She had grabbed his arm, sent his world into a new landslide with her declaration, and it was a clear wonder that Sirius Black’s jaw did not clang to the floor with a metallic crunchthud.

Let’s go? LET'S GO? How could she think that she could just arrive at his house with no word whatsoever, beforehand; arrive in her usual, short type of attire, and he would take her to a ball that, despite being known quite well in the circles of their world, he had not intentions of attending?

Not to mention that, even if he had wanted to attend the ball, he would not take her in what she wore, right now. The rather terrible cold would give her a ... well, a rather terrible cold.

He forced down the quick upsurge of exasperation, and gave her what he hoped was his most intoxicating smile. “That sounds great and all, Nic -" he hoped she would register the nickname; he was sure she was rather fond of it - "but I don't... think we will.”

Nicola’s eyebrows shot up like a volcano that had been activated in all of its magnificent fury, after decades of silence. “Excuse me?” she asked, rather testily.

“I am not going to the Castles’ ball,” Sirius repeated, and this time he uttered each word more clearly, more strongly. “I repeat – I am not going to the Castles’ ball. I repeat -”

“Aww, but sweetie -" she cut through, tightening her iron-like grip on his arm - Sirius wanted to cringe because, muscular as he was, he knew it would be a death-wish to try to free himself from it - "You know it is the best ball that there is, out there.”

“That’s the Blacks’ Annual Ball,” Sirius pointed out, cheerfully. He did not believe that but, hey, she was his girlfriend! She needed to believe in the nobility and pride of his House. Something like that.

Nicola looked like she had been informed that the menu for the night included a bunch of Mimbulus Mimbletonia. “But of course, honey,” she said, and he was amazed how quick she could flash him her pretty, rather manipulative smile. Which did not, of course, manipulate him at all. “I meant second best. The Castles' Ball is the -”

“Well, second-best or not, the point is that I will not bother to attend that ball thingy,” Sirius cut through. His tones were firmer than he had wanted them to be and, this time, Nicola put on no fake smiles, made no fake gesture. Instead, she stamped her foot on the floor, the impatience in her tones clear and carrying when she spoke.

“Sirius! We have to go. We can’t miss such a night.”

I can’t miss such a night, she thought to herself. I need this chance. The fact was, she wanted things. She wanted money, she wanted fame, and she wanted them while she was still young. The easiest way, of course, was a husband who came from one of the elite, noble families - and the easiest way to meet bachelors for this purpose, she knew, was a ball like the Castles’. Because such events attracted, always, the very cream of their world.

Sirius Black was handsome, she knew that. He was also rich and, clearly, a pureblood – all qualities she wanted in her future husband. But he was a rather non-serious type, and Nicola hated that. He did not seem like the type of guy who would marry her and give her a share of his wealth, at any rate. Which meant she had no real use for him.

She would not even be here, at this moment, if she had her way. She would rather be at the ball she insisted he take to her, now; seducing a man - or men - she thought fit for herself. The problem? She did not have an invitation, which made Sirius her key. He had one, and if he could just take her there – things would turn out awesomely, she knew.

She tore herself away from her thoughts, and realized Sirius was speaking. “Of course we can miss it,” he was saying, rather impatiently. “There’s nothing special about that ball, Nic. So why don’t you just stay over for the night, and we can do something fun like cook –”

Nicola’s eyes widened. COOK? That was what he wanted to do, that was how he wanted to spend a night along with her? Impatient anger flared through her. “You’re an idiot, Sirius Black!”

Oh good, Sirius thought cheerfully. She lost her cool, and maybe now she will leave me in peace. “Well, so are you, you know, Nic,” he returned with a grin. He couldn't bother being respectful because, well, he knew her - she did not wanted, had never wanted, love. He could tell what she was after, because her attempts at concealing her true side had always been rather shabby.

“You –”

She turned on her heels and stormed out of the room - and, to his immense relief, out of the house, too - her eyes ablaze with fury, her breathing quick and angry.