Life After Death - An Erica Black Continuation (4)

Fifthteen

March 14th 2028

Willow Elladora and Charlotte Neoma Black were twins, born 12 years ago to Erica Black and a one night stand: Edward Scott, a ministry official.
They had spent the last year at Hogwarts, a school for witchcraft and wizardry in Scotland after receiving their acceptance letters last year.

The girls, sat at their house tables that morning for breakfast, waited excitedly for the owls to bring the post. After what felt like an eternity, they came flocking into the great hall, delivering newspapers, letters and parcels to children at every table. Those few moments of chaos caused by the daily post were very exciting on the most normal of days but on a young witch or wizards birthday, it held a special kind of magic. Eventually, two owls, identical in every way, swooped down and dropped a sizeable parcel in-front of each girl. Their eyes darted to their mothers seat at the teacher's table, with a kind smile and a subtle nod she silently permits them to open them.

On the Gryffindor table, Lottie Black peeled back the wrapping carelessly, her excitement taking over. She, of course, already knew what it was. It was a tradition according to her mother and although it was one she didn't completely care for, gifts were always exciting. Beneath her mother's neatly folded wrapping, she found exactly what she had been expecting: a book.

'Charlotte's Web' by E. B. White.
With a soft smile she took a moment to uncharacteristically flip carefully through the pages admiring the pictures before smiling at her mother gratefully and silently praying Uncle Charlie sent her something cool from Romania...

Across the hall at the Ravenclaw table, Willow carefully unfolded the paper at the seams until it laid flat on the table, exposing the cover of a book:

'The Wind in the Willows' written by Kenneth Grahame.
A soft smile snuck onto her face as her eyes slowly scanned the cover. Every year, since before she could remember, her mother had always given herself and her twin a book wrapped in this exact brown paper and secured tightly with a neatly tied piece of string. It was one of very few traditions the once most ancient and noble house of Black now had. But it was most certainly her favourite one.
Willow smiled brightly at her mother who smiled back. She then neatly began folding the paper back up so she could dispose of it, placing the book carefully in her bag.
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My Twin Nieces,
Happy 12th Birthday! I can't believe you're so grown up now, it seems like only a few years ago you were born, and as your favourite Godfather, it is officially my duty to give the best gifts, so I suggest you stop by your mothers quarters before dinner tonight
Wink wink
Lots of Love,
Uncle Charlie xxx
P.s. Auntie Narcissa sends her love to the both of you and has also sent a small token of her affection.
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Wills and Lottie Black,
Sending you Birthday wishes from Victoire and me!
We look forward to having you stay with us over the Easter holidays.
We sent your Gifts to your mum's chambers.
Lots of love,
You Favourite Godfather,
Teddy Lupin xxx
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That Tuesday evening, after a full day of classes, the twins headed towards their mother's, the new History of Magic Professor's, office. Willow, the eldest by less than half an hour, wore a soft blue dress with white tights and her hair pulled back in a half-up-half-down style by a ribbon of the same colour. Her twin wore jeans and a flowing blouse, her hair loose and wild. Knocking on the door they take a set back waiting for a reply, after a few moments the door opens revealing their mother wearing a dark floral patterned dress as usual, her hair however, was down in long ringlets to her ribs which she rarely did these days. They always loved when their mother made an effort with her appearance, they always thought her beautiful but when she wanted to, she could sparkle.  Following her into her study, heading towards the back to the entrance to her quarters where the door sprung open to reveal their uncle Charlie.
"Charlie!!!" They both exclaimed rushing forward to embrace the familiar man, he caught them both in his strong arms.
"Happy Birthday Girls!" He cheered.

Opening their gifts and eating cake with their mother and uncle was an exciting time for the Black twins. Especially as they had missed their uncle a lot since September.
The opened their gifts from Charlie:
Willow received a book on dragons and their contributions to the wizarding community (through potions and wandlore ect) where as Lottie received a special package of goods from Weasleys Wizard Wheezes which Charlie's brother George owns.
Narcissa had sent them both a small velvet money pouch with their initials carefully embroidered on them, each stuffed to bursting point with Galleons, sweets and small gifts (scrunchies, magical nail polish and shiny lip glosses)
Teddy had sent them each a cloak, similar to the elegant flowing one their mother owned an abundance of. Willow's in a royal blue colour and Charlotte's in a bright red.
Both girls found a small book in the right pockets, inside the first page was a short inscription wishing them a happy birthday from Victoire and Dominique, the book was a spell book filled with charms for make-up, hair, mending broken items, finding lost ones and just generally making life easier for the owner.
Molly Weasley has sent them packages of fudge and lovingly knitted scarfs with either a 'W' or a 'C' embroidered at the end; Willow's in a pale blue colour and Lottie's in a neutral green colour- both clearly designed with their eyes in mind.
Finally, they got to their mother's gifts; Erica Black had given her eldest daughter a large and obscure book on Wand-lore and a neatly wrapped package of sugar quills. And to her younger daughter she had gifted a new pair of jeans, a Vinyl Madonna record and some chocolate frogs.

They each had a second slice of cake and talked animatedly, Willow doing her homework from that day at the same time. After that the girls bid their mother and Godfather goodnight and headed off to their respective dorms, each armed with a note from their mother, just in case.