Clear | Sirius Black

Sixty-One

The Ball

Christmas Break

The cold snowy evenings had finally arrived. It was two days before Christmas, and just one day before the pureblood ball. Mother and Father were not the fondest of hosting it this year. The last time they hosted the Parkinson family made their dramatic scene. That is much why Mum and Dad aren't the happiest of who Rigel and I are friends with.

We all sat in the parlor of Malfoy Manor in front of the blazing fire. Lucius was off with Theodore , so Narcissa was happy to have us over during the day. Mum and Dad were off at work today, preparing for tomorrow nights ball. By preparing, they meant given orders of who would be on watch incase something broke out.

Draco was going to return home with us for the break, but Narcissa said she wanted him home. This might be his last time at home with her for a while. The Dark Lord was rising faster than expected.

Rigel, Jaden, and I talked in private a lot about these things. What we would do if our friends picked the other side. We wouldn't say wrong side, because in their eyes it could be right. All of their parents, expect Blaise, are either known deatheaters or known supporters of him. Daphne's sister was the only one who thought differently.

Pansy's family had become so strict over the past few week, she's scared about if they found out about Harry and her. She decided to end things with him. For her safety and his own. No one could be together if you were on different sides. Not for your views, but for safety.

Blaise seemed like the only one able to keep his healthy relationship with Luna. They had been together since the start of the year and been strong since. Daphne and Rigel never really fixed things. She doesn't know about being with someone who could die if his sister or cousin did.

Jaden explained to Rigel and I about Ginny and her request. We knew she would be safer this year due to our parents hosting, but it wasn't worth a risk. In the end what did it matter about relationships to us? If any of us died of even the simplest thing, we all three would die.

Draco of course wouldn't ever admit he was in love with a muggle-born. He hid his feelings for the first three years with anger and rude insults. It didn't take a genius to figure out that he fancied the girl with curly hair. It also didn't ake a genius to figure that he had to leave her for safety.

That left Theo and I to decide what to do. It was so clear now that we fancied each other, but it wasn't as simple as Daphne and Rigel. Her parents just supported him and deatheaters. Theo's dad was one of them. He wanted to speak of the matter, but I wouldn't allow him. Not until we had too.

Rigel looked at me, as I sat beside him in front of the fire. Jaden was sitting on the same couch as us. Theo, Blaise, and Draco on the second one, the girls on the other. He put his hand on my knee, "You really shouldn't let your guard down. Your thoughts aren't the quietest."

I couldn't hold back a little smile, as my twin brother finished his joke. Mum and Kade had taught us occlumency and legilimency after our fourth year. It was something Mum had ordered us to learn as soon as we returned home.

Lying my head on Rigel's shoulder, I sighed, "I don't mean to let it down, but I'm worried. How can we trust our own friends? We grew up hearing the story of Peter, and how do we know it can't be happening to us right now?"

Jaden leaned forward to look at and me whispered, "We will know when we see a rat or traitor. Love blinded them, besides Rowie and Regulus. They had the right mind, as will we. Love won't blind us. It's not like we feel it easily anyway."

Daphne, must had heard a little bit of what was said, because she closed her book and smiled at me softly, "I hate this silence. Rotanev, I've never met your parents in person, just from a far. What are they like? Are they like our parents?"