11 Oct 2019, 04:40
Bittersweet Evening
Where: Sketty, Wales
What: Family Dinner
When: Around 7:30pm on August 11th, 2019
Word Count: 1453
Romilly helped her mum set the table. Together they'd had made marvelous meal with three courses: the appetizers, the entree, and the desserts. Romilly took pride in the latter, having used a family recipe that had been previously lost.
Her father looked from where he sat in the living from and quickly went over to help them set up. Romilly's older sister, Leslé, didn't even budge. She was too busy scratching away a letter with the speedy family owl, Courtesy, waiting loyally on her shoulder.
Their father frowned at her but it was to no avail. Meanwhile, Romilly was trying desperately not to taste the cake her mother had made; everyone knew that strawberry was her biggest weaknesses. Although she didn't like strawberry ice cream she wouldn't hesitate devour every other flavored treat.
She swiped a bit of frosting off with her Pinky and licked it off once her back was turned. The creamy tasted exploded on her taste buds like heaven from the skies; she had purposely avoided eating much today so she could save room in her stomach for the big dinner they were having.
“Romilly,” her mum sighed. ”I truly hope you washed your hands.” She knew it was an order rather than a musing, so Romilly hurried off to the bathroom.
On her way she bumped into her brother, who was leaving his room. Leon, a tall, toned boy with slick, black hair and eyes narrowed to skits, barely budged. Her heart skipped a beat; he was actually taking notice of her instead of all the ignoring and silence for what seemed like forever. But he merely eyed her face, which was red from the kitchen labor, and went on down the hall.
Romilly sighed quietly; she wished that her brother would talk to her more. He stopped during his first year of Hogwarts. At first she thought he was just busy but even during his free time he pretended like she was just a fly on the wall, one that never moved.
She washed her hands and looked at her reflection. Her hair was tied in a tight bun to the back of her head and her face was now flushed. She pinched her cheeks to bring back some color but it didn't really work.
Her wand caught her eye. She scolded herself for being so thoughtless, she couldn't get into the habit of leaving something so important lying just anywhere. She picked up the brown thing, gripping it firmly in her hand. She didn't dare pointing it anywhere, fearing that she'd do something more reckless.
After putting it in her room, specifically in a bedside table drawer, Romilly headed back to the dining room, where everyone was now sitting, waiting for her.
Her mum opened her mouth to say something but her sister interrupted her. “Finally. What took you so long? Tending to your redcaps?”
“They're not redcaps!” Leslé was referring to the three rats that Romilly owned, the ones she has accidentally turned red after testing her wand not even a week ago. Her parents decided to leave them as a reminder that magic wasn't something to play with. They were also called that because once they ate an entire box of Band-Aids.
“Children—Romilly and Leslé,” warned their mum. She changed it because Leon always made this strange face whenever he was mentioned for an invalid reason. Romilly secretly wished he had been called, just to see his reaction.
“Just tell her to stop bullying my rats before i feed her toad to them.”
“You bi—”
“Children.” This time it was her father, who didn't care how he worded what he said, as long as it caught everyone's attention and got across his point. Romilly noticed her brother's muscle work in his jaw but didn't feel bad for him.
“Prayers,” her mum chimed, gazing lovingly at each of her children in turn and lastly at her husband, whose hand she grabbed.
“Yes, let's commence this fine evening so we can eat this even finer dinner.”
“Yes, let's,” her sister mumbled, but only Romilly apparently heard.
Her father went on into a prayer, talking about how he hoped his children would do well in school, strive for their dreams, and become wizards that represented their family well. I hope that I learn something useful, like how to avoid idiots, she thought. Everyone muttered an amen, though Romilly's was a little louder.
Then everyone dug in. This had become a tradition ever since the twins started school. They'd make a big meal and reflect over the past and the future. Never the present. Romilly wished they would, because right now she felt like the family was beginning to break. But nobody else seemed to feel the same way.
She noticed how her mum's smile would falter whenever he father couldn't see. She noticed how pleased her father was with the family but she knew he was thinking more about work and the world more than what lay before him. She noticed how irritated her sister looked, but she couldn't mask the sorrow in her eyes every time she glanced at Leon. And she noticed how... seperate her brother was, even though he was sitting right next to her.
“So,” began her mother, wavering her fork around. She had taken a bite of the spinach lasagna. “Any wishes for the year?” Her gaze fell on her. “Romilly?”
Romilly had just taken a bite as well, chewing it as if it were the last lasagna on Earth. She swallowed quickly, even though she'd barely gotten a taste, and looked up. “Um, no, not really. Good grades, I guess.”
“Well, that makes all three of us.” She had to force herself not retaliate at her sister.
Her mum pretended not to hear. “Leon?”
Her brother took that to pick up his large glass of water and down it in three gulps, as if it he had practiced somewhere. Romilly guessed he'd learn it at Hogsmeade, with the butter beer.
“This year I want to become a Prefect, eventually Head Boy. The past two years were dreadful because I didn't care much about anything until the end of each semester, when the testing periods came, but I've worked hard when I could and I want to better.”
Leslé had been listening heartedly with her mouth parted but once he finished her face changed back into it's annoyed look. “Let's see how long that lasts—”
A fist banged onto the table, but it wasn't her father's. He was just looking across the table, like everyone else, at her brother, who was now glaring deep into Leslé's soul.
“Let's talk about you then, you pathetic excuse for a Ravenclaw. How many P's and D's have you gotten in the last year? Don't think news of your marks haven't traveled passed the walls of that tower. No, we all know how stupid you are, wasting away your life by sending petty letters to every bloody girl and sleazing your way through every bloody class. You should be the last to say anything concerning success, because that's something you won't achieve.” He glanced at Romilly, then added, “Even she has a better chance.”
He stared at his twin for a few seconds before pushing back in his seat and storming to his room. Leslé sat there with a funny look on her face before getting up too, heading towards the front door.
Romilly pretended to be very interested in her food, even though her ears were ringing with what her brother had just said. A dumb Ravenclaw? I know Leslé is lazy but...she's not dumb. She was starting to think that this had more to do with her sister's grades. Something bad had happened between them.
But she didn't say this aloud, knowing her parents had enough on their mind. Our of the corner of her eye she noticed them share a look. The smile had been left her mum's face and her father was strangely calm. He just continued to eat his food, but she noticed how hard he gripped his fork.
After what seemed like forever, her mother slammed down her glass of water and glared at her husband. “Nothing to say, Reuben, then? Wouldn't think nothing more,” and she went of to find her sister.
Romilly's cheeks were red, she could feel tears prickling her eyes. But she wasn't a dryer so she held them back with all she had. The room stayed quiet until her father finished eating, in which he went to the kitchen and off to sleep. The dessert was never touched.
What: Family Dinner
When: Around 7:30pm on August 11th, 2019
Word Count: 1453
Romilly helped her mum set the table. Together they'd had made marvelous meal with three courses: the appetizers, the entree, and the desserts. Romilly took pride in the latter, having used a family recipe that had been previously lost.
Her father looked from where he sat in the living from and quickly went over to help them set up. Romilly's older sister, Leslé, didn't even budge. She was too busy scratching away a letter with the speedy family owl, Courtesy, waiting loyally on her shoulder.
Their father frowned at her but it was to no avail. Meanwhile, Romilly was trying desperately not to taste the cake her mother had made; everyone knew that strawberry was her biggest weaknesses. Although she didn't like strawberry ice cream she wouldn't hesitate devour every other flavored treat.
She swiped a bit of frosting off with her Pinky and licked it off once her back was turned. The creamy tasted exploded on her taste buds like heaven from the skies; she had purposely avoided eating much today so she could save room in her stomach for the big dinner they were having.
“Romilly,” her mum sighed. ”I truly hope you washed your hands.” She knew it was an order rather than a musing, so Romilly hurried off to the bathroom.
On her way she bumped into her brother, who was leaving his room. Leon, a tall, toned boy with slick, black hair and eyes narrowed to skits, barely budged. Her heart skipped a beat; he was actually taking notice of her instead of all the ignoring and silence for what seemed like forever. But he merely eyed her face, which was red from the kitchen labor, and went on down the hall.
Romilly sighed quietly; she wished that her brother would talk to her more. He stopped during his first year of Hogwarts. At first she thought he was just busy but even during his free time he pretended like she was just a fly on the wall, one that never moved.
She washed her hands and looked at her reflection. Her hair was tied in a tight bun to the back of her head and her face was now flushed. She pinched her cheeks to bring back some color but it didn't really work.
Her wand caught her eye. She scolded herself for being so thoughtless, she couldn't get into the habit of leaving something so important lying just anywhere. She picked up the brown thing, gripping it firmly in her hand. She didn't dare pointing it anywhere, fearing that she'd do something more reckless.
After putting it in her room, specifically in a bedside table drawer, Romilly headed back to the dining room, where everyone was now sitting, waiting for her.
Her mum opened her mouth to say something but her sister interrupted her. “Finally. What took you so long? Tending to your redcaps?”
“They're not redcaps!” Leslé was referring to the three rats that Romilly owned, the ones she has accidentally turned red after testing her wand not even a week ago. Her parents decided to leave them as a reminder that magic wasn't something to play with. They were also called that because once they ate an entire box of Band-Aids.
“Children—Romilly and Leslé,” warned their mum. She changed it because Leon always made this strange face whenever he was mentioned for an invalid reason. Romilly secretly wished he had been called, just to see his reaction.
“Just tell her to stop bullying my rats before i feed her toad to them.”
“You bi—”
“Children.” This time it was her father, who didn't care how he worded what he said, as long as it caught everyone's attention and got across his point. Romilly noticed her brother's muscle work in his jaw but didn't feel bad for him.
“Prayers,” her mum chimed, gazing lovingly at each of her children in turn and lastly at her husband, whose hand she grabbed.
“Yes, let's commence this fine evening so we can eat this even finer dinner.”
“Yes, let's,” her sister mumbled, but only Romilly apparently heard.
Her father went on into a prayer, talking about how he hoped his children would do well in school, strive for their dreams, and become wizards that represented their family well. I hope that I learn something useful, like how to avoid idiots, she thought. Everyone muttered an amen, though Romilly's was a little louder.
Then everyone dug in. This had become a tradition ever since the twins started school. They'd make a big meal and reflect over the past and the future. Never the present. Romilly wished they would, because right now she felt like the family was beginning to break. But nobody else seemed to feel the same way.
She noticed how her mum's smile would falter whenever he father couldn't see. She noticed how pleased her father was with the family but she knew he was thinking more about work and the world more than what lay before him. She noticed how irritated her sister looked, but she couldn't mask the sorrow in her eyes every time she glanced at Leon. And she noticed how... seperate her brother was, even though he was sitting right next to her.
“So,” began her mother, wavering her fork around. She had taken a bite of the spinach lasagna. “Any wishes for the year?” Her gaze fell on her. “Romilly?”
Romilly had just taken a bite as well, chewing it as if it were the last lasagna on Earth. She swallowed quickly, even though she'd barely gotten a taste, and looked up. “Um, no, not really. Good grades, I guess.”
“Well, that makes all three of us.” She had to force herself not retaliate at her sister.
Her mum pretended not to hear. “Leon?”
Her brother took that to pick up his large glass of water and down it in three gulps, as if it he had practiced somewhere. Romilly guessed he'd learn it at Hogsmeade, with the butter beer.
“This year I want to become a Prefect, eventually Head Boy. The past two years were dreadful because I didn't care much about anything until the end of each semester, when the testing periods came, but I've worked hard when I could and I want to better.”
Leslé had been listening heartedly with her mouth parted but once he finished her face changed back into it's annoyed look. “Let's see how long that lasts—”
A fist banged onto the table, but it wasn't her father's. He was just looking across the table, like everyone else, at her brother, who was now glaring deep into Leslé's soul.
“Let's talk about you then, you pathetic excuse for a Ravenclaw. How many P's and D's have you gotten in the last year? Don't think news of your marks haven't traveled passed the walls of that tower. No, we all know how stupid you are, wasting away your life by sending petty letters to every bloody girl and sleazing your way through every bloody class. You should be the last to say anything concerning success, because that's something you won't achieve.” He glanced at Romilly, then added, “Even she has a better chance.”
He stared at his twin for a few seconds before pushing back in his seat and storming to his room. Leslé sat there with a funny look on her face before getting up too, heading towards the front door.
Romilly pretended to be very interested in her food, even though her ears were ringing with what her brother had just said. A dumb Ravenclaw? I know Leslé is lazy but...she's not dumb. She was starting to think that this had more to do with her sister's grades. Something bad had happened between them.
But she didn't say this aloud, knowing her parents had enough on their mind. Our of the corner of her eye she noticed them share a look. The smile had been left her mum's face and her father was strangely calm. He just continued to eat his food, but she noticed how hard he gripped his fork.
After what seemed like forever, her mother slammed down her glass of water and glared at her husband. “Nothing to say, Reuben, then? Wouldn't think nothing more,” and she went of to find her sister.
Romilly's cheeks were red, she could feel tears prickling her eyes. But she wasn't a dryer so she held them back with all she had. The room stayed quiet until her father finished eating, in which he went to the kitchen and off to sleep. The dessert was never touched.