Professor Malfoy

fourteen

December 24th

"Care for a cuppa sis?"

Amelia looked up from the novel she had been engrossed in, Pride and Prejudice.

"Yeah, thanks Cardan." 

He plopped 2 cubes of sugar into one of their mother's old white teacups and handed it to her. She slowly sipped it and sighed as it warmed her body from head to toe. 

Cardan sat across from her in an armchair that sat right by the fire. Its burning reflection danced  across his teacup. 

She had been home almost two weeks yet her mind was somewhere else. Her and Malfoy had sent an owl or two but not many so as not to raise her family's suspensions. 

She looked at Cardan now, he donned a slight smile. 

"You seem a lot more chipper these days since you left me at school brother, do tell." 

He shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows in defense, "I don't know what you mean, sister. Can't a lad enjoy a nice cup of tea by the fire?"

"He can, you can't. Go on, spill it." 

Cardan rolled his eyes and placed his tea on the table beside him, and folded his hands in his lap.

"I'm seeing someone."

Amelia nearly spit out the tea she had just sipped.

Cardan handed her a napkin, "Alright don't go making a mess, you geezer. No need to be dramatic." 

"I-I'm sorry. I'm just-surprised, I guess? You haven't dated anyone in, what 3 years?"

He clicked his tongue, "Yeah, I suppose it's been that long, eh? Wow. Well anyhow-this girl," he cocked his head to the side and smiled, "Is a proper sort I'll tell you that. She's French."

"Ah, French. You know how those French women can be."

"I didn't. I do now." He said with a chuckle. 

Amelia playfully hit him on his leg with her book, "You nasty bastard, gross!" 

Cardan laughed, "You started it." 

"How did you meet her?"

"Work, she had a business meeting with my supervisor. As she was leaving I asked if she'd like some entertainment while in town. Her name is Genevieve Bernard."

"Genevieve Bernard," Amelia echoed, "Sounds like a classy lady."

"She is, I've been seeing her almost 2 months. I really like her. Dare I say, I'm in love."

Amelia made fake gagging noises, "Cardan, please. I don't know how much of this I can take." 

He narrowed his eyes, "Alright then sister, let's talk about your love life eh? I talked to Ivory Stagheart's older brother, Andrew. Said you're seeing someone."

Amelia cursed Ivory and her big mouth. 

"Not really."

Cardan scoffed, "Now that is a big fucking lie. I see your owl flying about at night, trying to be discreet. Go on, who's the lucky lad?"

"Those owls were from Alan and Ivory." Amelia tried her best to lie, but Cardan knew her better than almost anyone, which made her sweat even more trying to build a good enough lie for him to back off.

"That wasn't a Stagheart owl that brought a letter. Why are you lying? Why would I care if you're seeing someone?"

Amelia paused.