OBLIVIATE

—

Alice had noticed recently that Neville didn’t seem like himself, and it was worrying her. To be honest, she spent the entire time worrying about him. Before he’d been born she’d spent her time worrying over Frank, and then Neville had come along and she’d switched over to her son. Before then, she hadn’t really been a worrier. She’d just carried on with life, ignored the bullies, and just lived her best life. But then she’d become a wife and then a mother. And it had all changed.

So, she’d been worried when she’d noted Neville had been not really eating. That wasn’t usual, especially when she’d noted that Augusta had cooked his favourite. Alice had helped clear away the dinner plates, and then gone out to find her son.

“Nev….” She murmured, sitting herself down next to him. She nudging his side, and just smiled at him. “Everything okay?” Alice would never force him to talk about anything, but she wanted him to know she was there if he needed her. She was his mother. She would always be there.

--

Neville turned to look at her when she approached.  Usually when his mother offered him a smile, she couldn’t help but return it.  Alice was such a wonderful soul, and he longed to be more like her.  She always had such a bright outlook on things, and Neville often felt like the Eeyore to her Tigger.  He always had that rain cloud over his head making him feel like a worthless wizard.

He shrugged one shoulder and turned to look straight ahead of him rather than at her.  Tears pricked at his eyes as the tip of his nose itched.  He felt the need to cry, but didn’t want to be weak.  He was tired of being weak.

Neville excused himself from the dinner table without dessert, even if Gran made him his absolute favorite.  Hell, he barely ate dinner, his appetite ruined by an offhand comment his great Uncle made when Neville was helping Gran in the kitchen.

By this point, he was two years out of Hogwarts and still felt like he hadn’t done anything productive with his life.  He worked in a small shop in Diagon Alley selling books.  It felt as if he’d never be the person that he was supposed to be.  He didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, but he would never live up to the people that his parents were.  They were perfect in his eyes, and he was an absolute failure.

The sun was setting as he walked out to the dock and sat down, staring off into the distance.  When it was just him and his parents, the demons in his mind didn’t attack him.  Throw in his father’s side of the family, and they fed those same demons.  All he wanted was to make his family proud. 

And he was failing.

Xeno: Come on Ed, you know that's not true.

Xeno: Now if she was a moody teenager on the internet I'd believe you.

Xeno: Oh that doesn't sound good, how is her magic off?

Ed: I know it to be true. Her mother has poisoned her against me.

Xeno: Ella doesn't hate you! Your impossible to hate....Like a small puppy.

Xeno: I'm sorry to hear that Lexi is unwell.

Ed: You're full of lies.

Ed: You haven't seen us interact in a while. I never thought a 10 year old could make me feel like utter garbage until a few days ago.

Xeno: Two whole days is a big improvement!

Xeno: The day you do collapse from exhaustion, you'll have to rescind that dramatic comment.

Xeno: I have been okay. You know me, I like to keep myself occupied by trying to keep three plates spinning at all times.

Xeno: How's the girls?

Ed: It is!

Ed: I will not collapse from exhaustion.

Xeno: A conundrum that will never be solved.

Xeno: Anyway, how have you been? Taken a day off? Collapsed from overworking?

Ed: Merlin, I've missed you.

Ed: I've been okay. I took two days off in a row, you'd be proud of me. I have yet to actually collapse from overworking. You're being a touch dramatic there.

“I should go.” He said once he was sure she was out of hearing range. “I’ve got work to finish up and I don’t want to intrude any longer.” He started getting up, though his plate was only half finished. It was fine, he’d leave, stop somewhere to grab something to take home to eat. 

-

Ed nodded in agreement.  He was quite sure that after this he would never see Regulus again, and that hurt almost as much as Ella being a brat about everything.  “Thank you... I appreciate what you did.”

There were the few times Regulus wondered what would be the cause of his demise. Maybe a wrong spell, maybe from a client he had managed to piss off, sometimes he even considered the Ministry coming in and taking him out right there and then. But breakfast with Ed and his daughter never crossed his mind until now. 

It was clear to see that she hated him. Not him, but Ed. Why, he couldn’t say, he wouldn’t ask, wouldn’t pry. He was already in deeper than he planned to be, no need to be tied in family drama that wasn’t his own. 

“It’s good.” He finally said to break up the silence. He was blocking from both sides, anything to keep himself sane at this point

-

Ed was growing weary as they continued along.  It was clear to anyone that all he wanted was for Ella to be happy, but the young girl seemed to want none of that.  And now, she was making things painfully awkward with Regulus.  He should have insisted that Reg leave.  He knew exactly how Ella was.

“Smells wonderful,” he mused.

Zoe cleared her throat, feeling slightly awkward at the mans passing comment. She didn’t know what to say but figured anything would be better than standing silently like a weirdo. “I’m sorry to hear that, it must not be an easy thing to cope with.”

“You seem caring and approachable,” she remarked with a smile. “Uh yes Newt Scamander is my father-in-law,” Zoe was use to repeating that comment to most who found her last name familiar. “My maiden name is Ollivander and you most likely got your wand from my father.” 

-

Ed shrugged.  “It’s the way life is,” he explained.  “They’re still my world, so that’s what’s important.”  He offered her a smile and glanced up at the barista that was still struggling a bit.

“That’s actually pretty cool.  I was never all that great at Care of Magical Creatures, but I believe that’s because I wanted to take them all home.”  He was trying carefully to lighten the mood.  “Ollivander and Scamander... damn.  Those are some heavy hitting names there.”

“You owe me.” Regulus replied back just as quietly. Every instinct told him it was a bad idea, but it was one kid, maybe one hour at most. He’d leave right after and they’d never have to speak of it again.

It took a few moments to get everything out. Regulus had taken over the eggs, easy and something he was sure that he wouldn’t mess up given the current company.

Ed nodded.  “I know.”

Ella supervised, never scolding Regulus, but constantly berating Edgar for doing things wrong, even if he wasn’t.  Ed took it in stride, hiding how much it hurt.  

“So now we put them in the pan!  Mr. Regulus can do that!”

“My brother got sorted into Gryffindor.” Regulus said. “The common room is up in one of towers.” Merlin, he sounded like an idiot. He didn’t know why he was still there, why he was even still talking. He had said he’d stay for breakfast. Regulus didn’t know why he felt the need to keep that promise, though part of him was unsure if Edgar even still wanted him there. 

“I’ll get things started.” He said after a moment, getting up from the couch and heading into the kitchen as if he knew where anything was.

Ella grinned at the sound of that.  “Mom doesn’t know anything about the Hogwarts houses.  She went to Illvermorny.  Lexi’s gonna be a Slytherin or a Hufflepuff, I don’t know which.”

Ed was thankful Regulus was there to help ease the tension that was usually palatable between him and his daughter.  He offered Reg a smile and followed him into the kitchen.  “Thank you,” he whispered.

“I’ll supervise!”  Ella decided.

“And you’ll be the best supervisor,” Ed tried.

“She was telling me about how she gets to go to Hogwarts.” Regulus looked over at him. From the sound of it, it hadn’t gone over very well, though he didn’t comment on that, at least now while Ella was in the room.

-

Ella sighed and nodded in agreement.  “Yes.  I’m going next year.  I already know I’m going to be a Gryffindor.”  

Edgar laughed gently, trying to be a good father.  “The hat knows where you belong, and I’m sure you’ll be a Gryffindor.  Now... do you want pancakes?  We were about to make breakfast.”

There was a pause.  “Sure.”

Zoe glanced over her shoulder and saw the barista start to place numerous cups on the counter. “How is he going to carry all of them?” she queried turning back to the stranger. 

“Two daughters, that must be a handful and yet so fulfilling!” She knew the difficulties children could present and suspected the man in front of her knew of the trails and tribulations of parenthood.

“You had a healer vibe,” she smirked, letting her eyes glaze over the clock above the counter. Ten minutes still to reach the holy grail that is coffee. “Zoe Scamander and yours?”

-

“I don’t have custody, unfortunately.”  He said it in passing as if it was no big deal, even if it still hurt.  “Partial custody, but still..”

He managed a chuckle.  “I do?” he asked quietly.  “Edgar Bones, a pleasure to make your acquaintance.  Scamander... like Newt Scamander?”

“That I can understand.” He said after a moment. His parents were never shy about when they were angry at one another, half the time he wondered why they didn’t divorce in the first place. There was plenty of shouting until he learned the silencing charm. Of course sometimes the sound would exceed that. He muttered something under his breath and the sound quieted somewhat.

“You’re 10, 11? You don’t look like your at Hogwarts yet.”

Ella nodded.  “Ten.  I go to Hogwarts next year with Lexi.”  She sounded excited to finally be free of the drama of home.  Things weren’t perfect with her mother, but they were better than if she would have stayed with Ed, or at least that’s what she figured.

Finally, Ed closed the door, trying not to slam it.

“I don’t see why he wouldn’t.” Why was he defending him, he had no need to. Then again, he wouldn’t be the one to tell her how their relationship worked. “I’m just a friend. Came by early to drop something off.” He explained.  So it seems like this wasn’t the first time she had met a ‘friend’ of Edgar’s.

The argument was getting more heated between the two adults.  Ella turned to look, a feeling of sadness and annoyance washing over her.  She turned back to Regulus.  “Okay.”  It didn’t sound like she was too convinced.