QLFC Season 10 Round 7: I'm coming home
Main prompt: Game night or weekly tradition
Additional prompts:
1. [Action] Kissing someone's knuckles
2. [Dialogue] "This is going to be a night you'll never forget."
3. [Song] Gravity - Sara Bareilles
Word count: 1950
A/N: Thank you Jily Trash and Bellwhether2.0 for beta reading!
What if Antonin Dolohov didn't become a Death Eater? If he had been Flitwick's apprentice instead.
It was a cool Saturday evening when Flitwick made his way into Hogsmeade. Winter was coming, he thought glumly as he nodded at the shopkeepers who were closing their stores and the townsfolk who were heading home with a small smile. It was a common sight for them to see him walking alone into town on a Saturday evening.
He was almost halfway into the town when he could see the signature worn-out wooden sign hung lopsidedly over a door. A bleeding butchered boar's head was carved into the sign. Hog's Head Inn.
"Will you be there, boy? Will I ever see you again?" Flitwick sighed heavily as he pulled his cloak a little tighter around himself and shuffled ever closer to the tavern.
There was a time when he used to visit the inn every Saturday afternoon with a black-haired runt in tow. The little ruffian was fearless and he observed every suspicious character openly. The boy was extremely perceptive and observant of his surroundings, and his wand movements were as quick as Flitwick's own. As a result, Flitwick knew he had nothing to worry about - the boy could look after himself - but Flitwick could not help himself. The little rascal was his boy - the closest thing to a son, and that was why, on that cool Saturday evening while they were having dinner together to celebrate Antonin's graduation from Hogwarts, and Antonin had decided to leave the Scottish Highlands for a life across the oceans, Flitwick felt his world shatter.
"I've been thinking, Professor… I'll visit Ilvermorny on Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, America, and maybe travel to Asia and visit Mahoutokoro on the volcanic island of Minami Iwo Jima, Japan," Antonin wondered aloud as his eyes scanned the patrons in the tavern before his attention returned to Flitwick. "There has to be different types of magic, different spells… different ways to use Charms, even different magical creatures!"
"What's wrong with Hogwarts?" Flitwick asked, a little harsher than he intended. "We're the only wizardry school in Britain!"
"Yes, but-"
"No, buts! Do you even know what horrors wait for you beyond these shores? Do you think you can look after yourself?" Flitwick rebuked as he glared at his stubborn apprentice. "You're just a 17-year-old boy! What do you know? You're going nowhere. Stay here where you'll be safe."
"Let me go, Professor. Let me ride the tides of life on my own! Let me see what lies beyond these shores!" the boy pleaded as his grey eyes begged Flitwick to understand. "I can't be strong if you're always there, supporting me, picking me up. I can't be dependant on you my whole life! You're only trapping me and clipping my wings!"
In pain and enraged at the arrogance and audacity of the young man, Flitwick snarled and cursed, "Go then! Leave! This is going to be a night you'll never forget! I swear, you'll regret this! I won't take you back even if you beg me to, ungrateful brat!"
The teenage boy's lips wobbled as he stood up. He emptied his wallet that was breaking at the seams. "I won't take a coin from you. I'll grow strong on my own," he sniffed as he wiped his tears away roughly. "Goodbye, Professor."
In hindsight, Flitwick should have known he could not shield the inquisitive boy from the world. Antonin had every right to fly freely and experience the world for what it was. He could not be selfish and trap the boy regardless of how deeply he loved and cared for him. Antonin had his own life to live, his own hopes and dreams to discover so, letting him go unwillingly and reluctantly… perhaps, that was the greatest proof of Flitwick's love for the little rascal. For that, Flitwick had to resign and accept that the boy's dreams lied far away from him but that did not mean that Flitwick never stopped hoping. He still wanted to see the brat that made his heart ache with worry, made him laugh at silly shenanigans, and made him smile fondly at almost every memory.
Flitwick walked into the tavern for the 200th Saturday since the nightmarish parting. He nodded mutely at Aberforth Dumbledore who tended the bar, and padded to the back of the noisy tavern. He passed by a barmaid on his way to the back, and his heart beat a little harder. Someone must have ordered a drink. Someone was at the back of the inn. Perhaps, he would see the familiar messy black hair and twinkling grey eyes. Instead, he only saw the back of a hooded man sleeping on one of the tables and he sighed softly in disappointment.
The winter in his life would stretch for one more Saturday. It was uncommon for him to drown his sorrow, worry and disappointment alone. Oftentimes, there would be a patron or two who would bear witness to his lonely misery. Flitwick ordered a glass of whiskey and it was handed swiftly to him.
He swirled the glass listlessly and stared glumly at the amber liquid. He hated the smell of it. He hated the sight of it. He hated it because it was the rascal's favourite drink. Antonin loved drinking whiskey.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him and scooped his glass. Without invitation, the hooded man took a big swig of it and emptied the glass. "You shouldn't order drinks that you're not a fan of," the stranger admonished teasingly as he flopped unceremoniously into the seat opposite to Flitwick. "It'll be a waste of good whiskey."
"Do you mind leaving?" Flitwick asked through gritted teeth as he glared at the rude stranger. The sheer audacity of the stranger! "I want to be alone."
Almost as if he did not recognise the danger he was in, the stranger chuckled, "Must you be so harsh even after almost four years? I would've thought your anger would cool down a little."
Flitwick's heart skipped a beat. The light laughter sounded so familiar that it was surreal. "An…tonin?" he whispered uncertainly as he leaned over the table to peer closer.
Scarred hands reached up to push the hood back and Flitwick found himself staring into familiar twinkling silver eyes. There were deep laughter lines around the eyes, small scars decorated the once youthful face…but for the most parts, this was him. This was his boy! "Antonin, my boy…" he murmured breathlessly as he reached out to touch Antonin's cheeks.
A smile slowly curled on Antonin's face as he leaned just a little into Flitwick's palms. "You're unusually late, Professor," he teased as he thumbed away a few stray tears from his professor's face. "You sure kept me waiting. What happened to Saturday lunches at Hog's Head Inn?"
Flitwick frowned. Antonin was right. They used to have lunch together at the inn. When had he stopped coming to the inn at lunchtime? When had his habit changed to evening visits? When… Wait a minute! Why was he the one being admonished when he was the one who was left behind? "You're the one who has been late!" Flitwick protested as he glared at the grinning ruffian. "You went away for four years- four years! - and you don't bother to write even a letter?"
The tender touches on his cheeks had turned into painful pinches. "Well, I wasn't sure you'd read my letters, nevermind write back," Antonin laughed awkwardly as he grinned sheepishly at the furious short man despite his reddening cheeks. "You said you weren't going to take me back even if I came back and begged you."
"I…" Flitwick uttered weakly as he stared at Antonin in silence. His hands slipped and returned to his sides. It was true. He had cursed and sworn when they last met, but that was spoken in anger, betrayal and hurt, and he regretted it every moment since. He had wanted to apologise but Antonin had already disappeared before he could.
Surely, Antonin must have realised and understood that he meant no malice. Surely, the boy knew that Flitwick loved him dearly and his words had been spoken out of fear, worry and anger, but what if… No, Antonin must have realised it if his widening roguish grin was any evidence. Flitwick was between two minds - he wanted so desperately to wring the mischievous rascal's neck but he also wanted to hug his son, so he did.
"You stupid boy!" Flitwick chided and buried his face into Antonin's neck as he hugged the younger man tightly. "You silly, ridiculous boy. What father wouldn't read his son's letters? Of all the times you could be so idiotic… but you're my idiotic son. I'm glad you're still alive, my boy."
Antonin smiled widely as he leaned into the hug. Over the past few years, he had made his own wealth, improved his magic and dueling prowess, invented new spells,…and matured significantly. However, in all that growth, he still missed the part-goblin professor and his hugs. In fact, it had been a long time since anyone hugged him, and this was a good tight hug. As much as Antonin wanted to continue the hug, he still had important news. He still needed to ask. He still needed to know. He patted Flitwick's back and slowly, they disengaged from the hug. "I have something important to tell you…to ask you," he sighed heavily as he looked uncertainly at Flitwick. His grey eyes watched Flitwick's carefully.
"What is it?" Flitwick asked slowly as his heart beat a little faster. What could be so important that it had to be discussed at their first reunion?
"This is going to be a night you'll never forget," Antonin whispered and Flitwick's heart dropped. The last time that sentence had been uttered, they had a violent and explosive farewell. Of course, Antonin would return those words to him. It was Antonin's right. The world outside, the sights he had seen, the people he had conversed with, the magic and the life he experienced… of course those were more exciting than the boring landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.
Flitwick swallowed thickly, "Can we… at least… have dinner together before you leave?"
Antonin smiled faintly as he shook his head. "No, I can't. I'm sorry," he rejected gently as he reached out to hold Flitwick's hands tenderly. He stared at his short man's hands and sighed heavily, "I've traveled far and wide, I've seen and experienced many different things-"
"Go where your heart wants, boy," Flitwick murmured softly as he hung his head and feelings of resignation settled in him. "I can't and I won't stop you. Please just promise you'll write to me."
"-I realised my home isn't a place; it's a person," Antonin continued easily as if he had not heard a word from Flitwick. Slowly, he bowed his head and brought Flitwick's hands to his lips. Very gently, Antonin kissed each knuckle. When he kissed the last knuckle, he looked up at Flitwick's teary face and smiled softly, "I'm ready to come home, Dad…if you'll have me."
"You're my boy."
Flitwick could not stop his tears even if he tried as he pulled his little rascal into a tight hug. The winter in his life was finally over. His protégé. His apprentice. His son. The boy had finally come home. There would not be any more lonely Saturday trips to Hog's Head Inn. Most importantly, Antonin had finally called him Dad. No more Professor Flitwick. No more Professor. Their parent-child relationship was finally acknowledged as two-way. He was finally Antonin's Dad.
"Have you eaten?" he asked softly as he combed Antonin's messy hair.
When Antonin shook his head, Flitwick suggested dinner at Hogwarts. Without another word, Flitwick led them on the familiar track to Hogwarts. The journey back to Hogwarts was filled with their laughter and shocked gasps from Flitwick as Antonin regaled his 4-years adventure.
Upon reaching Hogwarts' gates, Antonin stopped abruptly to look at Flitwick. There was a seriousness in those grey eyes that worried Flitwick a little. "Hey Dad, I won't trade you for the world. Never again," he swore solemnly as he walked past the stunned professor and into the castle.
"Likewise, my boy, likewise. I'll never trade you for anything," Flitwick smiled as he ran to catch up with his son's long strides.
Thank you for reading!