Hallow Family Ties

The Seventh Part


In my fourth year I met Orion Black, his name at the sorting had caught my attention, whispers from my housemates confirmed he was Arcaturus' son and therefore Victoria's little brother. There was 11 months difference in their ages. I suspected the siblings would have been very close - destined to start Hogwarts together, twins, almost.

I had wondered sometimes about what having a sibling would be like, but dismissed it, a sibling would hardly be useful to me.

I'd been kind to Orion Black and Orion Black trusted me, even though I had, what he called, a nasty muggle name. He was very big in his little boy boots, though many of the people around me were like that, the liked me for my smarts and power and brilliance and hoped to share in that glory. I let them, for now. But Orion Black was a tough nut to crack, if you mentioned his sister he would talk only of Lucretta.

If only there had been an easier way to see the boys thoughts.

I looked, obviously, there were truth potions, the imperious curse, and the mind arts, which intrigued me beyond any magic I had come across so far. I practiced and found this too was a magic which I was talented in.

It was easy to see, through Orion's eyes the life Victora had had before she was taken to the Orphanage. She caused her parents much worry at her apparent and obvious lack of magic, and Orion had always told her she would do magic one day. He was wrong, in the end but the lie had made her hope. I was correct in that they were very close siblngs, such a small age difference.

This new ability came with another benifit, I might see what my teachers and peers really thought of me, all but Dumbeldore - the transfiguration professor whom I'd never really been able to impress, not once in the time I met him that day at the orphanage.

But Dumbeldore had his uses. I learned that year about the Deathly Hallows and learnt my Transfiguration professor had once perused them in his youth. He was not happy at my asing him about the ledgend. I got no information from him or his thoughts which infuriated me, but I did find the chamber of secrets and discovered the monster. Not normally one to give up on a cause like being the master of death I did set it aside for later. I was too intrigued by learning about Victoria form her oblivious little brother and working to tame the beautiful baslilisk I found living under the school. Though my immature attempt to get information from the old Transfiguration professor made him suspicious of me to the point where there would be lasting damage in that area.

I came back to the Orphanage in the summer with a heavy pit of dread in my stomach, not knowing what state I would find Victoria in this year, though she seemed unchanged, during the day she would tire easily and she was weak, though more proficent with her wheelchair. I still hated the thing, and she assured me she did too.

She was intrigued when I told her I had met her little brother, their affection for each other had been mutual and she enjoyed my stories about him very much, though was disheartened sometimes by my description of him being rude and on occasion small minded. I assured her he would grow out of it.

I told her her brother never spoke of her, which she seemed to think was a very good thing.

"I was worried he would miss me." She told me gently. I shook my head.

"He does," I assured her, it had been in most his thoughts, the lovely little sister he could barely remember but loved with all his heart - I never really understood their closeness, the point to it.

"How can you know that, you told me he never spoke of me?" She asked next.

"I learnd to see the thoughts of others, I can find out anything about anyone." I said to her, to my surprise she looked horrified at me.

"I don't want you knowing my mind," She said, "You violated his, his thoughts - the thoughts of anyone are their own and private. You have no right, Tom."

I was insulted by her opinion, I told her so, but she was strong in some things and her kindness to others was one of them - she wouldn't defend herself against a bully but would tell me how I should treat people she didn't know or care about.

"There are ways to sheild the mind, if someone is too weak to learn their mind is forfit." I explained.

"You always say I am weak," She said to me then, it made me think. But she didn't deserve special treatment becasue she was unable, or becasue I knew her.

She'd been thinking too, during our silence. And she'd seemed to come to a conclusion.

"I know you." She said, "I know you took an interest in Orion for my sake, I know how you chase after answers, I know you already have the answers you wanted, but I will not let you take pride in what you've done, its wrong, and crule. My name was Aquilla Elladora Black before my parents banned me from its use, a squib is not worthy of a noble name. You wasted your time, Tom."

Spite didn't suit her. Victoria refused to speak to him for two days after that and he was suitably bothered by her words and actions, they made him feel horrible, and they made him hate her - how dare she? A squib, afterall.

Despite this small fight we made up and were back to normal shortly after, better than normal you might say, Victoria on occasion would place a kiss to my cheek, an odd sentiment in itself but I found it endeering. I would not mention her brother, I didn't even bother to tell her about finding the Chamber of Secrets becasue I knew she would misunderstand my purpose in unleashing the monster on the school - she might make me rethink that descision and that wasn't something I wanted, as well I didn't like fighting with her, I valued her company, she was the only person I valued the company of.