Gale hadn’t dressed warm enough, he never did, but the day had appeared so much warmer from his little castle in the clouds. The streets were busy, especially for this time of year, and with all the rain having frozen on the walk he hardly realized how much he slipped until his hands were full.

Walking down the streets with his groceries in hand, Gale hummed lightly to himself, gaining a watchful eye from nearly every soul that passed him along the way. He should have taken a cab, he knew, and arms ached from the walk through London with his supplies for dinner that night. His lover had been so busy that they hadn’t much time together, and with his midterms finished grading he’d sent out the owls in enough time to go shopping. However, getting back certainly was a struggle, and Gale wasn’t prepared for the patch of ice that swept his feet out from under him.

“Oh,” He whimpered once the ground had rushed to greet him, his brown bag of supplies falling not far after, and the long carrots with their healthy green stems lay somewhere along the walk. With a heavy sigh, and a rather bruised ego Gale looked around to hope that no one saw. However, in a hopeless little defeated manner he sat there a moment just to study the way the sky seemed so clear and even further away down here on the walkway.

This was what he got for trying to carry too many things at once, being as little as he was, and not able to use magic out in public. How easy would it be just to buzz those bags right on up to his rented holiday retreat that he shared with his boyfriend. (Now that they weren't fighting any longer)

This break had been difficult, what with the trial against his mother just a week ago. Afterwards, Zel and all of his younger siblings (except for Nettie, she was with her father), stayed in London at Garrett’s flat with his girlfriend and their new niece for the holidays. Lucas and Zel were now walking the streets, wandering muggle London. That flat was a bit cramped when all the siblings were together, and everybody needed their space sometimes. Zel’s number one concern was who was going to take care of his siblings now. Rhys, their stepfather, currently had custody, but it would be so hard for him to raise so many young ones by himself.

Though, maybe Emeline could help. But she needed to live in London now, so she could report to the ministry every full moon. Although their mother had gotten a sentence to Azkaban, Emeline was still required to go to the ministry every full moon to make sure that she wouldn’t hurt others, and to make sure that she got her required dose of wolfsbane. Zel would need to make a monthly trip as well, but he didn’t need to worry about getting to London until the summer, and that felt so far away.

“You alright, Luke?” Zel asked,  looking at his brother. Lucas looked so short compared to him, but he would be growing even taller soon. Lucas and Emeric were at the age where the Trumbles would start growing at a consistent rate. Zel felt like he was still growing at times, though he hadn’t measured himself. His rate of growth had definitely slowed down. “I know Emeric and Zora are having a hard time dealing with…” He shrugged. Lucas was smart enough to pick up on Zel’s reference to the results of the trial. “Well, you know. But—”

He quieted up as soon as he saw the charms professor. It was bizarre—Zel felt out of his element. He had never encountered a professor outside of school before! Besides Ignan, but that was when Zel had been very little. “Is that Professor Kesali?” He asked Lucas. “Maybe we should help him?”

Lucas had been a bit distant since the trial. He had been with his mother for as long as he'd been alive. Being at home with her was hard at times. Her mood swings could be quite unruly and he often felt like he had to walk on eggshells around her. She was still his mother though. He honestly had mixed emotions about the whole ordeal. One one hand, he missed his mother and hated the events that happened. She needed help, but he never wanted something like that to happen to her. On the other hand, he felt at ease finally. He didn't feel as stressed out and felt like he could finally relax. He felt bad about feeling that way too. It was starting to eat at him that a part of him was glad she was gone. Then it would start to bother him that he thought about being upset with himself than his mom being... away. Being so young, he was having a very hard time figuring things out. He didn't know up from down. What was right and what was wrong. What was okay to feel and what wasn't okay to feel. It was affecting him so bad, he hadn't even acted himself at home. No jokes. No pranks. No sleuthing. Just a lot of soul searching.

He was glad Zel had talked him into wandering around London. It was way too cramped in that house. Sure he was with his family and was finally able to see his niece, but the house was too small to accommodate them all. Especially with a couple werewolves in the house. Although he was not one himself, he still needed some space. Enough at least for everyone to stop asking him if he was okay.

When Zel started to question him, he huffed. He didn't really want to talk about it, but he felt Zel would be the only one who would understand. He needed to get it off his chest, but didn't know how. He sighed and tried to find the words to explain how he was feeling when Zel saw the professor on the ground. It was odd seeing a professor out of school. Especially Kesali. He thought Kesali would be... well, somewhere else. London was too -normal- for Kesali. He needed to be somewhere... more? Either way, it was a distraction from having to talk about his mother.

"Yeah. We should. Maybe it'll help with next semester. Help him now and he'll be a little lenient with me."

Lucas made his way over to where the professor sat on the ground. He picked up the carrots that had rolled away and looked down at the man.

"Professor Kelali? Are you alright?"

In his prayer that no one saw was quickly answered and destroyed, but of all the people in the world that could have watched Humpty Dumpty make his great fall--the Trumble boys would have been one of his picks. They were not so unkind to leave him, nor to laugh directly at his face. They both were very respectful young men, and no matter how many of them he had in his classes they were for the most part kind. Lucas was a bit of a prankster, but so far he hadn't been a victim...Though he never did figure out what turned his hair different colors and made him so sick.

"Hello boys," Gale said from his little perch on the cold (yet dry) ground, "I'm fine really. Apparently just can't walk today. I'll try harder tomorrow." He gave a little huff, and stood. "I hope I didn't break the eggs." Gale opened the little box to see only one destroyed. He could live with that. It would mean he didn't have to go back.

As the boys helped him pick up, Gale realized he really would need help getting to at least the doorman, but as the gray day swept the wind down the streets he got a good look at the pair. They seemed...off, like something wasn't right. Lucas who was normally so full of life, laughter, and bright smiles just looked...troubled. Zel, who was a giant compared to his hardly five and a half feet seemed defeated.

"You know...I could actually really use help getting this upstairs and put away." He wondered if they were hungry or cold, but figured the least he could do was make them hot cocoa before they went on their way. "I'll pay you for your trouble." Gale didn't wait for an answer, and simply turned on his deerskin shoes to head for the large glass doors of one of the very taller buildings.


An elevator took them to the top floor where a very modern, certainly nothing like anyone expected Gale to have, flat waited to greet them.[1]

1.	Gale's flat for the holidays.

He looked around-- he and Lucas didn’t really have anything else to do. “Let’s help him, Luke.” Zel said. Even if Gale had managed to gather all the groceries in one trip, it would have been a pain to carry them up a bunch of stairs. Since they were in a muggle location, it wasn’t like they could use magic to help out! Besides, he and Lucas were underage and couldn't help Gale via magical means. “Oh, you don’t need to pay us. It’s fine.” Zelig insisted. He didn’t want to be paid for his kindness-- it was weird to him. He wondered how often that worked-- people offering to pay money to get help. It shouldn't be like that, he thought. People should be willing to help others without some sort of external benefit.

 As they entered the building and went up the elevator, Zel looked at Lucas nervously, and then over to Gale. He had never really spoken to Gale much-- the professor still felt so new! Within the last couple years at Hogwarts, there had been so many staff changes that he was hesitant to get too close to a professor and build a connection, only to have them leave again. It was safer to just be uncomfortable with everyone equally! Except professor Storm, though Zel felt oddly comfortable with him-- possibly because of the connection that Alrich (their late father) had with Storm.

When they entered the flat, Zel was shocked to see how neat it was! Kesali had seemed free-spirited and laid back in a way that made the prefect assume that he’d be a bit messy. Obviously, that wasn’t the case. The cleanliness of the area was a nice change from Garrett’s home-- with a newborn baby and a bunch of siblings in the home, it was impossible to keep things orderly. Zel was very neat and particular, so that environment had almost been stressful to him merely because of the mess.

“May we help you with anything else, sir?” Zel asked, setting the bags of groceries on the kitchen counter.

“Let’s help him, Luke.”

"Ok," Lucas said and started to pick up some of the things that had fallen out of the bags. He put them back and took a couple of bags in his hands and followed his brother and the professor. He like Kesali just fine. He was one of his favorite professors too. It was one of the reasons he hadn't fallen victim to one of Lucas' pranks. He liked charms class and had learned a lot so far. He liked the way the professor taught the class as well. He made it fun and interesting for them. He also liked how the professor looked. He was so different from the other professors. It was nice to have that kind of change. He was also grateful for the fact that Kesali didn't treat him different. He was just another student.

Lucas felt a little odd in the elevator. He looked up at his brother to see if he felt the same way. He liked the professor just fine. It was odd being around him like this though. When they got up to his flat, it was odd as well. He had never been to a professors house before. The closest he had been was when they went to Counselor Maiko's house for dinner with their brother. He looked around the flat, a bit in awe. His family didn't live anywhere like that. It was so... sophisticated! He was almost afraid to walk in for fear of his shoes scuffing the floors.

"Yea. If you need anything else, we're really not that busy," he said putting the bags down. It was an excuse to stay out longer. Plus if they were with someone else, maybe he could relax a bit. Take his mind off things. Not only that, but Kesali was, perhaps, the only professor he would feel comfortable talking to about things. He seemed like he would understand.

Both of the boys were very darling, and turned out to be great helps. However, it was the youngest that seemed rather eager to stay, and in seeing both of their reactions to the flat he made quick topic of it.

"This isn't mine fellas, I'm just renting it through the holiday, so I could still be close. Don't you worry about messing it up, and make yourselves comfortable." Gale started to put away the groceries, but flipped on a machine that looked rather complicated under one of the cabinets.

"At least let me fix you something to warm to drink, hot cocoa, a latte? And you can tell me how your break is going?" He made busy work of his hands pulling out the milk from the bag to set it beside the latte machine and the fresh cinnamon. The dark chocolate bars came next, and while the machine warmed up he directed them both to seat themselves at the bar while he worked.

In a quick instance Gale worried there was incriminating evidence of his relationship laying about the room somewhere, but the only thing that would give it away was the drawing Chaz did of them for his Chrstimas gift and that was on the other side of the room. So Gale was able to relax, and continue putting away the food.

"I can't thank you enough for helping me up the stairs. I would have made two trips. It's amazing how much you miss magic when it's gone." He turned to face the coffee machine, and started up the milk steamer.

"Lucas, have you been keeping your older brother out of trouble?" He gave a smile to the boy over his shoulder, but turned his attention to Zel. "Go look at the view, will even make you feel small I would wager." They were very high.

 

Oh. It wasn’t his flat. How weird-- Zel wondered why Kesali would prefer to rent over the holidays instead of staying at Hogwarts. It was free for the professors and other staff to live there, so it didn’t make sense to him. Perhaps it was because he was a bit more frugal when it came to money. Or maybe Kesali had a girlfriend or family that he couldn’t have visit Hogwarts. That would make sense, Zel supposed. It would be annoying having company over while all your coworkers got in your business.

Zel looked at the muggle machinery oddly. “I always feel small enough. It’s alright. And Luke has been keeping me out of trouble. He knows how I can get.” Although he didn’t stutter, his voice was quiet and his words hesitant.  He looked at Lucas, “You might not remember, but Dad was really tall. Taller than me and Garrett. Our height isn’t just from mum.” He smiled at his brother, “You’re going to shoot up soon, I bet. I started growing fast at your age.” 

Instead of going to look at the view, he decided to help Kesali put groceries away, occasionally asking where things belonged or if anything needed to be moved down from a higher shelf. “I can just have a glass of water?” Zel said politely, not wanting to intrude on Gale’s personal space or eat up any of his food. Even if he was hungry, so very hungry. His stomach rumbled as he thought about food, and Zel’s face turned bright red, as if the noise had been offensive.

“S-sorry sir.” His appetite, Zel noticed, tended to get much bigger the week before the full moon and diminish the week after. He didn’t start feeling tired and weak until the day before, though.

Lucas watched the professor mess with the machine. He hadn't seen a machine like that up close. When he wanted hot cocoa at home, it came out of a packet and he put it in the microwave. "I'd like some cocoa if it's alright, sir. It's cold and I like warm drinks in the winter." He looked to his brother to see if he seemed out of line for asking for it. Zel might have been fine with just water, but Lucas was still young. He felt like he needed something a little more than water.

“You might not remember, but Dad was really tall. Taller than me and Garrett. Our height isn't just from mum.”

He looked down at the mention of his mom. He didn't even want to think about her right now. He turned away from them as his eyes got moist thinking about it all. "I really don't remember dad. I was only around one when he died. I know he was tall though. You and Garrett have told me about him. I know I'll get taller."

Zel may not have wanted to go to the window, but Lucas thought it was the perfect escape for him. He walked over to it and looked down at the city streets below. He didn't realize how high they were until now. It didn't bother him, but it actually did make him feel a bit smaller. He wiped his eyes and sniffled a bit. He was so happy he wasn't at home at this moment. At least here, he had room to move around and hide how he was feeling. "I like the view from up here."

"Actually Zel, I don't think I have any water," He made his way over to the fridge while leaving the sink running to fill up the large soup pot, and pulled the boys out a plate of already sliced cheeses and meats from the night before. Gale had forgotten about the drawing that Chaz had drew him for Christmas that was attached to the fridge (like a proud mother displaying her child's art), and blushed madly. It was of them, sleeping soundly in an ice castle, but Gale didn't move it away. Instead he quickly closed the door and placed out the plate.

"I do have milk, and this. Help me eat it. It was a gift and we'll never eat it all. And maybe...while you are at it help me peel the carrots?" He washed and cropped the carrots, but handed them and the knife over to Zel.

His attention was stolen when Lucas made the comment about the heights, and Gale gave the boy a little smile, "I do too. It reminds me of being in a tree, especially the great tall ones in Russia. It's very peaceful when you pull the curtains all the way back. I'll miss this place when we go back to school, but it's too big for just me. Lucas," He called after him, "Would you care to but these up?" He pushed a stalk of greens over the counter, and lifted the pot out of the sink. It was far too heavy, but he somehow managed to get it to the stove.

"So what has been going on then, Boys? Miss school yet? Enjoying your break?" The oven was on the great pot warming to a boil and he was starting to brown the large rump roast in a separate pan.