| if i'm a danger to myself Just think what I could do to you |
Ethan listened carefully as Zinhle spoke, his expression calm but his mind racing. He could sense the anticipation laced in her words, the challenge behind her every sentence. It was something he’d grown accustomed to over the years—the constant dance of keeping one's guard up in the company of others. But with Zinhle, the stakes felt different. She wasn’t just another ally or potential enemy. She was soon to be family, whether either of them liked it or not.
"Enlightening discussions?" Ethan echoed with a raised eyebrow, his voice laced with a touch of amusement. "That’s one way to put it. Just be ready for her… sharpness. She won’t hold back, not even for you. No, especially for you." He paused, studying her face for a reaction. "But then again, I doubt you’d want her to."
As she probed about Elspeth, Ethan’s expression softened, though a flicker of protectiveness glinted in his eyes. "Elspeth is... different," he said, his tone quieter. "She’s one of the few in my family who doesn’t play the games or carry the venom. I mean, my grandmother calls me kindhearted, but she's the actual kind one if you aren't insane like her. Everly, my other cousin, is like a coiled, paranoid viper. Bites the hand that hovers. I'm...the majestic serpent, you know. Imperious, cold, rising above everything and demanding they fear me. But her? She’s kind, almost to a fault, but she’s smart too. She’ll see through you in an instant if you try to manipulate her, but if you’re genuine, you’ll have a loyal friend for life." He paused for a moment, weighing his next words. "She’s my one constant in all of this." The implication was clear—Elspeth was someone he trusted implicitly, and if Zinhle wanted to win his favor, she’d have to respect that.
At the mention of the Selwyn boy, Ethan’s jaw tightened. He knew what Zinhle was implying—an arranged marriage to someone with Death Eater ties was far worse than the one they were trapped in. "If he’s anything like his family, then Elspeth is in for a hard time." His voice grew quieter, more solemn. "But we’ll see. If he turns out to be rotten, I’ll find a way to get her out of it." There was a steely resolve in his voice, the kind that showed just how far he was willing to go to protect his cousin. "Even if it leads to me wiping an entire, ancient Pureblood Family out and serving his head to grandmother," It wasn't the first time a Prince did that, after all. He remembered his lessons with his grandmother, about how one of their ancestors managed to get possession of the Elder Wand at one point and slaughtered so many muggles and wizards alike with it.
The legacy of butchers.
Zinhle’s sharp retort about him being raised by snakes didn’t phase him—he’d heard worse, and there was no denying the truth behind her words. A grin tugged at the corner of his lips as she continued to push his buttons. "Surviving them is one thing," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "But I wouldn't wish that upon you. No, no one deserves that. But...you will be my wife, you'll stand besides me, you'll have to shield me from their knives and I, you. So...we'll have that conversation another time."
Her question about where they’d live gave him pause. It was a reality he hadn’t fully come to terms with, this life they were being forced into together. He wanted to answer her with confidence, to give her some reassurance, but the truth was, he didn’t have all the answers. "I don’t know yet," he admitted after a moment. "But wherever it is, it won’t be Ivory Hall. We’ll find a place that works for both of us. I'm going to make sure it has everything, though Whatever you need to feel like it’s home." He glanced at her, watching her closely for any signs of how she felt about this—about them. "I just want a space large enough to house a muggle car, and a laboratory so I can keep on brewing potions," He didn't intend to let go of that skill, not for anyone.
Her comment about her uncle, Kingsley, brought a slight tension to Ethan’s posture. "I expected as much," he said with a nod. "He’ll want to see if I’m worthy of you." There was no bitterness in his voice—just a simple acknowledgment of the reality they were stepping into. "Though, I sort of understand him. It's the same thing with Elspeth and me. She could have been promised to a time travelling Harry Potter for all I care, he'd never be good enough in my eyes. I expect your uncle would feel the same." He paused, "I met Potter, by the way. Nothing special." He waved his hand.
Zinhle’s hand moved to his scarf, tugging him closer as her gaze remained intense, testing him even now. His heart raced slightly at the proximity, but he held her gaze, refusing to be unsettled. Her words were a challenge, and Ethan understood them for what they were—an unspoken contract between them. "I won’t stray," he said, his voice low but resolute. "If this is the life we’re bound to, then I’ll respect it. I won’t dishonor you or our families." The seriousness of his words was matched by the intensity of his gaze, his blush fading as he spoke. He could tell she meant every word of her warning, and he had no intention of crossing that line. And as his heart raced, he realized that the only woman who ever made him feel that way was Lu Miaoyu, when he heard her shrill cackle.
When Zinhle released his scarf and commented on Hogwarts, Ethan couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at her casual display of wandless magic. "Impressive," he admitted, watching as she warmed her hands with ease. "But Hogwarts isn’t Africa. Here, we rely on our ‘silly sticks,’ as you call them. It’s part of the tradition." There was no judgment in his voice—just an observation.
When she ordered him to help her with her wandwork, Ethan let out a soft chuckle. "Help you? Alright," he said, not at all surprised by her assertiveness. He was used to it by now. And indeed, he started to find it endearing. "It’s not odd, no. Just different." He met her gaze with a smirk. "But I’ll teach you to use a wand properly. By the time I’m done, you’ll be outperforming every witch and wizard in our year. Maybe even me." He paused, for a beat. "...Well, let's be realistic. You won't be outperforming me,"
The challenge was clear in his voice, but there was a mutual respect growing between them—one built on understanding and shared determination. This arranged marriage might not have been what either of them wanted, but if they had to face it together, Ethan was determined to make it work. He cleared his throat a little.
"So, is it time for us to start being seen in public then? Start going out...officially? I think it's about time, too. Do you want me to wait for you after every class? I expect we'd have to go out at least three times before we're married. At Hogsmeade, maybe. We can just...sit there for the appropriate length of time, then you could go do whatever, I guess. Or I can show you around,"