✧FAITHFUL MEETING✧

◊━━━━━✥━━━━━◊

***

Pairing a Gryffindor, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw together was deadly. Dolohov was eating out of the palm of her hand, and even Regulus was seeing how hilarious it was to see the grown man crumble.

But with this came the sudden reveal that the relationship had progressed, but Rhea would not forget how low she felt.

How low he brought her to be.

As of right now, they were enjoying the background of another party in the grand estate that her mother said was called 'Edelweiss,' as it was a part of the Black's family tree.

Or that's what her mother had said at the very least.

"Are you enjoying yourself, love?" She turned to face him and she nodded. "I rather like this venue, I have half the mind to explore." Antonio, being the imposing man he is, had offered just that.

"Oh Antonio, no. That's completely improper!"
"Improper, no, love. We'll just say we needed to see more of this wonderful establishment, that would tickle anyone's fancy." She perked her lips in the thought for a moment, and so he leaned in further. "I'll be on my best behavior, my love."

That had been a strike in the wrong direction for sure, goodness—He couldn't have referenced that night. Could he?

Seeing her face grow sour, he realized his mistake and she turned away. "Love—"
"No. That was uncalled for, I cannot afford to get in trouble again with my parents. You know that. It's unbecoming to go off with a betroth during a party." She said, her arms crossed over her chest as she acted indifferent to the conversation.

Dolohov had leaned in, grasping her hands into his with the full intent of apologizing. If only it hadn't been for the fact that Rolf had come up and taken the position right behind his sister. "Hate to interrupt, but I was wondering if I could whisp my sister away for a dance?" Rhea had turned up to her brother and smirked.

"We'll take that walk on the balcony and see what else we can find, how does that sound?" She questioned, leaving the man to nod along. Part of Rhea wondered, as she was being led straight to the dance floor, is if Antonio was starting to actually fall for her at all.

But Andy had been the voice of reason, that men in this society were brutal and cruel. Just as she was playing him, he was doing the same.

"Mother said I should save you from an awful conversation, what happened before I arrived?" She pinned her lips together and shook her head. "Nothing I can't handle."
"Handle? Is Antonio not acting—"
"Of course he isn't. He's a man, isn't he?" Clearly, Rolf had not been prepared for his sister to truly have a problem, and he had almost missed a step if Rhea hadn't squeezed his hand in warning of which foot moved next.

"He promised me he'd be a proper gentleman with you..." He watched as all the lights had suddenly drained from his sister's face, and in her normal silence, she had uncovered his worse nightmare.

"That bas—"
"For now he's getting better, but I'm not sure if he's husband material, Rolf. I'm sorry." It wasn't a conversation to have at a party where they were guests, but with the way that his brows had risen tenfold.

"I could rough him up a bit, remind him who's—"
"Brother, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but what you propose will happen after we wed?" She questioned, so perhaps she wasn't the only one naive in this entire thing.

Rodolphous had gagged in his mouth at the mere idea and Rhea had instantly rolled her eyes. "I need a drink." She hummed and she turned back to see that Dolohov had been keeping an eye on the two.

And if fear could be seen on anyone, clearly her brother's glaring had caused that reaction.

"Ease up, mother said I needed to give him a chance."
"Yes. A chance. Not a chance of him getting into bed with you." Rhea had thought twice about the chance to tell her brother whats happened, Rabastan could hardly do anything in the sense—But Rolf, he could do something.

Yet the song had ended and Rolf had returned her straight to Dolohov who looked as though someone had sucked his soul. Rhea had almost forgotten how horrifying her brother could be.

Rhea stood waiting for the two to stop whispering as if she wasn't there, and Antonio had nodded grimly—Of course with that notion, Rolf couldn't get the idea out of his head. Leaving Rhea and her date to walk along off towards the patio.

"What is it that you told your brother?" He said, with an irritated tone. "Oh, nothing of the sort. He had asked if I was looking forward to the wedding—Which is still in due time, but I hinted to the fact of what follows that night." Antonio had lost his mood instantly enough, especially when he closed in on Rhea's figure against the fence with his hands caving in on her.

"'Looking forward' to it, aye?" He deemed, and Rhea forced her lips to enact in the certain way to regain a pleasant smile that Andy instructed her if she was in doubt.

"Er...Birds and their curiosity." The bloke hadn't managed to catch the unsureness of her tone, not when he was soaking in the sight of his almost fiancee.

But it was almost going to be nothing once she was done with it all.

"...Is that it?" Antonio had let out a sharp laugh as he motioned his hips back towards his little betrothed. But upon looking down at her gaze, it was clear she wasn't talking about his cock.
She had been staring at his Dark Mark instead.

Usually his sleeve wouldn't act up, and so he pulled it down and returned his attention back to her. But clearly, she was still concerned over his tattoo.

But more so his affiliation.

"Your brother hasn't told you anything, has he?" She shook her head and battened her eyes.
"May I?" His eyes glanced both ways, knowing that not everyone in the venue would be for the same ideals—Or extremist ideals.

Even if most would support the claims they were spewing.

"Go ahead, darling." He whispered, his voice turning husk very quickly. And she hated that he was getting off at the mere idea of touching the mark, though she supposed it would be sensitive considering how evil it is.

Rolling up his sleeve, she smiled to see the design. It was quite horrific, but in a beautiful sort of way. Had it not been the mark of a wizard committing genocide, then perhaps she would find herself doodling this once in a blue moon.

"Interested in getting your own?" Rhea quickly shook her head, her doe eyes making her the epitome of innocence. "I didn't think so, it's alright. I'm able to work for the both of us." She nodded eagerly as she pulled his wrist up to her lips. Placing a beautiful and endearing kiss to settle her interest.

"Can you tell me about him, the Dark Lord?...I'm curious." And that had taken away the horny thoughts that took him by storm, but for once, Rhea would've preferred the small gabs about sex and anything in the sort.

Hearing about the mutilation of muggle-borns had caused the appetizers from the beginning of the evening. They were even starting to raid muggle orphanages at the chance there is an essence of magic.

Rhea had nodded and smiled, agreeing where she should. But it was all said and done, she realized why Andy had escaped when she could.

And that statement couldn't be anymore clearer, her father had only mentioned giving her to Death Eaters, those near her age and loyal to the Dark Lord, as a curtsy gift.
Considering he agreed with their morals.

But the sense of Rabastan following their brother on those said raids and meetings...The more Dolohov spoke, the less handsome he became.
How easy it is to see the light could darken in one's eye, it was the face of a killer. And those damn metal masks did nothing to protect their identity if they were subdued.

Clearly, she wasn't meant to hear a fair bit of information, because he slipped and began to mumbled and stutter. "Oh please don't get yourself in trouble in telling me, I just wanted to know what he was like." Her soft voice had lulled his worries on mucking up the secrecy that his mark committed him to.

"It allows him to call on you as well, correct?"
"Of course, has your brother truly not spoken to you at all on this?" She shook her head.
"I don't think my mother and father would want me joining the organization...I have my head in the clouds most days." He chuckled, clearly he had heard the saying as well—And he didn't disagree.

"As I said...The Dark Lord doesn't need everyone to join outright, but he does need followers in all the sorts." Rhea agreed, but thankfully the conversation had been taken away as dinner was meant to start.

And it dragged on and on, though this time she managed to keep up with the conversation and involve herself. As she realized it cut the time waiting in half!

After the meal, the wizards had excused their witches' to go out and smoke. A disgusting habit that Rhea couldn't manage the toxins that made its way into the body—But perhaps that's for the better, Dolohov's illness takes him over and she becomes a mere widow?

Perhaps then she would remain in this relationship, especially considering the other options were of the same status and loyalty to the same cause.

She needed to inform Andy of all she's collected and learned, and by the small glance to Sirius from across the ways. He'd understood what that look had meant, especially when all had been going fairly well the last few outings.

"Mother, I'll be right back..." She whispered, and her mother waved her to be excused—Quiet quickly all things considering. And mere moments later, Sirius had indeed joined her.

"What's the bastard done? Did he touch you—Godric's sakes Rhee, I'll tell my father what I saw."
"Your father would hardly do anything, no...it's those bloody Death Eaters." She claimed, wiping her eyes from the panic coming straight out from hearing the records of destruction. There was a reason she skipped the articles in the prophet. She could never stomach it.

Sirius had done what he could in calming her down, but the men were going to return back to the dining hall and he had already stayed longer than normal. She nodded off towards him, she was simply going to tell her mother of a certain 'lady trouble' and then head home.

That would certainly get her out of this predicate for the night, if only she hadn't taken a wrong left turn—

"Oh god—" She claimed, instantly running to the nearest bin from the open room. All the contents of dinner and then some had been released, but thankfully not on the floor of this beautiful—

"There there...It's alright."
That voice, if felt so soothing.

But of course, her emotions had gotten the better of her as she sobbed once more into the bucket. "It's alright, promise you that dear...Becker, I need a glass of water for the Misses." With a pop piercing her ears, she stilled.

Instantly realizing that this was the master of the manor, and she had wandered too far into his personal estate than where the party dictated.

"S-sir, I'm so sorry. Truly, I meant to go back towards the dining hall but took a wrong right turn and—" Becker's return had interrupted her, and he simply thanked the elf and offered up the refreshing glass to her lips.

"I haven't been here in ages, it takes a while in getting used to...I assure you when I bought it I didn't think it was going to be this difficult." A chuckle escaped her, but then she held her hand over her lips. Taking in the sight of the sweet gentlemen who still had his hand rubbing against her back.

"There...Are you feeling better?" Rhea wanted to nod, but another sob escaped her as she shook her head.
"No, not really. I've made a fool of myself and gotten stuck too deep." She honestly admitted, but the fear soon wracked her head.

This man would surely know her father and report to him what's happened.

"I wouldn't say that. I spotted you dancing with the young Lestrange son...I thought you looked like an absolute goddess with the way you managed this evening. Where have you gotten stuck too deep?" Her mind could only focus on his lips, it managed to end her fearful tears—Again, he still hadn't stopped the circular movement and she tried to clear her appearance. And it only added to his caring personality that he removed his handkerchief and began to dry her tears gently to avoid a smear of her makeup.

"I can't bother you with my problems, sir. Besides, my family will be looking for me if I'm gone any longer."
"Nonsense, I can tell them I was giving you the tour of my estate." Any other day, Rhea would enjoy the holy hell out of a detailed tour such as this.

"Isn't the best way to relay one's stress to exert what is causing it?... What better to do that with than a stranger? One who couldn't care less about trials and tribulations of those in the crowd around us." Rhea couldn't rack her mind as to who this man was, but she wished he had been here the night that Antonio had done what he had.

Her imagination could simply dream of this handsome stranger managing to defend her, and she was sure he would. He didn't seem like the type if he didn't care about the dramatics of others.

His kind smile had offered her heart an erratic beat to plow its way through her chest, and it imminently caused her to hiccup. Earning another smile, as it was hard not to think of this little goddess as anything but adorable and sweet.

Even at her lowest, she managed to be kind and careful.

"I-I couldn't take up any more of your time, really—I should go." She said, her voice soon turning into a slight hitch. And it caused the man to sigh.

"Very well, but do take a bit of rest...You're much too young and far too beautiful to be upset." Funny, that was the basis of her issues.

After the two had risen up to their feet, she had attempted to give him back the cloth. "Keep it, it matches your eyes." She sniffled and mumbled her thanks before curtseying.

He was the master of the manor after all.

He was left in this unneeded study, ordering Becker to take care of the bin as he followed after the gal. The light blue of her gown beautifully encased the witch, and it didn't hurt that she was repping his house colors.

Nor could he deny the aid when she still clutched his handkerchief in her hands, she was in the midst of talking with Madam Lestrange. And while he had been rather curious to ask his friend who the gal could possibly be—His name was called.

"Alphard! Lestrange has newly imported Cigars, he's said it was a wonderful blend." Orion had called out with a smirk stricken on his face, but his brother could only turn his gaze for a moment.

"Brother, do you know who that is talking with Clarissa?" His question had caused Orion to scan the crowd, and after spotting the two, he hummed.

"That is Rhea Lestrange, her daughter...Of age now last I've heard. Freshly graduated Ravenclaw, same as yourself." Alphard blinked, his little goddess had infatuated him at first glance.

But now hearing this, he needed to know more.

"Why?...Has she caught your eye?"
"She caught my eyes as she was sobbing in my understudy. What do take that as?" Orion turned stoic for a moment, taking in the information for a moment, and then sighed.
"You have missed a lot, brother. She is betrothed to Antonio Dolohov...I suppose she's heard the rumors surrounding him."

"And what might those be?" He dwelled, and Orion just shot his brother a smirk.
"I thought you were above the dwells of social gossip, as that's what drove you out of here in the first place." He brashly reminded, but Alphard hadn't found it all that funny.

"Careful brother, you aren't the eldest anymore. Are you?" It earned him a sneer, but of course, he shared what he knew.

"Do you think Dolohov has done something?" Orion questioned, but Alphard's attention had followed after the young Ms. Lestrange as she went off towards the exit of his estate.
"I'm not sure, but it's a possibility I haven't ruled out yet." He said with a slight scowl, and Orion shook his head.

"She and Regulus were fairly good friends, I'll ask him if—"
"No. Promise me you'll observe her, those young lads can be quite cocky at that age if you hadn't recalled," Alphard said, and a smirk played on his lips that mirrored on Orion.

"Quiet, especially those that weren't married."
"I've told you, I would get married once I found the right witch."
"Times almost up, brother. Almost up." With that, Orion had done a circle to see if Rhea had indeed left the property before going off towards Clarissa to ask if her daughter was alright.

Rhea's excuse of 'woman issues' had been perfect for this occasion. Yet when it had been reported back that the daughter was simply feeling ill, Alphard Black realized that there was another issue that was starting to fester.

Not in his brain, oh no—That could be solved with a heavy amount of calculation and planning. No.

The only issue is, Rhea Lestrange was the daughter of his best mate, and also the one to kickstart his heart.

◇──◇────◇────◇──◇

Date Posted: 05-25-2021

Time: 9:09

Words: 3076