Sirius had gone to his grandfather for redemption for that very reason. His parents never would’ve heard him out but his grandfather? Sirius always sensed there was a soft spot in the old man for him. It seems he was right, considering he’s now standing amongst anyone who’s anyone in pureblood circles. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.” He has to stop himself from saying more, from commenting dryly on how his mother is just itching for his grandfather to keel over so that her husband can take his place. The old Sirius wouldn’t have refrained from those remarks, but now he has to learn how to hold back. To keep himself from being rude and improper. Slipping up, even in polite company, would surely lead to rumors and gossip about how he hasn’t changed a bit.
He takes a sip from his own flute, listening as she comments sagely on his life. Difficulty. He wants to laugh. There’s a chasm between his family and his friends. He really must choose between them, walking in the middle simply isn’t an option for him. It’s a shame, really, that it has to be this way. Although, in hindsight, Sirius isn’t sure he’d choose any differently. He love the Marauders and Lily and all the others. They’re just as much his family as Narcissa and Bellatrix. Most times, James has felt more like a brother than Regulus ever was. Sirius doesn’t say any of that though, instead he sips from his champagne and nods, a rueful smile slipping onto his lips for just a moment. “Difficult seems too mild a word. But I appreciate your words.” That’s a polite enough answer.
As Violet expertly shifts the conversation, Sirius latches onto her lead. He smiles gently, glancing at his glass before looking back to her. “Is it that obvious I’m out of touch? I’d greatly appreciate being caught up on what’s what in our world nowadays. I’m afraid that even before I left I wasn’t too keen on keeping up with the gossip.”
Violet allowed herself a smirk at Sirius’ admission that she was correct, though she was surprised he didn’t say much more about it, about his change in opinion and then his change in tactics. Perhaps he had changed more than she thought. It occurred to Violet that maybe something had happened, had changed for him, which had resulted in this change of heart but she said little about it. There was just something about his countenance that told her a jibe about Potter would not be taken nearly as lightly as he might want her to think it would be. “I usually am,” she finally responded, eyebrow arched before she took another sip from the champagne flute dangling between her fingers.
She hummed, lightly, a sound so soft she wondered if he would hear it over the din of the ballroom, with others speaking and the music charmed to play at a sedate volume. “Perhaps, but difficult seemed the only word worth saying in polite company.” Her lips twitched at the corners with a hint of amusement and she tilted her head to the side. “Are you excited to see your brother again?” she inquired, the words curious and her eyes eager for the answer, for she had always thought that the two brothers were more alike than they wished to admit to.
She laughed, a tinkling sound, and shook her head. “Oh, there is much for you to know, but perhaps this is not the place for me to inform you.” She took another sip from her glass before she met his eyes. “Would you care to meet for drinks sometime soon? Or lunch? I am free most afternoons and would be pleased to catch you up on all that you’ve missed.” It would be a shame, after all, for Sirius to acclimate back to his life without any help.