Even the most fallen aristocratic family still had relatives.
Three days after David and James returned from their hunting trip, the castle received a visitor from his mother’s side of the family.
“You look well, Mary.” A large, bald wizard embraced Mary in the entrance hall and looked her over with some relief.
Mary smiled.
“You look well too, Hedoc.” Then she turned towards the young girl standing beside him.
“Pansy.
Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten your aunt already?” “Hello, Aunt Mary.” Pansy smiled sweetly and hugged her.
The moment she stepped back, however, her attention drifted towards the handsome boy standing beside Mary.
Blond hair.
A straight nose.
Deep blue eyes.
Rather attractive, really.
His face was still a little soft with baby fat, but that only made him look younger.
What annoyed Pansy slightly was that his skin was somehow even clearer than hers.
He didn’t even have freckles.
David stepped forward politely.
“Hello, Uncle.” “David.
Oh, David…” Hedoc studied his nephew with obvious emotion.
Then he sighed.
“I’m genuinely relieved those Muggles didn’t educate you into becoming a Squib.” “Hedoc!” Mary immediately shot her brother a warning look.
“We agreed not to discuss that.” “All right, all right.” Hedoc lifted his walking stick in surrender.
Then he tilted his head towards David.
“But I still agree with your grandfather.” “Muggles simply aren’t reliable.” He paused.
“Your mother, however, is terrifying.” Hedoc nodded solemnly.
“We all gave up arguing with her years ago.” Mary’s mouth twitched.
Hedoc placed a hand on his daughter’s shoulder.
“Go and talk to your cousin.” A strange smile appeared on his face.
“You never know.
Perhaps the two of you might become family in an even closer sense someday.” “I’d be delighted if they did.” Mary looked between David and Pansy with far too much satisfaction.
David suddenly had a bad feeling.
The adults were looking at them as though an engagement contract might materialise at any moment.
Fortunately, Mary gestured for her brother to follow her towards the reception room.
“James is already waiting for you.” Hedoc had barely taken two steps before he looked towards one of the portraits lining the wall.
His expression immediately soured.
“Oh, for Merlin’s sake.
Why is he here?” He pointed irritably towards the portrait before walking away.
Mary reminded David to look after Pansy, then followed her brother.
David turned towards the painting in confusion.
A new elderly wizard had appeared inside it.
“That’s Perseus Parkinson.” Pansy spoke beside him.
David raised an eyebrow.
“Parkinson?” He glanced at her.
“Your ancestor?” “Yes.
A rather distant one.” Pansy slowly circled David while speaking, examining the cousin she had never met with absolutely no attempt at subtlety.
“He was Minister for Magic from 1726 to 1733.” “Indeed, young man!” The elderly wizard in the portrait straightened proudly.
“I succeeded that failure of an ancestor of yours.” His nose lifted.
“A dreadful Minister.” Pansy immediately rolled her eyes.
“You were a failure too.” Perseus stared at her.
Pansy continued mercilessly.
“Wizards are still allowed to marry Muggles, aren’t they?” The portrait looked scandalised.
Pansy grabbed David by the hand.
“Come on.” Before Perseus could begin shouting, she dragged David out of the castle.
They ran across the grounds until they reached a bench beneath a large tree.
Pansy finally stopped and took several breaths.
“He’s awful.” She sat down.
“Dad and I both hate him.” David sat beside her.
He looked at his rather cute younger cousin with amusement.
“Was he another anti-Muggle Minister?” “Probably.” Pansy swung her legs idly beneath the bench.
“He was an idiot, anyway.” “Dad says he was forced out of office.” David leaned back.
“Minister for Magic is a dangerous and foolish profession.” Pansy looked at him.
“James told me that.” She clearly wasn’t particularly interested in discussing dead Ministers.
Instead, she turned towards David and examined him again.
“I’ve never met you before.” “Dad only ever said that your family lived in France.” Her eyes brightened with curiosity.
“Did you really go to a Muggle school?” “For primary education.” David nodded.
“Until I was eleven.” “After that I went to Beauxbatons.” He paused.
“Then Durmstrang.” The reminder of his education made his mood sink slightly.
Pansy noticed.
“I’ve heard of Durmstrang.” She nodded thoughtfully.
“Draco says they teach the Dark Arts there.” Her eyes lit up.
“He thinks it sounds brilliant.” David smiled faintly.
Pansy seemed to think of something.
“I’m starting school this year too.” “A magical school?” David turned towards her.
“Really?
You’re already eleven?” “Of course!” Pansy immediately straightened, clearly offended that he had doubted her age.
“Hogwarts.” She lifted her chin proudly.
“It’s the only wizarding school in Britain.” “Congratulations.” David nodded approvingly.
“At least you won’t have to attend Oxford or Cambridge.” Pansy blinked.
David continued seriously.
“James says they’re dreadful.” She stared at him for a moment before deciding not to ask.
“What about you?” Pansy placed both hands on the bench.
“Are you going back to Durmstrang when term starts?” “I don’t know yet.” David looked across the enormous estate.
His future remained painfully uncertain.
If he couldn’t return to school, then what was left for him?
He supposed he would have no choice but to stay home and inherit this castle.
Along with tens of thousands of acres of land.
A tragic future indeed.
Handsome.
Uneducated.
Completely useless.
With nothing to his name except a castle and an enormous estate.
How miserable.
“You could come to Hogwarts.” Pansy’s suggestion interrupted his thoughts.
“You could study with me.” She seemed increasingly enthusiastic about the idea.
“They don’t teach the Dark Arts, but I’ve heard their Transfiguration and Potions classes are very good.” Then she brightened.
“And Hogwarts has Albus Dumbledore as Headmaster.” “You know who he is, right?” “Of course.” David smiled.
“Everyone knows Albus Dumbledore.” “The British wizarding world calls him the greatest wizard of the modern age.” David considered it.
“He has so many titles I doubt anyone can remember all of them.” Pansy tilted her head.
“What about outside Britain?” David looked at her.
“I mean…” She hesitated.
“Who do Durmstrang students admire?” “The Headmaster?” “Lots of people.” David thought for a moment.
“The world is rather larger than Albus Dumbledore.” He glanced towards Pansy.
“Some people still remember Grindelwald.” Pansy’s eyes widened.
“Really?” “They think he was great too.” David nodded.
“There are still symbols connected to him on some of Durmstrang’s walls.” “That’s brilliant!” Pansy sounded genuinely impressed.
“The previous Dark Lord!” David gave her a curious look.
His cousin apparently had a slightly rebellious streak.
Most British children probably wouldn’t react to Grindelwald with quite that much excitement.
Then Pansy grinned.
“But Hogwarts produced a Dark Lord too.” She leaned closer.
“You know who.” “Voldemort?” David laughed.
At that moment, he noticed Mary walking towards them from the castle.
He looked back at Pansy.
“I wouldn’t call him much of a second Dark Lord.” Pansy froze.
David spoke as casually as though they were discussing Quidditch.
“He was more of a terrorist.” “He barely even made it beyond Britain.” David shrugged.
“Hardly comparable to Grindelwald, is he?” Pansy stared at him.
There was no fear in his voice.
None.
He had just dismissed Voldemort—the name most British witches and wizards refused even to speak aloud—as a regional terrorist who hadn’t achieved enough to deserve his title.
Mary approached along the stone path.
“It looks like the two of you are getting along wonderfully.” She smiled at them.
“What are you talking about so enthusiastically?” “Aunt Mary…” Pansy quickly stood.
Then she glanced nervously at David.
For the first time since meeting him, she seemed unsure how to explain exactly what kind of person her cousin was.
David stood as well.
He smiled brightly at his mother.
“Pansy invited me to attend a British magical school.” Mary’s expression warmed.
David continued.
“She says they’ve produced a Dark Lord too.” Mary’s smile froze.
“Oh…” She blinked.
“Is… that so?” Mary had thought she was prepared for whatever strange subjects a boy and girl their age might discuss.
Apparently, she had been mistaken.
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