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My house was bustling with busy people. My mom and dad hosted a New Years dinner every year, and it was exclusively for Pureblood family friends and friends of our ancestors, stuff like that. Not that we don't like muggle-borns, we just have traditions and all, and some of the purebloods invited are--critical and horrible about muggle-borns, so, it's best not to invite them at all.
It always started at 8:30 in the evening, always took place at our mansion, always had the same people or the descendants and so on. By this time, Sirius and I were good acquaintances, and that was enough for now, I don't want to be friends with him yet.
On the day before new year, I was lounging about in the pool, floating on my back. The air outside was fine, and it didn't snow where our main mansion was. It was just 6pm, so, I was in no hurry to get dressed up just yet. I could smell the scent of the food that was being cooked outside. We always had dishes from different countries, and a lot were from Asia. I liked sushi and sashimi the best.
The bell outside rang, meaning that there was a guest. I quickly swam to the edge of the pool and got out, and put on a silk robe, but not tying it up.
I peeped at the window of the house to see if they were in the vast ballroom which lead to the garden where the pool was. Nope, no one there. So, I peeped in a small passage leading to the front of the house, and saw two people coming to where I was. Obviously, mother let them in.
I stood in the middle and waited to see who they were. I heard of fashionably late, but fashionably early? How ridiculous.
As the two people came out of the shadows of the wall of hedges, I saw who they were, and it surprised me to see them. Sirius and his brother, Regulus, were coming through the white gate that was in the way.
Sirius' handsome face sniggered at the sight of me in a one-piece, black and white bathing suit and short shorts, wrapped loosely in silk, and I gave him a face that would have sent anybody sane to run away. Regulus was less handsome than his older brother, though was acceptable, in every aspect. I heard that he got himself a hot girlfriend in Slytherin, Laira Zabini, who was in my year. Bravo Regulus, bravo. Even if I'm not sure if they are together.
"Why're you so early?" I asked suspiciously.
"Home isn't a good place to be today," Sirius said boredly.
"You're just annoyed that mother praises me so much and you, never," Regulus said haughtily.
I laughed at this retort.
"I don't need that old bat to praise me, it would be an insult if she did," Sirius sneered.
And of they went into a heated argument. I knew that Sirius hated the whole lot of his family, but I never witnessed it in action so privately before. In public, both acted with maturity in their fights, using big words that were hard to follow.
I left them to their bickering and took off my robe, which caused the brothers to stop. I glided to the edge and while jumping in, pulled Sirius and Regulus in the pool with me. Good thing that they were both just in their jeans and t-shirts, or it would have been such a disgrace to appear at the dinner, with their dress robes damp and wrinkled. If they wore their dress robes, that is.
Okay, I splashed them and quickly swam to the other end, while Sirius followed, Regulus got out, and we had a capital time!
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In the eyes of the eldest Black brother...
Alex sent me and my stupid younger brother to the guest room to get changed. We both brought clothes and dressed in silence. I hated him, the suck-up. I had no idea why people said that we look alike, I never see it.
I stepped out of the room the minute that I was fully dressed, and waited at the enormous and overdecorated ballroom. I waited a good thirty minutes, before Alex graced me with her presence, looking stunning in her black silk gown. Her hair was in disarray, with strands coming out of her loose bun on the top of her head, and this suited her better, making her look effortlessly beautiful. Wow Sirius, you've really outdone yourself with your words.
I Watched her as she was running around the ballroom, barefoot and trying to put on her heels while running. I looked around and I saw my brother watching her too, who was trying to look like he wasn't interested, but failing miserably.
It was 8pm, people would start coming right now. Good thing that my mother is going to be late. She finds it a fuss to rush for a certain time, and that she was too important to even rush, that it would be an honor for her to even be in the presence of other horrid people like herself. The diva. I hate this time of the year, always did, always will. People always criticize me and wish that I were more like Regulus blah blah and effing blah.
The only reason that I can stand these dinners was because Alex would always be there to lighten things up. She was a favorite, them saying how well that she was raised, and they never called her blood traitor, not once.
I need to get her. We knew each other since we were born, and it would be fitting to catch the hardest catch of them all. I've caught too much already, it's pouring out of my hands, but somehow, she's a hard one, and that's why I like it.
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Back to Alex...
Everything was set, and my parents couldn't complain anymore. I arranged everything to their liking and all was perfectly planned. There was only one table in the middle of the huge ballroom. One very long, elegantly designed, antique silver table that could seat 25 people on each side and 4 people on the ends. That's pretty long if you ask me, you can't fuss.
People were lead to their seats and started chatting to each other, trying to subtly show off the expensive, but ugly, antique jewelry that they wore. I watched everyone from my place near the end of the table, sucking on a grapefruit. I was sat beside Regulus. Dunno why. Usually, I was sat beside some old geezer that could barely talk and was like, a hundred years old, because the married people say that 'it's not proper for a young lady to be seated next to a fellow her age.' Yeah, whatever.
Let me explain better. My parents arrange the dinner, but that doesn't mean that other people don't participate. My dad and Sirius's dad were mates back then, and Sirius' mom makes the seat plan, so, yeah.
Out of nowhere, somebody says, "Don't you think that the two of them would make a lovely couple?"
The two of who?
"I rather agree. I'm hoping that she would come into the family by my son." said Mrs. Black.
Umm...she who? I don't get it.
"Let's not rush things now. She's only fifteen. We don't need to get things like these into her head," my mother retorted.
Okay, I'm following...the only fifteen year old people here, are me, Sirius, Hannah, Annie and some 3 other blokes who I've never talked to. Regulus was the youngest, being 14.
"I'd rather discuss it right now. To keep her out of other relations," Mrs. Black said seriously. "I don't want her running around with some other person."
"Who are you talking about?" I wondered out loud.
"Why, you and Regulus of course!" Mrs. Black said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
The smile on Sirius' face got wiped off, the minute that she said 'Regulus'. He must have known that it was about me, but thought that the 'son' was him. Okay...anyway...WHAT THE BLOODY--? I'm fifteen years old for Merlin's sake! You're talking about me marrying Regulus? No way. I will not accept it. I am single and very happy right now, thank you very much (I broke up with Thad before Christmas, took Sirius' advice and did it)! Woah there piggy.
"Excuse me?" I said as politely as I could. "When have you arranged such matters?"
"I have presumed that it would just happen all in itself."
"She will choose who she wants to marry, Moira," my father interrupted.
"Are you meaning to say that you don't approve of my son?" it wasn't Mrs. Black who spoke this time, but Mr. Black. The whole room silenced and watched this conversation with much interest.
"I am not saying any of the sort. I'm pointing out that my daughter has a say in her life, whether you and your wife like it or not," father replied coldly.
Go dad! Say it like it is!
"What if I end up with the other son?" I teased to Mr. and Mrs. Black. I knew how much they were ashamed of him; I didn't tease about him because I had affection for Sirius!
"It would not be allowed," Mr. Black said without any hesitation. "I will not allow you to be disgraced as well. I disapprove heartily of what Sirius has become."
My lips curved on the sides. It would be so fabulous to kiss Sirius right now...
I stood up as noticeably as I could, but that was no longer needed, since everyone was watching me intently. I walked around the table to where Sirius was. When I reached his place, I bent down and placed a hand on his neck and gave him a petite kiss on his lips. What a way to annoy his parents. No tongue, never. I would not allow that, but this was a very excellent opportunity.
"Too late, I ended up with him already," I said to Mr. Black, with my hand still on Sirius' neck.
Mr. Black's pale face turned even paler and all the color drained out of him. Regulus had slits for eyes and was pointed at Sirius' direction. Sirius smiled with a satisfaction of a smirk on his haughty face.
I sure hope that he knows that I only kissed him because it would rage his parents.
I walked briskly out of the room and went to the nearest bathroom, which was just across the hall. Going in, I washed my face with hot water and dried it off with a towel. All my make-up got washed off too. And it was better. I liked it better without heaps of it on my face. I was uglier with make-up anyway.
I just put on a thin layer of lip gloss onto my lips and put down the lid of the toilet and sat on it. I buried my face in my hands and enjoyed the contrast between my hot eyelids and the cool marble.
I hear the door swing open and look up. It was Sirius.
"What do you want?" I said rather crossly than intended.
"That was just to piss my parents off, wasn't it?" he said, pointing out the door.
"Good you know. We have to pretend as good as we can. Maybe we can even believe that we're really together, to make to make it look better." I said, feeling hyped up. This could be my prank of the year!
"Great. They'd kill me when we get home," he said mischievously, with a light glint in his eyes.
"Let's get back in, it would annoy them so much!" I said, pulling him with me.
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In Grimmauld place...as Sirius...
"You will stop seeing her," father said to me sternly.
"I will not," I said stubbornly, trying not to laugh at how he thought that I was together with Alex. It was cruel of Alex to use me like this, but this time, I liked it.
"Regulus will be a much better match for her."
"And since when has darling Regulus been in a serious relationship?"
"He will learn."
"He's a year younger than her," I said rather childishly.
"That makes no difference. Do you know that your mother is three years older than I am? She just does not own up to it when asked."
This little bit of information surprised me. This was how little I knew of my own mother.
"Well, does Alex like Regulus anyway?" I argued, still.
"She will learn to love him."
"Love? Yeah, when I turn into a muggle and mudblood hater," I muttered. That's how impossible it is.
"Then it is near. You just said mudblood." father pointed out.
"I said muggle-born," I lied.
"You have a year then. We will decide of your fate when Regulus turns fifteen. If you say that he is too young."
We'll see. By that time, I would have Alex for my own, for REAL.
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I'm sorry if you're getting confused, but we have to get back to Alex...
I'm back at Hogwarts! Me and my brother flooed there just today and we had this weekend before lessons would start again.
Professor McGonagall gave a nod to show that she knew we were there, and continued reading. We went out of her office and walked to the Gryffindor common room.
"Do you really like Sirius?" he asked me, while walking.
"No." I said. My brother doesn't care really. He's too late in being overprotective, but he still can be at times.
"Then why are you pretend dating him?"
"Dear brother," I said exeggeratingly. "You of all people must know!"
"Prank of the year?" he smirked like he read my mind.
Oh s, now I have to have a different one.
"No," I lied.
"Then what is it?"
I was about to answer him, but I was spared to answer when we opened the Portrait Hole and were bombarded by his friends.
"Is it true?" Theodore, the blonde, blue eyed, asked me.
"Is what true?" I asked back.
"That you and Thad broke up?" he said eagerly.
How news travelled fast, even during vacation.
"Yes. How did you know?"
"Craig's rommates with him, in Ravenclaw," Theodore explained. "One night, Thad just came in with red eyes and refused to answer any questions. And started bursting into tears when your name came up. It was pretty funny actually."
Aww...how sweet...Thad really does love me. How sad for him though.
Nate was trying to look around anywhere, but at me. He was hiding something and I knew it.
"Nathan!" I said sharply. "What did you do?"
"You're dating Theo now."
"And when did I agree to that?"
"Theo promised to give me some really good stuff for Christmas, only if I set him up with you," Nate said as nicely as he could, but to me, he only sounded plain, evil.
"You sold me out," I said slowly. "For Christmas presents..."
"Sounds better the way I said it."
"What kind of brother sells their sister out?" I asked coldly.
"The brother who's concerned."
"And how does that make you concerned?" I asked, bewildered by his reply.
"I know who you're dating, what he does, how sincere he is," he smirked. "And how horny he gets." he added, like it was the most important thing.
I thought for a moment. Hmmm...Theodore was good-looking, in the Quidditch team, quite popular, has fairly good grades. Maybe not as good as the three Marauders and my mates, but not everyone could be as talented as us, the selected few. I weighed the positive and negatives. Negatives? The only one I could think of was that he was my brother's best friend, and that might pose as a tiny problem, adding restrictions and boundaries. But other than that, nothing else.
"Fine," I said looking them all in the eye. "As long as it's a silent arrangement and not a public one like I know all of you do when you date."
Theodore saluted in agreement and grinned widely at his mates. And as an afterthought, I added:
"And you'll agree with the new hairdo that I'll be sporting in honor of the new year."
Theodore's grin lessened slightly, and looked at me with intent eyes. He said, "What new look?"
"This new look."
I saw a pair of scissors on the table, meant for, I have no idea, and without thinking, I grabbed my ponytail, and I cut my hair above the elastic. My head felt unusually light and airy around the neck, and I took a look at the cut up, still tied up hair in my left hand. My brother and his friends stared at me, with quite blank faces, not knowing how to react. I look at the mirror beside me, and saw that my hair was uneven on all sides, quite short at the back and long at the sides. My top part looked still reached to the back of my neck.
With some few moments of examining, I cut up the hair on the sides a bit more, until it was only a few inches long, the same length as the hair on the back of my head. I stared at the top for awhile, thinking hard on what to do. And it jus simply screamed 'MOHAWK'. I cut the little bit of hair that was dangling on the back, until the back of the head's hair was visible. There...I could always regrow it anytime.
I looked edgier, better actually. If you like intimidating people more than you do already.
During the whole time that I cut my hair, the guys just watched me in awe. No one even dared to stop me, for they might make me do something wrong. Plus, they didn't know that I knew how to regrow my hair...
"Still want to date me, Teddy?" I asked slyly, hoping that he would say those two little letters forming into one word.
But to my utter dismay, he said, "Hell yeah! I like this better than before!"
I stood there, still holding that handful of long hair in my left hand, I didn't even notice that it was still there in my hand. Is he kidding me? I may have said that I approved, but I never said that I liked it. I thought that guys liked gripping and pulling on girl's hair, liked to caress it in their fingers. So...why the hell did he like this look?
I cleaned out my ear with my index finger, thinking that I heard wrong, and said "What? Are you serious?"
"I'm into not so girly-girls, so, I reckoned that's why I like it," he replied.
Nate looked at me with a slight sorrow in his eyes. He always liked my long, black hair, and had pride that I grew it out so lovelily. He said that it was the thing that he thought that was so pretty about me. I know, weird for brothers, but I know that he loves me...in spite of the fact that I tease him all the time with his girlfriends...
I stared at Teddy (let's call him that from now on, since Theodore sounds so...formal and stiff, and I don't like Theo) with bewilderment. I sighed and tucked my hair into my pocket. It was sleek and black and shiny and straight and had no defect, and it was such a waste to throw it away. Maybe I would just keep one long, perfect lock and keep it in a silver locket, and keep the others away in my trunk. I'm a bit sentimental when it comes to my hair, just like my brother.
I crossed my arms and looked at the boys expectantly. Who was I going to hang out with while my friends weren't here yet? Obviously, it would have to be them. Take it or leave it, Alex. Oh, maybe it would be a better idea to go incognito and just burst out later in the Great Hall to make a great big entrance to show of my new hair! That would be better...
I walked away from them and touched the back of my neck, quite conscious of the huge black mole in the center. Argh! This mole is the reason why I keep my hair long!
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I waited until it was dinner that night. I kept well out of sight when someone came into the dormitory and hid behind my bed. When I came down and no one was left in the common room, I knew that everyone was at dinner, and that everyone was back. Since I saw Lily bringing up her things awhile ago, I was sure that the whole school was back. Definitely an entrance, and I knew that everyone was wondering where I was. I make a big impact like that...
Okay, I better go down now. I took a great big breath and started heading down. When I reached the entrance hall, the doors to the Great Hall were closed. Oh yeah, the coming back feast, I forgot about that...oh well, if I get in trouble, I don't care.
I pushed the doors open with all my might, and I have to admit that they were heavy. Every head turned to my direction and stared at me idly. People were holding chicken legs halfway to their mouths, but sat, holding it to their mouths, agape with surprise. The Slytherins were looking at me with utter interest, like I was some kind of circus freak or something. I got along well with them, being pureblood and well-connected, and so, they didn't laugh. They wouldn't dare. My fellow Gryffindors watched me, yes, even my brother and his friends, as if they have forgotten that I cut my hair off, some with admiration and some with undecidedness on how to feel.
I smiled, satisfied. good, I made a great impact with this little, big change.
I sat next to Lily and my mates, as they stared at me like the others. Finally, people kept back to their work and eating, but taking quck glances at me like they weren't sure if their eyes were only deceiving them.
"Why?" Lily said.
"Dunno. Just happened on the spur of the moment," I shrugged.
"I think you look good," piped in Hannah.
"Bit different, but I think that you need a change. Good thing that it suits you," Annie said indifferently.
"Good that you feel that way. I think that Nate is rather ashamed," I said as carelessly as I could.
"When?" Lily asked.
"Just today."
"How?"
"Well, you take scissors and snip them to your hair. It's rather easy when you know how to do it, using scissors I mean."
"Where?"
"Seriously Lily, I'm rather disappointed that you're just asking questions with one word in it."
"Fine. How could you?"
Okay, here comes the lecture...shouldn't have encouraged her.
"You're hair was so pretty. Now, it's just a scruffy puff on your head. I have no idea why you have done such an idiotic thing, and I bet that your parents don't even know. How could you even think of doing such a thing-?" And when she paused to take in breath, I interrupted-
"Lily, everyone's okay with it, you're the only one who cares that much! And it's my hair!"
"Fine, I'm just saying what I think." she said grumpily.
"Thank you for your opinions, but what's done is done, and I can always grow it back. It's just hair, for Merlin's sake."
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A/N- I enjoyed making this for some reason. It was just something that I thought and made up as I went. Right. I need reviews, as much as you can. I don't care how long, and I'll give a reply to every single one, so don't fret! xoxo's!