The Ball
TW: violence, mentions of su!c!de, homophobia
“Come on Potter!” Mary called out, watching the brown boy struggling to come to them. She roared with laughter at James trying to fix his hair whilst the wind was blowing threw it.
”Hurry up James! You can fix your your hair in the loo,” shouted out Peter, shivering from the cold. It was late April and the weather was still freezing but what did the boy expect? It’s England after all; Peter hugged himself, trying to keep warm but he only felt colder. ‘Why is this shitty country always so cold?’ He thought to himself.
”What’s happening to you Pete?” James boomed out, “It’s bloody cold!” The blond boy shouted back wrapping his arms around him tighter as the wind whistled in his ears. “If the wind was a person, he’d be dead right now,” Peter muttered to himself as Mary let out a giggle.
”Oh suck it up Peter, it’s just a bit of wind,” Mary jokingly pushed the boy away as she started strolling towards the pier, “A bit of wind?!” He exclaimed, following the curly haired girl with James just right behind him.
“Anyway!” James quickly changed the subject, knowing well that the two will soon argue with each other about the weather. He jogged towards Mary, stopping by her side to walk alongside with her, “What are the rumours?”
“Oh yes, I have completely forgotten!” Mary gasped, spinning around to meet James and Peters’ eyes causing her hair to slap James in the face. Peter cackled loudly as the brown haired boy slapped him on the arm, “Ow!” The blond hissed slapping James back.
”Lily as in our Lily Evans is dating THE Alice Fortescue,” James and Peter felt their faces drop in shock, “WHAT?!”
“Mhm,” Mary nodded looking proud, James looked at her confused, he didn’t know why she was proud. Obviously there is nothing wrong with people dating people the same gender as them but Alice was a princess and is in line to get married whilst Lily was well… you know, a peasant.
“Mary…. I-if they get caught… Lily could… die,” Peter whispered the last part, he didn’t want his friend to hide who they are and who they love but he also didn’t want to witness his friend getting hanged in front of the entire village.
Both boys watched the girl’s face drop slowly, “I know that…” She whispered almost with no emotion, the boys watched as her chest started rising and falling in fury.
“But that’s the most stupidest bullshit I’ve ever heard…” Mary breathed out, laughing sarcastically. James looked down at her concerned, Mary is those type of girls that like to stand up for their rights and for other peoples rights but he has never seen her this angry.
“Why is it that it’s alright for a mother to get her son or daughter married off to an asshole but a villager or someone with some village blood can’t be in a relationship with a princess or a prince? Why is that men and men, women and women have to hide their relationship so others can be happy? Why is it that people like me and Lily have to fit into this fucked up world’s standards just so they can walk over us as if we’re a fucking rug?! We are human, we are not a toy for you royals to fuck around with!” She shouted as loud as possible that every person around the trio had to stop and listen. But she didn’t care, she continued to glare at James and Peter as if they were murderers coming here to murder her; even if they were, she always found a way to beat them at their own game, just like how her father used to say:
”If anyone tries hurt you, you hurt them first, understand? Beat them, slap them, put a gun to their head, I don’t care. Just never surrender to a person especially to a Black.”
And so she did.
”PEASANT, COME BACK HERE!” The soldier roared racing as fast as he can to catch up with the speeding girl.
”HAH COME GET ME YOU OLD BASTARD,” She hollered back, looking back at the man as she cackled in satisfaction, knowing that she won the stupid game the soldiers started.
”Woah,” She slid down between the legs of a soldier in front of her before jumping up to run even faster but not daring to hurt any innocent being. “MOVE AWAY! MARY MACDONALD COMING THROUGH!” She yelled out, pushing people away and throwing fruits and items from the stalls behind at the soldiers to distract them.
”Oh give up already, you old fucks!” The curly haired girl laughed out, sliding inside a nearby alleyway as she watched the old men run even further, failing to catch her. She stifled in a laugh when she saw one of the men slip onto the hard pavement due to a banana peel.
’Oh I love playing with men,’ She thought sitting down on the ground as she tried catching her breath but failing when laughter escaped her mouth.
“I agree Mary but it’s-”
”No buts Peter! I’m so fucking sick of it,” Mary huffed, spinning on her heel to saunter away from everyone because honestly, having everyone looking at her will only make her even more frustrated.
“Hey!” A voice called out but it wasn’t the voice of her two best friends that she came here with nor was it Lily, her mind instantly went to the soldiers the Black palace but none of them were young unless Walburga hired one of the soldier’s son.
Without any hesitation, the young girl spun around, only to be met with gloomy yet bright coffee brown eyes; “Who are you?” Her eyes scanned him up and down, ‘He doesn’t look dangerous’ she thought as her eyes went down to his shoes back up to his brown breton hat. ‘This guy sure likes wearing brown,’ She thought to herself.
”Uhh I-I’m Remus… Remus Lupin!” The scarred face boy introduced himself, waving his hand in a weird motion.
‘His name sounds familiar,’ Mary thought to herself, still staring at him as if he was some kind of dangerous beast. ‘Why have I heard of that name?’
“I- I really liked your speech b-before a-and I agree with every word that y-you said,” He stammered out, a nervous smile playing at the end of his lips.
‘He’s adorable,’ Mary grinned to herself, watching the boy stutter about how great she was made her feel some sort of pride and special. “Well Remus, that is very sweet, thank you very much.” She patted his shoulder as an act of kindness and watched his face light up as if he had just a trophy.
“Yeah yeah, of course!”
“Hey isn’t your dad the shoemaker? Lyall Lupin?” Peter stepped forward, trying not to fall from the weight of the wind.
“Yeah he is,” The scarred faced boy nodded but didn’t look as enthusiastic as he was a second ago, James’ eyes squinted beneath the lens, staring confused at the mysterious boy as if he was some kind of puzzle.
“That’s why your name sounded so familiar!” Mary snapped her fingers, acting as if she had just won an argument. “Lupin makes the best shoes, look at how beautifully he fixed mine!” She showed off her pair of perforated upper clogs.
Remus’ face turned bright red as his large hand slapped to the back of his neck, scratching it nervously. He has always felt ashamed of his family, everyone that he met always judged him due to his parents. His father was a shoemaker and his mother was once homeless but is now living with him and his family in a small cottage but it wasn’t like those nice cottages that some people in the village live in; it was all stoney and the exterior isn’t that impressive. Everyone who meets him instantly thinks of him as a thief as how his parents once were and hearing that every single day just made him dislike his family.
”Are you also invited to the Black’s ball?” James asked, his eyes never leaving the boy, something about him caught James’ attention but he just can’t place his finger on it.
”Uh yeah I am,” Remus replied, feeling nervous at the way the other boy was staring at him. ‘Oh gosh he probably thinks I’m some sort of burglar’ He mentally scrunched up his face along with a hard slap to his face, ‘Fuck me’ He thought, looking down at his brown dusty shoes.
”Awesome, I’ll see you there! James and Pete, I’m gonna skedaddle, Lily is probably waiting for me at the gown shop.” The energetic girl skipped away from the boys, waving as she does so.
Peter looked between the two boys, not knowing what to say or what to do so he just continued to hold himself tightly. James broke the silence by clearing his throat, sensing that the other two boys including himself feel very awkward right now. “Well Remus, it was lovely to meet you but me and Petey boy over here have to go and try out our new robes for the ball.” The brown boy explained, slapping the blond boy’s back gently while explaining.
“Oh okay, hopefully we meet again in the ball!” Remus smiled, waving at the two boys who are now sauntering away from him. He sighed to himself before making the journey to his cottage.
“AMMA MY ASS!” James shouted out, feeling the tight fabric clench against his bottom, Euphemia sighed shaking her head as the robe designer stifled in a laugh, “What happened to your bum?” The elderly woman asked calmly, watching her son struggling to walk.
”IT HURTS!” He yelled out once again, holding onto his bottom as if it was going to run away from him.
“Damn son, you sure do have one big ass,” Fleamont mumbled giggling before taking a sip of his fifth tea of the day. “I wonder where he gets it from,” The older man winked at his wife.
Euphemia slapped the back of head with the newspaper beside her causing him to spit out his tea and groan in pain, She turned her attention back to James who is now a laughing mess.
She rolled her eyes, turning to the now red faced man, “Mr Elmer, do you have any larger sizes?”
“I will see, your highness,” The man bowed before scurrying away with the measurement tape hanging around his neck and a clipboard in his hands.
As soon as the man left, James immediately ripped off the tight trousers as if it was some kind of mouse trap torturing him. He let out a sigh of relief and happiness as soon as his legs felt the cold wind hit his bare skin but he didn’t care, it’s better than being suffocated.
His attention went to his parents looking at different suits, watching his father make little comments that drives mum wild but nonetheless she has a smile on her face that shows nothing but pure love; her arm intertwined with Fleamont’s as the couple continue to admire at the different coloured clothing.
James grinned looking at his parents, he could tell that they’ve always loved each other, they’ve always had an unbreakable bond. He wishes to have one just like theirs.
All of a sudden, Mary’s words from before appeared in his mind, “Why is that men and men, women and women have to hide their relationship so others can be happy?” He sighed unknowingly, his gaze moving to the mirror. ‘A man and a man in a relationship’ He has never thought about that nor has he ever saw it but he has always been fascinated in the whole same sex love thingy even though there’s a law that’s against it, but he didn’t know why. He thought it was stupid, why should anyone hide their love for each other just to please people however he knows that if he were ever to say his thoughts in public, he’d be hanged.
The brown boy gulped, shaking his thoughts away from his head as his attention moved to Mr Elmer entering the clothing packed room again but this time with a pair of beige trousers, “Here ya go, ya highness.” The man bowed his head down with a smile, handing the trousers to James.
”Thank you,” He replied with a light grin.
“Hopefully they go pass your ass this time son,” Fleamont jokingly said but got a slap on the arm from Euphemia instead, “OUCH!”
”FLEAMONT!”
“Psst Reggie,” Sirius whispered, trying not to get his parents attention.
”What?” Regulus whispered back, facing his mother’s back.
“You okay?”
“Speak again and you’ll be sent to your room,” Walburga snapped but remained in her spot. Sirius scoffed, “I’d take it,”
“Sirius shush,” Regulus whispered worriedly, he hated when Sirius argued with their parents especially with their mother because it always led to him getting punished which either led him to be bloody on the floor or to have his weight drop insanely low.
“Ignore him Regulus,” Orion barked, glaring at Sirius through the corner of his eye. Regulus sighed, his grey orbs meeting the black pavement; he hated his life, always had and always will. His parents made him feel frustrated, there were times where they made him feel like the most happiest man on the world but there were other times where they made him feel like he wanted to kill himself. He knows that everyone is not the same and that others deal with pain differently but he wishes his parents could let it out in another way instead of bashing at their children.
Regulus’ eyes travelled up to the grandfather clock, watching the clock strike 10 pm. ‘It’s time Reggie’ He thought to himself as the enormous grand doors were pulled open by the guards out in the hallway.
The family marched out with their chins up and with a straight emotionless look on their faces just like a corpse, their eyes full of dedication and pride. They stood on the balcony, watching guests enter the ballroom with grace but Walburga couldn’t help but smirk evilly at the villagers who’ve entered wide eyed, accidentally making contact with higher standard families, only to get insults thrown into their faces. “Tonight is going to be absolutely ravishing,” She muttered under her voice as her smirk only grew when she saw the Lupin family. “Here enters the devil, Lyall Lupin.” Orion glared at the skinny man, watching him act like a complete fool.
Regulus scanned the entire ballroom, recognising some faces but others were unknown to him. That was until his eyes stopped on a boy, he looks like he’d be the same age as Sirius, he was muscular and has shining brown skin with some hair growing on his upper lip, his hair was a mess but was however the first thing that caught Regulus’ eyes.
“Papa,” Regulus stole Orion’s attention from the crowd only to receive a simple ‘Hmm’, “Who’s that?” He pointed to the messy haired boy he’s been inspecting for quite some time now.
“That, my boy, is James Potter. He and his family are the backbone of disappointment,” His father spat in despair, looking at the boy as if he was some kind of filth.
‘James Potter’ He thought, continuing to stare at the boy. ‘What a pretty name’
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TYSM FOR READING!! I’m so sorry for not posting earlier, I was so busy with homework also get ready for the next chapter, it’s gonna be so chaotic 😏