Sirius, Lucienda, and Regulus took the carriage back to Hogwarts around midnight. Lucius had given Regulus a letter for Professor Slughorn communicating that Arielle would be arriving through the fireplace in his office around 9 the next morning by floo powder. Sirius managed to escape the party unscathed after Arielle spent the last hour of the party begging Bella not to harm the Gryffindor boy. It was Regulus who managed to convince his cousin. Arielle did not overhear the details of their conversation despite listening intently on the other side of closed doors. Whatever he said, his explanation was good enough to placate the curly-haired witch who in return managed to pacify Lucius who was ready to chain Sirius to the wall in the dungeons. Walburga and Orion Black apologized profusely over and over again to their niece Narcissa Black for their son's actions. Mrs. Black was beside herself and looked absolutely mortified.
Both Regulus and Sirius seemed reluctant to leave Arielle behind. They, their parents, and poor little Lucienda who was mind-boggled by all the drama that Arielle, Sirius, and Regulus seemed to handle as if it were a daily occurance, were the last to leave. Once all the guests had gone and Narcissa's parents were tucked away into the guest room, Mrs. Malfoy viciously grabbed her daughter by the hair and dragged her into the study where Lucius, Narcissa, and Bella were waiting.
Arielle screamed profanities the entire way, clutching her head in pain. Her mother finally let go, releasing Arielle, who stumbled into the room, steadying herself on an emerald armchair.
Arielle sat down cautiously in the emerald armchair. Narcissa was silent and faced the fire; her chair was seated the opposite direction so that Arielle couldn't see her face. Her brother stood facing her with an arm on the chair where his fiance sat. Bella had her arms crossed over her chest and was leaning against the wall next to the fireplace.
"How dare you…" Lucius sneered.
Arielle opened her mouth to speak.
"Silence!" He yelled.
"Embarrassing me...Narcissa, by cavorting and snogging a blood-traitor! As if you haven't brought enough shame on this family already! You ruined Narcissa's party! You have NO IDEA what the consequences will be for our family!" Lucius scolded.
"You will accompany Sirius to the wedding and unless you can convince him to denounce his muggle loving friends, and take his rightful place as heir to House Black, then you will cut all ties with him, so help you Merlin, or else I drag you out of Hogwarts myself!" He bellowed.
Arielle let the weight of her brother's words sink in. Although they fought all the time, Sirius was one of her closest friends and allies. She couldn't give him up, she wouldn't give him up.
"Sirius is still part of the same world that you and I live in!" Arielle cried. "Once we're both out of Hogwarts, out of Gryffindor House, no will care what house he was sorted into…"
"The world is changing Arielle, soon anyone who spends their time with muggles or muggle sympathizers will be in danger." Lucius said gravely.
"In danger of what?"
Lucius and Bella exchanged a wayward glance.
"It's true isn't it? What everyone at school has been saying about this Lord Voldemort…" Arielle began becoming more and more horrified.
"How dare you speak his name!" Bella practically yelled. Arielle flinched; a darkness unlike she had ever seen flashed in her friend's eyes.
"Arielle, things are going to change for us in a good way." Lucius justified.
"I can't believe this. I knew it! I knew it was true! You're a death eater aren't you? Sirius... he kept telling me over and over again, and I choose not to believe it! How could you do this Lucius?" Arielle said tears flowing readily down her cheeks.
"Listen to me Arielle…" Narcissa said suddenly, getting out of the chair and walking over to the hysterical younger witch. "You have nothing to worry about. Your brother is doing what's best for our families now. I need you trust him and trust me."
Arielle looked up into the arctic eyes of her future sister-in-law. She was so easy to trust, Narcissa.
"Are you a—" Arielle began.
"No." The blonde-haired witch said firmly. "And you don't have to be either. But we've come to a crossroads now. Lines are being drawn and you need to be on the right side of it, with me, your brother, with Bella..with the people who love you or else we won't be able to protect you anymore."
Arielle considered what Narcissa was saying and managed to conjure up a small smile. This seemed to satisfy Narcissa and she called for Dobby to walk Arielle to her room. Arielle didn't look at her brother or Bella, whom she now knew for certain were Death Eaters, as she exited the study and followed the house-elf to her room. She had a lot to think about that night.
The next morning, Arielle was shocked to see Regulus, Sirius, and even Lucienda waiting for her outside of Slughorn's office. She marveled at the sight of the three of them together.
"What happened?"
"Are you okay?"
"We need to talk."
They all said at the same time.
"I'm fine." Arielle said with her best fake smile. Lucienda seemed to buy it, but Regulus and Sirius were more skeptical. "Look I really appreciate you guys being here, especially you Lucienda after how I behaved towards you last night, but I just need some space right now."
"Arielle, we really need to talk—" Regulus said again.
"I'll walk you to Charms. Lily is bring your books." Sirius interrupted.
Arielle nodded in agreement with this plan and waved good-bye to the Slytherins.
"So, are you going to tell me what happened?" Sirius asked after walking silently for minutes with his Gryffindor comrade.
"Sirius, I don't know what to say except for I'm sorry for the position I've put you in. I'm sure your parents are furious. And….that you were right." Arielle said calmly almost monotone.
"Arielle, I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I tried to warn you, but now you see how important it is that we cut ties now before it's too late." Sirius said encouragingly.
"It's not that simple, Sirius…" Arielle sighed.
"How can it not be? All the scheming and manipulating you love to do so much, that's child's play to what they would make you do. I know you Arielle, the evil things, the prejudices that drive people like your brother, my parents, our families….you don't believe in that stuff, you're better than that, smarter than that."
"You don't understand…It's different for me!" She cried. "Your parents have treated you awfully, I know you despise them, but I love my family very much Sirius, I can't just abandon them. I don't want to talk about this right now, I'm still processing…"
"Fine. But Arielle, please consider what I said." Sirius said opening the doors to charms.
"I will." Arielle confirmed, walking to the front of the classroom and taking a seat next to Severus.
Halfway through Flitwick's boring lecture, Severus slipped Arielle a note, a gesture that was completely out of character for the greasy-haired boy.
Meet me in our spot by the Black Lake after you get out of Potions?
Arielle read the note, looked over at her friend, and nodded.
Potions was equally as boring as Charms. Thankfully, Slughorn had decided to spend the period lecturing on different remedies to aid those who had been hit by dark curses, giving Arielle the perfect opportunity to avoid talking to her Slytherin partner….although, Regulus did stare at her intently the entire period which she found very unnerving. The truth was she didn't know what to say to him. She knew he knew that her brother was a death eater and choose not to tell her. Arielle suspected half of the sixth and seventh year students in Slytherin were death eaters as well. She wondered if Regulus supported the Dark Lord.
Once class ended, Arielle tried to avoid Regulus but he chased her down.
"Arielle, can we go somewhere and talk now?" He sighed.
"I'm meeting Severus." Arielle said.
A frown swept across the Slytherin boy's face. For once he didn't try to mask his emotions, she could tell he was disappointed.
"Tonight, the astronomy tower?" She offered.
"Yes." Regulus answered.
Arielle smiled and continued to walk to the Black Lake. Severus was already there of course and Arielle was ready for him to chastise her for taking so long. She was surprised to find her friend looking rather sullen himself and received no scolding from him. She took a seat on the grass across from her friend and studied his expression.
Severus gazed out at the lake not even looking in Arielle's direction. "I hate Potter, Sirius, that creature Lupin….the whole lot of them. But I'm in love with Lily….she means more to me than anything in this world."
Arielle's eyes widened a bit, this was not at all what she was expecting to hear from her usually stoic and emotionless friend.
"That's why I know what you're going through." He said finally looking over at Arielle with a heavy expression full of so many emotions.
"Lucienda...hopeless gossip can't keep her mouth shut. When I heard what happened with Sirius, I knew Lucius would freak out and be forced to tell you. The Dark Lord put him in charge of recruiting other pureblood families to the cause as well as students here at Hogwarts."
"Are you one of those recruits?" She asked her eyes beginning to water.
Severus looked away again. "I've been to a few meetings."
"What about Regulus?" Arielle croaked.
"No." Severus said studying his friend's relieved expression. He dared not reveal Regulus's impending fate to her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was sworn to secrecy after the first meeting. They would've killed me." Severus said.
"I suppose that's what Regulus will say too." She mumbled.
"I doubt it." Severus said.
Arielle buried her head in her knees. This whole thing was too much.
"What are you going to do about Dumbledore?" Severus asked shifting the conversation.
Arielle groaned. In the midst of the chaos, she totally forget that the old man could read her mind.
"I don't know. He can read my mind. Do you think he would contact the Ministry? I should cancel my lessons with him...maybe in a letter?" Arielle said panicked.
"You can't. You need that training Arielle. I've been doing some research and wizards who have powers like yours….if you can't learn to control them...it'll be fatal. We can find a way to shield your mind from him." Severus said.
"You mean Occlumency?"
"Yes. I've mastered it this past year…to keep Lily safe. I can only hope that when questioned by the Dark Lord, I can resist his attempts to read my mind. I've resisted Bellatrix successfully."
"Bellatrix can read minds? She never told me...Wow...Severus... this is amazing." She said realizing that her friend was an extremely powerful wizard himself having mastered Occlumency at fifteen.
"It has to be a secret. No one can know Arielle, that is very important." He said seriously, looking at her intensly. Arielle knew Severus was taking a huge risk and must really trust her. By telling her, he was risking his own life and potentially Lily's.
"Okay when do we start?" Arielle asked.
"Two hours every day. Write to Dumbledore and tell him that you are very distracted right now with your brother's wedding and that you would like to resume lessons after the Easter Holidays."
Arielle nodded, "Brilliant."
"That will give us about two and a half weeks minus that days you'll be at the wedding to master Occlumency."
"Merlin, Severus, two weeks? I don't think I can…" She began.
"You can...and you will." Severus said firmly.
Arielle sighed. He was right, she really didn't have much of a choice. Now that she knew Bellatrix could read her mind, she had to stop the witch from finding out about her private lessons in wandless magic with Dumbledore. And, she had to stop Dumbledore from reading her mind during their lessons and finding out that her brother and his friends were death eaters.
"Okay, say this all works out; what will I tell Dumbledore when he asks how I managed to acquire this skill so rapidly? Arielle asked.
Severus smirked. "I'm sure you'll think of something."
Arielle shifted her head to the side, she could be very persuasive when she wanted to be.
"So are we agreed?" Severus said standing up and offering a hand to the Gryffindor witch.
"We're agreed." Arielle said as he pulled her up.
"And Arielle…" Severus called as she walked away, "You can't tell Regulus."
"I know." She said solemnly.
Arielle was the first to arrive at the astronomy tower.
"Accio smokes." She said. Ten packs of cigarettes flew to her feet; everyone started hiding their cigarettes up here since the school had buckled down on contraband. She picked up the kamel reds and lit one with a charm.
"I see you share the same taste as Wilkes." Regulus said standing at the top of the stairway gesturing at her cigarette.
"In that case…" Arielle said shoving the whole pack into her pocket. "It's my job as prefect to confiscate any contraband I find." She said playfully.
Regulus walked toward her and took his own smokes out of his pocket. Arielle shook her head. Of course he just carried his around and didn't bother hiding them. His arrogance amused her.
"What'd Severus want?" Regulus asked leaning against the railing causally.
"He heard all about last night from Lucienda…" Arielle began.
Regulus snorted, "Of course."
"He just wanted to make sure that I was okay. And he told me about the meetings…and Lucius and the recruiting.."
Regulus cast his gaze down to the floor.
"He said you hadn't gone to any of the meetings…" Arielle said hopeful.
"Fourth years aren't allowed to go." Regulus interjected.
"Do you want to go?" Arielle asked.
"Look Arielle, haven't you figured out by now that it's not really a choice?" Regulus said coldly, looking her dead in the eye.
"Sirius made a choice…" She countered.
"Yeah…" He said bitterly. "He sure did."
"Everything is going to change now, isn't it?" Arielle asked, her dark blue eyes sparkling in the starlight. Regulus's face softened.
"Yes." He said honestly.
Arielle sighed, "What are we going to do Regulus?"
He considered the weight of her question. She wanted to know what was going to happen next and the truth was he had no bloody idea. He was just as lost and ignorant as she was when it came to the future of their world.
"I don't know." He said calmly putting his hand over Arielle's on the railing. "But we'll figure it out...I promise."
This seemed to comfort Arielle and she stared up at him with her beautiful doe eyes. Regulus's breath caught in his chest when her lips parted slightly. She looked so beautiful in the moonlight with her black curly hair dancing in the light breeze; he wanted to take her right there. It took all his willpower to restrain himself around her, she was intoxicating.
"Regulus…" She said quietly putting a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look her in the eyes. He groaned internally at the way she said his name. He couldn't speak. He slowly closed the gap between them and kissed her gently on the lips. With each graze and caress, their kissing became more fervent, and Regulus began trailing his lips down her neck and back up to her ear. When she said his name again, this time less controlled, he felt his pants tighten and he gripped the railing firmly. He buried his face into her silky locks that smelled of lavender and let out deep groan as she traced the outline of his ear with her tongue.
At that moment she pulled away slowly, her glassy eyes shining.
"Tomorrow." She nearly whispered before quickly exiting down the long winding staircase.
Regulus managed to nod still trying to pulling himself together. He decided he should head straight to the showers, he needed a cold one after tonight.
The weekend went by quickly. Severus took a different approach in teaching than Dumbledore.
"Disgusting, Arielle." He grimaced pulling himself out of his friend's mind.
Arielle's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Over the past two days Severus had been subjected to all her makeout sessions with Regulus and in recent days the more steamy ones. He tried at first to tolerate the more mild ones with Evan or even the times she kissed Regulus in the beginning of there...whatever it was that they were doing...hooking up? They weren't exactly dating.
"I'm sorry, I can't help it!" Arielle said defensively.
"That's the whole point of this Arielle, to 'help it'." He mocked.
"I know, I know. Come on let's try again." Arielle said taking a deep breath and clearing her thoughts.
"Legilimens."
This time Arielle was able to keep him out for a few seconds. After another hour, seconds turned into minutes. By the end of their session, she was able to keep him out of her mind for a full five minutes.
"Your making progress." Severus said at the end of their lesson in an attempt to lift her spirits. Arielle was an overachiever and he could tell she was frustrated with her lack of progress.
"It takes most wizards years to master this Arielle…" Severus said as they walked to the Great Hall for dinner.
"I'm not most wizards…" She sassed.
Severus rolled his eyes. "See ya." He said walking over to the Slytherin table.
Arielle stomped over to the Gryffindor table and took a seat next to Sirius whose mouth was full of potatoes. James and Lily sat on the other side of the table. The post was late this morning due to an incoming storm. Owls came and dropped off The Daily Prophet, The Evening Prophet and the new issue of Witch Weekly. Lily eagerly continued her meal and opened up Witch Weekly and began reading. Arielle peaked at the cover of the magazine which had a regal looking photo of her brother and Narcissa on the front cover in the right hand corner. She guessed their front cover debut would be when Narcissa was in her wedding dress, they probably just had a small spread somewhere about the party.
Arielle was just finishing her lemon pastry when Lily gasped in horror. The red head witch looked up at Arielle and back down at her magazine and then up at Sirius and back down at her magazine.
"What is it Lil?" Potter said looking over her shoulder. His eyes widened in shock before he began shaking with laughter.
Sirius grunted knowing full well what was in that magazine.
"If it's about me snogging Sirius, I can explain." Arielle began but Lily just shook her head mortified while James was giving his friend a high five that Sirius happily accepted with a wicked smirk.
Lily slammed the magazine down on the table and pushed it towards her with a pointed finger.
Spotted! Arielle Malfoy Caught Between A Rock and A Hard Place.
Two Blacks in One Night? Smile for the Cameras Queen B
By Rita Skeeter
"Oh no…" Arielle moaned looking at the photo of her kissing Sirius elegantly on the dance floor, and the photo next to it of her kissing Regulus passionately in the hallway of Malfoy Manor. Arielle immediately felt nauseous, even Sirius was at a loss for words. Lily snatched the magazine back and began reading the article as quietly as she could out loud so they could all listen.
Arielle Malfoy, or Queen B as she's known at Hogwarts, has the perfect life that all of us witches dream of. At school she's a proud lioness roaming the hallways in her Gryffindor robes and this season's limited edition Bewitching heels, that are rumored to be exclusively sold to wizarding world elites and cost upwards for two thousand galleons. She's top of her class and recently made it into the renowned Slug Club, an elite organization of the most talented and intelligent witches and wizards of the day. When she's not reigning over her fellow classmates with a gloved fist, Arielle spends her summers in Paris, sipping on champagne and eating caviar. But watch out ladies, with great power comes dark secrets, and this royal scandal is one for the ages.
At a dinner party hosted by the equally famous and beautiful Narcissa Black, Arielle Malfoy brought the perfect date, a real prince charming, Sirius Black, current heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black and fellow Gryffindor classmate. The two spent their evening dazzling guests with their aristocratic cheekbones and charming conversation. However, it seems like Queen B has her eyes or rather her claws set on another man. Unknown to Sirius, Arielle spent the entire evening exchanging wistful glances with her secret beau and lover, Regulus Arcturus Black, whom she shared a passionate exchange with behind closed doors that very same night. No news on how Sirius or Regulus's date Lucienda Talkalot, recently appointed captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, is taking this latest heartbreak. You might want to sit this one out Lucienda, because this naughty game is reserved for royals only. Life as a Queen can be hard, but one thing's for certain, old aristocratic traditions never die, and Arielle's taking a page from her ancestors playbook and keeping it in the family.
"This is not good." Arielle said trying to swallow the rising lump in throat. Even her friends couldn't hide the judgement in their eyes.
"It's slander, Arielle that's all. Although, you could have warned me something like this might happen. Now I have to play the scorned woman." Sirius said raising his eyebrows.
She looked up instinctively at the Slytherin table. Regulus was already chasing a distraught Lucienda out of the hall as the snakes at the table cheered and laughed. Unlike Arielle, he had some serious damage control to do. Lucienda had been played for fool, while Sirius was already talking to Chloe Chalice, a fourth year Gryffindor, who fawning over him and asking him if he was okay.
Arielle suddenly felt a hundred eyes on her, and could hear faint whispers of her name being echoed throughout the Great Hall.
"Sirius is right Arielle, who is this Rita Skeeter, anyway? I've never heard of her. Very amateur writing if you ask me...pure filth." Lily added. However, her comments fell on deaf ears. Every girl at Hogwarts had a subscription to Witch Weekly and those who didn't knew someone that did.
Arielle picked up her bag and tried to walk down the hall looking as unaffected as possible. Her chin was high and her heels clicked loudly.
"SLAG." Someone yelled as she was halfway down the hall. Her eyes narrowed as she whipped around looking for the culprit. However, her search was brief, there were too many eyes staring at her. Arielle picked up the pace and headed straight for the dorms, her chin pointed toward the floor.
A/N: Thank you ForeverTeamEdward13, Dancing-Souls, and SmokedMirrors for your reviews!
What did you guys think of the Rita Skeeter article? I found it challenging to write. How do you think this article will affect Arielle, Regulus or Sirius's lives? Leave your comments! :D
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