Sirius
I was basically bouncing in my shoes as I entered the ballroom. It was absolutely packed and a few people had even moved outside into the courtyard and the surrounding spaces. I was so proud the main night of my ball had turned out so well guest wise. I had requested that the ballroom was only lit by candle light on the second night and even used my own magic to make them float above the room.
I quickly looked down the stairs where Remus should have been waiting for me. He wasn’t, in fact no one was. I felt all the hope of the night crash down on me. I looked around the ballroom realizing everyone was watching me, I spotted one person, Regulus. He was on his throne and had a scowl on his face, he was upset.
I took a deep breath and internally smacked myself for two things. Getting my hopes up that Remus would have liked my ball, and for wearing the mask that wouldn’t hide my tears if I started to cry. I felt mortified that everyone was watching me looking around like an idiot at my own ball, along with having no one waiting for me at the base of the stairs like there was supposed to be.
I quickly turned and started towards Regulus and his throne. I realized he was watching with that unhappy glare, and was holding a very sleepy Harry. I made short work of the stairs where I landed rather ungracefully in front of him.
“Where’s Remus? Why isn’t he here?” I looked behind Regulus and realized the very weird looking mantel behind his throne had the wolf mask on it. My stomach sank, he had planned to be absent. “Why didn’t he come?”
“I don’t know where Remus is. Reconsidering a lot of conversations with him at this very moment though.” He stood and handed me Harry who sleepily curled into my chest as the poor boy looked an inch from a very good night's sleep.
“Where is your husband and wife? They must know where Remus is!” I just wanted to see him, ask him why he wasn’t there. What I had done wrong to make him not show up. I thought he liked it, I thought he was proud of me, hell I even guessed he was flirting with me.
“They do know, but I have no idea where they are either. Oh fuck.” Regulus groaned as he looked out into the crowd. I followed his gaze and saw two men crossing the floor in a b-line towards us. One adorned an emerald green mask that looked like pincers with a matching necklace that looked like two scorpion tails locked in the front. The other had on a blue racer snake mask, that started teal and worked into a lovely midnight blue.
“Who are they? You seemed annoyed by them and yet they are never over when yall do monthly hang outs. Do we not like them?” I asked looking between both parties. Reggie had a smile on his face and I was just even more confused.
“Blue mask, that’s Evan Rosier, Viscount. Green mask, that’s Barty Crouch Jr., his husband and a Lord. Both of them are married to Wormtail, or Lord Peter as you’ve met him. Good friends, just very loud.” Reggie said, giving the two men a wave as they got closer to the staircase.
“Why are you two lovely men up here all alone? It’s a shame your dates would do that to you.” Barty announced joining us on the balcony. His hair matched his mask, the dark brown with green tips selling the full look, pulling from his pure black ensemble.
“They are with your husband, Merlin knows where. Currently plotting the murder of a Duke though. Any suggestions?” Regulus happily takes a glass of champagne from Even that he was offering.
“Would say emotional torture but we all know that won’t do. Hello, I’m Evan Rosier, my husband I’m sure you have met is Peter. I am quite sure Reggie here has given us a proper introduction, am I right?” The blonde asked with a smirk, extending his free hand.
“Yes, I’m Sirius, Regulus is my brother.” I took his hand and smiled at the simple shake. He cocked his head and looked at my brother before nodding slightly.
“I can see the resemblance, sorry my prince I didn’t realize I was in front of such honorable company.” Evan leaned against the balcony railing as Barty elbowed him in the side.
“I’m not a prince, I have no title. It’s good to meet you. I’ve not talked to Peter a lot, he seemed very reserved, but he does talk about his husbands very lovingly.” I smiled as Evan leaned down to kiss his husband. I remembered hearing Peter mention Barty was two years younger than him and one younger than Evan, it was humorous to know he wasn’t as tall as Peter complained about.
“Pete, talking about us? With love? Oh Merlin do you hear this Evan, Wormy regards us with love!” Barty cheered as he once again stole another kiss from his husband. I watched them rather longingly, wanting desperately for what they had. “Barty Jr, at your service. I’m helping your brother here with the legal process to get you a title. Right now we are getting you the rank of Lord, trying to get you up to a Duke or even higher.”
“Higher? Duke is the highest there is, everyone else is below a Duke.” I asked, darting my gaze from my brother to the two men. I looked at the mask above the throne and felt my face shift into a pout.
“Hey Sirius, join me for some fresh air outside?” Barty offered, his arm extended out for me to grab. I accepted and we descended the stairs and quickly weaved our way through the crowd in order to get outside. “You missing Remus? I know it suck’s he’s not here, it’s the same with Peter. Sad thing about dating that friend group is that they keep their loved ones out of the loop more than you want to know. You’ll figure it out soon, I’m sure of it, but the feeling never goes away.”
“Is it the same reason?” I asked, resting against a railing as we looked over the garden. I saw the wall Remus had built back when Teddy got hurt and wondered if it had something to do with his absence. “Is it all the same reason?”
“Yes. He barely even let Evan and I know, he plans to tell you everything after the ball. Don’t be so hard on the guy, he was talking this event up for the last month, all because of you. He may not be here, but he sure as hell wanted to be.” He rested his head in his hands.
“He wanted to be here? Makes me feel a bit better. You know when I walked in and saw he wasn’t there at the base of the stairs, my heart broke. I know it’s stupid for me to think he would ever like me, but I figured, ya know.” I summoned a waiter I saw walking around the garden and plucked a glass of champagne from his tray.
“It comes with the territory of the friend group. One night, almost every month, and no say in shit. You know I thought for the longest time that Pete was cheating on us, well before we ever got married. Demanded in front of Regulus and all of them for him to tell us the truth. It’s stressful, that friend group, but eventually they let you in. He will let you in.” Barty nudged my arm and suddenly I felt right about everything.