Part 9

“Well that could have gone better,” Justin muttered as he, Brian, and Harry entered the loft. It was the first time any of them had spoken since they had left Lindsay and Melanie’s. Justin watched in despair as his lover made his way to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. The blonde sighed at the misery he could feel coming from the older man and cursed their so-called friends for putting Brian through that scene at the house.

“I’m sorry,” Harry said quietly, blaming himself for the scene that had just taken place.

“It’s not your fault,” Justin told him, his gaze finally breaking away from the door his lover had disappeared behind. “If anything, that confrontation has been coming for a long time. Your arrival was just a convenient trigger for the shit to finally hit that fan.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, how come?”

“I can’t really say,” Justin answered. “I don’t know that they even realize what they’re doing. Well, maybe Mel does and I think her big problem is that she and Brian are a lot alike. That and Brian is Gus’s father, which means that he will always be a part of her and Lindsay’s lives.”

“But what about the others?”

“I think the main problem is that none of them are willing to admit that Brian has changed,” Justin explained. “I think they want to continue seeing him as the same unfeeling, uncaring, selfish bastard that he used to be.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense,” Harry protested, not understanding how someone’s supposed friends could be so unsupportive. Harry remembered how hurt he had been when Ron had stopped talking to him because he had believed that Harry was purposely going after the spotlight during the Tri-Wizards Tournament, and the relief he felt when Ron finally started talking to him again.

“I never said that it made any sense,” Justin countered. “I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that, as long as Brian stayed the same, they could blame everything on him. I know Debbie does that a lot when something goes wrong in Michael’s life and Mel is constantly doing that whenever problems happen between her and Lindsay. And I know my parents blame Brian for a lot of the shit that’s happened to me since I met him. Hell my Dad swears that Brian seduced me and caused me to be gay. One night my father went so far as to attack Brian when we were leaving a club with the gang and Debbie yelled at Brian about it.”

“If Brian was the one attacked, why did he get yelled at?”

“Because everything is Brian’s fault, at least in their world. It’s why I think they don’t want to admit he changed, because then they will have to admit that whatever happens in their lives that they don’t like is their own fault.” Justin shook himself. “Sorry, I don’t mean to make it sound like they’re a bunch of assholes or something. It’s just that I get so sick and tired of listening to them jump on Brian’s back for everything, especially when it comes to me. It’s almost like they would rather see him as a child molester or something instead of admitting that I’m actually someone who can make up his own mind.”

“You mean like them yelling because you want to go with us to Hogwart’s?” Harry asked, remembering the anger he had felt when they had announced that Justin would be joining them on the trip to England.

“Exactly. Like I said. It was just the final straw. What happened tonight has been coming for a long time.” Justin tilted his head towards the bathroom as he heard the shower start. “Look, Harry, if you don’t mind, I think I better go check on Brian. I need to make sure that he’s okay after all of this.”

“Okay,” Harry said, watching Justin go towards the bathroom. Harry might be only fourteen, but he had a good idea of what exactly was going to happen behind the closed door, so he settled down and decided to write a letter to his two friends Ron and Hermoine and let them know what his summer has been like so far.

“Hey,” Justin said, joining his lover in the shower. He wrapped his arms around Brian’s waist, offering him the comfort that he knew Brian wouldn’t ask for.

“Hey yourself,” Brian returned, turning around and wrapping his own arms around Justin, pulling the younger man against him. Brian leaned down, his lips brushing Justin’s and the two men contented themselves with soft, sweet kisses over the next following few minutes. Where normally their kissing would lead to more playful and active, water activities, neither man felt inclined to move forward. Eventually the pulled apart and began to wash each other off.

“Justin.”

“Hmmm?”

“Are you sure you want to go to England with me?” Justin turned to face Brian, who had been washing the teen’s back. He looked up into the hazel eyes of his lover and could see the insecurity that Brian allowed only a few people to know resided in him. “You know there’s no set time period for how long I’m going to be needed at Hogwart’s. Hell, for all we know, I could be there for a year, if not more.”

“So?”

“What about your school? You’ve worked so hard to be where you are now.”

“You’re starting to sound like the rest of the band of merry trouble makers,” Justin countered, not liking what he was hearing come from his lover’s mouth and he cursed their friends once more for the way they treated Brian earlier that day. Justin kissed Brian, trying to show how much he loved the older man. “Brian, I’m going to Hogwart’s with you. I’m not having second thoughts. I’m not going to reconsider, no matter what everyone else, including you, say. This is something that I want to do, and you know me. I always get what I want.”

‘Twat,” Brian said, holding Justin close to him.

“True, but I’m your twat. And I’m never letting you go.”

“Tell me about it,” Brian smirked, rubbing against the younger man, feeling their hardening lengths rubbing against each other, moaning at the sensation. “No matter what I do, you keep coming back.”

“And I always will.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Part 10

“Dada,” Gus yelled as soon as he saw his father. He ran as fast as his little legs could carry him, flinging himself into Brian’s arms, which caught him easily.

“Hey Sonnyboy, “Brian greeted the excited two year old. He held the small boy close to him, knowing that there was a good chance that it would be the last time he would be able to do so for a long time. “Hey Linds,” he said in greeting to the blonde that had brought his son for the surprise visit.

“Brian.”

“You just missed Justin,” Brian informed her, bouncing his son in his arms, causing Gus to giggle. “He took Harry over to PIFA so he could see where he goes to school. And he wanted to grab a couple of things from there for him to take with him to England.”

“I know. I saw the two of them leave as I was pulling up,” Lindsay said. There was something in her voice that made Brian think that Lindsay was glad that the two teens weren’t at the loft and he resigned himself to the lecture that he was sure he was about to receive from the mother of his son.

“Ahh, so is this where you try to convince me that I shouldn’t go to England and help Harry and the rest of Hogwart’s defect Voldemort? Or is it that you don’t care whether or not I go, its just that you would prefer that I leave Justin out of it because he’s so young and has his whole life to lead without my interference?”

“Brian, don’t be like that,” Lindsay sighed.

“Be like what, Linds? You and the rest of the little zoo crew made no secret of how you felt about my going back to Hogwart’s,” Brian said, reminding her of the disastorous meeting of only a few nights before. “And that was before you knew Justin would be going with me. After that announcement, you guys made sure to tell Justin that he was making the biggest mistake of his life by coming with me.”

“Its just that we’re concerned about him. About both of you,” Lindsay quickly amended upon seeing the glare that Brian sent her way. “Ben told us how dangerous this Voldemort was. How no one in the wizarding community will even say his name, afraid of drawing attention to themselves. And Justin is so young and he has his classes to worry about. Classes that you are paying for, might I remind you. How fair is it for you to expect him to just dump everything and go off to England with you. Did you even think about that before you decided to go on your grand adventure?”

“Believe it or not, Lind, I did,” Brian cut her off. “That’s why I didn’t ask him.”

“But…”

“He told me he was coming,” Brian broke in again. “He said there was no way I was going to leave him behind, especially since we have no idea how long I’m going to have to be gone. Besides, like he said, he can do his art anywhere and I can’t think of a more interesting place to get some inspiration than Hogwart’s. In fact, Justin will probably learn more there and PIFA. Did you know that if you draw a living object, like a person or an animal, it moves..”

“Bullshit. Pictures can’t move, Brian. You know that.:

“Maybe here they can’t but in the magickal community pictures, whether painted or photographed, do move.” Brian went over to the small area that was currently housing Harry’s belongings. He picked up a deck of trading cards and brought them over to Lindsay. “Take a look at these.”

The blonde woman looked at what Brian had handed her and was shocked when a picture of Albus Dumbledore stared back at her. She looked up at Brian for a moment, only to look back at the card to see that the card was now empty. She let out a startled gasp that made Gus jump. Brian went over to his son to pick him up and let him know that there was nothing wrong.

“What the hell?”

“They would be wizarding cards. They kids collect them like baseball cards. They come with chocolate frogs.” At Lindsay’s startled look, Brian continued. “Relax, Linds, they aren’t real frogs. They’re just chocolate that’s enchanted. I’ll see about sending some back to you guys to see what I mean. I used to eat them a lot when I went to Hogwart’s. Those and Bernie Bott’s Every Flavor Bean, and let me tell you, they seriously mean every flavor.” Lindsay continued staring at the card for a few more minutes before her concern for Justin returned.

“Brian, as interesting, hell fascinating, as trying to paint something like is, I still don’t think that Justin should go with you. It’s too dangerous and he’s already been through enough.”

“You’re telling me what he’s been through?” Brian scoffed. “Don’t forget, I was there for most of it. I’m the one that’s been to help him get through everything.”

“I know Brian,” Lindsay agreed. “And that’s all the more reason for you to want him to stay here. You can’t even promise his family that he’ll stay safe. That he won’t get hurt.”

“Of course I can’t make that promise,” Brian agreed. “Then again, its not like being in the Pitts has been all that safe for him. Christ he almost got killed at his Prom, not exactly a usual place for life endangerment.”

“So that gives you an excuse to take to someplace where his life will be in even more danger,” Lindsay countered, going over to where Gus was investigating his father’s DVDs. She picked up the young boy and headed towards the front door. “I’m sorry, Brian, but I can’t condone that.”

“I’m not asking you to condone it. I’m not asking you to do anything except understand that this is Justin’s decision. And that’s it’ s a decision that any of you would make too if the person involved was your significant other.” Lindsay looked over at Brian, and he could see that no matter what he said, he would never change her mind. He walked over and gave his son a kiss on the cheek, returning the smile that Gus gave him. “You know, we’re doing this for Gus too. There’s a good chance that he’s a wizard too. Or do you plan on doing what my parents did and deny him that part of himself?” Lindsay didn’t say anything and Brian knew the answer. He had known the blonde woman too long to not recognize what she was trying so hard not to say and that was that she would be more than willing to deny Gus’s heritage if it suited her needs. He opened the loft door. “I see. Linds, just out of curiosity, when did you become your mother?”

“What the hell do you mean by that?” Lindsay demanded, offended at even the thought of resembling the cold woman who was her mother. The same mother that basically denied Lindsay right to love whomever she chooses.

“What I mean is that if it turns out that Gus is a wizard, you’ re going to do what my parents did and deny him that chance, aren’ t you?” Lindsay could hear the venom in Brian’s voice, but was unable to deny what he was implying. “Deny what he is because it doesn’t fit in with what you find acceptable, like you’re parents did when you told them you were gay.”

“Brian, there’s a bit of a difference between being gay and being a wizard,” Lindsay argued.

“Like Justin would say, duh. But it’s still something that would be an essential part of who Gus is,” Brian told her. “Just like being gay is part of who we are.”

“I’m not going to have this conversation,” Lindsay said, heading to the door.

“Of course not, why should not be any different?” Brian replied, watching her slid open the door and making no move to help her. “Just like always, little Lindsay Peterson will go hiding her head and ignoring anything that doesn’t fit into her perfect little world. For Gus’s sake, I hope he doesn’t do anything that makes you see him as something less than perfect.”

“Fuck you,” Lindsay said, before slamming the door to the loft closed, leaving Brian behind to wonder if that might have been the last time he would see his son.