The Other Potter

For What I Am

Elijah had got back to the Manor, thanking his lucky stars that both twins seemed to be getting ready so he just followed suit. Getting showered and changed, feeling his nerves come fluttering back as time ticked on.

Apparently the twins parents had given them permission to use the townhouse, since both Felix and Ezra's parents were away for the weekend and they too were now wanting to see the three of them. It worked better for Elijah, there were no house elves that stayed at the townhouse, and it meant they had full privacy.

He was still playing with the idea of telling both Felix and Ezra everything, but his gut was telling him it was a bad idea. He didn't know whether that was just the unusual feeling of being more open or whether he should listen to it and take it more seriously.

They decided it would be best for Elijah to wait at the townhouse for them, because if they could convince the Death Eaters that Nik and Elijah were no longer together then he was at no risk of being dragged into this mess. Ezra and Felix were still under the impression it was a surprise and had strict instructions from Alix to keep Nik under low profile when boarding the train anyway, so he'd have been hidden well.

He paced the living room of the townhouse, even gone out to a muggle supermarket to purchases snacks and beverages, and stopped at a blockbuster to rent a few films. He had to sign up for a card and everything, it felt very formal and muggle like.

He had tidied the place top to bottom which didn't take long because the house elves had been in earlier and done a better job, but he was nervous and cleaning helped.

When he heard the front door open he had to restrain himself from running full force to the other, instead he waited patiently, pacing back and forth as he keened his ears to listen to each footstep towards the living room. He could hear Alix and Jay showing Nik each room on the way through and finally the door opened, revealing all five of them.

"Hey!" Felix and Ezra chimed to their friend.

As rude as it may have seemed Elijah ignored them, eyes instantly locked with Nik's. It was as if they could communicate through this alone, but Alix started to silently move the other boys out of the living room.

"Let's get your bags up to your rooms." He heard her tell them as the door shut.

The silence was heavy, crushing down on both boys, waiting for one of them to break under the pressure of it. Had it been anyone else Elijah would have let his stubbornness get the better of him and would have rather sit in uncomfortable silence than be the first to break - but this wasn't anyone else's this was Nik.

"How was the train?" he asked quietly, ignoring the elephant in the room for a second.

"That's what you want to start with?" Nik asked, raising a brow.

"Personally, I find the trip too short on the way back for the summer, but I prefer going the other way." Elijah continued, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

"You're a dick."

"That does seem to be the popular verdict, yes." Elijah nodded, biting back a smile.

"I was worried sick."

"I know."

"Everyone at Hogwarts was convinced you killed Cedric Diggory, did you?"

"No. I was there though, when he died."

"Then who killed him?"

"One of Voldemorts followers." He murmured, knowing how insane it sounded, and he knew how unwilling people would be to believe this to be true.