Chapter 1
Dumbledore is shorter than she expected for such a grand wizard Estelle thought he would be more intimidating or something. But he really is just an old man in a wrinkled robe. His office is very large though nothing special to her standards as in France the architecture is much more refined.
‘We are so happy to have you here Estelle and I’m sure your brother will be too. This evening after the first years have finished their sorting hat ceremony you will enter and be sorted in whatever house is lucky to have you.’
‘Slytherin’ her mother says ‘she will be in Slytherin’
‘Ah of course well you never know’ Dumbledore says calmly. ‘Anyways talking about the ceremony, I must get going but I will see you shortly.’
Dumbledore leaves with his natural flair and placid smile. As soon has he is gone though Estelle’s mother (she supposes) starts ranting again about making the family proud and continuing the legacy that some people have not been able to accomplish. Estelle half ignores her pretending to listen as why should she show this woman respect.
For Christ’s sake her so called mother shipped her off to France the first chance she got with the excuse that she had to focus on the future of the family. So much that did, now Estelle is her last chance. How sad for her I suppose having to rely so heavily on a 15-year-old.
Still Estelle cannot find any empathy as this human in front of her has not been in her life since she was two and instead her grandmother was her real parent. A much more elegant and all-around better version of her.
Estelle had all the correct tutoring and mentoring and is now one of the strongest witches ever. Not only does she have the brute but also the brains, she can speak almost all languages and play almost every instrument and is not too bad at sports. And because her grandmother thought all knowledge was good to know she has even studied some muggle studies. Mainly because her grandmother wanted to show her how much better witches were to muggles but oh well still the same result.
Really the only reason she decided to agree to this, well there are two reasons. One she wanted to shove it in her parents faces how much she didn’t need them and how better she is because she didn’t have them in her life. And two because honestly, she wants to see her brothers.
Because well it’s been almost fourteen years, so you know a reunion is overdue.
Breaking the rant her mother was spewing at her a house elf apparates into the room.
‘Sorry to interrupt but Dumbledore requests your presence.’ The elf says looking at floor.
Estelle immediately starts to leave excited to be rid of her mother though not without another don’t mess up threat.
Soon enough she is waiting outside for the preassigned entrance line. Though she can hear the students and Dumbledore speaking through the door.
‘Settle settle this evening is still not over we have one more student from France who will be entering her sixth year. We are very excited to have her here and I expect the utmost kindness towards her. Especially from the people who will be in her house and year. Finally, please make her feel welcome…. Estelle Black!’
The doors swing open, and Estelle immediately feels hundreds of eyes on her. But she doesn’t care she is a Black after all why would they be doing this over-the-top entrance if she wasn’t. So, she walks gracefully past everyone else with ease, ignoring the whispers and the stares.
Reaching the end of the path she sits on the stool awaiting her to get put into a house. To her absolute disgust they put an old crusty hat on her head that hopefully doesn’t have lice (France would never).
‘Estelle Black I was wondering when you would arrive’ that hat says.
‘You are a tricky one I see bravery and loyalty within you, great traits for a Gryffindor. Though an outstanding amount of knowledge and ambition. Mmmm interesting.’ The house pauses for a second before deciding, the crowd is completely silent.
‘I think I will put you in…. Slytherin!’
The Slytherin house erupts in cheers though she immediately notices making her decent that her brother is still in complete shock not moving a muscle. Looking across the hall to the Gryffindor table she sees a matching expression on her other brother’s face.
While everyone is eating Estelle begins to focus, now she wasn’t exaggerating when she said she was talented she is trained in everything. So, using her Legilimency skills she sneaks into Sirius’s mind.
‘Hello brother’ Sirius immediately looks frightened (not one to hide in the background she supposes)
‘Stop making a scene this is important’
‘How are you in my head?’ He asks though puts on a more neutral expression.
‘That I can explain later, where can we meet in private after this?’ She asks
‘Um I don’t know the astronomy tower.’
‘Good meet me there as soon as you can and don’t make a scene.’
She leaves his mind and continues to eat happy half of her plan is complete.
Later when she notices Sirius leaving, she waits ten minutes before getting up herself graceful as ever and walks down to meet her other brother, Regulus.
‘Hello brother.’ She says calmly. Regulus obviously less dramatic acts like he always knew she was coming today and stands calmly and offers her a smile.
‘Hello sister.’ His friends around him are gasping obviously shocked but she gives them no mind.
‘Come walk with me to the common room.’ She states. Like the trained gentleman that he is he takes her arm, and they exit the hall.
As soon as they are out of prying eyes and ears she whispers to her brother. ‘Take me to the astronomy tower.’ He gives her a quizzical look but follows her instructions.
On their walk they do not speak which is fine she expected this. They must have many questions and she is quite excited to have a family reunion. She doesn’t really know much about them other than Sirius apparently being a blood traitor, that was a bit concerning but oh well things happen she supposes.
Sirius is two years older than her and in his last year at Hogwarts though Regulus and her are in the same year and are considered Irish twins apparently as they are born within a year apart, though he is older. Therefore, the siblings are a satisfying 15, 16 and 17 with her turning 16 in less than a month.
As they enter the astronomy tower, she immediately senses tension which is concerning and unexpected. Honestly, she doesn’t really know what do or say she thought they would be the ones saying something. Although after a bit of silence Sirius seems to realise, she’s there and starts bombarding her with questions.
‘What is this, why are you here, how are you here, I uh just what!’
‘Let’s sit shall we’ she says transfiguring some lounge chairs.
Taking a seat, she starts to talk in French because well she is more comfortable speaking French after all and knows that they know it.
‘Well, I can really thank you Sirius and as for my appearance mother brought me, well forced me here to make the Black legacy proud and so on and so on.’
‘So, they just let you in and where have you been like who have you been living with?’ Regulus replies also in French.
‘Well, I lived in France with our father’s mother who raised me. So, our grandmother but obviously she was more like a mother to me.’
‘Why were you sent away.’ Sirius replies in English weirdly.
‘Well, I was told it was because mother wanted to focus on the important children who will be the future of the Black lineage.’
‘That’s cruel.’ Sirius replies looking equally as disgusted as Regulus.
‘Yes, well honestly besides leaving you two I never minded it, grandmother wasn’t the nicest person per se, but I always respected her, and I do love France. My question is why you were disowned Sirius.’
Sirius pauses for a moment before responding and Regulus seems to go dead still like he wants to disappear from the conversation.
‘Well, we weren’t as lucky as you I suppose. Mother is a cruel person who physically and mentally abused us our whole lives and honestly, I had enough so I ran away. It also didn’t help that I’m queer.’
‘Oh when?’
‘The summer of my sixth year.’
‘And you stayed’ she asks Regulus ‘are you still being hurt.’ Falling back into French.
‘I stayed.’ Regulus replies looking at his hands.
‘And are you safe.’ She asks still feeling a level of protectiveness over him even if they really are meeting for the first time in over a decade.
Regulus doesn’t respond and everyone stays quiet until Sirius speaks up.
‘Of course, he stayed he is the perfect little son for the perfect blood purist and sadistic family’
‘sadique?’ She questions in French
‘They’re not sadistic and I’m fine ok I’m fine.’ Regulus states firmly.
He’s lying she can tell though she doesn’t know if going into his head would be a good idea. Maybe if she got her hands on the Veritaaserum she brought with her she could make her brothers tell some more truths.
‘Why is there tension between you two and why are you not speaking French Sirius.’ She asks.
‘Sirius likes to ignore his history including his culture.’
‘Shut up no I just don’t like speaking French and there is tension because Regulus is a heartless monster.’
The two start fighting about who knows what but all Estelle can think of is that they had all the time in the world to be a united front, be siblings have a true bond. But instead, she comes here expecting a grand reunion to find two boys in need of therapy.
As the bickering doesn’t seem to be ending, she creates a ringing noise to distract them.
‘What the hell is that’
‘Stop it’ they both state covering their ears
‘Are you done bickering.’
They shake their heads, so she stops the ringing.
‘This is what we are going to do once a week on a Thursday we will meet here after dinner and talk.’
‘What why’
‘Absolutely not’ They say in tandem
‘No, you are not allowed to refuse as I refuse to come all the way here and not fix whatever this is as I actually want a good relationship with my brothers. I want a normal family and I understand we are Blacks, so I use that term loosely but still I want us to be siblings. I don’t want to feel like an only child any more ok.’ She says her voice breaking slightly.
‘It’s unfair that you two have had all this time and chose to spend it fighting and not talking to each other. No, I refuse to allow this to continue.’
They sit in silence for a moment all just staring at one another.
‘Ok fine I’m in.’ Sirius says, ‘but aren’t you here to fix the Black family reputation aren’t you not supposed to care about me.’
‘Please I couldn’t give a single rats ass about mother or father for Merlin’s sake they shipped me off to France when I was two. My loyalty is with you two and grandmother and no one else.’
‘Ok I’m in I suppose’ Regulus says shyly
‘Perfect well we will start this Thursday and no cancellations’ she warns ‘Goodnight Sirius, Regulus let’s go to our common room I still don’t know where it is.’
‘Uh yeah ok we just need to be careful cause it’s way after curfew.’
‘Ok sure.’
Regulus and she split off in the common room and she finds her dorm with two already sleeping people inside and ends the somewhat successful night.