Chapter Text
Despite Alec’s expectations, his parents did make an appearance during their holidays. On Christmas Eve, the four were spread out over the lounge on beanbags, wrapped up in large blankets with the Polar Express playing.
“Oi!” Alec shouted at Max, a large smile contradicting his angry voice. He picked the pieces of popcorn out from his hair and grabbed a handful from the bowl in front of him, throwing it at his giggling younger brother in retaliation.
“Alec! No!” Max tried to move away but his legs got caught in the blankets.
“Shut up!” Izzy complained half-heartedly, looking away from the candy crown she had sneakily made in Jace’s hair without the boy noticing. Max poked his tongue at her, eating the spilt popcorn as he crawled back to his beanbag.
“You guys are so annoying,” Jace said, eyes focussed on the screen in front of him. Jace was the only one who genuinely enjoyed re-watching that movie every single year.
“Like you can talk,” Izzy scoffed. Jace turned to glare at her, jumping in surprise when about twenty pieces on candy fell from his hair.
“Izzy!” He leapt at her and everyone laughed as she shrieked.
A sudden bright green light replaced the burning orange of the fire caused them to freeze, smiles dropping as they all stood and moved away from the fireplace.
“Alec?” Mac’s voice was small as Alec gently pushed him behind him. Izzy pulled Max closer to her.
They stood in silence, watching warily as two figures suddenly appeared. Alec felt the others relax as their parents stepped out, dusting ash from their clothing with annoyed expressions.
“I hate travelling this way,” Maryse complained. Robert rolled his eyes.
“Mum!” Max exclaimed excitedly, his tiny arms attempting to wrap around both of their parents. “Dad!”
“Long time no see,” Maryse chuckled at her youngest child, returning the embrace. Once Max stepped back she straightened up, her body language changing noticeably as she appraised her other three children.
“Jace,” she smiled tightly. “Isabelle, Alec. I hope Hogwarts has been treating you well.”
“It’s been fantastic,” Jace started, describing the wonders of the school as they all moved into the dining room. Robert used his wand to summon ready-prepared food onto the table. As everyone tucked in their parents continued to ask questions, starting from their education to their personal lives. That was when things started to go wrong.
“Alec, you haven’t sent many letters since you all left,” Maryse said. Alec stared at his food, hoping her questions would return to his siblings. “We haven’t heard much about your time so far. Have you made any friends?”
Alec hadn’t intended on telling her anything, but the sympathetic tone she had picked up had him wanting to prove her wrong. “A few.”
Both Maryse and Robert choked on their food in surprise, causing both hurt and success to rise up in Alec. It was a weird combination of feelings but he felt it was justified. “You do?” Maryse elbowed Robert, shaking her head at him.
“That’s great to hear. Who are they? Maybe we work with their parents.”
Alec winced internally, realising maybe it hadn’t been the greatest idea to say anything in the first place. “You um, you don’t. Work with their parents, that is.”
“Oh?” Maryse looked at him to continue.
“Clary and Magnus’ parents work at the school,” Jace explained for him. “Their dad in the Headmaster and their mum is the school nurse.”
“Lucian Garroway?” Robert raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t know he had any children.”
“No, well, he’s their stepfather,” Jace corrected. “Ms Fray has been with him since Clary was born so he’s their dad where it counts.”
“Ms Fray?” Maryse furrowed her eyebrows. “As in, Jocelyn Fray?”
“You know her?”
“Yes. I used to work with her,” Maryse pursed her lips. “There was a huge scandal six years ago when she adopted a muggle-born child.”
“That must have been Magnus,” Izzy though aloud.
“Hmm,” Maryse looked deep in thought.
“You said you’re friends with this boy?” Robert asked, looking at Alec. Alec nodded.
“We don’t want you hanging around his kind,” Maryse said sternly.
“Excuse me?” Izzy stared wide-eyed.
“I’m sure there are many other students suitable for friendship. I don’t think this boy, or the other Frays for that matter, are good influences. Your grades have been dropping since you moved to this school,” Maryse continued.
“Wait –”
“Your mother is right,” Robert said. “You said you had a few friends. Letting one go won’t be the end of the world.”
“I’m not – he’s not a bad influence,” Alec protested. “He and Simon have been helping me with my classes and catching me up to speed. If anything, they’re the only reason I’m not failing any classes.”
“Simon?” Fuck.
“He’s another friend,” Alec said dismissively. “My point is that they aren’t bad people and I want to be their friend.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Maryse said, putting her knife and fork down and looking at Alec condescendingly. “I very much doubt they would be overly bothered without you following them around.”
“What?”
“It’s time for you to start growing up, Alexander. You’re going to be eighteen next year. You need to start planning for your future, not running after these ‘friends’ of yours,” Robert said, barely looking up from his food as he continued to eat.
“Do you know Lydia Branwell?” Alec frowned at his mother, nodding slightly as recalled the name from one of his classes. “We work with her father. He told us she was in your year. Very beautiful, smart and lovely girl.”
“Okay…” Alec didn’t understand what was happening. Beside him Izzy was glaring at her plate, stabbing at her food with her fork angrily.
“What your mother is saying, is that it would be a good idea for you to start looking for possible wives.” Alec’s fork clanged against his plate noisily as he blinked up at his parents.
“W-what?”
“Your father and I met when we were your age and agreed to a marriage that would be good for the both of us. Lydia’s family is well respected in the wizarding community and it would help our family restore our name to be connected with theirs.”
“But I don’t want to marry –”
“Why are you putting it on Alec to make up for your mistakes?” Izzy snapped at their parents. “Alec should marry someone he loves, not someone that would make our family look good.”
“Love isn’t a priority,” Robert scoffed. “Family is what’s important. You understand that, don’t you, Alec?”
“Mum, Dad,” Jace interrupted. “Things are different now. People don’t marry at seventeen. Most people don’t even marry anymore.”
“And if they do, it’s because they love someone. Not because their parents screwed up and are forcing them to give up their life to fix their mistake,” Izzy spat out, surprising everyone with the malice in her voice.
“Isabelle Lightwood!” Maryse’s eyes shone with anger. “You cannot speak to us like that.”
“Why not? It’s true. Our family name is ruined only because you both fucked up and, instead of finding a way to make up for it yourself, you’re making us give up our lives.”
“Go to your room!” Robert shouted at her. “Don’t come out unless you’re ready to apologise.”
Izzy’s chair scraped across the ground as she stood up, slamming her utensils against the table. “Guess this is goodbye until next holidays, then. See you at Easter.”
The table was silent after she left, the loud bang of her door shutting causing them to jump in their seats. Alec’s hands were clenched around his knife and fork, shaking slightly as he kept his eyes on his plate.
“She has a point,” Jace quietly spoke up. Alec shot him a look, shaking his head to try get him to stop. He ignored him. “Alec shouldn’t have to marry anyone until he’s ready – if he’s ready.”
“Alec understands his responsibility for this family,” Robert said.
“But it isn’t necessary!”
“Enough, Jace.” Robert raised his voice in anger. “When Alec returns to school he will be taking the time to get to know Lydia.”
“But –,” Alec kicked his shin under the table and shook his head again. Jace clearly wanted to argue but the resigned look in Alec’s expression stopped him. He bit his lip and pushed his plate away. “I’m not hungry. I’ll see you tomorrow if you’re still here.” Without waiting for a response he walked off.
Maryse sighed in frustration before looking at the two sons remaining at the table. “How about you two? You planning on storming off childishly to your rooms too?” Neither of them responded as they continued to eat in silence.
~
“This isn’t fair! Tell me you told them you wouldn’t do it.” Izzy had left her room the moment their parents left the following morning and stormed out to where Alec stood in the living room, cleaning up the mess from the night before.
“Look, Izzy, it’s complicated okay? Maybe it won’t be as bad as it seems.”
“Are you serious right now? You’re never going to fall in love with Lydia! Both of you will be forced into this – this loveless marriage! And for what? Our parents?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice, Alec. Please don’t do this.”
Alec sighed and turned away from her, folding a blanket as he spoke carefully. “If I don’t, one of you will have to. I can’t let you guys lose this part of your life.”
“Why do you have to then? Why is it okay for you to not get a chance to find love?”
“Because I never will okay?” Alec snapped suddenly, turning to face her. She eyes filled with pity. “Because I – I... Because who I am…” His eyes filled with tears. “I don’t get to have love, Izzy. I’m not losing anything I haven’t already lost.”
“Alec…” She stepped forward and grabbed his hands. “Who you are? Who you are is my amazing, sweet big brother with the biggest heart I have ever seen. Anyone would be lucky to get to love you.” She smiled softly as she wiped away a tear with her thumb. “And one day, someone will love you heart and soul.”
Alec didn’t know what to say so he pulled his hands from hers and wrapped his arms tightly around her, sobbing as she led them onto the couch. “I don’t want to marry.”
“I know,” she whispered, running a hand over his back comfortingly. “I know.”
~~~~~~~~~
Alec sighed as he pushed through the crowd and onto the train. Luckily they got there on time, despite Max forgetting his wand and then also forgetting his scarf, resulting in two trips back home before finally reaching the station.
“Alec!” He turned at the sound of his name and found himself smiling at Magnus, who gestured for him and his siblings to sit with them. As soon as he walked in Magnus threw himself into his arms, squeezing him tightly. Alec held him just as tight.
“How was your holidays?” Alec asked once they had separated and taken seats opposite each other.
“Snowy,” Magnus stated with a grin. “I spent a week in bed with a horrible cold after we spent the first few days outside in the snow. How about yours?”
Alec’s smile dropped slightly as he shrugged. “It was alright.” Magnus frowned as Alec’s eyes flicked away from his – a tell that he’d picked up a while ago of when he was lying to him.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Magnus asked quietly, putting a hand on top of Alec’s. Alec’s eyes dropped to their hands for a few seconds before he shook his head.
“Thanks, but not right now.” Magnus nodded in understanding and changed the subject.
“Do you want some hot chocolate?” When Alec squinted in confusion he dug into his bag and pulled out a thermos with a smirk. “Just because they don’t like us bringing hot drinks onto the train doesn’t mean they bother checking to make sure we don’t.” Alec snorted at Magnus’ victorious grin as he poured them both a drink.
“What about us?” Clary’s voice suddenly interrupted them, reminding them that they weren’t alone in the cart. Magnus grimaced as he looked into his nearly-empty thermos.
“Knock yourself out.” He handed it to her, holding back a laugh at her affronted expression.
“You can have some of mine,” Alec offered with a small smile. Magnus moved his hand to Alec’s wrist to stop him from sharing it.
“I’m sure Clary doesn’t mind,” he said with a pointed look. Clary rolled her eyes and jiggled the contents in the thermos.
“I’m not that thirsty,” she relented, thanking Alec anyway.
“So anyway,” Magnus turned dramatically back to Alec, causing Clary to scoff and the others to laugh. But before he could say anything, the door opened and Simon stumbled in. Magnus groaned at being interrupted as everyone welcomed Simon.
“Hey Alec! I found this in a shop and I had to get it for you.” Alec watched in surprise as Simon dug through his bag and pulled out a black beanie with the words ‘Yolo Swaggins’ written in small print across the fold. For a second he was silent, trying to understand it before he looked up with a grin.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“You love it,” Simon shrugged with a satisfied smile.
“I do,” he nodded sincerely. “Thank you, Simon.” As Simon smiled back they were interrupted by Magnus coughing violently into his arm. Alec turned to him in surprise.
“Are you okay?” Magnus nodded while still coughing. Alec reached over to pat his back, worried he might be choking on something. While he was making sure Magnus was okay he missed his sister’s and Clary’s amused expressions.
“Your brother is a mess,” Izzy said to Clary.
“I know,” Clary agreed.