Author's Notes: Thank to you everyone who is still reading this story. My summer flew by with real life stuff and now school has started up again. But I am trying to stay focused on finishing this story.

This hasn't been beta-read, due to some technical difficulties, I just thought I would post it so let me know if you spot any errors. I can't seem to get to put breaks between the scenes so the "aaa" are the breaks, all right?

Chapter 19 Changes

Jack answered the door. An older woman stood on the porch. She was dressed in muggle clothing.

"Oh." She stared at Jack. "Does Corbin Hill live here?"

"Yes, he's away at the moment. Can I help you, Mrs. Hill?"

She looked at him doubtfully.

"We've met before, at Corbin's wedding. It was years ago, you probably don't remember me. Jack Bartleby." He held out his hand.

Mrs. Hill stared at it. "You're…you're one of those—."

"Wizards?" Jack asked warmly, "Yes, I suppose I am. Won't you come in? I was just about to fix some tea." He walked towards the kitchen. "Corbin's out of town, but I am actually expecting him back very soon."

"Are you staying here while he's gone?"

"I live here." Jack said calmly. Corbin had confessed to feeling nervous about getting married – since he'd been divorced he wanted Jack to know that he was committed to Jack and since they were engaged there wasn't any reason for them not to live together.

"Like a roommate."

"Yes, something like that." Jack tapped the tea kettle and a moment later it was whistling. He brewed the tea and set a cup in front of Mrs. Hill.

"Corbin's grandmother is ill, very ill. He doesn't have a phone and he doesn't accept my letters. She wants to see him."

"I'll make sure he knows."

"How is he?" She took a sip of tea before setting the cup down. "I suppose he never talks about his family."

"Not often." Jack admitted gently. "He is doing very well, you should be proud of him. He's very good at his job, he's got friends who love him. He's happy."

"You're one of those friends?"

"Yes."

"He always was different. Strange. Archie never understood, never tried to. He's my baby. My only baby. And…I didn't know how to act around him. He'd look at me with those eyes of his, like he could see through me, see that I didn't like being home with him, that I was unhappy. I wasn't unhappy with him, though, you mustn't think that. I do love him. He just makes it so hard."

"Jack!" Corbin's voice rang out from the front door. Jack got up hastily, wanting to tell Corbin his mother was here before they saw each other. He got to the doorway and Corbin's arms were around him. "I missed you." Before Jack could say a word, Corbin was kissing him. He broke the kiss quickly but gently and watched as confused hurt filled Corbin's eyes.

"Your mother is here," He whispered hurriedly. He watched as Corbin's eyes turned cold. Corbin stalked past him without another word.

"What are you doing here?"

"Corby, Gran's ill, she wants to see you and I didn't see any other way to let you know." Mrs. Hill wrung her hands together.

"So you just stopped by? Were you rude to Jack? He's gay too, and a wizard, all the things you hate."

"I don't hate them."

"You don't hate them? You just hate me, is that it?"

"Corby, I don't hate you, I never hated you."

"Could have fooled me! Get out of my house."

"Corbin." Jack tried to reach for him but Corbin jerked away.

"Get out!" Corbin yelled.

"What do I tell Gran?" Corbin's mother stood, Jack noticed her shaking but she held her ground. "You'll hurt her just to get back at me?"

"She hates me too. Does she just want to damn me again before she dies?"

"She's realized…we've both realized that we should have-"

"It's too late," Corbin said icily. "Get out."

"I know we said horrible things to you, inexcusable things, and I will never forgive myself for them. It was too much to ask that you would forgive me. But, Corby, I want you to know that I love you, even when I thought I hated you, I loved you." Mrs. Hill walked slowly towards the door. She turned tear-filled eyes towards Jack and he caught his breath at the similarity to Corbin's. "Take care of my son."

The second the door had shut behind Mrs. Hill, Corbin ran out of the room and Jack heard the retching a moment later. Grabbing a parchment and quill, Jack rushed out the door to catch Mrs. Hill.

"Where does she live?" He asked breathlessly.

"What?"

"Where does she live?" Jack repeated quickly.

"He wants—" The blue eyes so much like Corbin's started to light up with happiness.

"No." Jack shook his head and Mrs. Hill's face fell a bit. "No, just tell me."

Mrs. Hill told him and Jack scrawled it on the parchment as he ran back into the house hoping that Corbin wouldn't have noticed he was gone. He dropped the things on the entry table and rushed into the bathroom.

"What were you doing?" Corbin asked, looking pale as he stood at the sink. His face was damp from the recent splash of water.

"Asking her where your gran lives." Jack replied honestly.

"Why?"

"Because I think you should see her."

Corbin shook his head, one hand rubbing his stomach. Jack reached into his pocket for the gum and handed it to Corbin.

"I missed you so much and it was only a week." Jack said softly. "I couldn't imagine not having you in my life."

"Jack."

"Just think about it." Jack pulled Corbin into his arms and kissed him gently. "I love you."

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"So, Remus told me you're going to use the Bartleby family rings?" Clara asked.

"Yes." Jack looked over at the sofa in the sitting room of Hillby Lodge where Corbin was quizzing Draco on potions. "I think he realizes that means he'll be in my family, that he's supposed to take my name, but I'm not sure."

"Corbin?" Cassius shouted across the room.

"What?" Corbin looked up.

"You're going to change your name to Bartleby?"

Corbin looked over at Jack then back at Cassius. "I guess." He shrugged then turned back to the book. Jack could see him ask Draco something. Draco smiled as he answered.

"That means he's excited about changing his name." Cassius said, grabbing another cookie from the plate Clara had brought.

"I know." Jack grinned. A shrug or a muttered 'I don't know/care' was actually another way of saying yes. "Corbin-speak is a hard language to learn but I'm almost fluent now."

"Remus, I think you and I should start our own business." Clara looked down at her list of things to do for the wedding.

"Mm…" Remus agreed, looking at his own list and swatting at Cassius's hand as he reached for another cookie.

"Ow!"

"Caught red-handed."

"Is that a muggle saying? Because I'm not sure how I should answer."

"How many cookies have you eaten?"

"Um…four."

"Try again."

"Fine, Remus, I've had sev-elev-twelve. But…they're rather small."

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"Hi."

Jack looked up, Corbin was leaning against the doorway of their bedroom.

"Hi you. How was the Every Other Saturday, Except in December, Ravenclaw Drunk Fest?" Jack smiled. The portkey idea had been put into place a few weeks ago with great success.

"Good." Corbin walked over to the bed and climbed on it with loose-limbed grace. A moment later he'd straddled Jack's lap. "I missed you." Corbin said, unbuttoning his shirt with an intense concentration that made Jack laugh quietly.

"Did you?" Jack grinned, putting his book down.

"Yeah." Corbin pulled his shirt off, having to struggle with one arm, then shoved Jack's shirt up as he kissed him wetly, their noses knocking against each other as Corbin pushed his tongue against Jack's. Jack moaned as Corbin pressed closer to him. A warm armful of Corbin was a wonderful thing, especially an affectionate Corbin. Corbin pulled away, tugging again at Jack's shirt. "Off." He demanded. By the time Jack had pulled his shirt off, Corbin was reading the back of Jack's book. "You're reading this?"

"Mm…it's good. I think I've figured out who the murderer is." Jack walked his fingers up Corbin's chest to tug at the nipple ring.

"Oh." Corbin swayed towards him, long fingers wrapping around Jack's hand to keep it in place. "Jack." He swallowed thickly, pushing his hips against Jack's. "D'you-"

"I'll finish it tomorrow."

"Oh, good." Corbin sighed, his hand sliding around the back of Jack's neck. A tilt of his head and they were kissing again. Jack could taste Guinness and the salt of chips and, as Corbin hummed softly, Jack tasted desire.

"Is Stevens excited about his new job?" Jack asked, winding both arms around Corbin's waist as Corbin nuzzled into Jack's neck. Although it was a standing outing, Stevens had just been offered a job at Hogwarts.

"Jack, just…be quiet for a minute." Corbin panted before pressing open mouth kisses against Jack's skin, tracing wet designs with his tongue.

Corbin slid his hand into Jack's pajamas, curling his cool hand around Jack, making them both gasp. Corbin kissed Jack's neck as he stroked him irregularly. Jack arched into the touch and kissed Corbin's cheek. After a few minutes of kissing Jack's neck, Corbin pulled back to look at Jack's face, his hand stilling. "You're not talking."

"You told me to be quiet." Jack smiled, his heart fluttering in time with Corbin's lashes.

"I thought you'd been stupefied or something." Corbin said, swaying in for another kiss, pulling Jack's hand back up to the ring on his chest while his other hand resumed stroking. "I was worried."

"I can be quiet, you know." Jack felt his cheeks get hot, he tugged sharply on the ring, pulling the other man towards him for another wet kiss. Corbin mumbled something into the kiss before pulling away.

"When's that? You talk almost constantly." Corbin's hand tightened and tugged.

"Oh! Well…I was quiet just now."

"Yeah. Scary quiet." Corbin placed his hands on Jack's shoulders, looking very serious. "Jack."

"Corbin." Jack rubbed one hand up and down Corbin's thigh.

"I want you. Could I?" Corbin wet his bottom lip. "I…"

"Whatever you want."

"Anything?" Corbin grinned.

"Anything."

"Say Quidditch when you want me to stop." Corbin said softly. Quidditch was their agreed-upon safe word.

"I will." Jack said. "Do I need to be undressed?"

"Yeah."

Jack picked up his wand and did a quick undressing charm on himself.

Corbin skimmed his hands down Jack's sides as he looked at Jack's chest thoughtfully for a long moment. Then he lowered his head and licked a long line across Jack's collarbone and then down to his nipple, swirling his tongue around it and sucking gently. Jack had never been into nipple stimulation, but Corbin seemed to have a fixation and the murmuring moans of pleasure from Corbin always resulted in Jack's arousal. Corbin licked down towards Jack's bellybutton. Cool fingers stroked down the trail of hair that lead from there to Jack's groin, followed by a mouth. Jack groaned, feeling Corbin's tongue tease around him. He was almost at the edge when Corbin's mouth started moving back up his body. Jack opened his eyes.

"Hi."

"Hi." Jack replied breathlessly.

"Please may I make love to you?"

Jack couldn't breathe as quicksilver sparks of arousal shot down his spine into his groin. Corbin was very specific with language.

"Never mi-."

"Yes, you may." Jack said quickly, once he could speak again. Corbin hadn't ever been the dominant one in their sex life and the thought was making Jack almost dizzy with arousal. "Get undressed. You need to be naked." Jack pressed his hand against Corbin's jean covered groin.

Corbin looked down at himself. "You are so right." He rose up on his knees, fumbling with the button and zipper. He overbalanced and fell onto his side, struggling to pushing his jeans down. "Fuck!" He sat up and pulled his shoes and socks off, then pushed his jeans the rest of the way off. "Right then." Corbin sat up again. "Now I'm naked."

"That you are." Jack nodded, brushing his lips to Corbin's mouth, "Glad you told me."

"And, "Corbin looked down, "You're naked too."

"Yes, I am." Jack slid down on the bed and reached for Corbin, pulling him in between his legs as he grabbed his wand and did a lubricating and stretching spell.

"You'll tell me if I hurt you, won't you." Corbin said softly.

"Yes. But you won't." Jack answered. He couldn't take another delay keeping Corbin from being inside him. He grabbed Corbin's hips and pulled them close. Corbin slid in, inch by inch.

"Oh." Corbin stilled, looking down. "I. God. You're so hot. "

Jack kissed Corbin's face.

"Stop kissing my nose." Corbin tried to move his head away, but drunkenly just got closer to Jack.

"I like kissing your nose." Jack smiled. "Baby, move."

"Can't. I'll come." Corbin shook his head and closed his eyes. "All right." He pulled out and pushed back in so slowly that Jack wanted to shout impatiently.

"Corbin." Jack tightened his legs around Corbin's hips and thrust up suddenly then gasped as the piercing pressed against his prostate.

"Did I-." Corbin froze, his eyes wide with fear.

"Merlin, keep going." Jack said breathlessly. "You're doing fine."

"You're sure?" Corbin slid almost all the way out.

"Very sure." Jack smiled reassuringly as Corbin made love to him for the first time.