Chapter 5:

Preparations for Duke Black's Christmas Ball were taking all of Hestia's time and energy. She was in charge of everything since her husband was very busy with politics and investment and Walburga was too busy 'supervising' her. Invitations were sent via owl post and everything was set for tomorrow's ball. Hestia, exhausted, went to the master bedroom which is hers and her husband's to finally get some sleep, as she entered the bedroom she found her husband already in bed reading the Daily Prophet. She changed into her night gown and sat in front of the mirror to brush her hair.

"Sirius, I didn't get the chance to read the article I asked the Prophet to post about the ball. Is it any good?" Hestia asked as she looked at her husband through the mirror.

"It's great, as a matter of fact I'm reading it right now." replied Sirius as his wife slid into the bed and rested her head on her shoulder.

"You know Sirius, I'm very nervous about tomorrow, everyone expects it to be the highlight of the season! I want it to be perfect!" said Hestia

"Don't worry darling, you have put great effort into arranging it, so I'm positive it's going to be to our liking." assured Sirius.

"I hope so. I also hope Orion doesn't feel neglected, I've been so busy that I've rarely spoken to him the last couple of days, you don't think he's mad do you?"asked Hestia.

"I don't think so, Orion knows you have a ball to arrange and He also knows that I've been extremely busy lately and besides Mother has been spending time teaching him a few spells and Kiddy (a house elf) informed me that Neville dropped by a few times." explained Sirius.

"Oh…okay, I also want to talk to you about Narcissa, don't you think you've been a bit harsh on her, I mean I don't actually like her but I don't despise her either and she's your cousin…" but Hestia was interrupted by her husband who replied hastily: "I did what I had to do Hestia, Narcissa and her husband must be treated that way! Before I became Duke she never bothered to send me a letter, to ask me how I've been doing, and her husband is a death eater ergo an enemy of mine, so I've been very kind to allow them to stay civil with us."

"I know that Narcissa is conceited and snobbish, but that doesn't mean she shares her husband's views and she's your cousin, she must care for you…"protested Hestia.

"Oh please! Narcissa agrees with everything her husband says and she never cared about me even when we were still kids, she's not going to care now! Please Hestia don't push the subject any further, what's done is done!" said Sirius sternly.

"Alright, I won't" Hestia said feeling a bit hurt.

Sirius put an arm around her shoulder and whispered to her: "I'm sorry darling." Hestia looked at him and said: "I only want you to be happy that's why I intervene, but maybe I shouldn't I'm sorry too…" But Sirius interrupted her as he said: "You have every right to intervene, you're my wife! Don't ever say that again you're my everything Hestia." Sirius held his wife tightly as she whispered to him: "You're my everything too Sirius" as he leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.

The Christmas Ball was only an hour away, everyone in Hampshire Manor was getting ready. Sirius was changing into one of his most expensive and luxurious robes. They were dark wine red velvet robes with the Dukedom of Hampshire crest on one of the sleeves. He was helping Orion tie his bow. Orion was dressed in robes that are similar to his father's.

"Dad ! Why do I have to wear these robes! I look like a spoiled pureblood!"Orion whined as his Father finished tying his bow.

"You are a spoiled pureblood Orion, a handsome one at that too!" Sirius said as he looked at himself and at his son in the mirror. Orion was a spitting image of Sirius when he was his age, he had his beautiful silky hair, his high cheek bones, his patrician nose and his winning smile, the only difference was the eye color, Orion had bright green eyes, Lily's eyes. The Duke and his heir went to the tapestry room where Walburga was waiting for them. She was dressed in plain black velvet robes and wore a diamond necklace on her neck. She had her black hair, which had gray locks that added even more elegancy, lifted in an updo. They admired the family tree until Hestia finally entered the room looking more beautiful than ever. Her wavy black hair was lifted in half an updo so locks of her hair could still lie on her shoulders. She was dressed in a midnight blue dress and wore a diamond necklace and earrings. Sirius approached his wife, took her hand and kissed it gently as he said: "You look gorgeous my dear." She blushed a little and replied: "You don't look so bad yourself" with a smirk on her face.

Guests were already arriving so The Duke's family finally entered the ballroom. The ballroom was breathtaking, It was like cathedral! A pianist had already started to play a melody. As the Duke and his family entered two house elves blew their horns and one goblin announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: Sirius Black, Duke of Hampshire, Hestia Black, Duchess of Hampshire, Walburga Black, Lady of Hampshire and Mother of the Duke and finally Orion Black, Heir of the Duke." The ballroom broke into applause.

After about 15 minutes to the beginning of the ball, Sirius and Hestia were dancing the waltz along with several other couples. Orion and Neville were chatting with Susan Bones until they were rudely interrupted by Narcissa who was dragging along with her a boy with platinum blonde hair and grey eyes that complimented his pointed face.

"Orion dear, this is my son Draco, I think you'll have a great time together along with your friends, well Draco I'll be over there." She said hastily as she pushed Draco towards Orion and his friends and left.

"So you're Draco Malfoy, my cousin, right?" Orion asked.

"Yes, I guess I am." Draco replied

"Hey what's that on your neck?" Neville asked Draco while pointing at Draco's neck which had a bruise on it, probably spreading from his shoulder. Draco then immediately adjusted his robes so he can hide the bruise and said: "No-Nothing!" Draco then couldn't bear their stares at him and ran away to the garden. Orion, realizing what just happened, excused himself from his friends and rushed after Draco to find him sobbing while sitting while sitting on the grass, his back against a tree. Orion then sat in front of him and asked him what's wrong for Draco to sob even more and cry: "It's like you don't know! It's not hard to figure out you know! You saw my bruise!" Orion then whispered to him: "Who did this to you?" Draco after a minute of hesitation finally spilled what he had to say: "My father! My father does that to me! My parents want me to be the perfect Malfoy heir, you see this bruise, it's because insisted that Gryffindor was a very good house because it's where dwells the brave at heart during one of my Hogwarts history lessons that my father usually supervises. You don't know how lucky you are Orion, I know your father would never do that to you since he was a Gryffindor himself, and you get to have fun, I never have fun!"then Draco had his face buried in his hands as he sobbed even harder. Orion then feeling so sympathetic towards his cousin moved towards him and gave him a sort of brother to brother hug and told him: "Draco, we're family even though my father doesn't exactly like your parents do whenever you feel bad just floo here. I also think father can help you."

Draco, now finally feeling a little better replied with a smile on his face: "You really mean that?"

Orion replied returning the smile: "Of course I do, you're my cousin!"

Draco laughed at that last sentence as Orion added: "Yes, and I bet when we get to know each other more, we'll become like brothers."

Draco then replied happily: "I'd like that, a lot!"