early mornings
fifth year, 1976.
Black Manor was typically a quiet household. With house elves scurrying about in the kitchens or hidden in the many wings of the place tidying up and using household charms. Many of the manor's occupants were naturally early risers, the newest addition of Adeline Black was no different in that sense, especially on a day such as September First.
Druella and Narcissa would most likely be already started in their morning routines of washing's and cosmetic charm weaving. Cygnus would be found already in his study, reading over documents and finalizing deals and favours before breaking his mornings fast. Bellatrix on the other hand would likely be found out in the gardens if she had even bothered to return to the manor after her late night adventures at the Lestrange's ancestral home. After all, she had no train to catch like Narcissa or Adeline did. With Narcissa in her seventh and last year, and Adeline in her fifth.
She had rose a few hours after dawn, giving herself more than an adequate amount of time to bathe herself and charm her usually chaotic hair into sleek dark curls. Adeline was always expected to perfect and poised, that was an expectation that had not changed despite her tutors being absent and her mothers untimely departure to behind the veil. The young heiress would appear at the dining hall with her trunks readily packed in her bed chambers, and her new body ready for the soon-to-be first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Adeline was undoubtedly nervous of course, not only was it because of her change in schools but because of the expectations at such a history filled school. Hogwarts was known for turning out exceptionally magically gifted witches and wizards, that however didn't stop the prestigious school from holding to some of it's more darkened founders. The Black family was notoriously sorted in the house of Slytherin, the house of the clever ambitious and cunning. With Adeline's past, or perhaps it was future, at the prestigious school she was anxious to what the school year would bring.
Just in first year alone her previous self, Hermione Granger, had not only faced a three headed dog, a death match of chess and a terrible tangle with devils snare, but a professor who had accidentally become possessed by the Dark Lord. That of course was one of her tamer years at the schools, with dementors and werewolves, polyjuice potions and basilisks— there was truly nothing the school could throw at her that she wouldn't be able to handle. And yet, she was nervous. Her stomach filled with slowly turning butterflies from caterpillars and sweat slicked palms. It was difficult to stay focused on the task at hand of choosing her outfit for travelling with such doubts and fears popping into her creative mind.
She had half a mind to request a return to Beauxbatons Academy. Though that would hardly help her in the long run, she knew that transferring schools was likely to be her best chance at saving her future and ending the war to come. At Hogwarts she could establish connections, though she would make a point to avoid any alterations with the esteemed Albus Dumbledore. She didn't trust the man in either lifetime of hers and he seemed far to interested in being seen as the grandfatherly figure of cursed knowledge and dangerous schemes.
What was more important is that she wasn't a coward—Adeline know undoubtedly that her life as a Black was much different to that of Hermione's and because of it they had many differing sets of opinions but that didn't change who she was at her core. She was brave and would do anything to protect her friends, past or present.
Selfishly she also missed her old school, and her old professors. McGonagall had always been kind to her, always indulging in her interests of knowledge and learning, Flitwick was always entertaining her with riddles and tomes of information on things that a young girl really had no reason to ponder about.
She missed them, and the library that she spent many hours reading and researching in. She missed the common room where some of her best memories with Harry and Ron could be recalled. Adeline even missed Hagrid and all his foolish ideas of creature raising and reading. Hogwarts had been home to her, and frankly she missed it and wondered if that feeling of belonging had changed since her muddled sense of time-travel and play-about with dark magic.
"Tilly is sorry to disturb Missy Addy," The sudden appearance of the house elf frightened the young girl as she clipped in a small silver and crystal earring into her left lobe. "—but Master and Mistress be in the dining hall waiting."
"Thank you Tilly." Adeline replied after she slowly reminded herself that it wasn't the elves fault that she had been frightened by it's sudden appearance into her ensuite with no proper warning. "I'll be down momentarily."
From her peripheral she saw the elf bow lowly, before adding in dismissal and fair amount of trembling, almost in waiting to be reprimanded. When the scolding never came the elf quickly stammered out, "Of course, Missy Addy."
Adeline was relieved when the familiar crack filled her bedroom at the elves departure. As much as she loved the creatures and felt pity on their terrible conditions to always serve, she did get annoyed at them easily. Mostly when they managed to frighten her with their constant coming and going with no warning. It was taking her much longer to get used to the manors elves then it ever had to Mipsy. Then again, Mipsy had always been a one of a kind elf in her eyes.
Knowing she was as presentable as she was able to be, dressed in a simple blue cotton blouse and a grey plaid patterned skirt that stopped mid thigh. She had debated on the white blouse, before deciding on the blue long sleeved one instead. Paired with her stylish black trench coat downstairs she figured the blue would be best for a day of travel. From what she recalled the Hogwarts Express was normally a little chilly halfway through the travels to Scotland.
With her bags packed she donned the most minimal of her inherited jewelry from her mother and went to join her distant family in the dining hall. Adeline doubted that Aunt Druella would be happy if she was late to breaking her fast, the woman after all enjoyed sticking to her schedules. Narcissa would likely be unpleasant as ever, and if Bellatrix was in attendance she would be attempting to sneak a poison or curse into Adeline's own breakfast. Cygnus would be unapproachable as ever as he read the Daily Prophet and the elves would be cowering in the shadows for a stray curse to be sent their way.
Yes, it would simply be just another breakfast at Black Manor indeed.
Breakfast went as it usually did, before Druella began instructing both Narcissa and Adeline in what was expected of the both of them for their first and second term. Bellatrix, since she was not in attendance to the meal, the youngest of the Black heiress didn't need to fear for poisoning or dark hexes to befall her. Uncle Cygnus of course gave his few words on the matter of them returning, or in Adeline's case, first time at Hogwarts.
It was boring of course, insuring through cold words on how the both of them ought to make meaningful connections and alliances with their peers, and in Adeline's case perhaps look into finding a family alliance she would be interested in joining. Adeline of course had answered most properly in those instances, despite her annoyance at the matter. No matter what either of her so-called guardians wished of her, she had far more detailed plans on what to do with her impending Hogwarts career—and marriage was not one of them.
There was also the matter of them both returning to the manor over yuletide break, mainly for Narcissa's marriage and bonding ceremony to Lucius Malfoy. Seeing as she would be seventeen and her husband to be was already graduated it was simply a matter of finding the time and place. Adeline thought it a little cliche that they would become married over the holidays but kept her opinions to herself on such matters.
Druella also added that if Adeline wished to bring a date she ought to RVSP it as soon as possible with her through correspondence. Adeline doubted she would be doing any such thing. More likely she would find herself hiding as much as possible from the celebrations. After all, the entire Black family would be in attendance alongside the Malfoys— which was simply just asking for dark politics to be spoken of and introduced. Adeline was good at many things but even she could only hold her tongue for so long.
No matter how cleverly she tried to feel out or place doubt in her Grandfather Arcturus' thoughts on the matter he remained tight lipped, and almost dejected to where their alliances would lie. Adeline however, wasn't about to give up on it, she knew her grandfather wasn't a stupid man and would soon find that such an alliance with the Dark Lord would not be beneficial for their family in the long term. She doubted he wanted to be remembered as the man who lead the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black to ruination and decimation.
"Adeline," Her aunt spoke whilst setting down her tea cup after a small drag and meeting her nieces eyes sharply over the dining table. "I presume your trunk is packed?"
Adeline carefully swallowed the last of her own beverage before answering. Tensions had been high between all family members since the letters of admittance and impending sorting to Hogwarts. That's without including the catastrophic unfolding of Andromeda's sudden departure and disownment.
"Yes Aunt Druella." She replied after a moment. "I asked Tilly to bring them down before side-along apparating to the station."
Druella nodded stiffly, before dapping at the corners of her lips with a napkin. The white clot h stained slightly red from her Aunt's lipstick reminds Adeline eerily of blood.
"Very well." Another moment passed with the table falling into a terse silence one more. Though it lasted no more than minute after her Uncle had excused himself to his study, leaving only the women of the household present at all.
"Narcissa, I expect you to lead the school well in your tenure of Head Girl and if possible, please try to keep an eye on young Sirius." The blonde haired seventh year simply huffed in annoyance before agreeing with a stiff nod. Adeline expected Narcissa to do anything but keep an eye on their rogue and wild lion cousin. Even when Druella added haughtily in finality. "He is becoming an embarrassment to the family with his actions."
"Of course, mother,"
Druella sighed loudly, her napkin now being dropped over her remaining breakfast with a sniff of inelegance. With a snap of her fingers, three house elves appeared and removed all the remaining platters and plates that held their mostly finished breakfast. Adeline pointedly turned away her gaze, as the small creatures cracked into nothingness to clean their dishes and begin preparing lunch for her Aunt and Uncle.
Expecting that to be the last of it, Adeline went to dismiss herself only to halt instantly when Druella began to speak once more. She was always a chatty woman, with much to say and caring little of others opinions if they didn't align with her own but today she seemed especially driven in speaking her thoughts.
"You're both dismissed, but be down here in an hour please." Both girls hardly needed to be told twice as they began to rise from their seats, though Adeline was soon stopped by her Aunr calling to her in a downturn of belligerent sympathy—much closer to mocking than that of proper child-minding.
"Adeline darling," she phrased on such a way that had Adeline expecting a tongue lashing of barely hidden insults. "—please see to it that you find a more appropriate choice of foot wear. You're already indecently short, Narcissa should have a set of heels to help with it."
Knowing better than to state that should rather chop off her own arm then ask Narcissa for anything these days, Adeline only replied in her usual bland and monotonous tone, "Yes, Aunt Druella."
A moment of silence passed once more before Adeline's Aunt asked for a moment in private in the dining hall with her niece. Narcissa had seemed wary of the request but soon smoothed her features over and agreed to it, saving at the corners of her lips and pushing the chair back lightly as she stared from the table.
"I'll leave a set of heels on your bed to borrow." Her pale haired cousin stated before taking her leave. She added on snidely with just a hint of concealment to her tone, "A simple resizing charm should suffice."
Despite her slight bubble of anger in her stomach, Adeline thanked her for her the offer and advice. Though beneath her faint-hearted platitudes, she was seething and muttering bitterly to herself all sorts of things a young heir should never think to herself, even in the confines of her own mind. It was as if her cousin truly thought her so dim-witted as to not know how to cast a simple reducible or engorgement charm. It was a charm she had learned far before attending school and most likely one of her first ones to perfect.
Adeline was grateful when the blonde finally left the room, with her Uncle Cygnus following shortly about half-truth excuses on paperwork to be finalized in his office. More likely he was going to open a few statement and drink a cup of scotch, before floo-ing over to one of her Grandfather's estates.
"The headmaster sent word of your sorting," Druella remarked in opening, her lips tight and eyes gleaming with a malicious tint. Having lived with the woman for an extended period of time she was beginning to pick away at all the smallest hints and ticks to her Aunts composure. She had few tells but the ones she did were hidden well behind her facade of perfectly poised pureblood. "It will be done privately before the opening feast."
Adeline nodded in understanding as her aunt prattle on with further instructions. "You are to arrive in the carriages and a Professor, hopefully not some dim-witted fool like Merrythought, who will then escort you to the Headmaster's office."
"That's kind of him," Adeline replied passively, knowing better than most just how much her extended family despised the Light leader and Muggle Rights activist of a Headmaster. Many thought him completely off the rocker, damaged in the head from his duel with Grindelwald. Others thought him to be inspirational and quirky at worst. Adeline know him to be dangerous and conniving however. A true snake, venomous and cold who is hidden beneath glorious sunflowers and fights coloured blooms and buds of sunshine and light. "...I expected to be sorted publicly."
"I arranged for it not to be." Her Aunt supplied in explanation, though it did little to ease Adeline's nerves. Druella Black neè Rosier never did anything without a reason. "I figured you would want little time spent in the limelight."
Adeline waited as her aunt paused for a moment. Knowing the older woman had more to add. "Seeing as we know already that you will be in Slytherin. This is all just a formality anyway."
Adeline felt the proverbial lamp flicker to life inside her mind. So it seemed her Aunt didn't think she would make the cut for Slytherin, she was already attempting damage control the entire situation. Adeline had to hand it to her, she wasn't wrong—in terms of her sorting, the only house she could truly count out of the cards was Hufflepuff. Her past, sort-of future life had been in Gryffindor, her entire family in her new life was primarily sorted in Slytherin and her mother was nearly placed in Ravenclaw. Then there are her own aptitudes to which she had a few of each and not one trait was solely one given to one house.
Perhaps, it was to gauge the sort of cauldrons she would be stirring if she did the unthinkable, much like Sirius had. Adeline purposely prodded the bear, so to speak, and asked a dangerous question that shouldn't have even weighed on her tongue.
"And if I weren't to be sorted in Slytherin?"
Like expected her Aunt's cheeks went a bright pink while her lips curled into a sneer before carefully begging masked away under a sharp grin. "Why would you utter such nonsense, darling? Of course, you'll be in Slytherin."
"Of course," Adeline repeated with no interest at all to the topic at hand. "However, should the unthinkable happen, much like it did with Sirius..."
Her Aunt swiftly stopped her flow of speak by a raised hand and a jittering laugh. Adeline smartly clicked her mouth shut to not further raise the tensions of the household. Everything was held together by flimsy and fraying strings with Andromeda's sudden and unexpected departure.
"Nerves are to be expected." She hastily reassured Adeline before pushing onward with no hint of stopping anytime soon. "You will be in Slytherin and you will do well in your classes just like the generations previous to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black."
Her Aunt sighed with a sharp glance to Adeline's blank expression, and lack of response to her not so hidden threat. "I don't want to hear such ludicrous thoughts again."
Adeline pursed her lips before giving he most convincing smile of perfect obedience, the one her family seemed to think her most pretty compared to any of her others of true joy and amusement. To top off the charade of the Perfect Pureblood Black Heiress. she intoned in a level and perfected tone of amicability.
"Yes, Aunt Druella."
"I will be receiving a letter after your sorting, though I expect one from yourself in a weeks time as well."
Just like the last words spoken it was a simple threat guarded in endearment. As if Druella truly cared how Adeline would be fairing after being placed in a new school and expected to make new connections and new memories. She was expected many things as one of the four Black Heiress' and likewise her aunt seemed determined to make her the perfect mold of all that the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black stood for.
Little did she know of all of Adeline's carefully hidden and scripted plans to do exactly the opposite. Truthfully, she wasn't worried about her sorting and more so she was worried on how it will impact her future schemes. Not even a mostly harmless threat of disownment and disappointment from her Aunt could have her fold in on herself like they so wished her too.
Adeline may play the role of perfect pureblood, and seem to never stray from the proper and narrow street at which she was meant to walk on, though that was soon to change. She would be herself unashamedly as that is what her mother told her to be, to first and foremost be herself— it was such a lesson that was yet to lead her wrong.
"Of course," Adeline replied with a sunny smile, as her eyes glanced slightly to the empty hall, held open by the ajar doors of polished wood. She had a few more things left to organize and do before departing for the train and she worried that her Aunt had used up much of their time in idle and rather pointless chatter.
Seeming to gauge her nieces lack of attendance, with nothing more left to insinuate or speak of, Druella Balck dismissed her niece from the dining hall.