Shiver
By Nanaho-Hime
For the Black Family Challenge
Pairing: Callidora Black/ Harfang Longbottom
How old is she?
Seven.
Well that certainly puts a damper on things.
Puff. Cough. Sigh. Fidget. Glance. Sigh.
"My parents have asked me to look into courting and marrying a Black girl."
Freeze. Inhale. Nod.
"Well, that's interesting. Why do you think they asked for the Blacks specifically?"
Puff. Exhale. Shrug.
"There seems to be a lack of eligible maidens in our social circle."
Pause. Glance. Nod. Cough
"I understand."
Sigh. Glare. Grunt.
"They say I can choose whichever one I like."
Glance. Puff. Nod.
"Well, that's good then isn't it?"
Fidget. Puff. Sigh.
"I suppose."
Study. Cough. Exhale.
"Who have you been looking at?"
Frown. Puff. Exhale.
"Lycoris isn't an option, because it would seem the she has the Black Family lungs. The two only reasonable choices would be either Cassieopia or Callidora, they're the same age and not so ridiculously young that I'd have to wait twenty years to marry them. But from what I hear, Cygnus is trying to make a deal with the Rosiers and it doesn't seem he'll settle for anyone else. Arcturus and Lysandra, on the other hand, are eager to marry their girls off, and they don't care as long as I have the gold and the Longbottom name. I think Callidora is really the only logical choice."
Blanch. Blink. Nod
"That's good. How old is she?"
Fidget. Flush. Cough.
"Seven."
Choke. Cough. Cough. Blink.
"Well, that certainly puts on damper on things."
Callidora Black is seven years old and not a princess. Callidora is either Callie or Dora or Dorie but she is never a princess.
Dora is beautiful, more beautiful than her two sisters, but Dora is wild and Dora is sharp and Dora is intelligent. She isn't afraid of lethifolds in the closet and she can solve Arithmancy problems without a piece of parchment and a quill. Dora scares the other little girls her age because Dora is cold, and Dora doesn't like dresses, and Dora exasperates her parents despite her brilliant mind.
Ella isn't afraid of Dora and neither is Charis. Dora loves her baby sisters more than anyone else in the world, more than difficult Arithmancy problems and scarecrows, and more than the big books in father's library. Ella makes her feel loved and Charis makes her feel important and in her seven year old brilliant mind, she knows she won't ever need anyone else.
Dora doesn't particularly love mum or dad, but Dora loves being a Black, and she is proud of their crest and proud of their pureblood, and so so disdainful of muggle monsters who are stupid, and power hungry and eager to take the place of good pure blood families everywhere.
Dora doesn't tolerate stupidity, or people who are power hungry.
It is a lazy summer afternoon when her mother summons her to the parlor to meet a new friend. Dora sighs and rolls her eyes at Ella and Charis, and they giggle because Dora is the funniest and smartest and prettiest girl in the world and they want to be just like her.
Dora straightens her back and smoothes back her unruly black curls, ready to scare away Ethelinda Yaxley for the third time this week. Dora doesn't like Ethelinda because Ethelinda is frilly and pink and dull.
She is pleasantly surprised when she sees that Ethelinda Yaxley is not squirming on the wine red loveseat, but rather there is a tall, handsome man with a vague, thoughtful frown on his face. An elderly witch and wizard are speaking to mum, so she waits politely by her mother's side until she can be addressed.
"This is my eldest daughter Callidora, say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Lonbottom, Callidora."
Dora curtsies and smiles, and Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom coo and tell her how beautiful she is. Dora knows how beautiful she is, but people seem to think she needs reminding every once in a while. The thoughtful young man doesn't say anything, but he studies Dora analytically and she finds that she doesn't like that at all.
"Callidora, you go talk with Harfang, show him some of those Arithmancy problems you like to do."
Dora stares at her mother with her big, pale eyes. Lysandra is wearing the same smile she wears when father buys her new jewelry. It is hungry, and greedy and cold and Dora doesn't like it at all. She knows her mother must be receiving something nice, but Dora can't figure out what it is.
Harfang, as her mother called him, is a gentleman and offers Dora his arm but he is too tall and she cannot reach, even when she stands on her tippy toes. So they walk side by side, into the garden and down the path where the rosebushes surround them on all sides. She likes roses because even though they are pretty they have thorns to protect themselves.
Harfang Longbottom is a thoughtful young man, with a thoughtful frown and a soft voice.
"When is your birthday, Callidora?"
She is surprised by the question, but answers primly, "December 9."
Dora is curious about the strange man, who gives her mother nice things, and is soft when he speaks.
"If you don't mind my asking, Mr. Harfang," she thinks it rather strange to call an older man by his first name, "But why are you here? Did mother ask you to turn me into a lady?"
Harfang pauses, and smiles for the first time since he entered the Derbyshire Manor.
"Are you not a lady, Callidora?"
"According to mother ladies like to sit still and stay quiet and wear dresses, so if that's what ladies like to do than I'm afraid not."
He throws back his head and laughs, a deep throated laugh that makes her feel warm, and she decides that she likes Harfang despite his studying her analytically before.
"Callidora, I am most certainly glad that you are not a lady then, If you have any question for me feel free to ask."
Dora lower lip juts out slightly, and her brow furrows and she ponders which question to ask first. Because she is seven and curiosity was never something she lacked.
"How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"What Hogwarts House are you in?"
"Ravenclaw."
She raises an eyebrow because it's not as good as Slytherin, but it's better than Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.
"I guess that means you're very smart."
He is modest and he shrugs.
"I suppose I am marginally intelligent."
"What are your favorite classes?"
"Ancient Runes, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration."
"Do you take Arithmancy?"
He is surprised by her question.
"Yes I did, but I'm afraid my scores didn't permit me to continue with it."
She frowns disappointedly.
"Shame, I can't wait to take Arithmancy."
They reach the gazebo at the back of the rose path. Harfang sits down and she sit next to him.
"Are you in your last year at Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
"What do you plan to do when you finish school?"
He pauses, fidgets, adjusts his hat.
"I hope to work in Magical Law Enforcement, my father's head of the department and he can help me secure a position. All of my strengths seem to point to a career in law enforcement. "
He offers her a tight, small smile that doesn't reach his brown eyes.
"If it is alright with you, I will send you letters while I am at Hogwarts. Would that be alright with you?"
She studies him with her pale, ice eyes. He is a nice man, and certainly a good deal more interesting than Ethelinda Yaxley.
"I suppose," she thinks for a minute "if you promise to send me an Arithmancy textbook."
Harfang seems taken aback but he laughs, and the laugh makes her feel warm inside again.
"I promise to send you an Arithmancy textbook, as long as you promise to write back."
"I suppose I will."
He is smiling vaguely as they walk back toward the Manor. She tells him about Charis and Ella and Ethelinda Yaxley. She tells him about the glass house behind the guest house, and how she likes to play with Ella and Charis in the glass house. She tell him about her father's library and how she sneaks in at night to read some of the bigger books her father doesn't want her to read because it is 'improper' for young ladies to read too much or they'll end up like great auntie Isla and get blasted off the family tree.
When they arrive at the Manor, she is sorry to see him go. He was good fun and she can't wait to tell Ella and Charis about her new friend.
Lysandra is delighted.
"Oh, Dora, this is wonderful. A rich pureblood husband for you, and you're not yet eight years old."
A/N: Callidora Black and Harfang Longbottom are canon characters from the Black Family Tree. I'm thinking this will be multi-chaptered if I can get motivated enough to crank out chapters.
Reviews would be lovely :)
So if you would?