"It would be perfect," Adrian breathed, nodding quickly, "Brilliant actually, is he-"
His father dismissively flicked his hand, "He is aware. Also, the first step for transformation is to place a mandrake leaf within your mouth for a month."
How...had his father already researched the transformation? Had he actually investigated it as an option at some point in the past?
That...that made his doubt so much more sharp and horrid in his throat.
Adrian swallowed harshly and his heart plummeted, "A.. a month?"
Adrian shouldn't have been surprised when his father casually summoned a small leaf, similar to a fresh tea leaf. The look in his eye was devious as he drew his wand and levitated it down the table, leaving it twirling just in front of Adrian's face.
It filled him with a sense of dread, as if he was facing a jar of noxious fumes.
"Obviously, I am aware of a spell to adhere it without interruption for the duration of the ritual."
Adrian exhaled slowly through his nose, "Yes father, thank you."
"Everything will taste of rosemary, of course."
Adrian's shoulders slumped, and he slid downwards in his seat with visible gloom. "I hate Rosemary."
His father smirked viciously, "I know."
Daphne Greengrass sat in her room, tapping her quill against her lips as she once more scanned the roll of parchment she had opened and closed over and over.
It was a small thing, creased and fraying on the corners. Scratched handwriting she had carefully crossed out to replace with more refined penmanship.
She was a Greengrass, and as such she had the rightful duty to observe and evaluate all of her possible suitors, regardless of her age.
She was young, she knew that still. Yet, she'd rather have all the information in regards to her options, before coming to a hasty conclusion.
She wanted to know the dirty secrets, the serkets in the closets of her options. And if not for her, then to scrape out and hold leverage against anyone who could possibly hurt-
"Daphne?"
She smiled, lowering her quill to peer over her shoulder at her younger sister, exhausted and curious.
"Hello, Aster." She greeted happily, a small smile curling on her lips.
Astoria scowled something small, running one thin hand through her darker hair as she stumbled over to Daphne's desk, squinting at the parchment with a frown.
"That again?" She huffed, looking disgruntled yet slightly amused by the sight, "The bachelor list?"
Daphne rolled her eyes in good nature, "You'd be amazed at how pathetic your options are."
Astoria scowled, "You mean your options. I'm fine on my own."
Daphne smiled thinly, then genuinely as Astoria whined in frustration.
"Fine," She scoffed, leaning heavily on her older sister as she squinted at the names. Then she frowned, face relaxing and pinching in confusion, "Daphne, who is this one?"
Daphne didn't need to look to know which name she was pointing at- the name she had scribbled convoluted theories and facts over and over again.
"Selwyn?" Daphne asked dryly, already feeling the start of a headache, "The most insufferable male in all of Slytherin's house."
Astoria almost looked awed at how aggravated Daphne was, "Why?"
The gates were opened with such a quiet innocent question.
"He's so…" Daphne's face twisted ugly, "He's unbearable. He's arrogant, conceited, reclusive and narcissistic and and...and so...impossible!"
Astoria's face twitched slightly into a sly grin, "Sounds like someone has thought of this a lot-"
"He's the one who sent Bulstrode on fire," She snapped out sharply, voice nearing a growl.
Astoria's face paled and she smile fell quickly from her mouth, "...oh, he's the one?"
Daphne scowled and rubbed at her temple with an ugly sound, "He's slipped accidental information constantly- but it keeps contradicting itself."
Astoria frowned, "Want me to look?"
"No." Daphne snapped, her jaw nearly grinding together, "You're not going near him-"
"You don't know how to slip inside his head," Astoria protested with a pout.
"You're barely adept." Daphne snapped back, "I'm nearly positive he's an occlumens."
Astoria paused, "Why would he need to learn that?"
"So people like you don't go poking around with your grubby fingers." Daphne scoffed, snatching her quill to brush the fluffy tip in her sister's face.
The question still hung in the air, stifling and heavy between them.
Why would someone need to know Occlumancy? Especially at that age?
"What do you know about him?" Astoria asked softly, reaching out with thin fingers to twist and play with Daphne's hair, "What's his blood status? His family?"
Daphne breathed through her nose, "I don't know."
Astoria's fingers stilled a few seconds, "that's unlike you."
"It's true," Daphne admitted sour, "He's adopted, and he's not a Pureblood, or at least he was adopted by some house who has no pride or no name."
"Are you sure? Or is he hiding his name?" Astoria asked curiously, beginning the movements of a french braid, "I haven't heard of a Selwyn."
"Adopted by a not Pureblood family, he doesn't care for his name."
Astoria hummed, working her hands carefully over and over, "Are you sure? Maybe that's the reason you haven't heard of it."
....
Want to read ahead by more than 60 chapters. Then join my pa*treon now.
Link: pa*treon.com/Amelie796 (Remove the *)
Free members will get 2 chapters for free.