So, here's how the ball turned out. You will get to know Lilith a bit more, and find out who a few characters mentioned before are. This will more than likely be the last pre-Hogwarts chapter that isn't an outtake.
Disclaimer: I do not, nor shall I ever own, Neville Longbottom, even though I wish I did , 'cause he got REALLY hot in the last few movies.
Vanessa jumped out of her seat, a wide smile taking over her face. She absolutely loved Lilith. Even though she loved her parents, she considered Lilith and Sirius her mom and dad.
"Lil! You're home! You said you weren't going to be back until the day after tomorrow! But you're here for my birthday" she exclaimed happily.
Lilith knelt down and smiled again, kissing the little girl on the cheek.
"Ah, my love, you know I would never miss your birthday. I told Fleur and Gabrielle that they would simply have to wait until I could wish my little Nessa a happy birthday. Now, ma petite, were your uncle and cousin good to you today?" Lilith replied, only a slight French accent still noticeable.
"Oh, yes, we went and got ice cream! And Siri got me a kitten! But I need your help naming it Lil! And we saw those rotten Malfoy's at the ice cream parlor! They ruin absolutely everything Lil" Nessa replied, still ecstatic that one of her favorite people in the world was home.
"Ah, so where is this little kitten you spoke of?" Lilith asked. As Nessa ran to retrieve her new pet, Lilith took advantage to bid hello to her fiancee.
"Hello Mi Amor. I take it you were able to handle her yourself for a few days?" she said, kissing him gently. Sirius smiled at her.
"Welcome home love. And of course, I handled her perfectly fine for four years before we were lucky enough to have found you, dear. One week would hardly kill us. Although, we are both very happy that you are home. And great idea, the kitten, as you can tell, the idea was a smashing hit" he replied with a gentle grin.
"Look, here she is! Isn't she so cute Lil? I wanted to name her friendly, but it seemed a little strange for a kitten to be named friendly..." Nessa rushed back into the room, the kitten cradled in her arms.
"Well then, how about we call her Amicale? It means friendly in French" Lilith smiled down on the little girl.
"Perfect! I knew you would know exactly what to call her Lil" Nessa said, all smiles.
"Now my love, how about you go get washed up for dinner, and we can talk about what we are going to do this weekend" Lilith said, running a hand through Nessa's hair.
"Now, Lilith, I know you share my feelings on the Malfoys-" Sirius started.
"Oh, those wretched people! If I had my way, I would wipe any proof of their existence from this Earth! What have those horrible people done now?" she responded, her temper firing up quickly.
"Well, my love, they are hosting the Ministry's formal ball this year. As you know, I have no choice but to go. However, they also want me to bring Nessa. Now, Nessa doesn't want to go, but if I don't bring her, they may start stirring up trouble again. Usually, I'm all for trouble, but after what happened last time, I really don't want to push them, especially not now. So, I need you to find dresses for both of you, and, if at all possible, try and get Nessa excited, or at least less angry, about the party" Sirius replied.
"Oi, well, my love, I shall have no problem finding the dresses. We shall go to my seamstress tomorrow. However, the hard part will be getting Nessa happy. But, I shall try."
Nessa walked back in, and the small family went to have dinner together.
...The Next Day...
Nessa and Lilith entered Madame Rivaldi's around two o'clock the next afternoon, Lilith knew she had to tread carefully when it came to dressing Nessa. Nessa didn't like dressing up, and the ministry ball was always a formal affair. However, the two also had the misfortune of entering the shop not long before Narcissa and Bellatrix.
It was only natural, as Madame Rivaldi was known to cater only to pureblood clientele, even though that wasn't why Lilith chose her shop.
Nessa walked around, looking at the children's dresses, while Lilith was trying on dresses. She dismissed the purple dresses, and sneered outright at the pink dresses. However, upon finding a selection of red dresses, her dispair lessened.
As she was finally starting to accept the idea of a ball and dresses and the dreaded ministry children, in walked the two women she disliked the most in the world.
"Ah, Madame Malfoy, Madame LeStrange! Good afternoon! How may I help you today?" Madame Rivaldi asked the two women.
"Ah, yes, Louisa, we need gowns for the ministry ball. The same colors as always, you know, traditional. And, we need to order a dress for our niece. Sirius said he would have it taken care of, but I bet that little tramp of his will have Vanessa dressed horribly" Narcissa responded, not noticing that the niece she spoke of was right behind her.
"Yes, Sirius' nasty little mudblood bride to be. And even worse that he is exposing Vanessa to such filth. Although, we knew this was coming from the time he took her" Bellatrix chimed in.
"Good afternoon Misses LeStrange, Misses Malfoy. Oh, Misses LeStrange, I ask that you watch your language around Nessa. She should not have to hear such words" Lilith said with a cold smile, coming to show Nessa her dress. Narcissa and Bellatrix both looked amazed.
"Now, Nessa love, what do you think of this one? I think Siri will be happy with a red bow tie. How about you?" she asked.
Lilith was wearing a beautiful, strapless, rose red, floor length ball gown that fitted her upper body, before flaring out into pleats right above her knees. It had clusters of small silver beads along the sweetheart neckline and right at her waist, making it look like a belt.
Nessa thought it was wonderful.
"You look like a princess Lil! It's so wonderful! Even if Siri didn't want to wear a red bow tie, we'll make him! That dress is so pretty! I hope I look like you when I get big" Nessa exclaimed happily, not even noticing that her two aunts were in the shop as well.
"Why, hello there Vanessa. How are you?" Narcissa asked the little girl with the same fke smile Nessa hated.
"I'm fine thank you Misses Malfoy" she responded. She may have been raised by Sirius, but she still knew her manners.
"Dear, I've told you to call me Aunt Cissa. Now, are you excited for the party? Have you found a pretty dress you like?" Narcissa asked, still trying to get her niece to like her more than Lilith.
"I'm not particularly excited Misses Malfoy," Nessa said, deciding to be honest, "I don't enjoy dressing up myself. But I love watching Lil dress up. She always looks as pretty as a princess. And Siri is her handsome prince." Nessa smiled up at Lilith.
"Well, I'm sure you'll look just as pretty the night of the party" Narcissa said, slightly miffed at her niece's obvious rebuff. Bellatrix was more absorbed in finding her own dress than matters concerning her niece.
"Now, my love, we still need to find your dress. I know you don't like dressing up, but we'll find something just perfect for you." Lilith said, running a hand through Nessa's hair in a slightly possessive manner. Just because she was better than Narcissa and Bellatrix did not mean that she was above the occasional low-blow.
"Ugh, fine. But Lil, I don't wanna wear any stupid frills and stuff. And can I get a dress like yours?" Nessa asked excitedly.
"Definitely ma petite. Did you see any that you liked? " Lilith looked at Narcissa out of the corner of her eye, gauging her reaction.
"Lil, a dress is still a dress. And no matter what, I'm still gonna have to wear it" Nessa said, rolling her eyes for dramatic effect. Lilith had to stifle her laughter.
"Oh, Miss DeMonte, you don't have to worry about purchasing Vanessa a dress, Bellatrix and I took it upon ourselves to select one for her" Narcissa said with an icy smile, handing the now wrapped box to Nessa.
"Why, thank you Misses Malfoy. We look forward to seeing it" Lilith replied equally cold, nudging Nessa to remind her of her manners.
"Thank you Misses Malfoy" she said quietly, disappointed, as she knew Narcissa was highly unlikely to dress her like Lilith.
...A Few Days Later...
"Ladies, if we want to go to dinner before the torture, we need to leave soon!" Sirius yelled up the stairs, waiting to hear Nessa's giggle. No such sound came. He started up the stairs and knocked on her door, not waiting for an answer. He found the little girl standing in front of a mirror, a glare on her face.
"They've gone to far this time Siri" was all he heard before she screamed. Nessa was wearing a pink dress with a purple sash that Sirius knew she never would have picked for herself, and that Lilith never would have made her wear. He assumed that this was the dress Lilith had told him about when they returned a few days before.
Nessa marched down out of her room and stormed down the stairs to the kitchen, with Sirius and now Lilith on her tail, and found a pair of butcher's scissors. Sirius and Lilith both watched in amusement at what came next. Nessa took the scissors and cut the dress to shreds, making it impossible to wear to the gala.
"There," she said happily, "Now we don't have to go. Can we have pizza?"
Lilith laughed.
"Oh, my sweet love," she said, touching her hand to Nessa's cheek, "I was prepared for this. I knew those women would pick out something you hated. There is another dress waiting for you upstairs in my closet."
Nessa looked slightly miffed, and went to change. Lilith just kept laughing as Sirius wrapped her in a strong embrace.
"Have I mentioned how much I love you in red?"
...About 15 Minutes Later...
Nessa walked back into the kitchen to find two laughing adults. She now had a large smile on her face.
She was now clad in a red dress that had sparkles on the top, similar to Lilith's, and a red sash decorated on the hip with a star. Nessa was ecstatic, because it was as close as she could possible get to Lilith's dress.
"I love it Lil!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"Come here, you, and let me fix your hair" Lilith said, noticing the girls tangled black locks.
She used her wand to smooth out Nessa's hair, and then to make it hang perfectly, except for two braids wrapping around the back of her head.
After straightening out the disheveled eight year old, the small family left for Malfoy Manor. They apparaeted directly into a hallway adjoining a large ballroom. Sirius relieved Nessa and Lilith of their coats and, after the traditional fanfare of arrival, lead his favorite girls into the large, brightly lit ballroom. Windows lined the two side walls, with french doors added in at about three different spots along the wall, all leading to the two terraces.
Immediately the vultures descended.
Even Lilith had to admit that Bellatrix LeStrange had and elegant, albeit evil, beauty to her. Her years as what one could have called the magical version of a debutante paid off in the glide of her walk, and effortless grace.
She had her dark hair piled on top of the crown of her head. The top of her dress was green, with a beautiful black swirly design, and belted tightly at the waist. The skirt flared out at the top of the hips in a princess style fitting her demeanor. Was Bellatrix evil, and insane? Oh, most definitely, but one could not deny one fact about her: she had style.
Narcissa Malfoy, although every bit the socialite, was a stark contrast to her sister. She was also beautiful, but had opted to secure only a portion of her long, pale blonde hair at the crown of her head, letting the rest tumble freely. Her hunter-green dress was also fitted to the hips, but had diamonds, which Lilith highly suspected were real, glittering in their intricate design, and led to several layers of silk, draped elegantly on the full skirt.
Oh, yes, the former sisters Black had an abundance of style.
Narcissa and Bellatrix upon noticing that their niece had arrived, made a beeline for the corner they were standing in, their husbands bringing up the rear.
"Black" Lucius greeted Sirius with his signature sneer, and afforded Lilith merely a nod of greeting.
"Malfoy" Sirius said in a clipped tone.
"Hello Vanessa" Narcissa said with a smile to the little girl. However, Nessa was more fixated on Narcissa's dress.
"Did you like the dress we picked for you?" Narcissa asked, noticing that she was wearing a different dress.
"It had an unfortunate accident" Nessa responded, quoting what Lilith told Sirius when she 'accidentally' broke one of his hideous lamps from his bachelor days.
"Oh, well, accidents happen. What do you think of the party so far? Have you seen any dresses you like, or run into any friends?"
"I have a question," Nessa said, looking up at Lilith and Sirius, "Does her dress remind you of a wedding cake too?"
Looks of shock crossed the face of all six adults. Nessa continued.
"Although, it is a very pretty dress. I just think the bottom reminds me of the cake that Tonks showed me in the magazine."
Sirius could no longer stifle his laughter.
"Nessa, love, I think I just saw Misses Weasley and Ginny, why don't you go play?"
...5 Minutes Later...
Nessa ran up to her friend, admiring the girl's purple dress. It had sparkles like hers, but instead of a sash, it had fabric wrapped around her chest. Her flaming red waves were half up in a bun, and half free.
"Hiya Ginny Bean!" she exclaimed happily.
"Hey Loch Nessa Monster!" Ginny replied with equal enthusiasm.
"Hello Misses Wesley" Nessa said, smiling up sweetly at her second favorite woman in the world, after Lilith of course.
"Hello Nessa. May I ask where your Uncle and soon-to-be Aunt are?" Misses Weasley always had an amused smirk for Nessa, whose energetic antics had now started to rub off on Ginny.
"They're over by the window with Malfoys one and two. And the LeStranges. Misses Weasley, they really creep me out. Especially Misses LeStrange, I don't think she's all there in the head" Nessa ended seriously, a concerned look on her face. Misses Weasley just laughed and shook her head. The little girl had really taken to quoting Lilith.
"Why don't you girls go play, and I'm going to go over to greet your Aunt and Uncle."
Nessa grabbed Ginny's hand and the two girls ran across the room to a set of french doors, eager to go out on the terrace and look at the stars. However, they hadn't expected to run into their friend, Neville.
"Hey Nev! Wanna come look at the stars with us?" Nessa greeted him excitedly. Neville smiled.
"Hey Loch Nessa Monster. Be careful, Malfoy junior was talking about heading out here, and I don't think any of us want t deal with him tonight" he responded.
As if he mentioning his name summoned him, Draco appeared at the doors, flanked on either side by Crabbe and Goyle, both of whom were already busy stuffing their faces. Nessa scrunched her face up in disgust.
"Hello Vanessa" Draco greeted her with the arrogant smirk he had inherited from his father.
"Draco" she said politely, before returning her undivided attention to her friends.
"You know, you really shouldn't associate with blood traitors. They are below us" Draco said arrogantly. This statement did not sit well with Nessa.
"How dare you Draco Scorpius Malfoy! Ginny and Neville are my friends, and better people than you will EVER BE!" Nessa punctuated that statement powerfully, even though it was by accident.
And that was the first time Draco Malfoy was turned into a ferret.
While three of the children laughed uncontrollably, Crabbe and Goyle panicked, trying to figure out what to do. As this ensued, Alice Longbottom walked out, looking for her son. She was happy to find him enjoying himself with his friends.
"Hello Nessa, Ginny. How are you girls? " she asked the giggling girls.
"We're good" Ginny replied in between giggles.
"Well, would you like to clue me in as to what is so funny?" Alice asked with a gentle smile.
"Draco," was the only reply she got, the children all pointing to the ferret.
"Oh, my, you don't mean-" Alice started, "Oh, dear."
She whipped out her wand and switched Draco back, only now he was quite fazed, and ran off to find his parents without thanking Alice, Crabbe and Goyle trailing after him.
The three children finally calmed down, and Alice even indulged herself in a small chuckle.
"Well, you three should know that dinner is going to be served soon. Don't worry Neville, dear, I won't make you eat it" Alice informed them. The snobby food the Malfoy's always served as the reason that Sirius had taken them out to dinner beforehand.
As Alice walked back in, two more figures walked back out. Nessa's heart filled with dread as she recognized the sound of the giggles floating towards her. It was Vivian Nott and Elenora Xavier. Nessa and Ginny couldn't stand the two future death eaters.
"Hello Vanessa," Elenora greeted her with a fake smile. She was wearing a dress reminiscent of Narcissa's own dress. Only this one was Ivy green, and had a sash that tied into a bow in front, and didn't have sparkles. The girl's brown hair was held in fancy pigtails on top of her head.
Next to Elenora was her best friend. Vivian was the meaner of the two. She wore a dress that made Nessa think of peaches because of the colors. Her dress did have sparkles, and the fabric draped over her skirt was what Lilith always described as 'sheer', and no sash. Her hair, also brown, was flowing loosely down her back. She smiled snobbishly at Nessa.
"Yes, hello Vanessa."
"'llo Vivian, Elenora. I've got to be going now" Nessa responded, grabbing both Ginny and Neville by the arm and pulling them along with her, back into the ball room.
The three kids ran over to where their parents, or Aunt and Uncle in Nessa's case, were sitting and conversing.
"Hey Ness. You look like you were just told you have to wear dresses every day" Sirius laughed at his niece.
"Ech, worse Siri. Vivian and Elenora. Disgusting!"
Sirius and the other adults laughed. Nessa was such a flamboyant little girl, highly outspoken and rather opinionated, and did not hesitate to share those opinions with anyone.
The next few hours passed with relative ease. Sirius alternated between spinning around the dance floor with Lilith, and dancing with Nessa on his feet.
The evening ended with Lilith and Sirius walking out, a sleeping Nessa in Sirius' arms.
And there you go! I would like to state that this is the longest chapter I have EVER written for ANY story, weighing in at 8 pages and 3,216 words.
Can't gaurentee when the next update will be, but with AtlantisxGurl on my tail, it will probably be soon enough!
Thats all for now!
Oh-Look-A-Quarter!