Run Away ✧ Hogwarts Legacy

chapter thirteen

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"Let me see that ring!" Someone had squealed with delight. There had been a nonstop crowd of women around the bride-to-be. Each taking turns cooing with approval over a ring that both families had agreed upon, then praising the girl for her beauty, then the next woman would take a turn. Like clockwork. A well-oiled machine with one purpose.

Antheia's nail picked at the skin where the ring had been so briefly on her own hand. Not that it had been an engagement ring, but it had been more valuable. As much as she trusted Sebastian, she couldn't help but worry about the amplified ring. Always worried over his well-being. No matter how much he tried to avoid trouble, it always seemed to find him.

"So what do you think?" His voice echoed over her shoulder, jarring among all of the high-pitched voices that had taken Antheia by surprise.

"I thought the bridal shower was only for female members of the family."

"Traditionally," Marvolo Gaunt smirked. He set his drink on the table next to her as if they were family before taking a seat at her side. "My mother sent me in her place for today, which makes us both outsiders in a way. I am clearly not a woman. And you are not a member of either family."

Antheia reached for her wine glass, just needing something to keep her hands busy during the conversation. Or more likely to keep her mouth busy. Marvolo was not going to be leaving, and her patience was quickly thinning. She drained the glass and signaled for another.

That was at least a benefit to the affair. Even if she had been an outsider, a half-blood, not an equal to the rest of them, they did not want it to show. The invitation came with the luxury of living as a member of the sacred twenty-eight. Endless glasses of fine wine that were too rich for her budget.

"I thought you liked to pretend that I'm a member of the Greengrass family," Antheia reminded him, "Or is that only when it is convenient to you now?"

Marvolo gave her that uncomfortable smirk that was dreaded around the office. The cocky one that showed his pride before acting on it. "Greengrass. Wytners. I'm surprised that you have not told me to call you Sallow yet." Her cheeks flushed, and she tapped her nails uncomfortably against the glass as she waited for a fresh one. "Dear Antheia, you are always convenient to me. My brother cares deeply for you, which is why we thought it would be important for you to attend today."

"I don't care about this event any more than Ominis does."

"Not yet," He corrected.

Then he began to look around the sea of faces. Snake eyes searching for prey. All of the ladies and women at the event he had likely known by first name. He could have given their stories to anyone with details of personality, but to Antheia, they had all been strangers. Few had greeted or spoken to her. The handful that had quickly learned that she had been unnoteworthy and moved along.

Antheia had just been reaching for the fresh glass of wine handed to her when he spoke again, "What do you think of her?" He had pointed toward the bride-to-be. Or at least, the woman that Antheia had been assuming was Lyra Black. They hadn't been introduced yet.

She was like a flame. All of the others, like moths, as they danced and hovered around her in every direction she had turned. There was something about her that was hauntingly beautiful. She was simply dressed for such an event. Long ebony hair flowed down her back in loose curls. If she had to wear makeup, then it was light. Everything about her face was soft and earthy. The white dress had made her look less like a member of the Blacks and more like a bride.

Perhaps Lyra could sense their eyes on her from across the yard. Her eyes flickered and met Antheia's as she stared. Then she had smiled at her. Not like a humble smile to be polite to a stranger in waiting, Lyra looked toward her and smiled like she had known her already. As if the two had been old friends, recognizing each other after years apart.