« So, do you not agree with Quester's views about house elves?"
Malfoy looks up at Parkinson thoughtfully for some moments, then nods slowly as a sign off affirmation.
"I find them quite ground-breaking, what with his viewpoint about the magical creatures' rights. But I do approve of certain arguments on using them for our society's benefit."
The witch nodded in approbation, and Rabastan rolled his eyes with a bored groan.
"I don't know if you've noticed but this isn't a debate club. Can you stop talking about politics? You're boring me to death."
"Why don't you go sit somewhere else?" Parkinson snapped coolly.
"Not that it's any of your business, but Malfoy and I have known each other since forever. So, I'm not about to leave him because of a killjoy like yourself."
She huffed in exasperation, and Malfoy glanced at her apologetically before turning to his mate.
"Where's Belleville? I thought you two have bonded yesterday?"
"Well, so did I" he complained tugging at his brown hair. "But when I saw her this morning, she didn't say a word. She was sitting next to the fireplace by herself, and I even dared call her twice, but she ignored me."
Parkinson scoffed, and Malfoy tried to keep the disdainful smirk of his face.
"She probably realized how much of a jerk you are. You can't blame the girl for being reasonable."
"Women, I'm telling you. One day, they're all over you. The next, they act like nothing happened."
He rolled his eyes and downed his cup of coffee in his attempt to be dramatic. Though, he choked, and Parkinson burst out laughing as his face turned a very purple shade of red.
*Sophia didn't sleep very well that night, no mater how hard she forced herself to shut her mind down. She couldn't keep the thoughts of Black's betrayal of her head. Yes, she knew that a frown isn't appealing as her mother had told her. However, no one was around to judge, so she let the memories take control of her.
Anyone looking at the scene would marvel at the wholesome attractiveness of it, a deluxe mansion, two gorgeous ladies chatting whilst sipping tea and exchanging the latest gossip. The contrast that was born anytime Madam Belleville was around Madam Black. The later had dark features, her hair hung high in a perfectly tight bun, her designer dress made of dark fabric covered most parts of her porcelain skin leaving a face that fashioned a disdainful expression, and grey ice-cold eyes. And the second was letting her blond waves down on her back, covering the skin that her not-so-conservative dress revealed. Her skin was sun-kissed and had pinkish undertones that were mirrored by the silk of which her cloth was made. She looked warm, giggly, bubbly, almost cheerful, but everyone to know her would beg to differ. Nevertheless, both women were very good acquaintances, they tolerated each other's presence, and for purebloods, that means they are besties. Both had their children sat next to them, formally exchanging polite expressions.
"Simone dearest! Your daughter looks marvelous, doesn't she?"
Madam Black nodded her head in appreciation, thinking of how an arranged marriage between the child and her son could be beneficent.
"She sure is marvelous, apparently not well-mannered enough to thank you"
Madam Belleville giggled but her daughter could sense the threat behind the act.
"Excuse me, Madam Black. I was so entranced by your magnificent dress that I didn't realize you were talking to me."
Sophia fluttered her eyelashes and smiled innocently at the older lady who smirked in a self-absorbed manner.
"Anyhow! Sirius, why don't you be a gentleman and show Sophia around the house? It's been so long that Simone and I had some alone time!"
Sirius held his arm out for Sophia who gracefully took it and they walked away from their mothers.
"It's good to be back! No tea in France is as good as yours, Walburga"
She heard her mother sigh and sip of her cup.
"So. You speak English, right?"
His eyebrows were raised in confusion, as he sat down on the patio.
"Of course! I was taught some basic English, it's just the accent"
"I noticed."
Sophia huffed, and he chuckled at her expense.
"Do you prefer France or England?"
That day, they did as was expected of them: Sirius did most of the talking, while Sophia either approved of his opinions, laughed if he joked, pretended to be dumb or twirled her hair in a cute way. It was like that for the next few weeks until one day:
"Is this what English boys do for fun? Prank innocent little girls and mock them?"
She pouted, brushing the dust of her pink skirt. If her mother had seen her running that way! All because of Sirius's prank on some Parkinson girl.
"Why, what do French boys do?"
"Be gentlemen, for a start."
"Well, that's because of how fragile and feminine French girls are! Look at you! Why would anyone ever prank you?"
"I may be feminine, but I'm far from fragile."
Sirius looked her up and down then smirked defyingly.
"So… You mean to tell me that you can prank someone?"
"Not that I want to"
"Not that you can! You're too chicken to do it, anyway"
Sophia closed her eyes to calm herself. They were called to join the remaining of the purebloods inside, where Madam Black was making a speech.
"Witches and wizards, please I want to welcome all of you in this housewarming party that I've personally hosted for my dear friend Simone Belleville née Rosier. Of course, many of you recognize her as the charming model that we've all come to love and cherish through her famous runaways for Paris's most prestigious brands! Her and her husband, Gustave Belleville: the well-known business man and worldwide seller of cosmetic potions. They have both made a very wise decision to move back to England with their three lovely children: Liam, Sophia and Sandrine."
The people in the room applauded as the Belleville family walked towards Walburga. Sophia noticed her brother's wand peeking out of his pocket and she slyly grabbed it while trying to remember a transfiguration spell she had read in one of her brother's books.
"Merci, ma chère Walburga"
Her mother had flipped her hair, and started drowning on and on, in a fake French accent in her poor attempt at being French. But, Sophia didn't listen, she spotted Sirius in the crowd chatting to his cousin Andromeda. She quickly flicked the wand and muttered the spell. Soon enough, his suit turned into a long white dress that read: "I love muggles"
A gasp was heard, followed by another. Then, everyone was pointing to Sirius and whispering about him. He was horrified, for he had not only been played by a girl, but Sophia Belleville.
That day, he had learned to not mess with her. He had also learned not to make a fool of himself again, his mother had cared enough to indulge that lesson in her own severe ways.
The next day, the two children met again. And the young wizard was surprised to not be met by a cocky grin. Instead, Sophia was more reserved than ever. Her eyes were puffy while his were surrounded by huge dark circles. A bluish scar was on his neck, and he noticed a bloody wound on her left knee. It was like a silent pledge has been made, where they both attest that they understood, that they'll be there for each other.
And here they are, not even a year after that incident. Sophia scoffed bitterly and rolled her eyes. She shouldn't have trusted him. She should have kept up that fake shallow girl act, and not let him see how vulnerable and weak she was. But she was not to blame, whenever he was around, she only seemed to make bad decisions.
Sophia sighed, bored as she watched her brother and his friends having a passionate conversation.
Sirius slicked his hair back, straightened his shirt, smiled politely and pretended to be holding a book in his hand.
"I'm Adam Rosier. You may recognize me as the only heir of the wealthy Rosier family, that's why you can spot my ego walking by my side. I like to think of myself as an intellectual, I only think, don't feel: that's my motto."
Sophia giggled and bent down, she ruffled her dark hair. Sirius gasped as he saw how good she was at impersonating his cousin. Her eyebrows (though not as sharp as the Black's) were raised in a daring expression, her mouth curled in disgust and her nose flared angrily.
"I'm Bellatrix Black. If you don't know who I am, you're either a useless muggle, or a half-blood scum. I'm a fanatic of dark arts, I love making an hour-long speech about how unworthy squibs are. If you have a different opinion, perish."
Sirius chuckled, and she glanced at him curiously, waiting for his impression of her brother. His hair was messier than usual, his shirt's first buttons were open, and he was smiling like a dork.
"I'm Liam Belleville. I love Quidditch, I'm horrible at school, but I make up for it with my good looks. You see, I'm part veela, so naturally, all girls are fond of me. Though, I never date because I'm too busy working out."
"Hey! My brother is not some dumb athlete boy!"
She hit him playfully on the arm, and he held his hands up apologetically.
"Aren't you going to do Avery?"
"Doing him is your job, not mine."
Sirius winked at her, and she blushed, squealing to hide her embarrassment. Unfortunately for her, she got Vincent's attention. He glanced at her worriedly from the other end of garden, whilst her brother kept on talking with his mates.
Power. Everything about Avery screamed power. The Blacks were known for their purety, the Rosiers for their money, the Malfoys for their influence, and the Averys for their extreme hunger for power. Most ministers of magic are either Averys by mother, or father. And Sophia liked that about him, it was comforting to know that he would kill for her, that by a snap of his fingers, he can grant her heart's deepest desire.
"Look at your eyes! You're in wove with Avery? Avery-pooh! Sophia Avery sounds good to me."
"Quit being childish!"
"Why? Why don't you call Avery to save you?"
Sophia pushed him on the ground, but he pulls her down with him. Her body was on top of his, so he quickly rolled over to be on top. With a huff of annoyance, she rolled over again. And again. Until they fell of the hill and landed in front of their mothers' shoes.
"Oh mon dieu!"
Simone pulls her daughter up and walks away, ordering her to follow. Sirius watches, knowing exactly what will happen to them both.
The night before going back to school, Sophia had felt like a nervous mess, she was throwing up everything she ate and felt nauseous at the thought of what's to come. Sensing that she won't be asleep anytime soon, she decided to check up on Sirius. Her family were staying at the Black's, while their house is going under some final retouches. She quickly found him sitting on the balcony, gazing at the stars. She sat down next to him.
"Do you worry about not being what they expect you to be?"
He didn't look at her as he said this, and her heart skipped a beat thinking that he knew her secret.
"Why do you ask?"
She avoided his gaze, picking at her sleeping gown.
"Because I fear I will not be the son they want me to be"
She sighed relieved, then reprimanded herself for being so insensitive.
"Sirius, you are the most annoying, self-absorbed, haughty git I've ever met. If that doesn't make you a Black, then what will?"
He didn't laugh, instead he turned to look into her eyes and she saw grey. That was perhaps the answer to her question, for all Blacks had ice-cold silver-grey eyes. Sirius had stormy eyes, they weren't cold at all, not even a bit. They were raging with thousands of questions, doubts and emotions that he had kept hidden from everyone.
"But... I don't know, Sophia! It's just that, sometimes I think to myself that I'll never be able to see things the way they do. It's horrifying, I don't want to be the disgrace. I can see how ashamed mother is!"
Sophia didn't know what to do. To be honest, who would? Usually, she'd flick her hair, or twirl it. Maybe flutter her eyelashes, or pout adorably. This time, it wouldn't matter if she did all those things.
"I know. I know. I'm afraid of that, myself. Whenever I look in the mirror, I only see a proof of how unlike my mother I actually am. I'd love to be as naturally gorgeous as she is. And sometimes, I even wonder if I'll ever make them proud."
"Are you kidding?"
Sirius was glancing at her, unsure whether to believe her or not. This was not the girl he was accustomed to, instead of the usual Sophia, he had in front of him a deep, serious girl. And, he liked it.
"Why would I be?"
"You're just… not a disgrace. You're gorgeous."
She sadly smiled at him, and he dismissed the topic with a wave of his hand.
"Anyway, we should go to sleep"
He stood up quickly, but before he could walk away, she held his hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Promise me one thing"
"What?"
"You'll always be here."
"I will."
"Good night Sirius"
A single tear dropped on her cheek, and she wiped it with the back of her hand. She heard a few people walking down the stairs of the boys' dorm, and she realized that she had been sitting on the couch for the whole night. She heard Lestrange greet her, but she couldn't care less. She was sleep-deprived, and frankly not in the mood to chat with anyone.
*Sirius threw his luggage under the bed and quietly sat on top of it. The dorm was spacious, though he felt anxious at the thought of sharing a room with four boys. At home, to each their own room. He doesn't even have any memory of his brother sleeping with him, to the contrary of what many loving siblings do. In fact, it was considered a violation of privacy and much needed personal space.
That's why he was waiting for his roommates to fall asleep, so that he can go downstairs. Potter was standing on his bed, clearing his throat dramatically.
"This is it, guys. This is where we will spend the next seven years. These walls will witness lots and lots of mischief!"
Lupin, the quiet boy, shook his head and sighed.
"I'm sure that they'll be pleased. Unlike those covers over which you are standing with your muddy shoes. And what's Peter doing under the bed?"
Potter jumped off the bed and slapped Peter's behind that was peeking out of the fourposter. The chubby boy yelped.
"Sorry. I wasn't hiding anything."
Sirius scoffed at his mate's lack of tact. He smirked evilly and walked towards them.
"I'm sure not. I believe you, Pettigrew. I know you're an innocent boy."
Whilst he was brushing the dust of the shorter boy's shoulders, Potter spotted a Hogsmeade's candy box.
"Caught you red-handed!"
The boys burst out laughing, and Sirius did the same. He quickly resumed his cold expression as he waited for them to fall asleep.
"Good night"
He whispered as he left the dorm. The common room was empty except for a first-year girl that was asleep on the couch. He sat down in front of the fireplace and kept on thinking about the way this special day turned out terrible.
First, he had pranked Belleville. That itself granted him a life-long subscription to her vengeful pranks. Not that he was afraid of a girl, but he knew how spiteful she was. And especially how bad she felt about rats and enclosed spaces… It's like he had broken his promise to be there for her. He understood more than anyone, and yet she thinks he used it against her.
Second, he associated with half-bloods and blood traitors. That alone gave him a weird gut feeling, like his nightmares came true. His worst fear had always been growing up to be a disgrace. And what did he do? He only made his mother further and further ashamed.
Third, he was a Gryffindor. Heck. How could he be a Gryffindor? The deities up there must really loathe him for them to send him (a descendant of a line of Slytherins) to Gryffindor. Had it been Ravenclaw, his family might have accepted it. Even Hufflepuff would have been a better choice.
Sirius gulped at the thought of what was to come. His hands were shaking, his stomach ached, and his breathing was unsteady. He saw a flash of memories that will forever haunt him. A dark cold room with nowhere to sit and nothing to eat. Days spent there as a cruel form of punishment that he knew he deserved. He remembers very well how starved he'd feel, how he'd beg for forgiveness, for compassion or even a sip of water. His hoarse voice would crack, he wouldn't even sleep. Not a moment of rest, because he was terrified of the dark and of isolation. He would hear his mother's heels clicking against the floor behind the door. He wouldn't even know how many days have gone by, with no windows or clocks. It's like he was thrown into a void, into a nothingness where he had to dwell on his errors.
Soon enough, the girl on the sofa stirred and woke up. She had strawberry blonde hair that barely reached her shoulders, her nose was upturned, and her lips turned into a cute pout as rays of sunshine tickled her eyes. She opened her eyes and jumped at the sight of him.
"Who are you and why were you watching me?"
Her voice was soft, barely a whisper. He smiled as he took in how heavenlike this girl was. But then, he quickly turned it into a smirk.
"Don't you worry" he stood up and yawned. "You don't snore that loud."
With that, he left behind him a flustered girl. Very satisfied of himself, he went upstairs to wake his roommates up. Who knows? Maybe this was meant to happen all along.
