The Black family is repressed, but what's new?
“In a faraway land long ago lived a king and his fair queen many years they had longed for a child and finally their wish was granted a daughter was born.
And they called her Aurora.
Yes, they named her after the dawn, for she filled their lives with sunshine.
.....
French grammar was objectively the worst. French may be a beautiful language but the fact that their grammar system was seemingly made by a poet on hard drugs made it an absolute nightmare to learn. The fact that Aurora was being taught by the driest woman alive made it worse.
Mademoiselle Toussaint was an old and distinguished woman despite having never married. Unfortunately, she was also dreadfully boring. Aurora, who had long ago given up on the idea of learning anything useful today, was daydreaming while looking outside. The first leaves had started to change couleur Aurora loved autumn definitely her favourite season.
Beside her, her cousin Regulus was listening actively to their tutor. Actually, he wasn’t her cousin he was the son of her grandfather’s brother’s daughter. This she had been told repeatedly since her arrival.
Aurora really didn’t see the point of learning one's entire family tree if you were also expected to marry one of them, she honestly thought that if she was going to marry her second cousin, she would rather not know at all, but to each their own she supposed.
Regulus was eying Mlle Toussaint so intensely that she could almost imagine him sucking out her soul like a dementor. If you didn’t know him, you would probably reach the conclusion that the little boy was experiencing his first crush, but Aurora knew better, he was just a swot.
“Aurora, you need to focus on your work” Mlle Toussaint scolded.
Aurora huffed “I already did the first two.”
“Yes, but you need to do them all.”
Aurora gave her a defiant look “Why!”
“Because your aunt wants your French to be passable when you travel to France.” Answered their tutor.
“she’s not my aunt, she’s the daughter of my grandfather’s brother.”
“Yes, well I don’t think your aunt cares about that distinction.”
She had a point, not that Aurora would ever admit that. Instead, she resumed her work, which to Mlle Toussaint probably meant the same thing.
When the sun had begun its fall, her aunt entered the library where the classes were taking place.
She cleared her voice and with a little huff exclaimed “There is a letter from your brother.” She put it on the table and gave it a cold look, then walked out of the room.
Regulus who before had been looking at the letter with a cold demeanour reached for the letter as if he was afraid, it would disintegrate if he didn’t read it fast enough. The seal was already broken but that only made him that much faster.
She looked at him eagerly “What does it say.”
“I couldn’t say, I have yet to read it,” said Regulus.
“Well hurry then.”
“Aurora!” said Mlle Toussaint.
“Sorry,” she said giving the woman a look “May you please read it faster.”
“That was not what I meant, and you are well aware of that young lady,” said Mlle Toussaint, “now be patient.”
“Yes Mlle Toussaint” answered Aurora.
After a few minutes, which to Aurora felt like hours, Regulus finished.
She looked at him expectingly.
“he’s coming home for Christmas.” He answered.
“Yes, and”
Regulus huffed “he has made a lot of new friends in Gryffindor.”
“Who, did he write their names.” Asked Aurora who had long ago decided to ignore the resentment Regulus held for his brother.
“Yes, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew and James Potter, a bunch of blood traitors if you ask me.”
“Yeah, yeah Mudbloods and blood traitors, has he written anything about the lessons.”
Regulus gave her a look” It’s Sirius what do you think?”
“I don’t know I’ve never actually met him.” She had heard plenty about him her aunt wouldn’t shut up about how much of a disappointment he had been, unless of course they were at one of the fancy tea parties her aunt regularly dragged her to, and then she acted like he didn’t exist at all.
“Well, you will at Christmas, and no he hasn’t,” Regulus answered,” maybe you can ask him then.”
“Maybe I will “
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
When it finally became December Aurora could only just contain her anticipation, which was important because her aunt didn’t appreciate any kind of enthusiasm especially when Sirius was involved. But even Regulus was excited he might not seem like it, but Aurora knew it in her bones.
“Aurora, when Sirius arrives, I want no mention of your previous living situation” the same thing her aunt told her every time she met someone new.
“Yes, Aunt Walburga”
“He might seem trustworthy, but he is not.”
“I understand”
“Verry well”
Regulus and her stayed back while her aunt and uncle picked Sirius from the train station, they were being tutored in Latin and Christmas didn’t mean vacation in the wizarding world apparently.
He’s here Regulus exclaimed while they were translating some poem Mlle Toussaint had found.
Both children rose like hit by a lightning
“Behave,” said their tutor” Now we will go into the entrée calmly.”
“Yes Mlle Toussaint”
In the entrée Aurora saw her aunt and Uncle and what must have been her cousin Sirius
“Reggie, my darling brother” Sirius gave his brother an enthusiastic hug uncharacteristic for the Black family.
Sirius looked up from his brother “And you must be Aurora, I have heard so much about you” he said with a mischievous glint in his eye.
Aurora sincerity doubted that, but in the spirit of committing to the bit she answered, “As have I,” like a princess in one of the movies her sister used to watch.
“Only bad things I hope.” Sirius laughed.
She would have continued the conversation but the dirty looks her aunt where sending them stopped her.
“You can continue this conversation in your rooms, after dinner.” She said and that was that.