THIS CHAPTER WILL INTRODUCE ONE OF MY OC'S. MY OC'S AND THEIR SOULMATE WILL BE THE SECONDARY MAIN PAIRS FOR MY STORY. TREAT THEM LIKE A SIDE STORY IF YOU WILL. ;)
Chapter 3 - Expectations
Walburga Black, the matriarch of the Black family, was a formidable figure. Dressed in deep emerald robes, her dark eyes bore into her twin children, Sirius and Cassiopeia, as they ambled alongside her in Diagon Alley. And in her hand, she held a list of school supplies for their first year at Hogwarts.
"Cassiopeia, Sirius," she began, her voice as cold and sharp as the wind in December. "Remember, we are the Blacks. We are pure-bloods, the last of a dying breed, and we must act as such."
"Yes, Mother," both twins echoed automatically, their expressions unreadable.
Dressed in her favourite forest green dress, her waist length dark wavy hair- properly styled, and chocolate eyes that shine with a tint of sparkling blue, Cassiopeia Black was an ideal example of a pureblood princess. Cassiopeia clutched the small bag containing her new Potions book. It was a subject she knew she would excel in, and she found a certain peace in the precision and predictability of it, unlike the unpredictability of her family's expectations.
Walburga continued, "The blood that runs in our veins is ancient and noble. We do not associate with Mudbloods and blood traitors. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Mother," Sirius replied, his tone filled with thinly veiled contempt. His rebellious nature was known, but Walburga chose to ignore it, considering it a phase he would eventually grow out of.
"The same applies to you, Cassiopeia," Walburga turned her gaze onto her daughter. "Your house does not define your loyalty. Slytherin or not, you are a Black first."
Cassiopeia nodded, her heart pounding. She knew she belonged in Slytherin but sadly knew her twin wouldn't be with her in it. She loved her brother Sirius deeply and admired his courage to defy their family. She longed to join him, but the fear of her family's wrath kept her silent.
"And remember," Walburga added, her voice dropping to a threatening whisper, "any association with the undesirables, any indication of disloyalty, and you would be as good as dead to us."
The threat hung heavily in the air as they continued their shopping in silence. Cassiopeia's mind raced, her heart torn between her desire for freedom and the fear of losing her family. Her hand instinctively reached down to stroke Lynx, her black cat, who was purring softly in his carrier. For now, she would play the obedient daughter, but deep inside, a spark of rebellion was kindling.
As Walburga was busy discussing the quality of unicorn hair versus dragon heartstring with the owner of the robe shop, Sirius pulled Cassiopeia towards Ollivanders. Regulus, their younger brother, trailed behind them.
"Getting your wands, are you?" Regulus asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity and a hint of envy. He was still too young to go to Hogwarts, but he already longed for the day he could get his own wand.
"Yes," Sirius said, his tone lighter now that they were away from their mother. "And maybe we can find a spell to make Mother less of a nightmare."
Cassiopeia let out a small laugh, feeling a momentary relief from the tension. "I don't think even the Elder Wand could do that, Sirius."
As they reached Ollivanders, Sirius paused, his eyes serious. "Cassy, you know you don't have to listen to her, right? You don't have to be what she wants you to be."
Cassiopeia looked down, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her robe. "I know, Siri. But it's not as easy for me."
Regulus, usually quiet, spoke up. "Cassy, Siri is right. You're smarter than all of us. You don't have to be afraid of her."
Cassiopeia looked at her brothers, her heart swelling with affection for them. "I'll try, I promise."
With that, they entered Ollivanders, the door creaking shut behind them. The musty smell of old wood and magic filled their senses as they approached the counter, ready to choose their wands. In that moment, Cassiopeia felt a sense of hope. Despite the expectations and pressures from their family, she had her brothers by her side, and that gave her the strength to face whatever came her way.
After several attempts with different wands that resulted in small sparks or no reaction at all, Ollivander handed her a wand made of ebony wood with a core of Thestral tail hair. As Cassiopeia held it, she felt a rush of warmth and a strong surge of magic that made the tip of the wand glow. Her heart pounded in her chest as she gave it a wave. A brilliant silver light shot out, illuminating the dimly lit shop.
"Ah," Ollivander exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "A rare wand for a rare witch. Thestral hair is a powerful core, indeed. It chooses a true master who has witnessed death and accepted its reality. It is not a wand to be taken lightly." In the back of her mind, she's reminded of the death of an old house elf, a friend that was irreplaceable that she'd rather not reminisce.
After purchasing their wands, the Black family returned to Grimmauld Place via Floo Network. As they dusted off soot, Sirius and Cassiopeia retreated to the drawing room, away from the prying eyes of their parents.
"Tomorrow's the day," Sirius said, leaning back in his chair. "We'll finally get our soulmate symbols."
Cassiopeia twirled her new wand in her fingers, thinking about the magical marking that would appear on her and every wizard and witch's skin on their 11th birthday. The mark would match with their destined soulmate's.
"Do you think we'll get to marry our soulmates?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Before Sirius could answer, the door creaked open and in walked Regulus, trailed by Kreacher, the family house-elf.
"Mistress Cassiopeia, Master Sirius," Kreacher croaked, "the Black family tradition is to marry within pure-blood families. The soulmate symbols... they are often ignored." Clearly, as their parents themselves, Walburga and Orion were not a destined pair. But one can only hope, can they not?
Regulus nodded, his face pale. "Yes, Cassy. Our family values blood purity over everything else. But that doesn't mean... it doesn't mean you have to."
Cassiopeia met Sirius's gaze, seeing the same rebellion in his eyes that she felt stirring in her heart. They had their wands, their magic, and each other. And maybe, just maybe, that would be enough to challenge the traditions that bound them.
Cassiopeia retreated to her room, a sanctuary amidst the stormy sea that was the Black family. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of her wand, the only source of comfort in her otherwise austere surroundings. Her black cat, Lynx, leapt onto her bed, purring as he nestled close to her.
She sat by the window, staring out at the moonlit garden. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions, the day's events replaying in her mind like a broken record. The oppressive expectations of her family, the choosing of her wand, the impending arrival of her soulmate symbol; everything seemed to be happening too fast.
She gripped her wand tighter, the warmth providing a small comfort. Her heart ached at the thought of her soulmate, a person she had yet to meet but was already willing to protect. She hoped, with all her heart, that they would never cross paths. She couldn't bear the thought of disappointing them, of them hating her for the facade she had to maintain.
"I wish you never have to meet me," she whispered into the silent room, her voice barely audible. "I wish you never have to see the ugliness of my world."
Lynx nudged her hand with his head, his green eyes full of understanding. She stroked his soft fur, her heart heavy with sadness. The Black family legacy was a burdensome inheritance, but she was determined not to let it define her destiny or that of her soulmate.
Cassiopeia looked down at her wand, its glow reflecting in her eyes. She was a Black, yes, but she was also a witch, a soon to be student of Hogwarts, a lover of potions and magical creatures. And she was only eleven. She had time, she had magic, and she had the will to change her fate.
With a newfound resolve, she tucked her wand under her pillow and laid down, Lynx curling up beside her. As she drifted off to sleep, she made a silent promise to herself and to her unknown soulmate. No matter what, she would find a way to protect them, even if it meant keeping them a secret from her world and herself.