Sirius entered the Malfoy dining room precisely at five as he had been directed, and promptly found himself in the company of those who most frequented such an exclusive manor. Before he could even seat himself beside Lucius, as he had been assigned, the inquiries about his health and business poured in and he could scarcely answer one before another was asked of him. It was only by Narcissa's clever intercessions that he was able to take a bite of the food provided, and even then he was hard pressed to chew fast enough before his attention was being demanded of one of the guests.

Such an unpleasant sensation only increased over the course of the dinner when, at the start of dessert, Narcissa and Lucius were called away by a maid to take an urgent fire call from their only son.

"Ambrosia," Instigated Alecto, "Why did Severus not join us? I do hope she has not fallen ill again."

Sirius perked up at the question, hoping himself to have answers from the mild-mannered woman who seemed so intimate with his cousin.

"I am afraid Severus is at her brewing and refused to be interrupted."

"I might have expected." Pipped Petula. "She really has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent worker."

"Indeed!" Alecto agreed, nursing her fourth glass of wine. "Why, I shall never forget her appearance this morning when she tramped in from the gardens. She looked half-wild!"

"To say the least! I could hardly keep from laughing, after all." Petula fussed. "Very nonsensical of her to dine at table like that, it was, with her hair all tangled and her face so filthy!"

So surprised at the boldness of this conversation, and the cowardice of how it occurred, Sirius could scare formulate a defense to the beleaguered woman.

"Oh, and her skirts; I do hope you noticed that Petula, six inches deep in mud and the lace all stained beyond saving!"

"Your picture may be very exact, Ladies," Replied Ambrosia, "But this was all lost upon me. Why, I had thought Severus looked remarkably well when she joined us for breakfast. Her dress quite escaped my notice."

The bitter duo frowned at the attempt of censure and turned to Sirius for relief."

"You observed it, Sirius, I am sure." Alecto sniffed. "And I am inclined to think that you would not wish to have your godson make such an exhibition at table."

"I suppose I wouldn't." Agreed Sirius, to the latter part.

"For her to walk five miles of the garden every day, no matter how muddy, and quite alone! What could she ever mean by it?" Alecto demanded, affronted beyond reason at the behavior of another.

"It shows to me an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most indifferent attitude to decorum."

"I find her love of nature very endearing." Sirius spoke, having finally been able to concoct a defense that contained to profanities.

Seeing she could find no common-ground via insults, Alecto changed tactics in a manner most obvious.

"You must forgive me my harshness, Mr. Black. For I do have an excessive regard for Severus. She really is such an intriguing woman, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with her blood the way it is…why, I afraid there is little chance of it."

"I have heard she stands to inherit quite a fortune upon her third-cousin's death."

"Yes, but matrimony is a condition of that." Petula informed.

"Even without an inheritance, I do think she could find herself suitably matched."

They were at that moment stopped from the continuation of their tirade when the Malfoy's, now accompanied by Severus, returned.

"Is all well with Draco?" Ambrosia fussed.

"Yes, yes," Narcissa assured, "He had need of some money is all."

Reassured, and supper now cleared away by orders of Narcissa, the group dispersed into the drawing room where Amicus suggested they might all play at cards. To all this, they readily agreed, save for Severus who seemed rather miffed at having been pulled away from her brewing for an affair so tedium. With a glower that was more akin to a pout, she removed a small book from the pocket of her gown and seated herself far away from the brother who had wronged her.

"Severus," Claimed Alecto, "Despises cards. She is a great reader, but has no pleasure in anything else."

"I deserve no such censure," Snapped Severus, "For while I am a great reader, I do have pleasure in many things."

Properly cowed, at least for the moment, Alecto turned back to Sirius.

"Has Harry grown much since the spring?" The Carrow twin asked. "When last I saw him at the Quidditch match, he was as tall as you."

"I believe he has." Sirius agreed.

"How I long to be properly introduced to the young man!" Alecto sang. "I have never met with anybody who delighted me so much. Such manners, has your godson. And he is so very accomplished for his age! His performance on the broom is exquisite, Draco tells me."

"I do believe any wizard is apt to be sufficient at broom riding." Amicus observed. "It is when a lady is proficient that shock is due."

Narcissa tutted at such a sexist remark and exchanged a look of derision with Ambrosia, the formers much more severe.

"I do not believe the accomplishments of ladies need warrant surprise, Amicus. There are many an accomplished woman these days." Sirius conjectured.

"Yes, yes," Amicus mocked, "It is rather difficult to be introduced to a lady without being first informed she is accomplished."

"Brother, your censer is quite accurate." Alecto said, quite surprised. "For the word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by assembling a dress of concocting a face cream."

"You must comprehend a great deal in your ideals of an accomplished woman." Jeered Severus.

"But of course, I do." Alecto huffed. "No one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman absolutely must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word: and besides all that, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions or this word will be but half-deserved."

"All this she must possess," Agreed Amicus, "And to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading."

"Given this," Smirked Severus, "You must not know any accomplished woman."

Alecto looked as if she wanted to slap the brewer, but wisely constrained herself.

"Are you so severe upon your own sex?" Ambrosia frowned.

"I did not deny the existence of such a woman." Severus insisted. "On the scarcity of the presence of one in this room.

At once, the Carrows and Petula began to cry out their grievances at such a statement, and they continually protested until, exhausted, Lucius called them into order by suggested they resume their activities. It was not long after this that Severus quit the room, claiming to have left a potion simmering in her lab.

"Severus," Whispered Alecto in his ear, "Is one those ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art, indeed."

"There is a meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation." Sirius returned, hurrying away.