The Last Horcrux

November the First

Sev stayed a panther all night long, but in the morning, he was human again. Remus was relieved, glad he would not have to explain to the children that Mr. Sev was just feeling sad, and needed some time to think, and that he would be himself again soon. Remus woke to find Sev showered and dressed for work, in his purple healer's robes, standing by the bed with a cup of coffee in his hand. Remus stirred sleepily and sat up in bed. He took the steaming mug from Sev and cupped his hands around its warmth. He took a sip. It was delicious - cream and a pinch of cinnamon, just the way he liked it

"Feeling better?" Remus asked.

Sev gave a wry smile. "Sorry about all that," he said. He brushed Remus' hair back from his forehead, kissed his cheek. "I am a little better, I think."

Oakley stood in their doorway, in his quidditch footy pajamas. He stretched his thin arms above his head. "I waked up," he announced, yawning. Remus watched from the bed as Sev went over and picked Oakley up. He buried his face in his soft curls, breathed in deeply and carried him over to the bed. He tucked him in next to Remus. Oakley wriggled under the covers, snuggling against Remus' warmth.

"I'm a bedbug," Oakley announced. "Grrr."

"I don't think bed bugs go Grr," said Remus.

"I'm going to bite you," said Oakley, and pinched Remus' leg.

"I think bed bugs like to tickle," said Remus, feeling under Oakley's PJs for his soft belly. Oakley giggled.

"Mustn't be late for work," said Sev. He kissed Remus goodbye and headed over to the fireplace in their room.

"Don't forget our appointment tomorrow," said Remus.

"I haven't," said Sev. "I'll let them know I'm leaving early." He took a pinch of powder from the box on the mantel. Green fire flamed in the grate. "St. Mungo's," said Sev, and he was gone through the floo.

Remus looked into Oakley's brown eyes, so like his own. "Time to get Gavin up for school," he said. He reached for his coffee and took a sip of the warm brew.

"No," said Oakley with a pout. "I wanna stay here and be bed bugs!"

"All right," said Remus, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. "For a few minutes. Bed bugs are coming to get you!" He tickled Oakley again, and the little boy shrieked with delight.

*******

Draco sat at his desk at Gringotts. He was bored. An abacus sat on the desk before him, in front of a long piece of parchment, covered with sums. He was balancing accounts, a slow and painstaking procedure. He tried to focus, but his mind continued to wander. He was a bit hungover from the party the night before. He took a sip of his coffee, but it wasn't really helping.

He looked up at the high vaulted windows above him, covered with a gridwork of small panes of glass. Gringotts was a beautiful building with its marble floors, classical columns and heavy oak counters. The ceiling was comprised of an interlocking series of domes. Who had designed this building, Draco wondered, and how had they come up with their ideas?

In a small corner of his accounting sheet, he drew a sketch of the complex ceiling, the soaring arched windows. His brow furrowed in concentration, a small smile played over his lips, as he lost himself in his drawing.

*******

The day after Halloween was always a quiet sort of day, Gavin thought, a bit of a let down, after all the anticipation leading up to the big night. The rain had stopped, but it was grey, damp, and blowy outside. Christmas was still very far away, and there was nothing to look forward to between now and then. School seemed more long and tedious than usual. Gavin had been up late the night before, and as the teacher explained about fractions and how to multiply them, he felt his eyelids growing heavier and heavier. The pull of the desk on his head was almost irresistible. He glanced at the clock on the wall - how could it be moving so slowly? He looked out the window at the grey sky. The trees were nearly bare, black skeletons, with just a few ragged leaves clinging to them, blowing in the wind. He pinched himself to try to stay awake, wiggled his toes. He picked up his pencil and doodled in the margins of his paper. He had got in trouble for this before, but it was better than falling asleep wasn't it? Around him he heard the rustling and fidgeting of his classmates. He wasn't the only one who was bored and restless.