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"What the hell is happening? Do you know what the hell is happening?" Rowan whispered furiously under his breath, leaning down to talk to Aquila.

Aquila shook her head, her hands clasped together to hide the trembling. She had a faint idea, and she did not want the faint idea to be true.

"Ah, Aquila. It's always lovely seeing you," Mr. Mulciber smiled at her, setting a hand on her shoulder. Aquila fought back a shudder. "You were only eleven years old when I last saw you."

"Yes, because you've never picked Rowan from the station," Aquila said pleasantly. Rowan coughed loudly to hide his laugh, and Regulus didn't even try.

Orion cleared his throat and shot a glare at her. "It's lovely to have you both here. I must apologise for my wife's absence from the table, she has been feeling a little under the weather lately."

Rowan made a slitting throat motion with a questioning look at Regulus, who nodded cheerfully. Her dad and Rowan's dad shared an uncomfortable look at the children's unspoken pact to make all of this as horrible as possible. Mr. Mulciber (what was his first name?) cleared his throat and swirled his glass.

"So, Aquila, now that school's over, what are you planning to do?" Mr. Mulciber asked.

Aquila cleared her throat and looked guiltily at Regulus. "I've been selected for Doom's Alchemic Academy."

Rowan choked on his food, looking at her with wide eyes. "Wait, Doom? The guy with the room?"

Aquila nodded sheepishly, and looked at Regulus. He was gripping his fork so hard that his knuckles were turning white. In her mind, he was silent. Aquila looked at him pleadingly, and when he refused to look at her, she threw a pea at him from her plate. The pea landed in Rowan's plate, who had separated all his peas in the corner of his plate. He scowled at Aquila and threw the pea back, except it landed in Regulus' collar, making him shriek and jump out of his chair, feeling the buttery pea sliding down his shirt.

"Children," Orion sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Please."

"Yes, father," Aquila and Regulus muttered, Regulus flapping the end of his shirt to get the pea out.

"So, Doom's Alchemic Academy, yes?" Mr. Mulciber asked in interest. "That's really prestigious and difficult to get into."

"Uh, I don't know," Aquila coughed, turning red. "You don't apply there, you just get chosen."

"Aw, look, Reg, our Aqi's shy," Rowan cooed mockingly. Aquila kicked him under the table.

"And Rowan, what are your plans?" Orion asked.

Rowan coughed. "I'll begin my internship in the ministry soon."

"Oh," Orion asked, leaning forward in interest. "What department?"

"International Magical Cooperation," Rowan said, biting the corner of his lip.

Aquila made a face. "But that's so boring."

"Who makes a better diplomat than a Slytherin, yes, Orion?" Mr. Mulciber laughed loudly, thumping Orion on the back, who grimaced.

Kreacher appeared and cleared away the table, leaving the room blanketed in silence once again.

"So, Rowan, Aquila, we've been wanting to discuss something with you both," Orion began.

And just like that, all her backbone seemed to melt off. Rowan visibly paled, and Regulus sat a little straighter, ready for battle.

"You are of age now, and of course, both of you have been friends for quite long. So we have agreed to get the two of you married so both of you are with a person you know well, and the bloodline remains pure," Mr. Mulciber said with a triumphant grin on his face. Of course, this would be a happy occasion for him. A family like the Mulcibers tying with a family like the Blacks? This was practically a lottery for him.

If possible, Rowan whitened further. One glance at him revealed that he would not be able to deny his father. He was all too familiar with the pain of the Cruciatus.

"The both of you can go outside and discuss it once, if you want," Orion offered softly.

Too late to act like a dad, dad, Aquila thought miserably.

Regulus gave her one sharp nod, and Aquila jerked her head and indicated for Rowan to follow her.

Open up, shitcake, Regulus' voice came in her mind. She dropped her mental shields and allowed him to get a front row seat to the conversation.

Rowan dragged his ringed fingers through his hair. "It's not like we didn't see it coming, yeah?" He said with a humourless smile, sitting down on the steps leading to the gardens.

"Doesn't make it any better," Aquila grumbled.

Rowan suddenly turned to her. "I need to be honest with you, Aq, I don't have a problem," he said, biting the corner of his bottom lip.

I did not see that coming, Regulus remarked.

Aquila's eyes widened. "What?"

Rowan sighed. "I've never made it a secret, Aq, we've always had this energy, don't deny it."

"You've never said it explicitly, either!" Aquila said, her eyebrows furrowed. "And what energy? I'm with James, and you know that!"

"Think practically, Aq, what are the odds that you two will end up together?" Rowan said softly.

Aquila bit her lip. "That doesn't mean I should marry you."

"I'm gonna leave that up to you, Aqi. I just thought you should know how I feel, and that I'll be waiting for you," Rowan got up, thrusting his hands in his pockets. "I'm not gonna give a reply to my dad yet, not until you're sure."

He walked inside, but glanced back with a sigh. "Give me a chance, please. Maybe I could make you as happy as you make me," he said softly, and with a click, he was gone. 

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i have zero idea why i did this, but i love rowan so much

i would recommend you guys not love him, bec he has a painful future :)))

༻hy༺