astronomy • marlene mckinnon

fourteen

The three children living in Number Twelve Grimmauld Place have been given a set of rules which they were expected to follow at all times, without any complaint.

One of them was going to bed early so that they could wake up on time and present themselves at breakfast without any delay.

The two oldest have never been able to follow this rule, one didn't even try. The youngest however was able to, if sleep did come to him.

At some very rare occurrences, Walburga and Orion Black went out at night to do god knows what, leaving the entire house at the mercy of their three children.

Whenever they would return in the morning, the house would be exactly like they had left, the three kids never did mess with other areas, but if either parent would have stepped into their only daughter's room the day after they wouldn't be at home, they would find the state of the usually neat room in a complete mess.

Their parents didn't even check the cabinets in the kitchen, which was always a huge relief for the three children, they didn't wish for their parents to find empty jars in various cupboards.

On one late June night, when Walburga and Orion Black were not at home, the two elder siblings walked towards the youngest's room, trying to be as quiet as possible, since Regulus Black was fast asleep.

"Sirius!" Astraea hissed at the boy as opened the door to Regulus's room, louder than required.

"It's not my fault it's creaking!" Sirius whispered.

The two children froze in their place and their eyes widened as they heard movement downstairs along with loud voices.

"I thought you had the package!" Walburga's voice came ringing throughout the dark and quiet house.

"I thought they went already?" Sirius whispered as the two started to move quietly towards Astraea's room after closing Regulus's door.

"I did too," Astraea shrugged.

"No, you did." Orion's cold voice echoed to the upper floors. "You said something about it being in the kitchen."

Astraea's eyes widened as she looked towards her twin brother. "The cake in the kitchen."

"Fuck." Sirius winced and almost dropped the cake in his hand.

"Sirius!" Astraea whisper-scolded but then froze again as they heard voices again, her hand was still on the cold door handle.

"No, It's in the drawing-room!" Walburga yelled and they heard footsteps.

The two heard some more yells and finally, the door slammed, and the two sixteen-year-olds sighed in relief.

"Are we positive they're gone?" Sirius asked.

"I hope so." Astraea shifted her weight. "What time is it?"

"One minute to midnight." Sirius looked towards the raven-haired girl. "Plan B, we better move, like right now."

Astraea nodded and the two moved towards Regulus's room for the second time that hour and opened the door, quietly.

Sirius jumped to one side of the bed as Astraea moved towards the other. The grey-eyed girl looked towards her twin who looked at his watch and nodded.

"Reggie," Astraea whispered as she shook her younger brother and Regulus turned around in his sleep.

"Regulus." Astraea shook him again.

"What?" He muttered, his eyes still closed.

"Something happened." Astraea continued to shake her younger brother slightly. "You have to get up like, right now."