Ace of Spades

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

As the first week of the holidays ended, the Ostara ball was to be held that Saturday night, which meant I spent much of Saturday afternoon and early evening getting ready.

After I had been given my lunch, Sirius escorted me to the Greengrass Manor, letting Lydia Greengrass and Fiona Parkinson, Pansy's mother, preen over me like children with a new doll to dress.

Because of my dress, they carefully selected my underwear, leaving me with a thong, garter belt and semi-structured corset. I didn't complain because I was comfortable. My curls hair was set with Magic as I sipped on a chamomile tea in a crisp white bathrobe. Pansy and Daphne were the same.

It wasn't just me in the room. Both girls and their mothers were in this large dressing room, set with mirrors lining one wall and separate vanities at each. Astoria sat to the side, having already been pruned by the Witches before being passed off to a HouseElf who was moving a rack of items.

"Stay still," Fiona Parkinson warned as she swished her wand and my hair was forced into a french twist, a few pieces framing my face as a raven skull hairpin was tucked into my hair. "Done. Makeup done. Shoes, then dress."

She swished her wand as three pairs of shoes came, each going to their respective owners. I chose a simple pair of black platforms as my dress was supposed to be the statement piece. My makeup was moody with a dark eye and lip. My hair was done and all I had left was my dress, my tailored, expensive, dress. It was more money I had ever seen, let alone thought I would one day have access to.

When we were done, dressed to our best with impeccable gowns and makeup, Pansy and Daphne were herded off by HouseElves to prepare them to be at their places in the ballroom. My entrance was supposed to be the highlight of the party, introducing me to the ton and letting me create my own slot amongst their numbers. Everything had to be perfect.

"Ready?" Sirius said, holding out a hand to escort me in barely seconds. He wore a silver mask over his eyes, canine in style.

"It's a masquerade?" I hissed lowly. "Since when?"

"You need to stand out."

Even a dress made of pure nightfall would not stop my hammering heart as I was about to be led into the ballroom. The midnight purple fabric flowed like water around my ankles, with layers to show off the shimmering fabric as the candlelight flickered off of it.

I smoothed down my tight bodice, held up with Magic as it was almost backless and had no sleeves. A thin shawl was over my shoulders, sheer but ever like the night sky. My elbow length gloves were the same. I didn't dare touch my face or hair, both of which were groomed into perfection.

"A new ember on the firepit," Silver said to me but I didn't react. I couldn't even dare look at him.

When I went into that room, I would be scrutinised down to every cell. They would pick me apart for everything I was worth before they even thought of thinking me as one of their own.

I wasn't one of theirs.

I was above them all.

I confidently took Sirius' hand, letting him guide me into the pool of serpents as their new society was forced to accept me. Each step was rehearsed, practised with carefully considered caution. I couldn't fall. That would not be a very elegant way to introduce myself, especially when Voldemort was supposed to appear tonight.

I counted my allies in the group. Daphne stood with her family, all wearing shades of pale blue from Daphne's shawl to her father's suit and cloak. The Parkinsons weren't far from them, holding flutes of champagne, accenting their bronze attire.