The big day was finally here! Tonight was my best friend Bellatrix Black's engagement party, where we would celebrate her engagement to Rodolphus Lestrange!

It would basically make her a princess. Being a Lestrange was like being royalty in the pureblood world. I was not as well known, the name Emery Farloy was not as awe-inspiring (though we were still pure through and through).

Bella and I were super close with Rodolphus and his brother, Rabastan. We had known each other since birth. Bella and Rodolphus had always been a thing. Rabastan and I, not so much.

It would have been like marrying my brother. We were just good friends, that was all. And Bella and I didn't need to marry brothers to become family- we were already soul sisters.

Bella and I were in the Bride's Room getting ready. Technically, Bella was supposed to be alone, but Slytherins don't listen to rules, and especially if they're bffs.

Bella applied mascara as I contemplated two shades of dark red lipstick.

"What do you think? Almost Burgundy or Club Rose?" Bella glanced sideways at my choices in the mirror.

"They're the same color, Emery." I frowned.

"No they aren't. Club Rose is lighter." Bella laughed.

"Well, rule one of Slytherin lipstick picking is choose the darker shade."

"So, Almost Burgundy?" Bella nodded, moving on to eyeliner. I grabbed a glass of water to sip before the lipstick made me not able to drink anything. My mum walked in as I took a large sip.

"Darlings! I have big news! This is now Emery's engagement party, too!" My eyes widened. My mum had arranged a marriage for me?

"You two will be sisters!" my mother continued. Bella turned to me with wide eyes, eyeliner pencil dangling from her fingertips. Hold up. That meant-

"Rabastan?!" I exclaimed, spitting out my water. My mum dodged it as I winced.

"Sorry. I guess I'm just… surprised." She looked at me carefully.

"But happy?" I pasted on a fake grin.

"Of course, Mum!" She smiled and left. The minute she was gone, I turned to Bella in shock.

"You're getting married!" she whispered. "That's good, right?"

"To Rabastan!" I groaned. "I mean, I love him, but I'm not in love with him, you know? It's not like with you and Rodolphus." Bella sighed,

"Well, at least we'll be sisters now. And you'll be a Princess Lestrange, too," she said, referring to the nickname I had given her. I tried to summon a grin, picking up the tube of Almost Burgundy lipstick.

"The thing is, I was actually excited about tonight! I mean, I was going to get to spend a night celebrating my amazing best friend- and now this night celebrates me, but not in a way I want." Bella put a hand on my arm.

"It's okay, Em. Just remember that you're helping further the pureblood line." The words were exactly what had been drilled into is our whole lives.

"I guess that will help." Bella smiled tentatively, pulling her hand away.

"So, Em, are you ready to face your fiance?" I took a deep breath.

"Yeah. Let's do this. Let's show the world who the Princesses Lestrange are."