Greensleeves

Dearest gentle reader,

my name is Lady Whistledown. You do not know me, and rest assured you never shall. But be forewarned, dear reader, I certainly know you.

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The Evans’ Manor was bustling with excitement and a slight pinch of worry. Today was a big day for their youngest daughter, Lily Evans. She is to be introduced to society, and to be judged by the Queen herself.

Which also means that Lily Evans is freaking out.

“Lily, really, it’s not something to be this… flustered over.” Marlene tried to appease her friend, watching as she paced around the room. Mary was sat in a chair in the corner of the room, watching with a glint of amusement.

“It is important, Marlene! Oh, what if she doesn’t like me? Or.. or she says I’m disgusting? I’d be ruined!” Lily replied, looking in the mirror and fixing her feathered crown. She wouldn’t admit it, but this outfit was slightly ridiculous. She remembers laughing at Marlene last season seeing her in it. The dress was just normal, past her ankles but not touching the floor. If it had been, she would’ve tripped ten times because of how much pacing she’s been doing.

“I’m sure if she didn’t say anything to Petunia, you’ll be fine, Lils.” Mary said, getting up from her chair to stretch. Mary was an odd character. Her mother has never introduced her to society, and doesn’t ever want to. She mostly works alongside her mother, and maybe sometimes goes to parties. Marlene had only convinced her to go to one party that the McKinnons’ were hosting, and even then it was a small one.

Marlene scoffed, “Of course she will. It’s a good thing if she says nothing, Lily.” The blonde reminded her, and Lily just sighed.

“Yes, yes, I know. It really would’ve been easier to debut with you, Marlene. The only other lady I’ve heard that had been held back was that Meadowes girl. She’s the daughter of the couple that run the boutique.” Lily says as she fixes her earrings, frowning.

“I would’ve given anything to be held back. Even by a year.” McKinnon groaned, flopping dramatically onto Lily’s bed. “Sam got my father to hold her back a year by convincing him she was an idiot.” Marlene giggled, and so did the other two.

“Ah, Sam. I worry for her sometimes, you know. Have you seen that gossip article that was circling around Grimmauld Square?” Mary asked the other two, and they shook their heads. “They’ve already guessed about all the ladies of prestigious houses and how well they will fare this season. It is quite hilarious.” She said, smiling. “You must get one. It’s free of charge.”

“You know how I feel about gossip, Mary.” Lily pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. “Some gossip is just not lady-like at all.”

“Who cares if it’s lady-like, Lils? You have to learn to know the gossip too, when you’re in society and walking about the ton.” Marlene threw her hands up, laughing a little. “It’s one of a woman’s greatest way to destroy their enemies.”

“With gossip?” Evans frowned.

“Yes, of course. Where a man won’t listen, other women do. The servants and help have the best gossip, because nobody thinks that they’re there.” Mary giggled as well.

“LILY. WE HAVE TO LEAVE IN A FEW MINUTES.” Lily’s sister’s voice echoed from down the stairs, making Lily wince just a little.

“My word, she is unbearable.” Marlene groaned, then got up. “You got this, Evans. Just look pretty and smile.” She gave Lily two kisses on the cheek then turned towards the door.

“Have fun, Lily.” Mary smiled softly, giving her two kisses as well before leaving with Marlene.

Lily sighed, looking at herself one last time in the mirror. This will be the last time she is viewed as a girl. She will now be a woman, who will have to be engaged, be expected to marry, and sire children.

This is what she’s here for. This is what she’s been preparing for. The supposed life's dream for any woman.

She looked in the mirror. She was Lily Evans, nineteen years old.

She was Lily Evans, a woman.

A woman whose story would be heard.

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“Ow, Black. Did you have to hit me that hard? I’ll have a bruise.” James complained, holding his side with the hand not occupied with a sword.

“Such a baby. You’ve done worse to others.” Sirius cackled, putting the fencing sword over his shoulder.

“Sirius won, 5-4.” Peter tells them, not looking up from his book from where he sat on the grass against a tree.

“What? No way?” James groaned, “Now he’s ahead of me. I demand we go again.”

“No way, James. I won. Just get better.” He shouted a little when James’s hand pushed him, almost falling over. He stuck out his tongue at his friend, and James just chuckled.

“Ah, have you two seen the news?” Peter said, pulling an article out from his back pocket. “Lily got some favorable words from the Queen.”

“Good for her, I told her not to worry.” Sirius scoffed, looking at the article. “Lady Whistledown? Who is this?”

“Do we know a Lady Whistledown?” James asked, flipping the page over, then actually reading it.

Dearest gentle reader,

It seems that the Queen has taken quite the liking to a particular girl, Lily Evans. The Queen has named her this seasons’  incomparable, a diamond in the new water. Is Queen Minerva correct in her choosing? We shall see, my dear…

The article goes on to talk about the other girls, and who the writer thinks will be catching eyes. James frowned in thought, who could be this anonymous writer..? How do they know so much?

“As long as she has good things to say about Lily, I won’t complain.” Sirius said, snatching the article from James to read it himself.

“It’s an anonymous author. Perhaps they aren’t even a lady?” Peter suggested, and James gave him a thoughtful look.

“Perhaps. Don’t have time to be messing about with some Lady Whistledown though, do we?” James gave them one of his trademark grins. “We have places to be, girls to swoon.”

“The only reason I’m going to this party is because your mother is hosting it. Can’t say no to her.” Sirius scoffed, sitting down in the chair across from Peter and putting his feet up on the table.

“You act as if you won’t be in a club immediately after the party.” Peter snickered, and the other boy gasped in offense.

“Why, I would never degrade my family name so horribly, Pettigrew! Such slander.” Black put a hand on his chest, tone very mocking. James laughed at his tone which sounded almost like his mother’s. 

Walburga Black was always talking or whispering about her own son, and how reckless he was. If it would not bring them more shame, she would’ve disowned him. James’s own mother, Euphemia, always invites Sirius over for anything after that first season. He had stayed with them practically all summer.

“Yes, yes. You must care so much.” Peter snorted, then looked at his watch. “I must take my leave. My mother says we have to go shop for presents for the Evans family for their new-comer.” 

“Their what? They’re having another child?” Sirius asked, sitting up straight.

“No. Apparently they’re taking in some man. He’s from a lesser family, from somewhere in Ireland.” Peter explained, closing his book and standing up from the chair. “My mother said they were just being charitable to some old friends of theirs, so they let him stay with them.”

“Interesting. Will he be at the party?” James asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Ask your mother. She might’ve known and invited him.” James nodded, waving goodbye to Peter as he walked away.

“Are you worried?” James asked Sirius when Peter was out of earshot, Sirius turning towards him.

“Worried about what? The party?” He asked, blinking in confusion.

“No, your brother. Regulus. Are you worried about him?”

Sirius snorted, rolling his eyes. “Pft, no. I’m sure he will be perfect. He is definitely better at that kind of stuff than me.” He sighed, crossing his arms and staring up at the sky. It was slightly orange, and the sun was hiding behind the buildings.

“My mother has been pressuring him to find someone. She spends every dinner talking to him about this girl or that. I suppose I should be happy her attention is turned to him. She thinks I’m a lost cause.” Sirius ran a hand through his hair.

“Nonsense. You have girls falling all over you.” James swatted the other's arm. Sirius chuckled a little

“Suppose I do. What about you, Potter? Don’t have your eye on anybody? Lily Evans perhaps?” The man teased, elbowing James.

“No, she is my friend, nothing else.” James laughed more, grinning. “I’d be more worried that your mother might want Regulus to marry her, since he is the diamond.”

“Oh, absolutely not. Not even Regulus would agree to that. Horrible match.” Sirius made a face of disgust, like he ate something rotten. It made James laugh again.

“Alright, alright. Let us get back, perhaps help my mother. She has been absolutely stressing over the food for the party and—“

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

“You’re lying.”

“No I’m fucking not! I’m serious. They kicked me out afterwards, but not before I planted a facer. Fucking prick, he was.”

“Please, both of you shut up about your… brothel adventures. God, you both never shut your mouths.” Regulus hissed at them, rubbing his temple as he leaned back in the arm-chair. Of course, his threats never work on Evan and Barty and they just cackle like mad-men.

“I feel bad. For that Evans girl.” Pandora said softly from her window where she was sat, looking at the sun setting,

“Why? She’s a diamond, an angel.” Barry said dramatically, kicking his feet up onto the small table below him. “She has the eyes of all the suitors.”

“Not me.” Evan scoffed, “I wouldn’t want to be related to that bitch of a sister.” He cackled as he picked up a glass of whiskey, sipping it.

“She has all their eyes on her. Like predator and prey.” Pandora said ominously, frowning at the glass. “Her first year, too. Being thrown to the lions.”

“Comparing men to lions is horribly accurate.” Regulus scoffed, also picking up his glass to take a sip. He cleared his throat, “My mother might make me attempt to court her.” This made Barty cackle again.

“That’d be fucking horrible. Your mother is mad.” Barty said, pouring himself some more to drink. “Well, suppose I’d be mad too if I had to marry my cousin.”

“Stop reminding me, Crouch. You bring it up everytime I mention my mother.” Regulus groaned, covering his eyes with his hand.

“Well, what about us? First year in society, walking around the ton, young fit men.” Evan said, sitting up. “I think this year feels like a dramatic one. Dorcas is helping that along.” He mumbled.

“Don’t talk so loud, Rosier. Help hears everything.” Barty lightly kicked his shin, making Evan scowl.

“How is it that she expects us to acquire gossip? Isn’t that between ladies?” Evan asked, throwing his hands up. “We only have one other lady, and she isn’t the best at talking about others.”

“Barty always gets stories from the girls at the clubs. I’m sure Pandora and her friends in the kitchens can get Dorcas something. As for me, I’m a Black.” Regulus shrugged, “I get what I ask for.”

“Oh, so pretentious.” Barty snorted, narrowing his eyes at him. “Are you really expecting to marry your first season?”

“My mother is expecting me to, yes.” Regulus says calmly.

“That’s shit. You don’t even like to touch people, Regulus.” Evan scoffed, his eyes slightly worried. “Honestly, I can’t see you with any woman.”

“Well, it is up to me, since my brother is so aggressively stubborn.” He said, a little bite in his tone. Sirius last year was anything but a suitor. He was a monster in public settings, and at one point he was courting some girl, he had done something to make her absolutely disgusted by him. It was easy to say that Walburga was furious.

“He’ll be at the Potter ball though, yes?” Barty asked, and Regulus nodded. “They are friends, I suppose. Always see them, and that Pettigrew bloke.”

“Reminds me that my mother said Lady Pettigrew was gathering gifts for a newcomer at Evans manor.” Evan leaned back lazily.

“Who?”

“Some poor man, from Ireland. She said he was a friend of Lord Evans. He’s staying with them during the season.” Evan explained, twirling his glass around. “He’s supposed to be at the party, Lady Potter invited him.”

“Hm.” Pandora said from her window-sill. “The wolf is arriving.”

“What?” Evan said to his twin, scrunching up his face.

“Everything’s going to change, because of the wolf.” She said, like it explained anything.

“Dora, you’ve been reading too many books. It’s gotten to you.” He went over to his sister, a little worry in his tone,

“It’s not books. I feel it. It’s going to happen.” She insisted, her voice like the calm before a storm. “The moon and the stars. They are aligning.”

Evan frowned, just hugging his sister. “Okay, Dora.” He sighed.

Barty and Regulus looked at each other in confusion, Barty shrugging. The air felt weird, now. Charged by some presence. Regulus couldn’t place it.

He just hoped it didn’t involve them.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

“Dorcas, where is the Prussian fabric we just got? I could’ve sworn I just saw it…”

“Right here, mother. Father put it under the box of thread.” Dorcas pointed at a messy desk, litterings of fabric pieces, scissors, and needles.

“Ah, thank you. Horus is always hiding things from me. In my own shop. Tsk.” Hazel shook her head, a little amused. Dorcas had to smile.

“Are you almost finished with your dress, dearest? The party is tomorrow.” Her mom asked as she grabbed the fabrics and held it up to a bodice.

“Yes. I just need to add a bow and it will be perfect.” She nodded, sitting on a long couch as she watched her mother.

“Good. I would have made your dress like I do, but so many mama’s have come in here asking for dresses, suits, and it is so much. Me and your father work even past closing.” She motioned to the bodice she was working on. “But, the money is very rewarding.”

“It is alright, mama. I’ve told you, I am very capable of making my own.” Dorcas says, smiling softly. “You do far enough work for me.”

“If you say so, little dove.”

Hazel turned back to her work, then paused.

“Say it.”

“What?”

“Dorcas, what’s wrong with it?” Hazel sighed, crossing her arms at her daughter.

“…It is too bland. The middle is very empty, maybe add a bow or sequins. Add more of a train to it for volume on the underside.” She explained swiftly, pointing in accordance.

“Point taken.” Her mother said, looking the dress up and down again. “You might do this better than me.”

“I learned from the best.” Dorcas said simply, and Hazel grinned.

“Of course. You definitely did not get it from your father.”

The sound of laughter echoed in the small boutique.

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