I idly turned the page on the fifth year Defence book in my hand, a single yawn threatening to come out as I read over the incantations for the Patronus charm.
I was currently in the Hogwarts library, doing absolutely nothing worthwhile.
Like I'd ever be able to use a Patronus properly.
If it worked on snark as opposed to happiness? It'd be a different story.
Regardless, all in all, it looked pretty simple.
Idly reaching for the batch of sweets I'd stolen from a fellow Gryf, I blinked when my hand seemingly touched nothing. Turning a bemused look towards the spot on the table-
"Sirius."
Looking up, I was greeted with the sight of one of my impatient cousins, her hands crossed around her chest, in level with her free-falling brown hair.
"...Which one are you again?" I deadpanned, watching as Andromeda held back the urge to roll her eyes. Or slap me upside the head. One or the other.
Briefly glancing over around the table, I let off a sigh at the lack of any of my friends. They must've left earlier without at all informing me.
"Kidding, of course." I followed on, grinning as I promptly closed my book. "Whats up Cissy?"
Andromeda uncrossed her arms, as she raised an eyebrow at me, one hand on her hip.
"Stop dodging the question." She remarked pointedly.
"...There was a question?"
Andromeda's expression seemed to twitch for a moment at the words.
"I've been standing here for five minutes, I'd prefer it if you stopped wasting my time."
"Sounds rough on the feet," I shrugged, turning my gaze back towards the book. "Should've taken a seat-"
Her hand promptly slammed the book down, her head leaning in towards me, her eyes almost stormy as she locked them with mine.
"I am serious right now if you haven't noticed."
"I am Sirius all the time-"
She promptly grabbed the book from my hands, lifting it up beside her head as she raised herself back into a full stance.
"You'll get this back when you stop been an idiot." She deadpanned towards me.
I snorted and reached into my bag, hidden under the table, for another book.
Andromeda didn't skip a beat as she immediately picked that one up with her free hand.
I let out a sigh and gestured for my now, suddenly, third favourite cousin to take a seat.
For whatever reason, a brief look of hurt seemed to filter through her expression at the demand...
What the hell did she have against seats??
After letting out a sigh for whatever reason, the seventh year promptly took the offered seat.
"You gonna answer me now?" She questioned, idly levitating the two books out of reach, foiling my plan of stealing them back instantly.
"You going to ask me the question?" I muttered propping my elbows up on the table, idly leaning my head on my right palm.
"..." After another sigh, as well as un-levitating my chosen books out of reach, Andromeda lowered her gaze to the table. "You really going to make me say it again?"
"...That's a pretty weird question to ask-"
"Oh, merlin- You know that's not what I meant!"
I am so confused right now.
At the complete look of bewilderment before me, I let out a sigh.
"Does this have anything to do with a desk by any chance?"
"No- What did you do?"
"Nevermind," I remarked cheerfully as I grabbed onto the book with the Patronus spell. "Glad I could help-"
She slapped me upside the head for that one.
"You're an idiot."
"I am eleven. I am allowed to be one." I shrugged, not budging from my task as I reopened the book to the same page.
"You're really not."
"Agree to disagree."
"That's not- You can't just use that for everything."
"You're arguing with an eleven-year-old idiot, bit worrying if you really think-" When her expression twitched again, her hand briefly rising up, I raised both of mine in a mock-surrender, a sheepish look on my face. "Alright, alright. As for the answer to your question, yes."
She lowered her hand, her back briefly leaning against the library chair as she crossed her arms again. A suspicion-filled expression on her face.
"I thought you didn't hear my question?"
"I didn't. But, I am probably at fault for it." I shrugged. "So, what's new with you?"
She completely ignored my question.
"...I wasn't blaming you for anything- Just..." She bit her lip, briefly gazing around for some unseen spectator before her gaze locked back onto me. "Look." She eventually settled on, reaching into her bag.
I mentally prepared myself for some sort of new form of weapon-
"It's not a weapon," Andromeda stated with a groan. "It's a letter from your mom."
"...How is that not a weapon?" I deadpanned.
She didn't react to the words, her hands for whatever reason visibly shaking.
"...Are you going to let me read it?" I questioned bemused, idly wondering if she expected me to read her mind-
"...Please tell me you can't do that..." Andromeda questioned, briefly freezing as her eyes widened.
"...Read a letter? I am not illiterate you know!"
"I- what? Merlin, they need to get your brain fixed, it's so hard holding a conversation with you sometimes!"
Ignoring that.
"Can we get to the part where you explain to me why you look like someone killed your dog- again?" The again part was really sad and ominous all things considered.
"...You know I am still convinced Bella did that..."
"Now whose changing the subject?" I snorted, turning my gaze back towards the book.
Andromeda didn't react to the words, instead electing to stare at the seemingly interesting blank space before her.
"You know... I was really considering running away from the family after I graduated from here."
"You can't run away from teleporters Andy. It's physically impossible-"
"Ugh, you know what I mean!"
I really didn't. I didn't believe in running away from your enemies, I believed in making them teleportation-inducing food. To make it seem like they ran away from me-
Andromeda broke my thoughts with another slap, this time to my left arm. An unamused expression on her face.
Either she learnt how to read minds, or I was pulling a me again.
"...So, what's the problem then? They run out of running away equipment in Diagon Alley?"
"...Your parents accepted my choice for marriage."
"...The mudblood right?" I questioned, turning a curious gaze towards her. Her gaze for a moment sharpening as her eyes narrowed before promptly softening up.
"Yeah... I... honestly, think it's a trap or something."
"Nah, I doubt it." I snorted. "Long as it's that Tonks fellow, they'll go through with it."
"...Why?"
"'Cos I told them to."
Her breath hitched for a moment as her eyes narrowed again, searching my own expression.
"...Why?" She questioned again, sounding like a freakin' parrot.
"Why'd I tell them to? Or why they'd listened?" I tilted my head the slightest as I, in response to the vicious attack on my eyes, searched her expression!
See how she liked that!
After a moment, I deemed her evidently not caring, or even noticing it.
"Both."
I shrugged and looked back towards my book.
"I promised them you'd get them something they wanted."
I didn't need to look her in the eyes to notice the sheer uncomfortable aura she suddenly started giving off.
"...What?" She questioned carefully as a single finger of hers pushed my chin back up from the book to look her in the eyes again.
I smiled, shaking my head the slightest. "I wouldn't want to worry you needlessly-"
"Sirius!"
I rolled my eyes.
"Seriously," I waved a hand. "Don't worry about it! If I tell you what it is, it won't make a difference! It'll work itself out, trust me. And if it doesn't then I'll help you run away myself!" I deadpanned. "Though I'll probably need to stay with you too, for that matter."
After a brief staring contest, one Andromeda cheated on via constantly darting her eyes around and distracting me, the older Black let out another sigh. "You sure? 'cos I don't think Ted will be happy if he finds out he has to do some sort of ritual..."
...Well, there usually is a ritual involved, but I seriously doubt he'll be unhappy with it.
Her eyes narrowed again.
"What?"
"You just... So there is a ritual then?"
"...Well, yeah... I mean, every... marriage... kind of has one? I am sorry, you do know about-"
It took her a second before her eyes widened and a faint red hue took over face.
"Ugh, you're... Just, ugh. You're eleven! You shouldn't know about that yet!"
"Hard to not know about it when you've walked in on your parents making you a little brother."
"Sirius!"
"Andromeda!" I responded immediately, locking gazes with her for a moment.
The two of us just stared at each for a moment before Andromeda, albeit very uncomfortably, promptly asked me if she would have to give up her firstborn to my parents.
"...I mean, if you want to? Though honestly, there are much healthier places to abandon your future children to-"
She slapped my arm at that one.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it!"
"...You know you're going to get us kicked out of the library if you keep snapping at me."
"I bribed the librarian."
We can do that!?
"I see."
She nodded sagely towards me, before letting out another long sigh, as she covered her face with her hands. A lot of tension leaving her for whatever reason.
"There's really no strings attached then?" She questioned through her hands.
I nodded.
"Just a bet with fate that you're first baby has magical powers."
"...Why wouldn't- You know what, you're right, I don't want to know."
"Extra magical powers."
"...Right.." Thinking that to be the end of the conversation, I turned my gaze back towards the book- Before holding in the urge to let out my own sigh as Andromeda promptly asked me another question.
"Why'd you do it then? You never said."
"Super baby-"
"I know you definitely wouldn't care about that..." She immediately spoke over me. "Seriously, why? I've seen you ask for some crazy stuff over the years but... This is a gamble, even for you." She paused for a moment, her gaze lowering again as her voice turned quieter. "What could possibly make it worth it?"
I shrugged. "'Cos I figured you'd run away otherwise."
Andromeda opened her mouth to retort.
"As happy as Tonksy might make you, you'd probably be happier if your family didn't kick you out for it, no? So yeah, I'd say that's worth it."
When her breath hitched, I mentally braced myself for another storm of questions, my eyes briefly closing for a moment- Before I suddenly found my head been pushed against what I presumed was the 'older' Black's chest. Her chin practically jabbing on the top of my head.
I held in the urge to sigh at the form of attack.
"How my aunt and uncle made you, I'll never know..." She whispered into my hair, before pulling herself back, though her hands were still latching onto my shoulder.
"Are you done? Or do you want a tissue?" I questioned, unamused.
Her expression turned playful at the words, as she flicked my forehead with a single finger.
"You're a big softie."
I rolled my eyes at the words.
"Says the mudblood lover."
She completely ignored my words.
"Hey. We end up kicked out, you'recoming to live with me."
"Bit of an overreaction to getting kicked out of the library."
She rolled her eyes at me again.
I idly wondered if our family did that too much? Or maybe it was just when they were around me?
"I mean if you get kicked out of the family, you're coming with me." She demanded of me, evidently not giving me a choice in the matter.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
"Pretty sure Tonks only agreed to live with one crazy Black idiot, not two."
"He knows what he's signing up for."
I really doubt that.