DISCLAIMER: All the characters you see here that are in any of the Harry Potter books belong to JK Rowling and I am not her. I am simply taking them out to play.
Author's Note: I'm a few days late, sorry. I hope you still enjoy this chapter. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK BY SUBMITTING A REVIEW!
Chapter 24: Meet Mr. & Mrs. Rosier
The following morning Mallory awoke to a soft voice calling her name. Her eyes fluttered open and she found Sophia standing above her with a glass of something in her hand.
"Wake up," she was saying, "and drink this."
"We've done this before haven't we?" Mallory mumbled while sitting up. Sophia rolled her eyes and handed her the glass.
"Yeah," she agreed as Mallory gulped down the liquid, "on Christmas morning."
"Right," Mallory replied while giving Sophia back the glass and lying back down.
"So what happened last night?" Sophia asked as Mallory felt the bed go down on her left.
"I was hoping you could tell me," Mallory replied as she tried to remember. "The last thing I remember is dancing with Paul and drinking."
"Yeah," Sophia nodded, "you and he disappeared for a little while and Sirius came back later saying you were outside asleep on the porch."
"Black?" Mallory frowned.
"He said he found you out there," Sophia replied, "I don't know. No one knew where Paul went."
Mallory nodded, "That's so … odd." She concentrated very hard on trying to remember but it was pointless. She couldn't remember anything past dancing with Paul. But she had this feeling she was forgetting something important.
"Ok, get up and take a shower. Your mum's making breakfast," Sophia said after a moment of silence.
"Ok," Mallory agreed.
A little while later both girls sat in the kitchen eating their breakfast when an owl came soaring in through the window. Mrs. Crabbe had just left to run some errands and both girls were on strict orders not to leave the house. Mallory didn't recognize the owl and was surprised when it dropped a letter on her lap and then turn and flew away.
"Who's that from?" Sophia asked immediately. Mallory flipped the letter over and smiled.
"Remus," she answered before tearing the envelope open and pulling out the letter. She scanned it rapidly.
Mallory,
Hopefully this letter reached you first and not your father. I am sorry about that. I hope you didn't get into too much trouble. I was using my family owl that is not all that reliable anymore. However, the owl I will use for this letter is James'. With any luck he is more trustworthy. Speaking of owls, the owl you sent with your last letter seems rather dependable but sort of stoic. Epictetus seems like an appropriate name (pronounced epic-tee-tus) he was a muggle philosopher and exponent of stoicism. If you don't like the name I won't be upset but I find it rather appropriate.
I was surprised to see you at Jarrod's house last night but I'm glad you went. I hope you had a good time and maybe I'll see you again over the holiday? I am staying with James and so is Sirius incase you hadn't noticed by his appearance last night at the party. If I don't see you over the break I'll see you next year and I hope the rest of your holidays go well.
Remus
"What does it say?" Sophia asked as Mallory refolded it and put it on the table with a soft smile on her lips.
"Here," she said as she handed the letter to Sophia.
"Epictetus," Mallory said softly to herself as Sophia read. She repeated it a few times. It didn't sound that bad. No one else seemed to have any suggestions for a name.
"Are those boys always together?" Sophia asked as she se the letter down. "I can understand Black staying with the Potters but Lupin too? Doesn't he have his own family?"
Mallory shrugged and took the letter back. "What do you think of Epictetus for my owl?"
Sophia shrugged, "I suppose you should see what he thinks of it."
"Right," the two girls trudged upstairs to test the name out on the owl.
"Amorelia Bridgette Crabbe!" Mallory sat up on her bed and looked over at Sophia whom had an alarmed look on her face.
"Is there any chance my mum could have found out about last night?" she whispered.
"I don't think so."
"Get down here right now!" Mrs. Crabbe's voice crept under the door and spilled loudly into the room.
"Coming!" Mallory shouted in reply and jumped out of bed.
A few minutes later she was down in the kitchen where her mother was talking strictly at the house elf.
"…has to be perfect," was all Mallory caught.
"Ma'am?" she asked as she came off the last step entered the kitchen.
"We are having a dinner party," said Mrs. Crabbe. Mallory frowned in confusion, "therefore you and Sophia are to put on your dress robes and be ready to entertain by six o'clock."
"May I ask who is coming?" Mallory asked.
"No," her mother replied, "you will find out when they get here. Now go and get ready."
"Yes ma'am," Mallory nodded and sprinted back to her room.
"What's going on?" Sophia asked as soon as Mallory returned.
"We're having a dinner party," Mallory answered still frowning, "And she wouldn't tell me who's coming or why." Sophia sank back onto her bed with a confused look as well.
"Do they have dinner parties often?" Sophia asked.
"No," Mallory shook her head, "not that I know of. We have to wear our dress robes."
"Well let's get ready then."
At six o'clock exactly Sophia and Mallory made their way down stairs. They were about halfway down \ when the doorbell rang. Both girls stopped in their tracks. The house elf came bustling out of the kitchen and quickly opened the door.
"Good evening sirs and misses," he squeaked, "please come in." The door opened the rest of the way and first a man and a woman walked in. The man was tall and thin but fit. He had short dark brown hair and a strong chin. The woman was the ideal trophy wife. She was tall, thin, and looked to be at least ten years younger than the man. Her blue dress robes matched her eyes almost exactly.
Mallory didn't immediately recognize either of them until a boy walked in behind them. Her stomach did a flip and suddenly she knew what this dinner party was for.
They shed their winter cloaks, dumping them on the elf, and walked further into the foyer. The two girls were still hidden in the position on the stairs unless any of the newcomers looked almost directly above them. Mallory was transfixed to the spot as a million emotions ran through her but the foremost emotion was shock.
"Ah," came the voice of Mallory's father, "Barrack, Rebecca," Mallory wanted to be sick, "I'm so glad you could make it. Come into the living room." He ushered them into the living room before him and then looked down at the elf who was hanging up the cloaks, "go find my daughter," he commanded.
"Let's go," Sophia whispered, "before we get into trouble."
"Do you know who that is?" Mallory asked incredulously.
"It's Evan," said Sophia with a nod, "I know."
"I can't go down there."
"You have to," said Sophia taking her hand, "now come on." Mallory followed her friend reluctantly down the stairs and into the living room.
"Ah," Mr. Crabbe smiled at his daughter for the first time in a long time. "I don't know if you've met my daughter Amorelia," he said to the Rosiers. Mallory curtseyed slightly and nodded to Mr. and Mrs. Rosier. They nodded back.
"And this is Sophia Jugson," said Mr. Crabbe in a dismissive manner, "her parents are out of town and asked if we would watch her during their break," he smirked, "they wouldn't leave her with Dumbledore any longer than absolutely necessary either."
"Of course not," said Mrs. Rosier immediately. She looked at Evan fondly, "we would never leave our son with the man either."
"Amorelia, we understand you're in your sixth year?" Mr. Rosier asked in a rough voice.
Mallory nodded before answering, "Yes sir."
"Are there any subjects that you excel at?" He asked.
Mr. Crabbe scoffed, "Come now Barrack," he said, "my daughter excels in all subjects. She's third in her class."
"Who are first and second?" Mr. Rosier asked.
"Devlin Wilkes is first," said Mallory, "And Emily Hart is second."
Mr. Rosier raised an eyebrow at her. "Hart?" He asked, "Isn't she the pure-blooded girl who was sorted into Gryffindor?"
Mallory nodded, "She is sir," she answered.
"At least she's our type," said Mr. Crabbe, "but Amorelia will be second if not first by the end of the year, won't you?"
"Yes sir," Mallory answered immediately, "I will be."
"Excuse me," said a quiet voice from the doorway into the living room. Everyone turned their attention to the house elf standing there. "Dinner is served," he squeaked.
"Are we eating without your son?" Mr. Rosier asked.
"No," said Mr. Crabbe, "he should be here any minute." As though he were waiting for that moment there was a crack of apparition in the foyer.
"There he is now," said Mr. Crabbe standing, "let us move into the dinning room." The guests stood and followed Mr. Crabbe out of the living room. Mallory and Sophia trailed after them.
Dinner conversation was rather light. Mr. Rosier and Mr. Crabbe held up the conversations with Vincent commenting more than anyone else. The others only spoke when asked a question – Evan included which Mallory found odd. He was usually rather vocal about his opinions. After deserts Mrs. Crabbe suggested "the kids" go into the living room. Mallory made no objection.
"You know," Rosier said as he lay down on the couch before anyone else got the chance to sit, "your house elf can really cook." He pulled his arms above his head and sigh contentedly.
"I know," said Mallory with a frown. She took a seat in the armchair adjacent to the couch.
"You don't seem very happy to see me," said Rosier, "but I'm not taking it too personally."
"You should," said Mallory, "I thought I made it perfectly clear that I want nothing to do with you."
"Well that doesn't really matter," he replied, "as it's our parents' decision not ours. And it seems like your parents are rather anxious to get rid of you."
"Shut it," she snapped.
"No," he answered, "I'm not through yet."
"Do you want me to make you shut it?"
"You're not -" he stopped shortly as though he thought better of continuing "- you wouldn't do anything with your parents in the next room."
"Try me," she challenged while glaring at him.
A stronger man than Evan Rosier would have cracked under Mallory's fierce gaze. He opened his mouth as though to reply but instead tore his eyes away from her.
Looking away from him, satisfied that she'd won the argument, Mallory noticed Sophia in the other armchair looking pensive.
Apparently Rosier noticed her too, "What's with you?" He demanded.
Sophia looked up at him with an angry expression, "What do you care?" She snapped.
"I don't," he answered while frowning at her, "I was just asking."
"Well don't," she shot back, "I don't need you pretending like you care about me."
"Right," he pulled his arms across his chest and sank lower into the couch.
Mallory rolled her eyes and sighed softly to herself. Oh how she hated spoiled prats who liked to sulk especially the one on the couch.
It was nearly ten o'clock when the Rosiers finally left. Mallory felt drained. All she wanted to do was go to bed but she squatted at the top of the stairs with Sophia to listen to what her father had to say to Mr. Rosier. The Rosiers were outside and Mr. Crabbe was standing in the doorway blocking Mallory's view.
"She seems promising," Mr. Rosier was saying, "they could be a good match and do a lot of good for us, but she is only seventeen." He paused, "We still have over a year to work out all of the details. Rebecca will contact you after the New Year for another dinner, this time at our manor."
"Of course," said Mr. Crabbe. "We will see you on New Years Eve?" Mr. Rosier must have nodded in response because her father continued, "It was nice meeting you Evan," Mallory imagined they shook hands, "and nice seeing you again Rebecca."
"As was seeing you," said Mrs. Rosier and Mallory heard three distinct cracks of apparition.
Mallory sighed deeply, glad to have that night behind her.
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