𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑, ᴊ. ᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇʀ

𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐃 started normally. Evan, Barty, and Atlas were all joking about their days. The Girls and Regulus listened, chiming in occasionally. Everything was going well until Snape, Narcissa, and Lucius came over. They were all in their 7th-year, so they tended to stay away from the group, but when they did come, it was never good.

They all moved around, making room for the older 3. Narcissa sat to Aries's right, Lucius sat on Narcissa's other side, and Snape sat across from them next to Anastasia. "Did your mother tell you?" Narcissa asked her cousins, turning slightly to face them.

"Tell us what?" Regulus whispered from Aries's side. Whatever it was, it couldn't have been great news if Narcissa was the one telling them about it.

"About the meeting." Aries looked into her favorite cousins' eyes, trying to feel some of her emotion. The only one she could feel was guilt, which confused her. "It's going to happen during the holidays."

Then it all clicked; The meeting. The one where they'd sell their souls. "How do you know?" Aries tried to control her tone, careful of Snape and Lucius being near.

"Bella told me. She couldn't control her excitement." The twins nodded as Aries started to feel lightheaded. This was too much. They were too young. Regulus was too young. "It's all of you."

"All of us?" Ana asked softly, her question barely heard.

They had all known this was bound to happen. It had been drilled in their heads for the past 5 years. Over the summer it had become more evident; become more real.

"Yes, Aries, Regulus, Atlas, Barty, Evan," Narcissa took in a soft inhale before continuing, "and you, Ana."

"I thought we had more time," Regulus said, trying to keep his voice neutral. You'd have to be blind to miss how upset they all looked. None of them wanted this. They all just wanted to be kids.

"We don't," Aries responded firmly, her hands starting to shake. Nothing good ever happened when she started to feel like this. She had been taught how to manage it, but sometimes it became too much. Sometimes when she felt something too strongly, she couldn't help it. It only took one tiny flicker for the fire to lose control.

Nathaniel, who was farther down the table, was the first to notice. "Regulus," He said, his voice strong. Her twin turned to the older boy, but she felt like she was underwater; her ears were muffled, her eyes were foggy, and she couldn't breathe. That's when Regulus noticed. "Get her out of here. Now." Nathaniel ordered. The lights started to pulsate, gathering everyone in the hall's attention.

Nathaniel had always been protective of Aries, even when they were young. She wouldn't consider them friends, but she would trust him with her life. He was one of the few.

Nodding, Regulus pulled his sister up and gently walked her out of the hall. He knew by her glazed eyes that she wasn't aware of what she was doing. He whispered soothing things to her as he led her to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. He knew Professor Autumn would meet them there soon.

Helping her to lean against a table, he grabbed her face in his hands. "Aries," He gently whispered, his thumbs slightly rubbing her cheeks. "You need to come back, please."