Children of Sin

Chapter 7

"I'm glad that the children are doing well," Euphemia Potter whispered to her husband, "I'd hate for them to suffer anymore than they already have."

"I agree my beloved," Fleamont squeezes Euphemia's hand, "it's unfortunate when people throw away family for pointless reasons like this."

December 8th, 1991.

"Happy birthday!" Léon Belmont cheered as Victor walked to their class table, "how does it feel to be a year older?"

"Pretty good," Victor laughs, "have you seen my siblings though? I want to go wish them a happy birthday. We all agreed to eat breakfast together."

"I think Layla just got to the D table," Clara Bafden, another classmate, pointed out, "not sure about your brother though."

"Thanks Clara," Victor thanked, before walking over to his baby sister.

"Vic!" Layla sprung onto her older brother, "happy birthday!"

"Layls," Victor spun her around, "happy birthday to you too!"

"They're so wholesome," Sirius mumbled under his breath, "why can't Regulus and I be like that?"

"Come sit," Layla ushered her brother into the seat next to her, "Damian should be here any moment. Maman said we should take pictures, so we'll have to wait for him."

"Well you won't have to wait long," Damian's voice sounded from behind them, "budge over baby sibs."

"Damian," Layla whined as he squeezed next to her, "you're squishing me."

"Oh stuff it," Damian rolled his eyes, gabbing a croissant, "you'll live."

"They have an interesting dynamic," Edmund Greengrass mused to himself, "I wonder how things will go from here." He was as shocked as his siblings about Larissa's betrayal. He was horrified, in fact. Delia Shafiq, his fiancee, may choose not to marry into the Greengrass family. It would stain his record if both his fiancee broke it off with him and his sister was a whore. How would he pass his bloodline on?

"Is that Maman's owl?" Victor interrupted their arguement, pointing to a beautiful tawny owl.

"I think so," Damian smiled, "she must have sent us birthday wishes."

The tawny owl reaches the three siblings, and Layla gently pries the letter from its legs. Damian feeds the bird as she opens the box.

"This is yours," she hands a blue package to Damian, "and the purples's yours Vic." Layla continues to open the back, and a strange pendant drops out of the box. As it hits the ground, it shines blue, and the image of Larissa Greengrass manifests in the middle of the dining hall.

"Impressive," Albus compliments, "I've never seen anything quite like that. I wonder how it's made."

"Bonjour my loves," Larissa's sweet voice reverberated around the dining hall. The entire room goes silent, the sight is a magical anomaly.

"Is that Maman?" Layla whispers to Victor, who immediately jabs her in the ribs.

"Be quiet," he hisses, trying to hear what their mother would say next.

"Happy twelfth birthday!" Larissa cheers, "I can't believe you three are already twelve. It seems like it was only yesterday you were little babies, and now you're off at boarding school. As this is our first time apart on your birthday, I thought of sending you one of my newer prototype projectors as a gift. You can record anything with this, and store it in a marble. Then you can replay the marble. I've sent you thirty six of them, twelve for the each of you. Always remember how much I love you. Adieu!"