Prelude to The Ball
The first few weeks in the Black Crescent manor proved to be interesting enough for the young witch. Zaria snuck around getting her nose into all the crooks and crannies of her new vast home. She had managed to find the large kitchens where the house elves seemed to occupy the majority of their time. They offered her the best of their wares and she always left with pockets filled with sweet rolls and candied fruits that made her mother cringe at the thought of a super sized daughter. Zaria had also wandered the large outer grounds. Lord Osidian seemed to own a large plot of land consisting of hundreds of acres of woodlands that sent Zaria on overdrive to scout out the perfect places for a bit of solitude away from her mother's constant eye.
Marriage had seemed to do Margaret well. She seemed more apt to fulfill her motherly duties and bring Zaria up to ladylike protocol. To Zaria it was Hell. Margaret had her constantly walking, talking, and dressing in all the latest London Witch Weekly fashions. Zaria snuck off as much as possible to the secluded wood to a spot she found most lovely. A small moss covered stump under the broad ancient trees away from the sound of Margaret's constant sighs and groans, ladylike of course, expressing her lack of approval over Zaria.
"Oh we must look beautiful for the ball darling…absolutely gorgeous…you will be meeting all my old friends….and your new family...blah, blah, blah..." Zaria mocked her mother's constant prattle as she picked up Hogwarts A History and leaning against a giant oak. "At least this school might be the most exciting thing to happen to me..." She sighed letting her black hair fall around her shoulders relaxing for the first time.
"ZARIA…..where is that girl? The ball is tonight!" the familiar yell of Margaret rang through the edge of the forest. "LOCK? …" A familiar popping noise was heard. Zaria could only assume soon enough the house elf would be at her side beckoning her to come to the manor and get cleaned. She would of course have to make a good impression on her new relatives and her mother's esteemed friends. "All good blood of course.." she mimicked once more picking up her book and shoving it deeper over her nose.
"Miss …Miss Zaria…please please please comes to the manor." Lock of course pleaded as he pulled on her sleeve. His big brown eyes begged her to the point where she huffed a reluctant obligation and stood brushing the dirt from her jeans.
"Stupid dance. Why do I have to go? I don't care about any of these dumb relatives…" she grumbled as Lock smiled and shook his floppy eared head at her.
"Miss will be bootiful tonight.." Lock pulled her hand forcing her to walk faster as she rolled her eyes.
"Yes just what the world needs, one more fluffy pink ball of blah…" she frowned and sighed continuing the rest of the way to the manor.
The Ball
"I feel like a freak..." Zaria said dryly as she stuck her tongue out at herself glaring in the mirror. The fluffy pink dress was forced on her wiggling body and the wrinkles stuck out like battle scars. Her hair was sleeked back and left flowing down her back. Blue eyes blazed in hatred of being forced to wear the hideous outfit.
"Ooooo darling you look lovely. "Margaret squealed as she smoothed down the side of her own emerald green robes. Her hair and makeup flawless as always. Zaria stuck her lip out as she glared from her mother to herself in the mirror trying to look as repulsive as possible. Yet Margaret ignored the unsightly attempts.
"Now come it is time to greet our guests. Osidian has been planning this for weeks. Oh I am so excited..." Margaret seemed to once again drown Zaria in her own social life, "the Lestranges, the Snapes, Lupus', oh and the Potters …Wilkes…Malfoys…Crabbes…Goyles…Macnairs…Rookwoods." The list went on and on, "the best wizarding families around….it will be wonderful…absolutely…and oh to think of making a match with you…"
Zaria narrowed her eyes. A match ha. Zaria was far from being a git. She was ten freaking years old. She hated boys and could whip the daylights out of the majority of them. Yet she amused her mother and ignored her comments on match making. No way was Margaret going to match her with any such fool.
"Ladies…I presume we are ready. Our guests are arriving." Osidian's voice rang as he knocked on the door while straightening his own dress robes.
Margaret nodded and took Zaria's arm in one hand, not to be motherly of course, but to force her to not make a scene. Zaria succumbed and followed, but she refused to smile. Osidian held out his arm and led the two down the stairs to the ballroom. There the guests waited.
"Oooo wook Sririus…fwesh brait.." James elbowed his best friend in the side as he stuffed another cookie in his already over stuffed mouth. He raised his eyebrows in the direction of the fluffy pink bundle sitting in the corner of the ballroom throwing small pieces of food into the hair of the group of young teenage girls goggling over the boys by the buffet table.
"Oh that…she is my new cousin. Uncle over there married that American woman. That's her daughter." Sirius Black smirked raising his eyebrows to the girls.
"She…" James swallowed, "She seems to be terrorizing your fan club mate." He laughed as he watched the young girl toss what looked like a piece of cheese into the curly hair of a young Patricia Lestrange.
Patricia turned, her crooked nose flaring at Zaria, "You little filthy….half…" yet before she could finish her words. Her long blond curls seemed to come to life. Slowly they covered her mouth growing longer and longer as they wrapped around the girl in vines. Zaria's own eyes were transfixed on the older girl sparkling in amusement. Patricia slowly stopped struggling. The vine-like hair ceased growing, leaving Patricia wrapped like a mummy from an Egyptian tomb. Her chest was heaving and eyes wide and frightened. Zaria sighed, content with herself.
"Never mess with who you don't know…" she smiled coyly down at the mummy on the floor before hopping over the wrapped fur ball and slipping past the group of girls panicked over the fate of their friend. Zaria knew that her mother and step father would hear of what her temper caused soon enough and send Lock to find her, but she didn't care. It was their fault for making her come to the stupid ball in the first place.
"Did you get a look at that?" Sirius let go of the breathe he held as he watched Patricia's hair attack the owner, "that was bloody amazing." He looked over at James, whose mouth was still agape.
"She can't be over the age of what 11….not at Hogwarts…." James started before being smacked on the back by another boy.
"Well if you ask me Snotty Patricia Lestrange deserved it." Remus Lupin's voice seemed to smirk as his eyes followed the pink ball out of the ballroom and out the side glass doors, "Sad that she follows her parents ideas of blood…." His last statement seemed hushed as he grabbed a glass of punch.
"My new cousin…a bloody brilliant witch already…could come in handy…" Sirius smiled and ran a hand through his black hair making the 15 year old wizard seem more handsome. James shook his head and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. His eyes sparkled though behind the lenses.
"Well mates, I say we go find out what we can about the little witch before she turns against us like she did on poor bratty Patricia." James looked from both of his best mates before heading towards the glass doors. Glancing back to watch a ruffled Patricia get untangled in her locks by Sirius's cousin, Bellatrix and a smirking Lucius Malfoy.