Beneath the Mask
Summary: What if Sirius had a twin? What if she had been sent away to live with a branch family since they were ten? What if she was forced against her will and left without a word? Now...What if she was transferred into Hogwarts in their 6th year?
Enter Celeste Black, Sirius' long lost twin sister with all her problems trailing behind her. Death follows her every step. Sirius is chasing her across the grounds, hoping to get his younger sister back. Many mysteries surround the new Black and her sudden appearance at Hogwarts, which is threatening to engulf everyone into its depths.
All the while, James has been trying to woo Lily into his arms. Remus is busy juggling his school work, Lycanthropy, a messy break with his ex, a friend diving head first into insanity and a feisty girl who happen to be playing with the strings to his hectic life. As the dark wizards and witches throw a fit over the disarray Celeste has left in her wake.
AN: No flames please. Reviews are welcome. I apologize in advance for any OOCness for I only read book 3 a decade ago but watched all the movies to date.
Disclaimer: If you recognise something from somewhere, then I most likely don't own it, him, her, or thing. Most of the places, spells and characters will belong to J.K. Rowling. There are a bunch of OCs just because there's not enough people to make a class and I own them (and probably anything else that you don't recognise). (Please copy this into your mind and projected onto the other chapters. It's annoying for me to write and for you to read it every time. ^^).
PLEASE READ BEFORE THE STORY!!! THANK YOU!
This story is set in the Marauder's Era, beginning in September 1st of 1975. Bellatrix, Andromeda, Narcissa, Luscious, Rodolphus, Rabastan are all made about 6 or 7 years younger so they're all in Hogwarts when the story starts. So Bellatrix is in 7th year, Luscious is in 6th year and Narcissa is in 5th year.
I will be also be bringing some oriental culture into this fanfic, 'cause I love it ^.^ Now for some warnings: Gore (expected a lot of blood), violence (a katana could be popping out at one point to another), mild swearing and a lot of randomness ('cause anything can happen and anything goes).
I hope you enjoy this.
Chapter 001 – At a Lost...
September 1st, a Monday, everyone was busy with tearful goodbyes, squealing hello, tired hauling and searching for the perfect seat. The Marauders, made up of a bespectacled Qudditich Captain, James Potter; a wild skirt chaser, Sirius Black; a docile werewolf Prefect, Remus Lupin; and a chubbier boy who worshipped the first two, Peter Pettigrew. They had settled in their usual compartment as the train pulled out. Remus was in the Prefect compartment, getting some information he needed for his duties.
"Hey, did you just see that girl that passed by?" James asked, nudging Sirius with his elbow. She was a rather short girl who walked by, already dressed in her uniform. They only noticed her charming beauty, long black hair and snow white complexion.
"Yeah, I was thinking on making her my next target," Siruis grinned. "Hmm...Wonder why I haven't noticed her before...." They shrugged her off.
"She looked about our age," Remus commented before going to a seat by the window, having just finished his meeting with the other Prefects of Hogwarts. He pulled out a book and began reading.
"Have you heard from your little sister over the summer?" Peter asked curiously.
Sirius looked out of the window with a sad expression. "No...It's been six years since I last heard from her...almost seven now...."
"She'll come around eventually," James assured, patting the glum boy's back. "She's just stubborn. She's related to you, isn't she?"
"I know that she's at least alive. She had sent a few letters to Regulus before, though rarely...."
"She can't be angry with you forever."
"I hope so, Prongs...I hope so...." They dropped the topic, since Sirius just sat there staring blankly at his twiddling thumbs. James pulled out a deck of cards and they broke into a game of Exploding Snap.
**
After the filling feast, everyone made their way to their dorms. Remus led the Gryffindors to the Gryffindor Tower and told them the necessary password, Felix Felicis.
Spotting the girl from the train in the Gryffindor common room, Sirius smirked. She was sitting in front of the fireplace on the couch, looking at some picture album. He sat down next to her, placing his hand over her delicate one which was rested on the book "Hey there babe. I see that you're a new face here. Would you like me to show you around?" he asked smoothly in a lower voice, putting his other arm around her shoulders.
The new girl was quiet, moving her head to see where he was touching her. Her silky black hair cascaded down her back to her waist as her neatly cut fringe slightly did her powder grey eyes. Her skin was like milk, pale and smooth. Her figure was perfect with curves: lengthy legs, a noticeable bum, thin waist, slightly large bust, narrow shoulders and a heart shaped face. Ice cold eyes looked up into the storm grey ones of Siruis' and then her plump, powder pink lips pursed angrily.
The next thing Sirius knew was a loud smack and a sharp pain on his cheek. He was slapped so hard that his head snapped to the side. The girl snapped her book shut, shot up and stormed up the steps angrily. He was shocked. He didn't understand what happened. "...What the bloody hell...?"
"You got three sentences out and she slapped you like you pranked her, mate," James summarized. "Let's get her good. No one messes with the Marauders. Come on, mate. Let's get cleaned up and plan something."
"Yeah, sure..." Sirius said, getting up. His cheek still stung. 'I should right to Celeste soon. Maybe during breakfast....I hope she answers this time....'
**
The next morning at breakfast in the Great Hall, a single black owl flew down the Gryffindor table and dropped a horrifying red letter in front of Sirius, who was in the mist of writing his younger sister a letter. "...Is that from your mother, Sirius?" Peter asked. "It's a Howler....You should open it. It'll explode soon."
Sirius gulped as the hall was silent, waiting for the humiliating letter to be opened. He gently pried the wax seal open, hoping that it would stay still.
"Sirius Black the Third!" yelled a lowish female voice of a softer tone. It was a magical voice that sounded like the most pleasant music, but even then, one could hear the seething anger behind it. The red envelope rose and turned into something like a mouth with a hissing tongue. "How dare you treat me like that?! Your own blood sister!! I am so utterly appalled with you! I cannot even consider that I am associated to such a prick! If you ever lay a hand on me again, Sirius, I will personally send you to the ward!" The voice paused, allowing the message to sink in. "Oh another thing, quit wasting parchment on the letters you send. I have never opened them. Here, take them back."
With that, there were two thuds from two piles of letters tied together. There were enough to stack up to at least a meter. The red menace torn itself up as Sirius cocked his head back to see the girl he had hit on the night before, the one who slapped him harshly. The cold grey eyes glanced down at his and the girl straightened up. She spun on her heels and elegantly walked out of the room, her shoes lightly clicking in the silent hall.
Sirius stared blankly at all the letters he had sent to the girl in front of him. They were stacked neatly and tied with care. They were all the worried and apologetic words he spilled on the papers. He glanced back to the doors to see the girl turn away.
"What did you do to sis?!" Regulus demanded angrily, lifting Sirius a little by the collar.
"I thought she was still in Beauxbatons..." Sirius said softly.
"Didn't she send you a letter, saying she was transferring to Hogwarts?"
Sirius shook his head. A feeling of abandonment washed over him. "That was the first time I heard from her since...."
"You're absolutely useless!" Regulus roughly dropped the brother, who was still in shock. "Don't go near her! You screwed her up enough as it was!" Regulus loved his sister. She always sung him to sleep when he woke of a nightmare. She took care of him. That was until six years ago. The youngest ran out to look for the girl.
Sirius also got up and ran out of the hall with the Marauders following him.
**
First class was Potions with Slughorn. He talked on about different potions. The people taking it were nervous around the new Black in sixth year. She didn't feel as terrifying as she did in the Great Hall, but she was just as cold. There was no warmth to her at all and even the Slytherin Purebloods could not match her aura. The professor went on about Felix Felicis as a reward for making the potion Draught of Living Death. The class separated and got down to work.
The girl was working quietly at the Gryffindor table. Her fingers were nimble and quick. She worked with complete efficiency, surprising everyone. She didn't mind getting her hands dirty but she was delicate enough to keep her hands clean without slowing her down.
Alexia Cross, Lily Evans, and Remus Lupin also shared the table with her. They were uncomfortable around her since she was capable of humiliating Sirius like she did. Then again, she was a Black, raised by their deranged parents. Lily was working smoothly through the instruction, only getting stumped with trying to cut the sopophorous bean. Alexia was asking Remus, who was flustered struggling with the potion, for help every two seconds so the boy had literally two potions to make on his own.
Within forty minutes, the girl was finished and spent the rest of the time staring out the window. Severus Snape finished ten minutes later and they both received the Felix Felicis. The girl stared at the bottle before pocketing it. She was brought aside by Slughorn and even he was uneasy with her icy eyes.
"Celeste Black. Welcome to Hogwarts. It's too bad that you weren't sorted into Slytherin. Your parents are taking it well, I suppose?" he asked her.
The girl shrugged. "Well enough, I suppose," she answered offhandedly. "It was slightly expected with my brother and all. They did have high hopes that I would make it into Slytherin though."
"That's too bad, ain't it?" The man thought for a moment. "...Say, I looked over your marks in Beauxbotans as well and you were top of class. I have meetings with select student members. I would like it if you came to them."
"It will have to depend on my schedule and work load, Professor Slughorn."
"Come when you can then, Celeste."
"Of course. Will that be all?"
"Yes, quite."
"Have a good day then, professor." With that, the girl left the room with grace.
**
Classes went on as did dinner and Sirius hadn't had a chance to approach Celeste. He finally succeeded with his friend, corning the girl on the third floor. She was able to keep her cool, glancing over the four boys before staring into her brother's eyes. "Are you such a coward that you need your friends to corner me, Sirius?" she asked evenly with a slightly scoffing smile. His name was said in such warmthless hate that it made the boy shiver. She rested a hand on her hip as the other dangled by her messenger bag. "You haven't changed from when I last saw you. Though...you're finally taller than me."
Sirius was taken aback by the viciousness in the steely eyes. He didn't recognise her at all anymore. His stormy eyes searched the girl before him for his younger twin, who was over a head shorter than him. His friends watched him for his next move but he made none.
"Hmph, you are wasting my time. Unlike you, I rather be doing something else. So, if you would, step aside," she said without breaking eye contact. Unnerved, Sirius moved aside and she went down the steps. "Have a good night, boys."
"What was that, Padfoot?! You've been chasing the bloody girl all day and when you finally get hold of her, you let her walk?! Just like that!?" James yelled.
"Don't talk about my twin like that!" Sirius snapped.
"She doesn't care about you, Pads!"
"She would have read your letters at least if she cared," Peter added.
"She's like the rest of your family! Forget her!"
Sirius collapsed. "It's all my fault she's like this..." he moaned, burying his face in his hands with tears from his eyes.
"What...?" James stopped himself. "Come on, mate. Tell us all about in our room."
They hurried their friend there and set him on his bed. "What do you mean this is your fault, Sirius?" Remus asked with his arm around the other's shoulder.
"We believed in the same things. She believed them more strongly than I did."
"So what happened?"
"...Six years ago...Celeste completely stepped out of line and was punished harshly....I did nothing but watch...I was scared of that they'd do the same to me....She cried for my help...I never did step in....I helped her afterwards though....She always helped me out, even if she was tortured for it....Celeste was such a kind hearted girl...loved everyone.
"That night, before she could even gather herself she was flooed off to France and attended Beauxbatons to get some manners drilled into her." Sirius choked. "I didn't contact her for a year, until I came to Hogwarts. I sent her letters telling her everything and how sorry I was...."
"So she wasn't this cold before?" Peter asked.
"No, never!" Sirius snapped. "She was so cheerful and happy, even with all the things Mum and Dad did to her. We were so close then! We even slept in the same bed until she was sent away...." He buried his head into Remus' shoulder. "They were so much meaner to her. They even used the Cruciatus Curse for hours on her in the end....
"They thought she influenced me, and she did. What she said made sense, but she never talked about what she thought with Regulus. She didn't want him to suffer with us....It's my entire fault. I should have done something....
"Now look at her! There's nothing left that I know of her besides her name. There's no warmth to her at all. It's like she's spent the last six years with Dementors....I have to make it up to her....I can't see her like this, and worse of all she's here. With all the people she dislikes and me. She has every right to be so angry with me...."
"Then let's take things slowly," Remus suggested. "What does she like?"
"Chocolate!" Sirius exclaimed. "She loves chocolates! We always fought over them as kids."
"Well that's a start. Give her a box."
"Yeah!" Sirius grabbed one from Remus' stash. He raced down the steps and found Celeste sitting by the window, watching the starry sky. "Celeste..." he called softly. The girl turned from the window and looked up at her twin. "I remembered that you loved chocolates...and I just happened to have a box of them." Celeste glanced down at the box for a moment. "Here. They're for you."
"I don't eat chocolates," Celeste stated blankly.
"What...? When?" Sirius choked out.
"Years ago." She stood up. "It hurts when I see them so I stopped." She side stepped him but stopped in mid-stride. "Give up, Sirius. The helpless little girl died five years ago. Don't go looking for her. You'll only be disappointed," she whispered. "She waited for a year, broken and lost. She waited patiently."
