(𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐩 - 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬)
𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝐬𝐭, 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟒 - 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝟗 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟑 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
The platform buzzed with the frenetic energy of departure as students hurriedly said their goodbyes amidst the cacophony of voices.
Walburga and Alphard, standing side by side, faced the bustling sea of families, each sharing a silent understanding that their parents had opted not to partake in the farewells.
Walburga, her expression a carefully crafted mask concealing the intricacies of her emotions, cast a sidelong glance at Alphard. Their shared solitude at this moment fostered a unique connection.
He knew that she was all he needed at the moment, and so did she.
"Come on then, let's board," she said while leading the way to the entrance of the train.
As they boarded the train and went into the Slytherin compartment Walburga couldn't help but notice the looks and whispers as they passed the Gryffindor compartment.
'Idiots' she smirked at them.
Once they arrived at the desired compartment, Walburga reached for the door, sliding it open to reveal a space within.
The subdued lighting from the magical lanterns above cast a soft glow on the plush seats, creating an atmosphere of familiarity and solitude.
Settling in she took a deep breath before turning her head to see Alphard still standing by the door. "What- are you waiting for an invitation?" Sarcasm dripped through her voice.
He started to clamp and unclamp his hands. A tall tale sign of him trying to gather the courage to say something.
Walburga observed him with a mix of impatience and curiosity, awaiting whatever revelation or request he was on the verge of making.
"Actually... I was hoping to sit with Ares... maybe..." he looked anywhere but at his sister.
Walburga couldn't help but smirk, her tone dripping with amusement. "You want to sit with Carrow? Go ahead." She waved him off dismissively, feigning indifference to mask the underlying amusement she felt at her brother's discomfort.
Ares Carrow, the youngest member of the Carrow family, appeared to be a delicate and fragile boy, at least from what Walburga had observed.
Alphard had shared with her that Ares Carrow had cried during their first class when they were first years. She found that quite hysterical, to be honest. But he was the first friend that her brother ever had and so, she would accept him.
From what she had seen it appeared that the youngest Carrow was different from his family, she supposed that was why Alphard had taken a liking to him so much.
At least he will never hurt him she thought.
Smiling he thanked her and quickly closed the door leaving Walburga in a rare but very comfortable silence. 'As long as mother or father aren't here I am okay' she repeated the phrase in her head like a mantra.
She was excited to be going back to Hogwarts. She enjoyed it much to the surprise of her fellow Slytherins, she was blessed with the smarts to pass all of her classes so she had a lot of free time; free time that she used to explore the glorious castle.
It was her 5th year. A part of her couldn't believe that the years had gone by so quickly.
Yet the prospect of reuniting with the ancient halls and mysterious corridors excited her.
That sweet silence was unfortunately interrupted far too quickly for her liking. An unwelcome annoyance entered the compartment with a loud swish of the door.
Orion Black.
There he stood, her cousin.
He had grown taller over the summer, and more handsome as well, unfortunately. As the actual 'Heir to House Black,' the deal stipulated that the heir and heiress would court and continue the family line.
He was beautiful, that she couldn't deny. She knew he would only grow to be more and more as he grew older. He had inherited all of the best features that the House of black had to offer. The bluest eyes she had ever seen belonged to him.
And his smile? That damned smile.
His sleek black hair fell effortlessly, framing a face chiseled with aristocratic elegance. Every line and curve seemed sculpted for the admiration of the wizarding world.
The fine details, from the arch of his brows to the aristocratic shape of his nose, spoke of generations of carefully preserved bloodlines. As he stepped into the compartment, the air seemed to subtly shift, acknowledging the entrance of an heir to the illustrious House of Black.
He had the type of beauty that could scare you.
"All alone?" he questioned as he took the empty seat across from her.
She looked at him with her eyebrow raised "Clearly."
Orion chuckled, unfazed by her response. "Well, then, I suppose I'll keep you company. Wouldn't want the missus to be lonely, now would we?" He flashed a smirk that mirrored the mischievous glint in his eyes.
She couldn't help the disgusted look on her face. He laughed even harder. "Don't refer to me as that." she sneered at him
The laughter abruptly ceased, and Orion fixed his gaze on her with a sudden intensity. The abrupt shift in his demeanor spoke volumes about his emotional control—like a switch he could flick on or off at will.
His eyes, once lively and animated, now darkened with a seriousness that matched the gravity of his words.
"Why?" he questioned, the word hanging in the air, pregnant with unspoken implications. "It's not the first you've heard of it. May as well get used to it." The nonchalant delivery masked an undercurrent of tension, a suggestion that there was more to the situation than met the eye.
Leaning in, Orion's eyes bore into hers with an unwavering focus. "Once we graduate, you know what will happen; we both do."
The unspoken truth lingered in the air, an uncharted territory they both acknowledged but seldom confronted. "The only difference is that I choose to look on the bright side."
Her eyes met his with a quiet intensity, revealing a glimpse of the internal struggle beneath her composed exterior. "Choosing to look on the bright side is a luxury not all of us can afford. Some of us carry the weight of our duty with a different kind of resolve." The unspoken complexities of her role within the ancient house and the sacrifices that came with it echoed in her words.
"Duty? You dare to sit there and talk of duty as if I do not carry that burden on my shoulder as well..." Orion's voice held a mixture of frustration and intensity as he looked directly at Walburga.
The words hung in the air, a challenge and a plea for recognition.
He continued "This may come as a surprise to you, but everyone carries burdens Walburga..." He glanced down at her wrists for the first time seeing the protruding scar tissue.
"If you allowed me in; you wouldn't have to carry it alone, and neither would I." He concluded, his tone carrying a genuine plea for connection.
They spent the rest of the train ride in silence. She couldn't or didn't know how to let him in. He was always seeing the bright side maybe she should try.
Growing up, they had never achieved the closeness most cousins would have. They were different, shaped by the same circumstances but with different outcomes.
Walburga tried hard to meet her parents' expectations, while Orion effortlessly met those standards.
He was the extroverted one; walking into one room he would immediately make acquaintance of anyone in it.
She was rather introverted; keeping to herself never once believing others wanted to have an intellectual conversation. Despite their differences, Orion never seemed to leave her side, even when their conversations ended in arguments.
She wondered if she could ever tell him about her attempt to run away during summer.
Would Orion understand these hidden facets of her life, or would they remain locked away, shrouded in the secrecy of her struggles? Maybe he was too far gone into the beliefs of the family.
Amidst the quiet tension, Orion made a small gesture. When the trolley came around, he bought her a chocolate frog.
It was a subtle but meaningful act, a token of acknowledgment and perhaps an attempt to bridge the gap that had momentarily widened between them. The simple offering of a sweet treat carried an unspoken message, a gesture that spoke louder than words in the subdued atmosphere of the compartment.
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