The rest of the day swiftly passed by until it came time for the Fawley family to depart for 12 Grimmauld Place. In an unusual gesture, the Fawley couple permitted that Bethanie floo first, and then by her brothers, who were only then followed by their parents.
Emerging from the floo hearth, Bethanie let out a surprised gasp as she stepped onto an antique Persian carpet. The Black Family's home decor is rather gothic styled, but the manor itself does possess many rare and ancient antiques. And that was a fine pureblood home proving their wealth and proud lineage.
Glancing around, Bethanie nodded her head in approval at not seeing a single trace of dust. Every single piece of furniture and décor shone with gloss and polish. There is an almost citrus-like scent in the air, but it was rather refreshing after traveling via floo.
Hearing the roar of green flames behind her, Bethanie hurriedly moves out of the way as her younger brother, Esmond emerged first from the floo hearth followed by Spurgeon. The three children quickly gathered to the side of the hearth waiting for their parents to emerge. Their mother emerges first and is followed by their father.
Lysithea purses her lips in a frown at noticing the lack of hosts, while Bogdan furrows his brows before saying, "Not to worry, my love, the Black family is notorious for making a grand entrance. They are almost as bad as the Malfoy's."
Lysithea somewhat mollified by her husband's words ceases to pout, while Bogdan sticks out his arm for his wife to take. Lysithea rather demurely accepts his hand, which was rather unusual for her. Why even her rather modest wardrobe was completely out of character for her that even her children found it strange and frankly unnerving.
Ignoring the stares of her children, Lysithea controls her expression. She had not wished to dress so simply, but she understood the vital importance of this evening's event. At least for this evening, she would appear to be a demure wife. As such, she wore a rather modest, but elegant gown and had her hair up in a simple coil accompanied by a delicate pearl ensemble of jewelry.
Before any of the Fawley members can speak, the sound of footsteps can be heard. Lysithea flashes her three children a stern look as the boys stand straight up, and Bethanie remains as lovely as ever. Satisfied by her children's appearance, she casts a glance at her husband, who is standing firmly with his shoulders thrown back. He looked quite handsome this evening.
Casting a lustful glance at her husband, Lysithea leans over to coquettishly whisper into his ear, "If all goes well this evening, darling, I shall more than amply reward you in my chambers."
Bogdan suppresses a lustful moan, and merely takes his wife's silky soft hand and presses a kiss to it. His lips linger against the flesh for a moment before his eyes darken with the promise that he would fulfill her request. Satisfied by her husband's devotion, Lysithea leans against her husband as they wait for the Black family to emerge from the corridor.
Seconds later, the Black couple emerges first, Orion and Walburga Black. The stern dark-haired witch with sharp features and gray eyes is dressed in a luxurious high-necked gown, Walburga's gray eyes flash with a trace of dislike, before coming to rest upon the Fawley girl. She was a peerless beauty, and her youngest could not have possibly done better for himself. Unfortunately, even the best of matches had unsavory relatives to deal with.
Glancing up at her husband, Walburga nods at him to begin. Coming to a halt before the Fawley family, the handsome dark-haired wizard with elegant features and cold gray eyes tilts his head in a formal bow at the Fawley family. "Welcome Fawley's to our humble home," Orion coolly said.
"It is an honor to be here," Bogdan smoothly returned the polite pleasantry.
Orion glances at his wife, Walburga, who turns her head to the side to see her two sons. Gesturing for them to come forward, Walburga turns back to face their guests and says, "These are my two sons, my eldest, Sirius Black, and my youngest, Regulus Black."
"A pleasure," the Fawley family mutters back.
Taking her cue, Lysithea Fawley promptly waves her hand at her children gesturing to them to step forward. "My eldest son, Spurgeon Fawley, my second son, Esmond Fawley, and my beloved only daughter, Bethanie Fawley."
"A pleasure," the Black family said back.
With pleasantries and introductions over and done with, Walburga says, "As dinner has yet to be served, please allow for my sons to give the Fawley children a tour of our humble home and allow us adults more than enough time to amply converse together in private."
"We would be delighted too," Lysithea courteously replied, before glancing at her children to move forward and towards the Black children.
Walburga and Orion move out of the way to reveal Sirius flashing them a wide grin, while Regulus much more coolly smiles back. However, Regulus's eyes quickly begin to sparkle with delight as a faint tint of blush can be seen on his face at spotting Bethanie. Bethanie's expression grows warm as she returns the shy smile, before tugging her two youngers behind her. The three Fawley children move forward and bow to the Black hosts as they pass them by.
Sirius doesn't even wait for them to be out of earshot and further down the hallway, when he loudly says, "Well, there really isn't much to look at. But I am sure, Brams is around here somewhere, we can play fetch with him."
Walburga lips twitch with embarrassment at her eldest son's actions. Oh, why did he have to be a Gryffindor? Couldn't he have been quieter and been a proper Slytherin like his younger brother?! Oh, what had the Black family done to deserve this?!
Orion already used to his eldest son's antics ignores the social faux pas and instead says, "Please follow us, this way."
Orion extends his hand for Walburga to take as the two of them lead the Fawley couple to a parlor room that was a fresh pot of tea still steaming with perfectly warm scones to enjoy. There is only a small platter of scones for them to eat as dinner will shortly be served.
Orion and Walburga take a seat first before the Fawley couple seated themselves across from them. Walburga carefully pours tea for everyone, before adding a spoonful of sugar to her own teacup. Under the pretext of stirring her tea, she carefully eyes the married Fawley couple seated across from her and her husband.
The Fawley family is a good pureblood family, however, the current patriarch of this branch left much to be desired. But despite Bogdan Fawley, being a well-known womanizer, he had not sired any bastard children and did not gamble. And there are always worse faults to be had.
Walburga's lips twitch with a bit of a frown as she studies, Lysithea Fawley from under her eyelashes. A singular beauty, no doubt, a virtual Helen of Troy. However, there were more than a few unsavory rumors that she took lovers on the side and her husband permitted it. How utterly distasteful for a woman of their social level to be so wanton!
Walburga tears her gaze from Mrs. Fawley and carefully puts down her spoon, before taking a sip of her tea. Regardless of the Fawley couples' faults they had raised three excellent children. Their daughter, Bethanie is a great beauty and rather demure, unlike her mother. And more importantly is proper and polite, a young maiden who knows her place. She would be an excellent bride for her son and be a good daughter-in-law to have.