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The train screeched to a halt,and almost as soon as it did the air was filled with noise. Screams erupted from the throats of kids as they raced down the length of the train. Those of lesser blood admired the train and the station as they waited for their kids,while parents shouted the names of their children.
It was very loud,as it was bound to be when so many children were in one place.
Cygnus stood off to the side with his son and daughter in law,his brother on his other side with Arcturus and his wife.
Cygnus saw who he was sure was a muggle eyeing them,but the filth dare not come close. Even brainless idiots such as him could deduce from the wide berth everyone else gave them that they were not to be messed with.
"When are those children going to come? They take too long every time." His brother grumbled,as he always did.
"They want to avoid the crowd,Father. Salazar knows how ill-mannered those mud bloods and half breeds are,bumping into each other in a most unseemly way,as you can see." Arcturus explained patiently,as he always did.
He gestured towards the crowd,and Cygnus sighed as he saw kids jostling each other in their haste to get to their families.
"You could just not come from now on,if you don't like waiting." Cygnus suggested,as he always did.
Sirius glared at him,as he always did.
"Honestly,why the lower classes do not deem it fit to raise their kids with manners I will never understand. You would never see any of our's doing anything like that." He spat, gesturing to two boys who pushed each other on the platform,their laughter reaching the Blacks.
Cygnus deemed it wise to not mention that Regulus and Arcturus,Sirius' sons,had had the exact same behaviour until it was hexed out of them. He could spare his nephew the inevitable lecture the reminder would ignite. (He wouldn't mention his own grandsons either,as that would surely earn him a lecture.)
So he stayed quiet on the matter,as he always did.
Pollux turned his head,to hide the smile on his face from his Uncle,no doubt. Cygnus flashed him a stern look,and Pollux attempted to keep his expression neutral. A feat that was made increasingly difficult by Sirius' growing complaints.
Cygnus rolled his eyes and unlike his son,managed to successfully keep his own smile from forming. As he always did.
"Do stop your grumbling,brother. Look,I can see them coming now." Cygnus informed his older brother,barely stopping himself from making fun of Sirius' childish behaviour. Sirius would hex him for 'being a disrespecting brat',as he always did.
Sirius turned towards the train,spotting the top of a very familiar mop of Black hair through the window,an equally familiar voice reaching their ears.
It was an unofficial Black law that the children of the main line always step off the train first with the Heir in front,followed by the others.
However as Cygnus stared expectantly at the door,he was proven right in his assumption that the rule would not be obeyed as he saw his grandson and granddaughter emerging.
Alphard and Walburga stepped off the train first,as they always did.
They were too impatient to wait for their cousins and always went on ahead without them. Pollux sighed,rubbing the bridge of his nose. He had hoped his children would actually listen for once,and his hopes were dashed. As they always were.
Arcturus did not mind,as Orion preferred to not be in the spotlight and come between his cousins,while Lucretia stayed at the back of the group to make sure no one forgot anything (Orion) or wandered off (Alphard).
Sirius however,could be heard grumbling under his breath. It didn't matter,he'd also given up on trying to discipline Cygnus' two grandchildren.
Orion and Cygnus,his own namesake, came after them,hopping off the train steps together before their heads bent in conversation again.
Lucretia finished off the group,gracefully descending the steps while keeping an eye on the younger Blacks. As she always did.
They all stood in a group,looking around for their family,as they always did even though all they needed to do was look where the crowd was not forming to know their family was there. Cygnus was sure they only did it to waste time and further aggravate Sirius.
It would earn them a lecture from Sirius,as it always did.
Alphard saw them first,as he always did. He raised his hand in a vigorous wave before turning to his cousins,to inform them their family had been spotted.
Honestly,the dramatics of these kids.
"Merlin,just *looking* at Alphard has me feeling the impending headaches." Pollux muttered,and Irma sighed,nodding.
Cygnus' lips tugged up in amusement,a short chuckle escaping him. His poor son had more grey hairs than he did,all because of the Blacks' very own hurricane,commonly known as Alphard. Cygnus loved the boy,he reminded him of another person he'd known,so much like his grandson and yet so different.
Cygnus pushed those thoughts away,as he always did.
It did not do good to dwell on the past,it never did.
He patted his son's back,as young Arcturus laughed at his cousin's misfortune. His nephew wasn't really young,not anymore,but it made it easier to differentiate between his brother and his nephew.
The kids finally reached them,their chatter (sorely missed even if no one admitted it) filling the previous quiet.
"Come on then" Sirius ordered,sternly glaring at Arcturus as he and Melania hugged their kids. Arcturus was sentimental,and weak in front of his kids. Pollux had only offered his kids a pat on the head while Irma passed them a smile,waiting until they were home before displaying such affections. A testament to Cygnus' superior parenting skills,of course,as he reminded Sirius with a short bump of their shoulders.
Arcturus stepped back,mouthing an apology.
They all turned,making their way towards the apparation point. Cygnus surveyed the platform one last time before leaving,as he always did. He had fond memories here.
Oh how time had changed. The first time he remembered coming here was to drop off his elder brothers brother,who were was at Hogwarts age by then. He used to come as a student here too once,in silver ties and green robes. Then he came as a father,proudly watching his kids embark on their own journeys. Now,he'd come as a grandfather.
Just as he was about to leave,his eyes caught a man standing on the other side of the platform. Silver eyes met warm brown,and just then a memory flashed across his mind-
"PHINEAS" The young boy screamed,storming into the room. His elder brother,who was studying for his O W Ls,looked up as Cygnus entered. He had an amused smile on his face as he watched his baby brother puff his cheeks and stand in front of him with his arms crossed.
The little boy truly thought this stance made him look older.
"Yes,Cygnus? What seems to be the problem?" Phineas asked,fighting a smile. Cygnus wouldn't like to see him smiling. He threw a tantrum whenever someone laughed at him or didn't take him seriously.
"It's Sirius,he's the problem." Cygnus grumbled,quickly forgetting he was supposed to look mature as he flopped down onto Phineas' bed.
This time,Phineas did laugh,shoulders shaking with mirth. "Ah yes,Sirius. Certainly the root of all problems. What did he do this time?" He asked,leaning back in his chair and giving his brother his full attention.
Cygnus,used to being ignored by almost everyone,perked up at Phineas' undivided attention. "He told me,no promised me that me and him would look up those spells in the Black library,but now he says I'm too young for him to waste his time with and I should go 'play with my toys instead.' Is that not unfair?" "Well," Phineas began,turning around in his swivel chair to face his little brother properly. "First of all,it's 'him and I',not 'me and him'. Do focus on your grammar lessons,Cy." Cygnus nodded,staring unimpressed at Phineas. Here he was,telling his elder brother his woes,and the first thing Phineas chose to focus on was his grammar?
Phineas laughed once again as he saw Cygnus' sullen expression, before reaching over the distance between the bed and the chair to pat his head. "And yes,I do admit that what Sirius did was completely unfair,he shouldn't have done it." Phineas agreed,making Cygnus smile.
At least someone in this house listened to him.
"Why don't you go alone,my dear? Surely you are old enough to not be scared of going into the library alone." Phineas' tone was teasing,yet he had a soft smile on his face. His little brother was always scared of the dark and dreary nature of Grimmuald,and unlike his Father and elder brother Phineas found it endearing.
"Of course not!" Cygnus protested,just as Phineas had predicted he would. "I *would* go alone,but kids are not allowed to go to the main section alone until they're ten. I don't get special privileges, I'm not you or Sirius,the 'Heir and the Spare'." He grumbled, perfectly mimicking their Father's arrogant tone,full of pride as he talked about Sirius and Phineas.
Phineas was so Shocked by this uncanny resemblance to his Father by his baby brother that he burst out laughing,unable to completely suppress his amusement anymore.
Cygnus,who was smart enough to realise that Phineas was laughing with him,not at him,grinned before he too started laughing,a wide smile on his face.
Phineas took a deep breath before leaning back in his chair,his chest heaving slightly. "Merlin,Cy,that was an amazing impression." Cygnus beamed with pride. "Just don't do it in front of Sirius,yeah? He's touchy when it comes to Father."
At the mention of his eldest brother,Cygnus' expression soured again,and he flopped back down on the bed.
He let out a long sigh,pulling a pillow over his head. Phineas was surprised just how much angst and misery Cygnus could put into one sigh,but then again he couldn't blame Cygnus considering the slightly messed up people he lived with (and yes he was self aware enough to acknowledge himself as one of those people).
Phineas chuckled,standing up from the chair and laying down on the bed next to his little brother.
He put an arm around his little brother,pulling him close to himself and nuzzling his face in Cygnus' stomach.
Cygnus squealed,trying to wiggle out of Phineas' hold. He was extremely ticklish. Cygnus tried to push his elder brother's head away,squealing at him to stop.
Phineas complied,his shoulders shaking in mirth as he sat up. Cygnus scrambled away to the other side of the bed,still giggling slightly.
His chest heaved slightly as he got himself under control,wiping tears from his eyes. "You're mean,Phineas." Cygnus mumbled as he threw a pillow at him,though his words did not hold the same annoyance as they did when saying the same of his eldest brother.
Phineas chuckled,catching the pillow with ease. He threw it back at Cygnus,who was unfortunately unable to defend himself in time. The pillow collided with him full force, sending him toppling over the bed.
"Oh Bloody-" Phineas began,cutting himself off as he crawled over to the other side to check on Cygnus.
His little brother was sprawled on the ground,glaring at the ceiling with such hatred Phineas was concerned it would suddenly cave in on them.
As Phineas' head came into view,the eight year old directed his glare towards him instead. Well now he was concerned about himself lighting up on fire.
"Sorry." Phineas grinned,before he snapped his fingers and Cygnus found himself being levitated back onto the bed.
"Say,how about both of us go to the library instead? You'll certainly be allowed to go if I'm with you." Phineas offered. Cygnus perked up,his eyes going wide with excitement.
"Are you Serious,Phin?" Cygnus asked,unapologetically leaning into Phineas' personal space and staring him dead in the eye with his way too big eyes.
Phineas pushed him back a bit,shooting him a soft smile. "Of course not,silly. I'm Phineas, remember?" He asked,making Cygnus giggle.
Sirius hated the joke on his name,which made them all love it more.
"Well come on then,what are we waiting for?" Cygnus said,crawling on his hands and knees off the bed before pulling Phineas' arm.
"Calm down,baby brother. I'm coming,I'm coming."
Cygnus huffed. "I'm not the baby brother anymore,Phin. That's Arcturus." Phineas rolled his eyes. "He's only two years younger than you,Cygnus."
Cygnus didn't deem him with a reply,just pulled him along. Phineas laughed,letting himself be dragged along.
OWL studies could wait,he had a little brother to entertain at the moment.
- and Cygnus couldn't breathe.
Phineas was older. It was common sense of course,and Cygnus had known Phineas must be old by now.
But still,it was a surprise to see him like this. His once rich black hair now sprinkled with grey,wrinkles between his eyes from laughter and between his brows from worry. There was the general wear and tear of a life lived,one that Cygnus had not been a part of.
He had a short beard too,now. It looked good on him,Cygnus would admit. Beards had never looked good on any of Phineas Nigellus' sons,it seemed Phineas was the exception.
Phineas' warm brown gaze surveyed Cygnus up and down,making him shiver. He did not seem as shocked as Cygnus did,but it made sense. The Blacks appeared in the newspapers often,so Phineas must have gotten to see him growing up through articles and The Daily Prophet.
Cygnus however,was seeing Phineas after decades.
Phineas stepped forward,mouthing words Cygnus could neither hear nor make out due to the distance between them.
A small voice in Cygnus' head urged him to step forward,to throw away all his lessons on social decorum and run to Phineas. To wrap his arms around Phineas and bawl,to let free all his longing for his elder brother.
One foot lifted,then the other and just then-
"Cygnus,what's the hold up?" Called out his eldest brother's voice,and he stilled.
Phineas,all the way across the Platform,seemed to have noticed Sirius as well,even though he couldn't have possibly heard Sirius' voice.
He looked back towards Cygnus,reaching a hand out towards him.
It was so familiar,this scene,that it made Cygnus' breath hitch.
A loud bang echoed throughout the room as Father slammed the door shut behind him. Cygnus,who had been sitting in one of the armchairs,flinched at the loud noise. His schoolwork lay abandoned in front of him as he surveyed the room with a scared gaze.
"So this is how it goes,then?" Phineas asked,his voice soft and sad. "I defended you every time someone spoke against you,I stood by you my entire life,and the second my political views did not align with yours you abandon me?"
"Don't you dare blame this on me!" Sirius growled,his hands shaking as he clenched them into fists. "You went against me,went against everything we stand for publicly. Not only do you support the filth I was trying so hard to rid our community of,but you showed all our enemies that House Black is disunited."
"They are not filth." Phineas snapped. "They are people,just like you and I. Surely you do not hold such barbaric views,brother?"
Sirius sighed,shaking his head. "This is exactly why I can't reason with you,Phin." He turned away,towards the door. His gaze caught on Cygnus curled up in the armchair,his brow furrowing as if he had just remembered Cygnus was there.
"Come Cygnus,we shall not stay here any longer in the presence of this mud blood lover." Sirius hissed,gesturing for him to follow. Cygnus hurried to pick up his book and parchment,stuffing his quill in his pocket as he got up to follow his eldest brother. //He stopped halfway,turning to look at his now disowned elder brother. Phineas stared at them both with a heavy gaze,his shoulders slumped. He perked up just a bit as Cygnus turned towards him,reaching out a hand.
"Cy,come on,won't you meet your older brother for the last time? Hug him just once?" Phineas asked, his voice cracking slightly.
Cygnus took one step forward,posture hesitant as he stared at Phineas.
Sirius turned back, making Cygnus think he was going to pull him away from Phineas. But Sirius didn't, just stood there with his sharp eyes digging into Cygnus.
Waiting,for him to choose.
Phineas ' gaze was soft,hope dangerously flickering to life in his warm brown gaze. Cygnus looked between his two brothers,before taking a deep breath.
He turned away from Phineas,watching from the corner of his eye as the hope died out in his brother's eyes,only Cygnus seeing his arm falling limply to his side.
Sirius' lips twitched slightly upwards as he nodded in approval at Cygnus. "Come,Cygnus."
"Coming,brother."
He walked out the room,Cygnus following him without turning back.
That was the last time he saw Phineas,standing in the living room with all the hope snuffed out of him.
It haunted him for years to come.
Sirius was still staring expectantly at him,Phineas still had a hand reached out,and Cygnus felt like he was twelve again,caught between his two older brothers,between duty and love.
Sirius didn't know it was Phineas who had him frozen,he was standing too far away to notice who Cygnus was staring at.
But Phineas knew,knew he was about to come to him but only stopped because of Sirius. Just like he had before.
This wasn't like before though,he wasn't a child shaking with fear because of the argument between his Father,Eldest brother and Elder brother.
But that was the thing. He wasn't a child anymore,he had kids,grandkids. Sirius would not take kindly to Cygnus running into Phineas' arms,maybe he'll even be disowned.
You never knew with Sirius. He hated Phineas for the heartache he had caused their Father.
He's touchy when it comes to Father,Phineas had told him all those years ago.
"Come,Cygnus." Sirius asked impatiently,following his gaze to try and see what had him transfixed,but his view was blocked by a muggle standing in the way.
Cygnus took a step back, and only he saw Phineas' arm falling limply to his side.
"Coming,brother."
And just like that,he turned away from the one person who had ever understood him.
As he always did.