With Aunt Lowitz and Chris visiting, Ares had no reason to ignore them.
Although Aunt Lowitz insisted she didn't want their visit to interfere with his work, Ares claimed he had requested a half-month leave from his "company" to accompany them all over London.
"I'm happy to spend more time with you both, and I need a break myself," Ares said with a smile when Aunt Lowitz urged him for the eighth time to get back to work.
Though honestly, compared to shopping with two high-energy women, his half-month in Azkaban felt more like a vacation.
Thunder rumbled, and dazzling lightning slithered through the clouds like snakes. A torrential downpour blanketed London on the last Friday of August.
"Toiletries? Sketchbook? Fleece pants for winter? You got everything?"
"Then get in the car—Ares, squeeze into the back with Chris—Oh, London taxis are so stingy! I can't even fit in here with just this little bit of luggage!"
The last sentence was directed at the haggard-looking taxi driver who had just loaded three heavy leather suitcases in the pouring rain.
After all the fuss, no one was completely dry.
"Mom, I think I left a pack of thick socks under the bed!"
After frantically checking her luggage, Chris shouted under the driver's desperate gaze.
"Honestly! I told you at least five times, Chris, check your things!"
Aunt Lowitz yelled angrily, but she snatched the house keys from Ares and charged back into the rain.
"It's just a pack of socks!" Chris shouted indignantly.
"Don't speak to your mother in that tone, Chris," Ares said, struggling to pull his hand out from under two bags of clothes to gently flick Chris's forehead.
He glanced out the window to confirm Aunt Lowitz had rushed inside, then turned back to Chris.
"I stuffed some 'local specialties' into your big red suitcase—a box of Ginger Newt Biscuits. Eating them can help prevent colds."
"Oh, thanks~" Chris slumped back against the seat, looking wilted.
"There's also 5,000 pounds inside the biscuit tin," Ares added gently.
Boing!
Chris shot up straight, shaking her head and staring at Ares in horror, her face inches from his.
"I can't give the money directly to Aunt Lowitz, you understand? She wouldn't take it if her life depended on it."
Chris's reaction was expected. Ares spoke calmly.
"You can use part of the money for your own expenses and send some back to Aunt Lowitz to help with the loan."
"I can't take your money, Ares! If she finds out, she'll throw me onto the roof with one hand! Or just hang me from the rafters!" Chris gasped, still looking terrified.
"Just say you earned it from a part-time job."
Ares looked into Chris's reddening eyes and delivered the speech he had prepared.
"Don't be ashamed, Chris. Everyone has tough times. When I first left school, I lived in a tent for a while. Besides, this money isn't a gift; it's a loan... Oh, of course, provided you pass every final exam at university, it's interest-free."
Chris's eyes grew redder and redder, and suddenly, she hugged Ares.
"What happened?!"
Aunt Lowitz returned in a rush, looking at her daughter in surprise.
"Oh, nothing," Ares said with a smile, ruffling Chris's hair. "Just feeling a little sad about saying goodbye."
"Honestly, now she grows a conscience," Aunt Lowitz muttered, her tone softer than ever. She tossed the socks into Chris's lap and turned to the driver. "Let's go, let's go!"
The taxi crawled through the rain-soaked London traffic for half the day before finally dropping Chris off at her destination. But mother and daughter didn't have much time for a tearful farewell, as Aunt Lowitz's return train was also scheduled for that day.
Outside King's Cross Station, aunt and nephew said their final goodbyes.
"Are you sure you won't stay a bit longer, Aunt Lowitz?"
"We've troubled you enough, dear boy. Really, I can't stay," Aunt Lowitz said, effortlessly lifting a suitcase that would have bent an adult Muggle man in half. She patted Ares on the shoulder with her free hand. "Besides, the crops in the field won't wait for anyone!"
Ares nodded. "I'll try my best to come back and visit for Christmas."
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just write more often," Aunt Lowitz looked at Ares kindly, ruffling his damp hair.
"Also, I left some money behind the photo of you and your father. Use it to go to a proper hospital and get your body checked... Stop relying on those superstitious folk remedies!"
Ares's lips moved, but in the end, he just nodded.
Just as he had resolved to slip money to Chris, he knew he couldn't return the money Aunt Lowitz had secretly left for him.
Seeing that Ares didn't refuse, Aunt Lowitz looked relieved. But then, a rare look of hesitation crossed her face.
"I know this might not be pleasant to hear, Ares, but I have to say it."
After a pause, Aunt Lowitz took a deep breath.
"Your mother leaving you and your father without a word when you were very young... maybe it left a shadow on you..."
Ares blinked, ready to say something, but Aunt Lowitz cut him off forcefully.
"—I hope you understand, Ares. Abandoning her husband and son was a foolish thing that stupid woman did. But it doesn't mean all women are like that."
Aunt Lowitz patted Ares heavily on the shoulder again.
"I hope next time you come home, you can bring a girl with you. Okay?"
"Hmm..."
Ares blinked. "Does it have to be a girl, Auntie? Can we not be so strict about the gender?"
A little joke blew away the heavy atmosphere of parting.
With a faint smile on his lips, Ares watched Aunt Lowitz walk into the station, her robust figure disappearing into the bustling crowd.
The sky was still gray, and the rain continued to fall. However, not a single drop touched Ares anymore.
Amidst the rain, which seemed to turn into mist around him, a visible heat rose from Ares's body, steaming away the dampness.
Like the mist stirred by a gentle breeze, his form became hazy. Space twisted and folded around him, covering him until he dissolved into nothingness, vanishing from the Muggle world.