-͟͟͞☆ Chapter 1
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
"SPIDER"
01:09 ━━━━●───── 02:17

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🛸✮☄

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Dr. Seuss

The next morning came bright and early. James sat on the Gryffindor couch, waiting for Sirius to come downstairs. His legs bounced nervously as he rested his elbows on his knees. He kept checking the staircase every second, waiting for a glimpse of his silhouette. Suddenly, the space behind him on the couch dipped with the weight of a person who sighed deeply.

But James paid no mind, his eyes tracking the path of the dormitory nervously.

"You look like you're going to fight a war," the person beside him said looking at him intently. "Worse than that, I've committed a crime" James said, his voice hoarse as if he had cried the whole night.

"Hmm" the person hummed, looking at him with a small smirk. A few minutes went by in silence as James kept tapping his foot rapidly, his whole body vibrating with nerves and panic.

"Oh for f*ck's sake" The person groaned suddenly dropping to his lap.

"What the f-"James' voice was caught in his throat as he saw Sirius head lying on his lap with a small smirk adorned on his face. As his gaze finally found his, the older boy winked, resting one of his hand behind his head, and on top of his thighs.

"Padfoot," James whispered, his hands shaking as she stared at him. "Yes Prongs, and stop shaking like a leaf, for Merlin's sake, it's not even that cold yet" He said, getting up from his lap while racking a hand through his hair.

"Padfoot, I-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to say, and I know it doesn't justify it, but please forgive me, No-" He suddenly got off the couch and knelt in front of him with his hands folded, "I beg you to forgive me pa-"

"Prongs have you gone mad?" Sirius said kneeling in front of him, lowering his joint hands and staring at him with wide eyes, "You've lost it prongs"

"Yeah, I've lost it, I completely lost it when I said that, but I swear I didn't mean to, I-"

"I know James I know" Sirius said, bringing the boy in a hug, "I know you didn't mean any of it, I know. And I wasn't even angry at you that you are apologizing. Actions speak louder than words Prongs, and I know you are my family" He said caressing his back.

"I am so sorry" James said hiding his face in the crook of his neck while holding him tightly.

"It's alright Prongs, it's alright" Sirius said as his eyes suddenly went to Peter and Remus standing at the corner of the room as Sirius raised his one hand and gestured to join the hug.

Both of them walked towards the boys kneeling on the ground while hugging each other, as Remus leaned down hugging them from one side. Peter stood there staring at three, not knowing what to do.

Suddenly he was pulled down by the sleeves of his shirt as he was squished by Sirius in the group hug. "Prove yourself trustworthy Peter or I am going to throw you of the astronomy tower" He said but his hold tightened around him.

"Let's go to the room before Dumbledore decides to start the book without us" Remus said breaking out from the hug as the other nodded.

Sirius stood bringing the bespectacled boy up with him, "stop looking like you've just attended a funeral, monty and mia will start at interview in front of everyone" Sirius snickered as James chuckled not leaving his hands as they walked down the corridor towards the room of requirement where everyone was already settled to start with the fifth year.

As they entered the room, Sirius' eyes caught Regulus as sent a small smirk his way, that to other would like a mocking or taunting gesture, but to Regulus it mattered more than anything.

"Shall we begin if everyone's settled?" Dumbledore's voice echoed as the marauders took their seat next to each other, giving a wave of shock to everyone. Wasn't peter sitting away from them the last time they read the book? Didn't they fall apart after what happened in third year? Then what happened?

Briony and Lily turned to smile at each other. They were better with each other rather against. Peter did wrong, so wrong, but if they have to change the future, they have to act accordingly.

"I'll read professor" Marlene said taking the book from McGonagall.

THIRD PERSON POV 

"REGAN BLACK, GET OFF ME THIS INSTANT, OR I AM MAKING YOU BALD FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE" 

"That's a good start I say" Marlene snorted shaking her head.

Yelling, shouting, and chaos. Grimmauld Place was never void of it, and today wasn't any different either. The day might have been the hottest day of the summer so far, and no one was in their best moods at all. 

"I CAN'T. I THINK I TWISTED MY LEG." 

Twisted, that's how the Black family actually was. And this generation was no better, but in their own different way. 

"What an introduction" Sirius snickered making eye contact with his brother who had the same expression as his.

"Am I missing something or is Black senior eyeing you very much since he entered the room?" Rabastan said to which Regulus shrugged. "People stare at things which attract" he said to which both of his friends made a face.

Suddenly, there was sound of footsteps echoing in the whole house as everyone gathered near the staircase to see the commotion. 

"Merlin's saggy pants, what happened here?" Sirius breathed out, looking at the scene with wide eyes. Both the siblings' body was tangled against each other, and they were lying at the bottom of the stairs, with Adalyn below and Regan on top of her. 

"He pushed me" Adalyn cried, looking at her dad with eyes pleading to get her out of this situation. "I didn't push her, I stumbled upon something and then bumped into her" Regan replied, trying to detangle himself from her. 

Arilene came down rushing and helped the boy to stand. "Ouch! Oww f*ck, my leg" The boy hissed, holding his right foot in his hand and hopping on the spot with his other. 

"Someone help me too please" Adalyn said from below as Arilene sighed picking up her bestfriend. 

"My back, ouch my head, sh!t my arms too," Adalyn whispered holding her right arm and glaring at the boy. "I swear to god, learn to walk properly." 

The boy in turn scowled at her. "I was walking properly, my foot got stuck into something" 

"Then ask Harry and get a pair of glass if your eyes don't work properly" 

"Good one" Mary chuckled shaking her head. The sibling figts always entertained her.

Both the siblings glared at each other as Sirius snickered looking at the two. "Uncle Sirius, do you think it's funny?" Regan asked looking at him with wide eyes. 

"Yeas" Sirius nodded.

"My house is filled with clowns" He laughed, going inside the living room causing the three of them to look at him with an incredulous look. 

"Are you alright?" Arilene asked, looking at both of them, but oh, she asked the right question to the wrong set of people. Because Black family not being dramatic? Not possible. 

"You think this is alright? What if I won't be able to play quidditch this year?" Adalyn gasped looking at both of them, her eyes widened like a saucer. "Don't be dramatic, you'll be alright" Regan mumbled rolling his eyes. 

"Of course, I am dramatic now" She scoffed narrowing her eyes at him, "Ok guys, cut it" Arilene said coming in between the two, "let's go eat something"

"I am not able to walk" Regan hissed as soon as his right foot touched the floor. "What? Is it that bad?" Adalyn mumbled worriedly kneeling down touching his foot causing the boy to wince.

"DAD! REGAN BROKE HIS FOOT, HE'S NOT ABLE TO WALK" She shouted loudly, "'Damn Lyn, you could give a competition to Wulburga Black" Arilene winced, glancing towards the portrait of the said woman. 

Wulburga sat straight her eyes narrowing at the book. She didn't shouted that loudly.

"Genes" Regan snickered looking at his sister who just rolled her eyes shaking her head. 

"The horror" Remus said rolling his eyes.

"Is it that bad?" Sirius said coming out of the living room looking at the boy who nodded. 

"It's not broken tho, just twisted" He said as Sirius sighed crouching down  to observe the injury. "I am no expert in this, but yeah it's twisted badly, come let me do something" He said standing up and helping the boy to walk inside the living room. 

"What an idiot" Adalyn sighed rubbing her shoulders as Arilene side glanced at her, "Do you need any help?" 

"Nope, I am alright" She replied shaking her head, "Let's go upstairs". 

It was just a normal day. It had been a week since school ended, and nobody had really recovered from the incidents that took place. Nobody really got over the fact that one of their schoolmates was murdered, and that too by Voldemort, who was supposed to be dead.

"Why the first chapters are always so depressing. Like please give us a cheerful start" Briony said as Lily nodded. "Yeah, it isn't like they're serving us with sunflowers and sunshine the whole book, they can at least give a better start"

Both the girls sat on the bed with their respective books and immersed in the world of their own imagination. The wind gently blew from the window making low rumbling noise. It was complete silence as the sun casted its last rays of shine for the day, making way for the moon to shine in the dark sky. 

What if she hadn't behaved so stupidly and immaturely? Would things have changed? Even a bit? Adalyn frowned looking at the book in her hand in irritation. Why did she have to be so stupid? Only if she could have matured and talked to Harry about all the stuff she was thinking about, which turned out right at the end, maybe things would have been different. 

"Adalyn. Why are you glaring at the book?" Arilene asked glancing at her best friend looking up from her own book. 

"I was so stupid Arilene" Adalyn whispered looking at her best friend. "I kept my feelings before him, I kept myself before him, I kept seeing him as my crush, the boy I have feelings for and was always so grumpy and irritable with him just because he liked another girl. I kept fussing about my crush over him and forgot that he is my friend. He's my friend before anything else. I kept ignoring the fact that he needed my support during that time and just went on with my stupid feelings"

"Awww I feel so bad for her, it wasn't her fault" Mary said with a small pout.

"You shouldn't feel guilty about liking someone, and besides it was equally his fault too, only if he hadn't said stupid things to you" James said a slight frown on his face.

"Adalyn it's not entirely your fau-"

"No, it is Arilene. I was the one who started the fight, I irked him and irritated him when he was already dealing with so much , and if cho was the ono who was keeping him happy, I was being a hurdle in that too. No one can control feelings Arilene, and I failed to understand that, and kept blaming him for causing me sadness whereas in reality I was completely fine and it was him who was struggling with so much"

"She isn't completely right, but she isn't completly wrong too. Both of them were equally at fault to be honest, but it's ohkay, teenage time is usually messy with emotions and feelings" Briony said massaging her temple.

"I get what you are trying to say, but you just said now that no one can control their feelings Adalyn, so why not apply that to yourself too? You are a human too and sometimes it's ok to be selfish. I am not saying what you did was right, but you weren't the only one at fault too. Harry also did and said some things that were completely unnecessary" 

"I was so scared Arilene" Adalyn mumbled looking down at the floor, "When I got to know what barty crouch had planned, I was so scared, I thought I'll lose him and the last thing we said to each other were hurtful comments"

"It's not your fault Adalyn" Arilene replied, engulfing the girl into a hug.

They both sat in the same position for a few minutes, when they were suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Hey girls, are you both there? Can I come in" Sirius voice chimed in from behind the door as the girl broke their hug and sat straight on the bed. "Yess padfoot, we are here" Arilene called out as Sirius entered the room and looked at the two with raised brows.

"Why does it seem like you two just came from a funeral?" Sirius quipped causing Adalyn to roll her eyes, "Dad, you can't just say such things"

"Wow I just said the same thing to Prongs" Sirius said with a huge grin as James secretly rolled his eyes, he was so proudly claiming it as if he had said such a nice statement.

"There are already enough funerals we've been through in 15 years padfoot" Arilene mumbled to herself.

"Oh well I wanted to tell that dinner's ready" He said and went out of the room. 

Arilene sighed looking at her best friend, "Let's go lyn"

"I am not going to let my feelings overpower me anymore" Adalyn said causing Arilene to furrow her brows. "Uh I was asking for dinner?"

"No, if my love has to be unrequited then it'll be silent too. I can admire him and watch him afar and then also my love won't be any less"

"Love? You love him?" Arilene gasped going near her and holding onto her shoulder as if her life depended on it.

"Yeah? I love him, you too, regan, sagira, esmeray, ron,-"

"No Adalyn, do you love him like that?" Arilene asked looking at her with big eyes. Adalyn kept silent and looked her in the eyes. "What is love?"

"Uhh that's a good question. What's love?" Andromeda said turning to face Teddy who suddenly got nervous under her gaze. "Uh let's see, umm love is... love is, let's read it in the book" He said placing his hands on her cheek and turning her face away from him.

It was silent for a moment before arilene started laughing, "God have you finally lost it Adalyn? a second ago only you were speaking that you love us all and now what is love?"

"No arilene, but what do we even know about love? We just use the word love because we've heard others using it too. But do we know what it really means? Does love just means you care about the person or worry about them or like them? We grew up knowing and watching abuse, hate, violence... thinking that these are the only emotions that existed. What do we even know about love? We didn't  get a chance to watch our parents acting lovey dovey and cringing us out. What do we even know about love? We didn't even get the chance to watch our fathers staring at our mothers as if their life depended on it. What do we even know about love? We didn't even watch our mothers smiling and willing to do anything for their families. What do we even know about love Arilene? We never even got the chance to play with our siblings...... I don't even remember my mother's face Arilene" and for the first time Arilene saw tears in her best friends eyes.

"Stop making me cry, I already cried too much this morning" James said taking out his glasses and fanning his eyes. Meanwhile Briony sat there with a sad smile on her face. Only if she was there for her.

She wasn't crying, but her eyes were filled with tears and it made Arilene's eyes moist too.

"I-i don't know what to say" She replied as Adalyn shook her head, rubbing her eyes fiercely. "I am sorry, I made your cry" She said as the red head just shook her head. 

"I-i get what you're saying, I think I do, b-but Adalyn, you know what love means. Even if you think you don't know it, you do. Deep inside you know how to love and it just flows naturally for you. I know we've never seen our parents acting all old marriage couple in front of us, but I've seen the way you act in front of Sagira and Regan when things get tense so that they don't get worried about anything; you want to make them feel free of anything that's happening around, I know we've never seen our fathers staring at our mothers with love, but I've seen they way you stare at Harry with so much tenderness, care and softness that it feels you wouldn't care laying your life for him, I know we've never seen our mothers smile full of love, but I've seen the way you open your arms with a small smile when anyone of us is hurt, or sad. I know we've never experienced love, but I've experienced so much care, kindness, gentleness from you that it feels like love" Arilene said looking at her best friend who was staring at the ground. 

Marlene stopped reading and looked at the book with wide eyes. "God how do these kids feel so much?"

"You can officially call me a crybaby now" Sirius whispered wiping the corner of his eyes as his eyes went to his brother who was staring at the ground, his hands joint together resting on his knees.

"You know what love is Adalyn, you know how to love , maybe we don't recognize it because it's new to us, but we do love. We do love each other" The red haired smiled as Adalyn looked at her with a small smile of her own. 

"So, let's not stop giving up on our feelings and emotions just because we think it's a mistake, because it is not. Feelings and emotions for anyone are not a mistake. They are precious, valuable and the proof that we feel love and know love. So, let's make a promise to never give up on love, no matter how hard the situation is" Arilene said sticking out her pinky finger to Adalyn who chuckled engulfing her pinky finger to hers. 

"Let's go down shall we or else Regan and padfoot will finish the whole food" The redhead said hooking her hand with Adalyn's and going downstairs. 

"How are you so good at motivation? so good at lifting my spirits up? Whenever I try to comfort someone, I end up depressing them more" Adalyn said ad Arilene chuckled shaking her head. "I guess it's just my genes, I don't know how I do it" 

"James' genes" Remus, Sirius, Peter all said collectively causing the boy to groan and hide his face in his hands. Meanwhile Euphemia and Fleamont looked at the their son with a fond gaze.

"What?" There were collective shouts as Sirius winced closing his eyes. "Dad you can't do that." 

"Now what happened?" Rabastan said, his face twisting into confusion.

"Uncle Sirius, I don't even know half of the people's names you are taking, how am I supposed to live with them?" 

"Padfoot, I don't think this will be a good idea, please think about it" 

Sirius sighed, looking at the three with tired eyes, "Dumbledore's orders kids, He wanted a place for the order" 

"What's the order? Scratch that, why does it have to be at our home?" Adalyn asked looking at him helplessly. 

"Exactly, this is our house, not some charity place that he can organize any meeting he wants" Regan said rolling his eyes. 

"That's a fair point" Evan said nodding.

"Who all are going to stay with us?" Arilene asked as sirius looked at the ceiling in a thinking manner before looking at them, "The weasleys, Hermione, Remus and Sagira" 

"Oh Thank god" Adalyn sighed, "at least this whole bloody order is not camping here" 

After a moment of silence Regan looked at Sirius, "And when exactly is this all going to start?" 

"Next week" Sirius said scratching his neck sheepishly. 

"I am not sharing my room with anyone" Regan suddenly said looking at Sirius with wide eyes. "Not even with Esmeray?" Adalyn asked causing Sirius to choke on his food. "You all might kill padfoot one day" Arilene snickered as Regan passed a glass of water to him. 

"He would die of choking on his food" James chuckled as Sirius rolled his eyes poking out his tongue at him.

"Are you dating Sagira? Moony's little daughter? Do you have a death wish? Moony's gonna kill you and then Regulus will rise up from his death and kill me for not protecting you and then-" 

Regulus made a face at his brother for even saying such ridiculous things.

"Uncle sirius, I don't think dad will wake up from his death now would he?" Regan said as sirius looked at him with a done face, "I was just kidding about that part-"

"No but imagine it, if it seriously happens, dad just suddenly gets alive again and start duelling with Uncle sirius because I died? Just like voldemort did this year" Regan exclaimed as the three of them looked at him with a dumb found face. 

"Oh Salazar" Rabastan howled with laughter falling on top of Regulus who looked as if he wanted to evaporate from the spot. Why does this boy always has to embarrass him.

"Your humor is more dead than uncle regulus, no offence uncle reg" Adalyn mumbled looking at her brother weirdly. 

"That's so true" Evan said with a smirk on his face. Meanwhile Regulus stared at the floor. Why do these kids have to joke about him?

"Are all the slytherins like this?" Sirius asked looking at the boy with raised brows, "Are you asking me this? Didn't you grow up surrounded by all slytherins?" Regan asked as the older man just rolled his eyes. 

"And yeah, I am not dating anyone and I won't share my room with anyone too" 

"That's not even a topic to worry about, we have many rooms" Sirius waved his hands as all the dishes were levitated in the kitchen. 

"Come on kids, go to sleep now" Sirius said getting up from his chair as the three followed him. "Will you be able to walk now?" He asked Regan who shook his head slowly. "Ohk come I'll drop you to your room; Adalyn, Arilene off to bed" Sirius said as the girls ascended upstairs. 

"Uncle Sirius?" Regan said as Sirius walked towards the door of the room after dropping of the boy to his bed, "Yea" He replied turning around the face the boy. "Do you think dad would have got offended at my ummm I wouldn't call it a joke to be honest, but would he?" He asked looking at the man, "You knew him the most didn't you? Would he have laughed or hexed me?" 

Regulus made a disgusted face at the statement, "I would have picked you up and threw you off the astronomy tower" He said rolling his eyes. "Really? You would do that?" Rabastan said looking at him with wide eyes causing him to groan loudly. "Merlin's sake lestrange, grow some brain cells"

Sirius looked baffled for a moment, what would his brother do? He would have definitely hexed him if he made the joke years back, but, "He would have shown that he's very much offended and will kind of act angry, but he would definitely not hex you regan and from inside he would even laugh about it" He said smiling at the boy who nodded. 

"I wouldn't laugh about it. At all." Regulus said looking straight at Sirius who shrugged biting his cheeks to stop himself from laughing at the look on his brother's face.

"So dad would not have been like how your parents were?" He asked as sirius sighed looking up at the ceiling. Good work Regulus, leaving your son to ask these types of questions. 

"Wow, he has a whole book of questions" Evan snickered as Regulus glanced at his parents who sat still in their seat. God forbid, he would kill himself before becoming a parent like them.

"He wouldn't have been like them, specially after having a son like you? Nah I don't think so" He said ruffling the boys hair who grinned at him. "Good night uncle padfoot, hope dad scares you in your dreams" 

"Geez" Sirius said shaking his head as James snickered glancing at the two brothers and from one glance he knew something has happened between them.

"Wow kid, what a wish you have there" Sirius snickered as he went out the room and closing the door behind him softly. 

"Bloody hell Padfoot, what a responsible man you've become, Everyone would have been proud of you" He mumbled patting his own shoulder while walking towards his own room. 

"We are proud of you Padfoot" James, Remus, Briony, Lily, and all other gryffindors said out collectively causing a small blush to brush his cheeks.

Opening the door , he certainly didn't expect the scene in front of him. "Mon etoile, what are you doing?" He asked looking at Adalyn who was jumping on his bed. "It's my house, I can do whatever I want" She said looking at him as he raised his brows moving near the bed. 

"Ohk but you could jump around tomorr-" But he was cut off as the girl screamed loudly and jumped on him causing him to stumble back. "Oh god, what happened?" He asked holding her properly and looking around wide eyed as the girl snuggled her head in his hairs not speaking anything. "Edlynne will you speak something? What happened?" He asked glancing at her as she pointed her hand shakily at the bed. 

"There's a spider on your bed" She mumbled as Sirius looked carefully at his bed and true to her words, there was a big spider on his bed. "Be ready" He said as Adalyn raised her head confusedly, "For what?" She asked but soon got the answer as Sirius practically sprinted off the room. 

"Come on Padfoot" James laughed loudly looking at his best friend who groaned hiding his face in his hands. "For merlin's sake why is this written in the book" He groaned shaking his head as he heard the laughter coming from his friends.

"Omg dad stop" Adalyn shouted hugging him tightly as the man ran downstairs. "What if he comes behind us?" Sirius shouted back. "But dad why are you afraid of a spider" She yelled as they finally reached downstairs. 

"You can't bully a man for having fears Mone etoile" Sirius huffed as the girl got down looking up at him with a done face. "I thought you will protect me" She said crossing her hands. 

"And I did, I carried you all the way down here" He said pointing his hands towards the stairs. "Sirius, Adalyn, what happened? Why are you both shouting?" Arilene came rushing down the stairs with her wand clutched in her hands and looking at the two worriedly. 

The father and daughter duo glanced at each other as their cheeks turned red due to embarassment. "Did someone attack? Oh my god, was it a death eater-" 

"As it should" Briony snickered staring at Sirius with a mocking smirk.

"Uncle Sirius what happened?" Sirius groaned as he saw Regan hopping on his one leg towards the staircase, "Everything's ok regan, don't come down or else you'll hurt your leg" Sirius said as the boy just frowned. "Ohk but- OH MY GOD" Suddenly the sound of something falling echoed in the whole house as the boy came tumbling downstairs. 

Adalyn winced closing her eyes as she saw her brother lying on the floor after falling down from the stairs, for the second time in a day. "Merlin" Sirius groaned bending to pick the boy up, "Now what did you stumble into?" He asked as the boy looked up at him scared. "There was a huge spider near my leg" 

"Oh my god, this is peak" Marlene laughed leaning back against the couch handing the book to mary.

"Ohk, this chapter was good, except the starting part" Lily wheezed wiping the tears from her eyes.