Edward Bones

“A couple of my old trainees, my nephews and nearly everyone in a yellow tie saw us talking in the Great Hall and mobbed around us suggesting that we do. Even I can’t ignore their good intentions.” Dom replied, sighing before going on, “I’ve gotten to know her a little and perhaps it is time. We don’t know that anything will actually work out though so don’t get excited just yet” 

“No, I suppose you can’t.” Edward agreed, still grinning widely. He’d have to remind himself to thank those kids for playing matchmaker later. His partner’s sigh, however, did well to sober him and Edward leaned forward in his chair to catch Dom’s eye. “Hey, it’s just a date. There’s no pressure. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I’m just proud of you for putting yourself back out there after so long.” 

Though she had expected as much, Jackie couldn’t help a pang of disappointment. It would be so much easier if Edward had some magical solution to her problem, a way to show Glenda that she had changed and meant to be a better sister that would work immediately. But she could be dependable consistently. Or - “I used to think I was a dependable person,” she said hesitantly, eyes flicking to Edward’s face and then to the wall behind him. “And then … I’ve hurt Glenda and I hurt John so badly. They’re both people who are - or were - supposed to be the most important relationships and I just … screwed everything up so badly.” Her relationship with John seemed to be doing better, ever so slightly, but it had taken so long to even get to place where they could talk. 

“I don’t want to be that person. I didn’t mean to hurt either of them and I don’t know how to fix it. Or I guess I want to fix it now and it can’t be fixed now.” 

“We all make mistakes, Jackie.” Edward reminded her gently. While he didn’t know the details of Jackie’s relationship with her sister, he was better informed of her past relationship with John Dawlish. Their breakup had rocked the office with how sudden and severe things had ended between them, especially considering the lack of clarity as to why exactly things had ended at all. He knew the subject was a sensitive one between the two of them, and as such Edward hadn’t broached it very often. Instead, he and Dom had determined to keep the two on separate assignments for a while in order to let them work out their feelings separately. “You won’t know what’s fixable and what isn’t until you give it an honest attempt. It’s your effort that counts, and I know you, Jackie, I know you’re capable of putting in the effort. I’m not saying that all relationships can be mended, because sometimes they can’t be, but you’ll feel better knowing you gave everything you could to try.” 

She appreciated that he took her seriously. Andie knew she was young and had a lot of growing to do, but she felt certain her love for Ted would never change. They had been through so much together, and that should count for something too. They deserved to be taken seriously when they talked about this. She lifted her head to meet his gaze again, blinking hard to try and clear away the tears that had filled her eyes. There was no one else she could talk to, no one who could give her the advice she would need in the future if she ever made the impossible decision, and she couldn’t afford to start crying and miss all this. “He has a little and I met his father once at Christmas. I know it would be very different. I know he has responsibilities in the Muggle world.” Truthfully, she wasn’t entirely positive what that meant but … she would be willing to learn.

“I didn’t know that. Was he as awful as Joseph is?” She had avoided her fiance for a long time now, and been very lucky because she had gotten away with it so far. But she wasn’t foolish enough to think she could do that forever, and she knew that it wouldn’t be easy for her when she had to face him again. “I - I don’t know how you could make that decision in advance.” Even now, any time she considered it, she knew it would be something that she decided on a whim - not a foolish whim, the decision would be something she agonized over until she made it. But she couldn’t plan it, couldn’t sit down and picture herself calmly packing and leaving her sisters behind forever. 

Her gaze dropped to her hands again. “I - I know that I want him. He’s all I’ve ever wanted. I just - it isn’t fair, I don’t want to have to pick between him and my sisters. I love them all.” 

Edward was relieved to know that Ted and Andromeda had spoken of Ted’s responsibilities in some capacity, though he wouldn’t pry, and he wouldn’t offer further information on Ted’s behalf. It wasn’t his place, but he had felt it necessary to make certain Andromeda was making a well-informed decision if she was looking to him for advice on how to make it. The fact she had met Ted’s father, however, was something that surprised Edward. He had made sure to speak to Henry Tonks himself, to welcome him to the school during the holidays, and was under the impression that the Duke had been content enough to hole up in his accommodations and avoid as much contact with the witches and wizards flooding the school for the holiday season as he could. His disdain for everything- from the staircases shifting to the talking portraits on the walls to the ghosts wandering the halls- was evident in the way his lips drew together tightly and his eyes narrowed. According to Ted, Henry Tonks hadn’t minced his words either when assessing Ted’s school. “I’m sure the Duke was a pleasure, as always.” Edward couldn’t help but quip sarcastically.

Thinking back on his own school days, Edward couldn’t remember much about Mulciber other than his connection to Adeline. “I don’t know that he was, I never spoke with him much. Adeline was never too keen on marrying him, but he did well to hide behind more powerful friends like-“ He paused for a moment, remembering who it was he was talking to and the fact he had nearly said her father’s name. “Well, that was all a very long time ago now.”

Edward Bones nodded in understanding, wishing there was something more he could do for Andromeda Black than to simply listen to her even if he knew from personal experience how valuable that could be in itself. “It’s not fair.” He agreed quietly. “You shouldn’t have to choose.” But she would have to choose, and there was no sense in pretending she wouldn’t have to. “But there will come a day when the choice will be clear. It won’t be easy, letting someone go, it never is. But all I can say is, when that answer becomes clear, accept it as true and don’t let yourself regret the choices you make. There won’t be any going back no matter what you decide and there’s no sense being miserable. It’s your decision and your happiness. I’m sure in the end you’ll choose what’s best for you.” 

Well, he was certainly doing better than he had been all those months ago. But even so, a lot had also changed since then. He and Emmeline had broken up, recruiters had reached out to him, and the last Quidditch game of his Hogwarts career was approaching ever closely. Hell, he had almost died back in January. Sometimes, it startled him to remember that. Then, it startled him even more that he forgot. Running a hand through his hair, Ludovic crossed the room and pulled a seat back. “I guess I’m doing alright.” He answered as he settled down in the seat. 

That was mostly the truth. He’d had a lot on his mind, especially in the past month. He scratched at the side of his trousers, before looking up to meet Mr. Bones’ eyes. “I, uh, heard you were leaving later today. Amelia mentioned it to me at breakfast.”  

“I’m glad to hear it.” Edward said sincerely. He would have preferred to hear that Ludovic was doing marvelously well, but considering his experiences this school year and how unhappy he had seemed only months ago, Edward couldn’t help but feel proud of him for coming so far already. It didn’t surprise Edward much that word of his leaving had spread amongst the students, especially to his children’s housemates, but it touched Edward that Ludovic had thought to come say goodbye. “It’s about time.” Edward said with a sigh. “I’m afraid it’s time for me to go where I’ll be of better use.” 

“That would be nice.” Edgar said. He could see it— almost too clearly. He would be nervous, nervous enough that he would probably drive his family crazy trying to make everything perfect for Gabrielle’s arrival. The house would have to be spotless, and his bedroom too. Especially his bedroom. The food would have to be excellent— French cuisine, probably. That way he could not only impress her with his thoughtfulness, but he could also show off his skills in the kitchen. Imagining this made him smile. Realizing that summer was only a few months away, and that his would quickly become a reality, made him grin.

He was more than sure that he would marry Gabrielle, sooner rather than later. His father probably wouldn’t understand, and would probably tell Edgar not to rush into anything too quickly, so he didn’t. They would understand, one day, and that was enough for him right now. He glanced down at his lap and then back up. The grin on his face remained. “It’s— it’s kind of a funny story, how we ended up getting together.” He said, confident that his dad would want to know more details. “I think you would appreciate it.” 

Finally, after so many months of feeling as if he and Edgar were standing against one another, Edward was relived to find that perhaps they had found something they could both work toward together. “I think so too.” Edward said with a nod, already planning to write Adeline that they would have to make Gabrielle’s visit particularly special for Edgar. Details would be worked out later, of course, but in the meantime the idea of her visit would be enough to unite the Bones family once again and the thought did well to make Edward certain that despite their differences recently, they all shared the most important of priorities: each other. 

Edgar- bless him- had never been a shy one. An open book about nearly everything in his life, Edward rarely worried about him lying or hiding very much until recently. For months, Edward dismayed that the honesty they had once shared between them had disappeared for good, and he was relieved to find that wasn’t the case. Edgar’s words caught Edwards interest immediately and a matching grin tugged at his lips. His son knew well enough that he was a romantic and couldn’t resist a good story. “I’m sure I would.” He said with a laugh. “So tell me, how did you two end up getting together?” 

“I’ll remember that - about the paperwork.” She laughed a little, but thought guiltily of the stack of her own work that she was already a bit behind on. She could get caught up pretty easily though, she just needed to sit down and do it. Although she did think they could probably handle what they needed to - she knew that they had been trained well, and she had been on her own for some time too. But having Edward around just helped somehow; sometimes she still felt like she was playing at being an Auror, rather than actually being an Auror in her own right. “Well you can expect owls from me.” She said with a grin. “I like getting your advice.” 

Which reminded her … “I actually have a question that’s not related to work. It’s about Glenda. Not anything that’s happened though.” Jackie sighed, slouching into the chair a bit. “I wasn’t a very good sister when we were younger, and I’m trying to show her that I’ve changed and I’m not very good about it, I guess. Or maybe she just doesn’t trust me, which is fair. But I thought I’d ask if you have any advice for that. I just don’t really know what to do, other than just keep trying.” That didn’t always seem to be helpful either; Glenda still didn’t want to spend much time with Jackie. 

Edward was glad to know that Jackie appreciated his advice and he looked forward to her owls after he left. If there was one part of the job that he loved the most, it was helping his team through whatever struggles they had, whether that be professional or personal. Whoever suggested that people led separate lives between work and home, and that each should be kept separate, was utterly wrong. One person lived one life, and all aspects of that life mattered equally. The sooner that was realized, the easier the balance between it all became. He knew some department heads at the Ministry refrained from talking to their employees about personal matters, but Edward Bones encouraged his team to come to him with anything he could assist with, work related or personal. 

He listened carefully as Jackie opened up about a recent struggle with her sister, expecting that Glenda was at the forefront of her thoughts given her disappearance, but it did surprise him to know that it wasn’t the attack that bothered Jackie most. An estranged sibling relationship was not something he had experienced himself and it took Edward a thoughtful moment to imagine what that must be like, and what that might look like between himself and his own brother. “I don’t suppose there is much more you can do but keep trying.” He said, leaning back in his own chair and scratching at his chin thoughtfully. “Trust is something built over time, and repairing trust takes even longer. If you want to prove you’re dependable, there’s nothing better you can do but to be dependable, consistently.” 

What he said made sense with their new information. While they had all originally meant to be courteous, all the mourning time Charlotte had been given now seemed silly. Alex herself had been given a little bit of lenience after her relatives deaths, but she wondered if she was the only one of the two of them to have actually mourned. The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. Though not as bitter as the thought of her cousin being involved in her own parents death. She couldn’t imagine doing such a thing, and could barely begin to understand how anyone could do such a thing. Was there something about her Aunt and Uncle that she didn’t know about? Something that had caused Charlotte to act in such a way? She hoped there was. 

“I don’t know if I have anything more that could prove useful.” Alex sighed, feeling useless. She wanted to help and had no idea how. “I mean, my parents aren’t secretly death eaters or Grindlewald supports. We’re purebloods, but I always thought my family tried to stay out of all of it.” She tried to remember if her parents had ever discussed anything important with her. But her immediate family wasn’t very political, so there wasn’t much she could say. “I could get you in contact with my father? He might be able to tell you something about my Uncle.” 

Edward nodded both thoughtfully and encouragingly as the young auror spoke. He’d known Alex for a while now, and had always thought her to be incredibly honest. Though he had his suspicions now, there was the same note of sincerity in her words that he had always known and he found he was inclined to believe her. Still, they couldn’t be too cautious after Charlotte’s surprising betrayal, and it was better to take Alex’s words with a grain of salt until they had a clearer picture of what happened. “I think that could be helpful. You’ll get that to me right away, yes?” Edward asked, a brow raising as if to convey how urgently he needed the contact.

Edward Bones knew as well as anyone how extreme pureblood ideology could run in families as well connected to the society as members of the Sacred 28, though he also knew that not all of them held the same beliefs. He would be careful not to judge the Fawleys too quickly for one of their kin’s actions, but he would keep an eye on the young auror, and for the time being restrict her access to sensitive information. “I hope you understand, Alex, we can’t have you involved in Charlotte’s case for obvious reasons.” 

It was far from a normal response, but at the seriousness in Edward’s tone Dom immediately felt suspicious. He’d like to think that after spending nearly a decade living under the same roof and then another working together that he would know when something was really, really wrong. With a slight shake of his head he nodded just as gravely, “Perhaps I really will have to ask Pomona if she’d like to go to dinner then. Or I could settle for toast….”. It was both an upside and a downside to working in the lab that there wasn’t much to do while one waited for potions to brew and his rounds weren’t until much later in the evening. Maybe, if he could get away with it, taking her for that date finally would be a good way to pass the time.  

“Pomona?” Edward asked, his brows narrowing in confusion for a moment before lifting in delighted surprise. “The Herbology professor?” The smallest of smiles tugging at the corner of Dom’s lips had a wide grin settling over Edward Bones’ features. “You’re going on a date?” The words were careful, cautious in a way that his smile wasn’t but Edward couldn’t help that much. It had been so long since his partner had shown romantic interest in anyone and Edward was happy to see him maybe moving on after so long. 

Frank’s father had died when he was eleven years old. As a boy he had thought that he would never be able to escape that trauma. Alice was the first person to make him smile again. Edgar and Ted became his brothers. Dom was an amazing uncle. Edward Bones had filled a slot he had thought never could have been since he had already had one. Through the years Edward had taught him to find bravery and that he could always serve Uziah’s memory by advocating for the causes that he had always fought and died for, and that even if he didn’t that the man would be no less proud of him. During Edward’s time at Hogwarts Frank hadn’t visited him as much as he would have liked to and it saddened him that he was barely making the time now that he was preparing to leave. 

“I bet you’re really excited to go home” Frank said, opening the door to his office and inviting himself in. He normally wouldn’t have but he wanted to be absolutely certain that he actually got his goodbye in. “Do you mind telling Adeline hello for me?” 

Edward glanced up at the sound of the door swinging open and smiled at the familiar face there to greet him. “Frank, come in, have a seat.” Edward invited him, standing so he could better wave him over. Out of all of his childrens’ friends, Frank was the one Edward had seen the least of in his time at Hogwarts. That was perfectly alright, he didn’t expect them all to visit him regularly considering how busy they were in the middle of the term.

“You have no idea.” He said, easing back into his chair. While Edward was leaving Hogwarts on bit of a bittersweet note, he couldn’t regret going home to his wife, his home, and his office in the Ministry. “And of course I’ll pass it along, Adeline will be happy to hear from you.” Edward promised. “But it won’t be too long before you can tell her yourself. We’ll be at King’s Cross at the end of the year to get Edgar and Amelia off the train and say hello to all you kids, same as always.” While his children might be old enough to get themselves to and from the station now, Edward and Adeline would hardly miss Edgar, Ted, and Frank’s last train home from Hogwarts. 

Some of her nervous tension seemed to ease a little, as it became apparent that he understood what she was trying to say. Andie really didn’t let herself think much about the future. It was hard enough to focus on getting through each day at school, and once she started thinking further than that - thinking that this was one day closer to her last day with Ted, one day closer to being at the manor with the weight of their loss, one day closer to the awful reality of life as Madame Mulciber - she couldn’t do it. It was enough to send her spiraling down into a dark place, and she couldn’t let herself go there at Hogwarts. 

But on the occasions that she did let herself wonder, ever so slightly, the prospect of leaving everything behind had been more and more appealing. She couldn’t begin to fathom the logistics of how it would work but she was starting to see that her sisters’ love had been conditional - hinging upon her obedience to their family dictates - and that her father, at least, had never truly cared about her beyond what he could get from her marriage. Perhaps Mother had but … Andie would never know that now. With Ted though … Ted was everything that she had always hoped love and family would be. “I understand the risks. And sacrifices. Maybe not fully but I do.” Her cheeks heated a little, realizing that she hadn’t remembered even the feeble attempt at masking the truth of the situation. But no one was around to hear anyway.

She dropped her gaze to her hands again, unclasping her fingers and smoothing them over her skirt carefully. She had never really stopped to consider what it would be like to have someone in her life like Edward Bones, someone to give advice like this and carry secrets. She certainly had never confided in her own father this way, but it was far more difficult to hold everything back than she had anticipated. “It’s just - how did you know? Or - how did your wife know, I suppose? When she was ready to leave everything? And if you don’t have time? I’m betrothed to Joseph Mulciber. I don’t - it won’t be years after I’m finished here before I’m expected to marry him.” Her voice had dropped to a whisper and her eyes remained in her lap; she was afraid she’d start crying if she weren’t careful, and it felt a little too easy to be comfortable enough in Edward’s presence to do something like that. 

“I believe you do. Certainly not fully, I don’t suppose anyone ever can, but it seems you’ve thought a great deal about this.” Edward said quietly, glad they could drop the pretense of talking about someone else. Andromeda’s secret was safe with him, if only for her own sake, but then there was the added concern for Ted as well. While Andromeda could consider leaving her family behind, Ted could not, bogged down by the weight of responsibility to his family and his name. Edward hadn’t quite known much about titles and such until he’d met Ted all of those years ago, but over time he had come to understand what it all meant for the boy’s future. “I think it is also important to realize what you would be running toward as well.” Edward added shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

Somehow, it felt wrong to have this conversation with Andromeda on Ted’s behalf, not knowing if the boy had already spoken to her about his own situation or not. Edward certainly didn’t want to overstep, to share information with her that Ted hadn’t yet addressed for some reason, but considering Andromeda was talking about risking everything to love him, Edward supposed she ought to have all of the information before making her decision. “I don’t suppose Ted has told you what sorts of ah- obstacles he faces from his own family, has he?”

As Andromeda’s voice grew softer, Edward felt his own heart ache for her. He and Adeline had gone back and forth for years, running through every option available, every scenario they could think of in order to make sure they were doing the right thing. They’d had time to plan, to change their minds over and over again, until finally everything had fallen into place. “We had time, yes, more than it sounds as if you’ll have. But we didn’t make the decision until the last minute. Her family was pressuring her to get married- to a Mulciber no less, did you know that? Well, I think it was the moment we both realized we were out of time that we were sure of what we wanted and what we were willing to do to get it.” 

Years before, Adeline would have described her home as the place where she was most comfortable. She would regularly sit with her babies, reading them stories and fussing with their hair until they were old enough to leave for Hogwarts. The house became significantly quieter then - Adeline couldn’t bear it. She yearned for holiday breaks, as the house seemed to get more and more packed every year. Adeline became a mother to many, but the time seemed fleeting and it went by so fast. 

She would bury herself in her work, forcing her way up to the top. Lately, people were disrespecting the law more and more - with supporters of Grindelwald and Voldemort being ousted here and there, letters about suspicious-looking folk constantly being sent to the office… Adeline was swamped. 

Then – Hogwarts took another family member away, with Edward leaving to secure the school. It was for the greater good, so Adeline couldn’t say much, but every time Edward had to leave on a trip, she worried they would be her last goodbyes. 

In the bathroom, Adeline took a glance at herself in the mirror, letting her hair down. As soon as she heard the familiar voice, she felt like she was young once more - running straight into Edward’s arms and allowing herself to be engulfed in his embrace. “Oh, you smell lovely.” She sighed.  

Edward leaned against the counter at his back, rolling up his sleeves and listening to the silence of his home. Over the years, he’d become accustomed to it, but he missed the noise of breaks during the school year when his house was home to not only his children, but their friends as well. The laughter, the chatter, and the sounds of footsteps pounding up and down the stairs were always welcome, even if it could get a bit out of hand now and again.

Now he could only hear the creeks and groans of a near-empty house, and though it was still familiar, it was a echo of loneliness. Again, Edward’s heart ached at the thought of Adeline all alone for so many months now, with nothing but the sounds of the old house to keep her company. He supposed the long hours at the office did well to occupy her time, but that was hardly any better. 

The silence of their home did Edward one favor at least, the sound of Adeline’s footsteps easily greeted him first as she came running down the hall, and with a wide grin Edward pushed away from the counter to catch her in his arms. He stumbled back slightly as he caught her, the added strain on his injured leg a small annoyance he could easily ignore when the woman he loved was back in his arms once more.

“I’ve missed you.” He muttered, his words muffled as his lips lingered above her shoulder where he couldn’t help but press a kiss, then another, before turning to press a kiss to her cheek. “So much.” Edward added, his arms tightening around her further, as if she might disappear if he let go. No matter how many times Edward left on a mission, their reunions never grew any less sweet. They were both painfully aware that any could be his last, and never took a reunion for granted. 

What was most poignant to Edgar in the two relationships he’d had this year was the difference in how his father had found out. With Narcissa, he had known that it would not be an easy feat, filling in his parents. The animosity between their father’s was no secret, but he had rationalized it due to their parents being gone. He hadn’t expected Halloween to go the way it had… it still made him sad to think about. A roommate he had lived with for years, dead. Others, too. And then to make matters worse, his father showed up. Maybe it would have been better if he could have told his father himself. Amelia, though, had felt it necessary to open her big fat mouth and tattle on him before he could get the chance. He felt righteously annoyed about that, even today, but at the same time, he recognized that there was a reason Amelia had done it. With Gabrielle, here he was, reporting in merely days after their relationship began. He couldn’t imagine hiding this, especially not as easily as he’d found it to hide Narcissa. He could think of no better proof — for himself. Others might not be so easily swayed — than that right there.

“Me too.” Edgar said, smiling a little as he turned over the word ‘meaningful’ in his hands. That was the right description, wasn’t it? His eyes flickered to the chair on the other side of Dad’s desk. He’d been standing since he had arrived, too focused on what he had to say. Now that he’d gotten it out — mostly, anyways — he could finally focus on things like sitting. He adjusted his legs in his new seat and looked at his dad once again. How refreshing it felt, to know his dad approved of Gabrielle. He didn’t like thinking about the alternative. The feelings inside of him were strong, strong enough for him to blurt a proposal out without thinking. He thought about telling his father about that… and quickly decided not to. Best to not get too carried away, after all. 

“I’d like to introduce her to Mum.” Edgar murmured, the corner of his lip twitching upwards again. “I can’t— I don’t remember if they met over Christmas.” Even if they had, it wasn’t under these new circumstances, and Edgar felt giddy inside when he thought about introducing Gabrielle to his mother as his girlfriend. “I really think they’d get along. — I think you two would as well. She’s— she’s a lot like me.” 

Edward watched as his son settled into the seat across from him, seemingly lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. For the first time in months, the tension that had lingered between them seemed to dissipate, and they fell back into their old routine. One where Edward was sure his son trusted him even with the most sensitive of information. In turn, Edward felt himself easing back into his own chair, his smile coming more easily than before. “Mum will be glad to meet her, I’m sure.”

Truth be told, Edward couldn’t remember if the two had been introduced over Christmas or not. He’d been so busy with the population of the school nearly doubling overnight, the logistics and security concerns that accompanied the parents visiting their children for the holidays, that he hadn’t spent as much time with his own family as he’d have liked. It wasn’t the first time his job had prevented him from enjoying Christmas with his children, and though Edward was sure it wouldn’t be the last, he found it never grew any easier.

“You know Gabrielle welcome at home anytime.” Edward reminded his son. Their children’s friends had always been welcome over, whether that be for dinner, a few days’ visit, or as semi-permanent residents. In Gabrielle’s case, however, Edward supposed this was a bit different. “If you’d like, maybe she could come round over the summer and we’ll have dinner or something special for her? You’ve gotten pretty good in the kitchen, might be nice to show off a bit.” Edward couldn’t help teasing his son tad, though the offer was genuine. He’d always told his son that someday he’d want to impress a woman and the best way to do that was in the kitchen.  

Who: Dom Marchand & Anyone   When: March 3rd, 1978. Morning. (His Birthday. Happy 41st Dom!) Where: His makeshift office

Birthday’s had always been a strange experience for Dom. His family had been rather poor and though they tried to do something it didn’t always pan out. The Bones always did something for him firmly cementing the fact that they were a far better family than Dom could have ever possibly hoped to be adopted into. Growing into adulthood he had stopped caring about it. Beyond seventeen there wasn’t much to look forward to. Somehow though, and he suspected Edward’s hand, most of the people in the auror office and those in the extended Bones family had found out about it so when there was a knock on his office door he suspected that that’s what it would be for. “Come in” he called.  

“Don’t mind if I do.” Edward said with a smile, as he pushed his way into his partner’s office and dropped into the seat across from him. He avoided wishing Dom a happy birthday right away, knowing that Dom struggled to enjoy a day dedicated to celebrating himself. Normally, Edward liked to go all out on birthdays throwing some pretty spectacular parties over the years, and he liked to think he had a knack for gift-giving, but he had always respected Dom’s preference for a more quiet celebration. “I actually came to apologize, Dom.” Edward said gravely, clasping his hands in his lap. “I’m sorry I won’t be able to cook you your favorite tonight considering we’re stuck here for the foreseeable future.” 

“I’m sure you’re ready to get home,” she said, stepping further into the room, although her smile turned to a look of alarm at the comment about paperwork. “It really never gets any better? I keep hoping that it will somehow but you’re not making me feel great about the probability of that happening.” Though she really had intended this to be a short visit, because she didn’t want to interfere with his packing or keep him from it, but if he invited her … “If you have the time. I don’t want to be a bother.” But she moved to take the seat, dropping into it and tucking a leg up under herself as she did.

“It’s going to be very odd without you, you know. I’m not sure we’ll be able to manage, really.” They didn’t have much to do but she couldn’t picture getting very much accomplished without Edward there to lead the way and keep morale up.  

“You can bet your wand on that.” He said good-naturedly. Edward Bones hadn’t complained much in his time at Hogwarts, a leader by example, but he would be lying if he didn’t admit he was homesick. In a way, it seemed unfair that he should leave when others could not, especially the Aurors that had been stationed at Hogwarts since Halloween with him. “Trust me, it only get’s worse, especially if you fall behind.” He said with a sigh. After taking over as Head of the Department his workload had increased at an alarming rate and Edward had devoted countless extra hours just to keep it all under control over the years.

“You’re never a bother, Jackie.” Edward said, waving her into the seat. “And while I appreciate the sentiment, you’ll all manage just fine without me.” He said, giving her a smile. It was nice to know that his Aurors valued him, but Dom had done well in training them, and Edward hoped he had done well in assigning them according to their strengths. He expected that they could manage themselves should they have to, in fact, he expected it. “I’ll only be an owl away, anyway. It’ll be nice to be back at the office for a change.” 

“Thank you,” she said quietly, pushing the door mostly shut and moving to the offered chair. Part of her was starting to wonder if this had been a mistake after all, now that she was here and facing him and trying to come up with the right words to say. It wasn’t his presence that made it difficult, exactly; Andromeda had never found it easy to bare her soul - even with Ted, it came hard for her. She barely knew Edward Bones, and that only added to the difficulty. And yet … she wanted to talk to him. She wanted him to know that he had made a difference. She wanted advice for the future that she certainly wasn’t letting herself consider. “I wanted to say goodbye before you left,” she said, after a pause that went on longer than she meant for it to. “I’m sure you’re very glad to go home, but I’ve appreciated having you here.” Hogwarts didn’t feel safe, but it seemed safer with the Aurors, and with him in particular. 

Her gaze dropped to her hands, her fingers twisting together nervously in her lap. And then she glanced over her shoulder at the door. There was no way to tell now if someone were in the corridor listening, and this was a very dangerous topic of conversation but … “I wanted to thank you, as well. For our conversation before. Your advice was so helpful and I’ve been - my friend and I, we’ve been together again.” That had been before she and Ted stopped talking, and he might not even know that they hadn’t seen each other for so long. But she hoped he followed what she was trying to say. “I can’t - I couldn’t have done that without your advice, and I couldn’t manage any of this without - without my friend.” Her cheeks turned red but … it was true. Ted had helped her so much with everything that had gone on lately. 

Andie took a deep breath, eyes dropping to her fingers again. She had to ask. If she didn’t now, she’d never have another opportunity until after the decision was made. “I don’t - we talked about you and your wife and the choice she made. I just - if you knew someone now who was thinking about making that choice too, what would you tell them?” She could barely bring herself to meet his gaze again, but she did it, looking up fully aware that her eyes must be full of the hope and fear she felt whenever her thoughts drifted in this direction. 

“I appreciate you coming to say goodbye very much, Andromeda, thank you.” Edward said kindly, surprised by her words. While he hadn’t expected her to be unkind like Narcissa had been, he hadn’t quite expected praise either. Being an Auror was a difficult line of work, and aside from the few Aurors who achieved fame for their efforts, it was often a thankless role. Edward had never minded that, he wasn’t in it for the glory, but even he would admit it was nice to know that your work was appreciated now and again. “I’m glad that my time here has been a help to some people, if not others. As long as I’ve managed to do a little bit of good here, I’ll return home a happy man.” Edward assured her.

He studied her, her nervous habits betraying her before her words did. She wanted to talk to him about something other than his leaving, he was sure, and Edward had a fairly good idea what she wanted to talk about. Edward had spoken to Ted as well as his father over the holidays and had pieced together the gist of the story. Ted and Andromeda had unwillingly separated, and neither of them had seemed better for it. More recently, however, he’d noticed that each of them seemed a bit brighter than they had in a while and while Edward had expected as much had happened, he had chosen to look the other way for both of their sakes. “I’m happy that you and your friend have reconciled whatever it was that kept you apart.” He said knowingly, though his lips twitched thoughtfully at her question.

“That’s a very good question.” He said, mulling it over. Edward knew that he would have to tread lightly, not wanting to push Andromeda in one direction or the other but hopeful that he might provide her with perspective to aid her in what he knew to be a series of difficult decisions going forward. “I would tell them to be very cautious, and very sure before making that decision.” He advised, meeting her eye to convey how serious he was. “I would also tell them that my experience is not their own. Adelaide and I, well, it took us years to make that choice together. Sacrifices- permanent sacrifices mind- were made so that we could be together.”

Edward hesitated a moment, thinking back on what it had been like so many years ago, pining for a girl whose family would never accept their relationship. “My wife had to sacrifice much more for us to be together than I did.” He said quietly, a point which still pained him. “It wasn’t easy. She parted ways with her family- for good- and anyone who might choose the same should consider what that means emotionally, financially, logistically… we were fortunate enough to have very successful careers established and a few more years of maturity behind us when we made the choice.” He paused again, unsure how personal he might stray in his advice. “I should also note that we only had her family to worry about, not mine.” 

Pushing his way through the front door, Edward paused long enough to kick off his shoes, a flick of his wand sending them into their rightful place in the cupboard. He took a moment, breathing deeply through his nose, to take the rare opportunity to experience the smell only noticed by strangers and those who had ben away for too long. Before he knew it, however, his memory seemed to recall the smell of his own home and it was as if it vanished, once again a mystery to him. Part of Edward hoped that it was something he’d never notice again, as to do so would mean he’d been away for too long yet again. 

The rooms he passed through were dark, some obviously untouched for months, and a sudden wave of guilt washed over him. Adeline had been here alone in an empty house for far too long. The house was lonely enough when Edgar and Amelia went off to school, but at least Edward and Adeline always had each other. While Edward had no doubt his wife was more than capable of fending for herself, that didn’t mean she enjoyed being neglected for such an extended amount of time, and Edward determined he would make it up to her. 

It wasn’t long before Edward made his way into the kitchen, his favorite room of the house. His hands ran over the smooth surface of the counters, clean as the day he’d left them. Oh how he couldn’t wait to cook again. Hogwarts’ meals were some of the finest he’d ever had, but over the years Edward Bones had come to appreciate cooking for himself and his family. He was eager to return to his regular routine. And goodness knew it had been much too long since his wife had returned home to a good meal on the table waiting for her. 

Checking his watch, Edward wondered where she was now. It was late enough on a Sunday that she should be home. “Adeline?” He called, shrugging off his trench coat and tossing it over the back of a kitchen chair. “Love? I’m home!” The words felt foreign after being away for so long, and Edward smiled sadly as he tugged at his tie, loosening it so it fit more comfortably around his neck. 

Narcissa was wandering around without much aim. She was often found doing just that. Her mother had always said that walking with too much purpose was unladylike - it threatened to raise an eyebrow when she was so often considered to have her head high in the clouds. However, that day she truly didn’t have much purpose. She was nearing the end of the last bottle of perfume Druella had sent her before her murder. While she could buy herself another bottle without so much as a second thought it was another reminder that her mother would never be the one to send her such a lovely surprise again. Those little reminders were everywhere, and as she walked through the halls she was simply desperate for anything to keep her mind away from the diamond-shaped floral-scented reminder. 

She walked past the door she knew Edgar’s father had taken up office in. She recalled their sickly sweet conversation where he saw right through the saccharine in her voice. Not many people could, so for that she had to commend the man. Only she was far past the mood for congratulations on being so observant, the pain from her mother’s death cutting deep once more. “Gone so soon?,” she asked - that same sugary voice he’d caught onto so easily. “Pity, we’ll miss you so very much. But I suppose you and all your Auror pals will do better outside of the castle walls than stuck in here, isn’t that right? Considering how proactive you were at stopping the slaughter of my family from Hogwarts?” Her tone quickly slid from cavity-inducing to acidic. “Or, can we be candid here, Mr. Bones - perhaps you were all just glad someone else did the job for you?” 

Edward paused from his work sorting papers into boxes, looking up at the sound of a familiar voice. It had been a while since he’d spoken to Narcissa Black, as last time he’s practically sent her away licking her wounds from failure to fool him into thinking her kind or genuinely interested in his son. She must have thought him a fool if she’d truly believed he would fall for her tricks. Edward had known her parents for years, and he’d learned all of their tricks long ago. If only she’d known that Edward had heard it all before. How very much like her parents she was, in not only her biting words but her stinging delivery as well. For a moment, Edward Bones was struck with memories from his own days at Hogwarts and the way he used to trade insults with Cygnus and Druella in the halls. Surprisingly, the thought made him sad, his brows pulling together as he listened to Narcissa now.

“I always appreciate your candor, Miss Black. Please, there’s no need for false words. Merlin knows I certainly won’t share any with you now.” Edward’s voice betrayed just how tired he was. Tired of the way the students believed him their enemy when he only wanted to protect them from the dangers they faced. He was tired of arguing, of fighting each and every day in what felt like a losing battle. “If you’re implying that I am pleased with your mother’s murder, you are sorely mistaken.” Edward sighed, shaking his head sadly. “The truth is, your parents and I have never quite seen eye to eye. No- we don’t like each other- it’s as simple as that. But I would never- not in a million years- wish this loss on your family.” 

Edward paused for a moment, his gaze flickering down to his own hands as a wave of guilt washed over him. “You can blame me for your mother’s death all you want, Narcissa. I blame myself.” It had been his job to prevent such attacks from taking place, and Edward Bones had failed. The cards had been stacked against him, a traitor working against him in his own office, and countless relatives in for the holidays to visit without any additional staff to assist. The Aurors had been in over their heads, and Edward blamed himself for every bit of it. He should have fought Dumbledore harder on the outing. He should have insisted the children should be allowed home for Christmas instead of bringing their parents to them. There were so many things he should have and could have done, but hindsight was always much clearer. “I’m sorry for your loss, Narcissa. I really am, and if there was anything I could do to fix what happened, I would do it in a heartbeat.”