New chapter, longer this one!
Onesinglebird: Thanks for your review! More of Sirius & Lena' relationship in this chapter ;)
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After a good night Lena was feeling much better. That sense of despair and gloom had fade away but she refused to give the credit to Sirius. Sure a neutral person - she was definitely not friend with Sirius- had helped but she was certain the chocolate cake a House Elf had brought her and sleep had done the most. Eating and sleeping, nothing better to put your mind at peace.
She was decided to stay positive, to conquer her day as she put on her uniform, brushed her hair and went to the Great Hall with Alyssa who was as full of energy as usually. She could not stop talking about the party.
"I wonder who else is invited, there is you and me, Narcissa, Rosier of course, I heard Nott talk about it as well. I think Parkinson invited Rowle, you know that 5th year with rabbit teeth? Yes I think an announcement is coming up soon, are you listening to me?"
At the entrance of the Great Hall Lena had just seen Lily and made an effort to hide all friendship in her eyes, keeping them cold and distant.
"Yes of course Aly. Parkinson et Rowle, their children will look like trolls."
Alyssa laughed before sitting down next to Rosier and Nott. They had their heads close to each other and were busy mumbling, under the interested gaze of Regulus Black sitting not far away. Higher up the table was Narcissa and her court.
Pulling a face Lena sat next to Roiser. Having to be with him as the morning had barely started, fantastic! Lena recited her new mantra "a positive day, i'm positive, positive made human".
As she was going to bite her toast she felt a shadow fell over her and a big bony hand on her shoulder, squeezing till it hurt.
"Selwyn, move."
Astounded by the order she turned around before biting her lips. It was Yaxley, a 7th year known for his love of the dark arts and being a girl did not protect from him, far from it, he seemed to hate them. She wanted to tell him to get lost but she was only a 6th year and knew far less spells. She was also scared of paybacks but still, that impudence!
"Hello to you too Yaxley. Yes I slept well, thank you for asking. Of course I'm fine to move, as you have so politely asked".
As soon as the words left her mouth she cursed herself. Go at Yaxley, really? She really need to control herself better!
"I will put your insolence on a lapse of good judgment Selwyn. And now, move."
The boy' eyes shined dangerously but it was his voice, soft and full of threats that really scared her. She saw his other hand in his pocket probably holding his wand, really to curse her.
She was starting to move when a hand covered her wrist.
"Is that a way to behave with a lady?" Rosier' icy voice raised next to her and she couldn"t stop glancing at him, surprised. Rosier as her white knight, what a joke.
Yaxley' jaws clenched and he looked even more threatening.
"I beg your pardon? You defend her when she does nothing but snub us? I would be careful if I were you Selwyn, we do not like traitors here…"
Rosier got up so brutally he almost knocked over the table.
"I thought I told you to leave her alone. If you don't I think our collaboration will not work out… And you do not want that, do you Yawley?".
Rosier' icy blue eyes were riven on Yaxley' aqueous eyes and once more, Lena was surprise to see that powerful aura that came from him. He might be a year younger than Yaxley, he was a head taller and did not see intimidated at all. His voice was like velvet but the threat clearly audible.
Red crept up on his opponent' chalky cheeks, and he let go of her shoulder, sent her a heinous look and charged towards the door.
Taken aback, Lena looked at Rosier sitting down who stared back at her before he turned around to talk to Nott without giving her any more attention.
She turned towards Alyssa who was just as surprised as her.
At the Gryffindors' table, the four boys were as usual making a racket when Sirius saw Snivellus' friend come into the Great Hall. Narrowing his eyes he watched him get close to Lena. There seemed to be an argument before another Slytherin stepped in. Confused he watched the scene trying to understand what was going on. Were they friends? He had never seen them together, maybe a fiancé? No, he dismissed that thought, that did not seem likely.
Slytherin' little dramas were none of his business but he was relieved when he saw Yaxley turned around and leave before noticing that her blonde friend was as white as a ghost.
Yes things were brewing in Slytherin. But it was not his business anymore! He forced himself to stop looking but still noticed that Rosier was standing up and inviting Lena to go with him.
Her heart pounding Lena looked at Rosier who had just asked her to come outside. She could not really refuse after his help also she got up and followed him, her throat tight.
They left the Great Hall and Rosier kept stridding, taking dark corridors before finally stopping in a remote part of the castle.
Sirius watched them leave and frowned. For an unknown reason he did not like that at all.
"James, do you have the cloak?" He asked suddenly.
"In my bag, why?
- I just need it for a sec, I'll give it back after…" and he got up before leaving quickly leaving James surprised, his mouth full of sausages.
Thanks Merlin the corridor was empty and he could put the cloak on immediately and tried to catch up with them. When he finally did, they were still talking.
"... Be careful" Rosier was saying.
"I can take care of myself" answered Lena.
"As you did today you mean?
- I do not know what Yaxley has against me but I can take care of myself. I am not a doll Rosier! Nor a child! I can defend myself!
- Really…" whispered the Slytherin before leaning towards her.
For a crazy second Lena thought he was going to kiss her and felt something jab her ribs. Lowering her eyes she saw it was his wand.
"And… dead" commented Rosier in a quiet voice. "I would reconsider your 'I can protect myself' if I were you…"
He raised his hand and stroked her cheek with his finger.
"I count on you to escort me Friday" he whispered again before striding away leaving a petrified Lena and a stupefied Sirius.
What the heck was going on with these Slytherins?
Lena did not move for a few long minutes, shocked. She shook her head before touching her cheek as in a daze and left abruptly.
Still hidden under the cloak Sirius started to breath more freely but frowned. The Slytherin House looked like a cauldron on an overly strong fire and that was starting to boil way too much.
The rest of the week went on without any more issues and it was already Thursday, the day before Slughorn' party.
Being in advance on her homeworks (nothing to do with last year and the O.W.L.S) and wanting to relax Lena decided to go to the prefect' bathroom and to take a warm, full of foam bath and try to forget everything for a while.
Entering the room she turned the water on and folded carefully her uniform before putting it on a bench. Wrapped in a soft towel, sitting on the edge of the bathtub that was more like a swimming pool, she put her legs into the water waiting for the water to be hot enough.
She was going to go into the water when the door opened. She tensed up before relaxing. Long strands of fiery hair, green eyes, Lily had come!
The girls casted a Muffliato, closed their eyes while entering the bathtub/swimming pool, before opening their eyes, comfortably hidden behind foam. Immediately Lena told her what happened in the Great Hall and the corridor with Rosier.
A wondering look appeared on the redhead' face.
"Is it the first time that Yaxley behave like that with you?
- Yes I've never really talked to him before...I know he talks to Rosier and their group, I saw them together in the common room. But this is new…
- He's the tall blond isn't he?
- Yes he's related to the Malfoys, a second degree cousin, et Nott' first cousin. He's not the nicest person in my house shivered Lena.
- Do you think he is going to attack you?
- No, well I hope not… But I do not like that. I have that feeling that some of them are getting into something really shady Lily. We always had clans, gossips, but this is different… darker... I don't know how to explain it."
Lily meditated over it for a while.
"What about Rosier, what are you gonna do?
- I am going to Slug' party tomorrow night with him, I've got no choice. After that I can't have him as an enemy.
- You too? We will see each other then! I'm going with Remus! Good luck with your partner, be careful…
- You too… Close your eyes, I have to go."
Once her uniform on, she nodded to Lily and sneaked outside. She hated that she had to cut it short but the more time they spent together the higher the risk to be discovered.
Friday went on very quickly. Most Slytherins talked only about the party. Rumors said that a famous band was coming, that several officials from the Ministry and other famous people would be there, in short everybody was losing their mind!
After the last class Alyssa and Lena had come back to their dorm to get ready. It was in this kind of situation that Lena resented to have a common bathroom, it was way more complicated!
7pm was approaching when Lena went nervously to her mirror. She was wearing a long silky dress, of a deep pine green, that folded elegantly towards the floor. The dress was off-shoulders and the two locks of hair that framed her face had been braided and pinned back, and the rest of her hair fell in waves in her back.
Anxious she turned to Alyssa who smiled at her. She was ravishing in a pastel blue dress. With a little smile she asked Lena to turn around.
"It is our first party together… I'm lending you this, do not lose it".
Lena felt something icy around her neck and checked the mirror. Her friend had lended her one of her family' jewels, an emerald mounted with diamonds. The chain was silvery and had other small diamonds on it. Breathless she turned and hugged her friend, before they left the dorm to join their escorts.
When they arrived the two young men stopped talking. Rosier quickly evaluated her, which made her uncomfortable, before offering her his arm. Joining Narcissa and her friends the two couples left the common room.
The party being in the dungeons they did not have to go far. The room seemed to have been magically extended and several buffets full of different drinks and foods were available.
Music came from a little orchestra and the room was full. After ten minutes Lena had already recognized several higher-ups from the Ministry as well as few Quidditch players and a journalist from the Prophet.
Still at Rosier' arm, they walked around the room, greeting people that Rosier knew before Slughorn came to them.
"M. Rosier, Miss Selwyn, I'm delighted that you came to my little party! Miss Selwyn you look ravishing! Do not hesitate to try the refreshments! A word with you M. Rosier? I would like to introduce you to the Director of the International Cooperation Department, a brilliant man…" and he dragged him away, leaving a relieved Lena behind.
Thirsty she decided to go to the nearest buffet and was going to grab an unknown drink when another hand came out of nowhere and took it. Following the arm she was surprised to discover Black, perfectly dressed in an elegant robe, his hair falling nonchalantly in his silver eyes.
Lena was ashamed of it but her first instinct was to look around to check that nobody had noticed she was with Black, before controlling herself and holding her head high and proud.
"Black. I am surprised to see you here… I thought you prefered to run in the corridors like a vulgar poltergeist.
- As nice as usual bantered Sirius, no wonder you are alone with that legendary kindness of yours.
- I could say the same for you Black. I do not see your usual pets…
- Unfortunately James ditched me in his quest for Love, answered Sirius with a dramatical voice, before taking a sip of HER glass. Well what should have been hers. I did not know you socialized Selwyn. I thought you were more of the hermit kind. I can see you living in a cave in the middle of the forest.
- Indeed it is there where I bury my victims, I'm just out to get the next one, answered Lena in a scathing tone.
Directing her attention back to the buffet she took the closest glass and took a sip to distract her attention on anything else but the boy on her right. She closed her eyes for a second expecting him to leave but to her dismay he leaned on the wall, determined to stay.
"Are you going to stay here forever?" mocked Lena.
"I decided to enjoy your charming company, he answered with as much irony as her. I'm trying to avoid a girl from my house and she will not dare approach me as long as you are here.
- Are you afraid of a girl? Where is she so I can kiss her?" She let a caustic laugh escape her.
When he heard her laugh he tilted his head to the side. A weird feeling was spreading in his gut that he could not identify and he had to stop himself from moving a wild string of her that was on her face.
"Biting much? Are you as nice with the one who gave you that necklace?
- I do not see how this is any of your business Black…
- Well to keep the conversation going, I cannot leave alone a damsel in distress - the scene with Yaxley played in his mind and he refrained from asking a question about it.
- This is so kind of you. Did anyone make you drink an Elixir of Euphoria?
- You wish! - He got closer and whispered with a conniving look- Except if you want to drink something stronger to make this party more bearable?" and he showed her a flask full of FireWhiskey.
Suspicious, Lena took a step back.
Slughorn materialized suddenly next to them.
"Perfect I see you are enjoying this party! , please dance with Miss Selwyn, we are going to spice things up a bit!"
And he amplified his voice: "My dearest friends I am delighted to see you all tonight! Dear students please invite a student from a different house to dance!".
A horrified look on her face, Lena stepped back when Sirius sent her an angelic smile.
"You heard the teacher Selwyn! Come over here!
- Absolutely not! Me, dance with a Gryffindor?!
- Look at your friends, they are complying. It was asked by the director of your House after all, wasn't it?
Looking around she noticed that indeed Narcissa was dancing with a Ravenclaw Pureblood and that Rosier, a dark look on his face, was dancing with a Hufflepuff.
She went back at Sirius who had observed her, an amused light in his eyes. He bowed in a sophisticated way and extended his hand that she took reluctantly. She wished she had gloves on her hands so he could not feel them shake or sweat.
All around the music was going crescendo and couples whirled.
"A small effort Selwin, he reproached her. We cannot dance if you are kilometers away from me".
She sent him a murderous look.
"You touch me in any inappropriate manner and even your dear Dumbledore will not be able to save you".
At her annoyance he just laughed before pulling her closer, making her trip and crash into his arms. Of course, it made him laugh even more and she gleefully stepped on his foot.
"Ouch! Old bat!" Sirius swore, before making her twirl again. His hand was on her hip and seemed to burn her through the fabric before letting her go to make her twirl again.
The end of the song arrived way too early for Sirius who slowly stopped dancing and leaned down towards her. Her green eyes were really clear tonight and his hand twitched on her hip, when she got suddenly pulled away from him, straight into the arms of a tall Slytherin.
Losing her balance at the unexpected pull Lena let a small cry when she felt backward before feeling something hard behind her. She raised her head up and felt problems coming. Rosier did not seem happy at all.
Both boys were observing each other and she could not stop herself from comparing them. Both were tall but so different, Sirius with his laid back attitude, putting his hands in his pockets and Rosier, so blond and with a threatening face.
"Keep your hands off my partner, blood-traitor.
- Calm down Rosier it was only a stupid dance and you know Slughorn and his whims.
- Afraid I'm gonna steal your girlfriend, Rosier?"
Seeing the murderous gleam in her partner' eyes, Lena gripped his arm.
"He is not worth it Evan, let's go dance."
She forced the sentence to leave her lips. It was the first time she had call him by his name which had not escaped him. His inquiring look focused on her, as if he was trying to read her mind. At her relief he seemed to let go of his violent thoughts, dropping a "Watch your back Black" before taking gently her arm and leading her away.
She followed him without a look for Sirius, too happy she had prevented the conflict and secretly relieved Sirius would not have to duel against Rosier.
Yet, she could not avoid noticing how Evan' hands were colder compared to Sirius'.
He watched the two Slytherins dance not far from him. They matched well, the tall and icy Slytherin with the pale brunette. His eyes went to Rosier' arm around that bratty girl and he had the urge to punch a wall.
His jaw clenched, he looked for James who was sending enamored looks towards Lily and met the cold and calculating gaze of his cousin Narcissa. Raising his eyebrows in a dismissive way he joined the Maraudeurs swearing to himself to stay away from the Slytherins.
All were still so young, unaware that kilometers from there the initial salvo of the war had been launched, as the gigantic green-smoked skull that the wizard world would fear raised high in the sky.
Do not hesitate de let me know what you think! Have a nice weekend!
