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xxi. CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

AWKWARD ENCOUNTERS.
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          WHEN BRIAR FINALLY made her way downstairs, she saw that her father, mother and brother were already seated at the dining table, ready to eat. Christian D'Alessio was at the head of the table, a sheet of paper in his hand. He looked up when Briar entered and smiled.

         "There you are, what took you so long?" He asked, not unkindly. He gestured for Briar to sit beside him. "Your mother was just showing me your examination results for this year. Only an E in Charms?"

       Briar bristled slightly, until she realized that the corners of his mouth were turned up. He was joking with her. Relieved, she smiled back. "It's better than anything Lorcan has ever gotten in the subject. If I'm not wrong, he got failed Charms in his sixth year."

       Christian let out a hearty laugh. "I do think he did. Well, Lorcan? What have you to say for yourself? Your sister makes a very valid point."

       Lorcan rolled his eyes playfully. "My sister should perhaps stop remembering all my marks and using them against me. I had other distractions in my sixth year; I was captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team. Briar can't even ride a broom."

          "You were captain because your only competition was Darrel Hopkins. That boy was so fat that his father had to get him a special broom because the regular one wouldn't take his weight."

         "She's right again," Christian put in, but Briar's mother interrupted him with a smile.

          "Don't encourage them, Christian. You certainly never got grades like Briar's when we were in school. As a matter of fact, if it weren't for me, you would have failed Transfiguration," Amelia teased.

           Christian smiled lovingly at his wife. "Yes, I would have. I'm afraid that your brains are entirely from your mother's side of the family, Briar."

          Briar couldn't resist a laugh. "Well then, I suppose I'd better leave Lorcan alone. It's not his fault he inherited all the wrong genes, is it?"

        Lorcan scoffed and reached to throw his napkin at Briar.

          Dinner was a rather pleasant affair. Christian talked about his day in Greece negotiating with their Minister for Magic. Lorcan managed to make them all laugh by retelling the various situations he'd gotten into with his bride's family, because he couldn't understand Portuguese. His future mother-in-law was the worst. Her English was atrocious, and she often ended up saying something very contrary to what she meant. By the time dessert was cleared away, Briar's side hurt from laughing so much.

         "Well, I think it's best we all turn in early, tonight," Amelia declared. "The Rosettis should be here by nine o' clock, and we'll need our energy."

         "I agree," Lorcan said. "I'm exhausted. Good night."

        Lorcan left the table, as did Amelia. Briar got up to leave as well, but her father stopped her. "Briar. May I have a word?"

         Briar sat back down. "Of course, Father."

         Christian D'Alessio's smile had disappeared, and Briar found herself feeling apprehensive. What was he going to say? "I think it's time we talked about what happened in January. Perhaps, when I received that letter from Lucius, I should have chosen to handle things differently."

        Briar shifted slightly. "Oh."

        "You must understand that I was worried about you. I couldn't stand that thought of anything happening to you because of that Black boy. What was his name? The blood traitor?"

        "Sirius," Briar muttered quietly.

         "Yes. He's dangerous, we all know that. I was worried, and I didn't think that I might hurt your emotions in the process. I don't doubt that you had nothing to do with the boy; you're a very clever girl. I should have had more faith in you."

         Briar felt her throat close up. Was her father apologizing? Her stomach felt heavy with guilt as it sunk in that her father did trust her. But what had she done to deserve that trust? Nothing. Nothing but betray him, by doing exactly what he'd forbidden her to do.

       She didn't deserve his trust.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, trying to hide the tears that threatened to spill out onto her cheeks. Christian smiled down at his daughter.

"What are you apologizing for, dear? You've done nothing wrong. Now go upstairs, and get some rest. You'll have a long day tomorrow; I don't doubt that Aimee and her sisters will drive you crazy with their broken English and Portuguese."

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"Ah! Tenha cuidado, não me cutucar!" One of the girls hissed, as Mrs. Farrow stuck a pin into the bottom of her dress. It had proven to be too long; Adriana was the smallest of her sisters. Although she was fifteen years old, she barely looked twelve. "Briar! Tell her it hurt!"

Briar sighed. Despite being tiny, Adriana knew how to get what she wanted. Resisting the urge to slap the bratty girl, Briar turned to Mrs. Farrow. "I think the pins are hurting her, Mrs. Farrow. Could you perhaps be more gentle?"

Mrs. Farrow forced a smile. It was clear that the girls were getting on her nerves as well. "Of course, Briar. Adriana, would you turn this way?"

Briar looked away from them, trying not to crumple the dress she was wearing. She'd tried on many since morning, but Aimee's sisters had shot down every single one. The first had clashed with Georgiana's hair, the second didn't have enough lace, the third reminded Adriana of an easter egg. Briar tried to close her eyes and calm down. It wasn't easy. The two remaining sisters were sitting only a few feet away and chattering in rapid Portuguese. It was starting to get on her nerves.

There was a tapping noise and Mrs. Farrow looked up at the window, where a small owl was pecking on the glass. "Briar, I think there's a letter for you."

Briarnodded, carefully walking over the window without stepping on her skirt. She opened it and untied the letter from the owl's leg, smiling as she recognized Lily's handwriting on the envelope.

Briar,

How have your holidays started off? It's so good to be back home. Mum and Dad were pleased with my examination results, how about yours? I'm sure they thought you did well.

Mum's been bugging me about inviting you over for the holidays. I can't wait either, we'll have so much fun! Have you asked your parents, yet? Let me know once you do, and we can set a date. I remember you saying that your brother's wedding is on the 20th of July. Perhaps you can come over a few days after that, around the 25th? Anything's fine, let me know your convenience.

Write back soon!

Love,

Lily

Briar smiled. She'd almost forgotten that Lily had invited her to stay over for a few days. Clutching the letter, she decided to ask her mother immediately and write Lily back. Almost forgetting about the fact that she was wearing a dress, she skipped up the stairs to find her mother.

Briar had just reached the landing when she heard an odd sound. It was short and harsh, and she didn't recognize it until she heard it again. Was that a bark? Was there a dog in the house? She turned the corner and realized, to her horror, that she'd been absolutely right.

Standing in front of her was an enormous German  Shepherd, smiling at her with big wide teeth and wagging his tail.

Briar screamed.

"For Merlin's sake, what's going on?" Amelia D'Alessio demanded, bursting out of her room. She stopped when she saw her daughter, staring wide-eyed at the dog in the hallway. She sighed. "I see you've met Fairy."

Briar couldn't take her eyes off the dog. "Fairy? That thing is called Fairy? Mother it's humungous, and it's- no! Get it away from me!"

The German Shepherd had started to step closer to Briar, and Amelia resisted a groan. "Oh shoo. Go away," she hissed at the dog, kicking a foot out in its direction. The dog whimpered slightly, before running off downstairs. Briar let out a sigh of relief.

"What is it doing here?"

"I'm afraid Fairy belongs to Adriana. She wouldn't come without it. I told her very clearly that the dog was meant to stay in the garden, but I don't think she understood me," Amelia sighed, noticing Briar's horrified expression. "It's only for a week, dear. Can't you adjust?"

Briar felt her temper rising, but she controlled herself. She refused to stoop to the level of Aimee's sisters by throwing a temper tantrum, no matter how much she wanted to. "I'll be fine as long as it stays out of my room," Briar muttered, irritably. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you, Mother. A friend invited me to stay over at hers for a few days, after the wedding."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "A friend? Who is this girl?"

"Her name is Lily Evans."

"Evans? I've never heard of that name or their house."

Briar took a deep breath. "You wouldn't have. Erm, her father is a Muggle."

Amelia D'Alessio made a face. "A Half-blood? I don't think that's a very good idea. Your father wouldn't be very pleased if I told him about this."

Briar bit her lip. She hated lying to her mother, but she wanted to go to Lily's place so badly. At least it wasn't an outright lie... "Mother, please! Lily's really nice, and she's one of the only people in my year who gets better grades than me. You'd really like her."

Amelia continued frowning. "When would you plan to go?"

"Around the 25th? A few days after the wedding."

"Your father will be going to Romania for a week on the 24th," Amelia said thoughtfully. "It might be better if you go then. I'll tell your father, but I see no reason to mention that the girl is a half-blood. He would almost certainly disapprove of you staying in the same house as a Muggle."

Briar grinned. "Really?"

Amelia smiled at her daughter's happiness. "Yes. Just this once. And only because I'm glad that you've made friends. You never did seem to get along very well with the other girls your age."

"Thank you, mother!"

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The days up until Lorcan's wedding were a nightmare for Briar. Her mother was almost constantly busy with wedding preparations, and as expected, Briar had been forced to entertain Aimee's sisters. Her brother Lorcan was of no help whatsoever; he seemed to think that because he was the groom, he could do whatever he pleased and had no responsibility at all.

"I need a xaile," Georgiana announced one morning, entering Briar's room with her sisters. "My blue dress no have one of same color."

Briar stared at Georgiana. "A what?"

"um xale," Adriana repeated, unhelpfully. "In English, erm... a scarf."

" A scarf. You mean like a shawl, or...?"

"Sim."

Briar frowned at them. "Well, I'm sorry, but I don't have anything that I can lend you. Is it very important? Mother might have one..."

"Aimee say that you take us to buy. In... a cidade."

It took Briar a few moments to understand exactly what it was that Georgiana wanted. "You want me to take you shopping in Diagon Alley? To buy a scarf?"

"Sim."

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That was how, a few hours later, Briar found herself wandering around Diagon Alley with all three of Aimee's sisters behind her. It seemed that a scarf wasn't enough for them; they insisted on stopping at every shop window, admiring whatever they saw. Briar was tired, and her legs hurt, but they showed no signs of wanting to leave.

"Isso é lindo!" Adriana gushed, holding a long beige dress up in front of her. Briar had no idea what the phrase meant, but they used it whenever they saw something pretty. She resisted the urge to groan as Adriana skipped further into the shop to go try it on. Her legs were aching, and she'd started to lose her patience.

     "Como isso me parece?" Fiona asked Georgiana, gesturing towards the pink ballet flats that she'd just slipped onto her feet. Her sister gave a noise of appreciation. Neither of them even turned to look at Briar. She felt suffocated.

"I need some air," she announced, and the two sisters looked at her blankly. " I'm going outside. Come when you're finished," Briar repeated, more slowly. The sisters nodded, and Briar almost ran out of the stuffy shop in her eagerness.

There was a small wooden bench a few feet away from the store, and Briar sat down in relief, nursing her sore feet. Either she was out of shape, or the Rosetti sisters had more stamina than an average human being. She knew the perfect spell to soothe her feet, if only she could use her wand.

"Hello. I didn't expect to see you here." Briar glanced up at the familiar voice, and saw that Remus Lupin was standing in front of her, smiling politely. He had a bunch of books in his arms, and had clearly just come out of the bookstore.

Briar smiled at him. "Buying books already? We haven't gotten our lists for next year quite yet."

Remus shrugged. "Oh, this is just for my own reading. James, Sirius and Peter slipped into the Quidditch store across the street, and I was bored, so..." he trailed off, awkwardly. "I hear your brother's getting married."

Briar raised an eyebrow. "Yes, he is. How did you know?"

"Oh, it's all the two ladies behind me in the bookstore could talk about," he put in, with a smile. "Did you come here alone?"

Briar rolled her eyes, scooting over slightly on the bench so that he could sit beside her. Remus recognized the gesture, and took a seat. "I wish I was here alone. I'm chaperoning the bride's bratty sisters around Diagon Alley. They're in the boutique there, it's been almost two hours. I just needed some air."

Remus nodded in understanding. "Well, if they exasperate you so much now, I hate to remind you that they'll be a part of your family soon."

Briar shuddered. "I know. It gives me nightmares." She glanced at the books he was carrying. "Oh, The Unspeakables! I've read that one, isn't it about a man who gets caught up in some huge conspiracy in the Ministry and gets blackmailed into co-operating?"

Remus shrugged. "I suppose so, I haven't read it yet. It's one of the few Wizarding novels I could find. There aren't very many."

"I agree!" Briar was just about to get started on the horrendous lack of Wizarding novels on bookshelves, when she spotted three familiar figures exit a shop on the other side of the street. Her voice died away, and Remus turned to see his friends walking towards him.

"Oi, Moony!" James called, approaching. "Are you ready to go?"

Remus nodded, standing up quickly. The three boys approached. Peter was the first to notice her, followed by Sirius and James. All three of them looked somewhat taken aback. James was the first to recollect himself, and he smiled.

"Sorry D'Alessio, didn't notice you. Holidays going all right?"

Briar nodded, smiling back at him. Despite the fact that she knew very little about James Potter, he'd been making an effort to be nicer to her ever since he'd started dating Lily. Perhaps he thought it would keep his girlfriend happy. Either way, neither he nor Peter gave her the dark looks that Gryffindors usually reserved for Slytherins.

"They're going fine," Briar replied politely. She risked a glance at Sirius, and saw that he was staring very intently at a pebble on the floor. She turned away from him. "How are yours?"

James opened his mouth to respond, but he was interrupted by Adriana, who'd just come out of the store that she was in. "Briar! Come! Estamos de saída!" she yelled.

Briar gave the boys an apologetic look. "Sorry, I have to go. The she-devil awaits."

James and Peter looked amused, while Sirius narrowed her eyes at the girl. Something seemed to be bothering him. He glanced up at her, his grey eyes clouded.

"Why do you let her order you around like that?" he asked. His voice was quiet, almost inaudible. Briar was shocked that he was even speaking to her. She took a second to regain her voice.

"Erm, she's the bride's sister. I can't exactly be rude." Briar bit her lip, standing up quickly. "Well, um, I'll see you all in school, then."

"Bye," Remus called, and Briar quickly went to Adriana, trying to get those grey eyes out of her mind. They were going to haunt her all night now, she was sure of it.

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hiii, new update, i don't speak portuguese btw i just google translated them so if i made any mistakes pls feel free so point them out,, anyways i hope you guys enjoy this new update, ily
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