✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*one*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

The smell of burning flesh filled the air in the dining room of 13 Grimmauld Place, as tortured screams echoed in Cassiopeia Black's ears whilst she watched her older brother lay writhing in agony on the cold marble floor.

"Crucio!" Walburga Black shouted after the burning charm she'd placed on her son had worn off.

Cassiopeia looked on, not a muscle moved in her face as she stared at her twin, watching as a tear fell down his face as he watched their older brother, slowly dying under the extreme torture.

Cassiopeia had known it was going to happen. Sirius had been pushing their parents all night, baiting them with talks of muggles and anything that Walburga and Orion Black deemed beneath them. Eventually they were going to snap and it seemed like that was what Sirius was aiming for, because no matter how many times Cassiopeia had kicked him subtly under the table or tried to send him a look, he never even bat an eyelid in her direction. That was until their mother threw the steak knife in his direction, narrowly missing him.

It was like the bomb Sirius had been planting all night had erupted in an explosion of Crucio's and Hexes, with malicious and deadly intent behind each cast. Regulus, glanced pleadingly at his twin, terror taking over his pale face as Sirius began to froth at the mouth under the intense torture. Cassiopeia was the only one who could ever stop these situations, Regulus tried to step in sometimes but never got anywhere, although there was always a cost whenever either of them interrupted. Not that Sirius would ever know that.

"Mother." Cassiopeia interrupted, abruptly causing her mother to lose concentration and turn to her daughter with a face like thunder.

"What?" Walburga spat at her daughter, furious to have been interrupted. Whilst she was distracted, Cassiopeia wordlessly and wandlessly, sent a rejuvenating spell over to her brother, slowly healing him. It was a spell that made the utter agony dull to a bearable ache.

"I was just thinking, if you continue on for much longer, he'll still have tremors for our luncheon on Friday. Whilst I'm sure people will understand, him being a blood traitor and all. However there will be certain individuals coming that may frown upon your methods of punishment." Cassiopeia offered in a sickeningly innocent tone dripping in her voice.

"The Luncheon?" Walburga questioned, briefly confused. "Oh yes, the luncheon. Well, I suppose that's enough for today. Get up, boy." She instructed Sirius as she turned her attention back to the beaten boy. How the woman expected Sirius to get up after that ordeal without an aid was beyond Cassiopeia. Sending a prayer to Merlin, Cassiopeia stood to her feet.

"Mother. I think you may have gone a bit overboard. He's gonna need-"

"Overboard?!" Walburga fumed, turning her fury onto her only daughter. "Overboard you say? That filthy blood traitor wants to ruin us all and you think I'm going overboard?"

"What I meant, is that I think in order for him to be well enough for the luncheon and appearances, maybe we should just leave him to fester and think about his actions. And his loyalty." Cassiopeia prayed Sirius kept his mouth shut as he slowly sat up, resting his back against the wall. She turned to glance at her twin, sending him a flash of a comforting smile before turning her attention to the situation at hand.

"Watch your tone, little girl. I'll decide when and what is enough."

"It's never going to be enough is it?" Sirius coughed out as blood trickled out the corner of his mouth. Cassiopeia sent him a pleading look from behind their mother but as usual, he ignored her. He'd never understood why she went along with their parents ideals and attitude, how she could prevent a session of abuse but in the same breath reinforce such crooked ideals. Of course he'd never given her a chance to explain herself either. "It's almost like a sick part of you gets off on torturing us." The beaten boy smiled as blood coated his otherwise perfect teeth. He stood to his feet cautiously as the effects of Cassiopeia's spell had fully fallen into place.

"You insolent-"

"Little blood traitor. Yeah, I've heard it all before Mother. There's nothing you can do that'll hurt me anymore." Sirius began to laugh maniacally as he swayed. Cassiopeia sighed internally. She didn't trust that her mother wouldn't kill him if he kept pushing. She tried to intervene but Sirius was having none of it.

"Sirius stop-" Regulus tried before Cassiopeia spoke over him.

"Look, it's very late. Let's all just-"

"And you. Merlin, Cassie. You seriously go along with this shit? You know it's wrong. Yet you do nothing." He sighed, truly unaware of exactly what she did and why she did it. Whenever she'd tried to discuss it, they'd argue.

"Crucio!" Walburga put so much hatred into the spell her arm shook as she aimed. Sirius hit the floor with a thud as he roared in agony. The woman cut off the spell, only to cast a slicing curse on her eldest son, smirking evilly as dozens of cuts littered his skin. Satisfied with her work, she turned to her twins. "At precisely, eleven thirty, I expect you, Cassiopeia, in the drawing room. Your father will deal with you, Regulus. You should know by now, insolence has a price." Walburga whispered in their ears before sweeping out of the room.

Once the room was clear of their mother, Cassiopeia and Regulus glanced at each other, sharing a tired look, before turning to face their brother and running over to him. Cassiopeia reached out to aid Sirius, only to recoil when he flinched.

"Don't touch me! You're just as bad as Mother. Sitting there. Doing nothing. Why don't you two ever speak up? You know it's wrong! All of it!" Sirius croaked out.

"Let me heal you Sirius, they'll get infected." Cassiopeia ignored.

"No. I'm leaving." He abruptly announced. He shared a sad glance with his siblings. "Look, you could come with me. It would be safe. I- it's not safe here. They'll kill us all."

"Sirius," Cassiopeia sighed, knowing she couldn't leave. If they all left, their parents would hunt them down. It wouldn't just be them, it would be the entire family- minus Andromeda and their Uncle Alphard. They'd never have a moments peace. And where one twin goes, the other follows. Neither would abandon the other. Besides, living in that house and in their world was much like a game. Cassiopeia and Regulus had mastered it and had been playing it for years, it seemed that Sirius had never quite caught on.

"I'm going. Whether you two cowards join me or not." Sirius took his anger out on them.

He never did understand them. Individually he understood them more, but when they were together he often felt a step behind. He'd always put that down to the fact they'd known each other for nine months more than he'd known either of them. And magical twins were not only a rarity but they also had more of a connection then a muggle set of twins. He'd find himself feeling left out, despite their best efforts to include him.

Slowly he crawled on his hands and knees to the fireplace, refusing any aid. "You're staying?" He asked, his voice cracking as a tear fell down his cheek. He truly wanted them to go with him. Cassiopeia nodded on behalf of the pair of them. "Fine. Well don't come crawling to me when this all blows up in your faces. You're no siblings of mine." Sirius spat in hurt as he wiped his cheek, smearing blood everywhere before he took the last few specs of floo powder and shouted the name of his safe haven, a blank look settling on his face. "Potter Manor." And in a burst of green flames, he disappeared.

Cassiopeia felt her cold exterior begin to crumble but when she glanced at her twin, those walls immediately solidified themselves back in place. He needed her to be strong so he could be weak, so she'd hide her pain for now, until he could manage his hurt without her. She wrapped Regulus up in her arms, masking her internal agony at the haunting loss they both just suffered. He wasn't coming back. They both felt it in their bones.

"He's not coming back, is he?" Regulus whispered, tears streaming silently down his face. Shaking her head silently, Cassiopeia squeezed him tightly.

"No." She shook her head gently, glancing out the window, admiring the rain falling. "No, I think he's washed his hands of this family now Reggie."

She understood why he did it. But she wished he understood why she had to stay. There were so many reasons why leaving wasn't an option. For one, Regulus felt comfort in familiarity. Leaving and moving into the home of a stranger would send him into a spiral. And they wouldn't be safe. It would be expected of Sirius, but this would leave Regulus alone in Hogwarts. Cassiopeia had spent the past four years of her schooling at Beauxbatons Academy in France as her parents believed some separation from the boys would do her good. It didn't. But it taught her an awful lot about the game of deception. "He'll be safe there. You know he's considered Potter more of a brother than he thought of us for years now." Cassiopeia sighed.

She'd felt particularly stung when her older brother stopped replying to their letters two weeks into his first year of Hogwarts. Then when Sirius came home with tales of his new best friends, she'd vowed that she hated them. As she grew older she cared far less. She had Regulus and that would always be more than enough.

Magical twin pregnancies were a renowned subject. Purebloods craved twin babies due to the lore behind their powers. It was once believed that a set of twins could join forces and become an undefeatable magic. It had long since been dispelled but there were some truths in other theories, after all, Cassiopeia and Regulus were living proof.

They'd always been in tune with not only each other's mood, but their thoughts, often having silent, clear communication with each other, without a word being spoken - they just knew. It was like two muggle walkie talkies always being on the same frequency. They felt more powerful when defending each other too, like nothing would prevent them from protecting the other. The immense joy Walburga and Orion had when they found out quickly wore off once they realised there was no benefit for them.

The grand old clock struck loudly as it did every thirty minutes, alerting the twins that they had fifteen minutes until they met their fate with their parents. Standing up and linking her arm with Regulus, Cassiopeia led them out of the dining hall.

"Reggie, we leave that conversation and memory in that room. Lock it away and don't give anyone the key. Love you Reggie. Pour toujours et toujours." She whispered their motto quietly, as she locked her pinky finger with his.

"Love you Cassie. Pour toujours et toujours. Are you ready? Mother's always harder on you."

"Reggie, I can handle whatever Mother Dearest throws my way. Now go to Father, and don't push him. We have a long week ahead of us." She grinned, standing on her tiptoes to ruffle his hair. Despite being thirteen minutes older than him, she was a heck of a lot shorter than him. Not giving him a chance to argue, she spun on her heel and walked confidently to her fathers study, knocking thrice before making her way into the room.

"Cassiopeia. Darling. You know I hate to do this. But what example are you setting for dear Regulus when you interrupt me like that. He copied you! And I dread to think what awful ideas you give the other one. He probably thinks you sympathise with him." Walburga cringed as she thought about the sentence she'd spoken.

"I apologise and I understand Mother. I am to be seen and not heard." Cassiopeia agreed falsely, bowing her head slightly.

"There's my sweet girl. But apologies don't change what you've done. So turn around." Walburga instructed. "Silencio!" She cast, silencing both Cassiopeia and the room, ensuring Regulus and Orion were not disturbed by the inevitable. "CRUCIO!"

Cassiopeia was not inexperienced when it came to this particular unforgivable - despite what Sirius believed - every time she'd intervened or interrupted, she was privately punished. As was Regulus. They'd both sworn to never tell him - they knew he'd cause a fuss and start a new World War over it.

She lasted a whole fifty three seconds, standing stone faced, before she fell to her knees and let out a ear-piercing scream as her body felt like it had been engulfed in hot lava, every nerve ending roared in protest at the seemingly never-ending torture. When she felt like her head was ready to explode, her mother stopped. Cassiopeia didn't relish in the relief though, for she knew this routine like the back of her hand. Drawing a deep breath, the sound of ripping clothes filled her ears as the pounding of her heart subsided, the cold air biting at her bare back.

"Flagellare!" Gritting her teeth, Cassiopeia braced herself. This was a spell Walburga reserved for Cassiopeia only. The whipping spell causes the wand to elongate into a fully functioning whip which Walburga flourished with great enthusiasm. "Since you interrupted, let's say four times, I shall whip you four times. That sounds fair. Doesn't it?" Walburga smiled at her daughter, despite her not facing her.

"Yes." Cassiopeia bit out.

"Yes, what?"

"Yes Mother."

"Perfect. Count them for me." And so it began. With great strength Walburga pulled back and launched her arm outwards as it connected with Cassiopeia's back with a crack.

"One."

"Two." That one broke the skin.

"Three." The third one opened a scar that was still healing.

The fourth crack took the breath out of Cassiopeia and sent her to the floor gasping for air. Her back was a collage of red hues that looked almost as dark as her last name in the low lit room.

"Count it or I'll start again Cassiopeia." Walburga threatened, raising the whip.

"Fo-four."

"There's a good girl. Now, hurry up and get out of here. You're getting blood all over your father's rug and it's brand new." Walburga scolded, rolling her eyes as Cassiopeia laid still for a second. Then gathering all her strength, she slowly stood, refraining from using anything for support, knowing it would make her look weak and she refused to give her another the satisfaction.

"Goodnight Mother." She parted ways and slowly made her way to her bedroom, biting her lip to keep in the whimpers of pain.

As she expected Regulus was there waiting for her. He slowly hobbled over to her, the effects of his own dance with the Cruciatus curse still affecting him.

"How- how can I help? What did she- Oh my God Cassie." Regulus was usually calm, he was a very strong-willed person. But as soon as Cassiopeia was in the mix, it was like all rationality went out of the window.

"The basic healing charms will do. You know the whipping is riddled with dark magic. There's nothing you can do about the scarring." She replied weakly. In all her years at Beauxbaton where she excelled, nothing had taught her how to heal such dark wounds. Not all the wandless nor wordless magic in the world helped in these instances, for her mother and father did not know she was capable of such magic. And she was frighteningly good at it too, to say the least.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry." Regulus kept mumbling in between charms, continuing even after Cassiopeia had fallen asleep. "Kreacher!" He called out, sighing in relief when he saw the third most important person in his life appear next to him with a pop!

"Kreacher, can you lift Cassie up to her bed please? I'm too weak." Regulus panted, the effort he'd used to cast the most basic spells had left him exhausted. Spell work after torture was always harder.

"Of course, Master Regulus." Kreacher bowed before clicking his fingers and levitating Cassiopeia up to her bed.

Regulus slowly stood and made his way over to the bed before collapsing in a heap next to her. "Thank you, Kreacher. Can you keep an eye on her whilst I sleep please?"

"Of course, Master Regulus. Kreacher lives to serve House Black."

"Love you, Kreacher." Regulus mumbled before finally closing his eyes and joining Cassiopeia in the land of dreams. Kreacher allowed himself a small smile and one tear fell from his bulbous eye before he took rest on the arm chair that Cassiopeia had forced him to accept a seat on. He truly adored the twins as if they were his own and he'd do anything and everything for the pair of them.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

The luncheon had arrived swiftly and the tremors had finally settled as Cassiopeia stood in the mirror running her hands over her dress. It was solid black with gold accents on the bodice, where it cinched in at her waist before flowing down to her ankles, leaving a train of fabric in her wake.

Smiling at her reflection she wandlessly opened her bedroom door when it knocked and Regulus walked in.

"Beautiful as ever, darling sister."

"Handsome as ever, little one." She smirked at him through the mirror, laughing as he jokingly rolled his eyes. "You ready to rub elbows with the UK's most stuck up prats?"

"About as ready as I am to stick mothers hair pins in my eyes." Regulus joked as he held out and arm for her to hold.

"Hopefully Evan and Barty have snuck in some fire whisky for you then."

"Remind me why you don't drink again?" Regulus asked his sister as they made their way down to the ball room.

"Because if I drink, how am I supposed to convince the other drunks to tell me all their secrets? Besides, I want to find out more about this dark wizard. The one mother and father have been whispering about." Cassiopeia whispered, pausing before they entered the room. She sent Regulus a warning look, he knew not to try and dissuade her.

"Ah of course. Dr. Evil." Regulus grinned before pushing his sister gently through the doors as they were greeted with roaring laughter and music. "And so it begins."

Regulus headed straight for the boys that made up his trio at school whilst Cassiopeia put on her aristocratic smile and rubbed shoulders with the upper class pureblood society. She'd just been having a conversation with Mrs Bulstrode when she overheard whispers of the name she'd been dying to hear all night.

"Well, he goes by the Dark Lord. My cousin has met him. A very well respected man is my cousin. Owns Borgin and Burkes you see." Herbert Burke remarked proudly. "This Dark Lord has big plans, I'm sure we will see more of him in the future, I eagerly await his rule. Finally, someone to really eradicate those filthy mudbloods."

"It's about time someone does something. Grindlewald was close, but there was always something holding him back. Hopefully this one doesn't have a weakness." Hector Fawley replied, rolling his eyes before spotting Cassiopeia and smiling, exposing his rotting teeth to the young girl. "Ah, Miss Black. What a pleasure it is to see you."

"The pleasure is mine Mr Fawley, Mr Burke. I do hope you both are enjoying the luncheon." She smiled at the older men. "We had the walls redone recently, it is most avant-garde." The men glanced at each other, rolling their eyes, believing that Cassiopeia was too blind to notice.

"Yes... Avant-garde. Well, can I interest you in a dance Miss Black?" Hector jeered at her, holding out his hand. Cassiopeia was about to politely accept when she felt a hand land on her shoulder.

"Sorry Hector. I'm stealing this one for a dance. Haven't seen her in a year." The voice of Evan Rosier called out as he pulled Cassiopeia away with a wink in the leech of an old man's direction.

"Evan! That was incredibly rude." Cassiopeia scolded as Evan span her in a circle.

"What was rude was the way a little tent was growing in his trousers the longer he looked at you. Besides, I've missed you!" Evan laughed as Cassiopeia gagged at the image he'd just presented her with.

"Well, by all accounts I've missed you too. Although you won't have to go so long without seeing me again if everything goes according to plan." Cassiopeia smirked. She'd been plotting since the night Sirius left, it was all she thought about, every waking moment, even whilst she slept. She dreamt of one thing. Hogwarts.

"Do I even want to know?" Evan asked as they continued to dance. He'd always had a soft spot for the girl, he felt like she just understood him, in a way that only a few other people did. They'd been friends for as long as they can remember and he vowed that he'd always protect the young girl.

"Probably not. Lots of moving parts Evan. Lots of moving parts." She grinned as she bowed, the song ending quickly. "One of which is locking into place as we speak." Cassiopeia grinned as she saw her cousin, Bellatrix Black enter the room. "Goodbye Evan."

"Cassio!" Bellatrix called out. "My darling cousin. How are you?" Bellatrix kissed Cassiopeia's cheek as she hugged the smaller girl.

"Well, thank you Bella. Missing you of course." Cassiopeia smiled, brushing away one of Bella's unruly curls.

"Of course you are. I don't understand why you didn't go to Hogwarts?" Bellatrix laughed. And there it was. The opening Cassiopeia wanted and so the pieces fell into place. Letting a look of surprise fall onto her face, Cassiopeia looked at her older cousin with a thoughtful look.

"I know it's too late for me to be at school with you, but maybe that isn't a bad idea? Now the traitor has tarnished our name, it may be for the best that I return? After all, nobody causes a distraction like I." Cassiopeia smirked as Bellatrix laughed at the young girl.

"They do not. You know, you do have good ideas sometimes Cassio. I'll speak to Aunt Walburga. Merlin knows we need people to be talking about anything but that mongrel of a brother you had." Had. For some reason that word packed a mean punch. The air sucked itself out of Cassiopeia's lungs sharply as she placed a hand on her stomach. He WAS her brother. He'd always be her brother. No matter what he or anyone else thinks.

"Thank you, Bella. She'll listen to you." Cassiopeia replied, overly gracious, after all, she needed Bellatrix to think it was more her idea for this to work. "Now, I must continue to host my way around, so I'll see you soon dear cousin."

"Of course. See you later, Cassio." Bellatrix replied as Cassiopeia watched her walk over to her mother with a smirk. Another puzzle piece falling into place.

Satisfied with her work, Cassiopeia decided it was time to regroup and scanned the crowd briefly before she let her feet lead her. Quickly she found Regulus, hiding behind the curtains, sitting on the bay window seat with Evan and Pandora Rosier and Bartcy Crouch Jr. Smiling a genuine smile, Cassiopeia was engulfed in a bone-crushing hug as Pandora swaddled the girl up in her arms.

"Cassiopeia! Oh, how I have missed you!" Pandora squealed as she clutched the girl tightly. They were really the only girls in each other's lives and Merlin did they adore each other. Cassiopeia squeezed her back as she pulled away with a smile.

"Finally come to sit with us rejects." Barty smirked as he looked the girl up and down. He patted the space next to him and wrapped an arm around the girl as she sat beside him.

"Thought I'd do some light charity work." Cassiopeia smirked back as she looked amongst the people she held dearest to her. "You'll all be pleased to know that my plan is working - quite effectively too. If I do say so myself."

"And what pray tell does this plan involve?" Barty asked from his seat next to the girl as Regulus sat smugly in the corner, raising his glass of champagne in a cheer to his twin.

"Little manipulation, a little persuasion and a dash of pure genius. The usual." Cassiopeia shrugged before standing as her name was called. "Like clockwork. Now for the last piece to fall into place. Duty calls." She departed in a sweeping motion, her eyes landing immediately on her Mother who had been calling her. When Cassiopeia saw Bellatrix standing with a grin, Cassiopeia knew her plan had worked.

"There you are! I need to discuss something with you. Come here." Walburga grabbed a hold of Cassiopeia's arm and pulled her to a secluded corner of the giant room. "I was just discussing your education with Bellatrix. It seems she believes it would be wise for you to transfer schools. What with that traitor tarnishing our good name and all." Walburga spat furiously. She'd spent the past four days repeatedly going to the Black Family Tree Tapestry and burning Sirius' portrait until a hole began to form in the wall. "We need a distraction. Something to get people talking about anything other than that boy."

"So what will you need me to do?" Cassiopeia asked innocently. Holding her fingers crossed tightly behind her back, she sent a quick thought to Merlin with bated breath.

"You're going to Hogwarts."