539Take It Easy
Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you
Relax, Take it Easy - Mika
Victoria glanced at the parchment with a smirk; it would seem that her mild flirtation with Sirius Black had taken a new turn. Now, she had not intended for this to happen, but she would not look a gift abraxan in the mouth, so to speak, and she had rather grown fond of the overgrown puppy that was Sirius Black.
...I was a lost man, afloat in a sea of regret, anger, and grief with no way to guide me back to the shores of sanity. You, my darling (if I could be so bold as to call you so intimately) are my North Star, guiding me through this haze. You've made me become a better man.
Please accept these scales as a token of my affection. I know that jewels, flowers, hair combs, and the like are more customary courting gifts, but you - my darling Victoria - would eschew such paltry baubles. The scales were produced by the finest potioneering supplier this side of Europe, and I hope they serve you well in your daily life.
I remain, as always,
Your devoted servant.
Her smirk softened into a fond smile as she eyed the wrapped parcel. Sirius had certainly proved that he understood and accepted her desires and ambition. However, could she imagine a future with the prodigal son of the House of Black?
Well, there was only one way to know for certain.
With this decision, Victoria took a delicate sip of her cooling coffee and summoned some parchment to her hand. Sirius Black may (one day) become her husband but she would be damned if she didn't make him earn that title.
Ron Weasley was having a great start to his 6th year at Hogwarts. He could honestly say that this past month was probably the best experience of the previous five years combined. After all, he'd spent so long trying to break away from his brothers - trying to stand out and earn the attention and approval of his parents - that he'd never spent time getting to know them.
Sure, he knew the basics - Bill was a curse breaker, Charlie a dragon keeper, Percy a ministry wannabe, and Fred and George pranksters - but he never knew them . When he thought of his brothers, they were just outlines with no substance.
He had never once thought to ask them about their wants and desires, their feelings, their thoughts. He never knew that Bill left the Burrow at the earliest chance possible to earn a wage and send money home to their parents. Or that Charlie fled to Romania because their parents couldn't accept that he was bisexual. He never once thought to question why Percy strived so hard to be perfect. He too was trying to earn the attention of their parents, however, when he realised that would never happen, he instead focused all his attention on earning perfect N.E.W.T.S to spite the family. And he never realised the twins hid their genius by acting like clowns because they had seen how Percy's talents went ignored by their parents.
He also never noticed that they had been courting Granger since before they even graduated!
And Ginny? He probably knew Ginny better than his parents combined. She was closest to him in age and they were each other's playmates when they were young but when he befriended Robert Potter Ginny was no longer his only playmate or his first choice. Despite this, they would still talk together most nights - sneaking into each other's rooms to chat and ignore the fact they could hear mum and dad bickering in the next room.
Looking back, Rone thought this was probably why he took her friendship with Snape so badly. He'd spent so long listening to the adults in his life badmouthing Slytherins, and had already spent a year watching them pull underhanded moves in Quidditch and spouting prejudiced rhetoric in shadowed corners. He couldn't understand how Ginny could befriend a Slytherin, who she laughed and shared her secrets with. Until that point, he had been the only person she spoke to and confided in, and he didn't like his place being usurped.
And then she ended the blood feud.
The feud that had lasted centuries.
And whilst Ron honestly couldn't tell you exactly how it started, he always assumed it had been the Malfoys' fault. He knew that Great Grandfather was accused of something but it would have been just like Malfoys to falsely accuse someone. They were literally named for their duplicitous nature after all!
Then Ginny shattered his illusions with her demonstration. He knew his parents weren't perfect, knew that the Weasleys were considered blood traitors, but he was proud to be a Weasley, and Ginny made him doubt it.
He thinks he hated her for it.
So, he doubled down on his friendship with Robert - after all, the Boy-Who-Lived was an excellent friend to have - and gladly went along with Robert's schemes. He even suggested a few himself and threw his weight around like Billy Big Balls.
Until…
Well, Ron couldn't say exactly when he started doubting that the sun shone out of Robert's arse. It probably came on gradually, but watching him grow more and more obsessed with Lestrange was certainly a cincher. Because as misguided and ignorant as Ron was, he knew you didn't send sexual and threatening letters to others. He knew men weren't meant to pace the room, spitting threats and whispering endearments, and muttering about how perfect Lestrange's eyes are.
It made Ron really think for once about right and wrong. It made him reflect on his past behaviour and find himself lacking.
Perhaps, he should thank Robert for inadvertently forcing him to grow up…
He took a glance at the slumbering redhead in the adjacent bed and thought again. He couldn't be bothered listening to the Potter derailing another conversation so he could ramble about the soulful eyes of Lestrange.
Ron glanced away from the boy who was once his friend.
"Oi, Benjamin," he called out to their new vampiric housemate, who was lounging on his own bed. "Do you wanna go to the Great Hall with me?"
"Sure. Why not?"
"First things first f we're gonna get on," Ron declared suddenly, staring down at the still-seated student with a rather intense look on his face. "You better agree that the Cannons are the best team."
A quick flash of a grin graced Benjamin's face. "Of course! I reckon they need to kick Gudgeon though - he tried to catch a bumble bee at the last match!"
…Severus reported that you have a werewolf and half-goblin added to your dormitory. Do let me know how they are they settling into Hogwarts, and inform Severus of any instances where other students display their xenophobic prejudice.
It goes unneeded, but I expect you to show our new students how proper wixen treat their peers…
Samael glanced up from his letter to cast an assessing gaze over the new additions to the Snake Pit. It certainly looked as if they had assimilated well and he did not recall witnessing any altercations in the Common room, nor hearing of any disputes in the dormitories. For all intents and purposes, the new Slytherins seem to have been accepted wholeheartedly.
Glancing at the other Houses though, he was disappointed to see their narrow-minded actions at work. The Hufflepuff table showed, perhaps unsurprisingly, the most acceptance but the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables showed that segregation was at play. Although, Samael hypothesised the motives of the Eagles were different from those of the Lions.
Once the waves have settled, I anticipate my campaign will receive additional support from those parties that are hesitant regarding my recent maneuvers. Very soon, Samael, you may be addressing me as Minister Gaunt-Black.
Regulus insists I pass his regards along to both yourself and the little Malfoy. How is he faring? Suitably well I hope.
Affectionately,
Marvolo
Samael grit his teeth at his brother's words. He could almost envisage Marvolo's smirk as he wrote that section. How dare he taunt Draco when he was the one who settled an obviously impossible task on his shoulders and then magically vowed him to keep silent about it? Oh, he was definitely going to have words with his brother when he next saw him in person. The curses he wanted to use would be impossible to convey in a letter.
Nb, I discovered an obscure potion whilst decoding a rather esoteric Sumatrian tome. Judging from the ingredients, I theorise it is a healing potion that has been lost to the ages. Narcissa will brew a batch, but we remain hopeful.