The New Year Ball arrived with excitement and nervousness for several members of the House of Black. After the events of the Yule Ball, members were nervous that this ball would also cause problems, though they really hoped it wouldn't. All they wanted was a fun ball with the family.
As usual, Sirius, Regulus, and their grandparents arrived at Black Castle before anyone else.
"So, do you think we'll be able to enjoy ourselves tonight?" Regulus asked his older brother as Arcturus and Melania were setting everything up.
"Honestly, I'd like to say yes, but I also know that anything could happen, especially in our family," Sirius replied thoughtfully. "And, there's a war going on right now."
"But no Death Eater would be able to get in here because of the wards, right?" Regulus asked, suddenly a little nervous.
Sirius sighed. "These wards aren't as stable as the ones at Black Manor and Grimmauld Place," he informed Regulus. "Since no one lives here, and we only use this place three times a year, the wards are not as strong, because they aren't always checked up on."
"Why aren't they?" Regulus asked curiously. "You'd think that they would be, because there are so many people who come to these balls."
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, but they are Ministry wards, and you know how the Ministry works. That is why there are precautions and safety protocols in place in case there is an attack."
Regulus nodded. Many times throughout the past two years, Sirius and Regulus had been reminded repeatedly about what to do if there was an attack during one of the balls. With Voldemort still a threat, one could never be too careful.
Family members started arriving. First, Lucretia and Severus arrived, closely followed by Marius, Ilaria, Capella, and Lyanna.
"Why do all the adults look worried tonight?" Lyanna asked.
"Well, not only because our family is very unpredictable, but also, Snake-face and his followers have been active in Muggle towns for the past few days," Sirius explained. "Grandfather was torn between canceling the ball for our safety and keeping the ball on to show that the Blacks will not be scared off so easily. Obviously, we're here, so you know what his decision was."
"I believe he made the right decision," Severus spoke up. "Besides, there are safety protocols in place for a reason."
"Stop worrying about it," Pollux snapped as he walked past them. "There will not be an attack. Everyone knows better than to attack the House of Black."
"Besides, you are just children," Irma said, staring down at them with a cold gaze. "Even if there was an attack, you poor children would just go to Grimmauld Place."
Sirius scowled at the name of his childhood home. Before he could say anything in response, however, the ball began, and people started dancing, eating, or just hanging out.
"So, what should we do?" Capella asked.
"Let's get something to eat," Sirius suggested.
"Of course," Regulus said with a teasing tone. "You always like to start with food."
"Oh, trust me, if you saw a Weasley eat, you'd take those words back," Sirius said with a grin. He was referring to a particular Weasley who was not yet born.
"Oh yes, the Weasley family," Regulus said with a knowing look towards Sirius. The others either didn't notice or didn't show their confusion.
Sirius spotted Andromeda, with Nymphadora. He was surprised. Last time, she came by herself. He wandered over to her.
"Hey, why do you have Dora with you?" he asked. "I thought she was too young for all this."
"Ted is feeling under the weather, so I brought Dora with me so he could rest," Andromeda explained. "Some from our family are already showing me how much they like, or dislike her. Especially my mother and father. But I knew they wouldn't approve of her."
"No surprise there," Sirius said bitterly.
Just then, a patronus appeared in the room, and almost all of the Blacks recognized it immediately.
"Bellatrix?" Narcissa whispered. The patronus then started speaking.
"Get out. They're coming," the patronus message said. It disappeared, but everyone knew what this meant.
"Children, Floo to Grimmauld Place!" Arcturus ordered. "Marius, Ilaria, Andromeda, and Narcissa, go with them."
"But I'm an adult," Narcissa protested weakly.
"You're still a Hogwarts student," Melania countered. To her and Arcturus, no one would be fighting in a battle until they had graduated Hogwarts.
Narcissa nodded and started helping Marius, Ilaria, and Andromeda usher the children towards the fireplace. However, Sirius wouldn't move.
"Sirius, go!" Melania said sternly.
"But I'm not a child!" Sirius argued. He wasn't, and they knew it. He wanted to fight.
Melania moved closer to Sirius. "You need to pretend that you are a child, because not everyone knows," she said quietly. Sirius wanted to argue further, but he knew that she was right. With a sigh of resignation, he made his way to the fireplace.
Just as Sirius got to the fireplace, the wards were breached. Sirius gave his grandparents a quick look, hoping that it was enough to tell them that he hoped they would be alright. With that, Sirius stepped into the fireplace, and for the first time in over two years, he called out, "Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place!"
Sirius was the last one to arrive in Grimmauld Place. The house looked as dark as ever, since Cygnus and Druella now lived in it after Orion and Walburga were locked out of the property.
"I hate this!" Sirius exclaimed, frustrated. "I want to fight!"
"Er, Sirius," Capella said hesitantly. "What was Grandmother talking about, you pretending to be a child?"
Sirius and Regulus gave each other a surprised look. "Er, you heard that?" Sirius asked.
"Yes," Capella, Lyanna, Severus, and Narcissa said in unison.
"We didn't hear anything, but now I'm curious," Ilaria said.
"I wonder how many more family members heard that," Regulus told his older brother.
"I don't think anyone else did, because they were too far away," Narcissa answered.
"Should I tell them?" Sirius asked Regulus.
"Well, they're all trustworthy, right?" Regulus asked.
"True, they are," Sirius agreed. He took a deep breath, and started explaining everything.
Meanwhile, at Black Castle, Death Eaters started swarming the castle, ready to cause chaos. Bellatrix and Walburga could not get into the castle, due to their disownment, so they had to stand outside of the castle.
The House of Black and the Death Eaters were ready for battle. Things were about to get very ugly, but there was bound to be a surprise or two along the way.