The House-Whisperer

Waifs and Strays, pt. 3

'Of course, you're not the first human stray to end up at my house. The first had been the Lovegoods. You see, Xenophilius had battled on, determined not to abandon his house and keep living there and printing his Quibbler despite the Deatheaters destroying the second storey. He'd repaired it the best he could, but his best wasn't enough to withstand the first early thunderstorm of the summer and they'd been rained out. I found Luna and him wandering in a hopeless and bedraggled state in Diagon Alley. There were no rooms available at the Leaky Cauldron, and without thinking, I immediately invited them back to stay until they could get the house sorted. The Ministry had promised some sort of recompense but it was not forthcoming. I got involved and went straight to Kingsley, several times, until he got involved too. After all, Xenophilius had sort of helped me defeat Voldemort with information about the Hallows.'

'Are you ever going to tell me that story?'

'One day. After Kingsley got involved the money came and also help in properly repairing the house too. Meanwhile, it was Xenophilius and Luna who transformed my garden. It was an area I'd been avoiding, I was never a fan of gardening...'

'You say that like it's a given that all men our age should have gardened at least once in their lifetime.'

'Lon...'

'Long story, yes, I know, another time.'

'So, I still hadn't managed to face it. It was overgrown with brambles, nettles, and tall Leylandiis and then with the large black scorched circle in the middle of the overgrown lawn that I'd added, it was an overwhelming eyesore. Xenophilius is a determined man when he gets the bit between his teeth, I guess he felt like he was indebted to me, twice now, so he brought down the overshadowing trees and cleared the brambles and nettles. I was utterly amazed at how long the garden was, I'd never explored it properly. It felt like it was disappearing into the distance like some proper vista. Obviously, nothing like the Manor and its grounds, but its mine and I love it. Anyway, Luna designed that pretty scape with its secret path, have you been down to the orchard trees yet? Xenophilius insisted they were kept, and they added the beds of colourful plants, you need to see it in the summer, and there's a hidden bench to sit in the sun. Between us, we also managed to repair the old patio so I can eat outside when the weather is hot. And once more I felt that connection as the house blossomed under the tender care it was receiving.

'The Lovegoods were replaced by Blaise...'

'My Blaise?'

'Yes, of all people. I'd taken to going to gay clubs in one of the less salubrious parts of muggle London. I was less likely to get recognised. Only one night, when I was leaving a club, I heard a kafuffle down a side alley. And me, being me, couldn't help that old hero-complex kicking in and going to investigate. It turned out Blaise was at the other end of two lads' quest to beat up anyone they could after their drinking binge. One was holding Blaise's arms behind his back and the other using his face as a punchbag.'

'Bloody hell, poor Blaise. Was he alright?'

'Yes, after a bit of TLC, very shaken, and it turned into Blaise staying for a few months.'

'I haven't seen him since school.'

'I know, he left everything about Hogwarts behind him on purpose, he was quite determined not to be involved in any of the sordidness of Voldemort and associated Slytherin maligning. It was purely coincidence that we'd not seen each other at the club considering we'd both been several times...'

'Wait! Blaise isn't gay?'

'Yes, he is. I can unequivocally confirm that Blaise is gay. He was my first proper lover.'

'No, this is too much to take in. Putting aside the idea of you two together because I can't even process that: he never told me. He was one of my best friends and he never told me! When did he even come out?'