Linsey Grey-Cavendish Ravenclaw Alumnus │ Nineteen Years Old │ Fashion Designer and Artist │ Single
Linsey looked around after speaking her peace, it was her hope she could sway the others, or at least enough of them that another paroxysm of violence might be averted along with perhaps a greater tragedy. What if Iolande lost her child as a consequence of taking a stand against her husband and the other Soldati Perfecti? She saw some of the brothers shifting about awkwardly when she spoke to them, and a renewed light in Ivona’s eyes, while Ella looked up to her, and Serghei was looking to her. Linsey also noted Dmitry was losing his patience as she spoke.
Dmitry demanded to know who she was to interfere, Linsey regarded him with a measure of calm, and replied as though she were still speaking in a class, and not standing on the blood-splattered ballroom floor, “Who do I have to be to speak truth to power? It is true I am not married into the family, nor as inculcated as you, but I am just as invested in its future. Serghei is quite strong enough to be here as you, that he stands here now, after nearly being murdered by your father, is proof of that. As to my place …my Father taught me that my place is wherever I wish it, and I’ll not stand in a coffle simply because you wish it.”
As Dmitry offered a veiled threat in Ella’s direction, and stepped out of line and stared at her, Linsey returned his gaze unflinchingly with a thousand-yard death-stare with her blue eyes glowing with electricity. She’d always detested bullies as a child, as an adult she found them ever more unctuous. Serghei bolstered her response. Dmitry stated his intention to lead the Soldati and a new generation of sons, essentially doubling down on what his father planned, and Linsey realized there would be no getting through to somebody who was unwilling to hear another voice. Unfortunately, it was not much past this that events spiraled out of hand, and finally Radovan had to challenge his older brother.
As the duel of wits and magic began, Linsey let Serghei pull her back, though she was prepared to defend herself and Ella and Serghei if he needed for her to do so, this really wasn’t her fight, but if Radovan fell, she might need to get her little corner of the family away from Dmitry who would likely be out for her blood because she dared to tell him where to get off. The fight ended in a manner which horrified Linsey when Radovan drew Dmitry’s magical essence and placed it within the repaired phylactery. As the Soldati were being held in place before any decided to continue the duel, Linsey gestured and a pool of bright light appeared above Demyan, and tendrils reached down to grab him a draw him into the air to be held in place.
In the end, the Soldati were to be taken to the rightly feared Lubyanka Prison which was built beneath the Muggle facility of the same name, and whose occupants would never know the light of the sun, nor the company of others ever again. It was a place to meant to break minds and souls as well as the bodies of those interred there.
When Radovan decided to excise the Soldati from collective memory, it was Ella who spoke up on their behalf, and Linsey held her close, never prouder of her and her principled stand. Linsey then reinforced Ella’s words with a few of her own. “I agree with Ella, Radovan, I believe also you should stay your hand. It is said that we die twice in this life, the first when the lungs stop drawing breath and the heart ceases to beat, but the second occurs sometime later when there is nobody left to speak our names. To excise their names from memory is to kill them in a very real way as it separates them from whatever connection they have with this life. There are many that live who deserve death, and there are some that die who deserve life. Can you grant them both, because I cannot. Even the very wise cannot see all ends, and your brothers may yet recant the sickness of the soul infecting them. We should hold out the hope for to them a pathway home may yet be there.”
When Dmitry and the Soldati were taken away, Linsey was treated to the sight of Ivona finally having the chance to hug her little daughter, and she smiled as she turned her attention to learning the extent of Radovan’s injuries and to start healing them. She looked up to Serghei grinning at her, and she leaned over to kiss him tenderly.
OOC: Taken by Serghei Emil Antonov
Cinnabun Gryffie
"All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way
I lie awake for hours, I'm just waiting for the sun When the journey we are making has begun Don't deny the feeling that is stealing through your heart Every happy ending needs to have a start
All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way "
Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 11:07 pm
xx❅ Wʜᴇʀᴇ Aᴍ I?The Old Antonov Manor House xxx❅ Wʜᴏ Is Wɪᴛʜ Mᴇ?Linsey xxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Gᴏɪɴɢ Oɴ?Looking out over the mountains xxxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Iɴsɪᴅᴇ Mʏ Hᴇᴀᴅ?I hope she can do me this great honor
As everything quieted down, Serghei looked between Ella and Linsey. Despite everything, both the girls begged some level of forgiveness on behalf of the five others. Perhaps for one, who was still young enough to be malleable, but the eldest few.... they had long since sacrificed their humanity. Linsey, of course, he figured might be one to forgive. Between them all, he wasn't sure how much she truly knew of the Family. She'd been surprised to learn even small wedges from his story, meaning Ella likely hadn't said much on the subject.... but then there was Ella. She had spent every day within these walls absolutely terrified. She had been tormented and rejected... and yet she had enough kindness to beg for mercy to those that caused her the most damage.
A tear rolled down his cheek when he noticed Mother getting to embrace Ella. She had never been allowed to show kindness to any of the kids. Serghei could count on one hand the number of times he remembered getting a hug growing up, but they were always from her. She had always held a bubble of kindness in the darkest of times. Somehow that trait found its way into Ella. It was then nurtured by Linsey and the rest of the Grey family, who had taken the scared, abused girl and had given her such an abundance of love that it allowed her to grow and become such a wonderful person.
Dark eyes watched as his brothers were carted away. Beatrix and Leisa worked to cover the body that lay there, now entirely harmless. The small key near him hadn't morphed into a clone of Father, so it had been successfully destroyed as well. Linsey had stepped over to mend up Radovan, who was calmly saying he would be fine. Serghei stepped over, earning a kiss from Linsey. "Es ist Zeit, kleiner Bruder." Serghei looked at his brother, who had sent up a small grin. Serghei nodded, pausing when Sofie twirled cleaning charms over them all. It was good to see her vibrant smile once more.
"Linsey, I want to show you something." He offered over a hand toward the blonde, glancing over at Ella to see her send over a grin. Once he had claimed Linsey's hand, Serghei led her up a large staircase. He flicked his wand, lights powering on all over the house. Another flight of stairs led them to the top floor, lined with windows. "This place had many, many bad moments within her walls, and yet... she is home to great beauty as well." He pushed open a rich wooden door and stepped onto a balcony. There, before them was the splendor of the snow-capped mountains. The view went on for miles, even enough to see a small village nestled in a nearby valley. The mountains seemed to sparkle within the sun, and despite the chill in the air, the day was clear and lovely.
"I think all of us spent time up here. Radovan used to watch the stars in the wee hours. Ella would sit up here and draw the mountains. I used to watch the village and wonder what all the people were up to. Even now, as I struggle with all the feelings that today has swirled up... I can't help but think that I'm glad I got to experience such beautiful sights amidst the chaos of this home. I was a bit sad to leave when I prepared to move to Hogwarts, but it was there that I encountered a whole new type of beauty."
Serghei wrapped an arm around Linsey, holding her close to him. "It was not the scenery of the school or Hogsmeade, but a charming young Ravenclaw with eyes so blue they make the heavens themself jealous. I met you, dragul meu. I met someone who's kindness and compassion led her not only to save a scared little girl, but to listen to my words the day I found her once more. Someone who's smarts got her to the top of her class and a title of Head Student. A brilliant chef, stellar artist, and a beautiful soul all around." He grinned over, a little twinkle in his dark eyes.
"A bit over two years ago, I asked if you would be my Persoană Pentru Totdeauna, and was surprised when you agreed. And then, a few weeks ago..." He lifted Linsey's hand, carefully running his thumb over the deep black gemstone set into the ring, a crack now dividing the crest etched there. "You saved my life. You faced down an incredible danger, but in doing so, you gave me another chance. And today, you faced another horrible, terrifying situation, mostly at my behest. You faced down the people who brought about some of the biggest fears of some of your favorite people, and you did so with dignity and an incredible sense of compassion."
He blinked back a few tears, though he couldn't sway his smile. Lifting her hand up, he placed a gentle kiss. As his other hand slid into his pocket, Serghei moved to kneel down. "Linsey, my angel, will you do me the greatest honor and become my wife? I want you by my side for the rest of my days, and I promise to treat you with every kindness that you deserve, and to spend each of my days proving to you all the love that I can offer. It would be my greatest pleasure in life to make you smile each and every day for the rest of ours, together." He lifted a small box, which held nestled a celtic trinity knot engagement ring. "I already spoke with your parents, as well as with Ella and Radovan. They all seemed pretty excited for this. I just hope that you might be too."
xx❀Wʜᴇʀᴇ Aᴍ I?My old home xxx❀Wʜᴏ Is Wɪᴛʜ Mᴇ?Radovan, Mother, and a few others xxxx❀Wʜᴀᴛ's Gᴏɪɴɢ Oɴ?Aftermath and Big Feelings xxxxx❀Wʜᴀᴛ's Iɴsɪᴅᴇ Mʏ Hᴇᴀᴅ?What I did was good?
Today had gone... rather interestingly. It had started so simply, eating breakfast at Serghei's house, and had ended in bloodshed and violence. She had missed the first half of the fight, but she was pretty positive it hadn't been anything fun. It was - in hindsight - kind of cool that she'd gotten to break into a centuries old vault (something she figured Vikram might be interested in, per his excitement about Cursebreaking class). She also wanted to tell Alice about the day, though it was more because her friend was one of the best at giving hugs... other than Sebastian, but he often hugged her and lifted her feet up off the ground. Maybe she would be able to speak more this year, now that there was a tremendous weight lifted off her small shoulders.
But as she stood in the room, watching Dmitry and Augustìn's wives working on clean-up while Alexi's new wife twirled about using magic to clean everyone else. It wasn't until her wand gently tapped Ella's crown that the youngest of the family realized how yucky she'd been. Ella had been pulled into a hug by Mother, who she now knew had been her actual mother. It was all very confusing. She had always thought that Gwen Eynon was her mum, and had carried her surname the first twelve years of her life. Had things gone differently, would she have carried the Antonov name? There was another girl, Ioana, who was also Antonov born, but she had been raised by Father's brother, Mihil. Perhaps there had been something of a chance she could have had a happy childhood without Ivona hiding her, but the way things had worked out, Ella had spent many years afraid for her very life.
After watching Serghei lead Linsey off up the stairs, Ella let out a slow sigh. The day had been a crazy, terrifying mess. It had resulted in someone's death, and she felt she was partially to blame. If she hadn't gone into the vault, would they have been able to arrest Father, rather than killing him? Before she knew it, tears were spilling down her face. Her small frame was shaking as she looked over toward where his body had been just moments ago. Without her, would everything not have gone differently? Would she have been able to spare her sister from seeing a small fraction of the monsters lurking within the walls of this house?
"Hey there, surioară. Today has not been a typical day, has it?" She looked over, seeing Radovan knelt at her side. She did also note that his voice was quiet, keeping their conversation somewhat private. "I... because of me, someone is dead. I... wh-what do I even do about this?" Her wide brown eyes betrayed the terror in her heart. How was she supposed to rationalize this moment? Even with all the abuses he'd done upon her, Ella hadn't wanted anyone to die. "Oh, Ella, no. You... you had nothing to do with his death." He tried to soothe, but she was panicked. "But I did! If I hadn't ever... If I didn't..." she tried again, but she couldn't get herself to say the words.
Radovan gently tucked some of her hair behind her ear before resting his hand on her shoulder. "His death had nothing to do with you. You and I broke his horcrux, yes, but it was something that needed to be done. Even if he had gone to prison with the others, he would have been able to use that to regain freedom after his passing. That is all. But... I know this has all been so hard on you, so let's try looking at it in a different way, okay?" Ella nodded, and he moved to hold her hands in a way similar to Linsey. If it worked to comfort her then, it may work now too. "Today, by doing everything that was done here, you helped save nineteen lives, plus your own. You saved Mother, Bea, Liesa, Zenzi, Sofie, and Iolande from their abusive husbands. Between them, they have eight children, plus one on the way. Then there were myself and Serghei, along with Linsey, because Serghei would have had to continue faking his death and would not have been able to give your sister a good life that way. Then there was you. You won't ever, ever have to worry about someone seeing you and reporting you back to Father. You don't ever have to shrink yourself down to hide away from anger."
"B-but he died, Radovan! R-right in front of us! D-does that not weigh on you at all? Her eyes were searching his, and he sighed softly. "It does... or, perhaps, 'it will', is a better turn of phrase. Do... do you know how a Horcrux is made?" he asked, getting a small shake of the head in return. Of course she wouldn't. Hogwarts didn't study dark arts in the way Durmstrang did, though he was a bit glad she hadn't been exposed to that knowledge. "In short, they are made when someone murders someone else. Doing an act like that, and not in defense, causes the soul to split. It allows one to capture that split to allow oneself to live beyond death. To get that, Father murdered all three of his brothers, along with their wives. He spilled so much innocent blood that day, and for nothing more than his own desire to live well beyond his years. In his own selfishness, six people lost their lives. Eight people lost their parents. three young children lost their grandparents.
"Was this how I was hoping today would go? No. Not exactly. I fully expected that it would have been myself to either imprison or kill Father. What I did not know was that our Mother... that, as you said, her love for all of us moved her to take his life. She was worried, as I was, that in his hatred and anger, he might move to kill us all. He might have killed Serghei for real, alongside Linsey because she spoke out against him. He would have branded me as a trădător, then most likely taken my life as well for defying him by keeping Serghei safe. He would have most likely done all of this in front of you, then gone after the women. He would have killed Mother, then instructed the Soldați to kill their wives and possibly their daughters as well. There was nothing he would have stopped at to continue on in his power."
As he spoke, Ella stopped shaking a bit, though she did still have tears in her eyes. That, he figured, would be harder to remove. "But because of you, little sister, we were able to put a stop to all of them. They will never harm another soul. Not their wives, their children, or themselves. Because you were brave, so many people can find their joy in life once again. And I think that is the best gift anyone could possibly give." She nodded this time, seeming to understand a bit more. It would still be hard, but he knew she had the family and the love to surround her. "It will be hard, but I promise that it will get better. And you never have to hide again. You don't have to worry about anyone daring to hurt you, or trying to tell you that you are not enough. And if someone is foolish enough to try, I'll make sure they know how well protected you are, da?" At that, he cracked a grin, causing Ella to giggle. "Are you gonna fight someone or sneak them Găluște?" Well, at least her humor was back. "It depends on if your sister is watching. She is ferocious, I swear." That caused another giggle from the teen, before she leaned into him to wrap her arms around his shoulders.
Radovan quickly pulled her into a hug, not moving until she released the hug. He hadn't given someone a hug in far too many years, but if anyone deserved one, it was her. "Thank you, Nene. I think I needed that." He grinned, thinking the term of endearment wasn't deserved, yet he would cherish the word. "I think I did too. And tonight, we can go to our Brother's house and have găluște, paste cremoase cu ciuperci, and maybe albinita as well. We deserved a feast, and I do believe there will be reason to celebrate. Dry your tears, surioară, and let us try and find your smile once more."
Linsey Grey-Cavendish Ravenclaw Alumnus │ Nineteen Years Old │ Fashion Designer and Artist │ Single
With the departure of the Aurors and their Perfecti Soldati prisoners, Linsey felt as though she could relax, which was good as it would help her with her task. To be sure, Marni taught her how to stay calm and functioning no matter how crazy things might be around her, that she needed to be the eye of calm in the center of the raging tempest, however, she preferred for it to be reduced in the level of drama as it made it easier for her patient. Radovan was saying he would be fine as she fussed over the magical injuries he’d sustained in his back-to-back duels.
Linsey chuckled softly as she commented, “Funny, I seem to recall your brother saying words to that effect when I was healing him up on the train back to Hogwarts.” Her first official day on the job as Head Girl, as she’d started setting things in motion almost as soon as the letter arrived, and she had Serghei stashed in a compartment so she could heal his injuries, as she worried that Markus and the older brothers were coming to kill them all. For the longest time, the threat was a distant one, so she supposed it had to be addressed sooner or later. Now it was over there was the aftermath to deal with.
She looked up and saw Ella and her birth mother hugging, and she the tears welling up in her eyes. She watched them intently, wanting to fix one perfect moment in her mind’s eye, for she planned to create a painting, likely one of her impressionistic paintings of the tableaux, to gift Ella with at some point, maybe Christmas. Linsey wanted the chance to have Ivona and Ella sit for a portrait, though she might have to scramble for art supplies as she hadn’t brought her sketchbook. ‘All the horrors and pain we have seen were worth experiencing to see this. How many years was this in the making, I wonder.’
At some point, she heard Radovan tell Serghei that it was time, and it was then Serghei started leading her through the house. She’d considered asking Ella to finish her work, then decided what she was doing was a healing too many years in need of doing. They went out onto the balcony, and she rewarded with a stunning view of the mountains, and of this tiny village which might be fun to explore. “Oh, Serghei, it’s beautiful up here, and here I am without my sketchbook.”
Serghei described how they came up here as an escape, as a reminder there was more to their lives beyond the soul-crushing abuse they endured, however he went on from there describing how he found another source of beauty, and she lay her head on his shoulder as he spoke. Linsey started blushing as he started describing … well … her. She never really thought of herself in those terms. He held up her hand and ran a finger over the ring with the cracked crest. Odd as others might think it, though it was damaged she never considered not wearing it again, as to her it was incredibly precious for what it represented.
Her heart skipped a few beats when Serghei knelt and proposed. He had already asked her father for permission, and Ella as well, as he knew her well enough to know if he hadn’t they would have needed to go to him before doing anything else. With her face blushed to the very roots of her snowy white hair, and tears pouring down her cheeks, she nodded emphatically before she could find voice to say to him, “Of course, of course, Mon Couer. Together now, forever and always.”
OOC: Engaged to Serghei Emil Antonov
Cinnabun Gryffie
"All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way
I lie awake for hours, I'm just waiting for the sun When the journey we are making has begun Don't deny the feeling that is stealing through your heart Every happy ending needs to have a start
All my life I never really knew me till today Now I know why, I'm just another step along the way "
xx❅ Wʜᴇʀᴇ Aᴍ I?The Old Antonov Manor House xxx❅ Wʜᴏ Is Wɪᴛʜ Mᴇ?Linsey xxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Gᴏɪɴɢ Oɴ?Looking out over the mountains xxxxx❅ Wʜᴀᴛ's Iɴsɪᴅᴇ Mʏ Hᴇᴀᴅ?She said yes!
Serghei wished to see these moments, these small seconds of kindnesses between the family. Linsey was carefully mending Radovan, teasing him about sounding similar to Serghei. The younger shuddered a bit, remembering that very day. "I wonder why we might sound similar," Rad teased back, cautiously rubbing his side to investigate the healing. "We were trained to handle the dark magic hits, but it is very nice to have a healer in the midst of the battle." He added, glancing up at Linsey.
Brown eyes also looked over to see Mother, for the first time holding her youngest child. It was still rather surprising to know that Ella was just as true an Antonov as he were. They were speaking quietly, but the words could not be heard from his location. The other women were talking amongst themselves, all seeming incredibly relieved. Never again would they be abused, mistreated, or spoken to with harsh words. It was easy to tell that the atmosphere was dramatically different. All of their kids would get a chance to grow up somewhat normally, even if it was only to their mothers.
And then, there was himself. He and Linsey would have a real chance at happiness together. As he walked her through the silent halls, he had so many memories swirled about. It had been at the top of these stairs that he had first seen Ella. It had been the end of the hall where his childhood bedroom was, the sixth in line, walls a muted grey. And it had been on the upper floors where he had slinked to try and avoid Father's rage.
Once on the balcony, Linsey commented on needing her sketchbook. "I will have to bring you back later this year. When the snow is falling over the city, the view is incredible. Of course, it is also incredibly cold." He grinned, knowing that Linsey would likely freeze solid while trying to draw. Maybe he could ask Ella if she had kept hold of her artwork from the years. He could frame one and hang it up for Linsey to see.
After he had proposed, a weight lifted off his chest for the second time in only a few short moments. She had said yes! He stood back up, sliding off the crest ring from her finger before placing the new one in its place. "I researched rings from Irish culture and quite liked this design. And you may keep my crest ring as well, either for a keepsake or to wear. It was yours from the very moment I fell for you." Serghei sent over a smile, his honey-colored eyes lined with tears.
Moving quickly, he pulled Linsey into a hug before giving her a kiss. "Thank you for being my angel, Linsey." He tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear, looking into her electric blue eyes. He moved to gently wipe away her tears, before simply holding her close. "And thank you for giving this old home at least one moment of beauty."
