althea-nott:
Althea did not dismay over her arranged marriage in the way most muggleborns and halfblood assumed she would. From a young age, Althea and her friends had daydreamed of possible future matches, what it would be like to finally know the name of their betrothed and plan the wedding of their dreams. While the list of suitable matches was short, not knowing was always part of the fun as they spoke of their future husbands as nameless mystery men. Althea had always known that an arranged marriage was in her future, and while she had her concerns, they were only natural when agreeing to marry someone who was practically a stranger. “I suppose that’s fair. I don’t think I could imagine what it would be like to have to pick my own fiancé.” Althea tried to joke.
With a sigh, Althea supposed she ought to explain what she meant further. “It’s just, pureblooded boys grow up thinking they’re the center of the universe. They can be spoiled, and sometimes they can be cruel.” It was an all too common, if unspoken fact that many found themselves miserable in arranged marriages with men obsessed with power and status, caring only for the name and connections that could be gained through a marriage. “Quentin doesn’t seem the type.” She added quickly. “My parents would never have agreed to this if he did.” In fact, that was why Althea supposed they had taken so long in finding a match, as they had been incredibly careful to pick someone who would be kind.
Liz’s comment struck Althea, and her chin tilted in confusion. “Do you wish you were?” It was a very personal question, and at one point Althea wouldn’t have found it appropriate to ask. Liz was one of her closest friends, however, and they had long ago crossed the line of appropriate topics of conversation.
Elizabeth let out a small laugh at the joke, listening to the girl explain her lifestyle to her. It was odd to think that they were both witches, had the same opportunities when it came to education, and yet things were still so different for them. She was happy to hear that Althea’s parents had been careful in their decision. Everyone knew rumors of pureblood parents being harsh and cold, and while she didn’t actually know Althea’s parents, it made her think that her parents weren’t like that. It was odd to hear so many things about purebloods, usually being on the outside of things and to finally be ‘in the know’ about it all. Truthfully it was hard to know what she should believe when it came to everything that she’s heard, but it had also never particularly affected her too much.
The question came as a surprise to her. “What, married?” She asked for clarification in that moment. It was odd to think of herself getting married. Of course as a child she’d pictured herself married, and most likely with a child at this point. But as a child she also hadn’t imagined she was a witch and would go to a magical school. “I’m not sure,” Liz shrugged. “I suppose at one point I thought I’d be married by now, back in school I even thought I knew who it’d be too. But he-” She stopped herself. Althea was probably one of her best friends, but she still found the subject hard to talk about with her. “It didn’t work out. Right now I’m just happy that I was able to focus on my career and get the exact job I wanted when I did. If that means becoming an old spinster, then I’m fine with that.”


















