Half-Blood Princess

Chapter 8: The Interview

After being hailed a champion, Peri's days were filled with a deafening stillness. She found herself sitting at the usual table with Draco and their friends during meals, but outside of that, she was alone. In search of peace, she roamed the grounds of Hogwarts until she reached a secluded spot by the Black Lake. This hidden haven had once been her escape from the chaos of the school, but now it served as a constant reminder of her newfound isolation.

As she neared her sanctuary, Peri caught sight of movement in her peripheral vision – four dark figures standing by the edge of the tranquil water. Among them were two men and two small children, their silhouettes painted against the golden sun setting behind them. Suddenly, with a misplaced step on a twig, one of the men vanished into thin air with a sharp crack, leaving only three remaining figures. The remaining man turned towards Peri, his fierce gaze locking onto hers like a predator spotting its prey.

"Peri," his voice sliced through the tranquil air, resonating over the rippling water as he strode purposefully towards her. Standing tall and sinewy, strands of silver threaded through his hair, adding a distinguished air to his weary but warm gaze. The last rays of the sun painted his weathered features in a tapestry of light and shadow. Clad in a humble, threadbare cloak, he exuded a silent power in how he carried himself. Each step closer to Peri amplifies his composed demeanor, his posture straightening with an aura of quiet command. Yet beneath the facade of tranquility lingered a subtle tension evident in the rigid line of his jaw and the intensity that blazed in his eyes.

She spotted the man approaching, his familiar face coming into view. "Hello, Remus... I can go if you need to be alone," she offered hesitantly.

He laughed softly, reaching out to rest a comforting hand on her shoulder. "No need to leave. Join us. Remi just mastered skipping stones."

With a nod, she closed the gap between herself, Ida, and Remi. Remi was by the water's edge, skillfully sending rocks skimming across the lake. At the same time, his sister sat on a smooth boulder with a petite easel and an array of paints, capturing the picturesque scenery before her.

"Hey there," she greeted them with a slight bow.

"Please don't," Ida implored softly. "We may have titles of Lord and Lady, but it is unnecessary."

"My bad. I'm sorry," she quickly corrected herself.

"No worries at all. Care to skip stones with Remi or paint alongside me?" Ida offered kindly.

She stepped away from Remus and bent down to pick up a flat stone. "I'm no artist; I'll stick to skipping stones."

"My dad taught me how to skip rocks," Remi said as his fingers deftly manipulated the ancient black ring, its smooth surface etched with intricate family crests that whispered of generations past. Peri's eyes lingered on the heirloom, a symbol of honor and duty passed down through the Black Family's lineage to the rightful male heir.

"Remulus!" Ida snapped at her brother when mentioning their dad's teaching him how to skip rocks.

Remus stepped in closer, his voice calm and reassuring as he addressed Ida, "It's alright, Ida. Peri is a trusted friend of mine and your dad's; you can trust her."

Ida hesitated momentarily, worry evident in the furrow of her brows and how she nervously bit her lip. However, as her gaze met Remus' steady eyes, she found a glimmer of reassurance and finally nodded slightly. "My dad resides with us in our home in France," she explained, fingering the pendant hanging from her neck that bore a matching emblem to a ring her brother wore.

Remi chimed in supportively for his sister, recounting their difficulties last year when their father had eluded capture. "The authorities were relentless in questioning our mum about his whereabouts..."