Tired Of This Body

"CORDELIA BLACK!" Mother shouted from downstairs, "IF YOU DONT GET OUT OF YOUR ROOM THIS INSTANT, I WILL COME UP AND DRAG YOU OUT BY THE EAR MYSELF!" Her loud voice shook me out of my stupor, it was Christmas eve and our party was only in half an hour.

I looked in the mirror once more, Mother made me wear a revolting, frilly, purple dress; my long, dark, curly hair that almost reached my waist was tied loosely with a matching frilly ribbon. My lips were accentuated with a dark red lipstick that Sirius would much rather wear than me, he had come back with me for the winter holidays, mostly because Mother wouldn't allow him to go to the Potters again. I wasn't really complaining about that fact; I missed Sirius, he was always surrounded by his group of idiots and I made to avoid them as much as possible.

I made my way downstairs to the sight of Sirius and Mother arguing again. "Mother? You called?" I interrupted, Mother hated being interrupted but I would do anything to let Sirius sneak away unnoticed, apparently he would do the same for me as he idiotically said "Nice lipstick sis, where can I get some?" I glared at him.

Surprisingly Mother just said "The guests arrive in 20 minutes, make yourself useful Sirius, Cordelia I need to have a word with you, follow me." I shot a nervous look over to Sirius where he was already looking at me, Mothers talks were never good.

I followed her to the drawing room and sat down. "Sit up straight dear, we need to talk about your upcoming marriage." Mother spoke first as she always did, I was really fucking shocked.

"But I'm only 15, I still have another two years until I finish school!" I said appalled by this fact, Mother reprimanded me saying "Lower your tone, a real lady speaks softly. We are blasting Sirius off the tapestry after winter holidays and we need to secure the fact that the Noble House of Black will live on."

"What!" I breathed out, they were disowning Sirius? They were marrying me off so I could have a fucking baby?

Mother spoke once more, if she cared about the tone of my voice she didn't mention it. "I believe you might know him he's in your year"

"I don't get a say?" I interrupted her.

"Cordelia! I am speaking, no you do not get a say, do you want to hear who your future husband is or not?"

"Yes Mother."

"It is Evan Rosier, he's in your year and from a respected, wealthy Pureblood family."

"Evan!?" I yelled, I felt a sharp sting on my cheek, Mother had smacked me.

"What have I told you about your tone? I have been lenient so far because of this shock but I will not hesitate to stop doing so."

"Sorry Mother" I mumbled; another sharp sting "Real ladies do not mumble either. Guests arrived in 10 minutes, fix your cheek its looking a little red." With that she swept out of the room and almost immediately afterwards Sirius entered.

"How much of that did you hear?" I asked him tears starting to well up in my eyes.

"You interrupted her and she asked you if you wanted to know who your gonna be husband is." He told me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and healing the small bruise forming on my cheek.

"There was more but I'll have to tell you after the party." I said to him standing up and hiding my wand in my hair, I tried to always have it on me.

I went to the bathroom and once again looked at my reflection, I was disgusted by what I saw even if there wasn't a red mark on my cheek anymore, I quickly left again. The party was boring as it always was, people complimenting how pretty I looked in my dress, asking how my fifth year was, how much Dumbledore was fucking up Hogwarts, and as always how things were much better in their 'good old days'. I was trying to escape the party by going upstairs to my room when a very drunk man started complimenting me on my dress, already having heard this a million fucking times I just nodded through all his compliments. He stepped closer and caught the material of my sleeve between his fingers.

"Hmm very nice material, yes very nice" He slurred.

I took a step backwards and hit the wall, fuck now I'm trapped. He took another fucking step closer releasing my sleeve but grabbing my waist and shoulder.

"Very pretty girl too aren't you, nice and pretty" With those words he leaned his face towards mine only to be grabbed back forcefully by Sirius.

"Leave my sister the fuck alone you perverted asshole, don't you have a wife to harass instead?" Sirius yelled.

"You want to have a go at me you long-haired faggot?" the old man yelled back just before Sirius punched him; I heard a crack just before Mother appeared separating the two and dragging us to the drawing room, leaving Father to deal with the crowd.

"Sirius, I used to think we could redeem you but all that hope is gone now, this family is done with you." Mother said as she sent Sirius a curse, and another, and another.

"Mother stop, he was defending me it's my fault." I said as I pulled on her arm. "Do you want to take his place Cordelia, I'm just getting started." She said with a crazed look in her eye.

There was no reasoning with her when she had that look in her eye, as me and Sirius knew far too well.

"CRUCIO" She yelled as she sent the curse to Sirius.

"NO!" I jumped in front of her wand before the red light could reach Sirius.

Oh Merin it was the worst thing I've ever experienced, I was being stabbed a thousand times all over my body, there was no concept of time I have no idea how long it lasted. When it finally stopped Father was there lowering Mothers wand arm.

"Think about what you've done, the both of you, you're not leaving this room." Father said in his gruff voice.

I had curled into a ball by the time they left, my whole body still drastically hurt. I looked over to where Sirius was, checking all over the room like a madman.

"What are you doing?" I croaked out.

"I'm going to find Floo powder there has to be some here, there's a fireplace and I know for a fact that it is connected to the Floo Network." He told me.

"Fathers desk, back of the second drawer to the right." I said.

He rustled through it and found a small pot containing Floo Powder.

"How the fuck did you.. Never mind that's not important right now, we need to get out of here." He said as he crossed the room over to me and helped me get up.

It hurt to stand but I knew he was right, we would die if we stayed. He helped me over to the fireplace and didn't let go of me as we climbed in.

He said "Potter Manor" without even hesitating.

I scraped my elbow on the chimneys, and when we got there I promptly threw up in front of a whole living room of Potters, great just great.

"Sirius? What are you doing here darling?" Mrs. Potter asked, "And who's that? Is she okay?" Mr. Potter asked quickly after her.

I was about to introduce myself when my eyes rolled to the back of my head and blacked out. When I woke up I was in an unfamiliar room and Sirius was asleep in a chair next to me, the bright lights hurt my eyes as I got up, I still had infernal dress on from last night but there were a pair of clothes at the edge of my bed, by the looks of it they were Sirius's. I got changed and made my way downstairs quietly as to not disturb anyone.

I heard Mr. and Mrs. Potter saying "Monty we can't let them go back, we are keeping them safe right here."

"I agree dear, Sirius has been coming to breaks with us having far too many bruises, I regret not taking him in sooner"

"Him and his sister"

I cringed at the word, it hurt somehow.

"Oh Merlin's beard we don't even know her name."

"My name is Cordelia." I interrupted fully stepping into the room.

I expected them to be mad for interrupting or eavesdropping but Mrs. Potter just smiled and said "That's a lovely name dear."

"To be honest I really hate it." I responded.

Mr. and Mrs. Potter shared meaningful glances before Mrs. Potter stood up and beckoned me to the kitchen, "You must be hungry, I'll make some breakfast."

I followed her and sat down, straight backed. Before I knew it there was a plate of eggs and a slice of toast in front of me. She sat in the chair in front of me while I started eating even if I didn't have a big appetite, I almost always skipped breakfast and lunch.

"So dear, what do we need to replace?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"What did you bring with you to Winter Holidays?"

"I just brought some books and my wand, I never bring anything to break, neither does Sirius, not until Summer."

"Ah lovely, when do you want to go replace those?"

"I don't need to, I have my wand and I can get the books at the next Hogsmeade trip."

"If you change your mind, or realize you do need something don't hesitate to ask me alright?"

"Alright" I told her.

At that second James entered the kitchen and slumped into a chair, why wasn't he sitting up? He was going to get into trouble, Didn't he know? Mrs. Potter was right there, she was looking at him, and he was slumped over, and didn't even have his eyes open!

Mrs. Potter opened her mouth and said "Good Morning lovely, good sleep?"

James just gave her a thumbs up in response. The Potters were apparently very different from the Blacks.

Sirius also came stumbling into the kitchen "Oh there you are! I was worried."

He sank into a chair and stole some of my breakfast.

"Would either of you boys like some breakfast?" Mrs. Potter asked.

"Yes, please" James responded.

She got up and served the remaining eggs onto two plates and started toasting some bread.

"Last day before you all go back to Hogwarts, What are your plans?" She asked.

"Probably going to invite Remus and Pete over today." James responded.

"Ah yes, I forgot they were coming over today." Mrs. Potter said as she placed the plates in front of the boys.

"May I be excused?" I asked after I finished my food.

"Of course dear, you don't need to ask, feel free to explore the house" Mrs. Potter answered, I just nodded in response.

The first room I entered was a drawing room and I promptly left, there was actual paintings in there though, I wondered who by. The library was the next room I found myself in and I immediately felt right at home, they had books there that I was only able to read when I was at school as they were written by muggles. They had books written by wizards as well, they had so many books. I pulled one of them off the shelf and brought it over to one of the chairs, I got through most part of the book before the chair was starting to get uncomfortable, I brought the book outside and sat in one of the chairs out there, soaking in the sunlight until my moment of peace was destroyed by none other than James Potter.

"Hey do you know where Sirius is? Me and Pete are looking for him, he disappeared a little bit ago." James asked.

"I'll go look Potter" I responded.

I got up and went upstairs to where his room was, why James didn't check there he had no idea. He opened the door to the sight of his brother making out with Remus Lupin.

"Oh my fucking god! Lock the fucking door!" I yelled.

They broke apart quickly as I shut the door.

I heard a muffled "Sorry 'Delia."

I went back outside hoping the nuisance of James Potter was gone but with my luck he was waiting.

"He's busy." I told him and went back to my book.

He gracefully took the seat next to me and when I expected him to say something stupid he didn't, in fact he didn't say anything at all, we sat in silence until Sirius came back down with Lupin.

"Alright, lets go set up the fire." Sirius said and James jumped up.

"Fire?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"A bonfire, wanna come?" he asked.

"Why not?" I responded.

"Alright I'm just going to go grab Wormy" He told us.

A few hours later found me playing Truth or Dare slightly tipsy.

"Alright! 'Delia your turn, truth or dare?" Sirius asked me.

"Truth."

"Mmmm I need some dirt on you... OH! Who would you fuck if given the chance?"

"Barty of course" I responded to his outlandish question, so maybe I might not have told the truth on that, but who hasn't lied during truth or dare?

"James, truth or dare?" I asked.

"Fuck it.. Dare" He responded.

Fuck what was I supposed to do... I'm shit at dares, after a few seconds thinking about it I went with my default dare.

"I dare you to kiss the hottest person here."

He stood up and walked towards me.

"What are you doing?" I asked him with a raised eyebrow.

"You dared me to kiss the hottest person here, so can I kiss you?" He answered.

"If you must" I replied.

Here's the thing, normally someone would just do the dare and move past it, but I have had a crush on James fucking Potter since last year. I won't pretend like I haven't had at least one daydream about James Potter kissing me but none of them were like the real thing. James stooped down and kissed me me softly, it was everlasting in my mind, but didn't last long enough. He pulled away soon after with a wink that sent shivers down my spine and smiled. James Potter truly did not belong on this Earth, he was far too precious.