Through Her Eyes

Chapter 23: Slytherin's Locket

Lady Walburga Black was not a woman to be reckoned with. Just like her screaming portrait back home, she was very elegant and regal in her mannerisms, and stood with her back perfectly vertical to the floor. Obsidian hair swept up neatly under a quail hat, she held tight to Hermione's arm as they glided into the ballroom. Despite the amount of people already moving about, Hermione had a hard time feeling comfortable among them. They were all in fanciful dress cloaks and masks, and a small orchestra played in the corner as Walburga guided her about the room, happy to show her off,

"Oh! Let me introduce Emma Louise!" She would cry out to any young man or couple she set eyes on. Turning and glaring at Regulus who was padding some distance behind, he was snickering at her from under his mask. Leaning backwards slightly as Walburga chatted happily with a young man and woman before her, Hermione addressed him,

"Who does your mother think I am?" She snarled quietly, fuming irritably as the boy chuckled,

"My girlfriend no doubt, after all, you're a Peverell tonight,"

"You're awful," Hermione hissed, accepting the hand he held out to her anyway,

"A dance then?"

"Anything to get me away from your mother. But let me change first, this dress, Regulus, isn't appropriate for dancing,"

The boy lifted a lip in an almost lustful manner as Hermione pulled her wand out of her ponytail and flicked it. This transfigured her dress into a simple black fan out, with glitter around the skirt and sequins up the bodice. It fell a bit lower then her knees, and she now had elbow length gloves covering up her 'traitor' scar as well as her poison marks. Her heels were now slippers, and allowed Hermione to walk without pain since arriving at the party,

"Better?" Regulus questioned, pulling Hermione closer to him as other young men in the room gave her hungry looks,

"Much. We'll dance, and then I'll sneak away for the night,"

"Fine,"

Hermione felt slightly nervous about dancing with Regulus, as she was unsure of the traditions of Black Family dancing. But once the music started - a half tango with a bit of waltz - Hermione's feet took over for her,
'I must have been trained as a kid,' Hermione thought, spinning gracefully around Regulus before dipping backwards. For now she ignored the hand grasping the underside of her thigh and leaned back into her partner, letting her eyes dart about the room as he pulled her back against his chest. A ring had formed and everyone was watching them, including a tell-tale head of platinum blonde hair,
'Lucius is here,' Hermione thought in half panic, turning to Regulus who let both hands rest on her waist,

"Not bad, cousin," He whispered softly, "I guess you really were paying attention during dance lessons,"

"Indeed," Hermione stated, falling towards the floor gracefully as the tip of her hand brushed the smooth tiles, "as long as you don't drop me,"

"That would ding my reputation as a dancer," he growled unhappily, finishing up the dance and stepping away from Hermione, bowing deeply. Curtseying in return as people clapped, she let Regulus bring her close to him as a figure approached,

"Well, well," Lucius drawled, lowering his silver mask, his storm eyes glinting as he ran them over Hermione's body. She immediately felt dirty under his gaze as Regulus stepped in front of her slightly, "you've been holding out on me, Black. I didn't know you had a girlfriend,"

"Best if you didn't know, Lucius. I didn't want to make a scene,"

"Well, I came to ask the young lady for a dance?"