Collision Course (Elias)

It seemed they were about to depart when a young Ravenclaw approached Timothy. She seemed sweet and Elias felt sorry for the small thing, out here in the howling wind in only thin robes. It didn't surprise him in the least to see that Timothy treated the young girl with the utmost kindness, giving more than enough money to support the girl's only Hogsmeade trip for the semester. He admired Timothy's generosity and dedication to his students. It was clear that he had found his calling in teaching.

Elias gazed warmly at his friend as the student walked away, a new spring in her step despite the dreadful weather. He wanted to compliment Timothy on his generosity, but knew that Timothy hadn't done it for the praise. He resolved to simply pass on the kindness and be there for Timothy, as Timothy had been there for the small Ravenclaw girl. He held still as Timothy took his elbow and twisted with him into nothingness, doing his best to remain passive so that Timothy could steer him along. He wasn't used to letting someone else take control like this, especially not when it came to something as risky as apparition.

The two men appeared suddenly in the countryside, not another soul in sight. Elias gazed at the unfamiliar but beautiful landscape, grateful that Timothy had such a beautiful place to come to visit his brother's grave. Elias followed at a polite distance behind as Timothy moved toward the gravestone, wanting to ensure that his friend would have the privacy he needed. He was struck again by the idea of losing one of his younger siblings, and the horror of the idea made his stomach clench. He couldn't imagine how Timothy had dealt with it. He was lucky to have never lost anyone close to him.

"I don't think it's foolish at all, Timothy," Elias replied kindly when Timothy returned his attention to the present moment. Elias moved forward, feeling sure now that he was allowed to approach, and placed a hand on his friends shoulder, who was still kneeled down in front of the grave. He gave his shoulder a squeeze, before speaking again: "I can't imagine what it's like, to lose a sibling. I'm sure I would miss mine every day if they were taken from me."

Timothy smiled at Elias's hand on his shoulder. The comfort was something he wasn't used to feeling. He was only used to consoling Bennett at the grave side, never being consoled himself. Timothy pondered Elias's words. How had he dealt with it? It was such a strange time in Timothy's life. He was close to graduation. His mother and father were entering their ripe years and Bennett was rising through his school years with haste. It was strange when Sam died. The entire world just kept spinning and it shocked Timothy. He thought his world would freeze. But everyone and everything just went on, like nothing had happened.

"When you find yourself staring at the face of death, you don't have time to stop and stare. If you don't just move forward, then you allow yourself to be consumed. I knew that if I was consumed by grief and let those dark clouds follow me, not only would I be losing myself, my family would lose me. Mum and Dad couldn't lose another son, and Bennett couldn't lose another brother. That lesson propelled me through two wars. If you find yourself looking in the eyes of death, just walk forward. It's like a hungry beast...if you play dead, it loses interest."

Timothy looked at the grave. "Isn't his grave immaculate? Mum and Dad really handed over everything to get him the best. Sam was always...flashy."

Elias was amazed at how much wiser and older Timothy seemed to grow when he spoke about the dark events in his past. He felt a strange feeling of gratitude that he had not yet faced challenges in his own life like those that Timothy had. He knew he ought not to be thinking of himself in a moment like this, but it was difficult to hear these things and thank his luck that he and his family and friends had mostly managed to side-step them. But then Timothy was talking about the second war, and his feelings of gratitude were whisked away: it wasn't luck that had kept him safe during the second Wizarding war -- it was cowardice. He had left the country, abandoning his friends and coworkers to deal with the Dark Lord's rise while he sat in a comfy office back in Berlin, meeting with quidditch players and coaches.

"I admire your strength, Timothy," he replied eventually. He was surprised to find that he was a bit jealous of his friend; not because Timothy's lot was so great, but because he had the guts to deal with all that he had and come out strong, still kind and caring as ever. "I will need to learn to be more like you, if you are right and these signs at Hogwarts mean that something dark is brewing." Elias knew now that he would not be able to hide again if something dark came for London. The guilt that he had felt, and still sometimes experienced, while away from the country had taken years to reduce. He would not put himself through that again by abandoning his friends out of self-interest.

Elias was a bit grateful for Timothy's change of subject: the lighter topic made it easier for him to push aside the thoughts that had been brewing in his head as he pondered all that Timothy had experienced. "I am sorry I never got to meet him," he answered with a smile. Sam really did sound like a guy he would have liked, and if he was anything like Timothy, Elias knew he must have been a good man.

Timothy stood up. He looked out across the water and closed his eyes for a moment. He turned on his heel and faced Elias. Timothy wasn't used to the feeling that pounded in his chest. It was something that felt foreign and alien. But he knew that he had felt this at one point in his life. For all of the unfamiliarity of the feeling, it still felt as if it had been in him before. Then it him. Reginald. But that had been so long ago. Why was this returning now? Timothy looked Elias in the face. It was incredible how handsome the man was. Timothy hadn't remembered that detail. But, he was by all accounts. Timothy smiled to himself softly.

"Elias. I had forgotten something about you. I had forgotten how...warm your aura was. How inviting and comforting and...welcoming you are. You remind me of a feeling I've not felt in a while. Thank you for that. That's all that I know to say. I don't know how to describe it but...that feeling is some how so comfortable." Timothy moved forward a bit and put his hand on Elias's shoulder. It was tough, but gentle. "I needed to feel that feeling again. In a way...everyone does. And...to tell you the truth I think that feeling is something that needs to be held onto. There isn't a doubt in my mind that there is something horrible on the horizon. I don't know when or how or even why...but there is. And I know that sounds strange. I know this all has. But, I just cannot deny it. Thank you for coming here with me. It means more than you'll know." 

Although he was taken aback at the wash of praise he received from his friend, Elias did his best to accept it graciously, as he had been raised to do. He let Timothy speak without interruption, finally offering his thanks when the other man seemed finished. "I'm glad to hear I can be a comfort to you, Timothy. I always want to be there for my friends." And it was true. He and Timothy had known one another for several years now, even if they weren't as close as they had been during their year at Hogwarts together. Elias was determined to be a good friend, however he was wanted. So if Timothy just needed a comforting presence, then that was what Elias would strive to be.

"It was nothing," he replied, when Timothy continued his thanks. "I am glad you asked me to come with you. I'm honored you wanted to share this with me." Elias looked down solemnly at the grave once more, lost in thought for a moment. So many of his encounters lately had held this ominous tone, like something worse was still waiting for them all on the horizon. "And I hope that we will both find the courage to fight whatever is coming, when it does."

He didn't know how long they stood like that, pondering the loss and devastation that had occurred over the last few months and years. When the sun began to creep lower, the shadows lengthening on the ground, Elias looked back again at Timothy. "I suppose I should be heading home, if you're ready. I am supposed to meet a few of my teammates for dinner." He extended his hand for a farewell shake. "It was good to see you after all of this. I'm so relieved you're alright, after everything that occurred at Hogwarts. I hope we will see one another soon." Elias wrapped his cloak tightly around himself before turning on the spot, the peaceful lake and grave fading into darkness as he traveled home.

Timothy smiled as Elias extended his goodbye. Timothy shook the man's hand with determination. "Let's not go so long without seeing one another again." Timothy laughed a bit. He watched Elias walk away into the quickly darkening landscape. In his wake, a wave of emotion was sent barreling toward Timothy. Timothy turned back to his brother, merely a headstone, yet some how so present and tangible. Timothy smiled and put his hand on the top of the marker. Timothy felt the air around him grow colder, as if the atmosphere was warning Timothy of things to come. But, at the moment, Timothy wasn't paying any attention to it.

Timothy looked at the headstone and smiled to himself. "I wish you could see me. My face...I feel myself glowing brighter than I have in so long. I know that you wished, over and over to see that brightness in me. And I hope more than anything that you feel that energy within me. I love you. I'll see you as soon as I can." Timothy kissed the palm of his hand and placed it on the face of the headstone before standing and turning around, walking toward the area where he apperated earlier. Timothy smiled as he clasped his hands together, bounding his way back to the cold and rain soaked streets of Hogsmeade.

-End