Disclaimer: JKR is the queen of all
For once, for the first time, like...ever, I am utterly bewildered and proud of myself for this chapter. You will see why at the end ;)
Below is a half-ass family tree of all of the people who will be at the Villa. Hope it's not too complicated.
Guide:
If there is a dash between the names, it means they are married.
If there are three dots between the names, it means they are siblings.
Santasia's Family
Mom: Cadence - Dad: Lawson
Brother: Jents
Aunty Cecil - Uncle Abery
Cousin: Layne (21)
Aunt Cecil is Lawson's sister
Uncle Broderick - Aunt Gemmi
Cousins: Jaedon (15)…Radella (12)
Uncle Broderick is Cadence's brother
Nana Emma
Santasia's grandmother from her mother's side.
Sirius' Family
Uncle Alphard…Aunt Odessa
Cousin: Andromeda (19) is Odessa's daughter
Uncle Nevin - Aunty Winela
Cousin: Carver (9)
Uncle Nevin is cousin to Odessa and Alphard
Total number of kids in Villa: 8
Aunts: 4
Uncles: 4
Total people: 17
Note: It was not a typo. Odessa and Alphard are in fact siblings, not a couple.
The words uncle, aunt, and cousin are all referring to who they are for Sirius and Santasia, not what they are to each other.
Chapter 16. Woe Is Me
7 a.m. No it can't be 7 a.m.! That means it's…Saturday.
For once, I will not fill you in on why I am so miserable. I dare not utter my condemnation. If I say it, it'll be true. It really will be the day I'm going to the-
No! Shutting up now! I will not say it. I will not say it. I will not say it.
"Santasia don't you need to pack for the Villa?"
I screamed into my pillow until all breath had left me. Must my thoughtful friends remind me of my impending doom?
I glanced up at Annike to see her standing next to my bed, bewildered.
"Who's screaming? IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?" Susan sounded as if she was either about to bludgeon the voice who woke her or murder the person who had provoked it.
She was also lying on the floor. Susan has a nasty habit of falling out of the bed in the mornings. Her red hair was covering her face and she gave off an unbelievable look of an ogre.
Of course, one must refrain from telling their friends such things when their mood had already been ruined in the early hours.
Though, I couldn't help laughing.
Or chortling more like.
"Santasia? You haven't even packed yet?" Lily Evans poked her head out from the bathroom in curiosity as Jen and Susan made their way to my bed.
"I don't need to pack, I'm not going anywhere", I mumbled into my pillow.
They say denial isn't just a river in Egypt. Or at least the weird ones do.
I suppose they're right. Denial also functions as a great mental get away from the dark realities one must face, such as; watching home videos or going through your baby book.
Not much fun when 78 percent of the pictures are of you learning how to be potty trained.
So really it wasn't that hard for me to convince myself that my holidays would consist of sitting in the Gryffindor common room and enjoying Wizard's Chess without my cousins giving me annoying pointers.
My friends obviously thought differently.
With an intelligent flick of her wand, Anni managed to pack all of my belongings.
All of them!
Ruddy excuse of a friend I say! I expected her to sympathize, and perhaps come up with a plan consisting of hiding me in her trunk and taking me to Bermuda with her.
Apparently smuggling best friends to the south is not in Annike's schedule, or anyone else's for that matter.
Outraged, I looked up from my pillow to see Jen and Susan smirking from behind the bed posts as Anni stood even more menacingly over me.
Suddenly her look changed to sympathy, "I don't want to have to do this Santasia."
"Then don't!" I screamed pleadingly. I am most certainly not one above begging. I am also qualified for groveling, bribing, and betting. If only they had a job for that. I would definitely be set.
Resolutely, Anni flicked her wand once again.
"Well eat something!" Graham shoved a spoonful of cereal towards me quite hysterically. My dear friends had all dragged me to the Great Hall for breakfast and attempted to feed me. Graham was last on the roster.
Honestly! Am I wearing a damn diaper or something? They're well intentioned and all but I expected them to be scheming to help me escape the Villa, not forcing me to get ready for it.
"For the last ruddy time; I DON'T WANT TO EAT!"
I looked away from the scandalized faces and began to smash the tiny little ants crawling across the table.
Damn ants. They're the reason for my problems.
If they hadn't lived then humans wouldn't have evolved from them. Therefore, my family and I would not exist and I would not have such a wretched future.
We will most definitely put aside the fact that humans did not evolve from ants.
Evolution is the least of my worries.
"Really, what is so bad about going to a villa in the winter? It'll be beautiful and romantic and relaxing", Susan piped. I swear that girl should be a realtor.
Before I could answer with my extensive and valid reasons, Ben inquired, "More importantly, why the hell are there ants on the table?"
I have finally escaped the clutches of the village people! They are currently holding my beloved sentiments in captive and I am in hiding. If I can keep very very still and be very very quiet, perhaps I will not be caught.
In other words, I snuck away from the gang but they've got my trunk with them and they're threatening to put it on the Express for me. Currently, I am hiding in the library.
I have also discovered something. Praying did not help. I desperately thought that praying to the un-known powers above would perhaps be my last chance in escape.
The un-known powers above are out for lunch apparently and have found more interest in a deli sandwich then my mortification.
"Santasia? Are you in here?"
Oh bloody hell I refuse to be caught!
"I can see you behind that book you know", Sirius grinned at me.
Obviously someone must have obliviated him to make him forget where we're going.
Either that or he's actually looking forward to the impending excursion.
"How could you tell it was me?"
"Who else would read a book on a Saturday morning?"
It took a great deal of self control to stop myself from chucking that book at him.
Looking back, I really really should let my self control loosen up a bit.
"A bit gloomy are we?"
"Oh so you noticed?"
Sirius sat down next to me reproachfully. "Are you ever going to be ready to get up?"
"No."
"And there's nothing I can do to convince you to come?"
"No."
Abruptly he stood up, gazing at me as if I was an interesting specimen.
He grinned again, "Well, are you coming or what?"
We were driving through a field now, with tall, lustrous green grass about three feet high and the periwinkle-blue ocean roaring about 50 yards down the hill. It was overwhelming.
And my churning stomach was definitely not helping the matter at all.
The ride on the Hogwarts express was quite subdued. Anni and Susan tried to comfort me while Graham, Ben, and Jen distracted me with some strange antics of theirs.
It was nice for a while, until we reached London.
Here I was, riding in a long black car (it reminded me of a hearse, and was uncannily fitting for the occasion) with Sirius gazing out the window next to me.
I didn't realize he'd been thinking about me, really, but once he turned back, it was apparent he had a plan.
"How about this? Why don't you try to think about the good things?"
We sat in silence as he gave me time to think.
Good things?
Well…
I loved the food.
Yes, Aunty Cecil, and Sirius' Aunt Odessa were fabulous cooks. If I didn't gain at least 20 pounds by the end of these two weeks, there work would not be done.
I loved the company of my cousins as well. We couldn't help making up the strangest games at night, and playing Sardines was a huge tradition with my Uncles. How could I have forgotten?
Oh and how could I forget Jaedon? My grumpy little cousin who was always fun to poke at? Or mischievous little Carver and spunky little Radella? How the hell could I have forgotten all of this?
No, there was one thing I had not forgotten. I couldn't possibly put out my favorite part of the Villa, which wasn't in the Villa at all.
The gazebo behind the peer. Oh God the gazebo behind the peer…
"We're here", coughed the driver as he braked in front of the Villa.
Every happy thought that had filled me cowardly fled at the site of the Villa.
My stomach felt as if I'd digested extremely bad pumpkin juice. Ick!
Before I could protest, Sirius had already paid the driver, gotten our trunks out, and shoved me out of the car.
I speechlessly dragged my trunk closer. It was gorgeous. Beyond gorgeous…
The Villa itself was gigantic, looming over the grounds like a ship out of water. It had honey colored walls with a dark red tiled roof, and creepers wrapping around the windows and edges. On the right hand side was the garden. A magnificent one at that! It was at least half the size of the house, and consisted of the most unusual flowers I had ever seen. I could smell the fragrance even from where I was standing. On the left was a large cluster of oaks that left no room to look further. Behind us was the face of a hill, while in front was the house. Behind the house, was the ocean.
It happened every time I arrived here. There'd be a silence that was filled with awe. It was like meeting someone who had an undeniably wondrous presence. You wanted to here what they said, what their thoughts were. That was all that mattered. With the Villa it was the same. When you first met it, there'd be silence so you could listen to the rustling of the trees, as if they were welcoming you.
"Oooooooh! Oh my how big you've both grown! Oh dear! Santasia!" Aunty Cecil, with her fly-away brown hair was tottering towards us in her white apron with her arms wide open. As soon as she reached me the wind was knocked out of me.
I suppose I'll have to get used to that. My family members hug people as if they're trying to break them. But being little in my family was bloody horrid. If ever there was a get together, you were guaranteed to have pinched, swollen cheeks, and sore arms by the end of the day. But that's just if you were lucky. I used to walk around with lipstick marks all over my face without even noticing it when I was 5.
As soon as she had left me (and I had acquired breath again) she turned to Sirius.
And stopped.
And stared.
And stared…
Oh.
My.
I had no idea whether to laugh… or… scream.
I looked at the tacky red wig and heavy make up. The flowery blouse certainly did not match with the short blue skirt…and his legs were just much too manly to be exposed improperly. (They would look much better in boxers)
I couldn't believe it.
If a monkey began to talk to me, it would be more believable then this.
No I was definitely imagining it.
The scent of the ocean was just getting to my head.
No, the scent of the ocean had gone to Sirius' head.
Oh dear. Sirius was dressed as a transvestite.
"Sirius? Is that you?" Uncle Alphard, Sirius' favorite uncle, was strolling over to Aunty Cecil in bewilderment. I soon gasped at the whole congregation stepping out of the big carved doors.
Grumpy Uncle Abery was frowning as usual, led by Layne and Jents. Uncle Broderick strutted out after them, holding Carver by the ankles for some un-known reason. It was a very Filch – like punishment. Or at least I thought so.
Jaedon stepped out alongside Uncle Nevin, while Aunty Winela swept outside with Aunty Gemmi and Aunt Odessa at her heals. Nana Emma, Radella, and Andromeda were the last to come out and the first to burst into hysterics at the sight of Sirius.
It was a relief to see at least someone who thought this was funny. By the looks of it, all of my Aunts and Uncles seemed to want to faint on the spot.
Really though, what was Sirius up to?
I looked between Uncle Nevin, who was looking politely curious, to Uncle Alphard who looked like someone had put a dirty sock in his mouth, to Uncle Abery who was grimacing, and to Uncle Broderick who had the humor to chuckle maniacally.
After a few moments of agonizing silence, I noticed something even more terrible.
They had started to notice me.
Suddenly I wished I had dressed up as a man. It's an odd wish, I'm aware, but it would have definitely carried the attention away from other aspects.
It was one of the moments that I'm sure you've experienced. What are you supposed to say in times like these? It's always when the odd person of the group mentions some unapproachable topic and suddenly there's this odd and uncomfortable silence.
For the record; this was much much worse.
It was then that I thanked the un-known powers above for finally coming back from lunch. It was then that I thanked them for giving our family a youth.
Carver spoke heavily, as if all of the blood rushing to his head was causing him a speech impediment, "Can you put me down now?"
Uncle Broderick wasn't the only one to break out of a reverie as he placed Carver right side up.
Aunty Cecil was no longer goggling but darting her eyes to see if anyone else dared speak first. Aunt Gemmi seemed to be itching to reprimand someone. It was difficult though, since wrong had not been done; only acts of scandal. Speaking of… Aunty Winela still had not achieved in picking her jaw off the ground. She probably couldn't decided if she wanted to run into town and start yapping gossip about her transvestite relative, or hide Sirius in a cupboard to prevent any gossip. Aunt Odessa (bless her) finally spoke up.
"You are joking right?"
"Well", Sirius grinned through his inexpertly applied lipstick, "that would be the general gist."
It was as if someone had cut very thin string carrying a very large load. Everyone was either laughing, chatting about their surprise, or pointing at Sirius' horrid choice in fashion.
Our bags had already been pulled in; everyone was already filing inside, with Sirius in the lead as he cantered in the limelight, and Jents was already hugging me and chatting up a storm.
For once, introductions had been brief, and quite unusual.
I had escaped the 'wrath' without a proverbial scratch to my name.
"I swear if you keep this up I'll have to make myself your personal makeup wiper. And I'm telling you, it is not the most desirable job!"
I was standing in the middle of Sirius' bedroom, wiping off his mask of powder and blush. The pile of tissues was increasing by the minute.
"Don't worry, it's just a seasonal thing", he winked mischievously and continued, "So, the clan wasn't so bad on you this time were they?"
It felt as if I had been whacked with a foam bat; painfully surprising, as apposed to surprisingly painful.
Sirius took advantage of my silence and went on, "It takes agonizingly long for you to connect two and two, doesn't it?"
"That was for…?"
"You. Yes it was for you."
The tissue had dropped from my hand before he had finished speaking and I had him in a tight hug before he could blink.
"You're bloody wonderful Black", I wrapped my arms around him tighter. I swear at that moment I could faint from intoxication of happiness.
The strange thing was that I couldn't tell if I was happy for his help, or the fact that his arms felt mighty good enveloping me.
Or maybe it was that smell of cologne from his neck.
No it was definitely the way his hair felt between my fingers…
His nose nudged my ear, causing an exhilarating woosh in my stomach, as if someone had just swiped away all of my insides, leaving me as light as rose petals.
I could feel his lips grinning into my cheeks.
Oh Merlin, I thought I would melt into fondue right on the spot! What was this boy doing to me?
"OH! Oh…I can see you two are busy", Aunty Winela was smiling so wide I could just imagine the match-maker gears going on in her head.
Sirius and I broke apart abruptly and for a moment I thought he still had makeup due to the un-identified shade of red his cheeks had turned.
No he was just as embarrassed as I was.
"N-No, we're really not busy." Classic, isn't it? If my hyper-colored cheeks hadn't given it away, then my blithering speech certainly had.
"Oh nonsense! I'll leave you two to…finish. Come on Cecil dear, let's go prepare dinner", Aunty Winela jauntily turned around and walked down the hall while Aunty Cecil giggled behind her.
Really, are 40-something year old women even allowed to giggle? If so, it should be made illegal.
Immediately!
Even as they were gone, they're words seemed to float behind them.
"Cecil, did you see that? My my! Cadence was right!"
What…the hell…did that mean?
Had my mother said something to them about Sirius and I?
How had my mother even know?
She hadn't…oh shiez! She was planning it.
Oh bugger! Bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger! Damn, dapper little bugger!
It was excruciatingly apparent what the scheme of things was now.
Sirius and I were being…arranged.
Wow. I can't beleive how attatched I've become to this story. Writing the whole romantic foothill with my favorite part and for a while I just sat there, very dazed, feeling the same exact emotions as Santasia. If you're a writer, and have ever felt that, you know how extraordinary it feels.
As always, there needs to be thanks:
Saxifrage: Thanks for being such a supportive reviewer! Actually I loved how HBP was. But it felt really short. And the end was quite sad...
Amanda Ayers: Thanks for being so understanding. Hope ya liked the chapter
Sirius Black's Angel:
Tenshisenshi: Ack. Thank goodness school IS over and my energy HAS recharged. Though it still isn't as much as it used to be...
moon-fan-101: hehe, well I've had flames for insanity before. On another story though. Apparently the more insane my writing is, the more people seem to like it ;)
GeNoWaFeR: No, she's in her pj's when she runs back. And I'm a girl (as is said on my bio) and no offense taken hon. Lol, I'd like to see a boy write this story. Har har.
WILD-JAGUAR: I updated soon...sorta..well I have for the last two chappies right? Hope you enjoyed it!
squeeky-toy-123: Oh dear oh dear oh dear oh dear. Please comeback! I've emailed and you still haven't replied. I feel sorta terrible. You were always one of my faithful reviewers!
crystalshine: Oh MERLIN the ships were superb! I couldn't help grinning all day when I read them. Thanks for reviewing.
Katelyns: i CONTINUED! Lol thankies for reviewing!
theQuibbleringQuibblerer: Haha yes well I don't have an excuse now so I have to update. I was sad bout the end too, but I was thinking, can't Harry talk to deseased person thru a portrait?
gtrlvr8877: I'm glad you liked it. I've tried making her as real as possible.
Hpmuggle: thanks for ALL of your fantabulous reviews! very kind of you, and really, I'm so not a genius! Look points above I though humans had evolved from ants...har har
drumer girl: Okies I updated! Thanks for reviewing a bunch!
404: well heyla! Loved your fic btw. Let me know if I can 'advertise' it on here :) I'm super glad I continued it too.
FastFuriousChick: I so loved your review Lol. More to come chikaroo.
N. Beresford: Goodness thanks for your rad review! Yes I am often given very weird stares when I laugh while staring at a screen as well. Sadly, there's usually nothing on it...Lol, see I am insane
sexy-mammel: OKOK please don't pop a can in my ass plleeeeaaase! Lol is scared haha hope you liked that chapter.
RebelWriter: Hello poppet (hehe couldn't resist) Yes that chapter was brutally pointless and a complete filler. Though I am glad I got it done with, and at least Remus finally had a chap. bout him...sort of.
I just wanted to chat with ya guys bout Santasia for a bit.
I know that these chapters aren't as insane as before. It's intentional. This the where we start entering a part of the story where she's finally going to grow up, stop being so bratty (come on guys, she's a but high up) and learn what love is. The hard way. It may be a bit more serious, but it's needed, and I'm sorry that a bit of the humor will be leaving. It sounds sad but, how many of us can say we have a fairy tale romance? Well neither does she, but in the end, I want her and Sirius to be perfectly in sync. I want them to grow on and into each other. And it'll take a bit more then humor to get there. But really, once you see what I've got in store for her, I think you'll feel similar to what I do: Santasia with a heartache for Sirius is much more fun to read then one with a big mouth and a bit of a dislike for that boy. Or perhaps I'm just excited to write a bit of fluff FINALLY
Please review and let me know what you thought!
Much love,
Cetesy