18 Aug 2022, 10:28
Cinderella's Dead
| I forgot I was a bad bitch, tragic | Breaking all the rules 'cause they were only habits |
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It was ten thirty in the morning, merely half an hour before the departure of the Hogwarts Express for a new school year and the hidden platform was already bustling with returning students and soon-to-be first years. Regina - accompanied as usual by her older siblings, two of which were attending their last year - approached the train with confident steps, trunk and supplies already shrunken and stowed in her enchanted bag for a lighter, more comfortable travel while pulling along Athena's owl cage. Instead of her mother sending them off, however, this time it was the Miller patriarch himself who had shown up. Wizards familiar with the Ministry politician's face recognised Alfred Miller at once and began chattering, while Regina rolled her eyes sardonically.
She knew why he was here, evidently. After all these years she'd learnt to see through his demeanors and read his surface thoughts. He wasn't here to peacefully bid Regina and her siblings goodbye, oh no. He was surely here to intimidate Regina in hopes of forcing her back into the image of a "perfect" Pureblood Heir after she'd run away from home for two months of summer.
"Have a good year, children," Alfred said, hands clasped behind his back as he addressed the gaggle of teenagers. "Remember, no grades under E at worst and stay out of trouble. Always uphold our family's prestige and schmooze with potential powerful connections."
To this, he shot Rebecca and Regina a pointed glare.
"And no silly little quarrels. Do not air dirty laundry in public. Do I make myself clear?"
While her older sister reluctantly affirmed a "yes", Regina's lips twitched just a tad as she stared right back at him silently. The Miller patriarch narrowed his eyes, but his oldest quickly cut through the tension to avoid another argument.
"Harold and I will make sure they stay within line, Father," Rupert spoke, leaning a bit forward and shooting his sisters a warning glance. "Besides, I'm pretty sure the girls have learnt their lesson by now."
Alfred nodded approvingly as Regina resisted another urge to roll her eyes. Of course the ever loyal, brilliant first and direct Heir was the favoured.
"We'll be on our way then," Rupert's younger twin chimed. "Goodbye, Father. We'll be back for Yule."
Regina turned on her heels the same time her older siblings did, and was about to board the Express when suddenly her father's cold tone spoke up.
"Regina. A word, please."
There it is, she hissed mentally.
"Yes, Father?"
"The stunt you did during summer was unbecoming of a Pureblood Heiress," Alfred scolded, green eyes colder than the winter ice. "You barely managed to escape punishment when you fled to summer camp, but it shan't happen a second time. If you cannot behave properly in school this year, I shall pull you out of Hogwarts and either homeschool you or send you to Beauxbatons with your cousin's family in France so you can learn once again what it means to be a Miller."
The purple in Regina's eyes grew poisonous. Her fingers itch for the wand tucked underneath her sleeve, but she took a deep breath and turned to face her father upfront.
"For thirteen years of my life, I have always tried my best to be the perfect daughter you've envisioned," She began. "Even surpassing my sister and becoming on par with my brothers. I've always done everything you asked of me. But you've forced silence on me for long enough, Father."
Regina spat out the word with pure hatred.
"Your imaginary little perfect Princess is dead. I've gained friends whom I can trust would never hurt me the way you do. Your chains are finally breaking."
"You shall not speak to your Father that way--"
"I won't let you control me anymore," She cut him off, something that would have earned her at least a week of being locked up in her room back at the Miller Manor. "Out of duty as your daughter, I may at the very least not tarnish our family name in Hogwarts. But I'm through with following your rules."
Regina would rebel. And her father could certainly try to pull her out. Not that she'd ever let him.
"If you make good on your threats, then I shall expose your misdeeds to the press. I'm quite certain the Ministry wouldn't be too pleased with one of their politicians' damaged reputation."
"You wouldn't dare. I am your Father," Alfred gritted lowly through his teeth.
"And I am your daughter," She retorted. "But that didn't stop you from treating me like rubbish, did it not?"
Regina could see the tenseness in his shoulders, how hard Alfred was trying to hold back his anger because they were in public. She nonchalantly adjusted the strap of her enchanted satchel and smiled coldly.
"Have a lovely day, Father. Expect a few owls here and there from the Prefects."
And with that, Regina finally stepped onto the Express, leaving her fuming father behind.
She knew why he was here, evidently. After all these years she'd learnt to see through his demeanors and read his surface thoughts. He wasn't here to peacefully bid Regina and her siblings goodbye, oh no. He was surely here to intimidate Regina in hopes of forcing her back into the image of a "perfect" Pureblood Heir after she'd run away from home for two months of summer.
"Have a good year, children," Alfred said, hands clasped behind his back as he addressed the gaggle of teenagers. "Remember, no grades under E at worst and stay out of trouble. Always uphold our family's prestige and schmooze with potential powerful connections."
To this, he shot Rebecca and Regina a pointed glare.
"And no silly little quarrels. Do not air dirty laundry in public. Do I make myself clear?"
While her older sister reluctantly affirmed a "yes", Regina's lips twitched just a tad as she stared right back at him silently. The Miller patriarch narrowed his eyes, but his oldest quickly cut through the tension to avoid another argument.
"Harold and I will make sure they stay within line, Father," Rupert spoke, leaning a bit forward and shooting his sisters a warning glance. "Besides, I'm pretty sure the girls have learnt their lesson by now."
Alfred nodded approvingly as Regina resisted another urge to roll her eyes. Of course the ever loyal, brilliant first and direct Heir was the favoured.
"We'll be on our way then," Rupert's younger twin chimed. "Goodbye, Father. We'll be back for Yule."
Regina turned on her heels the same time her older siblings did, and was about to board the Express when suddenly her father's cold tone spoke up.
"Regina. A word, please."
There it is, she hissed mentally.
"Yes, Father?"
"The stunt you did during summer was unbecoming of a Pureblood Heiress," Alfred scolded, green eyes colder than the winter ice. "You barely managed to escape punishment when you fled to summer camp, but it shan't happen a second time. If you cannot behave properly in school this year, I shall pull you out of Hogwarts and either homeschool you or send you to Beauxbatons with your cousin's family in France so you can learn once again what it means to be a Miller."
The purple in Regina's eyes grew poisonous. Her fingers itch for the wand tucked underneath her sleeve, but she took a deep breath and turned to face her father upfront.
"For thirteen years of my life, I have always tried my best to be the perfect daughter you've envisioned," She began. "Even surpassing my sister and becoming on par with my brothers. I've always done everything you asked of me. But you've forced silence on me for long enough, Father."
Regina spat out the word with pure hatred.
"Your imaginary little perfect Princess is dead. I've gained friends whom I can trust would never hurt me the way you do. Your chains are finally breaking."
"You shall not speak to your Father that way--"
"I won't let you control me anymore," She cut him off, something that would have earned her at least a week of being locked up in her room back at the Miller Manor. "Out of duty as your daughter, I may at the very least not tarnish our family name in Hogwarts. But I'm through with following your rules."
Regina would rebel. And her father could certainly try to pull her out. Not that she'd ever let him.
"If you make good on your threats, then I shall expose your misdeeds to the press. I'm quite certain the Ministry wouldn't be too pleased with one of their politicians' damaged reputation."
"You wouldn't dare. I am your Father," Alfred gritted lowly through his teeth.
"And I am your daughter," She retorted. "But that didn't stop you from treating me like rubbish, did it not?"
Regina could see the tenseness in his shoulders, how hard Alfred was trying to hold back his anger because they were in public. She nonchalantly adjusted the strap of her enchanted satchel and smiled coldly.
"Have a lovely day, Father. Expect a few owls here and there from the Prefects."
And with that, Regina finally stepped onto the Express, leaving her fuming father behind.
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| sta • 9 | eva • 11 | str • 4 VICIOUS⠀PREDATOR wis • 12 | arc • 11 | acc • 12 | Prodigal DADA | Perfectionist | TP THROUGH⠀THE⠀YEARS LC | Nonverbal | ability |