Only Death Will Have Me

Wingardium Leviosa

The next morning, Neil went down to breakfast, Andrew was already there, preparing something for himself, Gaerly was serving the boys at the table. Neil made a mental note to ask about her later, he sat at the table greeting Nick and Aaron. Gaerly offered him a coffee mug, Neil smiled at her and took a sip, it was salty, he looked at the mug, and then at Gaerly, she was smiling daring him to say something. Neil placed the mug quietly on the table, Andrew was by his side in seconds and grabbed the mug, tasting it. 

"Out, now." Andrew told the house elf, she shrugged and left the kitchen. 

"What was that for?" Aaron asked, he probably didn't notice the interaction. 

Andrew left with Neil's salty coffee, coming back a couple minutes later with a new one. 

"I'll talk to her later." Andrew said, sitting with his own coffee, and honey toasts.

"Ok." Neil responded, sipping his new coffee, it was sweet. 

"I'm lost." Said Nick with a toast halfway to his mouth. 

"So, the tree, I want to see it," Neil said as a diversion, Nick smiled. "Now or?"

"At noon, so we can light it at night, it's really pretty, we can play quidditch if you want." Nick offered instead, Neil nodded vehemently. 

They played for a long time, and Neil refused Gaerly snacks, he went down and prepared it himself. Andrew was in his room, so he made some for him as well. Andrew opened his door, and Neil pushed the plate into his hands, leaving right after, Andrew closed the door.  Neil played a little more with the cousins, when they left he locked the door and runned as a fox. 

They spent a long time on the tree, Andrew didn't help, but watched. Nick insisted on Andrew placing the star on top, so he did with a spell, he'd never reach the top of the tree. After dinner they went to their rooms. 

Neil was about to enter his room when Andrew invited him over with a head gesture, Neil went. Andrew's room had a hundred magpies on the walls, they were enchanted to move around occasionally. His king-sized bed with gray curtains to the right, couches and armchairs to the left in front of a fireplace and over it was a big portrait of a man and a woman, although they didn't move, she was blond and serious, the man had a funny beard. A couch against the far wall, right under the window, with bookshelves on the opposite wall. It was probably the biggest bedroom in the house, why would Aaron and Nick choose other rooms? Oh… It belonged to Tilda. 

Andrew was on the balcony, a tiny fire pit between two reclining chairs, there was snow in the railing, but no wind. Neil casted a heating spell on himself before passing the french doors, he sat beside Andrew who offered him a lit cigarette. Neil took a drag, blowing right after, he wasn't smoking properly, he knew. They could see the giant Ferris Wheel in the distance from there, it was shining in the night, it was an especially new addition to London, but it was already there to stay. 

"Why don't you set Gaerly free?" Neil asked when Andrew gave him a second cigarette. 

"Aaron wanted to keep her, and none of them can do house chores," Andrew said, lighting up his own cigarette then looking at Neil. "Why?"

"Hum, I'd say it's because I'm against slavery," Neil responded, blowing smoke without letting it in, just to keep it alive. He would know, his father practically sold him to the dark lord. "But you seem to hate her, and she is not very nice." 

"I am against slavery, but you are right," Andrew stated. "Gaerly is a mythic bitch. The salty coffee, she did it to me every day, until I started making my own coffee, and after that, she would hide it so I couldn't make it myself."