The Years of Riddle

Chapter Fifty | Ottery St. Catchpole, August 1989

Chapter Fifty

Ottery St. Catchpole, August 1989

          There was little that made Silas prouder than his children. They were all smart, capable, and loving, with unique personalities that Silas still marvelled over. With three of them at Hogwarts, Ivy attending a year from then, Magnus in three, Silas was holding onto their childhood as tightly as possible. This was impossible when it came to Estelle, as she was maturing more quickly than Silas could handle.

Anthony found him in the kitchen, standing at the counter, holding a drink. It was Estelle and Bill's going away party, and Anthony could tell Silas was struggling. "You okay?" he asked, pouring a drink for himself.

"I can't believe my daughter is moving to Egypt to become a curse breaker." He was still in shock. He had not been surprised when Estelle decided to become an expert in curses, but this? This was dangerous.

"I couldn't believe my son wanted to be in ministry." Anthony shrugged, chuckled. "Children surprise you."

"Ministry wasn't dangerous."

"True, you didn't find your danger in the ministry."

"I didn't seek out danger," said Silas defensively. "It sort of just came about."

"You never could step down from a challenge," acknowledged Anthony, "I suppose that's where Essie gets it from."

"Oh, she didn't get much from me."

Anthony swirled his wine, looking into the living room, where Estelle was snuggled up to her youngest brother. "Those eyes, that hair – her spirit. That's you."

Silas thought back to a moment in an alley, standing over the Prewett brother's – his eyes, Estelle's eyes, staring at him from a murderer's face. "I never liked my eyes much."

Anthony fell silent, looking into his drink. "You know –"

"I have his eyes." Silas shrugged, but his shoulders were tense. "Estelle and Magnus, they do too. A murderer's eyes."

"Sy, that means nothing –"

"I know." He tried to smile, downed his drink. "I need to talk with Estelle a bit, see if she needs anything."

"Sy..."

"I'll talk to you later, Pa."

Silas entered the living room, bursting with Weasley's, Lacroix's and Wood's. Their little home wasn't big enough for the family they had accumulated, but no one minded. Children sat on laps, adults on arm rests, there were never enough seats but always copious amounts of love.

Inesa approached Silas then, beaming. She had softened after eighteen years of motherhood, developed curves where she had once been lean, and a glow that rarely faded. Silas loved his wife more now that he had as a teenager, more every day, and he wrapped his arms around her right then. "How is it we are letting our baby go off to Egypt to break curses?" he whispered in her ear.

Inesa laughed and swayed to the music with him. "Letting her? She hasn't asked our permission for anything in years."

"I'm terrified, Ness."

"You think I'm not?" she kissed his cheek. "She's got Bill, don't forget." She slipped from his arms, and he leaned against the wall. It was true; Estelle did have Bill, her oldest friend. The two were thick as thieves, and he knew the eldest Weasley boy would look out for her.

When the party was coming to a close, Silas looked about for Estelle. She didn't seem to be around, but upon peeking out the back door, he saw his daughter leaning up against the fence, face titled to the sky. He treaded across the damp grass, not wanting to disturb her.

"Hey sweetie," he said, coming up beside her.

"Hi Papa." She smiled at him with Gwyn's mouth, and his heart leapt. Sometimes he forgot that he could find his mother in his children's features, and it always shook him. "You know," she said after a moment of silence, "I was so anxious to get out of here, away from Hogwarts and England and this garden, but now that I'm actually leaving...I don't feel as rushed. I just want to dig my heels into time and stand here forever."

Silas was surprised. "I knew you were excited to go, but not that excited." He studied her face, the elegant nose and sharp cheekbones, dark eyes and curly hair. Gwyn's determined mouth, her expressive eyebrows and dash of freckles. "You don't have to go, Essie."

"Of course I do," she looked up at the stars again. "I want to, I do – if I don't, I never will. Besides, I heard the stars in Egypt are gorgeous."

"Same stars, sweet."

"I know." She said softly. "It's reassuring, really."

"You can come home whenever you want, too." He added. "Your mother and I will always welcome you back, it would be okay. No one would be disappointed."

"Papa." Estelle turned to him, smiling and comforting. "I'm going tomorrow, and I'm not going to come home until I've really done something. Don't worry too much, okay? Its just nerves talking."

"I have to worry Estelle, I'm your Pa."

She hugged him then, tightly. He felt tears wet his shirt, but said nothing. "I'm going to go inside," she said finally. "I'll see you in there."

He didn't have to thank her for leaving him out there. Tears streamed down his face as he looked up at the stars, thinking about how his first baby would be moving to another country tomorrow. "She'll be okay." He said to himself. "She will. Estelle is strong, she is capable. She will be fine."

Going back in, Silas put on a brave face. One of his children may be leaving, but he had four left. Besides, Estelle would be looking at the same stars, with his eyes. She would be okay. 

A/N: Somehow I have written three chapters in a night. Not sure how. 

Question: Estelle is going to be a curse breaker with Bill Weasley! Thoughts?!

Rose