The Fearsome Name of Riddle

Hidden Prizes

1956

Ostara was a magical festival celebrating new life and the spring equinox. The last of the winter stores were baked into treats and feasts as the new crops were planted to grow through the summer. As the years passed, the holiday grew into something less about the magic of love and new life and more about the food and children's games. 

Hot crossed buns lay steaming on plates beside bowls of fizzing whizbees, cauldron cakes, and pumpkin pasties. Chocolate eggs were littered around the bushes and trees of the gardens of Malfoy Manor for the children to find. The spring sun shone down onto Victoria's face as she stood in its light, appreciating the light breeze. She accepted a glass of wine out of Dobby’s hands as the elf bowed low. 

“More wine, my Lady?” Obsidian said with a soft smirk, leaning over her shoulder. “I'm starting to think you do nothing else.”

“I do you sometimes.” Victoria took a sip from her glass as she turned to look up at him. Her blue eyes shone in the sun, sparkling and lighting up a smile that Obsidian had missed seeing for the past three years. 

“Behave yourself,” he chuckled quietly, keeping his hands tucked behind his back so that he didn't reach out to hold her. “We have company.”

He wore a proud smile. Victoria had stopped being so violently isolated, she had invited people to her house. She wasn't as sociable as she used to be but her smile was coming back. Obsidian had never doubted that Victoria would heal in time after giving birth, she was strong and he trusted that. 

“Are you having fun?” He asked, brushing a piece of hair back over her shoulder before stepping back again to walk with her. 

“It's a little loud,” she admitted, walking through the small hedges as Rodolphus barrelled past them looking for little eggs. “The children are… excited.”

Obsidian laughed, glancing back at his son and the little blonde boy tottering after him. Lucius was growing well and he hoped that one day Victoria would see it too. 

"It's good to see you, darling." Walburga's surprisingly cheerful voice pulled Victoria's attention as she stepped up onto the path. She looped an arm through Victoria's like she thought her friend would bolt at any moment. "You shouldn't shut yourself away so much. It's not good for you." 

"Everyone seems to know what I'm doing wrong." Victoria sighed, looking out across the grounds as a mess of black curls bobbed behind one of the hedges, followed by the brown braids in her sister's hair. "Do you want to tell me what I can do right instead? Or is complaining all you people care about?" 

"You're doing this right." Walburga's voice softened as she leaned in and rested her head on Victoria's shoulder. "Having everyone here for Ostara is a big step. You're doing well."

"I have the most land." Victoria shrugged, letting her eyes wander around the children as they searched for the hidden eggs. 

"Don't put yourself down." Walburga waved her off, loosening her hold and standing more casually at her side. "You had a child, you were exhausted. Now it's time to get back on your feet." 

A heavy exhale passed through Victoria's nose as her eyes settled on her two year old son. His blonde hair hung in large waves over his head like some kind of fairytale prince, pale blue eyes focused on a branch of a hedge. He had on a white shirt and black waisted coat with black shorts. The little boy plucked a yellow egg from the leaves and smiled with pride at his find. She could appreciate him from that distance, a small smile gracing her lips but something about the boy terrified her. It wasn't him really, but the anger she felt as he ran up to her. A rage she couldn't explain, an anger that wasn't his fault.