Lee Manor
Lee Manor
Barnaby explained that the book we needed from Lee Manor was one I'd seen before. The House of Lee Family Bible, which was also the entrance to Madam Lee's personal vault. He said the lettering and binding was identical to the Moste Ancient Magicks book. We assumed they had both been written by Marcallous Reid Lee, in imitation of the books Penny had mentioned in the morgue.
That was our working theory. Although we had no real proof, we all trusted Barnaby's memory and it was our only lead. Our biggest problem was how to get the book. Barnaby said right away that stealing it was not an option. Madam Lee would notice it was missing immediately due to how often she used it to open her vault and admire her treasures.
It also was likely cursed, we guessed it would be one of the items made impossible to remove from the house, and not worth the risk of trying. Barnaby was also adamant that we not get caught doing anything that would anger his grandmother and bring her wrath upon us.
We narrowed it down to two options. First, we could simply ask Madam Lee if we could borrow the book, to which Barnaby said was very high risk. Letting on that we wanted it would ruin our chances for the other option if she denied us. The other option was to distract her while one of us attempted the complicated Geminio Charm to make a replica book that we could take.
Also risky, but if it worked she wouldn't know we'd taken a copy or that we were even interested in the book. We decided on the second option. Next we needed a cover story, a reason to visit. She was not expecting us until after we were married, to discuss the arrangements she'd mentioned in our previous visit. We kicked around a few ideas before Merula finally suggested something that we thought just might work.
We also decided it would be best if Barnaby and I went by ourselves. We thanked our friends for offering to accompany us in solidarity but agreed it would be too suspicious if they joined us, we didn't want it to look like we'd brought backup.
After solidifying our plans, Barnaby sent Nightspur off to let Madam Lee know to expect us the following day. He left his note short and vague on purpose though, so we could catch her off guard with our distraction ruse.
We Apparated together early the next morning. Arriving once again in the dusky light of the tree lined lane, we quickly made our way to the house. Upon entering Lee Manor we kicked our plan into gear. Once the doors were unlocked I stormed into the entranceway and bellowed, "Madam Lee! It's Samhain, I need a word with you. Right now!" Barnaby and I staged a short argument for her benefit, making sure to raise our voices as loud as possible. It only took a few minutes before she appeared around the corner of the long hallway.
"Samhain? Barnaby? What is the meaning of this, explain yourselves at once!" Barnaby took his cue to throw his hands up in the air at me before stalking off in feigned disgust. I pulled the purple velvet ring box out of my pocket and thrust it back at Madam Lee saying furiously, "Here, I don't want the bloody thing! How could you have given us a cursed ring Madam Lee? We got it checked out." I accused her, my anger actually more real than staged as I said it.
"Dear me" she said, looking properly affronted. "Come into the parlor and sit down girl, you are far too excited." She started to walk away and I followed her, slowly, trying to give Barnaby as much time alone in the library as possible.
"Sit" she commanded me. I folded my arms across my chest and glared at her in silent rebellion. "Please, I mean. Please sit with me Samhain" she amended herself. I complied, still glaring at her.
"Who did you take the ring to?" she asked first. I snorted in disgust. "Does it matter? We've found out about its curse, and your dodgy blood ceremony too." "I see" was all she said.
A minute went by and I started to worry she might be listening to hear what Barnaby was up to, so I hastily said, "Professor Dumbledore" just to break up the silence. The plan was to simply keep her talking until Barnaby reappeared.
"I see" she said again. "Samhain you do remember what I said when we met a month ago? Of the weights and responsibilities attached to marrying into this family?" She hesitated there.
I nodded, hoping she would go on and possibly reveal something we didn't already know.
"Well. You are correct, there is a curse upon that ring, but more importantly, upon this family. Every Lee family engagement ring carries it, as a means of.. well, it isn't only your ring. My own husband was given a similar one to yours, by my father, when we were engaged, everyone is treated the same. You assured me that you and Barnaby are absolutely certain of what you want, and I took you at your word. If that was the truth, the curse on the ring will never activate. If you have any doubts however, you should call it off now, before making any further commitments. Would I be correct to assume you haven't worn the ring yet?" She asked me. I nodded again.
"Well it's not too late yet, I don't think. If you have changed your mind and think the price is too high, then I believe you are free to walk away now without suffering any repercussions, to yourself."
I glared at her again. Obviously she hadn't meant it when she had given us her blessing, I could see she was trying her hardest to make me leave Barnaby, and I wasn't having it.
I spoke slowly and carefully when I replied, "I love him more than my own life." She nodded her head at me and said, "Yes, I rather thought that was the case. But you do have a choice here Samhain, the choice to accept the circumstances, the choice to refuse or the choice to walk away."
"Why can't you just tell me?" I blurted out angrily.
She smiled her cold smile at me and shook her head. "Because I don't have the power to do so. I've told you all I can, the choice is yours to make. If you are certain of your feelings, you won't have anything to fear. But if that should ever change, the price you will pay is most dire, and the price Barnaby will be forced to pay is not something to be considered lightly either. Your choices, now and always, will affect both of you. I know from personal experience." She concluded sadly.
I didn't know what to think. I was not at all sure I could trust anything she'd said to me, but at the same time, I felt in my gut it had been the truth.
I remembered the inscription on the ring, aeternum, forever. I thought of what Dumbledore had said, seventeen deaths. And finally, I returned to what Madam Lee had admitted. My choice, my certainty that I loved Barnaby, the possibility of that ever changing. It started to click in my head, the weight and responsibilities she'd impressed upon me. It was all in my hands.
I knew then what curse meant, what it could do and what I'd be promising in return. I held out my hand to her and she gave me back the ring.
I opened the box with shaking fingers, stared at the malevolently glittering diamond for a moment before I looked up into her violet eyes.
"I know the price, this is my choice" I told her, sliding the diamond over the ring finger of my left hand. It made my whole hand burn hot for a second, but that was all that happened. "Aeternum." I whispered, just as Barnaby returned from upstairs. His eyes suddenly grew wide with horror as he saw the ring on my finger. Before I could even react he'd drawn his wand and pointed it at Madam Lee screaming, "No! What have you done to her Grandmother!"
Madam Lee and I both stood up as Barnaby advanced on her, his wand held at the ready.
I stepped quickly in front of Madam Lee, blocking her from his sight. "Put your wand down Barnaby, she hasn't done a thing to me. I'm okay. And I've made my choice" I told him fiercely.
He choked back a sob, his eyes gleaming madly. I'd never seen Barnaby like that, ever. It was more frightening than anything Madam Lee had told me.
I reached my hand out to him, and slowly lowered his wand for him so that it was no longer pointed at me. "I'm okay" I repeated softly to him.
He stared at the ring I wore on the hand that was touching him. Finally after a minute, he seemed to come back to himself. "We're leaving" was all he said, and I knew better than to argue with him.
I did not say a word or look back at Madam Lee as I let Barnaby lead the way out of the house, through the grounds and back up the shady lane.
Once we'd gone around the bend in the lane and Lee Manor was no longer visible, he rounded on me. And we had the worst row, the only row, of our entire relationship.