Close enough to start a war

Dinner in the Krum household was never a successful affair. The dinners past and future would always have a layer of animosity hidden underneath the indifference. Viktor wasn’t looking forward to the palpable tension that would no doubt fill the dining room when he introduced his children to their new step-mother. Obviously he had yet to marry the woman but it would not take long, mere months in fact. The date had already been set, July 6th, and now it was just matter of getting his children on his side. Irina was nice enough. She was a beautiful, if not slightly naive, woman who had yet to realise the reason why she was being married to him. It wasn’t because he was in love with her or because she was a good match. She was young and she was fertile; those reasons were the only ones. She was a broodmare and would be for however long she lasted.

So far she was doing a fair job. They’d been successful and Viktor was startled to discover he could still give women children. As it was, the Healer had been more than cooperative. The couple were overjoyed to find that they would be having a son in December. Viktor was more relieved than anything else. He’d have nine months where he could leave her to her own devices. He wouldn’t have to touch her unless she miscarried and Viktor hoped to Merlin she wouldn’t. As pleasing as she was, she couldn’t hold a candle to Marina and the whole affair was becoming a chore. She seemed happy enough though and that was what Viktor needed. He daren’t show her his frustration. He had to be dutiful and kind toward her. He liked her but she was nothing in comparison to Marina and that was what annoyed him the most.

“Do you think this is enough?”

Her voice broke Viktor from his thoughts and he looked up to see his wife-to-be in a floor length black dress. It was a halter neck with no back and it gave a delicious hint at the wonderful body beneath. That was one thing Viktor couldn’t deny, she had one hell of a figure on her. He nodded and got up from the window seat. He closed the book in his hands and dropped it onto one of the end tables before winding his arms around her waist. He dropped a kiss onto her shoulder and nudged her hair out of the way before catching the shell of her ear between his teeth.

“Viktor...” She gasped as his hands grazed her thighs through the thin material. “Your children will be here soon...you can’t...”

“Can’t what?” He asked before picking her up.

Alright so he’d lied. It wasn’t that much of a chore.
“What do you mean they’re busy?” Elijah snapped at the House Elf who seemed rather intimidated by the Slytherin. The creature stuttered helplessly before shrieking something along the lines of “I’ll go and find them” and darting away. Elijah shook his head and walked away from Cecilia who had been stood in the foyer with him. He pushed open the doors to the left wing ballroom and drifted immediately over to the piano set at an angle near the sweeping staircases. Elijah opened it up and sat down before the magnificent instrument. He put his fingers to the keys and played a gentle melody to pass the time.

Elijah felt lips on his cheek and he looked over to see Lorelei beside him. Elijah kissed her gently and moved over to let her sit down beside him. She smiled and joined his hands on the instrument. Elijah cast a look over his shoulder to see Gustav leading Cecilia into the ballroom, a grin on his face as he whispered some sort of joke to her in an effort to get her to laugh. Elijah heard Lorelei begin to sing beside him and he smirked before joining in, letting his voice mingle with hers. Hers was shockingly powerful for such a tiny woman and his was a deep croon, characteristic and welcoming to his husky voice.

As they created the music, Gustav led Cecilia around the room, effectively distracting her the same way Lorelei was with Elijah, to buy Viktor and Irina time.


OOC: Lorelei and Gustav are Eli and Cecilia’s first cousins via Viktor’s brother, Stephan. They have another brother Georgio but he isn’t in the scene, as you will have seen. :3

OOC: okay thanks for telling me that.
Cecilia stood next to Elijah as he yelled at the little house elf. She felt sorry for him. She watched at the two left and stood there for a while until Gustav came up to her and started talking. She smiled politely and walked into the ballroom with him where Eli was playing the piano with Lorelei sitting next to him. She giggled at Gustav’s attempt to make her laugh as she listened to the music kind of jealous of the two who now sang. Elijah had all the talent and she had none out side of quidditch but that was in her blood just as much as it was in his.
Cecilia’s thoughts drifted to those of Jake and Jack. She could see them both in her mind and she smiled not paying attention to what anybody said. Quickly her thoughts changed again and she was wondering why her father wanted her and Elijah to come here today.

The dress that she’d been wearing prior to the, uh, relations was now ruined. Viktor smirked at her dismay and watched lazily as she pulled the lace panties up her smooth, creamy thighs. The curves of her backside were quickly covered by the pink and black lace and Viktor tipped his head back and laughed heartily at her. She whirled around, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment. He cocked an eyebrow at her and she squealed, ducking behind the French screen that had been erected beside the vanity. Viktor laughed again and watched his fiancé’s silhouette as she changed into a less revealing outfit. Viktor got up and whipped his wand, using magic to dress himself instead of doing it the Muggle way. He was polished and pristine once more, much to the chagrin of the woman. She pouted and beat her hand against his chest. He caught it in his larger one and smirked at her before kissing her softly on the lips.

“Come on, darling, we had better make our entrance before Elijah loses his patience.” He took her hand in his and took her from the room, leading her to the grand staircase that would lead down into the foyer. “You’ll be fine Irina. They’ll like you, I promise.”

“No they won’t, Viktor.” She sighed, her spare hand moving to rest on her stomach. “They’ll hate me...and him.” She sighed again and Viktor squeezed her hand.

“They’ll like you, I’m sure.”

The two walked into the ballroom where the music was coming from and Viktor watched as Elijah looked over his shoulder. The music was cut off abruptly and Viktor felt Irina stiffen beside him. He squeezed her hand again and watched as Elijahgot to his feet, the anger rolling off of him in waves.

“This is what you wanted us for!?” He shouted, his voice echoing around the room.

“Elijah, Cecilia...this is Irina. She’s my fiancée.”

Irina swallowed and plastered a smile onto her face before saying, “Hello!” She stepped forward towards Cecilia and continued to smile. “I’ve been told so much about you, Cecilia! You’re a Ravenclaw are you not? In your fifth year?”

Elijah's music stopped playing and pulled her out of her thoughts. she spun around to see her father and the woman he stood with. Irina stepped closer to her and started talking. Cecilia just glared for a moment then coldly replied yes before walking out of the room. she pushed past her father and then ran up stairs. She stomped on the second floor and looked over the railing and said "you are nuts." She was speaking to her father, "your betraying mom." she briskly walked away from the railing and to her room when she took her stash of alcohol from its hiding place.

Irina's face fell at the snub from her step-daughter-to-be. She looked over at Elijah with glassy eyes and he too seemed to hold the same distaste for her. Irina inhaled shakily and turned to see Viktor storming out of the room, shouting after his daughter. She didn't have to strain to hear his words.

"Cecilia Evelyn Krum! Get back here and apologise this instant! Your mother is dead you selfish girl! We can't all dwell on her! We have to move on! You and Elijah need a mother so stop being so self-centred and cruel!"

Irina wrapped her arms around herself and felt a hand on her elbow. She looked at Elijah and returned the smile he managed for her.

"How far along are you?" He asked.

"Excuse me?"

"I could tell the minute you walked in through the room." He smirked. "Give Cecilia time won't you?"

"I don't need a mother nor do I need you," Cecilia yelled then slammed her door putting her back against it and sliding to the floor. she took a drink from the bottle she held then set it down next to her. she stood up again then locked the door and walked over to her desk. opening the top drawer on the left side of her desk she took out a pair of scissors and cut her hair off it only came down to her shoulders. she knew this would piss her father off more. This was a way for her to show him he didn’t and couldn’t control her. She took her wand out of her boat and cast a spell that died her hair blonde, bleach blonde.

Viktor stormed up the stairs, determined to make his daughter see his point of view. He didn’t particularly want this either but it was what was best for the family. Merlin only knew what could happen to Elijah, the boy was so careless, and Viktor needed more than one heir. Cecilia wouldn’t do as she seemed to be getting her brother’s rebellious streak. He didn’t bother knocking but instead used Alohamora on her bedroom door. He pushed it open just as she cast the spell on her hair. Viktor’s eyes fell to the dark locks that decorated the floor and he blinked, taking a step back.

Viktor pursed his lips and put his wand into the pocket in his robes. He walked into the room and crossed it quickly to the desk where Cecilia sat. He put his hands on her shoulders and brushed off excess locks of hair. He looked at her reflection and reached forward t0 brush some of the hair from her eyes. “Oh my girl,” he murmured sadly. “What have you done?” He sighed and squeezed her shoulders. “I’m sorry. Irina really is a kind woman, Cecilia. She’s...” Viktor smiled a little and played idly with a lock of his daughter’s blonde hair. “Different. Younger...” He trailed off thoughtfully. “She’s here to do a job, Cecilia. When your mother died she...she left behind a pair of boots that need to be filled. I don’t know if Irina can do it but she can try. She’s not replacing your mother, no one can do that, but she’s...she’s just doing me a favour I suppose. I don’t love her Cecilia, not like I loved your mother. But...I...” he pursed his lips again and sighed. “I’m sorry.”

"If you don't love her then why are you doing this?" Cecilia asked looking at her father. She looked at her hair "Its just hair," she whispered, "the spell will wear off sooner or later and it will grow back."
She pushed Viktors hands off her shoulder and stood up going over to the other side of the room. Tears were present in her eyes though she blinked them back. “like I said I don’t need a mother. You don’t need her. No matter what you say your just using her to replace mom .” she wiped her eyes then looked in the mirror to fix her make up.

It was probably best to let Viktor and Cecilia fight it out between them. Elijah didn’t particularly like the idea of being left with his step-mother to be but she seemed nice enough – perhaps a little too nice. Elijah allowed her to loop her arm through his and he led her into the parlour where he sat her down and moved immediately to the cabinet which held Firewhisky and various other tipples for late afternoon – or, y’know, fresh after a fight. He took some glasses off of the top and poured some into both before plopping a few cubes of ice into each one. He picked them up again and swept back over to Irina. He held a glass out for her and she looked at him hesitantly before taking the glass into her pale hands. Elijah’s lips twitched upwards and he crossed the room to sit down in the armchair beside the fire that was already crackling.

“I shouldn’t be drinking this...” Irina said quietly, looking at the glass of Firewhisky with a fearful expression on her face. “It’ll do awful things to-”

“-Just drink it.” Elijah snapped, his eyes tearing from the fire to look into her eyes. “You are here why exactly?” he watched as she placed the glass on the table beside her chair and he smirked, sitting back in the chair as he did so. “Wise choice.”

“I am going to marry your father...” Irina said, swallowing hard. Elijah nodded thoughtfully and put his own glass down. “You don’t...mind?”

“Of course I bloody mind!” Elijah snapped, his eyes narrowing. “How would you feel if your mother died and your father replaced her within months!?”

Irina paled and rose from her chair. She whirled out of the room and Elijah let her go. He slumped against the back of the chair and sighed, listening to her retreating footsteps and poorly stifled sobs as she retreated to wherever. He looked up when he heard the door creak. Elijah raised an eyebrow at Harry who was hesitantly stood in the doorway. Elijah rose from his chair and crossed the room. Harry met him half way and they dived into each other’s embrace. Elijah buried his face in Harry’s chest and kept a firm grip on the upper arms of the Bulgarian. Elijah felt Harry’s lips on the back of his neck and he opened his eyes. They slowly untangled themselves from one another and Elijah met Harry’s hesitant gaze.

“Viktor is busy. I haven’t had time to speak to Stefan, either. I wanted to ask you seeing as you’re...you’ll be head of the family one day. Can I...” Harry sighed and ran his hands through his hair before finishing. “Can I have permission to marry Astrid?”


“Because I have to!” Viktor snapped, becoming irritated. “Don’t you pay attention to anything, Cecilia? Everyone knew this was coming, even me; it was just a matter of time. Irina is doing the job she was put up to do. We’re all chosen our wives and, in the case of the women, their husbands. I lost Marina so they need to supply me with another one. Elijah is my only heir, Cecilia. He has some sort of death wish and that’s dangerous. He is going to be the head of this family when I die and if we lose him before that, I won’t have anyone and your uncle Stefan, providing he is still alive, will be head of the family – if not him then Georgio. Do you understand, Cecilia? I need more heirs; that’s why Irina is here. I can’t have bastards so I am marrying her. Do you understand? You’ve met Mira haven’t you? That’s Elijah’s betrothed – that’s his fiancée. Your...fiancé is admittedly non-existent but that is something your mother was working on before she, uhm, died. We’ll sort that, have no fear.”

Viktor smiled a little and swallowed. His throat was dry and all of this talking, all of this persuasion, was taking too long for his tastes.

“She is here to replace your mother, yes. Fine, I admit that. She’s here for the good of this family, Cecilia. I need someone by my side. I cannot be a widower and the head of this family. Do you not listen at family dinners? Do you not watch and observe? Were you taught nothing as a child?! She’s a broodmare, Cecilia; she’s here to fill this house with children, with sons. It’s more of a trial for me than it is for you now grow up. I need her, you need her, Elijah needs her and, more importantly, this family needs her. We’d be eaten alive by everyone else! This is an act of self-preservation. You cannot trust anyone in this family. You can trust your wife and your children but that is about. Canis Canem Edit, daughter – Dog eat dog. I am protecting us, this isn’t about my own ‘pleasure’. You’d do well to remember that life isn’t all about you. We have to make sacrifices to serve everyone. You have to put up with this. You have to try and get on with her. She's a lovely girl, I'm sure you could find something to bond over."

“This whole family is stupid. Why the hell dose their have to be a stupid head of family. Why can’t every one just conexist peacefully? You shouldn’t need any more children than the ones your already have. You can’t even control the ones you have now! How are you going to take care of others? Now go back to your precious little wife to be and leave me alone.” Cecilia said trying to find away to get further away from Viktor. “just go,” she whispered. She didn’t like the idea of an arranged marriage and didn’t know how anyone could stand it. Mira and Elijah, that couple actually made her laugh and she couldn’t understand how Elijah would be able to survive with that. She didn’t understand how she’d be able to survive with out Jake or Jack in her life and the arranged marriage thing would ruin that for them.