Chapter 12: Family
"So, not a fan of the m-word, I see," said Sirius.
"I don't have patience for bigots," replied Ariadne, returning to her studying. Sirius, apparently, had different plans for her.
"Does that have anything to do with…your personal background?" he probed.
"I'm not Muggle-born, if that's what you're asking," answered Ariadne.
"Then what are you?"
"Half."
"Half-blood?"
"Half…everything. Half-wizard, half-Muggle; half-Irish, half-Bengali."
"Sounds like there's an interesting story behind that. Which is your Muggle side, and which is magical?"
"You're asking a lot of questions today."
Sirius' eyes did that thing again where they glimmered inscrutably in the firelight. "I'm in an inquisitive mood. Indulge me," he said.
"Will you go away if I do?"
"I'm not making deals with you anymore, Morrigan. I've learned my lesson."
Ariadne sighed for the umpteenth time that evening. "My dad—the Irish side—comes from a long line of pureblood Ravenclaws. My mom is a Muggle; she came to the U.K. decades ago and ran into my dad talking to ravens one day in the park."
"You don't really strike me as a Ravenclaw," said Sirius.
Ariadne looked at him over her stack of textbooks in disbelief. "Do you know what Morrigan means?"
"It's your name—Irish, obviously."
"Morrigan is the Irish phantom queen. She was a powerful banshee in mythological times. The Muggles know her a goddess of war and death." Ariadne paused. "Her preferred form was a crow or raven."
She shut the heavy book she had open. "My family is literally descended from a raven goddess. I was never supposed to be a Gryffindor."
"Then I suppose that's something we have in common," said Sirius quietly.
The statement seemed to grow heavier as it hung in the air between them. Ariadne realized how trivial her complaints about her family must have seemed.
"How did your parents react when they found out how you were sorted?" Ariadne asked more gently.
"Don't know," said Sirius shortly. "Never went back home to find out." Something seemed to have darkened in his expression, like night falling over his face.
"Why do you think I wouldn't be a good Ravenclaw?" asked Ariadne, changing the subject, and also asking something that had irked her since he first mentioned it.
"I guess you can't see it, Morrigan, but there's obviously a rebellious streak in you that's so very Gryffindor," said Sirius, smirking. "Lying to McGonagall? Partying into the early morning? Pinning Yaxley to the wall? These aren't things a good, studious Ravenclaw girl would do."
Ariadne rolled her eyes. "So you think you can turn a 'good girl' bad. Your ego never fails to amaze, Black. Also, you're a walking cliché."
"Ah, but that was exactly my purpose in getting you to come to that party. And it worked."
Ariadne tried not to let the annoyance show on her face. "You are a Gryffindor, Black, no question about it."
The light seemed to return to Sirius' face. "Why, thank you, Morrigan."
"I didn't necessarily mean that as a compliment."
"I'll take what I can get."
A/N: So I know this update is super short, but I promise the next chapter is going to be longer and really good! –Andromeda