Chapter two: Red

The sounds of laughter and music drifted in through my bedroom window and I leaned idly over my desk to look into the garden underneath and smiled at the lovers that walked the path and through the maze that had been grown. I pulled back and looked at my stationary pack, placing the peacock quill into its rightful place and placing the stopper on the crystal jar of purple ink. I pulled some red ribbon from a box and pulled the parchment up to my eyes, raising a candle so I could read what I wrote.

Dear Cain,

How are you? I miss you terribly. You haven't written in a while, if it because of all the schoolwork? How's school? Are classes easy? Why won't you tell me about how first years get sorted? How's Lucius (Narcissa's asking) and Antonin? Mother and Father are fine; we're having another ball tonight. It's grand but it's not the same when you're gone. I miss dancing with everyone but I have Sirius and Regulus, they're fine dancers and funny too. They've been up to mischief all night so far, stealing their parent's wands and all! Narcissa did my hair today, it's all curly and I like it very much. When I'm older I'm going to find a spell so I can do my hair like this all the time.

I put in a box of your favourite chocolates from France; Mother took me to see Grand-Mama and I ate the ones you don't like. I don't understand why you don't like them Cain, is it because they're dark chocolate?

Anyway Brother, I must go. I need to go back to the party. I'm sorry. Only two more months now it seems good luck! I can't wait for you to come home and then next year I can join you in Slytherin! Goodbye.

Imogene

I rolled it up and tied it with the ribbon. I rung a bell on my desk and a black owl swooped in, landing on my shoulder. I opened a small container on my desk and held it to its beak and immediately Meiji began eating. I pulled it away and closed it and then whispered the instructions to my faithful owl, tying the letter to her leg. I closed my window and brushed my hair back.

"They you are!" Narcissa entered the room looking beautiful, a vision in silver robes. She smiled softly and slides her arm through mine, "I think my cousin likes you," we giggled.

"Which one?" I blushed softly and looked anywhere but at my best friend.

"Well, both of them but I think Regulus more so than Sirius." She pulled away and took hold of the balustrade as we made it down the stairs onto the first floor; the ballroom was none to far away. She was in front of my, her silk robes fluttering behind her as she walked gracefully down the staircase. She was a petite girl and still is as a woman; she was beautiful and knew it. She knew how to manipulate it to her advantage, as did I, as Pureblood girls were taught to.

"Oh how charming," I sighed and patted down my skirts. My robes for the night were a deep set green with silver embroidery on the sleeves; I must say I looked good.

The ballroom looked smaller than it usually did but I supposed it had to do with the numerous people inside. The mirrors that lined one side of the room reflected the images of dancing couples and others that lined around the edge. A band played on a platform and house elves skimmed around our feet with trays of food and beverages. I picked up a glass of champagne and was about to raise it to my lips when I glanced at Father and he raised an eyebrow at me.

I pouted slightly and placed it back on a tray of another house elf that walked passed. Narcissa giggled before dragging me to one of the balcony doors, waving at a few of our friends. I noticed Sirius who was sending sparks into the air with his father's wand and Regulus who was watching in awe. I tilted my head and watched the sparks with wide eyes, they were beautiful.

"Come on Sirius, stop that!" Narcissa grabbed his wrist and tugged on it, "I want to dance."

Sirius, heir to the Noble and most Ancient house of Black was a very handsome boy at his age of eleven. He had inherited his sharp features from his father Orion and usually wore his hair to his collar. He was the most laid back Pureblood boy I had met and was often found lying back in chairs or leaning idly against walls or trees, hands in his pockets. Unlike his brother, Regulus was more conservative but shy. He looked similar to his brother but his hair was short and a much lighter brown. Like most blacks, their eyes were a deep set grey.

"I danced already," Sirius whined.

"I'm sure you'd dance with Imogene if she asked." I blushed again.

"Will you dance with me Imogene?" Regulus bowed slightly and I smiled despite myself, he was utterly cute for an eight year old.

"I would love to," I took his offered arm and had a slight feeling that Regulus stuck his tongue out at his brother. I giggled and then straightened up when I felt the eyes of dozens of adults watching my back. It wasn't an unusual occurrence and at the time when I was ten and dancing with Regulus it didn't occur that many of these witches and wizards were thinking along the line of a good match. I, however didn't think of Regulus as such and doubted whether my parents would betroth me to someone two years my junior.

My friends were dancing beside us and we swayed and twirled to the music. It was great fun and entirely amazing that at such a young age we danced like adults to waltzes and such. My father ended up tapping Regulus on the shoulder halfway through a waltz and I watched Regulus look up shyly, his face ghostly pale as he bowed and vacated the dance floor.

"Evening Father," I said softly, smiling up at him.

"Did you send another letter to your brother?" He accused and I looked away, staring at Regulus.

"Yes Father," I replied, looking back at him.

"Well, next time write to him during your free time. Luckily your mother didn't notice." I sighed but smiled, "How has your evening been?"

"Oh, wonderful! It's different without Cain but Sirius and Regulus are lovely, they've been entertaining Narcissa and I." My Father didn't look too pleased but at the time I didn't take any heed to it. At the time I didn't notice it and now that I think about it, whenever I mentioned a boy's name he would always frown in thoughtfulness.

"That's good," my Father stopped suddenly and turned around. I side stepped my father and clasped my hands behind my back, it was Sirius and he had a concentrated look on his face. Narcissa stopped dancing with Regulus to watch. "Yes Mr Black?"

"I wish to dance with your daughter if you'll allow me."

"Oh hush Sirius, come dance with me," a woman leaned down and pecked his cheek. She was entirely beautiful, surreal and mesmerising, her hair like a black curtain down her back and bright red eyes and lips. She was rather tall, like Father and wore red robes that left nothing to the imagination. She was perfect.

I think that my obsessive nature with red began upon my meeting with Lady Carmilla Sanguina. My friendship however never lasted long because upon entering my teenage years she tried desperately to kill me, explaining something about using my blood to retain her beauty and youth. At the time I never knew she was a vampire.

"Lady Carmilla," I turned to my father who was smiling cruelly, "does the Ministry know you're here?" he asked in what I assumed was a polite tone. I was confused none the less and Narcissa, sensing the danger pulled me away from the couple.

"Who is she?" I asked when we met up with the other children in the drawing room.

"I…don't know," Narcissa didn't seem pleased by that. For as long as I knew her she was always in on the latest gossip and social standings of others. She was amazing like that.

"She's really pretty," Regulus piped up.

"She seems unusual," Sirius muttered, making is way to the chess board.

"She's still pretty," I guess at the time that was all that mattered…we never really judged a person based on personality.

"I don't know about her," Narcissa replied, patting down her robes as she sat on one of the chairs.

"Are you threatened dear Cousin?" Sirius smirked and Narcissa spluttered.

"She's not threatened Sirius," I mumbled, "my father didn't seem to like her…so maybe we shouldn't…"

"Maybe your father had a history with her. You know, someone as beautiful as that-"

"No, Mother and Father were seeing each other during their Hogwarts years and she's far too young for Father anyway." I shook my head and then glanced at the family tree, the silver lines joining the Rosier family and the Averys. I tried to imagine what it was like for my parents.

"I believe we're reading too much into this," Sirius smirked playfully and we all looked at him, as did the other children. "Look at what I stole," he raised a few bottles of Butterbeer and we laughed. It was no wine but it still left us pink cheeked and hopelessly childish by the end of the night.

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Oky Dokes that was chapter two and I hope you enjoyed it. I had fun writing it and miss Lady Carmilla is an existing character in the books, I had to do some research. She's actually based of Elizabeth something or other who was supposed to bathe in the blood of virgin women to retain beauty and youth. However in fact she just tortured women and young girls. So yes. That's interesting.