Chapter 129: Order of the Phoenix [Side Story]
A Tale of the Daily Life of a Make-Believe Family
Carrying their heavy luggage, the boy and girl were guided to their individual rooms in their new home, their mouths hanging wide open in shock.
"I-Is this a single room...? With all this space?"
"It's even bigger than Dudley's room..."
Windows taller than they were, a chandelier on the ceiling, a four-poster bed, and glossy new furniture. To the eyes of the twins, who had been forced into a life of mistreatment, everything was dazzling. As they set their bags down and scuttled about checking every corner like small animals, they looked exactly like the baby squirrel and baby rabbit Hermione always compared them to.
Warmed by the endearing reactions of his beloved godchildren, Sirius opened another door inside the room.
"You can get to Maria's room from here. Of course, you can lock it freely from either side."
"They're connected? I've never seen that before!"
"We can see each other right away without even having to go out into the corridor!"
"Make sure to lock it properly at night—ah, they're not listening."
While the two adults smiled wryly at the children who practically bounded into the next room, the twins soon returned to Harry's room, looking as if they had something to say. Maria's expression was particularly striking. She narrowed her sharp, cat-like eyes in sheer dissatisfaction, glaring at Sirius.
"Maria?"
"...Sirius, I'm fourteen years old, you know."
"Hm? I know that."
"It's a little too cute for Maria's room..."
At Harry's reserved translation, Remus nudged Sirius as if to say, I told you so.
"I told you, Sirius. This is overdoing it."
Beyond the door given specifically to Maria—a sea of pure white frills and lace spread out before them. Though the basic layout was identical to Harry's room, the level of sparkle was entirely different. Regardless of her appearance, Maria's spirit was as far from a delicate maiden as one could get. Just imagining herself living in this space felt like some kind of punishment game.
"Aren't girls supposed to like that sort of thing?"
"You really don't have to treat me like a girl..."
"It's better if you don't think of Maria as a girl."
Earnestly rebuked by the twins, Sirius looked a tiny bit crestfallen.
"My cousins' rooms used to look just like that, though..."
"It's cruel to compare Maria with the young ladies of the House of Black. You were far too enthusiastic. Look, even... inside that wardrobe."
—Inside the wardrobe?
With a bad feeling about this, Maria went back into her room (It hurts my eyes!) and hastily pulled the wardrobe open. Inside was...
Rustle...
A flurry of white, pink, and black frills danced before her eyes.
"...Sirius..."
"Maria, let me tell you a little secret. That is entirely just his own hobby. He just shoved them in there because he wanted to see you wear them, so you don't have to worry about it."
"Hey! You were supposed to keep that a secret!"
"Sirius..."
The heavy, judgmental glares of hazel and emerald green were painful. As expected of twins, they were exactly alike at times like this.
Slamming the doors shut to forcibly block out the fancy, feminine dresses, Maria declared:
"I am not wearing skirts."
It was a fact everyone knew. Maria Potter hated feminine attire—it was practically common knowledge. She was so stubborn about it that she even forced her own way when it came to the Hogwarts uniform. However, Sirius just couldn't give up.
"If you just try them on once, you might awaken to the joys of fashion! If it's what you want, I'll buy you both absolutely anything."
"Can you forgive him, Maria? This idio—your godfather just can't help wanting to spoil you two."
"Remus, don't phrase it so weirdly! Whose side are you on anyway?!"
"Harry and Maria's, obviously?"
Watching the adults bicker like schoolboys, the two children looked at each other and dropped their shoulders in exasperation.
—It seemed like this was going to be quite a fun everyday life.
Night fell. Having decided to pretend she never saw the inside of that wardrobe, Maria changed into her favorite, long-worn pajamas and let out a groan.
...I have to lie down in this?
It was a four-poster bed just like Harry's. However, it was clearly not the "same." The head of the bed was smothered in stuffed Nifflers and Puffskeins, and the pillows themselves were covered in frills. A floral duvet, lace curtains, an extravagant bed frame... It was far too loud visually to actually get any sleep.
With a heavy sigh, Maria opened the connecting door without hesitation.
"Let's sleep together, Harry."
"I figured you'd say that."
The boundary of a single door was easily crossed. Black and red hair splayed across the mattress, the bed still leaving plenty of room even with the two of them lying down. To think that this room was decorated in such simple, coordinated colors... the royalty of the magical world really did lack all common sense.
"Do you think Sirius will be mad?"
"I don't care. Until he does something about that room, my room is right here."
"You're really stubborn about this sort of thing, Maria. Not that I mind at all, though."
Harry pulled her familiar warmth close in a practiced motion. Though they lived apart in the Boys' and Girls' dormitories at Hogwarts, tonight he felt as if he wouldn't be able to sleep without his sibling nearby.
Maria, too, snuggled against his comforting warmth. Even if a nightmare came for her—as long as she had this hand, she could find her way back.
"Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight, Maria."
Pressing a kiss to each other's foreheads, the children peacefully closed their eyes.
"—I knew it would end up like this."
Lantern in hand, the master of the house sighed as he checked on the children curled up asleep in the same bed. His eyes looked troubled, yet brimming with affection.
It wasn't that Sirius suspected any 'wrongdoing' between the brother and sister, even if they were going through puberty. He might have had some slight thoughts about how close they were, but the dynamic was undoubtedly pure familial love.
However—at this rate, they would never develop a proper awareness of their own genders. Especially Maria, being a girl. She was far too defenseless around the people she trusted.
"Honestly..."
He fixed the blanket that had been kicked aside. Lingering there, Sirius gently stroked the heads of the boy and girl, who slept with such childlike faces.
In reality, saying Maria was defenseless was both right and wrong. Around anyone who wasn't family, Maria would remain vigilant around the clock. It was almost on the level of instinct or unconscious reflex. However, since Harry, Sirius, and Remus were at the very top of her "family" list, there was simply no reason for her to be on guard.
"Nn..."
At Maria's sleepy fussing, Sirius quickly pulled his hand back. The children's sleeping faces were just so adorable that he had gotten completely absorbed in soothing them.
It wasn't that Sirius himself was particularly fond of children in general. It was precisely because they were the precious keepsakes left behind by his best friends that his affection for them swelled without limit.
"Sorry, did I wake you?"
"Sirius..."
Maria called out to the man in front of her with a sleepy lisp. Her hazy, melting hazel eyes caught the light of the lantern, looking almost like sweet amber candy.
"I'm sorry."
"Hm?"
"Because I didn't sleep in my own room."
"Ah... Today is a special exception."
As he comforted Maria, who had pitifully lowered her brows in her half-asleep state, his hand was suddenly caught by the girl in question.
"Maria?"
"Special?"
"Hm?"
"Today is a special exception?"
"Well... it is your first night here."
"I see."
Maria patted the empty space in the bed between her and Harry. Her usually fierce eyes were still completely melted with sleep.
"Then, right here."
"...Hm?"
"Sirius, you sleep here."
"...Maria?"
"You said today was special, right? ...Come sleep with us?"
Sirius was utterly dumbfounded. This girl is sleep-talking. I know that much. But what is with this iron grip on my clothes?! She won't let go at all! Is this also because she's half-asleep?!
"Maria... no matter how much I am, well, you know, your surrogate parent..."
"Sirius, you said today was special."
"I did say that, but..."
"Sirius..."
"......"
The result: Faced with the endearing plea of a young girl bearing the eyes of his late best friend, the self-proclaimed surrogate parent caved in. —Though he offered the bare minimum of resistance by slipping under the covers in his dog form.
"Goodnight, Sirius."
...Woof.
He replied with a low rumble to the girl who closed her eyes in satisfaction. Burying her nose in the fur of her beloved godfather, the girl drifted back to sleep. As if on cue, the boy snuggled up as well, leaving the black dog sandwiched between them to let out a pitiful whimper.
"......Well now, this is quite the sight."
The next day, Remus Lupin, the other resident of the Black House, let out a mischievous chuckle at the sight before him. It seemed the Animagus transformation had worn off while they slept; the image of the adult in the middle acting as an arm pillow for the two children was undeniably goofy, yet wonderfully heartwarming.
"Looks like you're already a perfect family from day one."
Comments (0)
Please login or sign up to post a comment.