Uncle Cygnus could talk for hours. I didn't want to be sitting here from the crack of dawn until nearly lunchtime listening to my Uncle, Aunt and mother drone on and on about the upcoming, annual Black Halloween Gala. Of its importance. But alas, here I was listening to my Aunt Druella tell us how important it was for each of them to wear Silver. Bellatrix and Narcissa were also here, sitting on either side of me. Bella looked politely bored while Cissy's face was unreadable. Andromeda was here earlier too but asked to be excused after nearly two hours of dull conversation on invitees claiming that she had a stomach ache. The women in the room nodded knowingly before she disappeared. I knew she was falling though, I knew that she was probably just exhausted from spending all night out with my brother. I refused to let that bother. Let the knowledge that my brother had hardly looked at me in years but was happy to spend every waking moment with Andromeda affect me in any way. He wasn't present during this conversation. He was being forced to play the piano, the same song 'Fur Elise' over and over again until lunch, under the watchful eye of our music tutor. I wasn't entirely sure what he was being punished for this time. It was hard to keep up with all of the little things that Sirius did that he thought made him a rebel. I thought that it just made him an idiot.
I played around with the breakfast left on my plate feeling slightly ill. I hated breakfast, I always felt nauseous in the mornings but my mother told me to eat so I ate. Suddenly there was a hollow knock on the dark oak doors and then they swung open. A servant wearing a penguin suit and sporting a droopy grey moustache stood in the doorway, head raised proudly in the air. "You have visitors Master and Mistress Black." he warbled. Uncle Cygnus cocked an eyebrow indicating that he wasn't aware of company. "Send them in then." He snarled. He was always snarling and barking orders. I always thought that he was so unnecessarily loud, but I'd never tell anyone that.
After a beat of silence, the servant ushered two people into the dining hall. A woman and a boy around my age. The woman was short and thick with kind, light brown eyes. She had long black hair like much of my family but where ours were silky, hers was frizzy and curly. It was pulled back in a bun. She wore light washed denim jeans and yellow wellington boots, a thick black coat and a pink scarf draped lazily over her head. I didn't see the point in the headscarf as her hair was still mostly visible.
My eyes shifted to the boy beside her. He was much taller than she was. He had the same medium brown skin and pale brown, kind eyes. His hair was dark and messy and he had specky, round glasses perching on the bridge of his strong nose. He was well built, you could see that even through his many layers protecting him from the cold. His soldiers were broad and his neck was thick. I gulped as I scanned his body. He caught my eye and grinned at me, his perfect white teeth standing out against his brown skin.
His smile was so warm and kind, matching the gentle look in his eyes. My heart hammered and I looked away, angrily.
"Good Morning!" The woman spoke. Her voice was soothing with its slight accent that I couldn't quite place. "My name is Euphemia Potter and this is my son James." I glanced back at him briefly. No one at the table spoke so I looked around at my family all staring intently at the guests. My mother was looking at her with disgust and for a moment I was confused as to why. She spoke clearly and was polite. She was clearly raised well and her speech was quite posh, despite her accent. And then I realised: her accent. This woman wasn't white, wasn't British and so my mother looked at her like she was dirt. I internally bristled and quickly cast my gaze away from her, not giving myself the chance to be truly disappointed. Uncle Cygnus and Aunt Druella looked at her with a mix of recognition and distaste. I glanced at Narcissa and she shrugged her shoulders, not really interested by the guests but still intrigued enough to watch them as they stood confidently in the doorway.
"You are Fleamont Potter's woman." Cygnus' voice echoed around making me jump a little. He wasn't asking her, he was telling her, and using belittling language to do it. I saw Euphemia's smile stiffen but never falter while James' grin was completely wiped from his face, his fists clenched in defence of his mother. Euphemia blinked a little before answering. "Yes, Fleamont is my husband. We've met a few times at galas and such." Her voice was still so soft even though she was clearly offended at being branded someone's "woman". Cygnus waved a dismissive hand. "What is it you came for?" He asked boredly. I thought I imagined the woman's brown skin flushing a shade darker. "I'd heard that you're having some family members stay with you and thought welcome was in order."
"How sweet." Mother said, her voice full of condescending as she over pronounced her words. If i was Sirius I would defend this woman who was just being neighbourly.
"Pourquoi nos parents sont comme ça?" I murmured to Narcissa in french to ensure that the potters wouldn't understand and I spoke low enough to ensure that the rest of the table couldn't hear. Narcissa smiled slightly, "Je pense qu'ils sont valablement contrariés. Ces gens n'étaient pas invités" She muttered back and i shook my head at her. Over the past two weeks Narcissa and I had gotten close. We often practised our instruments together and walked around the manor talking about life, fears, pressure.
"Cela ne constitue pas un manque de respect." I whisper back firmly. She nods at that, her rosy lips pressed into a thin line. I turn back to the pair.
"Thank you for a… gratuitous welcome, however if you've got nothing else to add can you please leave and come back with an invitation next time." Aunt Druella said curtly. Jame's mouth fell open as if he wanted to reply but a warning hand on his wrist from his mother had him snapping his mouth shut and glaring furiously around the table at each and every one of us.
"Of course." Euphemia said stiffly then she and her son turned to leave. My heart beat faster. I didn't want Euphemia or her son to leave this manor thinking that there wasn't a Black with manners. The way that James looked at me furiously, as if he could see through all my pretences (though I knew he couldn't) had me internally screaming though I remained composed. I turned to my Uncle delicately. "Uncle. May I please accompany the Potters out. As a representation of the generosity of the house of Black." I asked, courteously bowing my head. Just as Euphemia was about to protest, my Uncle's voice boomed through the room. "Thank you Regulus." he nodded approvingly at me and indicated for me to leave with the visitors.
"Thank you." Euphemia said to me stiffly. Once we'd left the dining hall, we walked in Silence to the front door. I pulled it open by its polished brass handle and stepped aside for the Potters to walk out. The entrance hall filled with frosty air.
"Thank you for your visit and kind welcome." I say politely, softening my tone and lowering my voice. Euphemia smiled kindly at me and patted my shoulder. I flinched slightly and she drew her hand back, not letting whatever she thought of my reaction show on her face. James on the other hand was frowning at me. I looked to the ground frustrated. Who was he to judge! The only few words I'd ever spoken to him and his mother were decently polite, or if not polite then surely passive.
"Have a safe journey home." I mumble to the ground.
"Thank you dear," Euphemia said politely. Her voice really was soothing. She started towards the car before she gasped and doubled back. "I almost forgot!" She laughed. "Can you please leave these for Sirius," she said as she pressed a biscuit tin in my hands. I almost snarled at the mention of his name. Of course Sirius got her. Of course he finds this kind, generous, sweet lady and her charming son and now they were probably already wrapped around Sirius pink finger. I press my lips into a hard line and then nod. Euphemia thanked me again before scurrying back to her car, which was a stunning sage green colour. Narcissa would love it, sage green was her favourite colour. James waited for her in the front seat. I flashed him a last look before turning on my heel and closing the door with a loud thud behind me. I looked down at the tin in my hands then looked away angrily and strode over to a maid who was hurrying across the entrance hall. "Give these to Sirius, discreetly and tell him they're from Mrs Potter." I order, my voice more rough than I intended. It was unfair that Sirius got these, that he was being shown favouritism by strangers but that didn't mean I wanted him to miss out, or have the maid be caught by one of the parents then the tin be burned with whatever the content was. The maid nodded, did a quick courtesy then hurried off to the direction of Sirius' room.
Before going back to the dining hall, I rearranged my face into its careful mask, void of emotion. Then I entered and rejoined the conversation that lasted two more hours.