Chapter Text
“Reine,” Pepé calls me over to the people who had just arrived, and he was hugging. “This is my sister and her husband, and my nieces,”
“Hello Reine, I’m Zéphyrine,” I’m pulled into a hug by Zéphyrine. She had curly shoulder-length dark brown hair and big, doe-like green eyes. “Please call me Zeph,” She draws back, siding up to her husband. “And this strapping bag of muscles is Erik,” Erik was a very tall blond man with bright blue eyes. A light blush pinks his cheeks at Zeph drawl about him. The girls behind the two groan. “And these are our daughters, Henriette, and Tatiana. Henri is the oldest,” She gestures to the taller of the two girls. Henri had dark brown locks like her mother but has Erik’s eyes. “And Tati is the youngest,” Tati had light brown hair and Zeph’s eyes.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” Shyly, I smile and wave awkwardly as pepé throws an arm around my shoulder.
“You’re adorable, Reine,” Zeph comments with a grin. “Where’s Delph, Maurice, and papa?”
“In the kitchen, serving up lunch,”
“We’re just in time then,”
I observe my extended family across the table from me. Aunt Zeph was bold where Erik was quiet. A juxtaposition that, evidently, worked because they both look at each other like they hung the moon. Tati is quite shy and only spoke when spoken to. However, Henri, was a brat. No manners and her face had a permanent sneer on it. “So, Reine,” Henri drawls from her seat. Her voice was grating. “Oncle François told me you found ton amour d'âme,”
“Yes, I did,” I reply, politely.
“How?”
“Um, through school,”
“Interesting,” Henri muses, throwing her dark locks over her shoulder. “I would like to meet him,”
“That won’t be possible,”
“Why not?” Her sickly-sweet voice asks as she bats her eyelashes. I’m not falling for this act.
“Well, after Christmas, I’m staying with his family because it’s his birthday and then we’re back at school,” I explain, stoically. “And we won’t be back until the summer, so, you would be waiting half a year,”
“Shame,” Henri mutters and I narrow my eyes at her before turning away to talk to Maurice. I’m going to keep her far away from Tom. Far away.
“Sit down, Reine,” Opa requests as he locks his study door and I take an armchair by the fireplace. “We have a long and heavy talk upon us,” He sits opposite me.
“Should I leave my questions until the end?”
“Oui, ma chérie,” Opa answers. “Let’s work our way backwards to the beginning,” I nod. “As you know, mon l'amour de l'âme, my Betty, passed away when my children were young,”
“I didn’t know her name was Betty,” I murmur and Opa smiles. “And I actually didn’t know all Géroux’s had soulmates until Mama talked about Papa being her soulmate. I was very surprised,” He laughs at my put-out expression. “Continue on with Betty, Opa,”
“Yes, her name was Erzsébet Szabó,” Opa replies. “She was Hungarian. I met her during a student exchange. I visited Beauxbatons when I was a student at Durmstrang,” I didn’t know he went to Durmstrang?! “I knew she was my soulmate. We married shortly after I graduated in 1899. When she passed away, in 1910, it was like my whole world was snuffed out in an instant,”
“But you’re still here,”
“I am,” Opa agrees. “Thanks to my grandma,” I widen my eyes in surprise. His grandmother? “My father’s, Félix’s, parents were Romain Géroux and Persefoni Giannopoulos. And like many Géroux’s before and after them, they were soulmates. However, the Moirai did not like this. It wasn’t supposed to happen. Fate had been spun out of control. The Moirai did everything in their power to kill Romain Géroux and prevent them from living their lives together. Persefoni went to her grandparents for help, and they imprisoned the Moirai. Unfortunately, the prison was always only meant to be a short-term solution until they could figure out a long-term one. They never did. Over time, the prison has begun to deteriorate and crack. My fear, now, is that one of them has managed to escape and wants revenge. Atropos, I believe,”
“She cuts the thread,”
“Exactly,”
“But why me, Opa? Out of all of our family? I mean, all those Hogwarts students who were killed,”
“I’m not sure but I have a working theory that to prevent you and Tom from existing together, she’s rewriting the new timeline to match the original one,” I nod in agreement at his theory. It was a good one.
“I have another question, Opa,” Opa waves his hand for me to continue. “Who is Persefoni Giannopoulos?”
“She was born a very long time ago to parents, Giannis and Melinoë,” Opa answers. “They were soulmates too,”
“And her grandparents? Who had the ability to lock away the Moirai? Who are they?”
“They’ve had many names over the years, but we would refer to them as Hades and Kore, better known by legend as Persephone,” My mouth hangs open in shock. I’m absolutely speechless. “You look like me when I was told,”
“But Hades…isn’t he meant to be a bad man? Who abducted Kore? Why would they help?”
“Lies spread by Zeus,” Opa replies. “Zeus is no better than Hades. If anything, he’s worse,”
“What is the truth?”
“As you know, Hades and Zeus are brothers, and that Zeus married Demeter,” Opa begins to tell. “Before Zeus married Demeter, Demeter had a relationship with a human man and she bore him a daughter, Kore. By this point, Hera, his first wife, was dead and Zeus, obsessed by Demeter, killed Kore’s father, and forced Demeter to marry him after threatening Kore. Zeus was an abusive husband and step-father. Kore turned into a beautiful woman and Zeus noticed. He forced himself on her. After Zeus raped Kore, she fled Olympus. Hades was visiting the city of Taernarum - a door to the underworld was near Taernarum in a cave. On his way to the cave, he found Kore crying by a river. He had never seen someone so upset. And moreover, he realised that it was his soulmate and was deeply anguished that she was crying. He offered to take her far away, to the underworld, and she agreed. Zeus spread the lie to Demeter and others that Hades abducted Kore. Demeter was furious and tried to get Kore to come back, but Kore sent her a letter, explaining the truth of what happened. Demeter murdered Zeus in revenge. He now spends an eternity, chained and alone, in the deepest pits of the underworld as a restless soul,”
“That’s a lot to take in,” I admit with a grimace. “How did Persefoni help you?”
“There is a place in the underworld for Hades’ and Kore’s descendants and their families. A place of eternal happiness,” Opa explains. “My grandma allows me to visit my Betty twice a year after asking Hades and Kore’s permission. Once on our wedding anniversary and once on another day. It’s how I haven’t been driven to death,”
“Would you be willing to ask Persefoni how she imprisoned the Moirai the first time? Or a way I could protect people from them?”
“I’ve already sent a letter,” Opa answers. “I will inform you as soon as I receive a reply. In the meantime, I think we should re-join our family in celebration,”
“Okay, Opa,” Taking his outstretched arm as we walk back to the rest of the family.
“Are you alright, Tati?” I ask, sitting beside her on the beach. She was away from us and just watching the sea.
“Yeah, I’m okay,”
“Tati…” I trail off, deciding to squeeze her shoulder in solidarity. “I know we just met but you are my cousin. If there is anything you need help with, you only need ask,” She stays silent for a while before confessing.
“It’s Henri,”
“Your bratty sister. Why am I not surprise?”
“You already picked up on that?”
“Yep. What did she do?”
“It’s mon âme d'amour,”
“You found your soulmate already?” She nods. “The problem is, he’s in Henri’s year. And she has the biggest crush on him,”
“Ah, but he isn’t her soulmate,” I shrug. “It’s a puppy love crush,” Tati shakes her head.
“No, she has talked constantly about this boy since she was 9, and she is now 16. She is in love with him,”
“Does he love her back?” I ask and Tati shakes her head.
“No,” Tati answers. “I didn’t really meet him until this year, and I didn’t feel the pull before because I was too young. He felt the pull that all soulmates do but didn’t know why. And I told him what was happening and what we were to each other. And we’ve been dating in secret ever since. Henri has no idea,”
“Well, Henri is going to have to get over it,” I state, looking around to make sure no one’s watch. “He is your soulmate. Not hers. Eventually, she will find hers and lose interest in him all together,”
“She isn’t a born Géroux,” I widen my eyes in surprise. “Biologically, she’s my dad’s half-sister. She was born when he was 19. When he was 21, their dad and her mother passed away. With no one else to take her, my dad and my mum adopted her, and raised her as their own. The likelihood of her ever finding her soulmate is slim to none,”
“That complicates things,”
“Yeah,”
“Have you told your parents?”
“I don’t feel comfortably telling them,” Tati admits. “They always seem to sweep whatever she does under the rug,”
“Opa then,”
“You want me to tell grandpa?”
“He’s the head of the house,” I reply. “He can get shit done for you. And they’ll actually listen to him,”
“Okay, we tell grandpa,” Tati agrees.
“Tell me what, young ladies?” Opa voices from behind, making us jump.
“You have a habit of sneaking up on people,” I accuse.
“Not my fault that no one can hear me,” Opa waves off my accusation and sits beside us. “What do you want to tell me?” We remain silent.
“Tati,” I mutter, giving her a look. She sighs and begins to explain everything to Opa. To his credit, he sits and listens quietly.
“I feared this is what was happening with your sister,” Grandpa muses. “For the last few years, I’ve noticed a change in her behaviour. I will be having a word with your parents. And then we will be having a discussion with your sister too. We will reveal who your soulmate is during the discussion. I will request that you and the rest stay another day while François, Delph, Maurice, and Reine head home. This will give us time to talk as a family,”
“Merci, grandpa,”
“You never need to thank me, ma chérie,”
Slowly, I wander off towards the other end of the beach, making sure to be careful with my boot brace as I climb the crudely cut staircase in the rock to get to the top. I settle down at the top and pull out my mirror, opening it. “Tom? Are you there?”
“I’m here, sweetheart,” Tom replies after a few moments. “How’s Greece?”
“The views are stunning, мой лев,” I smile as I look at him. He was lying in bed with his shirt off. “Like you,” I see his cheeks pink.
“Feeling flirty?”
“You never did fuck me to sleep like you promised, daddy,” I smirk at his face.
“Baby,” Tom growls, warningly.
“But you promised,” I fake whined with a pout.
“I’ll fuck you the whole night when you visit but, first, I’m making your arse a bright red,” Now, it was my turn to blush. “Would you like that, Котенок?”
“Yes, please,” I reply with no hesitation and Tom grins.
“You know, sometimes I think you do it on purpose to rile me up,”
“I do,” Tom laughs at my confession.
“You could just ask, sweetheart,” Tom teases me, fondly.
“Where’s the fun in that, daddy?” Again, Tom laughs and I snicker too. “How’s home?”
“I’ve missed working in the fields,” Tom admits. “But I miss you more,”
“I miss you too,” I return with a sweet smile.
“C’EST NOËL!” Maurice exclaims, jumping on my bed, waking me up.
“Quelle heure est-il?” I ask, throwing a pillow at him.
“6am,”
“Tu viens de me réveiller à 6h du matin?” Maurice shrugs at my question.
“Tout le monde est debout,” Maurice responses, pulling me out of the bed. I grumble as I put my slippers on and follow him down the stairs. Tati and Henri were already sitting by the tree while the adults were on various seats with cups of coffee and tea.
“It’s too early,” I mumble, plonking down on the floor next to Maurice. The adults laugh at my grumpiness.
I stack my gifts in a neat pile on my drawers. From my parents, I got books, clothes, and a pair of stunning emerald leaf-shaped drop-down earrings; Maurice gave me a book; Zeph, Erik and the girls got me a variety of Belgian Chocolates; and Opa gave me a Géroux crest pendant embedded with diamonds.
After stacking them, I slip on my boots and cloak, and put the two-way mirror in my pocket. Quietly and hastily, I walk out the house and take the short walk to the beach. I sit on the sand and get out my mirror. Tom was already there. “Merry Christmas, мой лев,”
“Merry Christmas, baby,” He croons. “Are you enjoying Christmas?”
“Yeah, I got some good gifts, what about you?”
“I am, but I never celebrated Christmas before,”
“Did you not celebrate at Wool’s?”
“Not quite,” Tom answers, with a far-off look. “Mostly, we lived off donations,”
“Well, from now on, you’re going to have the best Christmases ever,”
“It’s better seeing you,” I blush at his compliment as he cockily grins at my reaction.
“Want to see my Christmas dress? I’m very surprised at mama’s choice,”
“Please,” I walk over to the rocks and place it on waist length rock before stepping back, giving him a slow twirl. “You look stunning, sweetheart,” I move forward and grab the mirror. “Who’s that?” Looking behind me, I see Henri storming down the beach towards me.
“Bratty cousin,” I reply. “Talk tonight? Let’s say 9?”
“Sure,” Tom agrees. “I love you,”
“I love you too, honey,” I close the compact and place it back in my cloak. Just in time because Henri arrived.
“What are you doing?” Her tone.
“Lose the attitude and stop demanding things,” I reply.
“You think you can just come in and disrupt our family,”
“Hardly disrupting, considering the only person who has a problem with me is you,” I return, stonily. “Anyway, I am family,”
“Maurice’s granddaughter from the future,” She sneers. “And everyone just willingly goes along with it,”
“I already subjected myself to multiple blood tests to make sure I’m a Géroux,” I retort. “Not to mention, I’m a Metamorphmagus. Tends to be an inherited trait in our family,”
“Everyone fawns over you like you’re perfect,”
“Not perfect,” I reply. “And no one fawns over me, you’re jealous for no reason,”
“I’m not jealous,” She snaps.
“Sure, I believe that,”
“I don’t like you,”
“I gathered that,”
“And I want you gone,”
“Henriette, I’m not going anywhere,” I retort with a frown. “Even if I could – which I can’t – I wouldn’t. My soulmate is here. Plus, after all they’ve done for me, I consider my mama and papa, my parents just as much as my actual mama and papa,”
“If you can go back in time, you can go forward in time,”
“Did you not listen to a word I said?” I ask, irritated. “It is not possible. And I don’t want to leave,”
“I want you gone!”
“It’s like talking to a brick wall,” I mutter. “I really hope you mature soon,”
“I am mature,”
“No, you’re not,” I argue, exasperated. “From what I’ve seen since I met you, you are narcissistic, spoiled beyond belief and just plain mean to everyone around you. How do ANY of these traits show maturity?”
“And what were you doing at age 16?”
“Preparing for the worst,” I told her, bluntly. She needs a reality check. “Leading up to me travelling here, for that previous year, the Wizarding World was at War. The person who took over the Wizarding World was a very bad person. Far worse than Grindelwald. Every day he killed countless muggle-borns and muggles alike. I was a part of the forces trying to stop him, we had to go on the run as fugitives because of it. I watched my entire family and friends die at the hands of dark wizards and witches. Everyone fell, bar a few. That’s why I was sent to the back to stop it happening. And trust me, I have. But you, standing there, have the audacity with that nasty attitude to not be grateful for everything you have? And not to have gone through hardships that most people would cower at? Honestly, I’m damn speechless at it,” I finish and walk past her, leaving her there with her mouth gaping and eyes wide. Maybe that was the reality check she needed.
I chew the smoked salmon blinis as I use the oven mitts to get the gratin dauphinois to the table middle. We started with a delicious Apéro and starter – smoked salmon on blinis and foie gras on pain d’épices. Opa, Mamé, Zeph and I had helped cook the Christmas dinner. We cooked the turkey with chestnut stuffing; gratin dauphinois; green bean almondine; ratatouille; glazed carrots; and garlic mushrooms and peas. My mouth was watering just thinking about all the food.
Once the food was out on the table, we all sit down as Opa stands up, raising his champagne flute. We all raise ours as well. The adults had normal champagne, I had a mimosa, and the kids had champomy – a French sparkling apple juice. I smirk at Henri’s jealous look at my drink. Not my fault I’m an adult in the wizarding world. And I guess that reality check didn’t check her at all. “Joyeux Noël!” We cheer and take a sip of our drinks. “I won’t do a speech, but I am very happy to be around my family again, old and new,” I smile as he winks at me. “François, can you pass me the carving knives, please?”
Opa carves up the turkey with expertise and haste, giving everyone a few slices. I pile the gratin dauphinois; ratatouille; glazed carrots; and garlic mushrooms and peas before pouring on the rich gravy across the plate. “Bon appétit,” Opa utters, signalling us to eat. This is going to taste delicious.
“I can’t eat another bite,” Zeph mutters, slouching back into her chair.
“Not even for your papa’s homemade Bûche de Noël?”
“I can’t resist your desserts, papa,” Zeph whines.
After changing into my pyjamas, I switch off my light and flop onto my bed, burying myself under the covers. I grab my mirror and look on the other side. Hmm, he’s not here yet…Should I? I place the mirror down and turn around, flopping onto my stomach. I push my ass into the air and bite my lip as I lower my hand down my body. Circling my clit with two fingers, my sigh of pleasure is muffled by my pillow. I drag the fingers from my clit into my slick pussy, thumbing at my clit.
It took a lot longer to reach my peak than it would with Tom, but I was satiated, nevertheless. I fall limp on my stomach and reach for my blankets, pulling them back over me. They had fallen off during my little session. “Enjoy yourself, Детка?” Tom voices from the other side.
“Hi,” I murmur, blushing wildly. “Yeah, not as good as your fingers though,”
“You’ll have daddy’s fingers soon, sweetheart, and a few other things too,” He croons. “Just a few more days,”
“Few more days,” I agree, miserably. “I love you, мой лев,”
“I love you too, Душа моя,” He coos. “Now, tell me about your day, мой ангел,” We quietly talk to each other until we fall asleep.
“I need to pick up Tom’s birthday present from Λεωφόρος Εκάτης today, remember?” I remind Mamé as I wash my breakfast plate.
“I’m not sure, ma chérie. Especially with your leg…” I could see she was frowning in worry.
“We’re only being cautious about my leg,” I point out, trying to persuade her. “I promise if I need to sit down, I will. And if it gets too much, I’ll apparate straight back here,”
“Very well,” Mamé agrees with a pinched expression. “But if you’re not back within 2 hours, I will presume the worse,”
“It shouldn’t take too long,” I reassure, squeezing her hand gently. I bound up the stairs to my room and dress in my slacks and blouse, tucking it into the waistband. After lacing up my boots and slipping on my cloak, I grab my wand and walk downstairs to Mamé. “Mama, I’m going now,” She nod.
“Fais attention, ma chérie,” Mamé cautions, and I kiss her cheek.
“Bien sûr, mama,” I agree. “I’ll be back soon,” I apparate to the entrance of Λεωφόρος Εκάτης which is shielded to as old ruins to muggles. I step through the shield and nod at the guard who was standing at the entrance. It looked a more refined version of Diagon Alley. I turn to the guard. “Do you speak English at all?” The guard nods.
“Yes, ma’am,”
“Do you know where Triple Moon Books is?” I ask.
“Go to the end of the Avenue,” The guard answers. “Take a right into the darkened close, and it should be a few shops in on the left,”
“Thank you,” I thank him before following his instructions. I put my hood up to obscure my face. The store on the outside looked decrepit but I enter. An older looking woman with green robes was behind the counter I walk up too. “Γεια σας, προτιμάτε αγγλικά ή ελληνικά?”
“English is best,” The witch replies.
“I’m here to collect a scroll I purchased a few weeks ago,” I explain. “My surname is Géroux,” The witch’s face shows recognition.
“I remember,” The witch murmurs, looking under the counter. “One of the scrolls from the library of Alexandria before it perished,” She produces a box and places it on the counter. “It’s been returned many times to this shop. No one’s been able to translate it. And due to the protections placed on this document by the person who wrote it, you can’t use magic to translate it either. It’s been waiting for years for a new owner,”
“My partner will love it,” I reply with a wide smile. “If he can’t crack it, no one can,”
“I wish you luck,” I put the box in my hidden pocket on my robe before walking towards the front door. I notice a very old woman, in the corner of the shop, drop the book she was skimming.
“Here,” I walk over and pick up the book for her. I go to hand it to her when she grabs my upper arm tightly. The hand felt like molten lava on my skin. Suddenly, her bowed head looks up towards me. Her eyes glowing an unnatural white and her grip irremovable from my arm. “Let go,”
“Ερχονται,” She warns, her burning grasp tightens even more as I struggle. “Η ιστορία θα επαναληφθεί για εσάς. Ένας θα σε προδώσει ξανά,” She pulls me in close. “Θα πεθάνετε,” I’ve had enough.
“Expulso!” I curse her, throwing her away into a bookshelf that breaks on impact before I fast walk out of the store. Stupid boot. I make it back to Λεωφόρος Εκάτης and slow down. Fuck that woman. I limp along the avenue and stop outside a pet shop. Hmm, I do miss my cat. I walk into the shop and begin to look around when I spot a few reptiles to the side, including a very tiny snake called Nikos. “Excuse me,” I call out to the man behind the counter who approaches me. “What species of snake is he? And what’s his story?”
“A garter snake,” The man explains. “My friend passed these on to me because he couldn’t sell him. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend a snake for a girl like you. We have some lovely rabbits and cats over on the other side of the store,”
“While I do want a cat,” I begin, gritting my teeth at his attitude. “I’ll also take the snake,”
“I really don’t think-,”
“My friend is a Parselmouth,” I retort. “I’m sure he’ll understand him better than most. Anyway, isn’t it more of a profit for you?” He blushes red in embarrassment.
“Of course. I’ll secure him for you and disassemble his habitat while you have a look at the cats,”
“Appreciated,” I snap before striding to the other side of the store. I look for a few minutes as well as calm down before he approaches again.
“Do you like the look of any of them?”
“Why is that one all by itself and so small?” I answer his question with another question. He sighs.
“She’s the runt of the litter and she’s missing an eye,” On closer inspection, I could see one of her bright blue eyes was missing, but she was still the cutest, fluffiest black kitten I’d ever seen. “She’s also part kneazle which aren’t favour by many people,”
“I’ll take that one,” I point to the “runt”.
“Very well, ma’am,” The man replies, clearly exasperated by me. “I’ll secure her while my colleague at the counter attends to you,” I snort at his attitude but head over to the counter where a younger man was waiting for me.
“Hello, I’d like to pay for everything?” The man leers at my greeting.
“Of course,” He winks at me. It takes everything in me to not scrunch my nose in disgust. “The snake and his belongings altogether is 47 galleons, and the kitten-,”
“I would also like those toys,” I point at a couple of the toys to the side. “And food for the kitten,”
“Of course,” The man replies, smoothly – despite the fact I interrupted him. “With the kitten and additional items, that comes to 105 galleons,”
“I would like to charge it to my families vault,”
“What’s the account number?” I rattle off the number that Opa gave me before I left. “That’s all gone through. Would you like me to shrink these items for you?”
“Yes, please,” He shrinks them, and I place them all in my bag. The older man places the cat carrier onto the counter. “I’ll carry that one,”
“Yes, ma’am,” The younger man returns. “Have a nice day,”
“You too,” I happily leave the store behind and walk past the guard, giving him a wave. After reaching the muggle ruins again, I quickly apparate back to my room at the estate. I get everything out of my bag and the parcel out of my cloak. I put Nikos on my drawer and coo at him, petting his head with a finger. He was so tiny. “Hi Nikos, I’m Reine. I can’t understand you but my boyfriend, Tom, will because he’s a Parselmouth. And I know he’ll look after you so well, you’ll want for nothing. I have food for you and stuff but I’m going to wait until we get back to Mojácar after lunch. In the meantime, I have to tell my parents I got a kitten without getting permission. Oops,” I slide the top back on the habitat. We’re gonna have to figure out a way he can roam and not be in a glass prison all day. I examine my arm in the mirror and grimace at the deep red burn mark in the shape of her hand on my arm. How the hell do I hide this? Rolling down my sleeve again, I open the door to the cat carrier and bring out the kitten, cradling her to my chest and hiding her with my cloak before walking down the stairs. Mamé and Pepé were sitting with Opa, Aunt Zeph and Uncle Erik. Great, I have an audience. “Hi mama, papa, I’m back,” I turn to the rest. “Morning opa, Aunt Zeph, Uncle Erik,”
“Where have you been, Reine?” Zeph asks.
“Λεωφόρος Εκάτης,”
“Did you buy anything interesting there?” Opa questions.
“Tom’s presents amongst other things which is what I wanted to talk to you about,” I admit, looking at Mamé and Pepé who give me confused looks. “I want to start off by saying that I did not intend to get myself anything. It was only meant to visit one shop then head back here,”
“What did you buy?” Pepé asks, frowning. Before I could say anything, a small meow sounded from within my cloak. Silence follows before Mamé speaks up.
“Was that a meow?” I nod and unravel my cloak from around the kitten. “Reine…” I wince at her use of my name rather than a term of endearment. “Do you understand the responsibility you now have?”
“Yes, mama,” I answer, hastily. “I had a cat when I-I was…was…” I miss my cat from back home.
“Then I trust you can look after the kitten,”
“Yes, mama,”
“Good, ma chérie,” I relax at the familiar endearment. “Bring her closer and let me see,” I put the kitten into Mamé arms who strokes her. “What’s her name?”
“I was thinking Nyx? After the goddess of night,”
“That’s a lovely name,” Zeph coos as she strokes Nyx as well.
“I also have a present for Tom upstairs in the form of a snake,” All of them turn to me with wide eyes. “Just so you didn’t think I bought another pet,”
“How big?”
“Oh, it’s tiny,” I reassure. “It’s still a baby and it’s a garter snake, so, it won’t grow too big either,”
“Good, I hate snakes,” Zeph shivers in fear and I giggle.
“Can I go back to cuddling Nyx now?” I ask Mamé, pouting, and she pouts back.
“Fine, but I want her back later,” Mamé bargains and I laugh.
“Sure,” I agree, grinning, and scooping Nyx up into my arms, heading back upstairs. I shut my door and place Nyx on the bed who is perfectly content to curl up where she is and sleep. I pack my suitcase up again, leaving only the snake and kitten out before laying down on the bed. Nyx stretches and trots over to me, settling on my stomach. I open my mirror to see if I can get Tom on the other end.
“Morning, sweetheart,” Tom greets with a smile as I appear.
“Morning, honey,” I return, grinning. “So, I did something,”
“Did something, huh?”
“I bought something,” I clarify.
“What did you buy?” Tom asks, curious. I turn the mirror to the fluff ball laying on my stomach. “That’s a kitten,”
“Yeah, she’s named Nyx,”
“Christmas present for yourself?” Tom jokes.
“I had one when I was, well, at Hogwarts the first time,” I sniffle slightly. “She was a Siamese cat,”
“What was her name?”
“Chiara,”
“Italian for bright or clear?”
“Yeah, I thought it was fitting because her eyes were a light grey that looked like her eyes were clear,” I clear my throat and turn the mirror round. “Anyway, something else happened,”
“Something else happened?” Tom enquires with a frown.
“Um, well, yes, but I’m okay?”
“That sounds like a question not a statement,”
“I was, uh, I don’t really know how to explain it?”
“Start at the beginning,” Tom suggests.
“Okay, well, I was leaving a bookstore when I noticed an old woman had dropped her book. She looked like she was in her 80s, so, I picked it up for her. She grabbed my arm and started telling me stuff in Greek,”
“What did she say?”
“They’re coming. History will repeat itself. One will betray you again. And that I, uh…”
“That you will?”
“That I will die,” Tom is silent on the other end. “Tom?”
“I promise that you will not die, understand, Детка?” I stare at Tom’s expression with wide eyes.
“You sound a little dark there, mon amour…” I trail off, unsure what to say.
“Душа моя, you make me a better person,” Tom admits, gently. “The darkness I feel is still there and always will be. I know when you’re threatened, it seeps out,”
“It’s okay, мой лев,” I reassure him. “We all have a darkness inside of us, whether it’s smaller or bigger than others. Just know that I’ll always be here for you. You’ll always have my love,”
“I love you too,” Tom returns with a smile.
“You may have to contend for a space in my bed ow though,” I joke. “You’ll have to fight this one,”
“I think I’ll win,”
“Are you sure? She’s a pretty cute kitty,”
“That kitten can’t do what I can do,” Tom flirts.
“And what can you do?” I tease him with a smirk.
“Making you cum on my fingers, tongue, and cock,” I lick my lips. “Something that I’ll happily demonstrate soon enough,”
“The 30th seems so long away,”
“It’s only a few days, babygirl,”
“I miss you,”
“I miss you too, mon petit loup,”
After hugging Zeph, Erik, and Tati – Henri was sulking in her room – I hug Opa. “Thank you for everything, opa,”
“It was lovely getting to know you,” He draws back from me.
“You too, opa,”
“And I’ll send you the letter when it arrives,”
“Thank you,”
“Anything for my grandchildren,”
After arriving back at home, the days passed slowly until the day before Tom’s birthday – the start of my visit to Riddle Manor. “Do you have everything, ma chérie?” I nod at Mamé. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, mama,” I affirm. “I have my Hogwarts stuff, Nyx, and Tom’s presents. I have no idea how I’m going to hide Nikos from him, but I’ll try,” I pet the snake hiding in my cloak. I’ll put him back in his habitat later. “I’m ready,”
“Not yet,” Mamé counters, bringing out a dress bag and a small bag from behind her.
“What are those for?”
“Mary sent me a message a few days ago to say that they’re having masquerade ball for both Tom’s birthday and a celebration of the New Year. I got something for you,” I go to look under it, but she pulls it away. “You’re not allowed to look at it until you need to get ready for the ball,”
“But mama,” I begin to protest.
“Promise me, ma chérie,”
“Fine, I promise, mama,” I agree, reluctantly. Pepé helps bring my suitcase down while I hold the dress bag and the cat carrier. I put Nikos in my suitcase temporarily – in a breathable bubble. I hug Mamé, Pepé, and Maurice before stepping into the fireplace. “Riddle Manor,” I throw the floo powder down and the flames engulf me. Tom’s grinning face was on the other end. Immediately, I’m in his arm and clinging to him. “Hi,” My greeting muffled by his shoulder.
“Morning, sweetheart,” He draws back to look at me, tracing my cheekbone with his thumb. “You’re beautiful, I’m so lucky,”
“I’m the lucky one, mon amour,” I protest. He’s everything I could ever want! Loyal, attentive, sexy.
“No, I am, Детка,” Tom disagrees, pecking my forehead and picking up my suitcase for me. “The others are in the next room. They were letting us have a private moment,” He links his hand with mine, leading me into the sitting room from the dining room. Tom’s grandfather was reading a newspaper; Mary and Tom’s father were reading books. All three look up with smiles.
“Morning,”
“Reine,” Mary is first upon me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “It’s good to see you,” She glances down at my cat carrier. “And who’s this little one?”
“My new kitten, Nyx,” I explain, taking Nyx out of the cat carrier, and hugging her in my arms. “Would you like to hold her?” I hand over a purring Nyx to Mary. Nyx loved attention. I’m greeted with a kiss on my cheek from the men.
“You won’t get her back,” Tom’s grandfather jokes, gesturing at Nyx in a cooing Mary’s arms.
“I fear I won’t either,” I return with a mirthful grin. Tom and his father roll their eyes at our shenanigans.
“Let Tom and I show you your room, Reine,” Tom’s father offers, leading me out of the room. Tom follows behind with my suitcase. We walk up the first flight of stairs - the first floor had his grandparent’s room with ensuite, and his father’s room with ensuite. The second floor had Tom’s bedroom with an ensuite and a balcony, and two guest bedrooms with an ensuite each, with the front guest bedroom having a balcony as well. “Which bedroom would you like?”
“The one with the balcony?” I suggest with another grin which he returns.
“I thought you would choose that one,” Once arriving on the second floor, he opens the door to a calming pastel yellow walls and pine furnished bedroom. There was a double bed, wardrobe, and desk in pine. There were glass doors leading out to the balcony with flowy opaque curtains. Tom places my suitcase down on the soft, fluffy carpet.
“Wow, this room is lovely,” I approach the closed doors and look outside. The view was stunning. Fields of green and yellow hues for as far as I can see.
“I’m glad,” Tom’s father replies with a smile. “I’ll leave you two alone to unpack your suitcase, keep the door open,” Tom’s father turns around in the doorway. “And dinner is in half an hour,”
“Okay, dad, we’ll be down in half an hour,” Tom replies and he nods before heading downstairs. I walk over to the wardrobe and place the dress bag in it before turning around to face Tom when I’m in his arms. I hum in delight and bury my nose in his neck, breathing in his wonderful smell. There was a hint of cinnamon, like there normally was, but an unfamiliar lemony-woodsy smell which was addicting. “Are you sniffing me?”
“Smell good,” I mumble. “Normally, you smell like cinnamon but at the moment you smell like cinnamon and this lemony-woodsy smell,”
"Oh, this morning, I planted my grandma’s new magnolia denudate in the garden after I finished in the fields,” I draw back to give him a confused look. “It’s a lily tree, it grows magnolias. Well, that’s what grandma told me. I also planted her new cherry blossom tree a few days ago,”
“Can we go and see them later?”
“Of course, baby,” He strokes my arm, his fingers sending pleasant tingles through my body, until he, accidentally, strokes over the handprint, causing me to flinch. “Sweetheart? Are you hurt?” I look at him with wide eyes, my mouth dry, unable to talk. Willingly, I let him push the cardigan off my shoulder and down my arm. He looks at the healing burnt handprint on my arm with anger. “Who did this to you? Was it the witch who attacked you?” I nod, silently, staring holes into the ground. “Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?”
“It didn’t seem that important considering her words,”
“Didn’t seem important?” Tom asks in disbelief, lifting my chin up to look into his eyes. “She hurt you. Of course it’s important,” I swallow the lump in my throat at seeing the hurt look in his face. Oh, god, I fucked up.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Words just begin to bubble out of my mouth with anxiety. “Please, don’t leave me, please, please-,” My words are cut off by Tom taking my face between his hands and kissing me. He pulls back and I fall silent.
“I’m not going to leave you, Душа моя,” Tom soothes. “You can’t do anything that would make me leave you – so, get those bad thoughts out of your head,” He holds my hands to his lips, kissing each knuckle. “But I do wish you told me at the time,”
“I’m sorry,” I apologise, feeling guilty.
“You are forgiven, Детка,” He coos, pecking my lips, and bringing his hand down to my butt. “But, later, I’m making this red, sweet girl,”
“Yes, daddy,” I mewl as he caresses my behind.
“Good girl,”