Brahms liked the lessons that came in the days that followed, the days of his schedule that was all around his false self were behind him.

He caressed the journal in his pocket, the pocket of his new pants that Luna had gotten for him after she had him measured with a magical measuring tape.

Things were changing but Luna would check with him each day, "Brahms, you will tell me if things are getting too overwhelming, won't you?"

He always nodded. He didn't lie. He would, it was just. He wanted to know everything she was telling him.

She was showing him her world, letting him see the side of her she kept hidden and he didn't want that to go away.

No longer having to hide her magic from him, she used her wand to do amazing feats every day.

At least what seemed to be amazing to him, she would merely smile as she would float ingredients from cabinets towards her cooking pot or charm the broom to do the cleaning for her.

His journal was filled with observations of his Luna. Her memories, mannerisms, how she looked under certain lighting, anything that seemed to fancy him in the moment. Most especially: the way her magic made him feel at peace with himself.

"What are you doing Luna?"

Brahms poked his head into one of the rooms that the house had opened up since he became aware of it's magic.

She was bottling up a silver like liquid that seemed to flash with green light. The cauldron behind her cooling down from being just taken off the fire.

She looked up at him with one of her piercing yet assessing looks. Brahms had come to learn it was her deep-in-thought look mixed with her worrying how he may perceive her answer.

"It's for you." She took a deep breath before letting it out, "It's a healing salve, this one is a slightly less potent version of one to treat fiendfyre burns."

Luna came forward carefully taking off her gloves after placing the potion in her apron pocket.

"I know you're still in pain. I can hear you some nights." She pursed her rose lips, "I just wanted to make something that might soothe you and maybe might heal you just a little as well."

Brahms looked down at his Luna, realizing this was why she'd been looking tired lately. He'd been distracted by so much else that he'd forgotten to watch her simplest reactions.

"Will you put it on me?"

Brahms gulped as he saw Luna's cheeks flush pink as her eyes ran down the side he'd faced the brunt of his burns.

"On my face."

She nodded.

They sat in the kitchen facing each other, Luna's pale blue eyes looking deep into his blue green.

"Will you…"

Brahms nodded. His hands shook on the edges of his mask.

What if she ran away?

"I'm not going anywhere, Brahms."

Just as Brahms took a breath to peel off his mask, the hall phone rang causing them both to jump.

Luna stood rested her forehead briefly against his mask forehead, before kissing it, "We'll come back to this, I promise."

Brahms stayed sitting in the kitchen, his hand where she kissed him until she heard Luna's voice.

"Oh no! What happened?"

Brahms was beside Luna to hear Hannah's answer, "Neville's grandmother collapsed. She's doing better now. However that's why you hadn't heard from us in a while."

Luna sat on the seat by the phone, Brahms coming to stand close to her.

"I felt as if there was something wrong." The pale fairy pursed her lips, her nimble fingers twisting the phone cord around her fingertips, "How is Neville fairing?"

"That's the thing Luna, it's all very strange. Is Brahms there?"

Luna glanced up at Brahms, a small furrow in her brow.

"Yes."

Hannah was quiet for a bit and the two of them could hear as she sat upon her chair with a sigh.

"Neville has been preparing to come and visit you both. It seems the Heelshires were a skeleton in the Longbottom closet." Hannah sighed, "Once his grandmother was well enough to talk she begged Neville to tell her why he asked for the name Heelshire. She seemed desperate for information."

Luna directed Brahms to pull the settee closer to the phone so they could both sit in it. She smiled as he pulled it over and she looped the cord of the phone over the back and came to sit on the other side.

Brahms scooted closer, but still she was too far away so with a huff he pulled her toward himself. She let out a small squeak but then settled into his side, a small smile upon her lips as she rested her feet on the other end of the small couch and her upper body in his embrace.

"Are you alright, Luna?" After his moon's affirmative response, Hannah continued. "You see his grandmother had an older brother who would have become the Longbottom heir but due to some unseemly things their father had another child with a muggle. The little girl was abused greatly." The line was quiet for a little bit and Luna took a deep breath as she heard her friend try her best not to break down, "She was very close to becoming an obscurial when she reached puberty. The older brother who had tried everything to get her the help she needed to no avail due to their parents and the horrible prejudice of the time wasn't able to do anything for the poor girl. Then one day, both the older brother and the half sister vanished."

Luna glanced up at Brahms, "Are you ok?"

He nodded but watched as her eyes filled with tears, and her rosebud lips trembled.

"What's an obscurial?"

Brahm's could hear the shuddering breaths of the other woman on the phone as she cried as well due to the story, and part of him worried for what he was about to find out.

Luna let out a shuddering breath, "It is what happens when a child is forced to suppress their magic. It can be caused by physical, mental or emotional abuse. However, it will result in their magic growing stagnant within their bodies to the point that it eats them up from the inside." She let out a choked sob, "Sometimes the child will be further tortured to live a life as a waif of darkness in neverending pain."

Brahms' arms tightened around Luna as she further broke down in tears but he soon realized she wasn't just crying for the child from the past but him.

"Oh, Brahms." She let out a choked cry. "If it weren't for the family magic, you'd…"

Unsure with his actions but knowing he needed to give her better comfort he laid out his legs like she had hers and went to his side pulling her deep in his embrace. His heart aching at her heart-wrenching cries.

"I'm not." He whispered. "I'm here." He nuzzled the top of her head, wishing more and more that the mask wasn't in the way. "You saved me too."

Her sobs had quieted down after a little while and he looked to find her eyelids were wet but closed, while her small snow white fingers still tightly held onto his cardigan.

Carefully he leaned toward the phone, "Hannah?"

"Brahms?"

Her voice was rough from tears as well.

"Luna is asleep. Can you call later?"

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It was Neville who phoned the next day and Brahms who picked up the phone, waiting until he heard a familiar voice before saying anything himself.

"Luna? Brahms?"

"Hello."

There was a sigh of relief on the other end of the phone.

"How is Luna? I heard from my wife that she took the news hard."

"She…" Brahms looked across the hall where he could hear Luna humming and glancing out of the doorway at him. "She was tired."

The man made a slight hum sound of agreement.

Luna came across the way, "Is it Hannah?"

Brahms shook his head, and handed her the phone; before he sat in the opposite chair by the phone.

Luna sat across from him and held the phone between them.

"So I guess I better fill you in with the rest of the story." The man sighed. "The Longbottom's heard nothing from the older brother and despite numerous searches they never found him. Grandmother said he was a genius warder and runemaster, so she wasn't surprised he could evade them. It wasn't until after she hadn't taken her Ladyship and had her own children that she found out that her brother's nursemaid house elf still frequented the manor. It was through the house elf's lips she heard the name 'Heelshire' but shortly afterwards the house elf never returned again."

"All these years your grandmother never gave up hope?" Luna spoke up.

Brahms could almost hear the head shake in the man's voice.

"She never did. She always believed that her brother was somewhere out there."

"So then Heelshire was a new family line created by the older brother."

Neville agreed, "That's what Nana and I believe. It's her belief that her brother bonded with the younger sister so she wouldn't become an obscurial. Since they were only half siblings it wasn't completely taboo during that time, but still…"

"It wouldn't have been approved of by the Longbottoms and no doubt no one else that would have been strong enough would be willing to bond with her." Luna tapped her bottom lip in concentration.

"Yes."

Luna sighed and Brahms looked to see her eyebrows furrowed.

"Brahms has only just found out about magic. The family magic is very protective of him. Although I think at some point we should introduce him to others…" Luna shook her head, "Your grandmother isn't going to be a problem, is she?"

They could hear as a whispered conversation happened in the background before Hannah came on the line, "Brahms will be protected. Luna, we won't let anyone jeopardize that and I doubt the house would even allow anyone nearby that would."

Luna let out a sigh of relief and Brahms smiled beneath his mask. She was protective of him. Things were changing but she remained the same.