The Parents
Chapter 25: The Parents
*Several years later*
The London sky was deepening into a rich navy blue as dusk fell. Smoke drifted lazily out of chimneys, from the cooking pots in the houses lining the muddy streets, and dispersed into a gentle, hovering haze.
Anyone looking up at that moment would have seen a bird making its way across the town, its white eye standing out against its dark plumage and its speckled breast.
One man was looking out of the uppermost window of a tall, rickety house as the bird approached. It was Orion Black. His dark hair fluttered lightly in the evening breeze as he rested his head against the sill, staring out across the sky, dreamily, expectantly.
As his eyes spotted the bird fast approaching, a wide grin spread across his face, and he shifted slightly in anticipation. The bird landed deftly next to him on the sill with a small thud, its talons gripping the wood securely.
“Perry!” Orion exclaimed excitedly, feeling a rush of warmth and relief rush over him.
The bird looked up at him and then transformed before his eyes into Peregrine Faulkner, who crouched on the sill where the bird had been. His brown, wavy hair looked as perfectly coiffed as ever. As he transformed, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of relief. The weight of the day’s responsibilities lifted off his shoulders the moment he saw Orion’s welcoming grin. Being here felt like coming home.
“Orion,” Perry replied, grinning widely.
“Come on then, they’re all waiting to see you!” Orion insisted, grabbing him and eagerly leaping down from the sill. “I promised the boys they wouldn’t have to go to bed until they’d seen you.”
Perry dropped down too, and they crossed the creaky wooden floorboards.
“Oh, sorry,” he said apologetically, catching his breath, “I had to see to mine first—came as quick as I could! Pandora’s just saying goodnight to them now.”
Orion grinned, waving off the apology. “No need to apologise, old chap. I’m far too soft on them. They won’t take no for an answer! I don’t know who they get their stubbornness from, or their eagerness to see you!”
Perry smiled happily. “I don’t know why we don’t just put them down together. It’d be much easier if they all had a sleepover.”
They were creaking down the staircase now. Being as tall as they were, they both had to duck slightly at this part of the house, as the ceiling was so low. The wooden steps creaked under their weight every time they moved, a familiar sound in the old house. The walls were adorned with faded family photos and magical artifacts, each telling a story of its own.
“Yes, it makes sense. We’ll have to take them camping again sometime. The boys would love that.”
“Absolutely, let's—soon! So would I!”
With a shared sense of excitement, Orion led the way as he opened the door to the kitchen.
“Look who I’ve found!” he called out.
The kitchen was a cosy haven; glowing warmly in the flickering candlelight. Wooden units ran all the way along the edge of the room, and a large wooden table sat in the middle, with a bench on each side and flowers on top. The aroma of freshly baked bread and the lingering scent of roasted meat filled the air. Estella, Orion’s wife, stood at the stove in a pinafore, looking beautiful with her dark, loose curls. Orion’s two boys sat on a bench and shot up straight away as soon as they saw Perry.
“Uncle Perry!” they cried in unison, looking wildly happy.
They hugged him around his middle.
“Hey, you two!” Perry said, throwing his arms around them and beaming as much as they were. “Missed you!”
“Missed you too,” they chorused.
“Okay, you two,” Orion said gently, “you’ve seen him now. Off to bed with you!”
The two boys groaned loudly. Orion felt a good deal of sympathy for them.
“Aquila, Castor, it is already past your bedtime!” Orion said firmly, staring at them. “Now you’ve seen Uncle Perry, it’s time to go to bed. You can see him again another time—if you’re good!”
There were more protests, but the threat of not seeing Perry was enough incentive for them to behave. Eventually, the boys all said their goodnights, and Letty the house-elf led them upstairs.
“I’ll come up and give you a kiss goodnight in a minute,” Estella called after them, busy magicking away the mess from dinner with a sweep of her wand.
“Perry! So good to see you!” she said, revealing a smile of bright white teeth.
“‘Stella!” Perry nodded.
“How’s Pandora? How are the boys?” she asked, interestedly.
“Pandora’s good, thanks! Just seeing to the boys. She’ll be here in a moment.”
Orion led Perry to their armchairs by the lit fire. Perry sat down in his usual place, and Orion did the same.
“Harrier’s alright, but Kestrel,” Perry said, shaking his head, “he’s such a handful at the moment!”
“The little dear,” Estella sighed.
“Little dear?” Orion repeated, cocking his eyebrow. “The boy’s a menace!”
“I’m sure he’ll grow out of it,” Estella said breezily.
Before either of the men could respond, there was a loud crack, and Fyfe Farringdale materialised right in the middle of the room.
“Fyfe Farringdale, don’t you know it’s rude to apparate straight into someone’s kitchen!” Perry chided him hotly.
“Charming!” Fyfe replied jovially. “Nice to see you too!”
“Don’t take any notice of him!” Estella interjected as she crossed the kitchen to give him a hug. “You’re not a guest. You’re welcome anytime.”
Fyfe grinned. “Not at any time!” Orion asserted quickly.
“These look amazing!” Fyfe said cheerily as he helped himself to some of the treats Estella had just placed on the table.
“Valda not with you?” Perry asked, giving a quick smirk to Orion as he did so.
“No! Thank goodness!” Fyfe replied with feeling as he plonked himself down on one of the wooden benches with a creak. “The woman is insufferable! That’s one of the silver linings of not having a house-elf—one of us has to look after the kids!” He gesticulated with a chicken leg. Then he appeared to think some more. “Still, it would have been nice for someone to die and leave me a place like this,” he said, indicating the room.
“Honestly, Fyfe,” Perry said indignantly, “she was his mother.”
“Don’t worry,” Orion stated, putting his hands up. “There was really no love lost between us.”
The conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Pandora had arrived, and at the same time, Henry and Gwenda Ettington. Estella hugged her sister Pandora, then Henry and Gwenda in turn. There was a buzz of chatter as everyone tried to say hello to each other, which only grew louder as people fought to hear themselves. Two groups formed, as there were far too many people for one conversation, and the pressing topics were decidedly varied between the sexes.
“Get yourself a mead, Henry! Help yourself—attaboy,” Orion encouraged.
“Oh, Gwenda, I love the new cut,” Estella exclaimed.
Gwenda winced, then flicked her ginger hair around. “Do you really? I’m not sure about it. I don’t think Henry likes it—”
“What do boys know about these things?” Pandora exclaimed sharply. “No, it looks lovely.”
Fyfe said knowingly, “Mead, mead. I bet he can have mead. Imagine me turning up tonight stinking of alcohol,” he laughed bitterly at the other men. “I’d be out on my backside in the street! Look at him, he doesn't even look tired!”
Henry didn’t laugh but tried to say lightly, “That’ll be the not having any kids.”
“Lucky git,” Fyfe spat.
“Yeah,” Henry replied awkwardly, shifting his gaze. “Not sure Gwenda sees it quite like that.”
Estella said regretfully, “Oh, it’s a shame Valda couldn’t come, isn’t it!”
“Yeah,” Gwenda replied unconvincingly.
“How’s work?” Orion asked.
“Oh,” Fyfe exclaimed disgustedly, “please, let’s not talk about work. It’s so depressing. I spend enough of my time thinking about it as it is.”
“Cauldron supplies not going well then?” Perry asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Fyfe scoffed loudly. “You can mock if you want. It’s all very well coming from someone who doesn’t have to—”
“I do work!” Perry interrupted indignantly. “What we’re trying to do to create a Wizarding Council and to further international cooperation is vitally important.”
Fyfe did not look convinced nor impressed.
“Do you think the Muggles are going to go to war then?” Henry whispered.
“Yes, I do,” Orion replied coolly. “They’re always hankering for a fight. The question is, how will we respond? Personally, I think we should keep well out of it.”
Everyone seemed happy enough, relaxing and picking at the nibbles. Estella cast a silencing charm on the room when she thought they were getting too rowdy. Of course, the conversation always seemed to inevitably revert back to school at some point in the evening.
“Gryffindor was clearly the best,” Fyfe argued strongly.
“Doubt Perry would back you up there!” Henry smirked.
“Of course he would! Why else would Orion be so keen to make so many friends with Gryffindors? Because Gryffindor was clearly the best!”
“Well, I think Slytherin went downhill after Salazar left,” Perry stated.
“Who was that woman they replaced him with for a while?” Henry asked.
“You mean Gladys? Godric’s wife? Yeah, she was the worst thing to happen to the Slytherins—couldn’t believe it,” Orion replied.
“Orion! No need to be rude about the dead!” Estella exclaimed after overhearing his words during a lull in her conversation.
“Alright, dear,” Orion said appeasing her, but as soon as the women resumed their conversation, he whispered darkly to Perry, “How they could ever put a Mudblood in charge of Slytherin, I’ll never know. It was madness. I don’t know how we ever got through it!”
As the evening wore on, Perry suddenly stood up, a spark of excitement in his eyes. “A toast!” he cried.
The others, caught up in his enthusiasm, scrambled to get a drink and then looked at him eagerly.
He looked at Orion and Estella and then said loudly, “To the most noble and most ancient house of Black!”
The others echoed him, raising their cups and drinking. Perry felt a mixture of pride and nostalgia.
“A song!” Fyfe demanded, stomping his feet.
“Oh, yes!” Several others seconded.
They all turned to look at Peregrine expectantly. He tried to object politely, but his protestations were shot down, batted away, and ignored. He got to his feet, looked around at them, and then sang a rousing, climactic anthem. His voice was, without doubt, the most beautiful, haunting, soul-wrenching sound Orion had ever heard. He could happily listen to it all day long.
Though darkness may enshroud us,
Though the mass of man persist,
We have a pow’r eternal,
That forever will resist.
There is no debt to our fear,
There is just one sacred call,
To the blood of our forebears,
That pulses through us all.
We will embrace our calling,
We will overcome the night,
No man would dare to face us,
When our time dawns with the light.
Will we curtail or deny?
Will we cower or defy?
Take hold of your right, and fight - for magic is might!
Take hold of your right, and fight - for magic is might!
https://suno.com/song/3192099f-fe1c-4d7c-8132-aea47c1558fd
As the evening drew to a close, the guests began to yawn and stretch. One by one, they stood up and made their way to the door.
“Got to be going, Orion. Thanks for the lovely evening, ‘Stella—work tomorrow,” Henry said with a casual salute.
Gwenda followed after him. “Send me that recipe,” she said to Estella. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Fyfe followed, then Pandora, until only Perry was left with Orion and Estella.
“You go on up, dear. We’re just going to stay here a while and put the world to rights!” Orion said.
Estella furrowed her eyebrows but smiled and told him not to be too long before she ascended the stairs.
Orion looked at Perry and smiled. "What's got you grinning like that?" he asked, curiosity in his eyes.
Perry gazed into the fire, memories flooding back. "Oh you know, just thinking about our Hogwarts days," he said with a sigh. "Remember the first time I came to the Slytherin Common Room? When we... you know."
Orion chuckled. "Kissed? Yeah, I remember. Poor Pandora, I hope you've improved!"
"Oi!" Perry scoffed in return. "No, I meant—when we planned our future!"
"Oh" Orion exclaimed, his eyes twinkling. "Thought you were going to ask me for a second go!"
Perry laughed, "You wish!" Then a wistful look came over him. "I've got the best friend I could ask for, and the best family too! It's more than I ever hoped for."
Orion leaned back, his eyes thoughtful. "We've got something good going on. Haven't we? I'm so grateful. I can't even tell you how much it means to me, to know you've got my back no matter what."
"Of course I do!" Perry agreed. "All I need to know is that if I hugged you right now, you'd hug me back even harder."
Orion's smile widened. "No secrets, no fears. Just us."
Perry's grin returned. "Exactly. We can do whatever we want."
Orion nodded.
Perry propped his head up, a sense of contentment washing over him. "Life turned out pretty well, didn’t it?"
Orion sighed, "Yeah, mate, it really did."
They leaned back, with smiles unconsciously playing on their lips. Comfortable in the silence, they listened to the fire crackling softly, both men secure in the knowledge that their friendship was unbreakable.