Chapter 83: The Yule Ball
“I am très surprised that ze media are not being so mean to us.”
“Vhat do you mean?”
Fleur showed Viktor the most recent edition of the Daily Prophet whose headline was ‘Narrow Victory for Hogwarts’. He put down his fork with a bit of bacon on it and took a moment to read the article before giving it back.
“It talks about us being older than Rose and not as good. You vere expecting vorse?”
“Oui. I 'ave long 'eard about ze English reporters, zey are so unscrupulous, and très bigoted.”
“That’s true but now they’re careful because they can be sued.” said Rose, giving herself a look at the newspaper.
“Sued?”
“My parents pushed for a law a decade ago which makes sure that you may be free to say whatever you want but you’re not free of the consequences. If someone is publicly telling lies about your character or running your name into the mud without proof you can sue them. Suddenly people were not as inclined to open their mouths when they would lose a lot of money by doing so.”
“Smart. Vish it vas like this in Bulgaria.”
“‘Ow did your parents succeed in pushing such a law?
“My father insulted everyone and dared them to declare a duel of honor or a blood feud.”
Both foreign champions laughed when they heard that. It was so much like the man they had gotten to know.
“It was right after the end of the war. My father was known for nearly killing Voldemort and my Mother for actually killing him. Not one of the lords and ladies would have dared to duel them. I’m not even talking about a blood feud. My father had revealed he was the head of two Ancient and Noble Houses and my mother the head of House Gryffindor. No one in their right mind would have gone through with it. Of course, my dad admitted on the spot that all he said was lies and apologized. That made everyone realize the point he was trying to make and the law passed.”
Fleur put the newspapers away and started on her breakfast.
“Good morning Rose, Victor, Miss Delacour.”
“‘Morning Draco.” replied the redhead and her fellow champions greeted him too.
“I’m a bit surprised to see you at the Slytherin table. I would say you like to live dangerously but you’re a Gryffindor.” The blonde wizard sat down next to his cousin by marriage.
“You know what I think about house rivalry.”
“Very much and I agree for the most part. Look, I wanted to ask you if you were free for the Yule Ball, I kind of need…”
“I thought you’d already asked Daphne? I would have asked you had I known. I made my arrangement now.”
“She accepted the invitation from a bloke in Beauxbaton. A sixth-year, I believe. And please tell me it’s not Dodderidge or Ronald.”
“Come on, Draco, me agreeing to go with Dodderidge? Are you unwell?” She joked and put the back of her hand on his forehead and he batted it away. His comment was done in a deadpan tone.
“Ha ha.”
“Ron doesn’t see me as a girl yet for some reason. No, I’m not telling you who I’m going with. That’s a surprise. You won’t see it coming.”
“I doubt that. Anyway I guess I have to go stag. That won’t go well with mother but… better alone than with bad company.”
“What about Fleur?”
“Me?!” exclaimed the french witch in surprise.
“Rose, I don’t-”
“Shh, you.” She shut Draco up and turned to Fleur. “Yes, you. I mean. Despite all the boys asking you out you’ve yet to agree to one and I bet it’s because you’re not interested at all in dating. Draco is in the same boat. He knows enough Occlumency to resist your allure and he’s a real gentleman. I doubt you’ll find anyone at Hogwarts with better manners and etiquette.”
“I…”
Draco saw the merit in the idea and promptly made his request. “Miss Delacour, I’d be honored if you could accompany me to the Yule ball. I would be your shield if you would be mine.”
Fleur looked alternatively from Rose to Draco with wide eyes. After a moment of reflection she agreed politely.
“Eet would be a pleasure to go to ze Yule Ball at ze arm of ze heir of 'ouse Malfoy. And to be your shield.”
“Do you already have your dress prepared? So we could match.”
“Non mais I’ll send you an owl later.”
“Thank you.”
“What about you Viktor? Need me to find you a date too?” Draco gave an unhappy look at Rose’s smug and pleased grin.
“Ne, I’m good.”
“I wonder who it could be?” Her tone was very teasing.
Clearly Rose knew who Viktor’s date was and he refused to play her silly game. He simply shrugged his shoulders.
“You vill see.”
“By the way, Rose. Lyra is going with Finnigan.” Draco revealed.
It surprised the redhead. “She has a thing for Irish blokes?”
“No but he was the first to ask her and he’s not ‘too shabby and has a cute accent’. Her words, not mine.” The idea didn’t seem to please him.
“She’s a big girl, Draco.”
“Oh, I’m perfectly aware. She’s in my house, remember? No, I was more thinking along the lines of you warning Finnigan about what he got himself into.”
A wry smile crept on Rose’s face. “... Fair enough. I’ll have a word with him.”
“Iz your sister… that scary?”
“She’s Aunt Bella’s eldest. Looks just like her and may or may not have gotten her madness too.”
“I pity this Finnigan if he’s inappropriate.” Viktor knew how terrifying Bella could be. He had her as a teacher and saw the madness in her eyes sometimes.
“In her second year, a fourth-year Slytherin tried to force her to go on a date with him. She’s the heiress of the House of Black so she’s a big name.” Draco said.
“And?”
“He’s called Onestone instead of Whitestone, now.” Rose barely succeeded in keeping herself from laughing and saying straight.
Viktor who was drinking coffee did a spit take while Fleur snorted.
“Gosh, she stirred up so much trouble with that.” Rose shook her head, amused at the memory.
“Uncle Rick was furious.”
“I can imagine.”
“Da, trouble with the boy's family.”
“Oh, no! Dad wasn’t angry about that.”
“No. Uncle Rick was angry because Aunt Bella was on a warpath and almost declared a blood feud with the Whitestone family. She also complained to Lyra that she should have made the boy named Nostone. He spent hours trying to calm Aunt Bella down and lectured Lyra about using a lightning spell instead of freezing spell. You can recover from the latter but not the former. Whitestone family? Uncle didn’t care one bit. He is the fourth child and an illegitimate one at that. Nobody cared. If anything Lady Whitestone sent a thank you letter to Lyra.”
““...””
Both champions didn’t know what to say about what they just heard so said nothing. The more they learned about the Blacks the more they were horrified but at the same time the more they wanted to know.
They all finished breakfast and went to their respective class. As Rose was walking to the library she felt someone following her. Turning a corner, she saw it was Cedric who for some reason wasn’t in the greenhouses. The next corner, she hid in a secret alcove she knew was there and waited for Cedric to pass her by listening to his footsteps. Once she was sure that was the case she silently stepped out of her hiding place, put a soundproof charm on her feet and tailed the seventh-year Hufflepuff.
“Where did she go?”
Rose drew her wand and poked the back of Cedric who stiffened.
“Right behind you.”
“Hey, Potter. I was looking for you.” His voice had a hint of worry and his hands were raised defensively while looking forward.
“I know. I also know you’re not Cedric because at this time of the day he’s in the greenhouses. So who are you?”
“Damn it. I should have known better and checked his schedule.”
Cedric’s appearance suddenly began to shift into someone that Rose knew very well. Delighted, Rose hugged the woman that took Cedric’s place.
“Nymphie!”
“Whotcher, Rose! How are you doing?”
“Well. I caught you after all!”
“Ha Ha. Laugh it up. Next time you won’t.”
“Where were you?! Sirius told me you were at Hogwarts on a permanent basis, it’s been almost a month!”
“Job first, fun later.” Nymphadora replied in a surprisingly adult and responsible manner.
“Are you following me? I mean in general, not just now.”
“From time to time, yes. Mainly when you leave the Great Hall to go to who knows where. I’m not intruding in your private life if that’s what you’re asking. I don't get why but… orders from Boss Bones.”
Rose kept her tongue in check but knew it probably was because of Voldemort and the prophecy.
“Any leads on who put my name in the goblet?”
“No. We knew it was done before it was lit up but nothing more.”
“Well, too bad.”
They talked a bit more on the way to the library, Nymphadora taking the appearance of another student as she was supposed to be under cover, and separated when Rose began her research on the golden egg. That became her routine. Going to the Library when she wasn’t in DADA, herbology or with Viktor and Fleur.
A week from the Yule Ball Rose was called by her mother to Bella’s quarters. The Lady Black surprisingly absent.
“Mom?”
“In here!” Lily’s voice came from the bedroom and Rose went there.
“You wanted to talk to me?” She was looking at her mother putting a dress around a mannequin. She couldn’t see the dress properly because Lily hid the view.
“Yes, I want to know if your dress is ready for the ball.”
Never in her entire life did Rose’s eyes widen so much. She had been so focused on the clue for the second task and so happy to go with Susan to the ball that she didn’t think about a dress at all.
“No! Merlin, mom! I forgot! And the last time I wore a dress was when I was ten! Where is dad? Do you think he has the time to make me one?”
“Your dad is with Bella. As for-”
“Can’t they stop having sex for five seconds?! It’s an emergency!”
“ROSE! I’ll have you know, it’s Bella’s doing! Not your father! Second, they're at Gringotts for House Black business.”
“Oh.” ROSE was sheepish and quite embarrassed by her outburst, which wasn’t unjustified. She just had the bad luck that the one time her father and aunt were not having sex was this time. “Sorry, mom.”
“It’s fine. Now let’s address… your dress problem. What do you think about this one?”
Moving to the side Lily revealed a very beautiful sleeveless dartmouth green dress which instead of being held in place by shoulder straps went for the neck where it circled around it like some kind of choker. The dress wasn’t skin tight but quite ample and reached just above the ankles.
“It’s beautiful. A bit too long and ample to my taste but beautiful. I can see it’s a bit old but honestly with Wizarding fashion being the way it is despite Aunt Bella, it’s alright. Is it… Is it yours?”
“Yes. I was a bit older than you are when I bought it and wore it for the first time. It was for your father. In the end I ended up wearing it for Marlene. She ended up being my date to a party, Professor… Nevermind you don’t know him, he’s not working here anymore. I did end up wearing it for your father a few months later at the Yule Ball however.” Lily looked with nostalgia at the dress, remembering how much they had fun dancing at Potter Manor. How much Rick had fuck her in it too. He simply couldn’t have enough of her. “Want to try it on?”
“Yes! But are you sure?”
“It doesn’t fit me anymore. By the time I graduated I outgrew it. I kept it as a memento of a time when your father and I were young and stupid.”
“I can hardly imagine you being ever stupid. And you’re quite young, mom! You’re only thirty four!”
Lily smiled from her daughter’s genuine compliment. “Thank you, sweetie. Now, go on.”
Rose nodded and undressed to her underwear. She pulled the dress from the mannequin and put it on. Obviously the dress reached higher than the ankles since Rose was taller than her mother at this age. She got her height from her father after all. Looking at herself to the front and the back she asked her mother her opinion.
“How do I look?”
“Like I’m looking at a mirror reflecting myself in my younger days. Beautiful. No wonder your father was all over me.”
Lily used her wand to summon the human size mirror in the corner of the room for Rose to have a look. The teenager had to admit she looked good. She wanted to look stunning however.
“Can we modify it a bit?”
“Of course! What do you want to change? The length? the size? The choker?”
“Oh, not the choker!” Rose said as she put her hand on her neck. “I love it. My shoulders and back are… free. And I like the choker itself. I always thought you were the most beautiful when you were wearing one. The one with Gryffindor’s color and lions.”
“That was a Christmas gift from your father. I wore it everyday for three years. It was to hide the bite marks and hickeys he left on my neck.”
“Why don’t you wear it anymore?”
“I don't need to hide that I belong to your father anymore. We were dating in secret back then, because of James.”
Rose got curious about this. “Henry’s dad?”
“He was… obsessed with me and cursed any boy who was too close to me. Severus mainly.” Lily sighed.
“That’s… Wrong on so many levels. Not dad though?”
“No. There were rumors that your father was dating Amelia or that he was gay so James left him alone.”
“Gay?! Dad?!” Lily laughed at her daughter’s dumbfoundedness. Thinking back, it was hilarious too.
“That one was started by Marlene. There was a girl a year younger than we were, Mary MacDonald, who got a huuuuge crush on your father because he saved her from Slytherin Death Eaters. It was a four vs one fight and your father not only won without a scratch but got the one who kept tormenting her expelled. Anyway, your father, since he never displayed any interest in girls whatsoever, was left alone by James. I think it was also partly because he was intimidated by your father. James was a brilliant wizard, very good in DADA and transfiguration but your father… He was just a few cuts above. In everything.”
“Still. It suits you so well.”
“You think so?” Rose nodded her confirmation. “Maybe I could put it back on.”
“I’m sure dad would love it but then again you could wear a potato bag and dad would think you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“True.” Lily chuckled at the thought. “Now, not the choker but?”
“The length. Just a few inches below the knees. The top. Not skin tight but at least form fitting. The bottom is nice like that.”
“A bit of a push up for the girls?”
“Wouldn’t that be too much?”
“Let’s find out.”
They spend the next hour modifying the dress to Rose’s desire and suggestions until she was satisfied with the result. Happy to have what she believed to be the perfect dress. Rose couldn’t wait to show it to Susan.
Yet wait she did. And it was a very long one that felt like years to her. The night of the Ball she didn’t know what to do with her hair and cursed her inability to think of girly things. She liked dresses, she liked make-up and doing her hair and nails but she never really thought about it like girls her age. Hermione was of no help since she was doing her own preparation and so were Lavender and Parvati. With no other choice she went to her mother again. This time her father and Bella were present and not yet ready for the ball.
“How about the hairstyle you had for our marriage?” Rick said out of the blue to mother and daughter. In truth he had been observing for some time now.
Rose got curious. “What was it?”
“You never saw pictures of me in my wedding dress?”
“Not that I can remember, mom.”
“I’ll have someone make a huge portrait of you like that. One for Bella too, she will pout otherwise.”
“I heard that!”
Rick ignored his second wife in the other room and summoned Tipsy to bring him his and Lily's wedding album. Finding a very good one, he showed it to Rose.
“Wow. Yes, I definitely want that. With the lilies too.”
Lily used her wand to carefully do her daughter’s hair. In the meantime Rose had a better look at the album. She recognized everyone yet they looked all so young which she supposed they were since they had graduated Hogwarts around three months to three years prior. For the first time she saw a picture of her maternal side of the family, finally knowing from whom she got the red hair and from whom she got the eyes. Veronica looked like their grandmother a great deal.
“How come you were in your Magpies robes, dad?”
“There was a game that day. I wasn’t allowed to skip it. Despite the wedding being set before I joined the team. Coach Campbell told me that the faster I would catch the snitch the faster I would be free to go.”
“That’s… wow. It’s just… How late were you?” Lily snorted when Rose asked the question.
“Late? Your father wanted to marry me so much he made the fastest catch in History that day.”
Rose didn’t look up from the pictures. “Oh, that was the day?”
“Yup. I was very lucky. Sometimes I wonder if magic simply didn’t answered to our desire.” Rick commented.
“And are those… They’re the ponies ! You already have them?”
“I bought them for the occasion.”
“You bought ponies for mom?” The disbelief in her voice made her parents laugh.
“I dreamed of this when I was six. Somehow your father got wind of it and made it
happen. Pretty sure if my dream had been to have my name written on the moon…”
“I would have done it. Without a second thought.”
If it wouldn’t have messed up her mother’s work, Rose would have shook her head. She had witnessed over the years the love her father had for her mom. It was obvious but she never saw how deep that love ran. The more she heard and learned about their relationship, the more she thought that it may not be so bad to have a love like that.
When Lily was done with her hair, Rick added the white lilies. It was with nostalgia that he looked at his daughter. Nostalgia and pride. When Rose got a good look at herself in the mirror she felt like she could rival Fleur in beauty despite not being done with puberty. She felt like an ugly little duck however when Bella entered the room dressed in the most scandalous dress she had ever seen.
“Morgana’s tits Auntie! You… That’s… Wow!”
“You like?” Bella grinned like a loony while spinning on herself to show the whole dress to Rose. “Your dad made me wear that dress on our very first date. I haven’t worn it in years. Glad to still fit in it.”
“That’s what got her in muggle fashion.” Lily whispered in Rose’s ear before speaking loudly. “Some parts are spilling, Bella.” she pointed out to her breasts who seemed like they would pop out of the bustier.
“Left over of all the pregnancies. That makes it even more scandalous. I can’t wait for Skeeter's rant on Witch Weekly tomorrow.” Bella disappeared back to her bedroom to do something, dragging Rick with her.
“No wonder, dad chose her as his second wife.”
“Oh, no. Bella wasn’t his first choice. His first choice was Amelia but she declined.”
“Really?!” Her mother's revelation took Rose by surprise.
“Yes. Bella turned out to be… in need of saving from Voldemort so… Well… Things happened, including an unbreakable vow making Bella the next Lady Black by marriage. It’s a long story for later. Do know that… nevermind.”
Rose didn’t insist and let it go. It was a story she was very curious about but there was little time left before the start of the ball. Her mother put a few last touches on her outfit. Namely animating the golden lion on the hem of her dress and they left Bella’s quarters. Her dad having one wife on each arm. Not for the first time she found the sight unconventional but at the same time so very right. She couldn’t imagine a single member of the trio missing in the picture she was seeing.
When they arrived at the Great Hall’s entrance, Viktor and Draco were already waiting. The former was quite dashing with a burgundy red outfit who looked a bit militaristic. It suited his build and personality well she supposed. Draco on the other hand was the quintessential pureblood noble. Luxurious robes and tuxedo. All colored in a mix of light blue and silver which reminded Rose of a patronus.
“You look wondrous, cousin.”
“Da. Very beautiful. Dartmouth green suits you vell. The vithe lilies and the hair style reminds me of Nordic Valkyries.”
“And you both look like the second most handsome men in the whole castle. The most sophisticated of nobles, Draco and very warrior-like, Viktor.”
“Thank you.”
“Da but second?”
“My father always comes first, sorry.” Her little joke made both boys laugh.
Draco's eyes caught the eldest of the Black Sisters. “Merlin’s beard! Aunt Bella is…”
“I know. I’m pretty sure she did it to have all the attention to herself. You know how she is.”
“That I do.” Draco chuckled in exasperation.
They waited five minutes when Fleur arrived in a very sophisticated dress which matched Draco’s colors. Rose recognized it as one of Ted’s creations but wasn’t sure.
“You looke' absolutely gorgeous, Rose. Ze lilies are wonderful. I wish I 'ad zought of somezing like zat.”
“You look gorgeous yourself. And I didn’t. My mother did. That’s the hairstyle she had for her wedding. Is that one of Ted’s work you’re wearing?”
“Ted?”
“Tonks. He’s my Aunt Andromeda’s ex-husband.”
“Oui, it iz. I didn’t know you were related.”
“My father got him into making clothes with magic. Training in transfiguration, you know. Ted, on my family advice, made it a job and it was our great Aunt Cassiopeia who got him an in in french fashion.”
“Ze world iz so small.”
Hermion and Susan arrived together. They came down a small set of stairs and looked ravishing. Hermione had done away with her bushy hair and was wearing a pink dress that reminded Rose of Cinderella. When her eyes landed on her date though. The sight took her breath away. Just like Rose promised him Draco didn’t expect that.
“You like? Auntie sent it to me. She said it was tradition.”
“Bullshit.” Rick’s voice came from behind them.
Lily was stunned and looked at Susan’s dress with nostalgia while Rick was looking away with a blush on his face. Immediately Susan knew what was going on.
“She did it again! One of those days I’m going to pay her back for using me to get to you, Uncle.” The redhead was very unhappy with her aunt constantly trying to do that.
“What did you mean by zat, professor?”
“That’s the dress Susan’s aunt wore for our first and only date when we were at school.”
“You dated auntie?!”
“Not as boyfriend - girlfriend.”‘Sex partners’ Bella mouthed discreetly to everyone, shocking them.
“Wait! I thought… I thought that the two of you were already together back then?” Susan pointed out to Rick and Lily.
“It’s… complicated. Nothing happened without anyone’s consent.” replied Lily.
Everyone looked at Bella to know more and she mouthed ‘Threesome’ completely throwing the teenagers out of the loop. Rose and Susan were learning things about the adults of their families that shook them to the core. Draco was not surprised one bit. He was pretty sure that his Uncle was the one who fathered his little sister Rigella and his cousin Atria. He had no proof but he couldn’t help but think it.Susan recovered quicker than everyone and began to make plans regarding what she had just learned. That opened many, many possibilities for her.
“Are all the champions and their partners- Oh dear.”
Minerva had come out of the Great Hall to check on the champions. Her eyes landed on Rose and a wave of nostalgia took her. She quickly got over herself.
“You may look like your mother but you’re every bit your father by always doing the unexpected.” she said to Rose with an amused smile. “Ready everyone?” she asked and got a nod of affirmation. “Good. It is tradition that the youngest goes first and the oldest last.”
Rose and Susan took position in the front, followed by Fleur and Draco then Hermione and Viktor.
When they entered the Great Hall, everything quieted down and all the eyes were drawn towards the champions. Some were focused on how beautiful the girls were or how handsome the boys. Some looked in surprise at Rose and Susan together. All forgot all about them, when Bella made a discreet appearance behind the champions. She may have stayed at the entrance with Rick and Lily but she got all the attention which suited her just fine.
“Wow, cousin. You really went and did it this time.” Sirius, who was present since it was an event of the tournament, complimented his older cousin.
Bella huffed condescendingly. “I’m a queen, Sirius. I don’t do, it’s all natural charm.”
“Riiiight.”
The ball started and the champions opened it with a simple waltz. Many were surprised by Viktor’s performance but all were enchanted by Draco and Fleur’s. It was absolutely flawless. His mannerism matched her french sophistication perfectly and many thought they were making a great couple.
Once the dance was over, another song started and only then could everyone dance too. Rose couldn’t help herself but look into Susan’s blue eyes and get lost in them. She didn’t even notice that the first song ended and another started. She was too busy enjoying the moment. When her dance partner smiled at her she couldn’t help but smile back, stupidly. They were in their own world having their own moments. Of all her friends, Susan was her best. More than that but she didn’t know any words to properly describe what she was to her.
The moment was broken when a call for changing partners happened and Rose found herself dancing with Viktor while Susan danced with Draco and Hermione with Fleur. All champions and their dates all danced with each other. Afterwards it was free dancing and anyone could dance normally with whoever wanted it. She saw her father have quite the number of partners. Her mother and aunt of course, but also Minerva, Nymphadora who surprisingly wore a very revealing silver dress, and Albus Dumbledore of all people. Her eyes and many others bulged out of their orbits when that happened. Then her father began to dance with students both females and males without distinction. She didn’t know it was possible but Fleur blushed up a storm when it was her turn and she was pretty sure that Viktor did too.
“How is your night so far?” He had asked her when it was her turn.
“Perfect.” She meant it. She truly did. “Full of fun, happiness and unexpected moments. Dancing with Professor Dumbledore?”
“Not the first time. I’ll tell you all about it one day. It was quite the winter break.”
“I can hardly wait for that story.”
Rick made her swirl around and that gave her the possibility to see her mother dancing with Dodderidge’s father.“You’re okay with this?” she asked her father who shrugged.
“Your mother doesn’t need me to fight her battles. And James… seems to have cleaned up his act from what I heard.”
She didn’t say anything more and kept dancing until the end of the song. She did her best to not laugh when she saw from the corner of her eyes many male students trying to get her Aunt Bella to dance with them. She gave them an overlook then ignored them all without exception. There was only one man for her, Rose knew, and it was her husband. She was just having fun with the ‘little boys’. When her father went to ‘save’ his second wife, she felt like taking a break from dancing and taking some fresh air to cool down. Before she could ask Susan, the redhead dragged her away for exactly that.
Rick had walked like a king and took Bella for a spin, ignoring the disgruntled expressions and words from the male students. It was as if they were below his notice. It was on purpose. He knew Bella would love it and she did. Any idea for another dance with his wife was interrupted however when Dumbledore, the four heads of houses, Madame Maxime and Karkaroff were talking animatedly in a relatively hush tone. Feeling like something was wrong he butted in.
“What’s going on?”
“It seems the second part of the ball is in jeopardy.” replied Albus, which didn't help Rick much.
“The Weird Sisters were supposed to make a concert for the students but we just got a call from their manager. They’re all sick and can’t make it. Food Poisoning.” Minerva explained in a bit of distaste. She didn’t like when things didn’t go according to plan.
“Why not replace them?” wondered Filius.
“On such a short notice? Impossible.” Severus was right with that. The concert was supposed to start in a quarter of an hour.Bella, who was still at Rick’s arm, tugged on it and he looked down at her. The huge grin on her face told everything he needed to know. He considered the idea he knew she had and shrugged his shoulders.“We can take care of this.”
“You?” inquired a dubious Madame Maxime.
“The Blacks.”
“Meaning?” Minerva ventured with caution knowing she would not like what was going to be said since half the Blacks were crazy as hell.
“Bella, Nymphadora, Sirius, and I. We’re not a band but we can all play different instruments and better tunes than the weird Sisters.”
“I knew I wouldn’t like it.” The Gryffindor head of house said with a deadpan expression on her face.
“If you’re sure you all can handle it.”
“Dumbleedore, you’re not serious!”
“It’s that or nothing, Madame Maxime.”
“Great!” Bella clapped her hands as if the problem was solved and began to shout. “NYMPHADORA! MUTT!”
Her yelling got everyone’s attention but only for a few seconds. Quickly the Blacks called joined the group.
“What?! What happened?” asked a very Sirius serious.
Bella didn’t waste any time in giving orders. “Change your outfit, we’re making a band.”
““What?!””
“Auntie, did someone spike the punch?” Nymphadora ventured.
“No! We’re replacing the weird sisters. They were supposed to make a concert but they’re not coming, so we’re taking their place.”
“Aww, the weird sisters? Shame.”
Sirius shook his head. “Dora, you’re missing the important information here. Bella wants us to play.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t miss that. I’m in.”
“Good niece.” Bella looked at Nymphadore with pride. “Now mutt, do I have to curse you for you to play the drums? Or play the Marlene card? I’m sure she will be quite happy to know that Duncan’s night was shortened by half because his father refused to-”
“Alright I’ll do it! Dirty move, Bella!”
“When do we start?” inquired Nymphadora.
“Ten minutes. We need to make a selection of songs for one hour at least.” Rick answered.
“Well that’s easy. I just need my bass.”
“I’ll have Karkass bring it to you. Same for your drumset Sirius, that is.-”
“Yeah, yeah, he has my permission to get into my house.”
None of them had played together but all of them were fans of muggle rock, metal and all their variants. It was nothing new for Sirius who began listening to it in his last years at Hogwarts. He started learning to play drums in his spare time when Duncan said he wanted to play the guitar like Rose when he was eight. That way he could accompany his son when he played. That Sirius liked hitting things was just a bonus.
Nymphadora grew up hearing it and decided to learn how to play the bass because ‘the sound was heavier than the guitar’ and Bella was introduced to it by Rick. She didn’t play but sang. Her voice range was simply exceptional in her husband’s opinion.
They quickly went behind the scenes and began to prepare and make decisions.
Susan and Rose came back to the Great Hall hand in hand with fingers entwined. Both were wearing a dopey smile on their slightly discolored lips. When they saw all the students were not dancing anymore but waiting in front of the scene. They joined Rose’s mother who was talking with Severus.
“Mom, Professor, do you know what’s happening?”
“I was asking the same thing to Sev but he refuses to give me a proper answer.” She gave him a glare with no heat. It had no effect and made him raise an eyebrow in a ‘What are you going to do about it?’ manner. “I only know it’s…”
“The Rebellious Blacks!”
Filius finished the introduction of the group and the curtain revealed Bella in front of a mic, Rick and Nymphadora with a guitar and a bass and behind them, Sirius sitting at the drums. Lily and Rose’s jaws dropped to the ground and the music began with Sirius hitting the drums first followed by Bella’s voice.
“We're not gonna take it
No, we ain't gonna take it
We're not gonna take it anymore
We've got the right to choose, and
There ain't no way we'll lose it
This is our life, this is our song
We'll fight the powers that be, just
Don't pick on our destiny, 'cause
You don't know us, you don't belong”
Rose began to laugh stupidly at the absurdity of what she was seeing. If there was one thing she would have never expected to happen at Hogwarts, it was to see her family playing a song from Twisted Sister. Of course it was a muggle song so the only ones who could know about it were muggle-raised and muggle-born but it didn’t matter because the music was catchy, and the lyrics good. The whole student body was already having fun.
“Look!” Susan pointed out two different posters to the side of the scene. Something, it was obvious, had been made in haste.
On one side was Bella playing the seductive queen with a crown, carried like a princess by Rick. On the other was Nymphadora holding Sirius, who was on all four, by a leash.
“Queen Trixie, Crow, Foxie and The Mutt?” Lily was dumbfounded but began to laugh to her heart's content. “Merlin, those idiots.”
Shaking her head in exasperation she pushed everyone towards the crowd, dragging Severus with her. Now was time to have fun. She didn’t miss, however, her daughter and Susan’s change in relationship.
She nearly lost it when Bella made her own special cover of some songs.
“I'll make a rich man beg
And I'll make a good man steal
I'll make an old man blush
And I'll make a young boy squeal
I wanna be yours, pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya, honey
That I'm Black to the bone
Black to the bone
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-black
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-black
B-b-b-b-b-b-b-black
Black to the bone”
Of course, she suggestively teased Rick by walking around him and giving looks. He had an amused smile (so were most people) but kept playing without fault for the rest of the night.The songs were muggle hits so of course they were hits with the students but it wasn’t just only them who made the moment very enjoyable. Bella had a charming presence captivating the audience, engaging them, making them answer enthusiastically. The rest of the band were having fun too and had their own shticks. Nymphadora has her own metamorphmagus abilities, changing her appearance at will, Rick being dramatic in the way he played and Sirius howling at the moon while laughing his head off. It was a mess but a beautiful mess.
“When I get high, I get high on speed
Top Ogden finest's a drug for me
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heart
Always got Aurors coming after me
Custom built broom doing 203
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heart”
Way into the night, the Rebellious Blacks played to their and the students’ heart's content.