The elf arrived, head down, approaching her mistress, who was in the office Pericles used when he was home. Marge was still working, cataloging both the artifacts they could sell and their market value. The next step would be to research potential buyers.

"Chichi, what do you need?" Marguerith asked without looking up from her notes.

"A man wants to speak with mistress. Man Chichi doesn't know. Dark-haired, with very blue eyes."

Marge raised her head, quite surprised. Although the description was vague, something told her it was Alphard standing at the doorstep.

"He wouldn't dare…" she murmured, torn between disbelief and apprehension.

She walked through the corridors until she reached the mansion's entrance hall. Exactly as she had expected, there he was. Arms behind his back, a leather satchel over his shoulder, and a remarkably serious expression.

"Good afternoon, Alphard," she said in a polite, neutral tone.

"Good afternoon, Marge," he replied, allowing a small smile to slip unintentionally. "Sorry to show up unannounced, but after yesterday, I realized I had to come see you."

The woman bit her lip slightly, feeling a pang of guilt for letting her guard down during Walburga's birthday celebration. At the beginning of the party, she had ignored him, keeping a distant demeanor with Alphard, not only because she felt hurt… He had abandoned and ignored her for eight years; maybe it was childish and vengeful, but she wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine…

Things might not be well between her and Pericles, but that didn't mean she wanted to fall into the arms of her former love if they met again.

However, the truth was that Marguerith was still afraid of falling into the same trap that had ensnared her in her youth. It had taken her a long time to kill the love she had felt for him, to admit it had been a youthful folly, and that it was time for her to become a real adult.

"Yesterday meant nothing. It was just a nostalgic moment, Alphard," she said, sighing. "I think you didn't understand that I've changed, you've changed… We're very different people from those who made those promises. I have a husband and two children now."

The dark-haired man nodded; he hadn't expected any other response from Marguerith.

"I think I wasn't clear about my reasons for coming here. I don't wish to be a burden in your life, but at the same time, I want you to know the truth about what happened between us."

"The truth?" Marge mumbled, not understanding Alphard's intentions.

The man opened his raw leather satchel and pulled out a small basin and a vial containing a silvery liquid.

"A Pensieve?" she asked.

"And my memories of the day we were to marry…"

She hesitated to take the objects, still somewhat uncertain if she wanted to stir the ashes of those memories.

"If you decide to see them, if you want to talk, you know where to find me," Alphard said, bidding her farewell with a subtle nod.

She bit her index finger to keep herself from screaming. It was late; she didn't want to accidentally wake the children. Still, the emotion overtook her entire body. Tears streamed down her face, hot as the anger boiling within her, making her body tremble in spasms.

She felt at the brink of sanity… What Sirius had done to her… To them… was unspeakable…

She stood up, looking one last time at Alphard's memories in the Pensieve atop her bedroom dresser. She heard her late uncle's deep voice saying: obliviate!

As years before, a strong impulse took over her. She stood, searching in a hidden corner of her wardrobe for a small wooden box. She opened it to reveal a white gold ring with a small emerald and a key. Marge took the key, squeezing it tightly.

It didn't take long after that for Alphard to see his apartment door open by his former fiancée. He allowed himself to be overtaken by that strong feeling of déjà vu, as if he had returned to being that seventeen-year-old boy eagerly awaiting the night to be beside his beloved.

"Marge…" he whispered.

"Don't say anything," she said as she closed the door behind her. "Please, don't say anything."

The next moment, she walked up to him, kissing him with an intensity that even surprised Alphard. For a few moments, he kept his eyes wide open, only to finally allow himself to savor what he had longed for since his memories had returned.

Amidst caresses, the two moved toward the bedroom, letting themselves fall onto the bed.

Marguerith closed her eyes, feeling his skin against hers, his slightly rough stubble grazing her face and neck as he trailed quick kisses down to her shoulders. She felt herself losing control, and she didn't care.

Without paying attention to what she was doing, she straddled Alphard, each leg on either side of his body, while she let her hair down. He looked up at her with his blue eyes, curious to see what she would do next. Marge leaned over him, pressing their lips together in an intensely passionate kiss as her small hands ran over his chest, stopping at the waistband of his pants. Only then did he hold her, reversing their positions again and deepening the kiss.

At that point, they had both completely lost control. Marguerith's blouse fell to the floor in one swift motion, and Alphard's mouth moved against her neck. She bit her lips, unable to stop him. Not when being with him was what she desired most.

The morning rays shone on Marguerith's sleepy face. The woman squeezed her eyes shut a little more. She definitely didn't want to get out of bed; she still felt exhausted, almost drained. Still with her eyes closed, she reached for the edge of the sheet to cover herself a little more, when she felt a heavy hand rest on her waist, and warm breath at the nape of her neck.

Like an electric shock coursing through her body, the memories of the previous night resurfaced from the deepest recesses of her mind. Her senses were now fully alert from the shock.

Idiot, idiot, idiot… she thought to herself as she jumped out of bed, realizing, almost horrified, as she suspected, that she was completely naked.

Alphard didn't wake up, not even with Marguerith's sudden movement. He simply shifted position in the bed… he was in a deep, heavy sleep.

Anxious, the woman began gathering the clothes scattered across the floor of the small apartment. She needed to leave as soon as possible… She didn't want to be seen leaving Alphard's place suspiciously.

Stupid… Stupid… Stupid… So many years holding back… So many years trying to ignore what she felt… Trying to hide behind the rigid, serious facade expected of a Black. To lose her head in a fit of anger?

She was truly pathetic…

Marguerith Black-Thorne felt like the most pathetic of creatures… She remembered telling her sister she was in love with Alphard.

Dear, I can understand that you think you're in love with Alphie. I admit he has certain qualities that may interest some women… But have you considered how unsuitable he is for you? Our cousin will never be anything more than a bohemian. Is that the kind of man you want to spend your life with? Someone who would easily ruin your name and give you a marriage full of insecurity? – were Betelgeuse's words.

What would her sister say if she saw her there at that moment?

Marguerith shook her head, trying to push those thoughts away… What was done could not be undone.

Fully dressed, she fixed her hair as best she could. Before leaving, she gave Alphard one last look. Knowing him, she was sure he would probably seek her out for answers, but she still wasn't ready for that conversation.