Cardigan

Soiree | 5

     The next stop after the robe fitting was finding a dress for the soiree tonight. When I tell you that this shopping trip reminded me why I hate formal dress shopping I am not exaggerating. Shopping for formal dresses is my personal hell, my hell on earth, the bane of my existence, you get the idea. Add onto that the fact that I have to do it with someone I barely know and for an event I truthfully don't want to attend which always seems to be the case in these situations all adds up to a wonderfully terrible time.  

     After what seemed to be an entire lifetime of events my mother finally found the dress that, and I quote, "will have any suitor falling at your feet" which as much as I hate the idea of "suitors" I do enjoy the thought of having men fall at my feet because of how good I look. Not that I haven't already experienced that.  

     The second we re-entered our humble abode that my mother calls her house she begins a series of lectures and lists on how to behave and other aspects of etiquette and manners that she clearly believes dad wouldn't have taught me. Like yes mother I understand I shouldn't put my elbows on the table at this very fancy dinner or cuss in front of high society parents. After the very annoying ambush of what not to do she sends me upstairs to get ready.

     I decide against doing anything to extravagant with the hair or makeup and opt for simple curls with a black bow pinned in the back complemented by a smokey eye and muted red lip. With a zip of the dress and a slid on of a heel I trapeze my way down the stairs. God somehow I always forget how hard it was to walk in heels. 

     "Come, come darling wouldn't want to be late to your first soiree now would we," she asks, a stern smile on her face, floo powder sitting in her outstretched hand.

    I grab a handful, responding, "I certainly wouldn't want that." With that the fireplace burns into a green flame and a second later mother is stood next to me lightly dusting off her dress. My eyes divert from my mother now taking in the lavish foyer clad with ceiling high bookshelves and gold french detailing adorning every corner. My mother's cold satin covered hand brings me back from the daydream that is the room we just landed in. Eyes still wandering as she leads me into a smaller room in which the faint sound of orchestral music and a louder yet still muffled sound of voices can be heard from behind the thick oak door. A small house elf stands guard at the door a furled up scroll in hand.

     "Names to be announced?" he asked looking up only slightly through the small glasses that sat upon his face. 

     "Clara and Pearl Rosenshire" the elves ears perked up at the last name only having to unroll the scroll slightly to find both names. The oak door slowly creaked open revealing a massive ballroom my jaw might has well of hit the floor from the pure astonishment that I was feeling. There were dozens of paintings adorning the walls. The architecture alone looked like something ripped straight out of the Vatican. The elf found its way through the door while my mother lead the way inside. 

     "The house of Black presents Clara Rosenshire and Pearl Rosenshire of the Rosenshire family," the elf announced eyes turning to meet me and my mothers. I receive a small nudge from my mother a glance in her direction showing her perfectly trained smile. I follow her actions slapping on my stage smile and walking pretty down the stairs like i'm freaking Freddie Mercury (whom I try to embody at all times) walking down a stage. The sound of conversation whirling around me fills my ears as we approach the bottom of the stair case.

     "We will meet the Black family then I will leave you to mingle, try and be sociable dear." My mother gives me a look as if to tell me to not run the second she lets me go. I give her a small smile knowing i'm going to do just that. Her eyes light up as she makes her way through the crowd, "Ah, Walburga so lovely to see you again, where are Orion and Sirius they must meet my daughter, you remember Pearl," the words glide off her tongue perfectly. Like a well rehearsed dance.      

     "Clara, it is. And Pearl my you are incredibly darling aren't you just imported from America how lavish. Yes, yes you must meet my son Sirius," me and my dad always made fun of rich people like this. Pretending as though they're special and important and like who they marry is such a big fuss. 

     Never the less I play along, "It's truly a pleasure to meet you, there is nothing i'd want more than to meet him." She turns slightly a new elf somehow appearing at her side. She mutters something and the elf scampers away. 

     "So Pearl how did you enjoy living in America?" Walburga asks continuing to make small talk.

     "Lovely, Ilvermony is truly a magnificent school not to mention the society parties are quite a smash." My face glossed over with a smile as I spit lies through my teeth. As if! I didn't even go to Ilvermony my dad just told my mother that so she wouldn't get mad at him. Truth be told he kinda just taught me everything he remembered from school. Touring takes up a lot of time and I would've home schooled if they had such a thing for wizards.

     "I'm sure, oh see here the two are now," she paused as she gestured towards an older man who seemed to be dragging a younger yet equally as tall boy by his side, "Pearl this is my husband Orion and our son Sirius, Sirius darling this is Pearl Rosenshire she just moved here from America isn't that exciting!" She seemed to be trying to get any reaction out of her annoyed son.

     "That's just smashing mum," he responded his voiced laced with sarcasm. The edges of my lips turned up trying to contain my laughter at what I know is about to be a big blow up from his mom. He seems to notice my amusement at his reaction.

     As expected Walburga quickly lectures him saying quietly yet still very sternly, "Sirius Orion Black, do not embarrass us right now." Her grip on his arm tightening as she turns her head back towards us putting on a smile as if nothing happened. Which is also exactly how my mother reacts. Remind me to never get on her bad side. 

     "My apologies ladies, it's very pleasant to meet you Pearl," he correts taking my hand and giving a small bow followed by a quick wink as he looks up at me through his eyebrows.

     "It's great meeting you too!"

     "Well seems like our work is done." Orion speaks up hinting at the parents departure from the conversation.

     "Yes, we should leave these two be." Walburga seals the previous notion guiding my mother away from us. With a last warning glare from over her shoulder I can breath again. Which I do I audibly sigh once they leave.

     "Don't like high society?" Sirius questions.

     "Don't know still trying to determine that so far it's not leaning in its favor," I respond giving the idea a joking frown.

      "Too bad I mean who wouldn't want all this high tea, fancy parties, terrible conversationalists, blood purists. That's ticking all the right boxes for me."

     "Well when you put it that way."

     "So America huh?"

     "I swear if I have to hear one more person mention the fact that i'm from America I might just kill myself. It's really not that interesting unless you're the right person then i'll tell you the interesting parts."

     "What makes you think i'm not the right person."

     "Well we'll see about that won't we," with that I leave him going to make a run for it. Which really means i'm going to find their garden and take a nice long smoke break till this shindig is up.