The sound of music from the record player filled the room. A cheerful Italian song. A tall man with tanned skin and hair beginning to gray sang at the top of his lungs while a couple danced on the makeshift dance floor. The dark-haired girl with short hair laughed at something her partner, a boy with blue eyes and blond hair, had just whispered in her ear. Two almost identical little brown-haired girls ran back and forth alongside two other children, who by their features seemed to be siblings, a boy of about eight and a girl of about six. A woman with long curly hair, tan skin, and amber eyes watched the children while savoring a slice of cake.
Phineas Black watched the scene, seated in the newspaper's cafeteria. A serene smile played on his lips. Everyone there had become essential people in his life, practically a family. His daughters, Marge and Bete, obviously. Pepe, his wife Maria, and their children Francesco and Giovanna. Willie and his fiancé, Goodfellow. Only Ravi was missing, who, despite being the youngest, was the most serious; as he didn't drink, he had left earlier.
"You're happy," he heard a soft voice call him, feeling loving arms wrap around him from behind.
"Very," Phineas replied, resting his head against his wife's cheek. "Although I still think I'm too old for a surprise birthday party."
"And miss the opportunity to eat Maria's lasagna?" Rosette replied, laughing.
"Your cake is not bad either," Phineas replied, in good humor.
Rose gave him a mischievous smile, whispering in his ear.
"Well, everyone is busy. Maria is keeping an eye on the kids, maybe I can give you your birthday present now."
"What are you thinking?" he asked, amused.
"Do you remember the first time you brought me here to the newspaper?"
The man smiled at the memory. He got up, offering his hand to his wife, who led him through the corridors of the establishment. When they reached the office, they closed the door behind them. Phineas locked it as Rosette sat on the desk.
He approached, tenderly taking his wife's lips, deepening the kiss, while his hands held her waist firmly. Rose responded with equal ardor. It had been almost ten years since they had been together, and yet she knew that what they felt for each other had not changed.
When they parted, they were slightly out of breath. They rested their foreheads against each other's and smiled conspiratorially. Rosette kissed Phineas's neck before leaning back, feeling his hands sliding up her skirt to thigh height. He leaned in to seek another kiss from her, but in the eagerness of the gesture, he accidentally knocked over the inkwell, causing the ink to start spreading across the table.
"Damn," he said, standing up abruptly, pulling Rosette with him.
The woman looked back, realizing that her blouse had narrowly escaped a stain. She got up from the table, helping her husband. While he grabbed the wand to clean up the mess, she tried to save the papers scattered on the furniture. Her eyes inadvertently landed on the contents of one of them. The color drained completely from Rosette's face. Her usually rosy complexion turned as pale as candle wax.
"Phin..." she stammered, her voice almost failing her. "Is this serious?"
Black looked up, tucking the wand into the inner pocket of his jacket. Upon seeing his wife's expression, he was alarmed. It seemed like Rose was about to faint. She handed him the paper. Phineas understood, reading the contents.
"This is a death threat," she said, in a thread of a voice. "What they wrote here is... is... abominable."
Phineas approached Rosette, embracing her, kissing her over her hair.
"Rose, the aurors are already aware, and a barking dog doesn't bite; if these threats were indeed real, they would have attacked me long ago."
The brunette pulled away from her husband's embrace, her green eyes were clouded and dark as if immersed in a storm.
"Since when have you been receiving this kind of correspondence?"
Phineas lowered his head thoughtfully. He pondered how much he should reveal without unnecessarily worrying Rosette. He had never told her about the letters or the sabotage they had suffered. He justified the security he had hired with the story of an attempted robbery. He remembered how much Williamina had reprimanded him for hiding these things from Rose, however, he longed to protect his wife's and daughters' happiness. The work he had chosen for himself, the ideals he wished to propagate, were so arduous and full of obstacles... He did not wish to burden them with everything. As much as he shared with Rosette, he always kept the most terrifying parts to himself.
"It's been a few months," he finally replied, meeting her gaze. "They're already investigating. Besides, you know that Goodfellow arranged for someone to protect the newspaper. I didn't want to worry you."
"Don't lie to me anymore," she demanded, not hiding her hurt. "Promise?"
"I promise," he said, embracing his wife again. "Let's go back to the party, have a glass of wine to calm down."
Rosette nodded, letting herself be guided by her husband. Despite the promise made, something inside her told her that she couldn't trust Phineas's promise.
The man watched his wife and daughters sleeping, cuddled together in the double bed. Their dark hair contrasting with the whiteness of the sheets, their serene, almost angelic faces. Marguerith had had a nightmare and asked to sleep with her parents. Betelgeuse, on the other hand, had always been overly protective of her younger twin and didn't want to be separated from her sister. The man ended up making space for the girls to sleep with their mother.
Unfortunately, he needed to wake his wife from her comforting sleep. Despite the lateness of the hour, he needed to leave. He didn't want to worry her if she woke up and didn't find him.
"Rose..." he called softly.
She rubbed her eyes, trying to wake up.
"Willie sent a patronus. One of her sources at the Ministry said an urgent message had arrived for Spencer-Moon. Germany invaded Poland, it's only a matter of time before the Muggles declare war. It seems he's called a summit to decide how the wizarding government will position itself."
Rose jumped out of bed at the news. As much as a part of her knew that war could really break out, another part hoped it would never become reality.
"What are we going to do, Phin?" she asked, already sitting on the bed.
"We prepare the best we can," Black replied, almost in a sigh. "I need to go to the newspaper."
He kissed his wife's forehead goodbye.
"Be careful," she said.
Phineas just nodded, leaving the room. Rosette watched her husband leave, then turned her attention back to her daughters. Times were becoming dark, she realized that the net was closing in around them, whether it was the problems of the magical world or the Muggle world. At that moment, she vowed to herself that she would do everything to ensure the safety of her daughters. Whatever the means.