The Talk
Dinner had gone somberly and everyone was heading to their room. Their winter break started the next day and therefore they (Scorpius, Aquila, Delphini and Draco) were invited to stay. Scorpius headed up to Albus and James's room and Delphini headed to Victoire and Roxanne's room. Aquila was sleeping there too with Rose but as she was about to ascend the staircase, she was stopped. "Aquila. I needed to talk," Harry said. Aquila quickly remembered the 'discussion about the head thing' from the letter and stayed until every kid had retreated to their beds, (Delphini included). The atmosphere was thick as Aquila remained seated in her chair. Angelina was helping George up to his room, who had gone drunk on Butterbeer. Charlie wanted to just sleep so he had retreated.
"I still cannot believe my sister is dating your daughter," Aquila said Bill, trying to break the silence, "I didn't even know she like girls," she muttered to herself. "I am happy she had found someone," Fleur whispered, a mostly faded French accent flowing in her voice. Aquila nodded. "This morning," Harry muttered getting straight to the point. Ginny was cleaning up the kitchen, Harry and Hermione were leaning the dining table (the latter leaning her elbow while the preceding leaning on his back), Draco was standing next to Aquila, possibly for comfort, Ron was leaning his back on the counter next to Fleur who her head on Bill's shoulder. To Aquila, it looked like an interrogation with Draco as her lawyer. All they needed were cigars in their mouths, Aquila chuckled inwardly at the thought. "What happened?" Harry finished his question.
"My head prickled when me and Albus were heading to the Great Hall. It-" "Why was Albus with you," Harry cut her off, gritting with his teeth. Aquila took a deep breath, (It felt like she was meeting the father of her husband, asking his permission for his son's hand in marriage), "We are both in Gryffindor and-" "A Riddle in Gryffindor," Fleur muttered. "So is Scorpius and Delphini," Aquila informed. She gulped, her mouth getting dry. Ron raised her brow at that piece of information. "Me and Albus were heading to the Great Hall," Aquila continued, "for breakfast."
Hermione walked in front of her and kneeled, sitting on her heels. She brushed Aquila's hair away from the upper right corner of her forehead. She examined it for a bit before sighing, "Delphini was right, there is a faint scar forming." Aquila's first instinct was to touch the spot but she refrained herself. True to Hermione's words there was a small lightning bolt shaped scar forming, right where Harry's was. "It felt like someone was in my head, unwillingly there," Aquila described and Harry's brows disappeared in his slightly overgrown hair. "Was this the first time this happened?" Draco questioned. Aquila winced as she sheepishly told the story, "Last Saturday, in the restricted section?"
"What were you doing there!?" Draco yelled. Aquila quickly looked at Harry who seemed to be in deep thought. "Harry can you confirm something for me?" Aquila asked, snapping him out of his train of thoughts. He nodded, "Are Tom Riddle and Voldemort the same person?" Although she knew the answer, she wanted someone, anyone to tell her it was false. Her fist clenched into a ball as Harry shook is head up and down, "How do you know his real name? Hardly anyone knows." "That bald head no-nose hypocrite!" Aquila yelled, standing up so fast her chair fell down. Draco quickly placed his hand on her shoulders to calm her down but to no avail. Aquila's eyes glossed over and Hermione, quickly pulled the child into her arms. "He lied to everyone," she choked out. "How had he lied?" Hermione asked softly, threading her fingers through a well combed hair.
This kind of affection was new to Aquila, you think Bellatrix would coax her child like this. It was warm and fuzzy and it felt safe and assuring. Aquila's heart swelled but quickly crimpled as she sobbed. "His father his a muggle," she choked out. A big crash was heard and everyone's head, including Aquila's, snapped to the direction of the staircase, where the crash was heard. Delphini, who had been eves-dropping had accidently kicked a carboard box and had fallen over the news. Delphini quickly composed herself and shakily let out a 'you're lying.' Aquila shook her head. "Merope Gaunt had made love to a muggle name Tom Marvolo Riddle Sr. while he was under the influence of a love potion. Thus, Voldemort's inability to love and him being half-blood."
Delphini let out a shaky breath, trying to calm her heavy breathing. Fleur quickly walked over to Delphini and took the girl in her arms. It may have just meant for comforting Delphini, but to Delphini herself, it meant a lot. For her, it was acceptance, something which was also new to her and motherly bond. She slumped into Fleur's arms and started sobbing uncontrollably.
The gloomy atmosphere seemed to have died down by just a smidge when everybody went came down for breakfast the next morning. The Black family were upset for their own reasons and the Weasley's for their own. Scorpius was filled in early in the morning, upsetting his day entirely. The group ate in silence. Fleur and Ginny had finished early and so were chatting, catching up. Harry started somberly at his plate, playing with his food. Hermione had her nose in a book as she ate. Rose and Ron were bickering about Quidditch and 'how the Ballycastle Bats had cheated in a recent match. Angelina was shoving spoonfuls of food in George's mouth. Aquila was absentmindedly eating as was Albus. Scorpius and James were animatedly chatting about potions and soon Draco had joined their conversation. Charlie was curiously peeking at James and how well he reacted with Draco. The two were chatting as if they were roommates. Fred and Roxanne were arguing about something stupid as siblings do. Bill however, was eyeing Delphini, who had a hand on Victoire's thigh, comforting her in any way possible. They both had giggled over something Delphini said. Fleur noticed Bill's frustration at his daughter mingling with a Riddle. She excused herself and went towards him.
"She saved our lives you know," she whispered, lightly kissing her husband's cheek. "She couldn't save mum's," he replied, a stray tear rolling down his cheek. Fleur quickly wiped it and leaned into him. They stared at the couple. Victoire was using her fingers to twist Delphini's face into weird forms as they both laughed. "Look how happy she makes her," Fleur pointed out. Bill sighed, "What if she is manipulating her?" "Did you see the way she comforted Vicky last night? They're in love!" Fleur argued. Bill sighed again and rubbed his face with his hands, "Fine. I'll give her one chance!"
Little did they know that their voices had gotten so loud that the couple could her them. Victoire gave a girlfriend a big smile and hugged her. Aquila looked directly at Victoire and whispered, almost hissed, "I'll give you one chance too. Only one!" The couple chuckled.