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SURE ENOUGH, the next morning at nine am Headmaster Dumbledore's voice echoed across the great hall in a lovely— albeit slightly off tune falsetto.

Pernelle snorted as Marceline'a face turned to a scowl and she plugged her ears, "For Merlin's sake— this early!"

"Personally I think it's the perfect wake up call" Pera shrugged with a smirk, and Vaudeline rolled her eyes.

She hadn't said anything— but from the look on her twin's face Perenelle knew that Vaud had a sneaky suspicion Dumbledore's impromptu performance had something to do with a certain redhead Gryffindor.

Speaking of said redheaded Gryffindor, Perenelle accidentally, mind you— made eye contact with him from across the hall. She nearly choked on her toast and quickly averted her eyes. In a perfect world she would avoid him for the next two days... until well after her cousin's birthday was over.

It's not as though a part of Pera didn't want to go to the Gryffindor party. Bloody hell— the curiosity tempted her beyond belief, though she would have to have a death wish to take Gideon up on his invitation.

Thinking of her actions so far this term at school though.. perhaps she did have a death wish.

"Oi!" Antonin clapped his hands dangerously close to Perenelle's face, and she jumped in her seat,

"Do you bloody mind?" She scowled, and he laughed, "Back to reality there princess?"

"Whatever" she mumbled, and Antonin continued,

"I was trying to ask if you were still planning on coming tomorrow— first game of the season and all"

"I don't know, maybe" Pernell's shrugged, picking at her toast, she really did not want to attend, for one she didn't really care for quidditch, and two— well, she had covered that already.

She could feel Gideon's eyes burning a hole into the side of her head. Why is it he cared so much anyway? What good could possibly come from her attending a party— let alone a Gryffindor party.

"Not maybe— a yes, of course Toni and Damien, my bestest friends— oh how I love you and how talented you are on the field, how couldn't I come watch you crush the Gryffindor tossers" Damien dramatically interrupted, and both Black sisters rolled their eyes while Marcie snorted,

"Okay, that's enough" Vaudeline teased, "Of course we'll come, Pera's just not feeling well"

It was a lie— kind of, physically she was the picture of good health, though she faked a sniffle for good measure.

"Well I'm sure you'll get over your cold by tomorrow" Toni teased,

"Let's hope so!"

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"Are you avoiding me Nell?"

Perenelle's heart nearly stopped as Gideon snuck up behind her, and she quickly looked around the library to make sure nobody was in the immediate vicinity.

Well it didn't have to be nobody— she wasn't fully insane. Though the first year Hufflepuffs on the other side of the bookshelf were harmless.

"For Merlin's sake Prewett, can I not pick out a book in peace?" Her hand was still wound tightly around the copy of Wandless Magic— For Beginners, and she fought the urge to smack him with it for scaring her.

Their defence teacher that year, Professor Fornam was rather air-headed. He was alright, not as good as last years— but she felt his introduction to wandless magic in their last class to be slightly underwhelming and not entirely instructive enough.

"Ouch— back to last names are we?"

"Well when you scare me out of my wits, yes"

He raised an eyebrow at her and she tucked the book under her arm,

"You never answered my question.."

"Why would I be avoiding you Gideon?" She knew very well why she would be, and she very well had been. Just an hour earlier she had practically ran out of the Great Hall after lunch because he wouldn't stop staring at her like he did at breakfast.

"Well, today is the second of November, making tomorrow?..." He trailed off, and Perenelle stared at him pointedly,

"The third" She answered, pursing her lips, "I do know my days and months— in case you doubt me"

"Come on Nell"

If Perenelle hadn't known any better she would have thought he was begging,

"I think you've gone mad, do you know how much trouble I can get in?" She hissed, once again double checking her surroundings.

"I have to admire your narcissism Nell, realistically how would anyone know you were there?" He teased, and Perenelle's eyes nearly bulged out of her head,

"Oh— I don't know, maybe my cousin who hates my guts, whose birthday also happens to be tomorrow, and the reason for the party"

"Yeah but that won't be the reason for the party when we win the quidditch game tomorrow, I told you this— I'm captain, so's Fabian, and what we want goes when it comes to all things quidditch related"

"And I'm the narcissist?" She teased, raising an eyebrow at him, "what makes you so sure you'll even win? Two of my friends— and two of my cousins are on Slytherin's team, I don't think your lot stands a chance"

She was only trying to get a rise out of him— though her statement held partial truth to it. Regulus was a brilliant seeker, and Antonin's violent skill as a beater was almost terrifying.

"Alright then, if you're so sure Slytherin will win then how about a bet?" He paused, leaning against the bookshelf. Merlin— his smirk made her nervous, that and she was nearly late to meet Damien and Severus for herbology, and she feared the two would come searching for her at any second.

"Go on"

"If Gryffindor wins— you come, no bloody protests about it, and if Slytherin wins I won't badger you about not coming and I'll throw in ten galleons"

She saw Severus' head pop into the library over Gideon's shoulder before she could process what the Gryffindor had said, and in her desperate urge to flee she nodded, reaching out to shake Gideon's hand,

"Deal" and she quickly left him in the aisle of bookshelves.

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By the time her arse hit her seat in Sprout's greenhouse Perenelle realized she had made a horrible mistake— though it wasn't until she had told Alice of her frenzied deal with Gideon that Pera truly began to panic. (Alice had laughed— like, really laughed at her, misery ensued.).

Though that was nothing compared to the almost psychotic grin plastered across Marceline's face as she practically bounced with energy on Perenelle's bed that evening,

"Salazar— Merlin oh Pera I could kiss you!"

"Have you lost your mind?" Perenelle hissed, her hands (which were in the middle of plaiting her hair) freezing in their spot.

Marceline leaned back to lay across the bed, her shit eating grin still present on her face,

"Perenelle— this might be the best day of my life, I never thought I would say this, but I am going to pray to the faith that Gryffindor beats our asses tomorrow"

"You will do no such thing!" Pera chastised, quickly tying off the end of her plait, "Marcie, do you know how stupid we have to be to want to walk into a Gryffindor party?"

"I thought we decided we were gonna live a little? I for one have been dreaming to live a little, and a Gryffindor party? Us? Merlin Per think of the possibilities!"

Perenelle snorted, kicking off her slippers and tucking her feet up on the bed, "Oh yes, like the possibility of my cousin kicking us out, then we're at risk of being in trouble with my parents and humiliated"

"You said it yourself— the Prewett's make the rules if they win..." Marcie countered in a sing-song.

"Well they won't win— hopefully my prayers cancel yours out"

Perenelle was not an overtly religious person. She believed in the faith like any other proper pureblood— to an extent, though she certainly was not as devout as her aunt Walburga.

According to Narcissa, the week after Sirius ran away her aunt prayed at Grimmauld Place's altar day and night. Considering her cousin was still excommunicated and seemed to be living his best life, she wasn't sure if her aunts prayers had worked.

Perenelle wasn't even sure her own prayers would work, given that she neglected to pray on Samhain only a few days prior, though a part of her hoped that her ancestors forgave her and would grant her wish regardless of her transgression.

Then again the Black's were not easily forgiving people.

That sentiment would not leave her head as she anxiously watched the quidditch game the following afternoon— she was shaking, perhaps partially from nerves though mostly due to Scotland's unforgiving November chill. Vaudeline sat to her right, and Marcie was to her left— both cheering on Slytherin but only one truly meant it.

She hadn't even told her sister. Merlin just the thought made her want to run as fast as she could. If Regulus caught the snitch (hopefully bloody soon) she never would have to tell Vaud about her ridiculous predicament.

And that looked highly likely— Perenelle's heart pounded as Regulus and Marcus Bell, Gryffindor's seeker began to dive.

She grabbed Vaudeline's hand— both cheering, along with nearly the entire Slytherin section, and for a moment she believed that finally, something, just something would work in her favour.

It seemed as though it had happened in slow motion.

Antonin had appeared out of nowhere, nearly colliding with the snitch— both seekers less than two meters away in the air— he swung his beaters bat towards Bell, the force of the bludger resulting in a resounding CRACK echoing across the field.

She almost closed her eyes, and she squeezed Vaudeline's hands tighter, surely Bell would dodge— then Regulus would have a clear grab for the snitch.

Though just as quickly as Antonin had appeared, Sirius flew like lightning— sending the bludger rebounding— and all three girls screamed as the bludger hit Antonin in the abdomen before he had a chance to react.

While Toni didn't fall off of his broom (thank bloody Merlin) the force of impact sent him in circles— just in time to clip the end of Regulus' broom, sending him in the opposite direction.

Bell caught the bloody snitch and the field erupted in red and gold.

So no— her prayers to the faith had not worked, the day would not go in her favour, and maybe this was a lesson to observe her holidays. Bloody hell.

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"Have you lost your mind!"

Vaudeline looked as though someone had told her a dragon had just hosted a tea party in the common room, her eyes wide and mouth agape as her stare nearly burned Perenelle into a pile of ash on the dormitory carpet.

Marceline stood off to the side— nervously observing the two sisters though trying (and failing) to hide the excited expression on her face.

"Vaud— come on, when will we ever get an opportunity like this again?"

Marceline's words, though absolutely insane, managed to do one thing right— as Vaudeline's murderous stare left Pera and leached onto their brunette best friend.

Perenelle really tried to get out of it, like really did. She even stuck around the quidditch pitch for an hour, nearly missing dinner mind you, to attempt to negotiate with the handsome, as much as she hated to admit it, red headed devil who had sealed her fate.

"Gideon— forget ten galleons, I will give you fifty!" She had begged, and he had laughed, his curls, wet from the shower bouncing as he mocked her.

"Wow— thank you so much for congratulating me on my win Nell, but no way— I won fair and square, so I'll see you outside the staircase by the kitchens at nine!" And he had quickly headed off in the opposite direction.

Cue to the current scene in her dormitory.

"We're going Vaud, with or without you— you lot are honorable people, Pera has to honour her punishment, and I'll go with her to make sure nothing goes wrong" Marcie shrugged, and Perenelle fought the urge to snort at her friend's words. Yeah, that's why Marceline was going to go.

"Oh absolutely not— you two are insane if you think I'm letting you go alone"

Now it was Perenelle's turn for her eyes to bulge out of her head,

"What? Fuck it— I guess we have a death wish now, I may as well come make sure you" and she pointed at Pera, "don't get murdered by fucking Sirius, and you" this time she pointed at Marcie, "don't try to shag him"

Vaudeline shuddered as she spoke the last words, and Perenelle followed suit. Merlin just the thought made her incredibly uncomfortable.

"Bloody hell— your cousin is hot, I am an honest person who believes in speaking truthfully, would you like me to lie?"

"Yes"

"Absolutely"

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As far as Perenelle was concerned, if the three girls were going to march to their death it certainly would not be sober. This— they had agreed on, though what to drink to drown their nerves with was the current conundrum.

"Alright I've somehow found half a bottle of chateau rum!" Perenelle declared, muffled by her rifling through her wardrobe,

"I've got nothing" Marcie sighed, plopping onto her bed in defeat.

"Well ladies— I have some elvish liquor I knicked from Damien a while ago" Vaud smiled, waving the bottle as though it were a prize.

"Oooh what flavour? Please tell me it's not elvish tears, I do not care what Severus says but it does not taste like liquorice, it tastes like piss"

"And why do you know what piss tastes like Marce?" Pera countered, an eyebrow raised.

"Bloody hell— do you know what rhetorical means?" She scoffed, and Vaudeline rolled her eyes before interrupting them,

"Well lucky for us it's treacle"

Draining the remaining liquor from the bottle did not help Perenelle's nerves.

Vaudeline seemed slightly more at ease, and Marceline had actually become more excited, though Perenelle thought Marcie's eagerness could be better described as insufferable.

Perenelle sat on her bed— her robe tied tight around her, and she rolled the now empty bottle in her hands.

"Bloody hell Vaud, you cannot wear that"

Perenelle was disturbed from her absentminded sitting, and her sister stood in the middle of their dormitory, an annoyed look on her face, in a blue silk shirt, its matching skirt and half robe.

It was gorgeous, expensive too— Perenelle immediately recognized it as Mademoiselle Floret, a French designer brand nearly impossible for purchase unless personally invited to one of its three locations in France. An invite their mother secured every time they visited her mother country.

"Well why not?"

"You look too pureblood, and too rich"

"I'm both of those things" Vaudeline scoffed, and Marcie sighed,

"Well most of the Gryffindors are not" She paused, "Besides, this isn't a Slytherin party, nobody is going to be wearing their finest silks in an attempt to show off"

"So? Why shouldn't I"

Marceline looked as though she was about to scream, and Pera fought the urge to laugh,

"I've been to parties Vaud"

"One Ravenclaw party a year ago" Vaudeline countered.

"Still more than the both of you put together! Isn't the whole goal not to stick out and get caught? If you wear that you're going to stick out like a sore thumb!"

Perenelle sighed, "Vaud, Marcie's got a point"

Vaudeline only looked more exasperated, "Well what are we supposed to wear? Everything I own is expensive and proper, I don't exactly have a pair of filthy bell bottoms lying around!"

Marceline suddenly had a devilish look on her face, and Perenelle burst out laughing. No— no way.

Her sister must have read her mind, as suddenly Vaudeline was staring at Marceline in disbelief,

"Avery, do not tell me you own a pair of bell bottoms" She shuddered, "Don't even tell me you own jeans"

"Number one, don't you dare tell anyone I own anything resembling muggle clothes, and number two— start stripping, it's half past eight and we need to hurry up or we'll be late"

Perenelle instinctively tightened her robe around herself as Marceline began to rifle through her trunks and wardrobe.

Merlin, she would never forget to pray on a holiday ever again.

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eeek! hello everyone, I have missed you xxx
I promise that you will not have to wait as long as last time for an update, though I can't promise the next one will be super speedy, midterm season has left me with piles of assignments, but I am so excited to be back!!!
next chapter will be the party, any predictions about what will ensue?
also! I'm trying to craft a pureblood religion... hence my "the faith" subplot, super early stages right now but it will be mentioned more in future chapters, I'm thinking a pagan-magical fusion sort of route!
until next time, jess <3