The first four months of this school year passed rather slowly for our heroes. After their last talk with Gellert and the incident with Albus' father; a lot of things were on their mind.
Albus tried his best to forget, focusing on his studies and O.W.L exams, along with his career as prefect for the Gryffindor house.
Elphias Doge was by his side and the two of them talked about the Grand Tour. It was an annual tour for all the Hogwarts graduates, where they would travel Europe during the summer for a chance to explore, meet new people and perhaps even something more.
It was his chance to get away from his responsibilities, his chance to live his life without all those worries that threatened to pull him under.
Roxanne understood his reasons and as the three of them sat in the courtyard during classes, they discussed it.
While sad to see Albus leave for a whole summer, she knew that he needed it. She promised to look after his siblings and mother while he enjoyed his life.
Albus, on the other hand, promised that he would send her letters often and describe his journeys; so she would be ready for when hers would come 1 year after.
But the Grand Tour was half a year away and currently, more important things had come to take their place.
Christmas had come and passed, the Hogwarts school having closed at that time. Only a few of the students stayed behind, including Albus and Elphias.
Roxanne, though, had returned to see both Gellert and her father. She, of course, needed to come for she needed something to bring with her to Hogwarts; something of great importance.
During her last days at Godric's Hollow, Roxanne and Gellert were walking side by side. Snow had come early that year and the streets were covered by the soft and cold white blanket that crunched under their boots.
Warm coats were wrapped around their bodies and Roxanne was even wearing her Hufflepuff scarf around her neck, along with a black beanie.
Gellert, walking by her side, had chosen a lighter coat. He was not bothered by the cold or the winter, having talked of harsher weather while at Durmstrang.
Yet, those last two days it was not his former school that was the main topic of discussion.
It was his quest, which had started to finally bear fruits after months of searching.
"One Hallow is close, I know it. Little more and I shall find it. After we find the first one, the rest will be easy to be spotted" he explained, snow falling on his hair and melting softy.
While Albus didn't truly want to think much about it, sweet Roxanne always listened to him. While not fully interested in that quest, she did believe in Gellert's goal, after he had so sweetly presented many times to her.
"Close will be best for now. Which Hallow do you suspect?" She asked, glancing at him with the tip of her amber eyes.
"The Elder Wand" he replied, making a shiver go down her spine.
That wand was said to be the most powerful wand in existence, capable of throwing spells like no other wand. If the legend were true, countless have been killed in duels and even in secret; all by those greedy of power.
Before she knew it, Gellert and her had arrived close to her house. Not that far away, one would be able to see the Dumbledore house.
Arianna was looking through the window on the top floor, not having left her room in so long. She didn't even come down for the usual Christmas Dinner and gifts, although Aberforth had not truly welcomed her either when she knocked at their door.
"Is this your house?" Gellert asked, snapping her from her thoughts.
"Huh?" She exclaimed before she focused on the present. "Yes, this is mine. Why?"
He looked down at her shorter form, his chin stopping just at the top of her head. "You have never let me see it before, or invited me," he said, as if it was an obvious fact.
Realizing it, her cheeks took a pink hue that almost matched her red nose. She glanced down for a moment before looking at her house.
"I haven't...yeah...it's just, my dad and all..." she shook her head, giving a small smile. "You can come today if you want. Let me show you today and it might explain it all a little better"
Gellert lifted an eyebrow at her behaviour, now genuinely curious of what skeletons she hid in her closet. He knew about Albus but nothing about her; having always turned the conversation to be about others and never herself.
Sometimes he wondered if she did that on purpose or if it was all done subconsciously
Either way, it worked like the perfect counter mechanism to protect one's secrets and skeletons without the other truly realizing it.
With a silent nod of his head, he followed her through the small gate and on the stone path. It had been enchanted to repel the snow falling on it, providing a clean and visible path for anyone to follow as it lead to the cottage up ahead.
The cottage was fairly simple and only with one floor, the same as many others in this small village. He followed Roxanne to the front door and then inside, as she opened it.
The inside of the cottage was simple, with wooden floors and furniture.
A small kitchen was by their right and a middle-aged man was sitting on the wooden table. His black hair was messy and unkempt, his dark eyes staring at nothing in particular and in his hands, he held a mug; the liquid inside long having become cold.
"Dad, I am home," Roxanne said as she closed the door behind her.
The man focused on them and for a moment, in his eyes, he didn't seem to recognise her. "Who are you?"
"It's me Roxanne, your daughter" she said rather casually, although a hint of sadness could be heard in her voice.
"Oh little Roxanne. I didn't recognise you for a moment. You grew up fast" he said, talking as if he hadn't seen her in years.
"Did you eat what I cooked for you?" She asked as she walked a little deeper into the kitchen, Gellert staying further away and watching.
The man rubbed his eyes and then his temples, clearly trying to think. "Right...right...you cooked. I...I think I did..."
Her amber eyes softened and a sad smile appeared on her face. "Why don't you go take a nap, Dad? I think you need it" she said in the usual sweet tone.
The man looked at her before giving a nod. He got up from the chair, his body thin and weak. With slow steps, his slippers were dragged along with him as he made his way towards his room that was close by.
Once he was inside and had closed his door, it was then that Roxanne let out a heavy sigh. "I am sorry you had to see that," she said as she took the mug and placed it in the sink.
"What is wrong with him?" Gellert asked as he took a few steps closer, now having a better understanding as to why she was so secretive about her father.
"Doctors call it Dementia. Slowly he forgets things, from simple tasks to names and faces. Sometimes he might think it's a full different year" she explained and turned to face him. "He is a good man. He is just...confused" she said, although Gellert suspected that those words were a way to reassure herself and not him.
"Can't he be healed?" He asked next, the question quite obvious.
With a sad smile, she shook her head faintly. "I wish he could but not even magic can truly fight old age," she said and forced a smile. "But enough about sad things. If you wish, I can give you a small tour of the house"
Gellert looked at her a moment too long, once again realizing that she was dodging the subject the best she could. Deciding not to chase the subject any longer, he gave a simple nod and motioned for her to lead the way.
It seemed that her mind was quickly taken off the subject as she gave a small quick tour of the house. As they walked the corridor, he noticed a portrait hanging by the wall. A happy couple that had just gotten married, hugging one another.
He recognised that it was her father, but much younger and he suspected that the brunette woman with honey-brown eyes was her mother. Gellert knew that her mother had died during childbirth but it was the first time he saw her.
With a glance at Roxanne, he could see that those two looked a lot like one another. From the shape of their faces to their bodies and he suspected that personality-wise; perhaps they had that in common.
Not wanting to stay behind, he continued following Roxanne that was waiting for him in front of a closed door. "Last room of the house, my room," she said as she pushed the door open and walked in, wanting to drop whatever she had bought at the village.
Gellert took a few steps inside and took a good look at the room. It was of an average size and quite plain. The only furniture was a single bed, a wardrobe, a writing desk and a hairdresser with an old mirror.
There were dozens of selves, all occupied by either books or jars with different ingredients for potions inside of them. There was a big window that seemed to overlook the huge garden behind, which was unkempt and coveted by wildflowers and weeds.
His eyes travelled the room and he spotted a fabulous red dress hanging outside the closet door. He did not have Roxanne for someone, who fancied expensive clothes or even dresses. Mostly considering that what she wore outside was always very plain and simple.
"Do you like it? It's my dress for the Yule Ball" she said with small pride, evident by her big smile.
"Yule Ball?" Gellert questioned, lifting an eyebrow as he looked at her.
"Yes. There is this annual Ball for the last year students at Hogwarts. Of course, the students can bring anyone as their date, even from one of the younger years" she explained. "I think you would like it. It has nice music and professional ballroom and waltz dancing, very good food and butterbeer even"
Gellert listened carefully. He was not one for balls, although they did have similar things back in Durmstrang and he was knowledgeable enough about different dances. Now, would he like that Yule Ball?
He had his doubts, for his mind was focused on only one thing and that was to find the Deathly Hallows and change the Wizarding World.
"Put it on" he finally said, after a moment too long.
His words had caught her off guard and her cheeks immediately took a shade that could rival the colour of the dress.
"Me? On? Now?" She asked, the shock has made her forget how to phrase proper and full sentences.
"Yes. You haven't tried that dress, have you? We need to check if it will suit you as it should" he said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I mean...we had my measurements taken for it... but I guess...you do have a point..." she said, a little undecided but deciding to trust him. "Just don't peep" she added as she took the dress and moved to another door, one leading to a more isolated bathroom.
"I wasn't planning to," he said as he took off his coat, realizing that the house was warm enough.
He placed it carefully on the chair and unbuttoned the first button of his vest, allowing his neck to breathe.
Eventually, the door to the bathroom opened and Roxanne walked out in her dress. Gellert turned to look and for a moment, there was only silence in the room.