𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 ━ Golden Trio Era

━chapter 21

Chapter 21
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"I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE," REPEATED SIRIUS. "I mean, it is just so obvious!"

Molly placed a mug of hot tea in front of the man before sitting at the table, her own cuppa in hand. Remus was already sipping from his hot chocolate.

The Burrow was quiet for a change. Molly's youngest was off to her friend's house for the day. Apparently, she had 'a bit of an opinion' about the extra guest they were expecting today, and so she didn't want to be around when the woman arrived. In fact, Ginny disliked the guest so much that she dragged her Hufflepuff friend — Roisin, the kid Sirius found out who also lived at Aleyne — off to the Lovegoods even before breakfast.

Molly huffed at the behaviour but said nothing else. Sirius thought it was perhaps she was happy that Ginny even bothered to show up home for the break.

Percy, the only other Weasley child to return home, was locked in his room. Sirius had yet to see a single glimpse of him.

Sirius ran a finger around the edge of his mug. "Pureblood families are more attached to the orphanage than Matron. They won't care if she gets thrown in Azkaban, as long as their precious backup plan remains."

Not that that was the reason Sirius was now focusing his case on Hallewell, but it would still work in their favour. The goal is to convince as many members of the Wizengamot as possible, which mostly consisted of pureblood families. There should be more families willing to vote in his favour now.

Molly tutted. "I still can't believe it. Abandoning their children, switching them out for 'better' versions. And they call themselves parents!"

Sirius and Remus shared a look. Neither of them wanted to bring up the fact that it was very probable someone down her ancestry had done the same.

"Why, I ought to —"

The floo flashed green.

"— oh! And there's Augusta. Come, come!"

Remus, ever the chivalrous, got up to greet the new guest. He offered to take her outer robe. Sirius stayed where he was, sipping his tea.

Augusta thanked Remus, before making a double-take once she got a good look at him. Her lips pursed slightly before she took her seat at the dining table.

Sirius raised a brow at the reaction. He set his mug down.

"Good afternoon, Augusta."

The woman's mouth was still pursed. Augusta looked at them with an air that reminded Sirius that, Light or not, the woman was, after all, a Sacred Twenty-Eight.

"Good afternoon."

Hadn't it been for all the table manners that were drilled into him, Sirius would have definitely rolled her eyes at her. Alas, Augusta's presence here was important. Longbottom kept eight seats at the Wizengamot, and they needed those votes.

The woman stole a glance from Remus, again. The man smiled back, big and bright. Augusta simply looked away sharply.

Sirius remembered Augusta, from back during their Order days. She was nothing like her son. Frank was a warm and social person. A bit shy at times, but no one ever questioned his placement in Gryffindor. Alice was the same, if not a bit more gregarious.

Augusta Longbottom was nothing of the sort. Brave, perhaps. Intelligent, even. But judgemental and a narrow-minded bitch. Sirius never missed the way she eyed Remus.

And besides, Sirius didn't forget the shock he felt when he read the name Edward Longbottom when he got the list of Aleyne kids.

"What is this about, then?" Seemed like Augusta understood that this wasn't a simple invitation to tea.