corban yaxley.

[ @coryaxley​ ]

Charity’s parents had sent her a letter requesting that she return home for a weekend in order for them to take her to a ‘special dinner’ to make a ‘big announcement’ and her heart sunk when she realized what that meant. They’d arranged a betrothal for her. She expected this after them bringing it up all summer, though she didn’t think it would happen so soon. 

She reluctantly made it back to her parents on Saturday, spent the afternoon listening to her Mother talk about how she was going to love him and that she just had to keep an open mind. She got ready in the dress they’d bought her just for the occasion, tied a bit of her hair back because her Mother always insisted it looked better down even though she hated having her hair in her face, and then apparated with her parents over to the Yaxley’s. 

Her Father knocked on the door, standing proudly and obviously very happy to have found a suitable match for his little girl.

The second his parents had spoken, Corban knew what was happening. He shouldn’t have been surprised, given they’d recently betrothed Elise too. That didn’t mean he wanted it, either. Love was stupid, and he sincerely hoped whoever he was marrying didn’t care who he hooked up with, or they were going to have issues. 

Reluctantly, Corban went to the door, answering it on behalf of his father. He was dressed fairly decently for once, much to his disgust. “Welcome to our home,” Corban murmured, plastering a charming smile onto his lips as he stepped aside to allow them to enter, resisting the urge to wrinkle his nose at the sight of Charity.

“Why would it? Both of us know it’s the obvious fact.” Katrina rolled her eyes. “I’ll pretend as much as I bloody want to, Yaxley. Especially when it’s so fucking obvious.” She didn’t want to stay around him any longer, not when doing so was just raising her pressure. “Gladly.” With that, she turned on her heal and walked away, slowly turning her walk into a jog.

@coryaxley​

Jacob had already run into a few people he knew, people whose shock was evident from the moment he looked at them again. However, there was one person he hadn’t seen, and he knew he had to find him… but he didn’t even know where to start. He couldn’t go waltzing into the Slytherin common room, he didn’t even know the password to be able to do that, and he wasn’t sure where else to look. He’d already looked through the library, trying to be as discreet as possible to not draw more attention to himself, but had no luck. 

Finally, after what felt like forever, he wandered down to the black lake, just wanting to sit and feel the breeze on his face… when he saw a figure, with a head of black hair. Jake paused momentarily, suddenly doubting if he should even try to talk to him yet… before forcing the courage out from his stomach as he continued forward. “Corban?”

Corban, for once, wasn’t too mad at being back at Hogwarts. Especially after his mother had let a certain bomb drop. He was trying to ignore it however, which is why he found himself alone at the lake. 

Hearing footsteps, Corban groaned, ready to probably jinx whoever it was --- until he heard the voice. His entire body turned ridged, his face ashen as he wiped around to face the other. “What the fuck?” Someone who he’d believe to be dead, standing right in front of him? “I don’t know who you are, and why you think this is funny, but I’m not in the fucking mood,” He spat out, pointing his wand at the other with arched eyebrows.

“Black.” She uttered hastily, before clarifying. “Regulus. He’s a good lad, I just… I always thought that by being the screw up in the family, I wouldn’t have to fulfill any of the usual pureblood expectations. How naive of me, right?” She laughed emptily, her eyes following Corban. “I’m sorry. I don’t know her that well, but she looks like a girl that deserves to find love on her own.”

“Ah, I suppose he’s decent enough, can’t say much for his brother, however,” Corban wrinkled his nose. “You’re not a screw up, Kasia. It’s not fair on you, however.” He sighed, shaking his head. “Yeah, well we’re not really seeing eye to eye at the moment but that doesn’t mean I don’t want her not to be happy.”

“What do you have in there?” Kasia asked, her tone switching to an enthusiastic one as her eyes rested on the flask. “Honestly, babe, you have an entire wedding distillery at your disposal and yet you bring your own stuff? How awfully uneconomical of you.”

“White Rat Whiskey, none of this fancy shit,” Corban scoffed, before laughing. “Not strong enough for me, besides I know how to get this cheap. Why do you think I have so much of it?”

“I am everyone’s favourite Macmillan.” She giggled, downing the drink she held in her hand. “Someone seems off today.” Jasmin noted as she stepped towards him. “I am four drinks in, I think I am doing very well actually, my love.”

“Mhm, that you certainly are,” Corban grinned at her, setting his own glass down. “Yeah, well, shit happens, my life’s a fucking mess and I need a distraction,” He told her honestly, not caring to go into much more detail, however. His eyes trailed down her shamelessly as she stepped towards him, before they flicked back up to her face. “Well clearly I need to play catch up then, I’m only on my third.” He teased.

Bryn wanted to argue more. He wanted to tell him that he was wrong, that Emrys would never have done any of it on purpose… but he couldn’t. So, instead, the brunet turned and started walking away, raising his hand to wipe away the couple of tears slipping down his cheeks.

“That’s true, I did that.” She smirked at him. “I got betrothed. You heard about that? I’m going to be a fucking bride.” She gave a bitter smile at the last word, shaking her head. “My parents forget I exist but the minute my older brother’s engagement fails, suddenly they remember they have another child too.”

“Betrothed? Which miserable bastard have they paired you with?” Corban asked her, eyes narrowing slightly. “Convenient that. Pretty sure that’s how our parents work. Instead of shoving me into another betrothal, they’ve chosen Elise this time.” A sigh escaped his lips, “It’s not fair on her. I should be the one to suffer that burden, not her. I might not ever marry for love, but she should at least get the chance.”

“It cost you?” She scoffed, shaking her head. “Just because my scars aren’t visible doesn’t mean that it didn’t cost me as well. You have no fucking idea what I went through at home.”

“Yeah, it fucking did. Perhaps I didn’t, Greengrass, but you’re the one the called it off, not me. You should have thought of the consequences for both of us. Don’t blame me for you not thinking.”

“Are you judging me?” she asked the other with an amused smile on her lips noticing them watching her just after she had downed yet another drink. “Tonight is about celebrating true love and free booze, right?” 

“Would I ever?” Corban countered, arching an eyebrow. “Free booze maybe, true love is bullshit, my love.” Corban ordered them another round, sliding the drink towards her. “I’m certainly not going to tell you to stop.”

@finestra-starters

“Nope, that’s mine.” She snatched the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket, smirking at the person it was originally for. “Don’t look at me like that, I’m going through stuff. Of course, I’m not made of stone so if you ask nicely, I’ll be willing to share.”

“Now that’s unfair, Kasia, love,” Corban pouted, before a smirk slipped onto his lips. “Though you can keep it,” He mused, pulling out a small flask from his jacket pocket. “I prefer the stronger stuff, as I took, am going through stuff. However, if you ask nicely, I might be willing to share too.”

WARDROBE