Chapter 17
Today is Narcissa's wedding. Ayala's bridesmaid dress was delivered a few days in advance. After dressing up simply, she went directly to Malfoy Manor with her aunt.
Mrs. Black presided over the wedding, and Isabel and her naturally struck up a conversation while Ayala went to find Narcissa.
Narcissa was in a room. She had just woken up and now she had to put on her wedding dress, get dressed, and everything else.
"Morning, Ayala."
"You're up now? I thought you were up early."
"I'm going to be busy all day and I want to get some sleep."
"I brought you some bread, have some."
"Thanks."
Her wedding dress was placed in the middle of the room, supported by a human-shaped stand. It was obvious that it would take a lot of effort to put it on.
"Where's Lucius?"
Ayala asked, looking at Narcissa in the mirror.
"He's in his room, having breakfast with some relatives."
The party didn't start until the evening, but it arrived quickly. Narcissa's favorite desserts were everywhere. Ayala followed the two people and helped mechanically, greeting each person one by one and handing them bottles of wine.
Ayala also met Bellatrix Black Lestrange, the sister Narcissa mentioned. She stood with her husband, her long black hair eye-catching. She was as beautiful as Narcissa, noble and cold.
"This is my sister, Bellatrix Lestrange, and this is her husband, Rodolphus Lestrange. Bella, Rodolphus, and this is my friend, Ayala Turner."
"Hello, Mrs. Lestrange, may I call you Bellatrix?"
"Can."
Ayala extended his cold hand, and she shook it back with her hand wearing a black silk glove, not wanting to hold it for even a second longer before letting go.
"Hello, Mr. Lestrange."
"Hello."
If Narcissa hadn't introduced them, she wouldn't have recognized them as a couple. There was no physical contact, eye contact, or even response to each other's words. Narcissa seemed to be used to it.
"Bella doesn't love Rodolphus. Theirs is a typical arranged pure-blood marriage, without any affection."
"Does she have someone she likes?"
"have."
Ayala was surprised by the answer. She had just asked casually, but she got such an answer. After all... Bella didn't look like someone who would love others.
"May I ask who it is?"
"I don't know who it is, but she has someone she loves."
Not far away, Bella was staring at the strawberry cake on the table, completely unaware of other people's conversation.
Finally home, after a whole day of hard work, Ayala just finished his meal and threw himself on the bed, ready to have a good sleep.
The boy appeared again, on a bench, but he seemed to have known she would come and was not surprised at all.
"You're late."
This sentence made her stunned.
"What?"
"You're an hour late."
"I didn't make any promise with you."
The boy looked up into her eyes, his lips moving but he didn't speak.
"Can you tell me your name?"
Again, the boy didn't answer, so Ayala continued.
"You look like someone I know. I always feel like you look familiar, but I don't know who you look like."
"Because you forget my face when you wake up, so you don't know who I am."
"But I want to know who you are."
"Do you prefer lilies? Or roses?"
Ayala followed his gaze and found that just opposite the bench, there was a rose and a lily blooming... Why only one?
"...I don't know. I don't hate any of it."
"...I want to give you lilies, but I also want to give you roses. I want to give you both, but I can only give you one."
The boy stood up and walked towards the flower. Ayala stood up as if possessed by a ghost. He bent down, picked the red rose, and walked towards her with the rose.
"Will you accept my flowers, Miss Turner?"
“…I do.”
Ayala took the rose he handed her and watched him turn around, pick the lily, and put it in his own hand.
"...I can only give you this lily next time."
After saying that, the boy kissed her hand.
"How do you know my last name is Turner? I only told you my first name."
There was no response to this sentence. The boy suddenly disappeared from her sight and she fell into endless darkness.
It was almost time for lunch when she woke up. Ayala had just finished washing up and found a red rose next to her bed, exactly the same as the one in her dream. She carefully placed the flower in the vase and used a spell to prevent it from fading.
It was time to start school. Ayala got up early in the morning and went to Diagon Alley to buy things. She needed new school robes and new books. Books other than those for elective courses had been tied up and placed next to the bookshelf for people to take. She had to find the elective courses herself. These three books were not difficult to find. She was mainly looking for non-textbooks on ancient magic, but she only found a few after searching the entire bookstore.
"Ayala!"
…Just as she was worrying about which book to get, Evans' voice sounded behind her.
"Good morning...Evans."
"How many times have I told you to call me Lily? Are you looking for a book?"
After not seeing her for a holiday, Evans has changed a lot. She has grown taller and is like a walking sunflower, full of sunshine.
"Looking for ancient magic runes."
"Any recommendations?"
"I like these two."
Evans glanced at the titles and took two of the same books as hers.
"Want to join us?"
"……good."
It’s okay to have one more person.
"Is there anything else you want to buy?"
"I don't think there are any left. I bought the book and the robe too."
Ayala thought for a moment before answering the question, and Evans nodded and replied.
"I need to buy a new cauldron, and a telescope."
"Then I'll accompany you."
When she reached the door of the magic supplies store, Ayala remembered that her telescope was broken and she needed a new one. Fortunately, she followed Evans there. In the end, Evans dragged her to buy an ice cream.
When getting on the train to Hogwarts, Ayala still sat next to Evans. Fortunately, there was Snape here... otherwise it would be too embarrassing.
But Snape was not enough, Wood was also there... The worst thing was that Anne Smith was also there. Damn it, what had she done to have to sit in this private room? There was no other way, Ayala could only choose to chat with Evans.
"We can finally go to Hogsmeade this semester, Ayala. Where in Hogsmeade do you most want to go?"
Hogsmeade actually didn't have much appeal to Ayala, as she had been there in her first year, but she still had to pretend.
"Honeydukes and the Three Broomsticks."
"Then let's go together!"
As Evans spoke, he hugged Ayala tightly and put their faces together. James Potter, who was sitting opposite them, almost popped his eyes out. He had the same face as Wood.
"By the way, Ayala, did you prepare in advance?"
"I read the ancient magic text, but I didn't understand it. I haven't read anything else."
"I had a fortune-teller. I was reading the tarot cards last night."
"What did you see?"
"magician."
As she spoke, she took out a card from the card box on her body.
"Above the magician's head is an infinity symbol, and his belt is a snake connected head to tail, a symbol of spiritual eternity. The magician holds a scepter in his right hand pointing to the sky, and his left hand points to the ground, representing the exchange of power and the gift of the spirit. Under the magician's feet are roses and lilies, representing human motivation, reflecting the will of God, and commanding heaven and earth. The rose represents life, and the lily represents death."
…
"What was your last sentence?"
"The rose represents life, the lily represents death."
Roses represent life and lilies represent death.
Roses, lilies...
Ayala replayed the dream scene in her mind, the rose in her hand and the lily in the boy's hand.
Life, death.
What does it mean...
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