Post by Casey Winslow on Dec 3, 2011 17:40:40 GMT -8
Godric's Hollow, Evie's Mausoleum
31st October 2011
11:30 p.m.
Since Evie's death over a year ago, Casey had never dared venture here to her grave. After all, he told himself, Trevor was supposed to believe he was dead--never mind there was a possibility he no longer believed that. However, there were some nights when it was inevitable he would visit. While the pain had numbed somewhat and he had begun the process of trying to move on with his life, there were some--ok, many--days he would still think of her. All Hallow's Eve was one such day. Evie had loved the holiday. Every year she would go all out, and they would dress up for the trick-or-treaters until they had children of their own in which case they had decked little Julian out and, when she was born, little Lydia and taken him (or them) trick-or-treating. He had often found it hard to decide if she was more excited over the popular wizarding holiday or her own birthday, though he supposed the day she received presents was most favored.
Casey had spent earlier in the evening trying to help out with the meager Halloween festivities at the safe house held to keep up the spirits of the younger occupants, but as time had gone on, memories had begun taking hold, and the man had snuck out. At first, he had taken to walking around the grounds, but after a while, he decided he had to do it. He had to go to her grave. Regardless of any risks and regardless of the toll it could take on his emotions, he needed to do it. He needed to visit her grave. He needed to say his goodbyes. He needed to deal with his feelings rather than continue to bury them as he had been doing before the arrival of his son from the future revealed the jarring truth Julian had been kidnapped by none other than Trevor Williams. That was when things had begun to mess with him again.
After disapparating, Casey appeared in the small village of Godric's Hollow. Having no real since of the time, it was odd to him that no costume-clad characters were out walking around door to door, but he counted it as a blessing. It was better that way, fewer memories. Sighing, Casey shoved his frigid hands into his pant pockets, his head down watching his feet move, one before the other. It wasn't the most interesting sight, but it at least kept him oriented better than looking straight forward out into the darkness. Perhaps it would have been wise to pull his wand out and use Lumos, but he didn't want to be noticed and it wouldn't have done him much good in the semi foggy conditions.
It took a few minutes before his feet brought him to the graveyard, but once he arrived, he stopped, swallowing. He knew her grave was in here. He knew he had put up for her something he would never have been able to afford even had things continued normally and happily for them 'til one of them died of old age. It had been all over the copy of the Daily Prophet from that day over a year ago he had found stored in Julian's room when he'd been searching for any clues as to where he could have gone.
He must have looked it over a billion times before crumpling it as it had seemed his son had done many a time. On the front page was a picture of Trevor, dressed in black, with his blonde daughter beside him. Her hand was in his and she was looking up at him as he stared at the coffin before him. After a few moments, the picture would move, and he would take a step forward and place a bouquet of roses on the elaborate wooden thing and then place a hand tenderly on the reddish mahogany coffin as though caressing it lovingly. But the coffin was never to be lowered as it seemed they were inside a marble building rather than standing on green turf.
The man in that photograph should have been him. The little girl should have been Lydia but much older. Julian should have been standing on his other side and perhaps families of his children's own. Also with them should have been Olivia and Oliver, their twins who never even had the chance to be born before the monster ruined their lives once and for all with what Casey assumed must have been a potion. The Weasleys and his family as well as her many other friends should have also been there, a testament to how well-loved she had been.
Casey closed his hands tight in a fist before taking a deep breath and relaxing them. Now was no time to let anger overtake him. He had to have his wits about him. He reached to his left forearm and removed his wand from its holster and whispered, "Lumos." The tip lit up, and Casey began to walk, looking for anything that was new enough to possibly be his wife's grave. Upon finding it, he paused again, looking at the name engraved on the plate above the door.
Evelyn Ann Williams
15 July 1978 - 19 December 2010
Beloved wife and mother.
15 July 1978 - 19 December 2010
Beloved wife and mother.
Casey's breath hitched in his tensing throat, but he managed to abate the tears for the moment as he shut his eyes--hard. After a moment, he opened them, a single tear escaping. He quickly wiped it away and cleared his throat in an attempt to loosen it before stepping forward and pushing open the heavy door after a few-minute long attempt to unlock it.
Once inside, he lifted his wand again, looking around the dark room. Spotting a few candles, he uttered a spell to light them and then stated, "Nox." His wand went out, and he pocketed it, wanting it a little nearer in case he had to defend himself. On the wall hung a painting of Evie, one Casey felt hardly did her justice. In it, she was prim and proper, wearing a purple dress. Certainly, she looked pretty, but he preferred her most when she was smiling, obviously happy and carefree. It was how he remembered her. This woman looked like one Trevor was trying to mold into being prim, proper, and heartless.
He stepped forward towards the coffin, resting a hand there just before he heard someone approaching. Quickly, he hid behind the far side of the coffin, hardly thinking to conceal the handprint now left on the top of the coffin. He pressed his back to the coffin and drew his wand. Just what he hadn't wanted--at least not tonight and not here.