5: The Ball

The evening has arrived and the Black Manor was transformed into a Dreamland. Edward spent the whole afternoon overseeing the preparations to turn the West Wing Ballroom into a fine regal setting. House elves from other properties were called in for reinforcement to ensure everything looked perfect. From the food to the decorations, every detail screamed ridiculously lavish. Edward didn't mind throwing a huge chunk of the family fortune for this event. After all, his nephew's eleventh birthday celebration is set to be the grandest in the British Wizarding Social Calendar of the year. In fact, it made the front pages of the Daily Prophet for three days in a row now.

Edward looked around. He seemed very pleased. Lush displays of over ten thousand roses awaited the guests at the grand hall. Not to mention the huge varieties of exotic flowers blending in to create a warm scenery. Beautiful classical music was playing in the air – candles, crystals, gold, every glittering ornament one could imagine adorned the walls.

The tropical setting was created to counter the warm weather. It's the end of July and the temperature rises to its highest point that not even cooling charms are capable enough to freshen the mood.

Edward left his nephew to his own devices until the clock hit 4 PM. But as soon as the bell chimed the hour, Harry was coaxed to get into the bath and get dressed for the night. His reluctance to show up to his own party was visible by being having to be dragged to move his arse off until Mopey was called in to make an intervention.

"These robes are giving me the itches," he complained nonstop. Harry and Edward started receiving guests at the main parlor by six. The boy was seated in an ornate chair wearing an expensive nine-piece-suit that included a rich navy cloak while his uncle stood next to him smiling and shaking hands with people entering to greet the hosts.

"You're just not used to it," said Edward in gritted teeth, "and you look exquisite. Stop whining."

"I still don't understand why I have to wear this stupid crown on my head," Harry grumbled. "I get it you're dressing me up like a poncy git but this thing on my head is just ridiculous."

"That indicates your level of importance in this room tonight, and it's called a circlet. Now you better chin up and make that smile of yours look more convincing." Edward scolded without changing his schooled expression in front of their guests. This marked as an important day for Harry to begin performing his duty as the heir apparent to the Ancient and Noble House of the Blacks. That is why Edward insisted that he learn about the customs and participate in the said customs of his own kind.

As time passed by, more and more guests arrived at the main hall. A herald was stationed at the entrance to introduce each guest by name and by which family or house they were from. Harry was starting to feel disappointed when he realized there aren't many wizards nor witches of his age present in the event. Most of the guests are his uncle's acquaintances, business associates, ministry officials, or generally, Lords and Ladies from prominent houses. This is typically one of those grownup stuff his Uncle Teddy is fond of attending to.

It's getting more and more boring for his taste.

After all the guests were introduced, everyone was ushered to the grand ballroom at the west wing where they were greeted by the joyous beat of classical music. The large hall was surrounded by French windows adding comfort with two grand staircases on both ends leading to the opposite sides of the wing. Three massive chandeliers lit the room containing hundreds if not thousands of candles each.

Harry and Edward moved to stand on one of the staircases that was converted into a dais. The clinking of a bell signaled the attention of the gathered witches and wizards, and they instantly began to quiet and focused on their direction.

Excited whispering and admiring stares could be seen from the crowd that was quickly silenced as Edward began to speak. "Welcome my fellow witches and wizards. I thank you all for joining us this evening in celebration of this important day for the Ancient and Most Noble House of the Blacks. Tonight, marks the eleventh birthday of the youngest member of our family and at the same time his indoctrination to our world," he placed a hand on top of Harry's shoulder before introducing him to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to meet my nephew – heir apparent to our noble house, Lord Hadrian Orion Black."

There was a round of applause that followed.

Edward spoke a bit more before the people began to flock around them congratulating him and in Harry's case, giving him a warm welcome. The gifts – although lacking in thought – were enormous. Then he was paraded around the hall as his uncle introduced him to everyone. Most if not all of them he hadn't met before – not even the Minister of Magic himself who was beaming at him like a godfather.

Alcohol was served in floating platters containing flutes of champagne. As people began to mingle and chatter among themselves, several glided with their partners toward the center of the ballroom and danced to the rhythm of a lovely waltz.

An hour had passed, and Harry soon realized his job was over for the night. He asked his uncle's permission to be excused for a breath of fresh air and he smiled sincerely when given permission. Edward agreed under the condition that he had to show up in the banquet hall once dinner is served. Harry nodded and slipped for the garden – with as much elegance as he could promulgate.

The boy headed for the manor's backyard with high hedges that almost towered like a giant maze. Hours of standing on the dais keeping a straight face in front of people had caused him a lot of exhaustion he decided a quick trip to his favorite nook is much needed to alleviate stress. He loved that part of the manor. Last year, he coaxed his uncle into building a small tree house for him as a birthday present and it became his retreat whenever they take residence at the old mansion. It practically became his secret hideout since then.

But when he was a short distance away from his nook, he noticed something strange. It looked like his muggle retreat had given away its secret to someone else. As soon as he made it to the threshold, his eyes caught sight of a platinum blonde hair lounging on a swing his uncle hung on the branch where the tree house was raised.

Harry could feel his rage building up at the sudden intrusion.

"Oi!" he yelled angrily, "what are you doing here?"

The young stranger who also looked stunned turned to face him. He was a boy with a pale, pointed face dressed in fine robes of velvet and satin. Must be one of the guests, he thought, and the moment he made out his looks with the help of the clear night sky, he found out the boy looked the same age as his.

"Hello," said the boy, "is this place yours?" He had a bored, drawling voice.

"Yeah?" said Harry.

"My father's inside talking to the minister and mother's hanging out with her friends," he told him, "Kinda boring, if you ask me. I want to bully them into taking us all home early, but I guess it's no use. I really don't see why people our age are even supposed to be here."

Harry could almost feel his sentiments but chose not to comment.

"Nice place you have here," the boy went on. "Do you have a Quidditch Pitch here somewhere?"

"No," said Harry although he wasn't quite sure himself considering the Black Manor is a huge property and hundreds of generations of Blacks must have been a Quidditch Sport enthusiast at some point.

"Play Quidditch at all?"

"A little," Harry said again. He knew the basics of the game, but he preferred watching occasional matches with his uncle whenever the opportunity rises.

"Well, I do. As a matter of fact, I'll be starting Hogwarts this year and Father says it's a crime if I'm not picked to play for my house, and I must say, I agree. You go to Hogwarts too?"

"Err – yeah. Actually, it'll be my first year too," he said shyly.

"Cool!" the boy piped up. "Know what house you'll be in yet?"

He must be referring to the four houses of Hogwarts. Harry heard about them from his uncle's stories, so this is something he was un-ignorant of, but he decided to remain vague since he'd learned that there was an animosity among the students because of such division.

"I'm not sure about that either." Harry replied, feeling more stupid by the minute.

"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they? But I know I'll be in Slytherin, all our family had been – imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

Harry fought the urge to laugh. He might be a little daft, but he'd heard Hufflepuff was the house where most weenies were sorted. He just made sure not to voice it out loud or someone might hear him and murder them both right then and there.

"Hmm, anywhere's better as long as it's not Hufflepuff then?" He suggested.

"I guess so," the boy nodded, and then for the first time since they'd met, he noticed the elegant circlet adorning Harry's head. "What's that?" he asked, "you look like a twat."

At last, Harry's laughter escaped his mouth. He couldn't agree more to this boy's comment. "I know! It's embarrassing." He'd been trying to take it off his head, but it seems to have been spelled to stick there until the end of the event.

"Well, doesn't mean it doesn't suit you though," the boy shrugged.

"It does?"

But before he could hear the young stranger's response, Mopey appeared between them in a loud popping noise, looking frantic. "Young Master! You is needed inside now," the house elf squeaked in a high-pitched tone. "Dinner will be served soon! Hurry sir, or Master shall severe my head for punishment!"

Harry sighed and stood up. As if his uncle would do such a thing. "Alright then," he grumbled. "I guess it's my queue to go back inside now," then he turned to the boy on the swing, "you can stay here for as long as you want. Just don't tell anyone about this place, yeah? It's my secret hideout."

The boy stood up, straightening his robes. "I should probably head inside too. Mother and Father must be looking for me by now."

Harry nodded. "I'll see you at school, then?"

"I'll see you in the train."

With a small smile, Harry took hold of Mopey's hand and disappeared from the nook.