"Dora, we don't care much for pink.." Delphinia tried to protest weakly, knowing she was already losing the battle. The brunette watched as her half-sister shook her head and continued on her way, setting the large pink seedpods down on the bench.

"Tough, Delphi." Callidora replied, without so much as looking at her. "You and Nathan might not like pink, but my niece just might."

There was a long silence, where Delphi frowned until Callidora gestured for her to come closer, and handed her one of the puffapod seeds. "I am not pregnant, Dora." Delphi grumbled, before dropping the seed.

The wedding was.. incredible. Delphinia could find little words to describe what she was feeling, standing next to her sister, both hands holding a bundle of flowers.

Looking out at all the happy faces, then past the bride and groom who were staring deeply into the others eyes, Delphi peeked over at the best man, none other than her Nathan.

As they exchanged a look, the bride and groom exchanged their vows. A tear fell down her cheek, and Delphi quickly wiped it away.

You may now kiss the bride!

As the cheering and hooting began, Delphi could only smile.

"So, what's he like?"

Sitting across from her sister, Delphinia's green eyes fixed on the young woman - almost eyeing her, hands wrapped around a steaming mug of fresh made tea.

"I don't know.." Callidora began, and paused as she earned herself a look of disbelief. "Okay.. fine," Sigh. "He's nice.. and kind, and warm, and funny.."

"So, why doesn't Aunt Calliope approve?"

The younger woman's shroulders shrugged, before any words came out: "He's muggleborn."

"What does that matter? You're not.. I mean,"

"I'm not a pureblood," Callidora finished, unoffended. "I know. I guess she likes to pretend I am."

Delphinia took a deep breath as she slowly approached the stool, gaze fixed on the hat. It wasn't that it was clearly old, and possibly dirty that bothered her. No, it was the fact the hat talked, that alarmed her.

Once settled on the stool, the fifteen-year-old couldn't help but look up as the hat was lowered toward her head, and she was instructed to keep her head down. Her cheeks turned rosy, staring out at the great hall with all eyes staring back at her.

'Hmm.. interesting, I haven't had one of you in a while. Right, then. RAVENCLAW!'

"We can't forget to pick up a dress for Delphinia," Athena added, almost absently as the three women walked further into Diagon Alley, each of them carrying atleast one bag.

So far, so good.

Delphi had gotten her books from Flourish and Blotts, which seemed totally unnecessary since Brett worked there - but both Artemis and Athena insisted this trip would be good for her. They had also already picked up her quills, parchment, and ink.

"Why do I need a dress?" Delphinia asked, green eyes turning from Artemis, to her godmother.

"In case Hogwarts has a yule ball, dear."

One thing was for sure, atleast in Delphi's mind, Hogwarts seminar lessons were the opposite of boring.. usually, anyway. And this one in particular sounded.. fun, even. They needed fun, right?

It had taken practically nothing to get Nathan agree to attend with her, which she was grateful for - she couldn't imagine partnering up with anyone else for this.. FUNcantations and Dance Magic class, especially if the dance part meant they were acting dancing. With other people.

Still hand in hand with Nathan, Delphi stopped short of the classroom and turned, "Thank you," She smiled. "For coming with me."

This was the first History of Magic lesson of the new school year, and while Delphinia had tried waiting for Nathan outside of the classroom, she eventually wandered inside and took an empty seat, placing her school bag in the seat next to her. That desk was reserved Nathaniel, her best friend.

He was late. Or maybe she was early, who knew with them.

Delphi watched the train on Professor Scabior's desk, which unlike the one next to her, was animated - or charmed, maybe. "Hogwarts Express," She murmured to herself, realizing.

So.. they were going to play with trains?

Peering over the side of the crib, hands planted firmly on the crib wall to hold her still and toes raising her up so she could see the small human laying there. "Awwww, she's so precious." The four-year-old heard her mother say to Erimentha, while she played with the newborn's foot. The baby merely stared back, silent.

Erimentha offered Delphinia's mother a cup of tea, she vaguely heard. As the two left the room, Delphi continued to stare down at the baby - Juliet.

"Hi,"

The baby began to cry, and Delphi stumbled backward. "AUNT ERIMENTHA, I BROKE THE BABY!"

The sound of a rattle being shook made Delphinia turn sharply, taking in the sight of Juliet, the one-year-old culprit with one chubby hand around the colorful toy.

"No, Juliet!" Delphi cried and rushed over, knocking the toy out of her hand a little too hard. "That's a portkey, silly baby."

At first surprised, a horrible look crossed Juliet's face before she began to scream, thick tears falling from her grey eyes.

"Don't cry!" The five-year-old said, while picking up the rattle and trying to place it back into the baby's hand. "I'm sorry! You can go anywhere you want!"

All that they would need to use when baking was scattered, covering almost every inch of countertop except for the small piece of counter directly in front of her. Seated upon a very tall stool, a young Delphinia swung her legs back and forth, beaming up at her mother as she put down a bowl. "Are you ready, my love?"

Delphinia nodded excitedly, pushing herself around to face the counter as her father suddenly appeared in the kitchen, a sneaky grin playing across his lips. "Delphi, you know what to do if your mother sets a fire, don't you?"

"Yes!"

Sitting behind a desk, Nikolaos ran both hands through blonde hair, one hand knocking his glasses - causing them to sit crooked on the bridge of his nose until he adjusted them with a sigh. His eyes traveled toward the door of his study as he heard a knock, followed by the door being opened and his daughter's head peeking in. A smile was all it took for her to come prancing over, and climb into his lap.

"Rooooar," The small girl whispered, a wide smiling playing on her lips as she looked up at her father with adoring eyes.

It was on the first year anniversary of Eros' death, that they received the news.. Konstantina was expecting a child. A little girl, they had recently found out.

Konstantina stood in the doorway of her son's old room, which remained untouched. Her eyes gazed around, and slowly she ventured toward the dusty bedside table inside the room, carefully picking up the Ford Anglia toy model Eros had built as a child.

The realization was still bittersweet, and saddened her knowing her daughter would never know the hero that was her brother.

"He would have loved you so, my little Delphinia."

71. Untie ღ

When Athena turned around, eleven-month-old Delphinia Suvari was sitting peacefully on a blanket spread out on the floor, small and noisey toys surrounding her - although the only thing that had her interest was the rubber duck in her mouth, - and then Apollo was shouting.

"KID!" The twelve-year-old growled from the kitchen table, "Stop throwing your SHOES at me."

"Apollo Davis DeVille, she is a baby. She means no harm. And she probably threw a toy at you, she doesn't know how to take her shoes off." Athena scolded, before dismissing the matter.

"Her shoe is UNTIED."

Delphinia beamed.

When her father had come home with the Christmas tree, Delphinia waited patiently for him to get it inside while her mother prepared the space where they would put it. All the while, the small girl bounced from one foot to the other, hands clasped together as she stood off to the side.

Dancing green eyes watched carefully as her father settled the tree, and removed his protective gloves. That was all it took for her to take off at a run at her parents, beaming brighter than the Christmas lights.

"Can we decorate now?" Six-year-old Delphinia asked, "Can we?"

"Apollo, we would really like for you to join us in decorating the tree."

Absently twisting an ornament between her hands, Delphinia stole a quick glance toward Apollo as Mrs. Galanis half-lectured, half-spoke to him. There was no smile on her lips, just the forced ghost outlines of a former smile that once was.

This would be the first Christmas since the death of her parents, her first with the Galanis' family.

From where Apollo sat at the table with his dark haired head buried in papers, he raised a lazy eyebrow and offered them a glance. "Sorry, I'm allergic."

Standing in front of a floor-length mirror, Delphinia took a deep breath, her hands busy smoothing the thin white fabric of her dress. Her wedding dress. Her wedding. Another deep breath.

"You look gorgeous," A voice said from behind her, as a door clicked closed. Artemis appeared beside her, already dressed and hair left to flow in curls. Her blue eyes watched the younger woman nod, and a soft smile found it's way to her lips. "Are you sure about this?"

Her question was spoken softly, only slightly worried about the bride's nerves. Whatever she was feeling, would be normal.

"Yes, of course." Delphinia answered quickly, without giving Artemis' question much thought. What was there to think about? She loved him.. he loved her. End of story. Or maybe, this was just the beginning of the story..

Delphinia hardly noticed when Artemis moved toward the door as a light knock sounded, and Nils slipped inside - whispering to Artemis at first, before coming up behind her. Delphinia could only think that he looked surprised, stunned even - as if someone had stupefied him.

"Do I look okay?"

"You look more beautiful than a Veela," Nils said, smiling softly. "little sister."

Diagon Alley was holding a summer festival. Of course, they couldn't pass that up.

Walking hand in hand with Nathan, there was a slight bounce to her steps, an excited yet distracted smile playing on her lips. Her green eyes gazed around, taking in all the colorful decorations, and well.. colorful people.

As they headed into the petting zoo, talking all the while and completely unaware of others around them, Delphinia briefly wondered - upon spotting the abraxans, - what other kind of winged horses were around, too.

And then Nathan said it, he brought up her. Her half-sister.

Sigh.

As they walked the streets of New York City, Delphinia's mind replayed the scene earlier over in her head: Demetria getting a floo call, and leaving suddenly. She left her there on her own. If it wasn't for the fact she thought something must have happened back home, Delphi would have been upset.

Green eyes glanced over at her companion, Adam. He was a crew worker from her photoshoot, or rather - Tria's photoshoot. He'd been nice enough to explore the city with her, and here she was - lost in thought.

It was getting late though, night had fallen.

And she really needed to get back to her room.

There was parchment and a self-inking quill waiting for her on the table in her room, as well as Nathan's latest letter. Nathan. Her sweet, incredible Nathan.. with the idea of writing to him as soon as she got back in her head, Delphinia offered her companion a slight smile as she neared a waiting taxi.

In that same moment, his face had gotten much closer to hers - close enough to feel his breath near her lips, his eyes daring her to move.

Frozen in place, she didn't move.

"Isn't she the cutest?" Delphinia asked, though not really meaning it as a question at all - Carlina was the cutest baby ever. Bouncing the infant gently in her arms as she paced the floor, Delphi paused as she met Apollo's gaze.

"That depends on who you're comparing her to."

"What is that suppose to mean?"

Raising an eyebrow, Apollo looked away from the young woman holding his niece. "Most babies aren't cute. They look like little shriveled up aliens."

"Apollo!"

"You, on the other hand. You looked like a goblin when you were a baby."

Delphi glared, "You're horrible."

Callidora was still hoping this was a joke. Delphi didn't really want to go back to Greece, did she? Just like the last several months had been one big joke. One big nightmare. Unfortunately, some nightmares were real.. like theirs. And this wasn't a joke. Delphinia really was returning to Greece. And she was going with her.

"Are you sure about this?" Callidora said, her voice quiet as she looked around the empty room, gaze falling on her half-sister as she packed the last of her things into a bag. "What about.."

The older sister paused, before whispering: "I'm sure."

The sun shined through the open window of their flat, a warm breeze played with the ends of both young women's dark hair as they sat across from each other at the small table in Delphi and Nathan's kitchen. This was the first time since meeting her half-sister that Nathan wasn't around to join in the conversation, or help Delphi when she needed it.

"So, did you like Hogwarts?" Delphinia asked quietly, deciding it was time to break the silence as bluish-green eyes met hers.

The hint of a smile traced Callidora's lips. "Except for those bloody moving staircases? Yes."

"No," Delphinia spoke rather loudly, willing her voice to be strong as she took a step back from the image in front of her. There was no mirror, but there was.. a double of her, standing there. This Delphinia was much older though, much older.. and seemingly alone, without even Philia for company.

"No, you're not real!" The young woman shouted again, determined. "You're not me, not even a future me. I will not be alone!"

The brunette's head shook as the elderly version of herself babbled off nonsense.

"I have family, I have Nath-"

She didn't have Nathan.

"Riddikulus!"

34. Parseltongue ღ

As the Headmistress gave her speech at the end of term feast, Delphi heard none of it, as if she were speaking Parseltongue. Of course, she wasn't.. although according to the whispers of student voices throughout the last few years, quite a number of kids wouldn't have been surprised if Truebridge could speak Parseltongue.

Whatever that meant.

"Delphi," A voice said, breaking through her thoughts. Nathan's voice. Nathan's face came abruptly clear as she turned her head to look at him, his concern visible. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, sorry." Delphi smiled sheepishly, "Just thinking about what happens now.. after tomorrow."