Prickle Ⅴ

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 adults 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?"

"Mm, Lorcan's nice!" Bill chimed happily in agreement with his uncle. He liked Lorcan a lot! He was nice and never impatient like the other big boys in the Fernburgh.

Molly fans herself wildly with her hand as if about to faint, but before anything else can occur a large knock is heard at the door. Everyone turns to gaze at each other, but Bilius happily announces, "That'll be them. I hope you don't mind Molly, but I told Juliet that Lorcan could stay over for the night. I hope you don't mind the imposition."

Before Molly has a chance to reply, Bilius hurries to answer the door leaving poor Molly wholly unprepared. The door opens to reveal the lovely figure of Juliet D'Eath. She was still a pretty thing with bouncy ringlets pinned up. The witch had a heart-shaped face, bright eyes, and pale skin. She had always been a heartstopper in her youth and even now with the hard lines of expression on her face. The hard lines were not gone but softened by the genuine shy smile on her face.

Juliet D'Eath smiles bashfully at her beau's words, before stepping inside and pulling her son after her. Her son, Lorcan had grown over the year already as tall as her shoulder. He was a dark-haired lad incredibly pale with soulless black eyes and mauve-colored lips, a half-blood vampire.

Lorcan carefully shuts the door behind them carefully taking everything in. He had visited the Weasley's home before and he rather liked Molly and Arthur Weasley. He had even met Mr. Weasley's two brothers, Ronell and Bilius. Still, he would have never thought in a thousand years that it was Bilius Weasley, who was courting his mother. Bilius was a rather nice mister, but Lorcan felt very uncertain about it all. It was all so new to him and a part of him, he supposed was afraid and worried about any changes that might come about as a direct result.

The three of them head into the sitting room to find the Weasley family and relatives gathered around all staring at his mum and him. Lorcan tries not to flinch at the attention but is saved by the fact as Bill happily greets him. The other two little children, Charlie and Dora excitedly hurry over with Dora turning her hair black and eyes just as dark to match those of Lorcan.

Bilius proudly presents his lovely sweetheart to his family. "I present Juliet D'Eath, and her son, Lorcan D'Eath." Juliet curtsies and Lorcan hastily bows while trying not to dislodge the excited toddlers.

"Now we can go," Bilius happily proclaimed as he tucked the lovely hand of his beloved Juliet into the fold of his arm.

Juliet D'Eath coyly smiles at Bilius, before firmly turning towards the stunned figure of Molly Weasley. "I hope you don't mind, Mrs. Weasley, if Lorcan stays over the night."

"Well," Molly begins to say but is interrupted by Bill turning pleading puppy dog eyes towards her. It certainly didn't help as Charlie and Dora turned to gaze at her with big wide eyes.

"Please mummy!" Bill begged as Charlie and Dora cutely chimed in as well.

Overwhelmed by the combined prevalent forces against her, Molly sighs in tragic defeat. "Yes, that will be just fine, Mrs. D'Eath."

"Thank you," Juliet sincerely said, before turning toward her son. "Did you hear that my little bat?" She fondly said to her son, before frowning at noticing how much paler her son looked than normal.