- Day 68 of 366 Days of Writing Challenge: Quitting

- Speed Drabble: knitting, card, "I want to do this properly."

- The Emotion Challenge: Proud

Pairings/Characters: Walburga, Orion

Word Count: 359


The Baby in Brown

The queen of peace always does her best to please, is it any use?

Walburga clicked her tongue irritably as she focused on the tiny baby hat that she was knitting. Her eyes were almost crossed from the attention she paid to the minute pieces of wool as she wove the little hat carefully. She had dropped several stitches, and it was looking a little holey, but overall, Walburga felt quite proud. It was the first time she had ever knitted anything.

"Walburga darling, that is dreadful," a voice murmured from the doorway. Walburga glared up at her husband, and threw her knitting down on the coffee table. "Why don't you just buy our new niece a nice little hat from Diagon Alley?"

"Did you finish making the card?" Walburga snapped. She was determined not to let Orion ruin her mood. She was proud of herself for making something from scratch. Normally, she didn't have even the slightest amount of patience, but she had sat and knitted that hat without quitting. It had taken hours.

Orion rolled his eyes expressively, and took a drink from the tumbler of whisky that he was holding. The ice clanked around in the glass, and Walburga felt her eye twitch. Everything had been so quiet before her irritating husband had arrived. So peaceful. "No, darling. It was a hot mess—I threw it away. We'll buy one next week."

"I want to do this properly!" shrieked Walburga suddenly, throwing her arms up in the air. "People make things when new babies are born! It's nice to have home-made gifts!"

Orion picked up the hat and turned it over in his hand, raising an eyebrow stiffly. "Sweetheart, you've knitted a baby girl a hat in brown and grey." He poked a finger through one of the larger holes. "What's this? For her ear?"

Walburga snatched the hat back. "These are Druella's favourite colours. Baby Bellatrix will look adorable in it."

"Baby Bellatrix in brown," Orion mused. "Yes, how lovely." He rolled his eyes once again, and slowly exited the room. Sometimes, it was better to let Walburga have her own way.