Always & Forever

Chapter 6: Painful Dinner

The jolts sensed while the carriage was running were less and less felt. The scenery going by outside was slowing by until it completly stopped as they arrived at their destination. The door has been opened by the driver and the two women went out of the vehicle. 

As Maya stood up, her emerald eyes opened wide at the sight of the hugeness of the place, never have the Ravenclaw been to the mansion of a wizards family before. She took a deep breath,  'how bad could this be?' she thought. According to her aunt Matilda, there wouldn't be much people, right? So nothing to be scared of, the girl would only have to act as usual and be polite. They walked to the front door, a last look between the two women before professor Weasley took the door knocker and with two loud knocks notified their arrival. Soon enough the door started to opened, revealing a little creature.

"Good evening, you must be the guests Master was waiting for. Please enter, Poxy will lead you two to the parlor." the house elf said with a little nasal voice.

In the said parlor, there was a fireplace with a couch in front of it where three young guests where sitting accompagnied of two armchairs were Marvolo and Ominis were sitting. Mrs Gaunt was sitting by the piano as her fingers were dancing with grace on the keys, delivering a melancholic melody. As for Malachi Gaunt, he was standing behind the couch with a glass of liquor into his hand while talking to his closest friend Alastair Drake. 

Poxy walked in the parlor followed by the two women, drawing the attention of the adults. Mr. Gaunt came to their meeting. 

"Master, the guests." Poxy said with a bow before disappearing as the elf knew what she was supposed to do next. 

"Ladies, welcome to our humble house, I'm Malachi Gaunt, your host." he said with a light bow. 

Matilda and Maya did a curtsey as a reply before the other family member came to Mr. Gaunt to welcome them as well. 

"And here is my wife Mrs. Gaunt, my elder son Marvolo and Ominis that you both know very well." he added. 

His wife did a curtsey, the elder just gave a slight bow as he couldn't care less about the two women but Ominis took Maya's hand and pressed his forehead and nose on the back it. This was the most respectful form he could do to her. 

"Good evening my dear, I was longing to be in your presence tonight." the blind boy said. 

"I... I am pleased to be here tonight, thank you for this warm welcome." Maya said nervously with another curtsey. 

The redhead girl wasn't used to all of this, sure she had been with high society in the Muggles' world but it was nothing as overwhelming as the wizarding world. The sound of her voice tickled the curiousity of one of the guests sitting on the couch but they didn't move from their place yet. Malachi cleared his voice before speaking again.

"I hope you wouldn't mind but I took the liberty to invite my closest friend and his children to this dinner that I'm sure you know about Mrs. Weasley, it's no other than Alastair Drake." 

"Oh I sure know who this is, Mr. Gaunt. Good evening Mr. Drake." Mathilda answered with a curtsey. 

"Good evening Mathilda, young lady." he answered with a slight bow of his head. "Please let me introduce you my children and my nephew." 

The redhead was wondering why this name did ring a bell but couldn't remember about it as the three guests on the couch stood up, but only two of them came first. 

"Here is my daughter Avril Drake and her fiancé Septimus Malfoy, my nephew." Alastair said. 

"Please to meet you." they both said at the same time.