Nymphadora was not expecting Gemma to grab her hand and make an announcement in the salon. Many would never share their day, glory, and grace with others, but she did not seem to care about such things. Soon, congratulations poured in, and everyone was pleasantly surprised.
Professor Montclair had never taken an Apprentice before. Never. Nymphadora was the first, and her papers had been approved by the Ministry as well, allowing her to remain at Hogwarts as Victoire Montclair's Apprentice and Assistant.
Her results in her N.E.W.T.s were not merely good. They were more brilliant than Damien's.
She had secured Outstanding in Astronomy, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Healing, Herbology, Potions, and Transfiguration. Those were the seven subjects she had taken, and she had excelled in them all.
Importantly, she had already been recruited by the Auror Office, as she had always dreamed, but she would only become a full-fledged Auror after completing her Apprenticeship and undertaking the final Assessment Examination.
Professor Montclair, a former decorated Auror herself, was going to train her to the best of her abilities. Nymphadora was going to assist her in her patrols around the school and its grounds and in managing the Duelling Cups, taking some burden off her shoulders. She was also going to study Magical Jurisprudence under Professor Fairwind.
Two years later, in the summer of 1993, she would enter Field Duty and Assessment under a decorated, serving British Auror, and in the summer of 1994, depending on her performance, she would become a Commissioned Auror, working at the British Auror Office.
There was hardly anyone in the room who was not impressed by her achievements thus far, and being the Head Girl of Hogwarts, her profile was already distinguished.
Damien also tried asking Professor McGonagall who the next Head Boy and Head Girl would be, but the Head of Gryffindor remained tight-lipped.
Almost everyone present wanted to know if the next Head Girl would be Cordelia. After all, among all the Sixth Year students, she had enjoyed the finest academic and competitive year.
Professor Montclair, Professor Fairwind, Professor Tonks, and Professor Sinistra refused to divulge the information as well, which made the youngsters sigh and cling to their curiosity.
They would simply have to wait and discover who the new Head Girl and Head Boy were on the day the Hogwarts Express departed from King's Cross Station. However, Cordelia would inform them a day earlier if she received the badge.
As for the Head Boy, almost everyone was certain that Theodore Diggory would be appointed. Among all the Sixth Year boys, he shone the brightest and was both academically and competitively accomplished.
The dinner was hearty and sumptuous, and Gemma had not spared any expense. The finest delicacies were served, the finest wines poured, and everything was exquisitely prepared by a hired witch who excelled in cooking.
Everyone complimented Madame Gorgins, their chef for the evening, when Gemma invited her to sit with them and share the meal she had prepared.
The witch was not from a distinguished wizarding family but was Muggle-born, and she was overwhelmed by the honour.
No one at the table seemed to mind her presence.
Altair even asked her how she had made the lamb taste so exquisite, and she happily explained her recipe, concealing no detail.
The conversations at the table, along with the twelve courses, caused the lunch to last an entire three hours, and afterwards, some took their leave while others retired to the drawing room.
Professor Tonks, Professor Montclair, and Nymphadora departed first, as they had to travel to Knockadaff, where the Auror-in-Training needed to check in for the Knockout Rounds of the British Duelling Circuit the following morning.
She had sailed through the preliminary rounds, but the real competition was going to begin in the morning.
Everyone wished her well, and Altair merely smiled at her when they shared a brief hug and exchanged their farewells.
Next to leave were Sebastian and Agatha, who had to fulfil their duties at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
Under curious eyes, Professor McGonagall and Altair sat in the corner, engaged in private conversation, while Professor Fairwind's stories from his long and colourful life kept the rest entertained.
It was only in the evening that everyone rose to depart, congratulating Gemma once more.
Damien and Cordelia left on their Aethonans, the professors Apparated away, little Miss Greengrass invited her new friend to Castle Nocturnum for a duel, and the two departed on Altair's broom, accompanied by Damien and Cordelia.
In the end, only Altair, the Fawleys, and Lady Dumbledore remained.
Since Gemma had informed her older brother and parents that they were married, Mrs Fawley took his hand and sat him down for a conversation.
She did not pry into their affairs, but merely asked about his First Year at Hogwarts and how his summer holidays had progressed.
Altair even stayed for dinner with Gemma and her family, and later saw off the Fawleys, who departed together with Gemma, since she had promised her paternal grandparents a visit.
Once he was alone at Dumbledore Hall, he called for Fruska, who transported him home.
Daphne, Laetitia, and Luna were having dinner when he joined them, and since he had already eaten, he only had tea.
The girls, of their own accord, told him about the duel, and Daphne expressed appreciation for her new friend's skills.
"With whom have you been training, Leta?" Altair asked curiously.
It was clear that the level of skill she possessed could not have been attained alone.
"My maternal grandfather, Lord Corvinus Lestrange," she calmly replied, and he nodded, sipping his tea and meeting her eyes.
"Do you know that Laetitia, I, and you are all connected by blood?" Luna suddenly said, smiling sweetly, and Altair chuckled and nodded before gesturing for her to continue.
"Tell me about it." He softly said, and her smile brightened.
"Lord Corvinus Lestrange is the son of Lucien and Nerisse Lestrange. They were maternal cousins. Nerisse's parents died when she was only a year old, and her paternal aunt, Cynara Lestrange, became Lady of House Lestrange. She adopted her, and to continue their bloodline, she approached her maternal cousin, Amadeus Morvaine, also called Amadeus the Elder. He is called that because he lived for one hundred and twenty-two years."
Laetitia and Altair already knew these things, but Daphne did not, and she listened attentively.
"Lady Cynara Lestrange took Lord Amadeus Morvaine as her consort?"
"Yes." Luna nodded. "It is said that they were very fond of each other. They had only one son, whose name was Lucien. He grew up to marry his older cousin, Nerisse."
"Oh."
"Lord Corvinus, their eldest, married Lycoris Black, and they had three children together: Gervais, Ginevra, and Galiena. When Ginevra graduated from Hogwarts, her older brother proposed to her, and they married. As for Galiena, she married Lord Alexius Rosier." She smiled. "Laetitia's mother is the daughter of Gervais and Ginevra Lestrange, and her father is the son of Alexius and Galiena Rosier."
Daphne frowned slightly, confused.
"I know that Lord Alexius Rosier was the brother of Druella Black née Rosier, but how does that tie you to Laetitia by blood?"
"Oh, it is through the Morvaine family." Luna clasped her hands and grinned. "Alexius and Druella were the children of Sebastian Rosier and Melanie Rosier née Morvaine. Melanie was the sister of Eléonore Malfoy née Morvaine, who was the mother of Abraxas Malfoy and my paternal grandmother, Ginara Lovegood."
Daphne nodded in understanding and watched Luna happily sip her juice.
"That is it?" Altair gently asked, and the Lovegood innocently nodded.
"We are related by blood from another line as well, Luna." Leta smiled at her.
"How?" She genuinely did not know and looked as curious as Daphne.
"Lucien Lestrange, father of Lord Corvinus Lestrange, had an affair with Victoria Bulstrode. They had a daughter, Violetta Bulstrode, who went on to become the wife of Lord Cygnus Black II. Together, they had several children. Their eldest daughter, Cassiopeia, married Lord Abraxas Malfoy, father of Lord Lucius Malfoy. Their other daughter, Dorea Black, married Charles Potter. Charles and Dorea are your maternal grandparents, Luna." She smiled at how her mouth dropped open.
"Lord Pollux Black was the older brother of Cassiopeia and Dorea, right?" Daphne asked, and both Altair and Laetitia nodded.
"Lady Walburga Black, Altair's maternal grandmother, was Lord Pollux's daughter," she informed the Lovegood, who nodded thoughtfully.
"So, I am related to you from both sides of my family." Luna sweetly said, and her words made Leta smile.
"Yes."
"Wow... I feel left out now." Daphne joked, and they all laughed and returned to their meal and tea.
It was then that Fruska appeared at Altair's side and handed him a letter.
Everyone noticed that it bore the seal of the House of Bones, and they waited for him to finish reading.
"Susan is requesting that I accompany her for shopping tomorrow," he informed them with a chuckle. "She is worried that her aunt is a little too old-fashioned."
"Fair enough." Daphne smiled, and even though Laetitia had never met Susan, she smiled as well.
"Are we going?" Luna asked expectantly.
"Do you want to buy something?" he gently inquired, and she nodded.
"I want to buy some stationery."
Altair then looked at Daphne, who shook her head.
"I have everything I need for now."
"Leta?"
"I am fine, thank you," she replied politely. "And it is not appropriate for me to be seen with a Bones."
Altair nodded without pressing further and rose to his feet.
"Come, we will drop you home."
To her surprise, he did not call for Fruska. Instead, they mounted his two hippogriffs and took to the night sky.
The summer night scenery was especially serene and beautiful, and they took their time, enjoying the flight.
An hour later, they landed at Rosier Castle. Laetitia hugged Daphne and curtsied to Altair and Luna, as well as to the two magical beasts.
They waited until she entered the tower and closed the door behind her before the hippogriffs took flight again.
It had been a long day, so they quickly changed. Unlike Luna, Daphne did not choose to sleep in the same bed as him, but she was waiting when he emerged from the dressing room in his pyjamas.
"Can we talk?" she asked, glancing at Luna, who was already in bed, one arm draped over the MoonFox.
"Of course." Altair curiously followed her to the corner, where they sat beside the fireplace.
"I have noticed that you are quite close to Gemma." She was direct, and he smiled.
"I am, yes."
"And to the Fawleys."
"Yes."
"Why?" She raised her brow. "It is not just friendship, is it?"
"No, it is not just friendship." He met her emerald eyes. "Gemma and I are married. I am her consort."
Daphne's eyes widened, her mouth fell open, and for several minutes she simply stared at him.
"You are married? Since when?"
"Since the start of this year."
"How? Why?"
Altair calmly explained the circumstances surrounding Gemma at that time, and how she needed to secure a consort to claim her full inheritance and Dumbledore Hall.
Daphne listened and nodded in understanding, though her gaze never left him.
"You have not told Aurelia and Cho yet, have you?"
"No."
"Why?"
"They do not need to know yet, but if they ask the same question as you, I will not hide it."
She nodded once more, then frowned slightly.
"Does your mother know?"
"Yes. She was the first person I informed. My grandparents and Uncle Cygnus are aware as well."
"That is fine then." She sighed in relief, and her reaction made him laugh.
"Good night, Daphne."
"Good night, Altair."