The dining hall of Malfoy Manor was as majestic as ever, with its long table impeccably set for dinner. The room was filled with the soft murmur of conversation and the clinking of fine china. Orion Black and Abraxas Malfoy sat at the table, their faces pale and expressions subdued as they tried to eat.
Sirius Black, though still stern, had insisted they join the dinner to maintain a semblance of normalcy despite the earlier confrontation. Lucius Malfoy, maintaining his usual calm demeanor, engaged in polite conversation, while Narcissa Malfoy, sitting beside him, tried to keep the atmosphere pleasant.
Orion, however, could barely focus on the food. His stomach was a roiling pit of anxiety and pain, his earlier nervousness now escalating into physical discomfort. He tried to take small bites, but each mouthful seemed to intensify his unease.
Suddenly, Orion's vision blurred, and a sharp wave of nausea surged through him. He clutched the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white as he tried to stay composed. Abraxas, noticing Orion's distress, leaned over with a concerned look.
"Orion, are you okay?" Abraxas whispered, worry evident in his voice.
Orion shook his head weakly, unable to respond. The pain in his stomach intensified, and he could no longer hold back. He lurched forward, clutching his stomach, and in a moment of sheer desperation, he vomited violently onto his plate. The room fell silent, the sound of his retching echoing through the hall.
The guests looked on in shock and concern. Narcissa's hand flew to her mouth, and Lucius's eyes widened in surprise. Sirius quickly stood up and moved to Orion's side.
"Orion!" Sirius's voice was filled with alarm as he helped his son away from the table. "What's wrong? Are you ill?"
Orion, pale and trembling, could barely respond. "I'm—sorry, Father. I don't know what's happening."
Lucius, his expression a mix of concern and irritation, addressed the situation with a commanding tone. "We should get him checked immediately. This is unacceptable behavior at a formal dinner."
Abraxas, looking distraught, stood up. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Black. I didn't know—"
Sirius nodded sharply. "We'll talk about this later. Right now, Orion needs medical attention."
With Sirius's support, Orion was guided out of the dining hall. His mind was a haze of pain and embarrassment as they made their way to a quieter part of the manor. The situation had spiraled beyond his control, and he could only hope to make sense of it all once he felt better.
As they walked, Sirius's face showed worry, his usual sternness replaced by a father's concern. "We'll get you through this, Orion. Just try to breathe and stay calm."
Orion, though still in pain, felt a flicker of relief at his father's comforting presence. The night had not gone as he had hoped, and as he struggled to steady his breathing, he knew that this incident would have lasting repercussions for both himself and Abraxas.