"What do you mean married?" her voice rang out echoing off of the walls of the entry hall. Zaria felt her heart shudder as her blue eyes seemed to pierce into her mother.
"Darling do not be so dramatic. You know of my relationship with Osidian." Margaret sighed frustrated with her only child. She rubbed her temples as she always did when she felt another fight coming on. Why did the child have to make things so complicated? It was not as if the girl could not have most of her life handed on a perpetual silver platter if she wished? Just Zaria was so much like her father. Damn him, Margaret thought as her black eyes closed for a moment.
"You cannot marry that man…he …he hates me..." her 10 year old frame sulked off to the comfort of the living room throwing herself down against the arm rest of her favorite chair. Her eyes traced the flower patterns of the chair for the millionth time as her mother entered. Zaria could feel her eyes boring into the back of her head trying to understand her.
We are so different, Margaret thought sadly as her slender figure moved to sit across from the girl. Her fingers twisted nervously on her lap as she touched the engagement ring. Her soft golden hair was pulled up into an elegant twist on the top of her head. A soft silk gown swept in gentle elegance dipping low at her chest and draping to her ankles. The special attention she had given herself had paid off as she remembered the way Osidian had looked at her.
"Now Zaria, listen to me. Osidian Black is a fine gentleman. He is good blood." Margaret's voice was now strained to the pitch that made Zaria want to throw the overstuffed pillow at her creamy flawless face.
"He can care for you and me beyond our wildest imaginations. Not that we are in any need, but I need a man back in my life." Margaret continued as her eyes pleaded with the girl, "Your father of course was never…and Mr. Black will be an excellent father figure…one of the most honorable and oldest wizarding families in England…he even works for the ministry..highly regarded as one of the most talented wizards…"
Zaria turned her glare slowly at her mother. Her own raven black hair was pulled away from her flushed face. The woman across from her looked as though she would shatter from the slightest drop of a pin. "Good Blood"…. "Wizarding families…." Zaria cringed as a sickness ran over her.
Her father was merely a worthless muggle in her mother's eyes. And, she, Zaria, was just a figment of a relationship that was a mistake. Her father rarely mentioned as though he had never existed. Zaria was treated as though she came from the "pure blood" of her mother's side of the family, yet she knew she were still a sty in Margaret's eye. Even though Margaret would never admit the flaw, Zaria was a guilty shadow from a past mistake.
Zaria looked into her mother's face, "We have to leave our home to go to England?" Her throat was dry. The dark determination in her mother's eyes showed her worst fears. They would leave the familiar manor in America and travel to her mother's homeland. The soft flavor of country living in the northern United States suited her. There were many wizarding families for her mother to socialize with. Why would they leave such a good thing, Zaria thought.
"What of school? Am I not to attend Amelia Moon's School for Young Witches in New York? What of our home and friends?" she asked looking at her mother intently as though wishing Margaret would act motherly for once and wipe away the infuriating tears that threatened to pour down her cheeks.
Margaret sighed and looked down at her hands, "There is my old school, Hogwarts, which I am sure will suit you well. I was in Slytherin myself. And as for friends darling, you will make plenty. You are young. And I will once again be in my element. I left much behind when I moved here years ago." The woman's voice was drained as she looked back up at Zaria. Her jaw though was set in resound to her decision.
Zaria knew she could not change her mother's mind. No matter how much of a temper tantrum she threw. No matter how much time she would spend refusing to speak or eat. No matter how many tears she forced out of her eyes. Zaria knew she would be forced to leave her comfort zone to live with the horrid man her mother seemed smitten with.
Margaret sighed and stood straightening the already smooth silk. A frown of worry creased her forehead. Silence from Zaria was never pleasant and always left the woman on edge. Yet she knew she could and would not give into the girl this time. She is just being selfish; Margaret thought to herself, she will get use to it.
"You will get use to it Darling." Margaret said ending the conversation as she patted her child's shoulder gingerly before stepping into the hall, "Now Osidian will be here soon, so I expect nothing less than gratitude and manners." With that she had disappeared to order the house elves to start preparations for dinner. Osidian would get nothing but the best.