✧WHO IS SHE?✧

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"Do you make it your mission to annoy guests?"

"Of course not, but I've come to realize that certain people hold onto certain grudges for much longer than necessary." Rhea's side-eye had inflicted a reaction, but she wasn't pressed considering the alcohol content lingering in her blood.

So before Walburga had managed to speak up, Rhea shook her head. "I realize that you don't like me as a sister would, and I doubt we'll ever get there. Regardless of the amount of years that come to pass. But I want to thank you for not siding with those women. I didn't seek them out, they cornered me." This had caused the witch to take the praise with a sensible grin.

"You shouldn't allow yourself to be cornered."

"I wish I had that advice awhile ago, and while you might be friends with my mother. She didn't teach me much of anything besides how to remain quiet and still. I've been invited to more tea parties in her friend's company than I have any other time." Walburga chuckled, sure this hadn't cured the hatred between them, it was starting to grow warmer.

"That is because your name manages well in their circles." Rhea nodded, but the silence had taken over the conversation as Rhea sighed.

"I suppose there is nothing I can do to have you like me, but Cygnus did try to pass the boundaries. My luck in wizards is far between, whether you believe I sought out Alphard is completely false. I called him Atlas for a long while."

"In my manor, you were owling him in my manor."
"I was. And he always arrived at the manor twice, but Orion was always in the room. Your husband and Alphard saved me from nearly dying of internal bleeding caused by Dolohov...Did they tell you that?" Walburga's heart was caught in her throat as she stared down at Rhea, wondering how that would even be possible, and when.

"I've come to learn that both witches and wizards are brutal."

"And you still have much to learn."

"I never said I didn't."

"You still keep your date to the right side as I told you." Rhea nodded swiftly and another grin appeared. "Perhaps you are not hopeless."

She wasn't about to suspect that her time would be well past everything, no, Walburga still hated her and that was prevalent. But the hate felt less than before.

"Have you attempted to use the potion I gave you?" Walburga pushed, and Rhea had only been surprised that she had waited this long to ask.

"No. Alphard is having us wait until I'm twenty-one...I've tried to give him a few pushes. Especially when we were in Germany and the little children had these adorable hats and booties. But he's kept firm at next year."
"I was not lying when I claimed that getting with child will keep those men from straying too far. Otherwise Orion would have done the same, clearly, Cygnus has." Rhea didn't want to voice that Orion had nearly done so regardless. But then she sighed, realizing that she was still wondering about the damage that Dolohov caused.

"What is it?"

"I had a bit of an issue, rushed to the healer and apparently there is a bit of...damage."

"Damage? From what?"

"From being tossed around by Dolohov. The stress. I think Alphard is right to assume I need until I'm twenty-one. I still have nightmares." Walburga hadn't been told any part of this, she would certainly have a long discussion with her own husband of it all.

"Best get inside before Alphard wonders where I'm off too...Perhaps one day in the future, you would be interested in coming over for tea? The offer is open, Walburga." The kind smile hadn't been warranted, but Rhea had had gone forward towards the door once again. Only to be stopped by two security men.

"Access is denied by outsides, invitation only." Rhea smiled to either of them, they had switched shifts apparently as Rhea had met all of them prior.

"My husband is the host this evening, Alphard Black...I don't have an invitation." This had confused either of them, only for Walburga to walk right along in, passing both Rhea and the guards without any issue.

Rhea realized what had just happened, and the pain in her chest had risen tenfold. As had the offer as it was instantly insinuated. What good did her kindness get to her?

"The host and hostess are already inside. No invitation means no entrance, remove yourself from the premises before we have to call in Aurors." Rhea frowned, but then caught sight of Alphard with his arms around another woman.

A rather beautiful brunette with long locks, a gorgeous figure, and the smile that graced the crowd around them. How utterly stupid did she feel in seeing Orion and Alphard speaking with the strange woman?

"Ma'am, co-operate or we will be forced to call the Aurors." Rhea had turned away from the sight and walked down the balcony steps with anger. There was no use in going around because they would all be the different shift, Walburga had sought to rid of her this evening, and for what?

In a small and drunken haze, Rhea had left the premises as instructed by the guards of the event. Not wanting to cause trouble or chaos, and instead of heading to her own manor—One that was horribly alone. She sought out to arrive at Grimmauld palace.

Not surprised by the fact that the light was dim downstairs, and the brothers were seeking peace off and away.

"Mistress! Good Mistress, Kreacher so happy to see you. Kreacher make tea?" She nodded and wiped her eyes hazardously away before walking up the steps to Sirius' room.

Knocking for a moment, she awaited before Sirius had voiced his response. And the obvious placement of the mirror under his pillow didn't manage to elect a smile out of her, and Sirius's attention had risen.

"Rhea?... What's happened?"

"Your mother, I was refused entry back into the building."

"Gods sakes Rhea, you own the building." She shook her head and mumbled bits and pieces of what happened, only to cause enough commotion for Sirius to urge her to sit with him on his bed—In addition to her sobs causing Regulus to come in.

"Rhea!" His excitement was short-lived as he realized she was sobbing into Sirius' shoulder. "Think she had too much to drink, mother's managed to ruin the night, and Uncle's getting a firm talking to in the morning." Regulus' display of anger had come in the form of crossed arms and a bit of cursing.

Sirius didn't allow her to leave, even when she wanted to head home. It was the worst possible idea, as he's never seen his Aunt angry.

But he certainly didn't want it to turn into a bout of ruining the manor, as well as keeping her unsupervised.

The two had come together to distract Rhea, as she sobered up with some tea and a slipped tonic. It was slowly enacting, but neither brother was prepared in seeing how drowsy their aunt had turned.

Nor did they know how to make of the mysterious woman that Rhea had spoken about, that Alphard had clung to? And in a jealous rage, Rhea had decided that she would go and sleep in the guest room upon her return home.

But that had all fallen short when she caught her husband's cologne he had worn, which was purchased especially for the evening.

Granted, there wasn't much more for the party since dinner had long ended by then. But it was still damning to know that she wasn't as well known by the crowd, or by society at all.

Even from the snippets that she shared with Walburga, it still didn't settle her aching soul on what's happened.

Her heart was shattered when she couldn't manage to sleep without clutching his pillow tightly against her nose, she knew deep down she hadn't taken enough of the tonic to bypass the feeling of the wine's influence. And she didn't care.

Clearly, she hadn't been asking the right questions upon who else Alphard had a romantic relationship with. Did he love anyone else?

He said he only had sexual relationships but there was something else in his eyes, and Rhea couldn't identify it as anything more than love.

It was eerily how similar the glance that was supposed to be reserved to her!

"Good mistress, please...Let Becker get mistress drink, yes?" He had taken her soft sobs as saying yes, but ultimately Rhea didn't have the stomach or strength to drink any more tea—She only did so to humor the little elf. Once he left, she'd placed it back down onto her nightstand.

Just as she was on the verge of sleep, she heard the door unharmoniosuly swing open—Followed by a rough curse.

"Thank gawd." The voice of her husband's gruff voice hadn't given her the clarity she wanted. But instead, he had come forward to press his hand to her waist before taking hold of her corset.

Rhea didn't have the coordination to get it off herself, or with her wand considering her vision was a bit wonky. "Should've never come." He grumbled, taking the bondence off and slipping down her skirt, only for Rhea to stop his attempts. "Tired." She whispered, and Alphard hummed.

"You left."
"I didn't mean to," Rhea whispered, rising up to sit up against the bed's frame. Alphard seemingly enjoyed himself, since his cheeks were rather red and his eyes were dilated.

"Why didn't you tell me...I wanted you to meet Lucretia." Rhea frowned, now she had a beautiful name to the beautiful witch that was stuck to his side.

"Should've asked Walburga...I wasn't allowed back inside."

"What?!"

"I wasn't allowed back inside because they didn't believe I was your wife because you already had a witch glued to you. So no, I don't want to meet Lucretia." Rhea spat, wiping her eye once again to move away from him.

"Shite...Rhea, no—You've got it wrong, Lucretia isn't—"
"Isn't what? One of the witches your parents wanted you to be with?" Alphard couldn't lie, so he retracted his hand away and sighed. "She's married already."

"Oh grand."

"She's Orion's sister." Rhea nearly fell if she didn't have the coordination to get off the opposite side of the bed properly. "Orion has a sister?"
"Yes, she's—Oh fuck, no wonder you didn't bother trying to come back. Rhea, love. You're my wife."

"It sounds as though you were supposed to marry." He nodded, glancing one way before sighing. "Yes, she was a betrothed of mine. Until she married her husband. She's a Prewett now." It had taken a moment before Rhea had realized that the Prewett was a distant family in terms of following pureblood fanatics.

"I...I know that family, Molly and the twins. They were in the classes above me."

"Yes, she's technically their aunt. I'm sorry, I meant to be a surprise but clearly, I cannot plan for shite...Please don't tell me you wallowed here by yourself." She shook her head, quickly explaining that she had gone to Sirius and Regulus.

"I'm thankful for that at least, and Walburga has just lost the shred of a chance of earning her allowance back." Rhea had sniffled once again. "I thought—I thought we were getting along, and then she doesn't aid me in getting back into the manor. I just don't understand it, Alfie." He had come forward and aided her out of the better part of her intricate dress, ignoring his inner feeling of the custom linguine caused him to feel. Instead, he dressed her in his dress shirt and tucked her back in.

"You're my wife, holder of my heart and soul." She nodded, snuggling further into his touch this time around. "Just reminded me how much I don't know...I didn't know Orion has a sister." Rhea mumbled as she surcame to the record of sleep.

Had Rhea been so truly out of knowledge when it came to the family? She hadn't known about another sister-in-law?

Seems as though a parcel was going to be sent out tomorrow.

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Date Posted: 02/07/2022

Time: 12:25

Words: 2029