Whole Lotta Love
You've been learnin'
Baby, I been learnin'
All them good times, baby
Baby, I've been yearning
Way down inside
Honey, you need it
I'm gonna give you my love
14th February 1973
Following the Purple Prank of the Prewetts; January had been crammed full of mischief from the Black twins and the boys of Gryffindor. An attempt to outdo the Prewetts. Really, they’d done a cracking job. They’d charmed books in the library to spit on people when they opened them, spelled Filch’s office to slowly fill with water - his cupboard of confiscated goods ending up in the corridor outside once it filled completely.
The amount of detentions they’d faced was worth it. Especially when the Prewetts made crowns for them and coronated them at breakfast for their excellent idea. Heralding them as the champions of the match.
The good mood lasted through the start of February; especially with Andromeda and Ted’s constant letter updates. The nursery was painted and organised, the house cleaner than the day they moved in. All Andy’s work, Ted praised. Apparently she’d gone a little stir crazy being stuck at home and organised everything.
The twins looked up with the hoot of owls every morning, hoping for the letter to confirm their niece or nephew’s birth.
As such, they hardly noticed the date, not the excited buzz of older students in the pink and red decorated Great Hall.
Remus was ‘under the weather’ that day - snuggled in layers of duvets in the hospital wing, under Pomphrey’s loving care. Marlene sat a little aways, in some new spat with Lily. The two seemed to simply not be able to get along. Not unless in a group setting.
Despite her disapproval of pranks and snotty nature, Lily was a constant for breakfast. Easily able to swoop into conversations with Peter about Muggle concepts, or lamenting about their course load for the day with Alice and Remus. The two girls were caught currently in conversation; both hoping that McGonagall would not assign homework. Peter sat with his plate pushed aside - sketchpad out as he scribbled in dark ink; James peering over his shoulder.
With the familiar hoot of Ted’s owl, the sibling’s head shot up - watching as it swooped over Regulus first, then to their table.
The envelope dropped right between their plates; Ara grabbing it with haste to tear the seal and spy the contents. A sweet Muggle card, with the words ‘with love for whom I love’ scrawled in elegant gold.
As Sirius tore the Valentines card, pink glitter exploded in a great plume - coating a good section of the Gryffindor table.
Their heads shot up to spy the same event happening over on the Hufflepuff table; Regulus’s face completely covered in the glitter. He looked like a disco ball.
Once they cleared the glitter from inside the card, the Black twins spied the blue writing inside.
Dear Ara and Sirius,
It’s a girl. Born at 3:37 this morning.
We’ve named her Nymphadora.
All our love,
Andy and Ted
p.s. please come visit this summer. We’d love to introduce our daughter to her godparents.
“Did she?” Ara’s breath hitched.
“Surely not?”
“But-”
“And that-”
“Absolute madness.” Ara laughed, eyes twinkling with joy that matched her twin’s.
They found Regulus’s eyes across the hall - the boy being clapped on the back by his Housemates in celebration. They hardly noticed Narcissa’s fall fall and shift to a scowl as she looked at her lack of post. She ought to have suspected it, really. It wasn’t as though she’d ever been kind to her sister, or even spoken to her since she’d fled home.
The three siblings shared a glance, so much hope and excitement in their gazes. It was quickly disturbed as an owl swooped over Sirius’s plate; dropping another envelope onto his breakfast. With a shrug of befuddlement, he grabbed it and tore the seal open.
“I got an actual card?” Sirius gasped, staring at the silly Muggle design - of two rabbits sharing a picnic.
Before anyone could comment, a flurry of wings were heard overhead. The group looked upwards; gawping at the sword of owls overhead.
Without warning, they began to dive. Envelopes dropped in a stack on Sirius’s plate. Nearly a dozen, if Lily’s quiet counting was accurate (and it likely was). Some small boxes dropping into the assorted dishes - eggs splattered by the largest one.
“Cor! Check this out,” Sirius grinned, fanning his face with the envelopes as the owls hooted adieu.
“Really?” Ara raised an eyebrow, disbelief clear as day. “That many girls genuinely sent you cards.”
“Don’t look so shocked.” He grinned back, waggling his eyebrows. “I’m pretty pretty.”
“You’re bloody annoying.” She grumbled back, shoulders hunching. The others surrounding tensed, ready for the inevitable spat.
“Just because Miss Bucktooth can’t get a Valentine.” He sang obnoxiously, missing the look of absolute fury that crossed her face.
He felt it though, straightening and gulping as she stood from her seat and peered over him.
“In case you’ve forgotten, I’m betrothed.” She grit out, tossing a letter onto his lap. “Why would anyone risk giving me a card?”
“He’s been writing you?” Sirius frowned as he read through the letter - recoiling at certain passages describing how this man expected his sister to act now she was betrothed to him. James peered over his shoulder, face scrunching as he read.
“Once a week if I reply, four times if I don’t.”
“Why didn’t you say? When have you been getting them?” He demanded.
“Piss off, Sirius.” Ara bumped his shoulder as she walked past him, shaking her head with disappointment.
He tried to follow; Lily’s hand pushing him back into his seat by the shoulder.
“Let us handle it, Black.” Lily tutted. “You may be her twin, but you’re still a stupid boy. You’ll just make it worse.”
With that, the two girls followed her; Pandora offering a look of utter reproach as she breezed past the boys.
——
The turntable played softly from the corner; the lyrics of a T.Rex song like a lullaby. Sirius snuck in through the bond to listen inside their mind, softly humming along. Ara had already forgiven his thoughtless comment, especially since he promised to split the chocolates he got with her that evening.
It was something so common and yet entirely unusual for the Black twins. To have the time to sit with the bond, without the reminder of pain beforehand; or the worry of it in future. These fleeting moments of calm… they were everything.
The girls were sequestered in the boys dorm, having snuck in while everyone had gone to classes. Sat on Sirius’s bunk - stolen pillows as cushions. Only there since it was too much effort to move the record player, no matter how much Lily wanted to just to piss off Sirius.
“I hate talking about it.” Ara stressed, the silence from her friends overwhelming her. The girls offered a kind smile. “And I hate being seen as weak.”
“Neither of us could ever see you as such,” Pandora reassured; fingers stroking little patterns along Ara’s shin. “There is no wildflower quite as persevering as you.”
Ara’s throat closed, eyes watery as she blinked at Pandora with soft eyes.
“Fine.” She coughed out, wiping at her eyes with the backs of her hands. “But note that I dislike this.”
“It’s noted.” Pandora rolled her eyes.
“Tell you what, I’ll tell you a secret if you tell me one of yours.” Lily squeezed Ara’s hand. “Then it’s an even trade.”
“Deal.” Ara sniffled, looking to Pandora.
“I suppose if I must.” The girl drawled, a laugh bubbling behind her ridiculous words.
“Alright then,” Ara nodded, “but I’m not starting.”
“I’ll go.” Lily rolled her eyes, coughing once as though clearing her throughout. “This isn’t my real voice.” She whispered, with the full dramatics that the statement warranted. On her next words, the posh London accent vanished; replaced with a light and soothing northern accent. One that fitted the girl far more. “I put on that twatty accent so people don’t judge me as thickheaded.” She laughed, the other girls giggling along.
“Now I know what you sound like, the other voice feels so phoney and silly.” Ara laughed.
“But it’s convincing.” Lily replied in the posh voice, the three erupting into further giggles. “And it works. They might underestimate me since I’m Muggleborn, but at least they don’t call me uncivilised.”
“Us purebloods are a shit rotten bunch.” Ara declared.
“You’re not so bad.” Lily bumped her shoulder, dropping the false voice with an odd sense of comfort. “And I believe, you promised me a secret back.”
Ara nodded nervously, biting her lip as her eyes watered and she tried to will herself not to cry. It was fruitless.
“I’m a bit French.” She weakly offered, Pandora nudging her with a light frown.
“We know.” Lily rolled her eyes.
“Fine… I don’t want to get married.” Ara sobbed, leaning on Lily as Pandora ran a hand along her shin. “I hate this bracelet and I hate my parents and I hate this bloody world. I’m so scared. All the time, every day I’m afraid. I wake up to letters on my desk and if I don’t send him an owl, he just keeps going. I can’t do it. And I hate myself for it, but I can’t give up my chances. Even though it’s my job.” She winced, brushing the hair from her face. “The second I turn seventeen, I’m emptying my vaults into muggle money and living like one.”
“I’ll help.” Lily promised. “If you want to run, we’ll run together.”
Ara looked to her with soft eyes, a glossy fondness and rosy blush to her cheeks.
“Cheers, Lils.” Ara smiled wetly. “I’ll need your help to figure out the bloody currency.”
“I can’t believe you witches think Muggle money is more confusing than all your Wizarding twaddle.”
“Your coins go into fractions!”
“Not anymore!” Lily retorted, sticking out her tongue. “They changed it a couple years back. By the time we’re grown up, you won’t have to worry about sixpences and shillings.” She rolled her eyes lightly.
“Would you both like a secret of mine?” Pandora smiled warmly.
“Aye.” Lily laughed.
“When I started Hogwarts, the Rosier family tried to get me under their thumb.” The blonde shuddered at the memory, eyes distant in some deep thought.
“Why?” Lily queried, tilting her head.
“My mother was a Rosier.”
“I forgot about that.” Ara frowned, wiping her runny nose. “Killian asked after you at New Years.”
“I don’t exactly advertise the connection.” The blonde huffed lightly. “But when I started Hogwarts, Killian came to me and offered protection.”
“Who is Killian?” Lily questioned, her brow furrowed.
“Evan Rosier, the one in Reggie’s year that he’s paired with in Potions - it’s his older brother. I think Killian’s a fourth year now?” Pandora nodded in confirmation.
“He sat Barty and I down and tried to make us swear to uphold the Rosier family name and principles. I told him that I was an Ollivander and left the boys to it. Barty has always desperate to be closer to them, anyways.”
“Barty Crouch is your cousin too?” Lily gasped, putting the pieces together in her mind.
“My father was a whimsical man,” her eyes glowed with fondness, “my mother’s family didn’t approve but my grandfather took care of it. No one stands against those that craft magic itself.”
“I can’t believe you never said.” Lily replied lamely.
“I don’t exactly talk about my family either.” Ara shrugged. “Mine’s just the gossip of the school.”
“That’s speaking lightly.” Lily snorted, mind called back to their study session early being interrupted by the three overhearing some older Ravenclaws speculating that Narcissa was pregnant and that was why she was to be married right after Graduation.
It was an idiotic notion. If she were pregnant, her parents would have already pulled her from Hogwarts; and married the two at Christmas.
“And if it helps,” Lily chimed with a dark grin, “Muggle families aren’t exactly perfect either.”
“Is your sister still being cruel?” Ara frowned.
“She was awful at Christmas.” She shrugged. “But it was more than just that. Dad’s been having a hard time with work ever since he joined that ruddy pointless strike last year. And mum’s been out of work ever since the offices moved to London - no one needs a secretary in Cokeworth.”
“Tell her to check the Daily Telegraph on the thirteenth of March.” Pandora smiled. “I suspect good fortune on that day.”
“Alright then?” Lily nodded. “And will you be alright, Ara? I know it’s a silly question.”
“I’m terrified.” She admitted. “But at least I’ve got time, and I’ve got help.” Her eyes misted slightly, glassing ever so slightly. “We’re not alone.”
“Did you ever had someone on your side? Before Hogwarts and us, did you have anyone?” Lily frowned.
“We had this house elf when we were kids.” Ara spoke absently, looking out the window to the full moon, still in the sky, with a pained expression. “Her name was Mipsy and she was the only person in our life that wanted us to be together. To be happy. Used to sneak playtime for me and Sirius. Kreacher was always Reg’s elf, and she was ours.”
“What happened to her?” Lily asked, suddenly regretting her question at Pandora’s wince beside her.
“Mother caught her giving me some food. I wasn’t allowed it, I was being punished for something I can’t remember.” Her eyes glazed briefly and she let out a faint laugh. “Apparently I had accidentally knocked over a bust in the hallway. Anyways, Mipsy brought me some of dinner so I wouldn’t go hungry. Mother caught her and chopped off her head. It hangs over the doorway to my bedroom.”
“That’s sick.” Lily shuddered.
“I stay in Sirius’s room at home, so I don’t have to see it every day. Every once in a while, I dust her off and brush her hair. She used to wear a ribbon in her hair. When I was younger, I tried to give her one of my old ones but she refused to accept it. I didn’t understand what it meant then.” Her eyes were unfocused; gaze heavy. “I give her a new one every year now.”
“Her spirit drifts idly and merrily.” Pandora spoke absently, ripping Ara’s focus back to her. “And she looks rather pretty.”
Ara huffed in reply, wiping tears.
“Good.” She nodded, ignoring Lily’s confused look. It seemed people either understood Pandora, or simply didn’t.
The girl never said anything she wasn’t sure about.
“When I leave home, she’s the only thing I’m taking with me.” Ara declared to the girls. “She told me about elf burials once.”
“What are they like?” Lily asked shyly, her lack of knowledge on the area and curiosity regarding it, trumping her tact.
“Elves bury their dead in free land. With a fresh pillowcase and a single piece of silverware. So they get to be free. Finally.”
“There’s a lovely meadow near my house.” Pandora smiled. “I think she’d like the wildflowers there.”
“It’s set then.” Lily nodded. “One day, we’ll lay her to rest properly.”
“Thank you.” Ara smiled wetly, her eyes blurred by tears. “I’ve never had friends like you guys before.” She sniffled, wiping her eyes. Lily fixed her with a delicate smile.
“I’ve never had a friend quite like the both of you either.”
“I’d never had a friend before.” Pandora smiled. “I’m glad I waited it out for you both.”
“Me too.” The girls replied together, laughing at their accidental jinx.
They enjoyed the music a while longer - humming along gently.
For now, at least, they were together. And they were alright.