see the lights, see the party, the ball gowns [charlotte]

[Archimedes Orion Black]

Another year had come and gone and it was once again time to reenter the dreaded society. Archimedes felt he was out in society enough, what with a job at the Ministry and all, but he wasn't married so he was still expected to find a wife. And being that he was the head of his household, he was also expected to go and accompany his sisters while they themselves paraded for a suitable match. It was all very dull to Archimedes. The same thing year after year. Not once had he ever met a lady that truly caught his attention, and he tried to really stay away from the dance floor if he could help it. Which was why he would usually stay on the opposite side of the ballroom from his mother. He was thankful she usually would begin drinking and socializing, leaving the chaperoning of his sisters to Archimedes.

This ball was to be different though. Archimedes had met quite the captivating young lady outside a dress shop. He was certain the circumstances of their meeting would be a bit of a scandal all on its own, but he had promised the lady a dance. He wanted to dance with her. That was odd for Archimedes. He spent the first hour or so sipping lemonade and talking only to his sisters until they had secured dances on their dance cards and then he found himself alone. Archie stood, straight and tall, as his eyes began to slowly scan the ballroom for any sight of the lady he had met at the dress shop.

Charlotte Amelia Abbott

[Charlotte Amelia Abbott]

Lottie walked around the edge of the room with her mother, her dance card was filling up enough to please Lottie, but obviously not enough for her mothers satisfaction as she was still parading her daughter around the room for everyone to get a good look at. While Lottie did find this slightly annoying, she had an ulterior motive so she allowed her mother to escort her around. She wanted to see if she could spot the young man she had run into in Diagon Alley, though she had to hope that she might bump into him when her mother wasn’t present, otherwise he might mention how they knew one another and thus, incriminate her brother. Though he did deserve some incrimation for leaving his sister alone in the alley, she didn’t want that to become public business.

She spotted him across the room, by the refreshment stand, and felt her heart flutter a bit. It was true, he was single, and he was obviously of their standing as he was at the Lestrange Ball, an event reserved for the elite. She needed to make an excuse to get away from her mother. So, the next time her mother stopped to speak to one of her friends, Lottie decided she was parched, and simply must get a drink at this very moment. Her mother agreed and nodded her off, mid conversation. She would still be in her sight, and it wasn’t as if her brother and father weren’t also at this affair, Lottie knew she’d almost always have someone watching her, it was just better that they kept their distance. Lottie crossed the room and began to pour herself a glass of the lemonade. She contemplated speaking to the man herself, but she knew that wasn’t the way these things went. She couldn’t come across as desperate. She had to hope that he noticed her and took her up in conversation. She did, however, make sure her dance card was visible on her wrist.

Archimedes Orion Black

[Archimedes Orion Black]

As Archimedes stood finishing off his lemonade (he was never one to drink alcohol at such events, much preferring to to keep a clear head in case his sisters required his assistance for whatever reason,) he began to wonder if perhaps Charlotte wasn't going to be in attendance. There were those within society who chose not to attend certain events based on the host family. Though Archie didn't know Charlotte's surname, so he couldn't say for sure if that would apply to her or not. Zelda Lestrange wasn't like many of the other old blood families anyway. He would see her. He just had a feeling.

As if on queue, there she was.

At first Archimedes just saw a dark haired young lady out of the corner of his eye. He almost didn't look but something about her made him do a double take and he was glad he did. It was her. She was pouring herself a glass of lemonade and he couldn't help but watch her hands as she did so, his eyes glanced at her dance card. It appeared to be filling rather quickly and he knew he had to act if he wanted to have that dance. It wasn't often Archimedes danced with someone his mother didn't set him up with; and he never danced with women he was actually interested in but Charlotte? He found himself very attracted to her. He knew his sisters would have something to say about it, but he didn't really care. He had to dance with this young lady.

Archimedes closed the distance between the two of them as Charlotte was still pouring her glass of lemonade. He didn't want to startle her with a drink in her hand so he spoke softly, "I believe I better get my name on that dance card of yours before it fills up completely."

Charlotte Amelia Abbott

[Charlotte Amelia Abbott]

He saw her, thank goodness. And he approached while she was pouring her drink. She couldn’t help but feel a little warm when she saw him approach out of the corner of her eye. And she felt maybe a little guilty about the circumstances of them knowing one another, however, she also felt like that created a little secret between them, and that was extremely fun. She had hardly ever had secrets before, and never any with a man. “Oh yes, of course.” she agreed, she set the ladle back down into the bowel and held out her wrist for Archimedes to add his name to. There were still several gaps in her card. Honestly, she was kind of surprised that anyone really wanted to dance with her at all. It seemed like no one even bothered to look her way during her time at Hogwarts. Though, perhaps that was because she was always surrounded by women or had her nose buried in a book.

“Are you enjoying the night thus far?” she asked, making casual conversation with this suitor as she did everyone who signed her card for the evening, though she definitely wanted to drag this conversation on a lot more than she did for the rest of them. “Are you escorting your sisters?” she asked. She wondered if she might know them from her school days, though they had to be a few years younger than her. Maybe her friend Dottie would know them better.

Archimedes Orion Black

[Archimedes Orion Black]

"Oh yes, of course." Archie smiled. Archimedes had touched a woman's hand before, but he had never felt any such a feeling when doing so until he gingerly took Charlotte's hand in his left hand to put his name on her dance card. It was but a fleeting moment, but he swore the moment could have gone on forever. As he held her hand briefly to take out his wand and point it at her dance card, he felt something rise within his chest. It was an odd feeling, one he had never felt before. It was the kind of feeling that made such a small gesture that took but thirty seconds last a lifetime. In only the best sort of way.

Archimedes released Charlotte's hand, not wanting to hold on to it for longer than was appropriate (though, Merlin, he found himself actually really wanting to.) For a small fear of his hands giving his odd feelings away, Archimedes held them folded behind his back as he engaged in conversation with Charlotte. "I am. Lady Lestrange never disappoints in the opening ball," he said dutifully. The host was somewhat of a distant aunt through his sister's marriage to a Lestrange, so it was all but expected of the Black family to make an appearance. "Oh, yes," Archie said when Charlotte asked about his sisters. "Well, four of them anyway. I actually have one that is married, thank the Gods," he couldn't help the light chuckle. "My apologies," he said hastily, hoping he hadn't offended her. "I - I just mean," was Archimedes actually stammering? "I'm glad she's found a suitor is all." He cleared his throat and felt himself getting rather hot. What in Merlin's name was going on with him?

Charlotte Amelia Abbott

[Charlotte Amelia Abbott]

Lottie felt her heart jump out of her chest when he took her hand. Of course, she had been having potential suitors take her hand to add their name for the past hour or so, but this felt different and it terrified her. She barely knew this man whatsoever and she felt herself falling for him already. She had hoped something like this might happen; a love match of sorts. Not that she could say that she loved him, she didn’t even know what family he belonged to, but she knew that he made her feel like she might burst at any moment, and she wanted to believe that was a good sign.

“She never does, her ball room is as lovely as ever.” the ball was mostly the same every year, but it was tradition, it was a good anchor at the start of the season. She could see nothing to complain about, especially not tonight. He let go of her hand, much to her disappointment, and then explained that he was here with his four sisters, but one of them was thankfully married. Lottie gave a little giggle as he began to apologize for the sentiment he expressed. “Oh yes, I understand what you meant. Sounds like how my father felt when my sister was married.” she said off handedly. She didn’t need to include the details of her sister's pairing. “I can imagine it’s a relief to have one less to watch out for.” she was sure Ambrose would be thrilled when she herself was finally off the market.

Archimedes Orion Black

[Archimedes Orion Black]

Archimedes Black was never one for clichés. Especially not romantic ones. But as Charlotte complimented the host's ballroom, he couldn't help but watch her and find that that ballroom wasn't the only lovely thing tonight. But he kept such a thing to himself. "It is," Archie gave a nod, because having one less sister to worry about financially was a relief. "Speaking of, he gave Charlotte a little bow. "I should make sure they're all in order before I return for our dance. I shall see you soon." He could not help the smile on his face as he walked away from the lady to tend to his sisters for a short bit.

~ ~ ~ ~

After about an hour of watching his youngest sisters be asked to dance and a bit of mingling (he was of course approached by many mamas, such as Mrs. Ramsbury,) the time had finally come for Archimedes to once again find Charlotte. Scarily enough, he felt a weird squeezing in his chest as he did so. It was a weird feeling that only seemed to grow stronger when he set his eyes on her and approach her with a smile. "M'lady," he said, holding out his arm for their dance. "Shall we?" He met her eyes as he nodded toward the dancefloor.

Charlotte Amelia Abbott

[Charlotte Amelia Abbott]

The man insisted that he needed to see to his sisters before their dance and that he would see her soon. She nodded her agreement, biting her lip as she turned away, wondering if she had been too… stereotypical in their conversation. It hadn’t been particularly long, so there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for her to say something witty, she thought, but maybe the idea of this being her first ball had pushed her into too much formality.

~

Lottie went down the list on her dance card, dancing with the spaces that were filled up before Archimedes had added his name, and while dancing, she couldn’t help but notice him on the sidelines, continuously approached by mamas eager to introduce their daughters to him. She couldn’t blame them, he was handsome, and the head of his house. But she still felt a pang of jealousy every time someone new approached. However, by the time their dance came up, she realized she wasn’t sure that she had seen him dance with anyone else. She gave a police bow to her current partner as she saw Archimedes approach her from across the ballroom. He held out his arm, saying it was time for their dance. She gave a slow nod and accepted his escort, draping her arm gently over his. “I was beginning to think the time may never come.” she spoke rather playfully, wondering how he’d take a bit of flirting in this environment.

Lottie loved to dance, she loved how graceful it made her feel. She may be tone deaf, and unable to hold a rhythm on her own, but she was wonderful with a strong lead. She had committed the steps to memory. Archimedes provided that strong lead to her and she found herself smiling for their whole dance, at least… what they got to enjoy of it.

Archimedes Orion Black
Ambrose Dorian Abbott
Alexandra Celaeno Lestrange
((Whoever wants to butt in first, go ahead!!)) 

[Ambrose Dorian Abbott]

Ambrose gave a polite nod to his dance party and slowly inched away from the dance floor. He had arrive late to the ball after a trist with a beautiful opera singer. His mother had been livid and she didn’t even know the reason he had been late. So to cheer up his dear Mama he was the perfect gentleman and acted interested in a few young women. When he noticed his mother’s gaze was no longer on him he slipped away from the eager young women.

Reaching the refreshments Ambrose took a glass and glanced back to the dance floor. He wanted to be sure his mother hadn’t noticed his departure. His eyes fell on his mother but her eyes were completely focused on something else with a frown on her lips. Moving his gaze to the thing his mother was focused on… no nothing his mother’s gaze was on someone. Charlotte was dancing with a suitor. So why was his mother frowning? The couple turned on the dance floor and he was able to get a better look of the man’s face.

The glass slipped from his fingers as the shock of her dancing with a Black had caused his grip to loosen causing the sacrifice of the glass. Ambrose saw red as he made his way through the crowd. Not caring about being rude he reached the couple and pulled his sister back from her dance partner “Sister, are you out of your bloody mind?” he didn’t care that he had sworn right in front of his sister or the entire ton.

[Alexandra Celaeno Lestrange]

Alexandra was quite protective of both sides of her family, natal and married. So this party felt like her responsibility as much as Zelda. This lead to her being as calmly social as she could be. Graceful and elegant, making polite conversation and checking to make sure that everyone was having a good time. Perhaps this was why her brother had escaped her notice for the majority of the evening. Perhaps it was because he was a full grown man that was expected to fully handle himself - not to mention their impressionable sisters. So the faith that Alexandra put in her brother was something she had felt to be reasonable.

So when she caught a glimpse of who her only brother was dancing with, the shock was indescribable. 'Calm, breath, do not make a scene' she thought to herself as she quickly settled her features into a manner of poise before delicately - although hurriedly - making her way over. "Archimedes Orion Black, what in Merlin's name is the meaning of this?!" She hissed, while trying not to let her face show her distress. It took everything in her, but so far she was at least keeping her features far calmer than she felt.

[Archimedes Orion Black]

When Charlotte took his arm, Archimedes felt that same feeling he had felt earlier in the night when he had written down his name on her dance card. He decided this time he rather liked it. He felt that feeling in his chest grow, as if it may begin to burst, when Charlotte said she'd thought the time for their dance would never come. All he could do was grin at her. He'd surely had his flirtatious moments at balls, but this was one that somehow left him speechless as the two of them made their way out onto the dancefloor. Archimedes began to lead her around the dancefloor in the all too familiar steps, and he just went to open his mouth to engage in conversation with her when the unthinkable happened.

Charlotte had very quickly, almost in the blink of an eye, been yanked away from Archimedes. And although it had happened quickly, it felt very, very slow. Especially when he laid eyes on the man who had yanked her away. He instantly recognized him as Ambrose Abbott. It truly felt as Archimedes was seeing everything in slow motion, because before he could even make out what Ambrose Abbott was saying to Charlotte, Archie's own sister was hissing at him and using his full name, very clearly trying not to cause a scene. Archimedes let a look of absolute confusion dawn his features as he looked at his sister. She didn't often use his full name like that. He looked at Alexandra's intense face, then glanced at Ambrose Abbott, and then at Charlotte. Why did Charlotte look so similar to him? Then it dawned on him.

Charlotte was Ambrose Abbott's sister.

If Archimedes had been speechless before, he was now completely dumbfounded. Words were the furthest thing from his mind. He looked back at Alexandra and all he could do was stutter out, "I - I -". He couldn't even bear to even glance back at Charlotte and her brother. She was an Abbott?! Archimedes was stunned. Instantly, as if something had snapped back into place, Archimedes wiped the stunned and confused look off of his face. "Find our sisters. Tell them we are leaving." He said harshly to Alexandra and without looking at any of them, he swept past his sister and exited the ballroom.

Charlotte Amelia Abbott
Ambrose Dorian Abbott
Alexandra Celaeno Lestrange

(archie out, but do continue c:< )

[Charlotte Amelia Abbott]

Lottie felt like her feet were falling out from under her but she was somehow still upright. Just as she was about to try to make a bit of conversation while they danced, maybe ask him about his family or his Hogwarts house, to try to test how compatible they really were, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her out of his arms. She twisted her head and saw her brother, looking absolutely livid asking if she was out of her mind. Lottie gave him a confused look. “Ambrose, what’s the matter?” she asked.

But before he could answer, another woman joined the conversation. Realization hit her and sent a wave of nausea through her. Archimedes Orion Black the woman had called. Black. Oh. He was a Black. No wonder her brother was so distraught. While she had never paid their family feud much thought, she understood what it meant to her brothers and her father. “Oh goodness, I’m sorry brother, I didn’t know…” Lottie admitted, stepping cautiously away from Archimedes as the man turned away and told who she assumed must be his sister to tell the others that they were leaving. She watched him leave the room without looking back, her breath caught in her chest. “If you’ll excuse me, I must sit down.” she admitted quietly and excused herself to the powder room, feeling her face flush and her chest tight. She had almost fallen for him, and she felt like a fool.

(If anyone else would like to reply, go ahead - otherwise we can do any break off threads from here )