Disclaimer: Did news that Voldemort's first public appearance following his resurrection featured him fleeing from the Ministry with his tail between his legs decrease the public's fear even an iota?
If not, I don't own the Harry Potter franchise; it belongs to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic Press, Warner Bros., and whomever else she sold the rights to.
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Looking over the opulence of the ballroom, Lily could not help but regret that she was not in the state of mind to properly enjoy her surroundings, one of the few bright spots about the Solstice Ball.
Normally she had plenty of time to appreciate the decor; James did not dance, instead preferring to talk politics with his peers, and rare was the wizard who would invite her onto the dance floor despite her well-publicized blood status, so examining the room and watching the other guests were the sole forms of entertainment left to her.
That and ignoring the insults the Pureblood witches could not resist launching at her whenever she came in hearing range.
Try as she might, she also could not avoid looking at the behavior of these supposedly grown women in light of how the blood purists at Hogwarts had acted when they were teenagers. It was not a flattering comparison.
She sighed as the reason for her preoccupation strode off the dance floor. Ever since sobering up earlier that morning, she had been debating with herself over the wisdom of her plan. Selling out her husband's political ambitions; what new low had she fallen to? Not only that, but her actions would wind up supporting the Dark Sect, people just like those witches who took some sick pleasure from saying such ugly things about her behind their perfect smiles. People who, by and large, were honestly delighted at the thought of her and her children dying because their existence as magical but non-Pureblood offended the sensibilities of the 'right and proper' individuals. That was the philosophy You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters espoused, for God's sake! What was I thinking when I came up with this ridiculous scheme?, a small voice in the back of her head asked in disbelief.
The smile that crossed Jenny's face as she watched the dancers made her mind up for her, though, and she skirted the edge of the crowd.
Approaching cautiously – Lily doubted her appearance would scare her daughter, but it might still send the girl back into the crowd in order to avoid her – she was about to clear her throat and announce herself when Jenny sighed. Not even turning around, the black-haired witch demanded, "What do you want, Lady Potter?"
Well, that's certainly a great start to the conversation, Lily thought with a sigh of her own. She stepped closer to her daughter's side, three or four feet of space still separating them. "Scion Black. Your manor is quite incredible."
"You have our thanks." Lily cast her mind about for a safe transition to the topic she wanted to discuss, but again Jenny preempted her. A flick of the girl's wrist caused her wand to appear in her hand, and the woman could only marvel at the tailoring of her daughter's dress. The slim sleeves gave no indication at all that there was enough room to fit the focus, let alone any kind of holster. Silently waving her wand, the girl then all but snarled, "What is it with you Potters and being incapable of understanding the concept of 'Go away'?"
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B.Q. Book Two: Black Princess Ascendant
FanfictionSecond in the Black Queen series. Last year, Jen had to contend with a deadly Tournament, a revived Dark Lord, a meddlesome Headmaster, and worst of all, reconciliation attempts by her parents. Surely her OWL year can't be anywhere near as complic...
