The country air of Devon was fresh and clean. Walking with his hands buried in his pants pockets, Aurelian Gaunt took a deep breath, savoring the unusual tranquility offered by the picturesque village of Ottery St. Catchpole. This part of England was known for being home to several magical families seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of London and other areas populated by wizards, and he was on his way to visit one such family in particular.
Soon, the dirt road led him to the Diggory family's house. It was an extremely cozy-looking home, surrounded by spacious, well-tended gardens and fruit trees. The months had flown by; Hestia and Flora's pregnancies were already well advanced, and the birth of their children was just around the corner. Before that moment arrived and his new role as a father took up all his time, Aurelian had something extremely important to ask his best friend.
He walked up the stone path and knocked on the front door with a couple of firm knocks.
"Coming, coming!" a cheerful voice called from inside.
When the door opened, he found himself face-to-face with Amos Diggory. The man didn't see him right away; he was staring at the floor of his own entryway, muttering silly questions aloud about where on earth he'd left his gardening gloves or in which drawer he'd put his glasses. When he finally looked up and found himself face-to-face with Aurelian's polite smile, Amos blinked a couple of times, processed who was standing on his porch, and, in his shock, slammed the door in his face.
Aurelian froze in place, the smile still on his lips, blinking and unsure exactly what to do in the face of such a peculiar reaction.
A few seconds later, the door burst open again. Amos Diggory rushed out, red with embarrassment, and shook Aurelian's hand with overflowing enthusiasm.
"By Merlin's beard, I'm so sorry for slamming the door in your face, young man!" Amos apologized, shaking Aurelian's hand almost breathlessly. "It just took me completely by surprise. To have the 'Savior' himself in my own home! It's a true honor!"
Aurelian felt his cheeks flush with a slight and unusual blush of embarrassment. He deeply hated that stupid nickname.
"It's also a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Diggory…" Aurelian replied, trying to maintain his composure.
Suddenly, a stifled chuckle alerted them both.
It was Cedric. The former Hufflepuff was leaning against the kitchen doorway, trying unsuccessfully to stifle his laughter at his stoic friend's awkwardness and embarrassment. Upon seeing him, Aurelian couldn't help but laugh too, causing the blush to fade from his face, and he stepped into the house to give him a hearty hug.
Cedric laughed with him, returning the hug just as tightly.
"Aurelian! It's so good to see you. How are the twins?" Cedric asked as they pulled apart, patting him on the back.
"Everything's going very well, my friend. The girls' bellies are already huge, and the babies won't stop kicking, but everything's going perfectly," Aurelian remarked with a beaming smile.
Just then, Mrs. Diggory came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a flowered apron. Upon seeing the imposing lord in her living room, her face lit up. She hurried over and enveloped him in a warm, comforting embrace.
"Oh, Aurelian, how lovely to see you! It's been ages since you've stopped by," the woman said affectionately, before taking a step back and becoming a little more serious. "We've read all the newspapers, young man. You really gave us all quite a scare."
Amos nodded vigorously, walking over to stand proudly beside his wife.
"What you did on that continent was very good, Aurelian. It was brave and truly necessary… those Muggles—just look at them," Amos said with conviction, looking him in the eye. "This world needs many more wizards like you."
Mrs. Diggory smiled sweetly at him and then tilted her head curiously.
"And to what do we owe the immense pleasure of your visit today, dear?"
"Well, actually, I came because I had something very important to tell Cedric," Aurelian replied, exchanging a knowing glance with his friend.
The woman nodded, but raised a finger authoritatively—the kind that wouldn't take "no" for an answer, not even from a Dark Lord.
"That sounds perfect, but you can talk about your kid stuff after lunch. Lunch is almost ready, and of course, you're staying for lunch with us."
Aurelian nodded without hesitation, expressing his gratitude for the hospitality, and took a seat at the dining table.
Lunch went wonderfully. Far from politics, factions, and the threats of war, Aurelian let himself be enveloped by the warmth of home. Between the delicious home-cooked meal, Amos's infectious laughter, and the nostalgic anecdotes from his final years at Hogwarts, Aurelian had a truly pleasant time, remembering why he treasured the friendship of the loyal and kind-hearted Cedric Diggory so much.
The sunset bathed the Devon sky in beautiful shades of orange, offering a visual spectacle that invited tranquility and peace. Away from the noise of the house, Aurelian and Cedric sat in the backyard, leaning comfortably against a wooden fence as they watched the sun begin to sink below the horizon.
In their hands, they both held cans of beer—ones that Cedric had bought in the nearby Muggle village and kept stashed in his room for occasions like this—so cold that water ran down the metal.
Aurelian took a sip of his drink and, with a crooked smile, gave him a gentle nudge on the shoulder.
"So… how are things going with Cho Chang?" he asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
Cedric nearly choked on his beer. His cheeks flushed a deep red almost instantly, and he began to stammer, trying to form a coherent sentence while wiping his mouth with the back of his free hand.
Aurelian burst out laughing, relishing his noble friend's discomfort.
"Relax, Cedric, it's just a question. Are you two planning to take the next step yet?"
Cedric's embarrassed smile slowly faded. The badger let out a long sigh, slumped his shoulders, and looked at the can in his hand before taking another sip.
"I… I asked her if she wanted to marry me," Cedric confessed, his voice muffled. "But Cho… well, she didn't say yes or no. She just looked at me a little strangely, as if I'd scared her, and told me it was still too soon for us. That we were too young and all that."
Aurelian frowned slightly, sensing the blow to the heart that must have been.
"And I assume you didn't like that answer at all," Aurelian said in a sympathetic tone.
Cedric nodded, lowering his gaze to the grass, suddenly looking very dejected.
"I haven't spoken to Cho since then. I haven't known what to say to her… I feel like an idiot."
Aurelian took a long sip of his beer, weighing his words. His own relationships had been forged through more… unconventional methods; conventional romance had never been his strong suit.
"Listen, Cedric… I really can't understand what you're going through. My situation with Hestia and Flora is quite unique," Aurelian began, looking at him sincerely. "But if you need anything—to talk, to vent, or anything else—you know I'll always be there for you. My home is your home."
Cedric looked up, grateful for the unconditional support.
"Maybe," Aurelian continued, shrugging, "maybe you could try talking to her one more time and ask her what her real reasons are. Communication usually clears up most misunderstandings in a relationship. But if she still won't answer you, makes up excuses, or keeps beating around the bush… then Cho Chang is a fool for letting someone like Cedric Diggory slip away."
Cedric couldn't help but smile at the forcefulness of his friend's statement. The weight on his chest seemed to lift a little. He nodded, feeling much better than he had in the last few days.
The two friends looked at each other and raised their beers in the air. Then they both took a big sip of their drinks.
After a moment, Cedric wiped his lips and looked at him curiously.
"All right, we've talked about my romantic woes. Now tell me the truth," Cedric asked with a friendly smile. "Why did you come all the way to my house to see me, Aurelian? I know you've been too busy lately to come to this part of the country just to hang out with your friend."
Aurelian cleared his throat, and for the first time all afternoon, he seemed a little nervous. He fiddled with the tab on his can before speaking.
"As you know, I'm going to have two children very soon," Aurelian began, looking him straight in the eye with a serious expression. "And I'd really love for you to be their godfather."
Cedric's eyes widened in complete astonishment. The surprise left him speechless for a few seconds.
"The… the godfather? Of both of them?" Cedric stammered, pointing to himself. "Are you sure, Aurelian? It's a huge responsibility."
Aurelian smiled at him warmly.
"There's no one better in the whole world for that role, Cedric. You're loyal, noble, and the best friend I could ask for. I want my children to have someone like you in their lives."
Cedric was still processing the information when the huge smile that had begun to form on his face faded.
"And do Hestia and Flora agree to this?" he asked, recalling their temperaments, attitudes, and the looks they gave him whenever they saw him.
Aurelian waved his hand dismissively, downplaying the whole matter.
"Yeah, yeah, of course they agree. They thought it was a fantastic idea, I swear."
Cedric's smile widened until it lit up his entire face. Pride and excitement shone in his eyes.
"Of course I'll accept!" Cedric exclaimed joyfully. "It'll be a true honor to be the godfather to little Aurelians."
Aurelian burst out laughing at the comment.
"Just to clarify, they won't be named that. And they're a boy and a girl."
Cedric laughed heartily, slapping his friend's shoulder even harder.
"Well, even better! You've got a little couple!"
Under the light of the sunset, which was gradually giving way to a starry night, the two friends continued joking, laughing, and drinking beer for the rest of the day, sharing a moment of peace before fatherhood and the impending war would once again claim Lord Gaunt's time.
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