You're not on my list of things to do, cause I've already done you.

And I am protective, it's so cute. But only when it suits you.

The Christmas Eve Ball

Riley pulled on the jacket and walked down the long driveway to the gates. She easily unlocked the gate and walked out. Lucky for her, that morning her mother had gave her money that morning to buy a dress for that evening. She walked into town fast, burning off her anger.

Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would be able to stand up to her Father and she couldn't work out whether it was good or bad. She walked down the long deserted road and stood at the bus stop that would take her into Barcelona. She could eel the cold catching up on her and stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets and scolded herself for not picking up a hat.

"Hey there."

Riley jumped and looked at the person now standing beside her. Regulus Black was leaning against the bus stop, twirling one of Riley's beanie hats in his hand.

"Some servant gave me this to give to you," he said and handed it over to her. She took it silently and put it on. "Have you lost your voice or something?"

She shook her head and he laughed.

"Where are you going?"

"Into town," Riley replied. "Where were you going?"

"I was heading out for a walk, but you slammed the door in front of me."

"Sorry."

"It's alright," he shrugged. "So, do you mind if I come with you?"

"I guess not…"

"Great."

The pair then stood in an awkward silent and Riley was praying for the bus to come quickly.

"What are you going into town for?"

"A dress for tonight."

"Cool," Regulus nodded.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the bus to take them into town arrived. Riley hopped on and sat in the first seat available right beside the window. What she didn't expect was for Regulus to join her. Due to Regulus being rather large with his muscle's, Riley was squished into the side for the full twenty minute journey. They didn't talk at all and Riley was finding it all so shocking and awkward.

She jumped off the bus and started to walk in the direction of the shopping mall.

"Hey, Riley, wait up!"

She closed her eyes and stopped walking, waiting for Regulus to catch up.

"So you're coming shopping with me?"

"If you don't mind."

"Okay," Riley said, starting to walk again, "I wont be too long."

X

Sirius was going out of his mind. Riley hadn't been seen since eleven o'clock and it was now four in the afternoon and Regulus hadn't been seen for very long time too. He had heard Riley shouting from the hallway upstairs and then he and every other living creature in the house certainly heard the door slam. He knew there was no point in asking anyone else to join him in looking for her. He tried to talk to the servant girl that was outside her room the previous night, but she barely understood a word he was saying.

He had went up to his room and found the warmest thing he owned - a knitted jumper from Mrs. Potter. As he was walking down the stairs, the front doors burst open and Riley and Regulus walked in talking and smiling.

Riley had caught Sirius' eye and her smile faded instantly. Regulus noticed and looked in the direction she was and saw his brother standing there.

"I'll see you tonight, Riley," Regulus said, backing towards the staircase. "Thank you for a great day."

"No problem," Riley said, putting a smile on. She watched him walk by Sirius who didn't even pay attention to him.

"I'm going down to the kitchen for a drink," Riley stated at him. "Are you coming?"

"No, sorry. I have to go get ready. You were obviously too busy having a good time with my brother to realize that guests start arriving in two hours."

Riley watched as he disappeared into the hallway and decided it was best if she herself went started to get ready. When she walked through the hallway, she passed Claudia's bedroom. The door was wide open, so she peeked in. She could see Claudia, Bellatrix and Narcissa all sitting on stools in front of the mirror and Riley's mother, Reyna and Rosa were doing there hair.

Riley then made her appearance known in the room and the three younger girls face's screwed up like Riley was a bad smell.

"Mamá, ¿puedo tener Rosa me ayudará a prepararme para esta noche?"

Riley's mother, probably knowing Claudia would protest got her answer out first.

"Sí. Rosa, usted puede ir."

Rosa left her post behind Bellatrix who was not happy. Before Riley could hear any of the insults, she closed the bedroom door and she and Rosa departed for her own bedroom so she could get ready.

X

"Riley ... Eres tan hermosa."

Riley smoothed down her dress and smiled at Rosa and then looked into the mirror. She gasped slightly at her own appearance. Her dress was a crimson red one shoulder silk dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair was curled and was pushed over to the one side and the red lipstick she was wearing went perfectly with her tanned skin and the mascara and eyeliner made her blue eye's stand out more than usual. She felt beautiful.

Her bedroom door opened and there stood Claudia in a pale green strapless dress. Her hair was in a tight bun and her make-up made her features very strict.

"We've to walk down the stairs together," she announced. "Mamá and papá are down there waiting for us. Everyone else has arrived."

"Alright," Riley said with one last glance in the mirror. She then went over to Rosa and hugged and kissed her on the cheek. "Gracias, Rosa."

As the two sisters walked down the dark hallway, Riley felt suddenly sick and nervous. Claudia kept looking back at Riley and eyeing her dress and make-up. Usually, Riley would make a face at her, but she was more nervous about what Claudia thought about how she looked. She felt self conscious all of a sudden.

They had reached the top of the stair case and Claudia was the first to descend and Riley followed closely behind.

"Ladies and gentlemen. My lovely daughters, Claudia and Riley."

Everyone had now directed their attention to the both of them and Riley could feel her face turning red. She searched the crowd for a friendly face, but who was she kidding? She had no friends in this house other than the help and they weren't exactly going to be there, were they?

Once they hit the floor, everyone made their way into the dining room for the buffet. Claudia had dispatched herself from Riley who was now being greeted by a woman in her middle 50's. By just trying to get to the food, Riley must have been greeted by ten people and it didn't stop there. It continued the whole night. They would ask her the usual questions; 'What year are you in?' 'What house are you in?' 'Do you enjoy school?' 'Are you proud of your Father and his business?'

She answered them all politely and fake smiled her way through the whole night. After the buffet, the dining table was took away and the doors that separated the dining room and the foyer opened up fully to make it a ballroom. This was when Riley made a dash for it. She went into the living room and smiled at a small group that were sitting there and opened a door at the very back of the room, hidden by a plant. It was a library.

She walked over to the bookshelf next to the window and pulled out a random book. There was exactly 9 bookcases in the room and each year, Riley would complete one. This was her seventh year. When she had just settled down on the couch, she had heard the music and chatter die down. She sighed and sat the book on the chair and exited the room, knowing she had to be there for the speech.

"Is that her there? Yes! Riley, come, come."

Her Father beckoned her to the top of the dining room and her mother grabbed hold of her waist and pulled her in beside her.

"Well, what a night it has been! I am glad to see that many of you have enjoyed yourself tonight and I am glad to have your company this Christmas Eve. My Family and I, would also just like to take this time to thank you for your support on our business between ourselves and the British Ministry of Magic's Department of International Magical Cooperation! Now thank you and enjoy the rest of your night!"

People clapped and the music started again and Riley knew she would have to dance with people at some point. Through the crowd, Riley could see Claudia making her way over to Sirius. She sighed and started to look through the crowd herself. Her parents were dancing, Bellatrix was dancing with her Uncle and Mrs. Black was dancing with an older looking wizard. They were the only people her age that were here.

"Miss Martinez, may I have this dance?"

Riley turned around and saw Regulus bowing in front of her. She laughed a little.

"You may, Mr. Black"

Regulus took her hand and led her to the middle of the dance floor.

Riley had to admit, as much as she didn't want to, she had enjoyed Regulus' company that day. She wouldn't of thought that he was a stuck up, pure blood Slytherin prat. He had been kind to her all day and had helped her with her dress. In fact, he was the one who had chose the dress she was wearing in the first place! They had went to a Spanish café in the shopping mall and she had great fun watching as he tried to explain to the waitress what it was he wanted.

"I must say, you look ravishing."

"Well thank you," Riley said. "You don't look too bad yourself."

"Well, I know that," Regulus said.

"You have such a big ego!"

"I can't help it!"

The two of them burst out laughing, causing people to stare which just made them laugh more. As they did, Riley realized how alike personality wise Regulus and Sirius were. They could both easily make her laugh, they both had huge ego's and they were also both equally good at humiliating themselves.

Riley and Regulus continued to dance until most of the guests had left. When there were only around six couples on the dance floor, Sirius approached them.

"Can I cut in?"

Regulus looked from Sirius to Riley and then let go of her.

"Sure. I'm going to go to bed anyway. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Riley."

Riley was caught completely off guard when he kissed her on the cheek. Sure, it was only a kiss on the cheek, but it was from Regulus Black. As soon as he left, Riley looked at Sirius who had went red in the face and Riley sighed.

"Follow me," she said and led him out of the dining room, into the living room and into the library.

"You do understand what Regulus is doing, don't you?"

"No, Sirius," Riley said. "I don't."

"He's using you!"

"Using me?" Riley asked, her voice raising. "How on earth is he using me?"

"He's playing with your mind! But do you know what, you two looked rather cozy, so if you like him, go ahead, go out with him!"

"Don't be so stupid, Sirius! Of course I don't like him in that way! And he doesn't like me like that either. We're…friends."

"Yeah," Sirius laughed. "Friends my arse. You're just some game to him and the others, Riley. And your falling for it."

"Sirius, you're being ridiculous! I know you're angry about this afternoon, but I didn't plan on having him come with me!"

"Yes, but you enjoyed it anyway."

"Oh, shut up, Sirius. I know you think I like him but I don't!"

"Come on, Riley! You should of seen the two of you dancing. It was obvious! You even blushed when he kissed you!"

"I don't fancy him, Sirius! It's you I fancy, okay? It's you!"

Trolol. I like reviews. Lots of 'em.

Translations:

Mum, can I please have Rosa help me prepare for tonight? - Mamá, ¿puedo tener Rosa me ayudará a prepararme para esta noche?

Yes. Rosa, you may go. - Sí. Rosa, usted puede ir.

Riley...You are so beautiful - Riley ... Eres tan hermosa.

Abbey xoxo