Story: The Twins and the Order of the Phoenix
Main Characters: OC: Samantha Black, OC: Katherine Black, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin
Disclaimer: I own nothing that J.K. Rowling has created, hell I don't even take ownership of my OC's, if you want to expand on the Black twins, please let me know so I can read your creations!
Chapter 2-Number 12 Grimmauld Place
The Headquarters turned out to be a very old, very rundown mansion. Remus mentioned it had been uninhabited for many years before the Order made use of it.
Since being shown to their bedroom the twins had not left. That was 2 days ago.
They alternated between sleeping restlessly, staring aimlessly at the wall and pacing the room. They didn't talk. They pretended to sleep when they heard Remus come up the stairs, and they held each other if one of them woke crying.
On day three Remus made them get up and eat something. Soup, bread and a bar of chocolate each. They ate silently and then returned to the bedroom without a word.
On day four Katherine broke her silence to ask for the butter at dinner.
On day six Samantha woke screaming and swearing like a sailor.
"What happened?" Both Remus and Sirius had burst into the room where Sam was standing on her bed and Kat was looking terrified pointing at a nasty little creature that was muttering to himself as he attempted to slip out the door without being noticed.
"Kreacher!" Sirius admonished scooping up the foul thing by the neck and removing it from the room.
Remus sighed with relief and exasperation. "Kreacher, the family house elf. Nothing to worry about, he's just a bit old. I'd suggest locking your door at night. Now go back to bed."
On day 10 Remus decided it was time for an intervention.
"I know this has been a shock to you both, and I understand that you have to cope in your own way, but this isn't healthy." he said over dinner. The twins merely stared at him. He sighed, "do you want to maybe talk about how you're feeling?"
Silence.
"Okay, is there anything you need, anything I can do to help make this easier?"
"Can you bring mom back?" Sam deadpanned putting an end to the rest of the discussion.
On day 14 Samantha wandered into an upstairs bedroom and ended up face-to-face with a Hippogriff.
"Oh." She said startled by the winged beast jumping back into the hallway as he wielded his head.
"It's alright." a gruff voice said from in the room.
Sirius patted the animals hindquarters, "Buckbeak, calm down." He instructed as he tossed what appeared to be a dead rat to the creature who caught it greedily in its mouth.
"Sorry about that." He said to Sam walking towards the doorway. "He's not used to many people, you startled him is all."
"Yeah, well he scared the shit out of me." Sam said, staring at Buckbeak as he pawed the floor.
"Yes, well I suppose it's a bit unexpected to find a hippogriff in the master bedroom." Sirius admitted with a chuckle. He looked down at Samantha squinting his eyes slightly.
"Would you like to meet him?" he asked, taking in her fascination.
"Sure." Sam said with a shrug.
He motioned for her to come in shutting the door softly behind him. He turned to the hippogriff, "Buckbeak, oi you crazy beast pay attention a second would you?" the half horse, half bird paused in his fussing and gave Sirius what could only be described as a disdainful stare.
"I want to introduce you to someone." Buckbeak's eyes immediately focused on Sam causing her to gulp. "Just bow your head to him, they require respect before they'll offer it in return." Sirius told her, stepping to the side slightly.
"Really? You want me to bow?" Sam scoffed
"Yeah, and I'd do it rather soon before you offend him." Sirius said, keeping his eyes on Buckbeak.
"Well, we wouldn't want that." Sam replied dryly, as she slowly bowed her upper body, though never breaking eye contact. If he was going to attack her, she'd prefer to see it coming.
Buckbeak eyed her suspiciously for a moment, sizing her up until he too bowed his head.
"Well, there you go." Sirius said, releasing a breath and clapping his hands together. "Beaky, this is…" he gave her a scrutinizing look…"Samantha." he said slowly.
"Sam's fine." she replied, keeping her eyes on Buckbeak.
"Sam then. You can pet him now if you'd like." Sam slowly moved towards Buckbeak pausing for a moment with her hand outstretched before placing it on his beak and stroking it softly. Buckbeak nuzzled into her hand and she became more comfortable moving closer to stroke the animals back.
Sirius for his part stayed to the side leaning against one of the walls observing the scene.
"You and your sister adjusting okay?" He asked, attempting to break the silence.
Sam shrugged, "Eh, I've never really been a well adjusted person to begin with."
She gave him a look, "Listen, you don't have to ask about my feelings. Kat's the touchy emotional one, you and I can stick to sports and the weather."
"Right then. I'll be sure to look for Katherine if I am seeking deeper conversations. If I see you, I will be sure to bring up the recent heatwave."
Sam snorted. "I'm looking forward to Kat questioning your weather obsession."
"You act like I can't tell you apart." Sirius scoffed.
Sam snorted again. "No one can tell us apart."
"I got it right on the first try just now." Sirius argued referring to 2 minutes ago when he guessed her name correctly.
"You had a 50/50 shot. It's not that impressive." Sam said, not looking up from Buckbeak's back.
Sirius gave her a teasing smile, "Listen, the fact I remembered my choices is impressive. I have only just met you two."
"You going to confuse our names with the many other people you meet around here?" Sam asked sarcastically. "I don't imagine you get out much."
At his silence Sam looked up with a shrug, "We do get the news in the U.S. your picture was everywhere for a while."
Sirius nodded slowly, "I suppose I should have figured that."
There was something slightly off about Sirius Black, Sam decided. Besides the obvious things that probably came with being a wanted criminal in hiding. She had not seen the man much since they arrived nearly two weeks ago. He did not join them at meals, only occasionally walking into the kitchen and muttering excuses to leave when he did.
Otherwise, she and Kat had spent most of their time in their bedroom so it made sense that the interactions would be limited.
In those limited interactions however, there was a nervousness about the man that put Sam on edge. She surveyed him over Buckbeak's back, truly taking in his appearance for the first time.
He was tall, thin. He had the look of someone who used to be muscular but had lost weight quickly. Along that same vein his face was drawn, dark bags were under his eyes but there was no denying that he was attractive nonetheless. Sam imagined he was a heartthrob before going to Azkaban for murder.
His eyes were a stormy grey and they locked with hers briefly before awkwardly looking away. He was weird, Sam decided, straight up weird. She wanted to know what he was doing there, with the Order. According to the news he was a Voldemort supporter, a murderer of no-maj. Was it 12 or 13 people he was accused of killing all at once? She couldn't remember the details, she'd have to ask Katherine.
She suddenly realized that being alone in a room with a mass murderer might be the dumbest thing she'd ever done in her life, well maybe second or third dumbest thing.
As soon as the anxiety of that thought hit it dissipated when her logical side told her that Uncle Remy would not bring them to a house for them to be murdered in their beds. That would defeat the whole purpose of them being here in the first place.
Why was he here though?
"It's my house." Sirius said looking up from the floor board he had been staring at.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to think out loud." Sam said, turning her attention back to Buckbeak who had moved for her to scratch his back hips.
A couple minutes of awkward silence and Sam finally broke. "So...anything I should know about being a fugitive?" she attempted to break the ice.
"It's not as glamorous as you'd think." Sirius said, "I wouldn't worry about it. Dumbledore will sort it out for you." he tossed another rat to Buckbeak
"Why will Dumbledore work it out?" At the blank look he gave her she continued, "I mean, what's in it for him? Why bother protecting us?"
"Dumbledore helps people. He's a good man, and he cared about your mother. He promised he would take care of everything if anything happened to her."
"So, you and mom were close?" Sam said, in a sudo-casual voice.
"What makes you think that?" He asked wearily.
"Well, you went to school with her and Uncle Remy, you're in the Order, she was in the Order, you also are letting us stay in your house for no apparent reason and there's that small fact that Kat is pretty sure she sensed your love and loss for her when Dumbledore told us she died." Sam ticked off the evidence on her fingers.
"So, were you friends, ex-lovers, fuck buddies?"
Sirius was slightly taken aback, "How old are you? You shouldn't be saying things like that."
"I'm thirteen and a fugitive, and you've been in jail for years, how do you know what kids say these days?"
"Touché" Sirius acknowledged, eyeing her wearily before asking, "You're the direct twin then?" She just shrugged.
He sighed, "Olivia Carter was a hell of a woman, a bloody brilliant witch." He looked up at her again, catching her eyes with his deep grey orbs. "I'm sorry for your loss, truly." he said and Sam didn't need Kat there to know he meant it.
"Thank you." Sam said quietly. Recognizing she wasn't going to get answers out of him tonight, but that was okay, she'd get them eventually.
Katherine had her own adventure a few days later as she wandered the halls one night, unable to sleep. She had taken to the nightly walks when everyone else was asleep so that she could have a clear mind. The emotions of the four occupants were strong to say the least.
Sam went from angry, to sad to devastatingly depressed. Remus was full of uncertainty, loss, frustration and guilt. Sirius however was the worst. He had said maybe five words to her in their entire stay, but his emotions were louder than if he shouted at her. A constant stream of anger, guilt and anxiety kept Kat on edge anytime he was near her. It was the guilt that weighed on her the most, it wrapped around him like chains, dragging him into depressions that Kat had never before experienced.
She wondered where his guilt stemmed from.
Well, he did kill like a lot of people right? I'd be guilty if I was a murderer.
Kat wondered if she would feel guilt though, weren't most murderers apathetic to their victims deaths? Wasn't that a cardinal rule for serial killing, it was cold blooded?
She didn't know, but she figured she'd have to ask Remy about it eventually, when she was done being sad she supposed.
Truth was Kat doubted that Sirius Black was the mass murderer the papers claimed him to be, or if he was she assumed there was a good reason for it. She didn't know why she was certain of that.
Perhaps because Remus trusts him.
Kat didn't understand that trust. Since being brought to Grimmauld Place Kat was under the impression that Sirius was hiding something. It was in the way he avoided making eye contact, the guilt that plagued him whenever he was in her vicinity, the cagey looks and conversations that him and Remus exchanged when they thought Sam and Kat weren't paying attention.
To be completely honest though, Kat hadn't been paying attention. Recently, she had been so focused in her own grief that she wasn't picking up on everything that she normally would. Her 'Spidey Senses' as Sam jokingly referred to them had been a little frazzled the last few days. Two weeks and she was slowly coming out of the fog.
She wasn't better, or even normal for that matter, but she was coming to terms with her new situation. She was an orphan. Mom was no longer here to protect her. An evil wizard was responsible for her mother's death and was probably after her and her sister.
Her survival instincts were slowly but surely kicking in and she knew that if her and Sam were going to get through this, she needed more information.
This is what led her to the top most floor of the house, in front of a door with a plaque that read, "SIRIUS". Kat had discovered this room in her many other nightly strolls, however she made a point to not disturb the landing as she didn't want to wake the sleeping murderer.
Alleged murderer. She corrected herself. However, per Sam's discovery that Sirius was in fact two floors down in the master bedroom with a Hippogriff, Kat deemed it safe to do a little recon on their host.
The door was locked, however a quick alohomora muttered under her breath solved that hurdle and she quickly slipped into the room.
"Lumis" she whispered, raising her wand above her head to inspect the room.
Though Kat had spent very little time in teenage boys rooms, this display was everything she imagined would be typical.
Red and Gold banners hung above the bed and desk, the rest of the walls were covered in posters of cars and motorcycles, unmoving bikini-clad no-maj girls' clashed with the many moving quidditch posters and photographs.
It was the photographs that Kat examined bringing her wand up to eye level so she could make out the laughing faces of four teenagers.
She recognized Uncle Remus from his sheepish and slightly ragged appearance, he stood next to a boy with messy black hair and glasses who had his arm thrown around...was that really Sirius?
Kat looked closer at the boy who appeared effortlessly handsome with his dark fringe that swept across his sparkling grey eyes. His lips were quirked in a smirk as he winked at the camera.
There was a small plump boy next to him who seemed incredibly pleased to be included. They all wore matching uniforms, Hogwarts uniforms Kat assumed.
She continued to look around the room coming to the desk above which were several more pictures. The boy with glasses beaming next to a redhead girl who rolled her eyes, the same girl laughing with Remus and the plump boy, A group of girls squeezed onto a couch with Sirius and Remus on the floor in front of them. She was going through the faces when her breath caught. The girl to the far right, with Sirius leaning up against her knees and her fingers in his hair.
Her dark skin stood out against the beige couch, her tight black curls contained by a scarlet silk headscarf that matched her tie. Her smile was infectious and Kat couldn't help but smile as well even as she let out a little sob.
Mom.
Olivia Carter appeared in several other photos. In one she was sitting next to the redhead by the lake toes in the water. Another she was laying on Sirius' lap under a giant tree, another she was laughing in the snow with a boy who grabbed her around the waist and spun her around. Sirius, with a giant grin on his face as he ran into the frame to pick her up, nuzzling her neck as he returned her to her feet.
Kat began going through the drawers of the desk, she found magazines on quidditch and motorcycles, what appeared to be pieces of homework with doodles in the margins, an old charms textbook. Then she found letters.
Padfoot,
Don't be a prat. Just say your sorry and Moony and Carter will forgive you. Well Carter might punch you or worse first, but Moony'll get over it, just stop being a little git and reach out.
Cheers to no longer being a prick!
-Prongs
Black,
You are the most despicable prick I have ever had the misfortune of being acquainted with, and that includes Potter (who if he asks is also an insufferable git).
I hope your summer is miserable and by the time school comes round you have come up with an acceptable apology.
Go to hell.
-Lily Evans
Sirius,
Lily is correct that you are a prat. I'm mad at you, however with my very busy summer I figure that I will no longer have the energy or care to consider your existence sometime around next week and may even be persuaded to forgive you if come September 1 there is an abundance of lavish gifts waiting for me on the train.
I have a weakness for expensive chocolate, Honeydukes sugar quills and the good stuff from Mundungus.
The always benevolent,
Liv
P.S. Groveling would not be out of line here.
Kat smiled at her mom's handwritten note. Olivia made a point to always write to Katherine and Sam individually when they were at school. Kat choked down a sob at the realization that she would never again receive one of her mother's letters.
Focusing, Kat wondered what it was that Sirius did that earned him mom's ire. She also was questioning the nature of Sirius and mom's relationship as she found more photos of Olivia in the desk drawer.
It appeared that some of these images had been cut from group photos.
Maybe Sirius had a crush on mom. Kat thought with a smirk as it seemed that he had cut out a man from the photos of her.
However as she dug into the next couple drawers more letters stood out to her. More personal letters.
Sirius,
I'm sorry you're having such a hard time, I know your parents can be tough but try to hang in there. Also, give Reg a break if you talked to him you'd see he's not that bad, just confused right now. Sorry, I know the last thing you want me to be talking about is your brother. Let me know if there's anything I can do to make you feel better.
Lots of love,
xx-Liv
Padfoot,
Tell your parents to shove it already and come round mine for the rest of the holiday. Mum says you're welcome, even made up a room for you (I swear she loves you more than me sometimes). We'll grab Carter and get her to stay too, then you can snog all you want and quit your moping. Let me know!
-Prongs
Sirius Black,
You are a dog (no pun intended). When I offered to make you feel better I did not mean THAT.
Those days are far past us back when I was younger and didn't know any better. Unfortunately for you, my standards have improved. However, in the spirit of friendship I have included a muggle magazine with some helpful tips that your future girlfriends will appreciate. I do not want any details and now we will stop talking.
Happy reading,
xx-Liv
Kat stopped reading letters after that. She really didn't want to know what the helpful tips were, nor what Sirius' request for THAT was. One thing she determined however was that Sirius was closer to her mother than he let on. From this they seemed to have dated, though she had no timeline, and were close friends.
Kat was puzzling over this when she heard a noise from the hallway. It was probably Kreacher she guessed as she heard the door across the hall open and close. Either way, the last thing she needed was to get caught snooping. She stuffed the letters back into the drawer and hurried back to her bed.
"Why wouldn't mom and Remus mention Sirius ever if they were all friends at school?" Kat asked Sam as they discussed her findings. Sam was currently laying upside-down on her bed while Kat sat cross-legged by her feet.
"Don't know. But mom never really talked about any of her friends specifically at school. And really, why would she bring up an ex-flame that also happened to be convicted of murder? I think I'd keep that underwraps too if I was her."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Why wouldn't he say anything to us about it?"
Sam did an approximation of a shrug as Remus called down to them to eat.
"Maybe he was still hung-up on mom in prison and doesn't like the idea of her being with someone else, hence him being uncomfortable around us."
It wasn't a bad theory, Kat thought. Rather insightful actually coming from Sam who usually lacked any awareness of nuance.
She was still thinking about the nature of the relationship as they walked down to the kitchen.
"I don't know, there's something weird about the whole thing. It seems like they dated in school, but then they broke up and we know she dated Uncle Remy so…"
They were approaching the kitchen effectively cutting off Kat's thoughts however that didn't stop Sam from replying with a shrug and a wicked grin.
"Why don't we ask them?" She thought to her.
Kat's eyes went wide when she noticed that both Remus and Sirius were sitting down to the table.
"You're eating with us now?" She questioned Sirius a little too harshly and she winced at her own tone.
Sirius looked down at his plate before looking back at her, "If that's alright with you. If not I can..." She could feel his hesitation, his self-hatred boiling just below the surface.
"I.." She stumbled over her words a moment, "I didn't mean it like that. I was just surprised because you usually don't join us." she felt him relax some and felt a little stab of her own guilt. "I don't mind at all if you eat with us."
"As a matter-of-fact, we're thrilled you're here." Sam cut in, sitting down across from Sirius and grinning. "Kat and I were just saying how we should get to know you better."
"Were you?" Sirius asked, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Oh yes. It seems odd that we are guests in your home and know nothing about you. Rude really."
"Really rude." Kat chimed in, spooning some of the stew that Remus made into her bowl before passing it to Sam.
"For example" Sam started as Remus took a cautious seat next to Sirius eying the both of them suspiciously. "How did this happen?" Sam asked, gesturing between the two of them.
"How did what happen?" Remus asked accepting the stew from Sam with a raised eyebrow.
Katherine was raising her eyes to the heavens in silent prayer as she heard Sam's thoughts before she spoke them.
"How does a mass murderer end up with a werewolf for a roommate? And while we're at it, how did the two of you get babysitting duty? Interesting sitcom premise, yes. But really what crackpot thought this was a good setup in real life?"
Sirius looked a little queasy at Sam's questioning, Remus however simply dabbed his mouth with a napkin shaking his head in amusement.
"Sam, I do admire your communication style."
"The spoken word is one of my superpowers." She said propping her elbows on the table and raising an eyebrow.
"So, my dear Uncle Remy." Sam started giving the only man who had ever come close to a father figure her undivided attention, reaching out her hand to cover his on the table. "I want you to know how much Katherine and I appreciate you being here for us. You being the closest thing we have to family, we have missed you so much in the last couple years."
The sudden wave of guilt that hit Katherine was nauseating. She was a little pissed at Remus for not being around the last couple years, but really the current level of guilt was unnecessary.
"I'm sorry if we've seemed ungrateful to either of you during all this. It's just been really hard, you know." Sam got mildly teary eyed and the guilt almost doubled.
Not the tactic I thought she'd go with Katherine thought, and almost like Sam heard her she responded silently.
Wait for it. I've got this.
"Samantha, you've lost your mother. You're grieving, we all are and I understand. I am so sorry that I wasn't able to be there for you sooner. I'm sorry this had to happen, but know that you both are taken care of. You're my family too and we will get through this." Remus said.
Katherine noticed the shift in Sirius's body language. He looked so uncomfortable like this was the last place he wanted to be.
Picked the wrong night to join us for dinner. Katherine thought as Sam sobbed slightly causing Remus to stand and come around to envelope her in a hug.
Kat did her best to appear sympathetic while inwardly rolling her eyes. Sam always was the dramatic twin.
"I just wish we had had more time, you know?" Sam was saying, "I mean what now? It's always been mom and us, and I mean you always were like a father figure to us…"
Remus visibly stiffened in Sam's embrace, "You know, before you stopped coming around."
You could cut the tension in the room with a butter knife.
"Why did you stop coming to visit Remus?" Sam looked up to his face with watery doe eyes.
"It wasn't that I stopped visiting." Remus was extremely uncomfortable with the turn in conversation, "I mean to say it wasn't planned."
"So you weren't actively avoiding us?" Katherine asked innocently as Remus broke out of Sam's hold, rubbing the back of his neck.
"No, of course not. Why would I be avoiding you?"
"Were you avoiding mom? Did you get into a fight?" Sam continued asked wide-eyed, "Did you not make up before she died?"
"It wasn't a fight."
"Then why do you feel so guilty?" Kat pushed. She knew Sam and her were pushing it, backing Remus into a corner. He glanced at Sirius who looked like he wanted to shrink into the floor.
"I wasn't there for her and I'm sorry she died, I should have done more. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, but I'm here now. We have to move forward." He looked at both Sam and Kat, "Let's eat dinner please." He said retaking his seat at the table.
Sam retook her's as well wiping her eyes slightly. Kat was about to open her mouth before she heard.
I got it. From Sam.
There was a moment of silence as everyone dug into their stew. It was as Remus was taking a bite that Sam looked up and asked.
"Was it because of him?" pointing her spoon at Sirius who's eyes went wide as Remus choked slightly on his meal, having to take a gulp of butter beer.
"Why would you think I had something to do with it?" Sirius asked shakily, giving Sam the side-eye.
"Well, you happened to have escaped from Azkaban the same time Remy stopped coming around." Kat pointed out.
"Clearly you two are close, you're both living here, did you help him escape?" Sam asked Remus.
"No, I did that on my own." Sirius said with an authority he had yet to demonstrate in the short time Kat and Sam had known him.
"Are you two together?" Kat asked simply.
"Excuse me?" Sirius asked dumbfounded
"Are you dating, each other I mean." Kat said slowly motioning between the two of them to clarify her meaning.
Remus let out a huff of air somewhere between a snort and a sigh.
"We're not gay." Sirius said, bewildered and defensive.
Sam rolled her eyes, "Dude, don't get all defensive, there's no judgements here. This is a safe space."
"W-what?" Sirius huffed as him and Remus gave each other helpless looks.
"I assumed you were bi-sexual." Kat said matter-of-factly.
"You're a child, how do you even know what that is?" Sirius asked bewildered.
"We didn't grow up under a rock." Sam said with a shrug.
"Okay, let's clear something up. There is no relationship between me and Remus."
"Then is it because you were in love with my mother?" Katherine asked.
"Why do you insist on this notion that…"
"So, you are denying it? You had no feelings for mom at all?" Sam said
"Whether I had feelings for Liv or not is irrelevant."
"You and mom had a relationship." Sam said, taking the reigns of this interrogation
"A long time ago. A casual…"
"Lie." Kat said simply.
"You were in love with our mother." Sam said again.
"No. I wasn't…"
"Lie." Katherine said again
She was now focusing all of her energy on Sirius and his emotions were like an open book for her to peruse at her leisure.
"Did you know her and Remus were on-again, off-again?" She asked.
"How did you know that?" Remus asked, cheeks turning pink with embarrassment.
"We know everything." Sam said dismissively.
"Did it make you angry?" she turned to Sirius.
He gritted his teeth, fists clenched, "Dinner is over." before the words left his mouth the door to the kitchen slammed shut and locked. He looked back at Samantha recognizing the magic radiating off her, but noticed her wand remained in her pocket.
"We haven't even gotten to dessert yet." She said.
"Were you angry?"
"I've been in prison for twelve years. I don't care what my ex-girlfriend and best friend did with themselves."
"Lie."
"You felt guilty for seeing mom, with him out of jail so you stopped coming around?" Sam asked Remus.
Before Remus had a chance to speak Katherine confirmed the statement.
"So the question is, what were you to our mother?" Sam asked Sirius leaning across the table and looking him straight in the eye. He stared back, not saying a word.
"Why did she never mention you?"
No answer.
"Why did you take us in?"
No answer.
"What aren't you telling us?"
"Sirius, if you're looking for the moment." Remus said to him, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Tell us!" Sam said furiously.
"I'm your father."
Author's Note: Sorry that was so dramatic, but that's kind of Sam's thing. Plus needed to get to the point so we can cover the meat of the story, building a relationship between Sirius and the twins.
Thanks for reading!
