AN: Happy Fringe Friday, and thanks to those who left reviews!
Yom tov and such (I survived the fast. Go me!). And here's something kinda funny, chapter 48 has no reviews. Anyway, this takes after chapter 41.
I would also take prompts, please.
Disclaimer: Last time I checked I've never had any connections to JK Rowling besides a love for books.
Title: Crossing the Bridge
Word Count: 1K
…Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee.
― William Shakespeare
There was an old bridge inside Godric's Hallow. The aged wood crossed over a small river that was usually docile, but torment in the colder months. It lead away from the cemetery and was followed by a trail that lead to the woods. Halley had discovered it while taking a walk with Teddy so many years ago. The little boy had wanted to ignore the bridge and wanted to swim through the water.
The faded memory of that made Halley smile. She swirled her finger over the design of the wood, strands of her white hair falling over her face. Her reflection was blurred in the moving water, details smudged and running away with the fading light. It was like her memory lately, now no longer being able to recall past events as clearly as she would like to.
It left a bitter taste in Halley's mouth. Her most current blunder was calling one of her great-grandchildren by the wrong name. Poor Arthur had given her an odd look and told her that his name wasn't Percy. Then the topic was changed back to Quidditch.
The last of the sun caught her engagement ring and made the light shine blindly in her eye. She raised her wrinkled hand to shield it, but still found herself to be blinking rapidly afterwards. The lingering afterimages swirled in her sight and changed.
Halley's reflection was the same. A small, withered woman with unruly white hair. But someone was standing next to her, at least the relation showed that. A freckled hand was resting comfortably at her waist, and a head of red hair ducking under her ear. She couldn't feel him. Halley looked over her shoulder to see no one.
Gabriel's reflection mouthed some words, whispering into her ear. She couldn't understand what he wanted. He stepped to the side, motioning to her with his hands. Halley followed him and spoke directly to the water. "What are you…"
The wood creaked with the sound of extra weight being added. The patter of feet stumbling and a touch of a hand brushing hers. Thin fingers curled over her knuckles, feeling warm and so real. Her eyes slowly trailed over his arm and then to his young face. A soft smile made the freckles on his chin move a little. "I couldn't hear you. And you only needed to move a little to the left…"
Halley opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her mind briefly flashed back to a surreal dream that she had months ago. There was a hammock swinging, sand crunching under her feet…And Gabriel looked as young as the age that they got married. He was standing in front of her, all flesh and bone and muscle.
He tilted his head to the side, his hand receding back. He was looking at her with a shyness that she hadn't seen since he was a little boy. "Do you remember that dream?" he asked.
…But bears it out even to the edge of doom…Words fluttered through the back of her mind, but the memory of the dream stayed put. A sudden feeling of fatigue struck, and Halley felt her eyelids flicker and her body bend under the command of sleep. Her hand dug into the frame of the bridge, giving her the support to stay up.
"Halley!" Gabriel's hands flew to her shoulders. His voice broke through the cycle of the a single sentence going though her mind: I'm dying, I'm dying…"Stay with me," his voice was half-pleading. "Look at me."
And she did. It was so long since she had seen his dark eyes. "It's not going to hurt," Halley said slowly, as if to herself. Too many old memories crowded in the back of her mind, waiting to be set free. Now one was speaking for her. "Like falling asleep. Painless."
"Right," he said. Relief washed over his face. "And I'm here to help you. You need to cross the bridge. Just one more step."
Halley looked down at her feet. Her glasses slid low down her nose. "One more step?" she repeated.
Gabriel nodded. He stepped back and he took her by the hand, their arms extended. "You're almost there."
Halley had to laugh. "I'm dying and being told by my deceased husband that I need to walk…" Unconsciously she took a step forward. Something made her stumble, hands instinctively pushed out to stop her fall, and only for his arms to wrap around her.
"You're lighter than I remember," he said.
Halley reached to push her glasses back up, but they weren't there. In fact, she couldn't remember seeing anything in detail (much less the wood) so well without wearing them. Then her eyes fell to her scarless hands, thinner arms, and came to an obvious conclusion. She got back to her feet with much more ease and looked around. She was still in the woods, standing on the bridge, and everything felt the same. "Now I'm dead." Her younger voice sounded foreign to her own ears.
Gabriel leaned against the railing, watching her. "A bit different from the last time."
"King's Cross or that dream?"
"You chose not to for both," he reminded her. The fading sun glinted off his hair.
"How do you feel?"
Halley experimentally tested out her joints that no longer ached, and checked over to see if any scars were still there. She brushed some of her fringe back and only felt smooth skin. It was curious having full mobility again, to be younger and stronger. "This is bloody weird."
Gabriel's lips quirked. "Only a little." He sided up behind to her, arms loosely folded over her. He smiled into her shoulder, whispering missed words. Goosebumps erupted over Halley's skin at the contact, and she eased into him.
"Hiya," she murmured. She raised a hand to touch the side of his face. "Take it that you missed me?"
