Chapter 14
Heart pounding, Alec leaned against the dank dungeon wall, carefully balancing the oversized plate in his hands. The hallway outside of the Slytherin common room was eerily quiet. It was so silent that Alec could hear the soft crackling of the torch at the other end of the corridor.
Raphael's threatening look had, admittedly, been a little unsettling, so he had arrived ten minutes early. His stomach clenched with a debilitating tension. Now he regretted skipping breakfast today. He had never set foot in the Slytherin common room before. He didn't know anyone except Magnus and Raphael at this party, not to mention the other members of the Quidditch team, who he did not particularly want to see in his spare time.
The panic, previously disguised as a twinge in his stomach, tightened its grip around his chest. Alec attempted to calm his laboured breathing, fixing his eyes on a small crack in the stone wall, opposite of him.
“You can't keep running away every time things get difficult, Alexander.” “What will people think of you?”
“Lightwood.” Raphael's sharp voice mercifully interrupted his scattered thoughts. “How refreshing, you're actually on time.”
Why did every compliment from him sound like an insult?
The Slytherin waved at him impatiently from an opening in the wall that hadn't been there a few moments ago. Raphael adjusted the sleeve of his perfectly tailored uniform in an overly casual manner. “Hurry up a bit. Or do you need a written invitation?”
Without further ado, Alec sprang into action and gave Raphael a strained smile. Raphael gave Alec and his pie a brief once-over, raising a dark eyebrow in question. “Did you really bake this yourself? That pie actually looks edible.”
“I had a little help from the house-elves,” Alec readily admitted. “I wouldn't have gotten very far without Topsie's recipe.”
After he had crossed the threshold, the stone wall slid into place without a sound. Spread out before him was a cavernous room with bare stone walls and rounded windows at the far end. Pale green light fell through the thick glass, bathing the common room in an otherworldly glow. The thick carpets on the stone floor absorbed his footsteps completely.
He had heard that this part of the dungeon was located under the great lake. Nevertheless, he was still amazed to see the scurrying shadows of small fish and swaying water plants with his own eyes. He followed Raphael, somewhat uncertain, past the luxurious dark-wood furniture, all of which could have seamlessly fit into the Lightwood Manor.
The walls were hung with finely woven tapestries depicting images of past Slytherin heroes, which, like the upholstery on the sofas, featured shades of green and silver. The contrast to the affectionately thrown-together Hufflepuff common room couldn't have been greater.
At the back of the room, a small group of Slytherins had gathered around an oval side table. A girl with shiny black hair sat criss-crossed in a high armchair, watching two other Slytherins play a game of wizard chess. One of them was Malcolm Fade, a pale seventh-year boy Alec knew from potions class. In the centre of the small table sat a stunning bouquet of purple roses, their petals sparkling in the light of the green orbs. Alec was sure Magnus would love them.
Raphael cleared his throat audibly before turning to face Alec. “There's no need to be so tense, Lightwood. We won't bite. Well, not usually, anyway.” The broad grin on his face didn't exactly help to calm Alec's nerves. Had he ever seen Raphael smile? Before Alec could dwell on the thought, all eyes turned to him.
“You must be Lightwood.” The girl came to her feet gracefully and held out her hand towards him. Up close, he could see the dark green highlights in her hair. “Lily Chen."
Alec realised, somewhat embarrassed, that he was still holding the pie and gave her an apologetic smile. “Alec, please.” Careful not to touch the crust, he set the pie down on the side table. Then he took her outstretched hand.
“I saw how you wiped the floor with Raphael in Quidditch.” She pursed her lips in a taunting smirk. “He sulked for three days, barely said a word. Maybe I should be more patriotic, or something, but it was definitely good for Raphael's ego.” She leaned forward to whisper loudly into Alec's ear. “I even heard him say thank you the other day.”
“Watch your tongue,” Raphael protested, clearly irritated, before plopping himself smugly into Lily's armchair. “My manners are impeccable, opposed to some.” The Slytherin shot a meaningful look to his wristwatch. “Magnus should have been here by now. He usually goes to the library on Sundays around this time.”
Alec nodded politely, secretly wiping his hands on his trouser leg. He wasn't sure what he could contribute to this conversation. Raphael and Lily seemed very close and he didn't want to interrupt their exchange.
Lily gave him an amused look and squeezed herself onto the armchair next to Raphael, who looked distinctly uncomfortable. “Don't be so impatient, Raph. You'd almost think you were looking forward to seeing Magnus.” Then she turned back to Alec. “This is Malcolm and Dot.” She pointed at the two Slytherins who were currently engaged in a heated game of chess. Malcolm's queen was in the process of hacking an opposing knight to shreds, laughing maniacally. “Don't bother them, or it could end poorly for you.” Lily's smile suddenly took on a wistful note. “Magnus just took us all in at some point. Without him, we would have killed each other long ago.”
“That sounds like Magnus. He's good at bringing people together,” Alec said gently. He noticed something soft and warm snuggle up against his leg. The Hufflepuff jolted in surprise, earning a reproachful hiss from Chairman Meow. Sighing, Alexander knelt on the floor to stroke the little flecked cat behind his ears. His heart practically melted when he felt the soft fur under his fingers. “Are you the best cat? Yes, you're the very best. The very best.” Alec whispered to the tabby, rewarded with the Chairman's content purr. Bribery seemed to work well with cats, too.
“What exactly is going on here?” Alec raised his eyes and swallowed hard. Magnus strode across the common room with quick steps, a puzzled expression on his face. Instead of his uniform, he was wearing tight-fitting black suit trousers and a crimson shirt, the collar embroidered with intricate patterns. In the light of the old-fashioned chandeliers, the threads shimmered like pure gold. Magnus was carrying a stack of thick books and parchment scrolls under his arm. It looked as if he was on his way to the library.
“SURPRISE!” Lily, Malcolm and Dot shouted in unison. Raphael held his wand in the air and ignited a small, sparkling firework spelling the words ‘Happy Birthday’. Alec sat up with the chairman in his arms, joining the off-key birthday song that Lily initiated. The cat curled up against his chest contentedly before dozing off, apparently completely immune to the poorly sung melody. After the last notes of the questionable song rang out, silence fell upon the room.
Magnus examined him with an unreadable look, his eyes wandering to the sparkling writing above their heads. Finally, he arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow. “How did you rope Raphael into this? I hope no violence was necessary?”
“A little violence never hurt anyone,” Lily replied innocently. Then she stepped forward and gave Magnus a swift hug. “Happy birthday, Magnus. We'll miss you next year. I'll have to deal with Raphael on my own then.”
“Don't worry, he'll behave. I raised him well, after all.”
Magnus's reply earned an indignant snort from Raphael. “If you've finished making fun of me, we could have a slice of Lightwood's pie. It looks quite decent, against all odds.”
This time, Magnus' dark-rimmed eyes widened in surprise. The radiant smile on his lips was worth more than all the hardships he had suffered in the kitchen. “Alexander, you never cease to amaze me. First you steal my cat and then you bake a pie for me? You are a man of many talents, I see.”
Alec's cheeks flushed instantly. He could only hope he didn't look like an overripe tomato. Making a step towards Magnus, Alec reached into the pocket of his cloak. The scrap of paper crinkled as he placed a gentle kiss on Magnus' forehead, pressing the note firmly into his hand. “Happy Birthday, Magnus.”
Meet me on the Astronomy Tower at midnight.
A.L.
*****
The narrow steps of the winding staircase disappeared into the engulfing darkness of the night. Only the glow from the tip of his wand illuminated Magnus's ascent. An unpleasant feeling of déjà vu washed over him as he reached the final landing and pushed down on the brass handle of the door. He still felt incredibly foolish for having taken up Sebastian Verlac's bet so many weeks ago. It seemed like a miracle to him that Alexander had forgiven him so readily. But now he had no choice but to prove himself worthy of this trust.
The cold air of the December night hit him as soon as he stepped onto the stone platform , seeping through the thick fabric of his cloak.
Alexander rested on a brown woollen blanket, legs stretched out, his head propped against one of the tower's battlements. In the candlelight of an old luminaire, placed on the stone floor next to him, Magnus could make out the sharp contours of Alec's nose and his high cheekbones. The peaceful expression on his features made Magnus pause for a moment. It seemed wrong to interrupt him in this moment. Alexander had even set up a small vase filled with delicate paperwhites.
The Hufflepuff was wearing the standard white shirt of the school uniform instead of the issued winter coat, his tie sat askew and his sleeves were casually rolled up. Curious, Magnus tilted his head and shivered just at the thought of how little protection the cotton fabric would offer against the evening chill.
“Alexander, are you feeling-” Magnus started, concerned, and then paused. As soon as he had drawn close enough to Alec, the temperature changed instantly. A current of pleasant warm air welcomed him, as if they were sitting right next to the crackling fire of a hearth.
Alec startled at the sound of the unexpected voice, but relaxed again when his eyes fell on Magnus. “Heating spell,” Alec explained with a shy smile on his lips. “I thought it may get a bit uncomfortable up here otherwise.” With a steady hand movement, his brow furrowed in concentration, Alec closed the heavy door behind Magnus without leaving his seat. The dull click of the lock indicated that no one would be able to interrupt them for the time being.
Magnus' gaze flickered from the now-locked door to Alexander and back again. For a moment, he remained speechless. To work magic without a wand and without speaking the words required an enormous amount of practice and talent. There was no need for Magnus to delude himself, though; he was well aware that Alexander was quite extraordinary. “Trying to impress me?”
“And if I was. Did it work?” Alexander winked at him playfully. The sparkle in his hazel eyes made Magnus' knees go weak. What was going on with him?
Instead of answering the question, Magnus closed the distance between them with a few quick steps, and dropped onto the thick wool blanket gracefully. Without wasting a second, he leaned down to press his lips together. A surprised sound escaped Alexander's throat, but he returned the kiss with the same urgency.
He felt like a mortal tasting ambrosia, unable to get enough. Magnus pushed his hand to Alexander's neck. His fingertips slid under the tight collar of the shirt until he could feel Alexander's warm skin under the palm of his hand. Their teeth clashed, but Magnus needed to be even closer. He deepened the kiss, bracing himself on Alec's thigh to maintain his position. The electric tension in the air was almost palpable, sending shivers down Magnus' spine. Alec's magic appeared to be responding to him, the charm warming the air growing more restless by the second.
Gently but firmly, Alec put a hand on Magnus‘ shoulder and broke away from him. “God...” Alexander breathed out, letting his head fall against the stone wall. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, Magnus got a good look at the irregular rise and fall of his chest.
“I prefer Magnus, darling,” Magnus replied self-satisfied.
“Your jokes are almost as bad as Simon's,” Alec murmured, trying to smooth down his dishevelled hair. “You really know how to make a lasting impression.” His otherwise pale face had taken on a delicate pink hue. "What happened to saying hello?”
“I'm definitely not the only one.” Magnus struggled to peel off his thick winter cloak and made himself comfortable on the blanket. Despite the warming charm, the Slytherin moved a little closer to Alec; after all, you couldn't be too careful. A flu wasn't on his wish list for Christmas. That was, of course, also the reason why Magnus leaned his head against Alexander's shoulder.
“You know, I had a whole romantic speech prepared before you ambushed me,” Alec said, chuckling. With fluid motion he put his arm around Magnus' shoulder. The Slytherin tried not to give away how much his heart fluttered in his chest. “Izzy told me that stars are very romantic. Apparently, you can make a wish when you see a shooting star.”
“It didn't seem to me as if you minded the distraction,” Magnus stated. “In any case, I had the impression that you were enjoying yourself.”
“Magnus, believe me, there is no place in the whole world I'd rather be than here with you,” Alexander whispered. “I'm so grateful to know you.” His voice was so gentle and the expression in his wide hazel eyes was so earnest that Magnus felt like bursting into tears. Alexander and his damn honesty. What have I done to deserve you?
“Thank you for setting this up, it's lovely.” Magnus said, making sure that Alexander understood how much this meant to him. “I usually don't like celebrating my birthday.” A dry laugh escaped his throat. “Not particularly good memories, if you know what I mean. But I think it's easier for me to bear it when you're around.’
“Is that why you didn't tell me about it before?” Alec asked cautiously.
“I…” Magnus started and cleared his throat. “I...have told Lily several times not to plan anything for my birthday. She's every bit as stubborn as you, Alexander.” He wasn't used to struggling for words like this. “It's not easy to celebrate a day that brought so much misery to my family.”
“You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to,” Alec said firmly. “I'm here if you ever need someone to listen.”
“It's not that.” Magnus raised his head and fixed his gaze on the firmament, pinpoints of white scattered across the dark blue. Every single star was hundreds of light years apart from earth, but today they felt close enough to touch. “I want to share more of myself with you. I'm just terrified that you'll think of me differently if you find out what I have done.”
“You don't have to worry, Magnus. I have my own demons. Nothing you've done can keep me from being here with you,” the Hufflepuff assured him.
“Even if I'm a serial killer?” Magnus asked, the joke sounding hollow on his lips. Alec merely raised an eyebrow at that.
“Very well. But I've warned you.” Magnus took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts.
When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, almost inaudible. “I've already told you that my mother has been at St Mungo's for as long as I can remember. That's not entirely true. My father... My father is Asmodeus Bane.”
He paused, trying to gauge Alexander's reaction, but he remained still. Only his grip on his shoulder seemed to tighten a little. “He was convicted ten years ago: multiple murders of Muggles, high-ranking members of the government, conspiracy against the Ministry, murder for hire. First page of the Daily Prophet for several weeks. My mother had no idea. She really loved him. It was actually your parents that pushed for him to be sentenced without a trial, because of the severity of his crimes.” Magnus’ voice broke, but he forced himself to continue speaking. “After he was arrested, she was alone with his child. A child that looked just like him. A child with the devil's eyes that didn't understand why its mother couldn't look at him anymore.”
Magnus raised his hand to knock on his mothers door. He could see the stripe of light under the doorframe spilling into the darkness of the hallway. “Mum?” he called out. “I’ve brought you something to eat.” As always, he got no reply. Sinking feeling pooling in his stomach, he set the bowl of instant ramen in front of her door. “Please, mum, you need to eat. I am leaving it here, so you can have it whenever you want.”
“Magnus…” Alexander started, but the Slytherin raised a finger to stop him. “After the media frenzy died down, she turned her back on the wizarding world and married a Muggle: my stepfather. I had just turned eight when he hit her for the first time. I don't know what I was thinking, trying to defend her. As if I stood a chance against him.” Magnus shuddered. “He tried to drown me in the kitchen sink.”
Strong hands on his neck and shoulders, pressing him deeper into the soapy water. His hands flailing, trying to hold onto something, trying to escape. His lungs were burning, ears rushing. He needed to breathe. He needed to…He needed…
The sound that came out of Alexander's mouth, reminded Magnus of a wounded animal.
“And I... I...defended myself, my magic protected me. I burned him, Alexander. Right where he stood.” The knot in his chest constricted more and more. “I killed him.”
“You were just a child. You couldn't control your magic. It wasn't your fault.” Alec's words were gentle and deliberate.
A small part of Magnus wished he had yelled at him instead. Wished to feel the pain he deserved, to see disgust warp Alexander's features.
“I could control it,” Magnus replied quietly. “That's why I didn't want you to see this terrible, ugly side of me.”
“There's nothing ugly about you, Magnus.” Alexander pulled him into his arms and held him as tight as if he was afraid that Magnus would vanish into thin air. “I'm glad you're still here. And I'm glad you did whatever you had to do to survive.”
Now Magnus couldn't hold back a hoarse sob. Hot tears ran down his cheeks and seeped into the fabric of Alexander’s shirt. The smell of soap and laundry starch embraced him like a cocoon of safety. “Don't worry, I'll take care of you, Magnus.”
If there was a shooting star in the sky, Magnus hoped that it would fulfil his wish.
Stay with me, Alexander. I can't lose you.