Shadow of the Prophecy

Ch. 11 - I'll Call Your Bluff, and Keep on Telling, Telling, Telling You Lies

Helena Haggerty

Late Spring 4th Year

The early days after Helena's trip into the forest had been hard. Every time Helena would walk, the muscles in her legs would go taut, and she had felt more like she was dragging herself to classes than walking there. She had often had to stop on her way to classes to rest, but each day had gotten a little easier.

Theodore had been there for her. He had been there when she had woken in the hospital wing, and he had been there for her every day since.

She had thought he would be angry for having to save her, but instead he had kissed her like he had needed to apologize. Hope had swelled in her that maybe they were finished with whatever argument they had been having then, and she had been unable to keep herself from asking something to that effect. If he hadn't been angry about the wood, and she could at least have back between them what had seemed to be lost, she had been willing to take it. Anything to have Theodore in her life, even if it wasn't everything she wanted. There were worse things than not having his love.

These days see Theodore walking with her through the hallways, ever patient in her recovery as he encourages her to his side. Sometimes he will sit with her in the great hall, and he will prepare a plate of her favorite foods for her. The other Ravenclaws had tittered about it at first, but Theodore and Sirona had put a stop to it early on with a glare. Helena never asks how he knows what her favorite foods are, or how his consort will feel about his sitting with her, but it is ultimately irrelevant; It is not as important as his company.

When she is too tired to study, Theodore reads to her, and when she is tired of studying, he will let her place her head on his shoulder in front of the library fire and read poetry to her instead. He is so warm, and it soothes her muscles and her heart to have him so close; like they used to be before he had learned of his consort. Sometimes Helena worries he touches her and reads to her out of guilt for the way he had treated her, but there are worse things than guilt if it means she can have his friendship restored. They never once mention the kiss.

When she is stronger, Theodore sets up a demonstration of her magical prowess for Ryan and Thakkar. She shows them every spell that he had taught her, and some he hadn't, as well. It takes a lot out of her, but they appear to be impressed. Theodore practically carries her to the library afterward, and he murmurs to her about how proud he is of her skill before dipping her onto the settee in front of the fire where Basil waits. Theodore himself goes to the headmaster to propose the idea of her taking both O.W.Ls, and Basil looks between them as he strides off to the headmaster's office.

"You two had better name your children after me," Basil mutters, and Helena feels her cheeks heat.

"We are just friends, Basil." Helena does not mention Theodore's consort. She is tired, and she doesn't trust herself to be kind.

Basil snorts and gives her a sideways glance that says she doesn't believe it in the slightest. "Right. That what he told you?"

Helena decides to try a different tactic to hopefully derail the conversation. "Besides, what if we had a boy?"

"Then name him Sebastian," Basil waves a hand like Helena has no right to doubt that she thinks of everything.

The conversation is going farther than Helena intended, but she is unable to help but to ask.

"Why Sebastian?"

"Because it has my nickname in it," Basil says simply. "Se - bas - tian, and because it sounds sophisticated."