The room was dark except for a single candle that flickered. Rosalie was sat in front of a large mirror in her small antique decorated room, combing the knots out of her hair. She hated having to put her hair up the way her mother did, she always felt like a Barbie doll. A single tear fell from her eye. She put her comb down and wiped it quickly, she couldn't let anyone see her crying.
She hated him. He was an arrogant, greedy, cruel, sexist pig. She could go on and on but it just reminded her more of what she had to wake up next to everyday of her life in a few months. He would be sixteen in three months, and she would be in two weeks. She cursed every second that brought the day of their 'joyful' joining closer. She couldn't sleep; it would pass the time quicker. She sighed; looking at her reflection she made a wish.
"I wish that just for once. I am granted freedom, if not from my family, and my destiny, then from this barbaric man" she muttered aloud. Then she stood up, and picking the candle up in its holder, she opened her door. If she couldn't sleep, then maybe she could read that would relieve her stress. The corridor outside was silent and dark. Good, she thought, everyone's asleep. She made her way slowly down the stairs. Every time she came to one that creaked, she held her breath to see if someone would come out and send her back to her room. But they never did.
When she came to the library, the door was slightly ajar. Curiously, she pushed it open. Stood facing the window, bathed in the blessed moonlight, was Sirius. He had taken his stupid jacket off, and was stood in his shirt and trousers, his undone tie hanging lamely across him shoulders. He seemed distant, his spirit drifting out into the night. His soft, long black hair had been pulled to one side of his neck which allowed those calming gray eyes to light up the room, and it also revealed a strong jaw line. It was a sight that made her smile, he looked peaceful.
She liked Sirius, he was the opposite to his brother, and even though she didn't know him, she trusted him. Sirius turned after hearing the creak as the rusty library door was opened. He saw a goddess, light illuminating her magnificent features. Rosalie had taken out all her clips and hairspray so her natural blond curls spilled down her back stunningly. Her face was cleaned of all the makeup that had been plastered on it before, revealing the most intriguing pale skin, with her mother's cheekbones. Only, time hadn't stolen her youth like with her mother. Her true body shape was shown, without a corset or underskirt to give the fake impression it had before. She wasn't dressed up; she was wearing a pair of normal pyjamas.
Her natural looks were unbelievable, more beautiful than he could ever had imagined. Then she did it, she smiled at him. That impossible smile. And that's when it happened. He didn't know it at first, but her looks weren't really that angelic and her smile wasn't like that of an unearthly jewel, that's just what he saw. He didn't know it, but he had just fallen hopelessly in love. He smiled back at her and she got butterflies again. How can a smile do this to me? She wondered. But it was a different smile, it wasn't forced or pretend, it was real, it was a smile of actual happiness.
"Can't sleep?" she asked in that gentle voice. She must have only whispered but he heard it clearly,
"No, not tonight" he replied. She closed the door behind her and came into the room, standing next to him. Gently she placed the candle on the side so as to give the room light, "Can't you?" He asked. She sighed, that voice, how could she lie to it?
"No, I'm too worried" she told him. She wouldn't meet his eye but she knew he was frowning. He did an unexpected thing and gently picked her chin up so as to look her in the eye. They didn't feel shock this time. Comforting gray met confused green.
"About Regulus?" he asked. She sighed and looked away,
"Yes" she replied, "I know he's your brother and I don't want to offend you". Sirius scoffed, it surprised her.
"I don't hold my brother close to me, don't worry I won't take any offence to what you have to say". It was strange, she had always known families to be close, yet the Black's were so distant from each other, it was sad.
"Alright" she said, a bit confused "Your brother, he's…" she couldn't find the right words; she was still so uncomfortable talking to Sirius about his brother.
"Cold hearted, vile, harsh, discouraging, an arrogant spoilt little-"
"Something like that" she cut him off. He smiled and she found herself smiling too.
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but yes he is. And that's what he's like around guests. I'm afraid your future isn't going to be a good one, Rosalie" he confessed, releasing her face, but she didn't look away like before,
"Please, call me Rose or Rosie. I hate the name Rosalie" she told him,
"Why? Its suits you perfectly. You're as fair and delicate as a blooming rose" he told her. She smiled and he blushed, "Sorry" he whispered at the end.
"Don't be" she replied. Changing the subject quickly she said,
"You're nothing like Regulus" to which he smiled and replied,
"I'd hope not. While he got the brute force and anger, I got the looks and the brains". She laughed at this. Sirius faltered, it was a breath-taking sound. Like angel song. He tried but he could find nothing to compare it too, it was unique. When she stopped he almost groaned. He didn't want it to end.
"Well, that may be true" she continued, "but you really are his complete opposite. With you I can actually speak my mind and not be laughed at. Oh, well, I hardly know you, but I can have proper conversations with you, while your brother just seems to want me to listen. We haven't had many though, but I know you respect me". She seemed embarrassed after she admitted this. He smiled and wanted to reach out for her, but kept back. He couldn't let these feelings control him. She was Regulus's fiancée for god's sake he had to remind himself.
"Well, my brother does lack in intellectual skills. But if you think I am a good person to talk to, you haven't talked to many other's to compare me too" he told her. She smiled,
"You don't treat me like an animal". He looked up at her, his brow creased.
"An animal? Is that how he treats you?" his tone was disgusted
"No, well, not how you think. But he's very prejudice about me, and he treats me like a child" she tried to defend Regulus but it wouldn't work,
"He's sexist towards you" Sirius sighed, "I'll-"
"No" she said suddenly, panicked, "you won't do anything. It's the way of the world Sirius". He looked at her for a moment. She was so amazing. She was caring, beautiful and understanding, but she was so vulnerable.
"Rose-"
"Sirius, I'm a big girl you know. Words won't destroy me, it could be worse" she smiled, and reaching up she kissed him on his cheek. It was unexpected but not unwelcome. When her lips touched his skin he felt flushed. Then it was over. He felt his heart racing. She smiled and picking up the candle by its base she moved to light up the many shelves of books.
"Do you know of any good books?" She asked. He smiled. She was intelligent as well as beautiful, that he knew. It as the strangest thing, he felt so comfortable around her, but he felt so wary, like she was her own person and not another swooning fan like from Hogwarts. He stood behind her, far enough so as not to touch her, but close enough to smell the sweet skin on her neck. It was like freshly cut grass, and newly picked strawberries, and Christmas vanilla, his favourite things.
"What perfume do you wear?" he thought aloud. She chortled and still browsing through the books replied,
"I've just bathed, so I'm not wearing any. But I usually wear this very strong French one that my mother bought on her last visit there. It smells of Bernard's flower and mint" Sirius couldn't help but laugh. The sound made Rosalie smile, it was deep and heartily. Bernard's flower was a very strong magical mushroom that reminded a person of peach when smelt; a strange combination with mint.
"Interesting" said Sirius.
"Yes, I do hate perfume" she confessed.
"You don't need it" Sirius admitted, and she just smiled. Sirius pulled his wand out, it was black with a white handle.
"Accio!" he muttered and a thin book slid out from a shelf high up and floated down into his hands. It had a plain brown cover and the title in golden letters at the front. He held it in front of Rosalie who took it and turned towards him.
"Hmm, 'Diamond law'. A muggle book?" she asked.
"Yes, it's a murder mystery. Perhaps you'll like it" he observed.
"Perhaps. Do you like to read also?" she wondered
"Well, I don't really have anything else to do cooped up in this place" he replied and walked back over to his window. The rain has stopped long ago.
"I understand" she replied, "You won't be here long though. Hogwarts is only a few weeks away". He smiled,
"It is, which school do you go to?" he wondered. Hogwarts was the only Wizarding School in the country. She sighed,
"I'm homeschooled, my father used to be a professor" she admitted, "I'd love to see Hogwarts some day, I hear it's amazing. I'd like to meet Albus Dumbledore also. They say he's the only wizard that you-know-who fears". Sirius frowned,
"They say, but I don't know for certain" he thought about it, "I don't think your family would approve of you meeting him though, he's the enemy". She smiled,
"He's theirs. Before, you never got to finish what you were saying. Do you want to follow your brother lead?" she repeated. He smiled and walking up to her, he looked her in the eye. Taking a hold of her hand he said,
"My brother is a fool. And in time, he will pay for his mistake. When I leave school, I'm never going to become a death eater. I'm going to fight them". She gasped,
"A risky choice" she admitted,
"Yes, but it'll be worth it" he replied. She smiled,
"I don't have a choice; I have already been put into favour with you-know-who" she revealed sadly,
"Oh, but-"but he was interrupted as a very sly looking Kreacher opened the door.
"Master Sirius" he said when he realised he wasn't alone. He acted like Rosalie was invisible. Sirius scowled at the pathetic house-elf
"What do you want Kreacher?" he spat
"Oh, nothing, master. Kreacher came inside to clean, sir, but you were in here. Should Kreacher leave you master?"
"Well, either that or I kick you out" replied Sirius.
"Yes master" and with that he closed the door behind him. Rosalie was watching Sirius with a frown,
"You're kind to your house-elf aren't you?" she stated
"He's just a house-elf, he hates me really, so I'm just returning the favour" he explained. She sighed,
"Yes, maybe. Well, I must getting back to my room. Thank you for the book, good night Sirius" she said as she picked up her candle by its holder and opened the door. He watched her and smiled secretly,
"Good night Rose, see you at breakfast tomorrow". And with that she left the room, returning the darkness. Sirius sighed and kept looking out of the window. Then a thought occurred to him, perhaps this week won't be as bad as I thought.
