In the Shadow of Secrets | Sebastian Sallow

3 August 1893

Over the next several days, once I'd moved her portrait to my room in the Three Broomsticks, Noctua opened up about her theories. She didn't know for certain who in the Lestrange family might have had the means or motivation, but she suspected most of them were capable of it. Most purebloods would stop at nothing if given the chance, she reminded. Her great-grandfather had murdered his own brother after marrying his sisters into rival families, all to sow fear and blood ties, ensuring the House of Gaunt remained in their traditional status of power.

"Your grandfather was the reason negotiations between my father and the Lestranges did not proceed as planned. His father, Radolphus, and mine were close associates, and there was talk for several months of my sister and I marrying the Lestrange brothers," Noctua explained, looking down at her lap, her cheeks seeming to redden. "My father had some beliefs about twins and how our marriages could...yield more powerful children."

I teased my lip, curious but not enough to ask her to elaborate. Any theories I'd heard from that family were awful, at best, and I was sure this could be no exception.

Noctua pursed her lips, eyes meeting mine. "Faustus did not wish for our marriages to take place, at all, but his father was a master of compromise. Since I was already betrothed, Carina was set to marry the heir instead of me. Rolf had been enamoured with her since Hogwarts, and he must have taken it poorly. She never shared the details, but he often made her feel uncomfortable after that."

Noctua paused thoughtfully. "Did you receive a rowan heartwood box with my portrait?"

I remembered it well, as I had neither requested it nor been able to open it to see what was inside. My assumption had been it had been in the Gravesend house and the Gaunts did not want it, but Noctua clarified that she had specifically asked her brother to send it to me. Somehow, she'd managed to convince him without making the box seem too valuable, and she seemed relieved.

"It was meant for Ominis, once he was old enough," she explained. "Memories I saved over the years. Some of them may be useful to you, though."

Opening it required a spoken password, but when I asked Noctua what it was, she said she didn't know. Her real self would doubtlessly have kept that information safe, even from her own portrait. The answer, I figured, would have to wait until Saturday, when I'd finally arranged a visit with Ominis and Anne in Feldcroft

–-

5 August 1893

I swallowed hard before finally rapping on the heavy wooden door before me. My heart was racing. Not only would this be my first time seeing my Ominis since before he'd awakened, I could hardly ignore the fact that he was now a married man–and that I hadn't been invited to the wedding.

Even though they were expecting me, I already felt like an unwelcome intruder.

The door creaked as it opened, and I came face-to-face with a very pale Anne. I couldn't help the sharp intake of breath as I took in the dark circles beneath her eyes and how her waxy skin seemed to stretch tightly over her cheekbones. In many ways, she looked worse than she had the day I'd met her.

"Good morning, Eleanor," Anne greeted breathily, her tight smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Lovely to see you."

She clearly was not happy to see me, too. Wonderful. "And you, Anne," I replied, unable to stop the concern in my voice.

Anne's eyes widened before either of us could say anything else, one hand coming up to cover her mouth as she steadied herself with the other. She somehow looked even more exhausted.