Helloooo! Sorry for the long(ish) wait! I had a bit of a block on how to write this chapter, but it's here now and hopefully it'll sweep you off your feet. As always, the setting, characters, and storlyine are all based off of J.K. Rowling's HP Universe. Please enjoy :)

Alastor returned about ten minutes after Irene pushed a protesting Sirius into her fireplace. Looking worn out, he nodded at her before lumbering into the kitchen. She had to roll her eyes as she dutifully vanished the trail of mud he left behind him.

On Christmas Eve, the ball at the Flints felt like a breath of fresh air. As per usual, she made her rounds around the room before briefly joining Sirius at the "Auror table". He smirked at her and wrapped an arm around her. Irene saw Alice nudging Frank and had to restrain herself from smirking. Still, it was a relief to know she had succeeded. She did, of course, leave to dance with Regulus and chat with the other guests, but would occasionally catch Sirius's eyes from across the room and wink.

"How did you do it?"

She and Regulus were once again finishing the night off slumped over a table of empty champagne glasses. She raised an eyebrow at him and he rolled his eyes.

"I'm not daft."

She shrugged.

"The Longbottoms are well-acquainted with my family. Miraculously, they knew exactly what to say."

"I keep forgetting that your mother was a Slytherin."

"I don't. Besides," she added thoughtfully, "he is quite taken with Alastor."

"Yes, well," sighed Regulus, his lips twitching, "he does make quite the impression."

Irene snorted and pretended to vomit into her glass.

Across the room, the hunk in question stretched and gestured at her.

She nodded and kissed Regulus on the cheek before heading towards her brother.

"It's not even midnight," she said with amusement.

"Hmpf," was the only respond she got.

"If we must," she sighed before drawing closer to Sirius.

"How many of these things do we still have to attend?" he asked tiredly as his hands explored her back. She chuckled throatily and straightened his robes.

"Only three. You've got to admit, they haven't been terrible."

"I suppose so."

She smiled and, painfully aware of her elder protective (not to mention highly-trained) brother was present, pecked him lightly on the lips.

"See you tomorrow."

Sirius's hands inched lower and she quickly stepped out of his embrace. Al was frowning and his eyes were narrowed but he thankfully decided not to curse him off the Earth.

The next morning, Irene was rudely awakened when Al pulled her out of bed and carried her downstairs.

In the living room, a large pile of presents sat underneath the Christmas tree and they took turns opening them. She couldn't help but laughing at Al's presents.

"You still have trouble sleeping then?" she asked lightly, holding up the seven sleeping masks he had just unpacked.

"Shut up," he growled and snatched them from her, causing one to fall into her lap.

"Oooh lavender scented silk! This will definitely help with your beauty sleep."

"It's just a joke from work."

"Yes, we all know how grumpy you get without your eight hours."

He crossed his arms and gruffly protested, but she caught him carefully folding them and placing them next to the quills she had given him. She was quite pleased with her share of presents: She had gotten a box of sugar quills from the Marauders, a vinyl record labeled 'Best of Queen' from Lily, a silk scarf and pair of sunglasses from Carmen, a 'Record of the Greatest Ministry Debates' from Regulus, and a pair of "sneakers" from Alastor, which she loudly refused to wear ("they're too clunky!"). Her heart sank into her stomach when she realized that, once again, Sirius had not gotten her a present.

However, her spirits were soon lifted when she returned to her room and flipped open the leatherbound notebook on her desk. Scrawled on the top was a short message:

You have got to tell me what charm you've used on this because it is brilliant. I haven't forgotten, by the way, so stop biting your cheek like that. Happy Christmas, love. – S

She grinned and wrote back,

I was not biting my cheek. Happy Christmas. – I

A few seconds later, words appeared just below hers.

Yes, you were. See you tonight. – S

She closed the notebook and, burying herself under the covers, was just drifting off again when Al was kind enough to remind her that training did not stop for Christmas. Generously, he had decided to construct an obstacle course inspired by the Arctic tundra. Irene's teeth chattered and she shivered as she was made to balance on a beam made of ice.

"Have I ever mentioned that you're insane?"

"Yes. And?"

"Al, when will I ever need this?" her exasperation was undermined by the teeth chattering but she glared half-heartedly at him through the gale he was currently charming to catch her off balance.

"You never know."

"No, I don't."

"I thought it was festive!" she glanced back to see him smiling sheepishly and a buffet of wind caused her to fall into a snow drift.

"Ho ho ho!" she called sarcastically.

He laughed and, finally relenting, let the training degenerate into an aggressive snowball fight. Soaked, they both sighed in gratitude when Minny snapped her fingers and caused hot air to flow around them while Dipky pushed mugs hot cocoa into their clammy hands. They settled on the couch and Al's head lolled back as he dozed off and Irene curled up against him to start on her new book.

The ball at the Longbottoms was a stark contrast to the other balls they had attended. Most of the Auror Department was present and there was an unrestrained ruckus. Al, who actually seemed enthusiastic, was immediately heralded and promptly disappeared into the crowd.

An arm snaked around her waist and she turned to smile at the idiot. His eyes were wide and there was a big grin on his face. "Now this is a party!" She rolled her eyes and closed the gap between them. He smiled against her lips before eagerly following behind Al.

"Please tell me you know where the library is."

She beamed at Regulus and held out her hand. It took them several run-ins with older witches eyeing them with great suspicion before finally escaping the hall and wandering into the enormous library.

"Ha! There it is!" She danced over to the chess board set up in front of a large window letting in light from the moon.

"Irene," Regulus said after a while, "did you know that an arranged marriage can be broken off by the wizard once he is of age?"

She knew he must be looking at her so she focused her gaze on her two remaining pawns.

"It was a recent amendment made in utmost discretion around five years ago. It doesn't show up in most books and records because the families don't want us to know we have a choice."

"You have a choice, not me," Irene said lightly, moving her bishop to take his pawn.

Regulus snorted.

"So you knew." It wasn't a question.

"It's your turn."

He didn't move.

She finally met his gaze.

"Divorce isn't possible for magical marriages."

"And?"

She leaned back in her armchair, crossing her arms. "And I have my family's entire fortune resting on my marriage. Due to his occupation, Alastor has basically forfeited his responsibilities of our house, leaving them to me. The Black name carries prestige and wealth. Marriage to Sirius carries a separation from the Blacks' zealous customs and promises me freedom in retaining and using my family's wealth and power as I please. I know this, you know this, my parents know this. So, again, I have no choice."

Regulus nodded, finally taking her bishop with his queen. They continued in silence for several minutes before he voiced the question she had been dreading.

"Does he know?"

"No."

"Irene-"

She rose and walked back towards the faint music, finding his judgement unbearable. He didn't follow her.

The raucous was deafening. Most of the pureblood families had made themselves scarce by now and the ball had derailed into an auror office get-together. Sirius waved her over and quickly drew up a chair for her.

"Where have you been?"

"Playing chess with Regulus."

He shook his head but she sighed and leant her head on his shoulder, "I find this absolutely exhausting."

She felt his chuckle reverberate in his chest. "I thought you liked balls."

"I do. But this is pure chaos. People talking over one another, jumping from one topic to the next; it's like sitting at the Gryffindor table again."

He tickled her side and she grumbled something into his shirt.

"That reminds me: here."

He handed her a piece of parchment.

"1265 Richmond Street North. What is this?"

"Well," he shrugged sheepishly, "we'll both be working in the Ministry, so I found a flat close by. It's in muggle London but the place is enchanted; belonged to my uncle Alphard before he died and left it to me."

She shifted to meet his gaze. "Seriously?" He nodded.

She smiled and kissed him.

"Really? In front of your parents?"

Irene jumped away from him and stared in surprise at the two figures before her.

"I thought you wouldn't be back until tomorrow."

"Yes, well we couldn't miss the Longbottoms'."

Her father grinned but her mother continued to peer at Sirius. Irene rushed to introduce them and sat perfectly still as her parents began to interrogate him. To say that Edwin and Lorena Moody were intimidating was a dramatic understatement. By the time her mother turned away with a grim yet satisfied smile, all the joy had been drained from Sirius's face.

"So those are the Moodys," he cleared his throat, "you make a lot more sense now."

Irene frowned and finally relaxed back into his side.

"How do you mean?"

"Well, I used to think you were scary because Slytherin house. But I get it now: your entire family's mental."

She began to protest but he continued, "I can't judge though: at least your insanity doesn't express itself in beheading house elves and marrying your cousins."

"You thought I was scary?" she asked quietly, playing with a lock of his hair.

"'Course, you terrify me to this day," he said with amusement.

"Good."

A bark of laughter escaped him and he pulled her closer.

Soon, the ball finally drew to a close. Regulus hadn't reappeared by the time they apparated home, and she considered writing him but feared the contents might reach Sirius. Her parents, exhausted from their mission, immediately headed upstairs and Al, drained from all the socializing, followed them.

The few days passed by quickly. Her training was only intensified by the presence of her parents, and they all disappeared for long hours, but in between there were moments of familial normalcy. They ate together, played exploding snap, and sat in the living room in companionable silence.

The Yaxley ball came and went without particular excitement, though Regulus kept his distance, spending most of the night in deep conversations with his cousin, Bellatrix, and her husband, Rodolphus Lestrange. Irene let him be, guessing that it would take some time for him to process the idea that she actually wanted to marry Sirius.

On New Year's Eve, her parents finally addressed the arrangement.

"You've done very well with him," her mother said quietly, working out a crease in Irene's dress with her wand, "honestly, we didn't expect you to win him over this much, but it'll help things along."

"Did you love Father?"

"Not at first. We became friends during the academy and have remained so for many years now. That in itself is a type of love."

"And you're happy with that?"

"Oh darling," she sighed, touching her hand to Irene's cheek, "your father and I have been given far more than we could have hoped for. We have each other, but beyond that we have you and Alastor, and that is enough love for a lifetime. You'll see."

Irene nodded but bit the inside of her cheek as they made their way to Malfoy Manor. Though perhaps the largest occasion of the season, there was a perfect seamlessness to the way everyone moved around the hall: the Malfoys had always been known for their balls, but Narcissa's arrangement into the family had elevated their balls into the realm of legend. When they had finally reached the Blacks, her mother smiled warmly and fell into deep conversation with Mrs. Black. Irene smiled at Regulus, who nodded, before taking Sirius's arm and walking to the dancefloor.

"You know, I might have to rethink the marriage," Sirius started, making Irene freeze and almost miss a step in their waltz, "I promised myself I would never make my mother happy as long as I lived, but she's absolutely beaming."

She laughed nervously and looked over to where their parents were still in heavy discussion.

"Don't worry, she's sure to be disappointed by the amount of half-bloods – not to mention half-breeds – at our wedding."

He laughed and agreed, "guess the wedding's on again."

They danced a bit more before heading over to Yaxley, who had become quite taken with Sirius, probably under the impression that he was as zealously pure-blood as the rest of his family. As another long discussion about the life of aurors began, Irene left to find Regulus. He was sitting with Avery and Mulciber, and smiled when she joined them.

"As I was saying," continued Avery, "there's a meeting the night before we return to Hogwarts."

Regulus looked thoughtful and twirled his wand absentmindedly, "how do you know he's not just a fluke or a lunatic?"

"Because, they rest of them have all joined up: Malfoy, Lestranges, all of them. Evette's brother met him last week and apparently he's not messing about."

"What do you think?" asked Regulus, glancing at her.

Irene smoother her gloved fingers out on the table, thinking quickly. These rumors about a so-called dark lord had been making their way around for the last few balls, but she hadn't paid them much mind.

"My concern," she began carefully, "is that such aggressive behavior will do more to threaten our existence than to further our influence. We already control the Ministry: there are pure-bloods in every high-ranking position; this allows us to shape the future of wizarding society in Britain without alienating or awakening the masses. Going public with such an aggressive agenda disrupts that balance. It threatens to-"

"Yes, yes, but aren't you sick of sitting with your hands tied, watching them take what is rightfully ours?" interrupted Mulciber.

"If it's rightfully ours, it should be impossible to take," she replied bluntly. Mulciber's brow furrowed and they stared at each other in tense silence.

"There's no harm in hearing what he has to say," Regulus said calmly, taking Irene's hand, "come on, let's go dance."

"Do you agree with me?" she asked as the music started up and they circled each other.

"I agree with the reasoning, though I also suspect the dark lord's views don't directly disagree with yours. Will you come on Saturday?"

"I'll be at Potter's but I'll see if I can slip away for the evening. I doubt they'd be pleased with my attendance."

"Well, he'll find out sooner or later."

"Mm, there's no need to bother him with it now."

"That's not really how my brother works-"

"Irene!"

Sirius's voice made them both jump and they watched him jog towards her.

"Running at a Malfoy ball, are you ser-"

"Not now, Regulus. Yes, Sirius, what is it?"

"Yaxley. Genius! Come on!" he said in excitement, dragging her away from the dancers and into a dark hallway.

"Sirius!" she said with exasperation. He faced her: his breath coming out in gasps and his eyes wild.

"Yaxley just told me; there's a law. I can break it off!"

"What?" she squeaked, fear clenching like a fist around her heart.

"The marriage: I can break it off. Don't you see? We're free!"

She couldn't breathe, and panic flooded into her brain.

"No, you can't!"

He looked at her, confusion melting into the excitement.

"But this solves everything, Irene. There's a way out!"

"But, Sirius, my family. They need this, I need this! What will they think?"

"To hell with them all!" He shouted a crazed laugh escaping him.

"You promised!" she insisted, trying to sound calm.

"Yeah, well that was when we both thought..." he trailed off and froze with his fist in the air.

"Did you know?" He asks quietly, lowering his hand slowly.

"Sirius-"

"DID YOU KNOW?!" he shouted. Irene flinched at the hurt in his voice.

"Yes," she finally whispered and continued hurriedly, "but it doesn't matter anymore, right? It's not like we hate each other anymore."

She reached for his hand but he wrenched it away from her.

"You're just like the rest of them," he said, realization dawning, "Obsessed with blood and wealth and status."

"No, Siriue, I-"

"I bet you wouldn't bat an eye if they tortured a muggle born in front of you."

"What, of course no-"

"You. Make. Me. Sick." He spat at her.

"Sirius!" She gasped, eyes brimming with tears.

He backed away from her, looking at her like he had never truly seen her before. Then, he turned and stormed out.

"No! Please, wait!"

She hurried after him but slowed down when she reached the ballroom again, quickly wiping her eyes. The crowd murmured and people peered curiously between his retreating figure and her distraught frame.

"Come on," Regulus nudged her, "I'm sure he'll calm down and think it over again."

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough to guess. Come on," he repeated, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor, "people are looking."

Annnnddd that's it! It's all up in the air from here, so keep your seat belts fastened and your wands at the ready! As always, thank you for the support and the feedback. No spoilers for the next chapter this time (because I haven't started it oops), but see you (hopefully) soon :)

Also sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes in this one, I will be doing edits when I begin writing the next chapter.