Project: Where Art Thou Romeo

August 1975

Diagon Alley in late-August was warm, but not unbearably so. It was, in fact, the perfect weather to sit down and sip some refreshing tea with family members.

“Come now, Dory, tell us what I came here for. Did cousin Carina have a ring or not?” Lucretia Prewett nèe Black called coyly from the end of the table, tilting her head forward to lean her chin on her hand. Her pale eyes slanted towards the end of the table as everyone turned as one to look at Dorea Potter nèe Black, sipping her tea with a passive look on her face.

There was a pause that was entirely for effect as Dorea put down her teacup, dabbing at her lips. Her gray eyes turned upwards, never leaving Lucretia’s. And finally, a red-lipped smirk made its appearance. “She had two .”

Audible dramatic gasps came from all around the table. Fifteen-year-old Polaris Black, sitting along the middle of the table, had to cover her mouth to keep from outright laughing. 

There had been quite the uproar amongst the Noble House of Black when they came to find out that Dorea Potter would be returning from her two year vacation in France and Italy. Not only was she a beloved member of the family, but the women of the Black Family were a tight-knit group so the notice had put them in a frenzy. It had taken the ladies of the Black Family two days flat to prepare a tea party at the Serene Tea , one of the most prestigious tearooms in the higher-end of Diagon Alley - which was also owned by Alphard Black. It did make Polaris feel a little guilty, knowing that her poor uncle had been coerced (read: bullied) into closing up shop for four hours by her mother and Lucretia. 

“Only your tearoom has Dory’s favorite tea, Alphie,” Lucretia simpered over Monday dinner.

“We could just gather at your house, Alphard. Surely you have her favorite there as well.” Walburga drawled from Lucretia’s shoulder.

Needless to say, Alphard was very busy the next day informing his clientele that he’d have to reschedule for the impromptu welcome back party. The poor man was currently sulking down in his office in efforts to hide from the ‘hyenas’ in his family, though hardly any of them paid him mind. They were all too enthralled with tea on the fourth-floor balcony and the return of the Dorea who brought back stories of their foreign cousins.

Cousins who clearly got married without telling anyone. 

“Did you meet him?” Walburga asked, being the only one to have not reacted to the revelation. Her eyes slanted towards Dorea, gleaming with a mischief that reminded Polaris very much of her twin though the rest of her face remained stoic. She had to admire her mother’s self-control when Charis Crouch nèe Black was beside her smacking Cassiopeia’s arm petulantly. 

“I did not,” Dorea sniffed, snapping her fingers for a house elf to bring a new brew. “I met her.”

That made half the table shriek in excitement before everyone began laughing when Walburga had to put down her cup to stop herself from spilling. Polaris actually snorted then, turning to look at her cousin, Narcissa Black, who couldn’t stop giggling.

“Please tell me it was the Beauxbatons bird from 1949 - Quinnen absolutely hated her.” Cassiopeia thrilled, sitting upright in sadistic glee. Not surprising, most of the family was still enraged with the divorce of their French cousin, Carina Black after she found her then husband, Quinnen Lewlyn, in bed with one of her closest friends. While his reputation and his connections have all been destroyed since, most of the Black Family women were still waiting for Carina to take retribution in full. And if it was done with the subtleness of a marriage she knew he would have hated, even better .

Dorea smirked, reaching over to tug Druella Black nèe Rosier closer, whispering into the ear of the younger woman whose face went from glee to confusion to a jaw dropping shock that had the rest of the women nearly at the edge of their seats.

“Ella - Ella, who is it?!” Demanded Lucretia the moment Dorea released Druella. Narcissa reached out to grip Polaris’s hand in anticipation much to her amusement.

Druella looked at them all, mouth still open out of shock before she pursed her lips with a glance at Dorea. “Quinnen’s younger sister, Gwenyth.”

If Polaris never thought her family loud before, she certainly thought it when she heard the shrieks that her aunts and mother let out in that split second. Cassiopeia stood and walked away from the table with her barking laughter. Lucretia launched herself across the table to excitedly grab Charis’s hands in celebration, inevitably knocking over several cups of tea that splattered directly in front of Polaris and Narcissa, both girls shoving away from the table in midst of their laughter. 

“Tia,” chided Walburga laughingly, as she waved her hand to righted the cups. “Here, Polaris, did you get any on you?”

“No, mother,” Polaris grinned, standing to make sure the skirts of her robes weren’t drenched. 

“Narcissa?” Druella leaned back with a smile to inspect her daughter who waved her off. 

“I’m fine, Mummy. But I think I’ll need to start leaving soon. Lucius and I were supposed to meet for lunch at twelve.” Narcissa smiled at her mother. 

Dorea leaned forward in her seat with a smile of her own amidst the cackles of the other ladies. “Ah yes, our newly betrothed. My congratulations to the happy bride to be.” 

Polaris watched in amusement as Narcissa glowed, dipping into a curtsey in thanks. To think nearly three years ago, Narcissa would’ve balked at the idea of marrying Lucius Malfoy. She spent the better part of their childhood crying to Andromeda that Malfoy’s hair was prettier than her own.

“Come now, Narcissa, of all days to dine with the boy.” Cassiopeia drawled as she panted from the laughter. She stood with crossed arms and a house elf offering her more tea for what she spilled. 

Narcissa smiled sweetly. “Sorry, Auntie, but this is one of the last days I’ll have Polly to chaperone me before she’s off at school again.”

Damn it, Polaris thought as she nodded with a smile despite inwardly groaning and judging by the slight twitch of Narcissa’s lips, she probably knew what she was thinking. 

Narcissa never actually made plans with Polaris for her to chaperone but it wasn’t like she could say no now. When in courtship, there usually had to be a chaperone present for sake of propriety and honor, though the newer generations tended to work around it. In Narcissa’s case, it was asking Polaris to chaperone. Of the youngest generation of Black, Polaris was the most lenient and never particularly minded being a third-wheel if there was something in it for her. Bellatrix was absolutely horrible to Lucius Malfoy - she had always been the most sadistic after all - and Sirius got bored very easily and that was never good. Regulus hated third-wheeling the newly betrothed as they were now in the excessively affectionate stage and while Andromeda wouldn’t have minded, she had skipped country for an “apprenticeship” the moment she graduated Hogwarts. Leaving Narcissa her best option - Polaris.

Again, normally, she wouldn’t have minded. If there was a fun thing to witness in her second life, it was the betrothal of her dear cousin and Malfoy - two incredibly self-absorbed people who would only turn to be absorbed with each other. It explained so much about Draco Malfoy, it truly did. 

But this was the first time the ladies of the Noble House of Black reunited with Dorea in years. The catch up would be delightful and the gossip would be hot - frankly, it was Polaris’s favorite ambiance. But now, as much as she would love to stay and actually catch up with her aunts, there’s no way they wouldn’t let her stay now that they knew she was chaperoning. 

She loved her cousin, she really did, but did she have the worst timing. 

The ladies of House Black sighed in understanding (excluding Cassiopeia who rolled her eyes, “ugh, marriage,”) as the two began to go around saying their goodbyes. Walburga kissed Polaris’s temple when Polaris hugged her mother from behind, reminding her to be home by sunset when Polaris saw Druella beam and excitedly reach to pat Narcissa’s hand. “Narcissa, don’t forget to ask her about your plans.”

“I’ll see you during Yule, my dear, for Charlus’s sixtieth.” Dorea bussed her cheek when Polaris passed her by. 

“Yes, Auntie.” Polaris nodded. “I’ll see you all during Yule!” She curtseyed alongside Narcissa before the two turned away to leave, linking arms as they did. If Narcissa felt the jab in her ribs that was hidden by their robes, she didn’t show it.

They passed by Alphard’s office, waving goodbye to their moping uncle who had looked up, giving them a smile that was all teeth before he glared in the general direction of the hall that they had been using. The girls giggled, making their way out of the building and it was only once they stepped out of the gated patio that Narcissa began to guide them towards the busier part of Diagon Alley - much to Polaris’s dismay. Diagon Alley was full of students getting their last minute school supplies and Polaris had never really been one to be around crowds of pushing people. Maybe in her college years in her first lifetime but not now.

“So do tell, what’s so important about today’s date that I couldn’t sit and find out about when cousin Carina got married and why we weren’t invited.” She drawled, eyeing stores that they passed by. 

Narcissa sent her an amused look. “Oh please, Auntie Walburga would tell her perfect princess anything if you so much as look at her, and Auntie Lucretia would probably put on a production for the family. She’s all about the arts.” 

Polaris snorted daintily. “We’re women of the Black Family, theatrics are in our blood. That said, anything I should know or are you dropping me off at the haberdashery?”

Narcissa rolled her eyes. “Why does it always have to be something? What if I just want Lucius and I to have a nice lunch with you?”

That made the girls pause mid-step, looking at each other for a few seconds before laughing between themselves. Only when they stopped chuckling, did Narcissa smirk at Polaris. “Lucius and I have something to ask you but we wanted to ask together.”

“Was it what your mum told you to talk to me about?”

“You’d think that with how well you hear that you’d have big ears.”

“Like you don’t have an ear to the ground of London,” Polaris sighed, following dutifully after her older cousin into the fray of Diagon Alley. 

To think, if someone had told Polaris in her first life that she would be laughing it up with the ladies of the House Black and linking arms with Narcissa Black, she would’ve thought them insane. 

Crazy how things turn out.

Later, if everything came to pass and Polaris became the obscure Black, dead or hidden away in France, this was exactly what she wanted to be known for. 

“Ah, there he is!” Narcissa whispered excitedly, tugging Polaris’s arm the moment she saw the pretty white blond hair above the masses. One moment, Narcissa was hanging off her arm and in the next moment, she was flouncing up to the pureblood heir, leaving Polaris to trail after to give them a window of privacy.

Narcissa Black and Lucius Malfoy were different than many would have imagined, though not surprising considering they weren’t ravaged by war yet. 

Appearance wise, the two of them made for a very attractive couple. 

Narcissa, at nineteen, was probably the prettiest girl that Polaris knew and that was a completely unbiased opinion. She had long and silky golden blond hair that curled at the ends, always twisted up into an elegant updo as all pureblood ladies had it. She had pale blue eyes that were always super bright and secretive; alluring, even, in the way that most of the ladies of the Noble House of Black were. She was tall and lean, so much so that Polaris could imagine Narcissa would’ve been perfect for modeling in the muggle world.

Lucius Malfoy was … definitely beautiful in a way that reminded Polaris of elves from Lord of the Rings. Taller than Narcissa by three or four inches and while he looked lanky underneath robes, she vaguely remembered him being filled out when he was on the Quidditch team. He had long pale blonde hair that was tied back and had charming pointed looks that Polaris spent hours listening to Narcissa go on and on about. 

Their personalities could use some work. They were prideful and arrogant, but Polaris was glad for it in a way because they were still innocent - ignorant, but what youth wasn’t? Young adults who hadn’t had to face the consequences of war just yet, and if anything, it was one of the reasons why Polaris didn’t mind chaperoning them. Well, once they both got over the bragging stage and stopped butting heads after their first courtship dates. They were much better now in her opinion, actually fun to be around.

Lucius’s gray eyes eventually lifted from Narcissa, glancing over at Polaris before smirking at her. “Polly.”

“Lucy,” Polaris sighed.

“How was morning tea?” Lucius asked, looking between the two.

“Absolutely divine,” Narcissa simpered, holding his hand. “Auntie Dorea had so many great stories to tell.”

“She still does, mind you.” Polaris gave them pointed looks. “But apparently there is better news that I’m to be told.” 

“An absolute fiend for information, you are,” Lucius snarked, meeting her look evenly.

“What’s life amongst the aristocrats if you don’t know everyone’s business?”

Narcissa turned to Lucius, smiling sweetly. “Did you bring it?”

Polaris watched with interest as Lucius’s attention zeroed back on Narcissa, eyes softening despite frowning slightly. “I did. Are you certain you want to ask her here?” He waved his hand, unshrinking a small object that Polaris eventually came to realize was a small box.

“Had it been anyone else, I would’ve made a grand display, my love,” Narcissa said, taking the elegantly decorated box. “But this is my dear little cousin who would be rather cross if I didn’t ask now.”

Polaris raised an eyebrow, eyes slanting towards her cousin.

“What are you doing for me, you mean to ask? Well, how would you like me to phrase it?” Polaris felt her eye twitch at the amusement on Narcissa’s face as the older girl gave her the box. “Should I say, ‘please make my wedding gown’ or ‘make my wedding gown, please’?” 

“I would prefer- what?” Polaris froze, staring at Narcissa’s smirking face. “Your wedding gown? You want me to make your wedding gown?” 

Narcissa nodded, the smirking face melting into a fond look. Polaris’s shoulders dropped, eyes wide as she stared at her cousin, feeling incredibly touched. 

In her first life, Polaris had loved sewing and tailoring, even dreamed about pursuing a fashion career before she died. So much so that she was invested in potentially making a career of it in this life, especially when she realized that it can all be imbued with magic. Magic had added a completely new novelty to the art, enchanting clothes or sewing runes into them, making it all more wondrous than before. Polaris spent a great deal of her second childhood just learning what magic could be incorporated into sewing before eventually making tons of clothing items where the most successful became gifts for her family over the years. From Sirius and Regulus to her parents to her cousins to her Grandfather Arcturus, no one was spared when it came to Polaris’s creations. 

When it came to fashion, the Noble House of Black would turn to Polaris without question but it was Narcissa who was one of the most supportive family members with her endeavors. She was actually interested in the details of Polaris’s projects, often asking her for her opinion on anything related to fashion from a young age, or even outright asking for custom pieces like the robes that she wore that day. Polaris had been confident that Narcissa would ask her opinions about potential wedding gowns. But to make the wedding gown?

She let out a shaky breath, discreetly rubbing her eye as she put a hand to her cheek, nodding with a smile. “As long as you don’t ask me to incorporate peacock feathers just because Adélaïde and Abraxas Malfoy are obsessed with them.” 

“That is the reason I’m asking you-” 

“I am asking you because no one knows me better than my Polly,” Narcissa waved Lucius’s comment off, placing her hand on the box she had given Polaris. “In this box are some notes and samples of fabric that I found I liked but feel free to use them as you wish. You have free reign.”

Polaris felt her heart stutter, staring at her cousin excitedly. “Truly?”

“Complete and total reign - oh!” Narcissa gasped as Polaris hugged her tightly, pausing only for a moment before she returned the hug with gusto. 

“We have a reservation at the Golden Spindle soon,” Lucius eventually drawled, peering down at the two. “Should I request a bigger table so that we can go over the finer details?”

Polaris smirked, nodding her head against Narcissa’s neck before leaning away. “On your galleon right?”

“Polly ….” Narcissa sighed, pinching Polaris’s side. If it hurt, Polaris didn’t make a face, opting to leer at Lucius. 

He rolled his eyes. “Such a miser. No wonder the Black Vaults are so deep.” 

It goes without saying the Noble House of Black never needed to lift a finger to make money. Their vaults ran deep into Gringotts and over nine different wizarding banks around the world, there would never be a worry of them running dry. A Black would never toil for money, that was just not the way.

Blacks, however, did engage in hobbies. Polaris certainly wasn’t the first to find a deep interest in a hobby rather than political mind games at the ministry and she probably wouldn’t be the last. There was Lucretia Prewett who was a well known actress and director in the world of theater who produced quality productions that were constantly talked about. Alphard Black, whose interests lay in creating tea blends and developing tea-potions for health improvements, had opened several tea rooms that had become popular amongst several social groups and business meetings which brought a lot of … gossip to his hands that the family greatly enjoyed. The family’s residential extremist was none other than Cassiopeia Black, a dignified lady in the courts, but a mad magic researcher who has single handedly caused more explosions than potions and spent more time at St. Mungo’s than even healers there.

While they all sounded like careers, Polaris had slowly come to see that they weren’t. Not really. Many members of the Noble House of Black delved into their interests purely out of fun, they liked to dally in the less competitive fields out of entertainment and if success came from it, it simply showed the might of the Black Family. 

Though, Polaris thought idly as she scribbled a couple of notes into her journal, it’s more likely because we don’t have monetary restrictions to pursue whatever we want. 

She sat beside Narcissa and Lucius at one of the larger private tables in the Golden Spindle for hours. The couple enjoyed glasses of champagne with a platter of sweets laid out between them that Polaris’s hand frequented for the lemon bars. They had chatted while Polaris examined the box Narcissa had given her. It was filled with several samples of textiles that Narcissa and Lucius had gone over with her while she took notes. Her notes were a mapped mess of madness about all the similar fabrics and properties behind them that she knew off the top of her head. In the wizarding world, properties of fabric allowed for certain types of magics to be engraved in them and what types of magic she would want to consider enchanting the dress with later on. That said, she knew that the fabrics she had in mind were already worth over half a hundred galleons a piece at the least because she would want to import them from different countries. 

But money wasn’t an issue. Be it from the Blacks or Malfoys, Polaris had a lot of financial backing.

She was just getting excited thinking about it.

“This dress is going to be one of the most spectacular pieces I’ll have ever created. I'm so happy you and Lucius are getting married.” Polaris thrilled a little later when Narcissa and her had excused themselves to the lavatory. She was drying her hands as her cousin inspected her face in the mirror. “Both vain and perfectionists, a match made for the picky and quite frankly, the best challenge for any designer.” 

Her comment earned her a smack to the shoulder. “We were a great match, thank you.” Narcissa sniffed snootily. “Nothing like Bella’s, Merlin forbid, those two are so volatile. They’re the exact reason why Uncle Arcturus decided to enforce courtship for all future matches. Well, them and Daddy’s attempt to stick Andy with Yaxley of all people. The thought of her settling for him - I’m happy she skipped the country.” She grimaced at the thought, screwing up her perfect features.

“Without a doubt.” Polaris hummed.

“It is all trial and error, though now that Uncle Orion has had enough examples to see what constitutes a successful pairing, Polly, I imagine your prospects will be much better.”

Polaris, who had started fixing her robe’s neckline paused, staring at the mirror in front of her in confusion.

“After all,” Narcissa looked at Polaris proudly. “Daddy’s mentioned how Uncle Orion received several courtship offers for your hand. You’ll be going on several courtship dates soon yourself.”

That made Polaris turn to look at her. “Pardon?” 

Narcissa gave her a knowing look. “You have to sort out your options. You’re not going to settle for the first one to come by, obviously. Us Blacks only ever strive for the best of the best.” She said, preening in the mirror as she said the last bit, surely thinking of the wizard waiting for them at their table.

Polaris blatantly stared. She was getting … courtship offers? Now?  

“Isn’t it a little too soon for courtship?” She asked, trying hard not to cringe. 

Betrothals were obviously very much still a thing in pureblood families, especially one as traditional as the Black Family, but she didn’t think that she’d be getting remotely close to the making of an arrangement soon. Her cousins had all gotten betrothed or, in Andromeda’s case, nearly betrothed post-Hogwarts, hell Narcissa didn’t start courtship dating until after graduating and she figured she would be doing the same - if she was alive by then that is. At least by that point, she’d be closer to finding a partner with the same level of maturity that she had when she had died the first time around. 

“You’re going to be sixteen in November.” Narcissa rolled her eyes fondly, stepping back to examine her robes. “Besides, I’m certain Uncle Orion and Auntie Walburga just want to make sure you get the best pick. They probably heard from Mummy and Daddy how they’re worried that Andy won’t have many to choose from later on because they’ll either be too old or too young.” She admitted absently, focusing on straightening the skirt of the robe.

Polaris’s mouth felt very dry at that moment. She scrunched her nose subconsciously, the twitch catching Narcissa’s attention. 

Narcissa’s face softened. The nineteen-year-old witch reached over to link arms. “Oh, Polly, you’ll be fine. Think of it like this,” she straightened up to preen, “you’re following in my footsteps. You can do no wrong.”

Despite her inner panic, Polaris snorted. She got an elbow to the ribs almost immediately.

Since the start of her second life, Polaris found comfort in her brothers.

With Sirius, Polaris was undeniably bound as twins. On a physical level, the two looked very much alike, so much so that as children they had been near indistinguishable with their wavy black hair and upturned gray blue eyes. The features were still very much prominent after puberty even when Polaris’s hair grew long and she began to have more of a figure while Sirius’s face sharpened and he sprouted several inches taller. Internally, they were still on the same frequency, able to finish each other’s sentences and often thinking the same thing. He may not have had the same harrowing experience of life and death as she did, but he understood her in ways no one else did. They were very attuned to one another and even despite her older mindset, they were very much twins. Granted, brother and sister twins, meaning he annoyed the ever loving shit out of her at times in true brotherly fashion but she loved him, promise.

As for Regulus, Polaris had never found herself more endeared. While with Sirius, she had some sort of expectation because of the image she already had, there had never been a clear depiction of the youngest Black. He was a shy child at first, always careful and always most proper, one that couldn’t stop observing everything and everyone and often clung to his siblings. Polaris adored him. She was the most patient with him, constantly comforting him and encouraging him, forming a bond where Regulus would think of her first before most others. It was easier, in some ways, as she never had to worry about how she would affect him in terms of the plotline and could form a bond with him without being too careful. He was just a boy who had eyes on his siblings, not to measure them but out of respect.

Polaris loved her brothers dearly and made it abundantly clear. Whether at home or at Hogwarts, she never let them forget that they were siblings - even if the two butted heads the way every pair of siblings did. She loved them, she really did, quirks and all.

She still exhaled through her nose out of pure annoyance as she found them both lounging in her room once she got home after chaperoning Narcissa and Lucius.

Polaris had gotten home shortly before sunset, finding her mother in the foyer arriving not long before she did. Walburga had only kept her for a little longer, eventually dismissing her in favor of seeking Orion out to complain about Alphard and to relay information (read: gossip) to him. Polaris hadn’t minded in the slightest, still reeling from the idea of courtship that Narcissa had sprung on her. She had taken the stairs two at a time and practically flew to her twin’s door only to find his room of red and gold empty, the same for Regulus’s which had left her to go to her room in mild distress.

And there on her bed laid her brothers, the very picture of lazy teenage aristocrats.

Sirius laid on his side, propped up as he read a muggle playboy magazine with a lazy smirk. He was going through a typical teenage rebellion - though nowhere as bad as she imagined the original timeline to be - and was growing out his hair into a shaggy look, tied back and out of his face save a random strand over his forehead. He had multiple earrings on both ears and a self-done tattoo peeking out from under his collared shirt. His face was more angular and he had hit a growth spurt over summer, putting him a good seven inches over Polaris much to her dismay. 

Regulus leaned against her headboard, one leg stretched out in front of him and the other propped up for him to hold his quidditch magazine comfortably, dressed in what their parents would deem appropriate casual wear. He had the same wavy black hair though his was shorter, cropped to his ears and sideswept. For once, he didn't have his hair done and styled with products, making him look rather boyish. While he still hadn’t grown into himself yet, his face had subtle angular features and stood four inches taller than Polaris with a lankier build than Sirius. 

Both looked up at the sound of her sigh, giving her the distinct image of a cat and dog.

“Ah, the prodigal daughter returns to grace us with her presence,” Sirius drawled with a grin while Regulus smiled softly in greeting.

Polaris rolled her eyes, shutting the door. “I thought I told you never to read that garbage in my room, Siri.”

“I’m not reading, Polly, I’m looking at pictures.” Said Sirius matter-of-factly as he wagged his eyebrows. 

“That’s just disgusting,” Polaris wrinkled her nose, heading to her vanity. Sirius sniggered especially as Regulus smacked his leg with his magazine as he got up to help Polaris take out the hair pins in her elaborate hair style. “What are you two doing in my room anyways? I thought you’d be in lessons when I didn’t find either of you in your rooms.”

“Father let Sirius and I out early because Grandfather called him on the Floo.” Regulus answered, taking out four pins.

“We came looking for you, thinking you were out already. Didn’t Uncle Alphard say he’d only give you all four hours?”

Polaris made a face. “I ended up chaperoning Cissy and Lucy, though mother tells me they would’ve stayed longer had Uncle Alphard not worked up the nerve to kick everyone out. Mother took his entire supply of the shop’s most popular tea in retaliation.”

“The woe that is the life of Uncle Alphard.” Sirius nodded sagely, 

“He was already at his wit’s end when we were there.” Polaris sighed, smiling when Regulus took out the last hair pin. “Poor man’s going to go mad.”

Regulus snorted, taking her hairbrush. “Ah yes, if it’s not because of the inbreeding, it’d be because of the family’s women.”

“Speaking of the family women, I have something important to tell you both.”

“Right into the family gossip we go,” Sirius shut his magazine excitedly, tossing it to the floor as he made himself comfortable. Regulus looked amused.

“Well, you’re not going to like it, so don’t look too excited. Has father spoken to either you about courtship?” Polars asked, leaning her head back as Regulus brushed through her hair soothingly. It was such a pain to brush it herself when it was hip length and wavy.

Sirius hummed. “Grandfather and father said that I wouldn’t really focus on it until I’m done with heir lessons. Reggie?”  

Regulus shrugged. “Mother and father said they want us to revisit the topic when I’m closer to seventeen so I can establish my position in social circles.”

Polaris groaned. “Of course.”

Instantly, her twin leaned forward with a mischievous look in his eyes. “Did mother hear about me snogging Vance?” One of Sirius’s proudest moments, he wouldn’t stop bragging for weeks that he snogged the sixth year in a broom cupboard.

Polaris scrunched her nose delicately. “ No - I mean, I would still stay away from mother for a few hours if I were you, Siri. Barty,” Sirius groaned at the name, much to Regulus’s amusement, “told his grandmother you pranked him and a couple of other kids from the Sacred Twenty-Eight and of course Auntie Charis asked her about it.”

Sirius grumbled, sending Regulus a pointed glare. “Oi, tell your little friend to stop being such a bloody pansy.”

Regulus smirked and didn’t bother to meet his eyes. “Shouldn’t have hexed him in front of Florence Brown.”

“He was being a little shit and you know it.”

“Anyways ,” Polaris interrupted with meaningful looks at both her brothers, “Cissy asked me to chaperone today because both her and Lucius asked me to design her wedding dress.”

“Her wedding dress?” It warmed her heart to see her brothers beam at the news. “Polly, that’s huge!” She felt the rush of warmth and pride run along her spine as she nodded back excitedly despite the real reason she was bringing it up.

“No wonder you’ve been gone for hours!”

Polaris nodded again, looking at Regulus through the mirror. “We spent the rest of the afternoon at the Spindle. Cissy and Lucius went over what they were hoping for, I got a lot of great ideas and I’ll probably start soon - but that’s not the big news.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow, readjusting himself to sit criss-cross on her bed. “Bigger news than Cissy asking you to make her dress?” He would hardly believe so - fashion was one of Polaris’s number one priorities and if there was news bigger than that, it had to be groundbreaking.

And it would be.

“Towards the end, I was with Cissy, talking to her about the dress and about how they were a perfect match and she said that father’s been getting courtship offers. For me.” She added upon glancing at their confused faces.

The reaction was instantaneous. 

“ What?!” Sirius demanded amidst the loud clattering of Polaris’s hairbrush that fell out of Regulus’s hand. Both of her brothers gawked at her in various levels of alarm.

“W-what do you mean for you?” Regulus spluttered. 

Thank Merlin for brothers, Polaris thought. She appreciated the support even if their worry came from overprotective tendencies. “Just that - father’s been getting courtship offers for me and Cissy said I’ll probably be starting soon.”

Regulus shook his head. “I thought they were going to wait post-Hogwarts like how they did for the girls.” 

Her twin was practically seething. “How the bloody hell does she know?” 

“Uncle Cygnus. Uncle and Auntie have been complaining to mother and father how Andy’s probably not going to have many marriage prospects by the time she’s done with the apprenticeship.” She sent him a loaded look, turning on the vanity stool to meet Regulus’s eyes directly. 

“So what?” Sirius retorted, standing up in the heat of anger. “This still could’ve waited till we graduated, you’re only fifteen. Like Reggie said, Cissy’s not getting married until she’s twenty-one, Andy only started betrothal negotiations once she turned seventeen, and even dear old cousin Bella was married at nineteen.”

“That’s marriage and betrothal, Siri, not courtship.” Regulus replied tartly, picking up the fallen brush.

“Same bloody difference ,” Sirius angrily pushed up his shirt sleeves.

“Cissy thinks it’s because her parents have been complaining to ours that now mother and father want to give me the best options.”

Sirius snorted, rubbing his temples. “That’s the biggest load of dung-”

“Is it, though?” Regulus interrupted, glaring at the oldest of the trio. “Realistically, at fifteen and sixteen, there are more options for investment. If not investment, they’re probably thinking along the lines of developing someone with good potential in spouses that work in our favor. It’s a perfect social development for ambitious people.”

“That’s wonderful, Regulus, have you forgotten that Polly’s only life ambition is to design fashion and I’m a Gryffindor?” Sirius drawled, leaning against the wall with crossed arms. “This socially ambitious stuff doesn't matter to us.”

Both Polaris and Regulus just stared dryly at him, until Regulus rolled his eyes. “It matters to our parents, you dolt. And once again, you might sport the red and gold, but if you weren’t so emotionally driven or brash, you would’ve been in Slytherin.”

“That and because your life goal is to be the one reason why mother has gray hairs and you have continuously persisted with it, that takes more courage than ambition to do.” Polaris added, shaking her head. And it was true. While Polaris had done everything she could to keep Walburga and Sirius’s relationship from being violent and deplorable, that didn’t mean the two of them didn’t step on each other’s toes or argued significantly. It did happen, especially at dinner, but in a more of a ‘dinner and a show’ type of way.

While Sirius warred with himself about whether to be more insulted or proud, Regulus turned back to her with worried eyes. “So was that all she told you? Did you talk to mother about it when you got back?”

“No,” Polaris shook her head. “They haven’t mentioned anything yet to me directly and I wanted to know if either of you have heard of anything or seen the requests.”

“Probably a good idea, starting the topic might encourage them to set dates up sooner rather than later.” Regulus sighed bitterly, putting her hairbrush back on the vanity. 

“We’ll have to ask them eventually,” Sirius bit out. “As much as I think we should just blow the plan up for them, I still rather you have some control on potential dates.”

“That’s true.” Polaris rubbed at her eyes tiredly.

The trio stayed silent at that, brooding in their own way. Sirius began to pace as he would whenever he was wound up, glaring at the floor as he did. Regulus stood beside Polaris, leaning against the vanity with his arms crossed and lost in thought. Polaris slumped over, leaning on her knees. 

A minute passed, when Regulus finally spoke aloud. “They could be waiting till you’re sixteen. A year away from majority.” Regulus offered, looking between the twins.

Polaris chewed on her lip. “November’s not far from now.” 

Sirius paused in his pacing. “You’ll be at Hogwarts, so you’ll either have dates during Hogsmeade weekends or wait till Yule holidays.”

“Father wouldn’t like that.” Regulus said immediately.

“Hogsmeade would be too out of control for him,” Polaris nodded slowly. “Too far away to monitor and too much room for possible intimacy-”

“Over my dead body.”

“I’d never let that happen.”

“-which means that Yule it is.” Polaris deadpanned, glaring at the two who just stared back at her stubbornly. “And really? One day I’ll actually get married, you know. Are you going to stop the honeymoon?”

“Is there no way to just not?” Sirius asked, completely ignoring her.

Regulus snorted. “Do you have any bright ideas?” 

Sirius bared his teeth. “Well, no but there has to be something that would make them hold off.”

“The whole reason they don’t want to hold off is because Andy’s apprenticeship is holding her off from getting married.” Regulus drawled. “Do keep up brother.”

Polaris froze, staring ahead as Sirius reacted to Regulus’s bait. 

Andy’s apprenticeship. An apprenticeship that was really an eloped marriage no one knew about because it was to a muggleborn wizard. A relationship that Polaris knew would have burned Andromeda off the family tapestry and disowned if their family had known exactly who it had been, but this time ended with postponement of betrothals. And if Andromeda played her cards right, she could end up like Auntie Cassiopeia (complete aversion to relationships and marriage and would much rather be the fun and single auntie) or the late Auntie Lycoris (heartbroken when the wizard she loved died), listed as unmarried. It was a long shot, but if Andromeda acted like a fraction of how Auntie Cassiopeia did when it came to defending her singularity, then-

But right now was not the time to think about Andy or how she was going to keep her lie, it was about the principle. How Andromeda managed to get out of betrothal.

Apprenticeships were only for those that have graduated, looking to enhance their strengths in particular fields and develop affinities. So there was no way she would be able to use that as an excuse. But it was only an excuse because Tonkswasn’t a pureblood.

Polaris stood sharply, cutting between her bickering brothers. 

She tapped her fingers against her mouth, crossing an arm underneath her chest. 

Had Tonks been a pureblood, even a lesser named one, Andromeda could have presented him and it still would have postponed betrothal and potential courtship dates (Uncle Cygnus probably wouldn’t have honored it, but he’s a greedy bastard). Grandfather Arcturus would have humored her purely out of curiosity; that old man loved observing those that caught the attention of his family members and it was a trait that Orion inherited as well. 

If Polaris, Arcturus’s only granddaughter and Orion’s only daughter, was the one to bring in a potential match, everyone would want to observe. 

All because ickle little Polaris finally showed interest in someone beyond the Noble House of Black. 

That she couldn’t deny. Polaris knew that she spent over fifteen years investing so much in bettering her relations with and between her family members, so much so she hardly cared to focus beyond that. At Hogwarts, she only befriended Clementine Greengrass, a gentle but very experimental Ravenclaw, and she had known Rabastan Lestrange since her cousin and his brother married. For Polaris to look at someone beyond that would certainly make the family back down if it came to courtship.

Her position as a daughter in the main branch was very weighted with just her birth, but she added to it with her own aloofness.

The better part is that it didn’t have to be real. Her grandfather would be the only one to see through it but he always valued tenacity and going to great lengths to get what one wants, so much so that he’d be curious about her endgame. She didn’t need to actively pursue someone (she wouldn’t want to considering she was like forty something in mind now and that just felt wrong ), she just needed someone to play along for the time while she was at Hogwarts or maybe even after, though she wouldn’t mind as much after she’s of age. It’d be unavoidable and if she kept the charade up during that time, she was sure her father and grandfather would begin the betrothal contracts and she wouldn’t want to tie a person to her for just doing a favor.

“The problem is, I can’t think of anyone who would want to.” Polaris muttered only to get poked on the side of her head. “Ow!”

“Alright, out with it.” Sirius stared down at her on one side with Regulus on the other. “What did that big head think up now?”

She looked between them, her hand still at her chin. “The best way to postpone this is to fill the spot before they do.”

At first, they didn’t realize what she meant, sharing a glance at each other as though they hadn’t been at each other’s throats for a couple of minutes. It took a minute or two before Regulus’s eyes widened and Sirius’s jaw dropped out of offense rather than shock.

“I beg your pardon?” 

“Did those words really come out of your mouth?”

Polaris sighed heavily. “They did, because honestly nothing else would stop our parents besides already having a fake boyfriend.”

That made Sirius pause. “Fake?”

“Siri, if I wanted to actually date someone, I would’ve just gone along with the courtship dates.” She rolled her eyes, curling a lock of her hair around her finger. 

“It’s not … a terrible plan.” Regulus hesitantly allowed. “Doesn’t need to lead to betrothal or anything, you would just need to act.”

Polaris nodded, watching as Sirius’s countenance slowly got more and more relaxed as he began to actually think about the plan. “The only problem is that I don’t have someone that I could just ask to do this.”

She really didn’t. Her only male friend was Rabastan and he wouldn’t be able to help considering his older brother had married into the newer generation of the family already. Her father wouldn’t allow it, even if it was something she wanted. She couldn’t ask Clementine to ask her brothers either, the oldest was recently married and the youngest wasn’t going to start Hogwarts until next year. 

The only option she actually had was to ask her brothers if they knew anyone, which wasn’t the best idea either.

Regulus because the majority of his friends were purebloods, and some of their families might have even put in a courtship offer as it was. And if Regulus somehow found someone who hadn’t, the plan would be too opportunistic for other pureblood families. While she trusted Regulus heart and soul and would trust someone that he did, she wouldn’t trust the families of said individuals. The Black Family name carried a lot of weight and if the families realized they had a chance at connecting with her family, they would take it. 

And judging by the look on Regulus’s face, he realized that too. 

Her only other option was to ask Sirius, which she really did not want to do. Even the thought of it made her wince physically.

First, while his social circle was infinitely bigger than Regulus’s and Polaris’s, he had fewer options of who she could present to her parents. The reason why it was bigger was entirely because there were more than just purebloods and while her parents have barely tolerated Sirius fraternizing with the … scum as they would put it nicely, presenting anyone her family deemed a blood traitor, a half-blood, or a muggleborn would sooner have her ostracized and disowned. Second, the only people that Polaris would be able to present were … part of the original plot or otherwise off market. Longbottom (taken but Polaris would have refused, he's her third cousin), Shafiq, Brown and Potter (100% plotline so 100% no - but he could've been viable otherwise, he was part of a different Potter branch than Auntie Dorea). Hence, for obvious reasons, she really didn’t want to ask her twin.

She really didn’t want to - it was way too close to the plotline to be comfortable. But whichever friend he picked amongst his pureblooded ones would be much more agreeable and available than what she had to work with.

Still….

Sirius grimaced when he realized their eyes were on him. 

“We got four- three! We got three months to find someone.” Regulus said quickly. That was a better idea, just find someone completely new. 

Polaris and Sirius winced and nodded quickly. “Agreed.”

“But we have a plan. Which is more than we had five minutes ago.”

The trio paused, staring at each other silently as they all considered their options.

Sirius scratched the back of his neck. “Project Where art thou Romeo ?”

Polaris groaned and Regulus reached over to smack the back of his head.