RP: He's leaving home...
Date: 8 June, 2005
Characters: Gilderoy, Knobby, then Daphne and Seti
Location: Gildery Shoppe, then far away
Status: Private
Summary: Gilderoy finds a means and a way.
Completion: Incomplete
It was the most difficult thing Gilderoy had ever done in his entire life. Oh, if Julian had just not shown up at the wedding, at least he could have pretended that there was some hope. Or if he had come back the next morning, crawled into bed, and told Gilderoy that he’d changed his mind, and he needed to be here, then Gilderoy might have believed there was a chance.
But here he was, two days later. Still no word from Marcel. No, not Marcel anymore. Julian Avery. He was with his wife Carolyn Avery and their Child, Pippi-Marigold Avery (or something like that... That’s what Gilderoy imagined they would have named their child).
And there just wasn’t any room for Gilderoy Lockhart in that family.
“Knobby never gave Master Gilderoy his present,” the little elf said sadly. She was standing at the door with a piece of parchment in her hand. It was folded up and sealed with wax and a green ribbon.
Gilderoy was sitting on the bed, looking over at the photograph of his mother. He didn’t have any of Julian, and for once, he was a little glad of that. At that singular moment, he wasn’t sure if he could handle the sight of his... no, not his anymore, of Julian’s face smiling up at him. “I’m sorry, Knobby. I don’t know what to do. I just can’t stay around here anymore without him.”
Knobby came bounding up to her master. She’d never seen him so sad and dull. There wasn’t a bit of shine left in him. Well, perhaps she could help that. She took Gilderoy’s hand and put the piece of parchment in it, turned up so he could see what was written on the front. “Knobby has a goblin friend. Can only be opened by rightful owner, so, Master Gilderoy can open it, yes?”
He moved his gaze from the photograph to the parchment in his hand.
Mister Gilderoy Lockhart
Deed of Ownership for Lockhart Estate
“Knobby,” he whispered, “is this what I think it is?”
The little elf crawled up on the bed and sat next to Gilderoy, swinging her legs back and forth, bouncing her heels off of the mattress. “Knobby made friends with a Goblin, and asked about Master Gilderoy’s home. Goblin was grumpy, but told Knobby that of course he would know where it was and only the owner could have the deed, or it would go poof and back into Goblin’s hands if another someone tried to open it!”
Gilderoy carefully slid his finger under the wax seal and untied the ribbon.
It was still with him. Intact, and not poofy at all.
He opened it and began reading the details of the document. There was a full description of the house and grounds, four elves named who would reside on the estate (thank the Gods they weren’t alone all these years), two horses (oh, he loved horses), and a list of the contents of the house. The document also had detailed apparation instructions, coordinates for a port-key, and directions on how to get there by land, forest, sea, or by flying.
“Knobby, pack our things. I’m going home.”
Knobby jumped down from the bed and jumped up and down. “And we leave a note for Master Avery and Miss Seti where we go and--”
“NO! No note,” Gilderoy held up his hand in protest and swallowed hard. “A note won’t be necessary. Besides, they will be too busy preparing for the arrival of Julian and his family. Best not have an expectant ex-lover leaving strings attached. He’ll be happy when he comes back, and I don’t want him feeling any sort of guilt or being upset on my account.”
It was one of the most difficult things Gilderoy had ever said. He could feel himself trembling at the thought of being alone like this for who knew how long. But he just couldn’t do that to Julian. No matter what had just happened, he still loved the man with all of his heart. Every bit of it belonged to Julian Marcel Avery. And the only thing Gilderoy had left to give to the man was his blessing.
He could owl Rita later and tell her about what happened, where he went, and perhaps make arrangements to meet with her later.
“Goldie-Red can help you with the animals. Mr. Ingleheart can take care of the sheep and goats until I can make suitable arrangements for them. We’ll bring Milkweed, Puff, and their brood with us. I believe Goldie-Red can do that bit. If you could call upon your brothers to help pack my things over at... at his flat, and just have them set outside, I would appreciate it. I don’t want them to know where we’re going just yet. I’ll send Holly-Polly with a note for the elves at the house.”
Gilderoy began hastily packing up the things in his room as he spoke. When he got to his writing desk, he wrote one note for the elves at the house, another one for Mr. Ingleheart asking him to take care of the livestock until he could make further arrangements.
After folding up the three bits of parchment, he headed downstairs, leaving his trunk and wardrobe in his room, and handed all three to Holly Polly Midas. “Be sure you deliver the one to the elves at my house first. Then the one to Mr. Ingleheart.”
When the owl had gone, he stopped for a moment and looked around the shop. Daphne would be there shortly, and he wanted to be gone before she arrived. Quickly, he grabbed a small stash of yarn, a few bolts of fabric that Seti had given him, and his basket of notions. All of those things he tied up together and put them in the middle of the floor. Then he raced upstairs and grabbed his trunk, let it thud-thud-thud down the stairs as he dragged that into the middle of the floor, as well.
Knobby popped back into the room just as he lay his things down together. “Can you make arrangements for these things to be transported to the house? And... I’ll need a way to get there. I don’t know how to find it by these instructions,” Gilderoy said, looking cluelessly at the document. “Perhaps Mr. Ingleheart could give me a lift?”
He went over to Knobby and knelt before her. “I’m going to leave a note for Daphne. She can take care of the shop while we’re gone. Can you come in here after hours and move things over from here to there?” he asked in a sweet voice.
Knobby looked a little sad and just nodded meekly. It was good to see her Master with his energy back, but this wasn’t what she had wanted him to do. Perhaps a visit for a few days, or even just a bit of an explore for one day, but not moving there entirely and abandoning the life he had here. “Master... Oh, Most Magnificent Master Gilderoy, Knobby does not want to make others sad by taking Golden Master Gilderoy away from them.”
She was obviously distraught. Gilderoy pulled her in close for a tight hug and kissed her on the cheek. “I just need to get away for a little while, Knobby. I care very much about this place and the people who live here, and I want to come back. But I need to be away while he settles in with his family.”
Knobby nodded and went over to the pile of cases on the floor. “Brothers won’t help Knobby. Knobby can move Master Gilderoy’s things herself after taking these to the other house.”
“That’s fine, Knobby, just do what you can. And once we get to the house, perhaps you’ll have some other elves there to help you, as well.”
Gilderoy glanced over at the “snogging sofa” and felt tears welling up in his eyes. He didn’t have time to collapse right now. Didn’t have time for...
Knobby held him as the sobbing began. She’d never seen anyone break down like this before, and wasn’t quite sure what to do, so she just stood there with her arms around his neck for a while until he began breathing normally again.
“I love him, Knobby. I love him and I don’t want to be without him like this,” Gilderoy sobbed. “He loved me, too. I know he did because he said so in his eyes, and even though the mouth lies, the eyes don’t right?”
It took him a few minutes to gather his composure enough to stand again. “I’ll write the note and go to Mr. Ingleheart. You take these things and I’ll meet you there.”
Knobby sniffed once, then nodded and went over to the pile of things in the center of the room. With a crack and a puff of smoke she and the cases were all gone.
Gilderoy went over to the counter and brought out a quill and parchment.
Daphne,
I’m very sorry to do this to you on such short notice, but I need to leave the store in your capable hands for a while. It might be a week, or two, or perhaps longer, I don’t know.
I’ve taken the animals and will regularly send you yarn. Please take orders for robes if you feel confident taking measurements, and owl them to me. I’ll send Holly Polly around daily to pick up the post and for you to send me notes if necessary.
Take care of yourself, my dear. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you in my absence. I am leaving the key with you, and be sure to lock up at night. If anything strange happens at all, call on Seti or Rita, I’m sure they’ll be willing to help you.
I shall miss you dearly while I’m away,
~Gilderoy
He took the note and stuck it to the door, leaving the key on the front counter. After making sure the door was unlocked, and with the deed in hand, Gilderoy left his shoppe, left Stoatshead Hill, left the place that he and Marcel had believed to be paradise.
Characters: Gilderoy, Knobby, then Daphne and Seti
Location: Gildery Shoppe, then far away
Status: Private
Summary: Gilderoy finds a means and a way.
Completion: Incomplete
It was the most difficult thing Gilderoy had ever done in his entire life. Oh, if Julian had just not shown up at the wedding, at least he could have pretended that there was some hope. Or if he had come back the next morning, crawled into bed, and told Gilderoy that he’d changed his mind, and he needed to be here, then Gilderoy might have believed there was a chance.
But here he was, two days later. Still no word from Marcel. No, not Marcel anymore. Julian Avery. He was with his wife Carolyn Avery and their Child, Pippi-Marigold Avery (or something like that... That’s what Gilderoy imagined they would have named their child).
And there just wasn’t any room for Gilderoy Lockhart in that family.
“Knobby never gave Master Gilderoy his present,” the little elf said sadly. She was standing at the door with a piece of parchment in her hand. It was folded up and sealed with wax and a green ribbon.
Gilderoy was sitting on the bed, looking over at the photograph of his mother. He didn’t have any of Julian, and for once, he was a little glad of that. At that singular moment, he wasn’t sure if he could handle the sight of his... no, not his anymore, of Julian’s face smiling up at him. “I’m sorry, Knobby. I don’t know what to do. I just can’t stay around here anymore without him.”
Knobby came bounding up to her master. She’d never seen him so sad and dull. There wasn’t a bit of shine left in him. Well, perhaps she could help that. She took Gilderoy’s hand and put the piece of parchment in it, turned up so he could see what was written on the front. “Knobby has a goblin friend. Can only be opened by rightful owner, so, Master Gilderoy can open it, yes?”
He moved his gaze from the photograph to the parchment in his hand.
Mister Gilderoy Lockhart
Deed of Ownership for Lockhart Estate
“Knobby,” he whispered, “is this what I think it is?”
The little elf crawled up on the bed and sat next to Gilderoy, swinging her legs back and forth, bouncing her heels off of the mattress. “Knobby made friends with a Goblin, and asked about Master Gilderoy’s home. Goblin was grumpy, but told Knobby that of course he would know where it was and only the owner could have the deed, or it would go poof and back into Goblin’s hands if another someone tried to open it!”
Gilderoy carefully slid his finger under the wax seal and untied the ribbon.
It was still with him. Intact, and not poofy at all.
He opened it and began reading the details of the document. There was a full description of the house and grounds, four elves named who would reside on the estate (thank the Gods they weren’t alone all these years), two horses (oh, he loved horses), and a list of the contents of the house. The document also had detailed apparation instructions, coordinates for a port-key, and directions on how to get there by land, forest, sea, or by flying.
“Knobby, pack our things. I’m going home.”
Knobby jumped down from the bed and jumped up and down. “And we leave a note for Master Avery and Miss Seti where we go and--”
“NO! No note,” Gilderoy held up his hand in protest and swallowed hard. “A note won’t be necessary. Besides, they will be too busy preparing for the arrival of Julian and his family. Best not have an expectant ex-lover leaving strings attached. He’ll be happy when he comes back, and I don’t want him feeling any sort of guilt or being upset on my account.”
It was one of the most difficult things Gilderoy had ever said. He could feel himself trembling at the thought of being alone like this for who knew how long. But he just couldn’t do that to Julian. No matter what had just happened, he still loved the man with all of his heart. Every bit of it belonged to Julian Marcel Avery. And the only thing Gilderoy had left to give to the man was his blessing.
He could owl Rita later and tell her about what happened, where he went, and perhaps make arrangements to meet with her later.
“Goldie-Red can help you with the animals. Mr. Ingleheart can take care of the sheep and goats until I can make suitable arrangements for them. We’ll bring Milkweed, Puff, and their brood with us. I believe Goldie-Red can do that bit. If you could call upon your brothers to help pack my things over at... at his flat, and just have them set outside, I would appreciate it. I don’t want them to know where we’re going just yet. I’ll send Holly-Polly with a note for the elves at the house.”
Gilderoy began hastily packing up the things in his room as he spoke. When he got to his writing desk, he wrote one note for the elves at the house, another one for Mr. Ingleheart asking him to take care of the livestock until he could make further arrangements.
After folding up the three bits of parchment, he headed downstairs, leaving his trunk and wardrobe in his room, and handed all three to Holly Polly Midas. “Be sure you deliver the one to the elves at my house first. Then the one to Mr. Ingleheart.”
When the owl had gone, he stopped for a moment and looked around the shop. Daphne would be there shortly, and he wanted to be gone before she arrived. Quickly, he grabbed a small stash of yarn, a few bolts of fabric that Seti had given him, and his basket of notions. All of those things he tied up together and put them in the middle of the floor. Then he raced upstairs and grabbed his trunk, let it thud-thud-thud down the stairs as he dragged that into the middle of the floor, as well.
Knobby popped back into the room just as he lay his things down together. “Can you make arrangements for these things to be transported to the house? And... I’ll need a way to get there. I don’t know how to find it by these instructions,” Gilderoy said, looking cluelessly at the document. “Perhaps Mr. Ingleheart could give me a lift?”
He went over to Knobby and knelt before her. “I’m going to leave a note for Daphne. She can take care of the shop while we’re gone. Can you come in here after hours and move things over from here to there?” he asked in a sweet voice.
Knobby looked a little sad and just nodded meekly. It was good to see her Master with his energy back, but this wasn’t what she had wanted him to do. Perhaps a visit for a few days, or even just a bit of an explore for one day, but not moving there entirely and abandoning the life he had here. “Master... Oh, Most Magnificent Master Gilderoy, Knobby does not want to make others sad by taking Golden Master Gilderoy away from them.”
She was obviously distraught. Gilderoy pulled her in close for a tight hug and kissed her on the cheek. “I just need to get away for a little while, Knobby. I care very much about this place and the people who live here, and I want to come back. But I need to be away while he settles in with his family.”
Knobby nodded and went over to the pile of cases on the floor. “Brothers won’t help Knobby. Knobby can move Master Gilderoy’s things herself after taking these to the other house.”
“That’s fine, Knobby, just do what you can. And once we get to the house, perhaps you’ll have some other elves there to help you, as well.”
Gilderoy glanced over at the “snogging sofa” and felt tears welling up in his eyes. He didn’t have time to collapse right now. Didn’t have time for...
Knobby held him as the sobbing began. She’d never seen anyone break down like this before, and wasn’t quite sure what to do, so she just stood there with her arms around his neck for a while until he began breathing normally again.
“I love him, Knobby. I love him and I don’t want to be without him like this,” Gilderoy sobbed. “He loved me, too. I know he did because he said so in his eyes, and even though the mouth lies, the eyes don’t right?”
It took him a few minutes to gather his composure enough to stand again. “I’ll write the note and go to Mr. Ingleheart. You take these things and I’ll meet you there.”
Knobby sniffed once, then nodded and went over to the pile of things in the center of the room. With a crack and a puff of smoke she and the cases were all gone.
Gilderoy went over to the counter and brought out a quill and parchment.
Daphne,
I’m very sorry to do this to you on such short notice, but I need to leave the store in your capable hands for a while. It might be a week, or two, or perhaps longer, I don’t know.
I’ve taken the animals and will regularly send you yarn. Please take orders for robes if you feel confident taking measurements, and owl them to me. I’ll send Holly Polly around daily to pick up the post and for you to send me notes if necessary.
Take care of yourself, my dear. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you in my absence. I am leaving the key with you, and be sure to lock up at night. If anything strange happens at all, call on Seti or Rita, I’m sure they’ll be willing to help you.
I shall miss you dearly while I’m away,
~Gilderoy
He took the note and stuck it to the door, leaving the key on the front counter. After making sure the door was unlocked, and with the deed in hand, Gilderoy left his shoppe, left Stoatshead Hill, left the place that he and Marcel had believed to be paradise.