Alina- 1989

Earlier in the day was a blur. With the charm bracelet on my wrist that would eventually become our tradition, I could feel my accelerating pulse reflecting off of it. I knew what others would say, and knew Mum had begged the school for me to go under Mum's surname, not Dad's, despite that his was on our birth certificates.

I'd been the one to beg her in the first place. She was lucky enough that others didn't know her, didn't realize she was Sirius Black's widow unless she was with us and they heard our names. I didn't want to be treated like that, or for any of my sisters to be treated like that.

They'd just gone though the As when my heart stopped.

''Black, Alina!'' Professor McGonagall's stern voice echoed down the Great Hall. Whispers rippled across at my name.

''A Black? Why would anything think it's safe to have a Black in Hogwarts!''

''Alina Black?''

''A Slytherin, let me tell you.''

I winced, approaching the stool cautiously, acting like it would bite. A boy next to me with red hair nudged me closer to the stool, giving me a thumbs-up.

''Thanks.'' I mouthed to him, as I sat down. Maybe I imagined it, but I could have sworn that McGonagall looked less stern and more sympathetic as she set the Sorting Hat down on my head. I closed my eyes, knowing exactly what to expect, thanks to Mum.

''This should be easy," the Hat said. "You're a Black— the whole family's in Slytherin."

"Except for my father," I replied.

"That is true, but he was the only Gryffindor," the Hat pointed out. It paused a moment. "It's your mother, that you resemble. All of your ambition, your cunning— it's out of that loyalty to her, to your sisters."

I gripped the sides of the stool. I could only imagine how everyone was watching me converse with the hat, not knowing what was being said by the bloody hat.

"I see it now, I know just where to put you," the Hat said. "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The hall was knocked into silence as I opened my eyes. I could hear the gist of the whispering this time: a Black in Hufflepuff?

I slid down the stool and scurried to the Hufflepuff table. The girl with long brown hair who originally sat beside me, scooting away. It wasn't until much later that a skinny witch with black hair joined me.

"Alina," I whispered, not wanting to get into any trouble, but eager to make a friend.

''Helena.'' she said, with a smile.


Vega- 1990

"Firs' years, this way!" A giant man yelled, gesturing for the students to join him at the boathouse.

I clung to my older sister's robes, avoiding eye contact with the giant.

"Alina, I don't want to go! What if everyone acts like they did at your sorting?'' I asked, remembering the letters home. Mum had sworn before that we would be Caldwells, that we wouldn't be in our father's shadow forever.

But someone at Hogwarts had made a mistake, making the list, and now none of us would ever be anything other than the daughters of a murderer.

"I'll be right here the entire time," Alina assured me as she pried me off of her robes. She sounded a lot like Mum when she did.

"You're up near the front, so you'll join us in Hufflepuff soon," Helena said.

"Okay," I mumbled. A part of me squirmed at the Hufflepuff label. Kindness, hard work, and loyalty were all nice. But it didn't sound like me. I was cold, unlikable— I knew that much. Gears in Mum's workshop made a better conversation. They didn't dislike my bluntness— and in fact admired my more resourceful, spiteful attitude.

"Just a little longer," Alina assured me, tugging on my robes until I looked perfect. She glanced over her shoulder. "I'm sorry, I've got to go!"

I protested, but a darker-skinned girl grabbed my arm and pulled me down into one of the boats. I don't remember much of that special arrival. I thought I'd be sick, in the anticipation of what was to come. I talked to no one, said nothing.

I was the first of my year to be Sorted. I remember how the Sorting Hat had finished the song— although I couldn't recall it, even for a bucket of Galleons. There was a dreadful silence, and then:

''Black, Vega!'' Professor McGonagall called.

I prayed for a quick ending, so I could sit down, so I could be with my sister. I don't even remember the feeling of the Hat on my head. I do remember the cold voice, however.

"Another Black?" The Hat snarked at me. "My, my, how nice to see their return. A muggle-lover like your father, I see— and like your father, you were always in the shadows of your other sisters— I've seen your kind before, Vega Black—"

No, no, I prayed. I can't be a Gryffindor, like him!

"SLYTHERIN!"

I thought I was going to be sick. I think McGonagall had to help me down. I remember how cold I felt, how nothing felt real. My vision was blurry, and I think I stumbled on the way to the table. My stomach sank as I sat down. As the next kid got up, I stole a glance at the Hufflepuff table behind me.

Alina and Helena were whispering conspiratorially, and Alina blushed and looked away, when she caught my eye.

It was like I was a shameful secret— that everyone had found out about.


Ariel- 1991

I folded my arms over my chest as I glanced at Serena For the first time in our lives, I knew we would be separated. For all the ways that Serena understood me, she wasn't like me. She was the special one, with the Seer gift, and being the first to be born. You could see it in the way she moved, the careful way she considered her words.

Serena was meant to do something special. I wasn't. And as much as I hate to admit it, since she was the person I loved the most— that made us worlds apart.

She was so kind, always helping others— too trusting. Ever since I can remember, I've been the skeptic, the one who questioned everything. I didn't go along with whatever Alina told me to do. I took too much after our mum, too headstrong and too determined to make my point of view my reality.

She would go to Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, with her reckless and borderline naive optimism.

As for me. . I supposed maybe Ravenclaw. But when Vega told me about Slytherin the previous year— that felt right for me. But I didn't want to get my hopes up.

I wasn't paying attention until McGonagall called my name.

''Black, Ariel!''

Serena nudged me, and I stepped up to take a seat at the stool. I rolled my eyes at all of the whispering—God, they were all so dramatic.

The Sorting Hat started to speak, so I leaned back slightly. I'd at least give them all something to talk about.

"Oh dear," the Hat said. "You will be the destruction of Hogwarts, won't you? You are just like your uncle. Only one place could ever satisfy someone like you."

I opened my eyes, ready to look every bastard in the eye as the Hat declared its choice.

''SLYTHERIN!''

I smirked at the gasping crowd, ignoring all the aghast looks from my own sisters as I strode to the table. They could think what they wanted— Slytherin was something to be proud of.


Serena- 1991

I felt like screaming. My sister was in Slytherin, and she seemed proud! Vega wasn't proud of being in Slytherin because she knew that it was where all the worst people in our family went. And worst of all it meant I would be in Slytherin too!

''Black, Serena!''

Startled into motion, I practically flew up to the stool. Everything felt so surreal. Yet, as I sat down, I realized that I did not have to be joined at the hip with Ariel.

But could I stand it?

I only knew one thing: I would not be a Slytherin.

"Did I not just sort a Black?" Whispered the Sorting Hat. "Very well, you will be an interesting one, that is certain— but where to put you, isn't that the question?"

"I don't think Slytherin would suit me," I whispered nervously.

"No, I don't think so either," the Hat agreed. "But I can see your curiosity, your hunger for knowledge. You could make a great Ravenclaw."

Ravenclaw wouldn't be so bad, I thought. But I found myself stealing a glance towards Gryffindor. I wouldn't join either of my sisters— and I wouldn't beg that old hat for a place in Hufflepuff or Slytherin.

No, that was the moment when I realized I had too much courage to go to Ravenclaw.

I think the Hat agreed, for then it shouted: "GRYFFINDOR!"

Confused scatters of cheers and claps came from the table. I did not smile, but I did feel relieved, despite my pounding hear. I was brave, honorable.

But I was more like my father, the most dangerous of the Blacks, than anyone else.

Vega looked to my table with a bit of jealousy in her blue-grey eyes. Nearby was Ariel, who glared at me, as if I'd somehow done this.

I shifted uncomfortably. It wasn't my fault that this was the first time we'd separated— was it.

I wanted to say something, but then I caught the eyes of Helena and Alina. Both looked so proud. I simply sat down, and looked anywhere but at the Slytherin table.

Too quickly, the numbers moved through until there came a name that I recognized.

''Malfoy, Draco!'' Professor McGonagall called.

I hadn't heard the nicest things about our cousin. We weren't allowed to visit any of the Black side of the family for a reason.

Any hopes of him being different from his parents were shattered. He swaggered up to the stool and smirked at the Great Hall like he was the King, not Elizabeth. But before the hat could fully touch his platinum-blond hair, it shouted ''SLYTHERIN!''

He sauntered to the Slytherin table, next to Ariel. I watched as her eyes lit up, and I wanted to scream again. He wasn't family, not truly. And I felt a pang of jealousy, that she was that happy to see someone other than me.

I think I was so distracted, watching the two of them get along, that I was in a sort of trance until:

''Potter, Harry!''

I thought the whispering and gossiping was bad enough with all of us, but I suppose the magical world was getting tired of it, with five Black sisters. But all that was nothing compared to what happened when Harry walked on the stage.

It never rose above a whisper, out of reverence, but everyone was placing their bets as they waited one minute, two minutes, three minutes—

"Merlin's beard, he's going to be a Hatstall," I whispered as I looked down at my sterling witches' watch.

Naturally, that was when the Hat made its decision: "GRYFFINDOR!"

I actually got to my feet and cheered and clapped with the rest of the house, as Harry Potter sat down. I was going to be in the same house as the savior of us all!

"Hullo," he said awkwardly— but in the sort of endearing way.

"Wotcher, I'm Serena." I smiled back.

I didn't go into a Seer's trance or anything, but I always have a feeling about me, when I'm at one of Fate's crossroads. I had just approached one and chosen a path by befriending the Boy-Who-Lived.

Now the only question was whether I'd regret it or not.

Only time would tell. Time and the stars.