Heart Scars ||| Remus Lupin

Seventeen

Narcissa and Bellatrix came over before the ball so that all three girls could get ready together. Adhara did her best to ignore Bellatrix, and all her talk about the dark lord.

Adhara knew that if she listened to a word Bellatrix said, she might get sick. She wanted to block it out, pretend that it didn't happen. That was what was getting her through all of this.

Narcissa had a silver satin gown, that had off the shoulder straps and small pearls on the dress. Lucius would be wearing a black suit with a tie to match her dress. Her blonde hair was pulled in a tight bun at the base of her neck.

Bellatrix had an emerald green dress, that cut down low and had a slit to the top of her knee, and it hugged Bellatrix's curves. Her long and wild curls cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. She had refused to let Narcissa style it.

Adhara got dressed and used a spell for her makeup. Narcissa did her hair in an elegant braid, and stuck diamond hairpieces in it. Adhara was sure they belonged to some ancient grandmother of theirs.

Adhara wore heels, making her appear a couple inches taller than she was, and then they were off to the ball.

When she got there, she stood at the top of the grand staircase, waiting to be announced. Adhara was used to it though, she went through this every year. She kind of hated it, her name being called and then having to walk down the stairs in front of everyone.

"Rodolphus Lestrange and Bellatrix Lestrange." The announcer called, and many people clapped.

"Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Malfoy." More claps.

"Orion Black and Walburga Black."

"Regulus Black."

Adhara watched as her brother walked down the stairs slowly, and then made his way over to Evan, Pandora, and Dorcas. Adhara had made the decision to try to avoid her friends tonight.

"Adhara Black." People clapped as she grabbed the railing and walked down the stairs, trying not to trip. She was suprised when someone met her at the bottom and held out his arm like a gentleman.

"Join me?" James Potter asked her, and she slowly wrapped her hand around his bicep. Adhara didn't want to look at her mother, fearing the anger she would see.

"You don't look so good." James comments quietly as he leads her onto the dance floor. They begin to waltz, James doing every step perfectly. It shocked her that the clutzy and slightly uncoordinated James Potter could waltz.

"Love to hear that." She scoffs.

Adhara's face still had a few cuts, and she was sure she had deep bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. All in all, she knew she looked like hell, and she also knew she was going to be like that for a while, maybe even for the rest of her life.

"You could always come home with me." James whispers looking into her eyes, nothing but sincerity was there. Adhara ignored the sinking feeling in her chest.

"Thank you for the offer, Potter, but I'm fine right where I am." She says coldly, he sighs, spins her and gently pulls her back in.

"I just want you safe, Adhara. And Regulus. No one should deal with what you two do." He shakes his head sadly, and she scowls.

"Potter, stay out of my business," she snaps, "It's good you're here though, I needed to talk to you." She looks around cautiously as she speaks.

"What do you need?" James asks.

"I need you to stay away from me. Keep Remus and Sirius away from me as well." She whispers, and he stops dead. People bump into them and whisper, but James and Adhara pay them no mind.