Day 3
Theo woke to the sounds of torrential rain whipping the windows. There was a fire crackling, but the sheets had the feel of a certain dampness. The faint smell of lavender soap the elves used for bedlinen. Home. His bed. Theo sighed in relief. No awakening in a stranger’s bed, no worrying about Muggles, Szeged witches, manipulations… Everything has been a dream, even if a very elaborate one. He blinked, stretched and rolled to his side. To face the back of a woman. He never brought a woman back home. Ever. He blinked again. And made out goldblond hair, wide shoulders, fair skin. It gave him a funny feeling in his chest, having a woman in his bed, in his room. Elbow on his pillow he supported his head with one hand, lifting the other carefully to touch the blond hair. Soft and silky. The woman stirred and turned.
Agnes. Theo tensed instantly when he met the green eyes. In a few seconds Agnes went from sleepy to alarmed. She jerked away, but Theo gently pressed a finger to her lips.
“please don’t scream. You are in my home. I don’t know how you got here, I still don’t know what is going on. But I promise you that I don’t mean any harm.”
He could see her calming in response. She lay her hand on his. It felt warm. Comforting. A small smile.
“Dis is soo crazy.”
”I know.”
”So de verdict is still magic.”
This was a statement, not a question. Theo decided that he was done with the statue of secrecy in regards to the woman next to him.
“Yes. Magic is real. I am a wizard, by the way. Sorry for the secrecy, but it is one of the laws we have. Not to tell non-magic people of our existence, of the reality of magic. But I don’t care, you are already too involved now.”
Resignation and bitterness coloring his voice. Agnes reacted with a softening of her gaze. And she moved her hand through his hair. Theo noted how much he needed this gesture of comfort. He decided to reciprocate by squeezing her hand with his.
“Vhat is de consequence of breaking de law?”
”That depends on circumstances. How many people are made aware of, why… it can be anything from a fine to Azkaban.”
“Azkaban is a prison?”
”Yes. A remote island in the north, guarded by soul-sucking monsters. There are many that think death preferable.”
He could tell Agnes digesting the information, weighing options, then making up her mind. “Sorry, is my mobile phone here? Vhat time is it? I have to check on my sons. I von’t tell anybody. I mean, about the magic.”
Theo nodded. They found her phone on the bedside table next to Agnes’ side of the bed. Theo decided to give her some privacy and use the opportunity to slip into the bathroom next door. He splashed water in his face and looked into the mirror. His hair was in its usual morning disarray, and he was sporting some stubble. He used a shaving spell, showered quickly, combed the damp hair and returned into his bedroom in his bathrobe. Agnes was waiting for him.
“My kids are off to school, and my boss thinks that I am ill. Ve have till dis evening till I have to be back. Can I also take a shower?”
”By all means, yes. An elf please!”
Theo called than explained apologetically.
”We have house elves, a type of magical creature, to keep everything up and running.”
Agnes flinched when an elf suddenly appeared in front of them.
“Master has called. What can I do for you?”
The elf was however, not looking at Theo, but curiously studying the woman.
“It is an honor to meet you, Mistress. Please call me Longear.”
He bowed deeply.
“Nice to meet you.”
Agnes murmured, while Theo started on giving instructions so that his female company could have a shower and be dressed in fresh clothing. Also, he arranged for breakfast for the two of them. Once alone in his room he dressed and then started pacing while waiting for Agnes to reappear.
Three days in a row. They had woken together in the morning three times. This was not a case of magic fluke, but intentional. As Luna had confirmed yesterday that he was not dealing with a Szeged witch, he could rely on his feelings and instincts. Which told him that none of this was Agnes’ doing. So, who had them waking up together morning after morning? And why? A joke of some of his friends? Some kind of weird revenge of a woman he spurned? How to have it end? A little voice in the back of his head asked him if he wanted it to end, acknowledging in hindsight how nice it was to have someone-no not just someone, but Agnes- to wake up to in his bed.
He was not used having the company in his home. Theo felt completely out of his comfort zone on one hand, but secretly looking forward to having yet another breakfast in Agnes’ company.
He would show her around. If not for her family and work, he could invite her to stay for a few days. Yule holdays were coming up in a few days. Maybe this could be arranged. He would also be fine having her sons over. They could go to London, visit some museum. The boys could play ball- what was it what the Muggleborns called it? Football!- In the Dueling room in case of bad weather such as at the moment. Or they could have a walk to the old abbey In the next village in case of better weather. He imagined himself at the dining table, Agnes at his side. Two teenage boys. All the questions about Muggle technology he could get answered! He would have an excellent excuse for not attending the ball at Malfoy Manor. If he had guests of his own to entertain. He could pretend that they were squib cousins from the continent. Then nobody would issue invitations extended to his guests for any social activities over Yule, and he would not risk offending anybody by declining any offers...
Theo broke from his daydreams, shaking his head.
She is married, Theo, you idiot. What are you thinking?
It was then that Agnes returned from the bathroom. Dressed in a silk blouse, angora pullover and pencil skirt that looked like that they had belonged to his mother. Hair fluffy.
“Magic is really convenient. An elf dried my hair in a few seconds. And she also resized the clothing to fit me perfectly.”
Agnes gave an enthusiastic twirl.
“This is really high-quality clothing. Timeless stylish. Apparently your mother’s.”
She smiled.
“De elf even flattened de heels of dese boots”
She demonstrated by lifting one of the feet clad in leather boots.
“I am unable to valk in heels.”
Theo tried to not show his amusement that he felt on seeing her with all the exuberant movements that seemed part of her personality. It was in such contrast to the elegant clothing and the controlled behavior usually shown by women dressed this way. She would really stand out at the dinner parties or soirees Theo usually got invited to. Not for the hair color, or tall curvy body, or accent, although each remarkable on their own. But just for the way she moved, which seemed so in sync with her emotions. Theo could imagine the barely concealed disapproval on the faces of the likes of Narcissa Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass or Pansy Parkinson if ever confronted with the woman in front him. No wonder she hit it off with Luna immediately.
Stop it, Theo. She is not yours.
“Let’s have breakfast. I lead the way.”
Theo offered his arm. Agnes curtsied in an exaggerated manner, and placed her hand on the inside of his elbow with an amused twitch of her lips.
“Vhat an excellent idea, my Lord.”
The breakfast had been served in the Wintergarden. A lovely spot.
It looked out onto the swan pond and the rose hedges. It had been one of his mother’s favorite places in the Manor.
He pulled a chair out for Agnes, then sat down at the opposite side of the table, facing her.
“Tea or coffee?”
“Tea please.”
“don’t you drink coffee in Italy?”
“yes, coffee in Italy, tea in England. I always opt for the best quality option of available caffeine sources.”
Before Theo could answer the head elf appeared. Theo was immediately alarmed. Mother Silken Flower really made an appearance, preferring to control the household from the shadows. In his childhood Theo had learned that it was best not to attract attention of the head elf. She only got involved in serious matter. Her showing up for his breakfast with Agnes did not bode well.
“Mother Silken Flower, may I introduce you to a friend of mine, Mrs. Leutner. Agnes, this is Mother Silken Flower, the Nott family head elf.”
“Dr.Leutner; not Mrs. But please call me Agnes. In Italy, vomen do not take on deir husbands’ names, but keep deir fathers’.”
“Mistress Agnes, how nice to meet you finally in person. Welcome to the House of Nott. Please let us elves know if you need anything. I hope that you enjoy your stay.”
“Thank you so much, Mother Silken Flower. For the hospitability. I am delighted to be here, even if not by choice.”
“I am sorry if Master Theo forced you here. I hope you will forgive him, you must be very special, he has so far never brought a conquest here.”
Theo spluttered.
“One moment. I did not bring Agnes here. Someone must have cursed us. You see, we keep waking up each morning in the same bed, without knowledge of having gone there together. And no, I am not talking about memory loss due to excessive alcohol or potions consumption. Agnes is not a conquest. And she is a Muggle.”
“Master Theo is mistaken. The Mistress is not a Muggle.”
“what do you mean ‘not a Muggle’? and why do you call her Mistress?”
Theo started becoming suspicious. Why was Mother Silken Flower here talking to them, anyway. This was so out of her normal behavior. Something was going on.
“you know something, Mother Silken Flower. Could you please explain?”
“Master Theo, please answer me first. If you could keep her, would you?”
Theo hesitated to answer, for a moment to long.
“Excuse me? Vhat is going on? Keeping me? I am not a pet! I have a family back in Italy, two sons. And a husband. And a job.”
“Mistress Agnes, think about it for a moment. If you could bring your sons here, and would not need to worry about an income, would you like to stay with Master Theo?”
“Oh no, what have you elves done? Please tell me it was not my own elves that brought about this situation.”
“Elves can do also non household magic?”
“Of course we can. We Nott elves are very powerful spell caster. And have a duty to the house. One of the duties is to secure the line of the family.”
“No you didn’t. Tell me you elves didn’t do some obscure ritual to find me a wife.”
“Vife? I am already married. Also, if you have to secure de line, vould it not make more sense to have a much younger voman magically appear, one dat is in prime childbearing age?”
“On the contrary, Mistress. The Master is more comfortable with women not focused on childbearing. And you having already an Heir and a Spare to bring into the relationship that can be blood adopted, is even an advantage.”
Theo started understanding.
“Oh, so you have thought of everything. What concerns me. But what about her? Why would she drop everything to play Lady Nott? Or her children? Can they even be blood adopted as Muggles?”
“Vhat is blood adoption? And you are really a Lord, not some joke? Of course not, magic is real and I have found a Mr Darcy. Vake up, Agnes. You are dreaming.”
She looked at the elf.
”Or hallucinating.”
“I am so sorry, Agnes.” Theo took her hand and patted it gently. “Please bear with me. Now that I found the source – or better the sorcerers- for our predicament, I can work on reversing the spell. Or ritual.”
He stared at Mother Silken Flower with anger.
“It is a ritual, isn’t it. Tell me which ritual. Tell me what you did exactly.”
“There is no reversal, because you accepted her already.”
“No.No.No. Hang on. I did not accept her as wife. We did not do anything, no sex, not even a kiss.”
“Then it is even more reassuring that you are perfect for each other. If you could see how strong your bond is already.”
“You must be mistaken. Magical bindings cannot be done with Muggles.”
“I said already that Mistress is no Muggle. Did Master not notice? She is part Szeged witch. In some aspects very powerful. You think it is coincident that she is named after the most powerful Szeged witch in history? Don’t you notice that she is calming down both of us at the moment? You were so angry, but never raised your voice. And you are less angry now.”
Theo paused for a moment. He looked at Agnes that seemed to be trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. He took a deep breath. No, there was no anger in him, but there should be.
“This is such a mess.”
He sounded resigned. Agnes put a hand on his shoulder as a gesture of comfort. Theo instinctively kissed her cheek. In that moment, golden swirls surrounded them. Binding magic.
Mother Silken Flower grinned manically.
“It is done.”