Don't waste another day, don't waste another minute

Outfit
@samuel

Calliope was growing concerned, normally on a morning she received a patronus off Samuel with an 'I love you' and some adorably cheesy speech about how he missed them and would be back soon, it was one of the things Calliope most looked forward to when she woke up with Jeremy but today... today she'd not received a patronus and the witch was going out of her mind with worry, what if something had happened to him? She'd have no idea until the Death Eaters finally decided they wanted to see her and tell her which wouldn't be for a while with the way they were.

The fact her wizard had been trapped in the school for over a month now was driving her crazy, she was on an emotional roller-coaster that didn't seem to have a positive outcome it just kept going and going, making her feel sick to the stomach. With their recent actions Calliope was ashamed with the fact that once upon a time she had supported them, what they were doing was barbaric and keeping people away from their loved ones was a whole new level or cruel, it wasn't right. It wasn't fair.

Calli was sat on the sofa in the living room chatting away with Jeremy who was lay staring up at her, the eyes that were identical to his fathers were wide eyed and filled with fascination as he listened to his mothers voice. Or maybe he was wondering why her eyes were red? Calli was tired of crying so much but she was finding it almost impossible not to, she needed Samuel and she was slowly becoming sick with worry, she'd forgotten what it was like to be able to eat food and taste what she was feasting on, now everything was tasteless and dull and that was when she was eating. Even Carol making homemade meals for her that she knew she loved didn't do it for her and sleep? She'd forgotten what that was, she only ever slept when she got so tired she could hardly move and even then her resting was fitful and she would constantly find herself waking up and reaching over to find Samuel's side of the bed empty. It was a vicious circle and all she wanted was her wizard home with her and their son.

Jeremy began to fuss in her arms and Calli let out a long sigh, she loved her son but it was hard to keep her bearings, more often than not, she'd started crying when he had, of course they were both for completely different reasons but Calliope was just an emotional mess and she couldn't do anything about it. "There now sweetheart, settle down." She crooned, starting to rock him to ease his cries as his hands balled into fists and he began waving them in the air, "I know, I know but daddy will be home soon." She continued, shushing her son gently, she knew that wasn't why he was crying, he was hungry but she'd started saying it as a mantra and whilst she would argue she was reassuring her son, it was obvious she was trying to convince herself.

Calliope stood up and strolled up the stairs into the nursery, taking a seat in the rocking chair and taking a bib after adjusting her shirt and guiding him to feed whilst she began to sing to him softly.

The moment that Samuel had heard the lockdown was finally over he knew he had to ensure the kids were safe and fine and were able to get home as soon as possible and to do so safely. He wanted to be home with Calli no doubt but even she would understand that his students were important to him too. With Esther already being allowed to go home already he envied her because she was out of here already and he didn’t know how her departure had come about. But he knew that all those who had been granted permission to leave were either purebloods or had Death Eater connections, but how was Esther related to a Death Eater and to who even? He didn’t understand but now there were more important things for him to focus on. As soon as he was satisfied that the kids were home or on their way home he would be hurrying home himself. He was dying to see Calli and Jeremy and to have them in his arms. The silence of the castle at nights was bothering but he had started to miss his son’s 2am wake up call early on in the lockdown. It was not the same.

Sending a daily patronus to Calli had was on it’s way to becoming a daily ritual for Samuel but he would much rather tell her that he loved her in person. He also missed her affections but he knew that she wanted him home as much as he wanted to be there and under their roof. It was much safer than it was at Hogwarts, which was irony considering the history of the school and how safe it was considered by many. Samuel knew his best bet of ensuring that the kids made it home safely was that he accompanied them on the train back to London. He could have taken the shortcut and apparated home from beyond the school gates but he was not one to take the easy way out. Cali could have been mad at him for taking his time in getting home to her but at least he would have some kind of peace of mind that the kids were home safe. Soon enough Kit would be moving in with them and he too would be safe, he hoped the teen knew that Samuel would stick to his word on that.

Samuel perhaps had a lot of people under his care but that was the kind of person he was. He wanted to keep everyone safe as much as he could. He was out to correct the errors of his father. Maybe that was a long time ago but he felt he had to, even if Cali tried to tell him otherwise many times. But he was stubborn, a trait he was sure that Jeremy would inherit. It was something that all the male members of the Copeland family had, the women to but it was nothing compared to the men.

With himself satisfied that kids were safe once they got back to London, he made his way to the apparition spot near King’s Cross and landed at the one near his house. He fumbled for his keys in his coat pocket and pulled down the wards around the house with his wand and unlocked the front door and stepped inside and quickly locked the door. ”Calliope, love?” he called out as he looked around downstairs before he realised they must be upstairs and he made his way up the stairs, taking two at a time. Hearing her sing, he turned and smiled to himself as he walked to the nursery. How he had missed the sound of her voice in person, in patronus form, it was not the same. ”There’s one of my favourite sights” he grinned as he leaned on the doorframe and watched as Jeremy turned his head to the sound of his voice.

Calliope thought she heard Samuel's voice but she was so caught up with Jeremy and missing him that she just thought it was her imagination or maybe he had sent the Patronus, she didn't think that was the case though because the familiar tiger would have been stood in front of her otherwise. She heard footsteps and she squared her shoulders, pulling her wand out from in her pocket and held it out in front of her, tightening her hold on Jeremy, there wasn't much she could do whilst nursing her son, but she would rather be safe than sorry. She stopped her singing and fell silent, she knew that there were firm wards in place to protect their house but she knew how powerful Death Eaters could be and she was limited in her abilities right now.

She heard the voice again, it was closer but it was definitely Samuel's voice and her suspicion grew, was this just some cruel trick? Or was it the Patronus making its way up the stairs to her. What she didn't expect though was to see Samuel walking into the nursery and she felt her jaw drop and her eyes began to sting again as she stared at him in disbelief, it was definitely her wizard, he was finally home. Calli was about to stand up and go over to him when she paused and eyed him warily, it could just be another trick? Sure, the Death Eaters had no reason to screw with her but you could never be sure. Calli managed a small chuckle when Jeremy began to make some excited squeals and wriggle in her arms, there was no denying that her son was just as happy to see his daddy as she was.

The witch took a few steps towards Samuel and readjusted her shirt seeing as Jeremy wasn't interested in feeding right now. Calli was still skeptical as to if it really was Samuel but she was so caught up in the moment of actually seeing him again that all common sense went out of the window, even if it wasn't her wizard there would be a familiarity in feeling him against her. “Love...” Calli breathed adjusting Jeremy in her arms so that she could throw her newly freed arm around his neck, it was awkward to hug him like that but when she felt him, and smelt his familiar scent all worries disappeared and for the first time in months she relaxed. ”You're finally home.” She breathed, burying her face in his chest and closed her eyes as she clung to him. ”I've missed you so much.” She breathed, inhaling his scent and bunching his shirt up in her hand as she looked up into him, studying his features as she took in her wizard again.

She shifted Jeremy so that he was closer to Samuel so that he could hug his son but not before she reached up and captured his lips in a tender kiss, the witch was a flurry of emotions now that she had him back and she reached up to cup his cheek with her free hand, Jeremy was reaching out for his dad in the same way as Calli and the witch looked down at their son letting out a little laugh, ”He's missed you too.” She murmured, turning her blue eyes to him and kissing him again with a certain desperation, it had been far too long that they'd been away and she wanted him to know just how ecstatic she was that he was finally home so that the family could regain some normality. ”I… I didn't know the lockdown had even been lifted.” She told him. ”You should have told me.” She tried to scold but she found it all but impossible to do that, she was still trying to register the fact that he was right here with her. ”I love you.” She finally said, moving to hug him tightly again.

Samuel knew there was every chance that Calli would be upset with him for not telling her that the lockdown was over. However he hoped that fact he was home would override that but then again she did have every right to scold him if she wanted to. But Samuel would still be able to laugh it off. He knew he should have been a bit more tactful in making his way home but once he was satisfied that the students were safely on their way then he would hurry home himself. He just hoped that Calli was home with Jem when he got there. Thankfully she was, Samuel wasn’t sure where she would go anyway. She could have gone to see her father but then again he wasn’t sure that was safe and he knew she would never do anything to put Jem in danger. Many times over Cali had told him via Patronus that their son was the only thing keeping her sane during the whole lockdown. Samuel couldn’t help but feel guilty upon hearing that, even though there was nothing that could be done about that. The dance had been eventful and the time had followed had been both monotonous and tense. Receiving a patronus and hearing her voice had comforted the man because he was not sure how else he would have coped.

Seeing how Cali had reacted to his surprise arrival home had not really surprised him. He understood why she was cautious at seeing him. There could have been a lot of trickery behind his untimely arrival but this was just him finally coming home after over a month of being stuck within the grounds of Hogwarts. Samuel knew that come September he would return back to the school but that was not for him to think about now. He was here, home with his family. He pushed himself off the door frame as he heard their son get excited over seeing him. He would never stop feeling guilty for missing out on those six weeks away from his son, not as long as he lived but right now no one could wipe the grin from his face upon seeing his son. Jeremy had obviously forgotten about eating seeing that he was not looking anywhere else but Samuel right now.

The man instantly wrapped his arms around the witch when she crossed the floor to him. Hopefully having his arms around her would convince her that it really was him and her eyes weren’t fooling her. She smelled like homey mixture of baby powder and her perfume, both scents the man had become very familiar with before the lockdown as he inhaled her scent as he embraced her the familiarity comforted him. He was home and he was not going anywhere anytime soon. ”Hey gorgeous….I’m home at last” he whispered as his lips passed her ear as he pulled back from the hug slightly so he could look at her. Samuel had not been able to hug her, or hold her hand or touch her in months and he was not going to lift his hand off her just yet. He kissed the top of her head and brushed his hand down the side of her face. ”It’s good to finally be home with the both of you” he smiled sadly. Unfortunately Samuel was unsure where his mum was right now but he enjoy the joyous moment for now.

Along with the witch, Samuel to chuckled as he saw Jeremy reach for him. He smiled that he was wearing the Gryffindor t-shirt his grandmother had made for him and took him into his arms and kissed his forehead tenderly. It had been like one of the first times he had kissed his son when he was born and both times he had waited so long to have him in his arms again. ”I’ve missed him to, loads in fact” the man smiled down at the near miniature version of him. Everything was near identical except for his hair colour which he had inherited from his mum. Samuel kissed Cali back earnestly and turned his attention to Jeremy who was staring at him. It was a habit their son had picked up each evening when Samuel would come home from work and the situation was almost similar to now. ”Hey little man….you excited to see me, I’ve missed you terribly” he told Jeremy honestly even if the baby couldn’t understand a word he was saying.”I love you, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was coming home but I am here now” he said as he glanced at Cali and held her close to him, not wanting to let go for a long while yet.