If you were to say the Malfoy Manor was huge, that would be an understatement. Florence was standing outside of the manor in the garden. She had just escaped from the beginning of the event. So far she had met nobody of interest. The only thing that was enjoyable so far was the view and her dress. She was wearing a dark royal blue gown, it had a corset with too many strings and not a lot of breathing room but, hey it's pretty! It had lace long sleeves. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a low bun with daisies placed in her hair.

The manor had a dark academia feel. It had a huge garden to the side of it leading into the main ballroom where it was taking place, she was avoiding going back inside.

The garden had a variety of flowers mainly roses, that were obviously still alive by magic because non were withered. As for the outside of the manor, it had long black stone columns at the entrance. And a huge archway before you entered. It was breathtaking and oddly creepy, nothing like what the Odette manor looked like.

Florence took a breath before making her way back to the ballroom. Her black heels were loud on the broken cobblestone. The sun was starting to set which only meant it had all just begun.

The ballroom was magnificent. It had many windows and portraits lining the walls. The floor was a dark grey tile. Multiple tables were lining the side of the dance floor with people talking politely and taking sips of their drinks.

Florence made her way over to her mother. "Hello, Mother, I'm back from the loo."

Renée looked over at her daughter and gave her a curt nod, "I would like you to meet Druella Black, she has three daughters, Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa."

Florence's eyes moved to the woman standing beside her mother, she had long blonde hair and a stone-cold face. Florence smiled politely, "Pleasure to meet you."

Druella reached out to take her hand in her own. "It is all mine. Your mother was just telling me all about you. I would like you to meet my daughters."

"Of course," Florence said.

Druella looked behind her and waved three girls
over, "This is my oldest, Bellatrix Lestrange, she just got married last year." The woman started, the girl she was talking about was the shortest of the girls but had a defined face with jet black curly hair. Florence nodded in greeting, which the girl did not return the nod. "This is my second born, Andromeda." The girl she was talking about now had chocolate brown collarbone-length hair with deep brown eyes to match. This girl smiled at Florence which she returned, Florence liked her best, she seemed most friendly. "And lastly, my youngest, Narcissa." The last girl had blonde shoulder-length hair and was wide-eyed at the appearance of Florence, (the girl looked very good.)

"It is very nice to meet you," Florence said, "I am Florence Odette."

"Pleasure." Bellatrix and Narcissa said at the same time. "It is very nice to meet you too, I am loving your dress!"Andromeda spoke up.

Florence smiled widely, "Thank you very much. I love yours too. Pink is definitely your color."

When Andromeda noticed nobody was listening in anymore, Bellatrix and Narcissa at already drifted off somewhere. The mothers were back in deep discussion. Andromeda leaned forward slightly and whispered, "It's a muggle designer. My mother doesn't know."

"You do that too!?" Florence squealed slightly.

Andromeda nodded, "All the time."

"I'm so glad I am not the only one. You have to be quiet about it." Florence said quietly.

"Yes, I do." Andromeda stated, "People don't like blood traitors."

"I am aware. My two best friends at my school are muggle-born and half-blood." Florence said, a small smile on her face at the thought of her friends, "My mother thinks I don't have any friends."

"I am dating a muggle-born Hufflepuff." Andromeda laughed, "Imagine that disgrace."

"I fake it until I make it." Florence replied, a humorous tone in her voice, "I love my parents, that's why I fake my views."

Andromeda nodded, "I love my family too, they aren't any good, but they are family."

"I could tell, no offense-"

"-None taken."

"Bella is the scary one, Cissy is the loves the one she is with type beat, and I go by the beat of my own drum."

"Do you plan to marry your boyfriend? Or is he a, for now, type of thing and you will marry who your parents want?"

"When it comes time for my family to want me to seriously marry, I will leave," Andromeda said sadly.

"Come on, Florence!" Renèe called out, "It is time to dance."

"It was very nice to meet you, Andromeda." Florence smiled.

"Please, call me Dromeda, it's what my friends call me."

"And you can call me Flo, it's what my friends call me," Florence smirked.

Florence hated to dance. Maybe she would enjoy it if she were dancing with someone she liked. Currently she was dancing with a man named Evan Rosier. He wasn't much to look at or talk to for that matter. All the boy did was stare at the blonde with hunger. It was quite awkward for Florence.

They didn't talk at all. Just kept dancing on the dance floor with the other couples. Florence wondered if there was a couple here that truly loved one another, a couple that wasn't forced into a relationship just to keep the line pure.

She always liked the idea of falling in love when she was a little girl. The idea of meeting someone and loving them with everything you have and them loving you the same. Perhaps the biggest disappointment in the seventeen year olds life was knowing she most likely won't have that with anyone.

Florence knew she would love her future children with every fiber of her being, she would protect them with everything she had.

But then she would remember, that if she were to keep to the pureblood society ideals, she would have to raise such children with the beliefs she was raised with.

"Nice time?" She blurted awkwardly.

"The best." Evan respond with a smirk, "That dress is ravishing."

"Er- thanks." Florence forced a smile.

"Partner switch!" someone shouted over the music. "See you!" Florence said, looking a little too happy.

While everyone else had partners Florence was left partnerless. She was standing there awkwardly in the middle of the floor with no partner.

The blonde looked over to see her mother waving her on and her father shaking his head in disappointment. Florence took in a sharp breath and looked around desperately for anyone to dance with.

Some people were bumping into her slightly, most adults were shaking their heads in disappointment.

"Want to dance?" a voice spoke from behind her. Florence spun around to see a averagely tall man with jet black curly hair and the most beautiful grey eyes she had ever seen. "Thank you." She breathed gratefully.

He took his hand in hers and they started to move together in harmony. He wasn't stepping on her feet, nor was she stepping on his. She was looking at him, she hadn't taken her eyes off of his. There was one way to describe him: beautiful. The man had a smirk plastered on his face at all times but matched the look of the others in the room at the same time. He looked perfect, he had a black and navy dress robe on.

He spun her around once and then brought her back, but used too much force because now their bodies were flush against each other. Florence's breath hitched slightly, his smirk only widened. She rolled her eyes slightly and decided it appropriate to lift up her foot and step on his foot deliberately. He gasped dramatically, she smiled in triumph.

They were still swaying with the music, but having a whole conversation with their eyes.

"Partner switch!" The voice called out again.

Florence went to pull away from the boy with grey eyes but he didn't let her. His arm snaked around the back of her waist, keeping her in place. She tilted her head in surprise. He shrugged innocently in response but his eyes told a different story.

They stayed swaying together in the moment. The music ended and they finally separated. He bowed and without a word left.

Perhaps dancing wasn't so bad.

Florence made her way back to her mother for the second time that night.

"Well that was embarrassing." Renée huffed, "But," she started with a smile, "You saved it. Dancing with Sirius Black, smart move."

"Hm?"

"Sirius Black, part of the sacred twenty-eight." Her father finally spoke up. "Respectable family."

Florence looked around to find him, but he was nowhere in sight.

note: first chapter!