A/N: Vanessa's POV, this chapter is dedicated to new reader TomFeltonLover007. May you enjoy this new chapter, and this new point of view I'm tossing at you guys! I've had a lot of fun writing Vanessa, and I hope you have as much fun reading her!

-C

I smiled my most graceful smile, pretending to care about the inane story Avery was telling.

Courting had always seemed like such a wonderful thing, until I was sitting there, listening to Jack Avery basically spend two hours telling me how wonderful he was.

Why women always said courting was glamorous, I had no idea.

"That's lovely," I said when his mother looked at me expectantly after I sipped some of her elf-made wine. "How long has the recipe been in the family again?"

"Six centuries," she told me stiffly, and I gave her my most attractive impressed expression, hoping she would be charmed.

She was, smiling at me in her stiff way.

Everything she did was stiff, smiling, walking, speaking, glaring.

"It's so delicious," I said, being as composed as possible. Gushing would appear immature. "Even if your family and home weren't so charming I think I would court your son for this wine alone."

Mr. Avery raised his eyebrows.

Too much.

"Vanessa, dear, would you walk in the garden with me?" Jack said, perhaps wanting to snog.

I hated snogging Jack, but I just smiled.

"Not today, Jack," Mr. Avery said sternly. "They're fixing the landscaping and I don't want it delayed."

"Oh, are you having your regular staff do it, or hiring a contractor?" I asked, finally interested in what was being discussed.

"Our staff is assisting an expert landscaper," Mr. Avery said lazily. "He redid the Malfoy Manor to Narcissa Black's taste, while still managing to keep all of the distinct style of the Malfoy aesthetic. When I saw that, I knew he was the right person for our home."

Home was a bit of a strange word choice, I thought, considering the absolute massive size of the building they lived in.

Fourteen bedrooms.

"He sounds fantastic," I said with a bright smile. "What sort of changes are you making?"

"We're adding a wall of irises on the back fence," Mrs. Avery said happily. "And I made certain there's a collection of freesias in the fountain arrangement. I know how much you like freesias."

It was with that statement that I knew I'd won over his parents. They were landscaping with me in mind, and the charm was complete. All I had to do was keep it up until the wedding and my future would be set.

Jack helped me put my cloak on about half an hour later and his mother sighed.

"Oh, I wish you could stay for lunch, dear," she sighed.

"I do as well," I lied, "but commitments are commitments."

"Oh, quite," she agreed.

Of course, my commitment was lunch with Peter Pettigrew, who was still the easiest person in the world to string along. He was even easier than Mrs. Avery.

I went to the Muggle bar where we always met and saw him sitting in a corner, drinking a beer, looking eagerly for me. With a sultry grin, I took my cloak off and slid into the booth beside him.

"Hello, Peter," I whispered, watching him shiver slightly. "I see you have a drink."

"Want me to get you one?" he asked.

He'd been doing this thing lately where he tried to make his voice lower, maybe thinking it was sexy.

I don't think Peter realized that no matter what he did, he would never have a prayer of even resembling sexy.

Still, I grinned and shook my head.

"I've been drinking already," I said honestly. "I had an early society luncheon. The elf-made wine is sort of a necessary part of those things."

Peter, having never really been to a society event, just nodded as if he knew exactly what I was talking about.

"I love that shirt," I lied. "Is it new?"

"Yeah, Sirius got it for me," Peter said casually. "It was a graduation present. He said he didn't really know what else to get me and thought it might look nice."

It certainly would have looked nice on someone like Sirius, but on Peter it was like stuffing a pig into a silk shirt.

It was an insult to the shirt.

Still, I mused, Sirius did have fine taste in clothing. Unlike Jack. Jack would probably wear whatever his mother put in front of him without a second glance.

In fact, I wouldn't have been surprised to find that this was the very method he used for dressing each morning.

"I've been a bit bored," I sighed, in Peter's ear, "since graduation."

I let my fingers trail up his thigh and he looked up at me with wide, adoring eyes.

Never did I tire of that look. From Peter, from Jack, from every boy I'd ever strung along. The way they looked at me like they wanted nothing more than to worship me... It was a drug.

"I can't stay too long," I said with a pout, "but I just wanted to check in, see that you were still... interested."

"I am," Peter said too quickly to pay it cool. "You've been so distant that I wasn't sure you still-"

"Peter," I said with a forced chuckle. "Could I really just send you regular letters with you Marauders being as attached as you always are? And with all the stuff Dumbledore wants you to do. What is he having you do, by the way?"

I held my breath, waiting for things I could make notes of later.

Peter shrugged.

"Nothing really, yet," he said dismissively. "But we don't have our first meeting until next week, so maybe we'll get down to some exciting stuff." He grinned. "Wouldn't it be cool, going off into battle?"

"Don't they leave that sort of thing for Aurors?" I teased. He dampened a bit. "Look, I've got stuff I've got to do, but I'll check in sometime in the next week or two, okay?"

"Not before?" he asked nervously.

"Bit busy," I said slowly, "but I'll see what I can do."

He nodded, I let him kiss my cheek, and I disappeared before he tried to give me an actually kiss, the wanker.

The following day I had an actual society luncheon, the first one the Averys were hosting of the season, as their landscaping was finished the night before.

Which was why, of course, Jack was not allowed to put it off timing. That could have been a disaster.

"What a lovely job, Mrs. Avery," I said sweetly.

"Oh, Vanessa, dear, you robes are divine!" Mrs. Avery said.

She was in a remarkably good mood that day, I decided, kissing her cheek as she'd asked me to do.

"Thank you very much, Mrs. Avery," I replied, giving her my best impression of one graciously flattered. "I did consider very carefully. I know how very important today is for your new landscaping. And as I said, it's truly exquisite."

"Perhaps we could grace it with something equally exquisite," Jack said smoothly, holding his arm out to me.

So he'd gotten permission to walk me in the gardens today. I had the distinct impression that every eye at the party was on us as I took his arm, allowing Jack to walk me away into the garden where we had at least the illusion of privacy.

"Those robes do suit you," Jack said, kissing my hand.

It was all practiced, all scripted. Even the length of time he lingered with my fingers to his lips was counted to the second. The way I licked my lips in anticipation, the giddy sort of nervous actions I had been practicing in front of a mirror for weeks.

Because I had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen, and one couldn't be too cool in the face of such an act, especially one with every acceptable pureblood basically in attendance.

"Thank you," I whispered, pretending to be enchanted with everything.

"Vanessa, we have been courting for a while," Jack said slowly. "I know that we had little to do with each other in school, but I believe that despite this we have had a very successful courtship."

I nodded, smiling, even though our courtship wasn't particularly special. It wasn't a failure, if that was what he meant, but that was hardly an accomplishment.

He cleared his throat.

"It would do me a great honor," he said in a voice louder than really necessary, "if you would become my wife, Vanessa."

For some reason my heart was racing even though I felt incredibly calm.

Of course, it had to be that day. The event would then serve as an invitation to the engagement party, as it would be improper to treat it as the engagement party proper. I stood there, thinking over logistics, realizing I'd yet to give an answer, hoping I hadn't been standing there too long.

"Jack," I said sweetly, quivering my voice just a little for effect, "there is nothing that would please me more."

That was one of my more complete lies. Most of the things I said had at least a sliver of truth in them. However, I could think in that very moment of many things that would please me more.

Marrying James Potter.

Making Sirius Black scream my name again.

Making Amy McAuley beg for mercy.

Tearing out all of Lily Evans's precious hair.

The list went on and on. I even felt angry at Sarah Kelly and Marlene McKinnon, although they were followers. The state of my life was less their fault, less than even Remus or Peter.

Peter.

I curled my lips into a smile as Jack put his family ring on my finger, but what was I going to do about Peter?

We rejoined the party to much congratulation, but I couldn't help but think of how to proceed in regards to Peter now that I was getting married.

A particularly cruel though occurred to me that Peter was in the Order, and Jack would almost certainly be a Death Eater, if he wasn't one already.

I hadn't thought it polite to ask.

I sipped my wine thoughtfully, considering the possibilities of getting involved in politics for personal revenge.

It really didn't matter to me which side won. I would find a way to be successful no matter what. Perhaps I would be a bit more comfortable with Voldemort running things, being a pureblood with no particular talent beside my abilities for social maneuvering and above-average skill in Potions. The last thing I needed was to have my husband under suspicion, or worse, on trial for atrocities.

No, I was fairly certain my life would be easier if Voldemort won, not that I really cared one way or another about Muggle-borns. They could live or die for all I cared.

I tapped the stem of my crystal wine goblet thoughtfully, smiling absently as I was supposed to do at these things, especially on such a 'happy day' as this.

There were certainly reasons I should ditch Peter, or at least put him on the backburner until I'd had a chance to discuss matters with my husband-to-be. On the other hand, it would be easier to keep stringing him along if I didn't have a gap in our communication a mile long, or if I didn't go cold.

Peter might be a bit daft, but he was sensitive to when he was getting the shaft, obviously. If he hadn't been he wouldn't have been so easy to charm away from the loyalties of the Marauders. It wouldn't be prudent to let him start to feel as though I wasn't paying him the attention he felt due if I would need him later.

I took another sip of my wine, deciding in that moment that I would at least string him along until Jack and I had reason to discuss the matter more thoroughly and I would have to make a final decision.

Finishing off my drink I stood, making my way through the crowd, playing the part of the thrilled bride-to-be.

"Vanessa!" said a voice I would rather not have heard at that moment, but I put on a smile and turned to face Walburga Black.

"Mrs. Black!" I said, in my most delighted voice. "I didn't know you were coming! How is Regulus?"

"Oh, he's getting ready for his seventh year," Walburga said shrilly. "We're very proud. Now if he only finds a nice girl like you. What do you know about Priscilla Flint?"

"I know that she's the only person in her family who doesn't look part troll," I said in a sweet voice. "Which could be a positive, or you might want someone with... better genes."

"Hmm, I see your point," Walburga said darkly. "Well, we can't all have your lovely bone structure, dear."

"No," Vanessa agreed, thinking of the irony of saying it to Sirius's mother, who could have done with a boost in bone structure herself. "No, we certainly can't."

"If you think of anyone, dear, do let me know," Walburga then insisted, and Vanessa told her that she would, but she honestly couldn't think of anyone who would be not only a suitable match for Regulus, but also someone she wanted to spend time with at these disgusting functions.

I took my leave of Walburga Black and wandered through the crowd, thanking people who gave me their congratulations, until Lucius Malfoy grabbed me by the arm and led me into the garden rather forcefully.

"Congratulations," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How do you feel about your consolation prize?"

"Cute, Lucius," I drawled, sitting on the edge of the tall fountain so that I was more leaning than sitting. He stood to the side of me, facing me but looking over at the rose garden.

"Jack is, as I'm sure you know, due to be joining a very prestigious group of pureblooded wizards soon."

"Of course," I replied coolly, not looking up at him. I knew as well as anyone that Jack's father had been in the Dark Lord's inner circle for as long as anyone could even recall. To say that the expectation was heavy upon Jack was a vast understatement. The pressure upon him to join made the pressure that had been placed on the Black brothers look like a finger's press. "How soon is soon?"

"I do not know yet," Lucius answered, and I could do naught but assume he was being honest with me. "What I do know is that there will be expectations on you as his wife, when that day does come."

"I assumed as much," I drawled, looking at my nails.

"It seemed unfair of me not to warn you when I know," he said softly. "Well, there would still be time to have the engagement fall apart, and I know how hard it all is on Narcissa. I just wanted to be sure you understood, because once you are married there will be no turning back."

I looked at him, but he was still staring at the roses, his face a blank mask.

Had his voice broken for a moment there?

Lucius and I had been about four or five years apart in school, so we'd never really spent a lot of time together, but he and Jack came from families that had been close for generations, so I'd seen quite a lot of him at various functions once I'd started courting Jack. Everything I had learned about him and his mannerisms during that time made me wonder what was going through his head, what it was he was trying to say to me, that he would behave so strangely.

"I know," I said softly, arranging my face into my own mask, knowing that if we stayed in the garden too long someone would come looking for us, and I couldn't have an incredulous expression.

"Lucius!" Narcissa called.

"That my cue," he muttered, turning to me with a dark expression in his cold, gray eyes. How different they looked from Sirius's eyes. "Have a lovely afternoon, Miss Brown. My wife and I need to go. This heat does not agree with her."

He lifted my hand to his lips, which were nearly as cold as his eyes, and then he walked away, leaving me leaning against the fountain, alone.

"Vanessa?"

I was getting a bit sick of hearing my own name, but I smiled as I turned to see Rabastan Lestrange strolling toward me.

"Yes," I said brightly, realizing that I had to get out of there before the sound of my own voice made me feel sick.

"What did Lucius say to you?"

"Oh, we were talking about the roses," I lied, smiling over at the rose garden. "Aren't they beautiful?"

Rabastan's face was still dark, and he did not turn to look at the flowers before saying, "Quite."

Something about the way Rabastan stood there watching me for a crack in my armor made me think that Lucius might have said something he wasn't supposed to tell me, and I just smiled.

"Have you seen Jack?" I said sweetly. "I haven't seen him since the proposal."

"Afraid he's got cold feet?"

Yes, apparently Lucius was not supposed to speak to me about getting out if I couldn't handle the lifestyle Jack was taking.

"I should hope not," I replied coolly. "Because he's not getting this ring back easily if he has, especially not if he has so quickly."

"Tread carefully, Brown," Rabastan said softly as I went to walk away, to find Jack, make my excuses of exhaustion, and go home. "I know Bellatrix things you would make a fun toy."

"No doubt she would," I said smoothly. "And I always tread carefully, Rabastan. One doesn't have to be a Slytherin to be careful."

But as I walked away from him as boldly as possible, I felt incredibly uncomfortable leaving my back exposed, more so than usual at such events.

I couldn't back down, though. Not if I was going to have my revenge. Jack was my chance, and I was going to take full advantage.