Sirius Black's Twin

Snap. Snap. Snap.

Lynx and Estelle were walking down the  streets of Diagon Alley, which looked even more spooky than it did that day of the wedding. Now not even kids were with their parents, but it seemed like the parents were doing the shopping for the kids. Once or twice the two girls would pass by a few muggles and their magic children, but they wouldn't smile politely at them, because the Snatchers were watching.

The Snatchers were almost as bad as the Death Eaters - and much more dangerous. Because the Death Eaters followed the rules of Voldemort and Voldemort didn't bother to order them to go after random muggles on the street. Sometimes the Death Eaters would do it for fun, but they were much too busy now.

The Snatchers, on the other hand, were free to do whatver they wanted. If they grabbed any muggle-born and brought it to the ministry they would have a couldren full of gold - and the Snatchers loved their gold.

Lynx and Estelle were free to roam Diagon Alley as they pleased, because they were both one of the well known, very wealthy, completely pure blooded families that could even stump the Malfoys. Maybe not Estelle, because she was French, but if she was English she would be at the same level as the Malfoys.

Not that none of the Snatchers never tried to turn the girls in, but every time Lyra came to the Ministry to collect the girls she pointed out that Estelle and her family were not English, and that they were a neutral in the war, meaning that she was no threat - but Lyra hinted strongly that she could be an ally. This got the Death Eater's interests peaked and they had eyed Estelle in a different way, instead of looking at her like she was a slug.

The same went for Lynx and Will. They were Blues, and though their mother had boldly fought against Voldemort in the first war, she was more quiet in this war, meaning that she and her children could also become a possible (and strong) ally. So they were safe... as long as they didn't put their toe out of line.

So they family was on a very tight rope, and they were desperatly trying to keep their balance. Lyra knew that she could have put up the Fidilus Charm, but she had her children to think about - they had to go to Hogwarts and live their life, not end up cooped in a stuffy house like Sirius had been. Like James and Lily had been. Like she felt like she was now.

Lynx sighed when her and Estelle reached Madam Malkins. SHe had grown out of her robes, becoming almost as tall as her mother was now, but she didn't want to go in the shop. She went there the day of the Wedding, and the wedding was when it started.

"It should 'ave went down in 'istory, no?" Estelle joked throatily, wiping her eyes a bit as a few tears slipped down.

"I wish this war was history," Lynx muttered to herself, and then walked into the shop.

The tinkling of the bell made the old witch jump a foot in the air and rush to the front, her eyes wide with fright and hoping it wasn't those Snatchers again. They tried to get stuff for free, and she usually did give it to them for free, but she always drew a line. But every time she told them no, they seemed to get angier and more aggresive...

"Oh, it's just you," Madam Malkin breathed a sigh of relief.

"Who were you expecting?" Lynx asked in an almost sarcastic tone, before she noticed the flash of real, cold fear in the old witches eyes; then her own eyes lowered as she realised - there was no joking in the middle of a war. "I'm here for my Hogwarts robes." she said quietly.

"Step up, dear," Madam Malkin said, gesturing towards a short stool. "My, I remember when you were just a little runt," Madam Malkin chuckled as Lynx stepped on the stool and towered over the short witch. Behind them, Estelle was eying the Daily Prophet that was laid on the counter, and she slowly approached it.