CHAPTER THREE
Time To Grow Up
May 1907.

Orange leaves had turned to a bright green again, the chilly breeze had been replaced with a high sun and hot weather. Elska had attended Theseus' graduation with Newt and Erin. Of course, he had been congratulated for being one of the best students and he deserved it wholly. Later in May, he had received his acceptance letter for the Auror training which had made him kinder towards Elska. They hadn't talked much during the last few months, he was busy with his friends and so was Elska.

During her free time, she got to know Henry Potter and was surprised to learn so many good things about him. Alice had been glued to Elska's side as well. Thankfully, the last months weren't painful due to her having people to talk to.

"Elskie!" Newt shouted as he shot his arm up in the air so she could notice him. Newt was patiently waiting for Elska and Theseus. Once she reached their sides, he pulled her into a tight embrace, "How have I missed you!"

"Have you?" She teased, pulling away as she hugged Erin as well. "I heard you were as busy as it could get."

Newt shrugged, smiling shyly, "The ministry does get busy at this time of the year," he told her.

Newt had managed to integrate the department for the regulation and control of magical creatures. As of now, he worked in the office for house-elves relocation which he kind of loathed but he hoped to be promoted soon enough. Though, it didn't stop him from sharing funny anecdotes to Elska in his letters.

"How was Hogwarts?" Newt asked.

Erin came closer, nudging her, "Or must we ask how Henry Potter is?" She teased, earning a groan from Theseus and cherry coloured cheeks from Elska. "What now, love?"

"Could we not talk about Henry Potter and Elska?" He muttered, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Erin snorted, "Sorry, sorry! I thought you two were over..."

"We are!" Theseus and Elska exclaimed at the same time, making Newt and Erin laugh.

"Anyways," Erin said with a playful chuckle as she wrapped her arm around Elska's. "Nala is waiting for you at home!"

"I hope so!" Elska exclaimed loudly.

Theseus joined Newt's side, letting his mum and Elska talk to each other. Theseus always had been taller than Newt so he found himself looming over his little brother. As they walked through London centre, he couldn't help but notice how Elska seemed much happier and he bit his tongue, forbidding himself to ask Newt if she had talked about him–them. But weirdly, Newt seemed to have read in his mind as he spoke up, looking up at his brother.

"She does talk about you," he mumbled, fidgeting with his fingers nervously. "She is very proud and happy for you."

"Oh."

Newt hummed, shrugging, "I thought you'd like to know."

"Thank you, Newt," there was a pause as he licked his lips in anticipation. "Are Henry and Elska serious then?"

Newt snorted, shaking his head with a playful smile, "You are unbelievable, Theseus!"

"Why? What have I done?" He exclaimed, putting his arms up in surrender.

"You pushed her away and now you wish to know if Henry and her are serious," he repeated. "You are just jealous."

"Well, I don't deny it," Theseus replied with a shrug. "But it wasn't working, Newt."

Newt's hand clasped on his shoulder as his lips formed a thin line, "Well, keep telling yourself that."

Theseus frowned but watched as his brother picked up the pace and soon joined Elska's side. He whispered something in her ear that made her laugh so loud that Theseus was taken back to the days where it used to be the two of them, late at night, and he would make her laugh that way. Perhaps, Henry Potter was the one having the privilege to make her laugh that hard now.

When they reached home, he hurried to his room and started to think of a list of things that he would need during his training. He didn't know much except that it was in central London, so a bit far from home and he would not be allowed to see anyone except on the weekends. At least, he would be busy keeping his mind off Elska.

His last year of school had been somehow quiet and lonely despite being surrounded by friends, and maybe that was because he didn't have Newt or Elska anymore. All he had was himself and the pathetic people he called friends. All he had done was watch Elska from afar, laughing with her new friend, Alice, and having fun during parties. It seemed as if he had never existed for her, and that made his heart sink multiple times.

"My love?" His mum's voice echoed from behind the door as he mumbled a few words, letting her in. He was sitting on the edge of his bed and she soon came to sit next to him. "What is it, Theseus?"

"Nothing, mum."

"Are you afraid of leaving home?"

"No—" he muttered then sighed, his shoulders slouching back a bit. "Well, of course I am. If I weren't, it would be alarming, right?" She hummed with a chuckle. "I guess, I'm just..."

"It's about Elskie, isn't it?" His silence was the only answer she needed. "Love, listen to me, you are young eh? Perhaps Elska and you weren't meant to be, and you are going to meet a beautiful woman at your training."

Burying his head between his hands, he said, "You don't get it, mum. I wanted Elska. I still do. There is not a part of me that doesn't want her to be near me."

"Oh, poor love," she cooed with a pout. "Then why did you push her away?"

"I don't know," he mumbled under his breath. "I was angry about Newt being expelled and I took it out on her."

His mum rubbed his back quietly as they sat in a comfortable silence that he was very grateful for. It was the first time that he kind of opened it up about it—and how he regretted taking his anger out on her. Merlin, he loathed himself for doing so.

That night, he didn't have dinner and instead, Elska brought him a plate to his door, "I thought you'd like this," she showed him the plate with potatoes and steak.

"Thank you," he replied quietly.

Her eyes drifted to the baggage half full and she asked, "Are you starting to pack?"

"I guess so," he answered, grabbing the fork and starting to eat. "I'm leaving in two days."

Elska sat down on his bed, bounding up and down a bit, "I can't believe you've been accepted," she said dreamily with a smile, and that made Theseus smile. "Newt is now working and you are going to be an auror. That is quite the dream."

"We are not sure that I'll become an auror, Elska," he told her.

She shrugged, "I still think you are going to become one. You have all the qualities for."

"That is very kind of you to say this."

"Just the truth, T."

Theseus didn't know if this was the way she looked at him or how she spoke but all he wanted was to throw himself at her, but he had manners and his mother had raised him well, so he stayed at his desk.

Once he was done chewing, he started, "So, are you and Henry a thing?"

"Oh, so now you care?" She said with a chuckle as he rolled his eyes playfully.

"I'll always care, Ellie."

Only Theseus and Newt called her Ellie—it held a special place in her heart.

"Will you really?"

He frowned, moving his body so he could fully face her from his chair, "Of course."

She rose to her feet and reached his side, her hand rested on his shoulder as she grabbed the plate with the other. Her perfume was intoxicating him and he had to look away for a minute before facing her again. To his surprise, she had not moved.

"Henry and I—we're friends for now," she told him softly. "I didn't want anything serious."

"Oh, so you are shagging with him, are you?" Theseus asked, now hit with pure jealousy.

"What if we are?!" Elska snapped back.

There it was. The reason why they had trouble being friends—they would have a pleasant conversation until it got all too much and one of them said the wrong thing. They would snap at each other all the time, leading to a complex friendship.

"You shouldn't," Theseus argued, wrapping his hand around her wrist to keep her close. "Tell me, Ellie. Is he good to you?"

Her breath got shaky as soon as Theseus' other hand reached for her waist and gave it a firm squeeze. When she looked down at him, he was already staring at her with those eyes that she loved so much. His gaze was strong and she found herself unable to look away.

"Is he good to you?" He repeated lower than intended as she opened her mouth to answer but nothing came out. "Perhaps you can answer this, is he better than I was?"

"In what department?" Elska finally uttered as Theseus' eyebrows went up in surprise.

Theseus rubbed his chin in a thinking manner, "Well, let's start with the affection department. Does he know you like to be kissed on the forehead or how you like to be hugged? You know, a tight and warm hug?" He started as she listened closely. "And, does he know your heart skips a beat when someone touches your waist," his other hand moved to her hip, making her sit on his lap. "Does he know, Ellie?"

"Why wouldn't he?"

Theseus' face was closer than before, his nose caressing the top of her ear as his breath hit the side of her face, "I think you are lying."

"Tosser," she whispered, unable to meet his eyes as she felt his lips pressing against her lobe. "Henry is different from you. He—" There was a pause while Theseus' lips trailed down her neck, and collarbone. "He is gentle."

"I am gentle," Theseus argued quietly. "There is no gentleman gentler than I, Ellie."

Elska couldn't take the teasing anymore and she didn't know if it was him talking or her not thinking enough, but she was too drawn to Theseus and unable to resist him. Moving around so she could straddle him, she cupped his face and crashed her lips on his. At first, he was a bit taken back but when her hands started pulling at his curls, he let out a sloppy moan into the kiss using his hand to lock the door and silence the room. At this moment, he was awfully grateful for wandless magic.

Elska was eager, too eager. She always had been when it came to Theseus. His hand worked the buttons of her blouse, taking it off rapidly and his mouth left hers to press kisses to her chest. Elska was moaning in his ear and he wasn't sure to be able to stay still on the chair.

"Bed?" He breathed out between kisses.

"Bed," she agreed, kissing him again.

At some point, Theseus didn't know who was breathing for who anymore. His lips started to burn but he didn't care, it all felt too unreal. He had been craving it since last summer and now that she was here with him once again, he didn't know how to properly act. Soon enough, Theseus and Elska's clothes were scattered around the room and he was able to look at her. For a mere moment, Elska appeared shy but he kissed her softly as a reminder to not be ashamed because this—this was all he wanted and needed.

They had almost forgotten how it felt to be one again, how it felt to hold each other as if their lives depended on it. The feeling of warmth spread all over him when Elska kissed his shoulder again and again.

It was fully dark outside when Theseus laid back down next to her and she laid her head on his chest, like she used to. So, Theseus did what he used to do too—he ran his fingers through her hair, earning a satisfied hum.

"I've missed this," Elska admitted, drawing circles on his chest. Elska always had been better than him at admitting her feelings and blurring out her thoughts. "I've missed you, T."

"Me too."

There was a comfortable silence and Theseus even thought she had fallen asleep but she spoke up, "I'm happy for you. You deserve to go to that training centre."

"Thank you."

Elska looked up at him, offering a shy smile as she pecked his lips tenderly. Just like before. It was as though nothing had happened last year and they were just hanging out in Theseus' dorm. But reality slapped them hard when Elska woke up the next morning, there would be one day to cherish him and then he would be gone. None of them talked about the night before, instead they spent their time laughing and having fun with Newt and Erin.

The day after, they drove Theseus to the centre and he promised to write. The first weeks, he would send letters to everyone. All of the time. Then, Elska's letters became rare and then inexistant. So, she knew he had completely given up on her. Elska didn't push it and instead, she smiled when Erin or Newt told her Theseus' accomplishment.

During the summer, Henry Potter had taken the trouble to write to her to invite her to his manor. Elska had gone and when she was there, he spilled all his feelings for her—and, eager to forget about Theseus, Elska told him she felt the same. Well, parts of her did. Henry Potter was nice and funny, he took care of her and she knew that perhaps with time, she would come to love him.

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authors note, theseus and elska are going to be the death of meeeee 😧

also hello we're already so close to 1K reads