Arcturus Black

By: Katerinaki

Published: 9/29/2014

Beta'ed: No

Notes: If there's anything worse than losing your mother to dragon pox and then coming to live in a whole different country, with relatives you've never even met before, it's coming to live with relatives who already hate you, for something you didn't even do. That was how Arcturus Sirius Black, secret son of Sirius Orion Black and Lenora Cassandra Malfoy, understood family politics.

Chapter 4: A Quiet Train Ride

As Arcturus predicted, Draco was pissed. Arcturus didn't bring the letter, he didn't want Draco stealing it and ripping it up. But he told his cousin and described his trip to Diagon Alley, buying his books, his robes, his cauldron, and the gift his aunt and uncle had bought him, a barn owl he'd jokingly named Striga. Arcturus could see Draco's jealousy growing; he was practically turning green.

"Of course, you'll be in Slytherin."

Arcturus didn't agree right away. He honestly wasn't sure what house he'd be in. Lupin and Sirius had been in Gryffindor and Lenora had been in Ravenclaw. Either would be nice houses. But Arcturus knew that the family expected him to get into Slytherin.

"Every Black is in Slytherin," Draco said.

"Not my dad," Arcturus replied.

"And look where he ended up. Maybe if he was in Slytherin, he wouldn't have gotten caught!"

Arcturus didn't say anything in reply.

Draco wasn't the only one who apparently expected him to be in Slytherin House. Everyone he saw congratulated him on his Hogwarts letter and started on about the Black family's proud tradition of Slytherin. It quickly got to be annoying, actually. Eventually Arcturus just nodded his head and numbly agreed, even if that wasn't really his own opinion. It was easier then suggesting that he might take after his father, and then getting all the odd looks and hearing more murmurs. After two years with his London-based relatives, Arcturus was finally ceasing to draw every eye as he passed and become the topic of every whispered conversation when he passed. He was still looked at sometimes, and let's face it, the murder of thirteen Muggles and the betrayal of the Potters to You-Know-Who wasn't something anyone would truly forget. There were still whispered conversations, but they were less common. Now, Arcturus had gone from "the murderer's son" to "the Black boy", known more for his own eccentricities. After all, he was a troublemaker and thank Merlin he was the Squibs' problem rather than their own. But that just comes down to breeding. Look at his parents.

Come September 1st, Arcturus found himself very tired, but excited. He'd hardly been able to sleep at all the night before and had instead stayed up, looking through his schoolbooks and trying on his new school robes, admiring the image in the mirror. He couldn't wait until they went to King's Cross Station to board the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9¾. He couldn't wait until they got to Hogwarts and he saw that first glimpse across the lake, the one that Lupin had told him was like no other sight he'd ever see. Come the first light of day, Arcturus dressed and double-checked that his trunk was thoroughly packed with everything from the now well-worn letter. Then he triple-checked, just to be sure. Striga went in her cage and all of it went thumping down the stairs behind Arcturus, effectively waking the Squibs, if they hadn't been awake already. He ate breakfast and sat, staring at the large, old grandfather clock in the foyer, sitting on his trunk with Striga next to him. The time seemed to move along at a snail's pace, like a wizard had purposefully slowed it. When at last it was time to leave, he leapt to his feet and gathered everything in anticipation. The Squibs were, of course, on time, and without a word, the three of them left the house and flagged down the Knight Bus.

King's Cross Station was crowded with Muggles and Arcturus and his aunt and uncle had found themselves jostled more times than they could've counted. Each time, Aunt Ariadne's face would go red and Uncle Marius's lips would become thinner and thinner. When they finally came to the barrier before Platform 9 ¾, Arcturus had practically been holding his breath to keep from either laughing or saying something to get him in trouble so close to the beginning of term. He was surprised his aunt and uncle had managed to keep their tempers. But, he supposed they would have to, living as they did, more within the Muggle world than most from magical families. That was the nature of a Squib.

The platform beyond was just as busy as Muggle King's Cross, however these were his "own kind". Well, closer at least. Most were half bloods or less and more than a handful were Mudbloods. But he did see some of the families that he'd recognized from the pureblood society. Marius and Ariadne noticed too, and seemed to be gravitating in their direction, but they didn't greet anyone, even if they knew them and didn't move any closer than 10 metres. Arcturus though, didn't care. He found a compartment and hauled his trunk inside, placing it on the rack before returning, not because he wanted to say a proper goodbye, but because Uncle Marius had requested it before.

"I expect only the best from you," Marius said, his voice stern. "You will represent the House of Black as we have taught you. I will not tolerate mischief, is that understood?"

"Yes," Arcturus hissed, smirking. His uncle could threaten all he wanted, but in the end he couldn't do anything to Arcturus all the way in Scotland. He couldn't even make a Howler. Uncle Marius saw the smirk but like every other time, chose not to say anything. The truth was Marius only had control of Arcturus when Arcturus allowed him to, which was not often at all. The boy did what he wanted, regardless of whether or not Marius or Ariadne said he could. Confinement only had so much effect, which was almost non-existent on this boy. He was just like his murderer father.

Arcturus did not give Marius or Ariadne a hug, or even a "goodbye". He merely glanced from uncle to aunt and then turned his back on them and climbed on the train. 'Not that they'd care one way or the other,' Arcturus thought as he found his compartment once more and sat down, preparing himself for a long train ride alone. Not that he'd mind. Arcturus liked trains, Muggle contraptions though they were. He liked to sit and watch the landscape go by and he liked the gentle rocking motion, smoother than any car or bus he'd ever rode on. You also had more room to spread out on a train, which was exactly what he did. Striga went on the seat next to him and he pulled down the book he'd been reading, settling in for the ride.

Unfortunately, a quiet train ride was apparently just not in the cards for Arcturus. No sooner had the train began to roll out of the station did the door burst open and two boys with bright red hair who looked identical spilled in, lugging battered trunks behind them.

"Cheers mate," the first one in said. "I see this seat is empty so I'll just—"He threw his trunk up into the rack with a grunt and then turned and helped the other boy, obviously his brother, with his own trunk. Both sat down across from Arcturus, grinning.

"We're Fred and George Weasley," the first twin said.

"Or Gred and Forge Weasley," the other added.

Arcturus cocked an eyebrow. "Which of you is which?" he asked.

"I'm Fred," the first offered.

"And I'm George," added the second.

"But we'll answer to either—"

"—so it doesn't really matter, does it?"

The two went back and forth and Arcturus found he was already confused and the twins had only been in the compartment five minutes.

"But enough about us," Fred, or was it George, cut in. "Who are you? First year?"

"Yeah," Arcturus replied. "Arcturus Black."

Immediately their faces fell. "Black, you say?"

'And here is where it gets awkward,' Arcturus thought. "Yeah, like the mass murderer."

"No way!" George exclaimed. Arcturus definitely wasn't expecting that sort of reaction. "As in Sirius Black? That Black?"

"He's my father."

"Wicked!" both grinned.

"Dad told us about him but Mum didn't want him to," Fred went on. "He killed thirteen Muggles and that guy, P-something."

"That's him."

"Bummer about Azkaban," George commented. "So do you live with your mum?"

"My mum died two years ago. I live with my Squib aunt and uncle." Arcturus picked his book back up, which happened to be the one Remus had gotten him last Christmas. It was dog-eared and worn already, but Arcturus wanted to make sure he knew all the spells before he got to Hogwarts, just in case.

"Whatcha got there?" George asked, turning his head and looking at the title.

"Practical Prankster, eh?" Fred read. "George, my boy, I think we picked the right compartment. That's not a bad book, but the best make their own."

"I know that," Arcturus replied. "But I don't know any spells yet. A friend gave me this, for my aunt and uncle."

"Smart friend. Well, Georgie-boy, what do you think?"

"I think we can take him under our wings," George replied. "It would be nice having another brain to do all the thinking, especially with Charlie graduating and Percy a stuck-up git. Unless, of course, you get sorted into Slytherin..."

"Not on your life," Arcturus replied.

"Good man," Fred approved. "I think we'll get along swimmingly. Hm, 'Arcturus', interesting name."

"It's a family name," Arcturus grumbled. "Guardian of the bears or some sort of nonsense."

"Better than Bilius," George snorted. Fred made a face.

Arcturus couldn't help it. He snorted. "Bilius?"

"Yeah, could you believe it? The nerve of some people," George agreed, acting offended. "Luckily, our little brother, Ronniekins, is stuck with that name. It was a close call, though. Only two years."

"Much too close," Fred agreed.

"But enough about us."

"Tell us what it's like living with Squibs!"

"Are they as bitter as everyone says?"

"Our great-grand-uncle, twice removed on mother's side was a Squib."

"Didn't actually meet him, though."

Arcturus found his head turning back and forth between the two like the Muggles did at Wimbledon. It seemed the Weasley twins didn't only share a face, but a brain as well. Or twin telepathy wasn't really a myth. That was the only way Arcturus could explain the speed at which they switched back and forth. At first it was confusing, but Arcturus began to pick up on their rhythm as the train ride continued and soon he was able to follow along decently, though he still sometimes mixed up which twin was which.

"Don't worry about that, Rus," Fred told him, after Arcturus had accidentally called him "George".

"Our own mum does it too."

"And she's known us for twelve whole years."

"Not counting those 9 glorious months before hand."

"Ugh!" Arcturus exclaimed, clamping his hands over his ears.

"Part of nature, Arcturus, old boy!" Fred grinned.

"That doesn't mean you have to bring it up!" Arcturus retorted.

"Arcturus, may I call you Archie?"

"No," Arcturus replied.

Fred and George both switched sides, moving Striga and sitting on either side of Arcturus. They slung their arms over his shoulders, getting much too close for Arcturus's comfort. He sat straighter and prepared to move, but Fred and George stopped him.

"If you're going to hang out with us—"

"—don't be so Sirius," George finished.

"Great pun," Arcturus replied dryly.

"That's more like it." They shifted back and Fred moved to replace Striga. "Cool owl."

"Thanks," Arcturus replied. "She was a birthday present, the only nice thing my aunt and uncle have really done for me. Everything else was really more because they had to."

"What's her name?"

"Striga."

"Striga?"

"It's Romanian. I lived there with my mom. In mythology, the strigoi were vampires, the immortal kind. They could transform into animals, including barn owls, turn invisible, and drained their victims of all their blood."

"Wicked," both twins said.

There was a loud thump in the corridor and all three looked up to see a girl in mismatched clothes face plant in the middle of the passage.

"Whoa there!" George jumped up and threw open their door. He and Fred helped the girl to her feet. "You alright?"

She brushed back a lock of royal blue hair and dusted herself off quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied. "Do that a lot. Ow," she winced, rubbing her elbow. She looked up finally and grinned. "Cool hair." Her face screwed up in concentration a moment and then her hair changed to match the shade of Fred and George's. "You're Bill and Charlie's little brothers, aren't you?"

"Normally we go by Fred and George," Fred replied.

"Or Gred and Forge," George added. Apparently they were trying to make the nicknames stick.

"I'm Tonks. I'm in Charlie's year, but Hufflepuff."

"Ah, explains everything."

"We thought we knew all the Gryffindors."

"'Hufflepuff'," Fred mused. "Has such promise...Don't you agree, Forge?"

"Absolutely, Gred."

Tonks chuckled. She looked over at Arcturus and then looked surprised. "You are...?"

"Only the guy who's been sitting here the whole time. This is Arcturus Black, though we've been trying out a few nicknames. What do you think of 'Turo'?"

"Or maybe 'Little Black'?"

"How about 'Black Bear'?

"Or just plain 'A'?"

"My name is Arcturus," Arcturus corrected, rolling his eyes.

"Black," Tonks finished. "Who is your dad?"

"That's the best part!" Fred added.

"None other than notorious mass murderer—"

"—Sirius Black!"

"My mom was a Black."

"Was," Arcturus repeated.

"Was?"

"As in, she's not anymore. She was disowned."

Tonks nodded. "For marrying my dad. He's Muggle-born."

"You're in good company, then," George replied. "Your mom was disowned; Arcturus's dad was sentenced to life in prison..."

"You have so much in common!" Fred added.

"Not really," Arcturus replied.

"Are you a first year?"

"Yeah."

"Don't worry, everything will be fine."

"I'm not. My friend told me a lot about Hogwarts."

"Would this be the same friend who gave you that book? The smart one?"

"Yes."

Tonks got up and brushed off her clothes again, seemingly more out of habit then actual need. "Well I must be going. I was on my way to sit with some friends. You might consider changing soon. I will."

"Thanks for the tip."

"Nice hair."

"Try to keep the floor under your feet."

"And don't let gravity get you down."

Tonks laughed again. "Thanks. See you later."