Life With The Jacob Family ((ethan))

[Esmeralda Mendez]

Ezzie couldn't wait to see Ethan again. They had met every Sunday since the summer began, and the people at the shelter knew him well as he visited often. Now it was Ezzie's turn to go to his home. She could not have been more nervous. She knew very well Ethan was wealthy and knew she would feel strangely out of place in his home. She also knew meeting his parents would bring back painful memories she had been trying so hard to lock away forever.

But, she did promise Ethan she'd go to his home and meet his family, and she would never brake a promise to someone so special. Ezzie took a deep breath and turned on to the street he lived. The second she saw the Jacob's home, she knew her suspicions of feeling out of place had been correct. The large blue house and wonderful landscape is not a place for a homeless teenager. Ezzie sighed as she rang the doorbell next to the beautiful mahogany door. The words "Home is Where The Heart Is" were inscribed in large letters across the front. A tall man answered the door and gave her a warm smile.

"You must be Esmeralda." He said kindly. "My son talks very highly of you, why don't you come on in and say hi to him...he's been waiting for you." Ezzie walked in to see a beautiful hallway lined with wonderful paintings (that Ezzie swore were twitching, but Ezzie figured she was just used to the moving paintings at Hogwarts.) and more wonderfully carved mahogany doors. The first was inscribed "Guest Room" and had a beautiful rose painted under it, the room across it was inscribed "Bathroom" and had a daisy painted under it, the room to the right of the guest room was inscribed "Guest Room" with another rose, and the room to the right of the bathroom was yet another guest room. The hallway opened up into a large sitting room with a dazzling chandelier hanging above it. In one of the beautiful armchairs sat none other than Ethan Jacobs.

"Hey, look who's here." Ethan turned around and gave Ezzie a wide smile that was much like his father's.

[Ethan Jacobs G5]

Today's the day. Ethan said to himself as he rose from his bed on such a bright Sunday morning. Today's the day Ezzie finallygets to see where you live. Ethan grimmaced as he thought of how Ezzie never invitd him over to her house. Were her folks that harsh? Ethan knew she was only fourteen, and he was fifteen, but it couldn't have been that bad. Ethan could handle it. He even volunteered to take out his lip piercings for her parents, and she still refused to invite him over. There was so much about his new girlfriend that he didn't know. Like where she went the other six days of the week. Or why she was always singing on street corners when her parents should be right there singing along with her, at least. Ethan had never met Ezzie's parents, nor did he want to. They seemed so cruel, making their daughter do so much, give up her life at the weary age of fourteen. Ethan knew that if his parents had money troubles, they would take responsibility for their actions and work their heads off until they had a roof to live in, and food on the table three times a day. They would never dream of sending their one and only son out to work. Ethan hoped he would finally convince Ezzie to ditch her horrible family, and move in with him. He had already talked about it with his parents, and they said no, but as long as she stayed in Ethan's secret closet room, (a full sized bedroom hidden behind a trap door in the closet that his parents had no idea was there) his parents would never know she was there, and she would never have to see Marty, the self washing dishes, the wands that were left laying around the house, or any of the various spells his parents casted. Everything would be perfect. She would even be gone while Ethan was away at Hogwarts. Ethan remembered Ezzie telling him about her music school in Scottland that she had a full scholarship to. Their trains even left on the same day, so they could walk to King's Cross together.

Ethan walked into the kitchen and had a quick talk with his parents during breakfast.

"Now, remember, Ezzie's a muggle, so she can't see any evidence of our little secret, and if she does, I don't know what I'll do. The International Statue of Secrecy is at stake here!"

"You know, honey, if you're really serious about this girl, you're going to have to tell her about our secret sometme." She said between bites of dry crusty nn-fat turkey bacon.

"Yea, you wouldn't want another Aunt Sarah on our hands, now would we?" Mr. Jacobs was referring to the incedent where Ethan's aunt Sarah "forgot" to tell her muggle husband about her secret until after their first kid, Laura started making flowers grow out of bare soil with her finger tips.

"Oh, very funny." He said sarcastically. "I know I'll have to tell her eventually, I just don't want it to be today."

"Oh, we know!" Mrs. Jacobs said. "I've just asked Marty to go out and buy us some groceries, and you know how long that takes him. He always tries to find 'the best food for the best family in the world', he'll be gone all day."

"And I've told the paintings in the hall to keep still and quiet while Esmeralda is here, they understand."

"And obviously, I've hid every piece of magical kitchen equiptment and I put your school books and such away where nobody can find them."

"Good." He said scooping a mouthful of eggs into his mouth. "Oh, and thanks guys, I know you went through a lot of rouble with all this, and trust me, it will be worth it when you meet her."

"Oh, no problem sweetie!" His mom said with a smile. "Just try not to make this a weekly habbit, okay? Try to keep this one for longer than your eyes can travel from one girl's butt to the next."

"And you know the rule, Ethan..."

"I know dad! The door to the room we're in must remain open at all times." He recited. "God!" Ethan finnished his breakfast and walked into the family room to watch t.v.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. This was it. The big moment. Ethan relaxed himself in his chair so as not to look like he was too eager to see her.

"Hey, look who's here." His father said. Ethan turned around and gave Ezzie a wide smile. Mr. Jacobs walked out and left his son and his son's new girlfriend to share their precious moments together.

"Hey beautiful." He noticed Ezzie blush as he walked over to her and gave her a big hug.

"I'll be right back, I'll get us some drinks." He strolled into the kitchen, and no longer than a second later did he hear a loud crack, followed by an ear piercing scream. He ran back into the family room to find Marty, with his bag full of groceries, staring up at Ezzie. Ezzie looked like she had just seen a ghost...or a house elf.

[Esmeralda Mendez]

"Hey, beautiful," He said, making Ezzie blush. She hoped he didn't notice this small change in her face as she accepted a large bear hug from Ethan. He held on for several seconds, until he finally let go. Everything after that happened so quickly, and so suddenly, that Ezzie found it hard to believe it actually happened. First, Ethan left to go get drinks. The next thing she knew, a fully clothed house elf appeared out of nowhere with a large bag full of groceries. Ezzie heard a scream, then later realized it was coming out of her mouth. Ethan ran into the living room, groaned and stood in front of Marty.

"Ezzie...I can explain-" he started.

"WHY IS THERE A HOUSE ELF IN YOUR LIVING ROOM?" Ezzie screeched.

"WHAT IN THE GOOD LORD'S NAME IS A HOUSE ELF DOING IN YOUR LIVING ROOM?" Ezzie repeated, rather unnecessarily.
She could barely process the information she was being thrust in front of her. Suddenly, understanding dawned on her. She took a deep breath, and Ethan looked like he was going to explode with shock.

"You're not a muggle?" They said together. Mrs. Jacob gasped, and Mr. Jacobs let out a long whistle and said,

"Whoa. Didn't see that coming." He stepped back into the kitchen motioning to his wife to do the same. Ezzie tried to speak.

"You're...you're a wi- a wiz- a wizard?" Ezzie sat down and rubbed her forehead. "Your dad was right," Ezzie said with a weak smile. "I definitely did not see that coming."

[Ethan Jacobs G5]

"WHAT IN THE GOOD LORD'S NAME IS A HOUSE ELF DOING IN YOUR LIVING ROOM?" Ezzie repeated, rather unnecessarily.
Ethan couldn't believe what he was seeing. Was his muggle girlfriend actually a witch girlfriend?

"You're not a muggle?" They said together. Mrs. Jacobs gasped, and Mr. Jacobs let out a long whistle and said,

"Whoa. Didn't see that coming." He stepped back into the kitchen motioning to his wife to do the same. Ezzie tried to speak. He knew perfectly well his parents were listening in on their conversation, but he didn't care. He was too shocked to care.

"You're...you're a wi- a wiz- a wizard?" Ezzie sat down and rubbed her forehead. "Your dad was right," Ezzie said with a weak smile. "I definitely did not see that coming."

"I don't think anyone did." He said, barely audiable.

"So wait..." Ezzie whispered. "You go to Hogwarts?"

"Yup. How 'bout you?"

"Yup." Ethan sat down next to his girlfriend.

"I'm going to be a fifth year Gryffindor. You?"

"A third year. Same house."

"Wow...we're in the same house."

"Incredible, isn't it?" Ezzie said, staring into his eyes, and Ethan staring into hers. The next thing Ethan knew, they were kissing. And not your regular kiss either. It was the kind of kiss that made your body tingle from head to foot. The kind that felt all warm and amazing. Then with a pop, the moment was gone. Ethan's father had walked in on them.

"Busted..." He said, knowing what was next, but hoped he wasn't right.

"Go." He mouthed, pointing to the front door. "Don't let your mother see."

"Thanks dad," Ethan mouthed. He now had a new found apreciation for his father. He must have known they needed their space.