Antonio emerged from the shabby inn after his discussion with Arcturus Black on the streets of Hogsmeade.
Arcturus had shared an interesting tale. The room where they had just met had been a secret hideaway for the Black Lord for decades. It was during his Hogwarts days that Arcturus had first started using the room for his personal rendezvous, and since then, it had remained his secret retreat.
Due to the inn being protected by anti Apparition wards, Antonio had no choice but to step outside into Hogsmeade before he could return to his own quarters.
Arcturus, however, was keyed to the wards and had Apparated directly from within the room.
Their conversation had been brief and to the point. It had not been the long, exhausting kind of exchange Antonio had endured with Edmund Bones.
Arcturus had offered his support unconditionally, and what he had asked of Antonio was only something that would benefit Antonio himself.
When Arcturus had mentioned the words "honour duel," Antonio had assumed it would be something the Black Lord wanted for his own gain. He had assumed that Black lord will just twist his words to take a moral standing. But he had been wrong.
The support was, indeed, unconditional. There was no hidden agenda or implied price in Arcturus's offer. The idea he had presented was solely for Antonio's benefit. And it was a mere idea, a suggestion. The ultimate decision had been left in Antonio's hands if he would take that action or not.
Still, seen from another perspective, Antonio could recognize that the Black Lord was using this moment to build a relationship with him. An investment, perhaps, in the growth of a future alliance.
It seemed almost unbelievable that the head of the powerful Black family would hedge his bets on the young lord of a minor pure blood house.
But Antonio could easily sense the reasoning. Arcturus did not believe his own children were competent, and he feared the legacy of the Black family might be damaged or diminished.
And thus, he was trying to place his family in much as advantageous condition he could.
"Will you act as per grandfather's suggestion?" Bellatrix's words snapped Antonio out of his thoughts.
He shrugged. "I do not know. Like I said to Lord Black, what I do will depend on what happens on the day of the trial. I do not want to make promises I am not sure I can keep."
"Besides, I also need some time to think things through and fully understand the consequences of my actions. It does not seem as easy to me as he made it sound," he added.
Bellatrix nodded with a smile, "That is how grandfather is."
"Still, it would be better if you could do what he suggested," she suggested. "Your standing in the Wizarding Britain will alleviate."
Antonio nodded but did not comment further.
Like him, it was Bellatrix's first time at the inn, and she too was not keyed to the wards. So, she had to step outside before she could Apparate.
Not that she minded. She enjoyed Antonio's presence.
"Will you head home?" she asked.
Antonio did not answer immediately. Instead, he took a brief look at his surroundings. The streets of Hogsmeade were covered in a thin layer of snow, and a chilly wind swept through the village. It was the peak of winter.
Hogsmeade was more lively than usual today. It was the day of the weekly visit from Hogwarts students, and all the shops and establishments were buzzing with activity, each trying to attract more customers than the next.
"It has been quite some time since I have last seen Hogsmeade," he answered. "I think I will take a stroll."
"I will tag along," Bellatrix quipped quickly. "I have also been not here since I graduated from Hogwarts."
Antonio nodded as the duo began their stroll through the streets of Hogsmeade.
While he had expected a calm and relaxing outing and some time away from the heavy politics that he had been dealing with in the last few days; he quickly realized how far that was from reality.
There was hardly anyone who did not recognise him. His act of killing two Death Eaters, along with a few moving images of the moment, had spread far and wide, making Antonio something of a public figure. The word had spread quickly about how he had dispatched them in single blows. And each time the story was shared, more and more salt and spices were added to the story.
And walking beside him was Bellatrix, whose fearsome reputation preceded her. There were few pure bloods who did not recognise her.
Besides, the tale of what Lord Olario had done to Rodolphus was also quite popular within pure blood circles.
It was not that anyone was actively disturbing them. Far from it. No one sought them or tried to approach them.
But wherever Antonio walked, every gaze inevitably turned his way. He was the focus of the crowd.
It was an awkward feeling, especially for someone like him, who had never been used to such attention. Bellatrix was somewhat used to that attention and it was almost a normal scenario for her.
There was no normal activity he could hope to do. Not without being watched.
"You are quite the popular one," Bellatrix giggled as they left the crowded part of Hogsmeade and wandered toward the outer edge of the settlement, where only a few shops and establishments remained.
"I bet there are plenty of girls who would be willing to throw themselves at you," she teased.
"Oh?" Antonio retorted. "Are you one of them?"
He had expected a sharp comeback maybe even a spell flung his way. But what happened instead was something he had not imagined. Clearly, his expectations were being proven wrong today.
A crimson hue spread across the face of the usually fiery Bellatrix. She turned shy.
"N-No…" she stammered. "What are you even saying?"
Antonio had no idea how to respond. He was still lost in thought, trying to come up with something to say, when they turned a corner and his eyes instinctively narrowed. An interesting scene was unfolding before him.
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