Kiss From A Rose
So much to say...
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Okay,
so my final exams were …. Well, I can’t think of a word that would be bad
enough right now.
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EN-GB'>: I’m glad you like it! I hope this will stay so.
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Chapter 4
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So much to talk about…
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Julia
was already sitting on the bed, the blanket over her legs, still showing the
top of her new red nightgown.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
had just pulled the white silken negligee that had been in one of the boxes
over her head before she sat down on the bed herself. She pulled the blanket
over her legs and lay down next to her sister.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Julia
scooted closer to her sister and sighed contently once she was cuddled up next
to her sister. Angelina took her wand and turned off the light in the room.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Julia.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>“Mhm?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You…
you know that married couples share a bed, right?” Angelina asked silently into
the darkness.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Yes.”
Julia answered slowly.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“And,
you know… you know that you will have to sleep alone from tomorrow night on?”
Angelina hated this. She felt as though she was abandoning her sister.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
know.” Julia replied silently. She turned around in Angelina’s arms and tried
to look at her sister.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“But
during the day, you will still be with me, right? You will still play with me
and continue to teach me to read and write, won’t you?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>“Of course.”
promised and kissed Julia’s hair.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Good
night Angelina.” Julia yawned and was already asleep as soon as Angelina had
wished her a good night as well.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
frowned in her sleep and held Julia closer to her when the nightmares came back
to haunt her. Had she hoped that they would just stop now that she was far away
from the ‘Milagro Rojo’
she had been wrong. So wrong…
“You can’t marry her! She doesn’t fit in our family!”
“What do you mean?”
“She is… She doesn’t fit in! You must see that!”
“No I don’t!”
“She is black!”
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
whimpered in her sleep and tried to push the nightmare away, but to no avail.
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“Angelina, you have to go to Argentina with Julia, it
is getting way to dangerous here!”
“Don’t worry about us Angel. Just take care of your
sister.”
“I… we will see you again, right?”
“Take care of her, Angel. And remember, we will always
love you!”
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>A
single tear slid down her cheek as her mind let her see her parents again. As
she saw their faces, heard their voices, could almost feel her mother’s hands
on her cheek as she stroke her before she gave her Julia to take her to
EN-GB'>Argentina
EN-GB'>.
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“Hey
mudblood!” she felt the dragon skin boot kicking her in the side.
“Stand
up!”
“Do
as you’re told mudblood!”
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
hugged Julia closer to her. Her whole body shivered as her mind let her see
things that might have happened to both her and Julia had they stayed at the
to cover her body.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>It
wasn’t until the sun was rising that she woke up from the nightmare.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Well
Miss Johnson, would you like to accompany me into the hotel garden?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Julia
giggled slight when Dyson bowed and offered her his arm. Somehow the
28-year-old had managed to gain Julia’s trust – at least as much as she was
right now able to give – in less than a day. Angelina waved after her sister
when she walked out of the suite.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Nervously
she ran her hands over the pink fabric of her dress as she waited for
EN-GB'>Adrian
to speak. After all,
EN-GB'> wanting to speak with her was the reason for Dyson to take Julia into
the garden. And yet, when
EN-GB'>Adrian
started to talk, she almost jumped.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
talked to the hotel manager. We will marry this evening.” He told her as though
he had been merely talking about the weather. Angelina turned around to face
him and saw him leaning with his hip against the backrest of one of the
couches, looking back at her.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
wasn’t sure if he expected her to respond to this so she simply nodded and
waited whether or not he was going to say something more to her. Surely he
hadn’t sent her sister away just to tell her when they would get married, would
he?
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>Adrian
stepped away from the couch and went towards the door that was opposite to the
one that lead to the bedroom Angelina and Julia had slept in that night. At the
door he turned around and asked her to follow him.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
wasn’t really surprised when she saw the furniture of the bedroom. It was
exactly the same as the one in which she had slept the last night.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
wrote to my lawyer yesterday evening and had him sent this over immediately.”
EN-GB'>Adrian
walked towards the nightstand and took a small black box from it. When he came
back to her Angelina could see a small coloured picture on top of the box.
EN-GB'>Adrian
opened the box and showed Angelina a thin ring made of white gold with a
diamond. The ring was more than beautiful, especially as the sunlight caught in
the stone and the diamond seemed to reflect it in all colours of the rainbow.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“It
is beautiful.” Angelina said in a whisper as she looked at the ring. It was
beautiful and a part of her, a very small part of her, wished it was given her
under different circumstances. But she shook this feeling away immediately. She
had given up on love long ago; there was no reason to start thinking about such
nonsense now.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>When
EN-GB'> closed the box again, Angelina could see that the picture she had seen
on it was a crest. She cocked her head slightly to one side and looked at it.
The crest was divided into four parts, the top held a simple dark green quarter
on the left and a silver quarter with a snake under a wane moon. The lower part
of the crest held a silver quarter with a dark red flower on the left and again
a simple dark green quarter on the right.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“What
is this?” She asked and her fingers touched the picture slightly
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“It’s
our family crest.”
EN-GB'> explained. He put the box back onto the nightstand before they walked
back into the living room.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Can
I ask you something?” Angelina asked and turned to face him.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You
just did.”
EN-GB'> replied and Angelina sighed. She tried desperately to stay calm and not
scream at him right now.
EN-GB'> was glad to see the way her eyes darkened. She had almost scared him
with the way she had acted so far. Too cool, too reserved,
too un-Gryffindor-like.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Why
did you want it to be one condition that neither
of us is allowed to have affairs?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>Adrian
raised his eyebrows and Angelina already thought she wouldn’t get a response
from him when he finally answered.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
don’t like anyone touching what is mine.” He said and it was Angelina’s turn to
raise her eyebrows.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I’m
possessive. Might have to do with me being an only child.
So I won’t watch how my wife is having affairs with other men. And I guess it is
only fair if I don’t have affairs then, too.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>To
say she was surprised would have been an understatement. But Angelina didn’t
say anything more about it. After a quick glance to the clock
EN-GB'>Adrian
excused himself, saying that he had a business appointment and that he would be
back by seven. The wedding would then be held at
EN-GB'>. Angelina wasn’t sure whether she wished for the time to pass by faster
or to stop entirely.
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style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>It
was about thirty minutes later when Dyson and Julia came back into the suite.
Julia ran towards the couch Angelina was sitting on and jumped onto it.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Look!”
She said when she held a brown teddy bear with a pink bow around his neck
towards her sister.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Dyson
bought him for me.” Julia smiled and hugged the teddy. Angelina looked asking
at Dyson who only shrugged smiling while he walked closer. Julia turned to look
at him and then back at Angelina.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Do
we have a paper and a pencil here? I promised Dyson to paint him something.”
Julia said and Angelina felt close to tears when she looked into her sister’s
eyes. In Julia’s eyes she could see the hope for a better future. If Julia was
already willing to trust Dyson then the past four years had maybe not affected
her as badly as she had feared. Then maybe Julia would soon be able to leave
all this behind.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
don’t know.” She answered Julia’s question and made to arise from the couch
when Dyson told her he would get something for Julia to paint on. When Dyson
left the room Angelina looked at her sister again.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Dyson
told me that Teddy will protect me at night from all the bad dreams and from
any bad memories that might come.” Julia told her proudly.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I’m
sure he will.” Angelina said when she looked at the stuffed animal. Julia
suddenly frowned and looked worried at her older sister.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Will
this other man protect you from your bad dreams now?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
looked shocked at the young girl. She had always thought Julia didn’t know
about her nightmares.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Julia…”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“So,
this should be enough for you to paint me something nice, right?” Dyson
interrupted them and Angelina didn’t finish her sentence. She hadn’t known what
she should have said anyway. Julia took the paper and the crayons from Dyson
and walked into her bedroom, saying she didn’t want Dyson to see the painting
before she was done.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Once
she had closed the door behind her Dyson went to the small bar and filled
before he sat down next to Angelina on the couch.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You…
you didn’t have to buy her the teddy bear.” Angelina told him softly when Dyson
put his arms on the backrest of the couch, placing his right leg on his left
knee.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
thought it might help her getting used to sleep alone.” Dyson said and
shrugged. The whispered ‘Thank you’
from Angelina he almost overheard.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You
don’t look like a soon-to-be bride.” Dyson said and sipped on his whiskey.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“What
do you expect me to look like?” Angelina asked and eyed him curiously.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Happy?”
Dyson shrugged. Angelina raised her eyebrows at him.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You
do know what this marriage is about, don’t you?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
do. That doesn’t mean you can’t look happy. One would think, after living in
that establishment for… how long was it, three, four years? …
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
am happy to be out of there that is for sure, however, I’m not a person who is
going to jump around with joy.” ‘Not
anymore at least.’
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“It
wouldn’t seem so, would it? No, you really are a lot like my cousin.” Dyson
said and gained another raised eyebrow from Angelina. But he decided to change
the subject.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Has
EN-GB'> told you about our family yet?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
shook her head.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>“Of course not.”
Dyson laughed slightly. “Although there is a lot to talk
about. It is a rather large family – unusual, one would think, for
purebloods like ourselves, but then again, our
grandparents were a rather unusual couple.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You
see, when my grandparents met, they actually fell in love. So, when they
married, my grandfather had even let the family crest changed. I don’t know
whether or not you have seen it yet, it is…”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
have seen it.” Angelina interrupted him and Dyson nodded slowly.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“The
snake under the wane moon has been the sign of the Puceys for hundreds of
years, no one really knows anymore why. The red rose is the sign of the
DiAngelo – our grandmother’s family.” Dyson explained.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“But,
as I said before, they were very much in love and thus, my grandfather didn’t
only bed his wife until she gave him the desired heir, but together they raised
no less than seven children.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina’s
eyes widened slightly as she heard this. This was indeed rather unusual for the
old, rich pureblooded families.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“All
but one of their children got married and now I have 14 cousins. Three of them
have already children of their own.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Did
all of them marry out of love?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“No,
there are enough of them who married for other reasons. Although
my grandmother always insists on her talk
before the wedding. Telling everyone that they should remember that
there is no way she will allow any member of our family to end a marriage. But
obviously that didn’t stop anyone from marrying whom they wanted to marry.
Although, some of my cousins claim that grandmother has cursed them, so they
won’t be able to get children, or at least, that they won’t get a boy.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
looked disbelieving at Dyson who raised his hands.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
didn’t say I believe it.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“What
did you mean when you said
EN-GB'>Adrian
is like me?” Angelina suddenly asked. It took Dyson a moment to remember what
exactly she meant but when he did he answered immediately.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
meant that both of you hide your feelings. But
EN-GB'>Adrian
is still better at it.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I’m
not hiding my feelings!” Angelina told him but Dyson only raised his eyebrows
at her.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“When
was the last time you laughed? Or cried? Or screamed at someone? When was the
last time you didn’t put this mask on your face?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
swallowed. Could he be right? Was she really hiding her feelings?
straightened her shoulders and raised her chin when she looked at him again.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Even
if I do as you say, there’s nothing wrong with it!”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
didn’t say it is. You assume too much. Typical Gryffindor behaviour I’d say.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
narrowed her eyes at Dyson when she saw the grin that was slowly forming on his
lips.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
knew you weren’t as good at it as
EN-GB'>Adrian
He told her grinning. Angelina shook her head and sighed.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Angelina,
I beg you to be careful once we’re back in
EN-GB'>England
EN-GB'>.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Why?”
Angelina asked slightly troubled by Dyson’s sudden seriousness.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Because
there are people who would like to hurt my cousin, even in our family. And you
are the perfect way to get there.” Dyson stopped and looked at her and saw her
asking look.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Why
would someone of your own family want to hurt
EN-GB'>Adrian
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>“Because, even though my grandmother doesn’t say so openly, everyone
knows that
EN-GB'>Adrian
EN-GB'> is her favourite grandson.
For one his father was her youngest child and then, he is also said to be the
one who is most like our grandfather both, in his looks and his character.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Was?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Dyson
looked confused at her.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>“His father.
he is the youngest child, but he was
the youngest child.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“
EN-GB'>Adrian
father died some years ago.” Dyson explained and waited a moment before he
continued.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“
EN-GB'>Adrian
is rather calm and cold on the outside, but he can get very angry and
aggressive in a matter of seconds. But I guess you have already noticed that
during some Quidditch game. People who know him, know
how to get to him. And you will be the easiest way to accomplish that task.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
EN-GB'>“How so?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“To
say
EN-GB'> is possessive would be an understatement. And that is no secret in
EN-GB'>England
EN-GB'>. He is also someone who lets someone fall if this someone betrays him
in any way. I remember, it must have been in the year
the chamber was opened, he was going out with some Ravenclaw girl. After about
a month he found out she had made out with some guy from Ravenclaw. He beat him
up pretty bad, the guy had to stay in the hospital
wing for a night. Then he broke up with the girl.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>It
was getting cold in the room. Or maybe, that was just Angelina’s feeling.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I’m
not planning on betraying him.” Angelina said silently.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You
don’t have to convince me. Convince
EN-GB'>Adrian
Don’t let him doubt you. You are a very pretty woman, and you know it. It won’t
take much to let other men try to seduce you. Make it obvious that no one of
them is of any interest to you. Best would be… stay away from any man when
EN-GB'>Adrian
isn’t with you. And not just from strangers.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Angelina
shook her head slowly. He couldn’t really mean what he said, could he?
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I
told you that
EN-GB'> is the favourite grandson, and I told you that some of my cousins as
well as my dear siblings think our grandmother cursed them to not get a boy.
When you come back with
EN-GB'>, legally married and it only being a matter of time until you give
birth to a child, they will suspect that my grandmother will be more than
delighted if it is going to be a boy. I would like to tell you exactly from
whom you should stay away, but I fear, if I tell you now, that you can talk to
or to Maitland and Felicienne, it wouldn’t really help you, for you would have
forgotten the names before we are in
EN-GB'>England
EN-GB'>.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Angelina
EN-GB'> knew that he was probably right. Her head was already starting to ache
with everything he had told her so far.
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“One
would think that for a family as rich as yours doesn’t need the heritage your
grandmother has to offer.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“One
would think so, yes, but the heritage isn’t a small one. For one, there is a
lot of money, old, very valuable books, rare potion ingredients and so on. And
then of course, the houses: villas in
EN-GB'>Venice
EN-GB'>, and at the sea in
EN-GB'>Tuscany
A chateau in
A house in
my grandparents passed Christmas very often… the list is almost endless.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“What about you? Are you
married?” Angelina asked him. Dyson shook his head and drank his whiskey.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“No. And much to the dismay of
my dear grandmother, I won’t marry.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“You don’t want the heritage?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Dyson shrugged.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I will inherit enough from my
parents. I’m not one for marriage, you know. To think of binding myself to one
woman for the rest of my life…” Dyson shook his head.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“How could I? There are so
many beautiful women walking this planet, how could I decide on one alone?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Angelina
anything but shake her head when she saw the look on Dyson’s face. But then she
thought about how he had told her about
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Does your cousin hold his
word?” she asked in a whisper, not daring to look in his face.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Yes he does. Why do you ask?”
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Angelina
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I scared you with what I told
you about
statement than a question. Angelina turned her head to look into Dyson’s blue eyes again.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“He won’t hurt you.”
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Angelina
What could she do other than trust Dyson’s word?
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Here!” Julia’s happy voice
interrupted the silence that had befallen them. She came running towards the
couch. She gave Dyson a piece of paper where not a single white spot was left.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I painted the hotel garden.”
Julia told him proudly as she walked around the couch and sat on
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Do you like it?” she asked
and looked hopefully at him.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“Of course I do! This is the
best painting I have ever seen!” Dyson told her smiling before he arose.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>“I’ll see you tonight.” And
with this he left the two alone.
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>If anyone wants to see the
crest and/or the family tree go here:
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
http://de.share.geocities.com/nikidestiny/Stammbaum.bmp
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>(you
know the thrill, delete the spaces…)
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>And still no wedding…. But the
next one will be the wedding and the wedding night. Promise!
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Maybe I’ll be able to update
before the weekend, but I can’t promise, I have to prepare my oral
presentations in English and French for next weeks Thursday, and this week’s
Thursday, we’re going to capture the house of a friend for a pirate party! (
and eat Pizza :D) Oh, and while I’m talking about Pirates… has anyone of you
ever wondered about Captain Flint – Marcus Flint? Is there a connection between
them?
style='font-size:13.5pt;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>