Chapter 855 - Prickle Ⅴ (1/2)
From the nearby parlor having been able to overhear the conversation, a figure emerges from the dining room. ”Now, now, Druella,” chided the dark-haired witch, Lucretia Prewett (nee Black). The gray-eyed witch coolly eyed the mother of her Black cousins and wife of her deceased cousin, Cygnus. ”I am certain that Molly and Andromeda will speak of the joyous news in their own due time.”
Druella's blue eyes became frigid at Lucretia Prewett's words. The two women had never gotten along and Druella did not appreciate being talked down to in front of her daughters and cousin-in-law by marriage, Molly Weasley. The air sparks with almost visible tension between the two elder witches causing the three younger witches at the table to purposefully glance away.
Sensing the tension in the air the infant Aurora begins to restlessly stir. Druella and Lucretia immediately notice and tone the tension down but continue to viciously glare at each other. Before anything else can ensue, another figure emerges from the parlor room. It is Lucretia's husband, a long-nosed older wizard with a bit of a potbelly, and large silver streaks in his crimson hair. Overall, Ignatius Prewett was a jovial man with a bit of a stern air at times.
Ignatius winks ruefully at his niece, Molly, and his in-laws by marriage. Breaking the tension, Ignatius wraps his arm around his wife, Lucretia causing the somber witch's cheeks to flush at the public gesture of affection. Lucretia firmly taps her husband on the arm to remind him to desist in acting out such antics in public, but Ignatius cheerfully pretends not to notice. He nods his head at Druella Black, who politely nods her head back at the pureblood wizard feeling a bit more mollified by his actions.
The sound of footsteps can be heard behind them as two more figures emerge from the parlor, Bilius and Ronell Weasley, Arthur's older brothers who had never married, and who happened to be Molly's brothers-in-law. The eldest, Bilius Weasley was a jokester with fiery red hair and freckles. In fact, Bill their eldest son was named after Bilius.
The second brother was Ronell Weasley was the odd one in his family. He was a solemn man with dark hair and gray-colored eyes, a trademark of the Black family inherited from his mother, Cedrella Black. And out of the entire Weasley family, he was the only son who resembled the Black side of the family rather than after the Weasley side of things, (fiery red hair and blue eyes or freckles).
With a cheerful smile, Bilius opens his arms wide to engulf Charlie and Dora. He swings the two children around causing the toddlers to giggle in delight. Ronell snorts at his older brother's loud antics and instead turns to softly ruffle the hair on top of Bill's head. He secretly hands the five-year-old boy, a sweet and quickly motions to him to hide the treat away lest the troublesome tots descended upon them. Bill happily pockets the sweet and wraps his arms around his uncle's long legs in a hug leaving Ronell to gently pat the top of Bill's head.
There are smiles on everyone's face including Druella and Lucretia's even if they are faint. Glancing at the time, Druella says, ”It is nearly time to put the children to bed, and the four of you must be off to the presentation ball.”
”We would have left long ago, cousin,” Ronell politely replied to the wife of his deceased cousin, Cygnus Black. Ronell darkly glares at his older brother, Bilius. ”However, Bilius's sweetheart is accompanying us and she had other matters to attend to.”
”Sweetheart?” Molly exclaimed in shock. ”But Bilius has not been seeing anyone as far as I aware except for stopping by the home of the-.” Molly's eyes widen in shock and begin's to choke for a moment, before gasping, ”The widow, Juliet D'Eath!” She incredulously turns to stare at her brother-in-law openly gaping at him in shock.
”That's the one,” Bilius breathlessly replied as he set the two toddlers down, who scurried off towards their Uncle Ignatius and Aunt Lucretia or as they called them, ”Igny and Lulu.”
”Juliet's just the witch for me,” Bilius lovingly said with a twinkle in his blue eyes causing the ȧduŀts in the room to turn and openly stare at the red-headed wizard.
”But the widow D'Eath already has a son!” Molly weakly protested. ”You'll have to raise the boy up!” She hesitates and lowers her voice to a whisper. ”He is half-vampire!”
”Her boy, Lorcan is a fine lad, and I would be so lucky to have a chance to help raise such a good-hearted lad,” Bilius firmly responded without a hint of hesitation in his voice. ”And besides Bill right here likes Lorcan, isn't that right, Bill?”