Hello all…
This story is coming out really fast and I'm having so much fun writing it. I hope y'all are having as much fun reading it.
Thanks to SilverStagBeauty, Hermione09Weasley, and bobbyandrogue for their regular reviews. And thanks to my new reviewer starlightxlove. Thanks for the feedback. Keep it up.
Sorry, this chapter's a little short. Had to end it here. Next one will be longer.
Love from Kassie
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Chapter 11: Happy New Year's
Isadora looked at her reflection in her vanity mirror and frowned. She was having trouble getting her hair up right. She pointed at her curls piece by piece and started gathering the hair up onto her head, letting pieces of curls hang down here and there. The pendant around her neck was a fantastic swirl of violet and blue. When she was satisfied with her hair, she stepped back and took a look in the full length mirror.
She was quite happy with the effect. She had on an old dress of her mother's. (Like her mother, Isadora also had a tiny frame that had matured at a very young age, allowing her to fit into the old clothes properly.) What she found when she wore her mother's old dresses was that instead of being criticized for wearing clothing that was dated, she was praised for her vintage choices. Her mother had a fantastic sense of style and all of her clothing simply screamed wealth and good taste. The dress that Isadora had chosen for the evening was a red silk one that hugged her curves in all the right places. It had cap sleeves, an empire waist, and a v-neck that showed just enough cleavage to be tasteful. The skirt hit the floor and Isadora had found a pair of deep red satin heels that matched perfectly.
She examined her reflection and realized what was missing. She gave a small smile. "Bluerose?"
With a crack, a cute little house elf appeared out of nowhere. She had a high squeaky voice and was dressed in neat, clean little tea towel. "Yes, Miss Isadora?"
"Do you know what I did with the present that Sirius Black sent to me?"
"Yes, miss." Bluerose disappeared for a second and with a crack returned, carrying a bracelet. "You had me put it in the safe."
"Right, of course. Thank you, Bluerose," she said taking the bracelet. The house elf left the room.
Isadora put the bracelet on her right wrist and smiled. It went with the dress perfectly. Sirius had very good taste. The bracelet was a gorgeous phoenix made from tiny scarlet crystals. Instead of just a pendant though, the entire bird wrapped all the way around her wrist so that the tail feathers were placed elegantly beneath the head of the bird. Sirius had left a simple note with the plainly wrapped gift: For my little Pixie. He didn't even sign the note or wrap the bracelet in proper wrapping paper. Isadora loved it.
She sighed and made her way downstairs to the first floor of her enormous house. It was the manor that was left to her by her parents. Downstairs, her bodyguard was waiting for her. Tonight was New Year's Eve. She was going to a party at Malfoy Manor. She wasn't particularly excited about it, but it was better than sitting at home like she did on Christmas. Dumbledore had invited her to stay at Hogwarts with him as usual, but she declined. She had gotten to know him again over the past four months, but she still wasn't ready to spend family holidays with him yet.
As she reached the front hallway, she saw her bodyguard waiting dutifully for her. She was allowed to go to parties and other social functions as long as she had someone accompanying her, since she was after all, thirteen years old.
"Good evening, Madame Angelline. You'll be attending a party at Malfoy Manor tonight, yes?"
"Indeed, Marcus. Are you ready?"
"Of course. If you'll just take my arm."
Isadora grasped his arm tightly, turned to the right with him, and felt the familiar sucking sensation that meant she was being magically transported someplace else.
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The party was even more boring than she had anticipated. It was a blur of people vying for her attention, asking favors of her, and simply trying to be in her presence. She was already acquainted with most of them. This was the elite crowd of twenty-something purebloods that were next in line to inherit their parent's fortunes. Normally, those still in Hogwarts wouldn't be allowed at parties such as these yet, but seeing as Isadora had already inherited her parent's fortune, an exception was made for her. She had been going to parties with these people since she was eleven and she knew how to work them. The saddest part about it was that before this year at Hogwarts, these were the people she would have called her friends.
The moment she had arrived at the party, Isadora had picked a table towards the middle of the room and sat majestically, letting people come to her. After a series of positively dull conversations, the next person to approach her was none other than Lucius Malfoy himself, the host of the party. He came over carrying two glasses of elderflower wine. He handed one to Isadora. "Good evening, Madame Angelline. It's an absolute pleasure to have you here tonight. I thank you for coming."
"The pleasure is all mine, Master Malfoy."
"I wonder if I might have this dance?" he said, holding out his hand.
Isadora considered him for second. She could tell he wanted something from her. Out of all the people present there that evening, his was probably the only family that could rival hers in power, wealth, and influence. Her curiosity was piqued.
"I would be honored," she said placing her hand in his and setting her glass of wine on the table. He led Isadora out to the dance floor. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Narcissa Black scowling at her. Isadora just smiled that sweet smile of hers.
"Isadora," said Lucius, as they began to dance. "I heard that you started Hogwarts this year. How are you finding it?"
"Rather enjoyable. Although, I do find it to be a bit overwhelming. Beauxbatons was such a small school and the sheer amount of students at Hogwarts has taken some getting used to."
"I must admit, when we heard that you would be attending the school, we all expected you to be sorted into Slytherin House."
Isadora tried to deflect the subtle question, "And just who is this 'we' that you speak of, Lucius?"
He cocked his eyebrow, obviously impressed with her tactics, "Oh, you know. Those of us pureblooded families who matter. Those much like yourself."
"There is much speculation about what will become of me, I take it?"
"You could say that."
"Well, I was never one to adhere to other's expectations. I have my own plans for my future."
"And they would be?"
"At the moment: to finish my schooling as quickly as possible."
"Admirable. I know some people that could help you with that. I believe you met my friend, Julian Mulciber. He is quite gifted."
"Indeed."
"You weren't much taken with him, then?"
"No," she said brusquely. "I found his attempts at manipulation to be far too crass and overt for my liking."
Lucius laughed darkly. "Yes, unlike you Isadora, subtlety was never Mulciber's strong suit."
"Nor is it yours, Lucius. What is it that you want from me?" She spoke with a slight air of curiosity and made it a point not to sound accusatory.
"Ah, straight to the point then. I assure you, I desire nothing sinister. I simply have a proposal that I think you might be interested in. A charitable project of mine. I intend on building a new ward at St. Mungo's for those with long term spell damage. Last year, a man named Janus Thickey had an accident—"
"Yes, I read about it. His mind has been permanently addled by the incident."
"Exactly. I intend to build a wing in his name. I thought you might be interested in contributing. A joint donation such as this would look good for both of us."
"It sounds well enough. When you have a proposal ready, send it over to Fulton Goldnot, my financial advisor. I'm sure we'll be able to work something out."
"Excellent." As the song ended, Lucius kissed her hand. Isadora suppressed a shudder. "I look forward to working on this project with you, Madame Angelline. And thank you for the dance."
Isadora gave him a slight nod and returned to her table. She sat in silence thinking about what had just transpired. Dumbledore was right. Now that she was getting older and was obviously capable of making her own decisions, people were seeking her out. She understood now what was happening, why people like Mulciber and Malfoy were attempting to reach out to her. Malfoy had more than just a charitable project on his mind. This was just the beginning. He was trying to create strong ties between her family and his.
Isadora could dimly hear the New Year's count down. It seemed distant however, far away. "10!"
Did Lucius mean to try and marry her?
"9!"
A marriage between a Malfoy and an Angelline would be a strong one.
"8!"
No. If marriage was the only thing on his mind, he would have asked her outright.
"7!"
He wanted an alliance between them. One stronger than a simple marriage, though that wasn't out of the question.
"6!"
Mulciber had approached her on Lucius Malfoy's orders. She was sure of that.
"5!"
It seemed like Malfoy was going to a lot of trouble simply to secure her loyalty to him.
"4!"
Unless it was her loyalty to another person that Malfoy was trying to secure.
"3!"
Logic would dictate that there was a chain of command at work. Regulus did what Mulciber told him to. Mulciber was following Malfoy's orders and Malfoy was following someone else's.
"2!"
This led her to the ultimate question: who was it that Lucius Malfoy was working for?
"1! Happy New Year!!!" the crowd screamed.
Isadora looked at all the happy couples kissing and absentmindedly stroked the beautiful crystal phoenix that was wrapped around her wrist.
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