✧EXAMINATION✧

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To say that Rhea was stress was a complete understatement, this was not NEWTS, this was not a simple exam to keep the perfect marks intact.
No, this had caused her to feel utterly ill.

Almost to the point where Alphard wanted to take her to the hospital, but Rhea denied it and said she would take a nausea potion. Even then, setting off to the facility only to rush to the loo to find a few other witches having what could only be described as a group panic attack.

It was complete and utter chaos, and Alphard hadn't understood that a marking was permanent. Even if she could take the class again, it looked awful.

It looked unprofessional and she couldn't make it any more clear if she tried. Failure was not an option, and when the restroom had finally cleared out, she took to looking at the mirror.

"In four hours, you'll be right back here. In four hours, you can take the biggest bloody nap of your life. In four hours you are going to eat a load of chocolate frogs and not care about ruining your appetite." In wiping her eyes, she added another issue.

"Tonight, enough is enough. Enjoy it. With wine, a bath, and Alfie. Just get through this. Get through this for what you want, it doesn't matter what father or mother thinks. You want this. You've wanted this for ages." With that dictation, she cleared her blushed cheeks and washed the stress away with a cold splash of water before taking control of her own future.

And if they weren't the hardest four hours of her goddamn life, she didn't know what would be.

She lied that morning in the mirror, she and a bunch of her classmates had staggered out of the examination room with a look of utter defeat. But it wasn't until one had suggested they all go and get a drink together, something that Rhea wondered was even allowed.

Of course, Rhea knew that it would look odd if it was just her, but she also didn't want to seem rude as she caught that everyone seemed to feel uplifted when she agreed as well.

It did not surprise the rest of them, since she was usually unsociable outside the classroom, she smiled brightly and claimed that she could stay for a drink.

And she had only one drink and shared a meal with another witch, one that was sobbing in the bathroom with her that morning.

"It's barbaric that they wanted us to take five courses and then put us through that torture." One bloke said, cursing into his whiskey and Rhea laughed. "I don't know how to warn myself for the next set of classes. A week of Holiday is nothing." No, it was not, not when the next break would be overshadowed by Easter.

Leaving her to look at the clock once more as she took another sip of her wine.

"You alright, Rhea?"

"Nervous for the feedback is all." She replied, and a wizard scoffed. "As if you have anything to worry about."

"Pardon?"

"Aren't you married to the richest bloke in Britain? Why are you even bothering to attend? If I had that sort of money I wouldn't bother." Rhea's back had straightened at the animosity, wasn't this the same argument her parents were trying to make?

That she was too rich to be working?
"Did you take into consideration it isn't about the money, that this is something I want to do?" She questioned, and the wizard frowned at the question. "Nobody wants to work, Black. And if you do, you're lying to yourself."

"Well, I can see that the patient won't matter to you, Damocles. Certainly why you haven't gotten any hours in yet."

"Hours? How can any of us have hours when our name doesn't make the books. Let's face it, it'll take me years until we get our hours in." The laughter had started up as they all called out their plans for next semester or the summer when they planned to get said hours in.

So Rhea's ability to get ahead wasn't special treatment at all, it was just her hard work and dedication.

"I received a scholarship and declined it, said to give it elsewhere. As you're right, I don't need it. But I want to do this...I'm sorry everyone, but my drink has turned bitter." With that, she wished everyone a restful break.

Yet when she went to the front to pay her bill, she had given a few extra Galleons as tip and to pay off the bill otherwise. Because Damocles was correct, she did have a fair bit of coin to spend.

But it wasn't hers, not entirely.

The funds were coming straight from her dowery and the earnings from her work--minus her tuition and such.

Who was Damocles to tell her what she could and couldn't do? The bastard who needed to get good scores was starting to tumble down the latter, and she didn't doubt that he was below average.

Even with potions not being her strong suit and supposedly being his, he was still beneath her.

Was it bragging? No, Rhea needed to validate that the bastard's words didn't mean anything. And even when she popped into the main foyer, she caught sight of the table being decorated with a wonderful assortment of flowers.

But she nearly laughed upon seeing the potted plant that spoke of Corin's aptitude of hating pulled flowers. And so she came forward and spotted Binkt rubbing herself against the gifts.

"Oh love, what is all this?" She cooed down to her lovely little shadow, letting the spoiled kitten get a few scratches as she took to looking at Alphard's little message.

And Rhea felt awful that she sighed in relief that he was caught up in the office—As it meant that she could sleep for a few hours beforehand.

"Kind mistress, Good Master ask elves to get meal ready for when Mistress comes back." Rhea was about to deny it, but when she caught it was one of her absolute favorite dishes of garlic chicken and creamy mashed potatoes, she couldn't say no.

Even when she already ate within the hour.

It was as if these past few days of not eating were finally catching up to her, and she managed to devour the better part of the small bird herself, with the help of Binkt.

And while a bath would be wonderful, she didn't have any energy left in her. Which left Rhea to fall into a deep slumber with semi-wet hair dampening her pillow and causing Binkt to lick at the spots of her skin that she didn't dry off properly.

Of course Alphard, who knew that Rhea would be home anytime after two, would be wondering what he was up to. Granted, his day started off completely different than what he had planned.

All the work in the office was meant to be finished by noon, then he was going to check on the Lydia situation with a former investigator friend that Alphard pays exceedingly well in terms of finding out the dirt in other families.

That meeting with his contact had overlapped a few others, and now he was pushing late notices in order to make it in time for dinner. Even now, as he was swearing up a storm at his desk, unable to calculate the— "Anger and numbers don't match, brother." Orion teased, and Alphard could only huff in his direction before downing the offered glass of fire whiskey.

In the record of all this, he was right. But Alphard, in this state, would never say that out loud. "Come now, Rhea is probably snoring away as we speak."

"I really doubt it, I should have an elf check on her. She might be still studying."
"I thought she only did that because she was studying for this exam following the others?" Orion questioned, starting to scratch the side of his head in utter confusion.

"For my sake and hers, I hope she's sleeping. We're meant to go to Spain tomorrow." Orion shook his head, knowing that Corin had the inside scoop of that damned institution they are both a part of.

Alphard's right, for Rhea's sake, Orion hoped she was getting the well-deserved sleep.

"Any news on the Lestrange front?"

"That they're both arses and Rolf is just as eager to see them burn as I am. Nothing's changed." Orion had started to shake his head, how was it that this poor witch was getting struck at all sides?
Even Walburga's mother, and his own, weren't this unsupportive.

But then again, he didn't think Walburga ever stepped out of the boundaries, and here Rhea is, stepping out of every theoretical box that there might be.

"Wonder if Radolphous thought you'd keep Rhea in a jewelry box or something." Alphard snorted, using the base of his palm to rub away the building aggravation.

"Tell me if I'm wrong, why would anyone in their right mind want to keep her contained?"

"Trying to keep up with Corin is half the battle, and she's a Badger."

"I take it that makes an exciting night?" That question had spouted a bit of teasing between them, and Orion had just now realized what he had been missing. The one-way teases hadn't been that much fun considering he had been inactive from that lifestyle since before Regulus was born.

"It does. Though I've realized that I'm much different now than in Hogwarts."

"Usually what happens. We've grown more mature and know the difference between a shag and making love." Alphard claimed, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he caught Orion in deep thought.

"Was it always that...With Rhea?" The Slytherin asked, and Alphard perked his lips for a moment and filed another parchment away. "It always is. Had there been more time to court her and entertain our relationship, I could say the same. We shared our love before we were engaged." Alphard reminded him, and Orion had taken the moment to consider the possibility that what he feels for Corin had never been even close to what he shared with Walburga.

"I don't think I ever loved your sister." He wandered honestly, and Alphard snorted once again. "I would be worried if you did."

"I would be worried if I did too. We never clicked, not like you and Rhea." No, Alphard knew that what he has with his wife was special and truly one of a kind.

"Go home, brother. I can handle this from here."
"You said it yourself, Rhea is most likely sleeping. I trust Binkt to keep her safe and occupied. Besides, I'll only hover. She hates when I hover." Orion hummed, but for the next two hours they were stuck in their seats and well prepared to take dinner had it not been Alphard's will pushing him to head home.

He couldn't do that to his wife, after all, she suffered much more than he had this day.

Upon arriving home, there was a bit of guilt set into place now that he put the rest of the load onto Orion—Which had him think about the possibility of getting the lads in on the experience this summer, it would certainly take off the pressure if they had an additional two minds.

Not to mention that his wife would be neck deep in her studies and work, and those lads deserved to get away from their beast of a mother.

With a quick call to an elf, and the input of a dinner order. He learned a few things, Rhea had come home a bit late—Anxiety ridden at that, and devoured her lunch before passing out from exhaustion.

Alphard made sure to praise his elves for their work in checking on their mistress at this time, and told them they could stay here while they were off at Spain.

But of course, Betty and Becket had denied and claimed that they were needed.

In peeking into their room tonight, he wasn't at all surprised that his wife was still asleep—If anything, he would've been surprised if she was awake and moving about.

So when he rounded the bed and stopped at the bed's post, just leaning against the craved wood with a smile growing on his face. For the first time in weeks, Rhea seemed to be sleeping with ease.

Looking completely and utterly relaxed.

Upon sitting at the edge of the bed, with his hand gestured to take a hold of her waist just to see if she was any at all aware, Binkt had narrowed her eyes thinner.

Almost as if she was daring him to make a move she didn't approve of.

"As I recall, you met me first. Why are you acting as if I spat in your morning kibble?" His question had certainly caused a bit of amusement in Binkt's expression as her front legs extended forward to stretch, rising to her feet in consideration of where she was laying on Rhea's stomach and padding off towards the window to catch the last of the birds for the evening.

Guess that was the most acceptance he was going to receive from the feline.

"Rhea..." He sung softly, but there hadn't even been a twitch in her brow, no, she was fitfully asleep. Leaving Alphard to come closer and get the hair out of her face, but damnit, she was still not waking, not until the familiar stroke hand followed up and down her arm.

Usually, that was how Alphard put her to sleep following an eventful night under the covers, but now it was a very delicate way of waking her up, and she certainly gave him a confused look as if she couldn't recall anything from the last few days.

Let alone hours.

"Hopefully you've caught up on your rest, love. We're due for dinner in a few minutes." A congested moan had followed after his words, and the disoriented gaze back and forth had managed a smirk.

"Perhaps a bit of coffee too?"

"You were nicer before my exam."

"Oh I'm plenty nice, did you not get my flowers?" A soft smile appeared on her face as she nodded into the pillow. "I did. They're gorgeous." Alphard chuckled in agreement before summoning her glass to fill with water and offering it to her.

"You need to keep your strength, love. I don't want you getting sick when we're due to leave tomorrow morning."

"To—Tomorrow? But my exam results will be in the post."

"I've already had it expressed shipped to our manor in Spain, not to worry on that front. Might even receive it quicker than here if I'm being frank. And there are so many surprises in Spain that you won't even be thinking about those results." After choking down a few gulps of the water, she started to lean forward to get a better look at her husband—Who looked as though he needed a vacation just as much as she did.

And it was selfish of her to want to stay home when this was truly the first holiday that either of them have, even if Alphard was sacrificing time in his schedule to come forward.

"After the schooling is done, we'll go back to Spain before I start work."
"Rhea, we can go for the weekend if there is any hassle. I just want us to remember that there is more to life than behind a desk or book. We're meant to enjoy these early years. Besides, our anniversary is just around the corner."

"That sounds as though we're due for another trip. Is your sister at your manor in Germany?"

"Absolutely not, they have their own. Just not as lived in. It will be since Walburga is spending more than a few days at a time there. Orion said she's miserable." Rhea rolled her eyes, if there was one thing that Walburga was, it was the ability to over-exaggerate certain things.
This being one of them.

But Rhea was excited to get a move on and actually enjoy the Holiday, even if it made her selfish of Alphard's time.

She was eager to make the most of it.

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Date Posted: 12/21/22

Time: 8:55

Words:  2711