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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Lineage Studies For this task, you will be writing about one of the witches who married into the House of Black, for whatever reasons. (I chose Ursula Flint.)

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Gobstones
Grey Stone - Friendship
Prompts - (dialogue) "Don't leave me." / (color) ivory / (object) violin

Always There

Ursula Flint slowly moved the bow along the strings of her violin. She closed her eyes as the music she made washed over her. She allowed her thoughts to be overcome by the beauty of the sound she produced with her instrument.

She didn't hear the footsteps until the deep voice spoke. "I always thought the violin sounded like kneazles fighting, but you make me almost like it."

Ursula took the violin away from her chin and looked over at her best friend. "Hello, Phineas, what brings you here today?"

He arched an eyebrow. "We were supposed to have lunch, and I know you remembered because you're wearing your finest ivory robes."

"It's time already?"

He nodded. "Did it slip your mind when you picked up your instrument?"

She sighed and put the violin back in its case. "Something like that."

He walked over to her but kept a respectable distance between them. "Are you well, Ursula?"

Her head shot up, and wide eyes locked with his own concerned gaze. "Am I well? Why would you ask that?" she fearfully asked.

"Because you look as if something is troubling you."

She averted her gaze. "It's nothing."

"You know you can trust me, right?"

"I don't think I can with this."

"Ursula, we've known each other since we were children. I will always be here for you. Tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help."

Ursula swallowed and still looking away, she told him the ugly truth. "I'm pregnant."

Phineas was silent, but she wasn't surprised. He knew as well as she did that the news would ruin her reputation. No wizard of any kind of social standing would marry her if he knew she wasn't pure.

"Who's the father?"

Ursula bit her bottom lip. "It doesn't matter. He promised he'd tell my parents about his plans to court me, and I trusted him. Of course, when I ended up pregnant, he changed his mind. It was my mistake. I should have known better than to listen to pretty words."

"It takes two people to make a baby."

She met his gaze. "Maybe, but when it becomes known, I'm the one who's going to be ridiculed because I'm the female."

Phineas shook his head. "There has to be something we can do to fix this."

"There's nothing we can do. Sooner or later, everyone is going to find out I'm pregnant. I just need to prepare myself for the backlash." Phineas turned his head back on her, and she feared the worse. "Don't leave me."

He faced her again. "Of course I'm not going to leave you. I was just thinking."

Ursula closed her eyes. "I won't blame you if you don't want to be seen with me once everyone knows. I know I just said 'don't leave me,' but you'd be a fool to listen to me."

Phineas took a step closer to her and took her hand in his. "I'm not going to leave you. No matter what happens, I will always take care of you."

X

"Are you sure about this?" she asked for what must have been the thousandth time.

"Yes," Phineas answered patiently.

"Based on whenever I give birth, they may not believe the baby is yours."

"If I say it's mine, why would they believe I'm lying? What wizard in his right mind would claim a child as his heir if it wasn't his?"

Her heart warmed. "Are you sure you want to pledge your life to me? There are many eligible witches that would love to marry you."

"You're my best friend. I couldn't imagine a better wife." He paused for a moment. "Ursula, if the baby is a boy, can we name him after my brother?"

She didn't have to ask him what brother he was referring to. "Sirius Black II. I like it."

xXx

(word count: 641)