On the Path to Discovery
Theme 50: Boggart


Sirius had often wondered what his boggart would be. What was he scared of? For several minutes, he racked his brains, as he had so often racked them for years and years, even since he had first come to know about boggarts, hoping he could come up with an appropriate answer.

- As usual, none came.

With a sigh and a groan, Sirius unclenched his fist, trying not to scowl visibly. Because, all said and done, whatever his boggart was, he was going to find it out now.

"Mr. Black, your turn," The Professor said, and Sirius stepped forward, wand aloft.

Pink and Blue - For a Black?
Theme 51: Act


Cygnus Black ran a hand through his hair, removing it to find it - Pink.

He said just one word, firm and cool. "Explain."

"Well, it was that new potion I whipped up in Potions last time," Druella said, acting rather reluctant. "The time you -"

"- Sat with Miranda instead of you?"

Druella flinched - Apparently, it was not a good memory. "Yes."

"And what exactly does it do?"

"Um..."

"Spill already, Ella."

"Well - Well it turns your hair pink and blue!" Druella burst out.

And then she was running, running like mad, and Cygnus was running after her, shock and laughter mingling.

When Flobberworms Zap
Theme 76: Zap


"And then the two flobberworms -"

"- Zapped each other?" Nymphadora suggested, cutting her mother's peaceful narration.

Andromeda Black raised an eyebrow at her ten year old. "No, definitely not," she said, suddenly drawing herself up - and, in the moment, Ted, looking at her from his comfortable seat, knew just how much of a Black she had always been: No one but a Black could draw themselves up that way - and shaking her head. "You're watching too much of those muggle action movies again, Dora."

Nymphadora groaned. "Not the study lecture again, mum."

Andromeda frowned. "Nymphadora Tonks, you annoy me."

Down Memory Lanes, Down Turns of Time
Theme 28: Timeturner


"I wish I had a timeturner," James groaned, after a practically bad day of it all: four detentions, a sprained ankle, and a fight with Lily because she had seen him help Sirius against Snape.

Sirius, stretching his legs and yawning, shrugged a little. "It would ruin the fun of it all, though," he said, for once thoughtful. "It makes things a lot more memorable, this way. More beautiful when you think of them later on."

James agreed with him, and he agreed with himself - then.

Now - behind prison walls, surrounded by dementors - Sirius wished he had a timeturner, too.

In Rainbow Quills
Theme 26: Quill


What to buy, and what not to? Andromeda, on her first trip to Hogsmeade, had cheeks flushed with enthusiasm. It was, after all, an extremely delightful place to be in.

She ran her hands over the glass below which were set many dainty quills, and wondered whether it would be better spending her money on them, or a slab of chocolate from Honeydukes.

As she made her way back to the castle, later that day, she hoped it would become easier to choose when she was more used to this.

– Twenty years later, she was still not used to it.

The ‘Black’ Jewel
Theme 25: Sorting hat


The sorting hat had taken a long, long time to sort her.

– Blacks, it had sorted many, but one like Bellatrix? Never.

"Intelligence," it murmured, more to itself than Bellatrix. "Potential. Ambition, courage, daring. And a name that will be remembered. . . for greatness. Terrible or virtuous, I can not say. . ."

It was quiet for a long, long time, and Dumbledore, leaning slightly forward, knew there sat a student that would rise to heights. He hoped she would make a good house.

"Slytherin," the hat shouted.

Sudden fear fell across Dumbledore's face. Then it was gone, and he was impassive.


The title has double meanings. It means both, a Black who is a gem of a person [as regards skill and talent], and a jewel that is Black i.e. beautiful, but terrible.

Much Older Days
Theme 24: House elf


Kreacher picked his way through the huge house, serious conversation floating into his large ears from the drawing room. He peeked in: Harry was there, with Hermione and Ron.

"Hello, Kreacher," Hermione said kindly, the first – as always – to notice the house-elf.

"Hello, young miss," Kreacher said respectfully, before bowing to Harry and Ron both. "Does young masters need anything to eat?"

Harry shook his head. "No thanks, Kreacher, but you've been great."

Kreacher tripped away, reminded of much older days... When Sirius and Regulus were both alive and small, and his mistress put them to bed herself.

Mother-Son Scenes
Theme 23: Telescope


"Mum, I need a new telescope."

Walburga Black looked up from the book she was reading, laying her spectacles gently on the table. "Why, honey?" she asked her favourite son. "You got one last month."

Regulus shrugged. "It broke," he said truthfully. "I was, umm, a bit ecstatic when Geraldine - err - cancelled her trip to France to stay with us. And, errm -"
Walburga held up a hand. "I get the gist, Reg," she said, heaving a sigh and shaking her head. "You'll get your new one."

She smiled to herself as she put her glasses back on, though. Boys.

Happy Pursuits
Theme 22: Kneazle


It was her birthday and, as she bounded down the stairs, an excited Andromeda landed into Sirius.

"Sorry," she said, too happy to sound genuinely apologetic.

"Can't wait to see your presents, eh?" Sirius teased. Andromeda grinned: He knew her too well.

"What have you gotten me, anyway?" she asked, nudging him.

Sirius grinned. "For beginners - this."

He held up a basket: inside sat a white kneazle, curled into a ball.

"OHMYGOSH, SO CUTE."

A second later, the baby kneazle had jumped out of the basket in fright and was running all over the hall, Andromeda in happy pursuit.

Funny, Come to Think of It
Theme 29: Pensieve


Ah, another Black caught in mischief. Dumbledore would have ignored it and left it to his more-than-able Professors to handle but, unfortunately, it was worse mischief than usual.

– The reason being that it contained two Blacks.

– Sirius and Bellatrix.

– Again.

He stared into his Pensieve for a moment, watching the argent swirl and gather into little waves at its surface, still wondering what he would say to them. Blacks, he could not help thinking, were pretty tough to handle.

– Even for the greatest wizard in the world, the one whom the darkest of wizards and witches feared most.

Two Hungry Blacks
Theme 30: Feast


As the feast began, Sirius and Regulus immediately began to shove large amounts of food into their mouths. Bellatrix, sitting with her friends, raised an eyebrow.

From Sirius, she could expect anything now. She had always expected just about anything from him but, ever since the day he had dared to pull one of Narcissa’s – yes, she admitted they were childish, but still – blonde pigtails, Bellatrix had given up any hope of his ever turning out a real Black. But Regulus? Please!

If Geraldine could see him at the moment, she would run in the opposite direction at full speed.

White, Pink and Turquoise
Theme 31: Dress robes


They were beautiful dress robes.

White, with clusters of deep, vivid pink and clusters of deep, vivid turquoise in flowers and leaves and motifs, and pearls stitched all along its low, snow white neck and its puffed, snow white sleeves. Geraldine, running a hand over the fabric, knew they were perfect to wear on her next visit to Grimmauld Place the moment she set eyes on them. In silence, she placed a heavy bag of galleons on the counter, and nodded towards the robes.

She was not disappointed, the next week. Because, the moment Regulus saw her, he kissed her.

Post-Match Delights
Theme 32: Common room


The common room was fit to burst with students. Gryffindor had won the championship match of the term’s Quidditch season, and cheers and applause was all the rage wherever gold and scarlet flashed.

“Congratulations,” a pretty, black-haired girl said warmly to Sirius. “You played very well.”

“Thanks,” Sirius said, swallowing a mouthful of cake. He returned her smile and, with something of a very light blush, the girl turned away to join her friends.

“She’s pretty,” Sirius commented to a half drunk from butterbeer James. “No?”

“Wha –?” James asked, startled out of watching a certain Lily Evans.

Pranks and Potions
Theme 33: Classroom


“Yup, coast’s clear. No one in there.”

Sirius voice floated back to James who, looking around to make sure no one was around, quickly sneaked into the Potions classroom. The heavy, stone floor stretched beneath their feet, accompanied by rows of desks and chairs.

“Perfect,” James said, rubbing his hands together.

Quietly, the two Marauders sneaked up to what was Severus’s seat for certain – he always sat there, no matter what. With unsurprising strength, James lifted the chair.

“I just hope everything goes as planned,” Sirius said, mischief dancing in his eyes as he knelt by James’s side, wand aloft.

Toujours Pur: Always Pure
Theme 21: Veela


"The Blacks," the Gryffindor sitting in The Three Broomsticks declared suddenly. "Are all too lucky."

Her friend followed her gaze towards the table where Regulus Black had just taken a seat, accompanied by an amazingly pretty girl - a part-Veela, everyone said.

"Yeah," she admitted. "You're right. Sirius has half the female population at school under his charm in everything, Regulus has Geraldine, Bellatrix's looks and grades are both amazing, Narcissa can get just about any boy she wants to -"

"You're making me feel inferior," the first girl cut across. "Everyone knows the Blacks are too good."

Ze Miss Black
Theme 34: Parseltongue


"Salazar was a Parseltongue," Professor Binns explained, aware of more of the students' attention than was usual. "Who did not support muggle-borns mingling with - Miss Black?"

Surprisingly, he said her name right. He did not call her Blurry or Boston or Beedle - He called her Miss Black. Mystery it may be, but it was a mystery easily explained: Even Professor Binns did not dare to say Bellatrix's name wrong.

"He didn't support mudbloods mingling with those higher above, you mean, Professor," Bellatrix said clearly.

"Ten points from Slytherin, Miss Black," was all Professor Binns said in reply.

Of Bloods Not Pure
Theme 35: Pureblood


They were in the middle of yet another heated discussion, and Andromeda's countenance showed all too clearly her distaste for Bellatrix Black's side of the argument.

"Blood isn't important, Bella," she said fiercely.

"Yes, it is," Bellatrix said, drawing herself up to her full height. She looked a formidable figure there, facing him, exceedingly beautiful but with a certain, pulling darkness in her heavily-lidded eyes. "You should be proud to be a pureblood, Dromeda!"

Andromeda checked a sigh of mounting frustration: she knew this would never get anywhere. Turning on her heel, she left the room.

Hard Times and Dogs and Stags
Theme 37: Animagus


Sirius did not remember whose idea it had been - In fact, it had been more of a collective idea, rather than something restricted to just one person. Of course, this 'all' only meant him and James: Peter, as always, had just tagged along.

Animagi. There had been a lot of thrill in that thought. But, Peter excluded, they had all understood the dangers they would face, too. Sirius was a well-practiced animagus now, but he knew he could never forget the hard times they had gone through before finally achieving their goal.

- It was tough, being an unregistered animagus.

Patronus Beautiful
Theme 38: Patronus


"Expecto Patronum."

A silver leapord erupted from the end of Regulus's wand, leaping across the ground with a gentle roar. It circled them, twice, before eventually fading into the dim light.

"Satisfied?" Regulus asked, his tones conversational.

Geraldine was still gazing at the spot where his patronus had vanished after its double round around both of them. After a moment or two, she looked up at Regulus.

"You, Regulus Black, have the loveliest patronus EVER," she said, a smile playing around her lips.

"Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder," Regulus said laughingly, wrapping his arms around her.

Outside of the Duelling Arena
Theme 39: Duel


The group of Ravenclaws were clustered around the edge of the lake, all with that familiar air about them which instantly suggested that they belonged to Rowena's house of wisdom.

"You know, it's pretty disappointing," one of the girls said, quite unhappily. "I don't see why Ravenclaws aren't considered the best at duels, here."

"You have to admit, though, those three are pretty good contenders," a boy rejoined. "It's always a competition between Bellatrix and Sirius and James when it's all said and done."

"Two Gryffindors," a Ravenclaw sighed.

"And two Blacks," another added.

Ruined Dreams in Ruined Rooms
Theme 40: Spell


The living room was in ruins. Narcissa Malfoy had learnt to control her temper ever since