The mood in the Great Hall was off the moment Gilderoy stepped in for breakfast. It wasn't loud like usual, no casual chatter or lazy laughter filling the air. Conversations were low, scattered, and tense, students whispering to each other while glancing at the professors' table more than usual.
Something had happened.
Gilderoy didn't need long to guess what it was. This kind of silence didn't come from exams or house drama. This felt heavier.
A Death Eater attack.
He didn't stop walking, but his eyes scanned the hall quickly before he made his way toward the Hufflepuff table. He was already looking for Amelia, expecting her to be there like always, but the moment he saw her, his steps slowed.
She was crying.
Tears were running down her face as she stared at the table, hands clenched slightly.
Gilderoy didn't ask anything. He walked straight up to her, sat beside her, and pulled her into his arms. She didn't resist, just leaned into him like she had nothing left in her.
"Gil… my parents… they…" Amelia tried to speak, but the words broke halfway.
"Shh," Gilderoy said quietly, tightening his hold on her.
His eyes moved to the table, and that's when he noticed the newspaper lying there, the paper crumpled and slightly wet from her tears. He picked it up carefully and unfolded it enough to read.
The front page had a large moving picture of a house burning, flames consuming everything and the dark mark floating above it.
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The Daily Prophet
Bones Estate in Flames: Suspected Death Eater Attack Leaves Family Dead
By Marlene McKinnon
The prominent Bones estate was left in ruins late last night after what Ministry officials are calling a highly coordinated attack, believed to involve multiple Death Eaters. The estate, located in a well-protected region, was engulfed in magical fire, reducing large sections of the property to ash before Ministry responders could contain the damage.
Lord Bones and his wife were confirmed dead at the scene. Their bodies were recovered last night, as Aurors continued to secure the area and investigate lingering dark magic.
Edgar Bones, along with his wife and children, were not present at the estate during the attack and have been confirmed safe, narrowly avoiding what officials are calling a targeted strike against the family.
While the Ministry has yet to release an official statement naming those responsible, sources within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement suggest the use of advanced Dark Magic and coordinated entry spells, indicating the involvement of experienced operatives rather than rogue elements.
While the Ministry has yet to release an official statement naming those responsible, witnesses reported the Dark Mark rising above the estate shortly after the attack, leaving little doubt about who was behind it.
Fear has begun to spread among old wizarding families, many of whom are now increasing private security measures in anticipation of further attacks. As the situation remains tense, the public awaits a formal response from the Ministry.
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Gilderoy tightened his hold on her as he finished reading. He didn't say anything, just held her. There wasn't anything he could say anyway.
Amelia stayed like that for a while before eventually pulling away, wiping her face quickly as if she didn't want anyone else to see.
"I just… need some time," she said quietly, not looking at him.
Gilderoy nodded.
For the rest of the day, Amelia barely spoke with him. She attended classes, but it was obvious she wasn't really there. Her focus drifted, her reactions delayed, and by the time evening came, she had already distanced herself again, choosing to sit alone and leaving early without waiting.
Gilderoy watched it happen without interfering at first, giving her space, thinking she just needed time to process everything. But a few days passed, and instead of getting better, Amelia only drifted further away. She stopped sitting with him during meals, avoided him in classes, and left before he could properly catch her. It wasn't obvious enough for others to notice, but to him it was clear what was happening.
She was pulling away, and Gilderoy had seen enough of this kind of drama to know where it led. One evening, as he leaned back in his chair watching her sit alone across the hall with untouched food in front of her, he clicked his tongue in irritation, already certain that if he didn't step in and make her realize she wasn't alone, this would only get worse and could easily end with them breaking up.
"No way I'm letting this happen," he muttered under his breath. "This is my story now."
The next opportunity came at the end of the day. As soon as the last lesson ended and students began leaving, Gilderoy moved without hesitation, catching Amelia before she could slip away again and grabbing her wrist, not roughly but firm enough that she couldn't just walk off like she had been doing.
"Come with me," he said.
"Gil, I—"
"Not here."
He didn't give her the chance to argue further and led her out, walking straight until they reached the Room of Requirement. The door formed as expected, and he pulled her inside before closing it behind them, only letting go once they were alone.
Turning to face her, he held her at arm's length and finally took a proper look at her after days of only catching glimpses.
She looked worse than he expected. Her eyes were dull and red from lack of sleep, her hair slightly messy like she hadn't cared to fix it, and faint tear marks still lingered on her face.
Gilderoy didn't waste time thinking about it. He pulled her into him again, slower this time, letting her settle instead of forcing it.
"I'm here for you, Amy. You're not alone."
That was enough to break whatever she had been holding back. Amelia's hands clenched against his robes as she buried her face into his chest, her shoulders shaking as she cried without trying to stop herself anymore.
Gilderoy stayed still, one hand resting on her back while the other moved to wipe her tears whenever she pulled back, only for more to follow. He didn't rush her or interrupt, just held her and let her cry it out.
After a while, when her breathing slowed slightly, he spoke again, quieter but firm.
"You're mine now, Amy. Your problems are mine too. Don't think you can just avoid me and deal with everything alone."
Amelia froze for a moment before letting out a weak breath that almost turned into a small laugh, and when she looked up at him, the emptiness in her eyes had lessened just enough to notice. A faint smile formed, small but real, and for the first time in days, she didn't look completely alone.
As the moment stretched, the tension in her body eased and her eyelids began to droop.
Gilderoy noticed immediately. "You haven't been sleeping Amy."
She didn't deny it, and he didn't push her further. Instead, he guided her toward the bed and sat down, pulling her with him as she leaned into him without resistance, like she had already run out of energy days ago.
He adjusted slightly, letting her rest properly against him, one arm around her to keep her steady.
"Sleep."
That was all she needed.
Within moments, Amelia drifted off in his arms, her breathing evening out as exhaustion finally took over. Gilderoy stayed there, holding her without moving, letting her rest, knowing that for now this was enough.
---
I'll be taking a short break for a little while.
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