My writer's block is officially gone! I looked at the one comment I got from the author's note, and just like Dr. Suess saw the words cat and hat, I saw the words Chocolate and Books and the story just formed. Don't ask how that connects to this chapter, but those two words somehow brought all my ideas together and allowed me to write this chapter and half of the next chapter in under a few hours. This chapter is officially dedicated to my most faithful reviewer, DobbysArmy, who without her, I would probably not have arrived at this point and this story would just be one of the thousands of unfinished stories out there. So thank you. Also, a special thank you to The fluffy fluffball of DOOM for leaving a wonderful review for the last chapter.
Since I am getting tired of writing a disclaimer this shall be the last one. That is, unless I somehow procure the rights to Harry Potter and I will own all the characters in this story. But with the likely hood of that actually happening, I will say that I do not own Harry Potter. I am writing this for my own enjoyment and hopefully, you enjoy reading this. That is all that matters in my opinion.
And now! On with the story.
It was Christmas time at Hogwarts. The snow was magical unto itself. All the children and adults in the school were gathering for one final meal before classes ended for Christmas break. The hall was filled with excitement and joy as the students wished each other a good holiday while some exchanged early gifts.
The Prewitt twins had charmed everything in the Great Hall Red, Green, Gold, and Silver. The teachers were impressed by their magic and since they already in such a good mood, they awarded Gryffindor 45 points for creative charm work and school togetherness. How the last one got added was beyond the red headed twins but they were convinced that Slughorn had already started drinking eggnog.
All in all, everyone was happy.
All except two small black haired twins. James, Remus, and Peter were looking at the pair oddly while Ben would occasionally peak over the edge of The Prophet to sneak a look at them.
It was Elyse to break the silence,
"Woot teh 'ell de yeh look like yeh want teh die?"
Sirius let out a dry laugh before he let his head fall to the table with a painful sounding thud. Ursula rolled her eyes at his antics before she answered in a monotone voice,
"Our parents, our entire family, Lord Voldemort loving, power hungry, scheming Slytherins. We are the first Blacks to be sorted into Gryffindor since Hogwart's founding. You remember the howler my mom sent Sirius earlier this term right?" When Elyse nodded, Ursula continued, "She doesn't know I'm in Gryffindor. Uncle Alphard said someone magically altered the letter."
"In other words," Sirius said raising his head from the table, "we are dead." His neck seemed to give out and his head was about to his the table when James flicked his wand and transfigured a plate into a pillow.
"You are not dead! You are going to be coming to my house two days after Christmas because, let's be honest, is there anything better than spending time with the oh-so-brilliant me?" James asked his friends.
They all gave each other a look before they burst out laughing. James looked put out for a second before he too joined in on the laughter.
"Attention students!" Dumbledore called from the head table, "In less than an hour, the trains will be departing from Hogwarts for King's Cross Station. Please make sure that you luggage is at the loading area twenty minutes before departure."
His eyes scanned the room, the twinkling in his eyes not so bright, "I would ask that all students express much caution while visiting your families. These are dark times and while you are protected here, the same cannot be said for your homes. If certain laws need to be disregarded for your safety or your family's safety, then so be it. That is all. Now skedaddle."
With a wave of his hand, he sat down. Needless to say, no one skedaddled.
It was night when the Hogwart's Express finally stopped at King's Cross Station. The ride had been enjoyable for the first year Gryffindors. They had gotten into a fight with Snape, only a verbal one, but that had been the only low point. The rest of the ride was spent playing exploding snaps, planning pranks, and having a chocolate frog eating contest. Remus won by a landslide.
"We'll be seeing each other soon, stop looking like we're never going to see each other again you big group of babies. At least act like you belong in Gryffindor!" James scolded them.
"You've got it made in the shade with pink lemonade, mate. Imagine having to spend Christmas with Bellatrix, Narcissa and her stupid fiancée Lucius. Then of course-"
"Alright, we get it. You're family is horrible, but on the bright side, you only have to spend a week with them before you get to go to the Potters," Ben said, trying to stop everyone from focusing on the wrong.
"Anyway, remember to bring the present for the person you picked out of the grab bag. We'll open presents when everyone gets to my house. Oh, and whoever got my name better have brought me something bloody amazing!" James exclaimed before he grabbed his trunk and dashed off to find his parents.
Annabelle came by seconds later wishing everyone a happy holiday before dragging Ben towards their parents. He shouted Merry Christmas to them as he was dragged away. Elyse and Peter both left at the same time since Peter had to show her where the portkey that took students to Ireland was. They both left with wishes of a good holiday
Finally, Remus saw his parents through the compartment window. His mother looked worried to death and was wringing her hands together. His dad laid a hand on her shoulder, but even from where he sat, Remus could see his hand shaking. Guilt coursed through his body; he was causing his parents pain.
Ursula, though she had no idea why, could see that he looked upset so she did the only thing a good friend could think of doing in that situation. She stood up and gave him a tight hug. He jumped at the physical contact, stiffening at her touch. But then slowly he relaxed and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist.
"Have a good holiday Remus." She said softly before letting him go.
His cheeks were very red and he muttered something before he quickly fled from the room. Ursula looked out the window and saw his mother with tears silently falling down her cheeks. Mrs. Lupin practically smothered Remus in a hug and quickly pulled him through the crossing, her arm wrapped around his shoulders the entire time.
When the Black twins finally got off the train, Ursula and Sirius were greeted by the presence of their little brother and parents. Regulus smiled weakly when he saw them, like he had just eaten a lemon flavor Bertie Bean.
"What's wrong, Reg?" Ursula asked walking closer towards them.
Walburga's look made her stop dead in her tracks.
"What is that on your robes?"
Ursula sighed, "I swear mother, James thought it would be funny to charm my quill to write with pink ink and it spilled all over-"
"That is not what I meant." She hissed as her nostrils flared.
Ursula's brows furrowed until she looked down. Her robes were perfectly fine except for the ink stain and the…oh. Well, it looked like she found out quicker than she was supposed to.
Resigned to her fate, Ursula gathered her Gryffindor courage and said,
"That's my house badge Mother."
Walburga raised her hand as if to slap her for her insolence but suddenly there was pressure on Ursula's and Sirius's shoulders.
"Fancy seeing you here Burga. How's our dear cousin treating you?"
Ursula and Sirius turned to look up at the slightly familiar looking man standing above them. His hair had gone grey with age, but you could tell that in his youth it was the jet black at the entire family had. Around his eyes were wrinkles that were uncreated through years of laughter and joys and jokes. He was tall, taller than the average man, but he was not as tall as the twin's towering father that stood well over 6'2''. His actual face bore great resemblance to Sirius, the same jaw and high cheek bones that gave both an aristocratic look.
"Alphard, what are you doing here?" She seethed, her hands clenching into fists so tight that he knuckles turned white.
He smirked, "I was just welcoming my favorite niece and nephew back from Hogwarts. Is there something wrong with that, dearest sister?" He taunted her, "We wouldn't want to make a scene would we?" he added in a softer, more threatening tone.
He had her trapped and she knew it.
"Of course, brother. Now if you don't mind I would like to take my darling children home. They have been far away far too long. Don't you agree Orion?" The sarcasm practically dripped from her tongue as she stared scathingly at her older brother
Orion just nodded in his calm debonair style, not even affected by her anger. Alphard just laughed,
"Does that man ever talk? I swear the last words I heard him say were 'I do'. Too bad I wasn't invited to the reception." Alphard laughed dryly.
Sirius looked at Ursula with wide eyes. They had never heard anyone talk to their mother like this and be so nonchalant about it. Uncle Alphard was quickly becoming their favorite family member. Scratch that – favorite adult of all time in the history of forever.
"You weren't invited to the ceremony. Now let go of my children." Walburga commanded in a strident tone.
Alphard shrugged, "You already have to take along young Regulus and I'm sure that my dear cousin can find his own way home. Why don't I apparate the kids back home and we can spend our time catching up and maybe go Christmas shopping. I don't fancy another elf's head this year, so maybe I can give you some ideas."
The steam was practically pouring out of her ears.
"Fine." She spat before she turned on the spot.
Orion calmly placed his hand on Regulus's shoulders before they too disappeared from the platform. Regulus looked at his siblings in such a sad way that Ursula had to wonder what had happened to him in their absence.
She couldn't dwell on that long because Alphard spun the twins around to face him, "Now let's see you…" He trailed off and looked down at the pair of eleven-almost-twelve-year olds.
Alphard smiled and pulled them into a double hug; squishing them against his soft stomach. He pulled back and looked at them with twinkling blue eyes, not quite unlike Dumbledore's.
"I hear that you two along with your friends are quite the mischief makers." He said, raising one of his eyebrows.
Both eyebrows on both twins shot up,
"How in Merlin's name," Ursula began
"Do you know about that?" Sirius ended.
The older Black laughed, "Do you think that I wouldn't check up with you at all during the year. I have connections inside and outside that castle that you wouldn't believe."
"Who would those contacts be?" Sirius asked, with a roguish smile on his face.
"Like I would tell you."
He didn't give them any warning before he apparated them to the middle of the front room. Caught off guard, both siblings but in opposite ways. Ursula went backwards and hit her head on the solid oak door. Sirius went forward and rammed his stomach into the corner of the table under the mirror. He fell onto his back while grabbing his stomach in pain. Ursula was in no better condition as she glared at her uncle.
He just shrugged it off, "You're Blacks in Gryffindor, you're tough."
After his comforting words, the twins picked themselves off the floor and Alphard floated their trunks up the stairs to the fourth floor.
He left their stuff outside their rooms muttering something about getting Orion to talk.
The twins stood standing in front of the rooms that had been their prisons before they left for Hogwarts. Their names were etched in gold on the door in age order starting on the right. Ursula Walburga stood out proudly against the dark hard wood. Next to her on the left, Sirius Orion was just as bright, maybe just a tad bit duller. On the end, the door that seemed to open into the corner read the name Regulus Arcturus. Memories of a younger Reg sneaking into her room when he was scared flashed through her mind and she had to wonder, would they ever be that close again?