The Wild One
I’ve got my head screwed on, and the days are gone
When you kept me down and pushed me ‘round
I’m the wild one, yes, I’m the wild one
11th October 1974
“Where were you?” James frowned, eyes scanning the fresh bruise across Ara’s cheek - verging to reach the smudged charcoal around her eyes. He was still a little peeved at the purple-haired witch, considering she’d written his mother after his little off-day. Euphemia Potter had sent a care package to each child in her care (but James’s was certainly biggest), and a very long letter to her son urging to arrange an appointment with a mediwitch as St Mungos again, since it had come back.
He’d tried to shred the letter, but Sirius had stopped him and made him write her back.
So, he supposed he was a little peeved with the pair of them.
“Bumped into Barty.” She shrugged as she sat next to him at the Gryffindor table - her friends not oblivious to how she referred to the Slytherin.
Since when are you on a first name basis with a Slytherin? Sirius frowned, giving her his best suspicious look.
Since the two of us decided it was better to channel our more… violent impulses on a willing and enthusiastic partner, she replied rather tightly, eyes flicking to the entrance of the Great Hall as Barty entered - wiping blood from his lip and grinning wickedly. Turning back to her twin, she continued, it isn’t as though you don’t do the same with your harsher pranks. Especially the ones on Snape.
Begrudgingly, the boy returned to his lunch - muttering something under his breath as he took a sip of pumpkin juice.
“You seem to be the victor of most fights.” Remus commented from beside her, a quick wink thrown her way that left her face flushed.
She had been the last to arrive for lunch that day. The others were already midway through their meals - Wildflowers and Marauders mingling in her absence. Well, it would be were it not for Pandora’s absence; too busy with her experiments to join them. At least that day it was clear Alice had forced Marlene to sit with her housemates. Well, if her sour pout and rolled eyes gave any indication, anyways.
The two girls sat on the edge of the group, politely joining the conversation as the fourth years chatted through lessons and plans to sneak into the older years’ party that night.
“You can’t wear yellow!” Marlene gasped as Ara spoke of simply wearing a shirt she’d borrowed from Reg. “Purple and yellow clash, you know.”
“I’m not planning to wear purple.” Ara raised a confused brow, blind to the stilled conversation from their friends at Marlene’s interjection. Her fingers played with the pendant around her neck - that matching necklace she shared with both brothers.
“But you have purple hair.” Marlene deadpanned, rolling her eyes. “Stick to the reds and blues. They suit you best.”
“Got it.” Ara nodded seriously, much to the others amusement. “I suppose you’ll be wearing that new dress of yours.”
“Of course!” Marlene smiled genuinely, flashing pearly teeth through full lips. “Do you mind if I borrow your eyeshadow? The grey one, that is.”
“Only if you let Lily borrow your eyeliner.” Ara bartered, eyes flicking between her friends.
Marlene took a moment to appraise Lily - eyes narrowed and deadly - before nodding with a shrug.
“Only if you show me how you layer glitters.” Marlene acquiesced, her words directed to the started ginger. “I can’t get them as even as you can.” Lily eyed her suspiciously before smiling hesitantly.
“Deal.” Lily nodded; her smile a little more genuine as Marlene offered an awkward grin.
Since when are those two getting along? Sirius whispered through the bond.
Since I told them both off for their stupid fighting, and said that I’d permanently move into your dorm if they didn’t stop, Ara laughed, her twin following suit with a hearty bark - twinkling through the Hall.
“I GOT IT! I GOT SEEKER!”
Ara turned to face the entrance to the Great Hall, spying her younger brother stood in the entryway - surrounded by the Hufflepuff quidditch team. He looked victorious, his arms pumped into the air in celebration. And over his grey and red practice kit (that he definitely stole from Sirius, given the colouring) was a bright yellow jersey: the number 7 clear on the front. The other members of the team looked thoroughly amused and delighted at his display.
She looked to Sirius, the twins sharing a nod as they leapt from the benches and ran to the entrance.
Ara arrived first (always the better sprinter), jumping into a bear hug. He wrapped his arms around her, equally tight. Not to be outdone, Sirius collided with the pair - knocking them to the floor as laughter sounded from the siblings.
After righting themselves (both boys offering a hand to Ara, who stuck her tongue out and stood alone) they dragged Regulus to the Gryffindor table. He awkwardly turned to wave at the team, the group lightheartedly waving him goodbye.
“I knew you’d get it.” Ara smiled, wrapping an arm around him as they reached the Gryffindor group - lightly shoving him to sit between her and Sirius. James and Remus sat opposite, Peter on Ara’s left and Marlene to his other side.
“I didn’t.” Reg blushed, tugging at his jersey.
“We’ve practiced enough, mate.” James laughed, reaching over to clap Regulus’s shoulder. “You’re gonna make our job tough on the pitch.”
“Thanks.” He smiled shyly, looking to the twins.
“We’re proud of you.” The twins spoke together, ruffling their baby brother’s hair. His grin was blinding.
He was growing up, trailing closely after them. Still a few inches shorter than Sirius but gradually growing; his baby fat finally dissolving into carved cheekbones and a pointed jawline. It would be soon that her brothers loomed over her, Ara thought with chagrin.
“Oh bugger.” Marlene suddenly lamented. “We’ve got Meadows in Ravenclaw kicking up a storm and now baby Black on the pitch? It’s times like this that I wish I weren’t Seeker.”
“You got Seeker too?” Ara squealed, rushing to hug her friend in congratulations. “Alice had told me she was quitting, ages ago, and I completely forgot to ask you abut it.”
“It’s alright.” Marlene shrugged, grinning prettily. “Provided you smuggle in the fire whiskey to celebrate.”
“Of course.” Ara winked, a sly grin spreading over her painted lips. “Anything for my athletes.”
“I can’t believe you’ve turned into a Quidditch person.” Lily shuddered, shaking her head in fond amusement. “I seem to remember our friendship starting with a declaration against the sport.”
“It’s more difficult to loathe publicly when my favourite brother and two of my best friends are playing.” She laughed in reply, reaching to ruffle Reg’s hair. The boy scowled, eyes flicking to Lily Evans… and promptly freezing as he finally caught a true glimpse of the Gryffindor girl after the long summer.
His eyes widened as he took her in; the swell of her chest, the new curve of her waist. Blinking rapidly, he returned his attention to the bewildered Lily, who had clearly asked him a question.
“Huh? Sorry, I’m distracted today. I made seeker.” He explained.
“That’s what I was asking about.” Lily rolled her eyes fondly, brushing her long hair off her shoulder. His eyes were mesmerised by the motion. “I did witness your little display at the Hall entrance. Congratulations. You’re gonna make this year difficult for Gryffindor.” He preened under her compliments.
“Thanks.” He grinned.
“How’s the cat?” Lily smiled, propping her chin on her hand - elbow on the table as she ignored the chatter from the others. They were only talking Quidditch, anyways.
“I think you probably know better than me.” He huffed jokingly. “Bloody bastard likes Ara more than me, and now he’s got another cat friend in your dorms.”
“I think Crooks likes having a corruptible influence. Neptune’s only a baby, after all.”
“Good name for a cat.” Reg ran a hand through his hair - blind to his siblings’ shared smirk at his flushed face. “Planetary, right?”
“Yep.” Lily smiled brightly, pouring herself another glass of pumpkin juice - offering a cup to Reg. He accepted; face somehow even more pink. “Most people keep thinking I named him after the Roman god.”
“Makes sense you’d go celestial.” Sirius chimed in suddenly, waggling his brows. “After all, you are surrounded by stars.”
“Try as I might be be freed.” She laughed.
“Perhaps we ought to have named our group something astronomical.” Ara added, looking to be deep in thought. “Nah.” She shrugged dramatically, prompting a snicker from the group.
“We Blacks have too big of an ego for that.” Reg shook his head in fond amusement. “Before you know it, it’d be Sirius and his Constellations.”
“Catchy, though.” The aforementioned boy spoke, lips pouted in genuine contemplation.
“I’d sooner hang myself.” Remus deadpanned, much to everyone’s amusement.
“At least wait ’til tomorrow.” James shrugged, lips twitching lopsidedly. “After all, we’ve got something to celebrate tonight.”
——
“What do you think?” Ara beamed - thrusting the mirror towards her twin.
After the discussion at breakfast, Sirius had been thinking about makeup all day. Every lesson, Ara had been subjected to flashes of his imagination - pieces of ideas for later that evening. For their party to celebrate both Reg and Marlene’s success.
He had ended up waiting outside the door to Arithmancy; dragging her away from Remus and her Wildflowers to test out his ideas.
Which is how she’d ended up having to do her makeup, only to let him to be certain that the look he’d envisioned would work with their shared features. Just them in his dorm; her bag of products now scattered across his bed.
His eyes were coated with a deep blue powder; glittering and iridescent. It made the grey of his irises seem even sharper in colour - his brows thick and straight. She supposed it did the same for her features too.
“Wicked.” Sirius whispered with awe, tilting his face side-to-side to catch the effect of the sparkles in the light.
His twin made a similar move, smiling as she too caught sight of the iridescent glitter.
The two looked into the mirror together; grinning at their matching makeup. With their eyes done up the same way - their cheeks contoured with orange blush and glitter - the similarities between the twins were overwhelming.
The identical slope of their noses, ending in soft button tips. Their matching grey eyes, like storm clouds about to burst. Were it not for the strong cheekbones on Sirius, or the scarring to Ara’s face, they really could have been identical.
“If we paint up Reg the same way and put on hats, I recon we can get up to some proper good pranking.” Ara smirked.
“I’m liking your thinking, oh twin of mine.” Sirius shrugged an arm over her shoulder, smile widening.
“You’re gonna turn heads tonight.” She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder as she looked at their reflections.
“I’m just impressed that you snuck alcohol into Hogwarts.” Sirius grinned, tilting his head as he appraised her. “I knew we were related for a reason.”
“Figured it’d be fun.” She shrugged, reaching to her bag to extract her pack of smokes. “Reems and I tried some of Ted’s muggle beer over summer and it was godawful but great fun. Wine tastes better.”
“And yet you brought whiskey.”
“It’s better for a bigger group.” She argued. “I was thinking for the community.”
“Bloody noble.”
“Shut it or I won’t let you try a cigarette.” She stuck her tongue out at him, flicking the box undone.
“I don’t know if I can support this bad habit.” He eyed her hands as she extracted two cigarettes - twisting them in her grip to offer Sirius one.
“Oh shut it.” Ara rolled her eyes. “Of the two of us, I’m the one that should be saying that. But I’m angry and the world is awful and this is a way to destroy my body that’s all mine. My choice.”
“How morbid.” He grinned, accepting the cigarette and tucking it behind his ear. “When’d you start?”
“Remus and I spent most of the summer in Muggle London, seeing the sights. Someone offered me a cig and I didn’t say no.” She shrugged.
“What about Remus?”
“Apparently his dad smokes. He’s been sneaking cigarettes for years whenever Lyall’s drunk and feeling friendly.”
“Sometimes, I think you forget that you’re only fourteen.” Sirius chuckled, shaking his head fondly.
“It’s more that I’m regrettably aware.” Ara laughed. “Shall we?” She asked, jumping from the bed and extending a hand his way.
“We shall.” He grinned, accepting and following suit - the pair filled with brightness as they looked to their matching makeup.
Hands intertwined, they turned to the door - a twinkle in their eyes as they finally descended into the chaos of the Common Room.
——
24th October 1974
The Frienzfire scorched around the stacks of objects, rising higher with its carnage. It whipped across her face - singeing the ends of her hair.
They were running. Hermione and her boys. Turning corners to find the flames following their trails - mutating into a pack of monstrous beasts. Serpents and dragons; rising and falling as they consumed everything in their path.
They were running from someone. Someones, rather.
She could hear their boots clacking as they sprinted, until the noise tapered off and Harry turned to her with wide eyes as the fire enclosed them.
“What can we do?” She screamed over the roars, hands gripping her hair in utter stress. “What can we do?”
Harry’s eyes roamed their immediate surroundings, locking onto something in the only junk pile that was yet to be ablaze.
“Here!” He tossed a broomstick Ron’s way - the boy pulling her to sit behind him. Her arms gripped his middle, head pressed against his shoulder.
“We’ll get out of this, Mione.” Ron turned his head to press a kiss against her hair - the act surprising her into lifting her head to look him in the eye. “I’ll get you out of here, I promise.”
With that, they soared into the air - just missing the horned beak of some fiery raptor as it snapped its jaws at them.
Everything was ablaze. What looked like centuries of knickknacks, all burning to dust under these Dark flames.
“Harry! Let’s get out, let’s get out!” Ron yelled. Instead, the black haired boy shook his head and seemed to scan the flames for something. “It’s too dangerous!”
His green eyes glowed and Harry made to defend slightly as Ron followed, honing on a pile of charred desks; two figures precariously perched atop.
Harry grabbed the blond boy, yanking him onto the back of his broom as Ron yelled and grabbed the unconscious boy the blond had been protecting.
“The door! Get to the door, the door!” The blond screamed - voice barely audible over the flames.
Ara watched through Hermione’s eyes as she held the boy on the broom. She watched as Ron led them away, but Harry circled back.
She watched him throw a silver tiara into the blaze, a scream popping their ears as it hit the flames. A leech of Dark Magic bubbled at the surface - black smoke rising into a whirlwind.
And she turned her head into Ron’s shoulder. For she could not bear to witness any more.
Ara woke with a horrifying scream - piercing through her wards and echoing through the Gryffindor dorms. The girls in her room shot awake, practiced by now with Ara’s ‘night terrors’.
Marlene was there, smoothing down her hair as she cried out - Lily moving in behind her to cradle her as she shuddered. Alice lovingly wiped the sweat from her face and helped bundle her hair off her neck.
They held her, and they offered her love.
Gradually, her breathing slowed - her cries settled - and her heart stopped pounding in her chest.
“I’m so sorry.” She whispered in the silence, a small sob escaping her chest.
“None of that.” Lily chided her softly, running a hand along her spine soothingly.
“We love you, and we’re here for you.” Marlene tacked on, with a light smile.
“You aren’t alone.” Alice promised, soothing Ara’s scalp.
With a faint meow, Lily’s black cat jumped into the bed beside Ara, curling into her side. He and Crookshanks had started taking it in turns to watch over her as she slept. Ara and Lily both suspected it was the orange cat’s plotting.
“Do you want some water?” Lily whispered; sighing as Ara shook her head jerkily - eyes closing in weariness.
“I’m just… I’m so tired, Lils.” Her voice wavered in a way that made all the girls’ hearts clench. Looks of utter sorrow exchanged over her hunching form.
There was a knock on the dorm door and the girls collectively sighed.
“I’ll get it.” Alice offered when Ara tried to detangle herself to stand up. The round-faced girl marched towards the door, opening it a peep to see whoever was in the hallway.
“Is she alright?” The voice spoke softly; one of the prefects, Ara assumed. They were typically the nominated representative whenever her nightmares disturbed the whole tower.
Godric, she hated herself for it. For being cursed with these dreams, and lung power to break magical charms.
“Yeah. Just a bad one.” Alice whispered in reply, moving a little out the door.
“The other one is pacing in the common room.”
She knew. Ara could feel his frantic thoughts in her mind, his desperation.
“Tell him she’ll be down in five minutes.” Alice sighed. “Did anyone else wake up?”
“Not as many as last time.” The prefect reassured. “I explained it to the first years - didn’t say exactly who it was. I figure’d she’d want some privacy.”
“Thank you.” Ara spoke horsely from her bed, closing her eyes as she leaned into Lily’s arms.
“It’s alright.” The prefect spoke from the doorway. “Look after her, yeah? The Prewetts would kill me if anything happened to their favourite twin.” She whispered to Alice.
“Always.” Alice nodded, saying the words as though they were the simplest thing. “She’s my friend.”
——
With great trepidation, Ara Black raised her fist and knocked upon the DADA Professor’s office.
She’d received a summons from the professor, instructions to arrive after last lesson - just before the dinner bell would ring.
And, well, Ara supposed she’d be missing dinner that night if this took too long.
You don’t have to do this today, Sirius implored over the bond - his voice barely registering over the crackling in her ears.
But I ought to, shouldn’t I? She sighed, everyone else has faced it.
I’m coming over, he declared - shoving his vision of whatever corridor he was traipsing, you shouldn’t be alone after. He didn’t leave me alone.
The door opened, the kind gaze of Professor Ananke.
“Right on time!” He cheered, opening the door fully to welcome her inside.
The scent of mint and lemongrass overwhelmed her. As did the sharp lighting. Each candle and lantern glowed an eerie blue; lined along the bookshelves and walls as though it were some underwater cavern. His choice of decor didn’t help matters much. Not with the pinned illustrations of magical creatures (specifically those inhabiting the Black Lake) on every free wall. The conch shell on a podium, mirrored by a podium holding a peculiar box. Shaped as though it were some pirate treasure chest.
Yeah, I’m gonna stick around for this, Sirius muttered - feet blindly leading him towards the office as he looked through her eyes.
Fair enough, she conceded - softening her mind as he settled within as she turned to the professor.
“This is a very interesting decision.” She commented, received to see the Ananke's lip twitch as he scanned the room.
“Minerva and Carmelian think I’m utterly mad every time they enter.” He laughed, closing the door carefully. “But I suppose I’ve always been fascinated by the Black Lake. When I was a student here, I almost envied the Slytherins for their close contact.”
Ara snorted; her twin’s amusement lacing her own.
“I’ve heard it isn’t much different to your current setup.” Her eyes roamed the reflected lights - following each fractal with amusement. “Though a little more green.”
“Reminds me too much of my last job.” He shuddered, shaking off whatever clouded his face as he stepped further into the room and flicked the lights to be yellow and orange. “I suppose this is more appropriate. For such a venture, we ought to make it a bit brighter in here.”
“Why did you make me wait to face the boggart, sir?” Ara asked, curiosity blurting off her tongue despite her trepidation.
Professor Ananke did not reply immediately. Instead, he stalked to the back of the office - searching through until he extracted the trunk and dragged it through to the centre of the room. With the thunk of its resting, he looked to Ara Black with a pitying sadness.
“I may be new here, but the whispers of what House Black does to its firstborns travel to even the furthest parts of Europe.” He spoke pointedly, a sigh escaping him at Ara’s wince. It was bad enough that everyone at Hogwarts knew her family was rotten. She didn’t need half the planet knowing it too. “When I was living in Greece, I heard rumours of something Dark beginning in Albania. All my attempts to investigate were impeded by one family’s involvement. Your family.” He levelled a severe gaze her way. “Aurors in France have a name for the Blacks. They call you ‘Malfaisant’.”
“Black-Hearted.” Ara shuddered, fidgeting her thumbs as she waited for the professor to reach whatever point he was clearly trying to make. She could feel Sirius’s unease as he watched in silence.
“I won’t lie to you, when I arrived at this school, it was at your Headmasters direct request for my services as a profiler. It’s a skill rather handy for being a Hit-Wizard, and far more useful in the interim.” Ananke stepped forwards, placing a careful hand on her shoulder. “I do not know what it is that has your Headmaster so curious about you. What I know, is that he asked me to teach here for you. To see if you were simply mad, or downright nefarious.” He let out a little chuckle, eyes brightening as he scanned her. “You are not evil, Miss Black.”
“Thank you?” She frowned, too confused to focus on how upset that revelation made her. That the ruddy Headmaster had brought in some plant to investigate her.
“War is coming, Miss Black.” Ananke suddenly spoke with all the severeness he could muster. “Bloody and brutal war and we are already ten steps behind. There is a Darkness shadowing this country, and I fear for all of you. But mostly, I fear for you.” He sighed again, stepping backwards as he organised his thoughts. “I am not some blind lackey of your Headmaster, not like so many Light wizards become in their plight for justice. I am the man they send in to decide if the risk is too great, and to deal with it if such is true. Do you understand exactly what I am saying?”
“I think so.” Ara frowned deeper; the skin on her thumbs breaking under her fidgeting - blood in thin droplets against pale skin. She felt Sirius’s frown - his whisper of chastisement as she squeezed her hands. “That is, if you’re telling me that Dumbledore asked you here to decide if I’m a threat.”
He nodded.
Fuck.
“And that is exactly why I refused to let you face the boggart.” He explained, moving to unlatch the suitcase. “This is a test from your Headmaster, I’m afraid to say. A test to figure out your allegiances, despite the fact that you are a fourteen year old.”
“I turn fifteen in a week.” She laughed to herself, almost amused by her Professor’s forthcoming.
“And your Headmaster is easily in his nineties, I believe.” Ananke rolled his eyes in amusement. “Are you ready?” His fingers flicked open the second latch.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” Ara sighed, flicking her wand from up her sleeve and into her open palm. Sirius’s mind steeled itself within hers; forcing thoughts together as the pair thought through their biggest fears.
But all they could think of was the day they’d fled Grimmauld.
Ananke took a step backwards, steeling his resolve as he nodded her way. She gripped her wand tightly; eyes misted by the connection to her twin as she stepped forwards. The pair of twins moving as one.
The trunk opened, mist pouring out. Contorting itself as it rose up - forming limbs and fabric.
And there, just before the suitcase, stood the Dark Lord; decked in his pitch black robes, ivory skin glowing against it.
Exactly as he had looked that summer.
“I have looked so very long,” he hissed, rigid posture and slimy hair, “for someone to carry on my legacy.”
“You’re not real.” The twins exhaled sharply, tense and unmoving as they stared at the boggart. Voices blended as they raised the wand - missing the calculating look upon the Professor’s face. It had been too long since they’d used the bond this way. It consumed them.
“I’m afraid, you have not seen just how real I am. How unimpeachable and unbreakable I will become, you will-”
“Ridiculus!” They screamed - cutting off the torment. With an uncomfortable swirl, the dark haired man turned to a smaller boy - sat on the floor with paper bunched in his left hand.
Regulus, mid making those paper flowers that Pete had taught him, even if as a mirage.
He looked up; those eyes just like their own replacing the darkness. Hand raised - offering a paper lily.
“Very good, Miss Black!” The Professor nodded, moving to shut the case. It thunked closed, his eyes flicking to her in approval and unease.
“Is that what the Headmaster was expecting?” She asked, shaking off the lingering waves of trepidation - forcing Sirius’s voice from her own as he retreated slightly.
Thank you, she whispered.
Anytime, he promised.
“I suspect he thought it would be your family.” He spoke pointedly, eyes caught on the space where the boggart-Dark Lord had stood. “And I suspect this figure is who I hunted through Albania for.”
“Probably.” She nodded, straightening her jumper as she tucked her wand back up her sleeve. “He was expecting me to try and meet with him again, wasn’t he? Dumbledore, I mean.”
“That is likely.” Ananke admitted.
“I don’t… why me?” She asked lamely.
“If I knew the answer, Miss Black, I would share it.” He stepped towards his door, pulling it open. “But for right now, you ought to head to dinner.”
Begrudgingly, Ara made for the exit - freezing in the frame. She turned his direction, nervously chewing her lips.
“You’re going to tell him about my boggart, aren’t you?”
“If only to stop him warning me that we must sway you from the Darkness.” The professor half-smiled. “For, I suspect, Darkness is not something you would ever be led towards.”
“I could be.” She admitted; ghost of a smile at his confused expression. “That’s why he’s so afraid. I’d do anything to save my family, even if it means losing myself.”
Ananke seemed to consider her for a moment, finding something he had clearly missed before. It painted his face in strokes of sorrow and understanding. There, in the entryway to his office - her twin hidden by the side, just out of sight - did the professor seem to understand this student he had been hired to investigate. And it was with a weary voice that he did utter his final parting.
“The question you must ask yourself, Miss Black, is whether they would do the same for you.”