Chapter 18: Christmas Etiquettes and Cruelties

December 20, 1971

Sirius looked upon his handiwork with pride. He had spent all of last night redecorating it. It now adorned the warm scarlet and gold of his house instead of the neutral metallic silver it originally was.

"Si..!" Regulus Black yelled before halting to a shocking silence and slamming the door shut.

"If mother sees this she will be very disappointed and extremely angry." Regulus pointed out in an emotionless neutral voice.

"She won't see it because she never comes up here and you won't tell her." Sirius commanded his younger brother.

"True. Where did you learn the charms to change the color of walls?"

Sirius motioned Regulus over to their bed before they both plopped down on the bed with their backs flat down. "James wanted to search for new prank ideas, so Remus and I were assigned to look through the library whereas Peter and James searched our textbooks. I just found a book titled The Necessities of Home Redecoration. James thought it was hilarious when I told him how I was going to improve my room. They truly are the best friends ever. I love them all so much."

Regulus tried not to wince. Ever since Sirius had come home it had been James this and Remus that. The activities they did were always more fun than playing chess with him, and the Gryffindor's flying adventures were cooler than their traditional broom races. His brother, it seemed, had found new friends that were better than him. "We better pick out our dresses for the Ball." Regulus said interrupting the lull in conversation.

Sirius grabbed Regulus's arm and pulled him back to a lying position, "Reggie, mother isn't hurting you is she?" Sirius probed with a serious look on his face.

"No. She deems that I will make a much better heir…" Regulus let the sentence trail off.

"You can be the next Lord Black. I don't really care about all that. Just promise me you won't be a pure blood fanatic." Sirius interrupted Regulus.

"I don't want to be next Lord Black, Siri. That is your birthright. I will not usurp what is meant to be yours."

Sirius paused before saying, "Forget about 'Lord Black' and the Black house. Join me in Gryffindor."

"The sorting hat decides that, Siri...not me." Regulus resignedly commented.

"Just tell it you don't really care about the Black family…" Sirius said rolling his eyes.

Something snapped inside of Regulus. "Is that what you told the sorting hat, Sirius?" he whispered in a low but deadly voice. He jumped off the bed and angrily said, "Because I do CARE about our family. I love you, Cissa, Andy, Bella, Aunt Cassie, Uncle Alphard, even father and mother. It is my duty be a good son and I will not abandon my duties like you have."

"Duty? I owe nothing to a mother who would have disowned me over my sorting. If Grandpa Arcturus did not stop them, I would not even be a Black much less have a home." Sirius hissed coldly, his pureblood mask slipping on.

They both glared at each other before Regulus stormed off. He knew his brother's reasoning had been right, but a good man did not just abandon his family, no matter how bad they were. Siri might have found new friends, but I am his brother, Regulus thought bitterly. "Kreacher," he summoned as soon as he got to his room.

"Little Master called!" Kreacher obediently answered.

"I forbid you from telling anyone that Sirius changed his room colors." he commanded Kreacher.

"Yes, master." Kreacher agreed before disappearing.

December 23, 1971

Sirius and Regulus looked like regal purebloods in their formal robes for the Black Ball. The black marble studded floor of the ballroom in the unplottable Black Manor added to their opulent blue and green robes. Like most siblings, they had put their little disagreement behind them and were back to being the beloved brothers they were meant to be.

"You look cute, but I, of course, look handsome." Sirius arrogantly commented.

"I would rather be cute than handsome." Regulus said with a pout making him look even younger and cuter.

Sirius smiled in response slinging an arm over his brother's shoulders.

"Ahm...Ahmm...What trouble are you boys getting into tonight?" a stern voice that both boys recognized questioned.

"Aunt Cassiopeia," they said kissing her knuckles in typical pureblood fashion.

"So the first Gryffindor Black, how is that rowdy house treating you?" she said with a smirk.

"They have been treating me well. I believe it has something to do with the warmth of the tower." Sirius replied with a slight smile pulling at his lips.

"Ah of course. I hear from Dorea that you and my nephew are good friends."

"Yes. Why doesn't she come to the Black family gatherings? She isn't disowned, is she?" Sirius questioned carelessly.

"I should have realized you are a Gryffindor...no subtility whatsoever." Aunt Cassie said with a sigh before continuing, "No, she isn't disowned. The Potters and Blacks are on different sides of the political spectrum and although I have told Arcturus to not let politics affect family, he disregards my words." She caught her breath her eyes squinting, "Now, run along...my nephew is dying to speak with you. I shall talk to Regulus about his upcoming lesson." she said dismissing Sirius.

Sirius walked confidently over to his favorite Uncle Alphard. "Uncle Alphard. Did you want to chat with me?"

"Of course. Why would I not want to talk with my favorite nephew?" he rhetorically questioned. As an afterthought he mentioned, "Don't tell Reggie I said that."

Sirius gave a true bark-like laugh. "Good to know that my Gryffindor status has not diminished my status in your eyes."

"Oh course not my boy. In fact, it has cemented your position for all eternity. Not everyday that a lion is born in a pit of snakes." He took a gulp of wine before sarcastically saying "I hear my loving sister isn't pleased."

"Of course not." Sirius solemnly agreed.

Alphard lowered his voice to a near whisper and Sirius scotted towards him to hear him better. "There is a new upstart that Bella has taken a liking to. She wanted to invite him…" Noticing the startled and questioning look his nephew was giving him. "I am not really sure who. Just that father and uncle Arcturus both firmly rejected her request."

"Bella used to be so cool! Now she just seems...well, insane."

Alphard smiled ruefully, "I told Cygnus not to marry her off to the Lestrange boy. She was too strong of woman to be tied up in any case. But when has he ever listened to his brother who swings the other way."

"Do you think she may be under the influence?" Sirius probed.

Alphard was not a man who shrugged. Instead he slightly tilted his head before replying, "Most mental illnesses don't appear until the early twenties. Of course it could also be the illegal fertility potions - your mother used them too."

Not sure what to reply, Sirius sat silently. Before the silence could become too awkward, a formidable man clanged his wine glass before calling the party to order, "Welcome to the Annual Black Family Ball. I, Lord Arcturus Black, wish everyone a Happy Christmas on behalf of the Black family."

A chorus of "Happy Christmas" was heard in reply.

"You better go talk to Lord Black and make sure to greet father too." Alphard said giving him slight shove towards where Lord Black and his cousin were talking to the Greengrass family patriarch.

His grandfather Pollux noticed him immediately and lovingly called out, "Sirius, come here!"

"Lord Black, Grandpa Pollux, Happy Christmas sirs." he said with a formal bow with his pureblood mask firmly in place.

"Happy Christmas, Sirius Orion." Arcturus Black replied in a neutral voice.

Pollux was more outward with his emotion and his hand rested on Sirius shoulders for a few minutes. "Siri, Happy Christmas! How are you doing?"

"I am doing fine, grandpa." He nervously turned to Lord Black, "Sir, will I still be continuing my summer lessons with you?"

His paternal grandfather scanned over him and without cutting any edges said, "Of course, you are still second-in-line to the Lordship."

Sirius let out a breath he had been holding without realizing it. Pollux gave a slight snort, "As if dear Artie would disown you for being sorted into a different house. Do not let his demeanor fool you; he is too much of a softie to disown his own grandson."

Arcturus glared at his cousin before questioning, "Where is Regulus?"

"He was talking to Aunt Cassiopeia when I last saw him sir."

"Lord Black, I offer my apologies for interrupting your conversation with your grandson but I have a proposal that will benefit our posterity." A smooth voice, that Sirius instantly knew belong to Malfoy, said.

"Of course, Lord Malfoy. Pollux and I will meet you in the living room. Enjoy the rest of the evening Sirius." Lord Black said dismissing Sirius and walking out of the ballroom with Lord Malfoy, Cygnus Black and Pollux Black following him.

Sirius vacillated. He would be in big trouble if he was caught eavesdropping but Lord Malfoy had just hinted at a marriage proposal and Sirius had no doubt it was between Lucius and Narcissa. He had to know if his fears were true, and if so, where did that leave Andy. Gathering his courage, Sirius slipped out of the Ballroom and stood in the small corridor that was next to the said living room.

"So the marriage contract will be between Lucius and Narcissa after they both graduate from Hogwarts. The contract stipulates they will produce at least one heir and Narcissa will receive protection and support from both houses. Cygnus deems this acceptable and we have decided to discuss the financial details closer to the proposed wedding." Sirius heard Lord Malfoy say.

Grandpa Pollux voiced his concern, "Cygnus, son, don't you think Narcissa is to young for a betrothal contract? We also have Andromeda's future to consider." Sirius held his breath.

"Well, Bellatrix told me that the Lestranges have shown interest in arranging a contract between Rabastan and Andromeda. There are other options too..." Uncle Cygnus trailed off.

"No! No! No! I have to warn Andy." Sirius thought furiously and he was about to break into a run back to the ballroom when he felt an arm close his mouth shut and another wrap around his stomach, firmly but gently holding him still.

"Don't shout and don't move. I'll disillusion you first." Andy whispered.

After muttering a spell, Andy pointed toward the balcony near the ballroom and quietly tiptoed motioning to Sirius to follow her. Once they were in the empty balcony, Sirius questioned, "Did you hear that?"

Andy gave a grim nod. "Lucius told me his father would ask for Narcissa's hand. I should have known my idiotic father would accept it. He thinks daughters are commodities to be sold...he did it with Bella and now with Narcissa."

"Yeah well we already knew that...and I'll convince James to unleash pranking hell on Lucius. But, they want you to marry Rabstan, Andy! You cannot do that! I absolutely forbid it and if you do marry him then I will disown you when I become Lord Black." Sirius flusteredly said looking at Andromeda with concern.

To Sirius's surprise Andromeda giggled. "I have a secret boyfriend who is muggle born." she whispered into Sirius's year.

"What?!" Sirius yelled.

"Shh!" Andromeda berated him. Pulling Sirius closer she whispered, "Don't tell anyone. He's a Hufflepuff. Your sorting gave me courage and I have been planning to elope with him after graduation. If it's Rabastan, I have to marry, then I definitely will. I haven't told anyone...you're the first person…"

Sirius looked at her worried face and replied, "I promise I won't tell anybody, Andy. I can make an unbreakable vow but who is this Hufflepuff? Are you sure he will treat you well?"

Andy gave a slightly dreamy smile, "His name is Edward Tonks but he goes by Ted."

"Okay, you can marry him but not until I approve of him. Someone has to ensure he is worthy of marrying a daughter of the Black house and more importantly my favorite cousin; that someone is going to be me." Sirius said trying to look all noble and powerful like his grandfather.

Andy laughed lightly before hugging him. "Of course you can meet him, and you will love him."

There was a small lull in the conversation before Bella and her husband Rodolphus Lestrange interrupted them. "Well what is it that we have here? Does the brawny Gryffindor need mothering from my sister?"

"Bella…you are intoxicated." Andy said with a sigh.

"Oh definitely not, darling Andy!" Bella said in high pitched voice. "Why don't we all go inside and you can dance with Rabstan while I talk with Siri here." Bella proposed.

Andy looked as if she would tell her to get lost but then her neutral mask was back on and she nodded at Bella. The four headed back to the ballroom.

"Bella, he's only a child. It isn't his fault that the sorting hat placed in that wretched house. Let him be." Andy warned as Rabstan took hold of her for a dance.

Bella ignored Andy and turned to face Sirius. "So Gryffindor?"

Sirius decided to play if safe, taking Andy's hint, by easily lying, "I have no clue why the sorting hat put me there, Bella. It wasn't really in my control. I truly wanted to be in Slytherin." Internally, his face was contorted into an expression of disgust.

Bella peered down at him as if to determine the veracity of the statement. "Don't go consorting around with blood traitors and mudbloods. Have you made any acquaintance of well-connected purebloods?"

"Umm...Potter." Sirius replied innocently, carefully manipulating his facial features.

"The Potters are basically the same as blood traitors. Inculcate ties with the Rosiers, the Selwyns, the Greengrasses and others." Bella instructed her younger cousin. Not trusting himself enough to open his mouth lest he say something that would incur his cousin's wrath, Sirius nodded silently. "Why don't you dance with Gina Greengrass?" Bellatrix suggested pulling him over towards a group of pureblood girls.

With no escape, Sirius made his way over to Gina Greengrass and politely asked her for a dance. She readily accepted with a polite smile that he was obligated to return. As he was forced to dance with pureblood girls for the rest of the night, Sirius couldn't help but thinking that the thing he hated most about the Black Ball was having to dance with girls. He could deal with drama, secrets, politics and forced displays of emotions but dancing with girls was where he drew the line.

AN: Thanks to our new follower DarkLunar1312. Also, did we nail Reggie's character and/or the Black family dynamics? Who do want to see more of? - Let us know in your reviews or PM us!