She tried to speak. Her mouth opened, and her throat clicked.

The corner of his mouth twitched as she gazed at him, half expecting him to disappear like a trick of the light. Then he ran a hand through his hair, and said, "Do you happen to have the newest Gainsworth book?"

Her lungs shuddered, the sound of his voice bringing life back into her body after months of emptiness.

He stepped closer, his eyes tracing her face in a way that was as intimate as breathing. "I'll need a few of his, I think."

Another step, and she felt a tug at her ribs — the same string pulling taut between them, like a familiar dance.

Like he was real.

He approached the counter. "I'll need some reading. I'm going away for a while, you see. For about 14–16 months."

She sobbed. Her hand slapped over her mouth as her shoulders shook.

He ascended the few steps to the main landing with aching slowness. Tears slipped through her fingers as he gazed at her like she was the answer to a question he'd been asking for years.

"But I'm not going yet."

Her hand dropped, her lips parting. "No?" Only an arm's length away.

"Tomorrow sounds nice, doesn't it?" His hands rested on the counter, and she stared down at them, aching.

"It does." She smiled through her tears.

He reached for her, and the pieces inside of her mended and rearranged as his fingers threaded between hers, closing the empty spaces between them.

Chapter End Notes

Thank you for reading.

Special shout out to PacificRimbaud's fic A Dress with Pockets for the full circle Pansy/Neville.

Afterword

End Notes

I am a published author now! If you'd like to find out more about my debut novel FORGET ME NOT, out July 2023, and upcoming chances to meet me in person on book tour, check my Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , TikTok , Tumblr , and join the Facebook group for Lovesbitca8 followers and the Rights and Wrongs series called Rights & Wrongs .

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