Cast Aside

Testy Interrogation and Ancient Rites

Sorry this has taken so long. I just haven't been feeling writing lately. I have half of another chapter done though and I think I know what is next. I am going to finish this story this year. It is NOT dragging on ANOTHER year. 

Chapter 29

Gideon sat in the kitchen, feet propped on another chair, helping his brother finish off the last of a very fine bottle of muggle whiskey. He rolled the smooth, smoky liquor around his mouth, savoring the burn as it went down. Perfection.

He pulled the steak he'd been holding to the left half of his face aside and turned to Fabian.

"How do I look, brother? Swelling gone down yet?"

Fabian blinked out of his own reverie and inspected his twin's face. "Hmm. Better, still rather black and blue though. I bet if you ask real sweet like, George would let you have some of that special bruise paste he's got." He chuckled. "You look bloody ridiculous."

Gideon sat back, replacing the steak and laughed softly as well. "Oi, it was worth it though. Honestly, they've been sharing a bed for months. He's got more self control than I have. Hermione's fit."

"She is. Plus they've been mad for each other almost as long."

"They've been at it for ages. I wish I had his stamina." He took another sip. "You think cousin Sirius's werewolf friend would mind giving me a nip too?"

"Bloody hell, mate. You really are an idiot, do you know?"

Gideon laughed. "What would I do without you to remind me now and again, brother."

They both fell silent, Gideon still quietly envying his nephew and wondering if his joke had any merit after all. Eventually the space between them began to feel heavy with his brother's anxious thinking. Gideon sighed.

"Alright, I'll ask our little cousin if he'll ask for the both of us. I'd hate to unbalance the occasional ménage à trois."

"Twat."

Hearing it lacked any real malice, Gideon squinted over from beneath the steak at his brother. "Oi, what's the matter with you?"

Fabian finished his drink and frowned, reaching for the bottle. "Do you think... well it's what George said earlier." He topped off both of their glasses and stared thoughtfully into his own for a moment before going on. "We've never forgotten to use the charm, have we?"

Gideon nearly choked on his whiskey. "What? Are you kidding?" The steak hit the table with a slap as he sat up to stare agog at his brother. "How long did we work to master the wandless, wordless contraception charm?"

He rolled his eyes. "Until it was second nature, ya I know... but what if..."

"No." Gideon stood, pointing at his brother. "We never forget, even completely pissed. Muggleborns are normal. George was just being a dickhead."

Now Fabian was standing too. "Well, what if it doesn't work as well wandless? What if we aren't as bloody brilliant as we think we are? Could we be dads, Gideon?"

"Fuck sakes!" He felt positively ill. "You're a bloody sorry drunk, Fab."

His brother clutched at his hair. "We're not exactly easy for a muggle bird to get in touch with. We could have scores of kids!"

Face contorting with horror, Gideon snatched the bottle and both glasses from the table. "Right, you're cut off, mate. You're talking nonsense."

"Oi!" Fabian made to dash around the table for his whiskey when they shared a sudden shiver of magic, causing the more drunk of the pair to fall to the floor.