A Black Family Christmas - 22 December '77

[Lucius Malfoy]

He had never liked these parties, but family was family. Even if they were family that you married into. Perhaps if they were the ones who got to host the annual Christmas party it would be different, but every year they had to go to Orion and Walburga’s dingy little house. That was the real tragedy, that tiny house with their rather useless half elf. For being members of the Noble house of Black, they weren’t nearly as well off as they should have been. Perhaps it was pity that kept his wife or her sister from taking over the party arrangements. He knew quite well that his lovely wife would do a much better job of hosting a party. Adjusting his bow tie, he heard the familiar sound of his wife’s shoes on the staircase and looked up to see her coming down then.

“You look stunning, as usual,” he said as she approached, before he reached out to take her hand and placed a kiss on her cheek. Tonight was full of parties they were required to attend, as Euphadora was hosting a gathering, and Narcissa had talked him into at least making an appearance. But the time to think about that was later, and he gave his wife’s hand a squeeze before the world was spinning around them and they landed down the street from number 12 Grimmauld Place. “I do hope Bellatrix will be on her best behavior tonight,” he said as they exited the alley and walked down the street. Bellatrix and her husband were an annoyance that Lucius tolerated for the sake of his wife, “And Rodolphus too, if I’m being honest. Remind me why we tolerate him?”

The walk to the house was short, and he opened the door for his wife before he followed her in. Their sad excuse for a house elf greeted them, and he brushed past Kreacher to head towards the drawing room to fix them both a drink. Walburga and Orion were already there, and he gave them both a nod in greeting. He returned to his wife, handing her a glass of wine. He was sure Bella and Rodolphus would be arriving soon, and surely Regulus would make an appearance at the very least.

[Narcissa Malfoy]

"Thank you, husband - I know." Narcissa smirked as she sauntered down their grand staircase, the look in Lucius's eye as he took her in all the recognition she needed for her efforts. The time, energy, and gold it took to put together a look like this was well worth it when her husband couldn't take his eye off of her, and with any luck, their combined radiance would help get him into the holiday spirit. Yes - it was a time of year that required various appearances with family and friends, and there were higher pressures at the apothecary and winery as gift orders poured in, and the annual holiday overhaul that their own home went into was something of an ordeal, she could admit if pressured. But as the tastemakers they were, how would it look if their own decor was lacking? Their efforts always paid off - holiday gatherings went off without too many dramatics, generally, and sales soared. If it took a little extra effort, wasn't it worth it?

Even if she was champing at the bit for her aunt to give up hosting the annual event for her side of their family, and let her take up the reins.

Lucius took her hand, kissed her cheek, and she beamed up at him, giving the sharp bow-tie he wore the slightest adjustment. "And you are perfect, my love." In moments, they were landing near her aunt's, and Narcissa laughed in the quiet of the street as she took his words in stride. "One of these days, you're going to love her as I do," she said, although even she knew her confidence in the matter was quite false. Narcissa was doomed, it seemed, to hold her sister in one hand and her husband in the other, as far apart from each other as she could. And then there was the matter of her sister's husband, who had been like a brother to her for what felt like a lifetime - with the ups, downs, frustrations, and embarrassments that only a brother could bring. "Is that a thread you want to unravel tonight, Lucius?" she asked without affect, brows raised, as she wondered what had him in a bit of a mood already. Was it truly so bad that they had two back-to-back events tonight? One with her family, one with her friends? "It's just a few drinks," she assured. "We'll be to Dora's before long, and if they're that much of a bother, we'll leave early. You have nothing to prove to them, love - you'll be fine."

Whether he believed her or no, Lucius was nothing if not a devoted husband, and was shortly getting the door for her...and immediately on his way to the drawing room, as she hung up her cloak with a restrained sigh before following. Bright smile on as she entered to find her aunt and uncle, she hugged and kissed them, praising the fun kitschy decorations they had, yet again, chosen to display. She took the glass offered by her husband, slipping her free hand into his, and lifted her glass to her little cousin as he came in, teasing their darling in an effort to lighten the energy in the room, which was sorely lacking in holiday spirit. "Late to your own party, Reggie?"

[Regulus Black]

"Happy Christmas to you too, Cissy," he jested back as he swung into the room. The youngest Black gave a face and a laugh as he grabbed a glass, came in to kiss his cousin's offered cheek, and clinked glasses with her husband. While this celebration would hopefully be less awkward than last year's - there was truly nothing as miserable as the first family gathering after a disowning event, as he had now learned twice - Regulus was nevertheless not particularly keen to have his parents' attentions solely on himself these days. To be sure, their compliments were accepted as graciously as they were given. But between arranging for his and Wyn's relationship to be presented and, far more under the radar, preparing for an important chat with Bellatrix, Regulus needed a clear head. If he could pull this off, he would be the talk of the family, and their circles, for all the right reasons. Before long, it wouldn't be Sirius who people thought of first - it would be him, and he would have cleaned up the family embarrassment himself. This didn't mean he didn't miss his brother, but their relationship had become impossibly strained since Sirius's decision to leave, and outside of the limited time they shared at school? Their lives, so different since Sirius's first year at Hogwarts, were only diverging more. And, to be honest, it was easier to forget.

If Regulus kept the elder Black from mind, it was easier to imagine his future panning out how it must, to right these wrongs. To continue with Wyn, in a relationship with a witch he adored and would strengthen their standing in the Sacred Twenty-Eight, and to be chosen to serve along Bella, Rod, Rab, even Lucius. Bragging rights would still go to Rabastan, if his memory was right, but he would be among the youngest to join if he could work this out, and that had to be impressive enough to do the trick. Sirius's voice in the back of his mind arguing about why these were the worst decisions he could make, how he'd wanted differently for him, that this was precisely why he'd asked him to leave too - it was anything from helpful, and best forgotten.

"Anything special in store for the holidays?" he asked, positioning himself to keep an eye on the door as he bided his time. Once Bella was agreeable to his wish - which Reg didn't see many obstacles with, really - he could be on his way to Euphadora's to meet Wyn and the lot. A far more enjoyable affair than this would be, he assumed, and far less stuffy. His mother and father were hardly natural hosts, and Kreacher took little liking to anyone out of the immediate family. The forced familiarity here would be replaced with earnest laughs in Wales, and Reg could hardly wait.

[Rodolphus Lestrange]

The sound of the front entry opening and closing could be heard over the laughter in the library, distant voices and footsteps travelling up to the first floor where the main party would be gathered. “Well said, Ignatius, well said. This administration absolutely has gone to the dogs.” Rodolphus smiled cordially at the older man who was merely reciting the same overused talking points as others of his generation without any true understanding of how they applied to society today. Rodolphus understood that not everyone was as well-versed in the matter of politics as he and his bride, but Ignatius and Lucretia seemed to have their heads particularly far up their arses to think that this war was simply about wizarding secrecy statutes and muggle rights. Rodolphus glanced through the open doorway, catching sight of a witch’s dress sparkling in the gas lamplight just before it disappeared up the stairs. “Excuse me for a moment,” Rodolphus said to the gentleman, taking advantage of the opportunity to escape the conversation and crossing the library to where Bellatrix and Rabastan were.

Approaching from behind the brunette, he touched the small of his wife’s back and allowed his hand to travel lower as he settled in beside her. “Lovey, I believe your sister has arrived.” Who else would wear such an attention-grabbing outfit to a family affair? “Shall we refresh our drinks and join them upstairs?” No one would fault them for leaving such thrilling conversation for a sisterly reunion. He looked between the pair, lowering his voice. “I’d even take Lucy’s company over more of this blather,” he said darkly. The childless couple Rodolphus had inadvertently fallen into conversation with could easily entertain themselves. As much as the Lestranges detested Narcissa’s husband, the Malfoys were at least young enough to hold the possibility of entertainment. Well-worn jokes and half-baked political talking points from dinosaurs were not the most intriguing components of the evening, to be certain.

The Black family was dying off. Lucretia and Druella had failed in their responsibility to bear sons that could carry on their family name, and with Alphard’s recent death and Sirius having been disowned, the younger generation was shrinking rapidly. Narcissa’s children would be Malfoys, and should they decide to one day bring children into this world, Bella would bear him Lestranges. That left the whole of the Black lineage in young Regulus’s hands, or pants as it were, and Rodolphus would no doubt be wrangled into a conversation on that matter at some point in the evening as well. Merlin help him. The majority in attendance at tonight’s festivities were his parents’ age or older, and Rod was beyond grateful that his brother had agreed to accompany them year after year, a sort of built-in generational buffer. Even if the prat did have plans to skive off early to go see his gold-digging whore.

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

If there was one holiday that Bella dreaded, it was Christmas. Not because of anything to do with the holiday, but because it meant an extended visit to her aunts joke of a house and insufferable conversations with the members of their family who had long ago lost any real sense in their thoughts. The one thing she did enjoy on these Christmas holidays was the inside jokes and glances from her husband, and knowing what fun they would get up to once they were properly drunk and home. With any luck, some of their other supportive partners would be up for a little holiday fun. The Carrows probably would come if they called them, if they weren’t busy themselves celebrating this holiday with their extended family. Bella had been making small talk for far too long, and had decided that her best bet to get away was to find Rabastan and talk with him. “As much as having this party at Cissy’s would be just as annoying, it’s such a shame that we have to come to this sad excuse for a home,” she mused to him, sipping the last of her second (or third) drink of the evening.

A touch to her back meant that Rodolphus had found them, and she smiled as she turned to look at her husband. Her sister was here, and that meant less annoying company, depending on what Lucius decided to blather on about tonight. “That sounds perfect love,” she said, a laugh escaping her at his quiet words. The elder members of the Black family were always so boring to talk to, so she understood where he was coming from. “I’ve been wanting to check on Regulus anyway, and I’m sure he is upstairs. Shall we?” Moving towards the area where the good liquor was stored, Bella refilled her glass and waited for her husband and brother-in-law, before followed them upstairs.

“Cissy! This dress is fabulous, how come I’ve never seen it before?” Bella said as they entered the the room, as Bella shot a smile to Regulus before going to hug her sister. “You’ve missed the most thrilling conversations about the most boring of topics.” Narcissa and Lucius were excellent at small talk, which Bella had never bothered to try and understand. Why talk about politics with family members when they didn’t want to be part of the effort to change their society? She supposed that was why Narcissa was so good at small talk, given that she hadn’t been chosen to join their ranks.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

"I hate to say it," Rabastan replied evenly as Bellatrix joined his quiet corner, "but at least Malfoy's elf doesn't outwardly despise the lot of us. The service there is much better." There they were, two guests with empty glasses, and Kreacher was nowhere to be seen. The ratty little thing was likely at kicking distance of Walburga's heels, tending to them like they were Swedish Short-Snout hide instead of a convincing, but only if we're being polite imitation. While he had much grander company to look forward tonight at Euphadora's housewarming, Rabastan was trying to pass the time uneventfully here. As long as he lived under his brother's roof, there was no question of attendance at events such as this. In the future, he hoped to have a stronger argument against attending a party at his...sister-in-law's aunt's home. For now, though, the Lestranges moved as one. He and Bellatrix were even sharing an office at the Ministry, keeping tabs on portkeys and more important items of note for the Lord. While they were used to each other, Rabastan often felt that that worked out more in the dark witch's favor than his own, as she amused herself at his expense in the office. Here, though, they were of the same mind - show their faces, and leave for better company.

Rodolphus was doing their name proud, being far more sociable than the two of them combined, and Rabastan chuckled and raised his empty glass to the man as he broke, heading their way. "I do believe that was a record getaway from dear uncle, well done," he added, shoving off of his perch and brightening as Bellatrix mentioned the youngest likely to attend tonight. Perhaps he didn't need to pass the entirety of their required attendance in an uneventful manner. It was always amusing, how easy it was to rile Regulus up. The boy was an easy mark, but at least would bring some entertainment to their mandatory showing. He paused at the liquor cabinet, not about to enter conversation with Lucius and Narcissa without a full glass, and joined his fellows in heading upstairs. 

"Lucius, Narcissa - always a pleasure. The Apothecary can do without you for the night this close to the holiday?" Rab greeted cordially. If he guessed correctly, Euphadora would've extended invitations to them for hers as well, and perhaps that's why Mrs. Malfoy chose to stick out in this company. "Regulus," he continued, voice dropping in concern as he spoke to the boy, "I've been meaning to ask - what did it cost your mother to buy you the Captain's badge? Such a pity that it's not worked out - I heard about the Ravenclaw match. Devastating." He made a show of flexing his free hand, heating it with his breath. "It's rather cold in here tonight, isn't it? If your parents need the help, all they have to do is ask. We're family, I'm sure we could work out an arrangement."