"Elegance is not standing out, but being remembered." — Giorgio Armani
The room held a joyous air for a fleeting moment before returning to its usual serene, uncomfortable silence. Abraxas Malfoy was discussing something of import with Niles Avery, while Damian Greengrass took his seat, listening intently.
Arcturus observed the room for a minute and decided it was no longer a suitable environment for a one-year-old. He signalled to Orion and handed Regulus back to him, instructing his son to prepare the boy for the main ceremony.
Regulus, passed from arm to arm yet again, eventually ended up with Bellatrix and her group. Fortunately, the ceremony was about to commence. Kreacher stood at the entrance of the ballroom, ready to announce the guests.
Most of the attendees were from Pureblood families or the extended Black family, all of whom had married into other Pureblood lines. It was strictly forbidden to marry Muggles in this family; any who were found to have done so were blasted from the family tapestry without hesitation.
"Angus Bulstrode IV, Abraxas Malfoy, Damian Greengrass, Reinhard Lestrange, Harfang Longbottom, Caspar Crouch, Ignatius Prewett, Cantankerus Nott, Garrick Ollivander, Evan Rosier, Lysandra Yaxley."
Out of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families, nearly half were announced by Kreacher. The presence of these family heads signified the immense influence the House of Black held within the Wizarding World.
"Armando Dippet, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Horace Slughorn, Pomona Sprout, Filius Flitwick, Silvanus Kettleburn."
The group associated with Hogwarts entered next. Most were current professors for the upcoming term. Armando Dippet had retired from his position as Headmaster a few years prior, yet he was still honored with an invitation.
Usually, Hogwarts professors would not attend such private events. However, upon the insistence of Arcturus Black—and invoking the memory of his ancestor, Phineas Nigellus Black, a former Headmaster of Hogwarts—they had little choice but to participate.
Cygnus and Druella Black received the professors warmly, attending to them personally since Bellatrix was about to start her first term at Hogwarts. While the professors might have been initially reluctant to attend, they warmed up easily; after all, they had taught most of the members present in the room.
"Elphinstone Urquart, Lyall Lupin, Walden Macnair."
The delegation from the Ministry of Magic arrived last. The atmosphere in the room tensed noticeably. Recently, the first Muggle-born Minister for Magic, Nobby Leach, had been appointed, resulting in a mass resignation of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families from the Ministry. Upon seeing that the new Minister had not arrived with the delegation, the guests relaxed and returned to their conversations.
…
Regulus POV
As the evening progressed, people continued to flood into the ballroom. I was being tossed between guests like a Quaffle. My chin and cheeks were sore from their incessant pinching and rubbing. The only upside was that I managed to gather intelligence on the current state of the Wizarding World.
Ignatius Tuft, the previous Minister for Magic, was defeated by the new Minister, and the influence of the Sacred Twenty-Eight within the government is failing. That is why fewer Ministry officials are present for the ceremony. I cannot entirely blame the Ministry's condition—Tuft started a Dementor breeding program which was not welcomed by many—but a Muggle-born Minister will result in chaos. Chaos that is going to aid Voldemort.
As I pondered this information, gleaned from the gossip of ladies while sitting in their arms, I suddenly realised Tom Riddle was not present.
Then it hit me—he is not yet well-known outside of Hogwarts. He was popular among the professors and students of his time, but he has not yet risen to global infamy. Still, it is a wonder he is not here. Not that I am missing him, or anything. It is simply a strategy to assess the enemy in close quarters.
I noticed Cygnus buttering up the professors. He has three daughters who will go to Hogwarts soon, so that is a smart move.
Finally, after being handed to almost every person in the room, I got to see the damn cake. An elf levitated the massive confection and placed it in the center of the room.
Damn, that cake is big.
My mother brought me near the table, and my father arrived with the rest of the family. Everyone's focus was on me. I was held at knifepoint. Kidding, I was currently holding the knife with my mother's assistance, cutting the first slice. The room erupted in applause and cheering.
No one is going to sing Happy Birthday, right? Thank Merlin.
After the cake cutting came dinner. The elves arranged tables with name placards, guiding guests to their seats. Every table contained exactly the number of members present from each family—no more, no less.
The dinner began with a seven-course meal.
The Menu
I. L'Apéritif (The Welcome)
Drink: Château Mautravers 1898 (Sparkling Elf-Made Wine)
Bite: Dragon Liver Pâté on crystallised seaweed crackers.
II. Le Potage (The Soup)
Dish: White Velvet Turtle Soup laced with hints of Jobberknoll feathers.
III. Le Poisson (The Fish)
Dish: Poached Glumbumble-Honey Glazed Salmon.
IV. L'Entrée (The Main Event)
Dish: Roast Peacock stuffed with truffle and Moly flowers.
Side: Duchess Potatoes sculpted to look like the Black Family Crest.
V. Le Trou Normand (The Palate Cleanser)
Dish: Snow-Sorbet made from unmelting ice found in the peaks near Durmstrang.
VI. Le Rôti (The Meat Course)
Dish: Fillet of Re'em.
VII. Le Dessert (The Sweet)
Dish: Floating Croquembouche.
Accompaniment: Crystallised Violets and Sugar Quills spun from edible gold.
The Drink List (The Cellar)
With Dinner: Ogden's Old Firewhisky (Reserve Casks, 1920).
Digestif: Elf-Made Brandy.
I looked at the tables, filled with luxuries that magically appeared and disappeared as the guests finished their dishes. The glasses were refilled with liquids and plates replenished with food, all meticulously prepared, appropriate to the diner's age.
Each table was attended by invisible elves, ensuring they did not ruin the guests' appetites with their presence. I looked down at my own plate. It was filled with milk and mushy bread.
Damn this child body.