Loyal Hearts - A/D - PG
Title : Loyal Hearts
Author : shocfix
For : mrsquizzical
Pairing : Albus/Doge
Prompt : reminisce
Rating : PG
Words : 910


Loyal Hearts
****
“Why so glum, Ronald?”

Ron sighed heavily and helped the very old man to carefully fold himself onto the golden chair.

“No, really, I’m fine, Mr Doge,” he said.

“Elphias, please.”

“Elphias. I’m fine. Great.”

“Weddings shouldn’t be an occasion for an attack of the glums,” Elphias said firmly. “And this wedding is the New Beginning, isn’t it? No Death Eaters this time.”

Ron nodded in acknowledgement and his eyes drifted back over the dance floor.

“It was good of you to stand up for your brother,” Elphias said.

“I was honoured when George asked me,” Ron said. “We’ve been much closer since…”

He swallowed.

Elphias smiled encouragingly.

“Molly thinks you’re sad because he’s marrying your first love,” he said.

Ron looked round so swiftly something cricked in his neck.

“No,” he protested. “Hermione and me… she’s much happier with George. I’m happy for them. Honestly.”

“That’s what I told her,” Elphias said smugly.

Ron nodded.

“Of course, I didn’t tell her I thought I knew what was making you miserable,” Elphias continued.

“I’m not…”

The dancers shifted and, through a gap, they both saw Harry’s hungry green eyes watching his guest licking icing off their fingers.

“Though you are thinking of your great love, aren’t you, Ronald?” Elphias asked gently.

“I… she’s… they… what…?”

“It’s hard, isn’t it?” Elphias went on.

“Isn’t what?” Ron asked, frowning at the old man.

“You know, I always had a soft spot for you, Ronald,” he said. “I used to hang on every word of Molly’s stories about what you got up to at school.”

“You did?” Ron asked. “Me? But... why?”

“I know what it’s like. Meeting the most extraordinary boy in the Wizarding world. You met him on your first day at school, didn’t you?”

“Harry?” Ron blinked. “Yeah. On the train.”

“And you were best friends from that moment forwards!” Elphias sighed happily. “Just like I was with Albus.”

“Oh,” Ron said. “Oh, I see what you…”

“Happy to stand by his side, weren’t you?” Elphias asked.

“’Course.”

“Of course. Never felt overshadowed, because it was a privilege to be his friend, wasn’t it?”

“Um, pretty much…”

“Do anything for him, wouldn’t you?” Elphias asked happily.

“Yeah,” Ron sighed. “Yeah, ‘course I would.”

“I know exactly how you feel, my boy.”

“Um. I’m not so sure…”

“Exactly how you feel, Ronald.” Elphias looked at him, significantly. “Impossible not to fall for someone so extraordinary, isn’t it? Especially when they think so much of you; especially when they let you see them at their very worst.”

“Oh.”

“Oh, indeed,” Elphias said. “You’re a bit glum because you’re watching your great love sitting over on the other side of the room, where he can’t keep his eyes off someone you think is all wrong for him.”

Ron grunted.

“’Snot my business,” he muttered.

“I’m sure you have only his best interests at heart,” Elphias said. “But it’s hard to dedicate your life to someone, with no need of reward, no thought of reward, and then he… well, he meets Gellert Grindelwald.”

Ron winced.

“Oh, no need to be embarrassed, Ronald, my dear boy,” Elphias said, patting him comfortingly on the hand. “It was more than a hundred years ago, after all, and I certainly never reproached him over it. He was dazzled, and he made a mistake, but he put it behind him and I was rewarded for my loyal friendship.”

Ron carefully did not watch Harry stroking his companion’s cheek with gentle fingers.

“Rewarded by being allowed to rip Grindelwald’s throat out?” he asked petulantly.

“No,” Elphias admitted.

“Rewarded by him ever returning your… you know?”

“Albus never returned my… more tender feelings. But you must not disparage one hundred years of devoted friendship.”

“I wouldn’t,” Ron said firmly. “I’m working on it, aren’t I? Ten years and counting.”

“Exactly.” Elphias beamed. “That is why I know exactly how you feel when you see your Harry with the Malfoy boy.”

“At least your… your friend was dazzled by someone impressive,” Ron muttered. “But Malfoy?”

“I don’t think Harry is dazzled,” Elphias said encouragingly. “I think you and I are very alike, with our loyal hearts, but I don’t think this relationship that we are unfortunately being exposed to is anything like the intense connection Albus felt for his… squeeze.”

“Squeeze?”

“Isn’t that the current expression amongst young folk?”

“Um. Probably not so much.”

“Ah, well,” Elphias waved that away. “Albus was dazzled, but he’d accepted his… leanings long before he met Grindelwald, and he was aware of my attachment to him. I think that I am right in saying that this is Harry’s first foray into the world of homosexuality.”

“Right,” Ron said, blushing. “Yes. Yeah.”

“I rather think that Harry is just finding his feet,” Elphias said. “When Albus was so brutally undazzled, he had no reason to turn to me romantically. Of course I tried to help him, but as his friend. Let us hope that Harry’s head turns towards you, once it is no longer turned by young Malfoy.”

“I hope you’re right,” Ron said heavily. “’Though I don’t know why it should.”

“Well, you will just have to wait for that moment, and show him,” Elphias said firmly. “I can’t be expected to do all the work here.”

Ron laughed.

“So,” Elphias said. “You wait for him, and you make things work out between you.”

“I will.”

“For my sake.”

“I will,” Ron said. “I really will.”