The Minister's Wife
Chapter Two:
Celexia and Cornelius' settlement was in a rather modest neighborhood with the finest house on the hill; it was a little smaller than the Malfoy Manor, though it held the same spectacular air of that of said manor. It was fine red brick surrounded by white pillars, and the windows were stained glass. The inside of the establishment was well arranged with low furniture pieces, fine leather, soft velvet, mahogany tables, and comfortable couches. Celexia and Cornelius shared a bed, though it hadn't been touched with the intimacy it used to share since a few years back. In the dark of the night, the large house looked like a moonlit scene from a romance novel; that wasn't the feeling when Cornelius opened the white wooden door and Celexia entered after passing him, throwing her coat over her shoulder.
Cornelius caught it out of a flustered attempt to steady her nerves; Celexia crossed the living room without a word, withdrew her wand from her robes and flicked it several times: the provided candles and fixtures lit one after another, illuminating the house in full visage. Celexia sat down forcefully on the low black couch, looking at her husband.
Cornelius sort of expected the night to end like this; they hid their irritation throughout the dinner, and now it was time to get it out in the open. Though he appeared seem comfortable around his beautiful wife, he found her anger to be off putting. Due to her past, he didn't know how to confront her.
What was between them were several issues that had been mulled over and done away with, though if they were brought up, quarrels were the events of the night to take place, and Cornelius sensed that tonight was going to be an all nighter. He knew already that she was pissed about how he reacted in front of Lucius when she bent down to kiss the House Elf in order to thank him. The second thing he knew was that he had stated in company that he indirectly disapproved of the field work Celexia was into; her job was respectful, but she didn't stay in the office too long. Her work was abroad.
The third thing, which was probably the most aggravating of all, was how Celexia couldn't say why (or even mention her name) Bellatrix and she had lost touch after her sixth year at Hogwarts. These subjects were irate to Cornelius, and now he was going to see his wife angry all over again.
Cornelius dropped Celexia's coat onto the back of the couch she was seated in; he strode into the kitchen and made himself a cocktail; then out of hopes it might douse his wife's flame, he fixed her a margarita. When he offered it to her, she took it with little thanks, then he strode around the end table to sit across from her in a large brown leather armchair. They both sipped their glasses in silence. It was Celexia who spoke first, and it was a forced patient voice, something of a Hufflepuff thing to do.
"What I'm going to say will be like other nights, and you know what they are." Celexia said softly; Cornelius could tell she was half way gritting her teeth. "I did enjoy tonight overall. It was one of the best parties I've ever attended; the company was intriguing. Narcissa and Lucius are good people, I can see that. Lucius is, as you've said before, very polite and he takes an interest in my work and Narcissa also seemed pleasant."
"Then why the angry face?" said Cornelius.
"There are some things that might have been good to tell me before you let me meet the Malfoys."
"Which are?"
"For one, it'd be great to tell me that they despise Harry Potter."
"If you were friends with...Bellatrix...then you might have known that."
"I knew Death Eaters didn't like him—"
"But he's not—"
"I know he's not a Death Eater now." Celexia said irritably. She bit the inside of her cheek and leaned forward to set her elbows on her knees. "I didn't know that his son rivaled Harry. If I did, I wouldn't have mentioned his name. Now, as for being friends with Bellatrix. I've already told you that this topic was under the water. I merely mentioned her name because that's how I knew Narcissa: through Bellatrix."
"I don't like to discuss this."
"Then get it out into the open. I have a history, we both know that. Everyone knows that Lucius was a Death Eater; why don't you want people to know about me?"
Cornelius shook his head.
"You are a Hufflepuff, it's not expected."
"I will go through this one last time with you," said Celexia gently. "What happened in the past, is in the past. Bellatrix and I were best friends, yes. I'd have jumped off a cliff and made sure I was dead if she asked me to...back then. I have lost contact with her after she was imprisoned. You and I both know that."
"There are some scars that won't go away."
"That's too deep of line for you to say, but yes...Cornelius...Are you afraid that I might have repercussions?"
Cornelius stared at her.
"Cornelius, it explains why you don't want to talk about it. Why you don't like people telling you or talking about Death Eaters. And, if I might say, it's why you won't touch me."
Celexia set her glass down and rolled up her left sleeve of her evening gown. Cornelius stood automatically and turned his back to her.
"Put it away."
Of course the only reason why anyone would roll up the left sleeve during a sensitive conversation about Death Eaters was to show the evidence of being one. On Celexia's forearm was the the black skull with a snake slithering through the eyes and down to her elbow. Celexia watched her frightened husband walk to the kitchen. Celexia pulled down her sleeve and followed him.
"You don't trust me, do you?"
Cornelius ignored her.
"It's one thing to have been involved in it and reformed; it's another to have had it done and be one of His closest followers, Celexia," said Cornelius coldly, turning to her. "I hate that thing," he indicated her arm with a loose wave of his hand.
"I went in with Bellatrix to get the Mark, Cornelius."
"I heard this story already, stop talking to me about this."
He walked pass her.
"I tortured people in order to please Vol—"
"Don't say his name!"
"But don't you see, if I can say his name then I'm not one of them anymore!" she called after him.
"Stop talking about this!"
"Just stop walking away from me!"
She pursued him.
"It's not just a tattoo, Celexia, it brings up bad memories!"
"But it's a memory, it doesn't exist! You can't think I'm a Death Eater, it's the past. I can say his name and not be afraid because I'm not one of his followers. I was only doing it to please Bella, you must believe that. Stop walking, Cornelius!"
"I'm not hearing this..."
"LORD VOLDEMORT IS DEAD!" shouted Celexia viciously when he approached the stairs to ascend them. He stopped immediately. Celexia watched him stop; he glanced at her.
"For once, can't you think the best of me as a person, as someone who works for the Ministry in hopes of rebuilding it from when it was broken down instead of a pretty woman to have on your arm?" she scorned with her hands on her hips.
Cornelius stared at her.
"You have the Mark of an evil person."
"So does Lucius. I know he does."
"He doesn't have to know...Nobody has to know..." Cornelius muttered, reapproaching her. "You are a Hufflepuff. You're a loyal person who is understanding and values fair play and hard workers which is why you can't stop working and why you can't understand humans but animals. You don't know fair company when you see it and you express feelings toward a House Elf who doesn't even know you."
"House Elves are people too."
"Oh," said Cornelius aggressively, "and I suppose so are dragons? Or basilisks? Or merpeople, centaurs, inferi—And, oh, perhaps werewolves can drink lemonade on a hot summer day and the Centaurs play 'Pen the Tail on the Donkey'! Celexia, try to establish a social standing with things that matter! Get with people, go out and speak to beings who actually speak back to you!"
"Why are you mocking my profession?" asked Celexia quietly, her tone was offended and reproachful.
"Look, I'm just trying to help you."
"I'm just trying to help you," remarked Celexia angrily. "You think anyone who is rich and famous can help me? I'm sorry, Cornelius, but I already have a lot of money to go around."
Celexia turned on heel to walk to the kitchen. Cornelius pursued her.
"You said that you liked the Malfoys!"
"I'm sure that they don't know that I'm a half-blood, Cornelius. I can tell that they are blood supremacists, and that they only like the social standing of a pure-blooded witch."
"I like you!"
"You say that because I'm your wife, Cornelius. You also favor Pure-bloods." Celexia said in disgust. "Half-blood, Pure-blood, Muggle-born, Muggle—we all bleed red, what's the difference? I've seen you, Lucius, and Arthur Weasley in a conversation, Cornelius, and you'd take Lucius's word over Arthur Weasley's any day, and don't you deny that."
Cornelius stared at her.
"I'm not a racist, Celexia."
Celexia snorted and walked back into the living room. Cornelius followed her.
"When have you ever seen me ignore Arthur? He's a brilliant man!"
"You tender Lucius over Arthur because Lucius gives the Ministry bribes."
"Generous donations!"
"A generous donation of all pure gold galleons and nothing else is a bribe," scolded Celexia. "And you fall for every one of them. He's got connections in the Ministry that are cross-haired; he can get away with anything, and I bet you'd let him. Or you let him. You might as well tell me that you let him get away with anything if he asked."
"I wouldn't let him take you."
"Let him take me?" inquired Celexia on a different note. It was sincere curiosity. "What is this about? What are you telling me?"
"Nothing..." Cornelius said suddenly, turning away to cross the threshold of the dining room.
This time, Celexia didn't try to stop him. She sat down on the couch with a slight smile.
Envy was Cornelius's weakness...Well, one of them. He seemed to think that Lucius had taken a soft interest in her, but if that was true, Celexia couldn't imagine cheating with him. Narcissa would surely lose it, and even if she didn't, there was always something of a morality to consider...Then again, Celexia did enjoy his company...