Disclaimer: I only own Vera.
Oh, and Narcissa and Lucius are a little OOC, but they would have to be in order for this story to even work out.
She waited outside the gates of Malfoy Manor, just like she was told to do. She knew that, as being a half-blood, the wards wouldn't allow her in without being escorted by a pureblood.
And so, she waited for Lucius to come meet her.
She looked up at the sky, and subconsciously fingered the locket that adorned her neck.
"Mum, Dad, please…Give me the strength to do this," she thought, trying to muster up what little courage she had.
She quickly looked towards the gravel path when she heard footsteps. She mentally sighed when she realized that it wasn't Lucius who was going to be meeting her; it would be Narcissa.
Vera was fond of Narcissa, for a lack of a better word. Her second cousin had decided to take her under her wing ever since she was invited to that Christmas Ball in her fifth year.
And now, with the "assignment" the Order, well more specifically, Dumbledore gave her, it would be damn easy to mingle in the Dark Lord's inner circle.
Clearing her thoughts, she gave Narcissa a small smile and she received a small one in return. She has realized that Narcissa isn't a "frigid bitch", those aren't her words, when she's around ones she's familiar with. Vera, fortunately, is one of those selected few.
"It's lovely to see you again, Vera," the older woman stated as she magically opened the gate with her wand. Vera walked through and Narcissa looped her arm through hers.
"I have been looking forward to this. I've been in dire need of stimulating company," Vera said, her Slytherin mask completely covering her emotions. Nothing however would stop her heart from aching as she insulted the ones she loved.
Narcissa smirked, "Well, you have most certainly come to the right place."
They now entered Malfoy Manor and Vera could hear the low hum of talking coming from down the hallway. Narcissa called for a house elf and it took both of their cloaks.
Narcissa took a hold of Vera's arm again and lead her to where the party is at.
"Ah, Narcissa! You brought along Miss Black. How delightful," Lucius said as he noticed the two walk in.
Vera greeted Lucius politely and made small talk with him. Narcissa stood by her husband, silent.
"I am terribly sorry, ladies, but I have to entertain the other guests," he bowed and left.
"Come, let me introduce you to the other guests," Narcissa said as she led Vera around the room.
*
"Vera, I'd like you to meet Mr. Peregrine Derrick. He was a Slytherin in your year," Narcissa said.
"Please, Mrs. Malfoy, call me Perry. I detest my name," he said as he smiled charmingly at the older woman. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Miss Black," he said as he placed a kiss on her hand.
"Likewise, Mr. Derrick," Vera stated, genuinely smiling. It was comforting to see a familiar face.
"What a gorgeous face, it is, too," she thought.
"Well, I see Mrs. Parkinson is beckoning me over," Narcissa said. "I'll see you at dinner."
The two former house mates watched Narcissa leave.
Vera sighed. "You have no idea how insufferable some of these women are," she said.
Amusement glinted in his chocolate brown eyes."Oh, I do. I have been around them my whole life, Vera," he chuckled.
She smirked. "Oh, but this is different. Women treat each other differently when they're not around men. I bet some of them are gossiping about how we are talking to each other at this very moment. It's going to be an absolute nightmare," she said exasperated.
"Well, it's been said that women are their own worst enemy," he said. "Would you life some Elven Wine? It's very delicious."
"Yes, that would be wonderful," she said.
"Then I'll be right back," he said before he walked away.
Vera smiled lightly. She had forgotten how easy it was to talk to Perry. There was also a certain annoying voice that pointedly mentioned how she had forgotten how attractive he was.
She didn't deny it, since he was attractive. Even back in school she thought he was good-looking.
"Considering all of the boys looked like Trolls, Perry was a god," she thought wryly.
"One glass of the finest Elven Wine for you, Milady," Perry said playfully as he handed her a glass.
"Why thank you, kind sir," she said playing along.
The two reminisced about their Hogwarts days, and before they knew it, dinner was ready.
*
Dinner went by flawlessly, having made small talk with the people around her. It was after dinner, when the women retired to the parlor for tea and the men went to the study for cigars and brandy, were what Vera dreaded. She absolutely despised the majority of these pure-blooded hags.
And she could sense that some of the hags despised her, too.
"Vera, darling, please come sit next to me," Narcissa said as they all slowly made their way into the parlor.
"Of course," Vera stated her silver dress swishing as she walked towards the settee. It was while sitting next to Narcissa that she noticed the curious looks the women were sending her. None of them had addressed her yet, and she slowly brushed a piece of her blonde hair away to go behind her shoulder.
Her hair. It was practically the exact same shade as Narcissa's, only a little darker. They must have also realized that they looked quite similar – so much so in fact, Vera could be mistaken as Narcissa's daughter. The only major difference between the two was their eyes – Narcissa had icy blue eyes, while Vera had mossy green eyes.
She had her mother's eyes.
She graciously accepted her tea, finding comfort in its wonderful taste. The women around her began talking about their children's marriages.
"Miss Black, are you engaged to be married?" Mrs. Parkinson asked.
Vera calmly placed her tea cup back onto its saucer. "No, Mrs. Parkinson, I'm not," she said.
Vera could hear the ladies around her whispering.
"Do not worry, Miss Black, you shall find someone soon," Narcissa said smiling; she had a glint in her eye that Vera couldn't decipher. She didn't like the looks of it.
Soon, the men joined them and delicious pastries were set out. Vera declined having any, knowing that once she had one, she wouldn't be able to stop.
Everything was going swimmingly until Rosier, at least she thinks it was him, addressed her loudly.
"Miss Black how's your father?" he said mockingly.
Now Vera knew that he was referring to her Uncle Sirius. No one besides a select few outside her family knew that Regulus was her father – Snape and Dumbledore.
She stared into her tea cup, mulling over whether she should reveal the truth right now. She looked up and noticed some of the hags were smirking evilly at her.
Oh yes, it was most definitely the time to reveal this.
"I really couldn't tell you, since he's been dead since I was two," she said vaguely, taking a sip of her tea. She waited with bated breath for someone to understand what she was implying.
"Good lord, are you saying that Sirius Black isn't your father?" A rather old, haughty woman asked, looking aghast.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," she said quietly.
Narcissa sat next to her, eyeing Vera carefully. That's when she realized it.
"Oh Circe, just look at her Lucius. She looks exactly like him!" She said comprehension dawning over her features.
Lucius observed Vera carefully, and it took all of her self- control to not squirm underneath his gaze as she stared defiantly at him.
"My word, she looks exactly like Regulus. She even has the same defiant look in her eyes," he commented, astonished.
The room's silence was deafening. She glanced around the room, noticing that everyone was giving her curious stares. She grimaced, wondering what that meant for her.
She glanced her way towards Perry, knowing that she will need his friendship to help her get through this mission. By the cold and emotionless glance he was giving her, she grimly realized that she might have to do this alone.
She inwardly groaned as she noticed that no one was looking her in the eye, and she noticed that Narcissa was tense. If the whispers were anything to go by, they probably were wondering why in Merlin's name she hadn't mention that she was the daughter of Regulus Arcturus Black.
It might have not been the best time to reveal this bit of information.
A/N: So, first off, I didn't mention that I owned Peregrine Derrick. Why? Because, as a matter of fact, he is an EXTREMELY minor character in Harry Potter and he's the only Slytherin that is close to Vera's age. Well, this starts out serious, gets a little funny (at least I think so), and then back to serious, again. I'd really like to know what you think about this.