Remus leaned over, giving Sirius an exaggerated, impressed look. "Wow, that's your father? I mean… well, he's, uh… he's handsome."
Sirius chuckled, watching his father walk away. "Yeah, well, I never expected to see him here looking like that," he admitted. Then he turned to Lucius with a raised eyebrow. "By the way, Malfoy, what's all this about? I didn't know our fathers were close… or that you knew mine so well."
Lucius, usually so composed, seemed taken aback. "I didn't either, Black," he replied smoothly, though his voice held a hint of surprise.
James grinned, stepping in with a mischievous look. "Heard you're engaged to Narcissa Black. Congratulations on that, Heir Malfoy."
Lucius grimaced, shooting James a death glare. "You're trying to get me killed, Potter?"
"Oh, don't worry, you won't" James teased, throwing a mock-friendly arm around Lucius. "If I were you, and I'll treat her well."
Sirius and Regulus exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing protectively. Sirius, with his usual devil-may-care attitude, now wore a fierce look. Meanwhile, Regulus, normally calm and refined, also had an unmistakable edge to his gaze. Together, they had the unmistakable look of two brothers who would defend their family, especially their cousin, no matter what.
"Wait," Sirius asked, his tone slightly accusatory, "How come I never knew about this?"
"Actually, I didn't either," Regulus chimed in, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he joined his brother in closing in on Lucius. The two brothers seemed united in a sudden, protective front, with Sirius looking a bit more dangerous and Regulus coolly calculating.
Lucius held up a hand, attempting to calm them. "It's not official yet," he said carefully, trying not to let on just how cornered he felt by the two Black brothers.
In the background, James was grinning ear to ear, clearly enjoying watching Lucius being "interrogated" by Sirius and Regulus. "So, this is why you went up to talk to him," Remus said, smirking at James.
James shrugged innocently. "Someone's got to get back at Malfoy for all those stunts he's pulled on us."
Remus raised an eyebrow, noticing how engaged James was in stirring up trouble. He glanced around, noticing that Peter had wandered off and James had drifted over to chat with Lily, grinning ear to ear. "Great," Remus muttered to himself, shaking his head with a smile. He headed toward the dorm, leaving Sirius and Regulus to continue their protective questioning of Lucius.
Orion and Abarax stood before Dumbledore as if nothing had changed since their school days. Abarax, as smooth and charming as ever, flashed a practiced smile.
"Well, Professor," Abarax began, "I think we can handle the tour ourselves. It'll be a bit more discreet, and, as you know, we aren't exactly strangers to Hogwarts."
Dumbledore chuckled, amusement glinting in his eyes. "When Abarax Malfoy sets his mind on something, there's no stopping that silver tongue. Go on, then."
Orion inclined his head respectfully. "It was good seeing you again, High Wizard." With that, he and Abarax made their way down the corridor, leaving Dumbledore to mutter to himself as he watched a passing first-year stare after them with awe.
Once out of earshot, Abarax turned to Orion. "So, why are we really here?"
Orion's expression darkened, though a glint of determination flashed in his eyes. "I had… a dream, Abarax. A very long, detailed dream about things that haven't happened yet. Things I'd rather ensure *never* happen."
They reached a seemingly inconspicuous portrait—a beautiful young woman, lounging in her frame with an elegant air, painted in vivid detail. She seemed frozen, like any other portrait, but her eyes gleamed with secretive amusement.
"Well, if it isn't Orion Black and Abarax Malfoy," she purred with a thick French accent as Orion gave her a deep, respectful bow, which Abarax mirrored with a bit more flair.
"Looking as radiant as ever, Madame," Abarax said smoothly.
"Ever the gentlemen," she replied, her smile widening. "Go on, come in."
The portrait swung open, revealing a hidden room behind it. It was a perfect replica of the Slytherin common room, dark and elegant with green and silver tapestries. They stepped inside, and Abarax wasted no time. "So what's all this about, Orion?"
"Do you remember what happened?"
Vishaka stood at the entrance of Grimmauld Place, gently resting her hand on her small but growing belly. She was in her first trimester and glowed in a soft, cotton saree, her only jewelry being a mangalsutra, a nose ring, toe rings, and her simple wedding ring. She looked up at her husband, Orion, trying to convince him to go to the council meeting.
"Orion, you go, na? I'll be fine here. Meena is with me," she reassured him, her voice steady but affectionate.
Orion pulled her close by the waist, his voice low with concern. "But, darling, she's heavily pregnant herself. What are you going to do without me? I have a bad feeling, rooh."
She smiled softly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I love it when you call me that." She slipped off her wedding ring and pressed it into his hand. "Here—take it, and put it back on me when we meet again, okay?"
Orion's expression softened as he took her face in his hands, his thumbs gently brushing her cheeks. "Hey… why are you getting so emotional?"
She hugged him tightly, nestling her face into his shoulder. "It's just… the pregnancy hormones," she murmured, her voice wavering slightly. "Let all the bad things that are supposed to come to you come to me instead. And may all my good karma protect you."
With her fingertips, she wiped a bit of kajal from her own eyes and dabbed it behind his ear. "Let Mahadev protect you, always," she whispered, her hand lingering on his cheek as she looked deeply into his eyes, memorizing every detail of his face.
Orion held her close, pressing a fierce kiss to her lips. "Why are you talking like this? It's as if you're saying goodbye for the last time."
She gave him a gentle smile, shaking her head. "Nothing like that, meri pati," she assured him. "You make me the happiest woman in the world, you know that? Just… don't forget me, hmm?"
Orion clenched his fists, his jaw set. When he returned to the present, he noticed Abarax holding a ring of his own.
Here's a revised version with improved grammar, flow, and added descriptions:
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Orion turned to see Abarax holding his wife's wedding ring as well.
"You know, she wanted to give me her *thali*, but said a married woman only removed it if her husband died—and she didn't want to wish that upon me," Abarax said quietly, his voice laced with melancholy.
Orion gave him a knowing look. "They knew something was coming."
Abarax nodded, trying to keep his voice steady. "What was that you were saying about your dream?"
Orion shrugged, as if it was nothing significant. "Oh, I think… this is my second life."
Abarax, who had been sipping water to calm his nerves, promptly choked and sprayed the water out in shock. "Hey!" Orion exclaimed, wiping his face.
"Are you even sane, you bloody idiot? Do you have any idea what you're talking about?" Abarax nearly shouted, staring at his friend in disbelief.
"Yes, I'm perfectly sane," Orion replied calmly. "I had this dream—it was long, and… troubling. In that dream, no one knew about our friendship. People didn't know that when you came for a Malfoy, you'd face a Black, too. The whole of Hogwarts knew we fought, sure, but in that dream, it was like none of that existed."
Orion looked down, deep in thought. "Even stranger, people seemed to have forgotten our wives, too. Can you imagine? How could that be?"
Abarax's eyes widened, trying to process it all. "That makes no sense. Why would they forget about us… or them?"
Orion's voice grew softer. "In that dream, it was like Walburga was my wife. When I woke up and finally cleared my mind, I looked at the family tree—and it showed *her* as my wife, with two children." He shuddered. "Imagine that."
"Well, I can't," Abarax replied firmly, shaking his head. "But Orion, we saw their—" he hesitated, "their… well, we saw them go."
"I know, I know," Orion said quickly. "But I found the mirror, the two-way one we gave them."
Abarax's jaw dropped. "Don't tell me… how did I never think of that!"
Orion nodded grimly. "I could see them, but they couldn't see or hear me. It's like she's back in her own world her own timeline."
Orion's eyes softened as he continued. "I saw her and Meena there, her parents… even *our baby.* A little girl. She's so young, Abarax."
Abarax's mind raced. "Then… time must be running differently there. If we find her family here, maybe they'll know something! Maybe we can bring them back, and—"
Abarax sprang up, heading for the door. But Orion waved a hand, magically pulling him back to his seat.
"Seriously," Orion said with a smirk, "first, sit down, and second—calm down. Yes, people are starting to forget them. Even our friendship was rooted in them bringing us together. I… I'm afraid I'll start to forget her, too."
Abarax's voice dropped to a whisper. "Please, Orion, we can't let that happen."
Orion nodded, handing Abarax a glass as he poured them both a measure of whisky. "I know, Abarax. But remember, her family the Rathores here barely accepted them, even with our marriages. You know how it is… they don't entirely approve of our wives."
Abarax's face hardened. "Then we have to change that."
Orion swirled his glass. "Yes. We'll need a plan—and then there's Riddle," he said darkly, taking a sip of his whisky. "We have to deal with him."
Abarax nodded, raising his glass. "And… my baby?"
Orion managed a smile. "A girl."
Abarax's eyes lit up as he leapt up with joy but quickly sat back down, suddenly somber. "She must have been so scared. She hates pain. And I wasn't there when she… when she gave birth."
Orion clapped a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. She cursed you and your ancestors to hell," he teased.
They laughed, clinking their glasses as they drank deep, each man lost in memories of love and a future they still dreamed of bringing back.