Chapter 1

She sighed to herself and she sat looking in her bedroom mirror. Another mask ball to sit through and even more suitors to dance with, what made it even worse was that it was her 16th birthday and she would be stuck dancing with vulgar silly boys, to stuffy music the whole night. Her mother would never understand that all she wanted to do was have a quiet picnic in the garden and relax under the clouds listening to her favourite music. "Misty" her mother called "the guests will be here soon you need to come get ready" she sighed to herself as she got up to walk to the balcony. Her mother had the bright idea that she needed to make a grand entrance, her mother had decided that until all the guests had arrived she would wait in the study and make a grand entrance by walking down the wide sweeping stairs into the ballroom. She hated the formality of it all and felt very nervous about walking down the stairs in the ball gown her mother had chosen. The only decision she had in the whole affair was the colour of the dress. She had picked out a stunning emerald green material and had asked for miniature silver stitching all over the skirt. The dress had come out better then she expected but she hated the way it was too tight around her middle and there was just too much material swishing around her legs making her feel like she would trip on the skirt every time she moved.

After some time of walking around her father's study she heard a click of the door open. "Mother is it time yet" she asked. But no one answered, as she turned around to ask again a pair of hands covered her eyes "guess who" they replied. "Regulus" She cried "you came" " yes I came but only to tell you we can't happen anymore" " what do you mean" she replied " My parents found out about us and told me to stop, they had planned for Sirius to court you. He is closer to your age; I'm told old for you" he stated with a grim look upon his face. Regulus was torn between his heart and his duty to his family. Even though she knew this all too well herself, Misty couldn't help but exclaim in surprise and frustration. "You have got to be kidding me, Sirius? The same Sirius I hate who hangs out with that stupid potter gang, and what do you mean you're too old for me your only 19" "I'm sorry misty we can't be anymore." He whispered as he walked back out the door, Misty went to follow him but before she had the chance she ran into her mother. "What are you doing out here, you should be in the study where no one can see you"

Chapter 2

As she slumped down into one of the chairs in the study, she had to fight back the tears, how could he do this to her. Instead of spending her time wallowing in self-pity she set to think of cunning ways to get him back, she wanted revenge for what he had put her though. She was a Parkinson and a true pure Slytherin she thought to herself she knew exactly what would hurt him the most and this was the perfect night to do it. He picked the wrong time to break her heart and he was going to pay. She was going to make him feel as rotten inside as she did. Just as she was beginning to form her perfect plan of attack there was a knock at the door. Knock Knock, "who is it" she called quite rudely, "It's me Sirius, I'm to escort you to the ballroom." "Great" she replied quite sarcastically as she stood up to walk over to him. As she got closer to him she realised this was perfect timing, what better way to hurt Regulus than to be seen permanently attached to his younger brother. She was going to make it seem like he was nothing to her, a mere summer fling and that she was head over heels for the younger black sibling. Sirius looked incredibly uncomfortable as he took her arm and begun to lead the way down to hall and the dreaded sweeping stair case.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my daughter Mystique Parkinson," her father said to the crowd of awaiting guests. Even though she hated him she was grateful that Sirius was at her side but only to the point where she was grateful that she knew she would not be falling down the stairs now. As she glided down the stairs she scanned the room, so many people were staring up at her from behind their mask's as she searched for the one set of unmasked eyes that she truly wanted to see. Once she found them they locked eyes for a sec before she turned away. She wanted to show him that he was nothing. After this she turned to Sirius and smiled as she began to notice how nervous he was as well. For the first time that night she truly looked at him. The silly git had picked the perfect mask for himself it was a black mask that only just covered the outsides of his eyes but he had added a pair of small dog ears to the top of his head. It really suited him she always did think he was a dog and that stupid group he hung out with were just a pack of dogs with the way that they acted around school. They were always in trouble for something and could always be found picking on that peculiar Snape kid.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs the music began to play and Sirius swept her across the floor into the middle of the room to begin the first dance. As she was twirled and twirled around she noticed a pair of brilliant green eyes hidden behind a similar mask to Sirius (minus the dog ears of course) watching her. She knew exactly who those green eyes belonged to and she was going to play. Sirius never knew what hit him. One minute he was dreading doing as he parents had asked of him by escorting Mystique and next thing he knew he was enjoying himself, the girl was actually fun, she giggled at all his jokes and was flirting the whole night.

Later that night once the ball had quieted down Mystique and Sirius were out in the garden talking when mystique turned to Sirius and started to play with his mask, she slowly moved over the ears playfully, "They suit you" she said "you are the underdog, I didn't expect I would enjoy your company tonight, I guess I was wrong" Sirius stared at her with disbelief but quickly shook it away as he noticed her move in closer to him. "We should get to know each other better" she said to him "I agree" he replied with a smirk as he learned down into her and began to press his lips to hers. He was surprised by the softness of them and of how they tasted of strawberries and sweet champagne. All the other girls he had kissed tended to be sloppy and uneducated and he should know he had been with enough girls to be a legend to the younger years at Hogwarts. Boys from the dorms were constantly asking him for advice on how to get girls.

She was returning his kiss when someone interrupted them "ahem, young lady what do you think you are doing out here without a chaperone, someone could have seen you" her mother said "get inside before I announce to the whole room who I have picked as your betrothed" She quickly retreated into the ball room but not before giving Sirius a quick kiss on the cheek and whispering into his ear "Till next time"

In the background hidden by some bushes a man watched on with disbelief, how could she fall for him so quickly he thought to himself as he heart was slowly breaking like glass.

Chapter 3

As she sat by her window that night thinking over what had conspired Misty couldn't help but smile. Not only had she known that Regulus was watching her as she kissed Sirius but she also knew that Sirius was falling for her, she could tell by the way he acted, it was different then when he was at school, much kinder and nervous. She couldn't help but wonder if she was more suited to the younger brother. With Sirius she could act more like a child and be playful, she never felt that way with Regulus it was always more heated and they had only ever had stolen moments together. She fell asleep that night to dreams of being spun around and around the ballroom but every time she looked up at who she was dancing with, the face kept changing. Unaware that Regulus sat beneath her window late into the night, he wanted to storm the walls and claim her as his but he knew he just couldn't do that. She had looked so happy dancing with Sirius, so at ease, it was a side of her he had never seen. A side he never realised was possible. It was the first time she ever looked unattainable and free. Sparkling like a brilliant emerald bird that was too close to the sun to ever be his again.

Meanwhile Sirius had rushed home the second Misty had retreated away from his after there stolen interlude. He rushed up to his to owl James, for once in his life he was stumped, girls normally throw themselves at him especially after one kiss but she had run away from him as quick as she could.

The next day Misty arose to find her mother sitting beside her bed "It's about time you awoke we have business to deal with, get dressed and go to your father's study immediately" her mother grumbled. Misty got up as quickly as she could and dressed. She ran down the hall to her father's study and knocked on the door. "Come in" replied the elderly Parkinson "you wished to see me father" she said in hushed ladylike tones. "yes my dear now that you are sixteen its time you were betrothed and after last night I'm even more sure that it is time. I have found you the perfect person, you two are well suited and he is from a respectable family." Who have you chosen father" she queried "You are to be betrothed to Sirius Black" he responded firmly. It was too much for Misty to take in she immediately walked up to her father's desk and slumped into one of the chairs "why him" she responded "you seemed to be rather enjoying his company last night and your mother tells me she caught you two in the garden together, I had rather hoped to betroth you to someone older and not a Gryffindor, but none the less your mother was quite adamant that you should be with someone you at least get along with."

She stared back in disbelief, she could not believe that in trying to make Regulus jealous she had indeed dug herself into a hole and was now stuck betrothed to Sirius, and it was the very last thing she wanted.

I won't marry him" she exclaimed "Yes! You will, I am your father and what I say is law, you will do as you are told young lady, now get out! I have more important things to deal with than who we sell you off to." Misty stormed out of the room, making sure to slam the large oak door on the way out.

She ran outside into the grounds of their estate and running as quickly as she could to her favourite place, as she ran through the gate into her garden she slammed into someone "owe"

Chapter 4

The Pair collided with such as force that they fell to the ground with a deafening thud. Misty felt a tangle of arms as she fell to the ground with such a thud that she felt her head go dizzy from the contact. as her clouded vision began to return she began to realise the heavy weight on top of her, "Get Off Me! She screamed. The person jumped up upon realised what had happened. "Well it's not my fault you came barging through that door so quickly. At this point of time both had not realised who the other person was. Neither had quite gained their composure yet and misty had begun to get quite a dull ache in the back of her head. "well you shouldn't even be here, this is my private garden no one but myself is allowed in here. Misty questioned back she could feel her voice beginning to fail her. The figure standing over her reached down and began to help her up. As she stood up misty felt her legs buckle beneath her as she descended into darkness

"Mystique!" Mystique! Wake up" Misty could faintly hear someone calling her, she felt as if she was dreaming, her soft pillow beneath her head, who could be calling out to her, for sure it didn't sound like any of the maids. As she opened her eyes a mop of dark hair clouded into her view of sight, "eek she screamed as she tried to sit up in her bed before falling back in pain. Sirius! What are you doing on my bedroom! You can't be here! Yes, he can' who do you think brought you back from the garden! Replied a figure who rose from a chair in the corner of the room. What do you think you were doing out in the garden alone, you are betrothed now, are you trying to ruin the family name! Misty realised as the person drew closer that it was none other than her own mother, of course she thought, her mother would allow Sirius into her room chaperoned now that they were betrothed. Misty couldn't help but grow bright red at the thought of Sirius carrying her up from the garden after she had fainted.

You passed out after hitting your head, I brought you back to get help, how do you feel? Sirius said as he looked at her with worry in his eyes. My head hurts, could you please close the curtains for me she replied, not knowing what else was appropriate in this situation. Once Sirius had drawn the curtains she quietly asked them both to leave so she could rest. She watched Sirius walk away though her half closed eyes, wondering what was going to become of her and her heart. Slowly she drifted back to sleep.