The Marriage Contract :: Nord-Stones

Saturday
3rd December
11:00am



Hogsmeade weekends were one of Matilda’s favorite times. Running around the town, buying treats, relaxing away from the pressure of school and on occasion, meeting with her Grandfather. Bertram had been busy with the trials of her Headmistress and Deputy, one had come out unscathed, one was currently living in Azkaban.

Thankfully, he had this weekend off, so they were meeting for afternoon tea. When he wasn’t busy, they would meet once a month, so Tilly was excited to see Bram. Alice came along, as she normally did, but Ever stayed back at the castle. She was too sensitive to come out at this point. Tilly was hoping to talk with Bram about what they could do to help. “Do you see him yet? Maybe he’s running late.” Matilda and Alice were running late, but it appeared that he was running even later.

When the click clack of heels sounded on the stone floor the hair on the back of Tilly's neck stood on end. She knew that sound, the cadence of the steps was burned into her brain. It could only be one person, but there was no way Bram would bring her here. Turning around to look over her shoulder, Matilda saw Allegra, her grandmother, dressed in a smart tweed dress, high collar and five inch stiletto heels. An emerald green velvet robe draped over her shoulders, her red hair secured in a tight chignon. Her signature hairstyle.

It had been over a year since she had laid eyes on the red-haired woman. It still stung that they shared the bright red hair and blue eyes. A rare trait that few in the family possessed. Matilda stood up, shoulders back, eyes locked with hers ready for a fight. She wasn’t a 12 year old little girl anymore, she wouldn’t tolerate her grandmother's abuse anymore.

“What are you doing here?" she asked in a rushed angry nervous tone. The side of Allegra's mouth tipped up in a smirk that never meant anything good. “It's nice to see that your grandfather is still so predictable. I’m sure he will be here later, but is currently detained. Oh well.”

Matilda's stomach dropped, the sour feeling that only came from dealing with Allegra Nordstrom settled in. Matilda stood quickly, looking at Alice for backup. “I'm leaving. I will not sit here and listen to you after everything you've done to me. You don't get my time.”

As Tilly took a step to leave hoping that Alice would follow, Allegra grabbed her by the wrist stopping her movement. “You will sit your ass down and you will listen to what I have to say.” Allegra said in a bitter, angry voice. Low and cold so that only Tilly and Alice could hear. The skin of her wrist burned with the touch. It wouldn’t bruise, but she would feel her touch for hours.

Tilly's hands shook with anger and fear. She hated this woman more than she could ever describe. The feeling of the slap on her face, the memory of being terribly hungry locked away in her room. The training sessions to make her the perfect pure blood princess. It was all too much. As if on autopilot Tilly sat down, lips set in a firm line, arms crossed over herself as if it would protect her. She sat, staring at her grandmother, hoping that Bram would come in to save the day like he did years ago. Saving her from the abuse.

Allegra brought her bag to her lap and started rifling through the contents. Pulling out a long thin cigarette, she lit it by magic. Allegra took a few puffs, causing Tilly to screw her face up in disgust. The smell of her cigarettes almost made her stomach roll, a smell she would only ever associate to her evil grandmother. Tilly looked at Alice worry in her eyes silently pleading for them to get up and leave.

Allegra took out a folder from her bag and set it in front of Tilly, a simple manilla folder with nothing written on the front to alert Tilly to what the contents might be. ”You will be happy to know,” Allegra said, taking another puff. ”I have started the process of securing you a proper husband.”

Tilly's eyes went wide, her arms fell to her side speechless from the words her grandmother just spoke.

”I am 16 years old. I am too young to marry. What the hell do you mean, securing me a husband?” Tilly said, voice shaking with shock and fear. The look on Allegra's face spoke volumes; she didn't like Tilly talking back.

”You are in Nordstrom! You will not be allowed to find just anyone to marry. There are standards. Did you think that we would let you marry for love?” Allegra said with a cackle. Oh naive little girl. There are a few families I’m in discussions with. One prospect that seems very excited, is a lovely man from Greece. Paolo, he just turned 30 and has a very high profile career in the restaurant industry. He owns five around Europe and is opening more in Asia.”

Tilly sat there slack-jawed, eyes wide, unable to comprehend the words coming out of her grandmother's mouth. “30? Did you say he was 30? There is no way in hell that I am going to marry a 30 year old man just because he meets your stupid criteria.”

Leaning forward Allegra's cold, unfeeling eyes stared daggers into Tilly.

“You will do what I say, you ungrateful little brat. You have zero control over this situation. I am your guardian. I will tell you who to marry and you have no say in the matter. Do you understand me?”

Was it bad that Alice, despite how worried she was about Everleigh, was relieved to be leaving the castle for a day in Hogsmeade? Being around her sister all of the time was draining the older of the two. She didn’t know why, or how exactly it worked, but she just knew that anytime she was around Everleigh, it was like her own world was crashing down too.

Anytime she left her sister’s side, Alice had a difficult time snapping out of it. That’s the only way she could think to explain it.

By the time she made it to the town just outside of school grounds, Alice felt like she was coming back to herself. But also, she felt a bit lost when she wasn’t in the depths of Everleigh’s depression.

She was excited to see their grandfather; Alice liked the man, and they had planned to speak to him about Everleigh. Since her own parents refused to help her little sister, she hoped that the patriarch of the family could do more than them.

But that’s not what happened.

“Do you see him yet? Maybe he’s running late.”

The girl shook her head, looking towards the door. She frowned. He never missed.

Alice sighed and looked back at the table, scratching the surface with one of her nails. She didn’t catch the sound of her steps… but Alice also hadn’t been traumatized by the woman.

However, her cousin’s defensive tone – out of nowhere – drew the brunette’s attention. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Allegra; she refused to claim her, as the woman had been absolutely horrible to Tilly.

She listened to the exchange, and then stood up when Tilly did. That’s when she saw the old woman grab her wrist. Alice bit her tongue, attempting to stay quiet. She looked over at Tilly, ready to back her up no matter what she did.

But Tilly sat back down, and Alice did the same, keeping her back straight, and ready to pounce if Matilda needed any backup. She looked down at the folder their grandmother sat down in front of the Gryffindor of the two of them.

”You will be happy to know,” Allegra said, taking another puff. ”I have started the process of securing you a proper husband.”

WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?

Alice hated this part of being Pureblood. She hated the expectations, the rules, and the inability to stand up for yourself.

”I am 16 years old. I am too young to marry. What the hell do you mean, securing me a husband?”

Alice pulled the folder over to her and began flipping it open as the woman continued speaking. The first page had a photo of a man – definitely a fully grown man, not someone their age at all – and Alice’s eyes widened.

”...There are a few families I’m in discussions with. One prospect that seems very excited, is a lovely man from Greece. Paolo, he just turned 30 and has a very high profile career in the restaurant industry. He owns five around Europe and is opening more in Asia.”

THIRTY?

As Matilda flipped out about the news, Alice quietly flipped out. Despite everything, she had been raised from the very beginning to act the way a lady should and getting pissed in public was not something that was okay.

“You will do what I say, you ungrateful little brat. You have zero control over this situation. I am your guardian. I will tell you who to marry and you have no say in the matter. Do you understand me?”

Alice looked from one redhead to another and let out a breath. “Grandmother… surely if she has to be married to someone, then it can be to someone not as… old?” she said, keeping her voice even.

Matilda was FUMING.

Thirty FREAKING years old?! Was this woman INSANE?!

Yes. Yes she was.

“You will do what I say, you ungrateful little brat. You have zero control over this situation. I am your guardian. I will tell you who to marry and you have no say in the matter. Do you understand me?”

Her Grandmother’s ‘Lessons’ had taught her many things. Most were brain washing sessions to teach her how to act perfect, silent and robotic, but she had also learned how to not give a fuck. “What do you mean you’re my guardian? Bram is my guardian, not you. You lost that right when you starved me and put bruises on my skin, you horrible bitch of a woman.”

Tilly was not the meek 12 year old that used to live with her Grandmother. No, she had grown a spine in the last few years.

Allegra’s eyes seethed with anger. Her hand twitched, the reflex to slap Tilly hard to squelch, but they were in public and she would never cause such a scene. "I am still your Guardian. Bertram and I share you 50/50. Nothing legal was ever filed to the contrary."

Tilly did not adhere to the same rules.

As Alice looked at the file, Tilly noticed the picture attached. “Grandmother… surely if she has to be married to someone, then it can be to someone not as… old?”

“Her name is Allegra, she hasn’t earned the title of Grandmother.” Tilly spat out, arms crossed over her chest. “I don’t care who you put in front of me, I will not marry anyone you deem fit.”

Allegra ran her hand over her skirt, making sure everything was just where it should be. “You will show me the respect I deserve. I AM your Grandmother, and as one of your guardians I can, and will, find you a suitable husband. Alice, I will be meeting with your mother and father to make arrangements for you as well. Unfortunately, I need their approval since I am not your legal guardian, but we will make sure you also have a suitable match.”

Tilly ran her fingers through her long hair, something that Allegra hated. She expected perfection, which meant tying her hair back in a tight bun. She hadn’t put her hair up like that since moving in with Bram.

“You aren’t listening. We will not be marrying anyone you pick. We are too young to marry. And we are fully capable of finding our own husbands, if we even want that. And if their pureblood or muggle born, who cares?!”

You would think she splashed tea in her grandmother's face. “ABSOLUTELY NOT. You will marry who I say. Once I find the right man, there will be a contract in place. You will have zero say in the matter.”

Alice sat there, listening to the two’s back and forth. She was silent as different emotions began to flood her, taking over her own. She still didn’t have a name for whatever it was that made her susceptible to others’ emotions, and there were times that she felt absolutely drained after experiencing it with her sister. But this rage, this was new.

“Her name is Allegra, she hasn’t earned the title of Grandmother.”

She bit her tongue, Matilda’s voice continuing to get louder while the Hufflepuff sat there, quietly taking in the words that were being spat out.

“You will show me the respect I deserve. I AM your Grandmother, and as one of your guardians I can, and will, find you a suitable husband. Alice -”

Brown eyes widened at her name. She looked at Allegra, her stomach churning a bit. Since the woman was overstepping so much, she had a feeling she knew where this was going.

”I will be meeting with your mother and father to make arrangements for you as well. Unfortunately, I need their approval since I am not your legal guardian, but we will make sure you also have a suitable match.”

No no no NO! She didn’t want that. She looked over at Tilly, feeling her heart begin to race. She looked back down at the man in the folder, frowning. This one wasn’t hers, which was good, but it also wasn’t good that he was supposed to be Tilly’s. He was a fucking man while she was still a teenager.

“Grandmother, I know…” Alice tried and closed her eyes momentarily to try to reign in the anger she was picking up on from her cousin. “I know it’s important, but… don’t you think that a man twice her age is a bit… well, it’s just gross.”

She frowned, looking over at Tilly. Somehow, Alice was not yelling. She felt like she would soon. She was trying to be nice about it. Granted, she didn’t know Allegra all that well, and saw her mostly at holidays, but… she did detest the woman.

“I mean… you and Grandfather are close in age and so is mum and dad,” she said, glancing at Tilly.

The last few months had been a whirlwind. The latter half of the summer and early fall had been dedicated to the research and discovery for the Gideon Blackwood and Ruby Haswell trials. Because of the high profile nature of the crime and the public outcry, Bram had been spending a lot of time getting ready. Now that both were done, he could breathe again.

Unfortunately, his actual job of the Head of Magical Affairs had taken a backseat, so there was a lot of catch up to do. This was the first Hogsmeade weekend Bram had been able to attend in months, and he missed his girls terribly.

Matilda had sent an owl that Everleigh wouldn’t be coming, which wasn’t a shock. His poor Ever needed help and his idiot son-in-law refused to see reason. Bram had decided to push the issue over Christmas, hoping that he could get his daughter on his side.

Walking into the cosy tea shop, he sighed in contentment as the warmth spread over him. A sweet floral smell permeated the little cafe, causing him to inhale the delicate scent. Brushing off the snow from his wool jacket, Bram pulled off his scarf and coat while his eyes darted around looking for his granddaughters.

“ABSOLUTELY NOT. You will marry who I say. Once I find the right man, there will be a contract in place. You will have zero say in the matter.”

Bram’s eyes shut in anger when he heard the voice. He could pick the bitter tones out anywhere. Why in the FUCK was Allegra here? And did she say marry.

Stomping over to where he heard the voice he saw Matilda, Alice and Allegra. The two gingers both looked heated in anger, Alice the calmer of the three. No surprise there.

“Grandmother, I know… I know it’s important, but… don’t you think that a man twice her age is a bit… well, it’s just gross. I mean… you and Grandfather are close in age and so is mum and dad,”

As he came closer to the table his anger grew. Just Allegra being in their presence was bad, especially after the hell she had put Tilly through, but the nature of the conversation was troubling. As he walked up to the table, he made eye contact with his girls, nodding, as if to say I will handle her.

Bram picked up the picture of a man who had to be twice the girl's age, complete with chest hair, mustache and gold chains. “Allegra, my dearest.” He said, ice and acid giving away how angry he was. Pulling a chair out he sat and stared daggers at his wife. “What the actual fuck are you doing here? And why are you talking about marriage?”

Tilly’s heart was racing with adrenaline. There were lessons you learned in life that helped you be a better human. Don’t kill animals. Don’t steal. Don’t beat people up. Don’t murder. Those last two were REALLY hard to remember with Allegra sitting in front of her talking about marriage.

Alice brought up a very good point, about the age of the other people married in our family. All were within a few years of each other, not DOUBLE. Allegra just huffed and rolled her eyes. “If there is one thing I have learned about you, Matilda,” she sneered the name as she spoke. ”You can not be trusted to make sound decisions based on good judgement. Therefore, I have been forced to take action.”

Tilly’s hands shook with rage, but movement caught her eye as her grandfather approached the table. Her stress and anger immediately calmed. Bram was here, he would fix this.

As Bram approached his face told the story. He was MAD. As he walked up, he had heard the jist of the conversation, and it was obvious Allegra hadn’t clued him in to her plans.

As he took his seat, Bertram glared at this wife. “Allegra, my dearest. What the actual fuck are you doing here? And why are you talking about marriage?”

If it had been proper to do so, Tilly would have stood up and cheered. See… she could use her manners.

Allegra huffed out a curse, muffled under her breath. “You just had to show up, didn’t you. The wheels are in motion Bertram. I told you this would happen, you didn’t believe me and that was your first mistake. You underestimate me, you always have. Matilda will be married the summer after graduation. I am in the process of securing a proper Pureblood husband, one that will strengthen our family's name. YOU may not care about that, but I do.”

Allegra’s pale face was flush with anger. Another trait Tilly inherited from her Grandmother.

“If you think for one minute that I will do anything you say, you have another thing coming. I would rather run away and live in squalor than marry anyone you picked.”

A flash of anger drew Alice’s attention from the old woman sitting across from her and Tilly. It was their grandfather. She felt herself relax a bit with his arrival. She narrowed her eyes still, as she glared at the woman who thought she had any say over the two of them.

She didn’t move when he picked up the photo of the man that Allegra wanted Tilly to marry.

“Allegra, my dearest. What the actual fuck are you doing here? And why are you talking about marriage?”

Alice couldn’t help but to smirk slightly when the man joined them, and sat back, her arms crossed over her chest. She was never defiant, but when it came to her grandmother… the woman brought out a side of her that she didn’t even know existed. She was just as bad as her parents, if not worse.

”You just had to show up, didn’t you. The wheels are in motion Bertram. I told you this would happen, you didn’t believe me and that was your first mistake. You underestimate me, you always have. Matilda will be married the summer after graduation. I am in the process of securing a proper Pureblood husband, one that will strengthen our family's name. YOU may not care about that, but I do.”

Alice’s brown eyes widened as she stared at the immaculately dressed woman. She was literally insane.

“If you think for one minute that I will do anything you say, you have another thing coming. I would rather run away and live in squalor than marry anyone you picked.”

She looked over at Bertram, trying to bite her tongue. But the sudden increase in anger around her was making it impossible to hold back. ”You are absolutely insane, Grandmother. No one wants you here, Grandfather doesn’t even want to live with you. So why the fuck do you think we would do anything you say?” she asked, the vile spilling out of her words.

She hated this woman.

”You are absolutely insane, Grandmother. No one wants you here, Grandfather doesn’t even want to live with you. So why the fuck do you think we would do anything you say?”

The smile on his face grew wider before he reigned it in. Little Alice was growing a backbone. He was immensely proud of her. Patting her hand, he squeezed it once to show he understood.

This was getting out of hand, not that Bertram could blame the girls, he felt the need to scream and rage when his wife was within a one mile radius. Sitting down at the same table, he was surprised blood hadn’t been shed.

Divorce, unfortunately, wasn't an option in their marriage. Bram didn’t feel the need to go looking for another relationship, happy with his role in their family, but he would love to be free from her legally. Arranged marriages were common when Bram and Allegra got together, especially in the Pureblood families. Their marriage was no exception, and the prenuptial agreement was iron clad.

Staying married allowed Bertram to watch over his wife, her finances, and her extracurricular activities. If either party strayed, they would forfeit their half of the Nordstrom estate. Everything. They would get no family money, no homes, no jewelry. They had separate accounts, so they wouldn’t walk away destitute, but close to it. In the end, if the marriage ended, he wanted it to be her fault.

It was only a matter of time.

“Girls, lets calm down. I know being in her presence is troubling, but you won’t be subjected to her anymore. Lets go, we can find another cafe to talk in.”

Bram rose from his chair, holding his hands out to his beautiful granddaughters. The fire in their eyes making him smile.

“Allegra. You and I will meet this week. Wednesday, for lunch, where we will discuss this ludicrous idea. I don’t care what kind of contract you think you have, it won’t hold up, mark my words.”

Turning his back on his wife, Bram let the girls lead the way out of the shop. Once they were down the road and away from prying eyes, Bram pulled Tilly, then Alice in for hugs. “I’m sorry I was late. I need you two to trust me. I won’t let her dictate who you marry. And over my dead body will it be someone you don’t like.”