Steam still clung faintly to Eira's hair as she pushed open the door to the Ombrelune dormitory. The long, hot shower had chased away the lingering chill of the morning and left her cheeks warm, her robe loose over her shoulders. A ribbon of lavender-scented soap followed her into the room, mixing with the ever-present smell of parchment and ink.
Her dorm looked much as she had left it: the narrow bed neatly made, stacks of books leaning precariously on her desk, and parchment covered in notes from last night's study session scattered across the surface. The light streaming in through the tall, narrow windows caught the edges of a half-rolled quill, a bottle of ink, and—more striking than all of it—the folded sheets of Le Prophète Magique de France.
The newspaper sat squarely in the middle of her desk, its bold headline impossible to miss. Beside it lay an envelope sealed in white wax, the crest of House White pressed deep into its surface.
Eira paused in the doorway, one hand still on the frame. The shower's warmth had settled her body, but the sight of those two objects pulled her back into the world outside her studies, outside the safety of Ombrelune's quiet halls. She stepped forward slowly, her damp hair brushing against her shoulders, and reached first for the newspaper, her fingers grazing the enchanted ink that shimmered faintly in the morning light.
BREAKING NEWS: THE END OF A BLOOD FEUD
Sophie Trévér and Maximilian Voclain Announce Union
Eira's eyes narrowed. She sat, unfolding the paper with deliberate care, and began to read.
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{For centuries, the feud between the Trévér and Voclain families has cast a shadow over French wizarding society, claiming lives, sowing distrust, and dividing communities. Today, history has shifted.
In a stunning announcement late last evening, Sophie Trévér, heiress of the Trévér name, declared that her family would seek peace with the Voclains. Standing at her side was none other than Maximilian Voclain, current head of his house and one of the most influential figures in magical France.
The two families, once sworn enemies, have chosen to end their animosity through the most binding of covenants: marriage. Sophie Trévér and Maximilian Voclain have pledged themselves to one another, sealing not only their personal union but the reconciliation of their bloodlines.
The ceremony, held in secret but sanctified by ancient magical vows, was witnessed by Minister of Magic Lucien Bellerose and officiated by representatives of both houses. Sources close to the Ministry confirm that the contract is sealed by the oldest blood-binding rites, ensuring that the peace cannot be broken without catastrophic magical consequence.
This decision comes in the wake of tragedy and escalation. Following the deaths of Alina Trévér and René Voclain, tensions reached a fever pitch. Shops burned, allies fell, and both families seemed poised for open war. Yet under Bellerose's mediation—and perhaps through their own realization of mutual destruction—the heirs of both houses have chosen to unite rather than destroy.
Reactions within the French wizarding community have been overwhelmingly positive. "At last, peace," said Marguerite Devereaux, head of the Devereaux family. "We have watched for too long as this feud poisoned our society. Their union brings relief not just to their own blood, but to all of France."
Already, markets have steadied. Trade routes once disrupted by Trévér–Voclain hostility are reopening. The Wizengamot's French chamber has issued a statement calling the union "a decisive victory for the stability of magical France."
For the first time in generations, the feud is declared over.
"The past is buried," Sophie Trévér said in her statement. "Our families will move forward as one. Together."}
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Eira set the paper down slowly. For a moment she only stared at the page, her lips pursed, her thoughts racing.
"So," she murmured under her breath, "they sealed it by marriage. Sophie and Maximilian… engaged."
The headline felt surreal, almost absurd. The same Maximilian who had orchestrated bloodshed, the same Sophie whose mother Alina had sworn vengeance—it seemed unthinkable that they would now stand united. And yet, here it was, written in ink and confirmed by law.
Her thoughts turned immediately practical. This was no romance; this was strategy. She knew the Voclains well enough to see their fingerprints on the scheme. The timing, the sudden declaration, the convenient disappearance of those Trévér family members most likely to oppose the union—it all pointed in one direction.
She reached for the letter next, breaking the seal with a swift motion. Emma's handwriting spilled across the parchment in elegant, controlled strokes.
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My Lady,
I trust this letter finds you well. By now you will have seen the morning edition of Le Prophète Magique, but I write to confirm what my own investigations have uncovered. The reports are true: Sophie Trévér and Maximilian Voclain have entered into a binding engagement, blessed by the Ministry and sealed by ancient vow.
My contacts suggest the Trévér family is no longer what it once was. Many of its members are either missing or dead. The official word is that they fled in protest of Sophie's decision, but rumors are darker. I believe Maximilian arranged their removals, one way or another. In doing so, he ensured Sophie stands as the sole uncontested heir, leaving the rest of the family little choice but to side with him.
It is, in short, a conquest dressed as reconciliation. The Trévér family has not been absorbed into peace—it has been consumed.
I await your instruction as to how we should respond to this new alliance.
On another matter, as per your command, we successfully secured the Hippogriff Buckbeak. The Malfoy family, pressured by Minister Fudge at first, eventually withdrew their complaint once word spread that House White had purchased the creature. The Ministry was only too eager to wash their hands of it once the matter was settled in our favor.
I now ask: what should be done with the Hippogriff? Do we keep it under our care, or would you prefer another course of action?
Your faithful servant,
Emma Bloom
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Eira's eyes lingered on the signature, her expression unreadable. She leaned back in her chair, staring once more at the newspaper headline.
Maximilian Voclain and Sophie Trévér had played their hands masterfully. By removing dissenting Trévér kin, binding each other through both marriage and magical contract, and securing Minister Bellerose's blessing, they had elevated themselves into something far greater than the head of a single house. They were now the couple who ended a centuries-old feud. Public opinion would rally behind them , perhaps even idolize them.
She dipped her quill in ink, her mind sharpening to clarity as she began her reply.
⸻
To Emma Bloom,
You did well to confirm what the newspapers reported. Continue to observe Maximilian Voclain closely. Watch his movements, his alliances, his correspondence. But do not interfere. At present he has not made any move against House White, and until he does, we need not cross him. Let him consolidate. His hunger will reveal itself in time.
As for the Hippogriff Buckbeak, you will deliver him into the care of Rubeus Hagrid at Hogwarts. I will draft a letter to Dumbledore clarifying that this creature is the property of House White, given to Hogwarts under my governance as a gift to the school. It will serve as both a resource for magical education and a reminder of our family's protection. Make certain it is understood that should any harm come to Buckbeak, Hogwarts will answer to us directly.
For now, hold your position. Observe and record, then report back to me and also counsel Aunt Isabella as well as she is more informed about these two families. The Voclain–Trévér union i not a threat to me so just observe them that's all.
With regard,
Eira White
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She let the ink dry, then folded the letter with care. For a long moment she sat still, gazing out the window toward the sweeping lawns of Ombrelune. Students below bustled between classes, their chatter about their progress in preparation for exams or their future plans for summer holidays.