An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Antonin/Narcissa | Rated: E | Chap WC 1180
Shed Your Skin Chapter 36, “Sidestep,” is now available to read on AO3! See below for an sneak peek:
Like his father, Antonin bided his time carefully. He’d observed. He’d pinpointed likely allies and foes. And, unlike Lucius, his list included all four houses. The Prewett twins were too promising to make their enemies; he was certain that, given the right motivation, they’d join in on the fight for wizardkind’s liberation.
There was one major obstacle to their conversion.
Their sister.
Antonin watched her approach from across the library. He liked Molly. She was a natural caretaker, like his mama. He suspected she shared a similar capacity for fire, especially when her brothers were involved. Gideon and Fabian were similarly protective of her. If she set her foot down against their eventual partnership there’d be no partnership to speak of.
Luckily for him, her close friendship with Narcissa afforded him an open door.
She smiled innocently as she drew abreast, then moved to pass him. He cleared his throat to hold her attention. She paused, tilted her head, then settled into place with one hand folded over the other in front of her.
“Can I help you with something, Antonin?”
He had to hand it to her. Molly exuded propriety, but there was no mistaking the mischievous lilt in her voice. No wonder she and Narcissa got along so well.
“Have a seat. There’s plenty of room at my table.” He waved towards the three empty chairs around him.
She gave his invitation the proper amount of consideration before accepting, gracefully slipping into the chair at the opposite corner to his own. Flicking the thick braid of hair over her shoulder, she commenced pulling out her coursework to spread across her side of the table. He watched her silently until she was finished. She met his stare without flinching, and he couldn’t help but admire the spirit. Plenty of their so-called followers could learn a thing or two from her.
“Alright, what did my brothers do this time?”
He blinked, then snorted. “What makes you think they did anything?”
Molly rolled her eyes. “Why else would you invite me to talk without them or Cissa? You obviously want something.”
She wasn’t wrong, but still. It bothered him that she was so assured in his disinterest unless one of the others were involved. He wasn’t sure where the belief stemmed from–his reputation? He hadn’t ever tried to avoid her during their duelling sessions. This wasn’t even the first time they’d shared a study table, though it was the first time they’d been alone at one.
“We’ll explore why you think I wouldn’t want to talk to you later, but you’re not completely wrong about me wanting something.”
If she was surprised at the first part of his sentence, she didn’t show it. One slender eyebrow lifted upward. “The boys, or Cissa?”
“Neither.”
Click the link above to read in full on AO3!
