Chapter Seventeen - Titles and Decorum 16th July 1978
“Are you sure I can sit here? Everybody is staring at me.” Izabella hissed in Lucius' ear as she fiddled with the numerous forks in front of her. Lucius chuckled and inclined his head towards a group of sneering faces halfway along the table.
“They would be the Blacks, cousins to Regulus. Bellatrix and Narcissa. There was a third sister but... well she married a Muggle.”
“I remember those two from school. Sirius hates them.”
Izabella coughed and dropped her head slightly as Lucius clenched his jaw. She took a glance from underneath her eyes lashes and watched the two girls and their faces change as Lucius looked at them. When his gaze returned to Izabella, the Black sisters continued to glare at her.
She rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the seat at the top of the table beside Lucius, as the elder Malfoy took a seat. Accompanying him and sitting opposite Lucius and Izabella was the Minister of Magic and his wife. Raising her eyebrow slightly, she looked towards Lucius but he just grinned.
“Miss Prince, it's lovely to see you again.”
“You too Abraxas.” she said with a smile.
“That would be Lord Malfoy to you young lady.” said the Minister with a chuckle.
“Don't be silly Minister, Izabella is practically family.” Abraxas said as he raised a glass in Izabella's direction.
Izabella smiled then arched an eyebrow at Lucius, who was biting his lip to hold back a laugh as he filled Izabella's glass.
The doors were opened once more and a group entered, lead by Severus and Regulus who were talking in low voices. Izabella frowned and watched them hurry to their seats, Severus pausing to nod at Lucius.
“Where have they been?” Izabella asked, narrowing her eyes at Lucius who just shrugged and engaged her in the exclusive conversation at the top of the table.
Throughout dinner, plates of well prepared food were brought out by finely dressed butlers and placed in front of the guests. Izabella ploughed through the food, Lucius whispering help with cutlery and etiquette in her ear.
Izabella was constantly involved in conversation and often engaged several people at once whilst telling stories of Hogwarts and wedding planning.
She often felt watched, glancing up to find Abraxas leaning back in his chair and smiling at her, or Eileen nodding in encouragement from further down the long table.
Lucius appeared to be interested in her all night, laughing at her jokes, listening to her stories and leaving affectionate touches down the length of her arm.
After Abraxas made a brief speech thanking the guests, everyone began to return to the ballroom. Izabella smiled and took Lucius' hand as he pulled back her chair and helped her to stand up.
“Care for a walk in the garden?”
“I'd love to. I need to burn those fifteen courses off.”
Lucius chuckled loudly and wrapped his arm around her waist gently, leading her through the large glass doors and out into the darkening summer evening.
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SlytherinGirl. FanFic Lover |