answer the phone
"I'll read," Lily volunteered, practically skipping to the stool. She was eager to find out what happened to his twins.
PLATFORM NINE AND THREE QUARTERS
The Baudins' were a complicated family. They were known to be quiet and a family you wouldn't suspect of any troublemaking.
"The boring type of family," Sirius commented. "One I am glad I am a part of," he sent a grin towards Euphemia and Fleamont.
They used to be infamous in their compound, known for being relatively kind and a pleasure to dine with. A rich family originating from France, with beautiful sons, their reputation was already carved out for them with all their resources. The Baudin's wouldn't and couldn't go bad.
Regulus hummed, "doesn't this sound familiar, Sirius?"
"It quite does, brother. I wonder what happened at the end," Sirius continued the act.
That's until the twins came.
Lily and James shared a hopeful look, thinking that could be their twins.
They had arrived at the doorstep of the newly married couple eleven years ago, the only possession they had was a note with their names and birthdays. After realizing the only thing they could do was just send them to an orphanage, they decided to adopt the twins.
If those were their twins, then who would have dropped them off, taken them from their homes.
Later finding out that Clementine and Monty were forced to be reckless. They were pranksters and mischief-makers, and always had notes from teachers complaining about their behavior. And they were scarily charming.
James widely grinned, "Only our kids,"
"Little marauders in the making," Sirius nearly squealed in happiness.
"Most likely worse," Remus noted, "because you two aren't charming at all,"
"Take that back right now, Lupin,"
"He is only speaking the truth," Regulus defended, a sly smirk on his face.
They were everything a Baudin shouldn't be.
"Walburga and Orion part two," Sirius stated. Feeling bad for the twins. No one deserved an unaccepting family. A family that created expectations for you the moment you were born. And only blamed you when you couldn't meet up to their standards.
The twins had learned that the hard way.
"They shouldn't even be with them," Lily remarked sourly.
Noticing their father's cold behavior and constant lectures that they weren't representing their prestige family well. Or how their mother compared them to their cousins a bit too much for her to love them as she had truly said she did.
Sirius and Regulus shared a look. It all sounded too familiar. Orion would reprimand them wherever they went, reminding them of their family name and how they should abide by it and remember it before they did a single thing. While Walburga was always the lecturing type. Comparing them to other pureblood families with exceptional sons. Or how much Bellatrix followed Toujours Pur and how they should follow her example.
At least when she used to say that.
"Fuck them," Marlene spat. Professor McGonagall couldn't even find it in her to reprimand the McKinnon. She felt the same way.
But they weren't bad parents. The twins knew that. They just partly wanted to get their attention with their pranks, instead, they had received the opposite.
Everyone's hurt broke. They all knew that if they had been raised with the Potters, they would probably be praised for the pranks they did. Nor would they need a single to garner their parent's attention or love because it would be given to them the moment they were born.
Yet, it seemed as if the twins had gained their parent's attention eleven years later when a letter came for them both during breakfast. Claudia Baudin had dropped her fork in shock once she read it, and looked at the twins in shock, instantly accusing them of another prank. The twins didn't have any motive to lie that they were magic and write an entire letter out for it. Even making up a school for 'wizards' and 'witches'. It took them hours to convince their mother and father they weren't lying, and the pair of parents only believed them once they truly saw how shocked the twins were themselves.
"It shouldn't take them that long to believe their children," Euphemia hissed, waiting for the part where the twins came back to their rightful, loving family.
So they had done everything enlisted in the letter, from buying their uniform to books to their wands, and finally stood with them at the platform, but couldn't find the one they were looking for.
"It would save some confusion if the letters entailed how to get through the barrier, wouldn't it?" Dumbledore sheepishly asked, not knowing the puzzlement muggle-borns had to go through to find the barrier.
"Yes,"
"Mother," Clementine called out, "perhaps that family knows where platform nine and three quarters is. They look as if they have the same books Monty and I do,"
"She's quite resourceful," Regulus noted, slowly grinning, "perhaps the line of Gryffindor Potter's will break,"
"It already did, love, the moment you joined our family," Euphemia whispered to him, sending him a soft smile.
The girl had curly, unruly black hair that reached the middle of her back. Her hazel eyes, which were usually covered in mischief, were squinting at the family a few feet from them, ready to walk toward them until her twin nudged her.
"She is your carbon copy," Mary commented.
"A mini Prongsletta!" Peter exclaimed.
"And if they are also confused?"
Monty looked fairly similar to his sister, except for his emerald green eyes. He had always wondered where he inherited it from, seeing as his mother had light brown eyes and his father a dark blue.
"They don't know they are adopted?"
Clementine shrugged, "Then I'll just play it off as if I meant platform nine."
"She has Lily's intelligence," Remus noted, nudging his ginger friend. She grinned at that.
"Yeah," James agreed, before realizing what Remus meant. "Oi!"
Before Monty could counter her retort, their father, Thomas Baudin, interrupted them. "Go ask the family, but be on your best behavior. You are a Baudin. Be wise to remember that,"
"No, they aren't," Fleamont laughed. If only the git could hear him, he thought with a sigh.
Clementine gave him a court nod, internally wanting to roll her eyes as she and Monty walked to the big family. Baudin this, Baudin that. She heard their conversation before she had even been close to them.
"Family name doesn't mean shit," Regulus calmly stated. He and Sirius knew that best.
"My boy is growing up," a tall man had cried, flinging his hands over a young boy's shoulders. Monty and Clementine shared a look, sealing their lips from laughter. They felt rather sorry for the boy.
The marauders turned to Sirius. Only he could be that dramatic.
"Oi! Turn around,"
"Sirius," a woman with blazing red hair sighed, "leave poor Atlas alone."
Sirius turned a bright red, ignoring his friend's laughter. "Do I sound that bad?" he whispered to Peter.
The Pettigrew smiled from ear to ear, "Worse."
It seemed as if the pair couldn't keep their laughter in, just from the name, and they unintentionally grabbed the family's attention. Noticing a bunch of eyes paired on them, the twins had regained their composure instantly, almost as if they hadn't been laughing at all.
"We all had the same reaction towards your name," James laughed, Remus and Peter agrees.
"It's a beautiful name, okay?" Sirius defended, "means dog-star,"
"How ironic," Remus commented lowly, sending them all into laughter at the inside joke.
"Excuse me," Monty started with a polite smile. His voice cracked slightly from laughter, and Clem quickly turned her head, knowing she was about to release a bubble full of cackles if she looked at her twin again. "Do you know where platforms nine and three quarters are?"
"Trying to hold your laughter and being successful should be a talent," Marlene declared, "especially when you're trying to be serious,"
Remus pinched Sirius before he could make a joke.
Please be wizards and witches. Please be wizards and witches. Clementine chanted in her mind. All the while, neither of the twins saw the family's widen eyes and sharp intakes by their presence.
"We should try to be more subtle," Lily stated sheepishly. But who could blame them? Looking for your children for eleven years, just to find them right in front of you. That's the only reasonable reaction.
"Um," a man with shaggy brown hair stammered, "you just run through that barrier between platforms nine and ten?"
Remus patted his hair subconsciously.
Monty seemed to turn back as if their parents would wait patiently for them, but they weren't in sight. What a surprise, Clementine thought dully. They weren't that accepting of them being magical in the first place. Why would they stay and support them now?
"Can we start a hate club for the Baudin's?" Regulus questioned.
There was a chorus of, "yes,"
Clem shared a wide grin with Monty, and with a quick 'thank you to the family, they ran their trolly into the barrier - expected for something solid to crash into, but it didn't happen. The twins pealed their eyes open to see a scarlet train near a platform filled with witches and wizards like themselves.
"It's a magical experience, indeed," Fleamont smiled, nostalgia running through his head.
"That pun was horrible, Monty," Euphemia chuckled.
"I couldn't help myself,"
"Bloody hell," Monty whispered in awe.
"I know right," a voice came from behind them. The twins turned their heads to see Atlas. His grey eyes crinkled in a grin, sharing their same expressions of awe.
"They should have grown up together," Sirius stated with a sad smile. Glancing at Lily and James.
Lily put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "we have a chance to make that happen."
"Monty and-" Monty began
"Clementine Baudin. Pleasure," Clem finished. She held out her hand, feeling embarrassed when Atlas' face became a slight pink.
"Atlas Black."
"Oh no!" James instantly denied it. "No, no, no. I refuse. No boys,"
While Lily was laughing, cooing on how adorable that was.
"Atlas isn't just a boy, though," Remus said, shrugging, finding James' reaction hilarious, "if it works out, you and Pads will be brother-in-laws,"
"No, thank you!" James nearly screeched at what Remus was implying.
"Poor Clementine," Lily muttered. There was no way she would allow her daughter to be lonely because of a protective father.
They began to walk passed carriages until they found one in the very back. The twins sat across from Atlas, and Clem took the chance to observe him. He had wavy black hair and bright grey eyes. He didn't seem like those posh boys. Yet, he looked like he came from a loving family, which Clementine was secretly jealous of. She had a family, but not an accepting nor loving one.
"My hate for Claudia and Thomas grows by the second," Marlene scowled.
"What house do you fancy you'll be in?" Atlas inquired, curiosity glazing his sharp features.
"Houses?" Monty repeated. "What are those?"
"Oh, my bad," Atlas let out with a sorry smile, "It's classes. There's Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Gryffindor is for the brave, Slytherin for the ambitious and cunning, Hufflepuff for the loyal, and Ravenclaw for the clever and witty lot,"
"Monty is a Ravenclaw," Euphemia predicted, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I'm not sure about Clementine,"
"Perhaps a Gryffindor like her parents," Peter shrugged, though even he doubted that.
"No way," Remus scoffed. "She's a clear Slytherin - perhaps also Ravenclaw."
"Whatever house they end up in, I'll still love them," James declared, truly sincere. A house wouldn't change his opinion on his children.
"Hopefully they end in the same house, though," Lily stated. "It would be better for them to experience their years in Hogwarts together."
The twins shared a look, they didn't have a clue which house they would be sorted in.
"I want to in Gryffindor," Atlas grinned widely, "My father was sorted there, but I have a long family line of Slytherins. Nasty, the lot of them. Except for my uncle!"
"Good," Regulus huffed, "but I know for a fact I am not the only good Slytherin. We are not all bad,"
"Why would they be nasty?" Clem quirked an eyebrow, clearly noticing the disdain the Black had for Slytherins.
"The lot of them are known to go bad some way or the other," Atlas shrugged indifferently.
He ought to teach his son better, Sirius thought.
"Then what makes your uncle different?" Monty countered, passing Clementine her glasses from his pocket.
"I love him," Marlene announced, cackling at how witty the young Potter was.
"As a Ravenclaw myself," Dorcas began, "he is one in the making for sure,"
She internally groaned. She already had her contacts on, she thought as she sent her twin a look. He sent her an even pointed-on as if saying, I doubt those would last long.
"I also hated my glasses at a young age. Refused to wear them," James said, adjusting his glasses.
"And it only worsened your sight," Euphemia pointedly added.
Atlas didn't seem to have anything to support his stereotype. Clementine was genuinely unimpressed, keeping her eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, don't take his stereotypes!" Regulus exclaimed.
"I don't hate the entire house," Atlas finally said, twirling his wand in his hands, "there's just a known rivalry to go on between Gryffindor and Slytherins. Mainly because of Deatheaters and Voldemort."
"Who?"
Mary frowned, "they don't know a thing. Practically muggle-borns,"
"Well, they were raised as if they were,"
Atlas leaned forward, his lips quirking up, "you don't know?" What a toe-rag. He was insufferable.
Marlene, Mary, and Dorcas nearly fell off their chair in laughter, especially at Lily's red face.
"Well, doesn't that sound familiar?" Marlene grinned.
"No boys," James whispered to himself, earning a laugh from Remus as he was the only one to hear him.
"He was just basically a dark wizard that gained power a few years back. Defeated by my God-brother, left a bit of a scar, and was never heard of again,"
Dumbledore raised his eyebrow. A scar? He questioned.
"So he was like... a style has gone out of fashion?" Monty inquired, brushing his curls out of his face. Clementine let out a small cackle. She guessed it wasn't normal for a person to say that about such a Dark Wizard, but the twins had never fit in that category, to begin with.
Atlas loudly laughed, "You ought to be careful with your words, Monty,"
"I haven't done that before," the boy shrugged, "why begin now?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if you end up in Ravenclaw, mate. You sure got the wit," Atlas stated.
"That's what I've been saying," Euphemia nodded in agreement. Glad that someone else saw her vision.
The trio kept each other on their toes with conversation, Clementine slightly warming up to Atlas once she figured he was also a trouble maker. Especially when the trio promised to explore the castle that night once the Grand Feast was over.
Minnie's face paled, "another generation of..." she looked at the marauders who were already looking at her with wide grins, "of you all,"
"Indeed, Minnie,"
But it wasn't until half-past twelve that a woman with a warm smile and dimples came, asking if they wanted anything for the cart. Atlas seemed to leap from his feet, and in a second came back with the whole table filled with chocolates.
"Eat up," Atlas demanded, picking up a chocolate frog. "So... I never got to ask you two, but why do you have French Accents?"
"They do?"
Clementine beamed, "Mostly at home we talk in French since both of our parents are from there. It's our primary language. So I guess over time we developed an accent,"
"Which language do you prefer?" Atlas probed, taking the information with fascination. He knew his uncle knew the language quite well, due to his upbringing, but he didn't know a word.
"It's a beautiful language," Regulus gushed, "a one I rather prefer,"
"French for sure," Monty nodded, running a hand through his hair, "It's easy to curse people in a language they aren't familiar with."
Atlas laughed, throwing his head back. "Well, you must teach me some,"
Nearly everyone in the room laughed.
Monty looked ready to write an entire list before a knock came at their compartment. A man came in with circle spectacles rather like Clementine's. He had crazy black hair and seemed to be looking for someone from how his eyes didn't stay in one spot until he recognized Atlas. Clementine remembered seeing him around Atlas at the platform.
"Hello, me!" James greeted.
"Have you seen Harry?" The man quickly asked. He didn't seem to notice the twins at all.
"You are still oblivious to the future," Regulus drawled, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Oi! Leave me alone," James huffed, placing an offended hand on his heart.
"No," Atlas shook his head, "I just know him and Ron were running late to the train, that's all,"
"Okay," the man nodded, turning around to see two pairs of eyes already staring at him. He seemed to freeze. Had they startled him?
"Uncle James, these are my friends Clementine and Monty," Black introduced them. The twins politely smiled. That seemed to snap James from whatever trance he was in.
Before he could be scolded for his reaction, James explained, "I mean, can you blame me? Imagine you see children you thought were possibly dead, for the second time that day,"
"Pleasure," James grinned. "I'll be your Quidditch teacher this year! Are you two new?"
The twins nodded, remembering to ask Atlas what did he mean by Quidditch.
"Well, good luck. You'll love Hogwarts! And stay out of trouble," He threw an awkward thumbs up before stumbling out of the compartment.
"Hypocrite!" Sirius and Remus bellowed.
Peter pointed at him, "you are trouble,"
"Shush," James hissed, "perhaps I changed into a responsible adult!"
The marauders shared a look, before snorting. As if, they all thought.
Atlas scoffed, "rather rich for him to say stay out of trouble,"
"Why?"
"Who do you think I got my troublemaking from? They taught me the ropes," Atlas slightly laughed, then began rambling on about a specific, horrid teacher they needed to focus their mischief on. "Professor Snape is an absolute menace. He's the Head Professor for the Slytherins, and always favors them! And always places bets on them for Quidditch!" he threw his hands in the air.
"He's a Professor?" James screeched.
Remus and Sirius pretended to faint on Peter.
"These poor kids," Regulus cried. He turned to Dumbledore, "Why would you hire him?"
The Headmaster nearly shrugged.
The twins shared a look. They needed to meet the bloke.
"No!" James screeched, "no you do not,"
"Wait," Clementine paused Atlas' venting, "what's Quidditch?"
James fell from his chair.
Atlas almost choked on his Chocolate Frog. "Have I not told you two yet?" He seemed close to tears of shame. "Only the best game in the world--" and he went off to passionately explain explaining all about the four balls and the positions of the seven players, describing famous games he’d been to with his family.
After regaining his composure, James announced, "they will be the very best! Just like their father once they learn how to play,"
The game sounded fun. Especially the bit where you fly and dodge dangerous balls. But, her muggle heart preferred soccer, and she was adamant about teaching Atlas how to play one day.
Lily smiled and shared a look with Mary, both of them familiar with the game. Lily had taught her friends also how to play since she was quite familiar with it.
"What's that?" Peter questioned, listening to Lily and Mary's explanation.
"So what's your family like?" Monty questioned, quite curious. Clem looked at the window. They had passed all the fields and now seemed to be going near a bunch of forests. The view was magnificent.
A blissful look overcame Atlas' face, and Clem knew the only person who could make her that happy was Monty. "They are a crazy and dramatic lot. My father - why are you all grinning?"
Sirius always had doubts about how he would be as a father, considering he was horrible. He always doubt he would be able to break the cycle, despite knowing he wasn't Orion, he never knew how things could turn out. But he felt giddiness in his heart, knowing he was a good enough father to make his son happy. That couldn't make him any happier.
"Is his name Sirius?" Monty laughed.
"Oi! It's a perfectly wonderful name,"
Atlas smirked, "Yes, although my father isn't quite serious at times.
"I will simply ignore that your love of puns hasn't passed down to your son," Remus nearly wept. He was tired of the Sirius puns. He was hoping it was just a phase Sirius would get out of. But now, the horror has been passed down to another generation.
"It's a wonderful trait to pass down, though," Sirius grinned.
My uncle, Regulus, he's much more chill, but he's crazily smart. He has a daughter named Elladora. She's adorable. She's only nine.
"So you don't stay as the resigned babysitter!" Dorcas exclaimed, "you're a father,"
"I guess so," Regulus smiled. He was never as scared of being a father as Sirius was. He was much more open to the idea of doing things with his children that his parents didn't do.
And then my Uncles Remus, James, and Peter. Remmy has an adopted son, Anthony. He's also nine - has quite the crush on Ellakins."
Regulus and Remus shared a look.
"Isn't that incest?"
"Oh, no," Atlas cackled, "I'm not related to Remmy, James, or Peter. My dad just considers them as brothers, so it's a crime for me not to also consider them as family, y'know?" No, they didn't, but they nodded regardless. "Peter doesn't have any children, yet. But he's engaged right now to Lila Abbott - I think that's her name. They are quite the happy couple,"
Peter blushed, practically glowing red. He had developed a small crush on Lila that year, but she was taken. He was glad to know he got the girl.
The marauders fussed at him, not even hiding their cooing.
"When's the wedding?"
"Summer or Spring, I think," Atlas answered with a shrug, "And then there's uncle James who married aunt Lily. They have only Harry - the infamous boy who lived, or the one who destroyed Voldy Moldy - only I call him that, though-"
"To his face?"
"Oh, no. He would destroy me." Atlas scoffed, shaking his head. "Lily and James had twins though. But the same night Voldy Moldy was destroyed, they went missing. No one even knows if they are alive or not. Around their birthdays the entire family gets a bit sad. I, personally, don't remember them. But there are some pictures of us like babies,"
A small silence coated the air. It seemed as if the twins' disappearance had taken a toll on them. At least there was the possibility that they would be able to change it.
"Oh," Monty nodded, feeling sympathy for the family, "How old would they be now?"
"In our year, in fact," Atlas had seemed to suddenly remember, "I know for a fact that it's the main reason uncle James would become a Professor this year. They think they'll find the twins. Since it's a high possibility they would get their Hogwarts letter, wherever they are."
Marlene gritted her teeth, "they are right in front of you!"
"Hopefully they find them," Clementine said with a small smile.
"This is making me mad," Marlene groaned, "just find out already,"
"Yeah," Atlas nodded in agreement, knowing the grief his family had gone through since the twins went missing. Although if he came to think of it, the pair in front of him were twins. He didn't know the Potter twin's name, but he knew Grandpa Fleamont - Monty, and Atlas knew that name wasn't worldwide.
"No! It is not," Monty practically yelled. Hoping some of his knowledge would magically fly down to Atlas.
And he knew the Potter twin's birthday was August 14th.
"The gears are clicking."
"When are your birthdays?" Atlas inquired, adding quickly, "Mines is November 3rd,"
If their Monty and Clem's birthday was the same as the Potter twins, he knew he couldn't pass it as a coincidence. Clementine even looked like James, while Monty had the same green eyes as Harry and Aunt Lils.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Regulus repeated, "I'm so glad he doesn't have your brain, Sirius,"
"Hey!"
Monty opened his mouth to reply, but a Prefect came in, telling them to change into their robes, seeing as they were near Hogwarts.
"NO!" Marlene cried, instantly deflating.
Atlas nearly banged his head on the table.
Marlene had done it. Then she stood up, practically shoving Lily off the stool, "I will read this next chapter!"