Hogwarts Morning Radio

Epilogue

Epilogue

"So what do you think is going to happen?"

Tyler's question sat on the deck of the balcony for some time, as neither Anna nor Laila answered it. It had been several days since the incident and Munich, and Laila's grandmother had granted them refuge of sorts while they sorted out the legal end. They had been living in the castle buried within the Black Forest of Baden Wurttemburg, though despite the sun reaching above the peaks of the pines, unchallenged by any clouds, the mood was gloomy. Laila was still wracked with an unknown pain, unable to move far, and only just able to come of with snarky responses, but Lucas was almost as big a worry. Tyler remembered first seeing the body, immediately picturing something out of a slasher flick come to life, as if some maniac had taken a katana to a corpse, then added some extra blood for good measure. It was disturbing, and he was being treated by the family practitioner.

"Well? What do you think?"

He didn't care, just that any dialogue was better than the one in his head.

"There's nothing to think." Anna snapped. "Thomas gets off, Laila's fucked, and Lucas may not live to see tomorrow!"

She was right on all counts, Anna knew, as she berated him. He wasn't the same since then, but she was still furious at him from the other day. Thomas had been charged with assault and battery, conspiracy to commit a terrorist theft, grievous bodily harm, and money laundering, and had been sentenced to indefinite house arrest. He wouldn't see a day in Askaban. And Lucas-

"Now Anna, never assume."

No..

The three collectively turned to the vicinity of the voice, as a Lucas that looked slightly worse for wear hobbled in, leaning heavily on a walking frame as he stepped inside. "I wouldn't dare do such a thing as die off on you."

"THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN YOU PIECE OF SHIT."

"Thank you Laila."

Lucas grinned as Anna and Tyler moved to embrace him, nearly knocking him flat, as he tried to stay upright. "It's good to see everything went reasonably according to plan."

"But Thomas-"

Tyler cut Anna off with a laugh, saying "Let him stew, worse injustices have happened. I mean, he's still quite comfortable, it's not like he had to give up sex and serve on the wall, but he's in some sort of exile at least.."

Lucas laughed heartily at this, as this was the Tyler he remembered before their fight over the interview. His mellow thoughts were interrupted however, as Laila groaned. His question was answered before he had the chance to ask it from behind as a new voice said "She's wounded from breaking the wand."

Lucas turned and asked "Are you referring to?"

She nodded.

"What are you talking about Lucas?"

The woman straightened up, and said. "My granddaughter." she began, causing Anna and Tyler to stand up straight in realisation, though Lucas had yet to give a shit. "Was granted a soulbound wand. When she broke it, it has now been drawing at her being. She will die within the week if no alternative wand is create. However, the hair is no longer known, the last strand used in the wands creation."

Even Lucas appeared somber, as her grandmother asked Lucas "Mind going for a walk?"

He was surprised, but went along, as Tyler and Anna sighed as they were left alone with Laila. This was the first they had heard of Laila's condition, and were saddened as Laila's grandmother and Lucas wandered throughout the halls.

"My name is Gabrielle Faust, Lucas Jacobson Beck I've been told?" she asked, as he nodded. "Good. It's a shame she's going so soon. She proved determined in defending the Faust name, and was smart. You were to be her spouse, mm?"

Lucas backed off and blushed briefly, saying "We were... in a relationship."

The old woman laughed, and poked him. "Relax, I'm messing with you. I'm not that old. Still, it's sad." she paused, allowing him to be surprised at her down to earth personality, but then again she, as head of the family, would have to meet with people daily. She continued "While she was quite informal, she knows what she's doing. I never got along with her, but you should never deny efficiency.

He nodded. She didn't like her granddaughter, but she respected her. That really was a metaphor for the entire family.

"Can you see them?" Gabrielle asked.

"No." he replied, having lost the wooden shard.

"These are the portraits of all the Faust heads, starting here with Gerhard. Please, feel it at least, it was sewn with full texture and magic."

He thanked her, surprised by her hospitality, as he rested a finger on the canvas. He drew his finger from the background of the picture to the hair-

And saw Laila.

He fell back onto onto his ass, shocking Gabrielle, and summoning two Faust maids to bring him back to his feet, as he brushed his hand against the stitchwork, and saw it again. It took him a moment to realise.

And then he started pulling at the tread.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" she cried, trying to pull him back, but he snapped off the end, and the image of Laila's face came into his mind's eye, clear as day.

He turned to the matriarch.

"There's your hair. He hid it in his portrait, to prevent a replica. Now can you make Laila's new wand?" he told her, almost daring her.

There was a pause, and Gabrielle almost sobbed.

"Yes."

FIN.