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Chapter 3 – The Uninvited Guest

Regulus is watching his reflection in the life size mirror in his room. He is wearing a midnight blue dress robe with intricate black embroidery at the helm of the sleeves of a seemingly swirling branches and a dragonhide boots with mid-calf cut. His bangs were sleek to side and his hair touches his shoulders. He looks just like Sirius except the playful smile that he clearly lacks. Then, he began to feel the rage building in his stomach. He took his wand and cut his hair shorter above his ears. He examined again his reflection.

'Ah. Much better.' He thought. He turned towards the door. He took a deep breath before descending to the Hall. The hall was formerly the house living room. It was magically enlarge to accommodate two hundred persons. He enters the room and the maroon colored curtain immediately catches his attention. 'Very Gryfindor.' He again silently commented. His eyes searched for his mother and saw her in the center of the hall giving orders to the elves to change the color of the curtain from horrendous shade of red to dirty white with gold outer linings. His mother seems to have felt being watched and turned to him. She gave her a smile and beckoned him to approach.

"What do you think son?" Walburga inquired.

Regulus examined the hall. There are approximately fifty round tables in every corner of the hall. The center was bare for the ball except the 3 enormous chandeliers above the ceiling. The gold and dirty white theme gives the hall a very elegant and warm atmosphere. "How should I say this mother, you really outdid yourself".

His mother was clearly delighted with his response. She hugged him and said, "Nothing less for my only son." She released him and tried to remove some non-existent dust in his shoulder. "I am delighted you like it. Are you ready to welcome our guest?"

"Ready as ever but Mother have you seen Father?" he asked.

"Oh, he is just walking towards us." Walburga replied nodding behind his back.

Regulus turned and saw his father approaching them. He slightly bowed and greeted Orion Black. "Father." He said in acknowledgment.

"Regulus, my son." He was taken aback when his father awkwardly hugged him but he was released in a matter of seconds. Orion turned to his wife and kissed her hand and placing himself beside her. "The Hall is magnificent Dear and you is lovely as ever."

His mother blushed and playfully punched his Father's arm. "Oh drop it Darling. We need to be at the entrance of the hall to greet our guest."

Regulus was stunned. He can't believe what he just witness. He never saw his parents flirted with each other before. His mother blushed is a sight to behold and he never saw his father act so affectionate to her. His parents seems to notice his bewildered expression and his mother asked him.

"Regulus is there something wrong?"

His father chuckled, "Dear nothing is wrong. Our son is just a little baffled." Then Kreacher appeared and inform them that the guest has arrived. "Now come along you two." His father guided his wife placing his hand at her lower back and tapped Regulus shoulder to walk beside him. "We have guests to please." His father said with a smirk forming his lips. His mother rolled her eyes but also quite content. Regulus can't help but smile and followed his parents. The Blacks walks side by side towards the entrance and one can only see a picture of a Family.

x-x

The guest arrived one by one. The attendants are mostly powerful purebloods in the Great Britain Wizarding Community. Regulus wears his well-practiced perfect smile. His uncle Alphard Black, the Lord and Lady Rosiers, Goyles', Crabbes', Abottes', Longbottoms', Greengass, Parkinsons', Lord and Lady Nott and the Head of the Magical Law Department, Barty Crouch, already arrived accompanied by his wife and his son, Barty Crouch Jr. Moments later, Lucius Malfoy arrived with his wife Narcissa Malfoy nee Black and Severus Snape.

"Lord Regulus Black, Lord Orion Black and Lady Walburga Black pleasant evening. I would like to thank you for extending your benevolence in the House of Malfoys. My wife and I are grateful for your invitation. My father would like to extend his apologies for not being able to attend. He is currently, ahh, indispose at the moment." Lucius stoically said.

" Thank you Lucius but who is this young man with you?" Orion inquired clearly not affected of the passive attitude Lucius just exhibit.

"Father." Regulus politely interrupts. "This is Severus Snape. He is a friend from Slytherin House. He and I is a member of the club that Professor Slughorn created. I have invited him."

"Good evening Lord Black. It is an honor to meet you. I am Severus Snape." The young man introduced himself and extended his hand.

" Ahh, A friend." Orion Black stated while accepting the hand of Severus. "Any 'friend' of my son is welcome to my house."

"Snape? I never heard such pureblood name before here in Great Britain. Is your family perhaps based abroad?" Walburga asked while extending her hand towards Severus and the latter kissed the ring on it. Severus was about to answer but was interrupted by the arrivals of Cygnus Black with his wife Druella Black nee Rosier, Rodolphus Lestrange with Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black, Rabastan Lestrange, Cassiopeia Black, and a man that exudes confidence and power.

"What a crowd." Regulus heard his Father said.

"Cygnus, Druella, Aunt Cassiopeia, Bella, Rodolphus…" Orion Black looked at the younger Lestrange wasn't quite sure of what his name. "Mr. Lestrange" and finally turning to the man he never knew he had invited and also quite sure that never met before but he have a brooding feeling of who he is. "And Lord Voldemort welcome to the House of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black. I am honored that you have grace us your presence." Orion said extending his hand and giving a slight bow.

Regulus instantly becomes ecstatic. He has heard the name before. Lord Voldemort is the person he always curious and anxious to meet. He has a newspaper collection of the man's exploits. He followed every press interview of the man. Lord Voldemort is a highly respected individual in the Slytherin house. Many of the pureblood families aligned themselves towards the Lord. He is rumored to be the next Prime Minister. However, Regulus did not quite understand why his father wearing his calculated smile, an indication that his father is on guard.

There was a prolong silence and the atmosphere instantly becomes heavy. The man chuckled and shakes the hand of Orion and the heavy atmosphere evaporated. "And I am also honored to finally meet and be able to introduce myself to the evasive Head of House of Black." The man jest. "Cygnus took the initiative to invite me here. That is not a problem, I hope?"

"Not at all. You are most welcome." Orion said and then introduced Regulus and his Walburga. "Lord Vodemort, this is my heir Regulus Artucrus Black and my wife Walburga Black." Walburga curtsied looking honored to be at the presence of the Lord. Regulus slightly bowed and offering his hand to shake the hand the Dark Lord.

"My Lord, It is my pleasure to finally meet you at last. I have heard great things about you. Thank you for attending my Ball." Regulus stated in awe.

One cannot know what Orion felt at that moment for he wear his blank expression. Cygnus is looking pleased in the eagerness of the young Lord. Cassiopeia nodded in approval while Bellatrix is obscenely happy. Rodolphus and Rebastan just smirk alongside Lucius Malfoy. Narcissa's expression is devoid of emotion while Severus wears the same expression with Regulus.

Lord Voldemort chuckled and accepted the hand of Regulus. "The pleasure is all mine."

COMING UP NEXT: Chapter Four – The Unknown Variable

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