the powers that be

“Rise ‘n shine, sweetheart. If you don’t get up now, we’re gonna be late.”

“Do you think it’s possible for a man to get so far gone that he loses everything he was? Everything he stood for?”

Bellatrix had been enjoying herself, losing more and more of her inhibitions as the night drew on. While it was true that she had become a little manic and excitable, she felt she’d managed to restrain herself quite well.

“Isn’t it past your bed time, or are you one of those children who enjoys pretending to be an adult at his mummy’s parties?” Giving her cousin a glare, she simply turned away to whisper something to Rodolphus ( who sat to her left ) and smirked when he let out a bark of laughter. 

“I’m old enough to be here.” He answered, though it was not defensively. He didn’t care if she thought him a child (or if they all did). He didn’t care what any of them thought about him. It did, however, rub him entirely the wrong way when Rodolphus laughed the way he did. It sent a shiver of irritation down his spine and he narrowed his eyes at his cousin’s husband.

“Only someone just as nuts as you would commit to a lifetime of living with you. Have you killed any Muggles yet?”

“You’ll go if I tell you you’re going.” Walburga replied, her stance suggesting that she’d do whatever she needed to do to drag her son to his cousin’s party. “Bellatrix has been nice enough to invite you, so you’ll go, and you’ll smile and be polite and congratulate her.” She was determined that he’d turn to out be presentable after whatever phase this was had passed. “Go and get ready.”

“She didn’t invite me by name.” Sirius replied, agitation lacing his tone. “I saw the invite.” How couldn’t he? It was garish and very Bellatrix-esque. “It said the House of Black at Number 12 Grimmauld Place is cordially invited to blah, blah, blah.” He rolled his eyes but he knew she wasn’t going to let him get out of it, especially after he’d shown her how much he didn’t want to go. “Whatever. But I’m not wearing those awful robes your pet toad laid out for me.”

Cassia gave her friend a look and a tiny shake of her head as her attention was diverted from their lecture. “I wouldn’t bet on that.” She told Katya quietly. “-Because I know without a doubt you could do it.”

Katya huffed and folded her arms across her chest, “Well, you are no fun, are you?” She asked, leaning closer to Cassia once more. “This class is boring. I need something to do and excuse to do it... if you do not dare or bet me, then what am I to do?”

“Sirius.” Orion acknowledged, wondering what exactly had got his son into such a mood. His first thought was Walburga ( but he’d heard no screaming ), then Regulus ( again, no screaming ) - and finally… “You came into my study to scream about biscuits?” His tone spoke of how unimpressed he was, even as his foot nudged his wastepaper basket ( a conspicuously yellow package sat on the very top ) a little further until his desk. “Nothing’s to be done of it, you little hooligan. Tell the house elf to get you more.”

Sirius narrowed his eyes at his father’s apparent disinterest in the mystery he’d wanted to solve. In actuality (while he did love custard creams adn would like to have had some), he was just bored on his holiday and wanted something exciting to do.

“That toad doesn’t listen to me.” He complained, dramatically throwing himself into one of the ornate chairs in front of his father’s desk. “You know, you could do something fun with me. I am your son, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“How dare you, Evans? You’ve made no effort to get to know me properly, and you’re always judging me! It’s very superficial, y’know?”

Boris hadn’t touched his plate of food, couldn’t even identify what it was supposed to be. The moon’s approach had his stomach roiling anyway, so he didn’t feel like eating anything, but he could hear Fenrir’s hunger even with the murmured conversations of the other kids.

He shot a quick glance sideways, his eyes wide at the very suggestion of sneaking out, the prospect of getting into trouble for food was tempting, but their carers were also allowed to use force to keep them in line. “I do not think this is  good idea.”

Fenrir didn’t like being turned down for ideas he thought were good, even if they were (often) not good. He frowned slightly at Boris, examining him carefully as he decided how best to play out the situation.

“If you don’t come with me, I’ll go by myself. And if I go by myself, I won’t have much reason to come back, now will I?”

This wizard just didn’t know when to quit. Boris’ back was up before he’d even come face to face with Eli, the usually calm wolf snapping at the others around him as they each waiting for this potion, most of the younger wolves yammering on about how transforming would be much better when it wouldn’t hurt.

His own face could have been carved from stone when he finally reached the front of the queue - and Eli’s almost smile didn’t help matters much.

“I will not be taking this potion. I have said time and time again, I do not trust you and whatever this is.”

Most of the other wolves had not put up much of a fuss. Fenrir had recommended the potion (though he was not requiring the other wolves to take it) and they had begun queuing quickly. Elijah was happy to brew the potion and administer it, happy to help (though it’d be difficult for anyone to get him to admit to that little perk -- he preferred to be seen as impassive).

Boris’ expression and reaction had Eli’s jaw going slack and he stumbled for just a moment before regaining his composure with an actual smile (though this one was not genuine). “Then what are you doing in my tent?”

He wanted to use logic and intelligence to bust through whatever stubbornness was holding Boris back but he had a feeling that wouldn’t go well for him and he’d much rather keep his neck attached to his body.

Their truce had resulted in a peaceful week, and Ilya found himself basking in the knowledge that he had been a good older brother for his sister, even if his actions would not have been sanctioned by their oldest brother. He certainly hoped that the man’s distance from Katya was his doing, but he’d enjoy the moment until someone else burst his bubble. 

The coffee and donuts were a pleasant surprise - Ilya looked up at Katya with a genuine smile as he accepted both items. “You did not have to do this for me, or thank me. I would have done it anyway.” He responded, looking Katya right in the eye. “Do you want a donut?”

It felt good to have something pleasant between them that hadn’t been urged or pushed on them by Alexei. She was still smiling -- the force of it hurting her cheeks as she watched her brother. “I know that, but I felt like I should because you have been kind to me. And is it so strange that I am not ready to give it up?”

Her surprise at him offering her a donut was apparent on her face as she looked around to see if Chase was nearby -- or near enough to hear (he could hear a candy wrapper open from across the hall). “Sure... I would love one, thank you.”

Ilya had done chores around the house while Chase was out, cleaning just about everything he could find without any ( pleasant ) distractions. He definitely hadn’t been expecting to be presented with a pygmy puff, of all things, but it looked so happy when he took it that he had to smile.

“Is it my birthday?” He questioned, running his fingertip over the puff’s head before leaning forward to offer Chase a quick kiss. “Thank you.”

“Naw...” Chase answered as if Ilya had lost his mind. He graciously accepted the kiss and returned it with one of his own. “I just saw him and he was so cute... the only thing cuter’n him is  you, so I brought him to ya. I thought you’d like him, that you’d like a pet -- that we can raise together.” He was beaming brighter than the sun, so excited he was practically vibrating.

“Whatcha gonna name ‘im?”

The summer had seemed perfectly endless, peaceful days spent exploring everything in a heat that Ilya wasn’t unfamiliar with ( they had heatwaves at home, after all ) but had rarely experienced with such intensity. He’d also had little contact with home, having only sent a couple of owls to his brother to confirm he was still alive. 

He’d smiled so much this summer too - mostly for Chase, but also for Mrs. King, people they’d seen around the state… even Chase’s brothers. It had been a wonderful summer all in all, and Ilya felt no regrets as their freedom drew to a close - there was nothing he wished they had done, and nothing he’d change given the chance.

He leaned in as Chase’s arm slipped around his shoulders, sighing happily under the stars. “Yes, I like your farm, but I would miss it more if we would not be together at school.”

The sound of the cicadas around them and the cool night air had Chase feeling relaxed. He squeezed Ilya with the arm that was around the other boy’s shoulders, his heart swelling in his chest at the answer. His face hurt from smiling so much.

“Yeah, me too. I wish we could spend every moment together... is that a strange thing to say?” If they weren’t co-dependent before this summer holiday, they certainly were now, but Chase saw no issues with that. “To want to spend every second with someone? I just feel...” He shifted uncomfortably, his thumb brushing against the exposed skin on Ilya’s arm. “I feel like... less than myself without you around. And I don’t like it.”