Author's note

So sorry about the late upload!! I've been quite busy recently and haven't had much time to upload. Thank you for continuing to read this story!!

Ten years later...
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November 2nd 1981
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Anna woke up in her lake house one sunny morning, Jack cuddled into her side as she stirred. She kissed his head, slowly getting up.

Anna slid her slippers on and made her way to the bathroom. Turning on the water, she stepped in. The hot steam made the slight grogginess she still felt from sleep go away. She traced her fingers along her scars, cut deep from years of "lessons" with Madam Blackwell. She sighed; she felt rather down today and she wasn't sure why.

After her shower, Anna went downstairs for breakfast. She didn't feel like much to eat, but ended up deciding on oatmeal. That was when Jack came down the stairs. "Mornin' hun," he said, kissing her on the cheek. "Morning," she replied, feeling slightly distant. Jack glanced at her worriedly before deciding to mention it later. Anna sat down on the sofa, absently stirring her porridge. She looked out the window; it was a rather rainy day. Maybe that was why she felt so down, Anna mused while spooning plain porridge into her mouth.

Jack turned on the news.

News Anchor: This morning, we bring you a developing story that has left our community in shock and disbelief. Reports have surfaced regarding the tragic murders of thirteen individuals, with the details only now coming to light.

Reporter: Authorities have revealed that all thirteen victims lost their lives in circumstances shrouded in mystery. The one thing we know is that the supposed murderer is named Sirius Black. Last night, he was seen laughing over thirteen dead bodies, one of the victims reduced to a finger. He was quickly apprehended and taken into custody. The news has sent shockwaves through our city, leaving many grappling with the profound sadness and unanswered questions surrounding this tragedy.

News Anchor: The timing of this revelation has raised serious concerns about the safety and security of our neighborhoods. Residents are left wondering how such a horrific incident could have occurred without warning.

Reporter: As the investigation unfolds, authorities are urging anyone with information about the victims or the events leading up to their deaths to come forward. The families of the deceased are left mourning the loss of their loved ones, seeking closure and justice in the wake of this devastating news.

News Anchor: We will continue to monitor this developing situation and provide updates as they become available. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy. Stay tuned for more information in this evolving story.

Once the news reporters had continued on to the weather channel, Jack turned the TV off and sat next to her, his face grave. "Black? Black? Where had she heard that name before?" Her head started filling with random images as she cried silently into his shoulder as they sat in their lake house nestled in the heart of Glasgow, completely unaware that an innocent man had just been sent to the worst place on earth.

After she had composed herself a bit, she stood, her head still swimming with questions. She decided to go out to clear her head. "I... I think I'm going to go for a drive to calm down a bit. I'll see you later," she told Jack. Anna walked into the garage and stopped when she saw something, something she was very curious about.

So with her head still swirling, she sat on the floor, reaching out toward an old-looking box with a name that felt like hers, except no it wasn't her name. Her name was Anna Smith, not... not Aurora Black. But as soon as she thought this, something broke inside her, like a wall made of a million bricks had exploded in her mind. And suddenly she could remember, she could remember it all.

"REGULUS," a voice shouted. Five-year-old Regulus cowered behind six-year-old Sirius and Aurora. Footsteps stomped up the stairs, making Regulus whimper. Aurora turned round, speaking reassuring words to her brother.

The door to Sirius and Aurora's bedroom swung open. Both Aurora and Sirius's eyes shot sharply to the door, where a woman with long dark hair and eyes like a storm glared at them. "Mother," Sirius addressed. "Sirius, Aurora, move away from your brother this instant," the woman told them.

"No, y-you'll hurt him," Aurora spoke up. Her mother turned on her sharply. "No? You do not speak to your mother that way, girl," she pointed her wand, stained the color of blood, at the six-year-old girl. Fear danced in Aurora's pupils. Walburga smirked with cold eyes. "Crucio!" Walburga shouted. She grinned coldly; Aurora screamed.

The vision changed.

Eight-year-old Aurora and Sirius were doing their homework in the common room when Sirius turned to grin at her. "Hey, Rori, let's prank father," he whispered to her. She looked hesitant, then grinned. "Sure, Siri."

They crept round to the kitchen where their father, Orion Black, sat reading a newspaper. Sirius managed to levitate a bucket of water over his head. The bucket dipped and a gallon of water came tumbling down onto their father's face.

Orion whipped round. "SIRIUS ORION BLACK, AURORA WALBURGA BLACK, HOW DARE YOU!" He thundered, and they ran. They ran as fast as they could, until they suddenly froze in place, their arms and legs snapping together. Aurora gulped just as she saw Sirius get picked up off the ground.

"I would have thought you had learnt your lesson, apparently not," a cold voice said from behind them. She got forcefully turned round to stare into her father's cold eyes. Orion looked at his wife, who had appeared when he shouted, and they nodded. Then, with identical smirks, they both cast the cruciatus curse on their children, letting blood-curdling screams fill the afternoon.

The vision changed.

Aurora woke up on her and her brother's eleventh birthday. "Happy birthday, Rori," she heard her brother say from the bed beside her. "Happy birthday, Siri," she replied. Her brother had gotten his Hogwarts letter earlier that month, but she still hadn't gotten hers. "Siri, d-do you think I'm a squib?" she asked the half-asleep boy. She could feel fire flash in his eyes. "Not on my watch you won't be," he said sharply.

The vision changed.

It was five to midnight. "I love you, Siri," she told her twin, tears glistening in her eyes. Her parents glared at the siblings.

Four to midnight. "I love you, Reggie," she told her brother. They both said it back.

Three to midnight, she broke down in Sirius's arms.

Two to midnight, her parents got up and started pacing. She cried to her brothers about how much she loved them.

One to midnight, she started saying her goodbyes.

Midnight, her parents walked over to the group of siblings. Her mother pointed her blood-colored wand at her daughter.

"Obliviate."

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September 21st, 2015
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Thirty-four years later
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It had been thirty-four years since Aurora had figured out the puzzle that was her life, yet it still shocked her to the core. Sometimes she would sit for hours, staring off into space.

This particular morning, she lay in bed doing exactly that, staring off into space. Aurora wasn't sure how long she lay in bed before she finally decided to get up. Aurora Black, she thought, turning the name over and over in her head.

Maybe this was the reason she had never gone to see her brothers, but of course, she knew the real reason. It was because she didn't know how. The wizards they had kept themselves so separate from Muggles like her, well until recently that is. On the 19th of November, the wizarding world had revealed itself to the Muggle world.

Since the reveal of magic, Aurora had been contemplating showing up at one of her brother's houses. As she mused, she stood in the shower, letting warm water run down her back. Today, she thought, today she would go see one of her brothers. Hmm, Sirius or Regulus, she wondered. Sirius, she decided. Now, just to find out where he lived...

When she went downstairs for breakfast, she found Jack standing in the kitchen. "Morning, Jackie," she smiled. "Mornin', Rora," he replied. It had taken her a whole month to tell him her real name, but she was glad she had. "Listen, Jack, I-I think I'm going to go see my brother today, Sirius, that is," she told him. He looked at her in barely masked shock. "Oh... wow, yeah, okay, absolutely," Jack stuttered his reply. She laughed slightly at his expression.

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  September 25th, 2015
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It had taken Aurora three days to track down her brother. Finally, though, she had figured out that he lived in a small forest house in the heart of Fort William, Scotland. It took about two and a half hours to drive from her house to Fort William, so on the morning of the 25th, she left.

After a long drive on Scottish roads, she arrived at the house she believed her brother lived at. In the heart of a beautiful forest, there stood a house, a fantastic house at that, with moss growing up its walls and chimneys hidden in complex roofs, manicured yet unruly gardens. This house was exactly where she had expected her magical brother to live.

Suddenly feeling nervous, Aurora walked up the mud pathway and, with a deep breath, knocked.