Back in detention, James knocked on Professor Slughorn's office door, a mischievous grin already forming.
"So, Professor, what do you want us to do?" James asked.
Slughorn looked at him with his usual bemused expression. "I've been meaning to sort out my inventory room for some time, so that's where you three come in. You're going to clean it—use magic, use your hands, anything you like. Just know I'll be able to tell if you swipe something, so don't get any ideas."
"Yes, Professor! We'll have it so clean you could see your reflection in there," James replied with a wide grin.
Remus shot him a look. "James, knock it off."
Slughorn just raised an eyebrow, dismissing them with a casual wave.
As they walked down the corridor toward the inventory room, James grumbled, "So… we're cleaners now?"
Remus rolled his eyes. "What's with that look, James? We're all stuck in this, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," James said. "Still, we should at least get paid for this kind of stuff. Detention doers deserve a wage."
"Yeah," Peter muttered in agreement.
"Let's just get it over with, or we'll be here all night," Remus replied, urging them forward.
They stepped into the inventory room, which was divided into two sections. The first half held shelves lined with potion ingredients and supplies, meticulously organized. The other half, however, looked like a personal collection of trinkets, dusty photographs, and various oddities.
"Brilliant," Peter said with a groan, "he actually wants us to clean *that* side."
"I know, right?" Remus said, surveying the cluttered shelves. "We're practically sorting through his memories."
James's eyes lit up as he began poking around. "Trinkets? Merlin, this is a goldmine of weirdness." He picked up a sparkling tiara, holding it up with a smirk. "Oh, look! A tiara!"
"Question is, why does Slughorn even have a tiara?" Remus asked.
Peter held up a small, tarnished cup. "And why is there a random cup here?"
"Or a small library of potion books," muttered Remus, glancing at the shelves. "Half of these are ancient."
"And what's this? A robe?" James said, holding up a particularly elaborate garment. "How did he even get this?"
"And here's a knife!" Remus said, eyeing the glinting blade in his hand.
James's eyes gleamed. "It's so pretty—look at the handle work."
"James, I know how you are with pretty knives, but this isn't ours," Remus warned.
"Fine, fine," James replied, setting it back down.
Meanwhile, Peter had opened a photo album. "Hey, isn't this Sirius's dad?"
Remus shot him a look. "Why are you flipping through an album, Wormtail? We're supposed to be cleaning!"
But James was already at Peter's side. "Wait… is that really his dad?"
The three of them leaned over the photo, taken from what looked like a dueling competition. In the center stood a younger Orion Black, tall, striking, and fiercely composed. He wore a dark dueling robe, its deep hue contrasting with his dark, intense gaze. His hair was a rich shade of black, elegantly styled back with a few rebellious strands falling over his forehead. He had the same sharp, aristocratic jawline as Sirius, but his eyes were colder, yet not without a hint of warmth directed at the woman beside him.
The woman next to Orion was stunning, dressed in what James could only describe as an exotic outfit. Her dark, flowing hair was styled in a half-updo, a few loose curls framing her face, giving her an elegant yet carefree look. She wore a vibrant, fitted outfit called a *churidaar*, which consisted of a long, flowing tunic over form-fitting trousers. The fabric shimmered subtly in the light, with intricate golden embroidery tracing patterns across the cuffs and collar. Her hands were adorned with bangles that caught the light, and a small nose ring glittered beside her serene smile. Her eyes, lined with dark kohl, seemed to sparkle with quiet confidence as she held Orion's medal, displaying it proudly.
Orion had an arm around her waist, his grip gentle but possessive, as if protecting something precious. He wasn't looking at the camera but at her, his normally stern expression softened by a rare, tender smile.
Peter let out a low whistle. "Are you two seeing what I'm seeing?"
"Yes," said Remus quietly, captivated by the sight of a younger, unguarded Orion Black.
"Merlin, Sirius's dad used to be... well… not scary," James muttered in disbelief.
"Ohhh…" Peter added, almost reverently, as they lingered on the image, suddenly intrigued by this glimpse into the past of the enigmatic House of Black.
The next photo was even more surprising because it looked like Orion was standing albeit looking disgusted but contended with another guy who looked like the prince from stories James was pretty sure it was Malfoys father he had blonde hair blue eyes and was as good looking as Orion. Malfoy was holding a woman who was a bit darker than the woman Orion was holding she seemed to be in a saree he was holding her bare waist!!! What the -james.that woman had her hair in a thick braid while the women seemed to be close the men not so much.
The next photo was even more surprising. Orion stood beside another man, looking both disgusted and slightly begrudgingly content. James squinted, realization dawning on him.
"Is that… Malfoy's father?" he muttered.
Sure enough, the man beside Orion bore an unmistakable resemblance to Lucius Malfoy. His hair was platinum blonde, swept back with a princely elegance, and his piercing blue eyes held a sharp intelligence. He had the same refined, aristocratic look as Orion, though he radiated a cooler, more detached air. His build was lean and poised, as if he belonged in a royal portrait.
To their surprise, Malfoy was holding a woman close—a striking figure with dark, luminous skin, noticeably deeper in tone than the woman beside Orion. She was wrapped in a saree, its deep red fabric edged with intricate gold, draping elegantly around her frame. The saree's pallu crossed her chest and tucked gracefully over her shoulder, leaving part of her waist bare, where Malfoy's hand rested. Her thick black hair was braided, adorned with small flowers, and her eyes were accentuated with kohl, giving her an intense, regal beauty. Her expression was warm, contrasting with the men's frosty postures, and she leaned slightly into Malfoy's hold, suggesting an intimacy that seemed to soften his otherwise stoic expression.
Orion and the woman from the previous photo, stood close together as well. She still held his medal in her hand, her expression as serene and radiant as before, while Orion's hand rested possessively around her waist. The two women seemed genuinely friendly with one another, their warmth and grace a striking contrast to the men's clear tension.
James couldn't hold back his shock. "What the—he's actually holding her bare waist? Malfoy?!"
Remus let out a low whistle, taking in the photo with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "Looks like even the Black and Malfoy families had… interesting ties."
Peter nodded, equally taken aback. "The women look so close, but the men look like they'd rather be anywhere else."
As they heard the unmistakable shuffling footsteps of Filch and the soft patter of Mrs. Norris's paws approaching, James quickly stuffed the photos into his robes. With a swift flick of his wand, Remus completed the last bit of cleaning, making the room look spotless just as Filch entered.
"My theory might actually be true, don't you think, Moony?" James whispered excitedly as they slipped out of the inventory room.
Remus, glancing back to make sure they were in the clear, nodded with a smirk. "Yeah, I think so too now."
"But…but—" Peter stammered, trying to keep up, his mind still reeling from what they'd just seen.
"Come on! Let's show this to Sirius!" James said, breaking into a run down the corridor, clearly thrilled.
"Just wait, James," Remus said, trying to keep him from sprinting off entirely.
"Guys, just—" Peter began, trailing behind but determined not to be left out.
They hurried through the castle, excitement bubbling in the group as they headed to find Sirius, each of them wondering just how he'd react to this unexpected family discovery.