Dramatics? Ursula was now truely furious inside. Of course Phineas had tried to downplay his own obvious fauxpaux and concealed it with anger towards her. One of his favourite strategies. Trying to make her appear weak. Questioning her own judgement. Reducing her to a hysterical and overly emotional woman. Better to cast it at someone else instead of standing up for it and facing the consequences. No, he was unfailing! Of course she could see right through him. Being married to a man like him had taught her a great deal.
He rudely walked past her nearly knocking her over and left her in the whiff of his cologne (he ALWAYS smelled so very good). Ursula could tell he was in a very bad mood now! She closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. Her husband was going to be a tough piece of work today. She decided to follow him downstairs, if only to prevent him from making a runner.
He continued to ramble. The usual. That he was so very busy. So much to work. That she should be eternally grateful to him for basically everything she was and had. Typical male airs, staging themselves as the great provider. And who exactly was the one being dramatic?
Now it was her turn not to listen to him anymore. When he had finally reached the door to the dining room on the ground floor and practically teared the door open, he came to an abrupt halt. Ursula nearly walked into him.
What followed was a sad display of pure ignorance. Phineas entered and took his place at the end of the table without a word. Arcturus and Belvina gazed upon him with expecting and excited faces. Even Cygnus started to brabble something sounding like âDadaâ and moved his arms and legs lively in his high chair. Phineas didnât take any notice of them. Her heart sank. How could he be so cold and detached? He hadnât seen his younger children in months and he couldnât deign to properly greet them? He could have at least pretended to be pleased to see them. He had never been an affectionate father, but the way he ignored the children now made her sick. She knew he was still angry with her (or himself) but that was by no means an excuse to take it out on his children who had longed to have him home.Ursula would have to have a talk with him. A stern one. But not in front of the children.
She entered the room and took her own seat opposite to her husband. Instantly, she felt Arcturusâs and Belvinaâs eyes on her and looked in their confused faces. She gave them a reassuring smile and nod. It was credit to their good education that they didnât speak up. They began to eat in silence. Cygnus was of course very interested in the strange man sitting at the breakfast table and started gesturing towards his father with his newly learned verbal creations. The side effect was a long trace of spit coming out of his mouth and running down his front. No response from Phineasâs side but a disgusted look. Ursula gently pushed down the toddlerâs arms and shushed him calmly.
Arcturus and Belvina tried their best to contain their excitement and looked between their parents to get a hint of when they were allowed to say something to their father. Belvina was beaming at her beloved idol while Arcturus was shifting in his seat.
Then, suddenly, Phineasâs voice cut through the room, loud and harsh: âSit properly boy, for Merlinâs sake, and control that incessant grin, girl!â
Ursulaâs eyes shot to her husband. Stunned. Then to her children.
Arcturus had lowered his eyes, sinking in to his chair, a sad expression creeping on his face.
Belvina looked heartbroken. Her bottom lip was quivering dangerously.
Cygnus got quiet at the loud voice, his eyes wide and big. He must have sensed the tense atmosphere, though, because he started crying vehemently.
At his outburst, Ursula put her cutlery down a bit too loudly. She shot Phineas a glare that was nothing short to âGlaciusâ. Enough was enough. He had overstepped a line. And she was not going to tolerate that. It was one thing for him to treat her poorly, but not his innocent children. Later, she told herself. In the right moment. Not in front of the children.
Ursula rose from her chair and picked up Cygnus. She gently rocked him and patted his head. He calmed down a bit eventually.
âChildren, if you have finished your breakfast, itâs best for you to go upstairs.â she said firmly.
Arcturus moved first, his gaze still lowered. Belvina remained seated defiantly. Instead, she looked at her mother and declared in a thin, shaky voice:
âDaddy is mean. I want that he goes back to Hogwarts!â
And then the table started to shake uncontrollably, the dishes and cutlery clattering loudly as it started to float. Uncontrolled magic.
Ursulaâs jaw dropped. She tried to quickly pull out her wand, but still had Cygnus in her arms, when out of the corner of her eye she saw Phineas act-
@phineasnigellusblack
