When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 74

Invaders

Dorea was still reeling from the sudden arrival of her brother the previous evening, and even more so that only hours later, she found herself in a muggle church of all places watching him get married.

She had known of his budding relationship with Melania, but since he had marched off to war, he hadn't mentioned the woman in any of his letters.

Arcturus had never been vocal of what affection he felt for the woman standing in front of him, but the unguarded expression of utter joy he wore now spoke volumes to it.

Her brother was in love with this woman and judging by the similar beaming smile of her soon to be sister-in-law, the feeling was mutual.

Dorea was happy for them both, happy that despite the misery that had gripped the wizarding world, they were here and able to celebrate the love the had for one another, though she could not help but allow her own thoughts to wander to a certain wizard who often occupied her mind.

She imagined that it was her standing at the altar, gazing across at him as he looked at Dorea the same way Arcturus was looking at Melania. She imagined that it was Charlus that had returned to claim her, the feeling filling her with warmth before dragged herself away from her fantasy.

No, this day was for her brother and the woman he was marrying, but that didn't stop her own thoughts from teasing her.

Charlus hadn't even mentioned marriage, the letters between the two of them little more than ensuring the other was okay, each of them seemingly skirting around any discussion of what, if any, future they may have together.

Dorea was under no illusion that her infatuation with the man had begun when she was just a girl, when Charlus had shown her the kind of person he was after he had fought against his own housemates to keep her safe.

Of course, Harry Evans had been there too, but she'd only had eyes for Charlus, and that had not changed in all the years that had passed.

She had almost convinced herself that it had merely been a schoolgirl crush, something that would soon pass, and for the better.

Her father would never have agreed to them marrying, so Dorea had never considered such a thing would be possible, but then she and Charlus had bumped into each other in Diagon Alley, and it was as though no time had gone by at all.

Immediately, she had felt like a fourteen-year-old girl again, and though she knew she should have declined his offer to escort her through the alley, she hadn't.

Dorea had not been able to deny herself his company, and that schoolgirl crush had grown into what she felt now.

She shook her head almost amusedly.

Did Charlus even know?

Did he still see her as that silly girl he'd had to rescue?

Dorea hoped not.

What he had done for her that day had given her the courage to stand up for herself, and for that, she would always be grateful, but she didn't want to be thought of like that.