WHO: Cygnus Black and Edward Bones WHEN: Thursday, January 12th, 1978. 8:24PM WHERE: The common area of the parent’s quarters
Cygnus Black could not think of many people who bit at his nerves as deeply as Edward Bones. The Blacks and the Bones families has been feuding for quite some time, but Cygnus felt that his particular hatred of Edward ran personal, on a level even deeper than their historical family dispute. They had been schoolboys together, which was where their animosity was born. In the same year, they constantly competed in regards to their academics. Cygnus despised Edward, and that feeling only increased for every exam that Edward got a better grade, or when he earned points that Cygnus had not made for his own house. Cygnus had considered it a personal affront to his beliefs, and to wizarding society in general, when Edward had dared to steal a respectful pureblooded woman right out from under the nose of a respectful -- at the time, anyways. Merlin knows he wasn’t respected now. -- pureblooded man.
The two had butted head occasionally, though less often, when they left school. They both worked in government: Edward, as a rule-following order, far below Cygnus’ pay grade. Cygnus, as a member of Wizengamot, a man with real, and true power. Cygnus had never forgotten his dislike of the former Ravenclaw, and when the two men were forced to share a space together, it usually resulted in the exchange of sharp barbs and nasty words. On this particular night, Cygnus was feeling antagonistic. His wife, his partner in all things, truly his best friend, had been taken from him. Every time he thought about it, he felt an icy hand wrap itself around his already cold heart. He had shed tears for the first time in what seemed like a decade, hidden in the privacy of his bedchambers. He’d slept next to a picture of her. She wasn’t smiling, which was how he liked her. She looked every bit the part of an aristocratic lady. He was lost without her, it felt like, and he would have to find some way to adjust to this new normal.
He was sitting and contemplating such matters, though all strong emotion kept itself safely under lock and key. He was stony faced, one leg crossed over the other, in the common area where the visiting parents were houses. The fire flickered in front of him, and the area was empty and quiet, save for the sound of him shifting on the couch. He heard the sliding stone panel open, and he heard the heavy footsteps of a man. Absentmindedly, he turned to see who it was. To his unhappy surprise, it was Edward. Without even thinking, -- and Cygnus did not do many things without first putting thought into them -- he turned to face his oldest rival.
“I knew it was you without looking, Bones,” He drawled, practically monotone as he looked at Edward, “I could smell the stench of bloodtraitor.”
@dadwardbones
