MY DEARS!
ALL OF YOUR REVIEWS. I teared up for sure reading all of them. I'm just so glad you guys liked the Wedding chapter. So glad, I put a lot into it, so I was (am still) overjoyed by your response.
DrWho. WhereAreYou, you are a blessing. I unfortunately cannot PM you to squeal and thank you for your kind reviews and lovely words. So thank you!
This chapter is short and sweet, and I'm already working on the next chapter. So hopefully I'll have that out for you guys sometime over the next few days. It'll be the reception and all the fun our lovable idiots are going to get up to ;)
Please leave a review and let me know what you think ;)
My tumblr: indiebluecrown. tumblr. com
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.
As always, for Sable and Lais xxx
"Ah, Mipsy. You are such a dear for bringing tea...now go and rest my darling, you've been working yourself to the bone," Dorea says sternly as she strolls over to the coffee table where Mipsy had just put out a silver tray with a teapot, three teacups, a small container for sugar and a little pitcher of milk.
Mipsy nods tiredly, eyes worriedly glancing over to the far side of the room, before she vanishes with a small pop.
Dorea, Regulus and Hermione are currently in the Drawing Room, and sitting unconscious on a simple, dark stained wooden chair by the window is Orion.
The quickly dwindling light is shining from behind him and Hermione has to admit that she can see where Sirius and Regulus had gotten their good looks from.
Despite the fact that Dorea is five years older than Walburga and nine years older than Orion, she looks much younger than both of them. Where Walburga had looked as if time had been unkind to her, Orion simply looks tired, ragged, worn-down.
His luscious raven hair is shoulder length like his eldest son, but it is tied back with a black ribbon. Now that he isn't filled with rage and charging towards Dorea, Hermione sees him clearer. His veins are highly visible in his hands-which are the only uncovered pieces of skin aside from his face and neck. Orion is a fairly tall man at five foot ten, but his height only seems to accentuate how bony his ankles are-his trouser legs are riding up slightly now that he's sitting down (more accurately slumping, head lolled back) and Hermione can see his ankle bones protruding through his black socks. His robes look untidy, as if he was in a rush to put them on, a few buttons are fastened in the wrong holes.
Orion's complexion is pallid at best, and there are dark purple smudges under his eyes. Something is wrong, dreadfully wrong.
"Are you sure you wish to be here?" Dorea asks Regulus gently, striding over to where Hermione and Regulus are standing in front of Orion; the soft clinking sound of her teacup as she puts it back down on its' saucer, following her. Whispering something and letting it go in midair, directing the teacup to float beside her.
Dorea proceeds to retrieve her wand from behind her ear, but remains still, earnestly awaiting Regulus's answer.
Regulus's lips are pressing into a thin, white line and he nods curtly, once. Dorea tilts her head towards him respectfully before turning her attention back to his Father. Aiming her wand directly at Orion's chest.
"Rennervate!" Dorea says firmly, a bright red light erupts from the tip of her wand and smacks Orion in the chest. In the blink of an eye he's gasping, eyes wide and darting about in a frenzy, until they fall on Dorea. Orion freezes, and everything is dead quiet for a tense moment. Crazy, maniacal laughter erupts from his mouth, filling every crevice of the room, harshly throwing his head back; the afternoon sun striking him at such an angle that most of his face was cast in shadow. A shiver runs down Hermione's spine, leaving gooseflesh on her arms and legs, and a strange feeling in her gut.
Dorea is merely appraising Orion with an almost clinical eye, frowning when he begins to sputter; he falls forward violently, which only leads to him hacking and coughing atrociously. When the coughing ceases, he sits up, his back heavily hitting the chair-there is crimson staining his lips and a charming smile is plastered across his face. It is a surreal and disturbing sight.
"You're dying," Dorea says after a moment, and Orion's smile fades. He reaches into his robes and pulls out a handkerchief, wiping his face and then wringing the cream piece of cloth between his hands- his head falling forward slightly and the crimson stain is what his eyes are focusing on.
"Why did you kill Walburga?" Orion asks softly, tapping his foot against the wooden floorboards absently.
"She gave me no choice...I assume Kreacher told you I was responsible and that he brought you here?" Dorea parries, pursing her lips.
Orion's eyes flick upwards, but he's not looking at Dorea, but past her, straight at Hermione. "She's pretty for a Muggleborn," Orion sighs, his body sagging as if it's being pressed down by an invisible weight.
"If that isn't a backhanded compliment, I don't know what is," Hermione says, her voice coming out much smaller than she thought it would, to rectify this, and to establish that she isn't afraid, she raises her chin.
Orions makes a tiny amused noise, and gives her a small smile, "I assume you are part of the reason why Wallie is dead." Hermione is surprised by the term of endearment, even if she's not sure why-perhaps because the last time she heard it was when Walburga died; however her raised eyebrows are the only indication of such. "She was...unstable as of late. You know the rumours, Dorea. How there is a healthy dose of madness in the Black blood."
"Rumours?" Dorea smirks playfully, and Orion only chuckles softly for a moment before the sputtering is back. He raises a hand-clutching his handkerchief-to his mouth and coughs into it for a few seconds. Once it settles down again he looks once more to Hermione.
"This world is unkind, girl. I hope you're prepared for the heap of shit it's about to throw at you."
"You're referring to the war," Dorea sighs, finally lowering her wand.
"He's powerful, Dorea. I won't live long enough to see the outcome of what's to come...but not even Dumbledore can stop him," Orion says tightly.
"How long?" Regulus asks, speaking for the first time since Orion had awoken.
"Until I die? Well, whatever it is, it's incurable...so a couple months most likely, son," Orion responds, shrugging.
"How didn't I know you were ill?"
"You were away doing You-Know-Who's bidding and I was away from home a lot."
"You didn't really come here for revenge, did you?" Hermione asks, taking a step forward, drawing everyone's attention.
"If I'd gotten a hit in that would have been nice," Orion responds vaguely, grey eyes glimmering in the dim light, staring at his feet.
"You're going to die so you wanted to spend time with whatever family you have left. Your sons," Dorea says, understanding dawning across her features. She takes a step back and picks her floating teacup up off of its saucer, taking a sip.
"It's a darling dream, but that's all it is-" Orion smiles wryly, "-Sirius is going to want nothing to do with me, and Regulus...I don't know what you want. Being one of his followers certainly isn't it. I suppose I was blinded by Walburga's hatred and poison for too long, I didn't notice until it was too late."
Orion takes a slow intake of breath before continuing, "then Kreacher showed up earlier and you weren't dead as I had suspected...that's what You-Know-Who and the others think, that you died in that fire." Orion looks Dorea dead in the eye and says, "when I found out that you'd taken him, I was filled with such potent rage. Regulus is probably the only good thing I've ever done...I can't even count Sirius because I failed him, you were the one who raised him properly."
"How sour did that taste coming out?" Dorea asks softly, putting her teacup back down and slowly sashaying towards Orion. Squatting down a few feet in front of him, wand still in hand.
"You have no idea," Orion laughs harsh and quick. "I hate you."
Dorea looks extremely hesitant, and Hermione is dumbfounded by the next words that slip from her lips. "Did you want me to get Sirius...so you can talk?"
"No. I think that ship has sailed, it's too late."
"It's never too late," Dorea presses, brow puckering.
"I'm afraid in my case it is. Regulus, tell your brother...tell him, I'm sorry," Orion says remorsefully. "Now, if you'll show me to the closest floo I'll be on my way. I don't have a lot of time left and I don't want to waste anymore of yours." Orion looks at Regulus with a sad smile, "I can see that Regulus will be taken care of once I'm gone."
"That's it? You're leaving just like that?" Regulus bites out, taking a menacing step in his Father's direction.
"Just like that. I told you, I'm tired," Orion says, the haggard expression on his face reappearing. His skin seems to sink into his face then, making it look more gaunt and making him look sickly.
"Come, Regulus. Let's direct your Father to the floo," Dorea says softly, wrapping her arm around Regulus's shoulders. He stiffens in her grasp, but then he nods and Hermione feels out of place once again for the day. Orion stands up and he stops right next to her, "things are about to get shades of nasty that most people didn't know existed...you're going to have to be strong, girl." With that he passes by her.
"Hermione, you should go enjoy yourself, my darling girl. Find Remus, dance with him. Have some fun," Dorea suggests gently, and Hermione's chest tightens at the mention of Remus-unbeknownst to her, a smile is crawling across her face.
The other three wix then turn to exit the Drawing Room, leaving Hermione there with the last tongues of light hitting her back.
I think I will go find Remus, Hermione thinks happily. Today is a day for happy things, and she'll push Orion's haunting words out of her mind for now. Such thoughts are for a different day, for now she is going to go and find a certain sandy haired wizard.
Hermione leaves the room with high spirits, heels clicking against the hardwood, curls bouncing as she moves.
I have no idea how I feel about this chapter, but I hope you all like it :)
