tense moments (tagged)

Alayna had more or less permanently relocated to the Rowle Estate as soon as they arrived back from Hogwarts. She had her own room out of decency, but Ptolemy was certain his parents knew of her sleeping in his room every night anyway: they just didn't say or do anything about it. The room contained her belongings mostly, but also the suits of the groomsmen and the dresses of the bridesmaids and maid of honor. Ptolemy hadn't seen Alayna's dress, but they both preferred to keep it that way.

The manor was empty with the exception of Parzival, but he had locked himself inside his room and would probably remain there for the duration of the day. Using this opportunity, Ptolemy had invited Atticus and Carina over as a surprise for Alayna: it had been at least two weeks since they'd all seen each other.

Atticus had already arrived. He and Ptolemy were sat in the living room in silence, with only the quiet ticking of the grandfather clock sounding between them. Ptolemy wasn't particularly unnerved by this though, he knew Alayna would come downstairs soon to greet them.

@Alayna Nott @Carina Malfoy @Atticus Nott

As he would be seeing both Carina and Alayna, Atticus had agreed to go over to the Rowle estate. The room was surly, dark and serious: just like many other pureblood homes were. There was a reason why he didn't like being in these sorts of sitting rooms: they reminded him of last Christmas, when it happened.

Ptolemy was being incredibly quiet, and he wondered whether it was to deliberately put him on edge. Usually he would be saying something - usually haughty and conceited - but he was completely silent. They sipped their tea occasionally, and glanced around the room.

The tension could be cut with a knife.

Smiling lopsidedly at her delighted squeal, he watched from his armchair as Alayna embraced her brother. He understood why they hadn't seen each other for a while: school had finished and Alayna had moved from the Nott house, then Atticus was currently... preoccupied with James Potter. At least he hadn't moved in with him, but seeing as he clearly despised living in that house, it was only a matter of time before he moved out. Where was the question, and how. Theodore had cut him off.

"Alayna!"

Thrilled to see her, and glad to have the tension wiped away, Atticus stood up as he anticipated some kind of knock-out hug from her. Sure enough, it happened just the way he thought it would. Except now, as a slower-moving and heavily pregnant woman, she didn't pack quite the punch she usually did.

"I've missed you - and I'm sorry about not messaging as much. I've been helping out James a lot with the baby, but I don't really know if I'm entirely useful yet." Chuckling, he sat down again, waiting for her to sit next to him. "You look well... but uncomfortable. Just slightly."

@Alayna Nott

Alayna giggled a bit st his brothers statement, "Wow. It's almost as if Im pregnant." She rolled her eyes and ruffled his hair, "I'm fine really. Just ready for these two bugs to vacate my body." She said with a laugh as she rubbed her large stomach, "You'll still be able to come help me when I need it right? James isnt stealing you from m-me?" She didn't even notice she had started crying as she asked. Stupid hormones. 

@Atticus Nott  @Ptolemy Rowle

"It won't be long now. At least you're at home and not having them at school like poor Evelyn..."

It was strange to be referring to Ptolemy's house as her 'home', but he expected she felt that way about it. The Nott manor never felt like home to either of them, despite growing up there.

"Uh - A-Alayna?" He could never get used to her crying as much as this. Out of the two of them, he was more the crybaby. "Of course I will! I'll be right there when it's time, I promise. James wouldn't steal me away... shh. Come on now." He held her again. "Even if we move in together, I'm still going to be around!"

@Alayna Nott

"Are you all right, Alayna? Sit down..."

Of course Atticus was already comforting her, but then he'd mentioned moving in with Potter.

Ah... somehow he didn't think that would be something she'd want to hear right now...

Ptolemy sighed as Carina arrived, although he would have preferred to be greeting her in a better situation. Alayna had seen her twin for five minutes, and already there were signs of bickering starting to happen. Responding to the look she gave him, Ptolemy said to Carina:

"Atticus is being a tactless twit again."

He thought that perhaps they just needed some time alone together.

"I'll get some tea prepared for you, darling. Carina - would you like to come and see our selection?" he asked pointedly, jerking his head to the side slightly to indicate she should come along with him for a moment while this sorts itself out.

@Carina Malfoy

Atticus ignored Ptolemy's comment, and smiled slightly at Carina, but turned back to Alayna.

"Well... you know that I can't stay in that house. Not now that I can't go back to Hogwarts. You know how much he means to me, Alayna, it's only natural that we might be thinking about something like that..."

Although he hated seeing her cry, he didn't like to conceal things from her either. She had got onto him in the past for concealing things.

"And - well - maybe... seeing as we're on the subject... I mean, he really should be there at the wedding with me, as my partner..."

@Alayna Nott

Following her, Ptolemy navigated them both to the direction of the kitchen where the family elf was inside.

"Show Miss Malfoy our earl grey selection," he told the elf, and, after bowing to the two of them, it went to fetch what was asked.

Ptolemy turned to Carina again. "Alayna got upset when he mentioned Potter. As I suspected, there's already mentions of them two moving in together. Don't worry - I'm sure once they've each had their say, Alayna will greet you properly."

The elf came out again with several boxes of tea on a tray. "Here we are, Miss Malfoy." it squeaked.

"There's actually something I wanted to show you upstairs. Alayna might have my head for getting to it first before her, but I'll take that risk."

@Carina Malfoy

Alayna tried to ignore her brother, failing of course. She was about to give in when he mentioned bringing him to the wedding. St that ppint, she narrowed her eyes at him, "If I see him at my wedding he will be thrown out. Along eith whoever invited him." .. @Atticus Nott

"You don't mean that..."

Atticus sighed.

"If you let him attend your wedding, then it really would be the beginning of the end of that silly feud. You can all move on from it: James, Ptolemy and you. The truth is that he's going to be in the picture a lot, seeing as he's my boyfriend, so you're going to have to accept that sooner or later."

He hadn't discussed this with James yet. Perhaps he should have. What if was too uncomfortable to come?

@Alayna Nott

Ptolemy laughed, signalled for the elf to prepare the tea, and gestured for Carina to follow him.

"Come on - I'll show you."

Smiling, he turned and exited the kitchen, down the long hallway to the double staircase which he climbed to the second floor. Down another hallway, he arrived in front of a door.

"This guest room is Alayna's. Go on in and you'll see it right away."

The dresses were hanging up at the centre of the room, including Carina's.

@Carina Malfoy

"But Alayna!"

He knew that he couldn't win this argument with her. Also, with her being so far along in hre pregnancy, he couldn't bring himself to keep arguing back. He made it clear by his expression that he thought she was being unreasonable, but dropped the subject.

"Ptolemy would probably be thrilled if I wasn't there," was all what came out of his mouth.

@Alayna Nott

"Yes, it is," he responded, stepping into the room after her.

Every time he went in here, he got a sense of joy that this was all happening: soon everyone would be wearing these, gathered together to celebrate their marriage. There wouldn't be any unsavoury characters ruining the day like they had tried countless times before. It was just family, the upper class and their servants.

Nothing could go wrong.

"You can try it on if you like," he said to her, smiling broadly.

@Carina Malfoy

"No atticus! No more buts!" She shouted, her voice straining a bit. She looked at him in complete shock ay what he said, "Seriously? If I don't let you bring your man whore you wont even attend my wedding!?" She couldnt believe what he was saying, "You're really going to choose some half blood dick over your sister?" 

@Atticus Nott

"What's him being a half-blood got anything to do with it?!"

At least he'd managed to give her the benefit of the doubt for two whole minutes. Now he was back to raising his voice again. It was difficult to keep thinking 'she's not in her right mind' when she was saying these sorts of things!

"You just said you would throw me out anyway!"

@Alayna Nott

Carina smiled as she took the dress off the hook. She slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her and she removed her clothing and slid into the dress. It was beautiful. She opened the door and poked her head out, "Can you help me with the zipper?" She smiled at him, happy to be around him again without the awkwardness. 

@Ptolemy Rowle