Chapter 664: Disagreement
Chapter 664: Disagreement
The radio was playing a jazzy tune, a favorite of Mrs. McDougal during her breaks—'A Pot of Hot Love' by Settina Wobeck.
In the kitchen, pots and pans were cleaning themselves in the sink, tinkling as they returned to the cabinets in rhythm with the music. A pair of pale hands reached for the radio, turning it off.
Mrs. McDougal set down her copy of the 'Witch Weekly' and looked up at her daughter, a curious expression on her face. "Yes, dear?"
"Umm... Albert invited me to France," Isabelle said.
"A vacation in France? How lovely." Mrs. McDougal nodded, though she was slightly surprised at how quickly her daughter's relationship with her boyfriend was progressing.
Isabelle hesitated. "Sort of. Albert wants to introduce me to his teacher."
"His teacher? Who is his teacher?" Mrs. McDougal asked, intrigued.
"Apparently, it's Mr. Nico Lemieux."
"Who?" Mrs. McDougal wondered if she had heard wrong.
"Nico Lemieux," Isabelle repeated softly, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"His teacher is Nico Lemieux?" Mrs. McDougal was astonished. Of course, she knew who Nico Lemieux was.
"Yes," Isabelle pulled out a chair and sat down beside her mother. "They share similar paths, and Mr. Lemieux is a suitable mentor for Albert."
"My, that's surprising. I didn't realize he knew someone like Nico Lemieux." Mrs. McDougal paused, then asked, "How long will you be staying in France?"
"We'll be back before the start of term, I think," Isabelle said thoughtfully. "He wants to learn something from him."
"Well, there is one thing I must ask," Mrs. McDougal sighed inwardly. "Has he proposed to you?"
Isabelle nodded slightly, lowering her gaze. "He has mentioned it."
"Don't you think it's too soon? I'm worried that you two might not be ready. You know what I mean? I'm not objecting, but you're both so young." Mrs. McDougal cautioned. "He's only in his fifth year, and it will be a few more years before he graduates."
"I know, but it's fine," Isabelle assured her.
Mrs. McDougal sighed again. "And his parents agreed to this?"
"Yes," Isabelle nodded gently.
"Are you truly prepared for this?" Mrs. McDougal remained silent for a long moment. "I mean, have you really thought this through? Are you sure you want to settle down so early? You should understand what I'm referring to. Prematurely settling down can be challenging, and once you live together, you may find that the love you once knew fades, leaving only familial obligation and responsibility to sustain your relationship."
Isabelle looked a little dazed. To be honest, she wasn't sure if that was the life she wanted. Perhaps it wouldn't be as wonderful as she imagined, but a life without financial worries and the need to work couldn't be that bad.
Albert had money and didn't have to fret about their livelihood. They would have ample time to do the things they wanted.
"He has plans for the future, and I don't think it will be that bad. We'll have a house-elf to help with chores, so I won't have to worry about that. As for work, I don't think there will be any issues there, and I can continue doing what I love."
"A house-elf?" Mrs. McDougal's mouth fell open, unsure if she had heard correctly. But Isabelle clearly wasn't lying.
Could it be that Albert really came from a Muggle family? In the wizarding world, only ancient wizarding families had house-elves in their service.
And from the sound of it, they even had a house ready for when they got married?
"He's even more impressive than you think," Isabelle said proudly, beaming with admiration for her boyfriend.
"No, he's extraordinarily impressive, leagues ahead of your father," Mrs. McDougal said, her expression complex. "If what you say is true, I doubt there are many in the wizarding world who can compare to him. I know you both have your own minds, and even if I said more, it probably wouldn't change your decision. Just make sure to invite him over more often."
"I will," Isabelle nodded, understanding that her mother had given her consent. A soft smile graced her face.
"Love really makes people do crazy things," Mrs. McDougal shook her head.
"I know what I'm doing, and I don't think it's too soon," Isabelle insisted. "I'll graduate two years before him anyway."
Mrs. McDougal didn't feel like arguing with her daughter any further.
"Oh, and one more thing," Isabelle said, pausing as she was about to head upstairs.
"What is it?"
"He said that in a few years, Britain might not be safe," Isabelle said, considering how to break this news to her family.
"Not safe?" Mrs. McDougal asked, perplexed.
"There might be a wizarding war," Isabelle said reluctantly after a long pause.
"A wizarding war? Are you sure?" Mrs. McDougal asked, incredulous.
"I wish it wasn't true, but Albert has a talent for prophecy, and so far, he hasn't been wrong," Isabelle said, looking directly at her mother. "He plans to send his family abroad in a couple of years."
"Does he want you to convince me to leave the country with you?" Mrs. McDougal asked.
"Yes, he hopes our family will lie low for a while," Isabelle confirmed.
"We'll see about that!" Mrs. McDougal frowned, unsure about this prophecy business. Such things were often shrouded in mystery, and who could really predict the future?
After Isabelle went upstairs, Katrina suddenly appeared, as if she had been eavesdropping on their conversation the whole time.
"Isabelle is just desperate to get married. You should check if she's been put under the Imperius Curse," Katrina quipped.
"I heard everything," Isabelle said, rolling her eyes.
"Well, they're still in school and just kids," Katrina pouted. "Albert isn't even an adult yet. It's too early to be talking about these things. Even if they get married, it should be after they graduate."
To be honest, Katrina was flabbergasted by Isabelle's boldness. She had no idea their relationship had progressed this far. If she hadn't overheard this conversation, she would still be in the dark, which was infuriating. Didn't they consider her a sister anymore?
"Your father and I were around that age when we got married," Mrs. McDougal said. "I'm just concerned about whether Albert will be ready by then. You know, he'll have just graduated from school." Mrs. McDougal's worries were not unfounded, as most people struggled to adjust their mindset at that age.
"If he's not mature enough, it could be troublesome in the future. I doubt they'll be able to handle the responsibility of raising a family. If they work for a year or two and adjust their mindset, things will be much better." Mrs. McDougal's concerns were valid, as this scenario was all too common.
Moreover, there was one thing Mrs. McDougal didn't say.
She felt that an early marriage would be a waste of their talent. They shouldn't divert their energy into family matters too soon, and Isabelle should focus on more than just being a housewife. It wouldn't bode well for their future accomplishments.
(End of Chapter)
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