Chapter 50: Flowers in the Park
Holland Park, London, England
April 11, 1987
Alicia Abbott nee Vaisey slowly strolled down one of the carefully tended lanes of Holland Park. At her side walked her cousin and forever best friend, Miranda Vane nee Montague. Ahead of them were their daughters, Hannah and Romilda. She smiled fondly as she watched her daughter nodding along with what Romilda was plotting. Miranda laughed from beside her.
"Looks familiar, doesn't it?" Miranda asked of her.
Alicia nodded. "Yes," she said. "Romilda is as much trouble as you were. You were always dragging me into danger."
Miranda's expression was full of mock affront. "Me? I think that your memory is going in your old age, my dear," she teased. "I do remember you getting us into Ravenclaw Tower so that we could get even with that horrid Cecilia Li."
"It's Chang now," Alicia said simply, remembering the witch of Chinese extraction who had caused them troubles in their school years.
Miranda grimaced. "I know. I thought Danzu Chang had better taste."
Alicia smirked. "They have a daughter just a year older than our girls named Cho."
Her friend laughed at that. "Poor child," she said.
Alicia didn't comment on the child's name. She just hoped that the girl ended up being more like her father than like her mother. Cecilia Li had been horrible when they had been in school. The girl had taken delight in spreading rumors about Alicia and Miranda. Cecilia had also attempted to pick on Selene Malfoy, stealing her clothing and a few of her books. Selene had proven to have a vengeful streak worthy of a Malfoy after that. A few well-placed words in the right ears from Selene had ruined Cecilia's chances with Sirius Black. She doubted that Black had been that interested in Cecilia anyway, but the beastly girl had been flirting with Black for months and everyone knew that she thought that Sirius was going to ask her to the Ball that year. Instead, he had asked the beautiful Marlene McKinnon.
She shook her head then, wishing that her mind had not once more thought about Sirius Black. Most of her thoughts circled back to the man of late. When she had shared lunch with Sirius, Narcissa, and their boys, she had felt gratitude toward Sirius for how he had stood up for her and her daughter. Very few people were willing to go toe to toe with Warring Abbott when he was having one of his fits about her and Hannah. Sirius had not bothered to hide his disgust of Warring for his behavior and then again when she had confided in him about her situation regarding her father-in-law.
That lunch with Sirius and his party had been in mid-February. She had run into the man five more times since and each time he had insisted that she join him or he had insisted on joining her. Just yesterday a courier had come to her home with a gift for Hannah. It was a beautiful little Kneazle kitten. Hannah had fallen instantly in love with the little thing and had named it Nora. The Kneazle had also come with a letter from Sirius in which he had expressed hope that she would not hex him the next time she saw him for buying Hannah a Kneazle kit, but the last time he had seen them, he had noticed Hannah had stared longingly into the window of Magical Menagerie where a few Kneazle Kits were displayed. She had found it impossible to be angry with him for buying her daughter the little kit. Not when Hannah had so few people in her life who were willing to spoil her in that way. He had noticed that her daughter wanted a pet. Alicia hadn't known, Hannah had never said anything about it, but Black had quickly figured it out. He was clearly more than just a brash Gryffindor. He was intriguing.
That was going to be a problem. Alicia liked intriguing men. She enjoyed solving puzzles. Johnathon Abbott had been a puzzle. He was kind, quick to laugh, but could be absolutely Slytherin in how he managed people. His kind Hufflepuff exterior had hidden a Slytherin mind. It had fascinated her, his combination of easy-going demeanor and hidden ruthless efficiency. It had not been hard to fall in love with Johnathon. She hadn't thought twice about accepting his proposal of marriage. His father had not raised a fuss then. It was only after the marriage that Warring Abbott had made it plain to her that he disliked her for her heritage and the House that she was sorted into during her school years. He didn't trust her and he never would. When Johnathon died she had expected Warring to turn on her then and there, but he hadn't. Not then, not yet. He had waited until she had given birth to Johnathon's child. Hannah was born a girl instead of the grandson that Warring had wanted. With that, he cast about rumors that she had cuckolded Johnathon and he had thrown her and Hannah from the home that she had shared with his son. Her family had taken them in and her brother had bought her a home in London where she and Hannah could live.
Warring had declared that Hannah was not his grandchild at all, but was the result of one of her supposed affairs. He then named his second son, Clarence, as the Heir Abbott. Clarence was already a proud father of a little boy, Andrew Abbott. Warring had effectively denied her daughter her proper heritage so that he could name a male of his blood as his Heir. It was not the first time a Lord of House had done something so despicable, but it was still no less monstrous.
The bump to her shoulder drew her from her thoughts and she glanced at Miranda with a questioning look.
"You are far too quiet," her friend told her. She tucked a black curl behind her ear. Her dark blue eyes were studying her carefully. "Are you alright?"
She nodded. "Yes, I was just," she waved a hand about searching for a proper way to explain it. "It's been a hard couple of months," she decided upon.
Miranda hooked her arm through Alicia's in an offer of support and comfort. "My offer still stands," she reminded her friend.
Alicia burst into laughter then. "No, Miranda, you are not allowed to set Warring Abbott on fire," she insisted.
"Pity," a voice said from behind her. The voice sent shivers down her spine. She knew that voice, the strong masculine drawl. She had heard it several times in the last few months and always when she least expected it. That voice had an alarming effect on her sensibilities. Sirius Black was dangerous to her, that was for certain. "If I have ever met a man that should be lit up like a Muggle firework then it is Warring Abbott," Sirius said with such sincerity that Alicia couldn't help but laugh. He smiled at her, his blue eyes full of warmth as he looked at her. "It is good to see you, Mrs. Abbott," he greeted her.
"Mr. Black," she inclined her head and offered him her hand in greeting. "What brings you here to Holland Park on such a fine day? I would have thought you would have been attending to your duties as an Apprentice for Mr. Pollux Black?"
"The sessions ended early today," he told her as he brought her hand to his lips. He made no move to release her hand once he had offered her such a reverent greeting. She pulled once only for him to tighten his grip slightly. The action was such that she was sure it was an involuntary reaction on his part. He looked a little chagrined as he released her hand.
Miranda gave her a pointed look then and nudged her ever so slightly. It wasn't enough to be obvious, but it was a firm reminder that Alicia had not yet introduced them. She smiled at Miranda to reassure her and then turned to Sirius.
"Mr. Black, might I present my friend?" she asked of him. At his nod, she smiled and made the introductions. "Mrs. Miranda Vane nee Montague of House Travers, this is Mr. Sirius Black of House Black."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Miranda said and then added a cheekily "well properly. After all, we were paired together once in Charms class."
Sirius smirked. "I still maintain that you looked very good wet," he said as he took her hand and gave it a gentlemanly kiss. "There was really no need for you to have become so self-conscious about it."
Miranda smiled. "And I still maintain that your hair looked better after that haircut that I gave it," she said playfully.
Sirius turned his blue gaze back to Alicia. "I see now where you get your ruthlessness from. It is clearly due to the cruel company that you keep," he said with a playful drawl.
Alicia found it hard to hide her amusement. A playful Sirius was also dangerous to her sensibilities. "I was sorted into Slytherin, Mr. Black," she reminded him.
"Yes, but as I recall, you had already spent eleven years with Mrs. Vane as a constant influence. Clearly, you were already trained to be a ruthless viper," he told her.
"Viper?" Miranda asked even as she laughed. "Oh, he has you, Alicia," she said through her laughter.
Alicia shot a playful scowl at her friend which only increased Miranda's amusement. She then turned her brown-eyed gaze upon Sirius. "Thank you, Mr. Black," she said then with some sincerity. "For the gift that you sent for Hannah," she told him when he momentarily looked puzzled. He smiled at her again and once again she fought her attraction to the man. Really did he have to be so handsome? It wasn't fair to the females of society.
"I am happy that she liked the gift," Sirius told her as he considered her eyes. "She's really such a well-behaved little girl. You've done brilliantly by her," he praised her and she couldn't deny that she adored hearing his praise.
"Oh," Miranda said with dawning understanding. "The Kneazle was a gift from Mr. Black," she said. "I had meant to ask, but you were quite distracted with planning for Hannah's birthday."
"Her birthday is soon?" Sirius asked of her.
Alicia felt flustered both by Sirius's question and the wicked gleam in Miranda's eyes. Just whose side was Miranda on anyway? "Yes, her birthday is on the sixteenth."
"Just five days away," Sirius murmured thoughtfully. "Are you planning a party for her?"
She felt her smile falter then and fought to keep up a happy mask. "No," she said. "We usually do a few simple but special things on her birthday. I make her whatever she requests for dinner or we go out to a restaurant if she prefers. She opens presents from her grandparents and her uncle and aunt. Romilda, Miranda's daughter there," she said motioning ahead of them where the two girls were inspecting a bush, searching for pixies. "spends some time with her on that day."
"So, she's never had a larger birthday party?" he asked of her.
She felt herself stiffening at the question, feeling judged by him. "No," she said in a clipped tone of voice.
"I'll check on the girls," Miranda murmured softly as she left Alicia alone with Sirius. She was sure then that Miranda had somehow decided to side with Sirius Black against her.
Sirius surprised her then by stepping closer, into her personal space. She had time to only blink once in surprise before she felt his hands on her upper arms, gently caressing her in soothing strokes that really should not have felt so heavenly. "I wasn't casting judgments, Alicia," he said to her gently. There was something about the way that he said her name, caressing the syllables that sent shivers through her body. "I meant it when I said you have done a brilliant job raising Hannah," he promised her.
She relaxed under his hands, wishing that he would stop, wishing that he would never stop. "Then why did you ask?"
Sirius gave her a playful smile. "I'm a Gryffindor, love," he murmured to her. "I'm a bit over the top."
She ruthlessly sought to ignore the way butterflies had ignited in her stomach when he had called her love. It was just a saying, just slang. Madame Twilfitt, the proprietress of Twilfitt & Tatting's clothing boutique, called her love every time she came in for a new wardrobe. It didn't mean anything.
"Let me throw her a party," Sirius said then.
She blinked in confusion. "What?" she asked clearly startled. Then she was shaking her head. "No, there really is no need for that Mr. Black."
"Sirius," he corrected her.
"Mr. Black, we've been over this," she sighed.
"I would like to think that we are friends now, Alicia," he insisted.
She eyed him warily. She couldn't call him by his given name. The man was dangerous and if she called him by his given name then she knew, she just knew that she'd never want to let him go. How had it come to this? Logically she knew that part of it was loneliness. She had not been romanced by a man since Johnathon had died seven years ago. She didn't consider the propositions of men who believed the rumors that Warring had spread about her as romance. Sirius Black had been subtly romancing her since they had met in Estelle's in mid-February. She had not expected subtlety from Sirius. She had memories of his romances with Marlene McKinnon and with Olivia Greengrass. Sirius had ruthlessly and outlandishly pursued each of those ladies. It was very Gryffindor to be so brash and she had not wanted to deal with that at all. She hadn't realized that Sirius Black could be subtle and cunning. It had been a beautiful revelation. She couldn't see herself with the brash and outrageously playful boy that Sirius Black had been in his youth, but Sirius Black the man was a different animal. She had underestimated him.
"Why do you want to throw a party for Hannah?" she asked of him, refusing to discuss her resistance to call him by his given name.
"I think she would enjoy it," he admitted. "I think she deserves to be pampered and spoilt for the day with everyone's attention on her. I also think that she's too sheltered," he had a steely glint in his eyes when he said the last.
She opened her mouth to protest the last, but he tightened his hands on her arms and the feel of his hands, so warm, through the fabric of her blouse made her pause enough to hear him out further.
"I don't think I am wrong in guessing that little Romilda over there is her only friend," Sirius told her and she felt herself flinch because she knew that was the truth. Romilda was her daughter's only friend. She had tried years ago to form playdates with respectable families for Hannah, but those families had shunned them. She hadn't tried again since because she hadn't wanted to set Hannah up for disaster. His hands went back to caressing her upper arms, soothing and tantalizing her with his touches.
"She made a very good impression on the boys," he told her softly. "Leo really liked her. So, did Harry and Dudley. Scorpius thought she was nice and with the way his Grandfather was raising him, well, he understands that Lord Abbott denied Hannah her proper rights and her proper place. Scorpius didn't like it," Sirius chuckled then. "To be perfectly blunt, those four little boys got pissed off on your daughter's behalf and they told their friends. Now their friends are up in arms about it and those that have not met your daughter want to meet her and protect her from what the Heir Greengrass referred to as the 'ignorant Jackals of Society'. They have been making quite a fuss about it," he admitted.
"Ignorant Jackals of Society?" Alicia found herself asking incredulously even as she contemplated what she had just learned. There were children who wanted to befriend her daughter and protect her from other mean-spirited children. It was a dream come true.
Sirius waved a hand at that. "Yes, it's a phrase she picked up from her mother whenever the Lady Greengrass is annoyed with other society matrons," he explained. "I didn't bother to correct Daphne because her quote was accurate enough in this case. Also, Harry tends to be quite protective of Daphne and that just isn't a fight that I want to have with my God-son."
She raised an eyebrow at that. "Potter curse," he said simply.
She didn't understand what he was talking about but she decided that she would have to pursue it another time. "So, the children of your House and the Houses in close alliance to you wish to befriend my daughter and you wish to use the idea of her birthday to get them all together to do this?"
"Yeah," he said. "I wanted to talk with you about her meeting the kids soon, but I didn't know that Hannah's birthday was so soon," he admitted. His blue eyes studied her for several moments and then he sighed. "Alicia, she'd have her first large birthday party and gain a group of friends willing to protect her," he encouraged. "Can you think of a better birthday present?"
"First Kneazles and now you bring her a group of friends?" she said incredulously, because really what else could she say.
Sirius smiled playfully. "Too much?" he asked.
She sighed. "You'll have a hard time topping this next year," she warned him.
His blue eyes sparkled then. "I'm taking that as a yes," he said happily. "You just leave everything to me. All you need to do is get the birthday girl to the party. I'll take care of the venue, the planning, and organization."
She frowned at that but slowly nodded. "Alright," she agreed.
"I'll owl you tomorrow about the location and the time," he promised her. "You will not be disappointed, I promise."
It had the weight of a vow and Alicia fought against a shiver as he suddenly released her. Why did she suddenly feel so bereft? She shook her head to clear it. She couldn't get lost in contemplation of Sirius Black right now. Not when the man was still so near. He was more than she had thought he was, all those years ago when they attended school together. It was disconcerting, intriguing, and delightful.
"I will take my leave of you now," Sirius said with some reluctance.
She smiled at that. He always seemed reluctant to leave her. She shouldn't feel so delighted over that, but she did. "It was a pleasure to see you again Mr. Black," she said and watched consternation flicker through his eyes at her continued use of formality.
He stepped closer to her as his hand caught hers. He brought it to his lips, his eyes maintaining contact with her own until the final moment when he pressed his lips to the back of her hand. "I'll owl you tomorrow. Please give my love to Hannah," he said softly. Then he turned away and she was left bereft of his powerful presence. She watched him walk to the gates of the Wizarding sections of Holland Park. He turned back to look at her just once as he reached the Apparition point, and then he disappeared, apparating away.
She fought against her riotous emotions. Sirius Black was dangerous because she could see herself living happily with him. She could see herself coming to rely on his strength. She could see herself guiding him in the matters that he knew little about. She could see him guiding her in matters that she was ill-equipped to handle. She could see him loving and doting upon Hannah, giving her a father figure. She could see herself loving him.
"Are you alright?" Miranda's voice asked softly from her left.
She turned her gaze to her friend and gave her a soft smile. "I think so," she said thoughtfully. "I hope so."
Miranda frowned that little frown that showed that she was confused and worried. "You two seemed to be getting along," she chose to say.
"Hmm," Alicia made a little sound of acknowledgment. "He asked if he could throw a birthday party for Hannah. After hearing him out and careful consideration, I have chosen to accept his gracious request."
Miranda smirked. "Good," she said simply. "Both of our girls are too sheltered, don't you think? Perhaps my Romilda can make a few more friends as well."
Alicia felt a momentary guilt that she had not considered that Romilda was probably as shunned as Hannah was. Miranda was a widow as well and Miranda had stood by Alicia when Warring Abbott had begun his smear campaign to discredit her and Hannah. Miranda had been a fierce supporter. She still remembered that Miranda had told off Lady Yaxley at Lady Yaxley's Ball four years ago because Lady Yaxley had indicated that Alicia was basically a high-class streetwalker. Miranda had only kept to words instead of hexes that night, but it had seriously harmed Miranda's reputation. A great many people no longer wished to associate with her due to her continued association with Alicia. There were many within society who decided that Miranda must be as bad as Warring made Alicia out to be.
"Romilda is a lively sort of girl," she praised. "I am sure that she'll make friends easily," she smiled at Miranda and squeezed her hand. "Provided that the children are what Mr. Black described, of course."
Miranda smiled. "I suppose we'll see in a few days," she said simply and then they turned back to their daughters and began strolling again. "So, please tell me that you noticed how intent Mr. Black is on pleasing you?"
Alicia blushed. "He's been very kind," she said diplomatically.
Miranda laughed. "Oh yes," she agreed. "Very kind. Devouring you with his eyes is the sort of kindness that I wouldn't mind being on the receiving end of from the right man."
"Randa!" Alicia exclaimed, pretending to be scandalized. She was fighting her laughter.
Miranda smirked. "You know loneliness perfectly well. I am still young. It would be nice to have the right sort of attention," she said.
Alicia nodded her understanding. She understood loneliness and the desire to be treated with tenderness and affection. "Have you ever been tempted, by one of those men who try to sniff at your skirts?" she asked in a whisper.
Her best friend nodded, a crisp movement of her head that told her that Miranda was not proud of the fact. "Yes, once, but I didn't let the man have me," she admitted to Alicia.
"Why not?" she asked her best friend. "I mean, you were tempted so why not?"
Miranda blushed then, a rare occurrence for few things made the woman blush. "He," she paused and looked toward their daughters judging if they would be able to hear her. Deciding that their conversation was safe from young ears, she continued. "He had all the right moves, but none of the right words. He touched my cheek, caressing it and it had been so long since I had let a man that close to me that just him brushing my cheek made me shiver. His kiss was hungry and perfect, but then he pulled away and he spoke and his words were disgusting," she said darkly. "He called me easy and a whore. I hexed him in the balls," she added smartly.
Alicia laughed at the last confession. "Well he certainly deserved it!" she exclaimed. She wondered then just how many times Miranda had dealt with men like that. Alicia had not dealt with many men like that. There were, of course, men who might say things in her hearing, making crude entreaties as she walked down Diagon Alley, but she had never been cornered and propositioned. Her family had been fierce in their protection of her and few wished to anger her many relatives. It truly paid to have been born in the main branch of a Noble House. She was a proud descendant of the Noble House of Vaisey. She was related to the Noble House of Pucey, the Noble House of Malfoy, the Noble House of Prince, and the Noble House of Brown. She also had a fierce older brother who was a Dueling Champion. Miranda did not have that sort of protection. It made her feel terrible that she had not thought on how Miranda was treated by society.
'Perhaps I'll marry Sirius Black and elevate my standing in the eyes of society. Miranda's status will be elevated too. I would never abandon her,' she thought with a small smile. It was a fantasy, but a pretty one.
Thank you for the wonderful reviews, follows, and favorites! I really appreciate your continued support! Next Chapter: Hannah's Birthday Party. And for those that follow the Spin Offs, a new chapter of Renewal - Virtue and Vice will be up within the next week. For those that follow The Malfoy Curse (different AU from the Renewal series), the next chapter will be up sometime this weekend or early next week.
