Reminiscing
Back up in the much more accommodating creatures office the rescued animals were being brought in. The pet moon calf Luna was getting a lot of attention and care as they wanted to return her to her owner as soon as they could. Vex smiled softly. She let them work on the moon calf and turned her attention to the other creatures. Specifically the thestrals.
They were looking a little distressed being indoors. The female flapped her wings and let out that melodious and mournful sound that Vex had often heard from the forbidden forest after her mother died.
Vex moved closer to them. Gently trying to calm,"Shh, easy. I know."
The male calmed easily but the female looked wary. One of her wing membranes was horribly torn. "Oh. Your wings.. I'm sorry. I know you are in pain.“
She snorted softly, those ghostly pale eyes full of pain.
"I know. I'm so sorry. I promise I'll help you however I can." Vex sat down hoping the creature would lay down and relax
The male did and slowly the female followed him. Vex was giving the creature the opportunity to lay against her. She wanted to help calm the creature as much as possible. It took a while, these thestrals were too thin, even by the standard of their kind. The male was missing his left eye and both were covered in small cuts.
"I'm so sorry. You both deserve so much better." Vex spoke softly. She was the only person in the department that would even consider doing this. Making herself so open to being harmed. She didn't care about anything but wanting to make the animals comfortable. It didn’t help that most people in the department couldn’t even see the thestrals. The animals did become more receptive though, even the female. They were tired and just looking for a little kindness, which Vex was clearly offering. "That's it. It's ok. I can see you. I don't think you are something to fear. It's alright. You can rest. I won't let anyone hurt you again. The two thestrals bowed their heads to her and settled into their little indoor paddock. It was nice and cozy with soft bedding for them to rest on. "I'll stay here. I promise." Vex spoke. And she kept her word. Nearly falling asleep leaning against the crate.
Of course Vax came by the office when she didn’t come home. “Stubby? You in here?” Lights flicked back on as he entered the office space. He spotted her dozing against a crate by on of the creature pins. He sighed and went over to gently shake her shoulder. “Vex. Wake up.”
She groaned," hmm.. what?“ Vex blinked her eyes open.
“It’s almost midnight. I got worried when you didn’t come home.” Vax said helping his sister up.
"Oh sorry. I'm alright.” Vex assured him.
“More poachers?” Vax asked looking at the sleeping thestrals.
"Yea. They killed dragons.“ Vex said sadly.
“Shit that’s nearly impossible. How did they manage that?” Vax asked.
"I don't know... these poor creatures... all of them.” Vex couldn’t take her eyes off them.
“Yeah. It’s really messed up. But you can’t help them if you’re asleep on your feet tomorrow.” Vax helped her up. “Let’s go home.” Vex looked like she was considering arguing. She was looking at the creatures. Worried that someone would mistreat them while she was gone. “Vex. They’re safe here. Literally everyone except the guys in the muggle broom closet went home hours ago.”
"Right... of course... sorry." Vex sighed.
“Yeah.” His voice was soft and understanding. “And you’ve got a creature of your own at home who needs some love as well.”
"It never gets easier...“ Vex sighed.
“I know stubby. But you’re amazing with them. I don’t know how you or Keylith do it.” Vax put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I respect them." Vex spoke. The same answer the always gave. Like it really was that simple. That easy. It wasn't. She had a gift though she would never call it that.
“So do I. But these things never responded to me like they do for you.” Vax said. “I failed my care of magical creatures O.W.L remember?”
"I remember. That was rough to watch.” Vex couldn’t help but smile though.
“That botruckle nearly gouged my eye out.” Vax said exasperated. “Hey stop laughing!” Vax gave her a playful shove as he led her out. He mentioned that the muggle artifacts office was still active.
"Oh you said they are still in there. We should go help." Vex said before they reached the lift.
“What? Who?” Vax groaned. “Come on stubby. I want to get home and sleep. Today was a disaster.”
"A new guy in the office. Come on just to get him to go home. Poor guy is so overworked." Vex spoke. She looked exhausted herself.
“You’re one to talk Stubby.” Vax sighed. “Fine. We can go do that. Can three people really fit in that tiny office?”
“Not well at all.” Vex shook her head.
“Hell. Alright. God that sounds depressing as all hell. And with muggle junk no less.” Vax made the lift take them down to those lower levels.
"It's actually kind of interesting. Someone enchanted a toaster. So... you know.” Vex shrugged.
“Why a toaster? They already do something a spell can.” The twins even have one because they weren’t good at food based charms.
"I don't know... to frighten someone. I found some enchanted guns today.” Vex shuddered.
“Guns? Is that what the poachers used to kill that dragon?” They reached the bottom floor and got out of the lift.
"It seems so.“ Vex nodded.
“Hell. That’s scary honestly. We know what bullet wounds look like.” Vax shuddered. “And it’s hard for even muggles to get a hold of them in Britten.”
"It is... I can't even imagine the pain those creatures were in....hell.. I just can't.” Vex shoved her hands into her robes to hide the shaking.
“I mean. I think if there’s one creature even you can’t pacify it’s a dragon.” Vax sighed. “Honestly. There’s a reason domestic dragon breeding is illegal.”
"Well, my boss seems to think I could but I don't know about that. It's heartbreaking to think about it... they are still creatures.“ Vex said quietly.
“I know. And they don’t deserve to just be put down for no reason. Not when they’re just minding their own business like that in the wild. They only send people after them if they become a threat.” Vax pointed out.
"I know.. hell. Those thestrals are so scared and so hurt..“ Vex always felt for these creatures.
“They’ll be just fine now that they’re safe. And you know even if they are injured too badly they can always take them to Hogwarts to go live with to domestic herd.” Vax assured her.
It had been a shock for both the twins. The first term back after their mother had died had been a shock. They’re believed the school carriages had just pulled themselves. Only for them both to see it was being pulled by a thestral.
"I know.. but they are already so feared.. and now they have to be in pain too... I just.." Vex always felt for these creatures. The thestrals were always the ones she took home the most. The ones that ended in nightmares.
“They’re really special to you… the thestrals.” Vax put his arm around her. “I know… it reminds you of mum.”
Vex leaned into the touch," They do. And I know I shouldn't take it home but its almost impossible for me to not when it comes to them.“
“I know. You can cuddle Trinket when we get home. I know that helps.” Vax told her.
"It does." They made it to the office and vex peaked in. "Percy?”
The clutter from before was back into place. “Vex?” His voice sounded rough from exhaustion.
“Hell where did all this stuff come from?” Vax marveled.
"Higher up, I told you this poor guy." Vex spoke softly, before replying to Percy. " come on. It's late. Time to go home."
“Oh… hell…” Percy sounded frustrated with himself. “Damn it…” the boxes shifted and Percy was clasping his cloak back around him quickly. A look of panic in his eyes.
“Woah, where’s the fire?” Vax half joked holding up his hands to slow Percy’s frantic get away.
"Really Percy. Breathe.“ Vex braced her hands on his shoulders to stop him.
“I need to get home. My sister she-“
“Easy.” Vax said noting how tired this guy looked. “You’re exhausted. If you try to apparate home you’ll splinch yourself for sure.”
"He's right. Where do you live?" Vex asked.
“Here in London.” Percy said deflating a little as the exhaustion took hold again now that he was idle. “Bexley, in a muggle apartment building.”
"Alright. Vax think we can get him home?” Vex asked.
“Yeah. It’s not too far out of our way. But we’d better do side along apparition. He doesn’t look in the shape to survive a trip on the Knight Bus without vomiting at least once.” Vax smirked.
"Alright. That sounds good." Vex nodded.
“What have you ever been there?” Percy asked.
“A few times. Just point out your building for us. Well even walk you to you door.” Vax winked at him, causing percy to blush and look away from them both.
“Oh very well.” He finally said.
"Good. Let's get going.“ Vex smiled brightly.
Percy followed them out into the atrium. It was always dark and ominous at his time of night. No people or any of the usual organized chaos. Vex let her brother lead, she was starting to feel her exhaustion as well.
Vax took them both by the hands. “Ready?” He asked.
Vex nodded. “Yes.”
Percy was tense from Vax’s touch but nodded. And then the world vanished and it felt like they were being squeezed through something very small. And then they were standing out on a deserted muggle street. Only one car driving a block away.
"Here we are." Vex spoke softly. They got Percy to his door. The building looked cheap and old. The paint on the wall in the hallway was faded and splotchy.
He fumbled with his key. “Thank you both.” Before he could even try the key the door was open and a very irate teen age girl was staring him down. She was Hogwarts age. 15 at the most. She had short dark brown hair streaked with the same silvery white as her brother.
"Of course. Good night Percy." Vex spoke as the twins started to walk away.
They could hear the poor guy’s sister scolding him as they walked away. “I’d be pissed off too.” Vax muttered.
"Oh?" Vex commented.
“Yeah. Didn’t you seen how young she was? And he’s younger than us too. I think I remember seeing him sorted. He was a hat stall remember?”
Vex could recall from their forth year. Seeing a slightly emaciated white haired boy sit frozen in fear wearing the sorting hat. It was a solid five minutes before the hat called out his house. Slytherin.
"Thats right. I remember now.” Vex murmured. “I didn’t know he had a sister.”
“She has to be starting her fifth year at the most.” Vax nodded. “And their hair… we both know what causes that.”
"I know.. that's the first thing I noticed when I met him today.” Vex nodded.
“The Cruciatus curse causes that… but his is completely white. That’s…” they’d both grown up during the last war. Living in fear of the death eaters and their dark lord. And the fear of being picked off next because their mother had been a muggle.
"I know.... I can only imagine…” Vex shuddered remembering Julius and his family. Killed because they were muggle born.
“And he must have been even younger than we were.” Vax sighed. “You-Know-who had only fallen that previous October. It must have happened right before he started school.”
Vax looked like he was trying to put things together in his mind.
"I remember... all of those people... his siblings... hell...“ Vex was sure she knew who percy was now and it made her stomach twist. Did he know she’d been close to his brother?
“I know… not the kind of news you expect to see on the front page of the Christmas morning edition of the daily prophet.” Vax muttered bitterly. They were in a good place to aparate to their own apartment now.
"Yea... I can't imagine... I remember being so scared we've be next.... that I would loose you.” Vex gripped her brother’s hand.
“I know… but strangely… i think living with father protected us then. Him being pure blood and all that.” Vax sighed.
"Yea... I think so. We should get home.” Vex said quietly.
“Ready.” He gripped her hand. “Right into the living room?”
"Yea. That's fine." Vex nodded squeezing his hand back.
Vax held onto her tightly. Blink and they were standing in their apartment. Vax had always been more comfortable with apparition than she was. He used to do it just to annoy her. She always hated it. As far as straight magic went, Vax had more skill. He was naturally talented there and she was talented with animals.
When they’d lived with their father they’d both had a lot of trouble producing magic. They hadn’t known emotional stress could sap a witch or wizard of their magic. It was especially bad for Vex because of her hazel wood wand. Still to this day apparition reminded her of her father and she hated it every time because of that.
“You good?” Vax asked her. He knew about her problems.
Vex took a breath," I'm ok.”
“Alright. Say hi to Trinket then you need to get to bed. You look like hell.” Vax told her kicking off his dragon hide boots at the door.
"Thanks for that brother." Vex spoke. She really did. Days like today lingered with her. She probably wouldn't have been able to cast any spells if she tried.
“Come on then.” Because they lived in an apartment and not out in the country, they’d had to buy a creature chest to keep Trinket with them. Inside the enchanted suit case was everything a playful bear needed.
Trinket was happy to see her but even her bear knew when it was time to sleep. He nudged Vex, insisting that she go to bed.
Vex sighed," I know buddy.“ she scratched the top of his head. Normally they kept him in the apartment but shrunk down to the size of a medium sized dog.
“Listen to the bear.” Vax said smiling. “He’s right you know. You need to sleep.”
"I'm exhausted.” Vex admitted.
“Let’s get you to bed then stubby.” Vax helped her up to her room. That morning’s news paper was still laying on her bed. The smiling face of the minister of magic was waving at them from the front page. ‘Fudge says all is well’ was the bolded headline.
"Thank you...” Vex sighed sitting on her bed.
“Good night sister.” Vax snatched up the paper and took it to his room to read through. Or tear into pieces. Whichever came first. But he noticed Vex was just sitting not even attempting to get comfy. “Stubby. Lay down.” Vax rubbed her back gently. “Come on. You need rest.”
"I don't know If I can rest...“ Vex muttered. "I'm just so wound up...“
with that Vax flopped onto the bed with her. “Laying down will help that.” Vax insisted. “Come on now.” He tried to pull her down onto the bed. “Don’t make me wrestle you.”
"Ok ok. I'm coming." Vex spoke softly.
Vax pulled her against him and covered them with the thick comforter Vex preferred. He still had the paper clutched in his hand. He’d left early that morning before it had been delivered. Vax had been in Wenborn trying out for their open seeker position.
"How'd everything go today? You were going to try out for something right?“ Vex asked him.
“Yeah… it went terrible though.” Vax sighed in frustration. “Someone else confunded me. I flew right into one of the goal posts. A medi witch had to mend my cracked skull.”
"Oh.. I'm sorry. There's other teams Vax. You'll find one.“ Vex assured him. For now Vax was working as a clerk at Gilmore’s Glorious Goods in Diagon Ally.
“Not if I keep flying the way I have been…” Vax’s broom stick was an old Comet 260. They didn’t have the gold to spend on anything faster broom.
"You will Vax. You are good." Vex spoke. Their birthday was coming up soon and Vex had been secretly saving money to get him a better broom.
“I suppose… Shaun is too good letting me keep working at his shop.” Vax sighed putting the news paper aside at last with a scoff at the last headline.
"I mean you are helping him out too. I don't know that he's being too good." Vex spoke softly.
Vax blushed a little. “Any way… do you believe that?” He gestured at the front page. The minister of magic saying that the rumors of the dark lord returning were nothing but fear mongering. Two months ago Albus Dumbledore had mad that proclamation after the Diggery boy had turned up dead during the tri wizard tournament.
"I don't. I can't believe they are just trying to sweep it under the rug. Like it's nothing.” vex said noting her brother’s blush and change of the subject.
“I know. A kid died. And it’s coming from Dumbledore and that Potter kid. If anyone would know it’s them.” Vax sighed. He didn’t want it to be true though. Living through that intense fear had been bad enough the first time. He didn’t want to go through that again. But people had already died. And now it was painfully quiet. Vex was feeling the anxiety a lot. It was almost overwhelming. And the thought of Vax being in a game during all of this made it worse.
Vax sighed. Quidditch and death on his mind made him remember their first quidditch captain when they’d both played chaser. Julius de Rolo had been a great player and an even better captain. “I don’t want it to be true…” Vax said.
"I don't either....." vex shuddered. This conversation had made her thoughts worse. Vax could feel her stiffen.
“Shit… sorry stubby.” Vax pulled her closer now.
She gripped onto him. She never asked him to stop playing or going after his dream but it terrified her. With all of this going on and he was still trying to play professionally. She didn't blame him but still...
“Hey. Shh. I’m right here.” He rubbed her back and threaded his fingered through her hair. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.“ She was taking shuddering breaths now trying to ground herself again. This was a side only he got to see. “Shh. It’s okay.” He soothed. “Do you want me to get trinket and shrink him so you can cuddle in bed?”
"This is fine.. just stay“ Vex whispered.
“Of course. I’ve got you.” He rubbed her back gently. “Deep breaths.”
He let her catch her breath and calm down. “Who are you thinking about… or what?”
"Seeing those thestrals today... I miss mum and Julius.... then I think to the world cup... and everything that happened there...” Vex shuddered.
“They were after the muggle campsite manager and his family. Not us.” Vax reminded her. “I know the dark mark showed up but no one died.”
"I know... but it could have been us... people don't like us. What we are... Vax... it could get so bad...“ Vex was trying not to tear up.
“We don’t have it as bad as muggle borns… but yeah…” vax sighed. “I don’t want him to be back stubby… but that’s how it looks.”
"It does... that's what is has to mean... there no other explanation..“ Vex knew that. She just didn’t understand why most of the wizarding world was being so willfully blind to it.
“We should do something then.” Vax said.
"Do what? What can we do?” Vex almost demanded.
“Someone has to be doing something about it.” Vax stated.
"Yea... I just don't know how we can help.” Vex sighed.
“There has to be something. We aren’t kids anymore. We’re fully qualified. We can both produce corporeal patronuses. You’re better than anyone with magical beasts.” Vax listed.
"I don't know about anyone. But I see your point.” Vex sighed.
“We’ll figure something out. I’ll ask around. Maybe Shaun knows something. He normally does.” Vax relaxed again but only slightly. “You could asked around work.”
“I will.” Vex nodded.
“Just be careful. I hear Dumbledore’s name is mud with the ministry these days.” Vax reminded her.
"It's not great... I hate that.” Vex said bitterly.
“Yeah. Remember when McGonagall sent us to his office? I thought we’d be expelled for sure.”
But the headmaster had sat them down and made them tea. He’d asked about their home life with their father. Checking if they were okay.
"I remember... I remember lying and telling him it was alright.“ Vex still felt guilty about that to this day.
“I don’t think he believed us any way.” Vax sighed.
"Probably not but still.. we both lied to him so much.” Vex said.
“Maybe we should have told the truth…” vax muttered.
"Do you think that would have helped?“ Vex asked.
“We’re talking about the only man You-Know-Who ever feared.” Vax pointed out. “Yeah I think it would have helped. We blew up a toilet and he made us tea. Our only punishment was to write lines.”
"When we see him again we should apologize." Vex told him.
“Yeah we should.” Vax sighed. “You know… I actually miss the castle… it was safe…” he missed sneaking around the grounds, playing quidditch on a team, getting into restricted areas for a good laugh. Vax smiled. “Remember sneaking into the kitchen? All the house elves. It wasn’t even hard to get food. They just gave it to us.”
"I remember.. all the sweet treats.“ Vex couldn’t stifle her yawn this time and she could barely keep her eyes open.
Vax smiled gently rubbing her back in slow circles. “Go to sleep Stubby. I’ve got you.”
”I know…” Vex closed her eyes and was out like a light in moments. Vax flicked off the side table lamp and joined her not long after.