The Art of Persuasion

Chapter 17 : Love is a Bitch

"It looks like Kreacher has been making this a shithole as usual." I said this insult in a chipper tone that made my mother turn around and give me a look one would consider the foulest. However, this is the only look I have gotten from my mother since I was sorted into Gryffindor. In other words, if my mother smiled at me, I would be scared shitless.

"Lady doesn't like foul words spoken by foul monsters, no, Lady hates that. Especially when it's from her blood-traitor-mudblood-loving son. How shameful. So shameful he is." I looked to my left to see that damn shriveled house elf muttering nonsense as usual.

"Do I defile this house, Kreacher?" I inquired in a false, cheery tone. Kreacher looked to me with his bulgy eyes filled with disgust. My mother a made sound to shut the bloody hell up but I ignored her as I anticipated Kreacher's answer.

"Master Black defiles not only house but his surname as well. Yes, what a shame Master Black is. Not other Master Black. He makes up for all disgraces. Young Master Black is very admirable, yes, yes he is." I grew tired of his mad bantering and gave him a good shove with my foot. He let out a loud squeak as he fell to the ground. I let myself grin at this, which quickly died as my mother shrieked.

"Sirius Orion Black! I have had enough of your nonsense!" I scoffed at this and looked away from her.

"Mother, please, I've only been in the house for a good five minutes. At least give me an hour before you shriek at me." I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She looked like she was going to hit me as usual. Of course, she'd never touch a filthy son like me so I'd say I was pretty safe.

"That is exactly my point. It's been already five minutes and I have grown tired of your childish antics." Mother spat at me as I inspected my nails nonchalantly.

"Then, why did you insist I come this Christmas? So, I couldn't touch my 'filthy, muggle-born' girlfriend?" Mother snorted in a manner, which made me want to strangle her. She made no attempt to hide her dislike of the current situation in my love life.

"Actually, I have invited a lovely family over for a Christmas dinner. They have a lovely daughter your age that goes to Hogwarts as well. She's in Ravenclaw but comes from a pure heritage, no doubt." I was exactly right about this whole visit. My mother wants to marry me off to some decent enough girl so we can have pure-blooded babies that run around screaming the three Unforgivable Curses.

"You can tell them that they can take their fortune that you want and shove it up their arses." I spat to which Mother's face grew red with anger. Oh God, here comes the menopause rampage.

"I WILL NOT HAVE THAT TALK IN MY HOUSE." Mother practically screamed as she glowered at me with hate. I returned the look and threw my luggage to Kreacher, whom had just gotten off the ground. He fell to the ground once more with another squeak.

"Bite me." I hissed. I ran up to the stairs to the only place that I could stand, my room, in other words. However, on the way, I met the hateful glance of my brother, whom I assume, had heard the little spat.

"I wish you were never born." he said in his indifferent voice but I could feel the hate in it.

"Sometimes, I wish that as well." I replied in the same tone. I then ran to my room as fast as I could.

Evelyn's POV

"I hate this." Cliff whined as he tried smashing a piece of a jigsaw puzzle in the wrong place. I sighed as I snatched the puzzle piece from him and laid it down. He glared at me as he grabbed another one and tried to smash it in the same spot.

"Goodness, Cliff! Didn't you take Muggle Studies?" I asked as I grabbed the other puzzle piece away from him.

"I know how to do these bloody things but I mean, it's just boring! Can't we do something else? Like, maybe we could have a snowball fight!" I shook my head at the idea of a wet, cold, whining Cliff crying as I pelted snowballs at his face.