Shadow of the Prophecy

Ch. 16 - I Know Who I Am When I'm Alone; I'm Something Else When I'm With You

Theodore Sallow

Christmas Break, 7th Year

There is a phrase that even pureblood wizards use about best laid plans.

Theo had laughed, loud and heartily, in the muggle bookshop when he had located its source over the summer. It had drawn disapproving looks from the other clientele, but he hadn't been able to help it. The thought that pureblood wizards would quote a muggle poet had been too... well. Poetic.

He is not, however, laughing now.

The plan had been to arrive at Hogsmeade Station, take the floo to the square, and go down on one knee in its center. Rewrite a night that had gone poorly a year ago with a new - hopefully happier - memory. Then, he would scoop Helena up into his arms and carry her to the manor.

Theo had asked for weather predictions for Christmas Eve in every single village they have stopped in around Sallow Hall when Helen had either been distracted or out of earshot. The weather had, after all, been a major factor in the plan, and he had been anxious to adjust to it as necessary to get the timing right.

Each time, he had been told much the same: Christmas Eve had been predicted to be lovely for the time of year. Cold, but not frigid. Possibly some light dusting of snow.

He should have accounted for the shopkeepers' wishful thinking, or maybe his own. Should have charted the weather patterns himself; he was more than capable of it if he had thought he could explain it away without raising Helena's suspicions.

The damned blizzard had been the centerfold of the proverbial house of cards that had brought everything crashing down.

Then they had argued, and Theo had let his agitation get to him. Though he hardly feels he can be blamed entirely. He had been fighting against Helena's insecurities for days, and with the whole evening up in flames and his plans completely botched, the argument had been the final nail in the coffin of his patience and good grace.

Theo's plan to prove his devotion had included legilimency even before they boarded the train. As another muggle author had said, " Pictures are worth a thousand words. " And what are memories but a thousand pictures? Insecurities are often irrational, and will still stand against reason and judgment. They can only be stamped out by experiences and seeing things play out for one's self.

Still, he had not wanted it to be in the middle of making love to her. Nor without first having a discussion that legilimency could be painful.

Theo sighs and presses his lips to Helena's forehead from where she lies draped over him in bed, dozing. Her temperature has returned to normal, warmed through and body relaxed, thanks in no small part to him bundling her under the covers when she had wanted to pick up where they had left off in front of the fire.

He'd watched her closely, hand massaging over her temple and scalp as she had shivered and keened above him, eyes searching for any hint of lingering pain. Had thought at first about denying her - he is no fan of inflicting pain even with consent. But, Helena had been eager and wanting, and in the end his need to indulge her had won out. As though he could deny his fiance anything, regardless.

His fiance . Future wife. The eventual mother of his children.

His best laid plans, if they had been for naught, at least they have still arrived here.

"Firn," Theo murmurs to the open air.

He ensures Helena's modesty is intact with a careful tuck of the duvet around her shoulders.