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Looking at Severus Snape was not how Aquila imagined her afternoon going.

The two potioneers were sat with frowns on their faces, a desk separating them.

"What is it that you want exactly, Severus?" Aquila asked, trying to be patient.

Severus sneered at her. "Do you want it in writing? I'm asking for a memory viewer."

Aquila pressed two fingers on her temples. "And I've shown you four different kinds. What is it you want, and I shall see if I can get it for you," she said, struggling to keep her tone neutral.

This was definitely not a welcome surprise, Dumbledore sending his people time and again to make Aquila rethink her decisions after what had happened a few days ago.

"Oh, your super secret club for the good guys?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Indeed. Since the mission the other day, I want you and Regulus to be one of the, ah, good guys, as you put it."

"No," Aquila deadpanned before turning around. Dumbledore did a double take and followed her.

"Miss Black, I know that your experience with us has not been the best, but you will be a really valuable asset in our organisation. Of course, I will not force you, but I cannot emphasise enough how much we want your presence there," Dumbledore pleaded, for the first time, something beside amusement in his voice.

Aquila turned around. "'We'? Who is 'we', Professor? Surely not those people who tortured an eleven year old kid just because he was a Slytherin? Not those people because of whom third years and below had to travel with an older person because they were being taken into rooms and had hexes placed on them to confess being part of the Dark Lord's army? The people who didn't want me and Regulus to come to heal Remus and Professor McGonagall? Are those the people who feel the need for me and Regulus to be on the side of the good guys?" she asked, huffing out a laugh. "These people on the good guys side, sir, have already decided who the bad guys are."

Dumbledore sighed. "I know that, Miss Black, and I. . . I have no words except an apology to give to you. But understand how much your presence in our meetings will change their outlook. Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin and Mr. Pettigrew already know, and will most definitely make your transition a smooth one," Aquila opened her mouth, but Dumbledore held up a hand. "Your brother has already made a huge impact, and it's no secret how talented you and Regulus are."

"Sirius is a Gryffindor, Headmaster. Things changed for him the moment he got sorted," Aquila said.

Dumbledore sighed. "I could lie and say that houses end the moment we leave Hogwarts, but neither of us are children anymore, Miss Black. I still will wait for a proper answer. Discuss it with your brother, sleep over it, and then we shall speak again. Evening," he said pleasantly, and Apparated.

"Do you want a Pensieve?" she asked him, wanting him to be gone already.

Snape made a face. "Yes." She waited for him to say more, but when he didn't, she sighed and waved a hand.

"I'm going to need a permit from your employer," Aquila said dryly. It wasn't a hard and fast rule, but as long as it bothered Snape, Aquila was willing to follow the whole rulebook.

Snape sneered and got up with a swish of robes. Stupid bat. "Headmaster Dumbledore wishes to speak with you, Black."

"How'd you end up with him? Thought you rather fancied joining a cult," Aquila said, leaning back in her chair, her feet on the order form Snape had bought. He sneered at her feet before turning around and looking out the window. Aquila assumed it was to be dramatic since the window was merely for show, the whole Academy being underground.

"The Headmaster has my loyalty, for reasons that you do not need to know," he said, his lips pulled in a frown.

Aquila smiled thinly. "You're welcome to leave now. The conversation between the Headmaster and I, well, you do not need to know," she said. Gesturing a hand towards the door, Snape's face looking like he had just smelt sour milk, a slight gust of wind propelling Snape towards the door, he was out.

Maybe we should reconsider, Regulus hummed in her mind.

Aquila scoffed, taking out a piece of paper. You've got a Dark Mark on your arm, Reg. I had one as well. I once nearly choked Diggory with my foot, we spent our time at Hogwarts mocking Gryffindors. People won't see Sirius' siblings, they'll see Death Eater family kids.

Regulus said nothing in response, but Aquila knew he disagreed with her opinion. According to the other Black twin, they ought to give the old man a chance. He knew their entire history, had even helped them during difficult times.

Aquila thought it was a load of bull.

In her mind, Dumbledore was a master manipulator, convincing people he was the good guy and getting things done in a nice and calm way while looking like an oddball whom no one questioned. In reality, he was probably just as bad as the Dark Lord, if not more, considering at least Riddle let the world know his true intentions, unlike Dumbledore, who hid behind the senile headmaster's disguise.

So, no, Aquila had absolutely put her foot down on this, that she would not join the Order, no matter how much James and Sirius asked, no matter how much Regulus felt it was the right thing to do.

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wheeee

what a quick update !

honestly, now that ive got the rest of the story planned out chapter wise, it's much easier to write it

also, chapters might be a bit short from here on :(

sorry

but ily guys