Marie Felipe
Marie Felipe’s life had always been one of content, of a pure peace that resinated through her body and lived in every inch of her life.
She had always thought it would be enough, for why would she want more when she had parents that loved her, a pretty face, long dark blond hair and chocolate brown eyes, and top grades at Beauxbatons? Not to mention she lived in one of the best cities in the world, Paris, a place full of wonder, romance and a rich history that every corner seemed filled with something new to see.
There had been a thought of going to London at some time, of searching for some new adventure or some English gentleman who would take care of her but it was quickly pushed away in favour of her home and everything that came with it.
Her parents were adamant of her finding someone and settling down, to have babies and give them grandchildren they wanted...the thought almost made her laugh. Why would she want to give up her independence in a time when women seemed to be forced back into the home?
It had taken him to see all of that. A charming smile, beautiful blue eyes and short black curls that had her heart thumping loudly in her chest and her arms craving to pull him close, his soothing posh voice rumbling through her chest.
Even the Potter’s were known in France, a prominent good Wizarding family, it was when he mentioned his mother being a Black that faint alarm bells started ringing – ones she ignored. For all he was Octans Potter and far too charming for her to even think about letting him go.
She spent her days walking with him by the Seine and to all the Wizarding sights, everyday falling further and further under his spell until not a minute went by where she wasn’t thinking about how she could spend the rest of her life with him.
“Eet is a shame that you will ‘ave to go back to London soon.” Marie spoke softly as Octans sat across from her at a cafe, he shifted in his seat and offered her a polite smile but his eyes were more focused on the people around them. The Muggles.
“You could always come with me.” The idea was tempting and she let herself think of it, pulling on her deepest desires and the thrill that would come with something new and different from everything she had wanted to keep.
“Non, my parents would never agree to ‘zat if we were not marreed.” She batted her eyelashes at him, watching as he smirked slightly and seemed to be contemplating the idea, something that had her heart racing further. “Though ‘zat weel be something you ‘ave to speak to your Uncle about, I imagine.”
The smile drifted off her face as Octans frowned and tensed, eyes scanning again as he leaned forward to hiss at her. “Why would I have to speak to him about it?”
“I thought...weel, Fleamont is the ‘ead of your ‘ouse, ez ‘e not?” It seemed like something that was known, that Fleamont Potter had taken over his elder brother Charlus and therefore had more control over what his house did than anyone else did, just like British Pureblood tradition.
“There are two factions to the Potter line, it would only be my parents I would have to seek some approval from.” Octans spoke fiercely at her and Marie flinched backwards slightly, not used to his blatant anger after so many dates of warmth. The air seemed so much colder now and Octans seemed to notice as his pleasant smile was back. “But that is problem for another day, I would much rather spend my time focused on you.”
Marie blushed and nodded her head, falling back into her little bubble of love.
It took a few more dates and months but eventually he did offer her a ring, her parents hadn’t been too happy but they were respectful enough for it to be her choice, something she didn’t have to think about too much when he presented her with a beautiful ring and loving words. He was the man she wanted without ever having known.
...
Leaving Paris had been hard but it had been done after a beautiful wedding in her parents garden and with the compromise of moving to London. It had been done at the sight of Octans beautiful eyes and the thought of breaking her new mother-in-laws heart and so reluctantly she agreed and blinked away tears at her last glance of her home.
She had been expecting something grand, a large manor in the country, much like her parents, filled with beautiful furniture and smiling faces – instead she had landed in a dark and dingy, but still big house, with house-elf heads stuck to the walls and dimly light candles, not a person in sight to greet them, to welcome home their son.
“’Eenteresting decoration'.” Marie muttered under her breath with a cringe as Octans followed her gaze and scrunched up his face, muttering something about tradition but he didn’t seem too put out by the décor like she did.
“Octans?” A booming voice shouted, the couple turning to see an older couple before them. It was easier to see that her husband took more after his mother than his father.
Dorea Potter (nee Black) was just as beautiful as Marie had ever heard. Her face pursed in a stern and yet not too creased expression, deep brown eyes narrowed though perhaps the tight bun on the back of her hand helped with that, her skin much paler than Marie had expected, peaking out despite the Edwardian style black dress she wore.
Charlus stood taller than his wife and less stern, staring uneasily at them both with his sons eyes, his black hair pushed back on his head and a crisp suit with open robes on top. He seemed to want to say more but his wife’s hand dug into his shoulder.
“Octans, how lovely to have you home again.” Dorea’s voice was somewhere between overly sweet and harsh. The words seemed to tumble falsely from her lips and her eyes flashing dangerously as they landed on Marie.
“Thank you Mother and Father, it is so good to see you both again, I hope you are both well.” Octans spoke even more posh than he had before, moving forward to kiss his mothers cheeks and bow to his father. There was no emotion in his voice, nothing in his eyes as he turned to hold out a hand to Marie. “This is my new wife, Marie Felipe.”
Marie moved forward, curtsying to Charlus and kissing the outstretched hand of Dorea. “I am so ‘appy to finally meet you both.”
“Likewise, my dear.” Charlus spoke, his voice no longer booming but instead softer, his eyes on her like he was waiting for something else and a tender smile on his face. Marie offered a smile back, looking to Dorea but the woman just looked unchanged. “We are happy to have you here with us.” She couldn’t help but think he wasn’t, that he kindly wanted her somewhere else.
The warning bells she had tried so hard to rid were back, louder than before, dimming slowly as Octans placed a hand on the small of her back and offered her a rare kind smile, leading her towards an even darker dining room and sitting her across from him.
The house-elf that brought their food seemed meek and refused to meet her eye as it bowed to her, instead simply offering her food that seemed grey and entirely unappetizing. How she would miss her mothers cooking for it seemed these English lacked the ability to.
They ate in silence, wiping their mouths with off white napkins and sitting themselves straight until Dorea spoke, her eyes mainly on her son. “Have you heard about your cousin?”
“It has been hard, while away to keep up with the family, which one in particular did you mean?” Octans asked, there was a hint of amusement in his eyes but Marie looked to Charlus as he bowed his head and sent a warning look to his wife. The air almost seemed thick with tension and Marie couldn’t help but shift in her seat.
“It has been set that Walburga will marry Orion in the next week.” Dorea explained and Octans dropped his amusement while Marie wondered what kind of person would name a child Walburga. “Your Uncle Pollux was most upset to find…”
“Dorea, dear, how about we leave the family politics for another time, hum?” Charlus spoke suddenly, though his tone remained light, his eyes were flashing dangerously and flickering over to Marie who sat in silence.
“Perhaps it would be better discussed tonight at the family dinner.” Dorea bit out between clenched teeth and gave Octans a look that had him nodding his head and staring down at his plate before she coldly turned to look at Marie and gave her a once over, her lips pursing and her head tilting. “We will have the elf find something more suitable and perhaps less...Muggle for you to wear.” Marie felt her mouth fall open.
She had always thought her clothes lay on the line between both worlds, her parents had been Pureblood but not against the Muggle world in any form, in fact they had a love of doing the same. It was a shock then to see her beautiful tulle dress be disregarded as something unfit for her mother-in-law, perhaps she should have worn a cloak.
Marie looked at her husband, expecting him to take her side, for he had always loved her dresses but he too had the same pursed lips as his mother and was seeming like he agreed.
...
Regret started seeping into her life pretty fast from day one.
For all she had heard about the Potter’s, their only ever seemed to Charlus and Octans around, though there was the rare and occasional joy of Fleamont and Euphemia, the rest were a mixture of people with the name Black and a prejudice towards anyone who wasn’t. All of them with their cold eyes, and most with the same hair and clothes, not even those who married in seemed capable of offering advice nor a simple smile.
She didn’t see them much, which she was happy for. Her mother-in-law was enough for Marie to take with her clipped comments and dissatisfied looks, it had left Marie thinking her mouth was better to be shut.
And her husband, someone she had adored and loved, seemed to be slipping into someone she didn’t know. A man out to make sure his surname was upheld to the same standards at his mothers, with his now slicked back hair and dark robes. He barely paid her any mind, or any time, unless it was for himself and spoke to her in harsh tones.
Her nights had become something that was dreaded, when he would slip into her bed and take what he wanted without so much of a concern for her and then leave when he was finished to head back to his own room. When had it become custom for man and wife to sleep apart? It didn’t seem so important now, not when she could allow herself a few tears without a worry.
Her only relief was that of Charlus, a studied and educated man who seemed just as concerned about where his son was off during the day. They had both heard the stirring rumours of a man gathering people to bring back restoration to the Wizarding World, they both knew something didn’t sit right, not when Octans came home looking more crazed by the day.
It had only been three months of her life when she learnt the worst, for herself, her hands shaking as she sat across from the man, trying her best not to cry.
“I- I - “
“You are pregnant.” He spoke with such conviction, a worried frown settling and his blue eyes seeming saddened as he knelt down before her and uttered words with such a tender voice that she couldn’t stop the tears. “I am so very sorry – my son, he has not seemed himself but I have hope that he will come back to us one day.”
Despite everything, she wanted to believe that too. That this wasn’t just some stupid mistake she had made at a young age but something of a rough patch and that Octans would be back to his charming self in no time.
For months she held on, letting her heart melt when she saw a rare kind smile or the brightness in his eyes. She hoped a baby would bring him back from the edge he clearly seemed to be tittering on, would make them a family and they could forget everything else. Marie would forget everything else if that’s all it took.
And then Hermione was born on the 19th of September 1959, a beautiful screaming baby with tufts of black curls and pale skin. Marie had wept as she held her, everything was worth it for this baby, her baby.
Octans hadn’t seemed to care too much, holding her once and claiming her name would be Hermione Dorea Black and that it would be a good thing if his cousin, Walburga, had a son. A possible restoration to their house. Marie had gaped, her baby was not something to be signed off as a future bride, but she couldn’t deny that they baby held more Black than Potter or Felipe.
It became more obvious as the girl grew, mentions of how she would be a future Black for the baby Sirius that Marie had met once. Though Hermione was softer, it still clung to her, the shiny black hair falling around her ears and pale skin, the only solace was those bright brown eyes that stared back with so much intelligence.
When held by the only other family member who seemed to love her, Charlus, she could see the slight resemblance, the cheeky grin and the pull of facial expressions. It helped to have him around as her husband drifted further and further away.
At night she would hold her baby close, mutter things to her in French and read her stories, she would watch the eyelids drop and then she would cry over their shared future, a life trapped with these bigoted and insane people, and marriage she wasn’t even sure she could get out of. None of them would let her get away.
Yet a plan built in her mind, a bag slowly filling with things they would need and a form signed by the Ministry to use an international portkey to France. Everything clicking together with a hope that they could get away.
...
She didn’t leave a letter or say goodbye as she left in the middle of the night, Hermione breathing steadily into her neck and a bit too heavy to now be carrying around. Three and growing fast, showing signs of magic way beyond her years, yet still her baby all the same – a baby who didn’t fuss as they zipped through the sky but stared at her mother with understanding eyes.
Her parents house was abandoned, left the same as it had been when they passed from a disease two years before and Marie had been unable to say goodbye. She wasn’t sure where they rested now, the government having taken care of that for her as they had informed in a letter, but even without them here it was still her home. Hermione’s home too.
A sense of relief had taken over her after the first night, watching Hermione run through the fields and speak in her broken French much to Marie’s amusement. Her content slipping back after so many years.
If only she could go back and stop herself, let the young Marie know who her husband and his family really were, she...but Hermione wouldn’t be here. It hurt, everything hurt, but it was worth it for her beautiful and kind daughter and she would do it all again if it meant she got to watch her little angel grow up.
Of course that was wishful thinking. They say there is always a calm before a storm, Marie had always been smart enough to know that but her heart still dropped on the second day when Octans stood before her house, sneering at her with his wand in his hand, Hermione gripping his other hand and staring at her father with a frown.
“Marie, Marie… I should have expected this.” Despite the crazy look, he remained calm, grinning at her like he had just told a joke and not like he was threatening her with his wand.
“Octans, please...let go of ‘Ermione.” She pleaded as their daughters eyes filled up with tears, he seemed to consider it but decided against it with another smile, curls popping free from his gelled back look. “I’m sorry…”
“You’re sorry...you stole my daughter from me, do you know how worried we were?” He dropped Hermione’s hand now and moved forward, the toddler staying in her spot and looking between her parents in a way that made Marie sure the girl would remember this for years to come.
“I had to keep her safe.”
He laughed loudly, throwing his head back and taking a few steps closer, her heart stopped as she tried to gesture for Hermione to remain where she was. “Stupid girl, I would have found you sooner or later wherever you went.” He raised his hand, bringing it down against her cheek and leaving Marie to stumble backwards as Hermione let out another cry. “And I won’t be held responsible if you try and take her again though I might be willing to leave this all behind if you come home now.”
“Never.” Marie muttered, standing herself up straight and cursing herself for leaving her wand inside, it didn’t matter, it wouldn’t stop him anyway. Octans turned to look back at her furiously. “Me nor ‘er are going anywhere with you, you monster!” She stepped out of the way of his hand now and raised her chin at his wand.
“I am warning you, Marie, do not make this harder than it already is.”
“You are not ‘zee man I fell in love with.” She spat out but nothing changed in his expression and he still held his wand in her face as Hermione cried but stayed where she was. “And I would rather die than go anywhere with you.”
Octans smirked at her and Marie drew out a breath, feeling much calmer than she ever had and so much regret, and yet a part of her still held him, the old him, in her heart while her brain wondered if everything had simply been a lie, a means to an end for him. It didn’t make sense, and maybe he did once love her, she could hold onto that.
“Octans!” Her husband turned quickly to look at Charlus appeared with Dorea, though the woman stayed cold, her eyes flickered and she almost smiled worriedly as Charlus scooped up Hermione in his strong arms and tried to comfort the baby. “Do not do this!” It was a warning and Marie let a smile form on her face.
At least someone thought she was worth fighting for.
“Come on Octans, this behaviour is stupid, we can discuss this at home.” Dorea called, softer than before but still harsh. Marie met her eyes and there seemed to be a level of understanding there but Octans didn’t move and neither did Marie.
“Charlus, please – please take ‘er somewhere safe and let ‘er know I loved ‘er, so much.” Marie called.
“Octans, I can not stand beside this!” Charlus shouted, he turned and whispered something to Dorea who shook her head. Octans turned to look at them, his eyes focusing on Hermione before they twisted into a sharp grin and he was turning his wand on them…
Marie grabbed his arm, pulling it back towards her and forcing him to look at her, into the eyes that had once seemed so beautiful. “You came ‘ere for me.” Her words were whispered as she moved to grip his face with both hands, watching as his gaze softened slightly and he leaned forward.
She thought for a minute she had gotten through to him but his eyes turned to steel and a wicked grin grew on his face. A shocked gasp left her mouth as her ears began to ring, his wand waving between them and his mouth moving to the words she knew would bring about her end, even as the green light seemed to vanish into her body and she fell to the floor.
Her last breath met with the words. “Now you can never take my daughter again.”