Echoes of the Black Heart

Chapter 3

As the applause finally died down, the air buzzing with admiration and warmth, Sirius nudged Regulus gently with his elbow. “See?” he whispered, a boyish grin tugging at his lips. “Told you we were good.”

Regulus rolled his eyes, cheeks flushed a deep pink, but the proud little smile that slipped through was impossible to hide. “Fine,” he muttered under his breath. “We’re not that bad.”

Dorea Potter leaned toward Walburga, her expression practically glowing. “They’re going to steal hearts, those two. You’ve raised absolute stars.”

Walburga, uncharacteristically bashful for once, chuckled softly. “They did all the hard work,” she murmured, her eyes not leaving her boys. “We just gave them the roots. They’re the ones growing wings.”

Lucius, still watching Sirius with the smallest hint of a smile, shifted in his seat. “You’ve always had the voice of a siren,” he said quietly, just loud enough for Sirius to hear. “It suits you.”

Sirius’s blush deepened instantly, ears going red. “Shut up,” he mumbled—but his grin betrayed how thrilled he was.

Abraxas leaned closer to Regulus and said in a stage whisper, “And you? That was power in restraint. You carry the emotion like a true artist.”

Regulus ducked his head, trying to hide the rising color in his cheeks, but the sparkle in his eyes was unmistakable. “Thanks, Mr. Malfoy.”

“Abraxas, dear boy,” Abraxas corrected with a wink.

The room was soon filled with laughter, softer conversations, and a new, glowing energy that hadn’t been there before. Even the house-elves peeking in from the kitchen looked quietly delighted, whispering among themselves about “the young masters' magic.”

As dessert was cleared away, someone—no one knew who—suggested music again, but this time not a performance.

A record was enchanted to play softly in the corner, casting a gentle, jazzy tune through the hall. Orion stood up, offering Walburga his hand. “May I have this dance?”

She raised an eyebrow but took it with regal grace. “Only if you promise not to step on my toes like last time.”

Sirius and Regulus leaned against the wall, arms folded, watching their parents sway to the music. Sirius glanced at Regulus, his voice warm. “You know… this wasn’t so bad.”

Regulus smirked. “Remind me to be mortified more often if it ends like this.”

Charlus, with a mischievous grin, turned to Dorea. “Should we show the children how it’s done?”

Dorea laughed and nodded, letting him pull her onto the impromptu dance floor.

Lucius hesitated, glancing sideways. Then he approached Sirius with a polite tilt of the head. “Would you care to dance, Mr. Black?”

Sirius blinked, flustered. “You—what? You want to—? I—” His brain short-circuited just long enough for Lucius to offer his hand.

With a breathless laugh, Sirius gave in. “Oh, what the hell.”

And as they joined the others under the soft, golden lights of Black Manor’s grand hall, the scene glittered with something rare and beautiful: a pure, perfect moment of joy.

It was no longer just a dinner party.

It was a memory.

And it would be cherished forever.