A Slytherin in Our Midst

by derangedangst

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I am merely borrowing the Harry Potter universe from J.K. Rowling for amusement purposes with the full intention of giving them back afterward. I am in no way am I making any profit or gain from using them.

READ ME READ ME READ ME READ ME READ ME!!!

Now that I’ve got your attention, I want you all to know that I am dropping this fic. I have lost my muse for this story and I have realized that I suck at remembering to update. I apologize to all my readers for this and I hope you all understand. Here’s what I had written for the next chapter as a sort of good-bye present to all of you.

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Chapter 14

“Stop being so melodramatic, Regulus. It doesn’t become you,” snapped Mrs. Black. “Now why don’t you show Lily to her room? She’ll be staying in the guest bedroom across from you. Then after you get all settled in you can show Lily around.”

“Alright Lily, follow me,” Regulus said.

They went down through the hallway past glittering gaslights and portraits that hung on the walls. Lily gazed in awe at the regal air of what little of the house she saw.

“Pardon the mess. I don’t think Kreacher hasn’t gotten around to tidying up yet,” he called from over his shoulder.

“Mess? It all looks fine to me. And who’s Kreacher?” Lily asked as she skirted around a large umbrella stand and followed Regulus up the staircase.

“Kreacher is our house elf. He’s got a very colorful personality. In fact, his life’s dream is to have is head chopped off and put up on that wall with the other elves,” Regulus gestured towards the shrunken heads mounted up on plaques on the wall. “It really is horrible to look at, but Mum won’t hear of it. Says it’s a time-honored tradition started by Aunt Elladora.”

He stepped out onto the landing and pointed to her room, “Well you have my express permission to come to my room if you need anything; I’ll be a hallway away. And Kreacher should have put your trunk in already, so I’ll leave you to unpack your things. If you need to freshen up the bathroom is two doors down. When you’re done I’ll show you around. Oh, and try not to wear too much jewelry and other shiny objects, Kreacher starts acting funny when he’s around people wearing them.”

Regulus opened the door for her before stepping into his own room. She hesitantly walked into the room and took in her surroundings. It was a very comfortable room to say the least. The room was very dark; everything was either dark blue or black. She spotted her own trunk resting at the head of a large, fluffy bed that Lily thought would have been a great hit at slumber parties. Lily was pleased to see a small bookcase filled with many tomes of different subjects in her room. Happy with where she would be staying for the next couple weeks, she unpacked all her things and carefully stowed them away in the wardrobe that was provided for her. Remembering Regulus’ warning about Kreacher, she removed her earrings and the bracelet Narcissa had given her and locked them away in her trunk.

Feeling strangely light-headed all of a sudden, Lily quickly visited the bathroom and splashed some water on her face before knocking hesitantly on Regulus’s door. The door opened and Regulus let her in.

“Why don’t we start our little tour with my room?” he said. “It looks almost exactly the same as yours except for the colors and the little touches I added.”

It was indeed identical to her room only instead of it being blue and black it was emerald and silver. A coat of arms and the words ‘Toujours Pur’ were painted on the wall above the bed.

“That’s the Black family crest and motto. ‘Toujours Pur’ means ‘always pure’ if you’re wondering,” Regulus said when he noticed her looking at them. “Now lets get out of my boring room and look at the other rooms.”

Regulus led Lily through the house, all the while giving her a run-down of the inner workings of the Black family in a span of two hours.

“So its mandatory for everyone to be set up in an arranged marriage?” Lily asked, an incredulous tone in her voice.

Regulus nodded, “Pretty much, although the actual marriage doesn’t happen until both have graduated from school since education is an important thing for us Blacks. And if one finds a suitable fiancée and the head of the family approves of them before getting married to their betrothed, then the previous engagement will be broken off and you’re free to marry who you’ve chosen. ”

“Who are you betrothed to?”

“Marianne Edgecombe.”

“The fifth year prefect from Ravenclaw?”

“Yeah, her. I talk to her every now and then. She’s okay for the most part,” he said casually.

Lily sighed, “How do you do it? Marrying someone you don’t love? I don’t think I could ever do it.”

“It seems that way to you, but we Purebloods are raised not knowing anything else. We don’t think it’s odd or strange because we were brought up thinking that’s how every marriage was like,” Regulus paused thoughtfully. “I suppose you’re lucky, growing up with Muggles and all. You’ve experienced some things I’ll probably never get to do. But now that Mum has invited you here, I suspect that she’s planning on thrusting you into the Pureblood world as her little protégé. Probably hoping you can attract a decent enough husband, even with your Half-Blood status.”

“What!?” she spluttered. “But I don’t know a thing about being Pureblood!”

“You will once my Mum gets through with you,” Regulus said grimly.

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“Don’t tell Regulus this, but I always hoped I’d have a daughter I could spoil,” Mrs. Black leaned in to whisper to her. “But I have you, dearest, and you’re everything I could ever ask for.”

“It’s such a shame you don’t have any of your own, especially since Aunt Druella has three –well now two daughters,” Lily corrected herself before continuing on.

“Oh you heard about Andromeda then. Such a nasty business it was and she seemed so promising. Well every family has a bad seed every now and then, like that ungrateful son of mine. I do hope he doesn’t bother you at school.” Mrs. Black patted her reassuringly. “But you need not worry about that, you’ll end up far better along than them. In fact, you already are dear.”

“You flatter me, Auntie.”

“But it is true! You’ve only been here a week and you’re already the perfect Pureblood daughter,” she glanced up at the clock. “The girls will be here any minute. Now I have something for you.”

Mrs. Black reached into her robes and brought out a small, plastic card, “I have set up your own separate bank account containing about 100,000 Galleons right now and it will have another 10,000 added every week. The goblins recently introduced this new feature called a ‘debit card’ where you can access your account with this card and pay for things without having to lug around a coin purse.”

Lily accepted the card graciously, deciding not to bring up the fact that it was a Muggle invention, “Thanks so much, Auntie. But don’t you think that that’s quite a large sum of money for me?”

“Of course not, dearest. A girl should always have a bit of money in case the need to go on a shopping spree ever arises. And I trust you to spend it wisely,” Mrs. Black smiled.

“You spoil me, Auntie. I’m grateful for everything you’ve given me,” she said humbly.

“Nonsense. You’re a Black; it’s only fitting that you get only the best and most expensive,” Mrs. Black looked like she was about to say more when a small chime went off. “Oh they’re here. Your coin purse has sufficient funds for small purchases, I hope?”

“Yes, Auntie.”

The Black matriarch patted her softly, “Good, good. Now you have fun with your cousins and buy the most stunning dress you can find. We want you to make a good impression at your first formal function, after all.”

“I will.”

Lily rose from her seat at the couch and went over to the fireplace, which had turned green and had begun to emit small sparks. Narcissa stepped out of the fire as gracefully as she could, followed shortly after by Bellatrix.

Narcissa immediately spotted Lily and enveloped her in a large hug, “Lily! Such a pleasure to see you; its been too long.”

“Really Cissy its only been two days,” Lily smiled.

Mrs. Black called to them from the couch. “Hello girls. Your mother won’t be accompanying you?”

“No, she trusted us to do our own shopping,” Bellatrix said as politely as she could. She turned to Narcissa. “We’d better get going if we’re to be back on time.”

She took a pinch of powder from the flowerpot on the mantle and threw it into the fire, “The Leaky Cauldron!”

“Nice seeing you again Auntie,” Narcissa inclined her head towards Mrs. Black before doing the same as Bellatrix. “The Leaky Cauldron!”

Lily said her goodbye to Mrs. Black before taking a pinch of floo dust and mimicking what Bellatrix and Narcissa had done. She closed her eyes and tried to keep as still as possible. She felt herself slowing down and when her feet had met solid ground, she did what Narcissa had told her during her first trip through the floo that would help her step out of the fireplace more elegantly. Lily opened her eyes and walked over to where Narcissa and Bellatrix stood waiting.

“Come on, let’s go to Twilfitt and Tatting’s. I saw this gorgeous dress the last time I was there and I think I’ll buy it for the Ball,” Narcissa smiled, remembering the dress before dragging the two into Diagon Alley.

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“Really Lily, everything will be fine,” Narcissa said soothingly.

“But I look hideous!” Lily wailed as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Narcissa scoffed, “Obviously you have eye problems because I think you look fantastic. I won’t be surprised if every guy at the Ball can stop themselves from jumping you.”

“I don’t know…”

“You’re beautiful. Accept it,” Narcissa said. “Besides if Auntie hears you saying that she’ll freak. We’re supposed to be self-confident and sure of ourselves. Or at least act like we are.”

“I just wish I looked more like you,” Lily sighed. “Besides, my dress looks nothing like yours and you said that everyone would be wearing something similar to it.

Narcissa was the picture of simple elegance. She wore a simple yet elegant black dress and her hair had been straightened and pinned back.

“I probably won’t get much attention. But that’s what I was going for,” Narcissa said pensively. “Today is your day to shine. Which is why you’re wearing that dress. Now stop fussing. With the way you look, you’re bound to be the center of attention. And you should after all the work I put into your hair and makeup.”

Lily looked at herself yet again. She wore a black strapless dress made with acromantula silk that hugged her curves. The top part was form-fitting and adorned with a beaded floral design. The bottom flowed out into bunches over a pleated layer of semi-transparent material. Her auburn hair had been loosely curled and pinned up by Narcissa, leaving a few curls to frame her face. She had been forced to put on a makeup, although Lily wouldn’t permit Narcissa to put on too much.

“I suppose I look alright,” she said slowly.

Narcissa huffed, “Well I’m not going to argue with you anymore, even if you look way better than alright. Now come on, everyone is waiting for us downstairs.”

The two walked downstairs and Auntie and Druella immediately set upon them.

“Lily, you look wonderful!” Mrs. Black glowed. “You did a spectacular job on her, Narcissa. And of course you look good as well, dear.”

Druella agreed, giving both girls a hug. Narcissa smiled graciously while Lily blushed and stammered her thanks.

“Cygnus is already there, along with Bella, helping to get things set up for everyone’s arrival,” Druella looked at the clock hanging on the wall. “We’d better hurry and Floo there. Regulus left right before you two came down.”

The entire party moved into the sitting room where the fireplace was and stepped through to Black Manor, where the ball was taking place.

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Author’s Notes: If you want to see the dress, here’s the link (take out all the spaces):

http :// www . cbslimited . com/ galleries/ fallalycedesigns / 6911front .jpg

Also, since I’m discontinuing this story, I thought I’d share with all of you the ideas and things I had in mind for the rest of the story.

one The bracelet and quill Narcissa gave/let Lily use influenced her decisions and actions with the charm that was on it. She was under orders from Lucius (who was under orders from Voldemort) to befriend and manipulate Lily. However, this was before they actually became friends. I planned on Narcissa telling Lily about everything and apologizing for it. Lily forgives her, but no longer trusts her.

two Severus was the one who was lurking in the shadows when James asked Lily if she had feelings for Remus. He told no one else about it except Narcissa.

three Voldemort wanted to recruit Lily into his ranks because she was gifted in Charms and Potions. He asks her to join him, but she refuses.

four I was going to have a Pureblood about one to two years older than Lily to take an interest in her at the Ball and for Lily to fancy him a little, but that’s all I had planned for that.

five And of course, Lily and James end up together in the end and they get married and have a son named Harry.