Platform 9¾
1981:
“Where is the young Potter!” shouted Albus Dumbledor as he slammed the door of the office open. Making a few parchments fly.
“Good day to you as well, sir.” answered laconically a feminine voice hidden behind a pile of paperwork.
“It is not a joking matter Cornelia, where is Harry Potter?!” screamed the old man, once again, boiling.
“In safety.” explained the brunette with a calm tone before turning back to her work. “Now leave me alone, would you?”
“Your husband being a convict, the child has nothing to do with you!” He said angrily, slamming his hands on the old wooden desk.
“First of all, Sirius is not a convict. We'll prove his innocence tomorrow at his trial. And according to Lily’s ‘If I go missing’ muggle file, over which you’ve got no power, if something were to happen to the Potters, their ward, here Harry, would not be given to Petunia but to my loving husband or me, so even if Sirius was to become a prisoner in Azkaban, I will be in charge of the Potter youngling, my husband lovely godson and I will protect him.”stated Cornelia, annoyed by the man's attitude, showing him the door, wand in hand, ready to stupefy him out of the place.
The headmaster seemed to head out, but before he closed the door Albus warned the woman.
“Potter needs to be kept safe, if you can’t I will do whatever I seem fit.” He concluded before he finally closed the door.
As the silence fell again into the room, Cornelia Black allowed herself to sigh before scratching her head. She thought that the situation which was already complicated just got even messier.
If she wanted to protect her family, she would need to put her plan into motion, now.
So she casted the patronus spell and let the phantomatic sparrow hawk to inform everyone.
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1991:
As always, the quay of platform 9 3/4 was crowded with families. In the middle of the mass of chariots and children, a strong voice was ordering around:
“Ophelia, take your sister’s hand and don’t let it go! Lorelei, follow your brother and your cousin into the train, we’re running late! You’ll be staying in the same compartment. And Hemi where's your brother?"
"My brother is with Ruby." Said the black haired girl in front of her, seemingly a bit annoyed by her mother’s last announcement.
She was taller and older than the other children and didn’t seem happy helping her twin cousins.
“Hemera. Please, you had Tyran and Marcus to help you out last year, now it’s your turn to be the guide.”explained the middle aged woman with some diplomacy. She didn't have time for this.
“Fine, you won but can I have some money for the trolley, knowing uncle Obéron he just gave them some healthy stuff.” said the girl with sparkles in her eyes, probably thinking about her potential sugar crash.
Cornelia chuckled lightly at her eldest daughter’s expression. She had anticipated that in advance and took five galleons out of her skirt pocket.
“With that you can almost buy one of each for the three of you. Now, Lorelei, Harry and Hemera skedaddle, or you’ll be late.”explained Mrs. Black with a tender smile. At those words the twins hugged, well tackled their aunt, while Hemera simply blew a kiss to her mother and mouthed 'Love you mom. I'll miss you.' The three of them then headed inside the old steam powered train, the oldest Black first and her two cousins following her like baby chicks.
“And Ophelia, love, you stay with me, you’re entering Hogwarts next year.” she added as a second black haired child tried to enter the carriage as well.
Ophelia ignored their mother’s wish but was stopped by a middle aged man, who took them by the shoulder.
“Where do you think you’re goin’ little munchkin? You’re too young to wield a wand.”At these words the little munchkin in question started pouting.
“You’re no fun uncle, I wanted to ride the Hogwarts express!” complained about the little child. In order to put a smile back on their face, their uncle put Ophelia on his shoulders.
“It may not be the train, but you’re the tallest 10 year old on the platform, is that good enough?” said the man with a thick French accent.
“Good enough.” answered the child while being reunited with Cornelia.
Such a slytherin thought Mrs. Black thought with a discreet smile.
“Thanks for keeping my youngest out of trouble, Obéron. How are you doin’?”asked Cornelia while putting the child on the ground, much to the dismay of the junior of the Black.
“My back’s a bit hurting with all the trunks I had to put in the luggage compartment. Aside from that, as the father of twins entering Hogwarts.”he said with a tired smile. His children hadn't sleep in the last three days, too excited by their train ride.
“Did Rory and Harry kiss you goodbye uncle?” questioned little Ophelia with curiosity.
“Of course they did, little kneazle. They also told me that they would miss you.”He explained, his accent showing again.
"And you're not asking me if your cousin's gonna miss me!" Interrupted a man exiting the train right before steam started to come out of the chimney.
"Uncle Remus!" Screamed the young child with enthusiasm running towards him.
"That's me cub!" He answered before awkwardly hugging the little child. A sad expression on his face.
"How's your daughter?" Asked the mother of the group with concerns in her voice. After all, it might have been tiresome for the girl to get safety into the cabin with all those people and her difficulties. "And is Tyran with her or should I start to panic?" She asked not as stressed as she should have been.
"She's all set in the perfect's carriageway with Pyrite and Tyran, don't worry. Your son says 'love you', by the way. But what's bothering me is that she thinks she will be a burden."Sighed the man with scars, thinking of the face his daughter made as he secured her white cane next to her and made sure her guide croup had enough treats.
"Sounds like someone." Said Obéron thinking deeply. Like father, like daughter.
"How dare you!" Answered Remus with exaggerated outrage, feeling a bit lighter.
"But it's not even her first year in Hogwarts. Do you think she's bullied?"Asked Cornelia concerned over the girl's well being."I haven't heard a thing from Hemera. Should I ask her?"She offered.
"Well I don't know. I think not." Explain the werewolf, a bit confused."I don't really understand what's going on in her brain nowadays. She just smells sad.
"If they're mean to Ruby, I'll punch them. Interrupted Ophelia showing fists.
All the adults turned reddish from the child's remark. Ophelia loved their family so much and didn't like when people were mean to them. Especially Ruby. She was nice and always gave them chocolate.
Soon enough it was time for goodbyes. Most of the students were squeezed at the window, waving at their parents.
Obéron was even able to spot his twins, screaming at him in French: "On t'aime papa. Dit à maman qu'on l'aime.*" The old man got emotional and the rest of the group observed a single tear fall down the bearded man's face.
*We love you dad. Tell mom we love her.*
Once the train disappeared into the horizon, Cornelia reminded Remus and Obéron that both of them were invited for dinner.
"Margot as well I suppose." Said the older man.
"Of course!" She answered. "But it won't be at my house this year."
"Oh, where is it going to be?" Asked Remus, knowing something was off.
"At my brother-in-law's house." Said the woman, in a neutral tone.
"Then I won't go." Stated the younger man. Knowing too damn well who the woman was referring to.
"Remus John Lupin, you're 31, you should get over your Hogwarts rivalry." She said very calmly. After all, he hadn't seen them since her wedding with Sirius, where he was forced to be civil with them. He needed to get over their child-like grudge.
"Come on Remus. We'll have fun." Said the man, trying to be neutral in this conversation. Not wanting to be in trouble with his cousin in law, who was trying to make peace or Lupin who was just hoping for a calm evening.
"Before I answer. Who's coming aside from us?"Asked the werewolf, thinking his friend was hiding something else. Slytherin were always hiding something after all.
"Well Ted and Andy are coming, Nymphadora just started her auror's training." She started in order to reassure him. "And the host also invited a friend, who's son started Hogwarts." She explained, carefully avoiding to mention who was the guest in question.
"Quit the snake crap. Who's coming!"Ordered Remus, having a hypothesis on what Cornelia might be hiding.
"It's Andy's sister and before you start screaming, her husband isn't coming. She's thinking about having her marriage nullified from what I heard from my friends."Said the woman, expecting the young man's reaction."Your best friend is helping her, so that means she isn't that bad, don't you think."She tried to argue, already knowing that it was hopeless.
Remus seemed to be thinking deeply for a few minutes before he finally said:
"Fine Lia but I swear if any of them start to pull up their pureblood Slytherin crap, I'll answer marauder style, is it clear?!" He said with authority.
"Of course it is my friend. Now come on Remus, have lunch with me before I have to go back to work. We'll eat at that muggle restaurant you introduced me to last time. My treat."Cheerfully offered Obéron while guiding him out of the platform.
"I would have offered it to you to petit lapin, but I think my wife is waiting for you at the ministry. Isn't she?"
"You're right. She said we would talk about our last case around lunch. See you tonight, bye." Said the woman before aparating home. She had lied to Remus. She didn't have an appointment with Margot. She just knew that Obéron wanted to convince her friend face to face.