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1976, 14 May- Thursday.

It was done.

He had completed helping Nathaniel in getting Willow, from the cave, if he could even call it a cave. It was more of a maze, with too many choices of directions to choose from. There were a lot of arguments, with Polaris starting most of them, unsure if Nathaniel remembered where he was going or not.

Though in the end he did in fact know where he was going, with a few wrong turns here and there, though he couldn't say the journey to Smyth was a nice and leisurely walk. It was far from that.

At some point, they had found a slit that was about knee-high in a large rock. Nathaniel had mentioned he remembered himself and Smyth going through the slit, and had stood there trying to remember if that was the way to where they had gone before.

He was rather convinced she was in a specific area which was where they were going and this was one of the moments he couldn't remember if it was that direction or another. though he didn't blame him for not knowing since he remembered them going through there at some point, though whether they came back out and went a different direction was something Nathaniel couldn't remember.

Polaris wasn't certain that going through the slit was a good idea, given that you'd have to go through it on your stomach, lying on the ground. Even though he felt uncomfortable just thinking about squeezing through the breach, Nathaniel had persuaded Polaris to go through, resulting in a little crawlspace in the rock.

Polaris wasn't expecting to see quartz sprouting on the ceiling, but it was a stunning sight to behold, complete with a crystal ceiling display. Despite this, he could see another trail across from them, albeit it was a long way away and getting narrower the further one went.

He remembered feeling the ceiling on his back and the floor on his stomach every time he tried to take a breath, and it was the worst experience he'd ever had. They'd gone as far as they could go, leaving Polaris perplexed, despite Nathaniel's saying that sure, he and Smyth had gone in, albeit they'd come back out after reaching this dead end.

Polaris, on the other hand, had spared no effort in wasting his breath on Nathaniel, preferring to get out first. Polaris felt trickles of water on his back before they even turned around to get out. That was horrible, worse than bad, something he hadn't expected to happen, and because of the way the crawlspace dipped before bulging out, the entire space would quickly fill with water, with the only route for it to drain being the way they came in.

It began to trickle before flowing into streams and forming pools. Polaris couldn't lie because they weren't close to the escape and had to crawl flat on their stomach with jagged crystals staring down from the ceiling. He was virtually terrified by the prospect of drowning... death had never occurred to him as a possibility in his life.

It was like his life was flashing before his eyes, and thoughts of whether his body would be found before thoughts of not being the one to kill Nathaniel himself drowned the rest. They crawled as fast as they could, perhaps not as fast as they wished as Polaris could feel the walls compress around him, and the water was unrelenting, splashing against his panicked squirms.

They obviously made it out. If it hadn't been for how panicked Nathaniel was after he would have used his wand to curse the idiot. He had been hyperventilating, and Polaris reluctantly lead the boy through deep breathing as he noticed he was taking short breaths.

All in all, he was annoyed at Smyth for the cause of it all. Though he blamed himself for allowing himself to be convinced to go. Next time he wasn't going. It was so stupid, and he made sure to tell Smyth she was stupid after she had said she only came back for her watch.

A stupid watch, that she nearly died for. A stupid watch that nearly got Polaris and the damn Gryffindor killed.

They were now one of the reasons why he will not be having children, the thought of them coming out like them is overwhelming and terrifying.

He didn't even feel any remorse for grabbing the watch and stomping on it. He didn't care that he let his frustration run wild, he was bloody past that she risked her safety for something that can be easily replaced. Nathaniel and Smyth both objected to what he had done, so he did it again.

It didn't help that the whole way back, Smyth and himself were exchanging insults, in fairness she had started it so he didn't care what he said to her, as long as it hurt her feelings he was fine with it.

They parted ways arriving at the school, with them in different houses. It didn't take long for Polaris to fall flat on his back onto his bed with a tired Corvus looking up in confusion, barely able to keep his eyes open, as tired as he was.

"Did you only come in now?" Corvus asked.

"Cor? Remind me to think before deciding things, okay?" Polaris announced loudly as he got up to get his sleepwear.

"Wha?" Corvus muttered, before hitting his head on the pillow once again.

1976, 1 June- Tuesday.

The hallway was empty, of course, it was. There was only a small amount of time before the curfew is near. He took light steps towards the library, though his pace was quick not wanting to be delayed any more than he already was to retrieve his book. He felt like a complete idiot for leaving it in the first place, he shouldn't have gotten distracted to the extent of leaving it there.

It was the first week of exams as well. To think he would be forgetting his book, then again it was his muggle studies book. He wasn't even sure if he was going to study for it, the thought of having to sit down and take notes, mermise the stuff made his head hurt.

The thought of just finding Amelia to give him a crash course of what was important seemed like a better option. Thankfully he still had time for that a exam to 'study'.

With his other subjects he had made sure to study thoroughly to avoid any conflict with his mother when they return for summer which would be after the exams. He can just imagine getting an E in Astronomy and an O in everything else. He just knew she would complain and complain about it, until she doesn't and starts to gloat about it when she learns I might have done better than someone elses child.

That was what old pureblood women like to do. They like to show everyone else, 'Look my child is better than yours, perhaps it's just in our family blood.'

As he was about to turn the corner, he heard voices, it seemed to be only two voices, though that didn't deter him from continuing on towards the library. Finally turning the corner he recognised one of the participants in the argument, of course, he did.

He was glad to know he knew all the first-year Slytherins now, and this was one. It was Renshaw. Aldren Renshaw, a boy Polaris could say he didn't like. He merely tolerated the boy's presence.

"I think I'll have this too, pretty nice… where did you get it," Aldren spoke, a grin on his face as he held a certain quill in his grasp as he inspected it, though who he spoke to didn't seem happy at all, with that frown on their face.

A Gryfindor, though Polaris wouldn't say he knew this Gryffindor, with their short neat auburn hair and neat robes.

His footsteps sounded drawing their attention. Aldren turned to him, smiling, "Black" the boy greeted and Polaris nodded, "Renshaw," Polaris greeted back, looking at the quill in his grasp. He couldn't hide his interest in it, the way it glinted with the slightest turn it was rather unique.

Aldren seemed to notice his interest and burst into a haughty grin, "Like it? One word phoenix." Was all Aldren needed to say for Polaris to know that the quill was made from the feather of a phoenix?

"When did you get that? I'm sure I would have heard of it earlier, you definitely would have boasted about it." Polaris stated, suspicion in the air as he glanced towards the quiet Gryffindor, who was looking down, his hands clenched into a fist.

"Ah, you know me well, Black. Rogers here, gave it to me as a gift, how kind of him, isn't that right Black?" Aldren spoke again. Polaris raised a brow, it was an obvious lie. "Oh? Sorry, I didn't get your name…" Polaris spoke to the boy he had yet to know the first name of.

He seemed taken aback at the prompt for his name and seemed rather reluctant, his lips thinning which Polaris understood immediately, he must be a muggle-born. It made sense, seeing as Renshaw was troubling him, and apparently deciding it would be nice to steal.

"John. His name is John Rogers, rather unique, isn't it, Black?" Aldren responded in amusement. Polaris just sighed in frustration when he saw that single tear fall from the boy's eye, it was unnerving, he couldn't remember the last person he saw cry.

"You're so full of yourself Aldren! I did not give you that quill, I told you numerous times to give it back to me!" the Gryfindor snapped, trying to reach for it, only for Aldren to lean the arm back, away from the reach.

Aldren feigned confusion, "What? Why would I when you gave it to me and Don't call me by my name."

"I didn't give it to you!"

"Well come an get it then. No? then I best get going. Curfew is rather close, isn't it? I'll see you later Black." Renshaw declared as he began to walk off, with Polaris only offering him a nod in recognition.

Polaris barely spared him a glance as he walked past the Gryffindor, though he stopped turning back to the boy in red. "You should probably head back to your common room."

Polaris had no idea why he decided to tell the boy that. It wasn't his problem if he got caught, rather it would be better if he stayed there in case Polaris didn't get back in time and he can simply shove the blame on the Gryffindor somehow if he was caught.

"That's it?" the boy grounded out, leaving Polars confused, mostly because he didn't hear the boy.

"What?" Polaris responded, raising a brow.

"I said is that it! You're not going to make fun of me for being a mudblood."

Now Polaris was completely baffled, his face scrunched in confusion. "Would you like me to? Is that it? If you want me to make fun of you for your unfortunate circumstance of birth, then by all means ask me to. You're rather confusing, you're a supposed Gryffindor yet I find you, doing the opposite of what Gryffindors are known for… bravery."

"Stop that! Just because I'm a Gryffindor doesn't mean I'm brave, it's so stupid dividing children into houses. So stupid." The boy grunted out, as he kicked the spot in front of him in annoyance. While Polaris merely stared at him, noticing that the Gryffindor flushed.

"Sorry… I don't want you to call me any names. I was just really angry, that was my favourite quill… my aunt bought it for me, it's the only thing I have left of her, the only thing that reminds me how much she loved me, it was a metaphor in someways… something only her and I know."

Polaris again was left baffled, "Your aunt bought it for you? Are you a half-blood?" Polaris spoke.

The boy shook his head, "No, I'm a muggle-born… my aunt was a muggle-born too."

Now that fascinated Polaris… "Ah, so you have two muggle-borns in your family?" Polaris had to ask and found himself confused when he shook his head.

"No, I think like five including myself. My older brother is in his seventh year, my little sister isn't at Hogwarts yet but she's shown signs of magic already and there's my uncle, he's a muggle-born too."

"…Okay, well anyway. You were put in Gryffindor for a reason, just get the quill back."

"How?" was what Polaris received back, Polaris began to walk backwards slowly, towards the library as he shrugged his shoulders, "I don't? duel him or something, I assure you probably have a real good chance at beating him, He can barely use his wand to lift a feather without it blowing up seconds later. He's not as tough as he tries to make himself."

"So you're solution to getting it back is to fight him? Is that even allowed?"

"Well yeah, I mean why not? It'll be great crack, and I'm sure it'll feel rather rewarding for you after you beat him and for the 'is it allowed' who cares, just don't get caught, ask Nathaniel Sayre for help if you don't have faith in yourself."

He received a quiet 'okay'.

With that Polaris found himself thinking unnecessary things, such as the fact he had five 'muggle-borns' in his family. It was interesting… he found it strange to have that many and he found it strange that muggle-borns even exist, how did it all work?

He found himself thinking back to about a month ago, it was something some muggle-born had said as he passed in the hall. The boy was ranting on about someone called Adam and Eve, then something about everyone on earth, being biologically related. That there is an overlap of ancestors somewhere in the past.

He frowned as he turned, he saw the boy already walking away and was rather far, before disappearing around a corner.

Was that even true?

In all honesty, it made more sense than people saying they stole the magic. The logic of muggle-borns being related to wizards seemed to start to make sense to him. He hummed in thought as he continued to the library in thought.

He debated with himself whether to continue thinking about it before deciding it didn't matter since it was his mind. It wasn't like his mother would know his thoughts, the idea of being related to a muggle-born would definitely disgust his mother enough to hurt him for thinking such a thing.

Though they were muggle-borns for a reason that being they were born of two muggle parents… a descent of a family who had been muggles for generations, where would the wizard/witch have come in?

1976, 25 June- Friday

It was finally summer, yet Polaris wasn't too excited of that fact, what was there to be happy about knowing he had to go back home to see his mother. It fel so unsureal that the fact Sirius would never be going home wirth them, it was no longer 'Sirius is staying at the Potter's this Summer'. No, Sirius would probablu stay in the Potter's until he got his own place, seeing as he no longer saw the House of Black as family.

He wanted to hate him, loath him. Though he coulnd't all in all he wasn't even sure what he felt now. Having had a lot of more time ot think it all through, he understood it from Sirius' side. There was no point telling Sirius what he should and could have done, Polaris wasn't Sirius therefore he hadn't dealt with what Sirius had dealt with, even if Polaris knew it all could have been easily avoided.

He was more curious how Regulus felt about the whole ordeal. He knew that his brother aws not too happy about it seeing it all as Sirius abandoning them. Even so growing up, it was better well better in some circumstances.

Polaris wasn't exactly really close to either brothers growing up, mostly because of the age difference.

While Regulus mostly saw their brother of some type of hero growing up, protecting him from their mother's lashes, then came those days when Sirius started fighting with their parents. There was no doubt Regulus was scared at that young age. While Polaris never really noticed it seeing as he was much younger, and more interested in asking Kreacher questions while everything was going on, on a different floor of the house, leaving Polaris oblvious to it all.

Polaris had even thought of apologising. He wanted to say sorry to his eldest brother, Sirius. He wanted Sirius to know that he was sorry for not trying to understand his situation, but his pride said no. Only questioning why would he be the one to appolise first, if anyone should appoligise it should be Sirius.

He was the one that left.

Getting off the Hogwarts train, with Corvus, he glanced around the platform, wondering who would be collecting him. Would it be his father, possibly Kreacher, though the thought of it being his mother had him want to get back on the train.

As he looked around the platform he made eye contact with someone, rather a Potter. James Potter, who was stood beside Sirius, both of them walking, it was obvious they would be leaving together. With that they both looked away, with Polaris facing Corvus, and with James facing Sirius.

Perhaps it was better this way.

"Pol! Corvus! Hey"

Both boys turned their heads at their names being called. Corvus was the first to see who it was but Polaris already knew who it was from the voice. It was Amelia Bones, she was smiling brightly at them as she neared them, Corvus tilted his head slightly as he looked at her.

"Where's your stuff?" Corvus found himself asking seeing as she wasn't dragging anything around as Polaris and himself were doing. She rolled her eyes. "You guys sure took your time on the train. I was one of the first to get off, my stuff is with my dad. I came to invite you guys to my manor." She told them, her smile never fading away.

"Right now?" Corvus blurted out, it was obvious he was confused. "Would you move!" A voice hissed from behind him, and he groaned, it was Elora.

Polaris hearing that, he too moved away from the train to make sure he wasn't in anyone way. "Happy?" he snapped at her. She rolled her eye instead of answering.

"Hello, Elora" Amelia greeted her, before grabbing the girl's hand, "Oh! You're wearing it! I thought you said it was ugly?" Amelia said, inspecting the bracelet on her wrist.

Elora blushed in embarrassment taking her hand back from her, "Right… don't think anything other than that! It is ugly, but I'll wear it because I like the colour yellow" She said hauntingly.

"Right, of course. Silly me, for thinking anything other than that" Amelia told her dramatically.

"You gave her that bracelet?" Polaris found himself asking as he stared at it, it was rather thin, it was obvious it was made from beads, though there were two small ones that differed from the rest. From what he could see was the crest of the Huse of Parkinson and on the bead that was shaped in an 'E', which must be fore 'Elora'.

Amelia nodded proudly, "I picked up a new hobby about two weeks before the end of our first year anyway, Elora I was just inviting the boys to my manor, obviously not right now, but sometime during the summer, would you like to come?" Amelia spoke.

Elora looked slightly surprised, "Why?" was the response Amelia got from Elora.

"Why not? We're friends.. friends hang out with each other, you're not just planning on staying huddled up in your home until the next year?" Amelia told her. Elora's face scrunched up, her arms folding, as she glanced at the audience which consisted of Polaris and Corvus, "Are you going Polaris?" Elora asked, staring at him.

He glanced towards Amelia, seeing her hopeful look, he shrugged, "Well, I guess I can come seeing as your not planning on dragging us right now. I really do need to get going, my mother is not exactly what you would call patient." He said, agreeing to go.

Amelia nodded in understanding, "Wonderful! So what about it? Elora? Corvus?" Amelia directed her attention toward the other two.

Elora sighed, "Who else will be there?" the pureblood Parkinson asked. Amelia had a thoughtful look on her face at the question, "Well, only two of my other friends, in Hufflepuff. Danielle Sapple and Rick James." Amelia answered, there was obvious hesitancy in her voice as she watched both Corvus and Elora narrow their eyes.

"James? Sapple? Never heard those names before" Corvus drawled, "Right, I forgot you befriend mudbloods. I would have loved to see the Bones Manor, but I really doubt my father would actually allow me to go, sorry Bones." Elora said as she crossed her arms, the glare Amelia gave her made her roll her eyes in annoyance, "Right, muggle-borns" she corrected herself, as she groaned, "You're such a muggle lover Bones." Elora told her.

"And why am I being called a 'muggle lover' Elora? Because I don't feel like being blatantly blinded by such stupid ideals and illogical opinions?" Amelia asked and Elora glared at her, "I don't care what you have to say," Elora told her.

"That's why I want you three to come to my Manor… I plan for us to explore the muggle world. Danielle and Rick are going to guide us. I don't want you guys to be blinded by the opinions of fools."

"So you're calling our families fools?" Corvus asked and Amelia stared at him for a few seconds before smiling, "That's exactly what I'm saying. You're all from families who all have the same ideals and opinions on purebloods, thinking yourselves better than them because their parents are muggles."

"Well, we're better than them, aren't we?" Elora asked, more so stated, not expecting an answer, "Exactly as she said, we are better- more powerful in magic." Corvus contributed, agreeing with Elora and Amelia frowned.

"Then what about Lily Evans. People call her the brightest witch in her generation!" Amelia refuted.

"Exactly… the 'brightest', Amelia, not the most powerful. Evans got to where she is by working hard and being smart. She studies, Amelia, so what. She's not powerful though is she? Perhaps we're not better than them, but you can't actually think muggle-borns are as powerful as us. I won't deny Halfbloods can be powerful, seeing as they share the blood we have, so it's no surprise about Dumbledore." Polaris lightly commented, not really caring for an argument.

"They still deserve respect! You shouldn't judge them before even having a conversation with them, so what if you think they aren't as powerful, or whatever you're it is you're trying to say. I don't want to be friends with you guys anymore if you continue to discriminate against muggle-borns so blindly." Amelia said, only making both Corvus and Elora disinterested.

"And you're proposing we go to the muggle world?" Elora drawled, as she looked at her nails.

"Why?" Corvus had to ask, his brows furrowed. Directing it at Amelia who huffed in frustration.

"Alright." Polaris said, only making Corvus and Elora snap their gaze to him, looking at him as if he was crazy, he looked at them before shrugging, "I'm curious about how they live." He simply told them.

"I'll think about it." Elora said before sauntering off, while Corvus continued to stare at Polaris, "You're bloody mad, are you seriously thinking of going?" Corvus asked.

"I'm not thinking of going, I've already agreed to go, but do I suppose I think, muggle-borns should be treated better even if we think we're better because of our blood," Polaris told him and Corvus frowned, unsure of what to say as he looked between Polaris and Amelia.

"Whatever," Corvus muttered ready to go find his uncle and aunt.

"Does that mean yes?" Amelia quickly asked as she saw him make a move to go.

Corvus merely grunted, avoiding eye contact, leaving Polaris and Amelia alone. Amelia turned to him, "Is he angry at you?" she asked and Polaris shrugged not knowing if he truly was, even so, Corvus would come around to it.

"It doesn't really matter I have to go now, though." He told her and she just nodded, smiling as he walked away to meet his mother.

"Mother." he greeted formally and she barely acknowledged it, giving him a small nod.

"Is there a good reason why you took so long, Polaris?" she asked, in that condescending tone she always uses, it was annoying and having been away from her for a while, he wasn't hearing her voice 24/7, now here he was in front of his mother listening to her speak, and wanted nothing more for his second year to begin.

"No mother," Polaris responded, in a toneless voice, hoping for things to move long, waiting for her to give out to him so he can apologise to shut her up. "Perhaps you wish to waste my time?" she spoke again, they were still on the platform, her voice drowned in the sound of chatter from other families.

"Do you not have anything to say for yourself, Polaris! Did I raise you to behave in such a way, perhaps you're starting to rebel just like that disgrace," she snapped, in annoyance? Or frustration, he was never too sure with her now. It was obvious she was in a bad mood and now she was taking it out on him.

"Where is your brother?" she then asked as she looked around, her narrowed brown eyes scanning through the crowd. Polaris too looked around, before his eyes stopped, on someone, well a group of people.

With bored eyes he stared, nothing going through his mind as he watched his brother laugh at something Lord Potter said, before his friend, James said something after, resulting in Lady Potter to his arm, making them all laugh. It would seem his mother noticed it too, her face was tense, her nose flared.

"Some people just don't know how to behave in public." She snarkily responded, he nearly rolling his eyes at her comment, "Yes, mother. There are many people who don't know how to behave in public." He commented, as he looked for his brother, who was now approaching.

"Regulus." Was all their mother had to say to show Regulus, that she was angry.

"I'm sorry mother. I was held up by Lord Avery." That was what Regulus said, trying to sound really apologetic. Both Polaris and him knew he wasn't really sorry, not one bit. "Heir Avery was just inviting me to come to his manor sometime in the summer. His father approved of it, Jasper will be sending a proper invitation in a week or so." Regulus continued.

Their mother said nothing, only walking off, leaving the younger Blacks behind. Regulus huffed in annoyance, and Polaris looked up at him, "Were you really with the Averys?" he asked his older brother, who raised a brow, "Am I one to lie?" was the response Polaris received and Polaris scoffed, "You lie all the time when it benefits you." Polaris commented as he began walking toward their mother.

"Well, Corvus asked me to say one last goodbye to you, and to expect an owl soon." Regulus informed him, as he too began walking, "oh? So the Black heir is a message bearer, for a twelve-year-old?" Polaris mused.

Regulus huffed once again, "If you couldn't tell I was laughing incredibly hard." Regulus dryly responded and Polaris spared him a glance as he gave him an amused look, "Oh? I'm sure mother will be pleased to hear her precious eldest son behaving in such a manner in public of all places." Polaris told him, disapprovingly.

He hadn't noticed the twitch of Regulus' lips as he stopped himself from smiling. "How dare I laugh- how unruly." Regulus dramatically responded.

"Wonderful, the first step to fixing your behaviour is acceptable. Though punishment is in order- I condemn you to have dinner with mother alone. "

Regulus gasped, "Where's the empathy? I can already feel my ears bleeding just thinking about such a punishment."

"Polaris, Regulus!" their mother snapped, calling for them to hurry up.

"Oh no, the punishment has already begun. Perhaps I should just escape to the Avery's now." Hearing Regulus say that Polaris had to stop himself from laughing, only allowing himself the pleasure of smiling as he did.

The smile dimmed as seconds passed. He looked over to his older brother, "I would have rathered father come for us… or even Kreacher." Polaris spoke in a soft hush.

Regulus spared him a quick glance, before facing onwards dismissively.