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Craig Wickham is currently the Division Head of the Floo Network Authority. His family owns many properties, including flats in Kensington, London, a vacation home in Brisbane, Australia, Wickham Isle in the Caribbean, among the many more properties.

For years, he had no one to share these incredible locations with until he bumped into the love of his life, Melanie Hale, at the Ministry. Whenever they get bored, or need a place to get away, they can just apparate to one of these many beautiful locations. This is place where they can get away and invite their friends to join along.

Craig and Melanie like to get away from busy London and all their work at the Mnistry and would like other places to visit other than the Leaky Cauldron and the cafeteria at the Ministry. They are completely in love and love to spend time together and it's their various love nests they have to roam. This is an opportunity for Craig and Melanie to work on their own plot away for the chaos of work. They've had a a few bumps so far, him being a half-werewolf and her parents not liking that, and this is a place for them to work out the kinks.

When they're not spending time alone together, they like to host parties with their friends they have made at the Ministry and they would happily Floo Party a large group to anyone of these locations.

Kensington Flats
Craig’s Flat
>>Bedroom
>>Living Room
>>Bathroom
>>Kitchen
Melanie’s Flat
>>Bedroom
>>Living Room
>>Bathroom
>>Kitchen

Australia Vacation Home
>>Living Room
>>Kitchen
>>Master Bedroom
>>Master Bathroom
>>Guest Bedroom
>>Guest Bathroom

Wickham Isle
>>Beach House

Craig - unicornkeeper07
Melanie - Jojogali

Friends
1
2
3

Craig went straight to his bedroom after a hard day's work. He felt like his and Melanie's schedule was conflicting with each other more and more, now that she was promoted. She still hadn't stop by to check out her flat. He was still incredibly nervous about her liking it.

He thought a house warming party would do quite nicely. He wondered his fellow employees would be interesting in joining along. He would have to work on the invitations later, he was tired, so he quickly changed and went to sleep.

Melanie entered her flat for the first time since she accepted it. She used the key Craig had given her and opened the door slowly.

She waved her wand to the darkness as she turned to close the door. She had a bag full of clothes, floating next to her. When the light lit up, the vision was breath taking. The living room was amazing, all decorated in pastel tones, with the exception of the pillows, bright red "Craig.." she breathed amazed. He was amazing, everything he did was amazing, she wouldn't have done it better herself. He already knew her so well.

They had been dating for about three weeks now, and every single moment seemed perfect, except that they hadn't been having any moment at all since her promotion, well except that disastrous encounter with her parent's at the Leaky Cauldron.. She managed to get away from showing them the apartment, but when they saw Craig they started shooting questions like a bazooka. Of course Craig was the gentleman he always is, and tried to be nice, polite, but they... Mel shook her head a little, it had been awful, their faces when he told then who his parents were.. and the coldness in their voices after..

She made her way through the flat to the next room, a small but very comfy kitchen fully equipped and with a few pictures of them hanging on the walls, form their trip to that amazing island. She sighed a little, her heart aching. I miss Craig so much, she thought frowning a little.

She continued and this time the next door revealed an amazing bedroom and bathroom decorated with such perfection - that blue is just like my eyes, she thought - that she laughed a little, despite the fact of being alone. She set her bag on the ground next to the bed and sat on the edge of the bed. She then waved her wand and made the clothes enter the drawers, perfectly folded. She sighed again, thinking about Craig, and the immense amount of work she still had to do during that week.

She prepared herself and got into the bed, for a long night of, hopefully, peaceful rest.

***

The day after she returned to her flat with a bag full of grocery's. She had stopped by a little store she discovered not very far from the building and bought everything she needed to prepare her special dish to Craig. It was an Italian dish, fettuccine with asparagus. It was a long shot, Craigh might not like asparagus, or even Italian food but she did very much and it was a very special dish, it had all this dressings that made it taste wonderfully.

She got to her kitchen washed her hands, took all she needed from the bag and started poking around the kitchen for pans. Then that same feeling on her bladder, like someone purred water into it. One moment she was ok, the next she had to run to the bathroom. It had been like that all day. When she returned, slightly worried that she might have caught an infection somewhere she washed her hands and started cooking dinner. As she did so, she also waved her wand to help her set the table in a beautiful romantic way. She used a set of white dishes and a few enchanted candles, floating above the table a few inches. She also placed some flowers at the center of the red table cloth she bought.

When the food was almost ready she started gazing at the door from second to second, waiting for Craig to ring.

Craig brought a chocolate cake for dessert. He hoped she would like it. He didn't have that much time to make it look nice, but he didn't think she would care. It took him awhile to find something to wear. He felt like he should look rather nice, he decided to wear a well-fitted, light blue t-shirt, blazer and jeans. For some reason he was a bit nervous.

Luckily, she didn't live far and he quickly walked over with the cake and a bottle of fine nettle wine. He took a few deep breaths outside on her doorstep and then knocked a few times and waited for her to answer.

Melanie was finishing the decoration on the plates when she heard a few knocks on her door. Her heart started racing and her face lit up like a Christmas tree. She went to the door and opened it without hesitation. She smiled to see his so familiar features. Her eyes inspected his face and his clothes, admiringly, his beautiful blue eyes, his dazzling smile, his always so well picked clothes, that fit him perfectly.. She sighed and then leaned into his direction kissing him on the lips. She could swear she could melt into him.

Then she pulled back and grabbed his hand " Come, dinner is ready!" she said excited but still a bit nervous, will he like it? " I hope you like it, it's a recipe I watched once in a Muggle channel, it's like my speciality I've done it a dozen times, I'm just not sure you'll like it" she felt like she was babbling so she stopped when they reached the kitchen and smiled at Craig. She had changed from her office clothing, she was now wearing a nice blouse with a black tight, knee-length skirt and her new black heels - the one that nearly killed her feet the other day.

Melanie looked breathtaking. Most literally because Craig forgot to breath when he saw her. "Oh right," he said as he recollected himself and walked into the kitchen. He set the cake down on the counter. And grabbed to glasses, "I brought wine, if that's okay." He popped the cork and poured to glasses then went to sit at the table where Melanie had everything laid out so perfectly. "It looks delicious." He raised his glass, "To Melanie Hale, the most beautiful jillaroo Division Head in the Ministry." They clinked glasses and took it sip. It was perfect and the wine didn't taste to bad either.

He picked up a fork and dove right in. It was absolutely delicious. "Mmm," he said. He wasn't a big fan of pasta and especially asparagus (he was actually hesitant about eating them). He much more preferred meat, but that was his animal instinct coming out. "This really is delicious! Better than most places in Italy!" He smiled. He genuinely meant it though. If Melanie has set out a plate of dirt, he would eat it happily and think it was the best dirt he had ever eaten.

"Maybe next time we should invite your parents," he said rather sarcastically. "I'm sure they would be quite impressed that I use a fork and knife rather that eat out of a doggie bowl." He laughed hysterically.

Mel was still hesitant when she saw Craig dive in the food, but after a few minutes she felt her muscles relax and allowed herself to eat. " The wine is very good, very smooth, goes perfectly with the food." she watched him eating carefully, maybe he was keeping it all in his mouth to spit it later. She felt silly by thinking that. " I should have cooked you some meat..." she frowned a little raising her glass to clink it with his smiling a little embarrassed and blushed.

"Well then we're the most handsome Division Head jillaroo couple..." she said, her eyes burning slowly as she looked at Craig with love.
Mel thought she saw Craig hesitate before eating the asparagus and felt a little mad at herself for not remembering that he would prefer meat, but she said nothing.

Then he referred her parents and she went dead cold, holding the knife and fork too tightly on hands, making the fingers turn slightly white. " They can eat at the street, but not here" she said coldly. She would never, ever forgive them for treating Craig the way they did, being so arrogant, insinuating he was really a dog... only remembering it made her limbs tremble with anger. And of course, Melanie didn't like to hear all that and she lost it for a little bit, ending the encounter angrily and almost screaming at them that she loathed them, that they were a pair of prejudice arrogant trolls and had no right to talk to Craig like that.

She looked up, her shoulder down, her lips slightly trembling "I'm sorry for that... again" she said in a quiet voice looking up at Craig.

Craig continued to eat with the same enthusiasm. He didn't want to upset Melanie. It was rather good. "It's fine darling, meat or no meat." He took a big bite of the asparagus.

"No I think we should possibly invite them to your party, it would be a jolly good time." He laughed. "I already have a collar and leash picked out for the next time we meet them." He stopped for a moment. He really shouldn't be insulting them. After all, if they had a beautiful daughter like Melanie, he figured deep down they might eventually accept him. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn't say such things about your parents. We will just have to give them time to accept us."

He rubbed her shoulder in a comforting way. "Well when you meet my parents...oh bugger I forgot that we scheduled the party for this weekend. I will just have to inform them that something came up a work. I'm sure they'll understand. Maybe we could visit during the week?"

Melanie let go of her fork and knife and buried her face on her hands sobbing a little. She knew Craig didn't mean to hurt her with his words, but she was so hurt by what her parents had done... " Don't try to be nice, they were awful, they... " she sobbed more loudly, her voice breaking a little " I d-don't even k-k-know why you're sti-i-i-still!" she raised her eyes full of tears " still with me!" she shook her head sadly and buried her eyes on her hands again.

She always knew her parents were picky, she knew they had all these rich people ways and traditions, but all went well if she did what they wanted, they were good parent's a little cold of course, not very sentimental, but they were good, she loved them. She always thought they would babble about what was right and acceptable but in the end they would love her anyway, her and whoever she chose. She never knew they could be so rude to someone that did nothing to them, she had never seen that side of them. Maybe because they never allowed people like Craig near them or her..

She started breathing in deeply, trying to calm herself " I'm sorry, this was unnecessary." she smiled a forced smile at him, but the corners of her mouth still pulled down " maybe you can invite your parent's to the party, I would be most glad.." she sighed softly and got up, folding her napkin on the table " I think I must go to the bathroom, maybe splash some fresh water on my face" she reached to Craig's face to caress it, and a new wave of tears trembled in her eyes.

Craig stood up and stood behind her and then wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. "You shouldn't worry about what your parents think, the only thing you should listen to is your heart." He brushed away the tears that were rolling down her cheeks. "I judge a person by who they are before me, not by their parents or past. I love you Melanie Hale." He kissed her sweetly on the lips.

"However...if our relationship is going to cause a rift between you and your parents and if it's something that you can't live with, then I don't want to be that source of conflict." He kissed away a tear streaming down her cheek. "Maybe your parents will have to get used to the idea and perhaps I will have to step it up and prove that I am the man for you wholeheartedly. Don't cry my little sheila, it makes my heart ache to see you this way."

Craig was trying to be as comforting as possible. So, her parents didn't like him or what he was, before he could really explain himself, they were down his throat with questions about being a half-werewolf and "how dare he think he can fit in wizarding society." But, he didn't care, he was used to prejudice things being said about his family all his life, only this was different because it was coming from the parents of the woman he loved. He felt like the more he talked about being raised a muggle and having to flee Australia from prejudice people was all that was focused on. He didn't even get into his family's welfare and how he has a significant job at the Ministry. All the were focused on what him being a part werewolf. He couldn't imagine how the conversation would go if he was a full werewolf? But, if it's something he could except and live with then he was fine with two more people being added to the list being prejudice against his family, but he didn't like how much it upset Melanie.

He smiled at Melanie. "A part of me will always love your parents, because if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have you." He kissed her again.

"You're ridiculously noble" she said, half laughing half sobbing. Tears were still swimming in her eyes, but she was feel more in control of herself now. She closed her eyes every time Craig kissed a tear away. She held his arms closer to her and leaned her head against his arm, resting.

"My parents and I have been in a rift since the day I decided I wanted to travel . They didn't approve it but they weren't like this.." she pulled back a little to look into Craig's eyes. " I'm so sorry love..." she told him, truthfully from her heart "and you don't have to prove them anything, I love you, and that should be enough for them... and it's not like you're a danger to society, you're not even a full werewolf, and even full werewolfs aren't that dangerous..." she kissed his hands and sighed a little.

She cleaned her face with the back of her hands " How silly of my, to cry over this... I don't know what got over me, I'm not usually like this" she smiled at him, this time more sincerely. She looked at the table. There wasn't appetite for pasta now, maybe some chocolate could save the night. " ready for desert? A little chocolate will warm us up.." she got up and took the dishes into the sink, returning to the table with the cake Craigh had brought. She cut two slices of cake and gave Craig his. She nibbled on the end of her fork after eating a bit of her slice.

"This is very good love" she smiled at him and ate a little more.

"I'm glad you like the cake! I will have to tell the chef," Craig laughed. "Oh, that's right it's me. I guess cooking runs in the family. It's not as appetizing to look at as I would have hoped, but I'm still practicing." He took a big bite off his fork and with that almost half his slice was gone. It was rather delectable. He ate rather quickly and all of it was gone.

"Yum!" He placed his plate in the sink and began washing the dishes. "What am I thinking?" He pulled out his wand and pointed them at the dishes and they magically cleaned, then he floated them into the cupboards. He went back to sit with Melanie as she finished. "Wanna check out my place." he raised an eyebrow, "Of course we could stay here, but do you fancy checking it out?"

Mel ate the rest of her cake calmly, and was slightly shocked how fast Craig ate his. She chuckled a little when she saw him washing the dishes by hand and then remembering to use his wand.

"Please say thank you to the chef, this cake saved the night" she said getting up and brushing some crumbs off of her blouse as she made her plate join the other in the sink. As she brushed her blouse, something caught her attention, she was feeling sore on a place she wasn't supposed to feel. She raised an eyebrow, suspicious. Had she felt that before? Yes, she had been feeling that for the past days. How odd...


Her face lit up as Craig spoke, making all worries vanish from her mind. "I would love to, after all, I haven't seen your place" she said with a smile following him.

The Next Morning...
__________________________________________________
Craig had a first dreamless sleep in awhile. He had a wonderful night with Melanie and she cooked a very delicious meal. He could feel the sun slowly creeping in through the window. He leaned over and kissed Melanie on her head, she was still sleeping soundlessly. Her arm was still stretched across his chest. He slipped out from under her and but on some slippers and slipped on his robe on a nearby chair. He decided to make her an early breakfast before they would both have to go to work.

He made some waffles from scratch and topped it off with fresh berries, then added a bit of orange in a glass to the side. He added some fresh flowers as well, and put them all on the tray. He made himself a tray too, but filled with sausages and bacon. But, first her grabbed her tray and brought it into his room. "Good morning, my little ray of sunshine," he called softly as he brought the tray over to her. Then he went back to the kitchen to get his own and slipped into bed carefully as they would both enjoy a bit of breakfast in bed.

Mealnie yawned and rubbed her eyes a little. There was a delicious smell in the air that she couldn't tell where it came from. Then, she saw an amazing tray right in front of her, full with all things she loved.

"G'morning love!" she sang, taking a bit off a waffle by hand and eating in with pleasure " this is delicious!" she exclaimed happily diving into the plate. She felt rested and it was a joy not to have to think about anything for a night, Craig was a gentleman, letting her sleep there. She giggled a little.

"How are you feeling?" she asked him as she reached for some orange juice.

"I feel refreshed," Craig said as he took a bite of sausage. "I like waking up with you next to me." He leaned in and kissed her. "Mmm... blueberry, tastes rather nice." He laughed.

It was a bit of an odd feeling to have Melanie waking up in his arms and in his place for the first time. But, he felt a bit of serenity when he was around her. He then ate all his bacon. Craig wasn't even bothering with the waffles. It was though as he was lacking meat. But, he thought it would insult her, so he started on the waffles. They were nice a crispy on the outside and soft on this inside. "Mmm..." He drank down his orange juice. He guessed he worked up an appetite a bit.

"Blueberry is really nice indeed" she said licking her lips and then making a kissing noise to Craig. She giggled a little bit and finished her waffle.

It was good to have Craig treat her like that, she felt much more calmer and rested there with him. She thought about the day that she had ahead of her " we have the party to set up " she stretched her arms above her head and then let herself fall back to the pillows again. Then a thought snapped to her, it was her period day. " oh merlin " she exclaimed getting up form bed and running to the bath room quickly.. She closed the door then opened a crack to put her head out and explain " sorry, girl stuff" and she closed it again. She hoped to be in time, her period normally appeared over night and she hadn't remember it.... what? she frowned a little as she returned to the room she was correct on the day and she wasn't normally late..maybe it is an infection, she though as she sat on the edge of the bed again, still frowning, then she looked up and saw Craig, she looked at him for a minute and tilted her head, another idea crossing her mind, her face turned from suspicious to shock. Impossible.

Party Time!

Melanie's apartment was highly decorated with twinkly lights and gold and red streamers to match the furniture. There was one table filled with butterbeer, firewhiskey, wine, pumpkin juice and magical punch. Another had bits of finger foods like little sausages, cheeses and crackers. Then another table was filled with desserts from Craig's father's bakery. Music was playing in the background, some oldies mainly The Weird Sisters.

Craig was dressed a bit more casually with a navy button-up shirt and jeans. He waited patiently in the living room waiting for others to arrive.

Melanie was excited with the perspective of a party. She loved the way the house was decorated. Craig was sitting in the living room and she was just finishing her last details.

She had already scheduled an appointment at the St Mungus to treat her infection, or at least that was what she was believing to be with all fibres of her body. And also what she told Craig she suspected to be. No need to panic him about something like this.

She finally went to the living room wearing a funny,cool dress. Her hair was pulled to one side braided. She sat on the sofa next to Craig.

"I hope my friends will come, I've asked a few..." she said as she rested her hand on Craig's knee.

Oceana walked up to the door she had been to Madame Malkin's and bought a stunning dark red dress, her hair was partially up and the rest was down and curly. Oceana had in her hand a bottle of firewhisky, she knocked three times and waited for an answer.

Mel got up from her seat next to Craig's happily, even a little bouncy and got to the door to answer it. Her first guest. She was vibrating.

She opened it and saw Oceana Mason. She didn't really knew her, but she had done a little research on previous workers of her department, and other departments and invited a fair lot of them. She greeted her with a dazzling smile, her face glowing with happiness. " Hello, please enter " she said getting out of the way.

Oceana smiled when Melanie opened the door and replied "thank you, here i brought a bottle of firewhiskey for you" Oceana stepped into the house and smiled "it's beautiful, and congratulations"

Dora hoped she wasn't too awful late!! She had brought some goodies for Melanie which included a bottle of elf- made wine, a lovely chocolate cake, and some gifts for their home including some muggle appliances. She wasn't sure if they used muggle appliances, but she found them fascinating. Drawing her self up a bit taller she knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

Craig strolled over to Oceana. "Ah, G'day to you!" He kissed her on the cheek as a welcome. "How are things going in apparition? I know you had a few youngsters from Hogwarts recently coming to test their skills!" He laughed a bit. He noticed the bottle of firewhiskey. "Ooh, is this for us? Looks like an older bottle?"

Craig strutted over to the door to open. "G'day to you," he greeted her in his Australian accent. "You must me one of Melanie's Accidents and Catastrophes friends...I mean, not that you cause accidents of catastrophes, just that your work in that department. Sorry a bit nervous. I'm Craig Wickham, Melanie's boyfriend. Do come in?" He stood to the side and allowed her to enter Melanie's flat.

Melanie saw that Craig was accepting the bottle from Oceana, so she turned to greet Dora, giving her a quick hug. " So happy you came" she told her accompanying her to the living room.

She looked at all the gifts she brought and blushed a little, squeezing her by the shoulders " You didn't have to go through all this trouble! Your presence would be marvelous " she smiled at her as she sat on the sofa.
She gazed towards Craig, her eyes twinkling a little with adoration. " So you've met Craig" she blushed a little more, she then spoke to Oceana " Thank you for the fire wisky, it's very lovely of you"