God Only Knows
The world could show nothing to me
So, what good would living do me?
God only knows what I’d be without you.
28th August 1976
Charlus had asked the Black siblings if they wished for visitors, one day.
It had been overdue, allegedly. A dozen different people had written to James and Regulus during Ara’s coma, all pleading for information on the twins’s wellbeing. Only a few had been given replies: Remus and Peter, obviously, though the pair understood that neither twin was ready for their company yet. Not when they both felt so cracked by their time in Grimmauld Place - certainly not when Sirius’s return to the Potters was still so fresh.
Apparently Reg’s friends had asked after them. The youngest Black hadn’t given all the information, only really telling them that he was safe and then that both of his siblings were back and awake. Lily had written him too, day after day, until he’d finally told her that Ara was in a coma and Sirius was still lost. Then she’d written him again, every single morning, before he’d finally been able to soothe her worries with the promise that Ara was speaking and Sirius was free. Thankfully, she’d understood that neither were up for a visitor.
But there was one person that simply refused to take a no for an answer: one owl that kept clawing at the windows, letter clutched in its beak. And so, on a Saturday near the beginning of their sixth year, Ara stood by a clearing and waited for the telltale whoosh of apparation. It came as the sun reached its crux in the sky, as her best friend was deposited by Charlus (the wizard offering a kind nod before he whisked back away).
“Hermione!” Pandora grinned, rushing forwards to wrap her arms around her best friend. “How lovely to finally meet you properly.” She whispered into Ara’s ear as she held her tightly.
Pandora had grown three additional inches over the summer; the already tall girl now the same height as the boys. With her slender limbs and strikingly pale brows, she could have been a model. And, despite knowing how others viewed her, it was hard to not feel inadequate in Pandora’s presence. Not when Ara was Marked and maimed, wearing scars that littered her lithe frame.
Blessedly, Pandora did not comment on Ara’s long sleeves despite the sweltering heat - merely complimenting her shirt choice. Despite her knowing, the blonde knew it wasn’t something her friend could bare to acknowledge.
Neither did she acknowledge the twitches in Ara’s hands. Or the way her eyes would unfocused, looking to the distance blankly before rapidly blinking back to reality. The way she would light her next cigarette the very moment she had finished her last.
She was burning.
Already charred and scarred - still alight and desperately smouldering.
Feral as the centre of the forest; untouched and blazing. Even with the straightening to her hair, the indigo still flowed messy and untameable. Even with her uniform laid perfectly, her clothes always positioned correctly… the lingering wildness remained.
They sat on a thick blanket at the edge of the trees, right beside the large pond that bordered the Potter meadow. Pandora lounged lazily - rested on her elbows as her head tilted to the sky. Dissimilarly, Ara propped herself up on her palms, sat upright as she looked to the woods beside them. Her eyes roamed the mossy bark, creeping up towards the flush leaves that offered protection from the bright sun ahead.
“Grandpa showed me your OWL results.” Pandora announced by way of distraction, grinning at Ara’s blanche with a satisfaction at pulling her friend from her dour thoughts.
“How the hell did he get a hold of them?” Ara spluttered.
“They printed them in the paper, Ottie. The ten best OWL marks are always printed at the back of the last July issue.”
“That’s… mortifying.” Ara blinked. “Where’d I place, anyways?”
“Second.” Her blonde friend twisted to rummage through her bag. After a moment of crinkling, she presented a rather crumpled old scrap of paper - hands twirling with a dancer’s flourish. “I saved it for you.” She spoke matter-of-factly.
“You’re brilliant.” Ara grinned, snatching the paper to scour it herself. “Ah! I knew Lily would get the top mark. Ooh, and Remus is in third!”
“I’m fifth.” Pandora puffed her chest a little as she spoke - a faint flush of pride upon her tan skin.
“Well done, Panda.” Ara nodded her way, quick to snap back to her inspection of the newspaper. “I can’t believe Barty scored lower than James.” She scoffed. “And Ravenclaw’ll be kicking themselves that they’ve only got two on the list.”
“Especially as it’s me and Xeno.” Pandora smiled wickedly. “He’s my boyfriend now, you know?”
“Is that so?” Ara raised a brow. “I thought you’d been dating since third year?”
“Steady going must always predate true romance. His spirit dances to a beat like my own, and our dance thrums to my heartbeat.”
“How lovely.” Ara’s lips twitched. “You ought to take him out to Muggle London before hols end. I’m sure he’d love the National Portrait Gallery.”
“He does love to study how love transfuses through paint.” Pandora mused, her eyes twinkling.
“Just say that he’s a swot about old art, Panda.” Ara rolled her eyes at her best friend. “Honestly, you make everything seem so much more poetic than it is.”
“My darling Ottie,” the blonde purred, “I enrich your life with my balladry and you know it.”
Ara merely stuck her tongue out in reply. Before she could deign to offer another cynical remark, there was a croaking from Pandora’s large pocket. Her eyes snapped to the fold of fabric - goggling as they spied movement beneath the silky robes.
“What in the devil is that?” She gawked.
“I got a toad!” Pandora proudly presented the ugliest brown animal Ara had ever seen in her life. It was warty and slimy and frankly foul looking.
“He’s hideous.” She deadpanned.
“She’s lovely just as she is.” Pandora reprimanded her with a pointed look. “I named her Elizabeth.”
“That is an excellent name.” Ara begrudged, frowning back as the toad stared at her, unblinking. Carefully, she lifted a hand from their blanket - slow but steady as she reached to stroke along the toad’s head with a single finger. Though, she was quick to yank her fingers back upon feeling the awful composition of the creature.
“You’re quite prudish, sometimes.” Pandora giggled, delicately placing the ugly creature between them.
“That was awful!” Ara justified, shivering in disgust. “How you could hold such a thing, I’ll never know.” She shook her head, hands twisting to wipe the feeling of slime off on her jeans.
It was then, that Pandora’s face twisted into a frown. Her slender hands reached for Ara’s own - catching her fingers as they went to feel at her wrist. With great horror, Ara yanked her hand free, tugging her sleeve lowered. Though her friend had not spied the Mark upon her flesh, Ara did not want to risk such a thing. Not when she knew how Pandora would feel about such a stain.
“You lost our bracelet.” Her friend spoke softly, voice shy and trembling. Ara blinked in surprise, eyes darting to her wrist as she realised exactly what Pandora had been looking at. In all the turmoil, she’d almost forgotten about it. That charmed weave of oceanic shades, those that matched her friend’s colouring so perfectly.
“He broke my bracelet, Panda. I lost it… when everything happened.” The unspoken events weighed them both down. Pandora could see it in the lines of Hermione within Ara’s face - the darkness below her eyes. She was not blind to the secrets her best friend kept from her. They flittered on the edges of her aura - a murky bruise indigo shadow rippling against the edges.
“Things are never as lost as we believe. Only waiting to be found again.” She squeezed her hand. “And does our bond not transcend the physical?”
“Yes. It does.” Ara sniffled, scrunching her nose as she willed herself not to cry.
“We are wildflowers. We grow despite the shit of the world. We bloom and flourish and we stand apart from the blades of grass surrounding us.” Pandora declared, squeezing her hand. “I love you, Ottie.”
“I love you too, Panda.”
“Wonderful. Now please don’t die on me again.” Pandora frowned. “Because I will be digging two graves, you hear me? One for you, and one for me.”
“I understand.” Ara laughed wetly, wiping tears away with her free hand. “I would do the same.”
“Exactly.” The blonde nodded. “Now enough of such sorrows. How goes your initiation into Dumbledore’s little group?”
“How’d you know about that?”
“Grandpa’s been a member for years, though he rarely attends meetings.” She shrugged, fiddling with the blades of grass beside her. “Mr Moody came to see him, after your visit. Asked if they could trust their newest member.”
“Of course he did.” Ara huffed, rolling her eyes at the news.
“How were they?”
“Awful. I felt so belittled. It was lucky that the Potters were there to stand up for me.” She sighed, pinched brow. “A couple of the older members couldn’t believe a girl was the subject of a prophecy.” She scoffed. “Let alone one from a Dark family.”
“It is a terrible thing, to misunderstand a legacy in its heir.” Pandora nodded.
“Indeed.” Ara frowned. “And then I think I kissed James so its all very awkward.”
“You kissed James?” Pandora gawked, blinking wide blue eyes as though unable to comprehend the information.
“I think so.” Ara nodded, blushing tremendously under her friend’s incredulous stare. “I was very drunk, to be fair. It was only a week ago.”
“I did not foresee that.” She frowned. “Not so soon, anyways. I’d bet on your birthday.”
“Is that so?” She arched a brow.
It was Pandora’s turn to blush as the girl shrugged awkwardly, eyes darting to not quite meet Ara’s own. Supposing she ought not to press her friend on her visions (as Pandora had been kind enough not to press Ara on her newest scars), she opted to change the subject.
It was time, anyways. Time to let her best friend know exactly what she’d been up to with the boys in the prior year - what things she’d kept even from her Wildflowers.
“I’ve got a secret, Panda. One I bet you’ve guessed.” The blonde’s eyes widened with gleeful understanding.
“Oh do show me!” She squealed, clasping her hands together with excitement.
With a flourish, Ara bowed deeply before her friend - imitating a Muggle wizard she’d seen with Petey in London the previous summer. Closing her eyes as she righted herself, she focused on the feeling of the animagus state; pulling herself in to fit that smaller form.
When she opened her eyes again, her vision was changed. Sharper than in her human form, though the colours she saw were convoluted. Reds were turned to muddied yellows, yellows to stark whites. Her friend was even taller, even longer in form through Ara’s new eyes.
“You’re beautiful, my Moroi.” The blonde smiled, reaching a hand to lightly tap Ara’s little head. With a meow, she pounced forwards, scurrying along Pandora’s legs until she had crawled her way up her shoulder. When Pandora went to pet her, Ara was quick to leap to the ground, the blonde clapping and giggling as Ara stalked a circle around her.
It was a simple moment of reprieve. Freedom from the hellish summer they’d faced, borne in the form of magical transformation. Ara so rarely kept secrets from Pandora - the task considered somewhat impossible by her best friend’s Sight. But this one… well, even if Pandora had known, she had known why the secret was needed. Who it was for.
Yet seeing it now, fresh after the sight of her marred friend, Pandora could only see it as a relief. She could rest in the knowledge that her friend’s magic had not been tainted, that Ara was as strong as she always was. More than that, she was exquisite. Curled fur and pointed ears, straightened hair and pierced flesh… Ara would always been bewitching to her.
“Girls, are you out here?” Euphemia’s Potter’s voice broke their revelry. The two teenagers looked to each other with wide eyes - one human, one feline - before turning to spy the ageing witch as she waltzed the path towards them.
She was dressed in her usual summer robes, the fabric light and breezy as they so nicely fitted her lovely body in shades of yellows and oranges. And she was beautiful, as she always was. Her pale hair glowed against the light in a halo, her hazel eyes bright and merry as they scanned the trees.
“Oh, Pandora! There you are.” Effie smiled as she spotted the blonde, eyes roaming the blanket with a slight furrow to her brow at the empty space beside her. It was an oddly suspicious scene, truth be told. Though Pandora seemed happily sat, she was alone in the gardens. The trees were to her right, the pond to the left of the blanket - a faint scratch sounding behind the stones and weeds.
“Good afternoon.” Pandora greeted with a friendly smile. “Have you met our kitten, yet?”
The question was so oddly normal - presented as idle chitchat - and for a moment, Euphemia was planning to ask if the Wandmaker of Diagon Alley had purchased a new feline companion. But when a black kitten ducked its head above the stones and purred a greeting.
“What in Merlin’s name is that?” Effie sputtered, gawping at Ara as she awkwardly tried to hide behind the rocks.
“Would you believe it’s a stray cat?” Pandora asked casually, motioning for the cat to approach.
“Oh, how lovely.” She smiled, watching as Ara pretended to be an animal, jumping at the flowers in the grass. “Has Ara seen this? She simply loves omens of death.”
“Our spirits often admire those that most reflect it.” Pandora mused, prompting the tiny cat to let out a little yowl, as if in warning. “She has gone to find a camera, I believe.”
With a little nod the blonde’s way, Euphemia Potter traipsed the path back to her home.
She did not see her ward contort back to her human form, nor how the pair of teens giggled at their luck of getting away with such a misdirect. No, Euphemia was far too busy searching for Ara on her route. Though she did not spy the girl, she soon found her twin.
Sirius and James were sat by the back wall of the house - the pair looking up at the opal exterior. Sirius’s head was rested on her son’s shoulder, his long hair draped against the light fabric of James’s shirt. For a moment, she considered letting them be.
It was a truly impossible task, looking after the Black siblings. Not that it was their fault, of course - the trio were perfectly well-mannered and brilliantly bright. But they were wounded and that was something Euphemia could not help, no matter how much she longed to. They had been held captive by their own blood, marred by their own flesh, and some days all they could do was to lift their heads from their pillows enough to let her kiss their foreheads.
But their dark days, however awful, reminded her of how far her son had come from his own childhood. On James’s days of woeful silence, she’s cursed her blood for giving him the same great sorrow that it had given her. And she thanked the Black siblings for giving James the love and freedom to know that his mind was not as cursed as he’d always fretted. Too many good days always brought about some dark skies, just as too much sun brought in the rain.
Still, it was a great burden that her son had shouldered. He so desperately wanted to fix his friends, and she knew that he had a dark day of his own ahead. No single boy could be a rock, not for three grieving children.
“James, darling,” she cooed softly, “you’ll never guess what we have by the pond.”
Her son tiled his head her way, Sirius’s own slotting from his shoulder as he offered her a weak smile. His eyes were damp, though James’s were not.
“An algae problem?” Her son teased.
“No.” She scowled lightly. “I saw the most curious cat!” She gasped with excitement.
Sirius and James locked eyes, panic paling their faces.
“Ara’s gone to fetch a camera.” Effie continued, curious as to her children’s expressions but politely not commenting. Especially not when the two looked utterly relieved at her comment.
How very bewildering.
——
The next visitor was unexpected. Both in that she had not confirmed an appointment with the Potters, and that she was truly the last person that the Black siblings expected to storm through the Floo on that Saturday evening.
It was as dinner had ended that they heard the Floo roar. A closed Floo, as well, save for a rare few that the Potters trusted. The teenagers were stacking their plates (though the house elves hated their efforts, always claiming that it was their job to tidy up) as their ears twitched at the clatter of heels along marbled flooring.
Ara’s eyes found Charlus’s - horrified and gaping - as the man’s expression twisted to match her own. He stood at once, his brother quick to follow, as the two men rushed to stand in the doorway. The siblings stood behind them in a line, simply watching the doorway as the other Potters stood behind them - wands slipping from holsters to rest in trembling hands.
For a moment, the air was still with fear. None dared to move.
“Where are they?” Andromeda Tonks’s shrill voice broke through the panicked silence. “Where are my cousins?”
She rounded on the dining room with hurried strides - eyes wide and desperate as they locked onto the first child she spied. Though her Muggle dress was neat and ironed, her curls were messed and large as they crackled around her head. Without a thought, she shoved past the Potter men and rounded on her youngest cousin.
“Andy?” Reg cried, running to his cousin and jumping into her arms. She caught him with practiced ease, despite his growth.
“Oh my beautiful, beautiful boy.” She cooed, pressing kisses to his hair. “I’ve missed you so much, Reggie.”
“What are you doing here?” Sirius wiped at his eyes, rushing to join the pair. Andy’s arm lifted without hesitation, cradling the two boys to her as she rocked them back and forth.
“Did you not think I would come?” She sobbed into their curls. “I… when I heard of what happened, I had to come. Dorea’s letter only reached me today, before then I thought you might be dead.”
“Rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.” Sirius tried to jest, though the desperate clutch of his cousin weakened the humour behind his words.
“Merlin, Sirius, don’t even joke of such things.” She whispered in great horror. “I thought we’d lost you.”
“I’m here,” he spoke gently, “I’m not alright, but I’m still here.”
“You can’t do that again.” She warned as she released the boys from her hold. “It was… truly the most terrifying month of my life.”
“Not like we planned it.” Regulus muttered, wiping at his damp eyes with a closed fist.
“Still,” she sighed, reaching to straighten his messed hair. “Whether I need to make some portkeys for you to always carry, or bribe Aurors into being a permanent guard… I need you three to be safe.”
With that statement, her gaze flickered from the boys to the final of the trio. They somehow softened more as she looked to her only female cousin, to the dark circles beneath her eyes and how her hair was half curled, half straight as her perm grew out.
“Hi, Andy.” Ara smiled uncomfortably, arm lifting in a truly awkward wave - hidden beneath red sleeves.
Without a care, the elder witch rushed for her, too. She wrapped her arms around the girl and soothed her scalp, whispering love into the follicles.
“I heard you’d died.” Andy sniffled, clutching Ara so close it almost hurt. “Dorea… she said you died and they brought you back.”
“Rumours of my death were not exaggerated, that much I know.” She joked, her cousin swatting at her arm as she gasped at the jest.
“Quit it!” She scowled, pulling back just enough to lock eyes. “Do you know how terrified I was? I kept telling Ted that we ought to have snatched you for the summer again, that we shouldn’t have trusted the Potters with you.”
“They saved us, Andy.”
‘No, you saved yourselves.” She corrected, eyes darting to pierce each adult with a withering glare. “They merely nursed you back to health.”
“They got us emancipated.” She corrected. “Grimmauld is a fortress, you know that. If the ruddy Aurors couldn’t get in, how could anyone else?”
Though her scowl deepened, Andromeda did not offer another insult. She merely looked again to the Potters with a sharp nod.
“I’ll be expecting access to their healing reports.” She demanded, hands still on Ara’s arms. “And promises form each of you that this agreement with the Ministry is ironclad.”
“Certainly.” Dorea spoke after a moment - clearly a little caught out by the full force of the Black witch’s wrath. “But it was not us that harmed your cousins.”
Andromeda’s shoulder dropped slightly at that, deflating rage as she nodded weakly.
“I know.” She acquiesced. “And I thank you all for looking after them in my stead.”
“There is never need for that.” Dorea smiled kindly.
“They’re family.” Charlus nodded.
——
There was a domesticity to the evening. An odd calm as old family sat with new - Potters and Tonk all curled in the sitting room as they chatted life and school and work. All those things that made a person feel like a person, every simple joy that life could bring. From Ted’s work within Magical Law, to Andy’s training as a healer, the young couple imparted everything their cousins had missed out on in the chaos of their last school year.
In return, the three siblings tried to share their own hearts. Tales of pranks within the walls of Hogwarts, stories of fighting with Slytherins and sneaking to the kitchens with Hufflepuff friends. It was all kept rather quaint, naturally. It would not do to let their family know just how much mischief they truly got up to, certainly not with young Nymphadora hanging onto their every word.
Dora’s hair seemed stuck on indigo, her eyes stuck on Ara with something akin to idolisation. Ara figured it was because she was the only person that little Dora knew with colourful hair. She ought to introduce her to Lily sometime. Her bright hair rivalled the orange of a Weasley’s.
Though Regulus seemed her favourite to rest within the arms of, her eyes never truly left Ara. In fact, it was Dora’s cry of confusion that informed the group of Ara sneaking form the room. Andy’s attention snapped to Sirius, who shrugged weakly, miming an inhale of smoke with two fingers against his lips. The witch merely rolled her eyes at the admission and turned her attention to asking after his OWL results.
When Ara returned to the group some minutes later - oddly scentless - Andy tutted. She was not blind to the severity of her cousin’s new vice, nor to the flush of shame that crossed her husband’s face as Andy had remarked upon it after their brief visit at Easter. A little prodding had led him to show her his secret stash of muggle fags - a stash that was promptly vanished before she’d made him sleep on the sofa. Just for one night, though. She could never stay mad at her Ted for too long.
As the evening wore on (and the drinks kept being poured), Ted convinced the lot to venture into the gardens for a surprise. They bundled in their jackets, blankets laid over shoulders. Sirius grinned as both he and Ted placed their leather jackets upon their shoulders - the older wizard offering a nod to him upon spying the item.
“Timothy, that Gryffindor I apparently usurped Head boy from, he’s been working for Zonkos since we graduated.” Ted grinned, ushering the teens into the cool summer air. “He was a whizz at transfiguration, you know. Just bloody brilliant.”
“Darling, please find your point before it’s lost to the ether.” Andy tutted lovingly, an amused glance exchanged with Dorea.
“Right you are,” he nodded, pausing the group once they reached the edge of the patio. “Well, he’s been working on some fireworks and things for this new line, and he gave me this prototype when I mentioned about all the family… shenanigans.”
“A lovely way to put it.” Ara remarked wryly.
“Better that than anything else.” Regulus shrugged, though his lips were twitching upwards.
“You gonna show us or what?” Sirius chimed in with a bark of laughter.
“I was getting to it!” Ted huffed, hands placed on his hips in mock disappointment. “Kids these days,” he sighed, “no patience at all.”
“Darling.” Andy warned lightly.
“Alrighty then.” He huffed in jest. “Everyone find a nice spot where you can watch the sky.”
The group divided into halves, though sat side-by-side. The adults all stayed on the patio, leaning against the planters as they passed baby Dora until she found comfort in Fleamont’s arms. Dorea’s head was rested on Charlus’s shoulder, eyes hazy and unfocused. Her hand was found encased within Andromeda’s - the pair wordlessly reaching accord.
On the grass beneath them, Ara curled beside James - hands stuck under his jumper to retain warmth in spite of his hiss at the intrusion. His head turned to her, eyes softening as they locked onto hers.
“We have charms for that, you know.” He grinned, shaking his head in fondness.
“Why bother when I have my own personal heater?” She smiled in reply, burrowing closer to him. His arm slid over her shoulders, tucking her close, as he motioned for Sirius to join on his other side. With Regulus snug on her left, they looked to Ted with a nod. From his jacket pocket slid a tiny box - white and grey and almost muggle in its conception.
With a swish of his wand, the small box slipped undone and the skies rippled. Fireworks whizzed in dazzling lights - a rainbow of colour exploding above them. It was beautiful in the temporality, each short burst of brilliance replaced by another. Streaks of pinks and whites, golds and greens, purples and reds… dozens of shades all whirling through the air in a blinding display. It was utterly mesmerising and completely beautiful.
It was a gift that none would ever be able to word their thanks for. Not fully. Not when Ted had brought them kind magic. It was perfect and it was kind.
And none could truly speak of just how Ted Tonks made their lives better. Not Andromeda, whose familial prejudice was blazed to shreds by his decency. Not Sirius, who would always be glad for the role model that Ted provided to him and his brother. Most of all, Ara Black would never be able to say how glad she was for him. From that summer he’d let her stay in his house, to the regular kind notes on the end of Andy’s letters about muggle music and Westwood’s latest fashion eccentricities. Ara would never say how thankful she was for him in this life nor in her other. For to let him know his importance was to let him know his impermanence. That she knew him in a different future as still a decent man, killed for his kindness.
In the present, he was alive. He was breathing, he was loving, and he had brought magic to them.
“It’s lovely.” Ara beamed, eyes soft and thankful as stars burst in her irises. James laughed faintly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she remained fixed on the display.
“Yeah,” he swallowed, eyes fixed on her face; illuminated by the glows of colour, “the loveliest.”
At some point during the display, Ara’s hands slid from James. Her twin slithered from the other side as Sirius and Ara split off from the others, whispering conspiratorially. They were not noticed, not while their drunken guardians watched the brilliant display and Regulus sat under the arm of Ted Tonks - the wizard pointing to each feature with a whisper of how it was crafted. Their chatter was hidden beneath the pops of fireworks, their footsteps soundless in the dark of night.
It took only a brief moment of machination before Ara was nodding along to Sirius’s plotting - his gestures wide and cheeks flushed as he rigorously proposed what he deemed an ‘excellent idea’.
“Fuck it.” She laughed, merely glad to see her twin once again filled with merriness. “Let’s do it.”
His grin broadened, a surprised laugh bubbling from his lips.
“Wicked.”
“Where can we go, though? We aren’t technically of age yet.”
“I’ve got that one sorted.” Sirius winked.
And so, hand-in-hand, they snuck away.
——
Ara and Sirius Black left a tattoo parlour in the early hours of morning with pink knuckles and broad smiles, arms wrapped around each other as they marched home singing Steely Dan. The roads of Muggle London glinted with promise as they swerved past rowdy drunks and ducked through alleyways. By the time they reached Diagon Alley, their lyrics were jumbled with squiffy comedy and inebriated giggles. Unsteady feet tumbled into the Leaky Cauldron, barely minutes before its close.
The pair exchanged lively banter with Tom behind the counter as he shooed the final stragglers, promising to visit when they collected school supplies before sneaking through his hidden Floo in the back. With a familiar tut and mock-sigh, he ushered them home - quick to pen a note for the Potters as he closed up the old pub.
When they tumbled through the Floo, they almost fell onto the rug. Their chatter hushed in that usual drunken way as the pair shushed each other rather loudly. Their footsteps were louder than they knew, shoes scuffing along the marbled floor as they crept through the room and to the hallway.
“Where in Morgana’s name have you two been?” A shrill voice snapped behind them.
Horrified, the twins spun around and tried to force their stumbles to seem sober. It was a foolish endeavour considering how truly sloshed the pair were. Their arms scrambled for each other, propping themselves up as they came face to face with Euphemia Potter in her pyjamas.
“Out?” Sirius offered in reply, wincing as her furious frown turned sharper.
“We have been worried sick! Your poor brother couldn’t sleep until Charlus promised to stay by his side!” Effie frowned deeply, wrapping her shawl closer around herself as she inspected them intently. “You have to leave more than a note. Especially one that short.”
“I thought we covered our bases.” Ara shrugged. “And I told Reggie what we were up to, but he didn’t want to come.”
“The sentence ‘off to a bar, don’t wait up’ is not an ideal thing to read at eleven at night, when you pop to check on your children.”
It was as Sirius nervously scratched his face, attempting to summon an excuse since his sister was too plastered to do her usual job, that Euphemia Potter noticed something new on the back of his hand. The three middle fingers on his left hand each had a black star on them. A blockish symbol, five-pointed and stark against his pale skin.
“What is that?” She squeaked, pointing a shaky finger at the boy. Frowning, he pulled back his hand - sighing in understanding as he inspected his fingers.
“We got matching tattoos!” He grinned, pulling his sister closer to him as she beamed and displayed her similar design. Indeed, across the middle fingers on her left hand were black stars. These, a more astrological and whimsical design, with eight points.
“We’re gonna rope Reg into it when he’s older.” Ara piped in, with a giggle.
It took every once of strength she had for Euphemia not to either combust or faint from the alarm she felt. Two children in her care had wandered off and gotten tattoos underage. What a terrifying concept. She could have raged at them until the sun rose - but it would not have helped the matter.
Instead, she took a calming breath, and inspected the ink with fresh eyes. Indeed, it was a sweet concept. And the designs were well done. Perfectly fitting the fingers; designs so utterly perfect for the twin they resided on. Three stars, three Black siblings. It was rather sweet.
And, begrudgingly, she supposed after the hell they had been put through - they deserved an act of teenage rebellion.
“Well, they do look rather sweet.” Euphemia finally sighed, putting on a warm smile as she shook her head with fondness at the two of them. “Both of you will drive me mad one day, I swear. In future, I’d prefer if you would directly inform an adult of wherever you are off to. Especially Dorea or Charlus, given they are your guardians and are thus responsible for you.” Her voice rose slightly, wavering with concern. “You could have been taken again! None of us would cope if anything happened to the pair of you. Especially not your brother.” She pinned them with a stern look - the two exchanging a guilty look at her words.
“We’re so sorry, Effie.” They spoke together, eyes downcast.
“Well. That’s that then, I suppose.” Their eyes met hers, vaguely confused. “Would you like some tea before bed?” She asked, kindly.
“No, thank you?” Ara spoke, brow furrowed.
“Alright. Off we pop.” Effie directed them with her hands, pulling the two to her sides as she led them through the Manor and up the stairs to their room. It took a few attempts. Ara kept wobbling back down the stairs, Sirius falling asleep on the railing whenever she went to pull Ara back up.
After great effort, she managed to wrangle the two into bed; Sirius at one point escaping to try and wake up James to discuss a prank idea. It took a promise of crepes for breakfast the next day to get him in bed. Strawberries to get him to finally take off his shoes and curl up under the sheets.
Ara was already out cold, the second she fell onto the mattress. Carefully, the older woman pulled off the girl’s laced boots - shrugging the heavy jacket off her shoulders. Effie pulled the blanket over her with a soft kiss on her forehead, a whispered thank you from the sleepy girl as she snuggled in. As the elder witch tucked in the other twin, she gently swept his growing hair from his forehead, placing a gentle kiss and a whisper of love as he snuggled beside the other.
Once the two were tucked in and sleeping sound, Euphemia set a baby-monitoring charm and moved to leave the room.
Unfortunately, another obstacle prevented her way. James and Charlus hovering in the doorway; fondness in their eyes as they regarded the scene.
“Where did they end up?” Charlus whispered as the three moved from the room - Euphemia shutting the door silently.
“I’m still not sure.” Euphemia admitted. “But they showed up, drunk as anything, with matching tattoos.”
Charlus winced at the revelation. James merely grinned, shaking his head lightly.
“At least tell me they aren’t awful.” Charlus pinched the bridge of his nose - a decidedly fatherly disappointment clear in his words.
“They aren’t,” she reassured, “quite adorable, really. I’m sure they’ll show you both at breakfast.”
“Wicked.” James grinned, much to her disapproval.
“Don’t even think about it.” She warned. “I can’t handle another shock. I am simply too old.”
“Nonsense, Effie.” Charlus laughed. “We’re still in our primes.”
“Oh, please.” She laughed, linking arms with her brother in law. “The only prime you’ve ever had is ribs.”