Chapter Text
His mother runs a hand through the front of his hair, before smoothing the long strands back down. Her smile is the kindest he can ever remember it being, though the edges are sharp and unpracticed. Subtle biting grins are more her forte.
He lets her fuss with the collar of his robes and lets her push his hair behind his shoulders. If it had been anyone else, he’d push them away and sneer (he’s done it on multiple occasions with Cissy), but seeing as how his mother rarely took it upon herself to be gentle, he’d soak it up for as long as it lasted.
“I suspect Andromeda will take good care of you.” She said mildly, finally stepping back. “Her sisters will be focused on their studies, so do try not to cause them any distractions.”
“I can take care of myself.” Sirius said, just as roughly.
“I miss Cissy. We haven’t seen her since Christmas.” Regulus didn’t exactly whine, but it was a close call. Their mother wasn’t fond of complaining, unless she was doing it herself. “Will we have the family dinner at home again?”
“Yes.” Father said. He turned his eyes back on his eldest son, and gave a smile that was brief and very miniscule, but genuine. “I’m sure you’ll do us proud, son.”
Walburga Black looked around the bustling platform, her cold mask sliding back in place. Sirius had figured that it wasn’t even a mask, as he’d assumed for most of his life, it was just her default expression. Just as his fathers was stoic, and Bella’s was smirking. Sometimes he wondered what his default would turn out to be, or if he already had one but hadn't noticed. Regulus was already taking after their father, Sirius saw now, as his brother stared at the train unfeelingly.
“Andromeda was supposed to meet us here.” Mother said tightly. She stepped back quickly as red-haired twins darted in between her and Sirius, pushing each other and bumping into him as they passed by. Sirius watched as they giggled and ran onto the train. “Ugh, the Prewitts –”
“It’s fine. I’ll find her.” Sirius interrupted hurriedly. “I’ll just ask one of the older kids.”
Father saw the indecisive look on his wife’s face and put a brief hand on her shoulder. “You heard the boy. He can take care of himself.” Sirius tried not to preen at the proud look he was receiving, but by Regulus’s raised eyebrows he wasn’t very successful.
She sighed and stepped forward, pressing a chaste, dry kiss on his forehead as she held his cheek. Then she moved back and waved an arm towards the train in one broad, sweeping stroke. “Well, go on then.”
He nodded enthusiastically and drew Regulus into a hug, planting a wet kiss at his temple. He laughed maniacally as his brother struggled to get away, holding his head in what looked like a very strained and uncomfortable position.
When he pulled away, his mother looked faintly disapproving, but their father had a soft look in his eyes.
“See you at Christmas.” He waved a little, and quickly made his way onto the train.
No way was he finding Andy, when he was finally on his own. He’d been telling the truth. No one needed to look after him, he was perfectly capable of looking after himself. And while he liked Andy a fair bit more than her sisters, this was his chance to be himself, just Sirius, and he needed to show his independence if he wanted others to see it.
He found a cozy little compartment towards the middle and settled down close to the window. His family had already left, but there were many other parents who had decided to stay and wave at their children through the open windows. Some mothers were crying, some were beaming so brightly that it was a wonder their faces didn’t split in half, there were a few fathers standing close to the windows, keeping up excited chatter about Quidditch and Houses.
It was only ten minutes later that they finally pulled away, and Sirius let out a long breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. It felt like a million pounds had been lifted off his shoulders. This was a fresh start. This would be his life for seven years.
It was only as he thought that that the door slid open, and a red-haired girl peeped in.
“Is anyone else sitting here?” She asked, gesturing towards the empty seats.
“No.” He replied. She looked momentarily startled by his haughty tone.
“Sorry, my friend and I are looking for – hey, Sev! I found a place.” Sirius opened his mouth to object, this is my spot, but she was smiling at him, and the words wouldn't quite leave his mouth. He’d never seen someone look so unbothered and happy, she must be a mudblood, he realized. Or maybe…
“Are you a Prewitt?” He asked, just as her friend came up next to her. He looked terribly disheveled, even though he was already dressed in his robes. A bit too pale, and his hair hung lank and oily. Sirius fought off a grimace and despaired that he should have gone to look for Andy after all, to hell with being independent. “Or a Weasley?”
They both entered, even though he hadn’t necessarily invited them in, and sat next to each other in the space across from him. The greasy kid – Sev? - was staring at him with confusion and suspicion, but the girl hadn’t lost her small smile.
“No. I’m Lily Evans.”
He racked his brains for her surname and came up with nothing. So, a mudblood then.
“Oh.” He said, stiffly. He glanced out of the window and bit his lip.
“…yeah.” She said, a bit more uncomfortable. She’d lost her grin, a hesitant look taking over. “What’s your name?”
He sat a bit straighter and unconsciously pushed his hair back. He probably looked just as unapproachable as his cousins, but it was habit.
“Sirius Black.” He told her, turning his eyes over her muggle clothing. She wore a flower embroidered jean skirt and a plain white t-shirt. While he knew he ought to be more disgusted by her attire, he found himself heaps more intrigued. It was quite strange, the difference between them and robes. Definitely informal, and kind of silly, but they didn’t look that bad. On her anyways. He couldn’t speak for the other muggles.
“A Black.” The other kid sat a bit straighter himself. Sirius found himself on comfortable ground once more, this he was used to. The respect and the fear that came attached with his name. Mudbloods and muggle clothes, they were a bit more difficult. “Are you...?”
Sirius tilted his head.
“I know you have cousins. But they’re all girls. Are you the… heir?”
“Yes, I am.” Sirius nodded once. “…and you are?”
The boy paused, and glanced at the Evans girl, who seemed confused. “Severus Snape.”
“That’s not familiar.” Sirius told him. The other leaned back and cringed. “But you know of my family. Halfbood, then?”
Snape’s cheeks pinked, but he nodded.
“Ah.” He said, then went back to stare unseeingly out of the window. Of course he’d be stuck with a mudblood and a halfblood (and while they weren't nearly as bad, they were still uncharted territory for him. His mother would throw an absolute fit at his company). He definitely should’ve found his cousin, already spikes of nerves ran through his belly.
“What does it matter?” Evans asked, after a moment. He saw that she’d also straightened her back and was staring at him defensively. “If he’s a halfblood?”
He stared at her. “Your kind wouldn’t understand.”
“My kind?” She crossed her arms, and he tried not to let his surprise show. What was she playing at? Talking to him like he owed her an answer. No one dared…
“Lily.” Snape warned, and said nothing else.
“No – ”
Thankfully, the compartment door opened again, cutting off words Sirius didn’t care to hear. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized it was Andromeda and gave her a tight smile.
She grinned back at him, the expression erasing the worried frown she’d been sporting.
“There you are! Lestrange wouldn’t let me go, so I had to tell him Cissy was looking for him.” Her laugh was half mad, eerily reminding him of Bella. “She hates him.”
“I can take care of myself.” He repeated his words from earlier, very serious. But then he grinned, just as crazily as her. “I can imagine. Last Christmas she wouldn’t shut up about him.”
“She won’t be very happy with me.” Andy commented. “She told me she wanted some alone time with Malfoy.”
Andy smiled again, and then looked at his companions. To his surprise, her smile didn’t dim a bit. In fact, it widened. He glanced at Evans muggle clothing, and Snape’s greasy hair, and frowned at his cousin.
“Making friends already, little cousin?” She asked, stepping through the doorway.
“They aren’t my friends.” He told her, more disapproving than he’d meant to sound. Why was she acting like it was okay who he was sitting with? Was she trying to trick him or something, would she try to tell his parents that he was mixing with bad blood? As much as he liked her, she was as loose of a cannon as anyone on the Black tapestry. His lips turned down further, and he pulled himself stiffly to his feet.
“I’d like to sit with you, are there any free spots?”
As he stared at her, her face closed off. She became completely neutral, like she usually was.
“We can make room.” She told him, backing up into the hall once more.