"Azalea, you must pay attention!" her current tutor called out.
She was in the middle of learning basic manners that all pureblood children would have learned around her age. It was important if she was going to be joining high society into the pureblood circles. She HAD to learn it.
Florence Ironwood, her teacher that Arcturus recommended was firm but gentle, she ruled with an iron fist. She was a tall, thin woman with long ash brown hair that was always up in either a ponytail or an intricate braid of some sort that wrapped around her head on either side. She was kind to fault, but was very strict when it came to teaching. Azalea was learning the hard way not to mess around in her classes. Fair was fair, though, she was indeed learning. She no longer slouched. A proper lady must stand up straight, no slouching or leaning allowed.
She was excited. It was almost summer, and she would be having her first official 'pureblood' style introduction to someone. It was her Aunt Cia's longtime friend Dowager Augusta Longbottom, and her grandson, heir to the Longbottom name, Neville.
She was a little nervous about meeting him. What if he didn't like her? She had voiced her concerns to Arcturus quietly one night as he was reading her a bedtime story, one of the many ones she had gotten over the holidays. Yule had been great! They allowed her to celebrate a new holiday for the first time, and she got many presents!
Before she knew it, the days flew by, and it was late May. Tomorrow would be the day that she would get to meet Heir and Lady Longbottom. She wasn't nearly as nervous as she was before. She was very excited. Maybe he would like her. Maybe she would even make a new friend! She remembered to brush her teeth, another new ritual to do every day before bed and again after breakfast the next day.
Her Auntie Cassiopeia had helped her pick out the perfect dress, it was a solid white dress with a golden weaved collar and a sapphire blue ribbon wrapped around the waist in a pretty bow. The hem was bordered with varying shades of different blue wild flowers. The entire skirt was gently pleated to have a classy but semiformal look about it. She absolutely loved it. She even had her very own pair of what Lady Cassiopeia had called kitten heels! They were powder blue with small silvery white teacup roses and matched the dress perfectly. AND! They were enchanted too. Not only that, but they were magically charmed to not sink into any mud or earth and were spelled to stay clean and dry at all times. They were super comfy as well! To complete her outfit, Arcturus had picked out white thick knee-high stockings with matching powder blue bows at the tops. Together, and dressed, she felt so very pretty!
"Azalea honey, stand up straight, no slouching. At a girl. Feet forward and tilt your chin up, roll your shoulders back. Just like how Lady Ironwood taught you. It's time to put all your lessons into practice." Arcturus gently reminded the girl, fondly smiling as she listened.
This would be her very first formal introduction to a pureblood family. Cassiopeia had made a good choice in it being Dowager Longbottom. While she was a good family friend of this branch of the Black family, she would be helpful in spreading friendly gossip about the Potter child re-entering the pureblood circles. It would be good for her image and name on both family's accounts. It was the optimal plan.
They were standing proudly in the floo room as a united front. Lord Black, Lady Cassiopeia Black, and Heiress Potter-Black. Soon enough the floo flared to life and out stepped Dowager Lady Longbottom, and shortly after her, a small shy child that could only be Heir Longbottom, her grandson, Neville. He was the son of Alice McKinnon and Frank Longbottom, two extensive pureblood families. She had read up on them, Lady Ironwood had made sure of it.
She was as well-prepared for this meeting as she could be. Azalea was ready.
"Lady Longbottom, it's always a pleasure to see you again. And Heir Longbottom, it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I so do hope we can become great friends." Azalea greeted them, and curtsied, as was customary for her to do.
"And it to you, Heiress Potter-Black. I hope to find that you are in good health, yourself."
Cassiopeia waited for the two to complete their formal introductions before turning to her oldest friend.
"Shall we head outside to the patio? It's such a lovely day, it would be a shame to waste it, especially while the morning is not too hot."
"Yes, I would love that."
The five of them headed through the Manor on a short walk, and headed through the screened in porch to the patio outside, making small talk all the while.
Once they got outside and seated on the wrought iron chairs, Cassiopeia called for an elf to bring them some refreshments. Tea and coffee for the adults, and some iced lemonade and pumpkin juice for Azalea and Neville.
"So, Neville, are you excited for Hogwarts?" Azalea asked the quiet boy, while taking a hard look at him.
While he wasn't not directly making eye contact, you could see all over his face and body posture, of his hesitancy in being at the new manor, and with what was probably also his first pureblood meeting of another family.
He was short for his age, but still just a little taller than herself. He had sandy blonde hair that was neatly combed back and hazel green eyes, almost the color of moss. His entire posture screamed that he was shy, but she hoped that he would open up a bit more as they talked. She knew she was probably just as nervous as he was, if not more. What if she messed up this meeting? What if he didn't like her at all? She was interrupted from her frantic musings by his answer to her question that she almost forgot she had asked.
"I uh, I mean. Yes, I am excited for Hogwarts. I am quite looking forward to the Herbology classes that we will be taking. I do love spending time in the greenhouses we have at the Longbottom Manor. They were my mom's pride and joy." he stuttered out.
"Greenhouse? Do you like gardening too? You really should see mine then! We have all different types of plants, and plenty of room for some still to grow as time goes on! Auntie Cassiopeia gave me my very own plot of land, and it's charmed to stay free of snow and bugs all year round. Uncle Arcturus is showing me how to weed properly too so that I can identify what is a bad seedling and what will grow profitably!" She replied in a rush all at once.
At that, he relaxed further, sitting up straighter. It seemed to be working, all she had to do was be herself, it seemed. None of this pureblood 'I am mightier than thou' jargon that her teacher and aunt and grandfather had drilled into her over the past half a year.
She turned to her aunt and gave her the biggest set of puppy dog eyes she could muster, the ones she reserved just for when she really really REALLY wanted her way. She didn't use them often, after all, they would lose their desired effect.
She waited for a natural pause in the adults' conversation to come to a lull before interrupting them as politely as possible.
"Auntie Cassiopeia, Lady Augusta, would it be okay if I took Neville off to show him my personal garden? He was telling me about his family's greenhouse and I wanted to show him around my part of the many gardens. Would that be okay?" She waited for a reply.
Cassiopeia turned to her long time friend and waited to see what her reaction would be.
"I don't see why not. Do not get too dirty, and call for a house elf if you need anything, alright? You know to call for Zilly or Daemon right away if you run into trouble."
"Yes, ma'am, we will be safe." Azalea replied right away.
She turned to Neville and grabbed his hand abruptly, before running, and quite literally almost, dragging him down the winding cobbled stone walkway to her garden, before sitting on one of the hand carved marble stone benches.
"So, Neville, tell me more about yourself? My name is Azalea Potter-Black, my favorite color is blue or green, and I adore runes and potions. I'm still learning them, but I still need a lot of help in arithmancy and herbology, though. I need to learn more about the different magical plants and their properties. But I'm eager and willing to learn!"
"My name is Neville Longbottom. My favorite color is green, and I'm fantastic with plants. Nan says I have a natural affinity for them. The greenhouse I mentioned earlier was actually my mothers. Nan says I take a lot after her."
"You're good at herbology? Will you tutor me? Pretty please?" She begged him, full force, using her puppy dog eye look on him.
"I'll tutor you in herbology if you help me with runes." He nodded in agreement, giving into her pleading.
"Sure! I can ask Grandpa Arcturus if you can join me in my tutoring lessons? They're really, really helpful!" She offered him to join in. She had never had a friend before, and was unsure of how to proceed.
"I would love that!" He absolutely beamed at her. It seemed that she made the right decision.
And so the two got to talking about this and that, and everything under the sun. They talked about their family and favorite sweets, and favorite foods. She liked fruits, and he liked savory foods like sausage puddings. She truthfully wasn't much for them, though, but she did promise him to try his house elf's own recipe.
Eventually they came to the topic of their parents, and the conversation got somber for a moment.
"You know. Your mom was my godmother? That makes us god-siblings! You're my god-brother, Neville!" and she promptly threw out what little propriety she had and hugged him tightly.
"Really?" He asked bewildered. He was unaware of that fact.
"Yeah! Auntie Cia told me that your parents were wonderful friends with my parents!" She smiled at him. She never had had family before her Aunt Cia and her Grandpa Ari. Azalea wouldn't mind having a brother too.
"I'm a little nervous about Hogwarts, to tell you the truth. I don't think I'll be very good at school. Nan wants me to use my father's wand, but I heard that the wand chooses the wizard, and not the other way around. Plus, what if I can't do magic? Have you done any accidental magic?"
"Yeah, I've healed a few of my cuts before, from when I was living with the muggles."
"That's the problem, Aza. I haven't done ANY. Nan thinks I might be a squib."
"Nonsense. Every witch and wizard has magic in them. Your parents were strong, you're going to be strong too! I know. I have an idea!"
She took off running through the garden, and Neville had no choice but to follow, hollering and laughing all the while. Azalea was like no one else he had ever met before. Everyone was so fragile with him, treating him like he was broken. She treated him like he was normal, like he was just another person. It was quite refreshing, really. He caught sight of her at last as she skidded to a halt in front of his Nan and her family.
"Lady Augusta! Lady Augusta! When it's time, would you let Neville go with me to get a wand? I want to go together! Pretty please?" she begged prettily.
"Azalea, what brought this on?" Lady Augusta asked, startled. Azalea had come from seemingly out of nowhere.
"I just really want to go with Neville! He's my first real friend!" Azalea insisted.
She conceded.
"I'll give you permission, but you have to ask Lady Cassiopeia if she'll be okay with another little one with her. She will make the final decision."
Azalea turned to her aunt and pouted, her biggest pout ever. Cassiopeia nodded and was tackled in a hug by the girl.
Dowager Augusta got up, and turned to the three Blacks, well technically, two Blacks and a Potter-Black.
"It's best time we be heading home, before Neville gets too tired out. I will keep in mind what you have told me, and will definitely be looking more into some things." She turned to the little girl.
"Heiress Azalea, it was a pleasure to formally be introduced to you."
The five of them made their way back into the house, where Augusta flooed first, and Neville followed her.
Before he left, though, he turned to Azalea and smiled at her.
"Thank you, Azalea, for everything. It really means a lot to me. I will see you again very soon, I hope."
"I hope so, too. I'll write to you!"
"I'd like that! By now!" And with that he flooed home.