The Members of House Black II
A picture of demureness and perfect governess-to-be. Dressed in a sleeveless black dress that flows behind her, and her wild curls in chignon, Bellatrix stood by the main door, hands clasped together on her abdomen, and smilingly at the guests who are already on their way to the center of the room.
“Oh Merlin!” Bellatrix looked around to see the owner of the voice entering the house.
“I thought it was Druella in our Hogwart years, but I remembered we already graduated 20 something years ago.” Bellatrix raised a brow on the comment and the commenter who was eyeing her dress especially the lower part of her neck.
“Mister Burke, a pleasant evening to you.” She smiled demurely at the elderly man.
“What if it was actually Druella posing as her own daughter so she could witness you being a creep.” Bellatrix’s greeting to the man but whispered to herself the last part. The man chuckled in response before she could finish her thought making him even less to hear the last.
“You shouldn’t have bothered to come.” Bellatrix said to Burke in a most possible polite way she can muster.
“These balls are for the young ones. Encouraging them to find a suitable arrangement in the future. These things just probably tire you out.”
“I enjoy the youth, dear,” he tries to wink at Bellatrix as if his eyes aren’t already half closed. Bellatrix just stares back at him.
“Bella my dear, I think your sister is in need of assistance.” Comes the voice of Druella.
“Excuse me Mister Burke.”
She made her way to the table where Andromeda is standing and sipping her drink. She snatched the glass from Andromeda’s hand and emptied it in one go. Andromeda signalled Pillow for one more glass and to refill Bella’s.
“Mother has banned you from greeting the guests?”
“More like saving me from Burke’s salacious instrument called eyes.”
“My apologies Bella but I thought you love every attention everyone gives you, especially by men.”
She cranes her head so fast; Andromeda could hear her neck snap.
“I adore being adored Dy!” Bellatrix replied in a high-pitched tone. If it weren’t for the orchestra being louder than her, heads would have turned.
“But there’s a caliber I set and certainly Burke is not one of them.” She continues in a hushed tone. Andromeda just smirked at her elder sister.
“Look at the girl Carrow. That’s the most hideous robes I’ve seen tonight.” Andromeda comments, earning a snigger from Bellatrix.
“Definitely. And there’s Arnistra. Thinks she could get a man with that hairy as hound scarf that’s trying to drown her. Or maybe it’s trying to choke her with an (spell for choking).”
Andromeda laughed an unwomanly laugh. Bellatrix stares as if staring will help her to calm down.
“Could be—” catching her breathe before speaking again.
“There’s a possibility,” she said quite dragging after breathing normally again. She squints as if to see the very small percentage of Arnistra Avery getting a man from tonight. “But she has to adjust that slit and maybe lower those shoulder straps and make it an over the shoulder.” Bellatrix looks at her with pride as Andromeda keeps her gaze on Arnistra imagining how make the look better.
“You should open your own shop. But you must always be reminded that they come to you. And not you to them for your skills. Your wardrobe opinions are too unworthy for these people Dy.”
Andromeda looks at her sister for a second or two then absently stares at the distance and slowly nods.
“Ah! There’s your worthy betrothed.” Grateful for interrupting her thoughts, Andromeda looked at the boy approaching them.
“Lucius, you look—sparkly . Don’t you agree Andy?”
“Absolutely stunning.” Andromeda flashed Lucius a smile. He moved beside her and placed a hand on her exposed back.
“Beautiful roses we have tonight ladies.” Bellatrix and Andy gave him a grin. “Both you are ever beautiful, but I also meant the actual roses.”
“It’s mother’s and Cissa’s work.” Explained Bellatrix.
“Ah that’s why I saw her roaming around. I thought she was just smelling the roses.” Said Lucius as he scans the crowd. “Excellent. We will have another brilliant addition in Slytherin.”
“That’s if she’ll be sorted in our house.”
“Bella.” Andromeda warned.
“What? Our very own cousin who everyone thinks and sees as the image of a perfect Black is sorted outside of Slytherin!”
“Right. How unfortunate that was.” Agreed Lucius. “But I’m sure she’ll be a Slytherin. Look at how she’s trying to get Crouch Jr’s attention. Subtle and cunning.” They all look at Narcissa who’s currently sniffing the roses on the table where the Crouch family is. She slowly moves to where Barty Jr is.
“Of course, it’s Jr! Everything gets his attention. Even it’s just for a speck of time.” Said the annoyed Bellatrix.
“He’s too rambunctious. She’s too clandestine. Is he deserving of our sister?” said Andromeda. As if she’s already imagining Narcissa with the boy in question.
“She needs to outgrow her childish feelings for him.” said Bellatrix.
“Maybe he’ll grow out of it and become the man House Crouch needs him to be. She’ll assist him in becoming that man very well.”