"If you do not get down stairs within the next five minuets I am going to Imperio you!" Growled Orion threw his son's bedroom door. Sirius eyed his reflection carefully in the wardrobe mirror. Once again he was in his best dress robes off to another dull social event on his parents calander. This time it was the Ministers ball, the night his mother intended to look for a wife for him. Of course James had been no help.

Padfoot,

Congratulations! I had no idea that you were ready to make a life long commitment. I hope that I get to be best man, presuming your mother will allow you to invite a blood traitor like me.

Don't worry if she chooses Alecto Carrow I will gladly put you out of your missery. Look on the bright side there are plenty of desirable Slytherin girls from good pure blood families, to choose from.

Have fun at the ball try not too snog too many Slytherins!

Prongs.

The only good thing that could come from tonight was that Sirius would get to see his two favourite relatives. His cousin Andromeda and his Uncle Alphard. Sirius spotted them almost imeaditly, as he followed his family into the large ball room. It was a large circular room with a glass roof. Around the edge of the room were tables and chairs, the center of the room had been cleared for dancing. A live band was playing at one end of the room and there were witches and wizards wearing white uniforms, serving drinks.

"Ah! Sirius! My boy it has been to long!" Alphard Black wrapped himself around his nephew in a bear hug.

"Uncle Alphard how have you been?"

"Sit down! Sit down! Still living the life of a bachelor, something I hear your mother intends to put an end to, for you."

Sirius shot his uncle a dark look, and watched as he chuckled at his nephews clear distress. It did not take long before the three 'black sheep' of the Black family fell into comfortable conversation. After a few hours Sirius cousin Andromeda disapeared. Sirius had the sneaking surpission that she had gone off with Ted Tonks. Her secret muggleborn boyfriend of three years.

His mother was making no obvious attempts to find him or Regulus wivies. Instead she seemed cotent to help his Ant Druella find matches for her daughters. Something which appeared to be going rather well. Narcissa was dancing with Lucius Malfoy, and Bellatrix was sat with her farther at the Lestrange table talking animatily.

"Well well if it isn't Elladora Hallow! My dear it has far to long." Alphard had stood up and bowed to a tall dark haired woman, that was taking a seat at the table behind them.

"Alphard Black you old dog! You have not changed a bit."

"I was not expecting to see you here, if I had known i would have put my dancing shoes on."

The middle aged witch began to laugh, "Because you can dance so well Alphard! Actually i'm here with my sister and her family. My nephew Marius has just graduated from Hogwarts and my sister thinks, its time he started looking for a wife."

Alphard clapped a hand to Sirius's shoulder, "My nephew's mother has similar plans for him."

"Sirius Black." He held his hand out to the older witch by way of introduction.

"Elladora Hallow, Hogwarts boy are you?"

"Yes, Gryffindor, I am about to start my sixth year."

"Ooh you will know my nice Louisa Nightshade. Very bright girl, apple of her farthers eye, still girls usually are..." The older witch began scanning the room as she made idle chit chat, "... She is here tonigtht actually, I am sure she would be glad of a friendly face."

The older witch suddenly started calling for one of the severs. After getting herself and Alphard fresh drinks she sent the poor bloke off to find Louisa. Amazingly Louisa appeared moments later. And in Sirius's mind she was the most beautiful thing that he had ever laid eyes on.

"You wanted to see me Ant?"

"Well yes, I thought you would like to see a familiar face. You know Sirius Black already I trust?" Elladora indicated to Sirius, who like his uncle had stood when the young witch appeared. Louisa turned to Sirius suprised by his presence. Louisa smiled and nodded her acknoledgement. Her hair was tied in a loose bun at the side of her neck, her frindge slightly curled framed her face. The dark crushed red velvet gown hugged her figure wounderfully, and the black under bust corset really set the outfit off.

"And this is his Uncle Alphard, an old friend of mine."

"A pleasure to meet you sir."

Louisa took the seat opiset her ant, Alphard and Sirius turning thiers around so that they could join them. Alphard and Elladora fell into deep convosation, leaving Sirius to entertain Louisa. Needless to say most of thier convostation was based around thier best friends, love hate relationship.

"So how come your here, didn't think this would be your scean."

"To find a wife." Louisa's head snapped round so quickly that Sirius was suprised it was still attached. He hadn't ment to say that it had just slipped out. Sirius could feel a warm heat starting to creep up the back of his neck. 'Crap! Why did i just say that?'

"Y-your here to find a w-wife?" Louisa searched his face for any sign of humor. "Your serious! Arn't you?"

Nodding his head numbly, he took in the shock and disbelief that was etched onto her face. "Mother thinks its time to start looking for match. Apparently it's my duty to carry on The Nobel House Of Black." The heat from the back of his neck was spreading. 'Merlin this is embaressing enough without me blushing! For the love of all thats magic, say somthing! ... And why of all times do I have to notice how beautiful those blue eyes are. Gods just Advada Kedava me already!'

Suddenly Louisa burst out laughing. She was laughing so hard that she had to clamp a hand over her mouth, to stifle the noise. Eventually she calmed down enough that she was able to form words again. "Sorry it was the bit about being your 'duty'. You made it sound like some kind of life sentence."

"Oh it will be! I am only going to able to marry a girl from an old pure blood family. Her and her family will have to share my families beliefs and she will probably be in Slytherin house. Oh and she has to be young enough to give me a few kids."

"Aw it all sounds so romantic. Got your eye on anyone?"

Sirius shot her a dark look. "No and if I have it my way I shall end up like uncle Alphard, a life long bachelour."

"Thats gonna make me my Ant Elladora ... My grandmother keeps trying to persuade mum to have me married off."

"She into the whole we must save the blood lines thing too?"

"Oh yeah big time! Mom and dad arn't that bothered about me, long as Marius makes a good match." Noticing the quizicle look Sirius was giving her she started to explain. "I'm a girl I don't carry on the family name. Don't get me wrong I still have to make a good match, I just don't have the same restraints that my brother has." Awquard silence fell between the two, as Louisa sat watching the couples dance around the room.

Alphard nudged his nephew in the ribs as he led Elladora onto the dance floor. "Ask the girl to dance! I thought you were ment to be a regular casanova." Sirius sat for a few minuets thinking, 'What if she says no. What if she says yes! If she says yes does that mean shes interested? If shes interested am I? Yes! Prongs said no dating Evans friends. Screw Prongs, if things were the other way round would he stop chasing Evans? No! Then ask her! I can't! For the love of Merlin I am SIRIUS BLACK! I do not get nervous around girls! Shes not just any girl though! What does that mean?'

Sirius continued with this inner argument for ten minuets, eventually making his mind up that one dance wouldn't hurt. More to the point what Prongs didn't know wouldnt hurt him.

"Fancy a dance then?"

"You dance?" Louisa's eye brows disapearing into her hair line.

"Yeah it has been known."

Nodding Louisa took his out stratched hand, and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. Sirius took her waist in one hand and her other hand in his. Her arm snaking around his neck, Sirius began to lead them around the dance floor.

"Well look at that you can dance, who would have thought it Mr. Black." A playfull smile on her lips, as blue eyes met grey. One dance was not enough for Sirius. The two spent the rest of the night, in one anothers arms, dancing. Sirius enjoyed the way she would subconsciously play with the hair at the base of his neck, twirling it around her fingers. Or the way she would let him hold her closer and rest her head against his shoulder for the slow songs.

Sirius would have been happy to stay like that for the rest of his life. But at eleven thirty, his Uncle Alphard appeared at his side, with news that Louisa's family were getting ready to leave. With reluctance Sirius escorted her into the foyer of the hotel, so she could take the flu network home with her family.

"Thanks for the dance Sirius ... I'll see you back at school." Louisa's family appeared before he had a chance to reply. Her older brother Marius grabbing her arm and dragging her into the fire place, all the while glaring at Sirius.