gilbert was on his way back from the library when the attack started. the creatures rose up from the floor, black and billowy, and at first he was confused -- what were they, and how had they gotten there? he heard someone shout the name -- LETHIFOLD -- and wracked his brain to figure out where he knew it from. it sounded familiar but he couldn’t remember... not until he saw another student cast a wispy attempt at a patronus charm to stave it off.
‘crap, it’s like... like a baby dementor.” he muttered under his breath, rolling out of its way in case it decided to spring back while he pulled his wand out. he screwed his eyes shut and pointed, shouting the charm -- “EXPECTO PATRONUM!”
. thoughts sprung to mind. he thought of his family when they were
younger, before rowan was dark and twisted beyond all reason, before things
were complicated and messy, and he was a stranger in his own home. he thought of lily -- thought of how lovely she’d looked sprawled out in the meadow by her house, hair pillowing around her head, and how HAPPY they’d been together over the summer. then he thought of his friends, of charity bringing him cookies when they were both sad, or concerned people checking in on him after the quidditch match. he had reasons to be happy, to feel that his life was full, and these memories helped him cause his patronus ( a silver raccoon, darting at the creature ) to ward off the monster intent on hurting them.
when the light faded away, gilbert brought his wand down to his side. it was then that he noticed he wasn’t alone in the corridor anymore. standing across from him was his brother, a look of concentration as he held something in his hand. it was... an old boot? brow furrowed, gilbert realized it could only mean one thing.
these creatures were a distraction. there was something more SINISTER happening outside of the castle walls. something his brother was involved with. it shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did but he couldn’t help but feel crushed. he loved his brother, despite every reason he had not to, and he couldn’t just let him march off to what was sure to be a TERRIBLE decision that would make it impossible to turn back from. most would say that he was insane, that there was no way he could save rowan at this point, but he had to try. he was his BROTHER.
“stop!” he called out, sprinting towards his brother as if to stop him before he took that last step, jumped off the edge that there was no coming back from. “don’t do this... please! you don’t need to do this. i know you... i know we’ve had our differences but you don’t need to do this. it’s not too late. we’re... we’re FAMILY, ro. don’t do this. PLEASE.”
