II —— a bird less grandiose

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          THE SOUND OF BIRDS CHIRPING carries through the air, as Fianna quietly climbs back into her bedroom. This was a common occurrence for her in the summer, before Remus finished school and moved out — she'd sneak out as the sun went down, accompanying her brother's werewolf form, in her own Animagus form. A strong and graceful swan, one that could soar through the clouds, looking out for any dangers, any humans to steer clear of. Since his graduation, Remus' friends would tag along, which is exactly why, an hour and a half after Fianna's return, there's a knock at the door.

"Morning, Hope." Sirius Black's voice floats through the house, from the front door to the upstairs landing, where Fianna's pulling a jumper over her head. She's had a power nap, showered, and gotten dressed for the day. Thankfully, she's got a day off work, which means she can spend the majority of the day resting. Her brother mentioned, before she left him in the woods, that there's a Charlie's Angels marathon on the telly today. Gorgeous.

Fianna makes her way downstairs, where Sirius is charming her parents, as usual. Ever since he became an Animagus, he's made a point to be there every full moon, even if he wasn't needed last night. Fianna thinks it's sweet.

"Morning, Fee," says Sirius, with a smirk.

She gives him a look; just because her parents haven't cottoned on yet about the Animagus situation, doesn't mean they could. She's lucky they're not strict — what if, the next time, they check on her in her room, to find her gone? They don't get angry often, but she knows they'd kill her if they found out she illegally became an Animagus.

"Morning," she says. "Are you coming to check on Remus?"

"Of course," says Sirius. "Just thought I'd stop by to drop these off."

He places a paper bag on the kitchen table, one filled with croissants. Fianna gives him a look. That's where he wandered off to. She loves Sirius, but she finds it so annoying how effortlessly he charms parents. Fianna thinks Hope wants one of the kids to marry him, so she's got this treatment forever... Fianna thinks she'll give that task to Remus.

Lyall already has half a croissant in his mouth, a flake of pastry hanging onto his moustache. "Sirius the star, eh?" he says. Fianna rolls her eyes, filling up a flask with coffee. She puts a couple of pastries into her bag, a gingham tote that's seen better days, and puts her sunglasses on the top of her head.

"Let's go," says Fianna, pulling Sirius by the arm.

They walk outside, wandering up the house's pebbled driveway to the country road. There isn't a path, but there's approximately one car that drives past a day, so it isn't really a problem. Plus, it's only a short walk before they reach the turnstile to the field, meandering towards the shack in the woods.

"A little wolfie told me you saw my brother yesterday," says Sirius, as they pass through the turnstile. Fianna goes first, and waits for him to push through.

She nods, covering her eyes with her orange sunglasses. "Yeah, he was at my work," she tells Sirius. "He goes there a lot, to be fair... But he was with some Death Eaters."

"Losers," says Sirius, and Fianna agrees. "How was he?"

"Eating death," says Fianna, like she told her brother last night. Remus didn't laugh, though, even though Fianna thought it was super funny of her. Sirius does, though, answering why he's her favourite of Remus' friends. "Haven't you spoken to him? At all?"

"Not since I left home," says Sirius. "Word of advice — he's bad news."

Fianna raises an eyebrow. "That's exactly what he said about Salome."

"Ew, as in Lestrange?" Sirius puts his hand on his chest, as if clutching invisible pearls. Fianna gives him a look. She knew he'd have this reaction — Salome's mission at Hogwarts was to make the Marauders' lives living hell. And, to be honest, if Fianna wasn't related to one of them, she'd probably find them obnoxious, too.

"She's actually really nice," says Fianna.

"You were brainwashed, it's not your fault," says Sirius. "Regulus too, only by that dickhead Malfoy — be grateful you listen to your brother, or else you could've ended up like him."

"I don't think the Death Eaters would accept me," says Fianna.

Sirius raises an eyebrow. "Why, want to join them?"

Fianna sighs. "That's not what I meant—!"

"Oh, yeah, I bet you'd love eating death, as you put it," says Sirius. Fianna starts laughing, and he shakes his head. "To be fair, we've heard of a lot of half-bloods on their side... Snape's one, if you remember that prat."

"Greasy hair?"

"That's the badger."

Fianna frowns. "Nah, I wanna help you guys once I leave school."

Sirius laughs. "Moony won't allow that."

"Tough shit," says Fianna, and she means it.

"Although, he does let you run around with a werewolf once a month..." Sirius looks over at her, and grins. "He's got some fucked up priorities."

After a while, they reach the shack. Remus has gotten himself changed into the bag of clothes he took with him, now sitting, bored, reading a book he apparently packed. He looks up, folds the corner of his page, and sets the book down. Fianna hands him a croissant, the one Sirius jammed full with chocolate spread.

"Sirius was sucking up to Mum again," says Fianna.

"He doesn't have one, be kind," says Remus.

Sirius' mouth opens in shock. "You bitch."

Fianna smiles.

"How are you?" says Sirius.

Remus shrugs, tucking into his chocolate-filled pastry. "Fantastic, now that I've got this—"

"Hey," says Sirius, frowning. "I asked Fianna, not you."

Fianna laughs. "Tired, that's all—"

"You could've gone home when Padfoot showed up—"

"Stop being boring," Fianna tells her brother.

Sirius grins. "I love her. She humbles you."

"I think you deserve humbling more than me..."

"Yeah, but as me and Fee established, I don't speak to Reg..."

Remus looks across at Fianna, a little smirk creeping across his face. Fianna can already feel the urge to roll her eyes, knowing exactly what her big brother is thinking. Baby Fianna, talking about Regulus? Again? Fianna could look at any boy and her brother would jump to conclusions.

"Oh, she told you too?" says Remus.

"No, I asked after you told me," says Sirius. "Fianna isn't running around talking about my little brother — she's got some sense to her." Fianna sticks her tongue out at her brother. "Could you imagine those two? I think I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than see them together."

Fianna frowns. "You say that about everyone."

"Yeah, because no one's good enough for you," says Sirius, waving his hand dismissively.

Remus nods in agreement. Fianna grumbles.

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          GEORGIA POTTER IS ALWAYS LATE, something that Fianna expects, as she stands behind the counter at the cafe, waiting for her best friend to show up. Fianna opened on Sunday, with Georgia meant to appear at midday, to then close at the end of her shift. It's quarter past twelve now, and Fianna eats her shift-provided lunch of leek and potato soup, thrown into their large coffee cups so she can sip at it whilst working. But, thanks to the Death Eater attacks, Diagon Alley has been quiet all morning, weird for the weekend before Hogwarts starting again.

"Why's it so quiet?" says Georgia, finally showing up at seventeen minutes past.

Fianna, swigging down the last of her soup, shrugs. "Death Eaters."

Georgia's hair is tied up in a haphazard bun, two ringlets framing her face. She's wearing a Holyhead Harpies t-shirt, which is hidden mostly when she throws on her cafe uniform, a caramel-coloured apron. Fianna's meant to stay until one anyway — there's normally a lunchtime rush, requiring two staff members — so Georgia's tardiness isn't the worst thing ever, especially since it's so dead.

"Oh, I saw your brother last night. I went over to theirs for dinner."

Fianna frowns. "And he didn't invite me?"

"No — I went to see my brother, you muppet. Yours was just there."

"He always leaves me out," says Fianna, in true little-sister fashion, crossing her arms, jutting out her bottom lip.

"Oh, and I was gonna ask — what's your head girl schedule looking like? I want to move around our practice times, but there's no point if you're busy."

Georgia, come Tuesday, is the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, something she's been working for since fourth year. Fianna's on the team as their Seeker, having taken over Georgia's brother's role after he left. Miraculously, the girl that can turn into a swan is fantastic at nose-diving towards a little target. (Some may even say, better than Potter... Fianna wishes someone would say.)

"Uhhh, I think I have a meeting with Dumbledore on Friday mornings," says Fianna. "I'll double-check, I think it depends on mine and Prewett's timetables..."

Georgia smirks. "Oooooh, you and Prewett...!"

The door to the cafe chimes, as a tall figure walks in, dressed in all-black.

"Don't be silly, it's not like that..."

Fianna turns to serve the customer, the smile wiped clean off her face. Regulus Black looks at her, confused at whatever conversation he heard the last of. She looks around, awkward, and clears her throat.

"Hey," she says. "The usual?"

"Uh, please," he says.

"Gigi, make an Earl Grey," she says, looking over her shoulder. Georgia gives her a funny look, perhaps by the fact that Fianna knows Regulus Black's order off-by-heart. He comes in often, it's not weird of her to remember. Especially when he's been the only regular customer this entire summer.

"How, uh, are you?" he asks Fianna.

Fianna can feel confusion exuding out of her best friend behind her.

"I'm fine... I saw your brother the other day."

"Oh, yeah?" he says.

Fianna nods. "He misses you," she lies. She knows the reason the two Black brothers don't speak is because of their parents. Regulus had to cut off contact when Sirius was disowned, in case he was cast out, too. But if Regulus is finishing school, and moving out himself, maybe that relationship could be repaired? Fianna thinks it'd be nice.

Regulus shakes his head. "Well, that's a lie," he says, and for the first time ever, he smiles slightly at her. "How... is he, though?"

Not eating death, but finding 'eating death' super funny, she thinks.

"Like a dog with a bone," says Fianna, which she also thinks is super funny.

Georgia, behind her, groans.

Regulus looks around awkwardly, knowing there's a joke there that he isn't apart of.

"... Right," he says.

"Say, what brings you to Diagon Alley?" says Georgia.

Fianna watches Regulus stiffen. "Helping my mother out with something."

Georgia narrows her eyes at him, nodding but not believing the answer. She puts his cup of tea down on a tray, with as much passive-aggressive force as she can without spilling the hot liquid. Regulus notices, of course, and he quietly pays, taking the cup and saucer off the tray, trying to be useful leaving the tray there. Fianna appreciates that, but finds it odd.

As he walks away, Georgia's fingers lightly graze Fianna's arm.

"What was that?" she asks, quietly.

"What do you mean?" says Fianna.

"Being nice to him," says Georgia, twisting her lips.

That's both Georgia's best and worst quality — her undivided loyalty. Regulus is a Death Eater, and therefore on the other side to them. He could be on his knees begging for forgiveness, and Georgia wouldn't buckle. Well... maybe if he begged for forgiveness and proved it, she would, but still. It'd take moving a mountain to sway Georgia's loyalty.

The two girls are quiet for a moment, as if they're not sure what to talk about, because the only thing they want to talk about is within earshot. Fianna tries to make conversation about Quidditch, and school, and it's so draining that Georgia yawns. Whenever she glances over, Georgia's gaze is fixed on the boy sitting at the end of the cafe, checking his watch every couple of minutes. (Fianna knows this because she, too, is watching him, albeit trying to be a little more discrete.)

As it approaches the end of Fianna's shift, the sound of a chair scraping across the floor echoes throughout the cafe. Fianna, who had been trying to make herself busy, wiping the counter around the coffee machine, feels her body stiffen. Beside her, Georgia does the same. They both exchange a glance; Fianna looks up at Regulus, who smiles awkwardly at her, knowing the girls have spent the past half-hour watching him.

He returns the cup and saucer down to the counter.

"Thanks," he says, looking at Fianna.

Fianna smiles weakly. "See you around."

He walks out of the cafe, readjusting his coat as he steps outside. The second the door closes, Georgia jumps forwards, resting her hand on Fianna's shoulder.

"Cover for me, I'm going to follow him—"

"Absolutely not!" says Fianna, her eyes widening. "I am not staying here an extra four hours! I'm tired! I haven't sat down since eight o'clock!"

"OK, then you go!" says Georgia, and she wildly throws her hand towards the door. She jumps up and down on the balls of her feet, desperately wanting to run after Regulus. Perhaps that's why Georgia's the worst person to go and follow someone. Whereas Fianna, who has another, smaller form...

"You owe me one." Fianna gives Georgia a dirty look, hurriedly throwing off her apron. She runs to the staffroom, throwing open the back-door into the alleyway; as the door slams shut, a white swan kicks off the floor, flying towards the rooftops.

She sees Regulus, who turns down the side-street towards Knockturn Alley. Of course he is, she thinks to herself, quickly passing over to the other side of the rooftops. No one knows she has an Animagus form — which she knows is dodgy, and she should be registered, but Dumbledore would've seen through her and the Marauders all randomly becoming Animagi — so Regulus won't look up and think, Fianna. He might see a swan in the middle of London, though, and think, that's fucking weird.

So, she flies over with grace, just after he's walked into the alleyway. She lands on the rooftop looking over it, watching him walk along the cobblestone street. He looks over his shoulder, checking no one's around (oh, the irony) before letting himself into Borgin & Burkes.

If Fianna could frown, she would — instead, there's a white swan sitting above Knockturn Alley, looking incredibly pensive. She walks along the rooftop, trying to get a better view of what Regulus was doing. Fianna wishes she could become invisible, or something. She loves her Animagus form, but swans are not discrete in this setting.

OK, OK... She sees the building next to Borgin & Burkes, which has one floor less than the shop Regulus is in. The windows to Borgin & Burkes are open (thank God for the summertime), so she might be able to hear anything.

She lifts her wings, and quietly lands on the roof next to Borgin & Burkes. She can see Regulus through the window, talking to one of the shopkeepers. He looks anxious about something... whatever he's on about. Fianna wishes she was a slightly less grandiose bird. A pigeon could get away with flapping its wings into the shop. Although, she'd like to think her personality doesn't match that of a flying rat. (No offence to ratkind... Pettigrew, she's looking at you.)

"It's really important I can fix this soon." By some miracle, Regulus' voice makes its way to her. She leans forwards, intrigued. What is he trying to fix? "How long do you think it'll take for me to achieve that?"

The shopkeeper — Borgin, Burke, their friend Bob, Fianna doesn't know — pauses for a moment, lost in thought. "It depends how much time you spend on it. These objects are a piece of cantankerous magic, you have to train it to be able to transport... larger objects," he tells Regulus. Transport? What? "But, I'd say with an hour's work a day, you'll be looking at Christmas."

"Perfect," says Regulus.

They talk about payment, whilst Borgin/Burke/Bob talks more about whatever task Regulus was on about. He seems to know what Regulus is trying to do, which makes Fianna wonder if either Regulus has been here before, or Borgin/Burke/Bob is in on this. It is a shop for dark magic, maybe it is complicit in whatever death-eating Regulus is a part of?

Regulus walks out of the shop. He looks up for a second, and frowns at the swan sat on the rooftop. After a moment, he looks away, shaking off the strangeness. There's been weirder things around here, he thinks, his heart hammering in his chest.

i've written the next chapter for this too, and i'm so so excited to share it w you guys!! i hope you enjoyed this chapter, and let me know what you thought!🩷🩷