2/18/1942

Dear Ludwig,

Antonio here. I don't know how regularly you and Feli write to each other, but I think you noticed that she hasn't written anything in three weeks. I think I'm right to say that you are worried sick, so I took it upon myself to tell you what's going on, since her family can't get in touch with you. By the way, I'm the one who gave Feli the Cross back in June.

I'm afraid I have very bad news for you.

Three weeks ago, Feli's house was raided by the Fascists, they wanted to arrest her and her family for treason because of their involvement in the resistance movement. Thankfully, all three of them managed to escape unscathed. Problem is, they had to go into hiding in the mountains. Up there it's still very cold, and sadly, during the escape we had to cross a river, and Feli fell ill with pneumonia. We weren't able to get a doctor (a Muggle healer) right away, and even when we got one, he didn't have any antibiotics to give her, since during wartime they are rationed, so Feli just had to cope with it. I managed to find some, but they didn't work anyway. It's been three weeks, but there are no signs of improvement. She's getting weaker by the day. Needless to say, her family are devastated. We've tried everything, but she won't get better. And I know nothing of healing spells, and since I'd have to work on the lungs, if I screw up it could be fatal. And besides, I don't know how much a healer could do with Muggle diseases anyway. So obviously she can't write. That's the reason why she hasn't answered your letters (by the way, stop sending them: her family didn't see them yet because I was around when they came and I got the letters out of the way before they could see, but it's too much of a risk. And I really don't wanna marry Feli's grandpa.)

I'm very sad to say that the situation is not good. If you want to see Feli, it's better if you come right away.

If you want to come, owl me back. I'll send you another owl with the location of the nearest fireplace, and I'll take you to her. If you come, I'll have to tell her family about you.

Reply as soon as you can,

Antonio

As Ludwig read the letter, he felt colder and colder. He read it twice, but the words wouldn't change. Now it was clear. That was the reason why she had not answered his letters for so long! Right when Ludwig was starting to think that Feli didn't want anything to do with him anymore and he was starting to mope about having lost her... he had even started to plan how to escape from school undetected to go to Italy and ask explanations in person. Now, it all made sense. His heart sank. It would have been better if Feli had decided to be done with him instead of being so sick. At least, she would be safe. Though he had to admit that he was happy about knowing for sure that Feli was still in love with him. But his happiness was short-lived. If something happened to her...

Then, before even realizing what he was doing, he started writing on the back of the letter.

I'm coming. Tell the family about me. Where's the nearest fireplace?

He gave it to his owl, then ran to Dumbledore's office, praying that he would excuse him from classes and let him use the fireplace again. Not that he cared if he was denied, he would have done it anyway. But it would be better to tell a teacher that, permission or not, he would not be going to classes for some time.

Shit. He had thought that as long as she wore his Cross, Feli would be safe. He hadn't thought that the necklace could not do anything against diseases. But why would he think about it? Feli was young and healthy! He had no idea that she would be swimming in ice-cold rivers! He needed to see her. He needed to know that she was going to be alright. If something were to happen to her, he wouldn't know what to do. He finally reached Dumbledore's office. His breath labored, he knocked on the door, not really waiting for an answer before he let himself in. Dumbledore was grading some papers at his desk and looked at him in mild surprise.

"To what do I owe this very unexpected pleasure, Ludwig?"

Ludwig suddenly realized that asking to leave the school indefinitely to visit a sick Muggle who was not even related to him would have very few chances of getting a positive answer and it was the second time he asked a big favor of Dumbledore. And what reason could he come up with to keep Dumbledore from telling father? He swallowed and looked at the ground. "Uhm, I..." damn. What story could he come up with?

"... uhm, my brother, he's sick. I... I need to go and visit him. I wanted to know if I could be excused from classes for a while."

Dumbledore said in a concerned tone "Your brother, Ludwig? And what did he come down with, if I may ask?"

Ludwig kept on looking at the floor. Shit. Dumbledore always gave the impression of being omniscient. He said the first illness that came to his mind. "... dragon pox."

Dumbledore got up from his chair, an eyebrow raised. "Dragon pox? And when did he come down with it?"

Ludwig wanted to cry. Would Dumbledore just let him go already!

"Yesterday night. He sent... I mean, Elizaveta, his wife, sent me an owl."

Dumbledore gave a very amused smile. "Ludwig, are you familiar with the procedures that a foreign students has to go through before being accorded permission to attend Hogwarts?"

Ludwig wanted to bang his head on the floor. What the hell. What did it matter. Was that even the moment. "Uhm, not really... I was eleven, father did everything..."

Dumbledore went on, the same amused smile on his features. "Well, we usually ask for a vaccine certificate, especially from students coming from the the north of Germany, since dragon pox and scrofungulus are more of a problem there than in Britain."

Ludwig's eyes widened in understanding. Oh shit! If father had to give Hogwarts their vaccine certificate, then Dumbledore knew that Gilbert had received a dragon pox shot! Oh man! He was screwed! What the hell could he say now?

Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder. "Now, Ludwig, don't be so mortified. If you came up with such a poorly rehearsed lie, it means that you didn't have any intention of deceiving me in the first place. I can assure you, I won't tell anyone. But I need to know exactly why you wish to take a leave so urgently."

Ludwig felt a rush of gratitude for Dumbledore. He finally looked at the teacher in the eye. He blushed a bit and said "Uhm, actually, it was a half-lie. There really is a very sick person that I want to visit. But..." damn. He hoped that Dumbledore would take him seriously. "Well, she is... uhm... kind of..." oh, what the hell. Dumbledore said he wouldn't tell anyone. "... she is a Muggle."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I might be wrong, but something tells me that this girl is no relation of yours, my boy. And that she's the same one you went to visit in Christmas Eve."

Ludwig blushed even darker. "She's... uhm... my girlfriend." he said in a very small voice. Then he went on. "But we're really... I mean, we're obviously not married, she's not really family, but she... she is so kind and understanding to me, she has always been there – well, not physically, but she writes to me a lot and says exactly what I need to hear, and please, please, don't tell my father... -" shit. What the hell was he telling Dumbledore! He must think he was off his broom.

Dumbledore gave a knowing smile. "My dear boy, blood ties are not the only things that say how much we care or not about the people we know. Alright. You'll be excused." then he winked. "Though the official reason will be that your brother has had a dragon-related accident. That would have been a much better story anyway. And I believe that just this once, I won't owl your father. Is that alright?"

Ludwig nodded and gave a small smile. "Thank you very much, Professor."

Antonio took a deep breath as he knocked on the door of the small mountain house that was now the hideout of the Vargas family. He was going to have to tell Roma about his little Feli's relationship with a German boy. It would not be easy. But it had to be done. Ludwig had been pretty adamant about wanting to visit her, and he would do it. The problem was not whether he'd show up or not, but to at least inform Roma that Feli's boy was going to come.

The door finally opened, revealing a tired, strained looking Roma Vargas. Antonio's chest tightened. Neither him nor Lovino had smiled in the last two weeks.

"Hello, Roma. How is Feli?"

Roma gestured for Antonio to get in as he ran a hand through his disheveled auburn hair. "As usual." he said, his voice low and tired.

"And Lovino? Has he been better?" asked Antonio with a hopeful voice. Ever since Feli had fallen ill, Lovino had been feeling sick too, as if it was him that had contracted pneumonia. He was very weak and pale too.

Roma shook his head and went to take two shot glasses, filling them with the strongest grappa he had in the house. "... no. But it's always been like that. Whenever one of them is sick, the other feels it too. I guess because they're twins. I don't even want to think about what will happen to Lovi if Feli..."

but he didn't finish his sentence. Antonio dutifully looked away as Roma tried to discretely rub his eyes.

"... don't think about it, Roma. Feli will be alright. However, I am here because I have to tell you something."

Roma sniffled and said "What is it?"

Antonio took a deep breath. "Tomorrow, someone will come to see Feli."

Roma's eyebrows knitted together. "Feli is in no state to be seeing people, Antonio. I thought that much was obvious."

Antonio sighed. "I know. But this person... this boy is Feli's boyfriend."

Roma's shot glass fell to the ground and shattered with a strangely loud sound. Or maybe it was a normal sound, enhanced by the complete silence that had fallen.

"Her what! ?"

Antonio went on. "I know, it's hard to believe. But Feli... she has met this boy in June..."

Roma interrupted him mercilessly. "I knew it! It had to be a guy! Dammit!"

Antonio gave a weak smile. "Uhm, anyway, this guy... he's... uhm... he's German." then, seeing Roma's face twist into a disbelieving, horror-struck grimace, he hastily added "Uh, he's not involved in the war in any way, of that I'm sure. He's just sixteen and not a soldier, and Feli never told him anything about the Resistenza, and I'm also sure of that, don't worry. But I also think he's had a hand in Feli's escape from jail back in June. I am nearly sure of that, though I'll be damned if I know how he did it."

Roma seemed to not know what to say. He was opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water, trying to say something that sounded half-way coherent.

Antonio took him out of the pinch. "Look, this boy, his name is Ludwig. I don't know much of their relationship, I just know that they have one. I also know for a fact that he has been sending her letters all throughout this three weeks, even if he didn't get any answers from her. I believe he really does care about Feli. I think he's very much in love with her."

Roma got up and started pacing up and down the small kitchen, a frown deep set on his usually cheerful face.

Antonio downed his glass of grappa in one go and got up. "Look, Ludwig will come here tomorrow, and I'm afraid he won't care if you approve of him or not. I'm sorry you'll meet him under these circumstance, but please, bear in mind that he must be really serious about Feli. So, please. Don't give him a hard time. He risks losing his love. Have some pity on the guy. Promise me that you'll treat him... uhm... decently."

Roma plopped down on his chair. He snorted and said "I promise."

Then he added with a fiercer look in his eyes "But if I get the impression that this little fucker is playing around with Feli, or using her for whatever fucking reason, I'm going to castrate him with my bare hands. And that's also a promise."

Antonio gave a weak smile. "I would expect no less from a man like you. I'll be sure to tell him what kind of guy you are, don't worry."

Ludwig Apparated in the fireplace of a normal Muggle house, and he immediately saw Antonio waiting for him in the room. He wasted no time in getting out of the flames.

"Hi. Is Feli here?"

Antonio gave a small smile. "Hi there, Ludwig. No, Feli is somewhere else. I'm going to Apparate there. Here, take my arm."

Ludwig did, and they Apparated on top of a hill. If Ludwig weren't so worried about Feli, he would surely have noticed the beauty of the scenery. But he had something else on his mind than sightseeing.

Antonio started walking, and Ludwig followed him. "So? How is she? Is she feeling better?"

Antonio kept on walking. "I'm sorry, but there's no improvement. She's still getting weaker, and is still bed-ridden." his voice broke a bit. "We can't do anything. We can just hope, and pray."

Ludwig swallowed the lump in his throat. "... did you tell her family about me?"

Antonio nodded. "Yes, and let me tell you something, her grandpa looked ready to murder something. Watch very carefully what you'll say around him. He already said that if he thinks that you're not serious about Feli, he will rip off your balls. And trust me, the guy never threatens to do something that he can't actually do."

Ludwig paled a bit, but not too much. Damn. "But Feli told me that her grandpa is a – what did she say? - Ah! "A big softie", and I quote."

Antonio chuckled. It was the closest thing to laughing that he had done in almost three weeks. "Yeah, sure, "a big softie" to her and her brother. But I've seen the guy at work with three bastards who had betrayed a fellow partisan. He found them by chance in a bar in town, and he was unarmed and had not a plan ready. Let's just say that by the time he was done, not even their mothers would have recognized them."

Ludwig felt a twinge of fear for his vital regions. Shit. How could such a guy be related to a girl as sweet as Feli anyway? He said nervously "I really hope that I'll never have a bone to pick with the fellow then."

Antonio chuckled again. Though probably it was no laughing matter. The day he and Lovino would come clean, he too would be in for a round of "let's see if you have the balls to mess around with my grandkid".

"Are we there yet?"

Antonio shook his head. "Not yet, ten more minutes."

Ludwig cursed under his breath. "Damn it. Why did we Apparate so far then?"

Antonio shrugged. "Because if we got nearer, we'd have risked Apparating in front of someone."

Ludwig sighed. Then looked up at Antonio. He couldn't stop himself asking "So, uhm, what are you doing here anyway? I thought you were working as a Curse Breaker for the Italian branch of the Gringott..."

Antonio turned to look at Ludwig in the face. "You mean what I'm doing here in Italy with the Muggles?"

Ludwig cocked his head to the side. Really?

"I mean, why would a wizard end up here? It's full of Muggles. I mean, I was here because of... well, you know. But you? What's your story?"

Antonio sighed. "It's actually just like yours. I was here because I took a wrong turn with the Floo Powder and ended up in the village. I thought that I might as well visit it before going on to where I wanted to go, and while I was walking around I saw... well, there was a boy who seemed to be having a hard time with a couple of SS – a part of the German military" he added in response to Ludwig's blank stare. "So I saved him with magic, discreetly of course, and I gave the boy a tomato to cheer him up. From that day, I fell in love. And I stayed here, to work in the Resistenza. I'm living here with the Muggles now, since I can't tell that boy that I'm a wizard." he concluded, a fleeting look of sadness that Ludwig understood very well in his green eyes.

Ludwig couldn't help but say without thinking "Damn, I really am a gay magnet."

Antonio raised an eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Ludwig shrugged. "Nothing, just that my two closest friends are gay, and you are too. That's all I meant."

Antonio chuckled again. "I get it. Oh well, I'm glad to see that you don't have any prejudices. Anyway, we're here. That's the house."

Ludwig looked in front of him, and he felt his heart beat very fast as Antonio knocked rhythmically on the door, probably to reveal that he was a fellow partisan. God. He was going to meet Feli's family. More precisely, her grandfather and twin brother. They were going to find out that he had been in a relationship with her since the summer. Ludwig swallowed and tried to breath evenly. He felt the crazy impulse of just turning away and running until he was very far from that house. But if he did that, he would not see Feli. And God knew how much he wanted to see her, to make sure she would be alright. Nonetheless, he jumped out of his skin when the door opened to reveal a tall, muscular man that looked somewhere in his fifties. His eyes were a shadow darker than Feli's, but rimmed with black shadows, and his hair, though streaked with some white, was auburn, with several crazy curls. Now he could see what Antonio had meant when he said that Mr Vargas never threatened to do something that he couldn't actually do. He had an air of strength around him that was hard to explain. However, Ludwig could definitely see that Feli and this man were related.

Ludwig was a bit nervous when the man looked him from head to toe.

And then he spoke. He had a deep, but strained voice. He spoke in perfect German, with barely no trace of accent.

"So, you must be that Ludwig Whatever that likes to think that he's Feli's boyfriend. Am I right?"

Antonio gave the man a meaningful look, but Ludwig didn't notice. He held the man's gaze and said, if a bit nervously, "I don't like to think that, sir. I actually am her boyfriend."

The man's eyes narrowed. "You look as German as they come."

Ludwig honestly didn't know what to say. "I... I'm German, sir. I guess that's why."

Roma scoffed and opened the door wider, curtly gesturing for him to come in. "Come on then, get a move. I don't want the others to see that I'm inviting a kraut in."

Antonio shot yet another glare at Roma, and Ludwig decided to ignore the comment and just get in. the sooner this whole thing was over, the better.

The house was completely different to the one he had seen on Christmas. It wasn't that big, it had a kitchen joined with a sort of living room, and two doors that probably led to the bedrooms. Ludwig nervously got in, but didn't sit down. He noticed a pale, tired-looking boy sitting on the couch in the living room. He must be Feli's twin, Lovino. He really did look like a male version of her. He gave Ludwig a curt nod, but said nothing. Antonio sat down next to him, and Ludwig's eyes widened a bit as he understood that this must be the boy Antonio was talking about. So Mr Vargas was going to have both his grandchildren taken away by wizards? Seriously, what were the odds?

Roma closed the door and turned to him, his dark-golden eyes boring into his own light blue ones.

"So. Do you have a surname to go with Ludwig?"

Ludwig was still nervous and still holding Roma's gaze. "Beilschmidt."

Roma snorted. "Which means axe-smith."

Ludwig didn't know what to say. "I guess it does."

Roma went on. "Do you know my name, kid?"

Ludwig didn't really see the point of the question, but answered anyway. "You're Roma Vargas, right? Feli told me your name."

Rome seemed a bit impressed, but only for fleeting moment. "And tell me, who's the boy sitting there? Do you know?"

Ludwig decided not to worry about the point of this all anymore. If he wanted to see Feli, he had to play along with this guy. "I think he's Feli's twin. Lovino, if I remember correctly."

Roma's eyes narrowed again. "How old are them? What's their birthday?"

Ludwig answered easily. "They'll turn seventeen on the seventeenth of March."

Roma went on. "What school did Feli attend?"

Ludwig answered yet again "Art school, but it closed for the war."

Roma gave one last shot. "Why are they living with me? What happened to their parents?"

Ludwig said "They died when Feli was very young, but I don't know at what age. It must have been when she was a baby, or a toddler. She says she doesn't remember them at all. That's why you took them in."

Roma gave a long, resigned sigh. "Shit. You really are her boyfriend. You know all the basic stuff."

Ludwig felt like he had passed some sort of test, but didn't dare to get cocky with the man. He rather liked his balls where they were, thank you very much. "Uhm, yeah, I told you so before. But now, can I see her? Please."

Roma sighed again. He exchanged a glance with Lovino, who got up and said "You know that strange sort of secret that Antonio here has, right?"

Ludwig shifted uncomfortably and looked at Antonio with questioning eyes. Should he say yes?

The Spaniard gave him an encouraging nod, so Ludwig answered truthfully.

"Well, yes. But I can't..."

Lovino scoffed and ended his sentence for him. "... tell us shit, I know already. You're the guy that busted Feli out of prison in Florence, aren't you."

It really wasn't a question. Ludwig realized that much. "Not me in person. For reasons I can't say, I had to make my brother do it. But yeah, I was sort of "the mastermind" behind it. But I can't tell you how he did it."

Roma shook his head. He really didn't want to be indebted to a German, but he had saved Feli's life. He sighed, then tried to get back on track. He wanted to know more of this boy before he let him anywhere near Feli. He wanted to know if his secret was dangerous.

"Okay. Thanks for that, I guess. So, you have a brother?"

Ludwig was getting very frustrated with all the questioning, but he put on a brave face. "Yes."

Roma went on. "And the rest of your family? I kind of have a funny feeling I can't shake off, you know. A feeling that your parents don't know that you're here..."

Ludwig stiffened and opened his mouth to retort something, but Antonio was faster. He got up and said "Roma, will you cut this kid some slack? He's just said that he helped save Feli's life, and you treat him like dirt? Don't you have a heart? How would you feel if it were you in his shoes?"

Roma's eyes narrowed at Antonio. "You mind your own business. I asked the kid a question. However grateful I am for what he did, I don't know if I should hand my grandkid off to someone who has so many secrets. Maybe he meddles in dangerous shit, what do I know?"

Ludwig couldn't take it anymore. He blurted out in pure indignation "That's the pot calling the cauldron black! Are you even listening to yourself? You say I could put her in danger, while you let her meddle in stuff that landed her in jail? Stuff that could have gotten her tortured, or killed? Stuff that made her end up with a life-threatening disease! If she dies, it will certainly not be my fault, but yours!" he had gradually raised his voice as he spoke, and now he felt that if he had a chance of getting the family's approval, he had just blown it big time, if the faces of the people in the room were anything to go by.

Lovino's jaw had fallen open. Antonio cursed under his breath. Roma looked like someone had slapped him in the face. The cheek of that boy...! No one had ever talked back to him like that in at least twenty years! He stood up to his full height and grabbed Ludwig's collar. Ludwig's hand instinctively flew to his wand, but he did not draw it. Lovino and Antonio looked at the scene in horror. Ludwig noticed how Antonio's hand was behind his back, probably clutching his own wand too. Roma shouted in his face.

"You filthy son of a bitch, you fucking kraut! It's MY fault that Feli fell ill? ! If anything, it's the Fascists' fault! It's the Germans' fault!"

Lovino had gone even paler. Antonio's eyes looked very scared as he said "Roma, let him go! He didn't mean it like that! He doesn't..."

But Roma didn't seem to have heard him. He went on, a murderous look in his eyes. Ludwig didn't know what to do. And Roma's grip was starting to get very tight on his neck.

"If your dirty people didn't go invading Italy and bombing us, then why would we fight? Do you think I like it? Risking my neck every day, risking my children's lives? What alternative do we have? To sit at home and swallow all the bullshit about how the Great Kraut Empire will bring us all peace, and justice, and fairness, while they go around murdering innocents, deporting people to death camps? Do you think I could live with myself if I did that? Do you think Feli could? After what they did to my son! The reason she fell ill is because it couldn't be helped! We have to fight for what is right! But if I give her off to a guy who's full of secrets that he can't tell, possibly dangerous ones, then I have a choice! Then it can be helped! Do you understand, you little, pathetic, good for nothing...!"

"ENOUGH!"

Everyone stopped dead. And everyone turned around to see who had spoken. And to their surprise, it was Lovino. Who looked just as stunned as them. He had wanted to say something, not to help the kraut, mind you, but because he had saved Feli's life. He hadn't wanted to sound rude to his grandpa, but since he had started, he might as well go on.

"I... uhm... dammit, grandpa, let him go! You know that he's just like Antonio in the beginning! He doesn't know anything about what we do! You're getting worked up over nothing! All he sees is just a mad guy saying that he could get Feli in danger while her own family does just that!"

Antonio was even more speechless than before. Roma let out a sound that could only be defined as a loud growl and finally let Ludwig go. He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"... fuck it. Just fuck it. Do as you please. Lovino, bring him to Feli. Make sure he doesn't stress her. I'm out of here."

and with that, he went out, making sure to slam the door hard enough to make the glass panes of the windows shake. Ludwig swallowed and gave a sigh of relief. Seriously, how could that guy be related to Feli anyway...

Antonio's eyes were opened so wide that Ludwig asked himself how his eyeballs were still in his sockets. Lovino looked like he was half-smug, half-terrified.

Ludwig timidly said "Uhm, I guess, thank you...?"

Lovino scoffed. "Don't thank me. Now, follow me."

Ludwig nodded silently and followed Lovino to one of the doors. He couldn't help but notice how Lovino's gait was very wobbly, as if it was costing him more than normal to just stay upright. The auburn-haired boy opened the door and said "Now, I guess Feli woke up, what with all that racket. She can't speak much, and she can't stay awake for a long time. Don't upset her."

and with that, he went back to his spot on the couch.

Ludwig took a deep breath and got in the room, closing the door behind him. Damn. He couldn't say that he had gotten a nice first impression of Feli's folks, but at least he could see her now.

He walked to her bed, and his heart sank when he saw Feli lying there, with her eyes closed, breathing erratically. She looked white as a sheet, though her cheeks were flushed, she had dark circles circles under her eyes, and she looked way thinner than he remembered. Her lips were ghastly white, and her cheeks hollow. However, he noticed that her hair was perfectly combed, and she looked clean. It must mean that her family was taking good care of her. He swallowed and sat down on a chair by the bed.

He looked unsure for a moment, but then he took one of her hands from under the covers and held it in his. He frowned as he noticed how cold it was. He coughed a bit to clear his voice, then started speaking.

"Hi, Feli. I know, I told you that we wouldn't see each other for a year, yet this is the second time I come. This is such a terrible occasion. But... but I'm happy to see you nonetheless."

Feli's eyes opened a bit. She turned her head and said "... ve? Ludwig? … but how...?"

Ludwig felt tears prickle his eyes. Goddammit. Feli's voice sounded so weak and strained. She reminded him of his mother in her final days, back when he was ten. His voice shook when he spoke again.

"I... I met your grandpa, and your brother. They're... uhm... nice. I really don't know how you can be related to those guys, really. By the way... 'A big softie', eh?"

Feli's eyes fluttered close, but she spoke again in that painfully tired tone, but this time colored by a tinge of humor.

"I knew I heard... grandpa's voice, ve..."

Ludwig sniffled and chuckled at the same time.

"Look, you have to get better. It will be summer in just a few months. I'll graduate from school soon. I'll be free to see you everyday soon. You have to get better. How are we going to play soccer if you're sick? How are we going to cook another Christmas Eve dinner?"

Feli's eyes remained closed. It seemed that speaking was a daunting task for her.

"I... ve..."

She broke into a coughing fit. Ludwig paled and held her hand tighter, frantically asking "Hey! Are you alright? Do you need something? Do I call someone?"

Feli shook her head through the coughs, saying "H-help me...si-sit up, ve..."

Ludwig did as he was told. He helped Feli up and sat on the bed beside her. He cringed when he felt that she was burning up. Feli leaned against him. Ludwig's gut clenched when he noticed how much lighter she felt now.

When she was done, she was just leaning limp against his side. Ludwig circled her shoulders with his arm, while still holding her hand with his own.

"Is it better now?"

Feli's eyes were still closed. "... yes, thanks... sorry, I … I wanted to... see you again... on a... b-better occasion, ve..."

Ludwig swallowed his tears. Shit. Feli sounded just so sick, and she was so thin, and looked so frail.

"I know... me too, but it can't be helped. I... I just..."

damn. What could he say? He felt like his ten-year-old self, sitting by his mother, asking her when she was going to feel better, not knowing what was to come...

Feli spoke again. "Ve... you know, I... I've been thinking lately..."

Ludwig swallowed. "Yes? What about?"

"... I don't... I don't w-want to die, ve... I..."

Ludwig rubbed his eyes before interrupting her in a stony voice "Then you've been wasting your time. You're gonna be okay, and you know it. You should think about what to do when you get better instead."

Feli gave something that could only be described as a very weak groan. "Are you blind? Look at me, v-ve..."

Ludwig ignored her words. "It doesn't matter. Everyone gets sick from time to time. You'll get better. And when you do, and I'll be out of school, I'll bring you to England with me. You won't have to worry about anything there. You won't have to run away from Fascists there, or dive in rivers in the middle of winter to save your life. You won't be taken prisoner anymore. You'll be safe."

Feli's voice shook. "... I can't even... even keep my eyes o-open... I can't get up, and... I c-can't eat anything..."

Ludwig's grip tightened around her shoulders. His voice sounded more clipped when he spoke.

"It doesn't matter. This kind of things have to get worse before getting better. You'll see. You'll be okay. And when you'll be fine again, I'll tell you my secret. I'll take you away with me, I'll marry you, I'll make sure you'll go to art school, I..."

Feli interrupted him. "I'm so happy I g-got to see you... one last time, ve..."

Ludwig's face twisted in pure horror. "Don't say such things! You're gonna be okay, and you're going to laugh at what you're saying now! You're not dying! Get that through your thick Muggle skull!"

Feli gave what could only be described as a very weak chuckle. "... that's the second time... you say that... that word... ve... what does it even... even mean, ve..."

Ludwig chuckled weakly too. "Well, I'll explain when you'll be better. It's something closely related to my secret. But you have to be healthy when I tell you."

Feli spoke again. "Ve... this secret of yours... just what is it, any-anyway..."

Ludwig swallowed his tears. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you yet. When I'll get a job, I will. I never told you this, but If I tell you, I will have to marry you within six months. How am I going to do that if I don't have a job, and a house? Since father is going to disinherit me when I tell him about us anyway."

Feli's voice was a bit weaker, which made Ludwig's heart sink. "... I'm sorry..."

Ludwig said with fierce determination "Don't be. I could never be sorry about meeting you. I don't care on whose toes I need to step to be with you. My father, your grandpa, the Minister, screw them all. But you have to get better, Feli. What would I do if you don't?"

Feli smiled weakly. "... ve... you've never said... such th-things to me..."

Ludwig was going to answer something, but he heard someone knock on the door, and then Lovino appeared on the threshold.

"That's enough. She can't stay up so long. She'll get exhausted."

Ludwig gave a dubious look at Feli. Had he really strained her so much? With just a simple, ten-minutes long conversation?

Feli said, even more weakly, "C-could you... help me lie down...?"

Ludwig hastily helped her into a lying position again. She had her eyes still closed. "Th-thanks. I'm sleepy, ve..."

Lovino got into the room. Ludwig noticed how tired and worn he looked too. He spoke in Italian, so Ludwig could not understand what he said. "Then sleep, Feli. I'll come later with your dinner. You get some rest. Or else you're never gonna get better."

Ludwig didn't know what to do. Did he have to go away now? After just ten minutes? Was Feli really that sick? What had Lovino said?

Feli spoke in Italian too. "Ve... yes... later..."

And with that, she stopped speaking. She seemed to have fallen asleep.

Lovino's lips were pressed together in a very thin line as he gestured for Ludwig to follow him out of the room. As soon as they were out and the door was closed, Ludwig swarmed Lovino with a bunch of questions.

"When did she get so sick? Isn't there a... a doctor, what the hell you call them... someone that can help? Does she have enough to eat? How could it get this bad? Is there nothing you can do? Is she going to be alright?"

Lovino sniffled and walked out of the house, with Ludwig at his heels, answering his questions in a tight voice. "It's been two weeks that she's so weak. And goddammit, a doctor can't do shit. Antonio managed to score some antibiotics, God knows how he did that, but they are useless, but it turns out that Feli's disease is resistant to those. And... I don't know if she's gonna be alright. She sure doesn't look okay now."

But Ludwig didn't want to waste his time talking about Muggle remedies. "Look, where's Antonio? I need to talk to him. Maybe together we can work something out. Where is he?"

Lovino sat down on the steps of the back door, clutching his head as if he had a splitting headache. "He's in the living room. Talk about whatever the fuck you want. No one can help. Fuck."

Ludwig's jaw tightened. If her family was so resigned, then no wonder Feli felt like she was doomed too! He turned sharp on his heel and got back in the house. Antonio was sitting on the couch with his arms folded over his eyes.

Ludwig wasted no time. "Look, is there no magic that can help? Nothing at all?"

Antonio removed his arms from his face and said tiredly "Nope. Do you remember Francis?"

Ludwig curtly nodded. Francis was another good friend of Gilbert who had become a Healer after getting out of Durmstrang. (Ludwig thought that he did it just for the cute nurses, but yeah, it was irrelevant now)

Antonio went on. "Well, I contacted him, asked him if there was something he could do. But it appears that magical medicines have no power against non-magical bacteria. Which means, that if the antibiotics didn't work, then magic surely won't. It would be highly toxic for a Muggle, and it wouldn't help her anyway."

Ludwig groaned and collapsed on the couch by Antonio. "Then what can we do?"

Antonio put his arms back on his eyes. "'Nothing' pretty much sums it up. It's all up to Feli. But you can tell she's starting to lose hope too. She can't keep anything down. She's gotten so weak that she can't get up. She hasn't been out of her bed in at least a week. You can see how talking, or keeping her eyes open tires her out."

Ludwig cursed out loud. Shit.

"... is it contagious anyway? I see her brother doesn't look too well himself..."

Antonio bit his lips. "... no, it's not contagious. Roma says that when one of them is sick, the other feels bad too. He says it's always been like that. It's because they're twins, apparently. I don't know. But Lovino and Feli, even if it doesn't always look like that, are incredibly close. If... if Feli..." he swallowed. "... I don't know. But Lovino would not take it well. He could..." then he stopped and sniffled.

Ludwig got up. He didn't know what to do. He felt completely powerless.

"... what does the Muggle Healer say? Is there really nothing he can do?"

Antonio groaned. "He says that if Feli doesn't start to get better in a week, then..."

Antonio didn't finish his sentence. But to Ludwig, the silence fell like a body from the gallows.

Et voilà. Extra long chapter. So yeah, Feli ain't dead. Just mortally sick. And finally, I got to introduce the awesomeness of Roma, giving Luddy a hard time like the good grandpa he is! XD

Oh, and Lovino showing that he has some guts talking back to Mighty Grandpa Roma, and Antonio mediating between Lutz and Roma!

And Feli on the brink of death.

Hope this chapter was packed enough to make up for the very short one from last time XD