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xxx. CHAPTER THIRTY.

AN UNSEEMLY DISCOVERY.
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BRIAR SIGHED AS DIPSY ASKED 'would My Lady like to wear the green dress or the peach one?" The house elf was holding up the two elegant gowns. Briar was sitting on her bed, staring blankly at the walls. She'd only gotten home a few hours ago, but it turned out that there was a dinner party scheduled for that night. A few important families were coming over, including the Malfoys, the Lestranges, the Blacks and the Notts. Death Eaters, was Briar's only thought. It's a Death Eater gathering and I'm right in the middle of it.

"Green may be more appropriate, considering the occasion," Briar replied drily. Besides, she'd worn the peach one before. Amelia D'Alessio would have a fit if her daughter was seen wearing the same dress twice in public. Briar's mother had greeted her politely once she got home, and told her to go upstairs and get dressed for the dinner party. Some welcome.

"And for jewellery, miss?"

Briar sighed. She didn't want to think about jewellery. Grabbing the box in which all her jewellery was kept, she extracted a pair of silver earrings and the hairclip which Sirius had gifted her. She smiled. Perhaps wearing it would give her some comfort tonight. She set them down beside the dress, when there was a knock at her door.

"Come in," Briar called. The door to her room swung open slowly, and Christian D'Alessio stepped inside. He was wearing smart dress robes. His back was stiff and his old yet handsome face expressionless as he smiled at her.

"Aren't you dressed, yet? Our guests have started to arrive," Christian told his daughter. He sounded neither angry nor concerned; if anything, his voice was rather emotionless, a hollowness of what it used to be. Briar was still sitting on the bed, in a loose t-shirt and Muggle pants. She forced a smile at her father.

"I'll only be a few minutes," she assured him. She expected him to leave but he simply stood there, looking as though he wanted to say something. "Is everything all right, Father?"

Christian D'Alessio looked conflicted. He shook his head, and glanced at the dress that was lying on the bed. "No. It's just nice to have you and Lorcan back home this holiday. Hopefully we can all put this summer behind us. It wasn't the best time for our family, but we can get past it."

I highly doubt we can just 'get past it', Briar thought, coldly. She gave him another fake smile. "Of course, Father."

Christian  nodded, his eyes still fixed on the dress that was lying on her bed. His expression seemed to falter for a moment, and shock flitted through his eyes as he first glanced at Briar and then back at the dress. Briar froze. What was he thinking?

"Where did you get that pin?" Christian asked, slowly. His tone was almost dangerous. Briar's cool demeanor slipped, and she glanced at the hairpin as well.

"T-the pin? I... I don't remember. I think I bought it. In Hogsmeade."

Briar flinched at the dark look that her father gave her. He took a deep breath, and then turned around and walked towards her door. "Get dressed," he said curtly, before slamming the door shut behind him.

Lucius Malfoy was standing near the foot of the stairs with his betrothed, Narcissa Black, at the D'Alessio mansion. Narcissa was dressed in an elegant pale pink dress, her hair curled back. Lucius was conversing lightly with his beautiful fiancée, when he glanced up and saw that his cousin, Briar was coming down the stairs.

Briar Rose D'Alessio had grown drastically in the past year. While she had always been a graceful girl, but the figure that walked down the stairs was now a confident woman. While the change was positive in most ways, Lucius couldn't help but frown. He'd liked the old Briar much better than he did now, he felt like he lost a companion.

"Narcissa, Lucius," Briar greeted politely, once she saw them. Lucius smiled at his cousin, and Narcissa exchanged pleasantries with her. He glanced towards his parents as the two girls asked after each other's well-being.

"You're looking very smart tonight, Lucius," Briar complimented. "The two of you look as pretty as a picture, together."

Narcissa smiled, and returned the compliment. Lucius nodded. He had to admit that Briar did look very well-dressed. Her gown was a flattering emerald green, a colour that suited her. Two long silver earrings dangled from her ears, and the front of her hair was pinned back with a-

"What are you doing?" Lucius Malfoy hissed, suddenly. Both girls turned to look at him in shock. The conversation had been very pleasant until that moment, and neither of them could see the reason for Lucius's change in tone. "Are you mad? Do you want to get yourself killed?"

Briar looked startled. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Lucius."

Lucius took a deep breath, realizing that he had reacted too harshly. He forced a smile, and turned to his betrothed. "Narcissa, would you allow me a moment alone with my cousin? We'll only be a minute."

Narcissa agreed, and Lucius grabbed a hold of Briar's arm, pulling her away from the room of dinner guests. They slipped into the kitchen, where a few house elves turned to look at them, bewildered. Lucius paid them no mind. He whirled around to face Briar. "This was a stupid idea, Briar. What possessed you to wear that hairpin? Do you think you're being clever, or that nobody would notice? Did you steal it back?"

"This is about the hairpin?" Briar demanded. She blinked at him, having no idea what was going on. "Lucius, what do you know about it? Even my father seemed to recognize it and I can't think why! I've never worn it in front of him before!"

Lucius pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. "You mean you don't know?"

Briar frowned. "No, I have no clue. Would you please explain to me when you saw this hairpin?"

"July 23rd, Ambleside," Lucius replied, drily.

"What?"

"The night of my first Muggle attack," Lucius began, slowly. "My father and another Death Eater had apparated onto the top of the bridge, when they saw a girl and a boy with a wand, running. My father recognized you immediately, Briar. He couldn't place the boy, but upon repeating the description to someone else, he was told that it could be Sirius Black, or his younger brother. Obviously, the former is more possible, since Regulus Black was with the Death Eaters that night."

Briar froze, and her body felt numb. She'd been recognized? How had she not known? Who else knew that she was with Sirius that night?

"Lucius-"

"No, let me tell you the entire story. Father tried to lead the other Death Eater away from you, but he was persistent. They followed you into an old abandoned store, as you very well know, and they found that hairpin on the floor. Father picked it up before they both left, and brought it back."

Briar stared at him. "That's not possible. I've had the hairpin with me all this time."

"No, you haven't. Father brought it back that night, and showed it to a few Death Eaters. He even brought it to me, in the hopes that I might recognize it. I couldn't, and neither could Aunt Amelia. He was forced to conclude that he'd been mistaken, and that the girl wasn't really you. Uncle Christian begged my father to keep the matter silent and not tell anyone of his suspicions."

"There only one problem," Briar hissed. "I never lost the pin."

"Well, my Father did. He kept it in his study with the intention of casting some spells on it afterwards, but it was gone in the morning. He was forced to conclude that it had been stolen."

Briar stared at him. Was he telling the truth? The story was so absurd, and yet it sent chills down her spine. Did that mean her entire family suspected what she had done that night? Briar couldn't resist a shudder. The thought that her father knew that she'd been with Sirius, and yet hadn't said anything...

There was the sound of footsteps, and Amelia D'Alessio appeared in the kitchen. She seemed a little surprised to see Lucius and Briar. "Well, why are the two of you hiding here? Lucius, your father was looking for you."

Lucius nodded and walked out of the kitchen, quietly.

Briar's evening seemed to stretch on for hours. She sat at the dinner table silently, not having the will to make polite conversation with the people sitting near her. There were a number of emotions going through her brain, and the foremost was fear.

Why hadn't her father said anything? He'd come running to the school at the slightest thought that Briar had been with Sirius, and now that he had proof, he chose not to react? It made no sense to Briar, and she was scared. What did it mean? She didn't even want to think of the implications it would have. Once all the guests were gone, would he announce that she was being sent to Beauxbatons?

"Are you feeling all right, Ro- Briar?" Lorcan asked her, from across the table, Briar stiffed at his use of her first name, something he hadn't done in ages. Nonetheless Her brother looked concerned and a shadow of sympathy and sadness danced in his eyes. Aimee was sitting right beside him, with a large, fake smile. According to Lorcan, she didn't enjoy these gatherings much because she often felt as though people were mocking her poor English. "You look rather pale."

"I'm fine," Briar assured him. He nodded, unconvinced, and then turned to whisper something in Aimee's ear. She giggled, and they both smiled at each other. They were playing the part of a newly-wed pureblood couple exceedingly well. Whereas Briar had always thought that their relationship was sweet, it made her feel nauseous now. She turned away, as the house elves came to clear away the dinner plates.

Christian D'Alessio ignored Briar for the entire dinner. He didn't say a single word to his daughter. Briar sat stiffly in her chair. People laughed and chatted around her, but Briar wanted to disappear. She thought of Sirius, and how they'd spent every night curled up in the Room of Requirement, just talking and kissing. She longed to be with him.

The men gathered in the sitting room to talk, and Briar was left with only a few children and middle-aged women who were too busy gossiping among themselves to bother with her. She moved to a corner of the room, and was surprised when Aimee followed her.

"I know how it is," she said, softly, in her strong Italian accent. Briar looked up at her sister-in-law in surprise. Although Briar liked Aimee, they'd never had an opportunity to talk much. Lorcan had moved out after his marriage, and Briar had gone to school.

"I'm sorry? Know how what is?" Briar asked. She didn't mean to be rude, but she was in no mood for idle gossip.

"Love."

Briar froze, and slowly turned to look at Aimee. The older girl wasn't joking. She was smiling sadly at Briar, and there was something in her eyes that hinted sympathy.

"I don't understand," Briar replied.

"There was a boy, in Milan. Enrico. He live near my house."

Briar stared at Aimee, surprised. She'd never even considered that her sister-in-law might have had a lover before she was betrothed to Lorcan, she'd only known that Lorcan used to sneak around with a girl before her father put an end to it and got him engaged. Thoughts began flitting though Briar's mind. Had Aimee also been forced into her engagement?

"Oh," Briar replied, slowly. "Does, um... does Lorcan know?"

Aimee frowned and shook her head. "No. I never tell anyone. Not even my sisters. He was a Muggle."

Briar stared in horror at Aimee. She'd been in love with a Muggle? The shock seemed to show clearly on Briar's face, because Aimee's hurried to make her meaning clear.

"No, I... I love Lorcan. He is a good husband. Very kind. But I still think about Enrico. I do not... erm, regret marrying your brother. But I can never love him as I loved Enrico, and he cannot love me like he loved his lover before me, he stares at me and wishes it was someone else."

Briar eyed Aimee in surprise. "What makes you two think I love someone?"

           "I hear Lorcan talking to your father. They think you have a lover. The boy who ran away? Is it true? I will not tell them, Briar. You know my secret. Trust me with yours."

          Briar looked up at Aimee. "Yes, it's true," she whispered softly.

           "Do not feel shame."

            "I'm not ashamed."

          Briar nodded. "Good. They are planning a betrothal for you. You must be strong. Do what you want, not what your parents want for you."

              Briar raised an eyebrow. "But that's not what you did. You married my brother. Why didn't you run away with Enrico, and do what you wanted?"

         Aimee frowned. "Enrico is dead."

          Briar stared. "Oh. I'm sorry."

          "Go, Briar. Love does not come again and again. When you find it, you must keep it. Do not waste your time where you are not happy."

          Briar took a deep breath. She could feel tears stinging her eyes, and she wasn't sure why. Although Aimee was not fluent with her words, she was right. Briar didn't want to waste her time sitting in this stuffy room with a family that was looking to get rid of her at the first possible opportunity. Briar turned to her sister-in-law.

         "Will you help me?"

          "Of course."

           That night, Briar Rose D'Alessio apparated to James Potter's house.

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