Chapter 26
The History of Us
Hessa looked at all the clothes that were bought for her, her aunt went ahead and helped her put on one of the outfits on. The clothes were a little bit different then what Draco had placed on her before, though elegant, not quite the right type. They were more revealing, flowing, her hair was even done and she was shown how to do it in the more popular fashions amongst the Conk women. It was sort of easy…but she would still have to get some practice in, and there were earrings but Hessa wasn't really into earrings…Marius chuckled as she fought with her aunt about how she should wear them and even getting her ears double or triple pierced.
Marius simply stated, 'she is already beautiful, even amongst the other Conk women, there is no need to decorate her face more so then it is if she doesn't want to.' It caused Hessa to blush and Adamina to argue.
Cynthia nearly rolled her eyes, could he lay it on any thicker? She was a bit worried, even though Marius was technically a 'good catch', he did have his trail of lovers. But it wasn't uncommon for a Conk male or female for that matter, to have many lovers by the time they were in their 40s and 50s until they found the proper mate. The Conk society was open to sex and Conks had a very sexual nature in general, but still she wondered…what were Marius' intentions with her daughter?
While Hessa was in her room, still looking at what she was wearing, her aunt informing her that it was all right for the clothing to be that revealing, Cynthia pulled Marius aside…
"Marius?"
"Yes," he said firmly. Her mother had been interfering all evening. Every time he would try and get her alone, Cynthia would drag Hessa off somewhere else.
"I want ask you something…"
"Surely."
"What are your intentions with Hessa?"
Marius looked at her, "what do you mean?"
"What do you mean, what do I mean? I MEAN…I know your reputation…"
"My reputation is no more then any other Conk male's in the city," he was starting to feel insulted.
"I just mean…Hessa is so fragile and she knows what it's like to be bonded to, she may not just want sexual interaction like most Conk females her age. I know what she felt with Harry…and…I just don't want her hurt, she doesn't understand your ways here…"
He cut her off, "I understand…my intentions are simple; to woo and marry Hessa. I am at a point where I too no longer want just sexual interaction…"
Cynthia seemed to breathe in relief, "but you do know she was already getting looks from others?"
"I will make my intentions clear enough to those OTHERS," he said in a warning tone. "Besides, I know you would feel that she would be better off with me?"
"Yes. You are a good friend and I know that you would take care of her…but this could take some time, she's been through much."
"I am patient."
"What if she's not interested?"
Marius shot her a look, "she will be." Cynthia could do nothing but roll her eyes; he could be so cocky at times.
Hessa opened her bedroom door and they both stood at attention to see what she looked like…and she was beautiful. Adamina walked over to them both, "isn't she beautiful?" Cynthia nodded her head and looked proud while Marius' look nearly made Hessa blush. Cynthia quickly scurried Hessa off to the dinner table while Adamina slapped Marius on the chest and made a disapproving noise.
"What?" Marius looked at her.
"Watch what you do," she whispered harshly. "Hessa isn't used to looks like that from unknown men…so BEHAVE yourself."
"I am…"
"Right."
They all sat down to dinner and when it came to dessert, Hessa put her fork down, "mother…, I…I think I'm ready to know what happened to you and father."
Everyone became quiet and Cynthia also put down her fork, "are you sure?"
"Yes."
"All right then, let's all take our coffee to the living room…"
The Story of Cynthia and Adem
It was a day like any other; there was nothing extraordinary about it. There were no signs or premonitions that Cynthia had that this wonderful man would enter her life. She was simply taking a walk down the usual path of the forest, she needed it given the fact that the Malfoys were actually interested in wedding Lucius and her. The Landcross' were a very prominent and well-liked family in the wizarding world, on top of which, they were extremely wealthy, more so then the Blacks, yet another family they were thinking about.
She couldn't believe that her father would even consider her and Lucius, and especially considering the fact that the family was 'shady', a new term she picked up from her muggle-born friends. That was yet another reason for it, the Malfoys hated anything muggle-ish, while she found it fairly fascinating. But her father having a big heart simply felt that maybe she would be a good influence on the Malfoy heir.
WAS HE KIDDING?
Cynthia marched on the path thinking of what that blonde headed moron said just an hour ago…
'You know, if we are married, you won't be allowed to converse with those mudblood friends of yours. I simply won't allow it…'
'I will talk with whomever I feel like,' she said flatly as if to just ignore his statement.
'Plus, you don't need to work, I'll have to have someone at home to take care of our son,' he said more firmly.
'I don't know if I want children,' of course she did…just not with him.
'You don't have a choice, I AM THE MAN OF THE HOUSE,' he stomped his foot.
Cynthia stood up and looked up at him, 'you really do fancy yourself something special, don't you? Why don't you go and talk to Narcissa or CRAZY Bellatrix Black, I heard they're just DYING to be part of the Malfoy family.'
'Because I like YOU better,' Lucius said it as if she were a favorite toy, not out of sincerity.
'Well, I don't like YOU. You're an awful young man who hangs about with that…that…Tom Riddle. Getting Hagrid into trouble like he did…everyone knows he didn't do it, and everyone knows that a spider can't cause someone to turn to stone like that!'
'That half-Ogre deserved it!'
'No he didn't! You're just saying that because he's different…and so am I, so…so, why don't you go just go and hang yourself with one of those ropes your family probably tortures poor muggles with!' she went to march off but Lucius grabbed her upper arm. 'What do you think you're doing, let me go!'
'That's why I like you…you're spirit…one that won't be so easy to break,' Lucius gave a smile that sent chills down her spine, he meant what he was saying.
Then she slapped him.
He squeezed her upper arm even harder and when she tried to release herself and grabbed her other arm and hurt her wrist, causing her to squeak in pain, "now…when your father asks you if you want to marry me, you say 'yes'…if you don't, I'll hurt you…or maybe one of your muggle-born friends?' Cynthia's eyes widened in alarm. 'I'll do it….,' he warned.
'WHAT IS THIS!' it was Cynthia's father. Lucius turned around in alarm and quickly stepped back from Cynthia. 'Are you…manhandling my daughter!' She ran over to her father while rubbing her wrists, Lucius scowled and his eyes followed her.
'Lucius, what did I tell you about that?' Lucius' father stepped out finally.
'You know he's like this!'
'You know how boys are…they get ahead of themselves, get too excited, your daughter is quiet lovely after all,' he purred.
'I'LL THANK YOU TO LEAVE MY HOUSE, THERE WILL BE NO MARRIAGE!' the booming voice of her father startled Cynthia, she'd never seen him so angry.
'You can't do that to us!'
'Oh, I believe I just did! Get out!'
'Father, fix this!' Lucius yelled. 'I want Cynthia!'
His father looked over at him, "no, Lucius. We don't need blood-traitors in the family anyway."
They left, Lucius looking back as if to say it wasn't over…
She continued to walk, unconsciously rubbing her wrist that was forming a bruise. Then Cynthia stopped and heard someone not too far behind her…it was Lucius. "Don't you EVER go away!" she yelled. "I thought my father told you to leave!"
"To leave the house, and I did…"
"What do you want?" she stood, jutting her hip with one hand on it as if annoyed, which she was.
Lucius took out his wand, "I should think that would be obvious."
"What are you going to do, FORCE me to marry you at wand point?" she giggled. "Just go home Lucius, go and talk to the other girls," she started to turn and walk off when a spell just missed her head. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"
"I'll make you marry me! IMPERIO!"
Cynthia went to draw her wand but she had forgotten it, "oh, no." Lucius grinned and chased after her as she ran, but she knew these woods very well. Unlike Lucius who didn't like getting his hands dirty, Cynthia loved the woods and knew them like the back of her hand. Within ten minutes he had lost her completely, and she stayed hidden until he finally gave up…he was concerned for some reason about the amount of time he was gone.
She sighed in relief and started to head back…and then she saw them, a young man and woman sitting on a log and nibbling on a snack. They were talking about something and their actions seemed to state that they were brother or sister or at least good friends. They were dressed fairly unusual but elegant, the woman wearing something rather provocative but the man was covered up for the most part. The young man was handsome and when he turned and looked into her eyes, her heart nearly stopped.
Adem was having lunch with his sister outside of the city, just needing to go out and then he saw this beautiful young witch in front of him…the draw was there, he stopped everything he was doing and just managed to swallow. "Hello," he said almost dumbfounded.
"Hello," she said softly. "What…What is your name?"
"Adem…," there was a soft clearing of the throat, "oh…and this is my sister, Adamina."
Adamina looked curiously at them both, looking at Cynthia then Adam and then Cynthia. She watched as her brother came closer, "what is your name?"
"Cynthia?" she sounded almost unsure of her own name, was it good enough for a man as handsome as this? She stepped closer as well. "Are you from around here?"
"You could say that," he smiled. "Would you like to join us? We have enough…"
"If…if that's all right?"
"Yes…yes…please."
From there everything seemed to happen so quickly. Once Cynthia's family learned of what Adem and his family was, they were overjoyed. Not only because Cynthia had found a Conk, but because Cynthia was finally happy. Lucius Malfoy did not bother her again once he and Narcissa were to be wed, of course telling her that she was the only one he wanted, all the while eyeing Cynthia Landcross from across crowded rooms, even his own wedding, sneering at Adem as if he were trash…he came out of nowhere and stole what he wanted in his opinion.
They were happy and when it was decided that they should wed, it was one of the biggest events in wizarding London, more so then even the Black and Malfoy wedding…her father made sure of it.
But the war came…
And her family was targeted. The Landcross' were known as blood-traitors and it was only a matter of time before she found the Dark Mark above her parent's house and them dead. And it was only a matter of time before Voldemort found them too, he wanted to capture Adem when he found out what he was, but Lucius Malfoy had more sinister plans for HIM. When they broke into the house, Adem immediately tried to help his wife out, but she was 8 months pregnant and could not move as fast as she needed to. They eventually caught up to them and though Adem fought well, they tricked him and made him think they were going after his wife in which he put a shield around her and that was when Lucius Malfoy took his opportunity and killed him, Cynthia was forced to watch as she was flooed to Dumbledore.
They thankfully recovered his body and gave him a proper burial next to her mother and father…
……………………………………………………………………
A few teardrops hit Hessa's hand as she looked down, "so Lucius Malfoy killed both my fathers."
"Yes," Cynthia choked out.
"I'm happier then ever that he's dead then, Draco did me at least that favor," she stood up abruptly. Marius eyed her, she was holding back more tears, perhaps it was because she was so tired of crying them. "Mother, do you think you could arrange a proper sigil for Harry and his friends. I know I won't be able to reclaim the bodies and I doubt Voldemort would let them have a decent burial…"
"Oh…of course, sweetheart," she came up and hugged Hessa. Hessa smiled the best she could and left to her room.
Marius sighed, "I do not know if I can compete with Harry Potter."
Cynthia shrugged, "you can't, you can only be Marius. You know the Council views her as 'scarred'. A Conk that knows the bond and then is released from it…they won't be like the rest of you. And she's known not only one master, but two…please be patient, Marius."
"I will be."