Chapter 16: Dinner Parties
The next game for Hufflepuff's came soon, due Draco Malfoy's "injury". The team played against Ravenclaw's. The chatter in the breakfast table for the coming results was heated.
"I think Hufflepuffs can surprise this time!" Olivia said. She hated losing and felt bitter for being defeated by Nora. "I bet 20 Galleons for their favour!" Nora felt pleased that her friend supported her house.
"Dans tes rêves," Michelle muttered. "Even with Diggory playing, they have zero chance for victory."
"Yes, and I will gladly bet those 20 for Ravenclaws," Corvus smirked. He loved easy money.
"It's a deal!"
Olivia came to regret her decision, as she watched with Nora, Daisy, and Matthew as Ravenclaw's massacred the Hufflepuffs. It was obvious that Herbert Fleet was a wrong choice for Keeper position. The boy managed to make no saves, and Michelle felt bitter that she couldn't play but the boy could. The icing on the top was Cho Chang catching the Snitch in right front of Cedric's eyes.
Olivia had cried after the game. She hated losing to her friends, and she had already lost 30 Galleons due to her betting within a month. Corvus didn't care about his friend's turmoil. He was just glad to win some money.
"I told you so," was all that Michelle said after the game, while she put together her notes.
Christmas break came, and unlike the previous year Corvus went to Malfoy's manor to celebrate. The event was all but joyful for Corvus, who was being set up with Olivia by his aunt.
Corvus, his aunt and uncle went to Underwood's family manor in 23rd of December. The house was smaller compared to Malfoys. The decoration was elegant and minimalistic, but they had couple of house-elves working around the house.
"Welcome," Anastacia Underwood greeted. Her lips were curved-up into a smile, but it didn't reach into her eyes. The woman had platinum blond hair and crystal blue eyes. Despite appearances, Corvus found the lady as cold as ice.
"Oh, hello," greeted Olivia's father Corvinius Underwood. "You're early," the man said absent-mindedly, but genuinely smiled while shaking Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy's hands. The man was a little eccentric and looked the exact opposite of his wife with bright green eyes and pitch-black hair. "Nice to meet you both."
Corvus could see, that his aunt was a little taken back by his behavior. She didn't like touching or being touched by the people, who weren't her family.
"Yes, likewise," Lucius Malfoy said, who also put a fake smile on his face.
"Would you like to see around the house first, or would you rather have dinner and meet Olivia?" Anastacia asked.
"Oh, we must see more of this lovely little manor of yours," Narcissa said. They were the first words coming from her mouth during the whole evening.
"Of course," Anastacia said still smiling, but her eyes shot daggers towards Narcissa for her comment. "Come to this way then!"
The couple introduced the house to them with stoic manners. There was no chit-chat, no extra comments, just business. All the rooms were like the entrance, decorated with few furniture that were well selected. Anastacia Underwood had preferred dark colors as she had decorated the house, mostly using mahogany and different kinds of green leathers, and silver lamps. In the living room on the floor was large white fur.
"I hope you are hungry, Debby has worked hard all day, to make miracles to come true," Corvinius said proudly as they entered the dining room.
The table was set for seven people. It was full of festive foods, wine, and fine cheeses. Olivia was in the room with another girl, who Corvus thought to be her younger sister. Olivia looked pretty with a beautiful black dress. Her hair was on the loose. Her another eye had been enchanted to match her another blue one.
"Hello. My name is Olivia, nice to meet you." She greeted and shook everyone's hands. "And this is my baby sister Lydia."
"Hello," Lydia said and bowed her head. The girl had frail skin. Her eyes were crystal blue, and her hair was curly blond. She looked like a French doll in Corvus' eyes.
"Please have a seat," Anastacia said as she sat down and pointed at the food in front of them. "Please, help yourselves." People took food to their place, but the atmosphere was still everything else than relaxed. The group just sat there in a stiff silent and ate their food.
"So, Olivia," Narcissa Malfoy said, breaking the silence: "I heard that you are in the same year as Corvus. How have you enjoyed your studies?"
"Yes, we are actually friends at school. We spent quite a lot of time together with our friends' circle that we are both part of."
"Oh, I see", Narcissa commented, not impressed by the answer. "Corvus never mentioned you in his letters."
"I never mention any of my friends," Corvus said.
"But I'd like to know more about them. Especially if I'm planning to marry you off with one of them," Narcissa huffed. "But back at you Olivia. Do you have any favourite subjects?"
"Um… well, if I have to choose one, then I might have to say Herbology. I like the Professor Sprouts teaching style."
"Isn't she a mere half-blood witch?" Narcissa asked, puzzled.
"I don't know, I don't go around asking what our teachers blood statuses are," Olivia answered honestly. Her parents exchanged the look.
"You don't do that with anyone, or with just the teachers?" Narcissa asked, shocked.
"Just the teachers. With them it's irrelevant, because we can't change our professors no matter what, with there being just one teacher with each subject," Olivia said. She had no intention to please anyone in the table.
"Oh, that's true," Narcissa said and took long sip of wine. She was not pleased with the answer. "That's interesting point of view. What are your thoughts about Professor Snape then? My son, Draco, always praises the man for his teaching methods."
"You want to hear my honest opinion?" Olivia asked rhetorically. "Fine then. He is rude and obnoxious to anyone, who isn't in Slytherin. Even if the other person is pure-blood, or even if they have a talent for the subject. He doesn't respect his students and bullies them," Olivia was about to continue about the matter but was silenced by Corvus' sharp look. He didn't want Olivia to accidently mention Nora.
Narcissa was stunned by Olivia's honesty and didn't know what to say to her in return.
"So, Corvus, I've heard that you are very talented student. What do you do on your time off? Do you perhaps play something?" Anastacia inquired, trying to take the attention away from her daughter.
"Oh, well I mostly study," Corvus answered vaguely: "Or watch the quidditch games. Time to time I even play Chess against my classmate."
"I see," Anastacia said. "Since you are so keen to study, do you have any dreams about your future? Any place you'd like to work at?"
"Maybe in a ministry, like my uncle," Corvus thought: "Or as a teacher in the school?"
"Hmm, I see," Anastacia said, as if the sentence had become her favorite saying. She shared a glance with Lucious Malfoy and smiled sharply, showing her teeth. "I just hope, you don't follow your uncle's path too closely."
This time the Malfoys shared a look. They wanted to say something but knew better than that. No one went against Anastacia Underwood and got away with it. She was as wicked as her brother. She was just smarter. That's why she had never been caught and captured for the crimes.
"So, Lydia, you're going to Hogwarts next year?" Lucius Malfoy asked. He also wanted to change the subject.
"Maybe. I might also be home-schooled," Lydia said. It was the first real sentence she had said in the dinner table. No one in their family was certain if she had any magical talents. Also due to her condition around the full moons, her parent's had hard time of letting her go.
"Home-schooled? How come?" Lucious Malfoy asked, feeling intrigued.
"Because I am not certain if I want any half-breeds teaching me," Lydia said proudly. She sounded perfectly arrogant and condescending. Olivia and Corvus could see that the younger girl made a good impression to Lucious and Narcissa.
"Hmm, Anastacia, I have always wondered why your children don't have the traditional first names?" Lucious Malfoy asked. "Especially since your second-born has clearly been raised well."
Anastacia shot daggers towards the man. "My mother-in-law gave them their first names. I gave them their seconds: Merope and Cassiopia, like you British wizards do." Anastacia said sharply: "And you must know better than anyone to go against your in-laws." Druella Black, former Rosier had been sharp-witted woman, who had kept the family in line. Corvus had heard great tales of the woman but had no memory of her. She had died shortly after Corvus had been born. His aunt had once told him bitterly: "She died, because her heart had been torn apart too many times. First, she lost my sister, then her husband, and finally Bella was taken away from her."
"Ah, yes," Lucious said: "That is true."
"Also, it's not unheard-of for people to break traditions with name-giving, right Narcissa?"
Narcissa blushed a bit: "Of course not. My father named me after his favorite flower. But I wanted to continue my family tradition once we had Draco."
"And how is Draco? Olivia has mentioned me more than once, that he has not even once managed to do better than a mud-blood girl?" Anastacia smile became even sharper. No one ever humiliated nor insulted her or her family without her getting back at them.
"Of course, he has!" Narcissa snapped. "Draco will do great things in the future you can count on that."
"I see," Anastacia said indifferently, and took a long sip of wine. "Yet, Olivia told me that he has never won a game in Quidditch, since he joined in last year." She took a small pause before continuing. "Even though the whole team had the newest brooms to use." Olivia looked at her mother shocked. She had never told her mother those things but recalled mentioning them to her sister shortly in her letters.
The Malfoys were furious but said nothing on the matter. They knew better than saying anything against Anastacia. "Olivia told me, that it was one of the most frustrating games that she had ever seen. I mean, just to think that that Potter boy caught the Snitch right in front of his eyes."
"Really, do you play Olivia?" Narcissa asked, voice filled with icy rage. She no longer wanted to talk about Draco.
"Oh, our Livvie doesn't play anything. She is awful flyer," Anastacia said before Olivia could answer and faked a laugh: "You see, this person has so much passion and fire inside of her. She is like a wildfire. You can try to stop it from spreading, but you cannot stop it from burning." She gestured to her another daughter and continued: "Lyddie on the other hand is the calm one of the family. Where Olivia is the fire, Lydia is the ice. She is like her father. Calm and smart." Corvinius nodded to his wife's comment. He had been quiet during the whole evening, leaving the chit-chat and the insults to his wife.
The Malfoys nodded and started to eat the dessert. They wanted desperately to end the dinner party and go back home to discuss about Corvus' engagement.
After half an hour later, the desserts had been eaten, and Malfoys walked out of the door.
"So, what do you think?" Anastacia asked from her husband.
"They took the bait. They will re-consider and ask for Lyddie's hand. They think that she'll be easier to maintain," Corvinius said.
Anastacia nodded, genuinely smiling for the first time during the whole evening. "Yes, those are exactly my thoughts. And oh, how wrong they are going to be!"
On the other side of England, on Christmas day, the Barrells were also having a family dinner. Nora's grandmother had made Turkey, and Aunt Annie, and Uncle Bill and Ian had cooked the rest.
The table had been set for only eight people. Uncle Sean was still in Boston and wouldn't be joining them. The atmosphere was tense, which wasn't common in their family table. All the adults on the table seemed to have big announcements to make.
"Okay, so I have something to tell you all," Uncle Bill started, and took Ian by the hand. "I am gay."
Everyone in the table looked one another. The only ones, who were surprised by the announcement were Fiona, Erin and Connor.
"Seriously William," his mother started. "I have always known that you are stupid, but I didn't think that you are this stupid." Before Bill could say anything to his defense, she continued: "I know, Nora knows, Annie knows, even your father knows. We have known for years. Just like I know Ian is your current boyfriend. Just like I know that you used to date Dave, Mark, and Jim before him. Just like I know you were in prison for six months for your past relationship years ago."
"Really? You knew? Why didn't you say anything," he asked with puzzled look on his face.
"Because all that I know, it is still illegal in our country," she answered matter-of-factly. "But it doesn't mean that I will ever love you any less. And I also happen to love Ian here. He is by far the best boyfriend you have ever had. And if one day the law changes, then I wish you'd marry him, because I can't imagine anyone better as your spouse." Tears of happiness filled both of the men's eyes. "And Ian, thank you for putting up with our idiotic son."
"Thank ye, Iris, A loue 'is bonnie lass wi' 'll ma hert," Ian said with watery smile on his face, and held Bill on the hand.
"Cheers to that", Nora's grandfather, John said and raised his glass. Others followed their example.
"But mother, isn't homosexuality a sin in the eyes of God?" Erin asked matter-of-factly. Her eyes were filled with disgust. Connor on the other hand seemed relieved and Fiona curious.
"It may be, but as you can clearly see, that they fit together," Mariann said. "And who really knows what God things." Everyone in the table looked at her in shock. All knew that she was very religious person and often read the bible. "I actually have a big announcement to make. Sean and I are getting divorced."
"What? What happened?" Iris gasped.
"Are you alright?" Bill asked.
"I'm s… so sorry," Nora said.
"As you know or could have sensed, we have been having a rough time for some time now. He cheated on me, and I cheated on him, and decided that things are not working out with us. His business is taking him back to Dublin, and I want to move back to UK, I've job interviews in here, Manchester and London. Sean could visit the kids once a month or more if he likes, or they can visit him, so the distance isn't too long." Mariann stated. Her children's eyes cast down, looking at their dinners. Bill, Ian, and Iris looked uncomfortable, and Nora and John felt sorry for them. "No need to look so sad. I know that you never liked him."
"Still, this is a huge change. It's okay for you all to grief," John said and put his hand comfortable to Mariann's shoulder.
"Your father's right. And even if I never liked the man, he used to make you happy and gave us three lovely little miracles," Iris said and smiled at the children.
"How are you three dealing with all this?" Bill asked.
"Fine," Erin answered straight away. She held her head up high and challenged her uncle with her eyes. She didn't want to answer any more questions or talk about the topic any more than that.
"I mean it's a big change," Connor said appropriately. "Moving and all, but it's nice to be closer to family and old friends."
"I don't like this, but there's nothing we can do about it," Fiona stated.
"What was the school called that you go in Nora?" Mariann asked. "Maybe Fiona could attend there and Connor to the boys' side. It would be good if they had somebody there that they know beforehand."
Nora panicked. She could never tell her family the truth about her school: "It's L… London's a… all girl's a… academy."
"Hmm, if I get workplace from there then I have to look the place up," she said. "By the way, is everything alright with you mum, you have been unusually quiet the whole evening."
"Yes, I am fine," Iris lied, but no one else than Nora saw through her sentence.
"By the way, kiddos. As you all know the Eurovision song-contest is held in Ireland again this year. I managed to win some tickets, and we wondered if you want to go and watch it with us?" Bill asked with grin on his face.
"Of course!" Fiona cried out with joy.
"You bet!" Connor cheered.
"Maybe," Erin said proudly.
"If I m… manage to get a t… time off f… from s… school," Nora said. She had always loved the competition but wasn't certain if the Professors would allow her to get time off from the school.
"If they won't let you go kiddo, then let me talk to them. After that they'll be unable to say no," Uncle Bill said and grinned as he petted her hair.
"Of c… course," Nora said genuinely smiling.
Even if the mood had been on the table time to time tense, Nora wouldn't change a minute from it. She loved those moments with her family, and wondered how different they would be, if her parents were still there with them.