"Andromeda! We're going to be late! Why on Earth haven't you packed?"
Auriga Black sighed as she watched her mother yell at her older sister.
"I have packed, Mum. I just haven't finished packing." Andromeda protested. A smaller voice piped up. "I'm all packed, Mum!" A blonde girl was grabbing at Mrs. Black's dress. She held up a small silver purse, opening it to reveal it full of crackers and glitter. Mrs. Black smacked her hand away. "Narcissa, just look at the mess you've made! Stupid girl!" Narcissa's blue eyes filled with tears and she dashed away. Andromeda and Auriga met eyes. "I'm on it," Auriga murmured. She quickly followed after Narcissa, disappearing into the hall. A cackle filled the air. "Did little Cissy get upset again? So sensitive, that one." A smirk curved the lips of the thirteen year old descending down the stairs. "Leave her alone, Bella, not all of us have as thick a skin as you." Andromeda said, brushing a curl behind her ear. A throat cleared and a large greying man strode around the corner. "Are we ready? I truly don't know why we waited so late to get their supplies, we have to take them to King's Cross tomorrow for god's sake..." Mrs. Black moved to her husband and tugged him to the door. "Because we were vacationing in Greece, Cygnus, you know that." He coughed and opened the door, holding it for her. "I'm aware, Druella, it was just awful timing. It doesn't matter now, let's just go, they can finish packing tonight-" He was interrupted by Auriga and Narcissa returning to the room, coats in arms, a smile restored on Narcissa's face
"I think we're ready. Oh, Bella! You're ready too. Shall we go to the fireplace?" Auriga took Narcissa by the hand and led her to the sitting room. She reached her hand into a blue speckled bowl and withdrew a handful of Floo Powder. She and Narcissa stepped into the hearth. "Diagon Alley!" Narcissa spoke clearly as Auriga dropped the handful of powder, and with a flare of green they were gone.
Jessica Prewett let go of her twin's hand as she leaped out of the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron, quickly running to the side. "Alice, come on! There's someone coming!" Alice jumped neatly out, dashing to her sister. "Kind of rude of them not to check, don't you think?" she whispered. Jessica nodded, eyes not moving from the fireplace. There was a crack as Mr. and Mrs. Prewett appeared next to them. "What are we-" Mr. Prewett was quickly shushed by Jessica as Alice quietly explained how they'd been ejected from the fire.
The green flame whirled as a pair of blue-eyed girls, one tall and lithe with ink-black hair, and one petite blonde, appeared in the hearth. The dark-haired one's eyes widened as she saw the Prewetts standing with raised eyebrows. "I knew I should have checked to see if the Floo Network was busy, I'm sorry!" she called out. She pulled the smaller girl out with her and made an apologetic gesture. Alice smiled. "It's fine, there was no harm done, and-" she was interrupted by a new voice coming from the green billowing fireplace. "Don't apologize to them, Auriga! Blacks don't apologize. Right, Mother?" Two more women had stepped from the fire place, both dark haired. The speaker brushed back her black curls and batted her heavy-lidded eyes at her mother. "Not strictly true, Bellatrix, but we do not readily surrender our dignity, no. And did I or did I not tell you to wipe off some of that makeup? You look like a raccoon." The girl's face darkened and her lips drew into a snarl, but before she could come up with a retort, the green flame erupted one last time before it went out. A larger man and a girl who appeared around the same age as the first girl moved forward. Jessica's mother frowned. "It's just like the Blacks to not even check the Floo Network before they enter. Very inconsiderate." Jessica dutifully glared daggers at the girls across from her as a concerned look appeared on both her father and the other man's faces. The other girl's mother sneered . "Flora and Julian Prewett. How...lovely to see you again. Your daughters are finally of schooling age then? How sweet. Ours as well. Girls, don't be rude, introduce yourselves." Mr. Prewett nodded politely at Mr. Black.
"Bellatrix Black. Third year, Slytherin." Bellatrix seemed exceedingly proud of this fact, considering the awful things Jessica had heard about Slytherin house.
"Andromeda Black, I'll be a second year, and um, I'm also in Slytherin." Andromeda seemed less proud. She also looked familiar, Jessica was sure she'd seen her at some event or other before.
"Auriga Black. This will be my first year at Hogwarts. Mum, I already know them. That's Jess and Alice Prewett. We used to play together when we were younger, until-" she stopped, turning red. She gave a half-hearted smile to Jessica and Alice, who returned it, albeit a bit puzzledly. Mr. and Mrs. Prewett, however, had turned stiff.
"I'm Narcissa! Um, Black. And, well, I'm not quite old enough for Hogwarts yet, but Papa says soon!" Narcissa didn't seem to sense the tension in the room.
"Right." Mr. Black said after a moment. "Well, that's...that's us. You've been well, I assume?" He didn't wait for a response, which Jess thought was rather rude. "Well, all going to the same place, and that, shall we just go together?" Mrs. Black's eyes flashed and she opened her mouth, but she saw Mr. Black put a hand on her shoulder.
"Ah, yes. That...yes. Yes. Let's do that, then." Mr. Prewett said, clearly flustered. Jess could see her mother trying to control her outrage, and mostly failing.
"Certainly," said Mrs. Black, obviously thinking quickly, "but we are rather a large group. Why don't I take Auriga and Andromeda with Julian and..." she looked at Jess, who quickly gulped. "Very well, Druella, you and Julian can take Auriga, Andromeda, and ah...Jennifer, was it? and Flora and I can take Bellatrix and Narcissa and...Alfred?"
"That's me," Alice muttered under her breath. "Alfred Prewett."
