Pandora didn't tell anyone that she was waiting for Tom Riddle. Having such exciting secret made her seem even more mature and refined. Also less accessible for other men, but her parents had already gotten used to the fact that their daughter wasn't that much into the idea of marriage. They even started to feel guilty for trying to force her to marry Tobias once.
Despite Pandora's love and devotion, she was often getting impatient. Sometimes she was afraid that Tom had fooled her because there was no word from him for two years. She was reading every newspaper from cover to cover and no one has ever mentioned his name anywhere. It was worrying her, but at the same time she promised herself that she would marry Tom or nobody else at all. So she was waiting for him, but if he would never show up, it would be fine as well. Except of the fact that her heart would turn into stone.
Rodolphus married Malicia and they expected their first child together. Tom wasn't even at his best friend's wedding. Priscilla tried to convince the newlyweds that they should move to Lestrange Manor but they wanted to stay in London.
Pandora asked her brother about Tom few times but Rodolphus never answered, he only smirked significantly instead. She eventually stopped asking.
Eileen got married as well. She married a muggle named... Tobias. For Pandora it was a double disgrace. She stopped writing letters to her former friend. Eileen's family disowned her as well and Pandora often pitied her but it was not enough to keep in touch with her. What would she talk about with a married woman anyway? She'd rather spend time with her parents and helping her pregnant sister-in-law. She could go to work, like she wanted to do when she was engaged to Tobias Lestrange, but she quickly learnt that it was just a way of escaping the marriage. When it came to making such decision, she preferred to stay at home. She was a spoiled Lestrange after all.
"Dora", Rodolphus Senior called his daughter and she appeared in his office a few moments later.
"Yes, daddy?"
"I'd like to inform you that we're going to have a very special guest tonight. Please, wear something formal and behave"
"Daddy, I'm twenty, not sixteen, you don't have to remind me to behave", she rolled her eyes. That habit of hers was inalienable.
"I'm glad I don't. Just have in mind, please, that it's a very special guest", her father gave her a concerned look.
"Who is it? The Minister of Magic?", she asked.
"No", her father answered firmly.
"Who then? Oh, daddy, please tell me! I need to know so I can find the perfect dress!", she fluttered her eyelashes.
Mr Lestrange thought to himself that his daughter being an unmarried girl living with her rich parents had spoiled her even more than before. He didn't comment on that, though.
"It's a man... A powerful wizard... Your brother's acquaintance. He has some major plans and he's building alliances with noble wizarding families"
"Mhm", Pandora nodded her head, "Another boring meeting of yours. Look-pretty-say-nothing type", she shrugged her arms.
"Dora, please", her father sighed.
"Oh, daddy, I'm kidding! I'm going to behave, I promise!", she kissed him on the cheek and left his office.
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