Silent Riot | Regulus Black

THIRTY SIX

'Do I knock? Or... is there a doorbell? Can you see a doorbell anywhere?'

'Oh my god Sturgis, just knock.'

'The door looks very heavy. I don't want to hurt my hand.'

'Oh for gods sake. Move!'

Gemma shoved him aside and rapped her knuckles against the door. It was a cold night, and she was hugging herself to stay warm.

The door was answered almost immediately, and she found herself face to face with Walburga Black. Just looking at the woman made her blood boil with fury, and if Walburga hadn't started talking, she probably would've forgotten all about her cover and hexed the woman then and there.

'Rosa!' Walburga said, smiling widely. 'We weren't expecting you tonight!'

'There was a slight altercation in our plans,' Sturgis said in a deeper voice, smiling thinly. Walburga's smile, impossibly, widened.

'Oh and Daniel as well!' Gemma stiffened as she heard her dad's name, but managed to cover it with a smile, 'oh do come in, its far too cold!'

Walburga and Sturgis chatted while they crossed the hallway to enter the ballroom.

Standing atop the staircase, Gemma was in absolute awe. It was as though she'd teleported back in time to the ball of some king or queen, as rich ladies and gentlemen danced and laughed and talked, dressed in their fancy clothes, while servers handed around drinks. So this is hell, she thought.

Her eyes began scanning the room. She nearly cried with relief when she saw Regulus, standing with Mulciber and Avery on the side of the room, while their parents conversed with each other. He seemed okay. Better than okay. He seemed normal.

'Well, I do hope you'll both enjoy yourselves,' Walburga said, flashing another smile at them. Sturgis bade her goodbye, and Gemma nodded politely. They both stood on the side of the room.

'We should dance,' he said suddenly.

'Dance?' She asked uncertainly. 'Why?'

'It'll look less suspicious to note my surroundings while twirling around than standing still.'

'I can't really dance, Sturgis.'

'Well, I can, and its not that hard. Come on.' He guided her very close to where Regulus was standing, and placed one hand on her waist and held her hand with his other. They began dancing, and she found that he was right, it wasn't that hard. She wasn't the most graceful person ever, but her co-ordination from quidditch certainly helped.

As they danced, she managed to listen in to Regulus' conversation, while Sturgis searched for a way to get upstairs.

'Shame that she's so against all this,' she heard Avery say. 'She'd be good, if you know what I mean.' Mulciber laughed, and Gemma wondered who he was talking about. She knew for certain it wasn't Iz though.

'Uh, what do you mean?' Regulus asked, but she could tell from his voice that he knew exactly what Avery meant.

'You'll understand when your older I guess,' Avery snickered, and Regulus faked a laugh, disguising his obvious anger.

'Hey, speak of the devil.' Mulciber nudged Regulus, and Gemma followed his gaze to see Elladora, walking through the door. So that's who they were talking about. 'Look at her.' Mulciber whistled, and Gemma felt sick thinking about how she'd kissed this guy.

'Corsets do wonders,' Avery shrugged with another smirk. Now she felt sick thinking about how Iz had snogged this guy. Were there no decent boys left in Slytherin house?