Music played softly in the background as I watched my aunt chase my cousin around, spouting out about how she was appalled the she had the audacity to wear a short dress to such a formal event. A smile played on my lips, for this was not a new occurrence. It almost always happened when a ball, or any other event for that matter, required our attendance. Cameron hated long dresses, they insisted they made her look even shorter than she was. While that was true, and the poor girl did not need her lack of height accentuated, I think the real reason was because short dresses freed up her legs so she could better run from smarmy wizards that couldn't take a hint.
I contemplated going to save her from the scolding, but frankly it was just too entertaining to watch. I'd told her to just make a compromise with her mother and wear a dress with a long slit, or one that was longer in the back. She, obviously, had refused, insisting that Aunt Estelle would 'get the fudge over it'. Estelle was, in fact, not the fudge over it.
Yet, despite my cousin's scandalous wardrobe choice for the evening, it still seemed that all eyes were on me. I couldn't understand why. Cameron and I's family did put on this particular ball, and it was last minute, but that still didn't give reason for people to so continuously stare at me and tell me congratulations. I suppose it could have been because I had graduated from Auror's training a few weeks ago, though I had yet to go into working. Perhaps people were just late in getting the news.
I felt eyes on me and glanced around, finding a boy that I had known from school walking over to me. I suppose boy was no longer the word I should use, man was more appropriate. I had graduated two years ago, and he had been two years ahead of me in school. I'd been elated when he'd graduated, Evander was never someone I liked to see much of. Unfortunately, as I'd gotten older, he'd taking a liking to seeing me.
I hoped that someone else would engage me in a conversation, but upon inspection I realized that I had managed to isolate myself in a corner. Well shit.
"You look lovely tonight, Rhiannon," Evander spoke, stepping much closer to me than was comfortable. What was it about some of these pureblood wizards not understanding the concept of personal space? It was nerve wracking. I took a step away from him and gave him a tight lipped smile. To many, my lack of gratitude would be taken as rude, but Evander Harken was not, nor had he ever been, a kind person. He was sly and manipulative, and did not dish out compliments without ulterior motives. I'd also heard from a young girl that was in Cameron's year that it was best not to find yourself in a totally isolated place with him.
"Always so quiet," he remarked, leaning against the wall and watching me with a steady eye. "I've always heard that you're such an open, talkative woman, yet you barely utter a word on the occasions that I see you. Why is that?"
I could tell by the smirk on his face that he had convinced himself that it was because he intimidated me. Whether he thought it was because of the power he and his family held, or because he thought I had my eye on him, I wasn't sure. I was, however, sure that neither was the case.
"Perhaps that is because I have nothing to say to you?" I suggested, tugging my lips up in an overly sweet smile. To anyone watching, it would actually seem as if we were exchanging pleasantries. In reality, I wanted to rip the man from limb to limb. His existence annoyed me.
"My, we're feisty tonight," he chuckled. "One day, you'll have to learn to dull the edge on that tongue of yours."
"I severely doubt that," I sighed. Not even the drink in my hand was able to ebb the annoyance anymore. I had to get away from him somehow. "Is there a reason you came over here?"
"I just wanted to reconnect with an old classmate." I scowled at him, pursing my lips in impatience. If he didn't get to the point soon I was going to hex him out of sheer annoyance. "You really should working on your temperament, Everwood," he said after a moment. "Surely you've heard of the new law that they have passed recently?"
I felt anger burn in me as he mentioned it. Yes, I had heard all about it. Everyone had. The Ministry of Magic had been corrupted by dark wizards, originating from Britain. Somehow, the reign of the "Death Eaters" had spread all the way over to America in only a few short weeks, as well as some other European countries. One of their first rulings was to enact a law requiring that young witches and wizards marry. In America, the ruling was women by at nineteen years of age, and men at twenty-one years. As a twenty year old, by law I was required to find a husband now, before my family or the Ministry found one for me.
As a free thinking woman, I was fully prepared to tell the Ministry exactly what I thought of this ridiculous law.
"They'll never be able to enforce it," I snapped without thinking. "It's a ridiculous law. It won't last long."
"Oh I beg to differ. My father says the Ministry is already preparing to assign partners to some of the less cooperative witches and wizards." The way his eyes lingered on me, I knew that he figured I was included in that group. "You may want to work on finding a husband fast, or not even your pretty face will be able to save you."
I was about to slap the taste out of his mouth, but instead found myself snickering as his dress robes began to smoke. A small flame had started near the bottom, but it was quickly starting to grow on the material. After a moment, Evander noticed his misfortune, and with wide eyes stumbled off, grabbing for his wand and repeatedly mumbling "aguamenti" as he went.
"You really are a savior, you know that?" I spoke with amusement as Cameron stepped out from behind a column to join me. She smoothed out her dress with a proud smile and took my drink from me. "I see you finally escaped Aunt Estelle?"
"Damn woman," she muttered bitterly, taking a drink of the muggle whiskey that we both favored. "You'd think I'd shown up to this stupid thing in a potato bag. Does she want me to look like a midget drowning in one of the manor's curtains? Because that's what I would look like if I was wearing a dress like yours."
I giggled at the thought, remembering back to when she and I were both little girls and had in fact, wrapped ourselves in some of the lace curtains that we found around the house. The house elves had had a wonderful time helping us dress up. Aunt Estelle, however, was not as amused.
"So, has Uncle Will told you what this is about yet?" Cam could always weasel answers out of her father. She was a daddy's girl, and he adored her. I can't count the times he has told her no on my right hand. She huffed and crossed her arms, finishing off the whiskey.
"No. But he did let it slip that it has something to do with you."
"Passing my aurors examinations?" I suggested. She shook her head.
"Tried that. He laughed. So it's obviously not that," she bit her lip thoughtfully and shrugged. "You asked Uncle Hank?"
"He only told me I'd find out later. If I'd wanted to know later, I would have asked him later," I scoffed. "If this whole thing is about me, you'd think he would have had the decency to explain what the hell I had done."
"He bought good alcohol, don't complain," Cameron scolded as she hip checked me. I rolled my eyes and bumped her back. I wanted to just have fun and relax with my cousin and our friends, but I was having a difficult time. An uneasy feeling had taken hold in my stomach, and it just wouldn't let go.
"So what'd Evander want?" she asked, tapping her wand against the glass to refill it. "Want one?" she questioned when she found me looking. "Geminio," she whispered, catching the new glass before it fell and passing it to me, staring expectantly as she waited for me to answer.
"Just to annoy me, I think," I shrugged, relishing the warmth that fell down my throat with each drink. "He brought up that stupid law…"
"May I have your attention!"
Cameron and I both immediately looked at the center of the ballroom, where my mother and father were standing, the lights all falling on them. Good, we would finally get some answers.
"We hope everyone is enjoying their evening," my mother, Amara, spoke. Her smile was bright, but uneasy. "We were glad you could join us for the celebration tonight. Though, I'm sure some of you are wondering what we're celebrating. For this, we'd like our beautiful daughter, Rhiannon, to come over here with us."
I took a step forward unsteadily, grabbing Cameron's hand and dragging her with me.
"Sure, I'll go be the center of attention with you," she grumbled indignantly, but put up no fight. She could sense my worry. Something wasn't right with this, I could feel it. She knew as well as I did, that our evening was likely to take a quick turn downhill.
Cameron stopped walking right before the edge of the spotlight, and motioned me forward. She may not be able to stand up there with me, but I knew she was with me regardless. My father gave me a sad smile and laid a hand on my shoulder. Oh God… I was adopted.
"Our daughter has grown up, and made us so very proud. And as much as we would like to, we can't keep her here forever. She isn't a baby anymore," my father spoke slowly. "She's a woman. And with recent events, Amara and I were forced to make some very difficult decisions."
My mother grabbed my hand and squeezed it. When I met her eyes she simply mouthed 'I'm sorry'. What the fuck was going on?
"In the following days," my father continued, taking a deep breath as if he were trying to collect himself. "Rhiannon will be going to Britain, to meet her future husband."
Silence fell over the entire ballroom, and my throat felt as if was about to close. He had to be joking, there's no way he was serious. Maybe he was sending me over there to try to meet someone? Of course that's what this was. They were giving me options! They wouldn't actually marry me off, Ministry law be damned.
"Hank and I found a suitable man for her, one that we think she would grow to love, and our families have come to an agreement," my mother continued, tears springing to her eyes as she noticed my panic. "So we would like to thank you for being here, on this night, to celebrate our only daughter's engagement."
My chest constricted and I immediately sought out my cousin in the crowd. She looked as horrified as I felt. This was what tonight was about? This was why no one would tell me? Did they think getting me in front of a crowd would make it easier, would keep me calm? They were wrong.
"No," I yelled suddenly, pulling myself away from my parents and glaring. "No! I won't do it!"
The atmosphere in the ballroom suddenly became tense, and a small wind began to pick up. I'd never been good at controlling my magic when I became truly enraged, and this was only a small testament to that.
"Rhiannon, please," my mother begged, reaching for me. I jerked my hand away and glared.
"No! You're going to pawn me off on some other family! You're trying to make me marry someone, someone I don't even know!" I screamed, stomping my foot. "I won't do it!" I yelled, turning away from them and walking toward the staircase. The running footsteps behind me gave Cameron away, not that I'd had any notion that she wouldn't follow. We always were there for each other, even in this.
"Rhiannon!" My father yelled after me. He was probably displeased that I had made a scene in front of the guests, but I didn't give a damn. I was displeased that he was marrying me off.
"I WON'T!" I screamed over my shoulder, hearing the crashing as all of the glasses in the room shattered. My parents would be pissed, but I didn't care. This was all their fault.
"Nice one," Cameron giggled. "Red wine all over mom. Priceless."
