Gaston was too overcome with emotion to speak or even move. For several moments, all he could do was hold Rose close, his head turned aside so his tears wouldn't drip on her. She had no idea how dark and lonely his life had been before she came into it! He'd come close to this moment a few times in the past, only to have it yanked away from him, and had all but given up hope of ever finding love when he found her. Now those days were behind him, and his heart was so full of love and joy that it ached.

He sniffled, wiping his eyes as he released his hold on Rose. " The bestkind," he said when he finally found his voice. He couldn't stop smiling as he gazed into her kind brown eyes. Then Rose voiced exactly what he was thinking. "I know... I feel the same way." His expression changed slightly at her next words. "No, never," he promised. "I would die before I let any harm come to you, and..." His voice trailed off as his thoughts puts an his words, so he told her the only other way he could - by pulling her close and giving her a kiss.

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Scene three May 2092: The creature in the portal at Hogwarts may be gone, but Gaston still has his own personal monsters to contend with.

It had been a long, emotionally draining day! Gaston tried to convince himself that the monster in the portal was really gone, but he still sat awake late into the night, afraid to close his eyes for fear he'd see it. Eventually his head slumped forward, and he fell into a restless doze. Suddenly there was a deafening screech... a flash of sharp teeth... wings that blocked out the sun... and fire, fire everywhere. And his beloved Rose...

The next thing he knew, Gaston was standing outside her office door. He had no idea what time it was, but he knew it must be very late at night. He was secretly glad for the ungodly hour, as it meant there would be no students roaming the halls to see him in his sorry state... dressed in a black t-shirt and pajama pants, his hair a disheveled mess, his eyes red-rimmed and panic-stricken.

He took a deep breath as he forced himself to knock. He hoped Rose wouldn't be too annoyed with him for disturbing her. He just had to see that she was alright!