03. A New Guest
Tied Together Masterlist
Blaise was gone when Anari woke up. They both retired to their rooms they had slept in the night before after finishing the painting in the kitchen. Anari walked down to the main floor with her slipper and robes on.
The kitchen was spotless, they’d left a mess last night, letting it dry. Ana was glad that Blaise joined her last night, they may not have spoken but it was good to get used to each other’s presence. Before she could grab a pastry from the tupperware on the counter she heard a pop behind her.
“Hello, Mrs. Zabini.” A quiet voice came from behind her. She turned quickly and found a small house elf standing with her hands clasped in front of her with a pleasant smile. “My name is Tilly, I am assigned to your household. I’m delighted to serve you and Mr. Zabini.”
Anari doesn’t really know what to say. Firstly the name Mrs. Zabini was horrendous to hear. Secondly, house elves may love to serve but that didn’t make her feel any better about having a slave in her home.
“Uh– Hello Tilly, please, call me Ana.” She tries to send over a kind smile. “No need for formalities.”
“Of course, whichever you prefer, Ma– Ana.” Tilly might just be the most adorable little elf Ana had seen. “Is there anything I can get you?”
“No. I’m alright, thank you.” Ana shook her head, she looked at the little make-shift dress Tilly is wearing, it's floral— what looks like a towel or pillow case, but it seems she’s made sleeves for it.
“Alright, please, call Tilly if you desire anything.” and with that she popped away, not a moment later Anari heard movements to her right, there was a small door, only for a toddler’s height maybe and there was a light shining through the door. Must be her room.
Ana can’t believe that Blaise would feel the need for a house elf, they were adults, they could do chores. They were fully capable.
She didn’t do much during the day, she explored the house more and looked at all the different books on display. It was raining outside so she couldn’t sit outside with the waves but she lit the fireplace and sat by the window in the sitting room.
It was almost dinner time when she saw Blaise for the first time that day. Ana heard him Aparate outside and saw him walk up the steps in the rain. When the door opened she heard him pull his coat and shoes off. When he wrapped around the corner he was completely dry so she assumed he used a spell.
He doesn’t look at her as he passes the living room and goes into the kitchen. Anari gets up and follows him slowly. His shoulders are tense as he washes his hands in the kitchen sink but before she can say anything Tilly pops into the room.
“Mister Zabini.” Tilly bows from behind him, making him jump just a little and quickly turn around, wand in hand. His eyes flash to Tilly then to Ana in the doorway.
“Who are you?” He accused quickly, wand still held tightly.
“I am Tilly, I’ve been assigned to your household. I am here to serve you and Mrs. Za— Ana.” Tilly sends Ana a little smile after she corrects herself.
“Did you do this?” Blaise accuses her.
“No! I–I thought you did.”
“I don’t— I didn’t.” He huffs, Anari could see the gears in his head turning, “Tilly, is it? Would you mind leaving us for a moment.”
Tilly leaves with a bow and disapparates. When Blaise knows they’re alone he rushes over to Ana, grabbing her hand and dragging her into the walk-in pantry they have, quickly closing the door behind them.
“When did she get here?”
“This morning, why? I thought you set this up.”
“I didn’t.” He hisses quietly, grabbing her shoulder, “Sounds like she’s been assigned to us by somebody.”
“That’s what she said, yes.” Anari huffs, “I still don’t get why we’re hiding.”
“What did you tell her?” He shakes her shoulder slightly, urging her to answer him.
“Nothing, barely saw her. Why? She’s just an elf.”
“Are you that fucking dull, Moody?” Ana doesn’t bother pointing out that that’s no longer her name but he continues, “She’s a spy.”
“She’s an elf.” Ana finds herself saying, Tilly said it herself she’s here to serve them, which makes them her masters, meaning she has to follow what they say.
“Why else would they give a blood traitor a house elf for free?” He grits his teeth, “They want to know what you know.”
“Well I didn’t tell her anything, there’s nothing to tell. This is the longest conversation we’ve had since we’ve gotten married.” She huffs, “And where the hell were you today?”
“Dealing with business, it’s none of your concern.”
“Right.” Ana turns to leave the confined space, “I guess that’s how we’re doing this.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Listen Zabini, do whatever the hell you want, you owe me nothing, I owe you nothing. We can live a separate life in this big arse house. They can demand us to get married but they can’t force us to act married.”
“Glad we see eye to eye on that.” Blaise straightens up, “But we do have to go to my mother’s for dinner on Saturday.”
“You just said you agreed to live separate lives.” She ran a hand down her face. “What about having dinner with your mother says that?”
“She would like to meet the woman who will give her grandchildren.” He said it with absolutely no emotion, like he thought nothing of this.
“I’m not having your children.” She lets out a humorless laugh. “You’re insane.”
“Then you must not have listened while they were talking to us at graduation and while we signed our marriage license. We need to provide an heir before our first year of marriage is up.”
“What will they do if we don’t?” Ana raises an eyebrow, “You’re mother might want her precious pure-blood grandchildren but she won’t get them for me.”
“Are you thick? They’ll punish us and I don’t feel like finding out what that entails.” Blaise’s voice gets louder, “You will not be the reason I die. We’ll have a child in a year.”
Blaise makes a move to open the door. “What? End of discussion? A child isn't a light decision, it’s not something you have on a whim. It’s not–”
“It’s not a decision at all!” Blaise yells, “We will do this. We have no other choice.”
“Are they gonna come knocking on our door at the three month mark and make sure I’m with child?” She takes a breath. “This might be something easy for you to agree to. But it wouldn’t be happening to you, would it?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” He laughs, “I’d be the father, of course it’d be happening to me.”
“Not for another year. It’s my body, Blaise.” She sighs, “What-what if I can’t have children? What if we lose it?”
Blaise opens the door and leaves Anari with the words, “Pray to all the gods you don’t.”
─TIED TOGETHER─
Blaise and Anari didn’t speak for at least three days, not a single word. Meals were eaten separately, if they happened to be sitting in the same room neither acknowledged each other’s presence. Neither wanted to break the silence.
Blaise spent most of his time going to— wherever he was going. Ana spent her time outside when the English weather allowed her to. She’d been back to the village twice but today she wanted to go to Diagon Alley to grab a couple of items.
Anari took the floo network there and when she stepped out of the fireplace her eyes landed on a truly horrific sight. The path was plastered with signs praising Voldemort and pure-bloods but that’s not what worried her, there was a man hanging. In the middle of the square, he was naked and hanging from his neck, on his chest were the words in bold red letter TRAITOR.
Ana couldn’t look at him for a second longer, there was nothing she could do for him, he was dead. It was an older man— no one she could recognize but it brought chills to her body. She decided this would be a quick trip.
Posters of people were hanging, wanted signs of people she went to school with. Many of the names she knew were ones ending in Granger, Weasley, Dumbledore, Shaklebolt, and Lovegood.
Her and Luna weren’t friends necessarily but with them being in the same house they got along. It was good to know the people on the list were still alive, they had to be in hiding if they were listed as Undesirables. Anari wasn’t friends with any of them other than maybe Hermione and Luna but it was nice to know that there were people still on her side.
It was alarming to see so many dark mark symbols on the buildings but she tried to quickly make her way to her needed store.
It didn’t take her long to make her way home. She didn’t speak to a single soul other than the clerk. With a bag of ingredients to make the potion she needed she apparated home.
It wasn’t raining yet but she could tell a storm was underway. When she walked inside she heard thundering steps while she took off her shoes. Quickly turning, she met Blaise's eye.
“Where the hell have you been?” He yells, he looks tired more than angry.
“I went to Diagon Alley to grab a couple of things.”
“You should have told me,” He ran a hand over his head, “It’s not safe!”
“Why can I not leave the house without telling you but you can do whatever you want?” She huffs, setting her bag down and her coat on the hook.
“You’re not safe, Diagon Alley isn’t safe!” He says exasperated, “What the hell did you need so urgently?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you! I haven’t been asking where you’ve been sneaking off to, have I?”
“I’ve been with a— friend.”
“Ridiculous,” Ana can’t help but mutter under her breath.
“I told you, now you tell me!”
“I went to go get ingredients for a potion.” She turns around, grabbing her bag, and starts for the stairs.
“What the hell do you need a potion for?” He yelled while Ana walked up the stairs.
“My fertility.” She shot back. “If we’re doing this we’re doing it once.”
Blaise didn’t know what to say. Where does this leave them? Does she want to— tonight?! Blaise thought he had more time, time to find a way to get her pregnant without being intimate with each other.
He wasn’t going to let her end the conversation like that. Walking up the stairs he found her in the office, pulling a cauldron off the shelf.
“Are you serious?”
“What?” She doesn’t even turn to him. “Do you need to know how this works? Did mummy never give you the talk?”
“Don’t be smart.” He grits his teeth, walking closer to her, standing on the other side of the table, and staring at her.
“I’m not trying to be. Days ago you told me I needed to get pregnant and I plan to make it the easiest way possible.”
“I’ve been trying to think of a way where we don’t have to—” He stops himself, he can’t believe he’s having this conversation with Anari fucking Moody— Zabini now.
“What have sex?” She laughs, “Be a big boy, Blaise. Use your words.”
“Shut the fuck up.” He places his hands on the table leaning over it to get in her face. “Watch your mouth, remember who you’re speaking to.”
“Remember? I’ll never forget!” She yells, “I will never forget who you are, trust me.”
Blaise sighs, “Just give me time to figure it out, okay?” He turns to leave the room.
“I’ll figure it out. Give me a sleeping pill or something I don’t care!”
“What the fuck is wrong with you!” He turns around quickly. “That’s–That’s… Never suggest something like that again.”
Anari can see visible hurt in his eyes which is a big difference from the emotionless man she’s known.
“Then you better get a different idea and quickly.”
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