Love The Heartless

Chapter Twenty-Five

December 4th, 1971

"You'll catch a cold, standing out here like that."
"A good warming charm does the trick," Aurora said with a smile, as she turned and saw her girlfriend's pink hair.

"Hello, love. Sorry, I'm late. Got held up at work." Carina gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"It's alright. You're staying at the castle with me tonight, right?"
"Of course. 'Dromeda, Ted, and Nymphadora are flooing in later. Figured we could all have dinner together." Carina took her hand, and the two started walking through Hogsmeade.

"I want to invite Sirius too. His Mum sent a nasty howler a few days ago. Figured it would be good for him to hang out with 'Dromeda." 
"The more the merrier." Carina shrugged. "Now, I want to go to Honeydukes! Need some sugar in my system."

Aurora chuckled as she was dragged to the famous candy shop, but she stopped short when she saw Narcissa pulling on Lucius' sleeve. They looked to be in a bit of an argument.
"Hold on." Aurora drew her want, casting a silencing charm, and snuck a bit closer.

"I don't see why you have to resort to violence! I was just talking to him." Narcissa exclaimed.
"Because you're mine! That mudblood knows that. I don't know why you're so keen to speak to a mudblood anyway." Lucius sneered.
"There's nothing wrong with him. We're potions partners. He had a question!"
"You'll remember to who you're speaking to." Lucius snarled, grabbing Narcissa's arm tightly.

"Mr. Malfoy." Aurora made her presence known, walking the short distance to the young couple, and removing his hand from Narcissa. "Fifteen points from Slytherin for using a slur, and assaulting another student."
"I was not assaulting my fiancée. We were having a disagreement." Lucius sized Aurora up, standing to his full height.
"I saw what I saw. Now both of you, move along."
Lucius glowered at her, before storming off.
"Narcissa, come along!"

Narcissa looked at Aurora, before following Lucius.

"Bloody prat. I hate that kid." Aurora muttered to Carina.
"That was awfully attractive, seeing you in Professor mode." Carina teased.

"Oi, watch yourself before I take points from you as well." Aurora took her girlfriend's hand, and the two made their way into Honeydukes.

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"Come in!" Aurora called from her spot on the sofa.
Sirius looked nervous as he walked inside.

"You wanted to see me, Professor?"
"Cousin!" Andromeda exclaimed, rushing to engulf the boy in a hug.
"Andromeda!" Sirius' eyes lit up at the sight of his favorite cousin.

"I figured you would like some 'cousin time'. Did you think you were in trouble?" Aurora chuckled.
"That's usually about the only reason I get called into my Professor's office," Sirius said with a shrug.

"Alright, here's the little niffler. All clean and happy!" Carina entered the room, holding Nymphadora in her little snitch pajamas that she had gotten the baby.
"Want to meet your new little cousin?" Andromeda drug the boy to sit on the couch.

"She's tiny." He peeked over the blanket, at the nearly two-month-old infant.
"She'll get bigger. Wanna hold her?" 

"What if I drop her?" Sirius' face flashed with fear.
"You won't. Here, support her head and hold her body like this." Carina gently passed him Nymphadora, who looked up at Sirius with a confused expression.
"'Ello. I'm your favorite cousin, Sirius." He greeted the baby with a nod and a smile.

Nymphadora screwed her face up, then let her hair grow to match Sirius's shoulder-length black hair.
"Bloody brilliant!"

"Oi, language Mr. Black," Aurora warned.
"Sorry, Professor." Sirius grinned up at her.