Chapter Text
The fire was crackling. The floo powder had been topped up just last yesterday afternoon--Kreacher was quite efficient about those things, without her even mentioning it. She rather liked the smell of it. Ashy, warm, and magic. She had never told anyone, hadn’t dared, but Orion smelled just the same.
They were in the sitting room, drinking tea together as they always did at half past five after dinner. The gobstones board was just over on the side table, still out from their game earlier that day. Buried beneath it was an abandoned knitted blanket project and a copy of ‘Gobstones for Burgeoning Beginners’ that was almost as ancient as their family name.
Orion was staring at the newspaper, while she had her journal open to make her entry for the day. But she couldn’t write anything, not even scribbles to make him wait. And Orion would normally flick through the pages, watching her from over its edges, impatiently waiting for her to finish writing, until he eventually settled into doing the crossword puzzle.
The slips of paper on the table, one for each of their sons, stared up at them owlishly. Two slips of paper. That was all it took to ruin their perfectly fine routine.
“Parents evening,” Walburga read, testing out the unfamiliar words on her lips.
Hogwarts had changed since her time. Walburga knew this. She knew it because of her son’s letters. Regulus, of course, had the sense to keep his mother informed about such things.
So yes, Walburga knew some things had changed. Fashions, some professors, and the order of the library shelves to name but a few.
She also knew they were entertaining ridiculous notions from lesser blood. Dumbledore had always been mad, she supposed. She hadn’t realised it had rotted his brain to this extent.
She put down her cup of tea.
“Parents evening,” she repeated and looked at her husband. “Regulus said it was a mudblood tradition. What is that old fool thinking?”
Orion sipped his tea. He was not nearly as outraged as he should have been, she thought.
“Well?” she said.
“You can’t deny that the idea is… amusing,” he said, smirking.
She frowned, but read the note again. Properly, this time.
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Black,
You are cordially invited to the first Parents Evening of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Our first ever Parents Evening is to take place this Friday evening. Please arrive at the Great Hall from six o’clock.
At this event, you will have the opportunity to hear from each of your son's teachers to hear how their education is progressing and to address any questions you may have.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet with your sons’ educators and to understand how to best support your sons’ education.
We look forward to seeing you this parents evening,
Yours sincerely,
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Mage Mugwump of The United Kingdom: International Confederation of Wizards Scotland Division Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot
“How is that amusing?” she asked, flushing red. “Never have I heard such a thing - Dumbledore has lost his mind - introducing such an event-- stepping on all sorts of traditions--”
He put down his cup, then patted her hand. “Well, my dear. It would be entertaining to see them squirm, wouldn’t it?”
Hm.
His fingers trailed up her sleeve, following her veins up to her heart. “I dislike the concept of this event as much as you, but… If we can’t stop it, we may as well have our amusement.”
She caught his hand in hers before it went further than her elbow. He kissed the back of it and looked at her with that annoyingly rakish smirk of his and her objections melted away.
“Oh, very well. But you’re telling the boys, not me. Regulus did not sound eager in his letter.”
“Nor did Sirius,” Orion said.
Yes. That was the oddest thing. The boys hardly agreed on anything, they argued about everything from the colour of the sky to which politicians were the best. They’d learn in time that all of them were the worst.
It amazed her Sirius had even bothered to write a note for them, even if it was a scruffy mess of a thing with tea stains and chicken scratch handwriting. She had it swept away in the back of her journal for safe keeping as more evidence of his failings, of course. And she kept all of Regulus’s letters in the chest by the bed without fail.
Dear Mother & Father,
Hogwarts has arranged a Parents Evening to take place later this week. It is inspired by a mudblood tradition, in which parents meet with the teachers and hear about their progress in person. The tradition itself is distasteful and I’d hate for you to go out of your way just for this. I do hope you’re both well and…
Dearest Parents,
I’m sure the school will tell you all about the evening they’ve arranged. Let’s agree not to bother. Sounds like a hassle. Try not to choke on your breakfast when you read the announcement.