꒰ 🔮🧿 ⚔️ ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

❜ ─𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐳𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐪; 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. ─ ❛

— (Z.S) —

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Zafar Shafiq DESPISED the notion of marriage and partnership.

However much in 'love' a pair may be, it was his strong belief that such a thing called love was real or not. The truth so fixated and ingrained in his DNA, ever since his entrance into the world. His birth was a miracle; yet the biggest turning point in his father's life. His birth, killing not only his mother, but also his twin brother;  as soon as Zubayr Shafiq set his eyes on his one and only heir, he uttered the words:

"Your name shall be Zafar Shafiq, a murderer in a wake of life."

Zubayr Shafiq was a cold man to say the least; he made it his life's worth, to ensure he would make his son's life a living hell. He was never there in his son's life, a mere sperm donor and landlord. But what Zubayr Shafiq wants, he'll get. Wanted his son in Slytherin, check. Wanted him to do all the extracurriculars that he wanted, check. Tortured and abused him whenever he felt like it, check. Made his son, fresh out of Hogwarts join the Dark Lord's circle, check. Zafar Shafiq had never learned what love was from his father. Parental love was merely a foreign concept to him.

"Is he here yet?" a bedridden Zubayr asks Minty the house elf. He never addressed her by her name. Minty would get sad when he wouldn't.

"Young Master Zafar is on his way sir. Young master said he went to see the Black's." she replies,  bringing a pitcher of water towards Zubayr's bedside table.

"Good. I fear I am running out of time. Tell the brat to hurry up, now." he musters out, now going into a choking fit. Minty pours him some water into a glass and quickly apparates away.

Zubayr Shafiq was going to die, and he knew it. And the reason why? A blood malediction, slowly and painfully killing him. It was the least he deserved. But to him, dying so mercilessly and so pitifully, was unbearable, relying on a small meek creature like Minty to keep him fed and hydrated. So much for his stupid son; a common thought he had whenever he was pathetically in bed.

Sound of footsteps could be heard from the empty manor, the sound reverberating loudly on the walls.

With a pop, Minty enters the room yet again, "Young master is here, Sir!"

"Good. Now, get out of here this instant, vermin."

Minty looks at her master, her pebble blue eyes watering up. Minty never liked her master, she thought he had gone cold and bitter after her Mistress' passing.

"Now father, is that how you speak to our dear Minty like that?" Asks a voice from the doorway. It was dark in the room, so only a faint outline of light could be seen from this person, their tall and straight posture so perfect. They walk forward towards Zubayr.

Zafar Shafiq was often described as an enigma, a fallen angel. He sure had the looks for it: luscious brown wavy locks tousled over his head, his face was angular and accentuated, he had a small moustache which weirdly complimented his face. However his eyes, were what truly captured people. Kaleidoscopic in nature, shifting between the earthy richness intertwined with the soft green moss; they were arguably his best feature.

"It is merely a house elf, an inferior." Zubayr coughs out, thick mucus making it hard for him to speak.

"However inferior you may think they be, they are beings that are both gifted and skilled in magic. Dare I say, more gifted and skilled than you." He replies with his silver tongue before turning to Minty and crouching down to her level, "Minty, can you make me a cup of tea and prepare some dinner please?"

Minty smiles at Zafar, "Anything my young Master wishes."

Minty apparates herself out of the room; leaving Zafar alone with Zubayr.

"Now, what was so urgent for you to speak to me?" Zafar asks sharply, walking back and fro from the bottom of his father's bed. "I was spending my time, quite leisurely may I add, with Orion, Alphard and Cygnus."

"Son, I fear that I have very little time left here right now. Thus, I wish to reveal something toy you." he chokes out, taking deep laboured breaths to control his breathing.

"And what is it you wish to tell me?"

Zubayr points his frail hand towards the chest of drawers near his bedside table. "Open the first drawer for me."

He walks towards his father's bed, his attention diverting away from Zubayr, opening the drawer. Zafar sees a small, manila envelope sitting idly on the wood. Zubayr Shafiq, Shafiq Manor.

"Open the envelope."

Zafar rolled his eyes, he wasn't that dumb. He flipped the envelope around and skimmed his ring clad fingers across the orange seal. Adorned with two elephants and their trunks touching up, a lotus perched above it, he had a vague memory of the emblem. He just couldn't pin point it to where he'd seen it before.

He took the letter out and saw the same emblem printed on the top.

Dear Zubayr Shafiq,

Firstly, I hope this letter finds you and your son, Zafar, well. We understand and it may be particularly difficult, due to the impending rise of the Dark Lord.

We see that you have expressed an interest in a marriage betrothal between your son Zafar Shafiq and my daughter. We wholeheartedly accept your offer as yourselves, like us are pureblooded. However, we have certain conditions.

My daughter has a list of tasks of your son to complete, upon his arrival here. So far, many of our suitors have failed in doing so. You must complete all four of these labours in order to marry our daughter.

As well as young Zafar, we extend our invitation to our Manor in India to one more person. He may choose who to bring.

Please reply to this letter as soon as possible, so that we can prepare for young Zafar.

Kind Regards,
Lord Kabir & Lady Smitha Avisa

"You're going next Monday," Zubayr says before going into a coughing fit, "the Avisa's said it was an auspicious day for travel."

"The Avisa's can say what they want to. But I'm not getting married nor am I visiting them." Zafar replies sharply, his hazel eyes glaring at his father, who seemed to be getting more and more short of breath.

"You see boy, I don't think you have a choice."

"I have a choice father. And that is I am not going."

"Do you remember I got you to sign something a month or so back?"

Zafar remembers his father asking him to sign some legal proceedings of his, to which he did remember signing.

"Well, that was a blood binding contract. You can't go back now." Zubayr replies, yet again going into another coughing fit.

"The one time I don't read the fucking terms and conditions I get fucked over." Mutters Zafar, pinching the bridge of his nose annoyedly, "I'm still not going."

"You'll die."

"Says the bastard who's on their death bed." Zafar says jokingly with a stone face, still not comprehending what his father was saying.

"You listen here boy, if you do not do the arrangement, you'll die. You remember young Malcom Bulstrode?"

Zafar nodded in response.

"He turned down the offer from the Avisa family, received a letter- " the musters before going into another coughing fit, "and upon opening it, died."

Zafar found it quite hard to believe the so-called story his father had told him, after all, he was told by Orion very recently that Malcom had moved away.

"Let's suppose he did die upon opening the letter, how did the Avisa's not get arrested?"

Zubayr clears his throat, attempting to clear his airways slightly from the phlegm building up, "The Avisa's are one of the most influential magical families in the entire Wizarding world. For them to be arrested, is impossible."

Zafar still thought it was a joke, he could say no to this all surely?

"Listen boy, I know you don't want to do this, but do you really want to die?"

"No, but that's besides the point, how do I know that you're not lying to me?" he asks, Zafar never trusted his father, nor will he ever.

"I swear on the soul of your Mother that I am not lying,"

A loud silence echoed throughout the room. Zafar knew if it was one thing Zubayr never joked on, was his wife, Zafar's mother. Aziza Shafiq was his person and he was hers. Her untimely death was the one thing that caused the fuse to go off in his mind; disregarding his son and treating him so lowly.

"It is decided. I shall go to India and do the four labours listed.". He turns his back from his father, his hand wrapped around his back and making his way out of the door.

"Excellent. May the Noble and Primeval House if Shafiq be fruitful and great again!" Zubayr exclaims, glee laced in his voice.

Zafar halts in his steps. He spins in his spot, and makes his way to his father's deathbed. The tap tap tapping of his shoes reverberating around the room.

Zafar's eyes suddenly turned stony, his eyes piercing at his father. He knew he had no choice but to visit India to see the Avisa's, but he knew he had the choice to not have children. After all, it took two to tango.

He strides towards his father's bed, walking around the bed frames. Leaning down, they were at eye level, it was evident that Zubayr was running out of time. It was almost as if he was a talking skeleton; his cheekbones and eyes hollowed in. Zafar's face had nothing on it; no signs of sadness, remorse nor pity. It was the same poised and stoic face many had seen.

"You are never getting heirs. The line of the Noble and Primeval House of Shafiq ends with me, and me only. " he says gruffly, his attention solely on his father, who seemed to be fading, his eyes weakly on his son.

"I, Zafar Shafiq, Son of Aziza and Zubayr Shafiq, pledge that this line shall end with me. Atayahd ealah qudsiat ruhi." 

Atayahd ealah qudsiat ruhi. - i pledge on the sanctity of my soul

: ̗̀➛ 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 :

𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞!!

𝐳𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐳𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐝, 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝.

𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐳𝐚, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬. 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐚, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 !!

𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭!!

𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.

blueichor 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 <𝟑 𝐠𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 (𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐔𝐩 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞 !!)

aethrastic_dreamxx 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐜 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩!!
𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐟 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐬 <𝟑