but daddy, i love him ♡ marcus riddle ♡

the letter

Cordelia Estella Black knows why she lives with Uncle and her cousin, her parents died during the war to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

On the 1st of November Cordelia woke up thinking about how good the day would be. She awoke early and hurried to get dressed, because she is the future Lady Black, and Lady Black cannot look anything less than perfect - even on her birthday. Cordelia ran out of her room directly into her cousin Theo's. When she saw that he was still in bed, sleeping, she smirked and launched herself on top of him shouting "Fire! Fire! Fire!"

Theo then woke, sitting quickly, with a startled scream, exclaiming "Cora what the fuck is wrong with you?! You can't do that to people! Merlin!" Cordelia could not reply as she was giggling so much she fell off the bed, her hair turning from her normal blonde to a bright yellow.

"Oh come on Teddy, it's my birthday. Can't a girl have a little fun?" she smiled up at him innocently, her grey eyes shining with amusement.

"You're so lucky that I love you," Theo grumbled as he rolled his eyes, getting out of bed. "Go down stairs, I'll meet you for breakfast in ten minutes. I'm going to get dressed." Cora nodded quickly and rushed out of the room. She slid down the bannister to get down stairs and waited patiently for Theo in the entrance hall of Nott Manor.

"Miss Black, happy birthday." her Uncle Theodore called not long after, walking down the stairs towards her, "What are you doing standing here?" He asked, slight annoyance in his tone.

"She's waiting for me Father." Theo replied before she could even open her mouth. Mr. Nott hummed in response but didn't say anything, Cordelia could tell he thought she was a disappointment, but she could never tell why. Once Theo was standing next to her, he linked their arms and whispered in her ear, "I cannot believe that you are older than me. It is so unfair!" Cordelia rolled her eyes and walked into the dinning room to have breakfast.

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Not long after breakfast was finished and the house elves has cleaned it away with their magic, an owl tapped on the window. Cordelia nearly jumped out of her seat but reminded herself at the last second that the house elf, Dippy, was to collect the mail for them. Once Dippy had given all the newspapers and official ministry documents to Mr. Nott he came to Cora and silently handed her the post addressed to her. Both Cora and Theo quickly excused themselves from the table and ran quickly up to her bedroom. They sat on her sofa, facing each other and stared down at the first Hogwarts letters either of them had seen.

Theo picked it up and ripped it open. "Hey, that's my Hogwarts letter. Don't open it!" Cordelia nearly screamed at him.

"Well you're taking too long, so I did it for you." Theo retorted.

"Give it to me right now, Theodore." She said putting extra emphasis on 'Theodore'. Theo, shocked by the use of his given name, dropped the letter, and Cora snatched it up quickly before he could grab it again. She read the contents of the letter out loud, so Theo could hear what it said too.

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Once the excitement from getting her Hogwarts letter and opening her presents from all her many friends - all of who being part of the sacred 28 purebloods - she was told by Dippy to go to Mr. Notts private study. This made her nervous. She was only ever in there when she was in trouble from some nonsense she had done with Theo, but she couldn't recall doing anything to warrant scorn, so she pushed her shoulders back and took a deep breath and knocked. Twice. Firm. A muffled 'Enter' echoed through the door and Cora, not wanting to waste his time, did so quickly. 'Sit' he commanded, looking at her with his cold eyes, eyes that were the same as Theo's and simultaneously, nothing alike. Cordelia sat in the stiff, hard, black chair positioned in front of his large wooden desk, trying to calm her racing heart and shaking hands - she cannot show that she is nervous, she must be a good future Lady Black - and she waits patiently for the yelling. Or worse.

"In September, you will be going to Hogwarts, with Theo, to learn magic." He suddenly started, making Cora jump. She nodded cautiously, still unsure of the reason for this meeting. "There is something you must know before you go. Your father, Sirius Black, wasn't killed by the Dark Lord. He is still very much alive, however he is in Azkaban. He murdered Peter Pettigrew and twelve muggles." Mr. Nott then put down an old newspaper and watched her for her reaction to his revelation, taking sick pleasure in how uncomfortable and nauseous she looked the second he said it.

Her heart stopped. Azkaban. The wizard prison? Murdered? No. Her father couldn't have done that, there must be a mistake. He had died, had he not. In the war. Her racing, swirling thoughts were interrupted by a 'Take it and Leave' from Mr. Nott referencing the newspaper.

So she took it and left the study and ran back to her room, she stopped outside the door, turned, and went into Theo's room instead. She sat on his bed and read the newspaper, which confirmed everything her Uncle had told her, and cried.

When Theo came into his room, back from the library, he was shocked to find his cousin crying hysterically in his bed. Her hair had turned a very pale blonde, almost white rivalling the Malfoy's, that was only reserved for when she was deathly worried about something terrible. He rushed to her side and hugged her. She told him everything and her darling Teddy never even flinched at the information, focusing purely on comforting his Cora. And he never, not once, looked at her differently.

author waffle:
published: 11/04/24
words: 1015