Her parents would never approve, but Juliette kept a stash of very odd items hidden under her king-sized mattress. Occasionally, when the house-elves were cleaning the house, they would hear whizzing or would smell the rank stench of a Dungbomb in Juliette's room, but they could never pinpoint the source. Years of collecting and mail orders from Zonko's created the stash. Although it made for quite the lumpy and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, Juliette hid hundreds of odds and ends in her hiding spot. There were fireworks and stink pellets, frog spawn and carrot wands. Belching powder and a jinxed pair of shoes that would eat the socks of the wearer. The collection was a prankster's dream.
Once Juliette escaped from the engagement party, she made a beeline for her room and her joke items. Her fingers thumbed over waterproof sparklers and jumbo Dungbombs until she finally landed on a satisfying item. It was a newly released item from Zonko's called 'The Squealer.' The ball looked just like a small, pink pig with a curly wick of a tail. Juliette had yet to see the Squealer in action and wondered if Walburga would like it if it fell at her feet.
As Juliette walked back to the dining hall, she suddenly heard a peculiar conversation coming from what should have been a silent corridor. Two male voices could be heard coming from Cassius' trophy room. Juliette had never seen someone disrespect her father by wandering the manor during one of his parties. Utterly stunned, Juliette stood around the corner of Cassius' coveted trophy room and listened.
Cassius' trophy room was not full of Quidditch and academic accolades. Golden statues and plaques were lacking on the walls of the vaulted ceilings. Instead, heads and pelts of hunted animals covered the walls. A large bear rug decorated the floor and tiny, hunted Snidget birds hung from the ceiling in flock formation. Most impressive were the mounts of nearly twenty impressive stag mounts from Cassius' many hunts.
"Appalling, absolutely appalling. Who would even suggest killing such gorgeous beings?"
Juliette frowned at the first voice. Most people admired the collection. The statement was followed by a barking laugh from a different voice.
"I think they're rather cool. You're just jealous because you don't have a rack that nice!"
"Oh please, my rack is wonderful! I don't suppose you would like it if they were dogs on the walls!"
The conversation was too much for Juliette. Absolutely baffled, she wondered if 'racks' was code for something. Curiously, she stepped into the trophy room and saw two boys she'd never seen before.
One boy, who looked like he wanted to revive the stags and release them to the wild, was tall, with messy, ruffled, black hair. He seemed to be around Juliette's age, and he wore glasses and had a rather thin, athletic frame. He kept pointing from mount to mount, a frown plastered on his face.
The other boy, who was leaning against a full body mount of a Russian timber wolf, was equally tall. Unlike his companion, his black hair was long, and reached his shoulders. He also looked to be about fifteen, and had a broad, muscular frame. Truthfully, he was handsome for a young man, and he seemed to know it.
"I will admit," the boy with glasses said, "any collection of mounts is better than that freakish display of dead house-elves that you have in your house!"
"I can't argue with that. You can thank my mother for those," the boy with long hair replied.
At long last, the two boys seemed to notice the blonde girl staring at them. The boy with glasses stopped meddling with the antlers of one of the large stags and the boy with long hair stepped away from the wolf mount.
"Lost, are we boys?" Juliette asked in a condescending tone.
"On the contrary," the boy with long hair, "simply looking for a little fun."
"In my father's trophy room? Have you a death wish?"
"Your father's trophy room?" repeated the boy with glasses. "You're a Pyrite?"
"Juliette Pyrite," said Juliette. "And you are?"
"James Potter."
Potter. Juliette recalled that name from dinner conversations. They were a pure-blood family, but with great respect for Muggles, which tarnished their image according to Cassius. However, the family recently came into a large sum of money by inventing a successful hair potion, and gold had a way of swaying Cassius' opinions.
Juliette turned to the unnamed boy and cordially held out her hand for an introduction. The next three words to leave his mouth made her roll her eyes.
"Black, Sirius Black."
Now that he had a name, Juliette could easily see the family resemblance. Sirius looked to be a slightly older version of the young Regulus. They all shared the same regal features, hair, and intriguing eyes.
"So you're the son," Juliette pointed out, remembering Walburga's brief mention.
"And you're the daughter my parents have been fantasizing about setting up with my practically infant brother."
Sirius kept eyeing Juliette with a smirk. Juliette kept looking away and blushing. Neither wanted to admit it, but they were undoubtedly interested in the other.
For Sirius, it was the fact that this girl should be off limits. According to Walburga and Orion, Juliette was to one day date and marry Regulus. Nearly fifty lectures and warnings were given to Sirius prior to the engagement party. If he managed to mess up this meeting for Regulus, the punishments would be severe. As Sirius looked this girl up and down, memorizing the way she wore that black dress and the way her wavy blonde hair started to fall into her kind face, he was truly stunned. Later, when Sirius was alone with James, he would admit that 'they don't make girls like that at Hogwarts.' It only took Sirius one look to decide Juliette Pyrite was out of his brother's league.
For Juliette, it was his attitude, and her father's expectations. Juliette was an expert on reading people. She could tell by Sirius' mischievous smile and his undone tie that this boy was a rebel. While her male classmates at Beauxbatons were prim and proper, this boy was rough around the edges. Unlike all of the other pure-bloods Juliette knew, Sirius Black was clearly labeled the black sheep of the family. His hair, his attitude, his sarcasm, and the fact that he wasn't the hand-picked Regulus Black would bother Cassius to no end. If Juliette befriended this boy, it would drive her father mad. It didn't hurt that Juliette thought him to be rather handsome as well.
James Potter seemed oblivious to the cogs spinning in Sirius and Juliette's heads. Instead, his hazel eyes caught the prank item in Juliette's hand and gasped.
"No way, is that the Squealer?!" James exclaimed. "Zonko's told me they sold out in hours! How did you get your hands on one?"
"The Pyrite name seems to hold some weight whenever I threaten to get my father involved," Juliette admitted shyly.
James approached Juliette and stuck out his hand, begging to inspect the Squealer. Hesitantly, Juliette handed it to him, and he turned the pink pig over in his hands.
"Padfoot, can you imagine what Filch would do if we set one of these off in his office?"
The nickname for Sirius surprised Juliette. Sirius, who had still been lost in his thoughts and staring at Juliette, was shaken back to reality. James handed Sirius the Squealer, who started to toss it from hand to hand. Juliette's heart thudded anxiously each time the bomb fell into his palms, afraid it would detonate.
"We'd be stuck in detention for a week," Sirius whistled. "You have exquisite taste in joke items. I find it shocking a Beauxbatons girl would even recognize something like this!"
"My school isn't all ice sculptures and pansy Charms!" Juliette huffed. "In fact, I'm sure I can execute any prank much better than you two because I wouldn't get caught!"
Sirius and James had to admit, Juliette had a point. They were constantly getting into trouble at Hogwarts and spent nearly half of their fourth year scrubbing away the paint from a paint bomb explosion in the trophy room. It was very rare that the boys got away with their tricks.
"What were you planning on doing with this anyways?" Sirius asked as he tossed the Squealer back to Juliette. She fumbled with the delicate item before cradling it in her arms.
"I planned on letting it slip under the dress of one of my parents' dear friends," said Juliette warily. She wasn't sure if Sirius would be privy to the idea of making a spectacle of his mother.
"Sounds like fun. Need any help?"
"I suppose I could use someone to distract my parents," Juliette admitted.
"Then who better to distract your parents than two strapping young men pretending to vie for their daughter's affections!" Sirius exclaimed and wrapped an arm around James' shoulders. He started to affectionately pinch James' cheek, and the latter swatted him away.
"Anything is better than sitting in this room with this murderous display," James shuddered, taking one last look at the dead eyes of the stags.
The trio made their way back to the bustling party while discussing their greatest pranks to date. A playful argument arose when they tried to decide if Juliette's releasing Beauxbaton's Abraxans during a Quidditch match was more impressive than James and Sirius' flooding the entire dungeons with three feet of water. It soon became clear Sirius, James, and Juliette had a knack for school shenanigans. Fortunately, all three didn't attend the same school or one of the castles probably would've been destroyed by their second year. To anyone listening to their discussion, one would think the three were friends for years rather than for twenty minutes.
Juliette, Sirius, and James reentered the dining hall. Their absence seemed to go completely unnoticed. Guests were getting more intoxicated by the minute, making it easy for the mischief makers to slip through. Juliette quickly spotted Walburga in the middle of the hall, and Cassius and Aurelie were conversing with Rose' future in-laws. The trio parted with smug smiles and well wishes of successful high jinks.
Even as Sirius and James started their conversation with Cassius and Aurelie, they kept an eye on Juliette. They still weren't convinced this girl would play such a dirty trick. However, when Juliette faked a clumsy trip in her high heels near Walburga's ankles, they saw the slip of her hand release the wick. It became clear Juliette was not bluffing about her abilities. She masterfully ducked away from the crime scene and leaned against the desert table, stealing a chocolate covered strawberry as she did so. Juliette raised the treat towards Sirius and James before taking a bite and winking in a sort of cheers to her success.
At first, Sirius and James weren't so sure Juliette's plan worked. Silence ensued and Walburga looked unscathed. In fact, Juliette herself stood anxiously waiting and wondering if the Squealer was a dud.
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Hands clamped over ears as the atrocious squeal washed across the room. A wide grin broke out on Juliette's face at the sound, and she started to double over in laughter at an unexpected result of the bomb. As the Squealer continued to yell like a wounded pig, the bomb's explosion forced the skirt of Walburga's dress into the air. Her white bloomers and pale legs were exposed to the whole room. Walburga thrashed and yelled, trying to conserve what was left of her decency as Orion panicked beside her. It was difficult to tell who screamed louder- the bomb or Walburga.
When the Squealer finished its wailing, Walburga continued to cry and yell. Cassius and Aurelie rushed to her aide and Sirius and James rejoined the mastermind of the plan at the desert table. Tears shone in the boys' eyes from laughing so hard.
"Did you see the look on her face? I've been trying for years to give her what she deserves, but that was too perfect!" Sirius chortled. He could barely get the words out before erupting into a barking laughter once more.
"Can you imagine what Moony and Wormtail would say? I can't wait to tell them!" James added.
Juliette gave the two best mates a quizzical look. They seemed to forget the feat could not have occurred without her. Before she could get a word in, another loud roar silenced the hall and nearly deafened anyone near the source.
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!"
Walburga's screech could have shattered glasses. The sound reverberated through the already silent hall, but Sirius didn't even flinch at his mother's yell.
"When duty calls," Sirius said with a sigh and turned once more to Juliette. He couldn't help but notice the curly pink wick from the Squealer caught in her blonde waves. He enjoyed her more with prank-high appearance.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Black," remarked Juliette.
"The pleasure's all mine. Perhaps we can do it again sometime?"
"Perhaps."
With a small smile, Juliette shook Sirius' hand. His hand left hers and Sirius retreated to meet his family, glancing back once as he did. Juliette had committed his grey eyes to memory in that moment, with the way they glittered impishly. She had a feeling this disaster was not where their story ended, and she couldn't wait to see where befriending Sirius Black would take her.
A very distraught Walburga threw Cassius' consoling hands off her shoulders. Orion Black was red in the face and gripped young Regulus by the shoulders so tight that it looked like he might break. Aurelie tried, to no avail, to apologize to the family. Sirius joined his furious parents, still smirking. Immediately, Walburga grabbed Sirius by the ear and hauled him off towards the fireplace to leave by Floo Network. In a flash of green flames, the family of four left Pyrite manor. Similarly, two adults who must've been the Potters made a hasty exit with James, angry expressions on their faces. Mutters from other guests started to fill the hall. All the women kept shifting on their feet, nervous they might experience the same fate of Walburga. When she saw Cassius' red, embarrassed face, Juliette smiled, proud of her handiwork's success.
A warm, gentle hand suddenly landed on Juliette's shoulders in the midst of the whispers. Juliette whirled around to see a very shocked and crestfallen blonde-haired witch in white. Guilt and regret filled Juliette's heart.
Rose clearly didn't enjoy Juliette's engagement present.
<<>><<>><<>>
The party cleared out not long after the Squealer incident. Juliette was ushered into her father's office without a word by her mother. Cassius and Aurelie then spent nearly an hour trying to explain and apologize to their guests.
Juliette sat on the hard, wooden chair in front of a large oak desk. The chair was always used for punishments and lectures in the Pyrite household. Of course, the daughter who spent the most time in that chair was Juliette. When the heavy door of the office finally opened, Juliette expected to see her furious father. But instead of white gloves leaning on the desk, Juliette saw manicured fingers.
Rose had entered the room. She still looked beautiful, but now a sad and disappointed look marred that beauty. On her elegant white dress, a red wine stain splattered against the front. Apparently, when the bomb went off, one of the surprised guests spilled their drink on the bride-to-be. A simple cleaning spell would have repaired the dress, but Rose wanted to show her sister some of the damage she'd done.
"Rose, I'm so sorry."
Rose's blue eyes would not meet her sister's.
"I thought your prank was hilarious," admitted Rose.
During their years together at Beauxbatons, Rose always loved to help with Juliette's antics. Although Rose never participated, she encouraged the acts. Hopefully, Juliette looked to her sister, praying they could have a laugh over the Squealer.
"But Nicholas did not find it funny at all."
"Rose, please, we can have a sleepover in my room tonight and work it out. Perhaps we can go stargazing like we used to? I can make it up to you-"
"I'm moving out, Juliette," Rose cut her off.
"But-"
"Nick thinks it would be best for our relationship if I moved in with him now. He told me it's time to grow up."
Juliette's heart sunk to her stomach. For once, if she could take back one of her pranks, she would.
"Maybe it's time you grew up too," Rose said in a hollow voice that didn't sound like her own.
"Rose-"
"I hope you consider your maturity before my wedding."
Juliette refused to believe these words were coming from Rose. She must be repeating them from Nick or her father. Before one of the girls burst into apologetic tears, Rose left the room with a disappointed and stern looking Nicholas Malfoy. Juliette knew she would eventually make up with her sister, but she couldn't help but feel things would never be the same. Soon, the relationship Juliette held with Rose would be just like the distant ones she had with her older sisters.
After their exit, the office door flung open once more, and Cassius and Aurelie entered. Juliette's father distastefully threw the shell of the pink Squealer in her lap. Without acknowledging her daughter, Aurelie sat at an armchair in the corner. She looked stressed and worried as she sipped a glass of tea.
"We've tried so hard to set up the perfect future for you, and this is how you repay us?" Cassius boomed.
Muscles tightened at the corner of Juliette's mouth. Her father kept tapping his wand against the edge of the desk. He'd never used physical punishments before, but Juliette was truly tempting him.
"Regulus Black is one of the best chances you will have at having an ideal life! Orion and Walburga are two of the most influential people I know, and you had the audacity to disrespect them?"
Cassius was starting to yell, recalling everything he did to "help" her. From the blank expression on Juliette's face, the words went in one ear and out the other. As he hollered, Aurelie simply wrapped her fingers around her tea glass and deeply gazed into the cup. Juliette wished her mother would stand up for her, but she simply stared into her teacup as she always did around her husband. When Cassius finished yelling, he pounded his fists on his desk, causing a family photo to fall flat its face.
"You are going to apologize to the Black family," Cassius snarled. "You are going to do everything in your power to get back in their good graces. If you cross me once more, Juliette, and act as if you don't want to be a part of this family, you won't be a part of it."
Cassius' dark eyes looked cold and unforgiving. He left the office in a huff, letting the door slam behind him. Aurelie and Juliette sat in silence.
"Mum," Juliette finally spoke, her voice cracking.
Aurelie, who had her eyes closed and started to mutter under her breath, looked once more into her teacup.
"You will apologize to ze Black family," repeated Aurelie. "Juliette, there are some people our fates are tied to, and it vould be a mistake if you never spoke to ze Blacks again."
Juliette's hands shook with anger. She hoped that at some point after fifteen years her mother would stand up for her. Like usual, Juliette bit her tongue, and she would listen to her parents' commands. But she would be doing it on her terms.
And Juliette would do everything in her power to do the precise opposite of anything her father expected.
<<>><<>><<>>
A/N:
We met Sirius!! And James!! I'm stoked for the next chapter! And I'm even MORE excited for a chapter I wrote that's in the distant future. I don't think anyone can fathom how much I love this book and can't wait for you all to see what happens!
The semester is nearly halfway over for me, and I'm feeling the hit of midterms. I'm definitely a sleep person (I usually go to bed around 10 and wake up at 7 or 8) but studying has me staying up until 1 am. I'm also very conscientious about my grades, so the fact that I'm pulling a B- in one of my most difficult classes to date is eating away at me. I'm sure it will work out in the end, but ugh, it makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong.
I guess I'll do fun facts about your author in this book each week, so here is a fun fact about me: I didn't vote last presidential election (or in any of the recent polls), so I will be a first time voter this election! I'm not on Wattpad to discuss politics or anything, but please vote if you are able and haven't already! So I guess that's my suggestion for the week, votes may just seem like drips of water in the ocean, but we should all play a part!
I hope you're enjoying this book! Have a safe Halloween and weekend! Let me know what you're thinking, comments, suggestions!
Love,
Bri