Hesper watched her brother-in-law playing with the twins, practically rolling around with the girls on the lawn. Despite nearly two years of Phineas joining them for those gatherings with the twins, she still marveled at the affectionate way he treated them. Never, in all the years of marriage, had Sirius been willing to play with the children. Though he was always attentive to their upbringing. Similarly, surprisingly, after Lucretia's party, he had begun to take an interest in the nieces' education. Especially Betelgeuse. Hesper knew what he was planning and reassured Rosette about it. Bete and Marge were still Phineas and Rose's daughters. Even if Sirius kicked up a fuss, his wife wouldn't let the patriarch dictate the girls' fate against the parents' will, just as she hadn't allowed him to do with Lycoris.
Phineas got up, placing his hands on his knees, watching the girls still running around. "One minute, I'll be right back," he said, slightly out of breath. "Dad needs a cup of tea." He sat at the table, serving himself a generous portion of Earl Grey and some toast with jam. "Bete was more talkative than usual today," he commented casually before looking at Hesper more intently. "Who is Tomek?"
Hesper smiled, after all, the boy had spent a few days there with them, enjoying the pleasant English countryside, in his mother Emilja's words, who had also enjoyed the stay. At Sirius's invitation, obviously. The Muggle war had somewhat hindered everyone's movement, even wizards. But her husband had managed to bring guests from Poland. "He's the son of Baron Grygiel. I think you've heard of him, I mean, his father..."
Phineas's brow furrowed. Yes, he knew the Baron for his reputation as a butcher and for his associations with Grindelwald and his cronies. "And why is my seven-year-old daughter saying she's going to marry this boy?"
Hesper almost laughed at realizing that her brother-in-law's reaction was exactly what she had predicted. However, she restrained herself. She didn't want to quarrel with Phineas. "Because your brother has fixated on it, and he's been planning the union of the two with the Baron for two years," she replied, with extreme delicacy.
However, her tone, instead of calming the man, only agitated him further. "Has Sirius gone mad?" he exclaimed.
"Completely," Hesper replied, this time unable to contain her laughter.
Phineas ran his hand through his hair, exasperated, almost wanting to grab the girls and get them out of there as quickly as possible. "And you're still laughing?"
"Phin... As you yourself said, Bete is only seven years old. She's not marrying Tomek tomorrow. And probably never. This war will end eventually... Let these two old fools plan the future of the children, believing they control everything, when in fact they know nothing."
The journalist sighed, a little calmer. Hesper was right; his brother's arrogance was a weakness. And his sister-in-law knew very well how to manage it. Otherwise, she would have allowed her own daughter to enter into some unhappy marriage. "All right," he agreed, not entirely sure about the situation. "Today Marge asked again when we're going to break the 'curse' that keeps Rosette and me from being in the same place..."
"I know the excuse we gave the girls isn't ideal, but it's still a curse, isn't it? Sirius already tolerates me allowing you to come here, but interacting with Rose... He'd be furious..."
Phineas lowered his head, pensive. He had become a hostage of his brother. He, his wife, and daughters. All depending on Sirius's good mood and willingness to protect the nieces. But that would end soon; he was very, very close to finding the artifact that Dumbledore had tasked him with locating. "I have to go," he said, taking out his pocket watch and checking the time.
His sister-in-law gave him a mischievous look as she smiled behind her teacup.
The late afternoon lazily unfolded on the vast grounds of the Black family's countryside estate in Cheshire. The last rays of sun shone through the leaves, their beams like small crystal pendants reminding those who lived there that magic was in every corner, even in the smallest situations.
Lost in thoughts like those, the green-eyed brunette with long, curly raven hair walked calmly toward the edge of the forest. She carried with her some bags of groceries she had bought in the village. The rest of the supplies would arrive the next day. Rose had become responsible for the monthly shopping for the house. It was the least she could do in gratitude for Hesper's hospitality. She "coincidentally" performed the task on the afternoons when her husband visited the daughters. It was a good excuse if Sirius asked her.
She opened the door of the cottage, which had long ago belonged to the late Black caretaker, with some difficulty, balancing between holding the key and the bags. When she finally managed to enter, she deposited the contents on the table. Only then did she notice the delicate bouquet of flowers that was also there—lilies. Her favorites.
There really was no reason for her to be surprised by the gesture. For years he had given her those flowers, always on that same day, always in that same way. She lightly caressed the soft petals, inwardly thanking for that place and, mainly, for the ally and friend she found in Hesper.
Rosette nodded when she felt a pair of hands covering her eyes, already guessing who it could be. "Phineas..." she murmured, pleased.
The blue-eyed brunette smiled cheerfully as his wife turned to face him. "Happy anniversary," he said, taking Rose in his arms, planting a delicate kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you," she replied, allowing herself to stay in the warmth of his embrace.
"The girls said you should have a cake tonight," Phineas said, giving a little pat on the top of his wife's head. "Marge wanted me to stay..."
"I can imagine..." Rosette sighed. She knew she couldn't find happiness and a life that wasn't beside her husband, but they both agreed that the twins' safety was a priority. Therefore, for these two long years, with Hesper's complicity, Rose and Phineas acted as lovers, not as the husband and wife they actually were. They continued to share a life together, but in secret.
He carried her in his arms, causing Rosette to let out a small scream of surprise, followed by laughter. Like so many times before, he laid her on the small bed in the cottage and kissed her. He felt her sigh amidst the caresses. Phineas knew he loved Rose more than anything. It took almost losing his family for him to understand that his fight would be in vain without her by his side.
"Next week I'm going to France with Goddriac. I'm going to fulfill the promise I made to Dumbledore," he said, separating from her while she looked at him with her green, questioning eyes, her head still gently resting on the pillow.
Realizing that Rosette's breath was almost suspended, Phineas wished to reassure her by revealing his resolution. "I've already talked to Good and Willie. Goddriac will buy the newspaper, and she'll take over the management. When I come back from the mission, you and I can take the girls and go wherever you want, Rose..."
The woman raised her face, sealing her lips against Phineas's in an impulse. That was what she had most wanted to hear for years. It seemed almost impossible to her that he would give up everything for her and the daughters.
It wasn't necessary for the woman to say anything for the journalist to know how happy she was with the news. The eager fingers undoing the buttons of his shirt amid kisses were indication enough.