"It is both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so very deeply."
The Black manor was somber as dense magic clung desperately in the air as Orion paced backwards and forwards with an expression of disgust and despondency. "Cygnus and Druella have been stripped and disowned for violating the laws of this family and magic." Orion spat as he took a seat at the head of the family table, with the elders calmly sitting on both his left and right side for counsel and Parley.
"What has my brother and sister-in-law done to get this punishment, husband?" sneered Walburga.
"Besides the fact they have abused their children, they also performed the utero foetum ritual." Orion spat with disgust as he felt his teeth grind in anger, while he pointed into a dark corner where a nursemaid sat quietly with two bundles strapped to her chest. "We have two new members of the family."
The nursemaid began to upwrap the bundles and present to the rest of the family two startling beautiful babies. They had pale silvery-white hair, milk colored skin nearly translucent to the point where you could see their bluish veins, and bright violet-purple eyes the color of clematis flowers. "This is Rasalas and Thalassa Black."
"They're unlucky." Cassiopeia Black bluntly stated with narrow eyes as she idly tapped her fingers across her famous book of blackmail. "We should get rid of them as it would do them and us greater kindness."
"We cannot kill a child, let alone two!" Capella Black from the third branch denied with a stricken countenance, as her husband Qamar Black nee' Longbottom (he had decided to take on his wife's last name) agreed with a nod of his head as he pulled her close for comfort. The two of them had been struggling for kids for years.
"I agree with my sister." Aquarius Black spoke up the elder sister of Capella as she clutched the tea cup in her hand. "If we harm or kill these children who had no say in their birth, we harm our soul to the point where there will be no way to fix the damage afterwards." She paused for a moment to take a sip. "Cassiopeia is correct, however. The utero foetum ritual is forbidden for a reason. Death and unlucky misfortune will chase after these two children and anyone who protects them for the rest of their life."
Orion gave a weary sigh as he rubbed his face where the headache he had was slowly getting worse. "Which is why I've called our clan here. We owe poor the women a debt in taking care of the children stolen and warped from her womb. We need someone willingly volunteer to become these twins adopted parents and endure the unlucky struggles you will face in years to come. I am asking for someone to sacrifice their own happiness and luck to raise these babies born from terrible and resentful magic."
"You would fully provide for them if someone accepts this deal?" Altair Black spoke up as he watched his daughter Capella having a hushed conversation with her husband.
"Yes, I would provide all the necessary means for the twins and the adopted parents to live comfortably. I know I will get a minor backlash, but the means out weigh the negative bits."
"We'll do it!" Capella spoke softly, her aquamarine eyes sharp with confidence and determination as her husband holds her hand tightly in his. "We'll raise the twins."
"Sister!" Hamal Black protested to his sister, who was too sweet and kind for her own wellbeing. Hamal trades glances with his elder sister Aquarius, as they both knew one day the Black family would swallow their sister whole. "You'll be cursed."
"Little Lamb, I'll be fine." Capella smiled sweetly as she leaned sightly over the table to caress her elder brother's cheek. "We cannot leave these innocent souls to suffer on their own." She ends sweetly pleading for her brother to understand how much she wants this.
Hamal frowns as his own aquamarine colored eyes fill with poignant understanding. "I'll help with those brats." He grumbled, pulling away reluctantly from his sister.
"Does anyone else protest against the arrangements?" Orion asked as the nursemaid stepped over and gave one twin to Capella and the other twin to the quiet Qamar.
Everyone else remained quiet as they gave the twins and newly adopted parents weary expressions. "Alright then. Next on our agenda is where Druella and Cygnus daughters will be staying for now on. I've also been informed Bellatrix has been showing steady signs of our family madness."
"What happened to Grimm Manor?" Walburga spoke with slight distaste. "Bellatrix is old enough to look after her two sisters."
"She may be old enough, but children should not raise children." Hesperos from the fourth branch spoke calmly. "Especially if she is showing signs of the Black Madness. You are asking for her to blow up and harm her sisters and herself in the long run. Is anyone here in the Black Branch of England a Healer who can help?"
The first and second branches negatively shook their heads. "I suppose I can stay here and help until you can get a healer of your own to help, Bellatrix. For now, I recommend you allow her and the sisters to live with you Lord Black in the ancestor home, as the familiar Black Family Magic there will help soothe her soul and maintain her mental health." The healer Hesperos Black informs Orion Black with a grim expression.
Meanwhile, in the high halls of Hogwarts, Bartemius Crouch's keen murky-green eyes followed the movements of one Lilac Evans with a startled intensely as his grip on his fork got tighter.
"Stop being creepy, Crouch!" Valerius Avery hissed underneath his breath as he refilled his pumpkin juice.
"What are you going to do about it?" Bartemius snarled back his tongue doing its usual tic.
Before Valerius could give a retort, a sharp jade chopstick was embedded between Bartemius fingers, nearly nicking them, and with such force it went into the wooden table. "Touching Lilac Evans in any way will find your body lacking a heart." Sora Aoki coldly threatened his face calm and collected as if he hadn't really given a bloodthirsty warning.
"Oh, Evans already got a guard dog." Bartemius cackled out uncaring for the jade chopstick that nearly took off one of his fingers.
"I'm not a guard dog, I'm her friend." Sora spat with narrow eyes as he yanked back the chopstick. "If anything, I'm one of her best friends besides Snape." He ended with a smug expression.
"You both are such children!" Valerius snapped as his eyes flickered over to the ruby-strawberry headed first year. "She's just a mudblood." He grunted trying to show he was unaffected by the slur he hated using.
"DON'T SAY THAT!" Sora shouted as he violently kicked Valerius in his knee cap. "Don't utter that filthy word around me again, or I'll have your tongue."
"So vicious for a first year." Bartemius mused out with thick amusement. "I suppose I can understand why you two are friends now."
"For a third year, your pretty creepy." Sora uttered as he tossed the chopsticks behind him and brought out a jade pair to use instead. "Why is a thirteen-year-old following an eleven-year-old girl around like a lost maniac puppy?"
"She's powerful and I want in." Bartemius spoke with an expression of utter greed.
"In to what, Crouch?" Sora grunted his eyes full of innocent confusion.
Bartemius rolled his eyes as he took a sip of his own drink. "Don't try and play me like a fool. I know there is a third side?"
"Third side?" Valerius retorted with confusion, as he knew there were only the light arts and the dark arts. "What are you talking about?"
Bartemius Crouch gave a nasty grin, "Lilac Evans has been slowly building up the third side. The gray side for this war is coming ahead." He gave a giddy laugh that had the few Slytherins near them send him wary glances. "She's going to become the Lady Grey."