First: I don't own the Harry Potter universe or characters, I do own however any OC's.
Quote origin:Dangerous Liaison
I practiced detachment, I learned how to look cheerful while under the table I stuck a fork into the back of my hand
Chapter: Bitter-sweet Deceit
The party was in full swing the time she got down stairs, hesitating when she reached the bottom of the stairs, her smile slipping as the music slipped out from the open door leading to ballroom. She swallowed a dry lump in her throat as she quickly continued down the corridor to the ballroom, the music becoming louder. The hallway dim, with the odd candle here and there, the scarce light glinting on the tinsel of the Christmas decorations around the manor.
When she turned the corner down the stairs, more people appeared, she was relieved that they more or less ignored her, as some ventured in an out of the ballroom, some separating towards the grounds.
Her gut twisted a little when she absently touched her concealed left arm, closing her eyes as she tried to keep her composer up, before entering the room. The ballroom was bright, the pale floor and ceiling causing the room to be engulfed in light, a large majestic Christmas tree at the centre of the room, decorated in silver and gold, lines of tables along the edges of the room in between the pillars, tables and chairs behind platters of glistening food arranged perfectly. An orchestra playing at the back of the room on a platform.
She casually made her way around the dance floor, weaving through the small circled clusters of groups, attempting to find her mother, aware that she was late as it was. No need to ruffle her mother's feathers more. "Ah there you are," called her mother. Lyrisadora snapped her head around, trying to locate her among the guests. "Honestly." came her mother's voice again, causing Lyrisadora to frown, nearly flinching when her mother gently touched her hand from behind.
She swivelled around, her mother now standing in front of her, giving her daughter a polite smile as she looked at her, the smile twitching as she frowned in confusion. "This isn't the dress I bought for you," she stated quietly.
Lyrisadora didn't look fazed. "I know, I bought it last week," she drawled, smiling slightly as she scanned the ballroom again. "My, father has outdone himself this year, such effort," she muttered, ignoring her mother's unamused look.
Narcissa didn't say anything, instead taking to change the subject. "Come, I and your father want you to meet someone," she said, her smile returning as she linked elbows with her.
Lyrisadora frowned slightly before realisation dawned when she caught her mother's line of sight. catching her father standing next to Sebastian Daley and the said boy's mother, Fiona Daley in tow, a woman who looked like she rarely left the house. She groaned at her mother as they made their way towards them. "For Merlin sake mother," she muttered. "You don't have to shove every boy in my face," she hissed.
Narcissa stared straight ahead as she kept her arm tightly linked around her daughter's. "If you're going to choose your husband, you'll need to look for options," she hissed back, keeping her smile in place as she lowered her voice more as they neared them. "And please, try to be…nice," she hissed back.
Lyrisadora bit back a snort and smiled dazzlingly, causing Sebastian to smirk. "Sebastian, it's been too long," she greeted cheerfully as they closed in on the group, her mother letting go of her arm, she quickly scanned his appearance to find a compliment to place. "New glasses?" she inquired lightly.
"Prior a year ago," Sebastian answered plainly, smiling indulgently. "New hairstyle? Shorter?" he guessed.
"Oh you are observant as ever," she replied playfully, her smile growing once she noticed evidence annoyance from her parents. "I hope you're enjoying the party, father went all out this year," she continued, eyes flickering to her father, giving him a dutiful smile. "Not that he needs to prove anything of course, right father?"
His smile was slightly cold, but he managed to add some warmth in it. "Of course. Besides, what would Christmas be without out some celebration, it is the season after all," he replied lightly, earning a concurring nod from Mrs Daley.
"It would be a crime not to," Mrs Daley replied amusingly.
"That it would," Lyrisadora added softly, smiling faintly. Meeting her father's warning gaze, simply smiling back in response.
"Mrs Daley wanted to discuss with you an invitation to her flower party, this Easter," Lucius said evenly, breaking his stare with her to smile at Mrs Daley.
"Which I had the pleasure of attending last year, " Narcissa said pleasantly. "The Cordeliers were magnificent, you must tell me your secret, Fiona," she added. She took Lyrisadora's hand. "Sweetheart you will love it."
Lyrisadora hid her grimace, instead smiling apologetically. "I wish I could, but mother, you do remember I'm allergic to flowers, partly the reason I fail at Herbology," she lied regrettably, giving Mrs Daley a sorrowful smile.
"No you're not," her father said coldly, giving her a sharp look.
Lyrisadora kept her composer. "Father surely you remember?" she questioned in disbelief, getting fully into the act, turning back to an affronted Mrs Daley. "I was out in the gardens and had a nasty reaction to some magnolias, my nanny Miss Brace helped fix me up afterwards, I could have sworn she had told you father," she mused, frowning at him. "Then again, you never did really liked her," she added nonchalantly.
"Yes well you could have reminded us," Lucius snapped, before quickly regaining his composer and forcing a smile as the Daley family stared at them anxiously.
"You were always so busy, I knew how important your work was," she countered evenly, enjoying their reactions. "But like I said, I'm sorry Mrs Daley, perhaps another event for another time," she added warmly. "Perhaps I could interest Sebastian in our range of foods? We have imports from France , the market is flourishing there these days," she redirected the conversation smoothly,
Sebastian took her hand. "It would be a pleasure," he replied, both ignoring their parents annoyed looks as they wondered off.
"A polite no would have sufficed," he said curtly as they walked towards the table full of an array of food.
"She deserved an excuse at the very least," Lyrisadora protested, taking a shrimp from a platter, jumping in surprise when Elizabeth came up from behind her.
"I've been wondering where you've been," Elizabeth stated brightly, dressed up in red and silver dress robes, with a diamond necklace to match. "The music is wonderful,-where did your mother hire them-"
"From a charity ball I think-shrimp?" Lyrisadora interjected, holding up the platter.
"No thanks," Elizabeth replied, pausing before adding. "You should see Lucretia, she's in a foul mood, her mother made her visit Cassondria at the start of Christmas break," she gossiped.
Lyrisadora smiled slightly. "Figures," she replied fondly.
Elizabeth hesitated before speaking again. "How have you been, it seemed you spend most of your time with Adrian these days," she spoke nonchalantly, a twinge of concern in her tone.
"Relax, our relationship's platonic, he's not even allowed to hold my hand," Lyrisadora reassured.
Elizabeth bristled slightly. "I didn't assume anything, I was just curious, that's all," she continued. "You've been so distant lately."
Lyrisadora's eyes flickered towards Sebastian, who was pretending to admire the ice sculpture centre piece of an angel. "Blame it on my parents, just because they're letting me choose my husband, doesn't mean they've lightened up on the issue," she drawled. "It's actually quite annoying," she sighed.
"I see," Elizabeth replied softly, still looking sceptical. "In that case, let's wonder off so they can't hound you further," she added teasingly, linking arms with her. " Come on, I can't wait to tell you all about Lucretia's crusade with that Poliakoff Durmstrangs student last year," she rambled, dragging her off towards the other side of the room. "All right cut the crap, why are you really behaving odd?" she muttered.
Lyrisadora sighed, knowing there was no use lying. "It's complicated, things are…delicate with my family right now," she worded carefully, her left arm itching.
Elizabeth looked around apprehensively, her hold tightening. "I've heard rumours….please tell me-I'm worried about you," she stumbled in explanation. Lyrisadora kept her face passive. "You can tell me anything, I'll understand and….I'd never judge."
Lyrisadora stopped at a pillar. "What do you want me to say? Things are delicate right now," she replied softly. "I'm alright, it's just so much has happened, with Cedric…" he voice broke as she closed her eyes and swallowed, maintaining perfect composer was vital at this stage.
Elizabeth's shoulders sunk as her eyes became more haunted. "I know," she mumbled. "I miss him too, everything feels different now, and it's all wrong and messed up."
"Enough talk, people are looking, we probably look like kicked puppies to them," Lyrisadora said in a strained voice, clearing her throat and smiling. "We have to move forward, strong and prideful," she added, bitterness seeping into her tone.
Elizabeth struggled to reply, simply nodding her head and moving away. "Right, well if you ever want to talk, I'm here, just don't push me away, it'll only make things worse," she added, before her eyes flickered past Lyrisadora. "Adrian's watching us by the way," she pointed out.
Looking behind her, Lyrisadora found Adrian a few feet away, casually leaning on a pillar. "Then I best see what he wants," she replied quietly, smiling at Elizabeth. "I'll talk to you later."
"Remember what I said," Elizabeth reminded sternly.
"I will," Lyrisadora replied lightly, shooting her and amused smiled. "I'm fine," she reassured before walking off.
Elizabeth sighed. "I just hope you're not lying to yourself," she muttered.
"Why hello there," Adrian greeted smoothly.
"You look suspicious," Lyrisadora replied blatantly.
"Or maybe you're just paranoid," he countered.
Lyrisadora shrugged it off. "Or perhaps it's both, either way, could you please tone down you're stalking, people are becoming unnerved."
"It's hardly stalking," Adrian sighed, placing his hands in his robe pockets. "More of an observation out of curiosity."
She sighed. "You can coat it with as many fancy words you like, it still is what it is; stalking," she argued in a matter of fact tone.
Adrian smirked, shrugging dismissively. "Perhaps, but who can help it when you're being so secretive lately, you've even started learning occlumency, a little peculiar."
"Hardly, my father has already mastered it after all, I'm simply following in his footsteps," she argued nonchalantly.
"Indeed you are," Adrian replied smoothly, giving her a perceptive look.
Her jaw stiffened. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you," she replied coldly, attempting to storm off.
"No need to run off," he said playfully, taking hold of her arm. "You're so uptight lately, you need to relax, come on," he added pleasantly, not waiting for an answer as he guided her towards where the band where playing, a small number of couples dancing.
"God you're annoying," she hissed, reluctantly taking her dancing position with him.
He smirked. "So who's teaching you occlumency?"
Lyrisadora hesitated before answering. "Professor Snape, Dumbledore doesn't know, well actually he probably does, he just hasn't confronted me," she answered, keeping her steps in time with his.
"He won't, but that doesn't mean he isn't watching you," Adrian replied casually.
"I gathered," she responded. "…how's your father?" Changing the subject.
"Ill, probably nearly dead," Adrian replied dryly, not looking that concerned.
She shot him a disgusted look. "You could at least pretend to care."
"What, like you?" he inquired tonelessly, her teeth gritted, he quickly twirled her around before she could reply, wincing when she stepped on his foot, grinding down maliciously.
"You really should learn when to hold your tongue," she hissed in his ear, before retracting and getting back into the rhythm of the music.
Adrian flashed her a sarcastic smile before regaining composer. "Maybe you should be less sensitive," he retorted. "And after all the effort I went to getting you your Christmas present," he added teasingly.
This seemed to peak her interests. "Present?" she inquired curiously, before looking at him suspiciously, wondering if this was one of his little games.
He didn't answer until the song had ended, kissing her hand and leading her out into the hallway. "You're going to love it," he said confidently.
She rolled her eyes, unable to stop herself from feeling a little excited. "I wouldn't be so confident, I may hate it," she shot back.
He simply smirked and reached into his robes, drawing out a black well-trimmed rectangular box. She eyed it curiously before opening it, her eyes widening once she realised it was a wooden crested pocket knife with gold trims around the woodwork, she switched the blade, the metal glimmering in the dark light. "Wow, thanks….I didn't expect something like this…." She muttered.
Adrian tilted his head in observation, smirking. "The blade is cursed, so be careful not to cut yourself," he said light-heartedly, gently tapping the point of the tip before she quickly retracted the blade and placed the knife back in the box.
"How thoughtful," she replied hesitantly, unsure if she should be happy or a little disturbed, deciding to settle on being grateful that he had gone to all the effort to get her something. "I didn't get you anything, sorry," she added, feeling a little guilty.
He smiled slyly. "Not a problem, I prefer the small pleasures," he said brightly, she frowned in confusion,stiffening when he suddenly wrapped his arms round her waist and pulled her closer, lips smashing down on hers, before she could react.
A rush of emotions ran through her, the first being anger with a mixture of frustration at his behaviour, instinct telling her to pull away and jinx him, then she felt something tickle her lips and she shivered, not having felt that feeling since Cedric, she frowned, the sensation becoming addictive. She found herself kissing him back, closing her eyes, the addiction growing. Herself perfectly away that she'd regret this later as she kissed him with more passion. "Don't say anything," she growled when she broke apart to breath.
"Shut up," he bit back, biting her lip and continuing the kiss. A few people were starting to stare. He drew her in closer, beginning to use his tongue as she moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer.
"Lyrisadora," came a deadly quiet voice, causing them both to freeze, eyes opening, as Adrian's tongue was stuck in her mouth, himself wincing when she quickly pulled away.
Her eyes turned cold once she realised who it was."Father," she replied coldly, levelling his glare, smoothing back her hair as she carefully wiped her lips with her hand, her mouth twitching slightly at his clear displeasure.
Adrian eyes widened, straightening himself out. "Oh, sorry...mistletoe and all," he reasoned anxiously.
Lucius clenched his fists as his jaw tightened, eyes absently flickering around to see some people staring, his eyes piercing Adrian, as if seeing him in a new light. "You're not under a mistletoe," he more or less growled out.
Lyrisadora arched an eyebrow at her father. "Honestly father, there's no need to be protective," she said icily, getting his attention as he gave her a warning look. "I'm simply looking at my options," she added silkily, enjoying his clear frustration.
Her father narrowed his eyes at her. "We'll discuss this later. You're mother has been looking for you," he stated coldly, roughly grabbing her arm, earning a loathsome glare. "Now come," he ordered darkly.
His hand was tight around her upper arm, fingers digging into the skin, he pulled her in closer, a few people who were in the hallway were staring at them. She bit down on her tongue, burying her scream down her throat. "Of course," she replied tensely, her voice shaking slightly as she held back her rage.
She watched from the drawing room window as the guests started to leave, herself shivering in cold room, the lights off as the moonlight shone through window. She flexed her left hand absently, feeling the dark mark's magic on her arm, it feeling like a constant unpleasant tickle.
It was becoming more difficult to hide it, the glamour charms weren't sticking properly , fading quickly. She had thought about covering it with make-up and placing a permanent sticking charm in place to keep the make-up from rubbing off. That was something she needed to look into. The turning creak or a doorknob and the opening of the door brought her out of her musing, she listened at the footsteps, before frowning, sighing in irritation as she kept her focus on the outside. "Father," she greeted curtly.
He came to stand next to her. "You're behaviour tonight, was disappointing," he said evenly, his hands behind his back as he surveyed the line of guests leaving the manor before apperating at the end of the gates.
Her eyes flickered to him for second before staring straight ahead. "Oh, well I'm sorry for that," she said lightly, sarcasm laced in her tone, causing him to frown as his jaw shifted. "I suppose I am just a disappointment," she continued coolly, her mouth forming a faint sneer. "Then again, I suppose one would have to blame the parents in that matter, non-plural to be specific," she said velvety.
His head snapped to her direction, fist clenching. "You're attitude is becoming unacceptable," he grit out, his voice icy, leaning in slightly. "As your father, I t would do you well to remember not to speak to me with such disrespect."
That was when something snapped, like a ceiling caving in. "Oh you are full of it," she spat, whipping around to face him, surprising him as he stepped back. "What right do you have to call yourself my father?" she questioned venomously, shaking her head in anguish. "You abused me, emotionally and physically!" she continued, her adrenaline rising.
Lucius tried to stay in control. "You needed a firm hand-I don't need to explain myself!"
"Oh but you do," she interrupted, her eyes ablaze with hatred. "Because I cannot help but wonder, what kind of father would let his child fight a war?" she questioned bitterly. He flinched, she couldn't help but laugh cruelly. "Did you even bother to stand up for me?"
"I will not discuss-"
"Did he just have to say the word, and you came barking," she ground out, her voice cold. His fists fell to his sides, his face struggling to remain passive as his jaw stiffened, his eyes full of fury. "Struck a nerve have I?" she inquired viciously. "Oh dear," she groaned sardonically. "Have I told some home truths?"
"Not another word-"
"-or you'll hit me?" she inquired curiously, a patronising smile stretching across her face. "Oh please don't hold back, I shall wear it proudly," she taunted, he remained silent. "I suppose if you did, it would be for my own good, right?" she speculated, stepping back, shaking her head as she considered him. "I believed you for so many years," her tone sounding hurt. "You were my idol, the one who I thought really did want what was best for me," she added scathingly, her eyes eyeing him bitterly. "It must have amused you so, watching me stumble to try and please you."
Lucius looked at her with uneasiness, before looking straight ahead. "What is done, is done." His voice shook a little.
Lyrisadora's eyes watered a little, herself forcing her sadness at bay, burying it under her hatred and anger. "Then answer me this," she said quietly, her eyes turning to look outside of the window. "A year ago, when you found out I had snuck out to go see the weird sisters, you hit me," she began calmly. " I was going runaway, but then you said, you loved me," her voice broke, she struggled to keep it even, swallowing a painful lump in her throat. "So did you mean it, or were you just lying?" she questioned, looking at him, scanning his face for any deception.
He was silent for a long moment, before he replied. "Of course I meant it," he replied gruffly, his face looking like it was having trouble registering all these different emotions, his self-control cracking. "From the moment you were born, I've loved you," he continued, he opened his mouth to say more but the words appeared to become stuck in his throat. Instead he met her gaze. "Does that make you feel better?" he questioned mournfully.
She looked at him, seeing his pain. "It doesn't make me feel anything," she replied quietly, looking away, seeing him swallow from the corner of her eye. "You'd think it would, before I would have…." She trailed off, thinking of all the times as a child all she had wanted her father to say was that he loved her. Her eyes were becoming wet again, she fought to stay in control, her spitefulness growing. "Let's make one thing clear," she began icily, her eyes piercing him. "You may be my father, but only by blood, but not by name," she spat, finding a twisted happiness in the way his face broke. "But don't worry, I'll keep up appearances," she continued frostily. "I know how much the family reputation means to you," she added scornfully. "Goodnight," she said coldly, eyeing him disdainfully before leaving the room, shutting the door harshly as she left him in silence.
Lucius let out a shallow breath, his eyes watering as he tried to keep his composer, his daughter's words sinking in like a blade.
Hope everyone has a merry Christmas! :D I can't wait to head home for the holidays! Real food for three weeks whoopie!
Hope you guys liked this one, currently entering new story arc, yay.
