"And I think it's gonna be a long long time
'Till touch down brings me round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh no no no I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone"
Elton John- Rocketman
Sirius almost choked on his morning coffee when he saw Witch Weekly among his morning press stacked on the table.
Witch Weekly, issue #4944, October 3rd 1994.
SIRIUS BLACK FOR THE 9TH YEAR IN A ROW IS THE WINNER OF THE AWARD FOR THE MOST CHARMING SMILE OF THE WITCH WEEKLY MAGAZINE!
Below the title was his photo from Black Family Charity Ball in January. It was the moment he waved and smiled to Dorcas who just entered the room.
He was in an elegant robe with a neck closure and his hair was plaited into a long braid. The light reflected in the silver earring that he had in his left ear. Behind his back stood Remus and rolled his eyes laughing.
He was about to discard the newspaper in disgust, but he stopped and looked closer at the picture. He covered his mouth in horror.
"When did I get so grey?" he threw the question into the air. Admittedly it wasn't that bad. Grey caught him at the temples, leaving long, bright hair strands. On the one hand, it gave some refined character to his appearance, on the other his vain soul was crying.
"Kiki!" he called into the room. With a loud crack a small house elf wearing a colourful pillowcase appeared. She bowed and asked:
"Does Master Sirius need anything from Kiki?"
He lifted the newspaper with the cover toward her and asked miserably:
"Why?"
Kiki's face brightened with joy and she replied:
"Master looks handsome on the photo. And there's a fragment saying that master's aunt will be coming here from a far."
"What? Which aunt? I thought they were all dead." he started to browse the pages for any name he knew.
"They say that Lady Dorea will be visiting soon. Page twelve."
"Dorea? Why for? I thought she wanted to run away from all this bullshit our family is doing..." he stopped and sighed. "Bugger."
"What's wrong master?"
"I'm afraid I know why Dorea comes back..." he finally found the little note at page twelve.
VISIT FROM AFAR?
Witch weekly's sources seem to confirm the imminent visit of a long-lost permanent visitor of the salons- Dorea Potter née Black (70). Couple of weeks ago Lady Potter applied for permission for a permanent international Floo network connection between her estate in the States and her former home in Yorkshire.
Rumors say that Lady Potter will visit us in the company of her daughter, active politician at MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America) Mia Potter (27). For two years now, Miss Potter has been a Senior Consultant for Magical Sentient Beings. Her struggle for the recognition of rights and social help for werewolves caused her a lot of supporters and enemies at the same time. Her skilful campaign for the cause ended in series of reforms improving the living standards of werewolves in the US.
What is the reason for the visit and will it turn into a longer stay? We'll probably find out soon!
"Oh Merlin..." If anyone ever thought that his mother was a terrifying woman; Dorea Potter was the pith and marrow of everything that was deadly in the Black women. She was a Slytherin through and through. Ambitious and cunning, would eradicate every threat to her family and herself without blinking. And she always got what she wanted.
He didn't even know that she had a daughter after Damien's death.
Damien was his contemporary, they've never met each other but Walburga made sure they knew all the gossip about his great aunt's son. She maybe thought that the things she told him and Regulus about would revolt them. Like going to school with muggle-borns and having muggle friends. But it only made Sirius jealous of this foreign boy who was so similar and yet so different from him. Then something happened when they were both seven. Damien died in an accident. He never knew what accident but one day he was there and the other he was just gone.
Then he stopped listening to his mother altogether and it was the possible reason why he did not know about Dorea' and Charlus' Potter's daughter.
Dorea wrote to him occasionally when he was in Hogwarts and never mentioned the girl. Later when Voldemort was in the peak of his power she stopped, likely not wanting to engage in the conflict, even by accident.
She was twenty-seven. That meant they had her right away after Damien's death.
Twenty-seven-year-old Senior Consultant. With a history of successful reforms. That bode for something more than matrimonial plans.
Hopefully.
He tried to push through his Werewolf Act for 4 years now, without success so far. He had supporters in the Wizengamot, but he had strong enemies too. And werewolves didn't have a good press thanks to individuals like Fenrir Greyback still running loose.
"Great." he murmured. He could only hope that this time the chaos would not follow Dorea as it usually followed the members of his family.
•••
The Ministry was in shambles for the last few weeks since riots at the Quidditch World Cup.
Sirius felt uneasy; his guts told him that it was only a preludial. He really wanted to believe in Cornelius Fudge's ensuring that they were ordinary vandals feasting of fear that the Death Eaters masks caused. But he had to admit Barty Crouch for the first time in his life; they were not ordinary vandals. They were the Death Eaters.
The Triwizard Tournament loomed over his thoughts from the day of the riots. It all lined up too well for his taste.
Drumstrang backed off last minute from the negotiations so Crouch had to look feverishly for the third contestant. To their luck Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry came forward and agreed to come all the way from States.
It wasn't part of the tradition but given the amount of galleons that went already into organising the event the Ministry was willing to compromise.
Ludo Bagman came to his office to give reports about the Tournament and each of its stages. Sirius insisted on tripling the security; he paid from his pocket and waved of all Crouch's questions.
Sirius pressured Dumbledore to hire Mad-Eye Moody for the DADA open vacancy this year. He begged Moody to agree. The retired Auror grumbled for a long time but agreed in the end with a simple "You owe me a one, Black".
But he still felt on edge. He wrote to Harry once a week to check on him. He nagged Fabian Prewett who replaced Moody as the Head of the Auror Department for reports. It got to the point that Fabian flipped a bird at him every time he saw him and walked the other way.
He had a feeling.
And he still replayed Pandora's Prophecy in his head.
Over and over.
Thirteen years passed this year.
He had an upper hand on this; he was the only person who knew that that prophecy even existed.
After Pandora died, he felt lost. She was a confidante, a friend and a sensitive soul that lit the darkness lurking in his soul.
Her sudden death broke him. He spent a few weeks wandering around Australian beaches. Harry who was in Hogwarts at the time, worried about him, but Sirius answered his letters assuring him that everything was fine. He just needed time.
He returned to the UK after a few weeks with a calmer heart, a cleaner head and he made sure Luna and Xenophilius did not lack anything.
He was the last one; the only man who knew about the existence of this prophecy and its content.
And he did not know what to do next.
"Sirius!"
He turned on his heel to see Marlene striding toward him on her thin stilettos with a stack of rolled preachments. Her long blonde hair curled around her face making few wizards turn heads after her in the crowded, busy Atrium of the Ministry. Fireplaces under the walls burst over and over again with green fire, paper planes flew over their heads with a whistle and employees and petitioners ran back and forth. Here and there, a single owl flew with a hollow whistle.
"McKinnon, my dear, how is it possible that you do not trip on these toothpicks?" he asked, to which she laughed, throwing her head back and sending a handful of her hair in the face of a wizard carrying empty, brass cauldron.
"Stabilizing spell! They're super comfy! I've got the report you've asked about." she handed him two thick rolls from her stack and looked at him tilting her head. "Long story short: there's a big aggregation of Giants in the country's south-eastern woods. It's the first noted migration in 12 years. Are you going to this fancy opening tonight?" she added the question on one breath.
"What opening?" he asked still not paying much attention. Admittedly, the number of various invitations and proposals which he received, caused that only about ten percent even reached his consciousness.
"Narcissa's new place. Remus said he talked to you about it."
Of course, he remembered about the opening of Narcissa's place. They prepared for it for weeks now.
Finally, he shrugged. It was better that she was convinced that he forgot.
Marlene laughed and patted his shoulder sympathetically.
"You should loosen up sometimes, Mr. Important."
"The world won't fix itself, Marly." he said scanning through one of the reports she gave him.
"It wouldn't crumble if you would stop frowning for an evening or two."
He was about to answer when one of the fireplaces on the other side of the Atrium exploded with emerald-purple flames that meant an international Floo connection just opened. It caught his attention long enough for him to recognize the person entering.
An older witch with a storm of curly hair which was already greyer than chestnut, came out of the smoke. She was dressed in elegant black robes and everything in her, from the attitude to the way she moved, screamed 'pure-blood'. Behind her back flames bursted again.
"Eh, shit." he sighed. Marlene followed his gaze.
"Who's that?"
"That's my great-aunt."
"Your family from States?"
"Not so much of a family now, but yes." he sighed again when his eyes connected with his aunt's gaze. He straighten himself summoned a polite grimace adding: "Here she comes. Merlin, I'm so much not looking for a wife right now..."
"What?" Marlene's eyes widened.
"Don't ask. Please, Marly. I will go to this party tonight if you help me now..." he would go anyway, but why not kill two birds with one stone?
"Sirius! Merlin, how you've grown up!" Dorea called with a hearty smile that summoned the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes. Sirius was ready to greet her with a kiss in his hand, as the etiquette demanded, but the witch spread her arms and embraced him heartily. "You are so handsome! Incredible! I haven't seen you forever!" She squeezed him even harder with strength surprising for her age and posture.
"Aunt Dorea! You look amazing as always. Blood from how many virgins it takes to look so young?" Sirius gasped still in the iron grip of his aunt.
Marlene stood beside and hiding her laughter, she watched the whole incident. Sirius threw her a dirty look and she snorted quietly.
"Mommy, give the man a room to breathe."
Sirius felt that all the air that he still had in his lungs escaped completely from him and in the same time his heart flickered rapidly like a caged bird.
He knew that voice.
And when he turned his head in his direction, it also turned out that he knew those eyes, hair and even the freckles covering the cheeks and nose of the girl standing next to Marlene.
She had a storm of curly brown hair and golden-brown skin. She was small which was further emphasized by a black, fitted costume with fine, white stripes. Her arms were covered with a short ruby-colored travel cloak that matched her shoes and a stone-studded cuff that collected the hair from her face.
She stood there with a mocking smile twisting her small, full lips and her hands on her hips.
She stood there like they've just meet yesterday not thirteen years ago.
It clicked. That piece of the puzzle finally clicked and fell into the place.
She was there.
"Oh, where are my manners?" Dorea let go of him and stretched her hand to Marlene. "Dorea Potter."
"Marlene McKinnon."
"Mia Potter."
They exchanged shakes between each other. Mia extended her hand to him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Lord Black."
He quickly hid his turmoil and put on his face the expression of polite indifference. But he was sure that he was not able to hide the intensity of his gaze.
She had to be adopted.
One thing all Blacks had in common was that they all had grey eyes.
They could have different skin tones, hair, figure. But the shape and colour of the eyes has always been the same. The grey beginning with the shade resembling sky at a cloudy winter morning, to a dark one like storm clouds on a summer day.
Her eyes were dark-amber and had something feline in them. And something guarded. Like she didn't want anyone to see their true expression.
He felt his hair prick on his neck.
He took her hand and bent down to brush the top of it with his lips.
"Please, without the ceremonials. We are family after all."
She answered only smiling slightly. There was something arrogant in her, incredibly resembling Dorea.
He held her gaze gently raising his eyebrow.
"How long will you be staying here, Lady Potter?" Marlene asked trying to ignore the strange staring contest between him and the younger Miss Potter.
"Oh, I'm staying for a week, darling. Mia on the other hand is going to stay here longer."
"Yes. I came to take the position of an Independent Consultant for relations between the MACUSA and M.o.M."
"Wow." Marlene eyes widened. "Congratulations! That's a very prestigious position."
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to working here." Mia said with a professionally polite expression.
"For sure, your experience will be very useful. For four years I've been trying to push my Werewolf Act. I've read you have quite the experience when it comes to this." Sirius said still watching her closely; everything in her attitude spoke about distance and indifference, but still he caught her uncertain, curious glances in his direction.
She smiled politely.
"I'm sure we can look up your project and think about a good strategy, Lord Black."
He almost gritted his teeth, hearing his title again.
Marlene gasped quietly. Sirius looked at her and to his horror noticed the playful smile and malicious glint in her eye.
He opened his eyes wide, giving her a warning look.
Marlene, NO!
"I have an idea! Me and Sirius, we are going today with our friends to an opening of a new restaurant on Diagon Alley. There will be a nice banquet and an opportunity for you to make up for this lost time. Lady Potter, Miss Potter, do you have time to meet us there tonight?"
Dorea clasped her hands together with a similar malicious glint in her eyes and said:
"That's a wonderful idea, Miss McKinnon! Would you kindly owl me the details? We will be staying in an apartment on the Diagon Alley in a hotel next to Gringotts."
Sirius idly wondered how many years in Azkaban he could get for suffocating a Ministry official in the middle of the Atrium.
He felt her eyes on him.
One thing he could be sure of; it will be a very interesting evening.
•••
"What were you thinking? Marlene for fuck's sake!"
"Oh, quiet. Your aunt seems very charming. Her daughter seems to have a little pin in the ass but the way she looked at you ... oh, boy!"
They marched along the empty corridor on the first level of the Ministry toward Marlene's office. Sirius threw Muffliato to give them any privacy; he did not necessarily want anyone from the Ministry to know about his family drama.
"You don't understand..."
"I understand more than you think, I understand that since you took over the title, you live in your office. Remus is worried sick and so am I…"
"I know her." Sirius hissed interrupting her rant. She broke off with an offended face and he continued. "It's complicated. But if I'm right I don't know if her being here it's a particularly good thing."
They reached Marlene's office, and as soon as they were inside, she slammed the door shut and leaned against it with an expectant face.
"Talk."
"It's not the place and nor the time." Sirius sat on the chair in front of her desk and combed his hair with his fingers; a few strands slipped out of his hair-strap. "I either lose my sanity or something completely impossible happens. And honestly I do not know what I would prefer."
"Should I be worried? Should we all be worried right now?" she looked worried already.
"About me? You know that I can handle my insanity. About other things..." he looked at her with a tired face. "I will try to warn you in advance."
•••
He left Marlene's office with a plan already in mind and headed towards the Great Archives located on the same floor.
Two hours and one owl later he found himself on the second floor where Department of Magical Law Enforcement was. The Ministry was deserted because of the lunch-time hours.
He saw Fabian the moment he left the elevator; he just rounded the corner saw Sirius, turned on his heel and turned back where he came from.
Sirius has sped up but when he rounded the corner of the corridor Fabian was nowhere to be seen.
He looked around making sure nobody would see him and he turned into Padfoot.
He took long sniff on the fragment of the floor where Fabian stood earlier. The redhead's cologne was horrible for his sensitive dog nose but it was so distinctive that he could might as well have left a path of dog treats behind him.
He followed the trail into one of the doors, which judging on the smell was the bathroom. He hooked his pawn on the handle and opened the door.
The bathroom was full of smells.
He sniffed around the stalls and until his nose led him to the last one. He did not see any feet underneath the door. But his nose was always right.
He turned back into his human form, straighten his clothes and knocked on the stall's door. When he didn't get any response pointed his wand at it making it open with a loud bang.
Fabian shouted and jumped which looked comically with his height, build and bushy beard. He stood on the closed lid of the toilet.
"Hello stranger." Sirius leaned over the doorframe.
"Should I run?" Fabian grumbled.
"Given how fast I found you I would say it's pointless. Have a minute?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"No."
Fabian came down from the toilet and waved for Sirius to follow him.
They walked in silence, passing through empty corridors until they reached the Auror Headquarters. The open space there didn't change that much since Sirius worked there. The atmosphere seemed a little more light-hearted. He saw a familiar spiky hair in a bubblegum-pink colour in his old cubicle.
"Tonks!" he called and waved.
His cousin turned on her chair to look at him and knocked off the ink bottle on her desk. She swore loudly and started to quickly siphon the mess off with her wand.
"Sirius, fuckin' Merlin pants. Don't do this!"
Fabian grumbled something unflattering about them "and their bloody family causing havoc" and pointed at his office. The space looked more personal than when Moody occupied it. There were photos of Fabian's family; his nephews and niece, Molly and Arthur. Him and Gideon. Friends and fellow Aurors. But the wanted posters, the photos, the evidence and reports scattered around were all the same.
Sirius closed the door and leaned on it, when Fabian leaned on his desk. They looked at each other expectantly as if they tried to decide which one of them should break the silence.
Their relationship was bumpy. They liked and respected each other and they shared similar goals but the paths they choose to achieve them couldn't be any different.
Fabian knew that Sirius very often balanced on the edge between legal and very illegal when it came to business...and dealing with dark magic and it's practitioners.
There were numerous cases when some dark wizards investigated by the Aurors just...vanished. Right after they found evidence against them and right before they could arrest them.
Fabian could suspect. But he couldn't prove anything. And at first, he was terrified by the sadistic glint in Sirius eyes he saw every time he mentioned the disappearances. But with time he just accepted the fact that the less he knew the simpler his life was.
"Okay. What is so important, Black?" Fabian finally lost his patience.
"24th June 1981. Cottesbrooke. We were ambushed by Death Eaters and we would probably die that day if it wasn't for..."
"The Smoke-girl." Fabian finished tugging at his beard deep in thought. "Why now, ey? You were thinking about ol' shitty times?"
"She's back."
Fabian stilled.
"What?"
Sirius shrugged; he wouldn't believe it either if he didn't saw her with his own eyes.
"Where? Who is she? Do you know who she is? Why she's back?" Auror started spitting questions one after another, until Sirius lifted his hand making him stop.
"Listen. I came here only to warn you. I want to take care of it personally and on my terms. I don't want you to act harsh and arrest her on the spot. Or approach her, or even acknowledge her at all."
"Now you're asking?" The redhead huffed. "I know exactly that you're not asking in other cases. Why now?"
"She's my family."
"You...your family?"
"She's my great aunt's adoptive daughter. They just came here from the States."
He saw Fabian rolling that statement in his mouth and trying to visualize the degree of kinship Sirius is talking about.
"So she's basically not your family."
"Yes but actually no."
A moment of silence.
"I'm lost."
"She's a daughter of an influential, pure-blood witch. And she's pretty successful herself. She's twenty-seven and it doesn't make any sense for her to be the one we are looking for. She would be... fourteen then. But I'm 99% sure it's her. I just need a proof. And I need to know on which side she is."
"And how are you going to do it, Black?"
"My aunt would slaughter the whole ministry if we even suggested that the girl is dipped in some shady business. Family first, Tojus Pur, and all that jazz."
"Tojus Pur my ass..."
"No. Fabian. No. Trust me on this one. You don't want to begin something you won't be able to finish." Sirius said sharply. "She will have your carrier, your reputation and your ass on her plate the moment you will open your ugly mug to her daughter. Unless you will court her. Then she will probably be pleased. But not too much...no offence but you're not influential enough."
"What the fuck you are talking about?"
"The girl... Mia Potter, came here to take a high position in the DoIMC. It will be announced on days. My aunt on the other hand came here to look for suitors." his head started to hurt. "I'm not sure if my cousin applauds the matrimonial part of her being her... but it's not the point."
"So what's the point?"
"The point is...that you must trust me on this one and do not act until I ask. Okay?"
"I'm really afraid now, Black, to be honest."
Sirius shrugged and broke away from the door.
"To be honest with you?" Sirius asked opening the door. "You should be."
He headed to the last stop he had to do that day.
•••
Remus looked at him like he lost his mind.
"You want me to travel tomorrow to States to do what? Spy on your cousin?"
"Have you listened to me, at all, for the last half hour?"
"I did and I still don't know what I'm supposed to do."
They were alone in Remus's bookshop.
'Sticks and stones' was quite a strange name for Sirius, but when Remus explained that it was a phrase from the popular Muggle nursery rhyme for children his mother had taught him, he admitted it was a good name for the werewolf's dream space.
The interior was quiet and filled with a gentle light coming through the skylights on the ceiling and seeping through the plants hung under the sling. The air smelled like old books, ferns and sun. This was Remus's place. It was a perfect reflection of his character and Sirius always felt at home there.
Their relationship has evolved over the years and after another unsuccessful attempt at a relationship they had just after Sirius and Harry returned to England, they decided that it did not make sense.
But their friendship continued to make sense and they became closer to each other than ever before. Being the last Marauders, being the last friends from a pack that was closer than many families, Sirius knew that if not for Remus, he would probably feel like the loneliest wizard in the world.
Sirius sighed heavily and took a sip of coffee from his mug and he sank deeper into his armchair.
"What's happening Padfoot?"
"Promise you won't think I'm insane..."
The werewolf chuckled lightly.
"I already think you're crazy."
"So I guess I've got nothing to lose..." Sirius mumbled clearly too tired to even acknowledge the jab. "I've told you about the girl from Cottesbrooke. But I haven't told you what she told me that day. And really it's something that's been haunting me for years now..."
When he finished his story, Remus sat for a moment and thoughtfully swayed the last of his tea in a cup. Finally he asked:
"Can I ask you something? Just do not get pissed off, okay?" when his friend nodded, he continued. "You didn't think that could be a self-fulfilling prophecy? Not the rat part, that was very recent then and too specific. But the Lord part... How could she know that?"
"Are you saying she just shot?"
"I'm saying that it was impossible to predict such an outcome. And she was what? Fourteen then? You see a fourteener doing things like that and ending that with an accurate prophecy of your future?" Sirius opened his mouth to protest, but Remus shook his head. "I don't deny that it's her. I see that you have no doubts about it and I trust you. I just wonder how she knew all of this, how she did all of this and what her predictions really meant."
"Welcome to the club. I've been obsessing over it for over a decade." he felt Remus eyes when he tugged nervously at a loose thread at his sleeve.
"There is something else, right? What is it?"
"I felt strange around her today Moony..." He tilted his head back so that the warm rays of the autumn sun would fall on his face; he often missed the Australian heat. British autumn came every year and only reminded him of death. "I know I should be careful now. My mind gives me all the worst scenarios. As for my feelings ... I really thought that my heart would pop out of my chest when I saw her."
"It sounds like you had a mild heart attack." Remus quipped at which Sirius growled.
"Look at you, being so fucking, funny..."
"You're not getting younger, you know?"
"We're the same age."
"Werewolves live longer."
"So do Veelas. And I will look like a thirty-something to my sixties." Sirius smirked but almost immediately frowned. "Remus, I don't know what to do. I feel that something pulls me to her. And I'm scared. I wanted to change into Padfoot and run around her like a stupid puppy."
It seemed to him that Remus's eyes flashed yellow as he said it. But as suddenly as he saw it, it was gone, so Sirius put it on the crab of his imagination.
"And you say it was your second meeting ever?" The werewolf asked and when Sirius nodded, he hummed thoughtfully. "That's interesting, really."
"What?"
"Nothing." Remus smiled. "I will go. Get me a letter of recommendation from Fabian, I could need it to get to some files."
That was...strangely easy.
"Just like that?"
Remus shrugged.
"Just like that. I'm now quite curious of her myself. But I do not do it for free." he finished with a smile of self-satisfaction.
"Say your price, flea-ball." Sirius waved his hand dismissively.
"You cover for me in the shop for seven days. And I can use them whenever I want...ball-licker." Remus reached to him and Sirius shook his outstretched hand and said with a hint of mock indignation.
"Oi! It was one time, we were sixteen, drunk and James dared me."
When Remus began to laugh, Sirius maintained his insulted face only for a moment only to let himself burst with barking laughter.
•••
That Lord Black wasn't the same Sirius Black Mia remembered.
Where Sirius Black was cool and easy, Lord Black was serious and unapproachable.
Where Sirius Black was impulsive and reckless, Lord Black was unmoved and calculating.
Where Sirius Black was a passionate, flirty gallant, Lord Black was closed and almost unpleasant.
He was still absurdly handsome. Even more so when he did not serve twelve years in Azkaban. He did not have this rough charm that she saw in her distorted by the vapours of puppy-infatuation memories. He looked like the pure-blooded nobleman he was in every possible inch.
Lord Black looked like everything Sirius Black despised.
He looked like a dangerous opponent and a man who crushed his rivals without blinking an eye.
He looked like someone who Hermione Granger would avoid at all costs.
And like someone Mia Potter would like to know more closely.
She threw herself on the bed in her rooms the Chimera Hotel they stayed. It was old-fashioned, expensive and not much to Mia's taste. But the bed was comfy and that should be enough until the house from her mother's dowry in Yorkshire was brought to a state that satisfied her.
She stretched herself lazily and waved her wand summoning the newspapers she picked on her way to the hotel. She picked up the Daily Prophet, The Quibbler and after a second of hesitation the Witch Weekly. When Dorea sent her a strange look she shrugged embarrassed and said:
"What? A witch gotta know."
She looked at the cover; there title and date from 4 days ago:
Witch Weekly, issue #4944, October 3rd 1994.
SIRIUS BLACK FOR THE 9TH YEAR IN A ROW IS THE WINNER OF THE AWARD FOR THE MOST CHARMING SMILE OF THE WITCH WEEKLY MAGAZINE!
She smirked; she should check if Gilderoy Lockhart was a thing in this life-time.
Lord Black from the cover waved to someone off frame with an easy smile. A definitely less ragged and scarred Remus Lupin stood in the background, rolling his eyes with a hearty smile; he looked younger and happier than she remembered.
But it was Lord Black who stole the shot and all the attention. His black hair was long and plaited in a smooth braid hanging over his arm. He wore an elegant black robe with a stand-up collar and small buttons. A small silver ring gleamed in his left ear.
He looked younger than Sirius Black; with his prominent cheekbones and sharp smoothly shaven jawline. And Lord Black indeed had a charming smile. His grey eyes framed with long, black lashes were big and slightly almond in shape; she saw those eyes and their shade in different ranges in multiple different people, her mother included. But this grey resembled smoke you see over fire.
His entire image seemed to be thought out and calculated. Even today when she met him by chance at the Ministry's Atrium; perfect smart-casual outfit. Fabric trousers, shirt, cardigan and simple shoes; all perfectly tailored, all of the highest quality.
Lord Black looked and felt to her like a very elaborate and complicated façade to something else.
At that moment, she wasn't able to tell what the facade was supposed to hide.
But she knew she would find out very soon.