The Party
“God, I can’t wait for this night to be over”.
“You’ll be fine”.
“Oh yes, I’ll be fine when I’m engaged to some creepy bloke I barely know”.
Narcissa threw herself down on her bed and sighed. Her and Eryn had been getting ready for the Black’s annual Christmas party together.
Eryn was sat in a chair near the mirror, fidgeting with their sleeves nervously. It’d been a long time since they’d attended one of these family events, excluding Bellatrix’s wedding. They weren’t quite sure what to expect, but they had to be there for their sister.
Narcissa sat up, and both siblings were visible in the mirror. They looked so different, Eryn thought. Narcissa had avoided most of the Black genes, with her straight platinum blonde hair and round face. She was so distinct. Easy to find in a crowd of the same faces. Sometimes it was hard to believe Eryn was the one that didn’t belong and not her.
“We better go downstairs”, Eryn said, standing up. “We’re apparting, right?”
“Ugh, yes”, Narcissa groaned. “I hate it. I almost vomit every time”.
“Really? You always seem to handle it fine”.
“Well, after years of getting scolded for ruining dress robes you learn to choke it down”.
There was something so unnerving about the way she said that. Eryn watched their sister’s natural movements, finger combing her hair, picking at her nail polish. She definitely didn’t look like she’d ever had to “learn to choke it down”. She looked like a normal girl, without a family that scolded her for something so simple.
“We should go downstairs”, Eryn repeated quietly
***
The party was a strange environment. No one, at least to Eryn, seemed happy to be there. Everyone had a face that said they thought of this as a chore. Their laughs at mediocre jokes felt fake. Every word sounded forced.
At some point in the night Eryn had lost Narcissa. They hadn’t planned on sticking together, but it would’ve been nicer if they had. Eryn sat at a table in a far corner, where they could quietly observe and stew in their thoughts.
There was music coming from somewhere, soft and classical. Though Eryn couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.
They started making mental notes of each person they saw. What stood out about their appearance, what their thoughts felt like, if Eryn knew them or not.
There was seemingly a lack of people who fell into the last category. Until Eryn had managed to spot Lucius about twenty feet from where they sat. Heart skipping and without thinking, they stood up and made their way to him.
“Oh hello, darling”, Lucius said when he’d noticed Eryn beside him. They turned quite red.
“Um…hi”.
They were beginning to feel quite hot and uncomfortable. Distracting themself from this, they took in Lucius’s appearance. He was wearing simple black dress robes and his hair was lightly swept to one side. It framed his face nicely.
“You…er…you look nice”, Eryn said nervously.
“Thanks, so do you”.
Eryn fidgeted. They’d made the decision to wear wizards dress robes, simply to avoid conflict with their parents. Narcissa had tied their hair back in a loose bun, leaving two pieces out to frame their face. The hairstyle had helped with their discomfort immensely. It made things they wanted to go unnoticed less obvious.
The music slowed. Eryn liked how it sounded, it was calming.
“Dance with me?” Lucius said suddenly.
“O-Ok. I don’t really know how to—“
“I’ll lead”.
He took Eryn’s arm and led them out to the dance floor. A few eyes landed on the odd couple, either judging or questioning.
Eryn took a sharp breath as Lucius placed his hand on their waist. They hoped no one could see how panicked they were.
The dance was nice, a slow sort of sway.
“You’re really tense”, Lucius pointed out.
“Thanks, genius”.
“Still smooth with the retorts, though. Calm down a bit, it will help”.
“I’m just…you know there’s people staring at us, right?”
“Well aware”, said Lucius. “Don’t look at them, just look at me”.
It was then their eyes met. Eryn had been right; Lucius’s eyes did look silver in better lighting than December weather could offer. They didn’t want to look away. Eryn could stay like this for hours, just observing every feature of Lucius Malfoy. Why did he do this to them? If he was interested, why couldn’t he just come out and say it?
“Feel better now?”
“I’d feel a lot better if I knew what was going on in that pretty head of yours”.
“Sorry, that’s for another time”.
“Aw, don’t be like that. Please, tell me your darkest secrets in a room full of my relatives, and spare no details”.
Lucius laughed.
“You are a wonder, Eryn Black”.
***
Eryn went home with their family that night feeling quite happy with themselves. Narcissa seemed to as well; given the fact that she had made it through the night remaining a bachelor.
“I’d like to speak to you”, their father stated as they entered the house. “Go to my study”.
With Cygnus Black, it was always “you”. Eryn couldn’t remember a single time he referred to them as their name. It was rare they were ever referred to at all.
The pair entered the study, Cygnus closing the door behind them, Eryn nervously fidgeting.
“I saw you with the Malfoy boy”.
There was a silence. Eryn couldn’t contain themself.
“Is there more to the story or is that all you wanted to say?”
“Don’t take that tone with me, boy”, Cygnus said sharply. Eryn flinched and held their breath. “Don’t get any ideas, the Malfoy have enough to deal with without you seducing their son to be queer. You are to stay away from him. Understood?”
“Yes”, Eryn said quietly. They didn’t see a point in trying to protest.
“Yes what?”
“Yes, sir”.
“Good. You may go to your room”.
The moment they stepped out the door, Eryn released their breath. A wave of calm rushed over them.
Eryn knew they weren’t going to listen to their father. They never did. But that didn’t mean his words didn’t sting.
“Boy”…”seducing their son to be queer”… “stay away from him”…
It hurt in a way Eryn couldn’t describe.
They curled up in their bed, wishing so badly that they were still with Lucius.