Thistle and Stone [Chaennie]

Chapter 21

CONFESSION

Jennie stumbled after Roseanne as they hurried out of the Department of Mysteries, glancing back into the vast emptiness and high arched ceilings, the sounds of their quick breathing and hurried steps echoing around them. She let Roseanne lead her, knowing her familiarity with the area would get them to the atrium quicker. With one hand firmly locked in Roseanne's, Jennie let the other wander up to her mouth, wordlessly touching her fingers against her lips. The slight swell of them felt foreign. Foreign and yet reassuring, as if she had to convince herself the last five minutes had really taken place.

Her relief at arriving at the atrium was palpable. Jennie let the feeling coat her, taking a second to inhale and steady herself. Roseanne was right, they couldn't stay, and with every step they took away from the Department, Jennie felt herself get a little lighter. Roseanne's grip had loosened as well, though Jennie was acutely aware that she was still holding her hand.

"Are you able to apparate?" Roseanne asked, startled eyes skidding across the expanse of the atrium. Jennie paused, suddenly unsure. Could she?

"Side-along," she decided, knowing it had worked for them a number of times before. Jennie almost paused but decided she would be fine. She hadn't attempted apparition since leaving Skye but it was the quickest way home and she thought she'd be alright by now.

Roseanne nodded, focusing her gaze back on Jennie. Jennie tried to smile but managed a half-grimace instead, hoping it looked comforting.

"I'll take you home," Roseanne said, voice hushed, before Jennie felt herself gripped by the chest and spun out of the Ministry.

But it was Roseanne's worn wooden floors that she saw first, followed by the familiar portraits hanging on the walls of dark grey and exposed brick. A few lights were left on, as if Roseanne had expected to be home soon.

"Oh—" Roseanne started, sounding disoriented, "I must have thought of here, sorry—"

"It's alright," Jennie replied, her head still reeling from the movement. She was surprised to be back in Roseanne's front room – surprised because she had walked into their meeting today expecting it to be final, readying herself for goodbye. Her presence still felt tentative, unsure if Roseanne would suddenly change her mind. She took a step forward and immediately stopped, feeling herself sway slightly. Her head felt heavy, unbalanced, and she glanced up to check if the room was really spinning or not before quickly bending over and heaving the contents of her stomach onto Roseanne's floor.

"Gods—Jennie?" Roseanne's voice reached her through a tunnel and Jennie pushed the heel of her palm against her forehead, soothed by the pressure. She blinked slowly and kept her body half-bent, waiting out the dizziness.

"Sorry—Merlin, I'm sorry, I'm alright," she muttered towards the floor, "it's just vertigo, I just need a minute." She drew in ragged breaths and cursed herself for thinking she was fine.

She felt Roseanne's hand against her back, rubbing soft circles. "We shouldn't have apparated," Roseanne voiced, "I didn't even think about it, I just didn't realize..."

As her words faded out, Jennie could fill in what was left unsaid: she didn't know Jennie was still suffering too, hadn't realized the ending of the bond had left lingering effects that surfaced for her as well.

"I forget too," Jennie sighed, frustrated with herself. She let Roseanne continue to gently rub her back as she sat back on her heels for a few moments, letting the wave subside. "Sorry about your floor," she added, watching as Roseanne carefully took out her wand with her free hand and returned her floor to its former state.