17
The two girls stepped into another of, admittedly, far too many shops for it only being eleven in the morning. Yet, Charlotte didn't feel bad. It wasn't her fault that she only had three days to find a suitable dress for a ball with next to no instruction from Sirius on what to wear.
"If you start dating Sirius Black, do you know how difficult it will make it for me to ignore James?" Lily's voice was teasing, and though Charlotte allowed her eyes to roll to the ceiling for a moment, even she could tell that her friend was bluffing.
"We're not dating," She began the practically rehearsed line by this time, pulling a few hangers apart along the wall and running her fingers over the shiny gems of a gold dress. "And if I am the one to get you and Potter together at last, I think the school would give me some sort of medal."
"Shut it." Lily muttered, pulling out a bright red dress. "How about this one? Very Gryffindor for you."
Charlotte shook her head at once and continued her slow walk along the hanging fabrics. "I'm not trying to stand out, Lily."
"It's Christmas, I'm sure people will be wearing red."
"It's not long enough, anyway." She pointed out, pulling out a silky emerald gown and holding it above her so the hem wouldn't drag on the ground.
"Well, you're not going dressed as a Slytherin!" Lily protested, meeting Charlotte on the other side of the small shop and reaching for the dress. "Oh, that is soft though."
"This is exactly why I should have said no." Charlotte held back a sigh, hanging the dress back up. "Sirius was no help at all. I asked him what I should wear and he said he couldn't care less."
Lily burst into laughter, which spread quickly to Charlotte's mouth as well as the two moved deeper towards the back of the shop.
"Oh!" Lily shoved her arm to stop her friend, reaching up to tug down a satin black dress, sleeves falling from the hanger on each side.
"I can't even tell how to put that on." Charlotte tugged the sleeves out in confusion as Lily huffed.
"This is the back!" Her eyes were wide as she pointed out the deep cut of the back of the dress. "That's gorgeous, you have to try it on. You have to!" She repeated, apparently realizing Charlotte was going to protest.
"I'll be cold! And are we sure I should wear black at Christmas?" She trailed off, letting Lily tug the curtains to the fitting room shut behind her and sighing, stepping into the dress and tugging it over each arm. "Lily, it goes really far down in the back-"
Lily had ripped the curtain back open, a grin spreading over her face.
"Oh my God, yes. This is the one. Five stores and you dragging me up before the sun, but it was worth it."
"We weren't up before the sun." Charlotte muttered, peeking behind her at the mirror. "You don't think this is a little scandalous?"
"Don't be such a prude. We should have brought Marlene, she'd be on my side. Besides, it's a ball. How often will you get to wear something like this?"
Charlotte fluffed her hair behind her neck, looking over every inch of the dress for a few more moments before nodding along with her friend. She waited for Lily to step back outside, slipping the dress off and back onto it's hanger carefully before getting dressed again.
"I should get him something for Christmas, shouldn't I?" She asked, quietly as they started towards the register, rummaging for coins deep in her purse.
Lily simply smiled to herself as Charlotte paid, the woman behind the counter zipping the dress into a white bag and handing it over.
"You're totally falling for him." Lily answered at last once they were back onto the frigid street.
"I'm not falling for him." Charlotte snapped. "We're friends. And he did save my life."
"He's the one who put it in danger!" Charlotte was thankful they were outside now, where Lily's voice could be carried away with the wind.
"And came to the party with me when Remus stood me up." She added, shooting Lily a tight lipped smile, which shut the read head up. "We're just friends."
"Friends don't look at each other the way Sirius Black looks at you." Lily answered, matter of factly. "And don't think I didn't notice all of the nudges on the train ride and you trying not to meet his eye."
"I don't do that?" She couldn't stop the laughter now as they pushed through the glass door of the next shop. "And you should know how non-friends look at each other, after all the years of studying James."
"We've got to hurry up, it's getting colder by the second." Lily changed the subject at once, pressing her hands deeper into the pocket of her coat, Charlotte breathing warm air onto her hands, still clinging to the metal hanger.
"Did you get James anything?" Charlotte changed it right back, warmth pooling in her chest despite the cold seeping through her coat.
"None of your business." The ginger replied, picking up a pink fluffy feather quill, the tip flowing in an imaginary breeze before she set it back down.
"Well, he got you something, if that makes a difference." Charlotte grinned to her friend who rolled her eyes, lightheartedly. "This is torture. What do I get any of them? Give me a peek at your list, for inspiration."
"I finished my shopping weeks ago, you think I still carry around my list?" Lily laughed, picking up a silver, glittery mirror and handing it towards Charlotte. "Here, get them this, arrogant toe-rags."
"You've got to come up with better insults." Charlotte pushed the mirror to the floor. "Can we stop into Sugarplum's so I can at least get them something for Christmas?"
"Your gift to them can be that they weren't all expelled for nearly drowning you." She added, both of them hurrying through the wind again, the sky growing darker with every shop they passed, snow surely on it's way soon. Christmas was nearly here.
☾
Charlotte pushed the back of the ruby earrings into place, a gift from her mother her first year at Hogwarts, and smoothed her hair into place once more in the mirror. She pulled the heels from beneath the vanity and pulled the straps over each heel, her head snapping to the hallway when she heard the knock.
Her heart was already pounding before she was even on her feet, pulling the door shut behind her and hurrying down the stairs only a second too late, watching her father reach for the door as she hit the last step.
For a second, she didn't realize he was dressed up, so used to seeing him in black, but as she looked closer, she realized it was a suit, a crisp white shirt beneath it buttoned all the way up with a long tie and golden cufflinks at the sleeves. His hair was tucked back neatly, though she wasn't sure if it was for the ball, or to meet her parents.
"Come in! It's freezing!" Mr. Harris announced, nodding the tall boy into the house, a relaxed smile spreading across his face as his hand moved forward to shake her father's.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Harris, I'm Sirius." His smile practically lit up the dim hallway as the door swung shut behind him.
"Sirius!" Her mother called, rushing into the hallway and pulling everyone's attention to her. "It's so lovely to meet you, we've heard so much about you-"
"That's..." Charlotte scoffed, taking the final step off the stairs as Sirius's eyes landed on her finally, his smile faltering for a moment before he pulled his eyes back to hers, a smirk rising to his lips. "That's not true."
"Charlotte, don't be rude." Her mother scolded with a slight glare and Charlotte choked back a laugh.
"So, Sirius, you can... oh, what's it called..." Mr. Harris struggled for a moment, "Appreciate? Appearate?"
"Yeah," Sirius nodded, quickly, Mr. Harris smiling proudly, while Charlotte and her mother stood on silently. "I turned seventeen last month. I took my test and everything, and I've practiced loads, so... she'll be totally safe."
"Oh, I wasn't even thinking of that." Mr. Harris grinned with a slight wave of his hand as Charlotte shoved him out of her path.
"Thanks, dad. Really."
"It's just nice you two get to just pop around places, probably don't even mind the cold, do you?" He went on, merrily.
"Well, dear, we don't want to keep you. What time does the ball start, Sirius?"
"About half an hour. I'm sorry for stealing her on Christmas Eve-"
"Nonsense, I think it sounds lovely! She's been so excited-"
"Mom!" Charlotte pressed a finger to her temple and offered her mother a pointed look. "We'll get going now, bye."
"Merry Christmas, it was nice to meet you both!" Sirius called as Charlotte yanked the door open, a blistery wind blowing through the hallway for a second before the two were stood on the covered porch, Charlotte nearly wishing she had brought a coat, but knowing it would ruin the dress.
"Did you not want me to meet your parents?" He asked, a slight smile still gracing his face.
"I would have, if they weren't being imbeciles." She joked, tucking her arms over herself, the wind stinging the skin on her back before Sirius reached out, one hand linking with hers.
"I think they're nice." He spoke, softly, "Get ready." Before he had uttered the final word, Charlotte felt the floor drop from beneath her, her front yard twisting from her view as everything went black for what couldn't have been more than a few seconds.
She stumbled on the landing, grabbing a hold of Sirius's outstretched arm to steady herself as she wobbled in her heels.
"First time?" He grinned, teasingly as she looked up to the building before them. It was dark, and stretched a few stories tall, every window lit up and glittering in the darkening night sky. It was snowing more gently in London, and though the house looked dark, the rest of the street was bright and snowy, green wreathes lining every gate and lamp post.
"First time in heels." She shot him a warning glance, leaning a bit closer to him to keep away the chill as they started their walk towards the front steps.
"You look amazing." His voice was low, but clear, and she felt her stomach lurch before smiling up to him.
"So do you." She cold feel the cold air hitting her teeth, but she couldn't stop her smile. "Though I still think I'd like to see you in yellow sometime."
"My mother will have your head for even thinking such a thing." He teased, his voice no more than a whisper as they reached the entrance, Sirius pushing the door open with his shoulder and letting her in first. The interior of the house was not much warmer than the air outside, though as she glanced around the room, she realized there were already a number of guests milling about and assumed it would warm up soon enough.
"Come on," Sirius tugged her sleeve lightly away from the door, "Dozens of the worst people you'll ever have the displeasure to meet will be spilling through that very door any time now."
"Where is your holiday cheer?" She reprimanded, though her eyes hadn't stopped roaming over each new room they passed. The walls were painted darker colors, which would have made the rooms appear gloomy had they not been lit up with candles and sparkling chandeliers every few feet. "This is where you live?"
He paused a second, answering through a sigh when she turned to look at him again. "Yeah."
"It's gorgeous." She didn't miss the absence of his smile, poking his cheek softly and earning herself a laugh as they finally entered what had to be the ballroom. There were more people in here, though Charlotte only recognized two. One was the blonde haired witch who had played Quidditch for Slytherin a few years before, surely one of Sirius's cousins. The other, the smaller version of Sirius who she had seen at Slughorn's party, was nodding quickly at a tall, skinny woman with dark curly hair pulled back into a tight updo. Beside her was a large man, his dark hair fading to gray as he grinned down at Regulus, who's smile seemed forced at best.
"That's your brother, should we-" She had stepped forward without realizing it, Sirius's fingers catching her at once as he shot her a warning glance.
"Please don't rush us towards the worst moment of the night." His voice was teasing, yet his eyes were dark, lingering on his brother as he planted a peck on his mothers cheek and walked swiftly towards the corner of the room where the blonde witch was standing beside a taller girl who's voluptuous curls could have taken up the entire room.
"Are those your parents?" Charlotte looked between Sirius and the couple who had started towards a group of guests who had just wandered in, Sirius's gray eyes pulling from his brother at last as he exchanged hugs with each of the girls.
"Yes." He nodded, just once, pointing back to his brother. "My cousins, Narcissa, the blonde, and Bellatrix."
"I recognize her." Charlotte pulled her eyes from the beautiful girl, not wanting to be caught staring. "They're gorgeous."
"They're rotten." He replied with a scoff, "Andromeda was the only one I liked. And they haven't spoken to her in years."
"Another cousin?" She asked, trying to keep it all straight in her head.
"My favorite cousin. She married a muggleborn, a Hufflepuff, right out of Hogwarts. Totally blindsided everyone, I guess they had gotten quite good at sneaking around. She left with him, and they announced to everyone that she was no longer their daughter the very next day. Burned her off the family trees and everything."
"Their daughter?" Charlotte pulled her mouth shut, not wanting to seem as though she and Sirius were trading gossip in front of everyone.
"That's how they do it here." He shrugged, "I wish you could have met her, though. Well, maybe one day, she still writes me. Narcissa is engaged too, to the Malfoy's son, Lucius. He should be here any moment, he'd better not be late, she'll have an absolute fit."
Something dawned on her as she watched Regulus move to greet more friends, or possibly family, most of the guests at this party did look quite similar.
"Are Regulus's friends from school coming?" She asked, not meeting Sirius's eyes, pretending to scan over the guests curiously.
"I asked him this morning." He answered quietly, nodding politely to an older man who patted him roughly on the shoulder as he passed them by. "Barty won't be here. His dad's really high up in the Ministry, very vocal about the dark arts, totally against them. Wouldn't show up here even if Mum and Dad had invited them. The Rosier's will come though, they do every year. But Evan's dad's real strict, and Reg won't let them act up here. You don't have to worry about anything."
Sirius pressed his arm against hers, as if to remind her he was beside her and she nodded, offering him a smile.
"You know, I came to a terrifying realization the other day when I was buying this dress." She changed the subject, biting back a smile as he turned to face her.
"What's that? That I'm going to have to keep everyone's hands off you the entire night?"
She shook her head, failing to hold back the laughter that spilled out at his words. "No. That I don't know how to dance." She added, quietly, though the noise was growing rapidly over the music now.
Sirius chuckled, his gray eyes seeming brighter than they had since they had arrived. "I'll teach you."
"I'm going to look like an idiot." She hissed beneath her breath, Sirius already shaking his head.
"I promise you won't. The guys have to lead, you just have to let me push you around."
"Oh, great. I've been doing that all term." She teased and his eyes crinkled at the edges as he attempted a glare.
"There we are," He changed the subject, nodding to the entrance of the oversized room, a tall man with blonder hair even than Narcissa had just joined her side, leaning before her to plant a kiss on her hand where Charlotte could now see the sparkling engagement ring. Bellatrix, too, was wrapped around a darker man with a perfectly groomed beard who's eyes had not stopped scanning the room once.
"Their kids will be whiter than snow." She whispered, Sirius clapping a fist over his mouth, attempting to force his laughter into a cough.
"See, this is why I had to bring you." His smile faded at once, and Charlotte followed his gaze, watching his mother summon Regulus and head through the growing crowds towards them. "Shit." He muttered, his lips hardly parting before he forced on half a smile, stepping closer to Charlotte so that he was between her and his family.
"Sirius, you're being very rude keeping your guest over here all to yourself. You haven't introduced her to anyone."
"Sorry, mother, she's just been admiring the fixtures you see." He answered at once. "This is Charlotte. Charlotte, my parents, and my brother, Regulus."
"She hasn't even met Regulus?" Mrs. Black's eyebrows rose as she looked between her sons.
"She's a Gryffindor." Regulus answered, his voice raspier than Sirius's, though his eyes were trained to his brother.
"Well, of course she is." Mrs. Black answered, as if that was simply a mistake she couldn't deal with at the moment. "It's nice to meet you, Charlotte. You look lovely." She nodded down at the blonde who pasted a smile to her face after trying to keep up with the families conversation.
"It's so great to meet you as well, your home is beautiful."
"Thank you, dear." She answered, though her voice was flat and Charlotte could hardly imagine what a smile would look like on the woman's face. "Would we know your parents? Did they go to Hogwarts?"
Charlotte wet her lips, giving her a moment to stall. Her mind returned to James's warning on the train, though she hadn't expected them to ask her the direct question.
"My mother did, yes. I believe class of 1952."
"Your father?" Mrs. Black pressed on, obviously aware of what Charlotte was attempting to hide. "What is your last name, dear? I don't think I caught it."
"Um... H-"
"Mother, did you see the Malfoys have arrived?" Regulus cut in, Charlotte's looking up to meet Sirius's eyes, his jaw clenched as he stared at his mother, his hands wound into fists in his pockets.
"Oh, good. Do go congratulate Narcissa and Lucius, Sirius. Please. And I should hope that you'll be dancing this year?"
Sirius hardly nodded, his fingers lacing through Charlotte's as he pulled her towards his cousins, a frown overtaking his face as they weaved through the couples who had already begun dancing near the center of the room, the music growing louder again, though Charlotte couldn't place where it was coming from.
"I'm sorry." He muttered, hardly looking back to her. "I'm sorry, I didn't think... Well, I should have assumed..." He sighed, both of them falling into silence for a few moments as they walked. "And I would have congratulated Cissy... Just was hoping not to do it around Bella." He grumbled before they drew close enough for the Black sisters to notice them.
"Sirius!" Bellatrix's lips curved into a scathing smile while Narcissa's eyes flickered between Charlotte and Sirius.
"Merry Christmas, cousin." Narcissa's smile was warmer than her sisters, her ring-clad hand wrapped through Lucius's resting against his knee. "To what do we owe the pleasure? You usually never spare us any greetings."
"Mummy told him to come congratulate you." Bellatrix laughed through her words and Charlotte watched Lucius's lips curl into a smirk.
"Bella," Sirius's eyes hardly lingered on the dark haired girl, moving towards Narcissa. "Merry Christmas. Congratulations on the engagement," Sirius's words sounded so foreign, and Charlotte could already hear him fighting the urge to throw in a snide comment.
"Thanks, Sirius." Lucius answered, nodding slightly their way as Narcissa beamed.
"Who did you bring, Sirius?" She asked, finally looking back to Charlotte who had been trying not to stare at the sparkling diamond on the blonde's finger, or the dark emerald gracing Bellatrix's.
"This is Charlotte." He answered, ignoring the girl's expectant looks as they waited for her last name.
"Charlotte, how exciting. It's been getting so dull around here, with the boys at school. I miss when we were all small, don't you Sirius?" Bella's voice sounded teasing, though something told Charlotte she wasn't reminiscing fondly on childhood memories.
"Oh, come on, Lucius, I want to dance." Narcissa smiled, pulling her fiancé to his feet and through the crowds of dancing couples, Bellatrix and Rodolphus on their heels.
"Come here," Sirius spoke, launching towards the side of the room once again, avoiding the center of the dance floor as Charlotte hurried after him. "Wait here for just one minute. I'll be right back."
"Wait, what? No!" She latched onto his arm, eyes wide as he spun back to her, his mouth pulling into a small smile.
"Just thirty seconds! I'll be right down, I have a gift for you."
"I don't want a gift, I want you to not leave me in a room full of strangers." She whispered, pleading.
"It's your Christmas gift!" He pulled his arm from her grip and started towards the staircase.
"Can't I go with you?"
"My mother would kill me here and now if I let everyone see me taking you up to my room." He winked, hurrying up the steps as Charlotte worked to control the flush which had risen to her cheeks. His footsteps disappeared from earshot as she leaned against the wall, watching the colorful dresses swish along the dance floor. She caught sight of Narcissa, her face flushed pink from dancing as she grinned up to an older woman in a black shimmering dress.
"Charlotte, have you seen our..." The voice trailed off as fingers closed around her arm, pulling her from the wall into a brisk walk towards the other side of the staircase. She looked up to see Regulus, a scowl pulled over his lips as he loosened his grip, glancing behind them where Lucius Malfoy was now standing a few feet away from her previous spot along the wall. "Sirius shouldn't be leaving you on your own, the idiot." He muttered, though Charlotte couldn't tell if it was to her or himself.
"What?" She asked, unsure what to say, though Regulus didn't seem to care to carry on the conversation, looking up as Sirius returned to their side.
"What are you leaving her on her own for?" Regulus sneered, Sirius's eyes flicking around the room quickly.
"Who are you saving her from? Our cousins or your little friends?"
"Piss off, Sirius." He grumbled, stalking away towards a small group near the corner where he had disappeared earlier.
"You alright?" He asked, finally, pulling her farther beside the stairs, the laughter and music from the room fading as they drew farther away.
"Great." She nodded, thankful that he was back.
"Great." He repeated, the corners of his lips twitching into a smile. "Want your present?"
"No!" She tried to fight the grin rising to her face, "You didn't have to get me a present-"
"Course I did," His eyebrows drew together, "It's Christmas." He reached into the pocket of his jacket, pulling out a thin black velvet box, pausing for just a moment, long enough for Charlotte's heart rate to increase. He pulled it open, the lights from the sparkling chandeliers around them dancing off the glow of the white pearl necklace.
"Sirius," Her words trailed off, as she didn't know where the rest of the sentence was headed. She pulled her eyes from the pearls to Sirius who was watching her every move, smile faltered.
"You like it?" His head cocked slightly to the side as he watched her nod.
"You shouldn't have... My present to you is going to seem so stupid, now..."
"Blondie, you didn't have to get me a present." His smile was back now, curving up into his cheeks as he began to pull the necklace from it's case, slipping the box back into his pocket. "I just... I didn't know what I was going to get you, and I was in Diagon Alley and saw it in the window and... Can I put it on for you?"
She nodded and spun around slowly, scanning the room, thankful that no one had seemed to notice their absence. Sirius's fingers brushed against her neck slightly as he lifted her hair to the side, lowering the necklace before her face and lining the clasps up in the back, the gold chain falling to her skin. She glanced down, running her fingers over the pearls before she felt Sirius's fingers trace along her spine slowly, goosebumps erupting along her skin.
"You're so beautiful." He stepped forward, his breath landing against her shoulder. He reached for her arm, gently, pulling her to face him again. "If I promise not to let you look stupid, will you dance with me?"
"You promise?" She reached slowly for his hand, his fingers sliding into hers at once as he started towards the dancing couples.
"I promise." He pushed her lightly so she was stood before him, one hand still clasped with hers, the other guiding her arm to his shoulder. "I'm going to put my hand on your waist now, are you going to complain?"
"Shut it." She snapped back, trying her best for a glare as his fingers settled onto her waist, the satin scrunching lightly beneath his grip.
Without warning, Sirius pressed her backwards into the crowd, and she felt her stomach lurch for only a second, her eyes flickering between the couples beside them and his feet.
"Don't worry about the steps." He pulled her attention back to him, "They don't matter and no one can even see your feet."
She nodded, meeting his eyes again and ignoring the familiar smirk he wore.
"See? You're doing fine." He whispered, pulling her closer to him with the grip on her waist.
"You dance with a lot of girls, Sirius?" She teased, ignoring the fluttering in her stomach at their new closeness.
He hummed, as if pretending to count in his head. "Not many that I'm not related to."
She bit down on her lip to stifle the laugh, the first song rolling into the second and then the third until she could no longer keep count. Sirius's hair had come undone from it's neat styling by now, and she was sure her face was a bright shade of red from a mix of the dancing and laughter.
"Can I get you a drink?" Sirius asked at last, pulling her from the crowd and nodding towards some open seating near a few older couples. "I'm sure your feet hurt."
"They don't, actually, they're fine." She grinned, looking up to him, eyes wide. "I'll come with you?"
"Sure." He nodded, pretending not to notice the way she hadn't yet dropped his hand as he led the way towards a waiter balancing a tray of golden champagne.
"Sirius, won't we get in trouble?" She hissed as Sirius grabbed two crystal glasses and stepped towards the wall out of everyones way.
"I'm of age." He grinned, passing her glass over as she swatted his chest. "Reg and I have been drinking champagne at these parties since before my father had gray hair." He explained, watching as she took a sip.
"Excuse me, may I have everyone's attention!" One of the dark haired men was stood near Bellatrix and Rodolphus, a long black cape hung from his neck and he held a full glass of champagne in one hand, raised towards the ceiling. "I'd like to make a toast!"
There was a murmur of agreement as the guests all turned for a better look at the speaker who grinned out to them all. "Firstly, to Lucius and Narcissa, the future Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy."
Bellatrix was the first to clap, grinning towards her younger sister who was gazing starry eyed up towards her financé.
"And secondly, and I must say, more importantly." A hush fell over the crowd, "To the Dark Lord, and to all of us who have come to him, and those of us who will support him. He is the way, the future, for all of wizarding kind!"
"Shit," Sirius breathed, dropping his glass to the table beside them and grabbing for Charlotte's arm as the guests all around them began to cheer, everyone clinking crystal glasses and finishing off their champagne. Charlotte's mouth had fallen open at the tall man's words, yet she forced it closed as she saw Sirius's face grow pale. He pulled her with him, barely linking eyes with Regulus who's own gaze flashed over his brother and down onto Charlotte, moving to strike up a conversation with his parents, though it did little to distract Mrs. Black from spotting Sirius's rush from the room.
"Sirius..." Charlotte muttered, trying to keep up with the long strides as best she could in her heels before he reached a set of double doors, dark wood fading into the intricate wallpaper. He twisted the doorknob, shoving through and rushing towards the fireplace. He grabbed at the small pot on the mantle, tossing it into the soot along the ground and muttering off an address.
"I'm so sorry," He spun back towards Charlotte, pulling both of her arms towards him. "I'm so stupid, I shouldn't have brought you... You've got to go."
"What? Sirius, I don't want to leave you-"
"You've got to go, blondie." He whispered, sliding his fingers along her cheek and pressing the hair that had come loose behind her ear.
"No, come with me... I don't want to leave you here when they've just said-"
"I know what they said, Charlotte. Now go, please!" He moved her, easily, towards the fireplace, the green glow reflecting on his face as he pushed her through, the library spinning in the emerald flames before the noise of the party disappeared, and she could no longer see anything.