"Alright you two, bedtime." I say to the small ones that whined, but I gave them a stern look that shut down their whining. "If you two get ready without a fuss I'll tell you a bedtime story of your choice." As soon as the words left my lips the two quickly got up to get ready for bed. I shake my head as I look over to my husband, who had fallen asleep cradling our youngest. I tried to not laugh at the sight, walking over to him. "Sirius, honey, wake up." I say as I gently place a hand on his shoulder. He slowly opens his eyes and looks at me, looking grumpy that I woke him. "I know you're tired, but I think our youngest would sleep better in his bassinet." He gives me a nod before carefully getting up. I kiss his cheek before he can walk away, which brings a smile to his face.
As he goes to our room to put the baby down I go to Andromeda's room. Spotting her and her cousin happily bouncing on the bed in anticipation for the story I was going to tell them. "What story would you two rascals like to hear?" I ask as I walk over to them, their energy level rising when they start shouting out ideas. I try my best to get them to lower their voices so they don't wake the youngest. "Alright, alright. How about I choose the story?" The two started to complain since they wanted to choose. "Okay. Think about what you want to hear for a bedtime story." The two became quiet, thinking the best they could. "Mummy, could you tell us how you and daddy fell in love?" I smile at Andromeda and nod. Lowering myself onto the bed between the two tots, they both snuggle up to me. "As you both know, Sirius and I went to Hogwarts as kids. We were sorted into two different houses, Gryffindor and Slytherin. Our houses were rivals, but we weren't necessarily rivals. We actually weren't even friends before we got together. He was my brother's annoying friend and I was the younger Potter twin stuck in my brother's shadow."
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Year 4
"I can't believe him! I'm going to hex him and his friends!" I complain to Severus as he follows me. Though the only reason he was there was that I had gotten the prank, which turned my hair bright red and my skin a dark golden, that was meant for him because the Marauders miscalculated who'd leave the Slytherin house first. "Would you still hex them if you hadn't left before me?" I glare at Severus as I stop walking. He nearly ran into me since he had been trailing behind me. "Is that really your concern right now? Snape, my skin is gold and my hair is red. I am literally the walking embodiment of Gryffindor, the house I'm not even in. Now if you're done asking idiotic questions I'm going to go find my idiot of a brother and his friends." I say, practically snapping at Severus, before swiveling on my heel. Quickly making my way to the Gryffindor house.
I reach the portrait of the Fat Lady, who stares at me in utter surprise. "I don't have the password for this bloody house, but by Merlin's beard I will get into the Gryffindor common room behind you one way or another! Now open or I'll force you!" The Fat Lady opened up, clearly hearing the pure anger in my tone. It's not that I didn't enjoy the pranks the Marauders pull. As long as they weren't pulled on me, especially after James promised I'd never be caught in the crosshairs of the pranks, I could enjoy them if they were actually good. Now that I had unfortunately become a victim to one of James' pranks I'm going to make him regret it.
Stepping into the Gryffindor's common room I scanned the room for the four troublemakers. Spotting the four of them laughing amongst themselves, blissfully unaware of the wrath that was about to rain down on them. They most likely think that Severus suffered from the prank, but that didn't matter to me. I sauntered over to them as the common room went from being lively and full of chatter to silence, except for the four boys too wrapped up in their own world to notice. I walk around the sofa they're sitting on so I'm in their line of sight. I cross my arms as I glare at the four.
Remus and Peter were the first to notice me, their laughs dying down quickly when they saw the anger written on my face. Sirius looked at the two that had grown quiet, noticing the worry and slight fear on their faces. "What's got you two all silent?" He asks, looking in my direction and understands. He couldn't help himself, laughing at my state. James is the last to look at what the others were looking at. He went silent and pale at the sight of me. I narrow my eyes at James, moving closer to him. "You broke your promise James and now I'm going to make you pay for it." He quickly rises to his feet as he places his hands on my shoulders. "Now I didn't intentionally break my promise. The prank was supposed to go off on whoever left the Slytherin common room first. We didn't expect it to be you to be the first one out. Snivellus was supposed to leave first, but you did instead." He tries explaining, but I'm having none of it. I push James back down onto the sofa as I pull out my wand. Pointing it right at him as the glare never leaves my face. "James Potter, we are no longer siblings. From here on out we are strangers who just so happen to have the same last name." I say before mumbling something under my breath. Which was supposed to make them think I hexed James when in reality I was just mumbling 'I hate you' under my breath. I put my wand back into my pocket then leave the Gryffindor common room.
I would've gone back to my house's common room, but it wasn't isolated enough from others. I had decided to go to Black Lake. A place far enough away from the other students so I didn't have to deal with all of the staring. When I did reach my destination I stood near the water, seeing that the prank had worn off. A sigh escapes my lips as I crouch down, staring at my reflection in the water. Before I knew it tears were running down my cheeks and dropping into the lake water, causing ripples into it. "Why did I have to overreact like that? It was just a harmless prank. I'm such a horrible sister."
"(Y/n)?" I stiffened at the voice, recognizing it as Sirius. I quickly stood up and wiped away my tears. "What do you want Black?" I ask, keeping my back to him. "I know you're absolutely furious with Prongs for breaking his promise, but declaring you're no longer family over this is a bit much." I turn around, glaring at Sirius as more tears form. "You have no idea what it's like being his twin! The constant comparison between the two of us! I can't do anything without people seeing me as a female James instead of (Y/n) Potter! No matter what James does I somehow end up getting dragged into whatever mess he creates!" I practically shout out at Sirius, who isn't that far from me. "I tried hiding I have magic just so I could have a life where people saw me not James! I just want to be seen as my own person for once in my life!" I admit to Sirius. I watch as he slowly approaches me. He hesitantly wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into his chest.
As soon as I made contact with his body all the tears I was holding back flooded out. He didn't speak as I just cried, my head buried in his neck. Eventually my tears stopped. I pulled away as I looked away from him, but his grasp around my waist stayed. Which kept me close to him. "I know I can't make others see you as your own person, but I know I see you as your own person. It may not seem like it, but I do." Sirius says softly as he places a hand on my cheek, making me look at him. "If you're ever feeling like everyone is seeing you as Prongs' copy just come find me and we can come out here, or wherever you want, to just be us." I smile softly at him. "Who knew the playboy of Gryffindor had a heart of gold?" I teasingly ask, which gets a smile from him. "Ouch (N/n), that hurts." I softly giggle at his sarcasm.
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Year 6
I sigh softly as I stare at the piece of parchment in front of me. "Troubles with your essay?" I shift my gaze to the voice, spotting Sirius. "Yeah. I'm having a bit of trouble concentrating on it." He nods and sits down in the seat across from me. "What's on your mind?" I look back at the parchment and roll it up, knowing I won't be able to work on it. "Well there's this boy, you might know him." I say as I look back at Sirius, who looked like he was trying to hide a frown. "Do tell more." He says in a slightly dramatic way. I roll my eyes as I smile softly at him. "He's a Gryffindor. He has a habit of hiding how he actually feels so he puts on an act around others, but he drops the act whenever he's around me. I used to find him rather annoying because he's close friends with my brother. He's one of the kindest people I've ever met. He acts like an idiot, but he's definitely smarter than he thinks. He-" I'm cut off by someone sitting down beside me.
I look to my side to find Remus. "Hey Remy, what brings you here?" I ask, used to Sirius joining me at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, but not Remus or any of the other Marauders. "Yeah Moony, why are you here?" I shot Sirius a slight glare, not enjoying the rude way he was speaking to his friend. "I'm here to give you this." Remus says as he hands me a letter. I look at it and see it's from James. I roll my eyes and take it. "What has he done now?" I mumble as I open the letter. The letter is an apology from my brother for something he hasn't even done yet. "An apology in advance? I swear that boy is going to be the death of me." I say, mostly to myself. "Thanks Remy. Now where were we? Oh! He has made me feel so special that sometimes I forget I'm a twin. He-"
"What are you two talking about?" I look at Remus, cheeks heating up. "Just this boy I like." He nods as Sirius stands up abruptly. "I just remembered Prongs needed me for his thing." He says before storming the Great Hall. I frown as I watch him leave. "Did I say something wrong? I know I was being vague with who I'm crushing on, but I thought the last hint made it obvious." Remus gently pats my head. "It's okay (Y/n). You should be more straightforward with him. Now go after him before he gets it in his head that you weren't just talking about him." I become a flustered mess, but definitely take Remus' advice.
I rush out of the Great Hall and search for the idiot I've fallen for. I spot him making his way to his house. "Sirius Orion Black!" He stops walking, tensing up from his full name being used. I run over to him, nearly running right into as he turns to face me. He stops me just as I'm about to run right into him. "Salazar, you are a bloody idiot!" He frowns and turns to leave. Just as he turns I grab his tie and pull him towards me. I brought him a little too close, but I didn't let go of his tie. "Are you just going to insult me more Potter or is there another reason you won't let go of my tie?" I roll my eyes at his use of my surname. "Who do you think I was talking about?" He sighs as he places a hand on top of mine, trying to pry his tie out of my hand. "Sirius, just answer my question."
"Isn't it obvious? You're in love with Moony." I shake my head as I bring him even closer to me, our lips barely an inch apart. "No you bloody idiot. I'm in love with you." His eyes widened in surprise. "I am a bloody idiot." His voice was so soft I almost didn't hear him speak, but luckily with the closeness I did. I was about to make a comment, but Sirius stopped me before I could even do so by smashing his lips into mine. My eyes closed as my grip on his tie loosened before my hands found their way to his hair while his hands went to my hips. He pulled me in close as his arms snaked around my body. We only pulled away when we needed some air. Yet he kept me close to his body. Before I knew it we were kissing again, but this one didn't last as long. Mainly due to an angry James. "Oi! Mate! Quit snogging my sister!" I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my lips as Sirius looked at his friend with a huge grin. "I think I'll keep doing it as long as she allows me to." I looked at James to see his reaction. Seeing that he wasn't really angry per say, he just happened to be in protective big brother mode. Which made me roll my eyes. "You should be glad it's one of your friends James. I could've easily fallen in love with someone like Snape."
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Present Day
"And the rest is history." I say, bringing my story to an end. "Mummy, how did you know you loved daddy?" I looked down at Andromeda, who looked to be fighting sleep to know more. "I knew I loved him the moment I realized that the simple thought of him made my heart flutter. It felt so magical when I figured it out." I tell her as she yawns. I carefully lean down and kiss the top of her head. Just like that she fell asleep.
"You really know how to tell a story." I look at Sirius and smile. He walks over to me and picks up the sleeping boy next to me. "Thank you." I say as I carefully get up off of Andromeda's bed. I turn to her and put her under her covers, tucking her in. Sirius and I exit the room, him carrying Harry, to take our godson and nephew to his room. Sirius put him to bed as I watched. I smiled softly at the sight of the man, who was actually nervous to start our own family, being so careful with the eldest of the kids living in our home.
Sirius walks back over to me and we head to our shared room. "Who knew the playboy of Gryffindor had a heart of gold?" I teasingly ask as we enter our room. Sirius looks at me with an eyebrow raised. "Are you quoting yourself?" I nod. "I'm surprised you remember me saying that. I said that some time ago." I say as I check on our youngest, who is fast asleep. "Of course I'd remember you saying that. It was when I fell for you." He said as he snaked his arms around my waist. I turn around to face him. Gently placing a hand on his cheek while smiling at him. "If we're being completely honest when we first met on the train to Hogwarts I thought you were cute then you had to open your mouth." He leans in close to me. "You didn't like what I had to say?" I shake my head. "No, it was the fact that you had done something childish before we even started our first year at Hogwarts. I knew you and my brother would end up as great friends after that."
"What an amazing day that was. I pulled off a prank, met my best friend and found the love of my life all before we even arrived at Hogwarts. You may act like you didn't like the prank I pulled, but I saw the smile you tried hiding after I told you two what I did." I roll my eyes. "I never said I hated pranks. I just preferred to not be at the tail end of them. I do have to ask, why did you and James hex Bertram Aubrey?" He smirks at the question. "Isn't it obvious? That bloody idiot was trying to get your attention and we simply couldn't have that. Especially if I was going to win your heart." I roll my eyes at his answer. "You two were and still are such bloody idiots." I say before kissing Sirius, a quick kiss that ended too quickly for his liking. "I had no feelings for Aubrey. If there was anyone you had to worry about was Remus." I watch as Sirius pouts. "You'd date Moony over me?" I place my hands on his cheeks. "If you hadn't been the one to comfort me after my fight with James in our fourth year then maybe. Though if you do decide to ever break my heart I'm going straight to Moony." He smirks. "Well I have nothing to worry about then. I'll never break your heart. I'm an idiot, but I'm not that dumb." I giggle softly. "I love you Sirius." He smiles happily at me. "I love you too (Y/n)." He says softly before capturing my lips with his.