Gabrielle Nott

He listened to her instructions closely tightening the corsage around her wrist, and even testing it with gently moving her wrist to ensure it didn’t fall off. “I think that’s good, what do you think?” Uriel swooped his gaze from her wrist to her face with a gentle smile. “Someone has to be kind to you, you’re the most precious thing in the ball here.” He replied with a slightly nervous chuckle. This was all going to plan, at least his own plan he schemed up a few years ago. Little did he know, however, that fate had a different plan for them.  

Uriel had known from past experiences that he didn’t like when Gabrielle fell silent. It was never a good sign, but he thought maybe she was just lost in her own mind. Just like the time he asked her on their first date. He drew his face closer so their foreheads lightly touched against one another. There’s something off, but he wanted to ignore it. Whatever it was, he would deal with it. Maybe Gabrielle wouldn’t know the lengths he would go, but he was sure as the years progressed on he would be taking bodies out and dumping them to the bottom floor of the Black lake.

His thoughts interrupted when she took his hand, and he noticed quickly how her face fell.  Those words. Uriel didn’t care for them, nor did he link them. Whatever she needed to say, he was unsure what his knee jerk reaction would be. What if there were another bloke? There wouldn’t be for long. Still he felt his own heart race and the inside of his hands turn clammy. As she poured out the overwhelming news to Uriel his face changed. It went from happy, to angry, to sad, and now it just looked gloomy and grim. It all took its time to sink into the older boy’s mind. Roland Goyle for fucks sake was not part of the plan.

Still he waited until she dropped his hand, only to take hers in return. “Roland Goyle isn’t going to come between us. We can fix this.” He hissed though his voice was alarmingly calm. Roland Goyle was going to meet his maker if Uriel had anything to say about, especially when she mentioned him being mean to her deliberately. There was still the knee jerk reaction to it all, seeing Gabrielle’s eyes ill with tears disturbed him. His impulsive movements carry him closer as he gently pressed a lip to each cheek and one quick one to her lips,murmuring the words there. “You’re never going to waste my time, and tonight we’re still together.”

Gabrielle nodded her head, the corsage was fastened properly to her wrist now and wouldn’t flop around her wrist if she moved about. But his words were what made her fall speechless. Precious? Was she really precious in his eyes? Enough to be the most precious thing there? It just seemed so unlikely. Sure, it was something Stefan or Annabelle might agree with, or even Dolena, but that only brought about a fear that he thought of her as a little sister figure. Though, they’d been on a date and his compliments weren’t one that a boy would pay to a sister. “Thank you,” she murmured, eyes studying the corsage again, trying to cover the embarrassment that she felt from his compliments.

His forehead pressing against hers was like the calm before the storm, but panic bubbled in her chest, heavy and suffocating. She choked on her breath, tears streaking down her checks. Uriel’s reaction meant more to her than anything in that moment. Losing him, even just the thought of losing him was terrifying. They’d only been together for a short while, but Gabrielle was heart over head for the redhead boy. She caught the different flashes of emotion that crossed his face. The anger made her falter, even though it only lasted a second. Was he angry with her? Her gut told her no, but the seeds of doubt in her mind were already blossoming. The brunette shrunk in her spot.

Then, his hand was on hers, holding it, like he was holding on to her. She looked up at him, wide eyes peering through wet lashes, scared, like she’d been earlier when she’d gone to Stefan. “Stefan said he’s going to fix it.” Gabby spoke softly, but she wasn’t convinced, “But, I think my mum is scared that she’s not going to find any other family that wants me, and I don’t-don’t know how to convince her. I’m trying so hard to be enough; to be everything that a family would want for their son.” She was starving herself, exercising to the point of exhaustion, she spent hours creating elaborate baked goods to help her cope with her hunger, and more time on her makeup and hair these days than she spent on reading her beloved books. The extreme lengths she went to didn’t end there, like how she forced herself into corsets her mother had gotten her for Christmas the year before and sometimes had to cling to the arm rail on the staircases to catch her breath. Gabrielle was fracturing herself in hopes that the undesirable parts of her would break off and that she’d finally be enough. Though, with every passing day she felt like less and less. “I-I don’t know how else to fix this. I-I just want to be enough for everyone.” The girl admitted through her tears, and looked down, ashamed of herself. “Maybe I’m not trying hard enough.”

Uriel’s lips pressed against her cheek and then her lips. The kiss was quick, but comforting. She leaned into it, not wanting him to pull away. The words that he spoke against her rang in her ears, filling her up with hope. Did he really believe that she would never waste his time? That she was worth everything he was putting forward for her? She couldn’t imagine why he felt that way, couldn’t see it for herself. Gabrielle wasn’t good enough for the name she wore like cover-up over her father’s abandonment of her and her mother. It was like a band aid that her mother had secured as a negotiation for the terms of the marriage to Stefan and Annabelle’s father. It was no more than a facade that only ensured that her pureblood wouldn’t go to waste. She wasn’t worth Uriel’s kindness, nor his time, yet, there he was, fighting to tell her that she was and see to it that she believed it. Her lips pressed back against his and she closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling of his want for her. Tonight they were still together, and that was all she had left to hold on to.

Alecto had been on her way to the hospital wing, her headaches had been getting significantly worse and it was starting to effect her every day life. Maybe she could beg some pain relief, or if Pomfrey refused, try and score something a bit stronger. As she walked further along the corridor, she spied the girl just ahead of her and even Alecto could tell something was quite right. But it wasn’t her business, why would she care?

That was until she clocked who it was, picking up her pace to catch up with Gabrielle, just in time t see her doubled over. “Oh Gabs….” she said, genuine concern in her voice. It was an unspoken rule, despite her being in a different house to the rest of them, that Gabrielle was under Slytherin protection at all costs. She wrapped an arm around her waist, her other hand curling around Gabrielle’s upper arm to help support her steadier. “Hey, what’s wrong- try and breathe slowly, okay?” 

It took a moment for her eyes to focus enough to see Alecto; to process the words that the redhead spoke as she held on to the younger girl’s arm. Panic filled her, because having someone find out what is really going on is not going to do. The voice in her head was her mother’s, the orchestrator of Gabrielle’s self-inflicted punishment, though, it was labeled otherwise in both of their heads. The brunette took a deep breath, attempting to listen to the other girl’s advice. Slowly. Sucking in another breath, she blew it out between her parted lips. Slowly. Another time she forced herself to take a deep breath, but her heart was still trying to break out of it’s cage. A small hand reached to touch the spot where Alecto’s own was on her opposite arm, fighting to keep herself standing. How was she supposed to get out of this.

Lie. She wasn’t sure where this advice came from inside of her head, but it was the whispering of a snake that was too late to get her sorted into the house of her brother. Lie. It repeated, and she nodded her head gently, agreeing with the instinct that it was the only way to keep from embarrassing her family. “I d-don’t know.” The brunette didn’t think she seemed to be very good at lying, and her stomach mocked her again by burning with hunger. It twisted and squeezed inside of her, making her wince. “Cramps.” The word finally slid from her lips, and it made since. She remembered once that Annabelle had gotten them so bad that she’d nearly passed out. Another time, one of her dorm mates had gotten physically ill from them. And Gabrielle was often shy and easily embarrassed to the point of not wanting to tell others when something was wrong, or if she needed help, so the lie seemed fitting, even if it made a surge of guilt course through her. It didn’t seem to matter, though, as she struggled again to gasp for breath. “I think I need to sit down.” She finally looked up at Alecto as her knees buckled under her.

“Welcome to club, little Nott.” Vale said with a hint of a smile. He could tell that talking about it upset her and it made whatever trace of a smile fade. News of his own betrothal had reached him during the ball but his reactions to such developments were more inclined with going to the forest to blow up logs of dead wood and tormenting first years. A thought crossed his mind, that if he weren’t so emotionally confused all the time he would probably have her same reaction. One that was pure and sad… and probably disgusted at the idea of marrying Goyle.

Vale nodded slowly chewing on another macaroon as he thought of what to say to her in a way that wouldn’t upset her more. “You know, that can be temporary,” he said after he was done. “I’m not a big fan of the charade either but… I do think that if one ever chooses to get married it should be to someone of their choosing. Blood purity isn’t always right, you know?” It was perhaps a dangerous thing to say amidst of everything that was unraveling outside the castle walls. Families pondering their next moves as if their lives depended on some dark, twisted game of chess led by the Dark Lord, whoever he was. “If it makes you feel any better though, I would also dread having to marry someone as thick headed as Goyle.” He mused, as a smile once again returned. “There’s no need to be sad about it, though,” Vale said, tucking a stand of hair behind her ear, “in fact, if you’d like, I can help you fix it.” 

As was the norm over the last few months for littlest Nott, tears welled up in her eyes. Gabrielle didn’t mind being a part of the club, though, the thought did cross her mind about if the club actually existed or not. It was that she was set up with someone that she was convinced would never love her that had her so upset. Someone that was horrible to her and, from what she could tell, to everyone else. Goyle was nasty to her from the night of the ball, onward. Especially nasty, not just the normal picking at her. It was targeted and cruel with a facade of care for his image. And the fact that she wanted to be with Uriel didn’t help much, either.

“No, it’s not always right.” Gabrielle agreed very softly, looking around to reassure herself that no one else was around to hear her say that. Especially not Goyle. “I’d-I’d of course want to marry for love, it’s just not an option. And I don’t know if anyone would ever marry me if that was the case.” Her voice shook, and she looked away. Trembling hands set down the tin of macaroons that had begun to vibrate noisily in her delicate grasp. “But what no one understands is that this isn’t something that can be fixed. My mother picked him, picked his family, because no one else wants me. My mother has spoken of names that yield respect from me, ever since I can remember. Names like Black, Avery, Malfoy, Mulciber, Carrow, and others of the same esteem. She never once mentioned Goyle. And that’s not like my mother. She isn’t someone that settles, Vale. She was able to marry a Nott after...That’s not…She wants the world for me and if she picked him, that means it was the best match she could arrange.” The girl broke down as the older boy brushed the hair from her face and cried, hard. Burying her face in her hands, she longed for physical comfort, but was unsure if he would allow it. “I’m not enough, Vale. I’m not pretty enough, or-or skinny enough, or strong enough, talented enough, smart enough, or-or-or good enough for anyone better than him. My own father didn’t even want to be a part of my life! Why would another parent want me to be a part of their family when my own father didn’t want me, Vale? What if I-what if Goyle’s the best I can do?” Sobs shook her small frame like a helpless and terrified child, which, in all reality, she was. At fifteen Gabrielle was being promised to an eighteen year old asshole, for lack of better words, and there was nothing that she could do about it without the risk of being disowned. “I’m scared no one else will ever want me.”

“You don’t know?” She hadn’t meant to cause the girl to go through an existential crisis. “Oh uh… ok.” Hestia nodded, taking a sweet and looking it over. “Promise not to judge my reaction?”

Gabrielle shook her head, seriously worried now that she had been feeding her friends food that they possibly didn’t like. That she’d spent hours and hours slaving away at intricate sweets and had, as she believed she did in every other aspect of her life, failed. “I-I won’t.” The girl agreed, though, that seemed to be the whole point of the other trying her baking. Her reaction would reveal whether or not she’d succeeded, and if her friends had been having to lie about how much they loved the baking she did just to pacify her.

Uriel groaned inwardly once she mentioned that Stefan did know about her feeding the foal. It didn’t really surprise him, and it’s not like he wanted to sneak her off without her brother knowing. Part of him did, but he had deducted that he’d rather keep his goals with Gabrielle end game. She of course was aloof to most of this, even the fact that he had day dreamed about their wedding ever since she picked up his wand and handed it to him within his fifth year. Years he had been watching her from afar, mesmerizing her habits. Humans were habitual creatures after all. The mention of the dementors made his jaw tighten. She was supposed to have stayed safe and not ventured out, but she did anyway. She didn’t follow directions. “I’ll come out with you if it gets too late next time. Did.. Did the dementors get you?” He honestly didn’t know the full answer, since he hadn’t wanted to get caught.

He breathed a sigh of relief when she said she would rather spend time with him than a tutor. “I’d rather spend time with you than with anyone else.” He confessed shyly wetting his lips wondering if that was a good time to admit such a thing. Maybe she wouldn’t dwell on it as they continued their adventure onward. A small smile offered down to her, “I’ll tell you.” In reality he wouldn’t, but luckily for them both he had been keeping decent pace at her for a while. She just didn’t notice him, at least that’s what he had assumed.

Uriel almost felt insulted when she peeled herself away from him. Thought he understood as soon as she got the feed out. “You could always try Imperius.” He pointed out softly, though he very much doubted Gabrielle would ever use such a thing. It was still an offered solution in his eyes. He arched a brow as he heard her hurried apology and shook his head slowly. “Don’t apologize. It wasn’t rude, you were just conveying a feeling. Obviously your mother has terrible taste in dresses” He laughed lightly only trying to imagine what her mother would pick out for her to look nunly in. He took the contents and gazed reluctantly to where the unicorns grazed. Would the bite him? Impale him with their horn? Perhaps this was one of his least thought out plans – but he got a study date from it and that’s all that mattered.  “Yes I’ll give it a go.” He murmured slowing his pace and replicating hers with the food in his hands. “How do you do it?”

His offer to come out with her if it got too late was generous, and a smile graced her lips at it. “That’s really sweet of you. I’ll let you know if I ever need to take you up on it.” And those words were honest, despite that she wouldn’t want to bother him, she would want to feed the foal and not have to upset her brother over her missing the curfew he’d set for her with this task. Then the question about the dementors set in, and Gabrielle visibly squirmed with discomfort. “Yeah. I-I was being stupid. I thought that if I used my wand to cast out any shadows for them to hide in before they were able to read me, then they would be able to get me. And it worked until I can back to the castle. Then, it just happened.” Her cheeks turned beet red and she shrugged, looking down at the grass. “I just felt foolish for not realizing what it was. And, I couldn’t send it off. One of my housemates found me and did it.”

The right words escaped her in that moment. Was there really no one else he’d rather spend time with then her? He didn’t have any siblings, so it wasn’t like he had someone in that capacity. But was that what he saw her in? A sister? Like all of the other non-familial men in her life? The words never did find her, because she wasn’t sure in which context she should respond to it.

Dark brows knitted together in confusion at his words. Use the imperious charm on her mother? An unforgivable curse? It clicked then that he had only been joking and she gave a small laugh, holding back the urge to roll her eyes at her own stupidity. The sense of amusement quickly fled when he commented on the dresses her mother picked out. For every formal event the girl attended, her mother had picked out her dress. She’d seen to that Gabrielle looked just the way she’d envisioned, whether it was something Gabrielle liked or not, and even went as far as to send hair style guides for the dances at the school, so that most every aspect of how the young girl looked was up to her mother. And that was why she stepped back, looking as though the boy had struck her across the face. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, willing herself not to cry, though, all she could think of what how hideous he must have thought she’d looked in those dresses, at every event they’d ever attended together. When she opened her green eyes, they went to the ground, wounded by his words and her demeanor changed. Now, she cowered back from him, like he’d struck her, trying to fold herself up in an attempt to disappear. “Yeah, terrible taste.” Gabby murmured in agreement, head now swimming with self doubt and insecurity.

With trembling hands she had picked up and set back down the slice of apple on her plate that morning. She hadn’t eaten more than a vegetable stick in nearly four days. Her stomach gnawed at itself, but Gabrielle was trying to make her problems go away the only way that she knew how. The logic in her mind was that if she was prettier, maybe her mother could be convinced that a better match could be found. Or, Uriel could convince his parents that she was a suitable match. So, she didn’t eat and spent what little energy she had left on pushing herself through rigorous exercises to make herself look like something out of a magazine. And that was how she ended up in that hallway, doubling over with her heart pounding as someone spoke words she couldn’t hear. Her vision was getting blurry. “I don’t feel so good,” She whimpered.

“so it wasn’t just me” she mumbled. “it’s a shame that is has to come down to this, don’t you think? in a way it’s bad for everyone.”

Gabrielle bit her lip, she hated trying to approach this topic, because she knew she was meant to be a purist, but she didn’t really hate anyone. She just wanted people to love her. “I just wish things were better.” She agreed, feeling it was unspecific enough to keep her from backlash.

“Are you… good at it?”

“I-” She hadn’t really considered that. Everyone always seemed to enjoy her food, but was she actually any good at baking? Were they just being nice to her because she was a Nott? Or because they felt bad for her. “I don’t know.” Of course, she was forgetting the numerous times she’d tried her own sweets in the past, even though it had been a while now. The emotions and hormones that swarmed through the girl on a near constant basis now were overwhelming, to say the least. “I guess you’ll have to tell me.”

About Gabrielle Nott

Vale had been lounging around for most of the day, finding comfort and peace of mind indoors, surrounded by the emerald atmosphere around him. Now that April had finally arrived he noticed that more and more students were preferring to spend their time outdoors, which meant he had to do the opposite. He didn’t mind the solitude and had to actually pay a few first years to leave the common room. 

He wanted to be alone, but Gabby’s text was a reminder that he was hungry and he didn’t have it in him to turn her or her macaroons down. It only took him a minute to see that there was something off about her as she talked about her new flavors, but in odd fashion he remained quiet as he helped himself to some of the blackberry macaroons. “Not allergic.” He said, breaking his silence. “And these are amazing as always, but are you going to tell me what took you the kitchen today?” He asked, remembering how baking was her escape. 

Holding the container with one hand, the brunette wrung her free one against her wrist. She looked around the common room that had often been her home in the past, despite not being her own, nervously. She didn’t want to see Roland Goyle there, lurking in the shadows like a monster from her nightmares. Nor did she want to see Uriel, fearing that the sadness that was already eating her up inside over the ending of their... what exactly it was, she wasn’t sure, as they’d never formally established that they were dating, nor had their handful of dates felt causal enough to not be something to her. Whatever it had been, though, it’s ending had hurt her dearly, especially since neither of them had wanted it to end.

She frowned at Vale. Normally at the compliment of her creation, she’d have lit up like a Christmas tree, all bright eyed and bushy tailed, happy to make someone else happy and to have the attention on her. But she wasn’t. She wanted the attention to go away and regretted making the macaroons at all. Which, even as she thought it, she regretted thinking, knowing that Vale needed the extra kindness in his life. Gabby always tried to make up for the boy’s loss, stuffing him with sweets and hugs whenever humanly possible. “I-“ she pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth, biting harshly at it. Green hues fell to the floor, and the hand holding the tin began to tremble. “Over the break my parents finalized my betrothal.” Now, unlike most of the pureblood children, Gabrielle didn’t completely hate the idea of betrothal, she actually sometimes fantasized that there’d be some romantic point where two people that were betrothed would fall in love and then live happily ever after. It was comforting to her to imagine that. But now she was certain that wouldn’t happen for her. The girl lowered her voice to a low whisper, “To Roland Goyle.” His name left her lips like it was a sentencing she’d received for a crime she’d never committed.

“Yes. It’s a little odd… not that I’m complaining. Or rather, not that I’m meaning to complain.”

Gabrielle frowned a bit, shying back. “I just like to bake.” She explained quietly.

Soon, her green eyes found Vale and she painted on a happy face. A spring appeared in her step as she bounced over to him, holding out the tin of his favorite treats like a waitress. It was obvious that she was trying too hard to look okay, but she didn’t realize it. “I tried two new flavors today, Pistachio and blackberry. Separately, of course, and then there’s chocolate, lavender, and vanilla honey.” Gabby babbled easily about the food, but she forgot to keep the smile on her lips. “Is that okay? I’m fairly certain your not allergic to any nuts, right?.”

@vmulciber

Vale: Do it. NOW.

Vale: ...please.

Gabrielle: I may have made way too many.