✧WATCHFUL GREY EYES✧

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When Rhea had awoken the next morning, her face had felt swollen. And upon looking at the mirror, she realized that she did indeed received a pattering of busies from Dolohov's rings.
But what hurt worse was the remembrance that followed.

His hands touching her in such a vulnerable state still made her nauseous, and she couldn't shake the feeling that if he had the urge to go further—He would know exactly how to go about subduing her.

He had, he just thought against it, and Merlin that thought scared her.

Sirius had responded, as per the small charm on her bracelet that she enchanted—In order to know when to check and such. But right now she needed to cover the evidence.

"Rhea...Darling? Are you awake?" Her mother's voice had startled her outright, and so she masked her face with a glamour charm and hurried to her main bedroom.
"I'm awake." She called in return, and thus her mother came in with her arms filled with a bundle of flowers.

"These arrived for you just a few moments ago." In following her mother, she caught sight of the small card that was attached to the exaggerated bundled of plucked flowers.

Roses, not even the flower of her choice.

-I hope you're feeling better this morning my love, the next party I won't be so careless in managing how much we're drinking. Hopefully you managed well enough after I left.
Owl me.

Funny.
Because she hadn't drunk enough to forget a single event, but clearly he's managed to spin the tale differently.
"Your father and I are disappointed in you, having left the party without speaking to us beforehand." She peeked her head up from the letter and nodded, though her mind simply reminded her of her plans the following night.

As if her mother would make such a deal if she knew what truly happened.

"Your father wants to speak with you in his study, get dressed." And with that, her mother had left. The woman was still waiting for the giddiness of being courted like their friends had when Narcissa had been seeing Lucius.

But this was no paring in heaven.

Instead Rhea had taken the flowers straight into her fireplace and sent the needed sparks to get rid of those damned flowers. It hadn't been an apology, it was more or less a warning not to speak out.

A reminder.

Rhea had given herself all of ten minutes to get ready, making sure that her charm was strong enough to last the rest of the day. She would have to put on some paste tonight in order for it to heal properly, right alongside the pattern on her knees and wrist.

The walk to her father's study was just as daunting as it was all the times before, she was most certsinly going to be lectured about how fortunate that Dolohov was in escorting her back to the manor.

With the steps starting to dwindle, she slowed down her pace. But didn't hesitate in knocking on the door, instead she did just that. And waited until she heard his directive that she could enter.

Course she allowed herself a faithful breath before reaching the cold knob and hurrying inside.

She had fond memories of his study, back before her Hogwarts-house placement—She would sit on her papa's lap and enjoy watching his beautiful script take the form on the parchment before him.

However she was far from that time, farther than she truly wished.

After standing a good four feet from his desk, she held her hands cupped at her center as she spoke her greetings.

Though her father wasn't at all that cheery, as if he had any reason to—

"What is this, Rhea." His voice had caused her to suck in a breath and so she took the given steps forward to read through the parchment.

It was as if the world had thrown its own sense of humor, a reminder that her dream were still available but unattainable.

Saint Mungos had sent another owl out and her father had been the one to open it. In the back of her mind though, she wondered if it was lawful for him to open it. Or if—

"Rhea. I asked what this is." He reinstated, his patience getting the better of him.

"Professor Flitwick asked for a profession during our fifth year meeting, and I said Healer." She calmly replied though she failed to mention it was a forced meeting. Especially since she had a sit down with both her head of house and deputy headmistress since she tried to get out of it.

"A healer, what business do you have in wanting to be a healer?" He said, not managing to have the common curtsy to ask in a nicer tone. "I excelled in every category that revolved healing, Saint Mungos searches for things of that—"
"You applied."
"No father, my Professors did for me. But then Saint Mungos sent it out as well, a few students in my graduated class had been given the opportunity." He asked who and she listed them, though of course, they were either mudbloods or half. Leaving her to hear the same mention of what her brother said.

That there were no pureblood regulations.

"After last night and this, I have half the mind in locking you in your room for the rest of your days." Rhea forced herself to bite her tongue, wincing at how painful her silence costed her.

"...Getting drunk in the company of your betrothed!"
"I'm sorry father." She hadn't a clue as to what Dolohov said, grumbling a few curses into the mix until finally, he came up with an answer.

"You'll be skipping the rest of the events this week, you better tell Antonin that he will be dateless the next week or so." Oh, so that's meant to be a punishment?

"I don't think that'll be much of a problem for him, father. Perhaps he can entertain his mistresses." Rhea's voice had shocked her father, as did the dazed expression that she parted it with. Perhaps talking to Toffee outloud wasn't the most suitable of her options. But she didn't dare utter a word to her brothers unless in passing.

Nobody in this house felt like a family member.

"He doesn't—"
"He does. Two in fact. Which is why I told mother I didn't want to continue this courtship, but against my decision it's been ignored. I'll go and owl him now, thank you father." She said with a smile and a small curtsey as she continued off towards the door.

"Watch your tone with me, young lady!" Her father called out behind her, and she simply closed the door to his office as she continued off back to her room. What was the freedom of an event if she was chained to an unwanted date?

At least she had shared that she didn't want him as a husband, that she spoke up earlier—At least there was evidence is she suddenly disappeared. Right beside Sirius' knowledge as she had been honest.

-Merlin Rhea, you need to get out of there right now. Surely your brother will believe you if you just told him straight away.

-He didn't believe me before, and thankfully father banned me from seeing my wonderful betrothed for the next week after my behavioral issues in getting drunk. I've masked the bruises on my face.

-Then uncover them and go tell your mother!

-She'll just see it as I did it to myself when I was drunk. Siri, he touched me and I was horrified at what else he could do.

-I'm going to get a message out to Andy, she'll know how to go about this. It might take a bit though, an owl out to her is pretty difficult considering I can't send anything out.

-I'll send her one, I need to owl the bastard anyhow. It could just be to Jade or someone.

With that being said, the two managed to draft a parchment to both Andy and the bastard himself. Owling her friend's cousin wasn't as difficult as she thought, Sirius promised that out of anything she would be her saving grace. Especially at the order of leaving her owl at Andy's house until she could respond.

A new owl would raise unwanted suspicion on her own behalf.

It felt beautiful to let her owl go to tell Antonin that he wouldn't have a date the next few days, while also asked for a helping hand managed to promote a safety net of some sort. Even if she couldn't get a definite answer, perhaps just letting someone know what might happen in the future would provide some sort of relief.

Nobody had bothered her throughout the rest of the day, which allowed her to enjoy her studies on the mindset that if she were to escape, then what is a little debt worth when she was going to earn it all back in the future?

It wasn't until lunchtime that she had earned a reply, though of course, it was from the bastard.

Rhea,

I'm sorry to hear that your behavior last night had caused a pause in our plans. But you are still under your parents rule and protection.

I'll be keeping your panties close until I can get another pair.

-Antonin

She didn't hesitate to copy down word for word in the notebook, and since Sirius was on his own type of house arrest, he responded fairly quickly.

-Fuck, well at least you can get a few days of proper sleep. I'm really sorry I don't know what else to do in the meantime.

-It's not even that Siri, I don't see the point anymore. Rabastan hadn't believed me before and there's no doubt that he won't now. Dolohov is too smart.

-He is. But we're smarter, and we'll play that card. Just need to keep our heads down, I'm sorry I made it so obvious I went after you to the look. It's my fault.

It wasn't, not in the least bit. It seems as Dolohov was looking for any instance to manage to punish her as he had. And just as she was in the midst of responding to Sirius, Toffee had returned with a sharpened caw in warning.

Rhea didn't hesitate to take offer the fellow a treat, he surely deserved it after the flight he'd taken. But the lofted smell of cookies that came from his feathers suggested that Andy was most likely baking.

Rhea,

I'm surprised to hear from you sweetheart, but it leaves me just as equally as concerned for what has happened to you this entire summer. But it truly hurt to hear that my old friend Vivian had suffered such a fate at the hands at that sorry excuse of a man. Rest assured I'll help you as much as I can, and if not, then you best believe that you are welcomed in my home without a doubt.

I realize that running away isn't the proper way for others, as I had a wonderful man to lean on. But I hope that this option might give you some clarity.

If it is ever too much, you can come in.
Any time of day, someone will always be home.

Now then, as for Dolohov and what he's managed so far. You need to play it smart, I don't know why your parents are so insistent that he is the correct choice. But I too was almost pushed in his direction, only I left before a proper chance could've been made.

Keep your head up darling, men like him will take their fall in due time. Once your house arrest is up, I want you to act as though everything had been an eye opener, flirt with him. But don't allow it to get too far, don't allow him to touch you. It'll frustrate him beyond belief.

You're right on the fact that he's had those mistresses for as long as I can remember, but it's the pureblood witches that he truly fancies.

Play his game, and you'll be safe.

-A

Rhea knew it was smart that she didn't sign her name, on either side for that matter. And even in her youth, Rhea didn't recall seeing much of the middle Black daughter.

Narcissa hadn't been all that kind to her, and Bella had turned into her sister after marrying Rolf.

Again, it hadn't given her any position to be friendly towards them—As the Malfoy's thought themselves higher than the Lestrange. Though funnily enough, neither she nor Bella had managed to produce a child.

So it was at a crossroads with the Blacks remaining dominantly on the top.

Between the creativity of a Ravenclaw and the brains of a Gryffindor player himself, Rhea had formulated a decent amount of courage to get through the rest of the summer.

But at another look at the calendar, she realized that she was indeed in trouble—Merlin, the summer was almost over!

"Rhea darling, are you almost ready? Your father and brother are waiting." The young girl had moved away from the mirror all while attempting to get the earrings on.
"Almost, these damnable earrings aren't easy to put on." Clarissa hurried towards her daughter and aided her, the soft and cool hands of her mother had still acted as though it was as menial as before.

Step one: Act like a real girl in a betrothal she enjoys.

"Mother, is my hair alright?... Antonio said he favored it when it's down, but I'm not sure if I managed it correctly." Clearly, the woman had been startled and Rhea had simply smiled, and for the first time in her life, the two had gone back and forth over something as simple as hair.

Rhea had missed this simple tactic ages ago.

"You see darling, men are so easy to please. Once you've managed a bit longer you'll see them differently."
"For sure." She agreed, and another smile had graced her in addition to an arm hooking to one another as they took the stairs entertained with one another.

"We were meant to leave—"
"Oh it's alright love, Rhea needed some advice. No harm done." It was always odd to see how a few calming words from her mother could disarm her father, but that allowed the family to continue off to another venue.
And Merlin, had it spoke of wealth and honor.

The gorgeous designs and architecture had taken ahold of Rhea's attention quite instantly, why hadn't she been here before?

"Mother, where are we?"
"Oh it's a beautiful manor, isn't it? The master of the home has returned from his vacation and Walburga coaxed him into throwing a welcome back of the sorts."
"It's grand..." She whispered, the history was easily seen in the polished gold and silver.

Perhaps things were starting to look up.

Yet just as that thought had come to pass, Dolohov had managed to come from his position in talking with Rolf and Bella. Only for Rhea to suck in a breath, she had plenty of time to manage this, she could do this.

"Hmm, you're looking beautiful as always, love." He cooed, and Rhea had simply moved away from beside her mother and politely greeted him with a kiss on the cheek.
"Why thank you, mother helped me with my hair...Would you humor me with a dance?" Clearly the man had managed to fall straight into the trap and thus, Rhea had held the reigns—All night in fact.

The subtle touches had been an instant craving to the bloke, and when he became too overbearing she simply pulled away and did the touching herself. And while Andy had meant to do this at one point, Rhea couldn't hold herself back.

Not with this streak.

"I'm still on a slight ban with my parents, I'm meant to leave early." He pouted, but she leaned forward with a small kiss to his cheek and managed the small bundle in her hand to stuff it straight into his jacket's inner pocket.

"And what might this be?" He questioned, and she settled it with a final wink.
"A surprise...Goodnight Antonin, owl me." She said while her fingers continued to feel up his shoulder before she continued off to her mother.

The woman nodded and the two had continued off on their way, but not without gaining attention on a pair of old grey eyes.

Who couldn't get the thought of the beautiful witch right beside Madam Lestrange, and he knew he had to find out exactly who she is.

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Date Posted: 05-07-2021

Time: 4:44

Words: 2811