Sorcerer Supreme at Hogwarts (English Versión)-Chapter 146: melancholia

melancholia

POV: Stephen

Is this what they call growing up? Before, everything was so simple. I loved making everyone laugh with my ridiculous jokes, and eventually, I even ended up forming a cool terror squad with the twins to terrorize the school. Everything seemed like a game, a constant laugh.

But now... now I'm about to take a huge leap. No, it's not a step. It's like diving headfirst into an abyss without knowing if I'll land on something soft or crash head-on. I don't like growing up. Who would want to? We all want to be kids forever, laughing, playing, carefree. Because when you grow up, you have responsibilities. Not school assignments; obligations that, if you fail, can ruin your life. You work, you pay bills, and if you mess up, everything crumbles. Your lifestyle becomes a disaster.

Where's all this depressing monologue going? Basically, it's my mind screaming at me that I'm about to take that leap by deciding to live with Fleur. And I'm scared. A fear so deep that I'd rather face Dormammu again than face the possibility of screwing this up... of screwing her up.

Because I want to have her by my side. But at the same time, I'm afraid of hurting her. It's such a frustrating contradiction it could drive anyone insane.

Do all guys who decide to live with their partners feel this way? I hope so, because if not, I'm going to feel like an idiot.

"Sigh... It's time," I murmured, trying to calm my breathing before entering the Flamel mansion, where Fleur and her parents were already waiting for me.

I can still feel Fleur's father's murderous gaze every time he sees me. And this coming from someone who was the Sorcerer Supreme, someone who shattered galaxies to protect others, yet still trembles under his scrutiny.

Great, Stephen. The great savior of the universe... scared of an overprotective father-in-law.

Why do I keep talking to myself like someone could actually hear me? I'm starting to sound like my crazy sister.

I keep up my stupid internal monologue as I approach the living room, where my grandparents and my in-laws are chatting with total ease. Their laughter fills the place, but the weight of what I'm about to say makes everything feel surreal.

When Fleur sees me arrive, her face lights up immediately. She stands up with that natural elegance of hers and throws herself into my arms, hugging me tightly.

"We were waiting for you, Stephen," she says with that smile that manages to calm me more than any spell. I feel her hand grabbing my arm and her gentle tapping giving me the peace I so desperately need.

"Ahem... Hello, sir and madam," I greet awkwardly, trying to sound formal, though my voice shakes a bit.

"Ha, Stephen! It's been so long. You're getting more handsome each time," laughs Madame Delacour warmly. "No need to be so formal. You can keep calling us uncle and aunt, like when you were a child."

Her laughter is welcoming, warm. But Mr. Delacour... He just stares at me, those eyes seeming to scan my very soul.

"Fleur said you had something to ask us," he says directly, without breaking eye contact.

"Dear, you're too impatient. You could've let Stephen get to the point on his own," Madame Delacour gives him a warning glance.

"No. Umm... It's better if I get straight to the point, I think," I stammer as I feel fear starting to choke me. I clear my throat and take a deep breath. "I'll just say it. I started dating Fleur over a year ago, as you already know. But from the beginning, I've always had a real future in mind, one with her. And although it may be too soon, I want to ask your permission for Fleur to live with me... in a house..."

Oh, great, Stephen. As if it was logical to live anywhere other than a house. A drawer? A cave? God, I'm such an idiot!

"I see," says Mr. Delacour, in that neutral tone that makes me break out in cold sweat. With each passing second, I feel like I'm sinking more and more.

"Darling, stop that. You're scaring Stephen," Madame Delacour scolds him.

"Stephen." His voice is firm, but less intimidating. Barely.

"Yes, sir," I respond quickly, almost like a reflex.

"I've known you since you were a child. I've seen you grow up alongside my daughter, and I know who you are and what you're capable of. I may have been hard on you at times, but it's because I know your potential and what you can become. And I also know my daughter will have a great life with you." He pauses, as if measuring his words. "I'll let Fleur live with you because I know you two complement each other. But, Stephen, you must never make my daughter cry. Because no matter how many duel tournaments you win or if your grandparents are the Flamels, our friends from years ago... If you hurt my daughter, I won't hesitate to curse you even in places where the sun doesn't shine. Understood?"

"Yes, sir. I promise," I reply with more sincerity than ever.

"Welcome to the family, Stephen," says Madame Delacour, getting up to embrace Fleur and me with that genuine affection that makes me feel at home.

"Mom, we're just moving in together. We're not getting married... yet," Fleur says with joy, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.

"Don't worry. If Stephen ever makes a woman cry, even if it's not Fleur, I'll kick his ass myself." My grandmother Perenelle's laughter lightens the mood, and I can't help but smile.

For the first time in what feels like forever, I feel like everything is going to be okay.

"----------------

"Wow, that was terrifying... But I did it," I said as I let myself fall onto the grass, my gaze lost in the blue sky. Fleur had been kidnapped by my grandmother, caught up in the endless discussion about house decorations.

Since they thought I'd just be a nuisance with those topics, they banished me to the garden... Like an annoying dog.

"Hey, Stephen. What are you doing?" Wanda asked, poking her head into my field of vision with that shameless curiosity she always had.

"Just existing," I replied wearily. My mind had been drained a while ago, and honestly, I didn't have the energy to engage in one of our wit battles right now.

"So, you had your meeting with Fleur's parents, right? At least you weren't castrated, which is good for your future descendants," she said as she sat beside me, her mocking smile firmly planted on her face.

"And what are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to have the same meeting with Daphne?" I asked, glancing at her from the corner of my eye.

"Oh, yeah. But it was easy. You know, Daphne's dad adores me," she replied with a victorious smile that managed to irritate me a bit, though I let it slide. "When we arrived, she was also kidnapped by Grandma and Fleur to discuss decorations. They kicked me out to the garden for being annoying."

"Welcome to the club," I sighed.

Wanda lay down on the grass beside me, her gaze also fixed on the sky. There was a touch of nostalgia in her voice when she murmured:

"We're growing up, aren't we? Growing up sucks."

"You're not growing up. You're still just as unbearable," I replied quickly.

"I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about you," she retorted, and her tone turned a bit more serious. "Stephen, you have everything you never had in that other world. Even an incredibly beautiful sister like me. So, if an unknown variant of one of us ever appears, please, don't explode while shouting idiotic things," she added with a smile trying to suppress her laughter.

"You damn bastard!" I growled in frustration, jumping up and lunging at her to start a fistfight like when we were kids.

"----------

Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Perenelle, Fleur, and Daphne were drawn by the commotion coming from the garden. They looked out the window to find Stephen and Wanda rolling on the grass, locked in a ridiculous but familiar fight.

Obviously, they weren't using magic; they knew Perenelle would punish them if they did.

"Sigh. Those fools never grow up," Perenelle said, shaking her head with a resigned air but with a fond smile on her lips.

"I think they're cute. It's good that they get along so well," Fleur said with a warm smile.

"I don't mind if Wanda stays like this forever. It's so much fun being around her," Daphne quickly commented.

"You all... Well, they say love is blind," Perenelle muttered with a playful touch. "Alright, go to them before they wreck my garden."

Fleur and Daphne didn't hesitate to run outside toward their partners, laughing as they prepared to join the chaos in the garden.

Perenelle, however, continued watching from the window with nostalgia and affection.

"What's wrong, Penny?" Nicolas asked as he entered the room, finding his wife so dreamy.

"Do you remember when we first found Stephen, Nico?" Perenelle asked suddenly, with a melancholic sparkle in her eyes.

"Yes. How could I forget?" Nicolas replied with a gentle smile.

"Look at him now. He's grown so much... And he's about to move in with his partner. Wanda too..." Perenelle said, the sadness in her voice palpable, as if part of her resisted letting them go.

"Hahaha, that's what happens when our kids grow up, Penny," Nicolas said as he gently hugged her, providing her with warm and sincere comfort. "But I'm not that worried. They're moving close by, and knowing them, we'll see them all the time."

"Nico, we made the right choice keeping the Philosopher's Stone. Being able to watch them grow... I'd love to meet my great-great-grandchildren someday," Perenelle said with a hopeful smile.

"Hahaha, from what we already know about them, they'll be even more unruly than their parents," Nicolas laughed, while the two of them remained embraced, enjoying the present and dreaming of the future.