I own nothing. I'm doing this whole story purely for my own entertainment and to help myself progress as an aspiring author. I am simply playing in a haven created by our Queen, J.K Rowling. - *All hail Queen J.K* bows and winks. - I'd appreciate any feedback, constructive criticism or pointers. I'm a first time writer, and I've never wrote a story or fanfiction before, so I would be thankful for any reviews; little or small, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. I'll aim to upload once a week, but it all depends on my health conditions. PS: The first chapter will be the shortest, as it is a prologue, don't fret. The chapters won't all be this short. Now... Lets jump back into the Marauder Era, and follow their journey. Yours always, DarkHeartSerenity.

Chapter One; Prologue

"Bittersweet, isn't it? This was our first week in Hogwarts. I can still remember the first time I laid eyes on that castle." The girl whispered, holding a photograph of two children. In the photograph, the boy had rather messy brunette hair which came to his shoulders in length. He was dressed in long robes, decorated with a scarlet striped tie and a matching scarf. He had his arm around a girl, who was a little shorter than he was, yet looked almost identical to him. They were laughing and their innocence surrounded them. She too had messy brunette hair, hers came down to her waist. She was dressed in the same type of robes, the only exception being that she was sporting emerald green.

"Are those tears I see in your eyes, Ophelia Cassiopeia Black? Since when did my little sister get emotional? Who are you and what have you done with my pheeli?" the young man joked, although unable to hide the concern filling his tone. He was staring at his sister who was fiddling with photographs in an ancient chest of drawers.

"Sirius. You are five minutes older than me, not five years. When will you drop the whole protective older brother nonsense?! We are t-w-i-n-s."She shouted. Suddenly, the box she was holding leapt from her hands and crashed onto the floor. She sighed, and knelt down to retrieve the photographs. "And enough with the full names, you know I despise it."

"Alright, alright calm down before your hair sets alight." He sighed and helped collect the album. "We've got to hurry, father will be expecting us downstairs soon, dear Bella wouldn't be happy if we were late to her fabulous party." Sirius rolled his eyes. He started fiddling with his tie and walked towards the mirror on the wall. Ophelia noticed her brother's frustration and giggled. She made herself stand as tall as she possibly could, as to reach him and slowly fixed his tie. She didn't seem to notice that she was scrunching her face up into a pout as she concentrated. Sirius tried to hold back his amusement, and whispered, "I cannot believe after 17 years, your focus face still makes me laugh," finally erupting in fits of laughter.

She glared at him and slapped her brothers arm playfully, "And I cannot believe you have got to seventeen years of age and you still don't know how to fix a tie, Merlin knows how you manage to get dates." Ophelia laughed.

"Because, my lovely sister, I'm Sirius Black."

"Exactly my point, dear brother." She laughed, and hugged her brother, after finally finishing his tie. Her smile faded, slowly. "Sirius, I know you don't like this topic of conversation, but we need to arrange plans for the end of this year. This is our last year at Hogwarts, and we have nothing planne..."

"SIRIUS! OPHELIA! DOWN HERE, NOW!" a woman's screech interrupted Ophelia's speech.

"We will discuss it tonight, I promise. But for now, we must see what the old mountain troll wants." He winked as he walked out of the room, Ophelia slowly following him with a look of fear creeping across her face.

Ophelia took one more glance in the mirror on her way out of the door, and fiddled with the hems on her dress as she made her way down the stairs. She was wearing an elegant sea blue dress which was a little too long for her, matched with heels and silver jewellery. She reached the bottom step and a fierce looking woman grabbed her arm and pulled them to the side of the corridor.

"Finally! What took you two so long? In fact, don't answer. Just hurry up and get your coats on." She pinched Ophelia's chin and observed her hair, which was pinned half-up-half-down, with a ribbon tying it at the back. "Ophelia! What on earth is that in your hair? I told you to have your hair down! Useless. Can't Even make yourself look presentable, how on earth are we going to find you a husband?" She flicked her wand and the bow disintegrated, unravelling long locks of curly brunette hair, leaving the young girl looking rather sad. "And you! When was the last time you cut your hair? I wish you two brats would try acting more like your brother Regulus; he's everything we need in an heir.

"Old troll." Sirius whispered as she turned her back and winked at his sister, who seemed thoroughly amused.

Luckily, the woman didn't seem to hear him as she started preening her younger son, Regulus, who looked a lot like his older brother. The only difference was that Sirius had more of a rough look to him, unkempt beard and he was of a sturdy build. The younger boy was tall too, but rather slim build, shorter hair.

"Who'd of thought, the great Walburga Black gone deaf before she hit 50?" Sirius laughed quietly to his sister.

Suddenly, a man grasped Sirius' collar and held him against the wall. He stared into his eyes, as if he saw straight into his soul. The young boy squirmed and attempted to push him off but the man just tightened his grip. "How dare you speak badly of your mother boy? You will pay for not holding your tongue!" The man slapped Sirius on the cheek, and the sound echoed around the hall. But the young man didn't even flinch, staring fearlessly into the man's familiar hazel eyes. "Do you show no fear, boy? I'll teach you to show some respect." He shouted raising his arm once more. Ophelia swiftly grabbed the man's arm, shouting, "Please! Father, let him be! He didn't mean any harm!"

The man threw her off and she crashed onto the floor in a mound. He pointed his finger in Sirius' face and shouted, "You are lucky we have a party to attend to. One more mistake like that, from either of you and you will wish you were never born, I promise you that. And Orion Black does not go back on his promises." He stood on Ophelia's wrist as he made his way towards the door, with an evil grin on his face. She winced in pain, although she tried not to make a sound. Once he was released from the hold his father had on him, Sirius quickly ran to his sister's aid. Holding her up with one arm and with the other he observed her wrist, it looked rather red already.

"We will go by floo to the Lestrange Manor. You two will behave. Don't speak unless spoken to, don't go anywhere without permission and do not ruin today, unless you want to end up like your sweet blood traitor cousin Andromeda. This is Bella's wedding day, to Sir Rodopholus, at least try to do us proud, instead of the waste of space you usually are." Orion scolded. He handed the floo powder to Ophelia. She hesitated for a moment and in response, he gave her a stern, hate filled look. She held the powder, looked at her brother and shouted in a fierce voice, "Lestrange Manor."