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	Regina was tense in the chair, posture upright and rigid as venomous purple eyes glared daggers at the elderly wizard across the table. The man in question didn't seem the least bothered - in fact, one could say he completely lacked the natural unease that was expected when being at the end of such a furious glower accompanied with the chilling sensation around the girl. No, he simply stirred his tea with a little spoon before gently tapping it at the rim, placing it onto the plate and bringing the cup to his lips for a leisure sip. His disturbing calmness irritated her as much as it unnerved her. This distinguished, stoic wizard was no other but Charles Miller, Regina's paternal grandfather. Though the title of Head of the main family had been inherited by his son Alfred, it was unspoken knowledge that Charles still held incredible influence at the top of the House of Miller hierarchy for as long as he was still breathing. It intimidated Regina despite the fear never being expressed out loud. She didn't need to. Her grandfather knew. He always knew when somebody was afraid of his simple presence alone. That was the problem. His spontaneous visit at the Miller Manor implied trouble for Regina. Charles lived in one of the family properties in Wales after his retirement in the Ministry of Magic, and he rarely ever left that mansion unless it was an emergency summoning. The fact that he was here now must mean Alfred had called for him to resolve her rebellious issue. She could argue and defy her father easily, but her grandfather was a whole other story. He was a man ten times colder, more ruthless than his firstborn. "So, Regina. How do you fair in your third year at Hogwarts so far?" If they had been different people, this would have been anything but a terrifying interrogation. Alas, this was what fate had dealt her. She resisted the urge to swallow nervously. She would not show him any vulnerability in any form. "Brilliantly, Grandfather. As I'm certain you already know," She gritted her teeth. "Has my Father yet to tell you? It's why you're here, is it not?" "I always prefer to get information from the source rather than from a third party," Charles responded coldly. "Sometimes, one side omits the entire truth." He placed the teacup down on the plate before looking at her with a gaze sharper than the Diffindo spell. "Such as the detentions you were given during September, the blatant insolence you've displayed towards your father in the reprimanding letter he owled you after and the reputation of a rebellious delinquent you've deliberately acquired in an attempt to defy your parents." She knew it. Charles was here to give Regina a discipline Alfred could not, for if she did not fear her father, she had to fear the one with the most power within the household. The air around them seem to drop in temperature as a storm surged inside Regina's purple irises, her lips pursing into a thin line to express her anger. Charles, unaffected by the shift in tension, raised an eyebrow as he leant closer across the table and spoke in a quiet tone promising danger. "Do you truly think you can intimidate the master of intimidation, granddaughter?" He threatened. "I gave you the gene. Your little disobedient tricks won't work on me." The way they were glaring at each other, it looked like a scene of two predators hissing viciously as they struggled for dominance. However, unlike her confrontations with Rebecca, Regina was forced to curb into submission when her grandfather persisted and bit where it hurt. Because she was powerless in the face of someone who could easily strip her of every last thing she held dear. While her mother could influence her father to be just a bit lenient, Charles had no such obligation. He'd never been an affectionate person. One would think he was incapable of it, and that was why his son turned out to be a controlling, obsessive and abusive man. "This is how it shall be. If you do not fix your behaviour and continue to sully the House of Miller's name, I will have your father pull you out of Hogwarts. You will come live with me in Wales and you will be homeschooled by me until your education is finished. I will personally monitor your every action and decision until you are shaped to be the perfect Pureblood Heiress you are meant to be, and only then will I send you back here to relieve your parents of your rebellion." As Charles went on, the tone of his voice growing darker with each word, Regina felt as though she had been dumped into the ice cold water of the Great Lake and held down to drown. Her grandfather was threatening to put her into another gilded cage, only worse than the one she was currently in. And it was a promise. Charles Miller did not make empty promises. "Survival of the fittest. That has been our family motto for several generations," The moment passed as Charles leaned back into his chair and finished the tea that had gone slightly cold. "You know this better than anybody, granddaughter. This is merely another life lesson that must be taught." "That I must fight to survive, even if it means trampling over the tyrants who threaten my freedom?" Regina finally spoke, clenching her hands so tightly her nails had dug into her palms to draw blood. It was the only way she could resist the unadulterated fury coursing through her veins and draw her wand against Charles. The old wizard stood then, eyes glinting with something so terrifying, it instantly reminded her of a monster. How ironic was it, that the trait had been passed down to her father then to her and her sister? "That you are not the one in control, Regina."
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