CHAPTER 10
Summer Owls.
Dear Minerva,
I have arrived home safely; father and mother haven't been fighting as much.
Draco hasn't spoken to me since he learned the truth though he hasn't tried to hex me either, so I guess I'll take it for now.
I miss you, Min. I miss your voice.
Forever yours,
Aquila.
My Dearest Aquila,
I am glad you arrived in safety. As for your parents, your father is probably trying to process the fact that I am your witch and that his lord was killed recently. Don't take it to heart, my love. Same for your brother.
Yours,
Minerva.
Minerva,
As the weeks go on, father is finally starting to accept our relationship. He has even started asking me about possible wedding dresses. I have informed him to wait until we have spoken and agreed on if we wish to get married in the next year or so.
Married or not, I want to be by your side forever.
Quil.
Marriage? Yes, she wanted to marry Aquila but their relationship was still new. Minerva knew her lovers parents were trying to follow the traditions of a pureblood marriage, though she disagreed with the intentions she couldn't help smile after almost a week of panic.
My Love,
Marriage is a big step, though I'm happy to hear your father is finally accepting and that I don't have to worry about waking up the prophet with an article about your death again.
We can talk about this more in the future.
Minerva.
The summer seemed to slow with every letter exchanged, the distance had Aquila practically living in the ground floor section of the library. She could often be found going through old trunks that her mother had collected from a hidden chamber in Black Manor. Each trunk etched with the name Violetta Black. Her first mother.
She sat on the floor organising the rolls of parchment into separate piles, one for letters, contracts, predictions, and loose diary entries. She had two piles of photographs, ones containing pictures of Cygnus Black Sr. and the other were all the pictures without him. She planned to burn everything to do with her original father.
Once everything was organised she moved onto a trunk that had her mothers name on it but also had the years '1953-1961' on a tag, curiosity got the better of her and she opened it. Her jaw dropped as she ran her fingers across the contents, it was filled with wrapped presents, each one containing her name, until one caught her eye. It was a small gift, wrapped in a green tartan she was all to familiar with.
With shaking hands she removed the gift from the trunk and held it in her hands as she read the neatly written tag. 'To Aquila & Minerva. From Violet Black. 1961'
Putting the small gift in her pocket, she be sure to remember to open it with Minerva once she was back at school. It wouldn't be fair for her if she opened it alone.
She closed the trunk before wandlessly sent it to her bedroom. She sighed and put everything back neatly before heading off to find her father.
She knocked on his office door before letting herself in before he could answer. "Father?" Her voice was soft as she broke the silence of the room.
Lucius looked up from the paperwork he had been doing. "Is everything okay?" He watched her carefully, noticing she was picking at her fingernails and looking down.
"Father, I know you have just come to accept my relationship with Minerva." She sighed as she took a seat still refusing to look up at him. "But I haven't told you that it was mothers great grandfather that tortured and killed me because he found the engagement ring I had gotten for her. He hated me even speaking to anyone who wasn't pure. We had been together for nearly 3 years before I even thought about marriage seriously." She tried to explain where she was at, and where she wanted to be. "This time… I have only been with her less than a year, I know you wish for me to get married once I finish school, but I still have 2 years left… Let me deal with my own relationship, father. All I need is the support of you and mother in whatever path I take." Once she was done, she sat there now playing with the hem of her shirt.
The blonde man looked at his only daughter, moving to sit in the chair next to her as he listened to what she was telling him. "I apologise if I ever made you feel like you were pushed into a corner with no way out. I haven't always been a good man, but I promise you that I am trying, for both you and your brother and your mother." He offered a small smile as he gently took one of her hands in his own, causing her to look up at him. "Just promise me one thing."
Aquila eyed him confused for a moment before her features were once again neutral. "I won't have any children out of wedlock." Was the only response that could come to her mind. "I don't even know if Min wants children anymore."
"That is all I ask." He leaned close and placed a kiss into her hair before heading back to his desk. "I will talk to your brother." He promised with a rare smile.
With his Aquila nodded and left her fathers office.
Summer was coming to a close once again, and it was a week before the annul Malfoy Ball. Aquila hated them growing up, but this year excitement bubbled in her stomach. She had a plan and wasn't even going to tell her parents.
Sat at her desk with quill in hand she wrote two letters.
Dear Madame Pomfrey,
I would like to formally invite you to the annual Malfoy Ball this year.
It will be taking place at Malfoy Manor on the 22nd of August, arrival time is 6pm.
I advise arriving no earlier than 15 minutes before.
Please RSVP by noon of the 21st.
Aquila D. Black.
She read the first letter and smiled to herself as she placed it to the side and wrote the next one.
Dear Minerva McGonagall,
I would like to formally invite you to the annual Malfoy Ball this year.
It will be taking place at Malfoy Manor on the 22nd of August, arrival time is 6pm.
I advise arriving no earlier than 15 minutes before.
Please RSVP by noon of the 21st.
Aquila D. Black.
Once completed she addressed two envelopes to the indented receivers, slipping the letters inside and sealing them with her personal wax seal. She went to her families private owlery and sent them off.
Minerva was sitting in her quarters with her best friend, Poppy, each had a glass of whiskey in their hands as they spoke when suddenly tapping on a window snapped each woman out of the conversation.
Minerva flicked her wrist and the window opened letting two owls inside. One that was pure black landed in front of Minevra and the other was a tawny barn owl which landed in front of Poppy. Both owls dropped their respective letters before flying off leaving two very confused witches behind.
Poppy picked up the letter and turned it over, upon seeing the seal she knew exactly who it was from. She used her wand to neatly open the letter and was surprised at the contents. "I am guessing you received the same letter as well?" The matron looked up from her letter to her friend that was frantically reading her own.
All the other witch could do was nod. This was the last thing she expected, an invite to one of the most well known pure blood party of the year. Minerva bit her lip and quickly wrote on the back of her letter. 'We will both be there'. "Winky!" She called one of her favourite Hogwarts elves.
Moments later a 'pop' could be heard in the room and a small elf was standing next to where Minerva was sitting. "Yes, Mistress?" Winky said happy to help the Professor in anyway.
"Can you deliver this to Aquila Black, please?" The deputy headmistress asked kindly as she held out the letter to the young elf.
Winky quickly took it and nodded enthusiastically. "Winky will get it to Miss Black." And with that the elf left with another 'pop'.
"Why do you think she invited us?" Poppy questioned out loud before finishing off her drink in one go.
Minerva looked at her friend with a small smile. "She turns 17 next month and becomes of age. I believe her inviting us… is her way of letting her world know that I have her heart and she mine." She mused at the thought of finally being shown off proudly around Aquila's family. "I think she invited you as my best friend and support, so she wouldn't be the only one there to make sure it goes smoothly."
The mediwitch smiled at this, their old friend always did have a way of making sure Minerva was comfortable in each situation. "I believe we have shopping to do tomorrow." Poppy teased, they had gone dress shopping together for the Yule Ball back in 1951. She remembered how worked up her friend got trying to find the perfect gown.
"Aye." Minerva chuckled finishing off her own drink. "It's a shame I no longer fit into my Yule Ball gown." She shook her head with a smile. "Maybe we can take it with us and I can get an updated version made."
"I think that is a fabulous idea, Minerva. Her eyes will be glued to you all night." Poppy teased. "I will see you tomorrow at noon." She added as she stood up. "Try not to worry too much." With those words Poppy had walked out the door, leaving Minerva alone in her chambers.
That night she slept soundly with a smile on her face. She was nervous about going to the ball but didn't want to let Aquila down. As she slept a lifetime of memories played through her head like a long forgotten movie.