"Brush your hair!"
Sighing the boy dragged the comb through his hair. He hated this mirror so much but it was a present his father had bought and he had no option but to leave it on the wall. He stepped back and looked at himself carefully. He looked good. His neat blonde hair was now tidy, his black shirt was tucked into his black trousers and his shoes had been polished.
"Get in here now boy!"
He turned and walked into the room. He looked up at the anger on his fathers face. His punished for the events of Christmas had just ended after a month out of Hogwarts. He knew that he must keep quiet while his father started.
"Now you will not interact with the other children at the event. You will sit up straight and behave, as a young man should act. Now move over to the door the car will be here now."
Moving to the door he waited for the signs that the car had arrived. He remained silent listening to the voices around him.
"Chloe, that's enough make-up get to the door and wait with Peter."
"Father, the car is here."
The doorbell rang and Peter quickly opened the door as his father stepped out. They got in the car and sat in silence each awaiting their arrival and knowing they would have to put on a great show.
The car pulled up and the driver got out and opened the door allowing them all out. Simon walked ahead of his family and knocked on the door. It was instantly opened by a house elf who directed them inside.
"Simon, so good to see you old friend, please come in"
Peter watched as his father walked into the large house and he followed behind lifting his head high as he stepped through the door. He had never been here before; he had always been left at home on his own.
There was a large banner on the wall next to the door, with the words 'Puro en sangre' Peter didn't even pretend to understand what it said. He looked up and met eyes with the man standing before him. He had cool blue eyes that were filled with an emotion that Peter could not pick up on.
"You remember my wife Chloe and my son Peter."
"Yes of course. Chloe you get more beautiful with each year."
Peter was sure his mother blushed as a house elf took their coats from them. A woman with long black hair and a golden tan walked into the hall. She smiled at the group as the doorbell rang and she moved to answer it.
Peter followed his mother who had moved towards the wall away from the door. He saw a woman identical to the mistress of the house on the other side. Both had their long black hair in curls down in their back, their dark eyes twinkled with joy.
They instantly started speaking and both held the same accent that Peter guessed belonged to the country of their birth.
"Amarantha usted mira hermoso venido adentro y deja el servent tener su capa"
(A/N Amarantha you look beautiful come in and let the servent have your coat)
The woman stepped inside and removed her coat giving it to another house elf that had been standing near by. Peter saw for the first time the robes she wore. They were fiery red and matched the ones that the other, who Peter guessed was her sister, wore.
After her came a man who was extremely pale, Peter thought he didn't belong. His hair was light almost white and he was tall and looked important in his black robes. However the thing that shocked Peter was the boy who followed them in.
The boy was in a pair of black trousers and a white shirt. He looked like he fitted in well with the group, but when his eyes met Peter's he knew the torment would begin.
"Simon, you remember my wife Aquilina and her sister Amarantha."
"Usted sigue siendo ambos tan hermosos como las flores Españolas en la plena floración"
(A/N You are both still as beautiful as the Spanish flowers in full bloom)
Peter gasped as he pulled slightly at his mother, he had no idea his father could speak anything other than English. He was so surprised.
"Mum, what did father just say?"
His mother looked at him and whispered from the side of her mouth
"I can't speak Spanish love."
"Charles it has been so long since we last met, and this cant be Severus."
Peter saw the pride in the man Charles Snapes face as he smiled at Simon. The men began to talk and the women were speaking in what Peter now knew was Spanish. The silence however was shattered by the screams of a girl.
"LIBBY! LIBBY GET BACK HERE NOW."
Peter winced at the anger in the voice of the young girl. He was surprised when the yeller emerged into the hall where they were standing. Peter gasped slightly and moved to hide himself behind his father.
"Have you seen Libby, she's disappeared, and I don't know where she's put my skirt."
"Try down in the house elf quarters, that's were they normally go."
"Yes, of course father."
"This can't be your daughter Alistair!"
Peter heard the anger hidden in his voice even if no one else did. He sneaked a look at the girl; she had on a nightdress that was too small for her, cutting midway down her thighs. It was a soft yellow colour that highlighted the red that had appeared in her long curled hair over the summer.
Peter smiled to himself wondering how long it would be before she would notice him standing there looking at her. The girl's mother interrupted him from his thoughts
"Qué usted le piensa está haciendo abajo aquí en ése? Va el cambio antes de que llegue la otra huésped"
(A/N What do you think you are doing down here in that? Go change before the other guests arrive)
"Madre apesadumbrada, cambiaré antes de que lleguen los otros, pero tendré que encontrar algo nuevo para usar puesto que Libby ha colocado mi falda donde no puedo encontrarlo"
(A/N Sorry mother, I will change before the others arrive, but I will have to find something new to wear since Libby has placed my skirt where I cannot find it)
The girl turned and as she did her eyes met with his. He saw a smile spread up her pretty face as she forgot about changing. She rushed forward through the adults and threw her arms around him. She had her face placed on his shoulder and he could smell apples in her hair.
"AMANDA LYRA DIXON LET GO OF THAT BOY THIS MINUTE"
She pulled away winking at Peter and ignored her father and the others completely.
"Pete, you've grown you're taller than me now. How has your holiday been? Did you get in trouble about Christmas? I did I haven't been allowed to see Sirius all summer, but he's coming tonight. You have to come up to my room I'll show you the racing broom I'm taking to Hogwarts with me. I want to join the Quidditch team this year, I want to be a chaser."
She smiled at him as she took a breath and he instantly tried to answer the questions as quickly as possible
"My summer's been alright I met up with James and Alice two weeks ago, but I haven't seen anybody else. My punishment was that I couldn't send owls to anyone but its over now. I don't know if I should go look at the broom I'm suppose to be playing the Ministers son tonight not the Hogwarts student."
"Oh that's good because I'm playing the well behaved daughter that doesn't answer back, and I think Sirius will be playing the respectful son that stays out of trouble, so none of us will be the Hogwarts students. Now come on, you can help me pick out a dress to wear."
Amanda grabbed his hand to drag him upstairs when her mother again spoke.
"Licencia de Amanda el hijo de los ministros solamente, él isn't aquí para usted a jugar con los hes aquí como parte de la familia respetuosa él es parte de, ahora va consigue vestido!"
(A/N Amanda leave the Ministers son alone, he isn't here for you to play with he's here as part of the respectful family he is part of, now go get dressed!)
"Pero sirva de madre a esto es Pete. Pete le he dicho alrededor. Mi amigo Pete. We're que van hasta mi sitio y envían por favor Sirius para arriba cuando él llega cada uno puede pasar tiempo con Adrian, aunque Andromeda es más que la recepción para ensamblarnos también. Venido en Pete deja para ir..."
(A/N But mother this is Pete. The Pete I have told you about. My friend Pete. We're going up to my room and please send Sirius up when he arrives everyone else can spend time with Adrian, although Andromeda is more than welcome to join us as well. Come on Pete lets go...)
"I mean come on Pete lets go upstairs."
With this he felt her drag him up the stairs away from everyone else.