A/N Welcome to my new story. It is Marauder's Era, and features the Marauders a lot along with characters like Lily and Marlene ect. The OCs Adhara Kester, Vincent Kester, Corona Black, and Auriga Black ect aren't canon and are from my imagination, so it is a little AU. I began writing much of this a couple years ago so apologies for the slightly awkward writing style; I have tried to edit it but it might not be perfect. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy.
Adhara Kester was born on the seventh of May, 1960, seven days before her mother's due date. Her mother, Rachel Kester, was a Muggle (the wizarding word for non-magical people) but her father Vincent was a pure-blood wizard from Spain.
Rachel was presented with a bouncing baby boy just seconds after a nearly fatal childbirth, and before her eyes her little Nickolas became a girl. Her child was a Metamorphmagus (not that she knew it). Rachel did not survive the shock, and Ministry officials had to come and wipe the memories of the midwife and alter any records that had been made.
Vincent retreated into the Spanish magical world with his unnamed daughter, but he couldn't remain a widow forever. Within a year, he was married to Auriga Black, sister to Walburga, Alphard and Cygnus Black, aunt to the one-year-old Sirius Black and all-around unpleasant woman. She got it from her sister. Auriga refused to lose her maiden name, and forced both Vincent and newly named Adhara Catalina to take the noble name of Black. He still called himself Kester-Black if asked.
Adhara was taught to speak both English and Spanish, but if asked, she usually said Spanish was her first language, and she spoke with a slight accent, not nearly as strong as her father's, but still there.
Corona Kester-Black was born to Auriga in the same week that Walburga had Regulus, and Sirius was Adhara's age. The arranged marriages were obvious, but as they grew, the Blacks became more and more unhappy with their mischievous natures, and more eager to separate them.
HPHPHP
19th May, 1971
Adhara had always woken early on her birthday - since she was five. The first thing she would do was tiptoe across the hall into her father and Auriga's room; she would take her stepmother's wand from her bedside table and scarper from the room. She'd creep down the stairs, through the halls and into the huge drawing room where Auriga kept her prized collection of taffy in a glass cabinet at the far end of the room. She would first peek into the door, make sure no one was there, wait another five minutes, check again, and if nothing had moved, she would creep in. Adhara would make her way around the back of the seating area on her hands and knees, making sure not to crawl in front of the fire, until she reached the cabinet. Then she would take her stepmother's wand and give the lock a good poke, the glass would ripple and disappear, and the taffy was all hers.
Of course, Adhara couldn't take too much or it wouldn't go unnoticed, but she'd eat two or three pieces and prod the rest with Auriga's wand. She had once tried a piece that had been magically messed with and her father had thought she'd had an allergic reaction to the new bed sheets. She still shivered at the memory of the itchy, pus-filled boils and the rashes that had formed all over her body. She would always remember which bowls of taffy she had tampered with, and it was perfect – there were six bowls. Six bowls for six years until she went to Hogwarts since she had started at age five.
She still had a few months to go until she actually went, but she was counting down the days until she would leave her stepmother and have an almost Corona-free year. That wasn't true though, she would miss her sister. Even though she could be a pig sometimes when they were alone she was nice as nice can be – sort of. It was Auriga that Adhara hated. Auriga and Cygnus and Walburga and her husband Orion were cruel and proud, and it seemed all her cousins were the same, especially Bellatrix. Bellatrix was narcissistic, psychopathic and cruel and Narcissa wasn't much better. It was Sirius and Andromeda, and partly Uncle Alphard who kept her alive during those horrible family reunions and special occasions.
Corona was the worst at family reunions. She sucked up and flounced about and whispered with Regulus in a corner, and according to Sirius and Andromeda, Narcissa and Regulus was much the same with the adults, only worse at home.
Adhara slipped out of bed, making sure to put her muffling slippers firmly on her feet (a secret magical gift from her father from a previous birthday) and then went silently into their bedroom, wary of the Creaking Charm on the door. She picked up Auriga's wand from its usual place on the bedside table and hurried out of their room.
Making her way down the stairs Adhara peeked into the living room. Nothing. She waited there for as long as she could bare and gave another look. Everything in its proper place. She dropped to her hands and knees and shuffled around the sofas to the cabinet. Giving one last look over her shoulder she raised the wand and-
The door opened. Adhara skidded back and pressed herself against the sofa, her features morphing rapidly as they always did when she was scared. She focused on keeping her feet small enough not to break her slippers, and struggled to breathe normally.
'Hm.' Corona humphed, and then the door shut, but Adhara couldn't be sure if her half-sister was in the room or not. She very slowly peered around the edge of the sofa, she could see no one. 'There you are.'
Adhara nearly screamed, stuffing her fist in her mouth and pushing herself away from Corona, who was watching her with a bemused expression.
'Corona! You almost gave me a heart attack!'
'Well, why were you hiding then?' Corona rolled her eyes, because she thought it was so cool to do that at every opportunity now.
'I wasn't hiding! The fire's warm and I cannot sleep. Also, I was admiring Auriga's taffy. I always hope she will allow me a piece for my birthday.' She realised how lame the excuse was with a wince. She waited with bated breath for Corona to call her out but instead she gave a sigh of longing and plonked herself down next to Adhara.
'I know! They look so good. I think Mummy's saving them for my wedding.' Corona smiled contentedly, knowing her mummy would never give such special taffys to her stepdaughter.
'I look forward to it.' Adhara lied, wishing Corona would leave.
'Which do you like the look of most?' Her half-sister asked, talking about the bowls.
'I think the white bowl.' Adhara pointed to Taffy Bowl No. 6, the only bowl she hadn't tampered with yet.
'But the taffys are all red and yellow! That means lemon, I hate lemon! I think those ones. Apple. Green is always the best.' She pointed to the bowl full of green taffys: Taffy Bowl No. 2.
'Fair enough.' Adhara fake-yawned, hoping it would catch and Corona would go back to bed. It seemed to work, her mouth gaping open for a few seconds before she stood back up.
'Are you coming back to bed? It's your birthday; you may as well have a lie-in.'
'I'll go back in a bit.' Adhara smiled and Corona shrugged and started to leave.
'Happy birthday.' Her sister said and opened the door. A moment later it shut, and when Adhara stood up there was no Corona in sight. She would have to be quick, in case Corona woke Auriga and Papa.
She pulled out the wand and gave the lock a good tap, grabbed a few taffys, poked at the remaining sweets, and swiped the lock, making the glass reappear. She stuffed the taffys in her mouth, smiling at the cool lemon and sweet strawberry mixed, and then Adhara ran out of the room and tiptoed up the stairs.
Peering around the door, blinking with wide, scared violet eyes, she made sure that the couple were sleeping soundly, and crept inside. Just as she was carefully placing the wand back, Adhara's papa gave a big snore, and Auriga's eyes drifted open.
'What are you doing, sneaking around?' Auriga hissed, 'get out!'
Adhara mock-sobbed and ran from the room, darting back into her own room and falling on her bed, her heart pounding out of her chest. That had been closer than it ever had been. But still successful.
A wicked grin wormed its wily way onto her face.
Adhara spent the next few hours before everyone woke up swapping the heads of Corona's dolls with a pair of scissors and some Spellotape. By the end of it the heads of Tiffany and her gang were attached to the bodies of Danny's group, and vice versa.
She put them in a box and slid them under her bed; she would plant them back in her sister's room when she had the chance.
'Addie, chula, are you up?' Papa knocked on the door, and she leapt up and opened it. 'Muñeca! Happy birthday mi princesa.'
'Thank you, Papa.' Adhara laughed at his silly nicknames.
He scooped her up and spun her around. 'Mama says you were in our room this morning.'
'I didn't know whether to wake you both up, but I decided it wouldn't be fair when Auriga woke up.' Adhara lied, hoping he wouldn't see through her.
'Ah, chula, she is your mummy, you should call her that.' Papa scolded, setting her down again.
Adhara scowled, 'She is not my mother.'
'Adhara.'
'She is not! And she does not even act like she is either, so how can you expect me to pretend to be that hag's precious little girl!' Adhara folded her arms and tried not to pout like a two-year-old.
'Don't be silly, muñeca, your mummy loves you.'
'My real mama does. From heaven.'
Vincent shuffled uncomfortably, and then smiled brightly.
'Of course! But we will not talk about that. It is your birthday, piglet, and we are all going into the drawing room to open your presents!'
Papa took her hand and led her down the stairs, through the corridors and into the drawing room, where Corona, bags under her eyes and yawning all the time, was curled up on Auriga's lap.
A pile of presents sat on the table.
Auriga leaned forward and seized a large squishy package once she saw them enter and sit down. Adhara gave the taffy cabinet a slightly anxious look.
'Here you are, Adhara.' Auriga said, handing her the package. 'We thought you could wear it today, at the family celebration.'
Adhara smiled, remembering her manners and tore open the wrapping to reveal a green and silver, very frilly dress. It was ghastly.
'Slytherin colours, of course, because you'll be going to Hogwarts in September.'
Was it possible that Corona looked jealous of the gift?!
'What do you say, Addie?' Papa prompted.
Adhara looked up with eyes inadvertently turning orange with horror.
'Do I have to wear it?'
Auriga's eyes flashed.
'What on earth are you talking about, Adhara? It is a lovely dress.' She said, fighting to keep her voice calm.
'But it's just that… I think Corona would suit it better. Here you are, Cori, lovely!' Adhara shoved the dress into her half-sister's arms, and Corona beamed.
'Are you sure Addie? That's really sweet of you!'
Auriga glared at Adhara, but wasn't about to take something off her real daughter. Not when adorable Corona loved it so much!
Adhara began to open the rest of her presents, which included: a box of Fudge Flies from Corona; a scarf; a posh potions set; a magical bath bomb and a book about magical creatures from Papa; and a pair of silver ear-studs from Auriga, the stepmother having pierced her ears a few weeks earlier.
'Alright then, the guests will be arriving this evening at seven o'clock, that's only seven hours, we've already left it far far too late, so girls, both of you must wash and start getting ready immediately.' Auriga hurried out and the two sisters grudgingly followed, neither of them thinking that they really needed that long to get ready.
Vincent chuckled at their pouting faces.