Yule
"Your welcome, by the way."
"Tom! How have you been?"
"I've been very well thank you darling. And you?"
"Yeah, it's been okay, I'm gonna have a raging hangover in the morning but that's nothing new. What did you do that I should be thanking you for?"
"Well, I got your godfather a trail, obviously. It's not like I needed a coward like Pettegrew in my ranks. It's bad for morale. And you definitely need to stop drinking so much, your probably going to die at this rate."
"Saves you the job" Callie quipped. "And it's not like you can make me stop drinking, Mr oh-so-scary dark lord."
"No," he said agreeably "that's what your godfather is there to do."
"Mhm. He's a bit strange, but I suppose the black madness probably caught up to him in azkaban. Doesn't matter though, I'm only using him for the things the Black Family Name can do for me."
"Indeed, how very Slytherin of you."
"Anyway, I was thinking the other day-"
"News to me" he interrupted, smirking.
She glared.
"Anyway - I was thinking - how the bloody hell are you alive? Last anyone heard you were some wraith out somehwere!"
"Ah yes," he grimaced "that was not pleasant. This summer I performed a very obscure ritual and it made me saner a d more whole. So here I am."
"That's - that actually makes a remarkable amount of sense" she admitted. " I was expecting something about a curse, murder of a firstborn, the works" she joked.
"Well, it was rather painful, if that helps any. But let's change the subject. Callie, darling, do you like pretty things?" He asked, leaning forward like the answer was important for some reason, chin resting on a pale hand.
"Well, I like myself, and I prefer to think I'm pretty, thank you," she giggled "but yeah. Why? You got some old jewelry or something lying around?"
Slowly, ever so slowly, he smirked - a challenge, she realised - then:
"Why yes, I suppose you could say that."
"Oh darling, with your hair like this you look just like your auntie Bella when she was a girl" Cissa fussed over her hair. "And.. there! You're all done! You look gorgeous, baby. I've got to go and make myself ready, so I won't see you until your grand reveal, and it will probably make it into the papers so make sure to leave an impression! Now, I've best be off, darling."
"Thanks, Cissy" Callie smiled, and Cissa cooed. Leaving a quick kiss to the side of her head, then Cissa was out the door.
This was the night of the Malfoy Yule ball, one of the most exclusive and highly sought out events of the year. Celebrities, high ranking officials and freinds were all invited, and this is where she was going to make her debut as Lady Potter- Peverell and Heir Black. Cissy said "leave an impression" and Callie chuckled, becusse she was certain that those in attendance would never forget tonight. She looked perfect for the role, her black hair charmed and swept up into a bun, lips painted blood red, delicate blush, her gorgeous blue dress making it appear as though icicles were hanging off her, crystals fading into skin so you couldnt even tell where the dress ended. She looked the very picture of Yule. Adjusting her hair one last time she stood up and carefully fixed into place the last price of jewellery atop her head.
Narcissa's voice floated clearly over the manor. Callidora shoved down the last of her nerves and straighten up her posture. This was her moment. Nothing was going to go wrong.
"- pleasure to introduce my niece. Callidora Hera Hope, Lady Potter, Lady Peverell, Heir Black!"
The doors swung upon, and for a moment she was blinded by the sparkling chandelier - not that anyone watching would know. No, she was the last potter, last Peverell, heir to the noble and most ancient heir of Black, she would not cower in the face of the masses. They were nothing. She took a step forward, flashed a brilliant smile at the cameras, and curtseyed low, balance on point just as Auntie had taught her . Absolute silence reigned. Then, ever the drama queen, Draco's voice screeched over the crowd,
"Merlin, Callie, is that RAVENCLAW'S DIADEM?!?!"
And.... Chaos.
'It is beautiful,' thought Callie, 'the way my presence is the cause of the utter devastation that is the Malfoy Yule Ball of 1993.' The hours had passed in a whirlwind of anarchy. She had smoozched and mingled with politicians and people with power like she was born for it. Susan's aunt, the head of the DMLE was here, and she spent twenty minutes outlining how they should animagus proof Peter Pettigrews cell ( becusse she knew that the ministry, incompetent fools they were would not have done a thing about it), then was whisked away by her friends for an hour, then she was back to socialising. She talked to the minister of magic, the French minister (who apparently had two lovely daughters attending beaxbautons), various lords and ladies, and danced with practically every single man in the room. Nd what a room it was - the malfoys had gone all out this year, even more so than normal, every surface glittering and the whole room decked out in tasteful decorations that practically screamed to anyone who looked at them "we are richer than you!". The flute of sparkling elf wine in her hands left her buzzing, and she vaguely recognises that she felt a bit like a butterfly, weaving in and around the people while untouchable. She had no doubt she would make tomorrow's headline. She had even talked to Cissa for a while, danced with Lucius and Draco, and was now with her friends in the corner by the glass wall that overlooked the gardens just saying what their other plans were over the holidays.
"Well," said Theo, nursing a glass of red wine, "I invited Hermione over for the holidays, so I'll finally get to introduce her to grandfather." He kissed the top of her head.
Callie blinked.
"Merlin." She said, sounding perplexed. "When the bloody hell did you two become a thing?" Hermione sighed in exasperation while Daphne just laughed.
"Salazar, Callie! They got together last valentine's day for Circe's sake!" Daphne nearly cried from how hard she was laughing.
"Jesus, Callie, how did you miss this? I literally asked you if you thought Theo liked me?" Gasped Hermione.
"I thought that was just because he's always reading and you were new to the group!" She gaped.
"Anyway," Theo smoothly interjected, "I hadn't had the opportunity to introduce her yet, we were both busy during the summer. Grandfather has told me he approves so it's fine but I just wanted to do it formally."
"No offense Hermione, but I thought Cantankerous was like very pureblood prejudiced?" She asked slowly.
"Oh well he used to be, but I think he's too upset at the thought of the nott family dying out to really care who I date or marry anymore." Theo answered
"Huh -"
And just like that, another politician drifted over to them, and she was off again.
'All in all,' she thought looking back, 'it was a very good night to cause chaos. I even irritated Snape! Best night ever!!!'
And with that, she slipped out her dress, had a bath and promptly crawled into bed. It was Yule in the morning!