"Nicolette!" her father yelled
She was lying in her hammock on the morning of the party not wanting to wake up. She knew her father was furious and not aware that she'd returned. He burst into her room and seeing her swaying asleep in the hammock. He ran out there and shook her awake. He went to strike her but she was too quick.
"Impedimenta!" she yelled pointing her wand at him. He seemed to have gone into slow motion and Nicolette ran out of the way. "I am not a child anymore! I don't care if I get in trouble but I will not let you do to me what you did to mum."
An owl flew in with a warning if any more magic is done she'd be in more trouble but after that she didn't care. She ran to the back of the house where a bush labyrinth was. Nicolette had yet to solve it but she would climb out and walk on the walls out.
The front of er father's estate was vast and lavishly decorated for the party. As she sat by the labyrinth she began remembering how her father had raised a hand to her mother. She was young but it was vivid in her mind. But her mother did not put up with it as most women would. She took Nicolette away and went to their house in France that her father had bought her. They never divorced or anything but definitely separated and Liam Carnahan chose to forget about them.
Total it took Nicolette about 3 hours to get ready. Her father wanted to make sure everything was perfect. She'd never wanted a 'coming out' party but now that she was living with her father, he wanted her to gain rich relations.
"There you are Miss. All ready" the maid said. There was a loud chime. "And just in time. The guests are here"
"Thank you Sophie"
Nicolette was told last minute that she had to wait for at least half the guests to arrive before she would be announced. The ballroom had a staircase that started out as two combined into one large one. Nicolette was reminded of Beauty and the Beast when she wore the yellow gown only hers was dark blue and silver.
Sophie came to get Nicolette after about half an hour. She heard their butler call the attention of the guests. Nicolette descended down the stairs hating tat all eyes were upon her. No smile was on her face when she saw her father but then she spotted a familiar face and could not hide it.
She reached the bottom of the stair and took her father's outstretched hand. Together they stood there as the guests came up to introduce themselves. Nicolette held on a fake smile wondering when the Blacks would come up.
Her wish was granted because they were right after the Malfoy family. Lucius Malfoy went to school and was in their same year. Nicolette glanced at Sirius but had to maintain her gaze at the people in front of her.
Finally the Blacks came up.
"Miss Nicolette, I am Lord Black and this is my wife. These are our two sons, Regulus and Sirius."
Sirius walked up and took Nicolette's hand to kiss it. His youngest brother tried to imitate but not only did Sirius stop him but so did his mother.
"Lord Carnahan seeing as how we are the last, may I request a dance with your daughter?" Sirius asked suavely
"I don't see why not," Liam said proudly
Sirius held onto Nicolette's hand and guided her to the dance floor where several people were already dancing. There was no objection from Nicolette as he wrapped one arm around her waits and intertwined his other hand with her free hand.
"Thank you" she said
"For what?"
"For saving me from this party"
A few tears stung Nicolette's eyes
"Are you alright?"
Nicolette told him about what happened that morning and she could see anger in his eyes.
"What about you? How has this week been?"
"Dismal"
He told her about his week
"Why have they been hounding you about this party?"
"It's a boost in society"
"Ah, the son of a Black and the daughter of a Carnahan"
"If you'll chance a look, you'll see my family watching closely. My father seems to be negotiating with yours"
"He'll force me to dance with the other gentlemen here then take my opinion into no consideration as he chooses the one with the most money. The sooner he doesn't have to support me, the better to him"
And a minute later, her father intervened and asked her to entertain some other guests rather than spend the entire even with Sirius. He introduced her to a brown-haired boy with black eyes.
"Hello" the boy said
"Nicolette this is Jared"
"Pourquoi vous me détestez? Il est une secousse et vous le savez"
"Excuse us for a moment" her father said
They stepped out of earshot.
"I do not hate you and you do not know whether he is a 'jerk' or not. I will not have this tonight Nicolette. You have reached my last nerve. You will act appropriately and entertain all your guests as you did with the young Sirius Black"
Nicolette put on a fake smile
"That's my girl. Now go have a dance with Master Jared"
She walked over and Jared grasped her hand tightly; too tightly. He pulled her flat against him and tried to control every stop she took.
"I am honored at the privilege to dance with such a beautiful woman." He said very cocky as if he was a Lord.
"I'd feel more honored if you hand would remain on my back and not any lower"
Nicolette was extremely relived when Sirius swept in to save her.
"I hate to interrupt my good sir but you've been summoned. I'd be happy to finish this dance for you"
"Who has summoned?" Jared asked coldly
"The tall man over there' Sirius replied calmly pointing to a man whom he knew was Jared's father
Jared gave up his position and Sirius stepped in. Nicolette hugged him gratefully.
From afar, Nicolette's father and Sirius' mother were talking and watching the two's affectionate behavior.
"Good match, don't you think?" his mother said
"Quite. He's the only one my daughter will voluntarily dance with despite the many willing suitors," Lord Carnahan said
"Certainly such a match would be smiled on in society."
"What are you suggesting Madame Black?"
"Just a thought monsieur but I feel their cozy relationship should be encouraged from both sides. If you'll excuse me, but my dear brother has arrived. Au revoir."
The wheels in Liam Carnahan's head were turning. He could boost his status in the wizarding world immensely. He looked back up to see how things were evolving with Nicolette but they were gone. He searched the room but they'd disappeared.
"Here's my room" Nicolette said after they left the dance floor. Nicolette gave him a tour of the house or the parts they could go to without getting caught which wasn't very much. She walked out onto the balcony. "Here's my sanctuary, but I'll have to go back down soon"
"Yeah, my parents have drug me to many of these parties" Sirius said, "You look beautiful though if that counts for anything"
"From you it does. Look, there's Orion. You can't see Gemini tonight. That's what I named my cat"
"I can see the Big Dipper"
"Yeah, just above the North Star."
"Kinda looks like the birthmark on your back"
"My mom used to say that too"
Just then Sophie burst in the room
"Nicky, your father has been looking everywhere for you. I suggest you high tail it down there"
Nicolette ran downstairs holding her dress up and out of the way.
Her father was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He was hiding his anger behind a smile as he held his hand out. Nicolette took it knowing he wanted to who his false fatherly adoration in a dance.
As they danced he talked with her.
"The evening is quite a turn out, don't you think?"
"Yes, your party is a turn out"
"It's not my party"
"Stop it. I know the point of this occasion"
"That young Master Black has taken a liking to you and you to him. A fine match. My daughter has good taste"
"It's always about that isn't it? Who can you marry me off to that gains you more money"
"Quiet" he hissed still keeping his smile. Nicolette lost hers. "I am only thinking of your well being"
"Well stop. I am not your daughter and since this is my party, I'm saying it's over"
Nicolette pulled her hand from his grip and walked off ignoring all the looks from her father's guests. She went outside and into the labyrinth.
"Nicolette!" Someone called. She recognized the voice as Sirius
She tried to find her way back to the entrance but couldn't. Sirius went in to look for her.
"Sirius, where are you?"
"Inside"
For a long time they shouted to each other trying to get to one another. Nicolette sighed when she made it out and Sirius was waiting on a bench in the secluded courtyard that could only be reached by going through the labyrinth.
"How long have you been here?" she asked
"Awhile."
"You could have helped"
"It's more satisfactory when you accomplish something on your own"
"Let's get out of here"
"Yes because we wont be noticed at all in our formal attire. I suspect we can walk out of here"
"Save the sarcasm and like tis"
Nicolette changed into her cat form and Sirius into his dog. He led them out and they spent the evening roaming the village. They returned as the guests were leaving. They walked up the entrance stairs hand in hand.
When they walked in, Lady Black came up looking furious with Sirius until she noticed the situation. Next came her father with clenched fists
"Nicolette, please say goodbye to your guests," he said
Sirius never let go of her hand as she said goodbye to everyone. His family waited so they would be last to leave.
"You must come to call sometime" Lady Black said, "Well it's late and the trip home is long. Au revoir"
Sirius leaned in and kissed her hand before leaving with his family. He gave her one last sexy sly smile. When the front doors shut, Nicolette's father lost his smile.
"That was humiliating!" Every other yelling sentence was along those lines and she took it smiling until he waited for her to say something. "Explain yourself"
"I behaved exactly like mum would have."
"It's that careless attitude that got her killed"
"Shut up. You don't even know what happened! You want to know what killed her!? It was you! You killed her a long time ago when you killed her spirit! I hate you and the first chance I get, I'm leaving"
"Fine. Tomorrow I leave for business and will be gone for the rest of the summer. Get everything cleaned up here."
He stormed off and Nicolette stood there.
She was lying in her hammock on the morning of the party not wanting to wake up. She knew her father was furious and not aware that she'd returned. He burst into her room and seeing her swaying asleep in the hammock. He ran out there and shook her awake. He went to strike her but she was too quick.
"Impedimenta!" she yelled pointing her wand at him. He seemed to have gone into slow motion and Nicolette ran out of the way. "I am not a child anymore! I don't care if I get in trouble but I will not let you do to me what you did to mum."
An owl flew in with a warning if any more magic is done she'd be in more trouble but after that she didn't care. She ran to the back of the house where a bush labyrinth was. Nicolette had yet to solve it but she would climb out and walk on the walls out.
The front of er father's estate was vast and lavishly decorated for the party. As she sat by the labyrinth she began remembering how her father had raised a hand to her mother. She was young but it was vivid in her mind. But her mother did not put up with it as most women would. She took Nicolette away and went to their house in France that her father had bought her. They never divorced or anything but definitely separated and Liam Carnahan chose to forget about them.
Total it took Nicolette about 3 hours to get ready. Her father wanted to make sure everything was perfect. She'd never wanted a 'coming out' party but now that she was living with her father, he wanted her to gain rich relations.
"There you are Miss. All ready" the maid said. There was a loud chime. "And just in time. The guests are here"
"Thank you Sophie"
Nicolette was told last minute that she had to wait for at least half the guests to arrive before she would be announced. The ballroom had a staircase that started out as two combined into one large one. Nicolette was reminded of Beauty and the Beast when she wore the yellow gown only hers was dark blue and silver.
Sophie came to get Nicolette after about half an hour. She heard their butler call the attention of the guests. Nicolette descended down the stairs hating tat all eyes were upon her. No smile was on her face when she saw her father but then she spotted a familiar face and could not hide it.
She reached the bottom of the stair and took her father's outstretched hand. Together they stood there as the guests came up to introduce themselves. Nicolette held on a fake smile wondering when the Blacks would come up.
Her wish was granted because they were right after the Malfoy family. Lucius Malfoy went to school and was in their same year. Nicolette glanced at Sirius but had to maintain her gaze at the people in front of her.
Finally the Blacks came up.
"Miss Nicolette, I am Lord Black and this is my wife. These are our two sons, Regulus and Sirius."
Sirius walked up and took Nicolette's hand to kiss it. His youngest brother tried to imitate but not only did Sirius stop him but so did his mother.
"Lord Carnahan seeing as how we are the last, may I request a dance with your daughter?" Sirius asked suavely
"I don't see why not," Liam said proudly
Sirius held onto Nicolette's hand and guided her to the dance floor where several people were already dancing. There was no objection from Nicolette as he wrapped one arm around her waits and intertwined his other hand with her free hand.
"Thank you" she said
"For what?"
"For saving me from this party"
A few tears stung Nicolette's eyes
"Are you alright?"
Nicolette told him about what happened that morning and she could see anger in his eyes.
"What about you? How has this week been?"
"Dismal"
He told her about his week
"Why have they been hounding you about this party?"
"It's a boost in society"
"Ah, the son of a Black and the daughter of a Carnahan"
"If you'll chance a look, you'll see my family watching closely. My father seems to be negotiating with yours"
"He'll force me to dance with the other gentlemen here then take my opinion into no consideration as he chooses the one with the most money. The sooner he doesn't have to support me, the better to him"
And a minute later, her father intervened and asked her to entertain some other guests rather than spend the entire even with Sirius. He introduced her to a brown-haired boy with black eyes.
"Hello" the boy said
"Nicolette this is Jared"
"Pourquoi vous me détestez? Il est une secousse et vous le savez"
"Excuse us for a moment" her father said
They stepped out of earshot.
"I do not hate you and you do not know whether he is a 'jerk' or not. I will not have this tonight Nicolette. You have reached my last nerve. You will act appropriately and entertain all your guests as you did with the young Sirius Black"
Nicolette put on a fake smile
"That's my girl. Now go have a dance with Master Jared"
She walked over and Jared grasped her hand tightly; too tightly. He pulled her flat against him and tried to control every stop she took.
"I am honored at the privilege to dance with such a beautiful woman." He said very cocky as if he was a Lord.
"I'd feel more honored if you hand would remain on my back and not any lower"
Nicolette was extremely relived when Sirius swept in to save her.
"I hate to interrupt my good sir but you've been summoned. I'd be happy to finish this dance for you"
"Who has summoned?" Jared asked coldly
"The tall man over there' Sirius replied calmly pointing to a man whom he knew was Jared's father
Jared gave up his position and Sirius stepped in. Nicolette hugged him gratefully.
From afar, Nicolette's father and Sirius' mother were talking and watching the two's affectionate behavior.
"Good match, don't you think?" his mother said
"Quite. He's the only one my daughter will voluntarily dance with despite the many willing suitors," Lord Carnahan said
"Certainly such a match would be smiled on in society."
"What are you suggesting Madame Black?"
"Just a thought monsieur but I feel their cozy relationship should be encouraged from both sides. If you'll excuse me, but my dear brother has arrived. Au revoir."
The wheels in Liam Carnahan's head were turning. He could boost his status in the wizarding world immensely. He looked back up to see how things were evolving with Nicolette but they were gone. He searched the room but they'd disappeared.
"Here's my room" Nicolette said after they left the dance floor. Nicolette gave him a tour of the house or the parts they could go to without getting caught which wasn't very much. She walked out onto the balcony. "Here's my sanctuary, but I'll have to go back down soon"
"Yeah, my parents have drug me to many of these parties" Sirius said, "You look beautiful though if that counts for anything"
"From you it does. Look, there's Orion. You can't see Gemini tonight. That's what I named my cat"
"I can see the Big Dipper"
"Yeah, just above the North Star."
"Kinda looks like the birthmark on your back"
"My mom used to say that too"
Just then Sophie burst in the room
"Nicky, your father has been looking everywhere for you. I suggest you high tail it down there"
Nicolette ran downstairs holding her dress up and out of the way.
Her father was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He was hiding his anger behind a smile as he held his hand out. Nicolette took it knowing he wanted to who his false fatherly adoration in a dance.
As they danced he talked with her.
"The evening is quite a turn out, don't you think?"
"Yes, your party is a turn out"
"It's not my party"
"Stop it. I know the point of this occasion"
"That young Master Black has taken a liking to you and you to him. A fine match. My daughter has good taste"
"It's always about that isn't it? Who can you marry me off to that gains you more money"
"Quiet" he hissed still keeping his smile. Nicolette lost hers. "I am only thinking of your well being"
"Well stop. I am not your daughter and since this is my party, I'm saying it's over"
Nicolette pulled her hand from his grip and walked off ignoring all the looks from her father's guests. She went outside and into the labyrinth.
"Nicolette!" Someone called. She recognized the voice as Sirius
She tried to find her way back to the entrance but couldn't. Sirius went in to look for her.
"Sirius, where are you?"
"Inside"
For a long time they shouted to each other trying to get to one another. Nicolette sighed when she made it out and Sirius was waiting on a bench in the secluded courtyard that could only be reached by going through the labyrinth.
"How long have you been here?" she asked
"Awhile."
"You could have helped"
"It's more satisfactory when you accomplish something on your own"
"Let's get out of here"
"Yes because we wont be noticed at all in our formal attire. I suspect we can walk out of here"
"Save the sarcasm and like tis"
Nicolette changed into her cat form and Sirius into his dog. He led them out and they spent the evening roaming the village. They returned as the guests were leaving. They walked up the entrance stairs hand in hand.
When they walked in, Lady Black came up looking furious with Sirius until she noticed the situation. Next came her father with clenched fists
"Nicolette, please say goodbye to your guests," he said
Sirius never let go of her hand as she said goodbye to everyone. His family waited so they would be last to leave.
"You must come to call sometime" Lady Black said, "Well it's late and the trip home is long. Au revoir"
Sirius leaned in and kissed her hand before leaving with his family. He gave her one last sexy sly smile. When the front doors shut, Nicolette's father lost his smile.
"That was humiliating!" Every other yelling sentence was along those lines and she took it smiling until he waited for her to say something. "Explain yourself"
"I behaved exactly like mum would have."
"It's that careless attitude that got her killed"
"Shut up. You don't even know what happened! You want to know what killed her!? It was you! You killed her a long time ago when you killed her spirit! I hate you and the first chance I get, I'm leaving"
"Fine. Tomorrow I leave for business and will be gone for the rest of the summer. Get everything cleaned up here."
He stormed off and Nicolette stood there.