Chapter 4
Estelle is sore from yesterday that’s for sure but in true Black fashion she refuses to show any discomfort. Joining the Slytherin table for breakfast she starts placing food on her plate.
‘Well good morning my favourite Black’
‘Crouch’
‘Such a harsh tone whatever did I do to deserve such treatment.’ Barty exclaims falling dramatically into Evan.
‘You woke up’ Regulus remarks from her left making Dorcas choke on her bacon.
‘Oh, shut it Reggie, I know you love me.’
While aggressively holding his knife at Barty the boy mutters ‘Do not call me Reggie.’
‘Yeah yeah.’
‘So, Black what you gonna do on your first Saturday at Hogwarts.’ Evan asks
‘Oh, I don’t know probably walk around a bit, so I don’t get as lost.’
‘Ha smart I remember my first year I got so lost once, when I finally found the great hall expecting breakfast it was dinner.’ Evan says while laughing the others joining in.
‘You are right though this school really is a maze you think they would have a map or something.’ Dorcas queries
‘Sometimes the portraits help’
‘Or they steer you in the wrong direction’ Barty finalises
‘Be careful what portraits you trust some a right jerks.’
‘Will do’ she says with a relaxed smile.
The conversation continues and Estelle feels relaxed although during the conversation she would be lying if she didn’t admit to looking for Pandora. The way that Dorcas talked about her she does seem very interesting.
‘You looking for Pandora.’ Dorcas, reading her mind.
‘Oh yeah I’m interested in meeting her.’
‘Oh, Pandora she’s my twin but you won’t find her here she is normally off in her own world.’ Evan states love evident in his voice.
‘Oh, ok then.’
Finishing up her breakfast she says goodbye to the group and starts the hunt. Looking for the perfect room to practise and create defence spells in private. Luckily for her the dungeons have an insane number of old classrooms everyone seems to of forgotten over the years.
After around ten minutes of looking, she finally finds a bare classroom except for a tiny desk in the corner. No windows or anything just a door with a lock. Perfect.
She places silencing charms around the room and wards it so only she can enter. Once she is done, she finalises by charming the wall so it will fight back like an actual person turning green when in good health and red when she has won. This technique was often used at home as her grandmother got older and was not able to fight as well.
Deciding to test it out she starts fighting the wall using common spells to begin with. The wall is quick so she immediately puts up a shield so she can continue fighting. Her spells becoming stronger and therefore darker as she tries to break the shield the wall has also put up. After half an hour the wall finally turns red, and she flops to the floor in pure exhaustion.
Trying to catch her breath she closes her eyes focusing on breathing in and out. Because of this she doesn’t realise the ghost that has floated in.
‘Are you alright Miss’ the ghost asks making Estelle sit up quickly in surprise.
‘Oh yes just practising my spells’ she responds to the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost.
‘Very good very good it’s always smart to keep your brain alive.’
‘My thoughts exactly’
The baron studies her for a moment with a quizzical look.
‘Do you have any siblings in the school?’ He asks not to her surprise as the all the Blacks look so familiar. Probably due to the unnecessary amount of incest.
‘Yes, I’m Estelle black sister to Regulus Black’ Purposefully not mentioning Sirius just in case.
‘Ahh yes makes sense. The Blacks are very powerful indeed and are most commonly in Slytherin until Sirius Black. Which was a shock to us all.’
‘Indeed, a surprise.’ She lies as anyone can feel the Gryffindor energy Sirius displays.
‘The Blacks have really been in Slytherin for centuries since Salazar Slytherin himself I would imagine.’
‘Oh really’
‘Yes, I remember a very distant and now dead relative of yours who was a parsletounge she was the most powerful witch I had the honour to meet.’
‘A parsletounge’ she says in surprise not knowing her family’s history with parsletounge. She knows she is one and her grandmother is, but she didn’t know the history of it.
‘Oh yes true Slytherin power. You remind me of her honestly, not just in looks either.’
The Ghost floats around so they are facing each other more directly ‘you have the same power she did I can feel it.’
That leaves her speechless as what are you supposed to say to that. Especially when you are trying to hide the fact that you are a parsletounge as not many people react kindly to the news.
‘What was her name’ she says instead diverting the conversation slightly
‘Alexia Black, she didn’t have any children and I don’t think she got married either, but she was a force to reckon with.’
‘Well, I’m honoured you think I’m like her.’
‘Yes, anyways best be off I will leave you to your training.’
The ghost dissolves into the wall and Estelle is once again left alone in the empty room. Now wanting to get the jittery energy out of her she turns to face the wall again and starts round two.
…..
Entering the common room after applying a cleaning charm to make her seem less like she just got out of a fight she immediately spots her brother and the group.
‘Black perfect timing I was just trying to convince your brother to go to the party tonight’
‘Party?’
‘Yes, party come on it’s going to be fun, and I really want to go so you all have to go with me.’
‘Well, I’m in’
‘I second that’ Barty and Evan say in tandem
‘And I know Pandora is going’ Evan adds
‘Ugh why though I thought you hated Gryffindors, and we all know it’s going to be full of them.’ Regulus says in exasperation
That makes sense now of course Dorcas wants to go her secret crush will be there. Smiling to herself she sits next to her brother on the plush couch.
‘I would like to go, never been to a party before’ she says honestly
‘See Regulus we have to go now for your sister’
‘Yeah, for your sister’ stated with a smirk
‘Ugh fine but what will we wear’ obviously changing his anxiety on the clothing now.
‘Don’t worry I will find something’
And that she did, Dorcas really is a fashion marvel. The boys look wonderful. Regulus in a black Silk shirt with the top few buttons undone to show off his jewellery and emerald fitted pants. Barty has a similar outfit on, but his shirt is corseted showing off his figure and his boots are high heeled making him even taller than he already is. Estelle also notices some eyeliner as well. Evan has a cream-coloured shirt also silk with black fitted pants and a mass of rings adorning his fingers.
Dorcas is also lovely in her tight green dress showing off her toned legs. Estelle though is adoring a long corseted black dress with a deep v neckline showing off her statement necklace. A silver chained necklace with an emerald jewel. Her favourite and first piece of jewellery her grandmother ever gave her.
‘We all look so fucking hot right now’ Barty exclaims making Evan laugh and Regulus roll his eyes.
‘Let’s just go already’
The group is then off sneaking down to the greenhouse. Which is apparently the spot to have party’s when all the houses are invited. There are also set rules in place including:
1. No inter or outer house fights
2. No snitching about the party
3. No stealing anyone’s drinks
The last one made her laugh as it could probably be replaced with a more important rule but trust teenagers to only care about their alcohol.
When they enter the greenhouse, she sees why it’s the go to spot. The space is large with all the desks pushed to the side. One corner has become a makeshift bar which her group immediately goes to filling their cups with fire whisky. There is a set dance floor with music she does not recognise playing from an odd contraption. Must be muggle. There is also a seating area where people seem to be smoking and are more chilled in general.
Taking the fire whisky as a shot she refills up her glass. Looking up at her brother who looks a bit shocked she just shrugs.
‘What just because this is my first party does not mean this is my first-time drinking. Plus, we need to catch up’ obviously agreeing Regulus copies her previous action.
The group starts to disperse with Barty, Evan and Dorcas going to the dance floor and Regulus just disappearing. Leaving her by herself. Deciding to sit she finds an empty seat at one of the couches.
Though not for long is she by herself as someone quickly drops to the seat next to her.
‘Hello, I’m Pandora, Pandora Rosier’ the girls introduce
‘Oh, hello I’m Estelle Black’
Pandora is just how Dorcas described her as she has bright blonde hair that is nearly white filled with blue butterfly clips. She has sparkling green eyes and a bright smile. How this girl was brought up pure blood Estelle does not know. She just seems too ethereal.
‘Enjoying the party’
‘Oh yes it’s nice the drinks are good’
‘I agree although they did scare off the nargles which is upsetting but oh well’ said while slightly bouncing in excitement obviously a bit tipsy.
‘Nargles?’
‘Oh yes wonderful creatures very shy though. Not as shy as mooncalfs but they have their moments’
‘Right’
‘Oh, you must come and visit them with me one night your aura will love it’
‘Oh alright’ she answers not knowing whether she should be offended or not.
‘Plus, it’s always good to have the animals on your side’ she mutters with a knowing glint in her eyes like she knows everything.
Making Estelle a bit weary. Although Pandora moves on quickly asking her to dance which Estelle agrees to but a bit reluctantly.
The party flashes in a blur after that filled with dancing and drinking and more drinking until the night finally comes to a close.
……
Estelle is needing a potion or spell or something for this murderous headache. Thanks to the alcohol she is definitely hungover. After staying in bed as long as possible she heads down to lunch after sleeping through breakfast.
When she walks in, she can tell she isn’t the only one feeling her pain.
‘Anyone have anything to get rid of headaches?’ She asks desperately
‘Mhm oh no I wish’ Evan murmurs seemingly half asleep.
She then sits down a bit slower than normal and places all of the comfort foods on her plate only now realising how hungry she is.
Although to her right she notices Regulus storming in seeming hungover and angry. She follows his train of vision to one James Potter who seems to be smiling like a lovesick puppy at her brother. Which just makes her nauseous. Although looking back at her brother she notices him fixing his collar to hide a hickie. Also, very gross. But very interesting.
James Potter Really the Gryffindor of Gryffindors that is who he choices to sleep with. Merlin what is with these Slytherins falling for Gryffindors it’s like they are hypnotised.
Regulus sits down a bit too aggressively still staring at the teen across the hall.
‘Good morning brother’ she drawls trying to hide her smirk
Obviously only realising her existence he snaps out of the James Potter trance to focus back on reality.
‘Morning’ he mutters pouring coffee into the mug in front of him.
The table is quite from then on as everyone is too hungover for conversation. Which is honestly a nice reprieve from the loud chatter she has started to get used to.
Although as she leaves, she pinches her brother’s leg to make sure he knows to follow her.
Existing gracefully, she finds a secure alcove to hide in waiting for Regulus’s appearance.
‘What was that for’ he asks annoyed
‘You have a hickie’ she states getting to the point.
‘And it’s from James Potter’
Looking surprised Regulus stands there in silence for a couple of minutes not knowing how to respond.
‘How?’
‘Well, it was quite obvious from this morning’s display’
‘Really’
‘Well, no but to me it was, and Potter didn’t help, he was looking at you like you solved world hunger’
That makes Regulus smile a bit ‘I told him not to be so obvious’
‘So, this is a regular occurrence’
‘Well yeah we have been dating for a couple months now actually’
‘In secret I presume’
‘Yes no one knows but Pandora, but she knows everything’
‘You can’t tell anyone’ He rushes out
‘I won’t don’t worry I’m just surprised is all, he seems so…. Happy’
‘Yes, he is’
‘Does Sirius know’
‘Well obviously.
‘No does Sirius know your gay’ she restates more specifically
‘Oh no he doesn’t’
‘Why not?’
‘I don’t know I don’t really talk about it, I guess. Plus, I don’t know how he will react’
‘Oh, please he is literally queer he would be nothing but supportive’
‘True I suppose but it is still scary’ she nods in understanding
‘thanks’ he mumbles
‘For what’
‘For how you reacted just thank you’
‘Of course,’
The two leave the alcove then deciding to head to the Slytherin common room so they can lie around for the rest of the day.