ᴅɪsᴘᴇʟ ᴍʏ ʙᴏʀᴇᴅᴏᴍ | ᴍᴀʀᴀᴅᴇᴜʀs' ᴇʀᴀ

Chapter 14: The Christmas Ball p.2

To be honest, Sirius was very curious about how Beata would look in a ball gown, heels and with a neat hairdo. Actually, he was still curious, because neither that nor the other nor the third was on Sprinkles. Not that it was so unexpected... But Malfoy and Black, until the end, believed in prudence of the Slytherin. In vain.

Ragged purple-red jeans with leather inserts on the sides, loose black hair on one side and put almost upright bright red hair on the other and the same long-suffering "Led Zeppelin" t-shirt created the feeling that Sprinkles opened the wrong door and instead of the bar of bikers got to the ball. Known throughout the school, heavy grinders were in perfect harmony with the rest of the clothes, but not with a solemn event. When Beata turned her back to Sirius, he couldn't suppress a painful moan: on Sprinkles' back, right on the studded leather jacket, were the words "I smashed the bike of Sirius Orion freaking Black!"

"Really?" Narcissa approached Sirius, staring at the last death rattle of fashion named Beata Sprinkles.

Sirius turned to the voice and peered at his loving cousin with an appraising glance.

Grafted since childhood exquisite taste and style coupled with impressive wealth of Black family allowed the girl to create a perfect outfit for Christmas ball. Black was well versed in all sorts of fashion trends and couldn't help but appreciate subtle ridicule of Narcissa - neckline, which advantageously opened fragile shoulders and neck, captured by heavy platinum necklace with emeralds, merged into corset, and the latter into a mermaid skirt, belted with a snake skin strap. An elegant bracelet on Narcissa's hand, if look closely, depicted a very entertaining picture: frightening cobra gripped helpless pike in its belly,* the clasp was supposedly made in the form of a narcissus flower.

* Lucius - translated from Latin means "pike".

Malfoy, still stunned and discouraged by the sight of his companion, turned his eyes to Narcissa. His gaze lingered on her skirt and then slid on her arm. Lucius narrowed his eyes as he examined the pattern and immediately turned pale with rage. His look didn't promise anything good, but the girl just raised her head proudly and turned to her cavalier. Black grinned knowingly and gave Narcissa a hand, inviting her to dance.

Together they looked amazing - graceful and refined Narcissa and elegant, confident Sirius Black, perfectly feeling both himself and his partner in the dance. Black smirked and, for a second, thought that he heard the grinding of Malfoy's teeth, who was currently closely watching their dance.

Sirius was still not sure what he wanted to achieve. Make Beata jealous? Unthinkable. This girl didn't know words like jealousy and affection. Make Malfoy angry? Well, he did. But what's next? Challenge to a magic duel? A bloody battle?

Narcissa, judging by her detached glance, was thinking about the same. She has dealt her blow and couldn't help but understand that her celebration would be short-lived - Lucius wouldn't tolerate that, and if the family knew that their beloved daughter had rejected such an advantageous candidate for a loafer and a rebel, Narcissa would get into trouble.

But there was no fear in her eyes. Sirius first noticed what he hadn't noticed before - Narcissa Black has ceased to be a fragile homegirl. She slowly but surely became a confident woman - Black's blood was thicker than water and some Malfoy can't so easily subjugate a girl like Narcissa Black.

Dumbledore clapped his hands, interrupting Sirius's reflections and attracting everyone's attention. After the epic with the ball, students rightly feared that cunning and pensive smile playing on headmaster's lips.

"I'd like to introduce you," headmaster smiled broadly, "a new band known to you under the name Marauders."

Headmaster paused, waiting for the reaction from students, but they were still digesting what they heard.