Regulus lay awake in a cold sweat thinking about the big blowout he had with Arielle in Potions. He kept replaying one sentence she said over and over in his mind— "underhanded like you tricking me into falling in love with you". Had Arielle really been falling in love with him or was she simply saying it for dramatic effect? Things were unlikely to get better anytime soon. Maybe he could sneak away from the party tomorrow, and get a moment alone with Arielle. It would be difficult considering he now had to spend the evening charming Lucienda. She was beautiful, perhaps a little dim when it came to academics but Regulus really couldn't ask for better date, besides—her. Regulus spent the rest of the night tossing and turning trying to banish the Gryffindor queen from his mind.
"Let's go Sirius, we're going to be late!" Arielle shouted at the foot of the staircase to the boys dormitory. She had her wand to her throat and used a sound enhancing charm to make sure the bloke heard her.
After a few minutes of waiting, Sirius emerged from the staircase in a fashionable suit his mother had sent him and the blue tie Arielle had bought. His hair was neat, and he looked quite handsome….definitely socially acceptable.
Arielle grabbed Sirius by the wrist and practically dragged him to the front of the castle where the carriage was waiting. Lucienda and Regulus were already there. Before they approached the two Slytherins, Arielle turned around to warn her classmate.
"Listen Sirius, it's a big night for my brother and Narcissa. Please try to behave yourself."
Sirius took a flask out of his jacket pocket and took a swig. Arielle rolled her eyes.
"Also, this is an event with Witch Weekly and I'm determined to be this month's candidate for Young Witches to Watch." Arielle said raising her chin a bit higher.
Sirius snorted. "Don't worry Arielle, I won't ruin your photoshoot unless I want my mother to throw a few cruciatus curses in my direction."
"That's right your mother will be there. Good." Arielle said with a satisfied smile.
The two Gryffindors turned around and joined the snakes at the carriage.
"Lucienda." Arielle greeted with a sweet smile before rolling her gaze over to Regulus.
"Regulus." She said venomously. Sirius let out a small chuckle but Arielle dug her heel strategically into his foot causing the lion to grit his teeth in pain.
"Sirius." Regulus said formally.
"Reggie." Sirius managed to say back despite the throbbing pain in his foot.
Regulus opened the door to the carriage, Arielle was the first to step in, shooting Regulus a dirty look on the way. Lucienda followed, and then Sirius. Once the door was shut and the four Hogwarts students were in the carriage, it took off into the air. The contraption was invisible of course considering most muggles weren't accustomed to seeing a flying carriage in the sky. The tension in the carriage was unbearable. Lucienda kept smiling sweetly at Sirius and Arielle but she didn't dare break the ice. Sirius wasted no time popping open a bottle of champagne that was in the corner of the carriage.
"Reggie?" He said handing his brother a flute with the sparkling liquid. Regulus took the glass without a word. Sirius proceeded to pour drinks for Lucienda and Arielle. The two Black brothers seemed to be communicating silently with each other throughout the whole trip with undecipherable glances. Arielle was fed up with watching the two, and began complimenting Lucienda's shoes. The two talked about the upcoming event with the magazine.
The carriage slowed down to land and Arielle recognized the thick trees that lined the road into Malfoy Manor. After a few minutes on the road, the carriage came to a halt in front of the mansion. Sirius was the first to get out and then Regulus. He offered his hand to Arielle as she exited the carriage but she merely sneered at it and choose to steady herself on the carriage door instead.
"Arielle, darling." A familiar voice sang. "You look lovely."
"Narcissa." Arielle said kissing the witch on each cheek. She did the same with Bella who was standing next to her sister and raising a challenging eyebrow at her cousin, Sirius. After posing for a few pictures outside, Sirius and Arielle entered the Manor, not waiting for their travel companions who were now being greeted by the Black sisters. Sirius headed straight for the bar, dodging his mother as she walked towards them.
"Arielle, you're looking lovely this evening. I hope my son Sirius behaves himself tonight." Walburga said a little coldly before turning her attention to her favorite son who approached the ballroom with Lucienda.
"And here's my little pumpkin…" Walburga cooed, straightening out her son's collar even though it was perfectly neat already.
"Please mother.." He said embarrassed. Arielle smirked.
"And who is this pretty little bird." Walburga said noticing Lucienda at last.
Lucienda's face lite up sweetly. Arielle cursed internally at how Mrs. Black fawned over the Slytherin girl and how beautiful she really was.
"This is Lucienda Talkalot. She's in Slytherin, and on the quidditch team. She's quite beautiful is she not, Mother?" Regulus said eyeing Arielle who immediately wanted to vomit.
Black's mother seemed more than pleased with Lucienda. "She is indeed…"
"If you'll excuse me, I see my brother over there talking to the Minister." Arielle feigned politeness before heading across the room. She was intercepted by Sirius who handed her a fire whiskey.
"I can't drink this, I'm being watched." Arielle whispered shoving the glass back into Sirius's hand and smiling over at a reporter who was eyeing her intently.
"I thought you might need it after talking to Mother." Sirius said downing her glass in one gulp.
Arielle snorted in agreement. "Well, I need to stick to champagne, it's more elegant."
Sirius rolled his eyes and went back to the bar to get his date her drink.
Lucius shook hands with the Minister, caught his sister's gaze, and made his way over to her.
"Sister." He said. Arielle steadied herself on his suit jacket and kissed him on the cheek.
"This is a wonderful party." She said.
"Yes. It is. I hope it remains that way." The blonde-haired wizard spoke, casting a hateful glance at Sirius who was still waiting at the bar.
Arielle rolled her eyes. "It will, don't worry about him I got it covered."
"Good. There are a lot of important people here Arielle, and we need to make sure…"
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Malfoy would you mind?" An eager photographer interrupted holding up his giant camera. Normally, Lucius would berate such rudeness relentlessly. Instead he chose to bite his tongue and pose regally for the camera with an arm around his younger sibling.
"So, where's the writer for Young Witches to Watch?" Arielle asked her brother once the photographer was out of earshot.
"Over there." Lucius nodded. Arielle's smile faded. Lucienda and Regulus were talking to the reporter who was looking highly amused as his floating quill scribbled notes on a notepad.
Arielle growled.
"Now, now, Arielle, you mustn't glower. Narcissa has taken interest in this girl, so don't humiliate the poor thing." Her brother said condescendingly knowing full well that there was no way his sister was losing this article to some charity project his wife-to-be decided to pick up last minute.
Arielle shot her brother a disregardful look and walked over to the bar where her date stood flirting with one of the bar maidens.
"Stop cavorting with the peasants, we've got a problem." Arielle hissed smacking Sirius in the arm. The bar maiden turned around mortified at the insult.
"What?" He asked uninterested.
"Your brother is sabotaging my debut in Young Witches to Watch. I need backup." Arielle whined.
Sirius rolled his eyes. Arielle grabbed a glass of champagne and Sirius's hand, dragging him across the room to where the reporter stood with the snakes.
"Be charming, you owe me for helping you win the quidditch match." Arielle commanded out of the corner of her mouth just before they reached the reporter.
"Lucienda, Regulus, how lovely it is to see you." Arielle cooed pretending like she didn't just spend the last hour in a confined carriage with the two Slytherins.
Regulus bite his tongue. of course, Arielle couldn't stay away with her social climbing agenda.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Arielle said batting her eyelashes at the reporter.
"Yes, um...Mr. Abbott, this is Arielle Malfoy, she's a classmate of mine at Hogwarts." Lucienda said.
"And sister to the groom." Arielle said placing her hand in the reporter's who looked like a deer in headlights.
"Mr. Abbott, I must say...your writing style is tremendous. I'm really a huge fan of yours, and your column, Young Witches to Watch."
"Thank you, Ms. Malfoy you are too kind." The reporter stumbled, his quill now focusing on Arielle and jotting down notes about her dress.
"I'm sure you've heard of my date, Sirius Black." Arielle chirped. "Regulus's older brother and heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."
Regulus rolled his eyes at the blatant insult.
"Toujours Pur." The reporter said with wide eyes, shaking Sirius's hand who reluctantly smiled after receiving a swift elbow to the chest from Arielle.
"Mr. Abbott, did you know that Lucienda was just named captain of the Slytherin quidditch team?" Regulus said clearing his throat.
"Oh how wonderful! Congratulations Ms. Talkalot. I'm sure the team will flourish under your guidance." Mr. Abbott exclaimed.
"Perhaps, you've heard of their recent stunning defeat then?" Sirius chimed in with a wicked smile. Arielle mirrored her friend's expression eagerly looking the two Slytherins up and down.
"You know I did hear about that in a letter from my niece the other day, she's a third year Hufflepuff. I also heard you're quite the hero Mr. Black, rescuing that Gryffindor girl from falling to her death. I'd say those lions need to get players who can stay on their brooms."
Regulus quirked a triumphant eyebrow at the Gryffindors. "You know, Arielle can tell you all about that considering she is the girl who—"
"Regulus, please...I'm sure Mr. Abbott doesn't want to be bored with the silly details." Arielle interrupted.
"Actually I…" Mr. Abbott began genuinely curious about the incident.
"Mr. Abbott, I hear you are good friends with one of my Professors, Horace Slughorn?" Arielle said frantically trying to change the subject.
"Oh yes, Horace, how's the old bugger been?" Mr. Abbott said already forgetting about the quidditch match. Regulus let out a huff annoyance, those damn doe eyes could get her anything she wanted.
"He's wonderful. He told me just today that he will be hosting a little party after the Easter Holidays, will you be in attendance?" Arielle asked her dark blue eyes sparklingly.
Regulus had enough of this game Arielle was playing.
"Lucienda, Mr. Abbott's drink is empty, why don't you escort him to get a refill?" Regulus coaxed.
"Certainly." Lucienda said with smile, happy to get away. The brunette witch linked her arm in Mr. Abbott's who looked thrilled by gesture and guided him to the bar.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Arielle bared her teeth.
"Stop trying to sabotage my article in Young Witches to Watch." Arielle said accusingly looking at her Slytherin foe.
"Are you mental Arielle? Narcissa is the one who introduced Lucienda to Mr. Abbott." Regulus spat.
"I think we both know that the only reason Lucienda is at this party, is because you need her to get back in the good graces of the other Slytherins." She taunted.
"No thanks to you two." Regulus hissed glowering at his brother and his date. "Clearly my cousin thinks Lucienda makes a better candidate for this stupid magazine than you...and I couldn't agree more."
"A better candidate than me?" Arielle gasped.
"That's right. She's beautiful, funny, plays quidditch, she's in Slytherin house. You're a disgrace to your family, the first Malfoy to not make it into Slytherin...knowing Narcissa, she probably wanted to spare your brother the shame of publicly acknowledging that his sister is a Gryffindor."
"Well, if Lucienda is such a wonderful little snake than why don't you go tell your mother so that she can owl her parents and officiate the courtship." Arielle challenged crinkling her nose, placing a hand on her hip, and taking a step towards the Slytherin boy.
"Maybe I will." Regulus retorted. The lion and the snake stood there scowling at each for a few moments silently before Regulus stormed off to meet Lucienda at the bar with Mr. Abbott.
Arielle glanced over at Sirius who was sporting an ear to ear grin.
"Oh shut up…" Arielle said shoving her empty champagne glass into his hand and walking to the powder room.
When Arielle came back to the party, Narcissa and Lucius were dancing regally for their guests. She couldn't help but stare, transfixed, as was everyone in the room. Watching Narcissa's emerald dress twirl as she danced with her brother was memorizing. Arielle couldn't help but smile. The union between the Malfoy and the Black households was the most royal affair to happen in the wizarding world for at least a decade. After the waltz ended and Witch Weekly had gotten their photos, the rest of the wedding party slowly began to join in on the dancing. Arielle frowned when she saw Mr. Abbott ask his personal photographer to take a picture of Lucienda and Regulus dancing.
"Wow, would you look at the pair of them." A woman Arielle recognized from the Ministry whispered to her plump friend.
"She's quite beautiful that Lucienda Talkalot, she's sure to have many suitors." The plump woman dressed in all pink whispered back.
"The Black boy seems taken with her." The woman commented.
"Well, I couldn't think of a better pair. Their both students at Hogwarts, their both in Slytherin house, their both purebloods….they were practically made for one another."
Arielle had had enough of this gossip. She scanned the room for Sirius whom she located, unshockingly, at the bar again. She marched over to the older boy and without a word dragged him to the dance floor. Sirius was a good dancer, just as good as his brother. However, Arielle couldn't shake the feeling that she was losing this game. Even though she placed herself strategically next to her Slytherin classmates on the ballroom floor, Regulus hadn't taken his eyes off Lucienda the entire time and neither had the cameras. Once the song ended and the wizards gracefully dipped their partners, Arielle, overcome with an impulsive feeling as she gazed at Lucienda's long neck, did the unthinkable. Before Sirius pulled the black haired witch up to a standing position, Arielle placed a hand softly on her friend's aristocratic cheek and smashed her lips into his. Sirius, being the gentlemen he was, snogged her back readily. In the background, she could hear what sounded like hundreds of flashes and clicks of the cameras.
When Sirius finally came up for air and steadied Arielle on her feet, he whispered pointedly, "You are so bad."
Arielle bit her lip as the crowd applauded and her brother desperately attempted to divert their attention elsewhere by announcing that the house elves would be bringing out hors d'oeuvres. She dared to look over at Regulus, who stood with an aghast expression and a stunned Lucienda on his arm. Arielle smirked wickedly. She was suddenly feeling very lively and Sirius managed to drag her off the dance floor and back to the bar, where he shoved another glass of champagne in her hands.
"Let's take this party upstairs. You have a bedroom here right?" Sirius said smirking into his glass of scotch.
Arielle rolled her eyes and sipped her sparkling drink, "You wish."
"Arielle, as much as I love being a pawn in your games with my little brother, don't you think you may have gone a little too far this time." Sirius said looking over at his cousins Bellatrix and Narcissa Black who looked ready to hex him into oblivion.
Arielle followed his gaze, "Don't worry, I'll do damage control later."
A skinny young blonde woman approached the Gryffindors at the bar.
"Hello, I'm Rita Skeeter, intern at Witch Weekly. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions for our magazine?"
Arielle flashed Sirius victorious smile. He rolled his eyes.
"Of course."
Arielle talked endlessly with the Witch Weekly intern about everything from her family, to the wedding party, her accomplishments at Hogwarts, her summers abroad, her entrance into the Slug Club, and her favorite places to be spotted.
"Arielle, can I borrow you for a moment—" A familiar voice interrupted.
Arielle cast an annoyed glance at Regulus for disrupting her much awaited interview.
"Ms. Skeeter, would you excuse me for just a minute." Arielle smiled.
Regulus subtly grabbed Arielle's arm and dragged her across the ballroom, out the french doors, around the corner, and into the hallway near the kitchens away from any prying eyes or ears.
"Are you about done now?" Regulus spat letting go of Arielle's arm.
"No." Arielle smiled, folding her arms defiantly over her chest.
"What do you think you're playing at?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Arielle said innocently.
"Kissing my brother in front of Witch Weekly? In front of our families? That was low, even for you."
"You're way out of line." Arielle said stoically.
"This isn't a game Arielle!" He yelled.
"Isn't it Regulus?" She sassed. "I'm going back to the party. I'm sure your lovely date is waiting for you."
"Is that what this is about? I don't care about Lucienda Talkalot!"
"Of course you don't. I better go warn her, before you humiliate and destroy her reputation as well." Arielle said attempting to walk past the Slytherin boy.
"Look if this is about the list, I've already apologized for that." Regulus began, stepping in front of her.
"Apologized?" Arielle hollered. "Apologized? Sending me a card that says 'I'm sorry' on it isn't exactly going to win you apology of the year Regulus." She bellowed trying to hold back the hot tears of anger building in her eyes.
"Listen Arielle…" Regulus said softly grabbing her slender hands in his. "You must know how sorry I am for what I did. It haunts me. Every night I think about how much I hurt you...I care about you so much…"
'Then why did you do it?" Arielle asked wanting to believe him.
"I can't even begin to explain…"
"Well try!" She pleaded.
Regulus took a deep breath in. "If you haven't noticed I'm not good with feelings, Arielle. All the fighting, the teasing, the parties...and then there was that night on the astronomy tower...by the time I realized my true feelings for you, it was too late. My best friend was in love with you for Merlin's sake. I had to bury my feelings deep down. Evan loved you and I saw the list as an opportunity to take you away from him without it seeming like a betrayal of his trust."
"Well you betrayed mine." Arielle said softly.
"I know...and I'm going to spend the rest of my life trying to earn it back." Regulus said earnestly, his grey blue eyes penetrating her dark blue ones. Her heartbeat quickened as he gazed down at her plump pink pout. He leaned his head closer to her's and his warm breath danced across her lips, and for the second time that night, Arielle's impulses took over and she kissed him like she never had before.
"Bozo…come here." Rita Skeeter whispered leering around the corner of the hallway. The paunchy photographer sneaked quietly behind the young intern.
"This is going to be my big break!" She said with a giddy expression. Bozo looked around the corner and saw the groom's sister, Arielle Malfoy, snogging Regulus Black.
"Wait wasn't she just snogging the other Black?"
Rita smacked the photographer in his arm.
"Just take the damn picture!"
A/N: Yay! Finally some progress for Arielle and Regulus! What did you guys think of this chapter? Leave your comments in a review!
I am trying to get more followers and reviews on this story! I am at 37 reviews, let's make it 40!
Also I started a tumblr page that has some of the dresses Arielle and Lucienda have worn, including the dresses they wore tonight at the party! My favorite dress is the one Arielle wore the night of the Christmas Ball. Here's the link:
xoxo
blog/recountsofanestrangeddeatheater