The Storm | Regulus Black

The Wedding Discussion

The open fire warmed Agatha's feet as she sat with her legs atop a poof in the common room. It had been three days since fall officially started. The cold had come early this year, it seemed, as she already had to wear warm socks inside her boots while walking around the castle during the day. A cozy blend of evergreen and yellow coated the trees outside, and Agatha was ready for Autumn.

Whoever had first told Agatha that seventh year would be more trying than anything else at Hogwarts had not been lying. Notwithstanding that Agatha was gifted with extreme intelligence, she had been frowning much more than her mother would think was appropriate. Oddly enough, Tranfiguration proved very difficult for her. Well, difficult for Agatha, anyway. She would most likely achieve an E in the N.E.W.T's, if she didn't scrape an O, as usual. It was surprising, as she'd expected Alchemy to be more advanced, but apparently not.

Agatha, Zelia and Emma were lounging in the common room. Zelia sat on the couch as Emma laid, using Zelia's thighs as a pillow. Agatha had decided on the snug futon, her feet propped up on the matching poof in front of it.

"So, you're saying that your first crush was Rosier?" Zelia chuckled.

Emma laughed. "Well, yeah. I mean he's always been sweet, and I suppose he was even more of a flirt as a child. Can you blame me?"

Agatha smiled, but not for the same reason that they were. How ironic. "Have you considered him afterward?"

Emma looked at Agatha with a small frown. "Why do you pose that question?"

Agatha shrugged, feigning nonchalance. Secretly, she was trying to wingwoman Evan. "I mean, you can't deny that you two would suit each other."

Emma directed her frown at the ceiling, but it was more thoughtful than indignant. "I suppose. But no, not particularly."

"We've all considered them in one way or another, obviously," said Zelia with a small smirk.

"Oh, yes. Zelia I agree, you'd look perfect with Barty," said Agatha.

Zelia rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes."

Emma barked out a laugh. "I dare said you and Barty would have even more of a problematic relationship than Agatha and Regulus do."

Agatha nodded with raised eyebrows. "And that's hard to beat."

"Why are we talking about it as if it's a probability?" asked Zelia. "I don't want to jinx it." She leaned forth and knocked on the wooden coffee table.

"You're seriously knocking on wood? Stupidest thing I've seen," Emma mumbled.

"Really, Emma?" Zelia asked defiantly. "You're saying that you wouldn't?"

Emma shrugged.

"Now that we're on the topic of marriage, Agatha there's something I ought to tell you," Zelia.

Agatha looked at her with raised, attentive eyebrows, urging her to go on. Zelia looked a bit nervous, rigid.

"So, you know at the Greengrass garden party when I told you that some potentials had come to my house," she said. "One of them was Wilkes. My parents really liked him, vice versa. I might be courting him when they've finalised it."

Agatha's eyebrows rose further, she blinked before she burst out in laughter. "Oh my Merlin— Zeze you could've given me a heart attack, I thought you were going to tell me you're marrying Lestrange!"

Emma laughed as Zelia made a disgusted face.

"Anyway," Zelia said pointedly. "I know you had a bit of a thing going on with him, and I merely wanted to ask if you were okay with it. I don't have any feelings for him whatsoever and—"