(𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐩- 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬)
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟒𝐭𝐡, 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟔 - 𝐇𝐨𝐠𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲.
For weeks, Orion and Walburga hadn't spoken to each other. Orion went to great lengths to avoid his future wife, and Walburga, though noticing the distance, never questioned it.
Poor Alphard found himself caught in between the two, navigating the tension that lingered in the air between the cousins.
Orion spent most of his time away from her, which was odd since the boy had usually followed her like a lost puppy. Eleanor Nott had taken up the slot, spending most of her time with him.
In the quiet corners of the library, away from the strained dynamics that surrounded them, Walburga and Alphard found refuge. The scent of old books and the hushed whispers of knowledge-seeking students created an atmosphere of serenity.
One day, as they sat at a secluded table, Alphard broke the silence, "Have you tried talking to Orion?"
Walburga sighed, her gaze fixed on the pages of the book in front of her. "What he decides to do before we are wed is his business."
Alphard leaned back, studying her expression. "You are both so-" he stopped mid-sentence when she glared at him.
Her eyes narrowed, and she retorted, her voice taking on an icy edge, "Complicated, I suppose."
The intensity in her gaze sent a shiver down Alphard's spine, and he quickly averted his eyes, realizing the futility of probing further into the complexities of Walburga's relationship with Orion.
Truth be told, she hated not being the center of his attention.
It wasn't that she wanted him with her; she just did not want him to be with anyone. The sting of possessive resentment simmered beneath the surface.
As she turned the pages of the book, her thoughts spiraled into a storm of conflicting emotions.
"Are you alright? You've got that look that mother had whenever father would leave home," Alphard spoke as he glanced at the crinkled pages of her book.
Breathing slowly she composed herself. "I am just perfect," flashing him a small smile, "I will speak to him tonight and end this." The words held a determined edge.
Quickly trying to change the subject, she brought up the news. "So, I read that they have spotted Malachi Macduff somewhere near Durmstrang." Her tone shifted.
Alphard perked up at the mention of the final Acolyte. "I hope they get him sooner rather than later. Although, I have to admit, maybe becoming an Animagus isn't such a bad idea. I mean they can't catch him because he is practically living in his bear form." He chuckled, musing on the notion of acquiring the ability to transform at will.
Walburga raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing in her eyes. "An Animagus, Alphard? You'd trade your fine robes for fur and feathers?"
He laughed, "Well, maybe not feathers, but think about the possibilities. What do you think I would be? A wolf? Maybe a Hawk?"
She leaned back, considering the question with a sly smile. "With your luck? You'd be an elephant" She couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at her joke.
"Imagine the grand entrance you'd make into any room—no one would ever miss the presence of Alphard Black, the Animagus elephant."
Alphard, with a twinkle of sarcasm in his eyes, retorted, "Ah, yes. A symbol of grace and subtlety. Just what I've always aspired to be." He chuckled, playing along with the jest, and for a moment, the weight of their serious conversations was lifted by the shared amusement.
"Although... don't be surprised if I ever turn into an animal before your eyes, sister." he smiled at her.
Humming at her brother's musings "And don't be surprised if I curse you to oblivion if you turn into a rat, brother."
"As if you would ever raise your wand at me, you care far too much to ever hurt me," Alphard laughed, his words carrying the assurance of a bond that surpassed the challenges they faced.
Huffing she leaned over the table and flicked his forehead.
Alphard, rubbing his forehead with an exaggerated expression of injury, laughed in response.
Both continued to talk about the most peculiar things until the librarian, evidently annoyed by their animated conversation, yelled at them to keep it down. The sudden hush that followed was disrupted by the stifled laughter of the Black siblings.
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𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟒𝐭𝐡, 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟔 - 𝐒𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐲'𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲.
"Are you sure none of his roommates are in there?" Walburga asked, her voice hushed, as she hid behind the corner wall.
Alphard, having been tired of checking and double-checking Orion's dorm, replied, "Yes! I swear it, when have I ever led you astray?"
Tilting her head, her voice deadpanned "Literally, every time we've teamed up to do anything, ever."
The exchange carried a blend of skepticism and humor, revealing the long history of their collaborative misadventures.
"Okay... well yeah. You'll just have to trust me this time, like all the others," he said, scratching his head before giving her a toothy grin. It was a familiar expression, one that he only ever had with Ares Carrow.
Sighing, she fixed her messy braided hair before moving from behind the wall. Walking with a confidence that implied she belonged on the boys' side of the dormitories.
Alphard led the way in front of her leading her to the farthest room, "Okay here is his dormitory only Rosier, Avery, Bulstrode, and Orion sleep here. Though you'll be waiting a long while before Orion comes back from the quidditch game against Hufflepuff."
She nodded taking in all of the information before pushing open the dorm room. "Okay, I know Rosier and Bulstrode are on the team but what of Avery?"
Alphard leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and explained, "Avery? Oh, he's the resident wizard's chess prodigy. Spends more time strategizing moves on the chessboard than practicing Quidditch. Now, hurry up before someone catches us in here."
Before she could ask where Avery was he pushed her into the room before slamming the door.
As the door slammed shut behind her, Walburga found herself in the dimly lit Slytherin dormitory. 'What a lovely brother' she thought as she looked around.
As Walburga moved further into the room, she noticed the meticulous arrangement of the beds. Three of them were perfectly made, each bedpost adorned with the house emblem.
The farthest one on the far right of the room was messy, and strewn with clothes. She could only assume that it was Orion's.
Walburga approached the farthest bed on the right, noting the disarray of clothes and personal items scattered across it. The unmistakable signs of untidiness hinted that this was indeed Orion's bed.
She couldn't help but smile as she observed the disarray of Orion's bed. It was a stark contrast to the meticulous standards expected of him by their parents.
At Hogwarts, he seemed to revel in the freedom to be untidy, a subtle rebellion against the expectations awaiting him at Grimmauld Place.
Walburga, torn between the logical choice of patiently waiting on Orion's bed and her teenage curiosity, found herself unable to resist the allure of exploring further.
She looked at his bedside table, it was strewn with candy wrappers and clippings of the daily prophet.
As her eyes scanned the table, she noticed a parchment peeking out from beneath a stack of books. Curiosity piqued, she delicately pulled it out to reveal a hastily written note.
The ink on the parchment was slightly smudged as if it had been penned in a hurry. The words were short but intriguing: "Meet me by the Black Lake after the Quidditch match. -E.N."
Looking back at the table she was met with other Love notes, adorned with tender kiss prints, laid bare the clandestine connection that existed between him and Eleanor Nott.
Biting her lip, she simply folded the notes and placed them back underneath the book. Anger began to rise in her as she tried not to rip the notes to shreds and feed Eleanor to the giant squid.
Taking a deep breath, she continued her snooping. Opening his drawer she was met with ink and chocolate frog boxes. Moving them around she found her copy of Shakespeare's Tragedies. The book she gave to him their 5th year.
It was worn more so than when she had it in her possession, carefully opening it she traced her fingers of his annotations of "Romeo and Juliet", "Antony and Cleopatra" and so much more.
Each annotation revealed a glimpse into Orion's thoughts, a silent commentary on the timeless words of Shakespeare. He had even replied to the annotations she had previously made, the faded ink captured moments of laughter and heated discussion.
She didn't think he would read the book, but he had. The realization struck her with a mix of astonishment and a tinge of warmth.
Orion, the boy who once followed her like a lost puppy, had taken the time to delve into the pages she had gifted him. It was a small revelation, a crack in the facade of the distance he had put between them.
Closing the book gently, she couldn't ignore the subtle shift in her perspective. Taking a deep breath, Walburga set the book back in its place, deciding to confront Orion about everything.
As she looked around the dormitory, her eyes landed on a small parchment tucked beneath Orion's pillow. She reached for it, only to see Malachi Macduff's face crossed out by a red marker.
The crossed-out face of Malachi Macduff on the parchment hinted at Orion's desire for some form of retribution against the man who had bested him in battle. Carefully folding the parchment, she tucked it back beneath Orion's pillow.
The creaking of the door alerted Walburga to an incoming presence. Quickly, she stepped away from Orion's bed, her heart pounding with the awareness that she was caught in a place she shouldn't be.
A tall figure entered the room, and Walburga's eyes widened as she recognized Evan Rosier. He was freshly showered, and wearing his dress attire. His eyes flickered between her and Orion's bed, a hint of suspicion crossing his features.
Walburga quickly attempted to compose herself, but the weight of Evan's scrutiny bore down on her. "Black, what are you doing here? Come to celebrate our victory against the Hufflepuffs?" His voice was stern, and she sensed that any misstep in her response could lead to trouble.
"I am waiting for Orion to arrive." Walburga replied, her tone casual, though her nerves betrayed her.
Evan's suspicion lingered for a moment before he raised an eyebrow, "Waiting for Orion? That's new. Usually, you two are like a pair of shadows." His tone held a touch of mockery.
Walburga shot him a cold look, "People change. Now, if you don't mind, I'll wait in peace."
Evan merely shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "Suit yourself, Black. Though last I saw your lover, he was leaving the shower room to find Eleanor."
Walburga's eyes narrowed at Evan's words. The revelation stung, but she refused to let it show.
Keeping her composure, she replied with an icy edge, "Thank you for the unnecessary update, Rosier. Your insights into everyone's whereabouts are as enlightening as ever."
With that, Evan left her to her thoughts. So, she waited for that stupid boy to arrive, losing patience she laid down on his bed making herself comfortable after experiencing humiliation from Rosier.
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(A/N)
Walburga and Alphard are what Sirius and Regulus should have been at Hogwarts (crying emoji)