chapter 2
“Mother I have already had a coming out ball,”
“Not as the heir you haven’t , now take these and change guest will be arriving shortly,”
Regulus huffs as he takes the dark green coat from his mother, “Who have you even invited?”
“All the young ladies from the presentation today, the diamond as well as the usuals and her majesty of course,”
“The usuals so that would be the Potters,”
Walburga sighs, “As much as I detest them the ton seems to be loving them especially viscountess Potter so unfortunately yes, they are invited however I have made it clear they are not to bring the boy,”
“I wouldn’t worry Mother Sirius wouldn’t come anyways,”
“Yes, well I need to go get some things ready downstairs and then go to welcome out guests, I’ll send in Kercher to see you down,” Regulus didn’t respond as his mother left the room. He stared at himself in the mirror and all he saw was his brother. Sirius and Regulus always looked alike but now more than ever, Regulus wanted to destroy that bloody mirror.
“Master Regulus guests have started to arrive,”
“Thank you, Kercher,” Regulus said giving him a short smile before leaving his bed chambers. By the time he got downstairs the ballroom was full of guests, he was only looking for one. The only person who he hoped would get him through the night, Lily. Thankfully, because of her bright hair she wasn’t hard to stop, however three other girls were blocking his path. His cousins.
“Reggie, you look sharp,” said the one with tight coily hair.
“Thank you, Bella, Cissa, Andy you look well,”
“Thank you, Regulus,” Andromeda said passing him a drink. God how he loved Andromeda.
“Regulus,” said a women walking up to him her husband hovering close behind her.
“Aunt Durella, Uncle Cygnus a pleasure as always,” his uncle didn’t say a word but gave a small uncomfortable smile before walking away with his wife. Regulus looked back at his cousins taking second to quit his voice.
“Are you guys, ok?”
“As ok as you can be as a Black,” Narcissa responded. Regulus immediately knew what she meant, it was the shared feeling he felt, one his brother felt and one that every child from the noble house of black felt.
“Well Malfoy soon Cissa I read of your upcoming nuptials, I see congratulations are in order.”
“Thank you, Regulus,” she responded solemnly.
“Ok Reggie we got to go make the rounds we’ll see you,” said Bellatrix before whisking herself and her sisters off. Good, now that that family obligation is done, he can focus on Lily.
When Regulus caught a glance of Lily, she very clearly looked like she needed saving as she was trying to cool down her sister with her fan who looked like to be in the middle of a breakdown. Regulus coughed in an attempt to get their attention,
“Lord Black,” bowed their mother.
“You’re here for Lily aren’t you,” asked her sister.
“Erm yes I am,”
“Of course, you are everyone is now she’s the diamond,” Regulus didn’t know this. Regulus didn’t know this at all.
“Oh, are you well congratulations,”
“Thank you,” Lily smiled.
“So would you care to join me in a quadrille,”
“Of course,” she said handing over her dance card, Regulus didn’t have to wait long as the quadrille was the next dance that evening. Regulus smiled at her sister and mother as he took Lily to the floor. The music started,
“So, you’re a diamond,”
“Yes, it’s very annoying my sitting room was full of strange men asking to call on me,”
“I feel your pain,”
“Yes, I suspect you do, don’t take this the wrong way but I’m glad you weren’t among them,”
“Don’t worry ladies are lovely don’t get me wrong but I prefer the gentlemen,”
“Oh, thank goodness truly it’s the opposite for me, I don’t care for any of these men but there is a certain mistress who has caught my eye,”
“You don’t say,” Regulus said softly grinning at her, “I take your mother is not aware,”
“No, I tried to tell her, but Mama will here none of it,”
“I haven’t even tried with my mother I’ve just been keeping quite since- since last season,”
“Do you miss your brother?” she asks rather bluntly.
“Yes, I do,” Regulus doesn’t know why he’s telling her this but, there’s this thing about Lily Evans that just puts a person at such ease, “forgive me if I’m wrong but I’m sensing your sister isn’t particularly glad about you being this season’s diamond.”
“Oh, my sister isn’t glad about anything,” she huffs.
“Sounds a lot like my brother,” Regulus and Lily continued their light chatter along with the lively steps of quadrille. After the music came to an end he offered Lily an invite to a drink, which she took up graciously, eagerly not to return to her winey sister.
-----------------
As James walked through the doors of the black manor with his mother the ton burst into whispers and Walburga came to give them a sarcastically sweet greeting. James knew this was going to be a long night. Yet, he knew what he came to do, he was supposed to court the diamond. That was his job for the season.
“Mr. Potter, Lady Potter how lovely for you to join us this evening,”
“Why thank you Lady Black, it’s a pleasure truly,” James heard as his mother sailed them through the uncomfortable encounter like a great captain.
“Shame Lord Potter couldn’t be joining us,”
“Yes, well my oldest is down with a fever so he is looking after him,”
Walburga gave James’s mother a testing look, “I see some heads of houses are just letting the ladies frolic as they please now a days,”
“Well, my husband loves me dearly,” Euphemia snaps back, “which reminds me where is Orion,”
“Oh, he’s somewhere,” Walburga said quickly glancing away to look for her husband.
“Well, if I see him,” Euphemia smiles.
“If you see him,” Walburga says back, “now James I hear your quite the bachelor this season.”
“Yes Ma’am,” says James.
“Well,” Walburga says stepping closer bringing her voice down to just louder than a whisper, “take whoever you please, I hear the diamond is quite the catch, but you stay away from my son,”
“Which one,” says James.
“Potter,” Walburga warns.
“Walburga,” Euphemia chimes in.
Walburga straightens herself up before stepping back from them both, “ You both have a pleasant night,” she says before nipping away. As she leaves James turns to his mother.
“As much as I hate that women, I’m afraid she’s right I really must go find Miss. Evans,”
“James, you should marry for love darling not anything else.”
“Oh, mother if only the ton thought like you and father,”
“The ton could shove it you’re a Potter, they couldn’t touch you if they tried.” James stifles his laughter before going off to mingle.
It is in a dark secluded corner of the ballroom where James feels his heart stop. There only a few feet in front of him is the girl with hair of fire red, she is gorgeous, and her smile makes James want to melt away. But next to her, oh next to her is the man of the night. Regulus Arcturus Black whose soft curls have been gelled back and whose ringed fingers cuff a drink close to his chest. James looked at the man and women in front of his eyes and thought to himself deeply who he was going to approach. How in god’s name could anyone make that choice.
He studied himself against the wall grabbing a drink from a waiter passing by and took a deep drink before approaching him. Yes him, it was only good manners to approach the man of the hour first, besides how James secretly yearns to shake his hand, and feel the grasp of his fingers around his own.
“Mr. Black,” James said walking up to him offering his hand.
Regulus cannot believe this. James Fleamont Potter. The man who stole his brother from him. Here, in his home with a drink in his hand and an aggravating smile, offering him his hand to shake. Regulus wants to spit at him; however, this is polite society and spitting on the season’s most eligible bachelor is quite frowned upon.
“Potter,” Regulus replied offering a reluctant hand. His eyes follow their hands closely as James takes grasp of his hand and brings it to his lips. He truly cannot believe this. Regulus pulls his arm back the second after it has made distance from James’s lips.
“I believe congratulations are in order,”
Regulus doesn’t respond.
“So erm, congratulations. On being the heir, I mean.”
“No Potter thank you because if not for you I wouldn’t be here right now, and oh the tragedy that would be.” Regulus knows that this isn’t James’ fault, but he needs someone to blame, and James is right there.
“Regulus,” Lily cuts in from the side.
right courtesy complete, James’s think. Now for the task at hand. The diamond. Regulus’s hands feel so nice.
“Miss. Evans,” James said offering his hand now to Lily.
“Mr. Potter, how do you do?”
“Very well thank you, may I ask you for a dance. The rondeau perhaps?”
“That would be lovely,” Lily says in response handing James her dance card.
“May I offer you one Mr. Black,” James says looking back to Regulus.
“Unfortunately, I only have one dance left,” and it’s true, he did.
“Well, I shall be honored to join you in that,”
Regulus let’s out a sigh before offering his dance card to James, “Very well,” . James looks down to see the last dance was a waltz. Great. He handed back Regulus’s dance card and bid them both due before returning back to his rounds.
Soon enough Regulus heard the tempo slow down from an English chain to the last waltz of the evening. Regulus scanned the room noticing his dance partner was already staring back at him. He said his goodbyes to the ladies he had been talking to and made his way to the dance floor.
“Potter, “ he regarded as he places his hand on James’ shoulder.
“Black,” he was met in return.
Regulus tried hard not to look into the soft honeycomb eyes of the boy. He kept a respectable distance between the two and tried focusing on the guests around him as the music started up. James wasn’t much taller than him so they moved together in a comfortable rhythm one which James might have enjoyed a little too much. Regulus was holding hope that James’ dance with him was just a gesture of politeness, that he wasn’t going to make conversation.
“How are you liking your ball Mr. Black,” Oh how stupid Regulus was.
“Very well thank you,” he responded politely as James moved him so they would be facing the outer ring.
“You must have your prospects lined up this seasons,” he spoke softly at the height of Regulus’ neck. James’ breath feeling warm on his skin.
“As must you,” he quipped back, “I wish you good luck with the diamond James,”
James was taken off guard by his comment, “I- how did you.”
“James I’m not stupid. I know plenty about good society to know that everyone and their aunt are going to be chasing after the seasons diamond. However, you might be the only one with the chance,”
“And not you?”
“I have no intention of marrying this season. I have plenty to do now that I am the new heir. Something I’m sure you must know all about,”
“I-,” the music changed as Regulus turned back to face James. Bringing their faces closer so as to taunt him.
“Tell me how my brother is?”
“I- he’s- um. He’s good. He’s doing good,” James stuttered.
Regulus let out a slow hum of approval, signaling he deemed James’ answer acceptable, “You should really work on that stutter Potter. A family heir needs to be clear about their intentions when they speak.” Regulus said as the music came to and end, “enjoy the ball James,” he ducked his head into a just about passable bow before he went back out to his guests.