Friday, 2nd August, 1991
Buttermere, Lake District, England
Daphne and Luna curiously watched Altair apply scent to his collars, wearing an intricate suit today.
They were already surprised that he had not left before they woke up, and usually, he did not bother getting this dressed up on an ordinary day.
After he told them that he had to deal with something important every day, they had stopped asking him where he was going, but today they felt compelled to raise the question again.
"Altair?" the little Miss Greengrass called out to him, and he smiled at her.
"Yes, Daphne?"
"Where are you going today?"
"Gemma is hosting Professor Fairwind, Professor McGonagall, Professor Montclair, Professor Sinistra, and Professor Tonks for lunch today at Dumbledore Hall. They helped her with all the paperwork at the Ministry to get her Apprenticeship under Professor Fairwind approved. She will now be attending Hogwarts for the next three years as an Apprentice and also as an Assistant at Law."
"Oh, what were her results in her N.E.W.T.s?"
"All Outstanding."
Daphne nodded her head, acknowledging that Lady Dumbledore was truly gifted. She had been itching to duel her ever since Gemma won the Quadrivium and Gemini Cups.
"Do you want to come?" he inquired, and the little Miss Greengrass hesitated slightly.
"She has not invited me."
"It is fine. She will not mind. The Fawleys will be there. Cordelia and Damien are coming as well. Oh, and Laetitia Rosier is coming with her older brother. There may be a few other people too."
"She really would not mind?"
"No, she will not. Also, you will be able to keep Laetitia company." He smiled, and Daphne quickly rushed into the dressing room. "Luna?" He looked at the Lovegood, who was already sitting at the table with his MoonFox beside the book she was reading.
"I am fine." She smiled at him and continued her study.
She was a Ravenclaw through and through, and the thought made him smile. He did not insist that she come with them. Altair knew how much she disliked crowds, and she would grow bored very quickly.
Here, with the books and Illya, she would be happy all day long.
A while later, Daphne, now wearing a beautiful green dress, walked out and turned around, handing her hair into Altair's care. Without a word, he began braiding it the way she liked.
She thanked him, put on the same perfume he had applied, and took a deep breath.
"Let us go."
"That was fast." He teased, and she smiled as she came over to take his hand.
The two of them said their goodbyes to Luna and Illya, then walked out to the Sky Platform.
"We are not asking Fruska to send us there?"
"Why? Do you not want to ride the broom with me?"
"I would not mind that."
Altair smiled and pulled his wand out of its holster. He waved it once before returning it, and moments later, his Nimbus Two Thousand came flying towards him, stopping right in front of him.
Daphne smiled as he helped her sit in front, holding her in his arms, and then they shot up into the sky at breakneck speed.
She laughed heartily as the wind brushed against her face, ruffling her hair and clothes, but even as he picked up speed, she did not panic.
Minutes later, the two of them landed right in front of Dumbledore Hall, and even though Daphne had seen it before, she had never seen it look so alive.
When Altair grabbed her hand and led her straight through the wards without needing to ask any house-elf for assistance, a question rose in her mind, but she never voiced it.
Even the doors of the Hall opened on their own for them, and she wondered whether Gemma had granted him free access to her home.
He had clearly been there before, as he led her straight to the main salon, where they found Damien Rosier and his little sister, Laetitia. Cordelia Selwyn was there too, as were Gemma's parents and her older brother, Sebastian, who had arrived with his bride, Agatha Selwyn.
Cordelia and Agatha were half-sisters, and Damien was engaged to Cordelia and set to marry her next summer after her graduation. They were all friends and family there.
The mood and focus in the room instantly shifted with Altair's arrival, and he greeted everyone with a smile and grace. Thankfully, Daphne had already met everyone present on other occasions, so there was no awkwardness.
She did not feel out of place either, as Laetitia engaged her in conversation of her own accord. The two were soon going to become classmates and, more than likely, housemates in Slytherin, so it was pleasant to become better acquainted.
Mrs Fawley even cupped Altair's cheeks and kissed his forehead, as a mother would her child. Daphne had never known they were that close, and she was surprised when Laetitia spoke her mind.
"The Fawleys are very intimate with Heir Black."
"Gemma and he are good friends..."
"My brother and Gemma are good friends too. Mrs Fawley has never been as intimate with him," Leta said meaningfully, and Daphne frowned.
"What is your guess?"
"Gemma intends to marry Altair."
The Greengrass stared at her acquaintance in surprise, and Leta met her eyes.
"Why? Does it seem outrageous to you?"
Daphne furrowed her brows and eventually shook her head.
"The match makes sense, both magically and politically."
"Do you think Altair knows about their intentions?"
"If we can figure it out, then he surely already has," she softly said.
"So, you have the same guess." Leta smiled, and the Greengrass matched her smile.
Daphne kept the details she had noticed in her heart, not sharing them with Leta. She would never share such details with anyone unless she trusted them with her life, especially when they concerned someone important to her.
Unbeknownst to her, the fact that she did not add any details elevated her image in Leta's heart, who began to appreciate her more and considered her someone worth speaking to.
The two soon discovered that they had a great deal in common, especially regarding their interests, and both showed their wands to each other.
"Thanks for bringing Miss Greengrass, Altair. I was worried Laetitia was going to be too quiet." Damien, who saw his little sister socialising with someone, looked relieved.
"You are welcome." The young Black chuckled and then began chatting with Sebastian and Agatha, both of whom were fine Healers and Potioneers, among the finest working at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
Part of the reason Cordelia wanted to become a Healer was to follow in her older sister's footsteps, and she was also naturally talented in the Healing Arts. As for Damien, he had been accepted as an Apprentice at the Office of the Preservation of the Unseen.
It was a newly established but prestigious department of the Ministry of Magic, consisting of skilled technomancers and other brilliant witches and wizards whose sole responsibility was to keep the Wizarding World hidden from evolving Muggle technology.
Some strings had been pulled, of course, but being accepted by the Office of the Preservation of the Unseen was still a testament to his brilliance.
He had earned Outstanding in Arithmancy, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Muggle Studies, and Transfiguration. Those were five Outstandings out of the six subjects he took in his N.E.W.T.s, earning Exceeds Expectations in Potions.
Damien was never a bookworm, but his results in both his O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s exceeded what many had expected, including the professors at Hogwarts. He was brilliant, just not as brilliant as certain exceptional individuals like Gemma, who had taken all sixteen subjects offered at Hogwarts and secured Outstanding in them in her O.W.L.s, then went on to secure Outstanding in twelve subjects in her N.E.W.T.s, most of them through self-study.
According to Damien, Gemma was arguably the most overqualified graduate ever to come out of Hogwarts, and given that he was a Prefect and had accessed the Academic Record Room, he was likely correct.
She had secured Outstanding in Arithmancy, Astronomy, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Ethics, Healing, Herbology, Magical History, Magical Law, Potions, Study of Ancient Runes, and Transfiguration in her N.E.W.T.s.
Damien joked that only Altair could beat that record, and the young Black smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
He did intend to earn Outstanding in all the subjects he was interested in, but he was not trying to compete with Gemma or anyone else.
They were all engrossed in conversation when the door to the salon opened and the Hogwarts professors were led inside by Lady Dumbledore.
Altair's eyes, however, landed on Nymphadora Tonks and lingered. She was wearing the same attire as Professor Montclair, leather-armoured and always ready for a duel.
His cousin met his gaze, her expression quivered, but then she put on a bright grin and tried to act normal.
"Hey, kiddo." She waved, and he smiled.
"Cousin."
The elders greeted one another first, and eventually, his turn came.
"Not bad, Mister Black. You have not received less than three hundred per cent in any of your exams." Professor Montclair teased him.
"Three hundred per cent?" Damien, who was standing next to Altair, gaped.
"Yes. Mister Black has attained at least two hundred and two bonus points in all his subjects."
"Wow..." Cordelia looked at him in amazement.
"Thank you, Professor." He politely bowed.
"Will you be attending this year's British Duelling Circuit? Nymphadora is participating, and her first match takes place tomorrow."
"I will be there to cheer for her in the finals, Professor." He smiled and glanced at his cousin, who grinned at his words.
"You are more confident than I am."
"That is true." He mischievously nodded, and by the time she realised her error, the people around them were already laughing.
Altair met Professor McGonagall next, who hugged him, and then he greeted Professor Tonks politely, planting a kiss on her knuckles.
Even though she was his aunt, he was more distant with her than with anyone else in the room, including Professor Fairwind, who soon found himself in a hearty conversation with him, Daphne, and Laetitia.
The old professor encouraged them to consider Magical Law for their future N.E.W.T.s, and when he learned that they already intended to take the subject, he was delighted.
It took a while, but Altair eventually found time to approach Nymphadora, who was sitting on the couch next to Gemma, only to be stopped by Professor Sinistra.
"Where are your sweet girlfriends, Altair?" she playfully asked, and he chuckled.
"Aurelia is in Russia, and Choxue is in China. My family is in Bhutan."
"And what are you doing in Buttermere all alone?"
"I am not alone, Professor."
"Why stay and not explore?" she asked curiously.
"I promised someone that I would be teaching them something during these summer holidays."
"Ah, a promise must always be kept, Mister Black."
"Certainly, Professor." He nodded and frowned slightly when Nymphadora suddenly stood and asked Gemma to show her to the bathroom.
Daphne and Laetitia exchanged a glance when the young Black silently left the hall as well, going after Gemma and Nymphadora, but neither followed to confirm their suspicions.
They were mistaken, however. Altair had not gone to speak to Gemma. He followed them to speak to his cousin.
"My Lord." Gemma smiled at him as she leaned against the wall in the corridor, and he smiled back.
"My Lady." He greeted her, planting a kiss on her knuckles, then leaned against the wall beside her. "Will you be free on the thirteenth?"
"I will be attending the final of the British Duelling Circuit." She shook her head.
"Perfect. I will need you to accompany me, Daphne, and Luna there."
"That is fine." She smiled brightly, and when her pocket watch chimed, she hurried away, apologising that she needed to ensure everything was in order in the kitchen.
"Do not rush." Altair called after her, and she smiled sweetly, slowing her pace.
The young Black remained leaning against the wall for a few more minutes until Nymphadora emerged.
She froze when she saw him standing there, having overheard parts of his conversation with Gemma, and though she wanted to return to the salon, she walked over and leaned against the wall beside him.
"What is this gem?" she asked, pulling up her sleeve and staring at the bracelet he had gifted her.
"It is a sapphire." He replied, and she furrowed her brows.
"They come in this colour?"
"Yes. This one is a Padparadscha sapphire, to be precise. One of the rarest." He smiled as he glanced at it adorning her fair wrist. "It suits you."
"None of them in that salon really like me," she said quietly, and he raised his head to look at her profile.
"I do. Your mother does. Professor Montclair adores you. Professor McGonagall appreciates you. Professor Fairwind thinks highly of you. And need I mention how much Professor Sinistra likes you? She gave you free access to her Astronomy Tower for all these years..."
She giggled at the reminder.
"And the rest?"
"Gemma considers you worthy of friendship," he said, and she looked at him curiously.
"How do you know?"
"I know."
"Fine. What about the others?"
"You cannot have the whole world like you, Cousin. It is not possible."
"They like you."
"Yes, and there are people who wish to see me dead as well." He smiled, and his nonchalant words froze her momentarily. "But you are not truly seeking their validation. You simply want to say what is on your mind and see how I respond."
"You are not fun at all." She sighed and pushed off the wall, walking away.
She stopped, turned back, and smiled at him.
"If I win the British Duelling Circuit this year, you will teach me your special Patronus Charm."
"Do not lose then." He shrugged as they walked back towards the salon side by side.
"You are not worried that I will share that spell with someone else?"
"No."
"Why?"
"All we can do is trust those we choose to trust, Nymora. We cannot stop anyone from betraying us, breaking our trust, our relationships, or desecrating our values and promises..." He sighed, stopping himself before his words could wound her. "I trust you. I do not believe you will betray me. And even if betrayal awaits me, I refuse to ruin the present by fearing it or letting it take root in my mind."
"Why do you trust me?" she asked.
"Why do you trust me?" he asked in return, and she fell quiet, uncertain how to answer.