Antidote

Chapter 29 - Envy

A/N HI, GUYS. I'M BACK. sorry it's kinda late.

i've missed you all very much. i hope those of you that celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful holiday.

disclaimer: this chapter includes some French dialogue. translations will be at the end, in the author's note. i promise it's not that important to the story.

okay, now i hope you guys enjoy :)

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"And what will you do when they ask about the future, after graduation?" Jolie's father asked her at breakfast on Thursday morning.

Jolie sighed. It was about the twentieth time that week that he'd asked her this.

Her parents had been quizzing and training her since the moment she'd arrived home on Sunday for Easter holiday, roleplaying as different, nosy attendees of the upcoming gala. It seemed George wasn't the only one that needed to have lessons to attend.

She swallowed a mouthful of her croissant, then straightened her spine.

"I'll tell them that I plan on putting my focus into various philanthropic events in the wake of my Hogwarts graduation," she repeated robotically.

"If they ask about the pressure of it all?" her father went on.

Flora groaned into her grapefruit and Hestia snorted.

"I'll tell them that I've had excellent guidance from my parents that I intend on utilizing."

Felix nodded, satisfied.

"They're usually more meddlesome questions," Charlotte commented. "Like 'Do you still plan on donating to the Muggle-born Rights Organization?'."

Jolie furrowed her brow. "Then I'll say yes. Obviously."

Her father shook his head. "You can't fall into the political potential of a question like that. You'll simply say, 'I plan on continuing donations to all organizations and businesses that my mother and father supported in the last five years'. It will put the weight on your mother and I."

Charlotte nodded her agreement.

"That sounds like a really long, complicated way to say yes," Jolie sighed.

Her elder sister rolled her eyes. "Eventually, you'll learn the ways reporters can twist your words."

Jolie wanted to rip her bloody hair out. It felt as though every simple question she might be asked had to be answered with some repetitive, complex, go-around response. It was exhausting.

And, on top of all her lessons, Charlotte had clearly been acting coldly toward her.

Ever since Jolie had been named the sole heiress, preceding her elder sister, she noticed that Charlotte had been growing more and more distant. Her sister had even gone as far as 'not finding it necessary' to have Jolie, Hestia, or Flora at her January wedding, as they would all be in school, despite it being more than possible for them to come home for a day to attend it.

Charlotte had since moved out of the estate, moved into a flat with David in Muggle London, and refused to have a Floo network set up in their new home.

Jolie was actually shocked that she'd decided to come back home to attend the gala; let alone help her with her training.

"You will do well, ma columbe," Jolie's mother reassured. "Ne t'inquiète pas."

Jolie tried not to roll her eyes.

Don't worry. That was easy for her to say. She couldn't help but worry. She had never paid attention to how Charlotte handled herself at all the past galas. Or even their mother, for that matter.