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THE AIR IN THE SMALL dormitory that evening was so palpable it was suffocating. Perenelle's heart beating so loudly it practically rang through her ears, while Vaudeline was silently seething across the dormitory, changing into her nightie in such haste it was a miracle she hadn't ripped the green silk fabric in two.

The twins backs were to each other- neither willing to look the other in the face, though Perenelle suspected the two's reasons were wildly different. She did her best to keep her head down as she wrestled her sleep shirt over her head- ignoring the delicately placed pearl buttons adjoining the front. Not a nightie. Possibly never a nightie again. The pure embarrassment from being caught in one sobbing throughout the corridors was too much to bear.

A muffled cough from underneath Marcie's covers revealed her attempt at faking sleep, and Perenelle couldn't blame her. If she were Marceline at this moment she too would hide from whatever happened outside of the library.

Though it seemed Vaudeline didn't share that sympathy.

"I know you're awake" She grumbled, her scowl so deep it looked almost unnatural against her features, and Marceline stirred, faking a yawn as she sat up and faced the pair of them.

"So" She eased, "Are we going to discuss whatever that was? Or?"

Vaudeline didn't give an answer, instead flinging her uniform to the floor, stomping towards their lavatory and slamming the door behind her.

Pera flinched at the sound, while Marcie went wide eyed.

"Or we can do that"

Perenelle took a deep breath, bringing her hands up to rub at her temples- and Marceline immediately sprung from her bed in concern, taking Pera's hands in hers.

"Hey- you can talk to me, honestly Per" She said, "I know you lied earlier- and if you don't want to talk about it I won't pry again, I'm just- I'm worried about you"

She let go of Perenelle, and snuck a quick glance to the toilets, before running a hand through her hair.

"Vaud is Vaud- she won't talk, she'll just be snippy and quiet until she inevitably blows up like she did earlier, but Pera I can tell whatever it is is bloody killing you"

Perenelle sniffled as she nodded in response, wiping a stray tear from the corner of her eye, and Marcie brought her in for a hug, rubbing her back.

"You don't have to tell me everything, but anything you want to say- you know I'll listen" And she let go of her, grabbing her hands and somehow bringing Perenelle back down to reality.

Perenelle wasn't sure if she could truly tell Marceline everything. At least- not about Andromeda. While Marcie tended to go with the flow and be far more adventurous than many pureblood standards allowed- of course, no where near the level of Sirius, the topic of banishment and blood treachery was not a simple one to tread.

"It's so sodding stupid" Perenelle sniffed, a light chuckle escaping her as she wiped the last tears from her eyes, Marcie beaming at the change in attitude.

"I was in a right bloody state the other night" Perenelle sighed, and Marceline nodded- "The night Damien gave Vaud the necklace? Yeah, I noticed"

"Anyways- I went for a walk to clear my head is all- and I bumped into Sirius and his bloody minions, and Marcie I know what you're going to say- normally I tune him out, but I was already so bothered you see, and when he wound me up, I- well-" She paused, looking at Marcie, "I may have simply burst into tears and ran away- but that's not even the worst part! I was in my sodding nightie, with my hair sticking up in every right direction and I- are you taking the piss?" She accused, a grin on her face as Marceline struggled not to burst into laughter.

"I'm sorry!" She cried, wiping a tear from her eye in dramatics, "You what?"

"Yes I get it! I made a bloody fool out of myself and I'm glad to see you think it's hilarious!"

"So that's what caused the Battle of the Blacks today?"

"I- Battle of the Blacks? Marcie!"

"What!" Marceline defended, her hands up in defeat, "It's rather funny!"

"Well his buddy Remus- you know, the skinny little prefect?"

"The one covered in scars? Yeah"

"Well he made it his life's mission to stalk me and had the nerve to approach me when I was with Regulus!"

"He didn't"

"Oh but he did!" Perenelle exclaimed, waving her arms as she paced the dormitory with a newfound adrenaline, the feeling of being able to get it out easing the crushing feeling weighing on her so heavily.

"Trying to apologize- what for I don't know, as it's Sirius who upset me, and well, I just snapped! And I have to assume the bloody twit went back and told Sirius and that's why he came after me!"

"-Well why didn't you just tell me that!"

Vaudeline had burst out of the toilets, her hands on her hips as she stared at the pair of them.

"Now I don't feel so bad for losing my composure- if anything I should have hexed the sod, that would teach him to remember his place!"

"Can I just say, I am so proud of you for finally sticking up for yourself- honestly I just wish I was there to see the look on Remus Lupin's face" Marcie chimed in, and Perenelle suddenly felt embarrassed.

"Well, let's not go tha-"

"-Wait a minute" Marceline chuckled, cutting Pera off, "Is that why Sirius sad something about a child-complex- thing?" And Perenelle sighed, her cheeks turning scarlet.

"I may have told Remus that Sirius was an overgrown child with a victim complex" And both Vaudeline and Marcie practically burst into tears, clutching their stomachs in laughter.

"-No!"

"-Ten fucking points for Pera Black everyone!"

"I'm not proud of it!" She chided, and the two ceased their little celebration, "Look at what it caused"

Vaudeline's face soured at that, no doubt remembering their detention tomorrow, while Marcie shrugged.

"I don't know, your cousin's bloody handsome- but he's got a rock where his brain's supposed to be. He needed to hear it"

"-Ew Marceline!" Vaud grimaced, and Marcie raised her hands in defeat, "I'm simply being honest! What do you want me to do? Lie!"

Perenelle chuckled at their antics, before being reminded of something Sirius had said during the argument- something pertaining to his brother.

"Hey, what do you think Sirius meant about what he said about Reg?"

The chatter in the room ceased for a moment as all three girls sat deep in thought.

Perenelle wasn't stupid- none of them were. A war was going on, and even if they themselves weren't involved they all knew someone who was- whether it be fathers, brothers, cousins. The last thing Perenelle needed to worry about was her younger cousin getting twisted up in the crossfire.

Vaudeline's face showed that she was the most worried of the three of them- as she and Regulus were so close, and she opened her mouth hesitantly.

"I don't know Per, whatever it is, Sirius was probably just talking out of his arse" And they left it at that.

Perenelle didn't tell them about her surprise reunion with the Prewett twins, and how as much as she hated to admit it seeing Gideon again made her heart practically leap out of her chest, no. She would keep that one to herself. At least until she figured out how to rid herself of the feeling.

If she was able to.

✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯

"Alright- moment of truth, if you've been sentenced to death by fiendfyre then I'll miss you both terribly"

"Marcie that's not funny" Vaudeline snapped, and Marceline didn't waver, continuing her dramatically slow walk across the dormitory- like a funeral march. Perhaps their funeral march.

"Let's get it over with" Perenelle sighed, her body raking with nerves, grey eyes glued to the letters in Marceline's hands.

"Don't you two want to know what you missed at breakfast? It wasn't much if I'm being honest. The little one went- though his older brother took a page out of your book and steered clear"

Nine in the morning on a Tuesday, holed up in their dormitory were Perenelle and Vaudeline. The two had come to the agreement not to attend breakfast- for a multitude of reasons really.

1. Stares, Perenelle could handle them, but Vaudeline may snap and they'd be screwed all over again.

2. Risking a run in with Sirius. Once again. Vaud may snap.

3. Having to be subjected to a multitude of questions from the boys. Vaud. Snapping.

And 4. The dreaded letters.

Not that they'd be howlers- oh no, their parents would never. Not even Perenelle's aunt Walburga resorted to howlers, even when Sirius was exceptionally obnoxious. It was one thing to be embarrassed of a misbehaving child, but the idea of losing control and screaming in public at that child via letter? Absolutely mortifying.

For once the Black family's emotional ineptness and obsession with social image was Perenelle's favourite quality.

"-Sirius didn't go?"

Vaudeline's question brought Perenelle's mind back into the conversation- the list of avoidance and the Black's emotionally challenged conventions flying out of her imagination and leaving her with a blank slate. Not sure how to feel- how to think. Just a blank open space ready to digest whatever lay on the parchment.

"No- he didn't. Anyways, we've got one here from Daddy dearest- yikes, full names so good luck, and oh- one from your aunt Walburga. Cheers" And the letters were thrust at them, one in Pera's hands and one in Vaud's. Marceline joining them on Perenelle's bed.

"May as well get fathers over with" Perenelle sighed, tearing open the parchment with shaky hands- and sure enough, plastered on the top-

'Vaudeline Araminta and Perenelle Lycoris Black'

"Merlin Vaud... your middle name is bloody Araminta?"

"Marcie do-"

"-Okay! Okay!"

The three girl's attentions diverted back to the letter, Perenelle's stomach sinking as she read..

Girls, I was incredibly disheartened to hear from your Professor what occurred. I am unable to understand, did I not teach you the importance of respectability? Did I do something to incur such blatant disrespect and disregard for our esteemed family name? Due to the clear revelation that you both are unable to regulate or understand a situation, I will graciously inform you that the above questions were in fact of the rhetorical nature. As I have done nothing to deserve the disrespect and blasphemy you two have shown. I am not going to hope that you two behave in the future, I am going to order you to. Do not make me write again.

Your mother sends her love. I have not told her of this as I do not wish to burden you both with the guilt of having mortified her with your disreputable actions, knowing your mother's weak disposition.

Your father,
Cygnus Pollux Black, of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.

"I... bloody fucking hell" Marceline whistled, Perenelle and Vaudeline's silence an appropriate response. "The bit about your mother? A tad dramatic"

"Whatever" Vaudeline disregarded, "He's not wrong, we never should have done it in the first place... and besides, it's not as horrifying as I thought it would be"

"Surprisingly... Vaudeline is right" Perenelle sighed- half in relief, half in mortification at the contents of the letter, "It could have been worse, and now it's over with" A hot feeling of shame burning the back of her neck at being reprimanded despite the consolation.

"I'd hate to know what your idea of a worst case reaction from your father is" Marceline teased, leaning across Perenelle on the bed to snatch the second letter from Vaud.

Perenelle couldn't help the involuntary wince that eclipsed her face, and she felt Vaudeline shift uncomfortably to her right, though neither answered Marcie.

Perenelle knew that her and Vaudeline both thought of the incident of seventy-two when it came to their father's cruelty.

Though thankfully, Vaudeline's hands hadn't scarred.

"Oo! your aunt's kind of hilarious!" Marceline laughed, and the twins were broken from their stupor, Perenelle snatching the letter back anxiously as Marceline finished reading. "Like- in the most unhinged way imaginable"

My dearest nieces

Please do not let that insolent little boy cause you to lose your composure. He is nothing but a stain! A dirty little stain on our family tree that tormented me for years and is now looking to torment you as I am no longer his victim...
He is disgraceful and he has caused three fine and dignified members of this house to embarrass themselves due to his own devilish nature... I have already spoken to Regulus on the matter, and I beg of you girls to ignore his attacks as they are only a reflection of his disregard for family and proper values, do not let him turn you into him! Though I know he will never succeed. He is a fluke, a mere mistake of a child whose mission in life is to haunt me and see our glorious family burn to the ground! He truly knows no bounds when it comes to torturing me my girls... do not take it personally nor should you defend me even though you know my true generous nature and that everything that leaves his mouth is an egregious lie. If you must then send a hex his way that will shut him up in the event of another attack! Though do not engage! Save yourselves!

Your aunt,
Walburga Violetta Black, of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black

It was interesting to see that unlike his sister her father didn't even mention Sirius, which if anything just showed how much he irked his mother. Even post disownment.

Perenelle suppressed the urge to laugh as she finished scanning the letter, though Marceline didn't attempt to hide her amusement.

"She... she really just went on a tangent about herself there"

Vaudeline had her hand to her mouth as she let go of the letter, and Perenelle watched as it fluttered into her lap.

"Aunt Walburga isn't really all... there" Vaudeline explained, "I don't know what raising Sirius must have done to her... but sometimes I think she's convinced Sirius is a demon out to get her"

"Is she wrong?" Perenelle sighed, though regretted almost immediately. Vaudeline's explanation brought out a deep sadness in her- sadness that she had agreed. She didn't recognize Sirius anymore, the old Sirius. Who would give her piggy back rides through the corridors of Château Noir, or build forts with her out of lavish sheets at the chagrin of their parents. This new Sirius, the one who appeared when they had been separated... it was like he despised her.

Perhaps her aunt's words held some sort of truth.

Then again her aunt Walburga had a flair for the dramatic. As well as the seemingly inherited Black fashioned manipulative tendencies.

"I would love to have a conversation with this woman- the words that she comes up with, it's- I don't even know" Marceline exclaimed, grabbing the letter from Perenelle's lap to read it again, "At least we know where Sirius inherited his dramatics"

That was something both Perenelle and Vaudeline could agree with.

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this chapter was so fun to write, sorry for the wait! I've finally gotten into a solid rhythm with school. the next chapter probably won't take too long to be released, I'd say a week at the absolute very latest, and we'll see the detention and what it entails.

I also love the trio's friendship sooooo much so that's why this chapter was legit just them LOL so we can kinda see the dynamics of their friendship, I LOVE MARCIE!

I also want to preface: I think walburga is a really complex character so you won't see the typical physically abusive downright evil walburga normally showcased in fanon. there's something so intriguing about her and certain adaptations of her in fanon just click with me and that's the route I'm going to go because it's so much more fleshed out than what we're used to seeing. however walburga black is VERY MUCH an ABUSIVE mother. I want to make that clear. I don't LIKE her, I'm fascinated by her so I full heartedly believe (and my depiction of her in this) she is not the physically abusive outright monster we're used to seeing. no mam. my walburga black is a psychological abuser (that of course is not to say the occasional curse wasn't thrown) that woman is the copyright owner of the word gaslight. she is a manipulative monster who is able to destroy someone with her words alone. a conniving evil genius if you will. she's a monster but she's a dignified monster. okay explanation done, until next time, jess <3