It has been the source of many an emo moment for me and my partner Sam, who plays Gideon.
Starcrossed
The stars have been one of Gideon Prewett’s constant companions all through out the course of his relationship with Cassandra Avery. They were his Guardians of good luck, providing their gentle twinkling ambience to his most important life events and giving him the confidence to say what he had to say and do what he had to do. It was underneath the stars that he had first fallen in love with Cassie. She had been staying over for the Christmas Holidays because he couldn’t stand the thought of having her go home to her father and getting hurt again.
It was underneath the stars that he had asked her to become his girlfriend; overcoming his nerves and preparing a surprise picnic for her on the Hogwarts grounds. He had been so afraid that she would turn him down and tell him they were better off as friends, but his fears proved to be unfounded. Her smile could have put the blaze of the setting sun to shame as she sat down on the blanket and thanked him profusely. The stars were the witnesses to that memorable event and he intended for them to witness more.
Three years later he is standing underneath an old oak tree in a forest near Yorkshire as the late afternoon crawls by, a bouquet of Lilies of the Valley in his hand. His heart is racing as he turns around to check and double check everything he had prepared. She would be getting out of work by now and on her way home. The sun is setting in the horizon as he taps his foot rhythmically on the ground and waits.
**
The sun is setting in the horizon as Cassandra Avery finishes her shift at St. Mungo’s and apparates home to her flat. There is a light drizzle outside, of the kind that makes everything look hazy around the edges. She smiles to herself as she stood in front of the open window, watching the people below her going about their business, their outline blending with each other in one huge optical illusion. She was filled with a sense of childlike wonder, drinking in the sights and wanting to ask questions and dance around from the sheer joy of it all at once.
A knock on the door interrupts her moment and she stands up from her seat in front of the window, to answer it. It is Fabian, who walks into the flat as if he owned the place and nicking a muffin from the basket on the table. It is typical Prewett behavior and she is used to it, but she throws another muffin at him just the same, which his astounding reflexes catch easily.
“Did you just get back?” he asks, biting into the cupcake with relish. She gives him a nod and closes the door.
“Where’s Gid?” she asks straightening the cushions on the couch before taking a seat. The man before her gives a non-committal shrug as he finishes his muffins and clears his hands of any crumbs.
“Oh you know, here and there.” He answers finally, earning himself a scowl from the girl opposite him. “By the way, you and I have been sent for.”
She quirks an eyebrow at him questioningly. “By who?”
“By Molly.” He answers easily, as though his heavily pregnant sister being the one calling for them was the most obvious thing in the world. “She said something about a fancy restaurant and cookies. I’m not quite sure, pregnant women aren’t exactly my forte.”
She nods in understanding, and makes her way to her room, emerging an hour and a half later dressed in a cocktail dress and shoes.
“Hey Fabino,” she calls, poking him from his seat in front of the basket of muffins. “You can have the whole thing if you like them so much, but before you attack them would you mind telling me where we’re meeting Molly?”
Fabian beams at her and picks up another muffin. “She sent a portkey.” He answers, pulling a candy bar from his jacket pocket and handing it over to her along with her coat. He checks his watch and stands up. “Alright, grab hold, we have ten seconds.”
She grasps the portkey tightly and watches as he counts off the seconds. She feels the jerking at her navel and has just enough time to see Fabian let go of the candy before she disappears in a swirl of dust and color.
**
She feels the ground materialize underneath her feet and she opens her eyes to see the lush green canopy of the forest. The sun has set completely and floating balls of light hang on the tree branches, illuminating her surroundings. There is a trail of rose petals by her feet which she follows cautiously into the forest. Her heart is pounding so loudly in her chest that she was sure the animals in the trees could hear it. She rounds a corner and steps into a clearing where a gazebo was erected in the center, the floating balls of light dancing around it.
She raises a hand to muffle the gasp of wonder that escapes from her throat at the sight.
“Hello beautiful,” a voice whispers in her ear. She turns to see Gideon smiling down at her, a bouquet of flowers in his hand which he places in her arms. “These are for you.”
She accepts the flowers without question, feeling dazed. Suddenly the abrupt announcement that Fabian had made about his sister wanting to see them, and Gideon’s mysterious absence makes sense to her and the grin that occupies her face is nothing short of brilliant as she is led towards the gazebo where dinner is served.
**
Dinner is over and done with as the stars twinkle brightly overhead, the flickering orbs of light making their lazy way around them; he pushes himself to his feet and mumbles a spell under his breath that causes soft, romantic music to fill their ears. His hands are cold and clammy as makes his way to her, his heartbeat pounding like an erratic drum, and extends a hand before sweeping into a gallant bow.
“Would you care to dance?” her smile is bright enough to light up the night sky so he takes her hand in his and leads her away from the table. His hands snake around her small waist and he pulls her close, feeling her warmth and the fruity scent of her hair filling his nostrils, as they sway in time with the music.
“You never cease to amaze me, Puppy.” she tells him, blue eyes twinkling joyfully. “This night has been wonderful; I feel like a princess in a fairytale and I hate to be such a spoilsport but, what’s the occasion? Why the sudden elaborate dinner?”
He opens his mouth to speak, only to find that his mouth isn’t quite working. Now was the time to tell her, to finally ask the question he has wanted to ask for months. His heart is pounding in his ears as he tries to gather his wits about him.
“Gideon? Puppy, are you alright?” Cassie asks in concern, reaching up and capturing his face in her hands. He must have looked every bit as terrified as he felt, because she takes his hand and squeezes it reassuringly. “Goodness, your pulse is racing! What’s wrong?”
He takes a deep, shaky breath and pulls her close, his forehead leaning against hers as if to draw strength. “I’m fine,” he assures her. “It’s a beautiful night and I’m spending it with you, I’m more than fine. You know this morning when I woke up, I stood in front of the mirror and rehearsed what I was going to say, over and over again. I thought I had it locked down, the delivery, the execution… but now that I’m standing in front of you I can’t seem to remember a word of it.”
“I’m afraid I don’t quite follow, Puppy.” She admits, her brow furrowing in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
One of the orbs floats towards him, bobbing up and down like some spectral being. He grasps it tightly in his hand and goes down on bended knee.
“This is what I’m talking about.” She watches as a crack appears across the middle of the orb, and raises a hand to shield her eyes from the bright light it emits until it eventually dies down. Her breath is coming in slow shallow gasps now, and he worries that maybe she’s having an attack. The orb, which was formerly made of glass, is now a padded cushion where a silver ring with a diamond shaped almost like a star lay twinkling.
“Cassandra Avery, I once said that there was no one I’d rather fall asleep with underneath the stars than you.” He stands up and tilts her face up to look at him. “It’s an endless stretch of sky, Cass and I want you to be with me every night under it. Will you marry me?”
Tears leak from the corners of her eyes and he feels his heart stop. ‘She’s going to turn me down.’ He looks away, heartbroken. She makes a noise that sounds like a cross between a sob and a laugh as she places both hands on his face and turns his face towards her.
“Yes, Gideon Prewett.” She whispers, a smile emerging from underneath a veil of tears. “Yes, yes of course I’ll marry you.”
For a minute or two he just stands there, the shock rendering him immobile as he tries to grasp the fact that she said yes. His face splits into a wide grin that borders on manic as he slips the ring onto her finger, marveling at how it looks perfect there and gathers her into his arms.
An hour later, they apparate back to Gideon’s flat where Fabian has assembled their closest family members to celebrate their engagement. Amidst a slew of hugs and congratulations and various glasses of champagne courtesy of Charles, Gideon makes his way to a window and tilts a glass in thanks to the night sky.
And the stars shine all the brighter, as if to convey the same joy as the young man by the window.
OoO
Six months later, he stands in front of the altar nervously waiting for the church doors to open and reveal his bride. It is his wedding day and they are in a small chapel in Italy where Charles had insisted they be wed, and when Charles Avery insists on something for his sister you don’t say no. He looks around the half-empty church and feels a small pang. He knows that there should be more people here; friends and family and even perhaps some random people from the streets. He wishes that there was no war raging outside so he could shout to the world how wonderful this day was, but there is and the most he can do is anticipate how wonderful this day is going to be in spite of all the darkness.
He feels a hand closing on his shoulder and turns toward his twin brother and best man.
“Fabian.” He says, returning the gesture.
“Congratulations Gid,” he beams and points towards the entryway. “She’s here.”
He turns just in time to see the church doors hitting the wall as Charles enters with his sister on his arm. She looks breathtaking, and he spends the entire duration of the ceremony staring at her, completely oblivious to everything else.
“Do you, Gideon Tristan Prewett accept Cassandra Vivienne Avery to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do you part?” the priest asks in his low rumbling voice.
“I do.” He answers, not even bothering to turn towards the clergyman. He smiles and mouths ‘I love you’, as the vows are repeated and wishes things would pick up so they could go. He is forced to let go of her hands, which he has been holding for hours now, to pick up the ring from a very excited Charlie and slips it onto Cassie’s finger.
Cassie bends down and plants a kiss on Charlie’s cheek before slipping his ring onto his finger. She gives his hand a squeeze and grins at him.
“By the power vested in me,” the old Priest rumbles, and Gideon and Cassandra both turn to look at him in anticipation. “I now pronounce you man and wife; you may kiss the bride.”
Not one to be told twice, especially since he has been wanting to do so for the past few hours, he picks her up by the waist and kisses her with as much passion as he could muster in a House of God. “I love you.” She whispers against his lips, when they pull apart.
“I love you too.”
**
They are all gathered in one of the smaller Avery Villas, where Charles has generously provided accommodations for all the wedding guests. There is food all around and drinks for the adults but Gideon wants no part of it. He loves his family to death but right now, all he wants to do is be with his wife. So he tugs gently on her hand, the same hand which he has refused to let go of, and leads her away from the crowd.
“Come on Mrs. Prewett,” he whispers bowing out of the ballroom and into the garden. She follows him in a rustle of skirts and silk as they make their way into the garden.
“Where are we going?” she asks, smiling down on her hand which he has yet to let go of.
He opens the door of the guesthouse with his wand and picks her up. “Here, where it’s just you and me. ” He answers carrying her across the threshold, marveling at how she fit so easily in his arms. He finally puts her down on top of the stairs and attacks her mouth with his own.
“Hi.” He breathes, finally releasing her. She laughs and leans her forehead against his, her arms wrapping around his neck.
“Hello, my darling husband.” She whispers, making his insides flutter with happiness.
“You’re my wife now.” He says happily, sounding as if he could hardly dare to believe it. “Cassie Avery is now Cassie Prewett, and she’s my wife. Mine, mine, mine.”
“That sounds about right.” She quips, grinning roguishly. He moves to kiss her again, his fingers trying to undo the intricate lacing of her dress.
“How the hell did you get into this thing, Cassie?” he growls, as the dress refuses to come off. She laughs and pushes him away just enough to open the door of their bedroom.
“I think that’s for you to find out, isn’t it Puppy?” she asks, throwing her veil to the floor and winking seductively at him.
“Oh trust me angel, I will.” He whispers as he comes up behind her and kisses her neck. He spends a total of five minutes trying to untie the strings without success before he finally gets fed up and uses a charm to get it off.
“Took you long enough.” She tells him, laughing as she pushes his shirt off and shoves him onto the bed and lies down next to him. A thoughtful look occupies her face as she stares at the ceiling and he laces his fingers with hers and squeezes it gently to get her attention. She turns and smiles at him, a sweet loving smile that makes him giddy and he kisses her, passion building inside them both as he silently casts a spell to close the door.
The lights dim and the curtains close, as clothes are sent flying across the room and the only sound to be heard is their mingled breathing.
Hours later, a warm breeze blows in from the garden and caresses their skin. She is asleep in his arms, her face nuzzled against his chest. He pushes the hair out of her face and kisses her forehead, before turning on his side and pulling her closer, not being able to stand being away from her even in sleep. The curtains fly and the stars twinkle in the silence, watching the world sleep and smiling proudly at the young man and his new wife.
**
The Villa is fifteen minutes outside of Florence so they spend the next day sight-seeing. She is bedazzled by the wonders of human history and persuades him to walk around the old city, hand in hand just looking at the remnants of a time long gone by. She has amazing powers of persuasion, he concludes after she manages to convince an old Muggle to let her into an old studio that belonged to a famous painter.
“How did you do that?” he asks her once they are inside. The place is cool and smells of resin and dust. There are unfinished paintings standing on easels across the room and various parchment and vellum files are stacked together on a table. With the sunlight streaming through a dusty window, it looks every bit an artist’s studio as it could. She is in her element, the dusty files drawing her towards them like a magnet.
“Would you look at this, Gid?” she breathes, handling the files gently. The crisp brown paper is tattered and worn, every touch pushing it nearer to damage. It is an unfinished nude sketch of a woman. Cassie shows it to him, waiting for his opinion. He tells her he has none, but secretly laughs at the fact that the woman has no feet. She continues her search and comes across a small painting of a Countess. The woman in the picture has the same eyes as his wife and the same nose but he pushes it away in distaste and wraps his arms around her.
“I don’t like it.” He tells her; she smiles and reaches up to caress his cheek.
“Why not? I happen to think she’s very beautiful.” He shakes his head in contradiction and nips at her neck.
“You’re far more beautiful than that dead lady.” His hand is wandering up her shirt as he kisses her neck, eliciting a gasp from her.
“Restrain yourself Gideon,” she mutters with a giggle. “You’re acting like you’ve been deprived.”
“I have been deprived.” He answers sullenly. “Since this morning.”
Half her buttons are undone as she pulls away and tries to glare at him. “Not here, you great big brute, show some respect!”
He grins impishly at her and allows his eyes to rove up and down her body. “Y’know, if you had wanted me to do that, you shouldn’t have worn those shorts.”
Her laughter echoes inside the studio as he sweeps her into his arms. Hours later, they emerge from the studio, hair mussed and clothes wrinkled. She tells him she’s hungry and they stop to get a bit to eat; all the while he can’t stop thinking how much he loved Leonardo Da Vinci’s bed.
OoO
“I need more female friends.” She says miserably to the two men in front of her. “I need more female friends who won’t murder me at one point or another.”
“You could owl Narcissa,” Lionel suggests, taking a sip from his gurdyroot tea. They are in Charles’ house, and she looks haggard and worried.
“And what, tell her to ask Lucius if I’m fit to associate with?” she snaps, tugging her hair out of habit. “No thanks.”
“You need to stop being so dramatic and tell us what the problem is.” Charles tells her in a bored fashion. She feels like throwing the teacup at his face but resists the urge to do so. She didn’t have a spare brother and it would be a shame to lose him.
“In your owl, you said you had news.” Her brother continues calmly, his expression is the exact opposite of what she feels inside and seeing him like that makes her want to throw a tantrum. Her stomach feels like it’s in a million knots as she takes a deep breath and forces herself to speak.
“I-I just,” she swallows hard. “I’m—I’m pregnant. I’ve been pregnant for four months today.” She whispers, a look of pure terror on her face and the two men wonder how many hours she has been putting in at St. Mungo’s this week.
“And that’s bad?” Lionel asks bemusedly. “I imagine Gideon’s over the roof about this.”
Her eyes go wide and she shakes her head vehemently. “No, no he’s not.”
“Why the hell wouldn’t he be?” Charles demands, a frown forming on his face. She gives him a look and the frown turns into a thunderstruck expression. “You haven’t told him?”
“I’m afraid to.” She answers her voice barely a whisper.
“Excuse me, what?” Lionel demands. “What do you mean you’re afraid? Cassandra, has he been doing anything he shouldn’t be doing?”
“No, no of course not!” she assures them, shaking her head in defense of her husband. “It’s Gideon we’re talking about, he’s not like that. I just—it’s this whole thing, alright? I—I’m glad we’re having a baby, but now isn’t necessarily the best time. I’m afraid of the war, of my job but most of all I’m afraid that he might not want this. And I—I wouldn’t blame him! I wouldn’t want my baby growing up in a world like this either.”
“Cassie, he’s your husband.” Lionel, points out. “He’s going to love that baby, war or not so you go home right this instant and tell him about this wonderful news.”
She opens her mouth to protest but her brother cuts her off. “Go home, cupcake. Tell him the wonderful news, and if he doesn’t appreciate it owl me and I’ll punch his lights out. Now go!”
**
It is three weeks before she finally gets the courage to tell him. She takes the day off from work and prepares all his favorite meals and makes sure the house is perfect before he arrives from his shift. Her heart is hammering in her chest and she feels like she’s going to faint as the minutes tick by into forever.
She hears the lock click and turns around to see the door swing open and her husband saunter in. “Cass?” he calls. “Cassie, you here?”
He walks into the dining room and kisses her softly and turns to the table, smiling. “What’s all this for?”
“No questions.” She says, pushing him into a seat. “Not until after the desert.”
“I’ve got my desert right here.” He says and his lips curl up into a mischievous grin and he pulls her into his lap and kisses her. She feels her anxiety slipping away as her fingers find themselves tangled in his hair and his arms wrap around her waist. His kisses make her giddy and breathless and she feels stupid for ever thinking that he might not want her child, and pulls away. “Stop,” she whispers, but he is persistent and before long his lips are on hers again and the second time she pulls away she can’t help but laugh. “Gid, stop it! Listen to me for a minute won’t you?”
“Alright, alright sorry.” He says, stealing another kiss and smiling sheepishly. “What is it?”
“I have something important to tell you,” she begins, the nerves slowly crawling back into her stomach. “But you have to promise me that you won’t freak out and do something drastic alright?”
He holds her at arm’s length and frowns. “What is it Cassie, what’s wrong?”
She takes a deep breath and prepares to take the plunge, wishing that he hadn’t used those words because now she feels like the baby in her tummy is a problem. She opens her mouth but no words come out so she closes her eyes and takes his hands instead and places them on her abdomen.
He looks from her stomach to her face and back again, wide-eyed. “You’re…?” she nods and smiles tentatively. He sweeps her into his arms, his laughter filling the room as he swings her around. “I’m going to be a Daddy!” he cries jubilantly and her heart swells with joy. “Wait till Fabino hears about this! And Molly, Molly will be thrilled! She can help you with the baby, and I’m sure she still has those maternity dresses for when your stomach starts getting big, how far along are you?”
“Four months.” She answers, giving him an apologetic smile. “I was so afraid to tell you…I—I thought you wouldn’t want it, because of the war and—and…” he cuts her off by capturing her lips in his and kissing her passionately.
“I’ll want children with you regardless of the war, you dork. How could you even think I didn’t want this?” he asks, nuzzling her nose. She’s grinning so much, her face hurts but she can’t bring herself to stop. She throws her arms around him and tells him how much she loves him, as the stars twinkle brightly outside.
**
Over the next two months she is surprised to find out that although she can feel her baby growing; her tummy refuses to swell to the appropriate size of an over-inflated beach ball. Molly tells her that she is lucky, because she doesn’t have to buy maternity dresses and assures her that she has nothing to worry about, because all it comes down to is she inherited her mother’s genes. Now, well into her sixth month of pregnancy, her stomach is only slightly inflated and about as round as a plate. She and her husband are baffled, wondering how their baby could possibly fit in such a small space but the Healers at St. Mungo’s assure them that the baby is perfectly healthy.
“Cassie, I’m home.” He calls from the hallway carrying a bag of apples and chocolates for her. He finds her in front of the fireplace, her hands on her stomach. He rushes over to her, afraid that she might be in pain. “Cassie? Cassie, are you alright? Does it hurt?”
She looks up at him and beams. “Quick, quick give me your hand.” She urges an excited smile on her face. She takes his hand and places it on her stomach. “Wait for it…” he looks at her, wondering if she has gone insane when he feels it; a very distinct jerk. “Did you feel it?” she asks excitedly.
“The baby’s kicking!” he breathes, nearly jumping in surprise when he feels it again. “There it was again!”
“Oh, that was a big one,” she says grinning hugely. “You know your Daddy’s here don’t you, honey? Talk, Gideon; let the baby feel your presence.”
He sits down next to her and lowers his head, whispering to his child until the stars are twinkling in the sky and a knock sounds on the door and reveals his brother and his nephew coming by for a visit.
OoO
A snowy white owl raps its beak on the window of Charles Avery’s house, a letter tied to its leg. A tall middle-aged man with the same bright blue eyes as his daughter opens the window and takes the letter.
“That’s not for you.” Charles growls from his seat on the couch. Avery Sr. grins fiendishly at him and casually sits down in the seat across his frozen son.
“Is that so, my boy?” he asks softly, the firelight flickering in his eyes. He tears open the seal and shakes the letter out with a flourish, thoroughly enjoying the look of terror on his son’s face. A few minutes later, he crumples up the letter and throws it into the fire. “She is with child?” he thunders, pressing his wand tip to Charles’ neck. “How long has she been living with the Prewett boy?”
Charles grins and spits in his father’s face. “None of your fucking business, you bastard.”
“You dare defy me?” he bellows, his face twisting into an ugly mask of fury. “Crucio!”
**
It is late when Cassie receives her brother’s return owl. She is craving for apples and bites into one, before going back to bed where her husband is reading a book.
“Charles wants to know if you, me and Fabian can go have dinner with him tomorrow.” She tells him, biting into the apple. He nods in ascent, not looking up from the book in his hands. She peers at it in the darkness and can’t help but smile.
“What are you smiling about?” he asks her suddenly.
“‘The road to Fatherhood’, huh?” she asks, amused. He quickly puts the book away and shakes his head.
“I—uh, I got that from Arthur,” he says quickly, his cheeks turning red. “Said I might find it interesting.”
She laughs at his excuses and kisses him softly. “Just so it’s clear, I know you’ll make a wonderful Dad.” She tells him before closing her eyes and going to sleep.
OoO
It is an ambush; they realize when they arrive there and see Charles’ bruised and bleeding body in the corner. Someone casts a spell as soon as they arrive that prevents them from apparating away. They are trapped and outnumbered. Beside her, Gideon swears and pushes her behind him. The tall man with graying hair steps towards them, a malicious smile on his face.
“How good of you to join us,” Apollo Avery says, twirling his wand around lazily. He is surrounded by four others, one of them being Mulciber who waves cheerfully at them.
“Daddy,” she says shakily, looking from her brother to her father and back again. “Daddy what did you do to Charles?”
“You’re looking quite plump at the moment, my darling. Is there something I should know about you?” he asks, blue eyes flashing furiously. Cassie’s face hardens as she draws her wand and points it at her father who laughs heartily. “Are you going to hurt me, Cassandra? Don’t worry; I’ll deal with you later. I do not take kindly to my family whoring themselves out to blood traitors.”
“You touch my wife and I will fucking kill you, Avery.” Gideon snarls, stepping in front of her.
“Your wife is she?” he hisses, his eyes narrowing into slits and a smile made of pure evil occupying his face. “All the more reason to ensure she doesn’t get out of here alive, Prewett.”
A jet of light erupts from his wand and Gideon pushes his wife out of the way, sending a hex at his foe. “Cassie, you have to stay here.” He whispers, pushing her out of harm’s way behind a cluster of trees.
“No!” she protests angrily. “Gideon you’re outnumbered, you need me there.”
“You are staying right here, Cassandra.” He growls, his grip on his shoulder tightening. “You’re staying here where it’s safe, you understand? Cassie, please I can’t handle it if you get hurt.” She looks him in the eye, her jaw clenched determinedly.
“Then you know how I feel.” She retorts as she pushes past him and shoots a hex at the nearest Death Eater. “I’m not letting you do this alone.” And with that, she whirls around and starts dueling.
**
Two Death Eaters are down for the count as the battle rages on and both brothers are wounded and tired. Gideon’s arm is bleeding as he stands with his brother, waiting for the next onslaught of spells.
“Fab?” he mutters.
“Yeah, Gid?”
“I’m sorry.” He says, and he means it. “You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me.”
“Don’t be an idiot, Gid.” Fabian snaps, looking as though he would have punched him if the situation had allowed it. “You think I’d let you have all the fun? Besides, you should stop talking like that or your wife is going to hit you.”
He turns his head to see his wife who is attempting to revive her brother in the corner and feels a jolt of fear. He needed to get her out of here, before she and the baby got hurt.
“Relashio!” he hears from somewhere to his left and ducks instinctively. The spells misses him by a fraction of an inch and he turns to Avery Sr. and shoots a stinging hex at him.
“I have to hand it to you boy, you’re much harder to finish off than your parents.” The older man shouts over the din of battle. “This is proving to be a very enjoyable evening, especially since I have the death of your wife and child to look forward to.”
“Furnunculus!” Gideon bellows, watching his opponent scratch at his now boil-covered face. “If anyone is dying tonight it will be you, you sick fuck. You are not touching her ever again.” He stands over him, wand poised for attack and more than ready to cast the Killing Curse and end the life of the man who had taken so much from him but instead, he kicks Avery in the gut and breaks his nose. “I will make sure you rot in prison for everything you’ve done to me and my family.”
He turns away from the bleeding man and barely has enough time to register Mulciber’s shout of, “Crudus Penitus!” and his wife’s scream as she falls to the floor. His blood runs cold as he catches her in his arms.
“NO!” he screams. “No, no, no, no, no, no!! This isn’t happening…Cassie, Cassie answer me!”
Her body is shaking, and she’s coughing up blood. “I-I’m sorry Puppy.” She whispers. Her breathing is ragged and her body’s going cold and he wraps his arms around her to keep her warm. “H-he was going to hit you with the curse…c-couldn’t let it ha-happen.”
“Cassie you promised me you wouldn’t do this,” she is growing colder by the minute and he is terrified, terrified of the thought of loosing her.
“Pr-promised I wouldn’t think of doing anything like this,” she corrects with a cough that stains her pale lips red. “I wa-wasn’t thinking. So cold, Gid…I’m so cold.”
He is crying now, as he pulls her closer. “Cassie, don’t do this to me. ” he whimpers. “You can’t, you have to stay strong.” he holds her hand and squeezes it, trying to return its warmth. “You have to tell me how to heal you, okay? You have to tell me what to do because I’m not letting you leave me Cassie. I’m not!!”
She smiles bitterly and shakes her head. Tears are running down her cheeks as she reaches up to touch his face. “I’m bleeding internally, Puppy. There’s no way to stop it.”
“No, please don’t say that.” He whispers shaking his head stubbornly. “You’re going to be alright, there has to be something that can stop this. Dammit, Cassie you can’t leave me! You can’t!”
“I’m sorry Gideon.” Her voice is weak and oozing with regret and her eyes are growing dim as she pulls him close for one last kiss. “I love you so much.” Her body goes limp in his arms and his anguished cries echo through the night. He cradles her body back and forth, whispering her name over and over again half-expecting her to come back. She couldn’t be gone; she was young, she was having his baby, they were going to start a family and live happily. It was too soon for her to be taken from him, it was too cruel a punishment, too great a price to pay for the short time they had spent together.
“Even in death, she disappoints me. ” Avery mutters, grabbing Mulciber’s hand to pull himself upright. “Sacrificing herself for a Blood traitor…my daughter the idiot.”
He lays her body gently on the ground and stands up. Anger courses through his veins as he tells his brother to leave Avery to him and raises his wand. With a flash of light, the battle begins anew and this time the tables have turned.
**
He has lost everything, he thinks as he crawls over to his wife’s body. His wife and his brother are both gone like wisps of smoke in the twilight. His blood is leaving his body through a large gash on his side but he makes no move to fix it. His wand is lying broken somewhere and his energy is spent. His vision is fading in and out of focus as he reaches her and wraps an arm around her. Her eyes are closed and for a moment, he thinks that she’s sleeping, but her cold flesh reminds him of the harsh reality and he cries.
“Gideon!” a voice cries suddenly. His brother-in-law’s face swims into focus, above him. The older man opens his mouth to explain how his father had gotten hold of the letter but stops short, his expression of worry turning into heartbreak when he sees his sister’s cold, lifeless body.
“Charlie-boy.” He coughs. “She and Fab are gone. She’d have wanted you to know how much she loved you. Always said you were the best brother ever. S’probably not the best time to say, but thanks mate. Thanks for your approval and your support.”
“Prewett you’re dying shut the hell up!” Charles snaps, trying to find a wand so he could fix the wound in his side. He finds his sister’s wand and turns Gideon on his side but Gideon stops him.
“No, don’t take her from me. ” He shouts, pushing his hand away. “S’over Charles, there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Me and Fabian are going to see our family again, and best of all I get to be with Cassie so I’m not scared.”
“You tell her I love her, alright?” Charles whispers resignedly. He takes a step back and watches as the last of the Prewetts takes his last breath and looks up to the sky, tears streaming down his face as the star between the constellations of Aquarius and Scorpio flicker out.
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