teenage rebellion
“So what do we do now?” Sirius asks later on. Both her brothers turn to her. Blair smiles. She knows just what to do. This is her role, after all - Sirius is the warrior; Regulus is the diplomat; and she is the dictator. (“My little despot,” Sirius used to say fondly.)
“We game the system of course,” Blair says, regaining her composure after her moment of vulnerability.
“Sirius, you have to become the Lord of the House of Black.” Sirius raises an eyebrow at this.
Blair waves airily. “Don’t you feel it? The magic acknowledges you as the future lord. Your spells are always so potent because you wield the magic of our house so effectively.”
Sirius pauses to consider this, then he nods.
“This leaves you free to beg off from joining the Death Eaters. Just say you need the extra time to prepare yourself and make up for being an atrocious heir.”
Reg grins. “It’s true, Sirius. You ARE an atrocious heir.”
“Hey!” Sirius interjects. “You can’t speak to your future lord like that.”
Blair sticks out her tongue. “Shush, you. You’re not the lord yet. Anyway, that leaves Reg and I free to become Death Eater spies.”
“Is that safe?” Sirius, worry coloring his face.
“Obviously not, Siri,” Blair interjects. “But it gets Father and Mother off your back and it gives us vital information on the Dark Lord.”
Reg cottons on to Blair’s line of thinking. “And anyway, Sirius, the Dark Lord gets the better end of the deal. A talented pair of twins instead of a useless numpty? He’ll be pleased.”
Blair looks at her twin fondly.
“Obviously, we’ll have to bide our time before Reg and I offer ourselves to Dumbledore as spies, but we are playing the long game. And we will win it.”
Blair pauses.
“And hopefully, you become Lord sooner rather than later.”
Sirius grins, in his element so long as plotting is involved. Regulus musses his twin sister’s hair. Blair feels safe, her magic humming approvingly.
Blacks stick together after all.
-
Over the summer, they start plotting.
Sirius first apologizes to Orion and Walburga, admitting woefully that he was brainwashed by those Gryffindor idiots he shares a room with. Their parents, content not to question Sirius’s motives any further, happily accept his excuses.
It is a struggle for Sirius, but he starts taking a genuine interest in Wizengamot dealings. He realizes that here, he can implement sweeping changes in the future. He looks forward to voting for laws that would make their ancestors turn in their graves. He even accompanies Orion to his business meetings, knowing that this is another source of crucial information.
Orion and Walburga are smug, believing that their form of punishment is effective. Sirius, Regulus, and Blair let them believe it.
The three of them spend their free time at the library. Blair teaches them about intent, about how magic is stronger when one is deliberate about it. It amazes Sirius and Regulus that they can harness their power in such a way. Each of them become more adept at wandless magic. (The Black Estate, being an ancestral seat, is impervious to the tracking charms for Hogwarts students.)
They all train in Occlumency. Regulus, ever the most disciplined of the siblings, is a natural. Sirius is awful, cursing frequently when he makes his attempts. Blair, on the other hand, has to work hard at it. Eventually, however, they have enough rudimentary shields to render them resistant against most mental attacks.
They work out a strategy for Regulus and Blair to join the Death Eaters. Regulus will offer his prodigious skills in Potions and Charms - the Dark Lord will be in need of a Potions expert after all. Blair will offer herself as a mercenary, she thinks with distaste. He will always need people who can duel adeptly. Last she heard, he even recruited Bella.
Orion and Walburga are only too happy to give Sirius a free pass so he can focus on his lordship. “Cunning use of your siblings as leverage,” Orion compliments Sirius. “You are a true Black, after all.”
Sirius catches Blair’s gaze and gives her a wry smile.
None of them needs their parents to tell them what they already know.