August, 1973
The mid-summer air blew past in the garden of our summer home in France. I sat beneath a large oak tree, drawing in my sketchbook. It was perfectly peaceful, as it was only Jules and I in the house. Mother, Veronique, and Ghislaine went shopping with Grandmother LaRoux, while Father and Grandfather LaRoux went out to spend time with other French Wizards.
Mother had been planning this trip to France for ages and while my siblings had been excited, I wasn't. I might've if my Grandparents actually liked me, but they didn't. I was too ugly and unintelligent in their eyes. They only smiled at me—Grandfather even hugged me—when I told them I had took to drawing. I knew it would be a useful skill.
So as I sat there in the shade, I practiced that skill. I sketched the fountain in the middle of the garden and I was sure to capture the intensity in the statue's gaze. Over the summer I had gotten really good and I had to thank Regulus Black for that.
I had my ash-blonde hair tied back into a long braid that reached past my waist and I wore a yellow sun dress. I didn't wear makeup—which Grandmother insisted I do to give me some beauty— because it was hot and I knew my sweat would ruin in anyway.
"Reesa! They're home!"
At Jules's announcement, I quickly packed my sketchbook and supplies into my art bag before rushing into the house. I went to the bathroom and washed my face of all the sweat. I was about to redo my hair but then I heard my Grandmother call for me. I went out into the foyer to see my Grandmother, clad in over-the-top wizard robes of lavender. When she saw me and the state of my hair, she grimaced before forcing a smile,
"Come," she said, beckoning me closer. She had a thick French accent.
When I got closer, I was unprepared when she gave me a light slap on my face before she lifted my braid. "This what you call 'good', Cerisa?"
At my side, my fists clenched but I controlled my anger as I replied. "Or course not, Grandmere."
Grandmother scoffed. "Pathetic. Come, Veronique, Ghislaine."
With haste, my sisters followed Grandmother to the other room while Mother gave me a sad smile. "Don't hold it against her, ma fille. She means well."
I nodded in understanding and watched as Mother went to join the others. I sighed and wondered when I would ever stop being a disappointment in this family.
When Father and Grandfather returned, the house elves made dinner and we were soon all gathered in the dining room. Once we had began to eat, there was dead silence, everyone too hungry to talk. Once they did, I barely paid attention until I heard:
"...Cerisa will have purpose," Grandmother was saying. "Is good idea."
"What is?" I asked, looking at my family.
Grandfather scoffed and muttered his disappointment in French. Meanwhile, Ghislaine was the one to explain.
"Mother and Father spoke with Walburga and Orion Black. They want to set up a betrothal."
My eyes widened and I looked to Father. "What? With whom?"
"Their eldest, Sirius," Father replied. "And we are prepared to agree."
I looked at him in shock. "What!? I can't marry him! Ugh!"
"Cerisa!" Grandmother shouted. "Listen."
"No," I said adamantly, causing Grandmother to gasp in horror.
"Why ever not?" Mother asked, frowning. "Veronique said you and he are close."
My jaw dropped in disbelief and I shot Veronique a look before looking to Mother. "We're not close. And even if we were, you can't just betroth me to him!"
"They will," Grandmother said. "You finally be useful."
I glared at her as I stood up and threw my napkin on the table. "No. It's my life and I won't have you controlling it."
Before anyone could say otherwise, I stormed out of the dining room and raced up to my room. I closed the door behind me and locked it, ensuring no one could get in. Once I did so, I groaned in frustration and kicked the post of my bed. If I heard any other plans to control and plan my life, I thought I might explode.
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September, 1973
"Lane, John!"
From the Hufflepuff table, Lydia cheered when her brother's name was called and I couldn't help but smile. A heavily tanned boy with curly black hair approached the stool. The moment McGonnagal placed the Sorting Hat on his head, it shouted its verdict:
"Hufflepuff!"
Lydia cheered even louder and even stood up to clap before one of her housemates forced her to sit down. A smily John skipped over to the Hufflepuff and embraced his sister. From there, the rest of the sorting was boring, with no names I recognized. But I kept my eyes on the Hufflepuff table, where Lydia was with her brother. But also where Ghislaine was. This year she was Head Girl of the Hufflepuff house and she was beaming with pride.
When the Sorting ended and the feast began, I looked down the table to where Lily sat with Marlene. Unfortunately for us, we couldn't find three empty spots so while those two sat together, I sat between my sister Veronique and a boy named Arthur Weasley.
I didn't know Arthur that well, so I didn't talk with him. I tried multiple times to talk with Veronique, but she was too busy talking with her crush.
"Yeah," Veronique was saying. "My sister is Head Girl of the Hufflepuffs. That's my own hope: to be Head Girl of the Gryffindors."
"You're in my year right?" The boy—Chris—asked. "Maybe we'll be Head Boy and Girl together."
"I would love that!"
I rolled my eyes at how chipper Veronique shouted and ate in silence, blocking all other conversation. When the feast ended, my brother Jules—who was a prefect—lead us all to our dorms. I reunited with Marlene and Lily and gave Lydia a wave before following the wave of Gryffindors to the dorm. As soon as we arrived, Lily, Marlene, and I raced to our room, closing the door behind us.
Marlene locked the door and then faced us, blowing a strand of blonde hair from her face. "Oh, do I have gossip for you."
"Oooh," Lily and I said together and we sat legs crossed on Marlene's bed. "Tell."
Marlene grinned and sat across from us. "Okay, so you know thay girl, Molly Prewett? Well, she and Arthur Weasley like each other. Not only that, but I hav it on good authority that that boy Chris likes Molly. So it's basically a love triangle."
I laughed. "Chris? Oh this is spectacular. Veronique has the biggest crush on him! I thought for sure she was going to ask him to Hogsmeade this year."
"That's not going to happen," Lily said. "Veronique isn't going to be happy about that."
"No kidding."
"Oh, about Hogsmeade," Marlene interrupted. "Did you get your permission slips signed?"
Lily nodded enthusiastically, but I grimaced. "I didn't get mine signed. Grandmere convinced Mother and Father not to."
Marlene looked at my in horror. "But why?! We were going to have fun!"
"They didn't sign it because I got mad when they told me they wanted to betroth me," I replied. "To none other than Sirius Black."
There was complete silence for a full minute. Lily froze in her spot, jaw dropped, while Marlene looked at me with utter terror.
After a while, Marlene pulled me into an embrace. "Oh you poor child. But don't be ashamed. You did a noble sevice standing up for yourself."
Beside us, Lily had a look of disgust. "Black? Ugh!"
I nodded and crossed my arms with a pout. "That's what I said."
"Wait until Lydia hears about this," Lily said.
"She'll probably say something like 'it could be worse' or something else optimistic," Marlene said, lying sideways on her bed and resting her head on her hand. "But, back to before. Your parents really want to betroth you? I didn't think they were the type."
"They aren't!" I exclaimed. "Which makes it confusing. It also doesn't help that Veronique told my parents that I was close with Black."
"No offense, Reesa, truly," Marlene said. "But your sister is something like someone's worst nightmare."
I grimaced. "Try living with her."
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September, 1973
As predicted, Lydia was optimistic when we told her about my parents hope for a betrothal. But even she was weirded out that the person they thought best was Sirius Black. It became something of a joke between us girls.
The first week back at Hogwarts was a ball, but then came Hogsmeade and I was left alone with Lily, Marlene, and Lydia went off to Hogsmeade. Lydia offered to stay behind, but I wasn't going to deprive her so I insisted she go. When they left, I went for a walk around the grounds, looking for inspiration for a new sketch I could do.
As I walked around the lake, I soon heard laughter. Curious, I went closer and soon looked down a hill to aee a group of Slytherins laughing and talking. I was just going to leave, but then Malfoy noticed me and gave me a charming smile.
"Ah, Kaiser! Come, join us."
I was going to decline, but I figured that since I was alone anyway, I might as well. Therefore, I went down the hill and sat down on the ground where they sat, drinking something that I was certain was alcohol.
"So, Kaiser," Malfoy said, "Have you heard of the you-know-who's supposed return."
I looked at him in surprise. "No. Where did you hear this?"
Malfoy shrugged. "Along the grapevine. I hear he's looking for followers. Are you going to join?"
He said it with a teasing smile, but I was disgusted and I made sure it showed as I said, "Don't joke like that, Malfoy. And you better hope all those rumors are wrong."
Malfoy smiled but didn't respond and he and the other continued to say what they heard about He-who-must-not-be-named's return. Eventually, I got sick and tired and so I excused myself. When I returned to Hogwarts, I was surprised to see Lily, Marlene, and Lydia sitting in the Gryffindor common room. Lydia was giving Lily a comforting pat on the back, while Marlene was giggling.
I raised my eyebrows and smiled. "What's going on?"
Lily crossed her arms. "James Potter. He showed up while we were in Hogsmeade. I swear, he just can't take a hint."
I laughed and sat down on the couch beside Marlene. "Maybe he's hoping for a betrothal."
Lily gave me a look if horror, which only made Marlene and I laugh harder.
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So that's chapter eleven and the start of year three. I hope you liked it and remember to RR!! :)
