WHO: Gilbert Ollivander, Imogen Ollivander + Lewis Maddox (NPC). WHAT: Graham has been replaced. WHEN: 13 Feb 2018. WHERE: Ollivander’s, Kensal Rise. WARNINGS: None.
“Love! Hi! You’re home!” Imogen opened the door a crack and checked that there was no one behind Gilbert and the pile of groceries in his hands. Then she widened the door and pulled him in before shutting it quickly again.
Then latching it, just to be on the safe side.
“So. Good news, we have a guest. Bad news, it’s… um. Technically not very legal to have this guest in our apartment right now but! He’s hurt! And he had nowhere else to go! And —” Imogen glanced back over her shoulder to where Lewis Maddox, the dumb as rocks drummer of Bombarda Maxima and her Hogwarts-era ex sat. He waved at Gilbert as cheerfully as he could manage, and then promptly winced in pain. “You remember Lewis, right?”
Blinking, Gilbert's eyes went between Imogen and Lewis. “Yeah. Hi,” he said, trying to process the information. He hadn't known Lewis all that well at school, and it took him a minute for things to click into place. He must be a muggleborn. “Right, hi Lewis, of course. How are things? ...well aside from the obvious I guess. But welcome to our apartment.” He had a million questions for Imogen, but didn't want to ask in front of their guest.
“Could be worse, could be dead!” Lewis looked cheerful, but his laughter was uncomfortably dark.
“He had a run-in with a Snatcher a couple of days ago and stole a credit card to buy a train ticket here and— would you like to help me make some tea?” Imogen asked suddenly, and then regretted not thinking of an excuse to talk to Gil in their bedroom.
“Yes, tea sounds great,” he agreed, gesturing to the pile of books on the side table. “Lewis, plenty of books on wandlore scattered around to take a look at if you decide it's as fascinating as I think it is. Imogen isn't convinced yet, but maybe one day.”
Following her into the kitchen, he cast a quick silencing charm and then glanced at Imogen, eyebrows raised. “Details?””
Imogen busied herself with putting the kettle on, avoiding looking at Gilbert while she answered. “He’s got some gnarly spell damage on his abdomen, I think it might be causing some internal bleeding? And his other arm, the one he’s not lifting, is badly cut and black. I can’t take him to Mungo’s though, and I can’t heal him here, I don’t have any of the materials!” She paused and turned to look at her husband. “Are you okay with this? Please say you’re okay with this. I can’t not help him.”
“I get it, I get it,” he said with a sigh. “Of course I'm okay with it… I just worry. It's dangerous having him here - we could be risking…” He sighed again. “Of course it's okay. Can you get the stuff you need to heal him? How long until he's better?”
Relieved with his answer, or at least the start of it, Imogen slipped her hands around Gilbert’s neck and kissed him gently. “Well. If he ends up staying as long as Graham did, at least he’s definitely not a Death Eater?”
Gilbert gave a half-hearted chuckle as he kissed her back. Please not that long, he thought silently, though didn't voice it. “I should get some sort of award for this you know,” he teased. “Not because of the muggleborn part, that's fine. It's the ex-boyfriend crashing on our couch part that's really commendable.”
She was supposed to be stressed, but even Imogen couldn’t hold back a laugh. “That’s tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day gift. A gold star for being the world’s most patient husband.”
The kettle whistled; Imogen sighed and let go, charming cups and tea bags to sort themselves out with her wand. “I’m going to contact Leon, he has a clinic and there’s supplies in there. And. I don’t know. Should I ask any of our friends for help? Or is it too dangerous? I don’t want to put them in an awkward position.”
“Start with Leon,” he answered after hesitating a moment. Reaching for some biscuits and napkins he prepared a tray with room for the tea. “If something happens that we need their help I think our friends will come through, but unless we have a specific ask I think the less people that know, the better. It just keeps everyone safer.”
“Okay,” Imogen agreed with a small nod. And then smiled at him. “Love you, sorry for the early V Day surprise.”
“Love you too,” he said, returning the smile. “Surprise Valentine's Day gifts and all.”