I don't want to sound arrogant, but I am very good at potions. I don't brag about it, but I won't deny that I feel a sense of satisfaction when I get annoying looks from people who can't figure out the subject. Sometimes it's just too easy.
"Well done Miss Rosier! Fine quality as always! " I was brought back into reality when I heard the jolly voice of Professor Slughorn.
"Thank you, Sir" I said without returning his smile. I'm pretty sure he was used to my unfeeling ways. Nevertheless, he kept smiling brightly before turning to the rest of the class.
"For those whose potions I have already checked you are free to go on to your next class! " He then went back to me.
"I expect to see you in the next Slug Club gathering, Miss Rosier. This time with a date perhaps?"
"I'll definitely be there, Professor. I wouldn't want to miss out on the desserts. I'll bring a friend if I could" I replied politely before nodding and making my way out.
I think it's safe to say that I'm one of Professor Slughorn's favorites. I appreciate that he feels somewhat proud to call me his student but the man is also adamant on finding me a match and dodging them is becoming a regular chore for me. It's not like my parents haven't already been doing that my whole life.
Flashback to 5 years ago…
I scratched at my sleeves a little. The dress I wore for the occassion was pretty but it was a bit itchy. I was holding on to my brother's arm as we prepared to apparate to Malfoy Manor. Apparently it was time to show off the children of the Pureblooded families. Since it was almost our time to attend Hogwarts, our parents thought it would also be wise for us to know the people whom we should consider our 'friends'. As we made our way to the doors of the large mansion, my father was quick to remind us.
"No slouching! I better not hear any complaints about the two of you"
"Yes, Father" Evan and I replied.
Our parents went on to greet our host, Abraxas Malfoy.
We were used to our father treating us as such. He made sure we behaved properly, though if you asked Evan he would say that our father may have overdone it with me. I basically turned into a statue after years of practice. But it wasn't because of Father hitting us or beating our hands with his cane. Not really. Mother was the one who taught me the art of hiding one's feelings. Our mother was deemed the perfect pureblood wife. She was so polite and proper. Not to mention, her beauty and elegance. A perfect painting as some might say, but every great work of art has a story behind it. Mother, much like us, was raised by strict parents who wanted nothing less of perfection. She managed to find a way to preserve herself. Hiding away her thoughts and emotions. Repainting herself as to how people see her today. One downside, however, was how my mother never showed us emotion as well. I never knew how she felt. My brother and I never knew whether her affection was genuine or just for show. My only indication of her feelings was when she passed down that art to me. I guess I didn't notice just how much I turned stoic after getting used to my act.
"Stay strong Serafina. Don't let anyone see through you. If not for the respect of your people, then for you and your family 's own good" She always said.
We made our way towards the tables where the food was elaborately set up. My brother and I stayed on our seats until he saw his friends. Father, as usual, was busy discussing all bunch of stuff with other purebloods. So Evan turned to Mother to ask for permission.
"Mother, will it be alright if I joined them?" He said while gesturing towards a group of boys making their way to the garden to play.
"Of course, dear" She replied softly before turning to me.
"Why don't you join the girls, Serafina? I saw them having a picnic outside in the flower garden" I nodded and was about to make my way there when the lady beside my mother, who I recognized as Mrs. Greengrass, caught my attention.
"Darling, Why don't you take Adeline with you?" She gestured to a girl my age sitting beside her. The girl had wavy light brown hair and forest green eyes. She looked like she was about to protest when Mrs. Greengrass gave her a stern look that immediately shut her up.
I looked at my mother with questioning eyes. Her nod was the only confirmation I needed. I turned to the girl and kept my voice light.
"Call me Fin" I said as I offered my hand. We shook hands and I continued.
"Come on then, Adeline. I'm sure it'll be fun to play with the other girls. The flowers in the garden are lovely too"
She nodded without looking at me. I made my way to the gardens with Adeline following close behind. From a distance, I found Narcissa sitting down on the large picnic while playing with some flowers. She stood up and greeted me with a quick hug after she noticed me.
"Finally, you're here" She said with a smile.
"Yay" I said with my usual expression and the dry tone I don't get to use around adults. This only made her laugh. She was about to pull me towards the picnic when she noticed the girl with me.
"Hello there. You're Adeline Greengrass right?" Narcissa waved slightly at the younger girl.
"Y-yes" She replied timidly.
I felt a little bad for the girl. I knew what it was like to be at the receiving end of the look that her mother gave her a while back.
"Would you like to join us for a stroll in the flower garden Adeline? Narcissa here knows I prefer not to stay in one place" I said.
Narcissa immediately agreed to my idea before expectantly looking at the Greengrass girl.
She simply nodded with small smile.
We started walking around the garden after greeting the all the girls in the picnic. I was still scratching my sleeves from time to time.
"How have you been Cissa?" I finally asked when the three of us were far enough.
"I'm always fine. Merlin forbid my parents see that I'm otherwise. I don't fancy another lecture… " She shrugged it off with a smile. I honestly think this is why we've grown close in the first place. Narcissa and I had an amazing ability to brush of every negative thing that comes with our blood status. We had enough guts to joke about it. Almost nothing fazes us anymore.
I turned to Adeline.
"Are you quite well Miss Greengrass? I know we're supposedly snakes to be, but we don't necessarily bite" My statement made both girls chuckle lightly.
"I'm just nervous I guess. My mother told me of how girls can be if I don't shape up. The girls I've met so far haven't been pleasant either to say the least" The girl rolled her eyes. Which made the other two feel a sense of pride for her.
"Well, would you look at that! The girl has a sharp tongue after all" Narcissa joked.
"I can tolerate most girls. Who would've made such an impression? " I looked curiously at Adeline.
"W-Well"
"If you're too afraid to say anything , why don't we go first? Cissa, Who's the worst girl our parents forced us to meet ? " Narcissa turned to look at me with a devilish smirk before we said, in prefect sync if I may add,
"Parkinson" She burst out laughing while I released a small smile that seemed to shock the other girl. When the Black girl noticed Adeline's expression, she laughed once more.
"Yes, Adeline. She's capable of smiling sometimes" Narcissa stated which made Adeline chuckle a bit.
"Well, y-yes but I was also surprised about Parkinson. You've met Daffodil, I suppose?" Adeline was now freely smiling.
"I met her once or twice last year. She was obsessing over boys and always telling me about how brilliantly perfect she would be as a wife. I've been dreaming of hexing her ever since" I said with a blank look that somehow made me look more terrifying according to Adeline's retort.
"Has anyone ever told you of how scary you are? " She asked softly.
"Why yes dear and that is a wonderful thing to say, Thank you" I replied.
"But in all seriousness, I have been told plenty of times that my Mother and I simply explain that it is a sign of discipline to control one's emotion in our family. It hides weakness, in a way that no one really knows what you think. It's a plus too, cause people are too intimidated at times. Saves me from having to put in the effort of socializing" I added with a shrug.
Adeline smiled at the notion that she has finally figured me out.
"I'm actually really glad I ran into to you two" She said.
Narcissa replied with a smile, whereas I just nodded.
We then talked about how excited we were too go to Hogwarts. Narcissa, being a year older than us, was already admitted there so we asked many questions. She was very happy to humor us. Our conversation would have gone on longer if it wasn't for a quaffle hitting me on the arm at full force. Enough to send me stumbling to the ground.
"OW!" I started groaning in pain. That was definitely going to leave a bruise. My dress was ruined too so my parents are going to be livid that's for sure.
"That was quite a throw, Black!" I heard a male voice laugh.
"Are you all daft!? You hit Fin!" I probably felt twice as angry as Narcissa did at her exclamation, but I just held on to my upper arm while fighting back the tears.
I felt Narcissa's hand on my shoulder supporting me from behind. I couldn't help but wince whenever I tried to move my arm. My brother was also kneeling on my other side.
"Oh, Merlin! Did I do that?" I turned to look at the owner of the voice.
I saw a tall frame with gray eyes and shaggy hair wearing a sheepish grin. I felt like wiping the grin off of his face through violence. The audacity!
"Judging from what I know, this is your cousin?" I turned to Narcissa keeping my my voice level and only letting out a few grunts of pain.
"You've probably met before, but yes Fin. This is my cousin, Sirius Black" She replied with a spiteful tone. Her eyes never leaving her the boy's form.
At this point, I was back to being calm and collected. With my usual dead stare I said,
"Sirius, nice to meet you. I would have appreciated if it wasn't due to you causing my arm to bruise using a quaffle"
"Youuuuu're looking weird? HEY!" The last part was due to another boy elbowing him. They resembled each other. Must be his younger brother, I concluded.
"You've got better judgment than your brother, I'll give you that" I told the younger boy. My comment seemed to have rendered him speechless. A part of me was hoping that the cause of it was shame for his older sibling.
Evan was busy glaring at the eldest Black brother so I put the hand of my uninjured arm on his shoulder
"Now if you'll excuse us...I have to go find someone to help me with this" I said the last part to my brother while I gestured to my injured arm, moving it slightly causing me to wince once more.
"How bad is it?" Evan's attention was now on me as he helped me back towards the manor.
"I have no idea how it looks, but it doesn't feel good at all" I whispered slightly. I know I was only a 10 year old girl but I'd rather die than to show weakness, especially when the one who caused me this was right there. I'd have to find a way to get back at him.
A few grown-ups including our parents were now making there way toward us. Someone probably saw the commotion. Mother rushed towards me when she saw my state.
"Dear me. Serafina what in the world has happened to you ?" Mother's voice was collected but stern.
I started sniffling. Which shocked a good amount of people if I might add. Forgive me, I just enjoy how much I can play with emotions.
"A quaffle knocked me of my feet, I think my arm is bruising, and now my dress is ruined. I'm sorry Mum! I promise I wasn't misbehaving. " My voice was steady but I let a few tears and sniffles out so they would think I was trying to keep my self from crying. And it worked. My parents looked like they were ready to start a war.
"Who is responsible for this?" My mother stated eerily calm.
None of the kids made a move to say anything.
"She said, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!?" Father repeated with a booming voice that made the children immediately point fingers at the one and only Sirius Black.
His father and mother looked at the boy with venom in their eyes. However before they could say a word, I spoke up.
"Father please do not blame him. In fact, he deserves your gratitude. He offered to help me. I was simply distraught because I've ruined my dress and my arm hurts. I just hate to be a bother to you" I made sure my eyes still watered and that my voice only wavered slightly. I still didn't want to show emotions of course. I didn't want to overdo it.
My father cleared his throat before looking at my mother, who looked at me with hint of pride in her eyes.
"Very well then, Just be sure to watch where you throw that quaffle next time… " He faltered forgetting the boy's name.
"Sirius Sir… I mean-" The boy cleared his throat.
"Sirius Black"
My father narrowed his eyes before assuring everyone that there was nothing to worry about. He and Mister Malfoy started to lead the guests, children and adult, back to the manor.
My mother leaned a little bit to check on my face.
"What have you done?" She said. Not in the manner you might think. She said it in a very formal and knowing way. If there was anyone who could see through my act after all, it was my mother herself.
"He hit me with a quaffle and did no move to apologize. I just wanted to make sure he knew that he shouldn't have done it. " I said mirroring her blank expression.
"Very well" She said to me.
We were about to follow inside when I noticed that the Black brothers, with Narcissa, were yet to make their way inside.
"I should thank him once more, Mother. May I have a moment? " She gave me a nod and told me to do it quickly so she could help me clean up. Had I been more observant of her that day, I would have noticed the twinkle in her eye when she looked at my form then the two boys'.
"Sirius!" I called out to the gray eyed boy.
I made sure that we were the only 4 people left outside when I gave him an emotionless stare.
"Don't make the same mistake again, Black. Next time, I won't be able to defend you"
I turned around and made my way to the manor, walking slowly until Narcissa reached me. I didn't look back at the brothers. If I did I would have seen the impressed look on Regulus' face, and the mischievous smirk painted on Sirius'.