The Members of House Black I
In the other part of the noble house, a yule ball is being held.
A girl is sitting in front of a mirror, slowly brushing the ends of her silky black hair while staring at her reflection. She tries to smile. But nervousness takes over. She takes a deep breath and slowly exhales.
A knock on the door and Druella Black comes in. Dressed in a straight cut long black dress. “Cissa darling. You must go down now. The guests are coming in.” Without looking back, Narcissa Black looks at her mother through the mirror and nods. “I’ll be down in a minute mother.”
“Do not keep me waiting young lady.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
As her mother closes the door, she puts in a smile again. This time it lasts longer and stronger. Though anyone who knows her truly can see that it is forced. Not that there’s a lot of people who are close to her to know this. There’s only one she could think of. And it’s also him that reminds her why she’s nervous for tonight. Well partly the reason of her nerves.
The first reason was that tonight could be the night that she will be meeting her betrothed. Not that she hasn’t met every guest that will be attending tonight before. Tonight, could be her last night being an individual and a Black before being somebody else’s. Her sisters are already betrothed to sons of other families. Particularly the Lestrange and the Malfoy. From French roots just as they are. There’s a big chance that her parents will be signing her to a similar family. But if she has a say to her own betrothal, hopefully it will be with Crouch Jr, as he is the only tolerable one for her among the available boys. Her cousin would say otherwise and straightaway say it’s because she has a crush on Jr.
The very cousin that is the other reason for her singed nerves.
On the night her sisters came home from school for the break, the eldest announced to the family Sirius’s house sorting ceremony. Not much on the details of how it went because she was too excited, she just blurted it out.
“Gryffindor!” And she burst laughing.
“Will he be burnt off the tapestry now?” Bella asked grinning. Narcissa stopped the spoon midway to her mouth. Andromeda paused on slicing the food on her plate. And Druella looked at her husband who was also looking at her. After a few seconds Cygnus proceeded finishing his plate and said no. Saying being sorted to other than Slytherin isn’t the only reason to be burnt off the tapestry.
The holy tapestry in every pureblood house. It is gifted to every married couple as they start their family. But some of it are also being passed down. Like the Blacks. In the tapestry, resembles a tree, to show the lineage of the family. It was given to Lola and Marius Black.
A rather unique pattern in their house’s tapestry are the dark patches. Burn patches. Used to be in place of certain faces and names. All burnt away because they were strays. And strays have no place in this house. Toujours Pur.
If that was true, Sirius Vesper Black, the embodiment of being a Black as molded by his father—her uncle Orion, was sorted in a different house, what will it be for her and Sirius Black’s younger brother—Regulus Arcturus Black?
~`~`~
Looking at the girls and boys chatting with each other while sipping she’s sipping her punch; Andromeda Black in her emerald green dress that hangs on her shoulders by a thin thread, stands near the bowl.
“Pillow, did you spike this?” A small elf wearing a white sheet with thin brown rope as its belt appeared beside her.
“Yes misses. It wouldn’t be a punch without a little alcohol misses.”
“You shouldn’t have! You know there will be boys and girls.”
“Does misses want me to throw the whole bowl?”
She spots her younger sister young Narcissa Black moving from table to table busy checking for the nth time the roses on center tables and on entrée table. These are her specialty roses. Dosed with her experimental potion.
As Narcissa was close to her in the entrée banquet, she thinks of approaching her and telling her to just enjoy the night.
“Cissy—”
“Darling you have to stop that.” Their mother Druella swoops in between them and whispers to Narcissa.
“Or your potential suitors would think roses are the only thing you can tend to.”
Andromeda sniggered and continued to walk to Cissa. Narcissa give her a smile. Andromeda reached for her younger sister’s hand.
“Breathe. Just enjoy the night.”
“I can’t Andy.” She squeezed her sister’s hand and left her for the crowd. Andromeda is quite confused on what makes her sister worried.
“Actually Pillow,” turning to the elf. “You know, just set it aside in the kitchen. Don’t let anyone touch it but me. Then prepare an alternative that’s suitable for the young ones.”
“Okay misses Andy.”