Cat got your tongue~

59

Felix didn't elaborate on what had happened, but everyone noticed he suddenly started to feel better.

Many people had taken refuge at their house, which included the Weasley, the Delacours, some of their guests of the order and the newly wed. They stayed for a few days, then Bill, Fleur and her Family moved to their newly bought cottage.

Felix suddenly did not mind that many people in his house, he became a bit more outgoing.

He made sure to spend as much time with Tyler and his parents before the summer ended. They were going back to France with him.

Before they left, Felix had an idea.

"Hey Papa! Could you help me with something ?" he called out to Christophe one night. As usual, his step-father came running to give him a hug, he kept doing so each time Fellix called him his dad.

"What do you need poussin ?" Christophe answered with a smile.

"You're a good duellist aren't you ?" Felix asked. Christophe turned serious immediately.

"Felix you don't have to." He said, holding him by the shoulders. "We get that you want to help, but please do so in your lab, safe."

Felix held his father's gaze.
"No way. Making panacea is the worst thing i could ever do if i wanted to stay safe. I'd feel better if i could help fight for the ones i love instead simply waiting to bring them back from the dead. Please help me".

"Felix" Christophe pulled him into another hug. "Fine, but first i'm making sure that you will prioritize your life over anyone else's. Are we clear ? I don't care if it's me or your mother, or even Draco. Your life is precious, and we will all agree that we'd rather die than having you die again."

Felix tensed in the hug, but finally, he buried his head in Christophe's neck. "I swear it. I won't sacrifice myself."

They hugged for a while, then Christophe sent Felix to help Molly in the kitchen while he went to whisper something in Corine's ear.

Christophe went to bed satisfied, and he successfully avoided the subject of training with his step-son until the end of the summer. Instead, he pulled him into all sort of family bonding activities.

When Felix finally found himself called out in the garden one morning to stand in front of dummies made of hay sacs, Felix was unsure what to think of it.

"Don't you think it's a bit late to start now ? I thought you'd changed your mind" he mumbled as Christophe reinforced the last one with spells.

"What do you mean it's a bit late ? We're only starting." He smiled as he put his fist on his waist.

"Starting ? You're leaving tomorrow !" Felix retorted with a huge desire to cry.

Christophe burst out of laugh instead.
"Woops, did i forgot to tell you ? You're stuck with me all year young man. Summer's over so now's the time to practice" he said as he whooped his wand out of his pocket and walked back to him.

"What ? Why ? What about your job ?" Felix asked as he did the same.

"Took the year off, not too difficult in the field. How could i leave my little boy all alone behind ?"

"There's Cheryl ? And Molly and Arthur ?" Felix said, raising an eyebrow.

"How can i leave my little boy with people that saw him grow more than i did ?"

"What about mom ?"

"She's a big girl she doesn't need me."

"I'm going to tell her" Felix snorted

"Please don't" Christophe cried. He walked back to Felix and patted him on the head.
"Felix. We already talked about it, with your mother, Cheryl, even Molly. I know you do well without any of us. But as your parents, we want to protect you, okay ?" He took a deep breath and looked at Felix dead in the eye.
"If there is one thing i regret, it's letting you leave with that man and do nothing as we slowly figured out he was destroying you. But i can't go and fix it, i'm too late. The least i could do is to make sure that my little boy is safe and sound."

Felix wondered why they had to tear up each time they talked seriously, but he didn't say anything. Christophe wasn't wrong after all.

Christophe kissed his forehead before turning his heals to stand beside him.

"Now that it's settled. Today we're starting with the one i want you to use next time you see that bitch Bellatrix. Confringo. Quick, mean and powerful. I sincerely hope her mane catch on fire." He laughed.
"Of course we'll make sure you never get to face her again. If your mother isn't the one to throw her down a tower i definitely will be." He added in a mutter that didn't escape Felix.

Felix ignored it once more, instead he watched carefully the hand movement of his step-father and copied it without the incantation.

He was never that good with charms, but it didn't mean it was hopeless, he simply needed more training than others go get it. Thanks merlin he had an entire year with mostly nothing to do.