Chapter 3

The Sisters Black

Hey-o! Ok, so I got a question from a guest reviewer named "Little Chibi"

Question:Is this going to be an AU? I hope so. I've always hated the fact that Regulus died before the series even started...

Answer: I'm thinking of making it an AU, yes. Things WILL happen to characters in the story, but I really can't get into too much detail. I'm not 100% as to were the story will go, other than the main idea of the ending. I don't think I will specify if Regulus dies later on and just leave that up to the reader. As for the whole "school united" thing, I can't say literally ANYTHING about it, as it would give away which ever turn the story takes. Sowwyz.

Also... Love Beyond Tears... yeah... um, I'm having issues with it. The next chapter may take a while to those of you who are reading it, so don't hold your breath. It'll get done, even if it takes five years, I WILL finish that FanFiction. (Or at least write chapter 3)

P.S., I modified chapter 2 because I was having real problems with how I wrote the middle. Nothing too significant, but you may want to check it out and let me know if you prefer it now to what it was.

P.P.S., My friend Crystal12345 and I are writing a spinoff series called "Friends at Hogwarts" which takes place in this story, but with myself and her as the main characters. Absolute CrackFic. Posted on Crystal12345's profile. Commercial over.

Thank you!

-AA

It was a bright and early morning, and Severus was sitting under the large oak tree, reading. He usually enjoyed this part of the day, but he was feeling unusually antsy and it was distracting. Defeated, his shut his book and returned indoors.

He was walking down the hallway, when something very large collided with his face.

"Huh? What was that?" came a girl's voice.

"Owww..." Severus moaned, testing to see if his nose was bleeding.

"Ah! I'm so sorry!" said the blond girl, who had come into the hall.

"Hahaha, nice, Cissy. Very smooth," cackled a black haired girl who was unmistakably her sister, even though the first girl was fair and the second dark.

"What's going on?" said a third girl, this one brunette, who also came into the hall.

With three girls suddenly all standing above him, Severus suddenly felt very awkward sitting on the floor like that.

"Hey, you're that fifth year boy, the one that Reggie's always hanging around," the black-haired girl said.

"Uh, yeah, we know each other," Severus said, unsure if he was meant to answer.

"You're also in my classes," said the brunette.

"I am?" Severus asked. He had never noticed her before.

"Yeah, we're in the same year." She held out her hand. "I'm Andromeda Black. These are my sisters, Bellatrix," she pointed at the black-haired girl. "And Narcissa," she pointed at the blond.

"Wait, so you're Regulus' cousins? Or sisters?" he asked.

"Cousins," they said in unison.

"Huh. So, I'm Severus, but I guess you knew that," Severus said, slowly shaking her hand.

"So, Cissy, you gonna help the kid up? I mean, you were the one that shoved a door into his face," Bellatrix laughed.

Narcissa rushed over and helped Severus to his feet.

"I'm really sorry about that," she said, picking up Severus' book.

"It's no problem," Severus said, taking the book. "I'm not hurt."

Just then, the Great Hall opened, signaling it was time for breakfast.

"Hey, why don't you come with us, Sevvy?" Bellatrix asked. The other two nodded in agreement. "Well, um-" But Bellatrix didn't give him time to finish and grabbed a hold of Severus sleeve, dragging him along.

"Wow, you've employed girls to help you now?" called James from the Gryffindor table.

"That's a new low, even for you Snivvelus."

Every girl in the Great Hall gave him a nasty look. James raised his hands in surrender.

As they passed, Bellatrix cast a summoning spell on his chair, which made him fall to the floor, landing on his butt.

The Slytherin table laughed as he glowered at her, picking up his chair and sulking back over to the table.

Professor McGonnagal shot Bellatrix a look, but she only smirked.

Severus looked over to the end of the table where Regulus was sitting. Surprisingly, Lucius was there again too.

As the four walked over, Narcissa noticed Lucius and froze, turning pink in a matter of seconds.

"I, um, we, can-" she stammered, but Bellatrix only rolled her eyes and sat her down on a chair. A chair directly across from Lucius.

"Wow, Narcissa. I think you just created your own shade of red. What's it called? 'Fangirling Over The Love Of My Life?'" Regulus laughed.

"Sh-shut up!" Narcissa commanded, though the effect was ruined because she somehow managed to turn even deeper red when she saw Lucius looking at her.

The sixth year Prefect smirked at her, then returned to his scones.

The three girls fell right into pace with the three boys (probably because they lived with the most talkative of the trio). Lucius would chime in every once in a while and Severus would listen, but Regulus easily had the most conversation going. Severus learned that Bellatrix despised the Charms teacher, but Andromeda was the favorite in that class, though she couldn't compete with Lucius. He learned Narcissa wanted to get a passing grade in Transfiguration, though Bellatrix assured her that the Hogwarts Express would be more likely to turn to chocolate than her pass Transfiguration. Lucius smiled and said she would do fine, causing the fourth year girl to go into a mini-coma.

After the six of them split off to go to classes, Andromeda and Severus went off to Herbology together.

"So, what's your specialty?" Andromeda asked.

"Pardon?" Severus looked at her, bewildered. The question seemed totally random, not to mention he had no idea of what she meant.

"For Regulus' group. What's your specialty?" she asked. The brunette sighed, noting his still unsure expression and went on, "You see, everyone here has a 'specialty.' Everyone Regulus has recruited, anyway.

"See, Lucius Malfoy is the obvious choice for Transfiguration, as he's practically gifted at it. Cissy is amazing with Charms, Bella specializes in Curses and Hexes, and I'm pretty good with counter-curses." She smiled at him. "So, what about you?" Andromeda asked.

"Um, I'm pretty good with potions, I guess," Severus said, pretty sure that's what she meant. It must have been, since she nodded and asked nothing further.

"So then, what's the point?" he asked Severus. "The point of having all these 'specialties,' I mean."

Andromeda thought about this for a second. "Well, it could be coincidence," she said, as they passed a group of giggling first years. "I don't have an answer for you yet. Anyway, it probably is a coincidence. I just tend to notice these things."

The two walked in silence for the rest of the way to the front doors of the castle.

Finally, as the two walked outside into the misty morning, Severus asked, "So, what about Regulus? He's the one who came up with this plan in the first place. What's his 'specialty'?"

Andromeda laughed. "Specialty? Haven't you figured it out yet?"

Severus looked at her expectantly.

"C'mon. Who else could get a rebellious troublemaker, a conniving prep, a lovestruck fangirl, a third-wheel peacekeeper and a shy wallflower to get along, let alone work to unite the school?" Andromeda smiled.

"Regulus' gift is leadership?" Severus asked, unsure if that counted.

"Yup, which is kind of ironic," the brunette said as they marched down the grassy slope. "As kids, Regulus always followed Sirius around, like some kind of worshiper. He never left his brother's side," she said, smiling forlornly at the sky.

"He mentioned something about that once," Severus murmured, thinking back to the conversation he had with Regulus in the Hospital Wing previously.

"He did?" Andromeda said, incredulously. "Wow... he almost never mentions anything about his brother anymore."

Severus was surprised at this, as he seemed willing enough to talk about him before.

"Maybe he's opening up?" the fifth year thought aloud.

"That's possible, though it seems to sudden for Regulus."

The two finally reached the door of the greenhouse.

"I'm thinking Regulus just finds you easier to talk to," she said, opening the door and going inside.

Severus paused, thinking about her words. Could it really be that difficult for someone else to think of him as a close friend?

He thought back to Lily and what she had said. What he had said. Those words still haunted him. "I don't need help from a mudblood!"

Severus walked inside the classroom, abandoning his thoughts outside.

TIMESKIP

That night, in the Slytherin common room.

The six of them sat in the common room, all doing mostly different things.

Regulus was telling an animated story of how he "accidentally" jinxed his partner (a Gryffindor) in Defense Against the Dark Arts. His opponent ended up with jelly legs and the two were the center of attention. However that had earned him two weeks of detention from the professor.

Bellatrix was listening and laughing at his story, congratulating him on showing the Gryffindor house that Slytherin was superior.

Lucius was doing homework, with Narcissa peering over his shoulder and watching him.

Severus walked over to Andromeda, who was sitting in the corner, watching the fireplace.

"So, when did Regulus ask you three to help us?" he asked, sitting down across from her.

Her gaze didn't move from the flames. "This morning. That's actually why we were in that classroom. The three of us were debating what Regulus could be thinking."

Severus nodded and watched the fire with her. He often wondered about that himself. Had Regulus been planning this for a while, and if so, why did he ask Severus first? Why not the more powerful wizards? Or was it out of the blue and the fourth year just happen to ask the first person he met?

These questions pervaded Regulus' mind for the remainder of the evening. As he went to bed, he noticed that Regulus' chess board was slowly filling up. The Rook, the Queen, and Pawn were now on the table. He saw Andromeda watching the fireplace still and wondered what it would be like once all the houses came together.

She must have noticed him watching her, as she turned her head and smiled at him.

Severus smiled back and went upstairs.

SO! Did you like the chapter? Also, I was thinking of doing some kind of pairing in the story, most likely with Severus. Andromeda x Severus is one I was thinking of. But, of course, there's also Lily x Severus, but I won't be able to get as into that one. Suggestions are welcome. No yaoi and/or yuri pairings, please. If you know me, you know my thoughts on writing that. (There will also most likely be Lucius x Narcissa, but it's up to you guys)

Thanks!

-AA