Cissa and Andy woke about the same time, they walked down stairs to find their mother and Bella already had eaten.
"Your up early." Cissa said while grabbing a bagel.
"Yeah." Bella retorted shrugging her shoulders.
"Eat quickly you two, we have a dress fitting in ten minutes." Druella said rising. Bella then remembered the lack of decorations and wondered if they were hosting the ball like they were supposed to this year.
"Mother, is the ball here this year?"
"No. It's at the Winshires this year." Druella answered sounding almost defeated. "And before you ask no the new years ball is not here either it will be at the Carrow's."
"Ewe. They're gross." Andy said without hesitation.
"Andy, think before you speak and remember if you don't have anything nice to say, do not say it." Druella scolded, "But yes your right."
Druella left the room.
"I wonder why they skipped us this year?" Cissa thought out loud.
"Well I wondered into the ballroom before mother got up and they floor was ripped up and a hole was in the middle of the floor." Bella said. "they must be remodeling."
"Come-on we have dresses to be fitted." Andy said.
"I cant breathe." Andy gasped, as her mother tightened the back of the corset before throwing the heavy dress over her head. Druella pulled it down over Andromeda's head and arms and straightened it out.
"You'll get used to it. Just breath up, and remember ladies if you feel like your going to faint go to the powder room." Druella said stepping back and looking at her three daughters. "Gorgeous."
"Is there any corrections you would like to make Madam Black?" The dressmaker asked. She didn't like dressing the pureblood girls in such mature dresses and corsets but the Pureblooded families were where she made her money, and either she dressed young ladies as adults or live on the streets the choice was a clear one.
"No… I think that will be all." Druella answered then rang her bell for a house elf. One appeared instantly and bowed low. "Get these girls out of their dresses, then go and set a pot of tea on." She turned and faced her daughters. "get cleaned up and come right back down, we are having tea with some of the ladies."
The girls nodded and Druella left. Once changed they hurried down to the tea room, Druella sat on the flowered chair looking almost tired. The doorbell rang and moments later Madam Lestrange walked in with Pippa. Pippa smiled brightly at them while her mother and Druella kissed on both cheeks like most French women did.
Druella smiled at the older women. Druella had always admired Elizabeth, she was perfect and Druella had always tried to be like her. She remembered when Elizabeth had Rabastan, she was a perfect mother, kind and understanding but yet strong. Then came Rodolphus, her second boy and Druella could tell that Elizabeth had a favorite and that was Rodolphus. She had Pippa the same time as she had her triplets and Druella competed to be the better mother but yet her mother always criticized her about how she needed to be more like Elizabeth. Druella snapped out of her thoughts when her mother came up, she didn't want to think about her.
"When is the other's coming do you know?" Druella asked as they all sat down.
"Well Astoria should be on her way, and China is getting ready for the ball. It saddens me that Black manor isn't hosting this year. China will just go way over the top. And I don't see how the Carrow's got elected either, I was sure it would have been the Malfoy's or the Rookwood's before the Carrow's would even have been thought of. It's just suspicious." Elizabeth said then took a cup and sipped.
The door bell rang and the ladies all stood. Next entered Astoria and behind her a clearly pouting Cecelia.
"Sorry about that ladies, Cecelia is being troublesome." Astoria said looking directly at her daughter.
She took a cup of tea while Cecelia wondered over to the girls and stood next to Pippa but Pippa didn't seemed to pleased to see her. The sister's never wondered anymore what Cecelia and Pippa were fighting over. They were friends one minute and in the next they weren't it was a continuing theme with them.
China entered next with her was Chelsea, her oldest daughter, Nora, Lucy, and Careen. Lucy was only six and Careen was one. Nora always complained about her siblings, she too had only sisters but she was stuck in the middle. To young to be addressed and treated as more of an adult and to old to be paid attention to.
"So sorry ladies that we are late. Preparing for the ball is such tiring work." China said while greeting each of her friends. "Oh Elizabeth, I seen your son when I was walking in."
"Oh yes he escorted Pippa and I here. He should be leaving soon." Elizabeth said gracefully, she knew China was just digging for gossip to share with the Carrow's. Bella's heart leapt at the thought that Rodolphus might be in the same house as her.
"Girls there's tea in the pink parlor for all of you." Druella said coolly. In true words she meant. 'Girls leave us adults alone.'
They all stood and Cissa led the way to the Pink Parlor. Upon entering there were cakes, sandwiches, and steaming tea making the room small wonderfully. They all took a seat, Chelsea sat Careen on the floor in the corner with her doll and Lucy sat with her with her own dolls. The girls didn't worry about being alone with such young children because they knew the second one would cry an elf or maid would appear in seconds to deal with them.
"I'm to old for this." Chelsea said. It was true she was 17 but the women in the other room wouldn't treat her as a true adult till she got married.
"Do you have any suitor's lined up?" Cissa asked. All the girls were curious about it because in a few year's they would be in the same position.
"Well…" Chelsea got a sly smile on her face. "You cannot tell anyone but Rodolphus Lestrange."
The girls gasped.
"Isn't he too old?" Nora asked.
"He's only 18 almost 19." Pippa said. "How do you know this?"
"He's been paying an extra amount of attention to me lately and I think that these next two ball's will seal the deal." Chelsea said smiling.
Chelsea wasn't ugly. She had the Winshire red hair and pale skin, she was about 5'6 and was skinny, her face was like milk except for a slight spread of freckles across her nose and her round hazel eyes shone with excitement. Bella felt panicked, surely if it came between her and Chelsea he would pick Chelsea.
"I can't wait to have suitor's" Andy said. A dreamy look on her face. She closed her eyes and seen Leonard's face she quickly opened them again. She hadn't seen him in a while and his face startled her. She missed him and Mina and even Lestat.
"Me too, it would make ball's so much more interesting." Pippa smiled then sipped her tea.
"Much more interesting."
The girls stood in the entrance hall dressed in there tight dresses each smiling brightly. Druella entered looking as wonderful as she always did and Cygnus followed, he was quite handsome. They walked to the carriage and got in, the ride was short to the Winshires, and a few seconds later they pulled up to the manor.
The decorations inside were pretty, lots of reds and silvers. Normally Black manor did white and blue but they gave China credit for trying to change it up a bit. Bella spotted Chelsea and glided over to her.
"Hello Chelsea."
Chelsea looked stunning, her dress was gold and violet and her hair was pulled up perfectly.
"Hello Bella, oh my you look lovely and so grown up. You are going to break men's hearts one day." Chelsea said. She looked Bella over again, it was true once Bella got older she would be the cause of many men fighting even if the girl didn't see it yet.
"Thank you. So any hints from you know." Bella whispered. She liked Chelsea, she liked the way the girl talked to her, but she didn't want her to have Rodolphus. She was going to stick close to Chelsea just to keep an eye on them, just in case.
"Yes! Well sort of, I think he's being careful since his mother is here but he did give me a small smile and a nod."
Bella searched the crowed but she couldn't find Rodolphus, she saw Elizabeth though only because Elizabeth was staring directly at her. There eyes met and Bella swore that Elizabeth knew something.
Cissa ducked behind Andy. She had saw Lucius and instant fear washed over her, she just wasn't ready to see him. School is one thing but a ball, where it is so in a way romantic is different thing.
"Cissa calm down maybe things will change tonight and he'll realize that he loves you." Andy said. She was getting impatient and wanted to go find Augustus before he got mad at her.
"Have you guys seen Nora yet?" Pippa asked popping out of nowhere.
The other two shook their heads no and Pippa shrugged her shoulders.
"Ewe it's Cecelia." Pippa snarled, spotting the blonde girl from the crowed across the room.
"What is it with you and her?" Cissa asked. She like Cecelia and didn't see why Pippa was being so cold.
Pippa just once again shrugged her shoulders. The music started with a loud waltz, and adult witches and wizards flooded the dance floor making the view of Cecelia go away.
Bella had lost Chelsea in the crowed and no matter how hard she looked she couldn't find her. She finally gave up and found Pippa instead.
"Loose her?" Pippa asked while swiping two flutes of whine from a floating tray. She handed one to Bella who sipped it.
"Loose who?" She asked.
"Chelsea." Pippa answered. Bella's face contorted into one of mock confusion and Pippa rolled her eyes. "don't play coy with me Bella Black, I know you were following Chelsea around, the only question is why?"
"No reason really, I was just trying to look older. I thought maybe people here would treat me older." Bella lied. It was a stupid lie and she could tell Pippa knew it was a lie but Pippa gave her usual 'I'm over it' look and Bella knew there would be no more questions.
She sipped her wine and as if it brought celerity to her Chelsea waltzed by but her partner made her drop her glass. It shattered to the marble floor scattering pieces of crystal glass everywhere. The dancer's stopped and people rushed over to see if her and Pippa was ok. Chelsea turned around and so did her dance partner, Rodolphus Lestrange.
Like a pureblood she told the adults that she was fine and stepped over the glass without a word. She went to the bathroom and once seeing that it was empty she began kicking and throwing things. She punched the mirror and set fire to the toilet paper. She took a few deep breaths then calmly took the burning toilet paper and stuck it in the sink and turned on the water putting it out. She straightened out her dress put a smile on her face and walked out.
"Nice."
"Rodolphus!" Bella jumped, then she placed her hands on her hips. "What do you want."
"Just checking on you. But I can see that your tantrum is over now."
A smile curled on his handsome lips and Bella frowned, he was always mocking her. She ran her hands down her dress then looked up at him and fluttered her lashes and smiled.
"I don't know what you are talking about Rodolphus. I am a lady and ladies don't through tantrums. You sir isn't a gentleman for even saying such a thing."
Rodolphus then smiled and bent down to whisper so only she could hear.
"Then I guess, that I am not a gentleman."
Bella could smell the liquor on his breath and she rolled her eyes, go figure he'd be drunk. She gave him her best smile the she rejoined the ball, by the wall looking like a lost puppy looking for her bone stood Chelsea. Bella could tell she was confused and she had no clue where Rodolphus had slipped to and Bella smiled she still had him, she may be 13 but in pureblood statures age didn't matter wealth did.
Andy danced with Augustus all she could. She loved dancing and the man she was dancing with. When she danced she felt free, as they whirled past she noticed Bella smiling, Cissa still hiding, Mr. Lestrange leaving the hall, Chelsea pouting, Nora, Pippa and Cecelia talking. Dancing gave her a view of everyone without them knowing she was looking at them. The song ended and Andy laughed even though she was out of breath.
"I need a break."
"What!"
Augustus sounded angry like Andy had said something horrible.
"I need to take a breath, I'm tired of dancing for now. I think I'm going to get some punch and see how my sister's and friends are doing." Andy explained. "Maybe you should see your friends."
"Yes, I'll see you in a bit."
Andy walked over and joined the other girls who were talking fiercely over something. Andy tried to catch herself up but it was just one of those conversations that couldn't be entered in the middle of it.
She got bored and wondered off, after circling the ball room she decided to go down a hall. There were many painting in the hall and Andy found none of the good. Some were of dead looking flowers and others of red haired family members. There were many doors but none of them seemed to be occupied except for the one on the end. Andy walked as quietly as her heels would allow and leaned ageist the door. She knew that listening in on conversations was rude but it was still more entertaining than the ball.
"I don't know what you are talking about mother." A boy voice came through. Andy couldn't tell the age through the muffle of the door.
"You know exactly what I am talking about. Listen to me I have nothing ageist her, I rather like her, but you must be careful. She is still young and if your going to marry her when she gets to be age then you have my blessing. I can see it darling she and you were made for each other." said a female voice.
"Mother, you are being crazy. Marriage, I'm not even sure about her. I just don't like her like that."
"Remember darling, I am your mother and I know things far beyond your knowledge."
Andy was afraid she was going to get caught so she slipped down the hall and back into the ballroom. She kept looking to see who was in that room and then maybe she could tell who they were talking about. Just as she reached her friends she watched Madam Lestrange and Rodolphus Lestrange walk down the hall and into the ball. Andy gasped, Rodolphus was going to ask Chelsea to marry him.
Andy ran and found Nora and pulled her away from the crowd of people.
"Rodolphus is going to ask your sister to be his wife! I over heard him and his mother talking, and she gave him her blessing to marry whomever he wants, and you heard you sister! He's been courting her!" Andy said excitingly.
"Are you sure?" Nora asked just as excited.
"Yes who else could it be!"
Both girls jumped in excitement. They loved weddings and Nora knew if her sister married Rodolphus then that would raise her status with men and maybe someone like Lucius Malfoy might marry her someday.
"We have to tell someone, maybe just our group. But we have to make sure that they don't tell anyone."
"Yeah."
thank you for reading. Please R&R. i love hearing from all of you and keep reading =)