Witch Hunt (Re-written)

Chapter 7, Newly Wedded Friends

   You felt like an idiot. You've never been good with walking in dresses and the one Felix brought back for you was ridiculously expensive.
You didn't bother with the make-up, being your face wasn't going to be on display.
"Stop fussing you two," Felix said batting Sebastian's hands from his collar for the tenth time. "You're playing two people born into this kind of lifestyle."
"Who exactly are we playing the role of?" Sebastian asked, scratching his neck when Felix turned his back.
"Well, my family is a long line of Gryffindors, part of us being directly descendant of Godric-"
"Really?" Ominis asked.
Felix nodded with a smile. It had been the first time Ominis took an interest in anything he said.
"So, we always get invited to parties. But my darling, albeit, spoiled sister just got married and the family decided to be a pest and follow them on their honeymoon, because he's not their standard or something."
"It wasn't arranged?" Ominis asked.
Felix chuckled. "Oh no, it wasn't and the man she was supposed to marry, isn't broken up about it either."
"Then we're playing your family?" Sebastian asked, while glaring down at his outfit. "Won't people find that suspicious?"
"No, most of my family disowned me the moment I was stuffed into Azkaban."
You blinked and looked down at your clothes. "Who exactly are we turning into?"
"You, are my darling sister tonight and he is your newly wedded husband, while Ominis and I will be my creepy uncle and his judgy cousin."
Sebastian's expression mirrored your own, but he kept making noises that sounded like he was trying to suffocate.
"You want him and I to play husband and wife?"
Felix sent you a patient look. "Beggars can't be choosers here. I could only find the hair I did before the house elf nearly found me."
Unconvinced, but not being able to see a way out of this before tonight, you decided to let it go.
"Now, your enchanted bag will need to go to Ominis. He and I will snoop through the Minister's office, while everyone is focused on you two. They're the talk of the night, so make sure you're convincing," he said as he poured the hair into each phial of potion. "You won't be able to use your animagus forms, being there is no way the Minister would have animals in his house. So don't loose your phials."
"What happens if one of your family members do show up?" You asked, trying to avoid making eye contact with the grey liquid.
"The only one who would, is my mother and she's the only one who believed me about being innocent. Whether or not she'd help us, is unknown."
"Only trust in each other tonight," Sebastian agreed, looking between you and Ominis.
Felix slid a box across the table before you. "This is an exact replica of my sister's wedding ring. You don't want to be caught without it."
You opened it expecting an overly extravagant one, but it was a simple engraved band.
"Just how...lovey dovey did your sister and her husband act?"
Felix smirked when you grumbled, wondering why Sebastian was asking with you right there.
"They've just been married and by their own choice, much to my family's dismay. They're supposedly in love, so very, when alone."
Sebastian looked at you when your face squished in disgust.
"Is it that horrible for you?"
Shocked at how offended he was, you shook your head. "No, just the overly clingy romance thing. Makes me want to urk. I'm not the romantic type."
He smirked mischievously, making you instantly regret admitting that.

      Nicely donned up in costume, with your face rearranged to that of a noble woman, your arm looped around Sebastian's as you headed towards a rather large estate.
Felix walked behind you with Ominis, who was trying to cope with being able to see for the first time in his life and the slightly muted hearing.
"Remember, you're to get their attention. We'll do the rest," Felix whispered passing you to give the invites.
"Two attention grabbers at the ready," Sebastian teased, leading you into the house.
"Don't go too far Sebastian," Ominis warned, passing us to follow Felix.
You smirked his way. "Yeah Sebastian."
He smiled before clearing his throat. "It's Thomas right now, remember?"
You narrowed your eyes at his flirty tone. "You're certainly sure you can commit to this role."
He chuckled, tightening his arm, pulling you closer. "Commiting to something was never a problem, as I'm sure you know."
Before you could respond, a voice so painfully familiar made you nearly trip.
"Ah, if it isn't the newlyweds. I thought you two were on your honeymoon."
Sebastian gave a polite smile. "Yes, but when we got our invitations from the Ministry itself, we couldn't very well ignore that, could we?"
You carefully pulled on the mask you've been wearing for a long time, reminding yourself that you're not a little helpless girl anymore.
"Ah, dear Rosalie, you're as beautiful as ever, especially in love."
Your skin crawled the moment he took your hand, clamping it between his.
"That's very kind of you Minister Spavin. I'm very pleased to have been invited."
He smiled almost too pleasantly. "Of course, you're always welcomed here. I'm happy you two have found a home in each other."
He rested his hands on yours and Sebastian's shoulder, giving it a pat before heading away.
"Creepy bloke," Sebastian said leaning close as he lead you towards the tables, the furthest from people. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, why?"
He raised an eyebrow and shook his hand slightly. "Because you almost ripped my hand off the moment he touched your other one."
"Sorry, I was trying to keep that in check," you whispered watching him flex his fingers.
"You kind of failed."
Chuckling, you poked the palm of his hand, which only seemed to worry him more.
"You're doing it again. Down playing your emotions with goofing off."
"Hello there pot, I'm kettle."
He gave you a slight shove as he rolled his eyes. "Very funny."
"Not fighting already?" A new voice teased as a young woman slid over. "You two are the talk of the night. It'd be a shame to begin it with arguing."
Confused as to why she had the strange tone, she sent Sebastian a glare, before looping her arm around yours and began to drag you towards the social area.
"I can't believe you came here with him. I thought you were marrying him to anger your family."
Okay, you weren't expecting family drama to fall into your lap like that.
"Well, we were in the area-"
The blank look she gave you told you everything you needed to know. "He forced you to take him? Even knowing the truth? What game is he playing?" She shot a particularly nasty glare at him. "Boastful little toad. As if marrying such filth wasn't enough, now he wants to show you off."
Unsure of how to respond, you were grateful that a man with similar features headed closer.
"Ah, Mirabella, mother is asking after you. She's likely looking for that house elf of hers. I don't know why she doesn't just get rid of her."
You wanted to smack him so hard his tiny brain would rattle, but you settled for clasping your hands behind your back.
"You alright tonight Rosalie? You look pale."
You nodded. "Just a little dizzy. I haven't been sleeping well."
"Your husband keeping you up?" The man teased, getting a smack from Mirabella.
"You know you're not supposed to talk like that at social functions Clement. Do you want father to over hear you?"
He rolled his eyes, as he gave you an exasperated look. "I'd expect he'd be used to it by now. There's no secrets between friends, is there?"
"You can hardly consider yourself anyone's friend, the way you talk."
You glanced around, silently begging anyone to come rescue you.
"Don't mind them," a familiar voice said from behind you. "The Malfoys always had loose tongues and even looser brains."
You turned seeing the same welcoming smile on her face you always remembered, like she knew who was truly behind the polyjuice potion.
Mirabella and Clement had long since bickered their way out of the room.
"Hello," you said slowly, unsure if you could give yourself away or if she was just familiar with Rose Williams.
Her smile widened. "It's been a long time, hasn't it? I haven't seen you since you were taken to your cousin's house."
"How'd you know?"
"You say that like I'm not supposed to, but I'd recognize you no matter what shape you take."
Sebastian glanced between the two of you as he walked over. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, this is Granny. She took me in temporary after my parents died," you said softly, seeing worry cross his features.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't tell a soul. We've got to keep some things in the family."
Chuckling, you nodded. It was nice to think she saw you as family. She was the only ray of light you had in a very dark time.
"We've got a few interesting things," Ominis said heading over with Felix behind him.
"Ah, it's about time you spoke to me," Granny said scowling at Felix.
"Pardon?"
Felix and Granny looked to you. "He didn't tell you?"
"Didn't tell me what?"
Felix sighed softly. "She's my mother."
You were about to voice your irritation, when you were cut over.
"Ah, it's so nice to see the Williams family at a party," Minister Spavin said walking over and placed his hands on yours and Sebastian's shoulders again. "As the host of our formal gathering, I get to decide who I'd share the first dance with."
Ice dumped into your veins as you shot a panicked look towards Sebastian and Ominis.
"She's not really feeling well-" Sebastian started.
The Minister laughed heartily. "Such a jealous man. I'm only asking for one dance."
He took your wrist and led you to a ballroom connected to the foyer via a hall in the back.
An extravagant way of showing one's power and social status. It was probably compensation, while letting people look like rehearsed monkeys for entertainment.
"Enjoying the party?" Spavin asked, having already started dancing while your mind traveled.
Behind him you could see Sebastian in a heated conversation with Ominis and Felix.
Carefully pasting a mask over your face, you smiled up at him. "Yes, it is. Thank you for inviting me and my family."
"Not at all. As I said, you and your family are always welcomed here. I do wonder though, are you not worried about your brother? Felix was hardly the type to let grudges go. If he learns you were the one that set him up to take the fall for murder, he's certainly going to be after you next."
Trying to come across as one of the Malfoys you saw earlier, you threw a little bit of sass into your tone. "There's nothing to find out."
He smiled as his hand gripped yours tightly. "Good girl. Now remember, your new husband is just for show. Don't go falling for him or I will have him killed."
Granny caught Felix and Sebastian when Spavin brushed hair behind your ear.
You wanted to puke, to tear off every part of you this guy touched.
Thankfully, the song ended and he moved away, so you went back to the group.
"Are you okay?" Sebastian asked.
"No," you admitted. "I think I'm going to be sick."