Mister Ethan Merrick is silent as he brushes his twin sister’s hair, the brush in his hand made of smooth stone with a dove engraved on the back was newly gifted from Mother Magic. It had been Gifted to her at seemingly the same time he was Gifted a signet ring from Her. Gifts from Mother Magic that said that after years of hard work and dedication, after years of studying and making oaths and putting their all into it, Mother Magic Recognized them as NewBloods. As Purebloods, the start of their line. It was a lot to try and process at once but the earnest happiness that rotated through their twin bond and shared magic made up for it. It was the last time he would brush and tend to her hair while under the name Ethan Merrick, it was the last time she would have her hair brushed and tended to while under the name Aurelia Merrick.
When they had first come to Avalon they had done it with hands gripping tightly at each other’s arms, determined not to get separated, their only bond with each other. Then they found out who was their Sponsor, The Fearless and Most Ancient House of Lestrange. Under the strict but kind guidance of Lady Bellatrix Lestrange and Lord Roldophus Lestrange and with the help of their children the twins quickly grew into themselves. And grew close to the family. Upon receiving their status of NewBlood they had received an offer from the family, an offer to be adopted. Blood Adopted.
It was an offer that the two had silently, late at night only in their mind, hoped for. They had grown close to the Lestrange Family and had buried any thought of it deep in their minds behind the walls of their Occlemency Shields. When the offer arrived, they had spent a few minutes calming down because just reading the offer had made them so excited their magic had started to react, after they calmed down, they sat down and read through the offer carefully, like they had been taught, before Ethan carefully wrote an agreement response. And like that a date was set, they were to be blood adopted into the family during Ostra.
In just a few minutes they would head down to the living room, and drink the Heredity Adoption potion. They will be bestowed a new name, new bonds, and a new family.
The walk down seemed to be the hardest part, walking past portraits that had seen them grow as Merricks, who had seen them put every second of free time into their studies to become NewBloods, who they will soon be related to. Portraits who will soon look upon them and mention that they should go fix their hair or clothing not because they are learning to be Purebloods, but because they are Lestranges and must present themselves in ways worthy of that.
Walking through the doorway to the living room seems as serious as the wail of a banshee. Knowing this is the last time they will walk into a room as Mister Ethan Merrick and Miss Aurelia Merrick, Newbloods, the start of their line. The only people in the room with them are their future close family members. Lord Lestrange and Lady Lestrange sit on the love seat, on the sofa next to them sits Heiress Miranda Lestrange, Lady Elara Lestrange, and Master Rowland Lestrange. They stay standing. On the coffee table in the middle of the room sits 2 silvery looking potions.
No words are exchanged, it is not the time for them. Lady Lestrange and Lord Lestrange both stand, quietly picking up a potion in their hands; they each stand in front of a twin. The Twins stand, eyes straight, head up, shoulders back, spine straight. Ethan has his hands clasped behind his back, Aurelia has her hands clasped in front of her.
“Kneel.” They both kneel upon the pillows in front of them, their only other movement being to hold their hands out to hold the potion that will be offered to them.
“Twins Merrick, do you knowingly and consentingly forsake your names, bloodline and all members of such upon your own will?” Lord Lestrange starts, his voice deep and powerful.
“We do.” The twins answer at the same time. Their voices mixing, they are one for this ritual.
“Unnamed Twins, do you knowingly and willingly consent to this ritual and your rebirth into The Fearless and Ancient House of Lestrange?” Lady Lestrange continues, her voice low and soothing, magic coating every word.
“We do.” They repeat, voices unable to be different from each other. Creating a simple symphony as their own magic begins to sing within them.
“Unnamed Twins, drink the potion and allow yourselves to be accepted into The Fearless and Ancient House of Lestrange under the eyes of Mother Magic.” It is unknown who speaks this as the Twins drink the potion, their minds, body, and magic being overcome with a Larger, Deeper, more Ancient Magic. It washes over them, inspecting their mind and magic, spreading over their twin bond and stretching out. It is only the restraint they have painstakingly been taught that keeps them from reacting out as they are flooded with familial bonds, filling their minds up with emotions that they couldn’t even begin to decipher at the moment.
“Rise. Rise and Stand with The Fearless and Ancient House of Lestrange as Twins Roderick Ethan Lestrange and Meissa Aurelia Lestrange.” The magic shifts and their vision and minds clear. Roderick stands first, as the older twin, and Meissa stands next. It is half a second before their new parents draw them into hugs. Their Father presses a kiss against Meissa’s hair and promises to tend to it that night, promises that she will have a hairbrush made of the Family Magic as her sister’s do.
Their parents step back and their siblings come forward to draw them into hugs, to hold them tightly and whisper their own promises to them. Their bonds send them wave after wave of new emotion, silent congratulations and acceptance from extended family members who were not present. It is only then, wrapped in the embrace of their siblings and parents, love and acceptance and excitement for their joining the family coursing through their bonds do they let out a few tears of happiness.