House: Slytherin
Year: 4th
Category: Drabble
Requirement: family
Prompt: [Speech] "Why do you never believe me? Is it because I always lie?"
Word Count: 616
oO0Oo
When Blaise slouched into his mother's current husband's Italian villa, he was immediately hit with the stench of unwashed bodies, spoiled food, and spilled wine. "Mum," he said flatly, letting his luggage fall to the floor with a dull thud. "I'm here."
"Mmm, it's good to see you, Blaise." His mother walked out of the kitchen with only a towel on, her hair tousled and her skin flushed, and Blaise hastily averted his eyes. "Make yourself at home."
Blaise crossed his arms. "Really, mum?" he said, gesturing at the chaotic surroundings. "Why'd you bed this one?"
In a flash, his mother silenced him. He hadn't even seen her pull her wand, although he supposed she was capable of wandless, non-verbal wandless magic when the situation required it. He certainly hadn't gotten his intelligence from his father.
"We talk about this later," his mother hissed. "Tonight on the beach, where there aren't prying eyes or ears."
Scowling, Blaise nodded.
"Good." Giving him a pleased smile, she lifted the Silencing charm and gave him a hug. "It's good to see you again, Blaise. Why don't you get settled in your rooms? I'm sure it will take a while - I'll have the House Elves bring you dinner. Lorenzo… he will certainly want to dine privately with me." She smirked.
"Great mum, try not to scar me too much, okay?" Blaise said with a roll of his eyes. "I'll see you later."
"Later." With a salacious wink, his mother swept off to the kitchen, likely to see the 'Lorenzo' she had mentioned.
Meanwhile, Blaise charmed his bags to float up to his room; however, he didn't bother to unpack. The light in his mother's eyes was a familiar one; she was beginning to tire of her latest toy, and Blaise knew it wouldn't be long now. Thus, he passed the hours reading and casting random spells, until the sun had finally set. Then, he crept out of the house.
Out on the beach, he met his mother. She had a dark robe pulled around her, and she was illuminated only by the light of the moon.
Strangely, she had not cast a lumos, so Blaise did. Then, he spoke. "What excuses do you have for me this time?" he drawled.
"They're not excuses," his mother snapped. "Lorenzo is a good man, a rich man, and he will treat us well."
Blaise snorted. "I've heard that so many times, but in the end, it never matters. You're like a spider trapping fat flies in her web. Tell me another one, mum."
His mother seemed to slump. "Why do you never believe me?" she said with a sigh. "Is it because I always lie?" Not waiting for Blaise to answer, she continued, "Because I don't. I don't. Not to you, Blaise. You're my son, and I refuse to lie to you. Family is worth more than that."
"'Family' won't save Lorenzo. It didn't save my father."
His mum swallowed. "I've made mistakes, Blaise. I'm no saint. We both know that. But I would never lie to you. Family is something sacred, and right now, you're the only family I have. You know that, Blaise. You're my son, my only child."
"I'm your only child because I was the only time you forgot the contraceptive charm."
"Maybe that was true once," his mother said, "but you're still my son, and I do love you. Just give Lorenzo a chance, Blaise. I know I go through husbands quickly, but I only have one son. There's no replacing you. I don't ask for your acceptance, just your understanding."
Blaise sighed. "Fine. I'll be back at Hogwarts soon enough, anyways. Night, mum."
And he walked back to the villa alone.