Coiled (Book 1 of 2)

Morpho Peleides

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

March, 1978.

I give Evan a week before I attempt to make contact.

As for Reggie, he's near inconsolable over the announcement. An announcement which, in his mind, constitutes an unbearable betrayal.

I continue to see Reggie nearly every night after the confrontation with Evan. Tonight, we lay together on our backs in the Room of Requirement, which we've enchanted to take the form of an idyllic country garden, an attempt to lessen the depression Evan's continued absence brings us.

"I just can't get over it ..."

Reggie's whisper to me as we lay together, temples touching, fingers entwined as we stare up at the azure blue sky we've conjured. As the cotton ball clouds float lazily by, he buries his head in my shoulder, "... I just don't understand."

"I know."

"And so seemingly out of nowhere."

Hesitating, I consider this, "... Is it, though?"

Lifting his head, Reggie turns his eyes upwards to meet mine.

Those beautiful grey eyes -

Not quite a charcoal;

Not quite a granite.

But so unbelievably stunning -

... A rare colour for eyes, but found in nature everywhere once one starts looking.

Reggie's voice, the sweetest yet saddest whisper hitting my lips, "... Meaning?"

"Well ..."

I consider my next words carefully, my fingers stroking lightly at his, "He's been quite candid about Alecto giving him a difficult time, that's no secret."

"With all due respect, there's quite a leap between him having a rough time with his sham of an ex-girlfriend and him consenting to marry her."

"Engagement," I amend, "He's only agreed to an engagement."

... And engagements can be broken ...

As if reading my mind, Reggie sighs and shakes his head, "It's not something he's entered into lightly, Y/N. I know him too well. Believe me, he's been sitting on this for awhile, even if we had no clue about it. No question he's been silently agonising, deliberating."

"I'm sure you're right."

"And I hardly need to tell you ... swaying Evan out of anything ... once he's put his mind to something, damn near impossible."

"No denying that either, of course. But haven't the two of them long been expected? Long been promised to one another?"

Reggie scowls at this, "... They've always been, yes. Their parents have been angling for this since before they could hold a wand."

Evan's told me pretty much the same thing when discussing Alecto.

As I mull this over, Reggie leans back and studies me thoughtfully, "... Aren't you angry with him?"

"No."

... I'm really not.

Sad? Unbelievably.

But angry? No.

Perhaps I should be ...

Perhaps it's foolish of me - strange of me - not to feel the rage Reggie does.