The next day, late on a Friday afternoon, Dennis could not tell Cameron what made him so pensive. The vision of a fist-sized ball of compacted, magically imbued garbage blasting through the air, and it created a small sonic boom, would not leave his mind. Right after he and the Odpadkis released the transformed pile, he worried it would strike an airplane or a jet. Then he worried about the satellites in orbit around the planet. The metal plate used to hold back the trash got stretched into a cone shape with a hole at the apex. Finally, he worried the object would not achieve escape velocity and go circling through the upper atmosphere creating all sorts of havoc. The Odpadkis did not share his worries.

Dennis spent part of the morning at the Ministry library before heading to Nottingham. He then spent the rest of the morning traveling from one archive to another in search for magical and muggle records. Cameron fortunately worked during the day, so Dennis did not need to make excuses to disappear into exclusively magical buildings. By the time he finished his research, made copies of records, it required him to translocate a massive number of sheets to his bedroom in St. Alban's. Unlike disapparating and apparating, Dennis did not face much of a distance limitation. Although he never tried to translocate an object to the other side of the world, he thought he could easily send something to the east coast of the United States.

"Was it an environmental law?" Cameron asked as they ate a take-out meal on the floor of his flat.

"Maybe… might be… could be. Don't know for sure, but I'm worried we might get cited for something," Dennis related part of his fears to the African-descended man who seemed to easily steal his affections.

"Did you get a permit to move the stuff?"

Dennis gave him a blank stare.

"Doesn't matter, Denny. It's your boss' responsibility and not yours."

"But should I say something to someone? I mean, isn't there an ethical code or something?"

"Probably, but like the master plumbers say: It's legal 'les I tell you different," Cameron said and his voice and accent changed for the last part.

"Yeah, I guess," Dennis said in far less than full agreement.

Cameron scooted closer to him until their shoulders touched. Like Dennis, he also wore a pair of shorts and a tee-shirt, but of a fashionable variety. His elbow and knee rubbed against Dennis' pale, sallow skin. Dennis felt himself begin to physically react to the contact.

"Listen, everyone is real excited to hang out with you tonight. Jeanie and Mike want to hear all about this earl case you're looking into. They're royal fanatics, and you'd better talk fast or you won't get a word in edgewise," the dark-skinned young man said in an excited manner.

Dennis swallowed hard against his rising sense of want. He turned his face and gazed at the wonderful features he saw. Cameron returned the gaze.

"Cam, can I ask you something?" Dennis quietly inquired.

"Sure, mate. Anything," the young man gamely agreed.

"Is this… are we heading into something more… like a relationship? 'Cause, to be honest, I don't know what the hell I'm doing."

"Maybe. Who knows? Like you've told me a couple of times, we're still getting to know each other. Don't get me wrong, I really like what I've seen so far, but… well, not going to push it, you know?" Cameron answered.

"So, the sex?"

Cameron smiled and said: "It's great. I like it, and you like it, so no problem there. Why?"

Dennis shrugged.

"Out with it, Denny. Worst thing you can do is hold back what you're thinking. That's death for any relationship. I should know. I've watched my parents go through marriages like biscuits, and it's all because they never talk to the people they marry."

"My folks don't talk much, and they're still together. They even survived one of their kids dying, and that's sort of like a miracle from what I've read," Dennis commented.

"They got you to look after, so maybe that helped."

"I don't know, to be honest. I sort of remind them of Colin all the time. I can see and feel it when they look at me."

"Course you do. Don't be a prat. Probably scared to death something is going to happen to you," Cameron rightly surmised and nudged him with an elbow.

"You have no idea," Dennis half-whispered and stared at his fork. The tika masala cooled, but he did not care in the least. He would eat it frozen if necessary.

"Look, me and you, let's just take it as it comes. If it winds up being more, then great. If not, we'd still be mates and I'm good with that."

"With benefits?"

"Yeah. Why not?"

The two young men started to giggle. Dennis never did discover if a gay community existed in the magical world, but always assumed it must. Cameron correctly identified his parents' worry over his safety, yet he could not explain to his friend exactly why. Only in the last month did they relinquish their tight grip on him. Dennis demanded it and, with finding a job and continuing to research Thomas's death, it left them with little choice. The last three years of his life got cocooned in their protective embrace, and at times it turned into a stranglehold. Their need to protect often came into conflict with his magical abilities. The Creevey household experienced high amounts of tension at times.

"I think it's cool how close you two were. Not cool how much it hurt you when he got killed, but… I've never been that close to my brother and sister," Cameron said when a few seconds of silence ticked by. "Did Colin know you're gay?"

"Died before even I really figured it out. I sort of knew, but school… being there kind of kept my mind occupied. Wasn't 'til the next year when I finally accepted myself," Dennis told him, filling in more of the backstory without revealing much of anything.

"Would he've been cool with it?"

"Yeah. Colin didn't judge people very much. He didn't care where people came from or what their life was like before he met 'em. If you were nice to him, he was nice to you. Hell of a photographer, too. Did I tell you that?"

"No, and keep talking. I want to know about your brother. Kind of lets me see into you," Cameron exhorted him.

They ate and talked. Dennis found it refreshing to tell someone about his brother, even when he wept a little, who did not arrive with preconceived notions about the Creevey brothers. He found himself remembering details he nearly forgot. A wave of happiness surged through him as he called up the memories. Cameron asked all the right questions at all the right times, and it prompted Dennis to remember even more. An hour into their discussion, the magic in his body began to swirl. Static started pouring out of the computer speakers and obscured the digital music. The lights also flickered.

"Damn electricity. Never really stable around here," Cameron grumbled and got up to check the computer.

The real cause of the interference sat on the floor trying to ease his emotions. Gradually the static disappeared from the speakers. Cameron strolled back to couch they used as a back rest. He held out his hand.

"Feel like a walk? If we leave now, we can head for the cafe and get there in time," Cameron proposed.

Dennis grabbed the extended hand and hauled himself up. Before he could do anything else, his handsome host caught him in a hug. A kiss naturally followed. They let it linger for a few minutes.

"Do you know how sexy it is when a guy shows his emotions like that?" Cameron whispered in his ear.

"Don't know as I'd call it sexy. I did get a snotty nose for a little bit," Dennis demurred.

"And why not? You were talking about someone you loved, who obviously loved you just as much, and who you lost. I still can see how deeply it affected you, Denny, but… god, listening to you tell me about Colin, I'd give anything to have someone think about me like that."

"Ew!"

"Not like that, you perv!"

"Then like how?" Dennis continued to tease.

"Like… like… I'm somebody special. That I'm not just black or gay. That I'm someone real with depth and not just an ass," Cameron told him and veered into a serious territory.

Dennis waited until Cameron looked him in the eyes to say: "You are special, Cam. You've got real depth. Yeah, sure, that ass could put a spell on the whole city, but since that first time you sat down and talked to me, I knew there's a lot more to you. For the record: being black and gay works in your favor with me."

"Trying to make fall for you?"

"Maybe. Is it working?"

"Oh, like magic."

The smile that curled Dennis' mouth felt as cryptic as the thoughts behind it. He could tell the dark-skinned young man a thing or two about using magic to manipulate emotions. It seemed like every other year love potions became the rage Hogwarts. In nearly all cases it ended in disaster. On rare occasion it would allow two people to express how they really felt, and a new relationship would emerge. Most often, broken hearts and tears littered the halls of Hogwarts for several months. As desperate as Dennis became a times in wanting to feel close to someone, anyone, he never resorted to the cheap potions.

Following another long kiss, Cameron retrieved a huge umbrella to protect them from the rain. While Dennis got some muggle money from his backpack, he also stowed his wand. Leaving it behind made him feel exposed worse than if he actually walked naked through the streets, but he also feared what might happen if he kept it on his person. Despite modifying at least one pocket in all his pants and shorts, concealing a wand sometimes proved to be a chore. Moreover, if discovered by a group of muggles, they would be tempted to play with it or at least ask to examine it. The consequences could be disastrous.

"Denny?" Cameron called to him.

Dennis zipped up his backpack and trotted to the door of flat. After locking the door, Cameron took him by the hand as they walked down the stairs and aimed for the great wide open. He did not release it when they reached the street and huddled close under the umbrella. Dennis enjoyed it more than he could express.

The evening proved remarkable. Aside from time spent with his parents, Dennis could barely remember when he last associated with a group of people comprised solely of muggles. He guessed it occurred when he attended public school before heading to Hogwarts. After that day, he did not mingle with non-magical people aside from his immediate family and close relatives. Apart from his parents, no other muggle knew him as a wizard. Dennis found the company that night oddly compelling because they never once talked about any event or situation touched by magic. Moreover, the mix included both gay and straight people. Dennis felt unusually comfortable with the group.

Five hours after arriving at the cafe, they departed with the rest of Cameron's friends when the manger said they needed to close so the employees could clean and get ready for the morning shift. Dennis and Cameron got offers for a ride to Cameron's apartment, but they opted to walk in the light drizzle under the huge umbrella. They wanted to repeat the arrival trip. Thus, ushered out the door and following long farewells, the two headed toward Cameron's flat. The car head- and taillights, neon signs, and streetlights refracted off the wet pavement and sidewalks. It lent a dreamy quality to their stroll. Much of it reminded Dennis of various holidays at Hogwarts when the castle got decorated for the celebrations. Cameron held his hand, and Dennis kept a good grip on it.

"They think we're a couple now," Cameron told him, "and they really like you. Might even like you better than me."

"I don't think so," Dennis chortled. "They're nice people. You were right about Jeanie and Mark, and they gave me some good research ideas."

"Shelly asked me why you're not going to university."

"Not interested right now. Like I told you: I'm done with school for a while. I could ask the same about you."

"God, I was a terrible student, Denny. I was more into getting laid than I was learning about the world," Cameron freely offered the reasons. "I chased so many straight boys it was stupid. A couple surprised me, but… didn't leave a lot of time for education."

"And it didn't sound like your parents cared much," the young wizard stated.

"Once I came out, they didn't give one rat's arse about how I did. There was just looking for the day when I'd move on and go be gay somewhere else."

"So much for the enlightened age."

The two young men traveled along the main roads. They saw few other people, and those they did see appeared more interested in getting out the rain. Under the umbrella it felt dry and safe. Dennis privately confessed he wanted to pursue a relationship with Cameron. He truly liked the man. However, it would take time mainly because he did not know the rules in the magical world about dating muggles. It happened with greater regularity than anyone cared to admit, but no one ever seemed to talk about it. He decided that perhaps he should avail himself of Hermione's offer of an open office door. If anyone would know the arcane and subtle rules, arguably the most talented witch to pass through Hogwarts in fifty years would be the one. He grinned to himself as he listened to Cameron complain about the backwardness of his family.

"Well, well, well, don't you two look all nice and sweet?" A raspy voice rumbled at them.

From the dim recesses of the stairwell of a split-level row house, likely divided into flats, two bodies emerged. Dennis recalled seeing movies where villains stepped out of the shadows, but he thought it only a trope used in films. It gave every indication of a hoax or prank, but the manner in which Cameron's arm became stiff told him otherwise. Dennis eyed the two men, and they looked a decade older. Moreover, the also appeared built for trouble. The strawberry-blonde haired young man felt a shift in his body as his defenses began to activate.

"Just let us through," he said in a way he hoped sounded bored.

"Cost ya twenty quid to pass," the other man said.

"Really? Isn't this all sort of too nineteen-fifties? You got a Vespa hidden somewhere all decorated with the lights and bits and bobs and a little flag saying 'Born to be Wild'?" Dennis retorted in the same nonplussed manner.

"Getting cheeky, are you? Don't think me and my friend here can't give queers like you a good thumping?" The first man growled. "Pay up or get ready to start bleeding."

Dennis forcibly removed his hand from Cameron's. His friend appeared frightened, and for good reasons. The two men did appear completely capable of beating the living daylights out of both of them. Yet one fact separated he and Cameron for other victims of muggle ruffians: they did not know they faced a trained wizard. Furthermore, Hogwarts initiated a requirement in Dennis' fifth year regarding personal safety. For the next three years he spent at least four hours a week training in various forms of personal defense, but he often practiced more often. The Ministry made exceptions for wizards defending themselves, so limited forms of magic could be employed. After the final Voldemort battle, it seemed wiser to prepare people for hand-to-hand fighting. Dennis took to it with gusto, especially after he got outed.

"Look here, Marky! Got us a brave one, and he ain't nothing but sticks and twigs," the first assailant happily grumbled.

"Fine by me," the one apparently named Marky intoned.

Dennis felt magic flowing into his fists. Sir Cadogan told him on several occasions it did well to get in the first strike since it would put the other person on the defensive. Moreover, Sir Cadogan taught him a trick the knight swore he learned from Merlin himself. Thus, Dennis started channeling magic into his fists. He mumbled under his breath, and his hands became heavy. He watched as Marky approached.

"Give it up, laddies," he warned them.

Dennis cocked his arm back and sent his fist forward. He also giggled a little from his pent-up nervousness. Marky definitely saw the hit arriving as the wizard spied the man's head turning slightly to the side. It seemed the hooligan did not fear a strike from the slender, tow-headed young man. Hence, Dennis' balled right hand landed with a sickening crunch on the man's chin in a downward strike accompanied by a strange popping sound. Marky crumpled to the ground.

"What the bloody fuck? You little bastard!" The first man bellowed at him.

Dennis already went into action. His left hand still contained a full charge of magical augmentation. He performed an upper cut as taught to him by two ghosts and two paintings along with the visiting muggle defensive arts instructor. As happened with Marky, Dennis caught the man on the chin, but instead drove his fist upward. Once more a popping sound emerged along with the hollow thump of the impact. The man fell backward and partially onto his compatriot. Neither man moved. Dennis suspected they would spend most of the night in the rain since he added a small dormio sleeping spell to the mix. Yet he also hoped the hardening of his hands would leave the two with resplendent bruises. He stepped back under the umbrella.

"You are fucking amazing," Cameron whispered with awe.

"I work with garbage, so this was like going to work," Dennis said and hoped it sound casual.

"You didn't even act afraid, Denny!"

"You didn't go to my school. I've dealt with a lot worse than these two."

Dennis did not add that he meant a number of the monsters Hagrid introduced to the terrified students. He did not count Peeves as a monster, but the poltergeist knew how to give someone a good run and thrashing. Almost three years of dodging Peeves' various so-called instructive attacks gave Dennis superb reflexes and reaction times. Nearly a month spent wrangling aggressive trash also began to tone his muscles. All-in-all, Dennis felt confident he could defend himself against all the but the worst muggle attack. He feared firearms, but that seemed more an American problem.

"People are going to loose their shit when they hear about this," Cameron continued to gush and began to pull Dennis forward.

"Aw, come on, Cam. Don't go spreading stories. It was no big deal," he tried to plead.

The dark face dropped into a mystified expression. They stepped over the quiescent forms of their two would-be assailants. The drizzle continued to drift out of the sky.

"Look, we got personal defense instruction at school, and I took three years of it. Can't imagine how much worse it would've been for me if I didn't."

"I thought you went to some posh school up in Scotland?" Cameron queried and nearly sounded accusing.

"Who said a posh school can't be filled with tossers and arseholes?"

"Fair point," his friend said as they strolled down the street.

"I told you before how Colin and me didn't come from their world, and we never really fit in. A lot of 'em let us know we weren't like them… all the time. Never seemed to get to Colin. Don't know how, but I kind of envied him," Dennis again explained.

"And then you got outed…" Cameron said, and Dennis eyed him a bit. "Not your fault, and I can't blame you for wanting to stay hid if that was already what you were facing. Hard not staring though, isn't it?"

"Danby Axebridge," the young wizard sighed the name. "He was beautiful, Cam. Course, he would have to be in Raven…"

"Raven? What about Ravens?"

"No, just a stupid tradition at our school. Every year got a mascot animal, and you'd call people of that year by that animal," he fabricated around the truth.

"What was your animal?" Cameron pressed.

"Lion. All very British and proper, huh?"

Cameron smirked at him and said: "So, you had eyes for this bloke?"

"Like you wouldn't believe. Couldn't stand up for a half an hour if I spent five minutes in the same room with him. That's how people figured me out. Caught me pretty much drooling over Danby in the library, and he got bloody mad at me for it, too. Made the mistake of standing up to leave," Dennis actually told the real story since it did not reveal any other truths.

"Ooh, show and tell!"

Dennis laughed at the euphemism. They continued to talk about their experiences in school. Cameron, he learned, knew his orientation from an early age, and never denied it when people questioned him. Physically, public school sounded rougher to the young wizard. Only rarely did he get physically bullied, and it mostly stopped by the middle of his sixth year. Dennis could and would defend himself. He served enough detentions to prove it. A meeting with Headmistress McGonagall and his parents revealed the truth to them following a fight near the end of his fifth year. In less than two months his world got turned upside down, but he did not seem to suffer the same physical extremes as Cameron.

"And they didn't sue?" Dennis asked as they stepped into the flat.

"My Dad and step-mum, number three I think, thought I brought it on myself. Said I was too swish, too much of a damn poof. Only thing that happened was I got suspended along with the guys who jumped me 'cause I was fighting," Cameron growled with indignation. "Fighting? I was lying on the floor getting the bloody shit kicked out of me!"

Dennis closed the door behind him. He never got the chance to respond. As if they entered another movie, Cameron trapped him against the door with a sound kiss. Hands slid up and down his sides. He responded in kind. They stood mostly undressed in a matter of minutes. By the time they reached Cameron's bedroom, not a stitch of clothing remained on either of them.

Dennis awoke the next morning with Cameron snuggled against him. The sense of peace and security it brought him nearly became overwhelming. For years he sought something similar. He craved it down to his very marrow. It did not center on simply love, but rather a real connection to another person. Dennis knew he could not replicate what he shared with Colin, and neither did he think it possible with someone not his brother, but he yearned for the feeling being deeply accepted, respected, and understood. It seemed like Cameron might be able to provide that. He tilted his head forward and gently kissed the young man on the forehead. Then Dennis laid back and luxuriated in the quiet moment.

Since neither worked on Saturdays, Dennis and Cameron spent the day together. Cameron tagged along to the libraries and public record houses. He said he found it astounding how firmly Dennis could focus on a project. He also marveled at Dennis' complete willingness to exploit the paper supplies of public services. For lunch they went to visit the tomb of Thomas North, Earl of Nottingham. Although Dennis saw other ghosts walking around the Memorial Gardens, he neither acknowledged nor interacted with them. Throughout their tour, Dennis recited the history of Thomas Lester Jonathan North as he understood it. He thought if spoke it aloud, it might generate new ideas. While that did not happen, his recitation seemed to fascinate Cameron.

"It's like you really know this guy!" Cameron commented as they headed toward the nearest bus stop.

"I guess I do," Dennis agreed. "And I'm convinced someone murdered him, Cam. None of the facts make any sense if you take out the killing. I think if he could, Thomas would tell me himself."

"What about a séance?"

Dennis raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, bad idea, but how else can you prove any this?" Cameron backed away from the suggestion.

The young wizard did not tell the young mortal man he found it an interesting idea. However, he did not need to call upon the spirit of Thomas North since Dennis could talk to him whenever he wished. The idea intrigued because he might be able to contact others who might know something. Dennis stored the notion.

"Good question, and I'm still figuring that out. To me it looks like someone tried to make Thomas seem unimportant, and I want to know why. He only got five measly sentences in the official Nottinghamshire history!"

"Maybe he didn't do anything important," Cameron argued as they sat under the terminal awning to avoid direct exposure to the hot sun.

Dennis frowned.

"You're one who said he was the earl for only two years. What sort of impact could he make in that time? His brother was earl for almost fifty-two years, so do the math, Denny."

The young wizard nodded.

"You need evidence. Some record or public notice of something he did; otherwise, Thomas North was just a caretaker for two years. Didn't he do anything that made an impact on the estates of Nottingham?"

"Great Merlin, he did… and he told me!" Dennis said in an excited hush.

"Told you? And what does Merlin have to do with this?" Cameron asked and looked askance at him.

"Just an expression at my school I sort of picked up, and I read in one of the reports where Thomas and his father, the Earl of Nottingham, Richard North, annexed some land from one of the competing families, the Hickings, who were trying to nick some land from them. I think Thomas engineered the transaction!"

"And now you have a motive for murder. Land was big deal to the nobility. It's basically what made them rich. Do you have a record of that transaction?"

Dennis grinned at the inquisitive expression of his friend and said: "Not yet, but I think I know right where to go to get it."

"Today? On Saturday? None of the county offices are open," Cameron reminded him.

"Well, gives me an excuse to come back next weekend."

"So, now you need an excuse?"

"What? You thought I was coming to Nottingham just to see all the lovely people?" Dennis queried in a surprised manner.

Cameron bumped their shoulders together and started chuckling. Dennis reached over and snagged the dark hand. Their fingers twined together. While he may not be able to live openly as a wizard, Dennis arrived at the conclusion he could, should, and would live openly as a gay man. Cameron taught him the value of that. They drew a stare from the only other person waiting at the stop with them. Dennis formed the fast opinion the woman needed to sort out her issues.

Dennis nearly forgot his wizardhood during the rest of the day and over the course of the night. Cameron's friends made him feel very welcome in their company, and they seemed genuinely happy for Cameron. Dennis heard from the others that Cameron played the field far and wide, but never seemed satisfied with any man he met. Julia, who he first met weeks before, privately told him Cameron quit playing around. She said he waited for Dennis to call and visit on daily basis. The news thunderstruck the wizard. The image of Cameron Vall wormed deeper into his brain. It also called forth powerful emotions. His body buzzed, and the lights overhead flickered. Dennis internally dialed it back.

Throughout the evening Dennis gave up the pretense and admitted to himself he wanted a deeper, stronger relationship with Cameron. Although far, far different than what emerged between his brother and him, it touched the place within that craved an honest and solid connection with another person. Despite all that, Dennis also knew he could say nothing yet to Cameron. The young wizard needed to determine how to conduct himself in order to uphold the secrecy statutes and still include someone – specifically, a muggle – into the very core of his life. By the end of the night, one filled with shared laughter and merriment, Dennis decided he would accept Hermione Granger's offer. If anyone could see through the intricacies of what he desired, then it seemed logical the smartest and most talented witch would definitely be the one.

"Why so soon?" Cameron complained when Dennis finally lived up to the threat and rose from bed in the morning.

"Well, got to catch the train back to St. Alban's," he began, although he would seldom, if ever, ride the commuter trains. "Second, got to get ready for work for tomorrow. Third, I've got a book's worth of pages I need to read if I'm going to make any sense of this North case and figure out what I need to do next."

Dennis stood and then stooped to find his clothing.

"My god, you got the skinniest arse I ever saw," the wizard heard behind him.

"Does that mean you need, um… something more?"

"No, you git," Cameron laughed. "I like how I can get both my hands 'round it. I think it'd do both of us a world of good if you came back to bed and let me hold onto it. Keep it warm. What do you say?"

The wizard hopped through the bedroom as he tried to put a leg into his underwear. Although he felt like he could use a shower, Dennis realized he would not leave until dark if he took that path. Once successful with his briefs, he went in search of his shorts and tee-shirt. However, he continued the conversation.

"I'd say tempting and I don't have a lot of willpower when it comes to you, but I really need to get a lot of stuff done, Cam," Dennis begged off from the request.

"No willpower? Not bloody likely. Give it anymore thought 'bout maybe relocating here?"

"You could always come to St. Alban's… or we could both go to London."

Dennis discovered his shorts under a chair near the corner where he tossed his backpack. He actually sat on the chair to slip his legs into the garment. His eyes kept flicking over to look at the beautiful form stretched out on the bed. Practical considerations, however, continued to win the battle in his head.

"Too goddamn expensive is what that town is, and you could always collect trash up here," the young man lying naked in the bed replied.

"And it wouldn't pay half of what I'm making with Odpadki. It's specialized work what we do, and he pays me more the more I learn. Guess you could say I'm sort of like his apprentice," Dennis explained without explaining anything.

"You could commute."

"Ooh, not as much fun as you think," Dennis responded because he knew nothing about the train service between the two cities. He stood to pull on his shorts.

"Sure. It's be a bit of slog," Cameron said in a dour voice. "Last time I took the train to London it was a four-hour ride."

"Look, I know why why, but why this push on me moving to Nottingham?" Dennis asked out of simple curiosity.

"Well, 'cause in all the talks we've had, I never hear you mention any friends. Never hear you say you went out and did this or did that. I hear a lot about your folks, but it's like you got no life between them and your work, Denny. I'm not letting you count the investigation, either. Worries me if I have to tell the truth. It's like you're training to be a hermit."

While Cameron spoke, Dennis went in search of his shirt. Even though he wore it the day before, he would change within the hour. His brain also rejected the idea of spending three hours for a one-way trip every weekday, a six-hour daily total, in order to live in Nottingham and work in St. Alban's. Besides, he privately reasoned, most of the waste removal work happened around London. Dennis shook his head while crouching down grab his shirt.

"No?" Cameron responded to his head movement. "Then tell me what you really got going in St. Alban's?"

"I didn't mean no to what you said, just thinking of that daily ride back and forth to St. Alban's. It'd probably eat up half the time I was awake," Dennis countered.

"Probably, but I still don't understand why you're so married to that place."

"It's home. It's where my parents live. It's where Colin used to live."

A hush fell between them. Cameron began to nod his head. Dennis walked over to the bed, sat on the edge, and leaned in close to the dark face.

"But I'm not saying I can't make a new home at a later time," he quietly intoned. "Once we really know what this is between us, then we can really talk. Like you said: let's just take this as comes for right now."

"Sure, sorry," Cameron rejoined in the same tone. "Guess I'm being greedy. It'd be nice if I could ring you up and have you meet me somewhere for dinner… or go to a movie or a pub. Instead, I just got to wait until something drags you up here to do research… and I know it's not fair to you having to make the trip all the time."

"Ever hear me complain, Cam?"

"No, and now I feel like an even bigger arsehole. I just… Denny, this seems like it's gonna be so good with us, and I'm not very patient when I want something."

Dennis smiled. The words thrilled him. Despite that, his brain warned him the road to fulfillment would be tricky. Moment by moment it became clear he moved further out of his depth. Not only did he lack even a shred of practical working knowledge when it came to relationships, he needed to balance it against the reality of his wizardry. The complexities began to stagger him.

"Will figure something out when the time is right," Dennis told the young man staring at him, but he actually said it to himself.

Cameron raised his head and planted his lips on Dennis'. It spoke where the voice failed, and Dennis loved what it said to him. He returned the kiss with real passion. Several minutes flew by as they enjoyed themselves. When a hand slid up his shirt, Dennis began to snicker.

"Yeah, yeah, so sue me for trying," Cameron said amid a small chuckle.

"I never had anyone want me before like this," Dennis confessed.

"Works out for me then, doesn't it? Means I get you all to myself."

"This weekend sort of cemented that, Cam."

"See! Right there. You say stuff like that, and then you want me to behave and be patient. I can't fucking do it, Denny. Not when you're looking all cute and vulnerable. God, I want to strip you out of those damn clothes so bad right now!"

"I've half a mind to let you," Dennis quipped. A second hand slid against his side under his shirt. "But I can't."

"Wanker!" Cameron grumped.

"Listen, I don't think Mister Odpadki's got a full week of jobs lined up, so maybe I'll come up sometime during the week. Plus, I'll be here on Friday night and we have the weekend."

"Don't make promises you can't keep!"

"I'm only promising Friday. I did say maybe about the middle of the week."

"Facking technicalities," the nude young man huffed.

Dennis grinned again. Even at their most intense point, Stewart Ackerly never expressed such sentiments. The tidbits of information Cameron's friends passed along over the past two nights sorely tested Dennis' resolve. Thus, he forced himself to stand before he lost every scrap of reserve.

"I'll call you tonight, Mister Vall," Dennis said, and all but growled the words.

"You'd better!"

The young wizard walked over to the chair and took hold of his backpack. When he turned around, he saw exactly what he would miss by leaving so early. His heart thudded and thumped against his chest.

"Get over here and kiss me good-bye," Cameron petulantly demanded.

"No," Dennis flatly rejoined.

"Wha… why?"

"'Cause if I do, there's no way in hell I'm gonna get out of here before suppertime!"

Cameron threw back his head and started laughing. Dennis took it as his chance to escape before every bit of his resistance lay in tatters on the floor along with his clothes. He slipped out of the room and aimed for the short hallway.

"Bastard! Coward!" Cameron yelled after him.

"Yep! Right in two!" Dennis returned the verbal volley as the exit door loomed in front of him.

"Paybacks are bitch, Denny!"

Dennis began laughing as he unlocked the door and made his exit. The door closed automatically in his wake. He trotted to the exit and hoped he would not find a naked Cameron standing at the window yelling further invective at him for his manner of departure. The outside world looked stark under the heavy cloud cover. Dennis did not hesitate and aimed for the alley next to Cameron's flat complex. Once sure no one could see him, the wizard fished out his wand from the backpack and disapparted to the Nottingham apparation atation. He then followed the familiar route to home.

"When did you get in?" His father asked without looking up from the Sunday Telegraph edition. An empty coffee cup rested in one hand.

"Replendum," Dennis whispered while intently staring at the cup after coming to a halt at the dining table. The residue in the cup acted as the focal point, and suddenly it began to fill with hot coffee.

Seconds later his father glanced down at the now steaming mug and said: "That was nice. Thanks, Denny."

"Got in 'bout a half an hour ago," the younger Creevey said while taking a seat at the table and resting the backpack on his lap so he could begin to pull out his research. The small desk in his room would not suffice. "Needed a wash up first."

"Had fun?" His father inquired and glanced up from the paper.

"Yeah. It's so different hanging out with mu… non-magical people," he answered. "Weird not having my wand on me every time we went out."

"We, huh? How is your, ah, young man doing?"

Dennis blinked in surprise at his father. It usually took his mother to bring up anything to do with a possible love life he might lead. Following a few seconds, his father rolled his eyes.

"Cam's good. I think I'm going to bring him down next week so he can meet you and Mum and see where I live," Dennis replied and thought of a new plan. It gave him a good reason to call Cameron that evening.

"Oh, getting serious?" His father mumbled.

Once more Dennis gaped at his father.

"You all right, Denny?"

"Yeah, Dad, it's just you've never been, um, this interested in, ah, this part of my life before."

It nearly shocked Dennis when the man folded the newspaper closed. He then crossed his hands over it and laced his fingers together. Nervousness coursed through Dennis, and he made a few small coughs.

"Denny, you're mum told me what you were thinking of doing as you save up money. She doesn't really like the idea of you moving out," Duncan Creevey bluntly stated.

"Not like I was planning on moving tomorrow," Dennis countered.

"Maybe not, but… after everything, well, you know how she is with you. Can't say I'm that far off from her, too."

Dennis goggled.

"Oh, get off it, son. Yes, I care. Yes, I love you. Yes, I don't understand most of your life, but it doesn't mean I want you to be unhappy with it," the man grumbled. "In the last six weeks you've walked the stage at Hogwarts, you got a job, you've got this whole noble death investigation, you're chipping in on expenses, and now it looks like you've found someone. It's hard for parents to watch their kid grow up in such a short amount of time. I'm still scratching my head trying guess how it all happened."

"Huh. Never looked at it like that. Didn't realize it all happened so fast," Dennis said in mild surprise.

"We didn't either 'til your mum and me spent the weekend alone. It was like it was when you were in school 'cept we knew you was out living your life this time. We discussed you last night when we realized you wasn't coming back right away. You want to talk about surprised," his father stated and did not underrate the last statement.

"What was so surprising?" He prodded his father.

"Well, first, having to talk about you in adult terms and seeing it actually applied this time," the man began. "Look, I know it hasn't always been easy between us, I really do, and maybe I need to make some apologies, but…"

"Dad, stop," Dennis interjected. "I know it hasn't been easy for you. You never expected to wind up with two wizard sons. That changed everything. Then one your boys goes and gets killed in that bloody stupid war. Changed everything again."

Duncan Creevey's eyebrows drew together, and he stared down at the paper.

"I keep saying we need to talk about it, but… maybe we'll never be ready. After that, you and Mum found out I was gay in the worst way, and it all went and changed again. It was a lot for me to handle, and I can't really imagine what it was like for you and Mum. Everything just sort of got away from us," he said what he believed to his father.

"You turning into an adult, Denny. Sometimes, though… I miss packing up you and Colin – my boys – and going fishing for a day. You know we haven't done that once since you started at Hogwarts?"

Dennis blinked in surprise.

"Seven years. That's a good bit of your childhood, and me and your mother missed a lot of it with you two being away at school," his father nearly lamented. Dennis opened his mouth, and his father stayed him with a raised hand. "And you needed to go to that school. You both had gifts, maybe gifts we can never fully appreciate, but it didn't take much to realize there's wasn't a lot we could do for you here. You know that Mister Flitwick wrote to us to say you were one of his best students?"

The younger man twitched his head back and forth.

"We mightn't ever really understand each other, Denny, but I really do want you to be happy. Don't let me get in your way."

"You're not in my way, Dad, and I want you to be there with me," Dennis quietly stated as tears silently rolled down his cheeks. "Think maybe next weekend you'll take me and Cam fishing?"