SORCERY

𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬    𝐚    𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭    𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐤    𝐭𝐨    his    lips    as    if    containing    a    smile    ,    a    laziness    in    his    posture    that    has    nothing    but    comfort    written    all    over    it    as    the    pair    joked    .    “    there    is    a    difference    between    not    remembering    and    not    noteworthy    .    ”    kit    wasn’t    certainly    one    to    behaviour    ,    he    wasn’t    married    ,    he    wasn’t    tied    to    someone    out    of    obligation    ,    he    was    free    to    do    as    he    please    ,    and    he    did    ,    often    ,    but    those    that    lingered    offered    little    to    hold    his    interest    ,    nothing    special    to    note    ,    but    he    remembered    them    .    “    so    then    ,    who    as    of    late    ,    has    the    great    evan    rosier    deemed    worthy    .    ”

𝐡𝐞    𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐬    ,    𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡    𝐚    𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥    loud    smacking    of    lips    to    her    skin    before    they’re    apart    ,    settled    and    comfortable    and    he’s    pulling    a    small    box    from    his    sweatpants    pocket    ,    no    bigger    than    that    of    a    ring    box    .    it    wasn’t    a    ring    .    but    it    was    tied    with    a    soft    blue    ribbon    ,    laid    flat    in    his    hand    .    “    you    can    have    it    ,    only    if    ,    you    stop    thinking    there’s    someone    else    .    ”    he    bargains    ,    he    didn’t    need    her    to    know    the    pathetic    sap    he’d    become    over    a    girl    who    didn’t    want    him    the    same    way    ,    a    girl    who    only    wanted    him    when    her    thoughts    were    too    much    ,    a    girl    who    only    ever    tasted    of    whiskey    and    sin    ,    he    couldn’t    stand    the    thought    of    charity    burbage    telling    him    he    deserved    better    ,    because    he    didn’t    want    better    ,    he    wanted    the    one    he    wouldn’t    dare    utter    the    name    aloud    .    “    i    saw    it    and    it    made    me    think    of    you    .    you    should    love    it    .    ”

𝐢𝐟    𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞    𝐰𝐚𝐬    𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫    𝐚𝐧   expression    that    screamed    i    told    you    so    ,    it    was    written    all    over    caellum’s    face    .    he    couldn’t    control    it    ,    he    didn’t    want    to    .    nick    knew    his    well    enough    ,    so    well    in    fact    that    the    words    wouldn’t    even    escape    his    lips    but    the    expression    was    clear    .    “    i    told    you    so    .    ”    he    gloats    so    easily    ,    toothy    grin    as    a    heavy    arm    is    slung    over    the    shoulders    of    his    friend    .    “    i    might    save    that    last    one    for    after    i    hear    all    about    it    .    ”    he    was    right    ,    he    would    bask    in    that    alone    .    “    i’ve    been    waiting    for    this    moment    .    ”

𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫    𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫    𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭    𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫    ,    𝐡𝐞    could    have    been    the    smarter    of    the    two    .    he    could    of    turned    and    walked    away    ,    spared    himself    the    impending    heartache    that    she    seemed    to    leave    in    her    wake    (    especially    for    him    )    but    yet    ,    caellum    was    a    glutton    for    punishment    ,    and    she    was    the    sweetest    kind    .    it    wouldn’t    have    mattered    whether    she    was    the    birthday    girl    or    not    ,    he    couldn’t    ever    say    no    to    her    .    he    struggled    with    such    a    thought    .    she    was    embedded    in    his    very    bones    ,    causing    them    to    rattle    in    protest    as    heart    beats    frantically    at    them    ,    trying    to    shatter    it’s    bony    cage    .    “    what    the    birthday    girl    wants    ,    the    birthday    girl    gets    .    ”   

𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬    𝐚    𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐡    𝐡𝐮𝐟𝐟    𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭    passes    her    lips    as    the    newspaper    is    pulled    just    out    of    reach    ,    and    the    new    pains    and    stretches    of    her    body    have    it    protesting    before    she    can    even    think    to    lurch    forward    and    grab    it    .    but    he    settles    fast    ,    the    paper    falling    into    her    grasp    .    “    you    are    lucky    i    love    you    so    ,    james    potter    .    ”    she    mutters    ,    cold    ,    bare    toes    nudging    his    leg    softly    as    a    gentleness    passes    over    her    .    they    looked    nothing    more    than    a    picture    of    domestic    bliss    ,    and    it    warmed    her    to    her    very    core    that    this    was    where    she    ended    up    .    with    him    .    “    you’re    just    sad    cause    i’m    smarter    and    more    strategic    then    you    .    ”    she    taunts    ,    but    truly    ,    despite    to    odds    she’d    looked    at    ,    at    the    time    ,    it    was    just    a    lucky    guess    .

𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐰    𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬    𝐮𝐩𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬    ,    𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝    𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐩𝐭    curls    out    of    place    as    he    turns    on    the    female    ,    the    nickname    alone    enough    to    cause    a    cringe    across    his    features    .    “    it’s    kit    .    ”    he    grumbles    ,    and    there    is    no    other    way    to    describe    the    sound    that    escapes    him    .    he    can    admit    ,    it’s    been    a    while    since    he’d    been    out    to    lunch    ,    felicity    or    not    ,    and    the    unease    in    his    stomach    certainly    wasn’t    from    the    files    he’d    poured    over    this    morning    .    “    you    got    an    hour    ,    flick    .    ”    he    agrees    ,    for    she    sure    did    twist    his    arm    . 

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐭𝐡    𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬    𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡    𝐡𝐞𝐫    ,    𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬    alight    as    she    smiles    .    it’s    a    beaming    smile    ,    even    with    everything    going    on    ,    this    was    nothing    but    a    spark    of    joy    ,    of    light    among    them    .    “    as    if    james    potter    could    let    anyone    out    do    him    .    ”    it’s    a    gentle    tease    of    her    husband    who    certainly    cannot    defend    himself    in    this    moment    .    hand    finds    comfort    in    resting    on    the    now    larger    swell    of    her    belly    ,    she    can’t    help    it    ,    a    habit    she    grew    into    fast    .    “    truthfully    ,    i’ll    take    all    the    help    i    can    get    .    ”    her    husband    and    his    friends    ,    no    ,    their    friends    ,    they    were    brilliant    ,    chaotic    mostly    ,    and    it    seemed    they    jumped    from    one    thing    to    another    before    projects    were    finished    .    “    maybe    you    could    show    james    a    thing    or    two    ,    almost    dad    suits    you    .    ”

𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝    𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐬    𝐟𝐨𝐫    𝐚    𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭    ,    fingers    brushing    through    curled    tendrils    .    mind    wracked    with    images    of    devastation    ,    not    just    of    streets    .    but    of    families    and    homes    of    friends    .    this    was    just    the    beginning    .    a    haunting    beginning    .    “    i    guess    it    depends    on    who    you’re    asking    really    !    ”    lily    admits    softly    ,    mouth    pulled    into    a    line    ,    no    frown    ,    no    smile    .

𝐭𝐡𝐞   𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧   𝐨𝐟   𝐜𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐦   𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤   𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨   english   soil   was   certainly   welcomed   ,   and   that   came   often   in   the   turn   of   friends   through   his   apartment   ,   nick   wasn’t   the   first   to   show   his   face   but   he   wouldn’t   be   the   last   and   the   situation   now   ,   had   caellum   kicked   back   in   the   arm   chair   ,   hair   still   damp   from   a   shower   and   a   wickedly   cheeky   smirk   stretched   over   his   features   ,   because   there   was   nothing   worse   in   the   world   when   caellum   greengrass   was   right   about   something   and   the   ability   to   say   i   told   you   so   presented   itself   ,   a   menace   through   and   through   .   “   oh   just   when   have   i   ever   uttered   the   phrase   ,   i   told   you   so   ,   nick   .   ”   oh   but   he   has   ,   often   and   loudly   ,   proclaiming   it   to   all   that   would   listen   as   if   he   were   some   oracle   .   “   i   would   never   do   such   a   thing   ,   now   what   am   i   right   about   this   time   ,   since   you're   allowing   me   the   opportunity   to   gloat   .   ”   straight   ,   pearly   white   teeth   on   display   with   a   grin   so   wide   .   

𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬   ?   𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲   𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐞   𝐚𝐧𝐝   𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫   𝐠𝐨𝐲𝐥𝐞   ,   friends   ?   it   was   absurd   to   think   of   ,   he   was   years   older   than   the   witch   ,   they   ran   in   two   different   worlds   and   her   grandfather   assumed   they   were   friends   ,   he’d   be   more   confused   if   he   wasn’t   so   amused   ,   wondering   if   the   old   man   would   keel   over   at   the   thought   of   kit   seeing   charity   naked   ,   and   he   had   ,   seen   her   naked   that   is   .   his   lips   had   tasted   the   sweat   soaked   skin   of   her   shoulder   as   his   finger   gripped   against   the   dip   of   her   hips   ,   he   knew   her   ,   he   knew   how   she   sounded   in   throes   of   pleasure   ,   with   her   head   tilted   back   and   lips   parted   ,   but   outside   of   those   moments,   kit   knew   nothing   of   the   girl   ,   he   couldn’t   care   much   to   want   to   know   .   but   as   the   girl   answered   the   question   ,   elusive   and   only   he   knew   the   truth   of   how   they   knew   one   another   ,   that   initial   dread   ,   barely   forgotten   in   his   moment   of   amusement   settled   back   into   the   pit   of   his   stomach   ,   as   if   brewing   the   storm   he   could   sense   and   suddenly   dark   eyes   moved   from   the   old   man   to   the   girl   and   then   seeking   an   escape   route   .   something   bad   was   coming   his   way.   “   we’ve   met   in   passing   ,   can’t   say   i’ve   known   much   more   than   her   name   until   now   .   ”   he   barely   grunts,   leaning   back   slightly   in   his   seat   ,   eyes   turned   towards   the   burbage   patriarch   ,   as   if   to   prompt   him   to   answer   his   granddaughters   question   now   .   waiting   for   the   ball   to   drop   .   

𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭   𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞   ,   𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐬   𝐢𝐧   𝐡𝐢𝐬   hold   and   he’s   peppering   a   greeting   of   kisses   along   her   hairline   and   temples   ,   a   greeting   filled   with   sweetness   that      no   one   but   she   would   receive   .   this   was   different   .   it   had   always   been   so   .   she’s   a   mess   ,   in   the   simplest   of   way   ,   but   she’s   his   mess   and   this   version   of   her   ,   comfortable   ,   soft   and   herself   ,   is   his   very   favourite   .   he   follows   behind   her   with   ease   ,   each   to   their   undesignated   ,   designated   spots   ,   a   mug   of   her   favourite   in   his   hand   ,   handed   to   her   with   a   smile   .   “   you   know   ,   i   missed   you   too   .   ”   affection   ripples   in   the   moment   as   he   settles   into   the   couch   ,   body   slung   low   as   weightlessness   kicks   in   .   “   same   as   usual   ,   long   .   ”   as   if   he   wouldn’t   complain   ,   but   he   very   much   enjoyed   every   second   of   them   .   it   was   quidditch   ,   he   was   good   .   damn   good   ,   and   his   father   hated   it   .   but   he   did   miss   the   small   things   when   he   was   away   for   weeks   on   end   .   “   i   got   you   something   .   ”   a   tradition   really   .   him   coming   back   empty   handed   for   her   had   yet   to   happen   .

𝐭𝐰𝐨   𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬   𝐨𝐟   𝐭𝐡𝐞   𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞   𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐧   ,   not   people   ,   just   him   .   he   was   the   same   coin   with   different   facets   ,   the   first   the   quiet   boy   ,   turned   man   ,   who   kept   his   nose   clean   (   relatively   )   and   his   head   down   ,   but   then   there   was   the   truth   ,   hidden   behind   the   easy   facade   he’d   created   long   ago   ,   a   mirage   almost   ,   only   those   important   or   close   enough   ,   knowing   the   realness   of   him   and   the   man   that   sat   across   from   his   ,   was   one   of   the   select   few   .   with   sleeves   rolled   upwards   ,   shoulders   free   of   stiffness   as   body   slouches   in   the   chair   with   ease   ,   crystal   glass   almost   dangling   from   fingertips   as   lips   quirk   .   “   i   behave   quite   well   ,   you   know   this   .   ”   kit   grinned   ,   wicked   in   it’s   own   right   ,   devious   almost   in   it’s   own   darkness   .   “   there’s   been   some   here   and   there   ,   but   never   to   keep   the   attention   ,   nothing   terribly   noteworthy   .   ”

There was something about Caellum that made the witch act a bit more protective – kinder – than she normally would. Perhaps it was the fact they were family. Or something else. He wasn’t on her bad side and that was all that mattered.

𝐡𝐞’𝐬   𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬   𝐢𝐧   𝐡𝐢𝐬   𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬   around   the   white   wyvern   ,   as   if   seeking   something   not   even   he   could   tell   you   what   it   was   .   and   escape   ?   maybe   .   a   distraction   ,   more   probable   .   he’d   stayed   out   of   trouble   thus   far   and   now   his   skin   was   beginning   to   itch   ,   itch   with   a   need   for   something   more   ,   someone   ,   even   but   admitting   that   would   taste   bitter   on   his   tongue   and   so   ,   distraction   it   was   .   the   voice   is   a   gravelly   reminder   of   family   as   it   catches   peripherals   .   rita   .   familiarity   seeps   into   features   as   he   turns   towards   her   ,   lips   quirked   upwards   in   a   cheeky   smirk   ,   always   knowing   the   witch   would   never   attempt   to   drag   him   into   the   depths   of   hell   in   which   he   compared   his   father   to   .   “   always   knew   you   were   my   favourite   ,   reet   .   ”   he   praises   ,   sweetness   .   a   reminder   of   baby   faced   caellum   grinning   at   the   elder   of   them   both   .   “   and   what   is   it   you   think   i’m   searching   for   dear   cousin   ?   ”

𝐧𝐞𝐰   𝐩𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬   𝐢𝐧   𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝   𝐚𝐧𝐝   𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠   one   james   potter   ,   lily   had   gone   to   her   appointment   alone   ,   with   james   at   work   ,   they   had   avoided   such   things   until   the   last   possible   chance   and   it   seemed   to   be   that   this   was   it   .   her   lips   parted   ,   as   if   to   offer   help   ,   but   he   was   cutting   her   off   before   she   could   even   begin   .   having   just   stepped   into   the   hallway   ,   narrowly   missing   him   .   “   are   you   certain   about   that   ?   ”

𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞   𝐰𝐚𝐬   𝐚   𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠   𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡   𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝   by   a   deep   inhale   ,   mottled   with   shock   and   blinking   the   haze   from   his   eyes   ,   he   waved   off   the   other   with   a   sharp   hand   .   “   fine   ,   fine   .   ”   gruff   and   deep   as   chest   rose   and   fell   rapidly   .   fucking   order   .   he   can’t   help   but   think   before   he   righted   himself   ,   feet   pulled   beneath   him   until   he   stood   upright   .   “   the   fuck   ,   you   good   ?   ”   he   surveyed   himself   in   passing   ,   the   ache   to   his   chest   and   back   from   the   collision   with   the   ground   .   

𝐚𝐬   𝐭𝐡𝐞   𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞   𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝   𝐛𝐲   ,   the   surroundings   around   diagon   alley   had   become   something   she’d   grown   used   to   ,   closed   windows   ,   deserted   streets   ,   there   was   no   hustle   and   bustle   like   there   once   had   been   ,   especially   not   like   it   had   been   when   she   was   just   eleven   ,   but   there   was   still   some   familiarity   in   walking   the   streets   ,   from   her   workplace   to   the   leaky   in   favour   of   lunch   from   their   ,   then   from   home   .   “   truthfully   ,   some   places   worse   then   others   .   ”   she   muses   ,   having   caught   on   in   passing   .