InsaneJournal

WHO: NPCd!Samuel, NPCd!Cassandra and Hortense Greengrass
WHAT: The parents have some news for Hortense
WHEN: This morning
WHERE: Greengrass Manor
RATING: G
STATUS: Complete

Hortense sat poignantly at her vanity, her tired eyes fixed on her reflection as she combed her hair slowly. It was a characteristically slow morning for Hortense; a piping hot pot of tea sat on a coffee table and steam escaped through the spout, swirling like lace in the air and filling the room with a cool peppermint aroma. It was difficult for Hortense (who was clinging to the last remnants of sleep by refusing to unwrap herself from her favourite silk dressing gown) to begin her day without peppermint tea. There were mornings when she would not even pour herself a cup but it was the enticing, familiar smell that unfailingly eased her out of bed and through her morning routine every day.

She expected this morning to be like any other and as she mechanically readied herself for the day, she was nearly right. It was shortly after she had chosen her robes that something changed. She would not, as she thought, have the opportunity to choose which jewels to complement her outfit because it was precisely when she reached her vanity that she saw a small, folded piece of parchment materialize on a plain silver tray. With a cocked head, Hortense reached for the folded parchment to find her father's familiar script:

Your mother and I request that you meet us in the grand parlour

She was not new to this form of communication and as such, thought nothing of the note. At the least, she should have found it peculiar that he wished to see her in the grand parlour but Hortense did not fret over such trivialities. She crumpled the note in her hand and threw it absent-mindedly on the vanity before she strode out of the room. As she swept through the corridors assertively, she planned her day. A visit to the gardens was essential, her coneflowers had not been flourishing as she expected and she feared she would have to move them where they will see more. And perhaps she could capture a butterfly to bring Daphne in a glass cage. Pansy was still too young to be fascinated by such distractions but she was sure the sight of the pretty creature fluttering around would amuse her goddaughter.

Hortense approached the parlour now and watched her parents turn their heads in unison as she knocked on the doorway to announce her presence.

“Good morning,” she greeted pleasantly and moved forward into the large space.

Her mother sat up a little straighter and looked to Hortense, who had long been aware of what her mother’s change in conduct meant: business.

“Do sit,” Cassandra beckoned pleasantly, her face calm yet serious. Her eyes were still trained on her daughter as she gestured with a graceful hand at the seat opposite her. Next to Cassandra, Samuel sat quietly – and somewhat disinterestedly. He too had long learned his place and allowed Cassandra to take the reigns when it came to his daughters. Hortense, in particular, was closer to her mother and hardly surprised that Cassandra was the messenger. She was curious what the message was though so she sat silently and anxiously watched her parents.

“Your father and I have some news we should like to share with you,” Cassandra began importantly and a smile edged onto her face as she continued speaking. “In light of recent events, your Father and I have decided it necessary to make plans for your future. We have found you a suitor –” At this, Hortense struggled to maintain her poised appearance and she looked down briefly, pretending to smooth out her skirt over her knees as she inhaled deeply. She looked back into her parents’ faces, gaze flickering back and forth between the two as she tucked some loose tendrils of hair behind her ear nervously. “– and we are pleased to inform you that you will be marrying Mr Yaxley.”

Silence invaded the room.

Hortense peered searchingly into her mother’s eyes and then her father’s, as though she were waiting for the punch line of a joke. To her amazement, they both appeared to be completely serious. Panic welled in Hortense as she realized that her mother was slowly becoming senile - and her father's indifferent expression suggested he was in the same unfortunate boat.

Covering her mouth with her hand, Hortense cleared her throat and spoke awkwardly. “Mother,” her tone betrayed the embarrassment she felt on Cassandra’s behalf, “Mr Yaxley passed away.”

It was then that she saw a reaction she could expect from her mother: Cassandra’s brow crumpled in confusion and her question was a notch louder, “I beg your pardon?” before turning frantically to Samuel, who looked back at his wife with an incredulous frown before addressing Hortense.

“That is impossible – when?” Out of the corner of her eye, Hortense saw Cassandra bring her hand to her heart, awaiting the answer sadly.

Hortense looked up as she considered how much time had passed since Leoben Yaxley perished in the fire at the Daily Prophet offices. “Some weeks ago,” she answered quietly. It was now that the realization that she was not going to be married in the near future sunk in and Hortense’s posture slackened slightly, a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

“We just spoke with – how is that…” Cassandra trailed off and Samuel appeared to be deep in thought still. A moment later, a look of comprehension overwhelmed both her parents’ faces and after exchanging an awkward laugh, Cassandra turned back to Hortense and dismissed her daughter’s dismal declaration with a wave of her hand. She trilled happily, “Oh no, darling. You are mistaken; your father and I did not mean to imply Leoben Yaxley,” she adopted a grave, hushed tone, “we are very well aware of that tragedy…” She trailed off and then, remembering her original train of thought, added brightly, “Mr Marcus Yaxley!”

Hortense fumbled for the right words, all she wanted to do was cover her face with her hands and wail endlessly. He was old, he could be her father… he was Lucinda’s father. And wasn't she supposed to be courted before she was engaged? “I… Thank you, that is wonderful news.”

Cassandra smiled and placed her hand on Samuel’s arm, “We knew you would be pleased, darling. We understand it is a bit hasty but I expect the wedding will not be held until next spring. Of course, preparations will have to begin immediately so you understand that all other commitments will come second to this. And please,” she closed her eyes momentarily and went on in an exasperated tone, “do not be inspired by your sister.” Hortense remembered well her mother’s outrage and humiliation at Persephone’s elopement. She wanted to laugh and warn her mother sarcastically how tempting it would be to run off and marry Mr Yaxley but she bit her tongue and mentally cried to herself to remember her manners. Cassandra, it appeared, was still ranting on about how pleased Hortense ought to be that she’s marrying a Yaxley, followed by something about announcements.

“… will be sent out on Wednesday. Surely that gives you plenty of time to collect your thoughts so you may react appropriately to congratulatory remarks. Also, you will be entertaining Mr Yaxley tomorrow afternoon and following breakfast, we will discuss the meeting more thoroughly.,”

Hortense nodded along, a horribly fake smile plastered to her face as her mother’s words passed into one ear and out the other. At her dismissal, she stood and walked as quickly as she could manage without breaking into a run from the room. The moment she was out of their sight, Hortense paused in the corridor, leaning against a wall as she absorbed her new situation. She pressed her lips together and covered her face with her hands in an attempt to restrain herself from vocalising her bitterness. She stood like this for a long time, compiling a list of reasons she detested this arrangement until she heard her parents’ footsteps approaching and meandered to her bedroom – the garden and butterfly would have to wait.

Somewhere along the way, she realised that her fate was that of girls who were too old to expect any desirable matches and suddenly, being Lucinda’s stepmother and her goddaughter’s grandmother did not seem as horrible.