Wow, I got this one up much faster :D Hope you guys like this one! The next chapter i post is gonna bring Remus and Robyn back in and hopefully it'll be up just as quick as this one. PLEASE REVEIW!!!
Sirius and AJ glanced at each other in confusion. "What the Hell is betrothed?" They both thought.
"Don't worry!" AJ's mother put in. "I'm sure you two will become friends soon enough."
AJ and Sirius showed visible signs of relief. They both had similar thoughts running thoughts running through their minds. "That's not too bad. At least our mothers didn't come up with something horrible. Merlin knows they have come up with some bad things before."
"I am so pleased to see the two of you taking this so well. Now run along and begin bonding as the two of us discuss the arrangements," Mrs. Black gave a fake smile and shooed them by wagging her fingers in a mockery of a wave. The two were not fooled. Though her words seemed sweet enough, they both knew that what Mrs. Black was really saying was, "For once you two insolent brats have acted in a non-shameful manner, now leave immediately before i realize you what you actually did do."
They dove into the crowd of purebloods. They maneuvered through the endless throng of adults, nearly getting separated at one point when Sirius ran into a large woman's even larger bottom while AJ bumped into the woman's glass of red wine. The woman shrieked as a huge droplet landed on her pure wine red dress and she felt an unknown person touch her bottom. She spun around, in the process of which she spilled more wine down the front of her rather low cut dress. Behind her was an unfortunate, very short man. The man stared up at her with obvious fear. He was half of her height and impossibly thin.
" 'ow dare you!" She yelled with a French accent while taking a step back. AJ was nearly smothered by the large bottom pressing a bit too close for comfort.
"I apologize madam!" The man squeaked. "I didn't notice that I had disturbed you."
The woman stared at him for a moment before laughing. "You sir, are adorable. I would love to talk to you over another glass of wine."
"Of course madam." The unlikely pair moved and signaled for a house elf to bring them some wine.
AJ and Sirius watched in amazement for a moment before shaking their heads and moving off once again. Finally they spotted an open niche along the southern wall. They waltzed in and got comfortable. Sirius lounged back against a few of the many cushions strategically placed for comfort within the niche. Both having been to numerous conventions, they knew that the niches were sight and sound proofed. They were free to do as they pleased, for now.
AJ watched Sirius with interest. He was the first boy her age that she had been permitted to see in a very long time. The last time she had seen a boy she had "accidentally" kneed the annoying little brat in a very uncomfortable area. She still didn't know the boy's name, but she remembered that he had called her "princess" and that had annoyed her very badly. Sirius however didn't seem too bad. His long black hair that flipped casually into his gray eyes was very cute, she decided. She stared for a while, until finally he looked up. This was when he made a huge mistake.
Sirius saw AJ's interest and decided that that exact moment would be perfect to see how she would react to her full name with no adults present. He leaned forward slightly and began, "So Alice-" He had barely finished her name before he was pinned against the wall. Sirius however did not spot the severity of the situation. Instead he felt the need to add, "There's no need to throw yourself at me Alice."
It took a moment for AJ to register his stupidity, but the second she did she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pressed against his windpipe. She watched as his gray eyes began to shine with fear.
"My name is AJ," she growled. "If you ever call me Alice again you will not appreciate the consequences."
Sirius could hardly believe his eyes. Where moments before there had stood an innocent brunette girl now stood a frightening witch, eyes a dark gray flecked with red, and hair crackling with energy. All he could manage was a small nod as he lay quivering in her iron grip.
"Now, what's my name?" she hissed.
"A-" he gasped. "AJ," he finally forced out. AJ carefully lowered him to the cushions.
"I'm ever so happy that you finally got that through your thick skull Sirius darling." She said sweetly, giggling slightly. This only made things worse in Sirius's mind. What sort of person goes from furious to sweet in a matter of moments? He backed further into the corner of the small niche and curled up into the tiniest ball that he could manage. This crazy girl terrified him.
A few minutes later a third person walked into the niche. It was another boy their age. This boy had messy black hair and hazel eyes.
"Hey Sirius I saw you come this way with some weird girl-" His eyes immediately gained an amused glint as his gaze fell upon Sirius. "What are you doing?" The new boy walked over to Sirius's quivering form and waved his hand in front of Sirius's face saying, "Sirius, mate? You ok?"
"Sh- she a- attacked me." Sirius whined.
"Ha, Sirius you were beat up by a girl, again? This is almost as bad as the last time when the girl kneed you!" James snickered.
"Wait! That was you!" AJ cried. "Wow, you must be really bad to get me that mad twice."
"You're the one who kicked me!" Sirius sat up angrily. "I couldn't stand right for a week!"
"Well you know what, you deserved it! You called me 'princess.' No one gets away with that. That's almost as bad as my real name!"
James gave AJ a good look before speaking up. "So scary, not-to-be-called-princess girl, what is your name?"
"AJ."
He raised his eyebrows imploringly. "AJ…?"
"Jenkins."
The boy's kind grin immediately faded into a vicious smirk. "Ah, that explains everything. Only a Jenkins female- I can't even say woman- would lack even enough honor to behave as a lady. Only a Jenkins female would disgrace herself enough as to lose her temper. Your whole family has no honor." His face was of pure contempt. The red flecks in AJ's eyes had begun to return. The next words the boy spoke were filled with pride. "We, Potters believe that those of the Jenkins family are weak, arrogant, loathsome creatures not even befit the title of pureblood. Only the worst people would ever befriend a person of the Jenkins family."
AJ was becoming steadily more angry with each passing word. The red in her eyes was slowly taking over the gray. They were almost half red already. AJ lowered her head taking deep breaths, attempting to control her temper. She had never had anyone push her this hard before. It was very difficult for her not to just attack the boy on the spot.
Sirius who was staring at the floor trying to avoid AJ's gaze saw an odd reflection on the pure white tile floor. It was two specks of red spaced barely two inches apart, almost like two red eyes. Sirius gasped and looked up at AJ. Her fists were shaking and her eyes were turning blood red. Sirius gave a high pitched squeal and fell to his knees before the Potter boy, begging and pleading with him, "Please shut up! James please! Are you stupid? James!" James however, took no notice and instead took a deep breath to continue.
"If I'm right in who you are, then it's you Loraine Jenkins was complaining about. What, can the Jenkins family not even stand each other now? Or is it just you they can't stand, Alice?" This was the last straw. Sirius was shoved to the side, whimpering as AJ ran over to James. She grabbed the front of his shirt and shoved him against the wall.
"As I told my betrothed here, I'm AJ, not Alice, and if I'm so weak why is it you can't break my grip and get free, and why do you fear me right now?" she dropped him in a heap on the floor.
Sirius watched with sympathy throughout the entire event before moaning, "Why must these niches be spelled for secrecy? No one knows to come save us James!"
"Well betrothed of mine, it is so that I may beat on you to my heart's content, and so that other adult purebloods may do things in them without attracting the scorn of other purebloods in the vicinity."
"And how would you know that?" asked James.
"I've walked in on dozens of stupid couples, and one horrendous group of three, who forgot to ward the niches first. All of those meetings scarred me for life."
"You haven't been scarred until you walk in on my cousin Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy like I did today. You would have nightmares for weeks if you had heard them." Sirius shuddered.
"No," James exclaimed. "Walking in on my parents last year was the worst."
Sirius covered his eyes. "I still can't look at them the same way," he cried.
AJ and James plopped down onto the seat next to Sirius. They all made themselves comfortable and continued talking as though they had been friends for years. They traded many of their horror stories about the conventions. Obviously the horrors of pureblood society were enough to bring anyone together. Even so, about half an hour later Sirius was still flinching whenever AJ moved.
"Why must I be betrothed to a scaredy-cat!" she whined.
"Yeah, well why must I be betrothed to a weird, scary girl!" Sirius retorted.
James looked at Sirius. "You want to be betrothed to a guy?"
"Well duh! I mean it'd be great of I were betrothed to you."
James backed away slightly. "Sirius, do you know what that means? Is this your way of telling me you're gay? Oh Merlin, my best mate fancies me!"
"What the Hell! I never said that!"
"Yes you did!"
"Nuh uh!"
"YES- Wait! You and AJ are betrothed?"
"Yeah," AJ said. "So?"
"You guys really don't know what that means do you?" James asked, slowly moving his eyes from one to the other.
"It means we have to be close friends or something. I don't know!" Sirius spoke exasperated. AJ nodded in agreement.
"Oh Merlin, you really don't know!" James fell into a string of incoherent muttering. AJ slowly turned to Sirius.
"What the Hell is wrong with that nitwit?" she whispered.
"No idea. He's usually not this bad." He whispered back.
"Hm," AJ turned to James. "Oi! Potter!" she shrieked, to no avail.
"Let me try," Sirius said, shoving her aside as he skipped over to the space next to James ear. He shuddered at something before he began. "Oh Merlin! Mr. and Mrs. Potter! AH my eyes!" Sirius yelled. James head flung up.
"No not again! Shield my eyes and ears!" he dove into the pillows shoving one over his head as he went.
"This is from when we walked in on his parents last year in one of these niches. Works every time." Sirius whispered. AJ snickered. Sirius skipped over to James and pried the pillow from James's clutching hands. "Jamie, darling, your parents aren't here. It was a mistake. A trick of the light. Now please tell us what betrothed means!"
James glared at Sirius and then became curiously nervous as he straightened in his seat. He smoothed his clothes, ran his fingers through his unruly hair and gulped. "W-well you see, that- um that means that you two- uh- you two have to…" he trailed off and began giggling hysterically. AJ raised her eyebrows.
"Spit it out!" she growled.
"It means you two are gonna tie the knot." James said as fast as he could. He looked at each of them anxiously, as though expecting an explosion. It came, but not in the form he had expected.
Sirius jumped up cheering. "Yay! I thought it was going to be something horrible!"
AJ sighed. "Me too. Knot tying is easy."
"Yeah, my mom taught me some bloody ace knots this summer. She thought it would get me to behave better. She musta been drinking."
"Oh yay tying knots." James mocked. "You both must be stupid." AJ cleared her throat loudly. "N-no offense AJ," he added quickly.
"Why're you mocking us? You're the one who said it!" AJ asked.
"I didn't mean tying knots exactly. ("Then why did he say it?") "I meant, well, espoused." James said.
"No I refuse to be stuck with him forever!" AJ cried.
"What'd I do to deserve this?" Sirius asked in shock.
'Finally they're getting it,' James thought.
"Guys, it's not so-" he began consolingly.
"I don't wanna be a spout!" the two distraught eleven year olds yelled. With those few words AJ and Sirius burst into tears, holding onto each other for support. James watched for a moment, utterly amazed at their stupidity.
'I spoke- thought- to soon.' After staring for another moment he realized, 'Oh Merlin! They are exactly alike! I can't –No! The world can't handle this.' Finally when he could no longer stand their hysterics he yelled, "Oi, idiots! Shut up! You aren't being turned into spouts."
"R-really?" AJ sniffed.
"Really."
"But why did you say we are then?"
"I didn't. I said espoused."
"Exactly…?"
"No it means, well it means the same thing as betrothed."
"Oh."
"So what'd they mean?" Sirius asked.
"Well, you to are gonna have to… well I'll use an example. Ummm… oh! Sirius, your cousin Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy are betrothed."
Sirius gained a horrified and disgusted expression. "You- you don't mean that me- me'n AJ'll have to…" he gulped.
Then AJ seemed to catch on to what Sirius was thinking, for her face mirrored his. She eyed him for head to toe. "Oh HELL no!"
James placed a sorry look upon his face. "I'm afraid you will have to-"
James was abruptly cut off as the entire Convention was silenced with a spell. A male voice boomed over everyone. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to give you a five minute warning. Lady Loraine Jenkins and Lady Walburga Black shall be making a very exciting announcement at that time."
As the silencing spell was removed AJ and Sirius groaned. Then Sirius, noticing James's confusion added, "How can they announce something like that? Of course it is my mother. Anything is possible with her."
This only made James more confused. "But they always announce betrothals…"
"I thought that kind of relationship was improper to mention in public. How can they do this to me? I would never- will never- do that with him! Sure I've seen all those people in the niches, but me and him? No way!"
Finally James caught on to their train of thought. "No! Oh Merlin! No not that! That isn't it! You guys are going to get-" He cut off as a burly looking house elf appeared out of thin air in between the two immensely confused eleven year olds.
"Ye two are t' come wif me. Yer mothers' orders," the elf mumbled gruffly. When they refused he grabbed them roughly by their elbows.
As the two were dragged off they faintly heard James yell, "Your getting marr-" before he was cut off by the crowd. After a few moments of persuasion the elf reluctantly let them walk on their own. They began to have a rapid whispered conversation.
"Did- did you happen to catch what James said?" AJ asked.
"I think so, but I have to be wrong because I thought he said we're getting merry. But that makes no sense."
"Unless he was cut off. Then it could have been anything, like Mary had a Little Lamb."
"or that place in the United States, Maryland." Sirius whispered, pronouncing it Mary-land.
"or a house elf named Mary."
"or we could have missed the beginning."
"Yeah! Then it could be rosemary."
"or Merry Christmas."
"or even married." AJ gave a little laugh. Sirius laughed too.
"Married? We'd never get married. We'd kill eachother first"
"Yeah I know!" They both continued to laugh until they came up their mothers.
Both mothers immediately expressed their happiness and pride –not without some suspicion- that the two were taking it so well and had even taken it upon themselves to become friends. They then proceeded to inform the two that they would come up to the stage with Sirius escorting Alice as was proper. They would come up when called. And with that, the two women swept off to the stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Loraine Jenkins began. "Lady Walburga Black and I are honored by your attendance at this Convention that we had called."
"They called this?" Sirius whispered. "Wonder why." AJ just shrugged.
"We have called this gathering to make a very special, very important announcement." Mrs. Black continued for Mrs. Jenkins. "Sirius, Alice, will you please ascend the stage."
Though AJ winced at the sound of her name, she did in fact take the arm Sirius offered her. They began their slow accent to the stage. They were about halfway when they both began to get nervous.
"You don't think it is about marriage, do you Sirius?" AJ whispered.
"No. It can't be. They wouldn't do something like that."
"Your right. They would never force us to get married." They both knew that they were in denial as they took their final steps onto the stage and into their places.
"We would like to announce the betrothal of Sirius Orion Black and Alice Marie Jenkins.
There was a collective, polite gasp. This was immediately followed by applause. What the HELL is the big deal with this betrothal thing? As everyone quieted down as once more Loraine Jenkins stepped forward.
"Their marriage is to form an immense bond of trust and love between our two families..." This was as far as she got before with a gasp of realization the two children looked at each other and promptly fainted off of the stage.