Disclaimer: I still own absolutely nothing, bonus points if you can spot the Philosopher's Stone quote. Enjoy.
Chapter 4
I woke up in a bed. Dressed in purple silk jammies an exact shade that resembled my soul gem... That was an incredibly subtle way to unsettle someone. A quiet little reminder that maybe he didn't know what it is he saw, but he did in fact see it. Or maybe I was just paranoid, but ah well. Constant vigilance. There were matching slippers under the bed, and I put them on. Slung the violet robe on over the top, which had been dropped across the fancy wooden frame. When I stepped out the door, Professor Dumbledore was waiting.
"Spell to let you know when I left the bed?" I guessed, looking him over.
"How else did you suppose Madam Pomfrey manages to thwart your many escape attempts from the hospital wing?" he said looking almost back to normal. Almost, there was still a haunted look if you know what to look for. Never the less, he wore his grandfatherly headmaster persona like a shield, and I didn't really blame him.
"You know, I should have figured she was cheating," I responded.
"How is that cheating exactly?" he asked me in amusement. I looked at him as if he were kidding.
"Same reason anything is cheating, it's being done by the other guy," said dryly. He chuckled, and invited me to breakfast. We ambled along, and came to a fancy ass dinning room where we were joined by Gel. Together we sat awkwardly around this large and shining rectangled monstrosity of a dinning table.
"Our house elf Minnie should have breakfast ready in just a moment," Professor Dumbledore cautioned, fingers drawing pattens absently on the table top and a cup of tea in the other hand. 'Oh sweet Merlin, he has a house elf.'
"Don't let Hermione hear that you have an elf, she will go absolutely ballistic at you," I cautioned and it probably sounded like a joke. The concern on the man's face showed that he very much understood that I was not at all joking.
"Problem with elves?" Gel asked curiously, and an even curiouser glint in his eyes.
"Problem with unpaid labour, lack of official sick days, inadequate lodgings and don't even get me started on what she thinks of what they're allowed to wear," I rattled of in exasperation, "Her first experience was with one treated like dirt, later compounded with a run in with ministry level stupid."
"Oh dear me. Stupidity does seem to be a perquisite to being a part of any body of magical government," he answered brightly, "Has she not noticed the one running about and cleaning up after him at Hogwarts? They've been at it for half a century." 'Wait, what? Oh... ooooooh...'
"Gellert!" Professor Dumbledore shouted in outrage, before deflating. 'Aww... he's still his boyfriend. That was so cute.' "Why?" he groaned roughly, "Why do you seemingly exist only to torment me?"
"Because otherwise you and I would be bored Al, and we both know it," Gellert said sending a downright saucy grin the other man's way.
"Thank you Mister-Former-Dark-Lord. This is the best best birthday present ever," I almost whispered in awe, "It's close enough that I'm counting it as a birthday gift, by the way. You don't just hand someone this kind of perfect get-out-of-jail-free card without some kind of occasion." The school year looked to have some kind of silver lining now, so long as I lasted long enough to get to it.
"And you think blackmailing me with my association with my old friend will do you any favours?" Dumbledore demanded, the both of them looking to engage in a little madness, which might have been concerning but I was to busy way back here. 'Huh-wha? What the fuck conversation are they even having?'
"No," I protested shaking my head with an offended frown, "I think the part where I could tell Professor McGonagall that you have a house elf named after her, because together they are both responsible for doing everything that you are unable-slash-don't want to, and leave out the part where it was probably your boyfriend's idea."
"Husband," Gellert protested indignantly.
"Oooh, you even got a ring on it," I cooed waiting for Professor Dumbledore to react and waiting... "He's debating whether I know to much too live, isn't he?" I comment with pep. The man in question didn't answer but his husband did.
Yes he is," he replied. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I looked I to his eyes and realised he was... 'Well bugger, he was not joking.'
"Annessia," he said snapping out of it.
"Professor," I shot back. He sighed heavily.
"Annessia? Annessia Potter? Girl-who-I'd-get-to-meet-over-your-dead-body? That Annessia? Isn't it just my lucky day," the former dark lord enquired with a chuckle. He wasn't acknowledged.
"You don't care. That I married Gellert," he wondered, and he was flabbergasted.
"Nope," I told him bluntly, and I meant it too. 'Not a single fuck is given.'
"Why not?" Gellert almost whined indignantly, "I put special effort into my presence being unendurable to most of the wizarding world." 'Aww, he's pouting.' Professor Dumbledore didn't do as good a job as he thought stifling the urge to laugh at that thought. Lying mind-reading bastard, I thought to myself fondly.
"One, because it is absolutely none of my business," I said ticking off the reasons on my fingers, "Two, he didn't do shit to me and three, you guys are really quiet frankly super cute." There was a moment of pure silence before both men roared with laughter. I wasn't really sure what they found so hilarious, but couldn't help but let out a few laughs at such exuberance. We settled down and I started to pile bacon and egg onto a roll.
"Now, I think that we've dispensed with any pretences, it's time to get on with business so I may take you to stay with the Weasley's," Professor Dumbledore said clapping his hands together, and okay there was the carrot. So where's the stick? "All I need you to do is tell me as much as you can remember about that creature last night," he continued gravely, "And then we may be on our way." My heart slowed down in my chest, beating at a snails crawl but so hard it hurt. I wanted to run, to just up and teleport my magical girl ass right on outta here. instead I did something that was probably more ill advised.
"I have no idea what your talking about professor," I told him forcing my brow to crinkle as I tilted my head to the side, "I don't even know how we got here." Innocence and a polite befuddlement masking my features. They both stopped cold, and the professor turned his gaze to his husband. The man in question seemed to stare at the very air around me before his face slowly changed expressions.
"Oh you're a bitch aren't you, an icy cold heartless bitch," he said finally, grin sharp.
"Annessia," Professor Dumbledore sighed, "You have too know how important this is." I smiled wryly.
"I'm sorry to say I have absolute no idea. We've both dispensed with any, and all, pretences after all," I threw out spitefully, "So what now?"
"You be honest and tell me what I have asked you," a stern reply came from a man with balls so big that he didn't even flinch at the massive double standards he was trying to play with my life.
"Not the same thing, but say I don't know where to find these imaginary words?" I pressed him dryly, "Say I keep telling you the same thing, because I don't have anything else." A hand waved, and a sliver of molten silver shot around my wrist. It formed into a bracelet so tight around the skin that it was impossible to slip anything under it, but not so tight I would loose circulation.
"Apparently he traps you in a prison with a retired dark lord," Gellert comments, flashing his own matching bracelet, "So long as you wear that you can't leave. Believe me, I have tried." I looked down at the the thing, and quickly realise that most witches or wizards would struggle with this, as a magical girl it was going to be a cinch. 'He really isn't thinking this whole thing through, is he.'
"And then?" I asked sounding bored out of my skull. The professor damn near growls, while Gellert roars with laughter.
"I fail to understand the question," the headmaster said slowly.
"Those are the consequences, sure fine. Okay. Now we're straight back to square one, and you got yourself nothing but a houseguest for an indeterminate amount of time... and then? Eventually I'll have to go back to Hogwarts." I explained trying to be clear and concise.
"You can't just... You know you are lying. We know you are lying," he answered all bit throwing his hands up in exasperation, "Tell me the truth I will find out anyway. Now or later, it matters not." 'Yeah it does, otherwise what exactly is it that you're so upset about,' I thought with a somewhat vindictive streak.
"Nope, and even if I was lying that would have been a skill I picked up from your sterling example," I responded with bite.
"You will truely yield nothing?" his voice so tired. There was a small part of me that knew exactly what to say to get a reaction, and wanted it badly, so I did.
"Alas," I said softly, "The first thing you ask me is something I am unable to answer. Not today. You will know someday... put it from your mind for now. When you are older... I know you hate to hear this... When you are ready, you will know." He stood, chair banging on the floor, and drawing himself to his full imposing height and disapperating on the spot.
"You quoted him," Gellert said in amusement.
"Word for word," I told him with deep satisfaction, "I've been holding on to that one from the end of first year."
"Ah, well just in case you missed it that was Albus for 'Go fuck yourself, you heinous bitch'," he told me stepping away from the table, "When you go will you come back?" I blinked and looked up at the other man. That had not been a guess, he knew. Huh. I guess everyone has there something.
"I don't know," I said truthfully. I really appreciated the part where he left the room anyway.
Done. I'm not sure I like it, but it's kind of just chugging along at its own little pace. Onwards! Lol.