Sisters Both In This Life, And The Next
CHAPTER ONE
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter franchise. I do not own any of the characters depicted apart from my own original characters, nor do I share any of the beliefs the characters in this story express. I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story.
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black was known throughout the Wizarding World as Dark, as traditionalists. As sadists and murderers. All throughout history the House of Black made people shiver in fear. But there was another thing they were known for, another thing that made the rest of the world fear them.
Their vicious, downright brutal, loyalty to their family.
Arcturus Black IIII was not a good man. Neither wise nor just. He believed in the purity of Purebloods, and while he had remarried well with a match made with a good Witch of strong lineage, he also kept several mistresses, none who could be called pure. Thus, this is how he had ended up with this predicament. Just days before his much younger second wife bore a girl, healthy with fair skin, with eyes that echoed his own silver and hair as black as their family name. Now however, as he looked down upon another child, he stilled his hand. Here, another child. Eyes darker than her sisters, but with lighter hair the colour of deep ancient oak.
Her mother, a Mudblood, had died in difficult childbirth. It was only by chance he had arrived just hours after her death, and had confounded the Muggles and stolen the child away. The child was of his blood, another daughter, but not pure. Not born in wedlock. But he could not harm her. Could not leave her to the mercy of Muggles, for he knew how a Witch, even half of one, would be treated amongst the filth. No. He could not.
So he stole her away, because he was not good, nor wise nor just. But he was a Black.
And family, blood, meant everything.
That night, after a long, stilted talk with his new wife, he looked down upon his daughters. He had used a spell, dark forbidden Blood Magic, but it had to be done. Now, the Half-Blood no longer had her mother's hair. Now, the girls looked like twins. Both with hair as dark as their name, with eyes the colour of the stars they were named after.
Yes, his twins.
Amalthea and Cassiopeia Black.
His heirs.
The first time someone tried to separate them, Amalthea's magic lashed out and lit them on fire. Cassiopeia cried at the sudden shouting and also had a burst of accidental magic, pushing the visitor away with such force they cracked their skull open. Needless to say, the Flints withdrew their offer of a betrothal contract for the youngest Black daughter.
Arcturus Black IIII however was pleased. His daughters were young for such magic's, but the Black line was strong in them. No, the Flint boy was not good enough for either of his girls.
Not when they were showing such promise.
The women they called Mother was cold. Withdrawn. She hardly if ever even glanced at them. They supposed they understood why. They had heard the vicious truths from Walburga Black, their horrid aunt. But they didn't care. They were twins.
One, that was two.
Half a soul that together made one.
So instead they retreated to the library, or walked away with hands holding tight together. They curled around each other and read book after book. They read of Hogwarts. They read of the world. Of magic's and goddesses older than their inbred, malicious society.
And they learned.
The twins didn't show the surprise they felt. Their mother had actually come out of her isolation and had accompanied them to platform 9 ¾ . She was rarely seen, a ghost of a shell that haunted Black Manor. Their father most probably made her, because there would be talk if she was missing. She didn't say a word.
It was years later, and the girls were finally of age to go to Hogwarts and be sorted. They had decided long ago, while their family was Slytherin, neither fitted well there amongst the Blood Supremacists. While they hated their father and didn't care for his opinion on the subject, they didn't want to possibly commit social or political suicide by choosing Hufflepuff. Though there was someone there they truly wanted to meet. No. It had been decided they'd both go to Ravenclaw, because where one went, the other followed.
Neither received hugs, their father ignoring his family as usual and talking to another Pureblood across the platform. Their mother studiously didn't look at either twin, just stared silently into space. Their parents didn't love them, as much as any Pureblood extremist could anyway. Their feelings towards their daughters was more about status and duty then love.
Amalthea and Cassiopeia Black hadn't expected much in the way of affection from their family in a very long time.
So together, as always, they murmured quiet platitudes and made their own way onto the train, hands tightly clasped together. There were whispers, hostile eyes that followed them, but they paid them no mind. They had perfected their mask years ago.
It wasn't long after the train left their door was opened, and a girl with the wildest hair they had ever seen stepped into view. The twins glanced at each other, and cautiously bid her welcome. They relaxed slightly when it became clear this girl was a Muggleborn. All three were wary, but as soon as the girl, introduced as Hermione Granger, saw 'Hogwarts: A History' she become a complete chatter box. The twins, reserved and for good reason, slowly thawed as they shared their love of books. Hermione Granger was as curious as a kneazle. Firing question after question at them. Oftentimes many in the span of a single breath.
The conversation quickly turned to which house they preferred, and Hermione looked thoughtful by Amalthea and Cassiopeia Black's surety they'd be in Ravenclaw together. They explained each House to the Muggleborn, and Hermione soon found that while the brave White Witches and Wizards in Gryffindor sounded like a good idea this morning, the House of Ravenclaw was sounding more and more like it was tailor fit to suit her. And her new, tentatively she call friends, were sure to be there.
However while she was musing this over, there was a knock at their door and when it opened a boy tripped over his own feet and nearly fell completely to the floor. He blushed and stammered, and was immediately apologetic, however there was just something about him. The three girls came to his aid, and working together they soothed him, easing him gently besides Hermione. He was still embarrassed, but introduced himself as Heir Neville Longbottom. He seemed fine with Granger, but he almost became completely catatonic when the twins introduced themselves.
Amalthea radiated calm, doing her best to be gentle. Not touching him like someone might comfort another, instead she let him keep his space, and softly explained how she in NO WAY approved her cousin Bellatrix's role in the destruction of his parent's minds. He was stiff, but he listened, warily watching them but not running for the exit.
Sorrowfully Cassiopeia explained to an extremely confused Hermione the basics, and the cabin fell into an uneasy silence.
But Neville surprised them, for he must have seen how sincere the twins were, by hesitantly thanking them for not being awful to him. Like Draco Malfoy had been when he'd accidently walked into him earlier.
Instantly the twins were outraged, hissing threats and brisling. Amalthea's wand of Rowan Wood with Dragon Heartstring was especially suited to protection. While Cassiopeia's wand of Maple Wood with Unicorn Hair knew adventure charms well. Painstakingly the twins taught the two other first years an easy shield and a sure footed charm, which would hopefully cure some of Neville's clumsiness.
Soon the four were getting to know each other, and again the subject of houses was brought up. Hermione now had her heart set on Ravenclaw, and since the twins wouldn't tell her how they were to be sorted she was designing arguments why she belonged there with her two new friends. Neville was more unsure then even the Muggleborn. His grandmother had made it painfully clear that embarrassing her by going anywhere but his father's house would not be accepted. The three girls were openly horrified when Neville told them all which had been done to him, by his own blood. Hermione seemed like she would cry, as did Neville, however the twins had never comforted anyone else but each other. Yet they both liked these two, could sense how strong their magic and loyalty would be.
Amalthea knew her bloodline well, she had to. And she knew they were distantly related. But it was Cassiopeia that pointed out Nevilles mother, a gifted Auror, was a Hufflepuff. Neville seemed to brighten, hardly knowing anything about his mother. The three girls worked together by pointing out each houses merit, and while the three were sure to be headed to Ravenclaw Tower, all promised they'd be his friend no matter his house.
It was all good for the four again. Hermione enthusiastically grinned, Neville shyly smiled, Amalthea (please, call me Thea) looked at them all fondly and Cassiopeia (just call me Cassi) slowly relaxed.
Until Neville exclaimed that he'd lost his toad.
Thea and Cassi glanced at each other as they heard raised voices, and soon found themselves facing down a nervous Neville, a fuming Hermione, their unfortunate cousin Draco Malfoy and buffoon lackeys, a sneering redhead and The-Boy-Who-Lived. They'd only just split up to look for Trevor the Toad not five minutes ago, yet trouble had certainly found their new friends. Amalthea took charge instantly, staring down Draco until he backed off, knowing he was outnumbered and extremely unwanted. He made a passing call about telling his father about this, but the twins didn't even bat an eyelash, and he left displeased his shot didn't faze them. Soon it was just the six of them, evidently Hermione and Neville had already introduced themselves so Cassi and Thea politely bowed their heads, confused when Harry seemed oblivious and Ron Weasley sneered. Neville gaped at the slight, for it was only a polite way to greet another of a Noble and Most Ancient House, especially Heirs. The twins took stock of this boy dressed in rags and recalculated.
"Greetings Hadrian Potter, Heir of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter. I am the Heiress of the House of Black, Amalthea, and this is my younger twin Cassiopeia Black. We welcome you to Hogwarts".
Instantly Ron exploded, shouting and hurling abuse at the twins, much to the disgust of Hermione and incredibility from both Neville and Harry. Harry because he had no idea what was happening, and Neville because Ron was making all sorts of taboos, and making some powerful enemies.
The twins were silent, but the instant Ron moved threatening towards them their wands were out. Ron immediately shut up, but before anyone could act another red head appeared in the door. Apparently Ron's older brother Percy had overheard, and loudly started berating his idiot brother, pulling him by his ear out the carriage much to the amusement of the other occupants in the hallway. The five first years were speechless, but it was the twins who recovered first. Cassiopeia offered Harry a place in their cabin, and he gratefully accepted. The twins instantly knew they were going to have to tell Harry Potter everything about their world from scratch, since he seemed dangerously uninformed.
That was okay though. The twins would look out for their new friends.
And they'd watch over each other, like they always have, for the rest of their days.
Authors Note: For My Beloved Sister
Also posted on my Archive of Our Own account.