For the Ultimate Patronus Quest (monkey: Write about the death of a loved one)
The lynx Patronus appears in his bedroom, and John groans. Another call from Kingsley, and at… He checks his watch. Three in the morning.
"There's been another Death Eater attack," the lynx says in that familiar deep voice. "I'm sorry, John. I think this will be of social interest to you. I- I'm sorry. We'll speak in person."
The Patronus states the address before disappearing, and John can feel his heart stop. He doesn't have to write down the address. It's one he's visited many times before.
"Amelia," he whispers before grabbing his wand, not caring that he's still in his pajamas.
…
Kingsley doesn't even try for a comforting smile when John arrives on the scene. John is grateful for that. They both know that no amount of condolences and apologies can ease the knot in his stomach.
"Maybe she wasn't home," John says, his eyes fixed upon the Dark Mark that hovers over the place he's grown to think of as his second home.
He knows better than to hope, of course. Amelia likes routine and order. There isn't a night where she's out of bed past ten o'clock.
Kingsley places a firm hand on his shoulder. "I didn't want you to find out at work in the morning," he says.
John nods, taking a deep breath. It hurts him to be here, to know that the woman he loves is in there, lifeless, but he feels as though he needs to be here. He needs to be the one.
"You can wait outside," Kingsley offers, but John shakes his head.
John draws his wand. He doesn't wait for Kingsley to take the lead.
…
The living room is in disarray. The coffee table is overturned, a leg missing. The stuffing from the sofa spills out, and there are noticeable scorch marks in the fabric.
And there, among the chaos, her wand still grasped in her hand, a stubborn scowl frozen on her lips, is Amelia.
John drops to his knees, cradling her. The tears don't come right away. There is only numbness at first, an internal scream of this cannot be real ripping at his chest.
And then they fall, warm and stinging, dotting her forehead. He buries his face in her hair, sobbing. He doesn't care that he's meant to be professional, that he's here as an Auror, not a lover. All emotion floods out until there is nothing left inside his body but white hot rage.
"She went down fighting," John manages to say after what feels like hours.
Kingsley kneels beside him, closing Amelia's eyes with his fingers. "Of course she did," he says softly. "Wouldn't be surprised if she took one out along the way."
John's lips twitch, but he can't bring himself to smile.
…
"I've notified her brother," Kingsley says as John signs off on the paperwork. "Merlin, first Edgar. Now Amelia."
John nods, gripping the quill so tightly that it threatens to snap between his fingers. "I want this case," he says.
Kingsley inhales deeply. John braces himself for the lecture. Conflict of interest. Personal life versus professional life. But it doesn't come. "It's yours," he says instead. "I know no one else would work harder to bring justice for her."
John scribbles his signature on the final line. "Thank you."
"Go home, John. Get some sleep."
"I was going to ask her to marry me," he whispers.
Kingsley's hand rests on his shoulder. "Sleep," he repeats.
John nods, but he doesn't really hear him. "She would've said yes. I know she would."
…
He doesn't sleep. His flat is too crowded; ghosts of old memories walk the halls.
They were supposed to have dinner on Sunday. He was going to propose.
He sets the copied files on his kitchen table, sorting through all known Death Eaters.
He was going to ask during dessert. He'd considered something quirky like hiding the ring in her cake, but he knew that Amelia would hate it.
Faces peer up at him. Vicious, merciless, disgusting, every single one of them.
She would have said yes.
"I'm so sorry, Milly," he whispers.
