Constellations of Black

Chapter 41

"We can watch and you guys go the speed you're comfortable with," Pansy reasoned.

Cetus raised a brow in silent confirmation, causing Lyra to nod ecstatically. The pair quickly began repeating their movements, Lyra's uniform robe twirling behind her. Blaise didn't bother hiding his admiration for the Nerro girl, watching as she and her brother practically glided around the empty room. Lyra was focused on their movements, stepping in line with Cetus before he did the same with her.

As the pair returned to their starting point, Cetus and Lyra dropped their hand from one another, mirroring one another with a hand behind their back and one against each other's. They slowed significantly as they walked around each other. The Nerro twins came back together and continued the fast-paced dancing.

In the cosmos above, the celestial versions of themselves mimicked the movement behind the curtain of sunlight. The stars glimmered in delight, watching from the cosmic void. Andromeda held the lyre, stardust flying off as she strummed the strings. She spun, beckoning the stars to join her celestial hymn. The serpent gazed as the scorching sea serpent swept Andromeda up, the serpent's molten white, green, and black scales glimmering. The sea serpent rippled waves into the cosmic ocean, adding power and ancient wonder to Andromeda's deviating delicate and graceful steps. Greens, reds, whites, silver, and gold entwined, deepening the contrasting pair as stardust glistened around the heavens' ballroom.

The twins eventually stopped, breathing slightly heavily.

"That was brilliant!" Vince said, wiping the crumbs from his uniform.

"Thanks," Lyra mumbled, patting her brother on the shoulder.

"C'était spectaculaire, Ly," Cetus praised.

"Thanks Cet. Would any of you like to try? We don't have to go fast," Lyra calmed her breathing.

Narcissa looked around; Godric's Hollow was busy. She walked the pavement, planning on visiting the cemetery. A few wixen cleared her path, glancing at her nervously while Muggles paid her no mind. Her heels clacked with every stride she took.

The fence line came into view, the black metal bars rising from the ground with small spires further guarding the waist-high barrier. Cissa walked toward the entrance, scanning the names of the deceased closest.

She walked in, keeping along the cobblestone path. Her blue eyes scanned the graveyard, looking for Anna Longbottom's headstone or Ryan Nerro. Narcissa prepared herself to see the cousin who should have been dead for nearly fifteen years. She had always seen her cousin and Anna quietly grow closer during the shared time at Hogwarts and secretly supported it; supported the naturally found and built relationship, not being arranged and given to like a present.

She saw Nerro from a few metres away. Narcissa silently strode up and stood beside him. He was on his knees in front of Anna's headstone, between the late Potters' and her father's headstones. Anna's read:

Here lies

Anna Lyra Longbottom

September 10th, 1960 - October 29th, 1981

Loving daughter, sister, and friend

Narcissa swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She took her wand out and summoned a nonverbal Orchideous to rest against the headstone. Regulus didn't seem stunned at the motion.

"She was a loving wife and mother, too. Wasn't she, Reggie?" Narcissa whispered, voice cracking.

"Hello, Cissy," Reg murmured, wiping his tears away. Narcissa crouched down beside him, wrapping an arm to consult him.

"I can see if we can move her to the family's cemetery," Narcissa offered, brushing the greying, brunet hair away from his face.

She didn't recognize her own cousin. She observed him closer as he sniffled and shook his head; no he didn't want to move Anna. His stormy grey eyes she always remembered were now a soft hazel, his aristocratic jawline and nose were less defined and rounded slightly, and his black locks of wavy hair were now brunet and streaked with silver.

"It's Kreacher's Glamour," Reg explained quietly, "You knew he did that to the tapestry, didn't you? That's why you knew Anna was a mother and my wife."

"I did but that wasn't the only reason. I haven't told a soul, let alone say anything. But I remember how crazy Anna and you were at Hogwarts. I had a feeling when Draco told me who the twins' mother was speculated to be. I knew you too wouldn't just disappear from the other's life," Narcissa explained.

The cousins went silent, staring at Anna's headstone. Narcissa glanced at the Potters' and Mr. Longbottom's. She felt a pang in her heart seeing Lily Evan's name. Sure, she was a Muggleborn, but she was still a spectacular witch that Cissa had always wanted to befriend as Severus had.

"It's nice," Regulus murmured, "Having someone to finally communicate with. Sev is nice and so are Kreacher and the twins, but it gets lonely. Like back at the House during those horrid summers."

Narcissa nodded in understanding; she felt the same way. Having only Lucius to talk to got mind-numbing after a while. All her husband talked about was the plans the Death Eaters had made the meeting prior.

"I get it, Reggie. Lucius, as much as I shouldn't say, only talks about the plans made at the meeting the days prior. So much happened in it after you disappeared."

"Then let's find somewhere quiet and discuss everything, dear cousin," Reggie stood, holding his older cousin to ensure she wouldn't fall.