Winter ball, Black Manor, 21st December 1921
“ Do you know that Nott and Greengrass are betrothed? “ Lycoris asked in a hushed tone.
Arcturus scoffed, “ Of course. That is old news. Heard that they are to marry once they are out of school”.
There was a glint in Regulus’ eyes as he gestured to Lycoris and Arcturus to come closer to let them in on a secret.
“ Speaking of Greengrass, I caught her snogging Cassius Warrington in a broom closet when I was on prefect duty a few weeks back”.
Lycoris and Arcturus’ eyes widened at this new piece of information.
“ Hah! I’m not surprised. Greengrass has never liked Nott and had always deliberately snubbed him in public”. Arcturus remarked dryly.
“ Wow”, Lycoris huffed. “ I can’t believe you almost made me feel sorry for Nott, out of all people”.
“ Well, sucks to be him”. Regulus shrugged as he raised his glass of champagne to his lips.
“ Greengrass is just throwing a hissy fit for nothing. The Notts are too good for the Greengrasses. It's truly a wonder for her parents to be able to secure such a match for her”. Arcturus sneered. “ Once a spoilt brat, always a spoilt brat”.
Lycoris nodded her head in agreement. “ The Greengrasses have always been cash poor. She should be thanking her parents for securing her a smooth-sailing life. It's the least they could do for her”.
“ It's the twentieth century, not the medieval times! I think it is high time that we should stop lumping kids into arranged marriages.” Regulus said out loud, waving his glass of champagne wildly.
Oh, how Lycoris wished it to be true. She had never been so jealous of a mudblood before. Her time as an eligible candidate as a potential pureblood wife is short-lived. Aunt Cassiopeia had been harping about her finding a good match and had been singing praises about Cathal Rowle to her grandfather. As the future head of the family, her older brother, Arcturus is expected to settle down with a respectable pureblood wife in a few years time. Soon, it will be Regulus’ turn. Every step of their lives has been set in stone. To uphold the Black family name and its eight-hundred-year-long legacy.
“ Arranged marriages are a tradition. It is hardly going anywhere anytime soon.” Arcturus said it in a matter-of-fact tone as he polished the Black Family ring on his finger with a silk handkerchief.
That is true. No one in the pureblood social circles can escape this fate.
“I don’t care! I’d rather stay a bachelor for the rest of my life than be shackled to some heartless bint”, Regulus retorted, tossing the careworn brooch from his cravat onto the table.
“ Careful there, little brother” , Lycoris teased, “ There are loads of people attending the ball who are grandfather’s age— “
“What about people my age? “ A new, yet familiar voice cuts in.
The three of them froze.
Speak of the devil.
Lycoris gulped. She turned around, slowly, to face the imposing figure of her grandfather, Phineas Nigellas Black.
“ Hello there, Grandfather! G-good to see you!” Lycoris called out in a falsely cheery voice.
Phineas smiled thinly. “ Would you care to finish what you were saying earlier, girl? Something about people my age?”
“No”, Lycoris let out a shrill laugh. Her brothers gawked at her. There was a pause.
Phineas raised his eyebrows. “ It’s nothing… of too much consequence”, She finished lamely.
“Well, if that is the case, why do I find my three grandchildren gossiping like a couple of hens, instead of socialising with people their age”, He said silkily, with deliberate emphasis on the last two words.
The three grandchildren squirmed in their seats under the intense glare of their grandfather.
“ As hosts, I hope to see you three busy entertaining our guests tonight ”, Phineas said with a dangerous edge to his voice.
“ Yes, Grandfather”, The trio said glumly.
*An hour later*
Entertaining insipid questions and being around miniature Patricia Stimpsons is really testing Lycoris’ patience. She was desperately in need of more bearable company. She began to scan the vast and crowded ballroom. At the far right, she could see Regulus shamelessly flirting with two giggly girls. She rolled her eyes. Same old Reg. At the corner of her eye, she noticed Arcturus, with a drink in hand, sulking in a dark corner of the ballroom. Target spotted.
Before she could march over to her brother, a deep baritone voice interrupted her train of thoughts.
“ May I have this dance with you, My Lady?”
Lycoris groaned inwardly.
This was truly going to be a long night.