Web of Lies (A Fred Weasley Fan-fiction)

Chapter eighteen: distant memory

The soft humming of music in the ballroom run rang out into the nearby halls.

Felina quietly snuck into the main living room letting out a sigh of relief. She hated these Christmas galas. Her father would invite every member of the sacred 28 along with any pure bloods in the ministry. They would drink, eat and dance all the while shoving their money and blood status into every conversation.

"Hello Felina." Felina took a moment to drink in the sight of the young man. He was pressed up against the fireplace, his hand gently fiddling with a porcelain doll that was gently placed on the hearth. "I've missed you my love," he purred. Felina shook her head and quickly rushed to his side. "Barty, shush. If my father heard you call me that he'd kill you." She giggled while planting a quick kiss on his cheek. His eyes burned into hers; he slowly cupped the side of her cheek. "Felina, listen it's fine. He's too drunk and consumed by Abraxas to even notice that we're both gone." Felina shook her head and giggled. "True. He's probably trying to stop Abraxas from proposing that his son and Narcissa be wed. I swear he's obsessed with trying to get me to marry into the malfoys." Barty laughed, "or the blacks. Can't he see that my family is just as good as them. After all my father is about to be made head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement." Felina's eyes casted down to the fire which was roaring on.

"That's probably why he doesn't. With everything going on. My father is a blood purist through and through. Have you heard about that man, calls himself Voldemort," she whispered, her voice almost cracking. "I think he means to declare war. My father keeps having meetings with Abraxas, Cygnus and Orion as well as others. They-," before Felina could finish her rant Bartemius grabbed hold of her shoulders. "Listen, everything will be okay. I promise. I won't let anything hurt you. You're mine. My love." Felina shared an uneasy smile.

She loved Bartemius but in recent months he had become possessive. She had put it down to the stress of him applying to work at the ministry and the fact his mother's health had been poor. She didn't know what truly was happening.

All of a sudden, the door was swung open. There stood the youngest Black son; Regulus. His eyes shifting between the two. Regulus was younger than Felina by two years and the two had know of each other all their lives. Since his brother had run away just a month prior Felina had seen him more often at the Rosier household; with his father and hers always running off for a meeting. At one time it had been presumed that Felina and Sirius would of married, but with his running away and the rumours he was now living with the Potters and in love with a half-blood wizard the idea of a wedding between them had been lost; much to Walburga's dismay.

"Felina. Your father is asking for you. You best go before he tries to come and collect you." His face was soft, and although he was only young himself his face showed a boy who had the entire world upon his shoulders. "Thank you Regulus." Felina nodded while quickly darting out the room. As she did so, she collided with her mother who's face was wide with a smile; a unnerving and uncommon sight.

"My dear! My dear sweet girl! Oh!" She cooed, Felina peered over her mothers shoulder to see Walburga black staring at her; her face twisted with disappointment. "Mother what is it?" She asked in a low tone. Her mother cupped her face, "your father just announced he is looking for a husband for you! After all, it really should of been Sirius but that blood traitor," she took a moment and took a breath; as she did so Felina could smell the alcohol on her breath. "Anyway. You already have three potential suitors. Abraxas has even hinted that Lucius-," before her mother could continue, Walburga Black cut in her voice icy and cold. "But of course. The black family would be the most suitable. After all, you know my boy so well." Felina shared an uneasy and fake smile and nodded. Her mother rolled her eyes. "Walburga, Regulus is just a boy. She needs someone closer to her age or older. I think Rabastan would be better. After all our own niece is his sister in law, oh wouldn't that be nice!" Her mother exclaimed excitedly. It was clear she had consumed enough champagne to drown a large house elf.