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It was just another pureblood ball. And as Lord and Lady Potter (one of the sacred 28) naturally Euphemia and Fleamont couldn’t skip it.
And that’s how the Potter couple found themselves at another ball this time hosted by the Black family. The Party -if you could even call it that- already started. In the beginning Orion Black had introduced his family. His Wife Walburga as well as his heir Sirius Orion Black III and his younger daughter Cassopeia Walburga Black. If Effi’s memory is correct Sirius must be about 9 years old and Cassopeia around the age of 8.
Most of the people present must have thought that both of the siblings seemed flawless, but Euphemia could see that Sirius turned to check on his sister frequently. She looked cold and unimpressed at the first look, but Effi noticed her hand twitching from time to time.
After Euphemia and her Husband had been talking to people for a while already, she turned to her husband. “Darling, I am going to search for the bathroom. I will be back shortly.”
On the way to the wooden door she put her empty glass on one of the flying tablets. As soon as she was out of the ballroom Effi was searching for the bathroom but just as she saw the door, she heard a sniffle and cut of breathing coming from one hall further. When she was there, she saw the Blacks youngest child sitting on the floor leaning on the wall and with her arms around her legs. The Woman was walking toward the girl. “Hey Cassopeia? What’s wrong querida?”
Cassopeia looked up with a scared expression in her light grey eyes, but it softened a bit when she noticed Euphemia. Effi tried putting her hand on her shoulder but the girl flinched away from her touch. “It’s okay, I won’t hurt you.”
The girl sniffled and stuttered. “enlève-le- je dois l'enlever. Off- have to take- take it off- “
The older woman seemed a little confused. “Have to take what of, Darling? “
Cassopeia tried again still talking way to fast. “Dress- I- je dois l'enlever“
Now Euphemia understood what she meant. “Okay, okay querida we can do that in just a moment but first you have to calm down. Try to breath with me, okay?”
The kid nodded and tried to copy Effi who was breathing loudly for the girl to hear. After a few minutes Cassopeia seemed to breath more easily than before. Effi stroked her arm and sat down next to the girl also leaning on the wall. “Better?”
The girl nodded shily. They sat there for a few minutes more. Then Effi got up and held her hand for Cassopeia to take. “Well, come on.”
Even though she looked confused Cassopeia took Euphemia’s hand. “We’re going to get you out of those clothes. Me personally, I prefer to wear more comfortable trousers too.”
Euphemia asked Cassopeia to lead the way to her room and so she did.
After they arrived in the room Effi noticed that the girl only possessed stiff dresses. No trousers or something coming close to that. “So, magic it is.”
And only a few seconds later Effi transformed two of the dresses into a jersey and sweatpants. Then she turned to the girl staring up at her and handed her the clothes. “Well, go on change. And I am going to tell your brother to come here” Effi pointed into the direction of the bathroom in which the girl disappeared shortly later but not before whispering a small “thank you.” “My pleasure querida.”
Effi left the room with a sad smile on her face.
Back in the ballroom she went directly to where she last recalled Sirius standing and found him talking to a few guests as well as his mother standing next to him. “May I talk to Heir Black for a moment Walburga?”
The woman only nodded sharply. Effi went to the side so Walburga couldn’t overhear their talk. Sirius was looking at her with a confused face. Effi smiled at him. “Your sister is in her room. Don’t worry she is currently fine, but I think she could need her older brother right now.”
Sirius nodded and was off to his sister’s room in the next second. Euphemia returned to Fleamont. He just wanted to ask what took her so long, but Effi shook her head and Fleamont nodded.
Effi thought often about that young girl, who she thought she will never see again.
~5 years later
“Mamá” James’s calling let Euphemia jump up and she walked to the living room as fast as she could. In the living room Sirius sat on the couch. And next to him was another smaller boy. “Oh merlin, are you okay?”
Sirius nodded. “We ran away. Would it be-“
“Of course you can stay here. James, would you please prepare two of our spare bedrooms? The two closest to yours? You only have to put in bedlinen and towels please. “
James nodded and ran upstairs. Now the little boy looked up and Effi paused for a moment. She knew those grey eyes. Now she turned to the boy completely. “Hello cariño, I’m Euphemia but you can call me Effi. What’s your name?” Effi asked with a friendly smile on her face.
“Regulus. My name is Regulus.”