A/N: Here's your weekly update! Cheers!
-C
Adam slid the newspaper across the table at breakfast. Apart from Darren O'Hare signing for the Kestrals, the most important thing was the announcement of engagement.
"I thought the official announcement was coming after the party," he said to Cygnus – his future brother-in-law. "That's what Druella said at Easter."
"Well, either she got restless," Cygnus said, squinting at the announcement, "or my mother did. Both seem plausible. Although, I rather had the impression that my mother was preoccupied, finding a place for Alphard to live."
"What, he's been kicked out?" Adam teased.
Cygnus rolled his eyes.
Adam knew it was a matter of trying to get Alphard his own space, to give him a bit of freedom. Adam had never been close with Alphard, but he rather had the impression the elder of the two brothers needed no extra help finding freedom and space. He took both whenever and however he wanted.
But perhaps things were more complicated than Adam realized.
"Do I have to wear different robes for the wedding and the engagement party?" Adam asked.
"Probably for the best," Cygnus said, shrugging and glancing up as Rohesia, Isabel, and Aldise entered. "You know your sister."
Adam hummed. His sister would probably be out for his blood if he didn't take both events seriously, which probably meant wearing different sets of dress robes. An expense, but no doubt one his parents would find worthwhile. Social standards were a funny thing.
"Does she look off-color to you?" Cygnus muttered, but when Adam asked who, Cygnus didn't answer. They all looked normal enough to Adam, so he just turned his attention back to the marmalade.
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Dionisia Rowle saw the last day at Hogwarts go by in a blur, standing on the outside and looking in at the strange normality of the day, packing and gossiping and changing her hairstyle three times, as she did every year on the final day in Scotland. She would be home by dinner the following day, but she walked to her final Hogwarts feast in a strange hyper-clarity, as though the rest of the day had been a dream, and this dinner was as real as reality could be.
She watched the other seventh years in their various spots at the front of each long House table, noting the disappointment of the Gryffindors at losing the House Cup to the Slytherins, noting the tension of several Ravenclaws who hoped to top the year or win various prizes. But the most palpable tension in the room was that between the Head Boy and Girl, who did not look at each other still, as they had not done for six long months, since Orion's engagement was announced and the Slytherin common room became an ice cavern.
Professor Dippet began the feast, and the food was consumed with some level of pleasure, but not without heavy helpings of nostalgia, regret, and fear. Because Dionisia had yet to receive an offer for her hand, and did not know yet what her future might be. Hogwarts was safe, familiar. But the future, graduation….
Fearfully unknown.
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Alphard stepped into the house and nodded thoughtfully. His mother had thrown herself into finding him a place of his own, but when he gave her his requirements, he hadn't expected it to be quite so…grand.
"Dining room through here," his mother said, gesturing through to the right. "There's a study through here. And if you come forward through the foyer, we have the living room."
He followed her through, glancing on either side at the curving staircases, thinking how stifling, like every house he'd ever been in it was.
"Seven bedrooms," she said, almost apologetically. "The fireplace is sizable, but the music room isn't separated. You could, perhaps, relocate it. Or, if you'll follow me."
He did follow her, through a sizable kitchen to a much larger gathering space, not quite a ballroom, but suitable. As large as what the Crouches used, anyway.
"There's a room through there," she said, gesturing at an archway. "Actually, there's three. The first would make a suitable second music room. Then there's a billiard's room, or perhaps you would prefer it to be a library? Then there's a private study or office."
"Mother," he said softly, and she blinked at him. "How big is this place?"
"I thought I said seven bedrooms," she said, puzzled.
He almost pinched the bridge of his nose.
"It's too big, Mother," he said softly. "Do you have any…smaller options?"
"Oh, of course," she said brightly, taking a few lists out and nodding as she found another option she'd vetted. They walked back out to the front walk and she took his hand, Apparating them to the second option.
A sizable house stood before him, with a large fountain out front with elaborate carved lions.
"You could change those to snakes easily enough," she said with a sniff. "Nine bedrooms," she said as she led him forward.
"Mother, I said smaller."
"It is! Nearly a thousand square feet smaller. Now, dining to the right again, study to the left. Isn't this foyer much nicer?"
"It's much bigger," he sighed, frowning.
"Now, the entertaining space is very nicely sized," his mother said with a frown, "but the children would have to be kept through here, I think, in the living room, which is a bit tricky, because anyone wishing to see the children would have to go through the kitchen."
Alphard bit the inside of his lip.
"Mother," he said, as patiently as he could, "this is still much too big."
"Oh," she said, frowning, looking around. "Really? Well, just as well, I suppose. As I said, the layout does leave a bit to be desired, and moving rooms this size with magic can be quite an ordeal. Let me see…. Oh, here is this one!"
He sighed, letting his mother lead him back outside to the front walk and take his hand, Apparating them away again. The house did look…marginally smaller. Perhaps another thousand or two square feet less. He rubbed his temples and allowed her to drag him inside, saying, "Now, this is much less grand on first walking in, as you see, with a much more enclosed foyer, but I think you'll find the entertainment layout most suitable."
If Alphard didn't love his mother, he would have screamed at her.
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Rohesia smoothed her skirt, not looking down at the small pile of awards in front of her, and the similarly sized pile in front of Orion. She knew he was watching her as they were about to announce who received the top of the year, and who had come in second. She didn't care much, one way or the other, but it would make her father immensely proud, and she had a feeling it would make Arcturus furious, if she beat Orion to top of the year.
"We had a difficult decision this year," Professor Dippet said with a kindly smile. "It came right down to this very morning to find a separator between second and dux. However, I am pleased to bestow the honor of second in the year to the highly capable Orion Black!"
Rohesia let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Orion took his prize with grace and his head held high, but she knew two Blacks receiving second place in a row was not the image Arcturus and Pollux wanted to convey. She wondered if she was a step up from a Mudblood, or just as distasteful to them.
"And we are quite pleased," Professor Dippet continued when the applause died down, "to announce that the dux of the year is Miss Rohesia Fawley!"
She smiled her most gracious smile, gliding forward, accepting the award, shaking his hand, and even kissing his cheek, enjoying that he blushed slightly. She then proceeded, as was tradition, to thank each professor individually, even those who never taught her. She paused longest with Professor Slughorn, who was doting as usual, and with Professor Dumbledore, who gave her what she was surprised to find was a very sad look. She wondered if his shocking blue eyes could see her smile was only a surface matter, that she felt more lost and angry and alone than she'd felt before in her life, at a time when she was supposed to feel in charge, powerful, directed. She thought she'd be wearing an engagement ring to mark the contract by now, not trying to decide what to do about the seemingly endless tack of possible husbands.
"Take your time," Professor Dumbledore whispered gently, in her ear, as he leaned across the High Table. "The right choice will still be there when you've taken a deep breath. Many of the wrong ones will scatter with impatience."
She realized he was talking about her marriage prospects and she nodded sharply, slightly, wishing she knew the answers now, because she didn't know what to do with herself, moving forward. She couldn't get a job. She wasn't ready to plan a wedding, and all she had was a library and a few friends to keep her occupied.
Perhaps this award, in her hand, would be the highlight of her life, she thought bitterly as she returned to the Slytherin table. Perhaps there was nothing better to come.
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Randolph poured himself a glass of whisky and looked gazed out the conservatory windows to the back garden.
"Rosiers hosting," Abraxas said, his voice clearly bored.
"I don't care," Randolph said dryly. There were few things he cared about less. The only positive to the June events was an opportunity to see Rohesia again, to remind her of the contracts she had put on hold.
"I imagine they'll do the official announcement of Adam's sister marrying Cygnus Black. Although, we all knew already. I find such things to be pointless. Have you got any more of this brandy?"
"In the cabinet," Randolph said, not looking around. "Do you suppose Rohesia topped her year?"
"I'd be shocked if she didn't," Abraxas said, bored. "Riddle's coming 'round to mine tomorrow. You're expected."
"I assumed."
He knew Abraxas was smirking. They were having a proper gathering, Dolohov and the like, and Abraxas hated such things. But Randolph usually enjoyed them. Only, lately, Riddle had taken an interest in Randolph's interest in Rohesia, turned it into a source of weakness, attempting to ridicule Randolph's desire to marry someone of Rohesia's…leanings.
Just that morning, Abraxas had pointed out that marrying a woman everyone else wants is a good way to wind up cuckolded, especially someone so single-minded as Rohesia Fawley.
But they didn't understand. And that was alright, Randolph supposed. He would never be cuckolded, even if he had to take extreme measures to possess her. It wouldn't take long for her to learn and understand her place, but first he had to convince her to marry him in the first place. Of course, he was the only reasonable option, but one never could tell with women. They often made such irrational decisions, like her apparent interest in Orion Black.
"He's thinking about your best interests, you know," Abraxas said, sitting on the bench seat beside Randolph.
With a small snort, Randolph said, "Don't fool yourself, Abraxas. The only thing of interest to Tom Riddle is himself and his own power. And I'm not fool enough to expect I could do any better than take the crumbs off his table, when he gets where he wants to be. But he doesn't have my interests in mind. He has his plans for me in mind, and how she may or may not work into those plans."
"I'd hazard a guess that she doesn't," Abraxas said dryly.
Randolph just drank his whisky.
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Isabel dragged her fingers through Rohesia's silky hair, plaiting it in the boys' dormitory. Oliver was pouring everybody drinks, and had even grown bold enough to ask to play a kissing game, but when Rohesia gave him a stony look, he backed off on that plan.
"He congratulated you," Isabel said brightly. "That's something."
Rohesia shrugged.
They were talking about Orion, who had been a perfect gentleman as he congratulated Rohesia for her victory as the dux of the year. Since then, he'd watched her from across the room, sipping his gin and ignoring the attempts of his cousin to talk to him.
"Oi, Adam," Isabel said, trying to make the party a bit more…enjoyable. "What's your mother planning for the food?"
"For the engagement party, or the event?" he asked, staggering over and filling Isabel's glass with more gin.
"Event."
"Fuck if I know. Oi, Rohesia, you look ridiculous like that."
"Like what?" she asked, smoothly and coolly.
"With the fucking ropes on your head," he said, sniggering.
"The plaits look lovely," Isabel said sternly.
Rohesia pulled her hair free of Isabel's hands with a sigh and said, "No, he's right. It's absurd. Let me let it out."
Isabel sighed, letting go and watching as Rohesia shook out all the plaiting she'd just spent ages on. As much as she tried to plait it, Rohesia always resisted, in the end.
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Upon arriving home, still slightly hung over from the party after graduation, Adam was greeted by his sister, who was having tea with a very tired-looking Alphard Black.
"Oh, Adam," Druella said, her lips twitching. "Alphard was just telling me of his house hunting…endeavors. You've just missed Magnus Selwyn, as well. Would you like a cup of tea?"
Adam groaned, and Alphard's twitching lips said Adam's affliction was well-recognized. Well, leave it to Alphard to recognize the signs of a hangover, and Alphard gave Adam a wink, poured some tea, and stirred in something Adam assumed would help.
It did, and Adam sat with them.
"Anyway," Alphard said with a sigh, "the fourth one was the final straw. My mother loved that one, with all its bloody columns. And I can see why. I mean, the dining room was on the left, which isn't ideal in my mother's books, and Merlin forbid I live in a house with only six bedrooms, but the great room was massive, and the music room was accessible by an arcade into the east wing – out of the way, but not through the kitchens."
"What did you say?" Druella asked, smirking.
"I said, 'Mother, I appreciate your ideas about a house.' Don't laugh, Druella, I did. And then, 'But I don't want to host events. I have no interest in hosting anything but a few close friends for a glass of whisky and a hand of cards. When I said smaller, I meant a cottage.' Well, she was a bit disappointed, but armed with that knowledge, and a limit of four bedrooms, tops, she's been put back into the market."
Adam rolled his eyes as his sister laughed, but he was careful to appear gracious. Whatever Alphard's hangover cure was, it was golden.
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Orion unpacked his trunk, staring at the foot of his bed, feeling the weight of reality crushing in on him.
It wasn't as though he would never see Rohesia again, and perhaps that made it worse. He would see her at the June events. Her family would almost certainly be at his cousin's engagement party, at Orion's wedding, at Cygnus's wedding, and at every event thereafter. Orion would likely be obliged to attend her wedding, to whomever it was, and he believed he Halloween event this year was meant to be held by her father, with her being a hostess for it for the first time. Orion could already easily imagine how graceful, how beautiful she would be, acting in that role.
So frustrating that they couldn't achieve some measure of normalcy before graduating. Because even though he knew he'd see her again, and many times, it would never be simple to fix things with her, especially not now she was a woman, fully looking toward the future instead of a girl looking at exams and patrols and awards.
"Orion?"
His father's voice was remarkably soft, almost gentle as a knuckle knocked lazily on the doorframe.
"Yes?" Orion said, not turning. No doubt, it was something about his upcoming marriage. He didn't exactly dread marrying Walburga, but it was something close to that.
"We are having dinner with your cousins tomorrow. There will be much to discuss after dinner. I expect you will wish to be caught up on the details of your upcoming wedding. Do you feel you have a suitable set of robes?"
"Yes," Orion said, thinking of a set of silver dress robes he hadn't worn in some time, but that certainly would still fit. Casual enough for family, but enough to be able to say he dressed for dinner. "What time will we leave?"
"Half six. I should warn you, Pollux is not currently well-pleased with Alphard. You might have expected as much, but keep that in mind during the conversation."
"Yes," Orion said, finally turning, wearily. "I understand."
Pollux was always poorly oriented toward his elder son, so this was hardly news, and everything he'd heard through Cygnus about the house hunting and the political malaise and the insistence on going out to meet Muggles in various villages or areas of London, just for things to do…. Well, it was just Alphard being Alphard, but nothing either Orion's or Alphard's fathers ever approved of.
Orion's father said he ought to sleep, that he looked tired. An elf would bring up a light supper, and that Orion was expected at breakfast in the morning, as usual. They had things to discuss.
Orion nodded as the bedroom door closed, and he sighed. He had a feeling they were going to talk about his future, his prospects, and the expectations on someone in his position, given his place in society. He just pressed the heel of his hand into his forehead, annoyed. But he'd always known this was his lot in life since he was old enough to understand the future, and that was all there was to it. Fighting would get him nothing.
A/N: So, Rohesia tops the year and worries this is it, Alphard fights tooth and nail to live in modest housing, and Orion and Randolph approach their futures in opposite directions.
Just a note, the Part 4 update is going to come tomorrow instead of today. Sorry for lateness. Family emergencies don't seem to stop around here. One fire is put on the backburner and another flares. I don't even feel anything about it anymore, just doggy paddling along, trying to manage.
Review Prompt: If you could afford it, would your house hunt look more like Alphard's or his mother's?
Q&A: Ask me anything!
Cheers,
C