CHAPTER SIX
Goodbye For Now
February 7th, 1979

Mallory woke up to the sound of an owl quite literally harassing her window, she grunted before reaching for the bowl of treats on the furniture next to her. She opened the window and the black owl dropped the letter before diving her beak into Mallory's palm. As soon as she was done, she flew back and let Mallory go back to reading the note.

Wear black. See you at 5.
- R.A.B

Today was the day, then. Folding back the piece of paper, she threw it in the bin before walking out of the bedroom. Pen immediately meowed at her sight, and came to rub itself against her legs. An amazing smell of crepes filled her nose, and she frowned hurrying herself to the kitchen with her wand in hand.

"Who's there?" She shouted firmly, holding her hand tight.

Entering the kitchen, she stumbled upon Fabian cooking with a simple t-shirt on and Muggle jeans (that looked awfully nice on him). At her footsteps, he turned on his heels and frowned at her wand that was pointing right at him. After a few seconds, she released a breath and drew her wand away before putting it in her back pocket.

"Hey," he breathed out. "I should have announced myself, I'm sorry," he added with a tight smile.

Mallory and Fabian had left things quite blurry. Certainly, they were fond of each other and now Mallory couldn't be more oblivious about it. He just seemed like the right fit, and she actually wondered how she could have not seen him before?

Mallory smiled, "It's alright. I just didn't except you," she confessed, walking up to him as he turned back to his crepes. She circled his body with her arms then rested her head against his back. "How come you are here?"

He chuckled and she swore she felt it vibrating throughout his whole body, "Just missed you. Moody accepted that we spend some hours together," he told her. "Did you get a note yet?"

"Actually, yes," she said. "This morning. He will come fetch me at five. Do you reckon we could visit Mum and Dad? I need a proper dress," she sighed with frustration.

He hummed, "Nothing will make me happier than visiting Tony and Ellie," he told her softly and she smiled at the nicknames. Fabian was one of the few person that was allowed to call them by their nicknames. "We can go now if you'd like?"

"After the crepes," she whispered, reaching to press a soft kiss behind his neck. Mallory watched proudly as his hair rose up from his neck, and how his jaw clenched at the kiss.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you!" He exclaimed, once they were sat down. "We got a telly, which means we'll be able to communicate with it!"

"Aye, that's brilliant!"

...

"Are you ready?" Mallory asked, knocking on Fab's door and waited to hear an answer. "Fab, I'm walking in!" She notified him, pushing the door open and her eyes widened noticing he was shirtless. "Shite."

"Oh, sorry. I didn't hear you," he muttered, examining the few t-shirts he had laid down on his bed. "Which one?"

"Mmmh, the brown one. Compliments your freckles," she said softly, caressing his arm.

He smiled and said, "Now, you are going to make me blush."

"Please," she scoffed, waving her hand carelessly. "Alright, be ready in five. We can't be running late!"

"Can't we?" He frowned with a pout, taking a step closer and pressed his hands on her sides. Her breath caught in her throat as his hand ran up her spine, and settled behind her neck. "I really missed you, Mal."

"Missed you too," she whispered as he leaned down closer until his lips were grazing hers, and she didn't know who was breathing for who anymore. "I've missed you terribly."

"Yeah?"

Mallory wasn't able to speak a word, and instead tip-toed to kiss his lips. The kiss was soft and full of desire as her hands sneaked around his waist, and the one behind her neck brought her face closer to his. Fabian stumbled a little behind and his legs hit the bed, making him sit down and Mallory instinctively climbed on his lap.

Pulling away breathlessly, he stared up at her, "Thought we couldn't be late," he murmured against her lips as she shushed him with another one. "Mal..."

"Fab," she mocked, earning a snort from him.

"Alright, let's go. On your feet," he told her, resting his hands on her hips. With a pout, Mallory rose on her feet and ran a hand through her hair before offering him a cheeky smile. "Does your parents know?"

"No, they don't."

"Better kiss you now then," he whispered gently, pressing his lips against hers one last time before dragging her to the fireplace. "You go first."

Mallory smiled, taking the powder as she stepped into the fireplace and shouted, "Abbott manor!"

Green flames wrapped themselves around her body as she felt herself being pulled away. Seconds later, she was stepping out of the fireplace with powder all over her face.

"I bloody hate it," she mumbled to herself, looking up at the familiar office.

She had grown up here, spent most of her winters in this office with her Dad working on some important business that he could never talk about. Despite being the nosiest child ever, her Dad let her stay with him all day if she wanted to. Walking around, she noticed the frame on his desk, it was a picture of her Mum, him and her together laughing loudly.

A soft crack was heard behind her as the elf-house, Pilm, appeared behind Mallory, "I is very happy to see you again, Miss Abbott!"

"Hello, Pilm," she greeted. "Are they around?"

"Mister Abbott is in the garden with Mistress Abbott. Pilm heard the floo," she explained. "Mister Fabian!" She exclaimed, seeing the familiar red-hair step out of the fireplace. "Mister Abbott will be very happy to see you."

"Will he?" Mallory asked and Pilm simply nodded her head, leading her outside of the office and towards the garden.

Mallory took a moment to scan the place and nothing had changed, a few frames had been added but the walls were the same, the furniture too, even the smell of cinnamon was there; almost like it was glued to these walls. The garden was probably Mallory's favourite part of the house; the magnificent Muggle flowers her Mum had planted, the swing a little further into the property.

"Mistress Abbott!" Pilm called out, looking around. Soon enough, her Mum emerged from behind a bush and smiled at Pilm. "I is here because she brought you Miss Abbott and Mister Prewett," she added, showing them.

Eloise's eyes finally looked up and she let out a surprised gasp, "Sweetheart," she breathed out, embracing her into a tight hug. "Oh, look how you've grown up! Have we missed that much?" She whispered.

"Mum, I'm alright," she chuckled. "I'm happy to see you. Do you remember Fabian?"

Eloise snapped her head towards the red-hair and smiled widely, "How could I forget Fabian Prewett? Oh, dear...you have grown up as well or am I getting too old?" She told him with a chuckle, pulling him into a hug.

"Not at all, Ellie. I'm the one who grow up," he replied with a snort. "Still growing your flowers, I see."

"Oh, yes! You should take some back home. It'd be perfect, wouldn't it?"

"Oh but—"

Mallory cut him off and said, "We will. The pink ones will be perfect in the living room, right Fab?" He gave her a nod as her Mum took her hand and led her to her Dad. "What have you been up to anyways?"

Before she could answer, her Dad looked up and his lips immediately curled upwards, "Mallie!" He exclaimed loudly, embracing her into a tight hug. "Oh, wow. Look at you," he breathed out, pulling away and staring at her. "You're beautiful, darling."

"Thank you, Dad," she said softly, patting his arm.

He looked over his daughter's shoulder and grinned, "Fabian! Nice to see you," he said, offering his hand as Fabian shook it. "No twin today?"

"Sadly, no," Fabian chuckled hollowly. "It's been difficult lately."

"Oh, we've seen," Eloise chirped in with a grimace. "We've been reading the Daily Prophet every single day, in case—you know, in case a familiar name appears," she said, her voice tight. "We are scared, Mal."

"I'm okay, Mum. I'm an Auror," she reminded them both. "I know how to defend myself perfectly."

Anthony sighed, rubbing his filthy hands on his trousers, "See...that is why we are scared, love. You're an Auror, and there is no doubt that you're a brilliant one..."

"...But it means you'll be asked to go on dangerous missions," finished her Mum.

Fabian felt how tensed Mallory was a soon as her Mum pronounced dangerous missions, he reached secretly her lower back and put his hand there as she released a breath.

If only they knew, Mallory thought.

"Perhaps I will go on missions, we never know which ones will be assigned to me though," she told them, keeping her tone steady.

Her Dad hummed, "You're right, yeah. Fancy a cup of tea?" He proposed as they all hummed and walked back inside. "Your Mum still insists on doing her tea the Muggle way," he told Mallory with a chuckle. "You know her..."

"Is she still cleaning the whole house by herself? With that grotesque broom?" Mallory snorted.

He laughed loudly, "Not as much as she used to. Pilm helps her a lot," he admitted. "This elf always answered more to her than I."

Mallory nudged his side as they entered the kitchen and she noticed Fabian had gone another way with her Mum, "Maybe Pilm hates men."

He clicked his tongue and said, "Maybe she does. I will have to ask her the question. I will owl you what she said."

"Dad..." Mallory started, looking at his back as he prepared tea. "Don't tell Mum, please. Moody assigned me on a very dangerous mission, I cannot tell you about it, not even small details. But, I needed you to know."

He sighed loudly, turned on his heels then leaned back against the counter. He offered her a tight smile and said, "Is there chance for you to die, Mallie?"

She gulped, thinking about it before answering, "Yes."

"Blimey!"

"Dad!" She pleaded. "I will owl occasionally but sign under another name. No one can know I'm contacting you. Feel free to tell Mum as soon as I walk out the door, but not before. I don't want to see her cry before I leave, alright?" Her Dad offered her a weak nod and grabbed clean cups from the cabinet. "I promise to contact you."

"Alright," he whispered back. He handed her two cups and cleared his throat. He was clearly on the verge of crying but said nothing. "Bring this to your Mum and Fabian. I'll bring our cup in a minute."

Mallory nodded, tightened her hands around the cups and walked towards the living room. As she got closer, she could hear Fabian and her Mum having a conversation about Aurors and Alastar Moody. Perhaps, she thought he would give her better answers than her but she knew Fabian wouldn't talk unless he was sure that she was okay with it.

"Hey," she said, announcing herself as she walked in. She handed the cups to her Mum then Fabian as she sat down next to him. "Mum, I've been meaning to ask..."

"Go ahead."

"Do you have a black dress or anything that could fit for a kind of big event?" She queried as she watched her mother's face light up.

"I've always known this day would come," she sighed dreamily, then turned to meet Fabian. "Mallory is not one to wear dresses, she always preferred trousers."

"I know," he laughed softly.

Eloise rose on her feet, gave Mallory's shoulder a squeeze and disappeared upstairs. Mallory and Fabian were now alone in the living room where she had made most of her memories. The same old ashtray was still in the middle of the table, and Mallory could see a cigarette still burning slowly.

Fabian moved closer until their shoulders were touching, "Are you going to tell them?"

"I told my Dad," she whispered. "Told him I'd owl them occasionally under another name. I can't risk them to be followed because of me," she added as Fabian let out a hum. "I see you are getting along with my Mum."

"Oh, yes," he nodded. "Eloise always have been very nice to me. You see, I think she loves me," he smirked as she snorted. "A bit sad that Gideon can't be here, I'm always better with him around."

Mallory shook her head, "Fab, you are good even without Gid around. Trust me."

"Yeah, right."

Later this afternoon, Mallory was hugging her parents tightly, almost afraid to let go. It was her Mum who pulled away first, giving her a wide smile.

"You should visit more, sweetheart," she told Mallory, caressing her cheek in a motherly way. "We miss you lots, you know."

"I know, Mum. I will do my best," she said, her voice tight. "I love you, eh?"

"I love you too."

—————
authors note, so this chapter is in two parts, the second part will be up tomorrow or so! in the meantime, mallory loving her parents SOOO much just leave me with a head full of ideas to make her suffer! 🤭🤭

anyways, sorry for the lack of updates, i couldn't find the time to edit the chapter since i am now a...working...adult... ugh. i love you very much!!!