor. In the meantime Lucius teaches. He is very good at it and he enjoys it I think.”

Lucius was another person who had found redemption, thanks to Harry. The Malfoys were generally treated with far more suspicion than Severus was, but people seemed willing to give them a chance, which was possibly more than they could ever have hoped for just a few short months ago.

“Sirius enjoyed helping them, I believe.” Eileen said, she couldn’t help but smile when she thought of Black, he had treated her son abominably in the past she knew that, but he was trying to make reparations now. He had funded much of Severus research into the latest form of the lycanthropy potion. Severus had only agreed because the other possible funders had wanted to have a say in Severus’ research, whereas Black had promised to stay completely out of it, and had proved true to his word, happy to fund something that would help others as it had helped Remus. Plus it made Harry happy to see the two men at least attempting to work together, and both of them seemed to want Harry to be happy.

She admired Black’s zest for living, it seemed that having been given another chance of life, he was not going to waste a second of it. He threw himself into everything with such verve, such gusto. Whether it was supporting the Malfoys, funding Severus, or restoring Grimmauld Place, he did everything with huge amounts of energy and passion.

His adventures were detailed at length in the Daily Prophet, and Witch Weekly, which made both Severus and Harry happy as it meant that both of them were left in peace. There was much speculation about who Sirius might be going out with, who would be a suitable match. In truth though, Sirius seemed happy to be single for now, dividing his time between his various causes and his godson and his friend.

“Remus is back teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts, so what with him being here as well as the Malfoys and Harry of course Severus returns regularly too.”

“Severus and Remus? Are they friends?” Dumbledore’s eyes were twinkling again now and he looked like an excited child on Christmas morning. “And Severus and Harry.”

“How much do you know?” Eileen asked, because Albus did seem to know that she, Severus and Harry were related, that the war was over, that Riddle was dead, and Sirius alive, but not much else.

“There is a lot that I haven’t told him Leeny, he only woke up an hour or so ago.” Minerva said.

So Eileen sat down again, she looked at the old man for a few moments more and then she told Albus everything. All the amazing things that had happened since her grandson had come to her home all those months ago and Minerva joined in on the conversation and lots of tea was drunk as the story was told. Albus asked lots of questions and nodded at some things and seemed surprised at others. He was overjoyed to hear that Severus and Remus’ relationship was still going strong and that Sirius’ return had not placed too much strain on their relationship or on the relationship between Severus and Harry.

Having caught up on the most recent news of Severus, Albus asked, “And how is Harry now?”

But just then a little tinkling sound filled the office. Minerva smiled, quite kindly Eileen thought, “why don’t you ask him yourself she suggested, that sounds like him now.”

Slowly the door opened and Harry walked into the room, he looked very different from the way he had when Dumbledore had last seen him. Harry had grown up. He was not the skinny little boy with the sad eyes that Eileen had first met. He smiled that lovely smile of his, walked over, bent down and gave her a kiss. He would never be tall, her Harry, but he was taller than her, towering a giddy eight inches over her 5ft frame. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him, it always did. She didn’t know what she had done to deserve someone as wonderful as Harry in her life, but she was not complaining at all!

“Hello love!” she said, “had a good week?” Harry nodded

“Yeah, you?” His eyes widened when he spotted the éclairs “oooh any of those going spare?”

Eileen and Minerva smiled at each other. Harry might be an extraordinary young man, the ‘Saviour of the Wizarding World’ as he was now known in the media and indeed to just about everyone else, but he was also a teenage boy and he was always hungry.

“Hello Harry,” Dumbledore said when it seemed that Harry was too focussed on the others in the room and of course the éclairs, to notice that he was now awake.

Harry stiffened. He stood at the table, a cake half way to his lips, not moving for a moment or two, not looking at any of them. Then slowly he replaced the confection and even more slowly he carefully turned around, Eileen saw with a shock that he had gone very white, as if all the blood in his face had been drawn away.

“Professor Dumbledore? Harry sounded completely astonished.

“It is so good to see you my boy!” Albus sounded delighted, and full of emotion, his words were delivered tightly, as if it hurt to say them. Eileen was pleased to see that the Headmaster also looked nervous, as though he was bracing himself to be rejected by the boy.

Harry didn’t speak; he opened his mouth, and then closed it again. His fists clenched and unclenched, he was trembling. Eileen wondered what he was thinking, but then she looked at Harry’s eyes. They were so expressive, they truly did show everything that he was feeling, all the hurt, the anger, the pain.

It had been nineteen weeks since the defeat of Voldemort and Harry had only just begun to heal. He had had to suffer so much for that one anticlimactic day; he had lost so much, more than anyone else, and all because of a prophecy and a madman’s insane obsession. But between them all, all the people that cared for Harry he was beginning to learn that he was valued and loved, not for defeating Voldemort, but for just being Harry.

Slowly Harry moved forward, until he was standing right in front of the painting of Dumbledore. And then whatever turmoil Harry had been feeling seemed to just disappear. It probably had, Eileen thought. She had never known anyone as forgiving as Harry. Eileen was sure that Albus had noticed the change because the old man’s eyes were twinkling madly, which should not have been possible in a painting, however good the artist was.

“Hello, Professor,” Harry said, “You’ve woken up at last!”

“I have my boy!” Albus said, “and look at you, all grown up, what a fine man you have turned into!”

Harry ducked his head, and Eileen could see that the tips of his ears had turned pink, he was blushing.

“I did it, Professor,” Harry whispered, “I defeated Voldemort! It’s all over now.”

“I know, Harry, Minerva told me and I am so very proud of you my boy. What you have done, what you have achieved, is truly miraculous.”

“I didn’t do it alone Sir, I had lots of help. Do you know about me and Severus, and Eileen?” Harry turned to the two women. “Have you owled Severus? I’m sure he would really like to know that the Professor has woken up.”

“We’ll owl Sevvy, Harry, don’t worry about that,” Eileen reassured her grandson. She was overjoyed at close relationship between her son and grandson. Severus had been a little nervous when he had told Harry about his new relationship with Remus, fearing that the boy would be upset or afraid that it would come between them. Of course, he had worried needlessly as Harry had been delighted for both his Uncle and Remus.

“I’m so pleased that you finally have the family you deserve, Harry. Minerva and your grandmother and I, we had a most illuminating conversation this afternoon. I…I wish I had known, Harry, if only I had spoken to your grandmother, if only I hadn’t kept so many secrets.” The old man’s voice was heavy with regret and he held out a hand as if to touch Harry, but that wasn’t possible was it? Even with magic.

Harry reached out to Dumbledore in turn, he placed his own hand on the canvas; it stood out pale against the paint. Dumbledore seemed to be struggling to hold on to his composure.

“I missed you Professor,” Harry admitted softly

“Oh Harry!” Dumbledore said, “I made so many mistakes, I wish I were there with you now, but I wasn’t allowed to wake up before now. They wouldn’t let me, the powers that be. Can you forgive me Harry? Can you ever forgive me for what I did wrong.”

Harry smiled, Eileen had moved so that she could see her grandson’s face.

“Of course I forgive you,” Harry said, “I forgave you long ago. You tried your best, you all did. I have so much now, Professor, so many people that love me. What is the point of dwelling on the past?”

Dumbledore smiled.

A single tear escaped from one twinkly eye and made its way down the old wizard’s cheek.

“Do you know, my boy, I think that you are by far the finest man that I have ever met?”

Harry laughed, “Don’t be silly Professor! I have my flaws just like everyone else. I’m not perfect, I have lots to tell you about you know, did gran tell you about me and Draco?”

Dumbledore nodded

Eileen levitated a chair so that it stood close to the painting, “It sounds to me like you two have much to talk about, Harry,” she said. “I think that Minerva and I will head on down to supper, we’ll have a house-elf bring you up something to eat.” She had already decided that she would have a word with Kreacher, he had been so much happier, since Eileen had taken him under her wing, he was a different elf these days, happy to look after Harry and reconciled with Sirius, brother to his much beloved, long dead master. Elves just needed a little kindness, something that Harry had in abundance, something that Sirius was learning to show too.

“But didn’t you already tell Professor Dumbledore everything?” Harry asked her. While he wanted to talk with the Headmaster, he didn’t want to miss out on his weekly dinner with his gran.

Eileen seemed to pick up on his thoughts, “I told the story from my point of view, love,” Eileen said, “I think Albus would love to hear the story from you too. It is your story really after all and perhaps we can have our dinner together tomorrow night, who knows, Sevvy might even be back by then?”

“Oh okay then, if you think so.” Harry settled himself in the armchair, “Are you sure you want to hear it again, Professor?” Harry asked, looking up at Albus questioningly.

“Yes please, Harry,” Albus said. He looked wistful and sad and very, very happy all at the same time. “I would love to hear your story, right from the beginning, from when I saw you last.”

Eileen smiled, “we’ll see you later then lad?” she said, and her heart swelled with love for her brave, forgiving grandson and she leaned over and gave Harry a fierce hug, gently placing a kiss on his slowly fading scar.

fin






A/N - Well that’s it, finally finished! I can’t quite believe how much this story has grown or how long it took to write! I had the last few chapters in mind when I started the story, but it has taken me far longer than I ever thought it would to get to where those scenes felt right. I hade hoped to have this written before Deathly Hallows, but the story wouldn’t co-operate. I tried to incorporate everything that I could from the books, all the little hints and clues that Rowling included, but in the end I am glad that the last book came out before I finished. I felt cheated by several things in the last book. I think that Slytherin should have had a few heroes too, so I gave them that, the Malfoys should have been redeemed more effectively and Severus, Remus and Tonks, if they had to die, deserved a better death. There is not a lot of Deathly Hallows in this story, just a few bits that I ended up incorporating, like Neville’s bravery. Oh and unlike JKR I didn't change my mind, the last word always was scar!

Thank you all for your support and kind reviews, they really have meant a lot to me! I would also like to thank my wonderful betas, for helping me, supporting me, asking pertinent questions and correcting my erratic punctuation. Especially Kim, Laylee, Branny and TQA, who each contributed so much. But I must also thank Claudia, latterly she has been with me every step of the way. The story has benefitted immeasurably from her input and support. I do not know what I would have done without her.

This story is dedicated to my betas and to the gang at Biza’s who are too many to name, but who are, each and every one of them, wonderful people who I am lucky to be able to call friends.

*hugs to you all*

Lucie xxxx