The Hogwarts Express hissed as it slowed, steam billowing outward in white plumes that curled against the arched ceiling of King's Cross Station.
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters buzzed with the familiar end-of-year chaos—students laughing too loudly, trunks thumping against stone, owls flapping irritably as they were freed from cages.
Parents called names.
Friends made loud promises to write.
Professors stood to one side, already looking relieved that the castle would soon be quieter.
Cassius Snape stepped down from the train with practiced calm.
Despite the exhaustion of exams, battles, and months of relentless pressure, his posture remained straight, his expression neutral.
Only the faintest pause—just a fraction of a second—betrayed the shift in his mind as another year at Hogwarts was behind him once more.
Summer had begun.
Behind him came the girls of House Draconis.
Hermione Granger emerged first, adjusting her bag with brisk efficiency, eyes already scanning the platform eyes diligent and crisp, clearly ready to divulge some new information she'd studied during the train ride.
Daphne Greengrass followed, composed and cool, gaze flicking briefly across the crowd in a subtle security sweep she didn't even realize she was doing anymore, her battle instinct having been trained to excess during Cassius's training.
Ginny Weasley practically bounded down the steps, stretching her arms like she'd been released from captivity, she was beyond excited to get the chance to live the way everyone else did seperated from her family for a change.
Astoria stumbled after her, nearly dropping her trunk before Luna Lovegood caught it with a dreamy smile and an absent flick of her wand, the sister was pleased to spend more time with her sister, while Luna didnt have any real thoughts at all just that this summer was posed to be the funnest one yet.
Cho Chang lingered near Cassius, her presence quiet but steady, of the lot she was the one most worried as her folks had been hard to convince to allow her to live with the others over the summer rather than returning home.
For a moment, they stood together—six witches and one wizard, bound not by blood, but by something stronger and far stranger.
Then—
"Well," came a familiar, amused drawl, "this is a sight I don't get tired of."
Cassius looked up.
Sirius Black leaned casually against a stone pillar at the far end of the platform, one boot braced against the wall, long dark coat hanging open.
His hair was tied back loosely, his grin unmistakable—sharp, warm, and unmistakably alive.
Beside him sat a luggage trolley just waiting to receive the trunks of the girls, while Cassius's own was safetly stowed away in his messenger bag.
Hermione blinked. "Is that—"
"Sirius Black," Ginny finished brightly. "Fred and George are going to have a fit."
Sirius pushed off the wall and strode toward them.
"Relax. I'm on my best behaviour... Mostly." His eyes flicked to Cassius. "You ready, pup?"
Cassius inclined his head. "We've got everything from school, so we should be good to stay at Grimmauld Place."
Sirius's grin widened. "Good. Because I already told Molly you'd kidnapped her daughter."
Ginny snorted. "He basically did."
Molly Weasley's distant shout carried across the platform.
Sirius waved cheerfully in response, then turned back to the group. "Right. Let's get you lot home."
Home.
The word still felt strange to Cassius—but not unwelcome.
And as much as he wanted to inflict a prank in retaliation for Sirius's meddling and pot stirring, he instead had to internalize his pain and wait for a better moment to strike from the shadows when he'd least expect it.
~
Number Twelve Grimmauld Place revealed itself with the familiar lurch of magic, the buildings on either side sliding aside to allow the narrow, ancient house to emerge.
The front door opened before Sirius even touched it.
The air inside smelled faintly of old wood, tea, and something warmer—cleaner—than Cassius remembered, even after he and Sirius had performed a deep clean of the abode years ago.
The house was quieter now.
Less oppressive, almost as if the portaits lining the walls had finally come to terms with Sirius's position and affiliation with non-purebloods.
As trunks were guided inside and shoes shuffled off, a soft voice drifted from the drawing room.
"You're back."
Stellatrix Lestrange stood near the window, sunlight filtering through dark curtains and catching in her dark hair.
She leaned lightly on a cane—not for necessity so much as caution—but she was standing.
Awake.
Present.
She wore simple robes, pale blue instead of black, and though faint shadows lingered beneath her eyes, they no longer held madness.
Cassius stopped.
The girls did too, one by one.
Sirius watched carefully, ready to intervene if needed.
Cassius met Stellatrix's gaze. "Heya Stella."
"Hey back dear Cassius," she replied softly, smiling.
It was a real smile—small, a little uncertain, but genuine. "You have been missed around here."
Hermione glanced around. "whose... whose this."
Her words coming out as she assessed that only Sirius and Cassius seemed to know who the woman was.
Stellatrix inclined her head. "You must be his friends. Sorry for the late introduction, my name is Stellatrix Lestrange, though please just call me Stella, as young Cassius does."
Cho, Daphne, Astoria, and Ginny all offer respectful bows towards the lady before giving their own names.
Each knowing the lineage and power behind the Lestrange family name, a name just as old and powerful as the house of Black they found themselves standing within.
Hermione after a beat mimic'd the other girls, meanwhile Luna, ever the luna skipped right up to Stella wrapping her in a great big hug.
"I'm so glad to see you're getting so much better!"
The action and remark left them all stunned but it didnt take long for the group to simply respond in a dull tone.
""Luna.""
~
The afternoon passed in a strange, gentle rhythm.
Tea was brewed.
Trunks unpacked themselves.
As the girls each took a room as their own.
Though some did not take long to settle in at all, Hermione was the first the escape the confines of her room, before diving nearly headfirst into the Black Family library once more to uncover its hidden knowledge and secrets further.
Astoria, and Daphne worked up the courage to accompany Stella for tea.
Luna had all but disappeared trailing after Kreacher as if she was his pet.
Ginny was... well i guess you could say enjoying a moment alone, not surrounded by boys, or constant shenanigans.
And as for Cassius?
Well he was in his own room, working on his revenge as the last steps of a new major prank came together one he'd be unleasing on Sirius, for all to enjoy.