The Altar of the Phoenix

Everyone was laughing and you were lying on the ground

You said, "honey, can you tell me what your name is?"

"Honey, can you tell me what your name is?"

I said, "you know what my name is"

2nd September 1971

In her dream, she was crying in one of the Hogwarts bathrooms. Which was ridiculous. She wouldn’t cry in a bathroom; it was gross. 

She tried to stop the tears, but it was fruitless. Ara was a passenger inside a body that felt like hers, if slightly off. Emotions overwhelmed her, but there was no signs of magic. This wasn’t a meltdown, it was just a girl crying in a bathroom.

After wiping her eyes off with a tissue, she moved from her perch above the toilet and exited the stall. 

Though, when she caught sight of herself in the mirror, she almost wished she hadn’t. 

The her in the mirror was wrong. They were small inconsistencies and Ara couldn’t help but spot them all. Her wild curls were the first thing she spotted - somehow bushier in the mirror, her hair a lighter brown. Next were her eyes. They were brown, the colour of chocolate. Not her normal grey that matched her brothers. 

The biggest change, however, was how unblemished her face was. There was no scarring. Instead, the lightly tanned skin was clear (if a bit splotchy from crying). 

It was odd, this different version of her. The one with big front teeth and hair like a hurricane. 

She watched as her hands went to the sink, moving to splash water on her face. And then the door opened and Ara quickly understood that this was about to go very bad. 

Thundering through the doorway, standing so tall she had to crane her neck upwards, was a foul faced greenish looking monster. Club in hand, beady little eyes - she had seen this in a book!

It was a bloody troll. Eyes locked on her, club ready to swing. 

And she was so screwed. 

She woke with a start, prompting Sirius to stir too. 

“Nightmare?” He asked. There were no other words needed - her nod the only other action before Sirius dragged her back down and rested her against his shoulder, an arm wrapped around her so she knew he was real. 

This nightmare had been different. It had felt so real and so tired to her emotions, that she felt the adrenaline rush even after she’d woken. 

It was different in another way too.

Because she remembered this one. 

—— 

Sirius Orion Black had always known his sister was a little odd. He knew she was odd in ways she had forgotten years ago. 

Firstly, she didn’t talk out loud when they were children. He hadn’t minded, since she would whisper to him in their mind - but he had always wondered why. So, because he was a curious boy, he asked her why. 

Her response had bothered him ever since. 

I can’t tell you yet. But one day, it’ll all make sense.

It wasn’t that day yet, but things were beginning to connect. 

The second odd thing had happened on that awful day when they were five. As her barriers broke and he held her close, he saw flashes of the oddest things in their mind. He couldn’t remember all of them now, but they had been awful. He saw a boy being clutched by his father in mourning by a maze, a werewolf slashing at him with bright gold eyes, a ginger family surrounding a covered body with only a bloody hand escaping the fabric. They weren’t enough to make sense of, but they felt real. They felt like memories. Which was impossible, given his sister was five and rarely left the house. 

There was one that stuck out to him, however, of a castle hallway with shattered brick - and a woman with curly hair coming towards him with a gleam of malicious glee. 

The older he had gotten, the more sure he had become that the woman was Bella. Older, definitely, but he was certain. It was why he tried to lure Ara away from her. Just because she had forgotten, didn’t mean that those things hadn’t existed in her mind. And it didn’t mean that it might not happen in the future. 

He’d asked his father that years ago, if House Black had ever had a Seer. Orion had frowned at him briefly, before shaking his head and informing him that they’d once had Metamorphagus, but that those had died out. 

However, he had offered a surprising confession. That Occulmency did run in the family, and that Ara had been born with perfect mental barriers. His father hadn’t explained how or why only she got it, but Sirius quickly realised that he had been right. Ara was odd. 

Not that he didn’t have his own oddities.

He had a temper of his own, an obsession with Muggle things, and a lack of care for his wellbeing. His sister kept secrets from him about his oddness, he was sure. After all, he’d taught her how to do it. 

So, when he saw the exact hallway from Ara’s forgotten memories on their way to their dorms the night before, he didn’t say anything. When he saw snippets of her dreams that she would never remember, he didn’t talk to her about it. If he did, it meant it was real. It meant that maybe, just maybe, his sister was a Seer like he’d always wondered. And if so, their mother had shattered her sight and buried her visions when she broke her mind. 

It was safer to keep this secret from her. 

Shaking the serious thoughts from his mind, he turned to watch his sister as they walked to breakfast.

She was laughing with Peter about some Muggle thing he was teaching her. She had always been good with Muggle concepts, but some of them still confused her. Today’s one was that the currency had changed recently for muggles (and that Ara was too proud to admit she didn’t understand any of it). Peter was a good sport, however; his soft charm keeping Ara from getting frustrated at his explanation. 

Peter would be good for the two of them, Sirius thought. After all, he was polite and gentle enough to ease Ara from an outburst, and he knew a lot of fun Muggle things. In turn, the twins could help him come out of his shell and be a little more confident in himself. 

Remus too, he decided. He was kind and didn’t treat them like the same person. Ara could discuss books and boring things with the lanky boy and Sirius could use his wit for pranking. Best of all, he understood how different the twins were despite their similarities. He knew there were different ways to handle them.

James was his pièce de résistance. He was a ball of sunshine and good jokes. He was the perfect lightness to the twins’ own darkness. And he was quickly becoming Sirius’s best friend. Which was fine, since Ara seemed to be thinking the same about Peter and Remus. 

“Sirius?” He broke from his thoughts to see James looking at him curiously. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, forcing a smile. Luckily, the boy seemed to buy it. “Wonder what breakfast is like here.” 

With that, the group broke into a discussion about food - and Sirius was able to slide next to his twin and grab her hand. The soft smile she gave him suggested she knew his thought process, and that she was thinking similarly. 

They made their way to the Great Hall as food was appearing on the tables - their three new friends rushing to find a space to sit. As they ate, other first years gradually filled the space around them; conversations about lessons and Quidditch. Even Lily joined in a little, seemingly trying to get over the incident on the train and befriend her new Housemates. Sirius was not blind to the glares her newly Slytherin friend shot their table - or the looks of regret as he glanced at his only friend. 

It was when they were finishing up breakfast that the post came. Mainly newspapers and letters from parents congratulating their children on their sorting. Save for the twins. As they watched the familiar owl of their cousin’s family enter the Hall, but fly past the Slytherin table; they knew this wouldn’t be good. 

Sure enough, the owl dropped a crimson envelope in front of them and flew away immediately - barely sparing them a glance. 

“Oh Merlin.” James whispered with horror at the sight of the envelope in front of them. 

“Is anyone going to explain?” Lily groaned. “Is this what it’s like being Muggleborn? Just always being confused.”

“It’s a Howler.” Ara managed to stumble out, once she realised that no one else would explain it to the poor girl. “It’s a talking letter.” 

Lily’s eyes widened with awe. “That’s incredible. But… why’d you look so nervous?”

“It’s for us.” Sirius gulped, reaching a shaky hand to grab the letter. 

Stuff it in your bag and we’ll make a run for it, Ara told Sirius, preparing herself to jump from the table to sprint away before the letter opened. 

Unfortunately, they never got that chance. The second Sirius’s finger brushed the envelope, it exploded open - probably charmed to do so for maximum humiliation. 

“HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU BETRAY YOUR OWN FAMILY AND NOT BOTHER TO ADMIT YOUR ACTIONS YOUR FATHER AND I! YOU HAVE BROUGHT SHAME TO HOUSE BLACK, YOU HAVE SPAT ON YOUR LEGACY! YOUR FATHER AND I ARE DISGUSTED BY YOUR ACTIONS, YOUR GRANDFATHER NEARLY DIED WHEN HE HEARD OF YOUR TREACHERY AGAINST YOUR OWN HOUSE! HOW DARE YOU! 

I EXPECTED BETTER FROM YOU SIRIUS! TO BLINDLY FOLLOW IT AGAINST YOUR OWN BLOOD!  

AND I AM SO DISGUSTED BY IT, THAT I AM HALF TEMPTED TO NEVER LET IT RETURN!” 

With that, the Howler exploded into flames and fell to ash on Ara’s plate. 

Shock was the first emotion felt by the twins. Shock that she had actually sent a howler, that she had spoken that way.

Shock made way to anger quickly for Sirius, horrified at how their mother had referred to Ara. 

It was an odd turn of events that Ara was the one sending calming reassurance down the bond to Sirius. To her credit, she was doing this while still in shock. 

The Hall was completely silent, all eyes on Ara and Sirius as they stared at the ash on her plate, almost expecting it to fuse back together and be cruel again. 

To be careful, she poked the ashes with her finger, relieved that all it did was get her finger dirty. 

“Your mum calls you ‘it’?” Marlene asked horrified, breaking the uncomfortable silence. Ara winced, prompting Sirius to place a protective hand around her - glaring at Marlene so intensely that she gulped and looked down at her food. 

“Oi! Show’s over. Eat your bloody breakfasts!” James yelled to the Hall, prompting the hoard of teens to sheepishly look away and resume their breakfasts. 

“I forgot something in the dorm.” Ara announced suddenly, trying to move out from under Sirius’s arm to leave. Instead her brother held her down at the table and spoke through their mind - sensing her rising panic. 

Nothing is going to happen to Reggie, he reassured her, sending pretty images of pebbles. She rolled her eyes and replace the pebbles with the stern look Walburga would give before a punishment. 

What do you think she’ll do since we’re not there for her to punish? He’s all alone. It broke her heart, to know their little brother was trapped in that house. Especially when Walburga was angry and didn’t have her two favourite punching bags. 

Before Sirius could try to calm her down, she jumped from his grasp and left the Hall - pretending not to notice all the eyes on her. 

She made it all the way to the girls bathrooms before she realised where she was going. It froze her, and made her start to cry. What if the dream wasn’t a dream? It felt impossible - the her she saw in the mirror didn’t fully look like her - but somehow she felt it in her gut. 

It was her in that bathroom, facing that troll. 

It wasn’t a future vision - she would have looked like herself. No… this was a memory. One that utterly threw her for a loop. Why would she remember being in the bathroom when she hadn’t even seen it yet? 

So maybe it was the future. Just not hers. 

She started down a different corridor, finding a hidden spot a few corridors away from their first class. 

It was ten minutes before she was found. 

Peter Pettigrew had been scouring the hall for her, trying to remember the spot Sirius had told him about from his snooping in his sister’s mind. Once he found it - he couldn’t help his alarm at the state of his new friend. She was sat in a ball, face buried in her knees as she took in shuddering breaths.

“Ara?” He whispered.

“Peter?” She sniffed, wiping at her eyes. Before her stood the short boy, a nervous smile twitching his lips. 

“Hey. Your brother wanted to come after you but James took him back to the dorms to get their books. I figured you might want a neutral party.” She smiled softly up at him and patted the ground next to her to prompt him to sit. He did so, reaching out to hold her hand and squeeze it reassuringly. 

“I’m sorry I ran off.” She whispered to him, forcing her lips into an awkward smile that frankly looked like a grimace. 

“It’s fine, no one’s mad at you for that. We’re all just a bit worried. Sirius said your mum isn’t usually like that.” Ara took a hold of that obvious lie and pushed through with it, knowing exactly how Sirius would want her to dress it. 

“She isn’t. Don’t think we’re weak or anything. She’s fine usually. She just really wanted us to be Slytherins.”

“I’m sure.” Peter lied, nodding as if he believed her. 

None of them would. After all, it wasn’t true. 

17th September 1971

When Regulus Arcturus Black was feeling rather down, he had two things he liked to do.

The first was to get Kreature to read him a story. The old and grumpy house elf seemed to hate everyone except him and Mother - which Regulus wasn’t complaining about. It was nice to have a friend just to himself beyond those his Mother would arrange playdates with. And there were the benefits of Kreature’s house elf magic; which Regulus could not help but find completely incredible. Unfortunately today, Kreature was busy dealing with Mother and her newest breakdown over the sorting of the twins. 

The second thing that Regulus did when he was feeling sad, was to talk to his sister. He’d knock lightly on the twins’ bedroom door, always feeling like a bother for troubling her. She never minded. The door would creak open and she’d fix him instantly with her warm smile, reach for his hand and pull him through. Sometimes they’d cuddle up in the bed while he spoke - her arms wrapped around him as though she could shield him from his little miseries. Other times, she’d hum a little tune and brush through his hair, and tell him about whatever silly dream Sirius had the night before. 

He hadn’t seen his sister in two weeks. And his brother too, but that wasn’t the worst thing. He and Sirius butted heads over the most trivial of things. Reggie could never understand why Sirius was always so annoyed with him, or why he would always try and prove him wrong. Ara had told him that it wasn’t his fault - but he couldn’t believe it. It didn’t matter, anyways. He was the heir now. He couldn’t involve his thoughts with such childish trivialities.

With a hefty sigh, Regulus looked up at the door in front of him. He hadn’t meant to walk round that way, rather he planned to go to his classroom and pretend to be interested in the books there. It wasn’t the same without Ara. No point in borrowing books when she wouldn’t sit and read them with him. 

The house had been miserable since his siblings left. Especially after the letter from Cissa arrived, revealing that they’d both been placed in Gryffindor. And, since Ara was sorted first, Mother was preparing a new war against her firstborn. 

He tried to stay out of it, but Mother seemed to need his approval. She’d tell him that they were blood-traitors, that they had left the family behind. He would agree half-heartedly - though his Mother didn’t seem to notice his unease. 

It was made worse by the fact that his siblings hadn’t sent him a single letter. He’d ask at breakfast, but it was always a sharp no from his mother. 

All Regulus wanted was to know they were happy, that they were having fun and being free. He needed to know that they’d found a place to finally be themselves, and that they wanted him there with them. 

Sighing again, the boy stepped away from the door and decided to walk around the house. He passed the gloomy library - darker without his sister’s influence. Even the classroom felt empty without Sirius. 

In his meandering, Regulus barely noticed that his father’s office door was open, and that the man was sat in his desk chair - eyes drifted over to his youngest son. 

“Regulus.” His eyes widened for a moment before he managed to mask his surprise. His father barely addresses his presence. Well, he barely addressed the presence of all his children. “Come in.”

With a gulp, the boy carefully moved into the office. His father sat at his desk, papers scattered in a disorganised way he had never seen before. Orion Black was always neat when his mind was clear. When it wasn’t - his workspace reflected his erratic thoughts. He was no more free from the curse of madness than their mother. 

“Yes Father?” He asked politely. 

“Regardless of your siblings endeavours or failures, I need you to support them.” He spoke seriously, eyes locked on his son. “I know what your Mother is saying, and I know what I should be saying as your Head of House. But, and this important, they are wrong.”

“Father?” He gawped, startled by the sudden seriousness. 

“You face having to hold the legacy of our House and I apologise for that. I have made many errors in my life, and I’m afraid that my handling of your Mother is one of them.” Orion Black took a small sip of his whiskey, and looked out of the small window onto the Muggle street below. 

Everyone had thought he was mad for wanting to take up Grimmauld as his main residence - it was small and surrounded by Muggles. They failed to see the beauty in watching the advancements those without magic had made. They missed that the house, while smaller than other Black residences, had been the very first one. The house that founded the rest, the house with wards still coated in his ancestors blood. Grimmauld Place had been his beauty, filled with light and always open and unhidden from the Muggles. Now, Walburga had turned it to blacks and grey, tore the light and shrouded it in her own unhappiness. It was like a fog over the entire road; sometimes he wondered if she had cursed the house. 

“Father?” Regulus’s voice broke through his meandering thoughts - snapping his attention back to his urgent message. 

“It is too late for me to reverse the tides. And I am afraid the responsibility now falls to you.” Orion placed a hand on his heir’s shoulder, a grave expression across his face. “You will be asked to ostracise your siblings, by your Mother and other members of this House. You will be told to do a many grave things, and I cannot stop them. Your uncle and his children are already fallen down a dangerous path and I cannot prevent us falling with them.”

“Why not?”

“I have never been strong enough. The foundations of our family are rotted and cursed and I have never had the strength to hold up the House to fix the roots. And I have left it far too late for my actions to solve anything. I fear responsibility will fall to you.” His son nodded once, a mildly bewildered expression struck across his face. 

It took that moment for Orion to realise how much he had cursed his children. Two to be lost, one to be sacrificed. It simply wasn’t fair to them, and he hated that he could never explain to them just how sorry he was, and how much he knew that his regrets were irrelevant. 

He placed his second hand on his boy’s other shoulder and stared deadly into stainless eyes. 

“You are very much my son, Regulus. I hope you’ll forgive me for trying to make you into the man I wished I was.”

23rd September 1971

“Where’s your brother?” Lily asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes at Ara. She rolled her eyes in response. Honestly, Lily really needed to calm down. Though she was academically smart, she was a snitch and not the Quidditch kind! Which was incredibly annoying, because beyond that (and if they never spoke about pranks of any kind, or about Lily’s awful Slytherin friend) the two girls got along excellently. 

It had taken Ara a week to befriend the girl. First, she had apologised for her brother - explaining that Severus had knocked her over and that Sirius had misinterpreted it. Next, she invited Lily to study with her in the library that Thursday; informing her that she studied there for an hour every evening. Lily rejected the offer initially, but once she saw how good Ara was at her Charms, she started showing up. Through that, they gradually formed a delicate friendship. 

Lily would talk about Muggle things she missed and Ara would listen with interest. In return, when Lily had questions about magic, she would write them down and ask Ara in their dorm before bed. They’d whisper through the explanations and Ara would tell Lily that she had a good head for being rational - something that always made the girl blush with appreciation. In some lessons, they even sat together now. And yes, they did bond over a mutual dislike of Quidditch. 

It seemed that as long as they ignored the fact that Sirius and Severus were at each other’s throats, they were rather happy in each other’s company. 

“I’m not his keeper.” Ara shrugged, though she knew exactly where he was. He and James were setting up a prank in potions. For Snape, but that wasn’t her problem. She’d told her brother and new friends that she didn’t need defending or retribution - but they had obviously ignored her. It didn’t matter that she understood why he’d pushed her, or that she looked at him and knew he was a grump because he’d been forced to be by a shit life. 

It didn’t matter to the boys. Not when this boy had pushed Ara over for words her mother had said. The debate on that had been ridiculous.

“It doesn’t matter that Wally gave him a reason! He could have knocked me instead, he didn’t have to go for you.” Sirius had groaned, exasperated. His sister simply wouldn’t understand the complexities of this. For her, it was simple. For Sirius and the boys; they knew there were more options than the one the boy had picked. 

“I was closest!”

“So what? He didn’t have to knock you. He could have told Evans to ignore us or shoved me instead. But he picked you. He picked to shove the girl.” Her eyes had narrowed at that statement, prompting a gulp from her twin.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” She had seethed, cracking her goblet with the force of her magic. After that, Sirius had decided it was best to leave it. Ara wouldn’t get it, anyways. She might have seen herself as the oldest, as the one that had to accept the shit from the world so he and Reggie would be safe - but she wasn’t as tough as she thought she was. 

Though, it wasn’t exactly like he could tell her that. 

“Ara? Are you even listening?” Lily snapped, her voice having risen an entire octave. 

Blinking, Ara distracted herself from her thoughts about her brother and turned back to the girl - whose eyes had narrowed. 

“What is it?”

“I just think that you could try harder to get them to stop.” This sentence made Ara roll her eyes. 

“I have literally tried everything, Lily. I give up.” She sighed, turning her attention to the papers that had just been dropped on the table - rather than the irate Muggleborn girl. 

She shuffled through the more random subscriptions she held (including a French Magical publication and two girly mags), eventually finding her favourite to start with. Though, today’s headline made her eyes bulge and Sirius freeze as he slipped into Ara’s eyes and read with her. 

On the front page of the Daily Profit, in bold lettering that seemed to refuse to release their attention, read a piece of news that signalled trouble. 

SHOCK WEDDING OF HOUSE BLACK MIDDLE DAUGHTER TO MUGGLEBORN CLASSMATE!

The article itself was oddly kind towards their cousin, describing the whole thing as an ‘act of true love’ and commenting on her bravery. Ara ignored all those bits and focused on the information. It seemed that Andy and her boyfriend Ted Tonks had finally done it. Years of secret letters and hiding over. Andy had married him and left the family behind her. 

And she was finally happy. 

In the photo accompanying the article, her cousin was suspended in a snap moment of dancing with Ted. And they looked perfect. Her dark curls pulled into a neat updo with little flicks escaping. Forever caught in the twirling arms of a blond boy smiling so wide and looking at her with complete adoration. 

Sirius asked Ara to cut out the picture and keep it until they could ask Andy for proper ones. Well, if they were ever able to. 

Not even Lily’s fury at the prank pulled on Snape - which resulted in his hair turning white and standing on end - could keep away Ara’s good mood that day. 

Andy had escaped. She was with her Muggleborn and she looked so very happy.  

The good mood lasted all the way through morning classes, through lunch (even though Lily was infuriated with the boys, and her through association). It seemed infectious in the group. Sirius was walking around with a beaming smile, slipping little jokes through the bond about Andy’s wedding. James seemed his usual perky self, and though Remus looked exhausted, he seemed happy too. 

Pete was glowing after Ara heartily laughed at one of his awful jokes - the two walking down to the lake to sit and watch the water as they did their Charms homework. He wasn’t the best at the subject, and clearly feared the boys ridicule, but understood the Ara would never judge him for his intelligence. 

“I’m hopeless!” He groaned, putting his head in his hands as he gave up learning the motions for wingardium leviosa. Ara scowled, pulling his hands from his face and holding them so she could look him dead in the eyes. He gulped at her serious expression.

“No you aren’t. We got a head start, Petey. That’s it.” She promised, attempting a reassuring smile. He accepted it with a sigh, and resumed his practice. 

She was so caught up in praising him as he mastered the motions, that she missed the arrival of a dreaded person. 

“Ara, I wish to speak to you privately.” Her eyes shot up from watching Peter’s hand movements to lock with the steely blue of her least favourite cousin. Narcissa Black stood, somewhat intimidatingly with her arms crossed and a look of ugly determination across her pretty face. 

The cousins hadn’t spoken in years. Hadn’t seen each other at all, really. In that time, Narcissa had grown up. She looked a perfect Pureblood girl - her blonde hair styled in a neat updo, with some simple charms on her face to make her eyes sparkle and lips pop. It was no wonder that she had a dozen options for a betrothal before Malfoy was confirmed. 

Little did Ara know, her cousin was appraising her too. Once she got past the burns that always caused a pang of guilt in her chest, she noticed the softness of her cousin’s face. Narcissa was certain her cousin would be a beauty like her when she grew up. Perhaps she could find a glamour for Ara’s scars? She chided herself for the thought; that wasn’t her problem, even if it technically was her fault.

“Anything you want to say can be said in front of him.” She spoke resolutely, ignoring Peter’s wide eyes at the stare down between the cousins. Bless Peter, he wasn’t very good with tension or drama. 

Narcissa said nothing in reply, instead moving her gaze to Peter, clearly trying to intimidate him into leaving. Fortunately for Ara, Peter was one to freeze, not flee. 

“What do you want, Nasty?” Ara glared - the older girls eyes flicking back to her. Sure, it was childish to use that nickname (especially when it was Bella’s invention, not hers), but she didn’t care. Cissa had never liked Ara, and so Ara had never seen the point in being nice to her. After all, Narcissa wouldn’t return the favour. 

Though, at Narcissa’s wince, Ara felt a flicker of guilt. Nervous about what Narcissa was about to say, Ara poked Sirius through the bond so he’d watch along properly. He and the other boys were up to no good in the potions supply cupboard.

“Have you spoken to Andromeda?” The girl asked, wincing as she said the words. Her pureblood mask was cracked slightly, her feelings of nervousness clear as day on her face.

“No. None of you speak to us.” Ara replied harshly, still glaring at her cousin. After all, Narcissa feeling bad wasn’t her problem. Not after the summer of ’67. 

Damn right! Sirius cheered in their mind. 

“Look, I’m not here to start a row.” Narcissa sighed, sitting next to Ara on the grass - now ignoring Peter’s presence entirely. The older girl scanned the area briefly, checking for any rogue Slytherins lurking nearby. This was a conversation that couldn’t be overheard. “I just… if you do speak to her, perhaps you might be-” she swallowed before the next part, like it was difficult to get out, “agreeable to inform me of her wellbeing.”

The two cousins stared at each other for a moment, before Ara blinked harshly. Gone was Narcissa’s pureblood mask, replaced by a look of longing and bittersweet hope. She just wanted to know if her sister was happy. And, well, who’d be cruel enough to deny that. 

“I’ll let you know.”

Narcissa moved to stand, and a question escaped Ara’s lips.

“Why… why do you hate me so much?” Ara asked in near whisper, the words difficult to get out. She had always wondered it, but never been brave enough to say. But she was a Gryffindor. She had to be brave now. 

Cissa’s eyes flickered to Ara’s scars and her mask faltered briefly. The look was one that Ara didn’t expect. Eyes deep with regret, blinking away guilt and sorrow. 

“You were Bella’s favourite.” 

With that, Narcissa spun gracefully and fled the grounds as quickly as one can without not looking a perfect Pureblood lady. 

What a bitch, Sirius muttered in their mind. 

Ara could not do anything but agree, even if it was a lie. 

——

Dear Cousin Andy,

Congratulations! Sirius is very mad that you didn’t invite him to the wedding - I think he may steal a time turner just so he can be there. 

Sirius here, would like to say that I would never do such a reckless thing.

Right, and House Black isn’t inbred.

Anyways, we wanted to write to tell you how proud you are. Socking it to the stupid House legacy and being the blood traitor we all knew you were!

What Sirius means (in his lovely way of phrasing) is that you are a shining example of House Black and we are proud of you. He won’t say that, but I will. We’re proud of you Andy, and we wish you all the happiness and love that you deserve. And if your husband ever crosses you, please inform him that your cousin is ‘The Mad Heiress of House Black’ and isn’t afraid of a well-placed hex.

And what Ara means is that we’ve got your back. 

That’s what I said. 

ANYWAYS, live happy, cousin. You’ve got out, now don’t look back. 

We’ll be alright, knowing there’s a chance for us to get out too. 

Please never hesitate to write with big news; trust that we’ll be doing the same. 

All our love, 

Ara Hermione Black, and Sirius Orion Black III

p.s. thank you for being our lovely, rational cousin - you are the best of us all. 

p.p.s. enjoy the wedding gift! Sorry it’s small.

——

Dear Cousins Ara and Sirius,

I confess that I hadn’t been expecting your owl, but it was very much appreciated. I’ve had several family owls this week, and none have been kind until yours. One was even a Howler from Wally! My Ted heard from a school friend that she sent you one too, and I am so sorry. It was awful enough to hear the words in the comfort of my home - I can’t imagine how it felt to hear it in the Great Hall. 

The things that our family has done to ‘tame’ us has been cruel and unfair. And I cannot apologise enough for having stood by. I was supposed to be your protector, and I failed. 

You never failed me. You kept my secrets until I was ready to tell (yes, I knew that you’d read my letters, you aren’t as sneaky as you’d like to believe), and you loved us cousins despite our treatment of you. 

It never really recovered after that summer, did it?

I apologise for starting off the letter with a little bit of sorrow, but I figured you would prefer to get it out of the way. 

Now that we’re ignoring topics of misery and family expectations, how is your first year going? When I learned that you had both been placed in Gryffindor, I had never felt more proud. You are the epitome of bravery, to reject our family’s awful teachings and be your own people. 

It helped me to feel more brave as I faced our family’s reaction to my leaving. 

So, I suppose here is where I express my gratitude. But I’m sure that you’re both rolling your eyes at that last sentence - you both were never much for thanks - so I promise to keep it brief. 

Thank you for being so kind, in spite of it all.

And thank you the gift - I appreciate it so much. 

All my love, 

Andromeda Tonks

p.s. Ted might be more scared of you now, Ara, than Bella! Keep up the good work. 

p.p.s I’ll invite you to the next wedding, Sirius. If I have one. Which, I probably won’t, on accounts of being horribly in love. 

Andromeda Tonks laughed as she looked at the picture her cousins had sent. It was of the family years prior - back when it was rare to see Ara and rarer to see Sirius not glued to her side. Despite that, they’d had good days. 

Like this one. They’d gone to a magical zoo in France (as a treat from their uncle Alphard, who was perhaps the only one in the Black family who understood that children deserve a bit of fun) and it had been incredible. Sure Aunt Walburga kept hitting the twins when she thought no one was looking (while clutching at Reggie like a lifeline), and Bella was being incredibly pushy in trying to wrangle Ara to herself, and Cissa kept crying about how she hadn’t worn the right shoes … but overall, it had been one of the best days. 

Caught in the picture was Bellatrix as she wrapped her arms around her favourite cousin, prompting a delighted squeal. Sirius was looking up at his twin with a soft smile - too aged for his years. Andy and Cissa were stood hand-in-hand, beaming at the camera; Reggie looking up at them all with a soft smile from beside Cissa. She watched as the picture kept moving, kept replaying Bella as she hugged Ara. 

Their parents stood behind them, watching their children with guarded expressions. But maybe, just maybe, before the image reset… she could have sworn she saw her mother begin to smile. 

Those days had been hard, but simple. 

Back before Bellatrix was married to a man she hardly knew or cared about. Before Narcissa was betrothed and gave her whole heart to a man destined for servitude to a Dark Lord. Before Andromeda fled her home to forge another with a man that loved her as much as she loved him. 

Love seemed to be the curse of the Black sisters. Love and men. 

Andromeda only hoped for a better future for her cousins. But she could worry about that later. Right now, she was content with looking at the picture and remembering.