Chapter Text
The house was quiet. Orion sat in his dark leather armchair, flicking through the daily prophet,Walburga was up stairs in the bedroom getting ready for the day. The children were playing in their rooms, and Kreacher sweeps away dust and dirt from the oak floors. A small barn owl flew in through the open window, a letter attached to its leg. It landed on the corner of the armchair and extended its small leg out towards Orion for him to take the letter. On the front of the rough envelope there was written in cursive handwriting, neatly across the paper: Sirius Orion Black, Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Orion turned the letter over and recognised the sender almost instantly.
“Sirius, you have a letter!” Orion called up the stairs to his eldest child.
“Is it my Hogwarts letter?!” Sirius asks excitedly, rushing down the wooden stairs two at a time, to his father.
“Why don’t you take a look?” He said, handing Sirius the letter. He turned it over, carefully, revealing the wax seal with the Hogwarts school crest. Sirius slid his thumb between the opening, tearing the envelope open. He pulled the letter out, enthusiastically, and scanned through it, holding the dark parchment as if it was a sheet of pure gold.
“Regulus! I got my Hogwarts letter!” He yelled, running back up the stairs to his brother.
“You did? Let’s see!” He squealed, clapping his hands together and jumping up and down on the spot. Sirius loved seeing his brother so happy, no matter what happened he was always there smiling, trying to cheer him up. Sirius was so excited to finally get to go to Hogwarts, but he knew how much he would miss his brother. He read the letter, holding it delicately in his little hands, much like Sirius had.
“We’ll have to go shopping, Sirius,” Walburga said, her makeup now complete and her hair up in a neat bun, from the doorway. She had a faint smile on her face, an expression that the brothers rarely ever saw from their mother and father.
“Oui Mama,” Sirius replied as his mother walked downstairs to discuss his education further with Orion. “Do you think you’ll get your letter next year Regulus?”
“I hope so, I really want to make Mama proud.”
“You’ll be a great wizard ma petite étoile.”
“Thanks Siri.”
****
Sirius traipsed through the busy cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley, following behind his mother. As they walked to Ollivander's, Sirius spotted two boys running up to a girl, all who looked around his age. One of the boys was tall and lean whereas the other boy was shorter and more plump. The girl was a bit of a mix, she was on the shorter side but she was as thin, if not thinner, than the first boy.
“You both got your letters?”The girl asked excitedly, brushing her blonde, shoulder length hair out of her face. In her other hand she had a cone of ice cream, bubblegum flavour by the looks of it, much to Sirius’s approval. The taller boy had tanned skin which seemed to glow in the sun. He wore circular glasses with silver frames which complimented both his eyes and his dark curly hair. The shorter boy, however, was the complete opposite. He had much lighter skin, though it still seemed to shine. He didn’t wear glasses like his friend, but his green eyes stood out against his pale complexion. His dirty blonde hair looked messy and as though it hadn’t been brushed.
“Of course we did, Marls, did you really think that neither of us would?” The taller boy said with a crooked smile.
“Sirius, do not stare at them, they are filthy blood traitors.” Walburga snapped at him.
“Sorry Mama,'' Sirius apologised, following his mother into the first shop. The bell above the door rang as they entered and the dusty floorboards creaked under their feet.
“Ah Mister Black, your time has come to get your first wand.” The shopkeeper replied cheerfully, clapping his hands together.
“Well get on with it , Ollivander. We don’t have all day.” Walburga snipped, fussing with Sirius’s hair.
“Yes, yes of course, ma’am.”
Sirius stared in awe at the rows of dusty boxes up against the wall. Ollivander climbed up an old wooden ladder, on the left side of the dark shop, to the third shelf up. Carefully, he slid out a dusty-blue box and climbed back down the ladder. He gently placed the box upon the counter, beckoning Sirius over. Excitedly Sirius ran up to the counter (much to his mothers disappointment) as the jolly shopkeeper opened the box, pulling out a dark wand.
“Reed wood, 15 inches. I think this one will suit you well. Why don’t you give it a go?”
Ollivander held out the wand towards Sirius, who took it nervously. Nothing happened for a few seconds but then suddenly bright coloured sparks erupted out of the end of the wand. Sirius’s jaw dropped in shock, his small mind blown.
“Marvellous!” The shopkeeper cried happily, “You are going to be a splendid wizard, Mister Black, I can already tell.”
Sirius beamed at the compliment and handed back the wand so that it could be boxed back up.
“Yes, yes, whatever. How much is it?” Walburga asked, seeming to be in a hurry.
“Seven Galleons please, Ma’am.”
Walburga took seven galleons out of her purse and slid the money across the counter, picking up the box and tossing it into Sirius arms. Sirius fumbled to catch as his mother turned on her heels sharply. She walked out of the shop without another word, Sirius hurrying along behind her, giving Ollivander a quick, grateful smile. They walked to the north side of Diagon alley and entered a shop called Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.
“Hogwarts robes for my son please.”
“Yes of course, if you could follow me.”
Sirius followed the lady who he assumes is Madam Malkin. She put on a black robe and askedhim to stand on a little podium, then started adjusting the length of the robe. The blonde girl from earlier had just come out of the fitting room and gave him a smile. Sirius knew he shouldn’t have but he had smiled back.
****
Once Madam Malkin had finished adjusting Sirius’s robe, she took him back to the front of the shop where Walburga had clearly gone and got all the new books and other equipment that he would need for starting Hogwarts as well as a new book for Regulus.
“How much?” Walburga sighed impatiently.
“Ten galleons please Ms.” Madam Malkin replied quickly, hoping not to upset her. Everyone knew what happened if you got on the wrong side of a Black. Everyone knew what they were capable of and most importantly, who they were associated with. Walburga sighed and counted out the money from her purse. She dropped it into the shopkeeper’s hand and grabbed Sirius’s wrist firmly. She dragged him out of the shop and back down the street.
****
Once Walburga and Sirius had made it back home to Grimmauld Place with the bags of shopping, Orion was sat at his desk in his office and Regulus was sat cross-legged on the floor quietly, reading the last few pages of a book. Regulus had always been their parents favourite. Sirius knew he was but he didn’t care, he loved his brother. He always thought that he loved his brother more than he loved his parents, and sometimes he thought he loved Regulus more than his parents loved him. As Walburga and Sirius entered the office, Sirius dropped down on the floor next to Regulus. Regulus had been so engrossed in his book he hadn’t noticed them come in. Sirius handed him the book they had brought her in Diagon Alley, a copy of Little Women. Regulus took it, smiling and opened it to read.
“Regulus Black! How dare you not thank me for the book! How ungrateful are you?” Walburga yelled.
“Sorry Mother, thank you for the book,” Regulus whimpered.
“Better. Now go to your room Regulus. Me and your father need to have a talk with Sirius.”
“Yes mama,” Regulus said quickly, taking both of his books and leaving the office. The door shut with a soft thud and Walburga pulled Sirius onto his feet, her tallon-like nails digging into his arm. Orion turned around in his chair, clearing his throat.
“Now, Sirius, since you will be starting Hogwarts in a few weeks, we need to lay down some rules.” Orion said sternly. “So, firstly, you are expected to be in Slytherin. Our family has been in Slytherin for generations upon generations, do not be the one to ruin it.”
“What would happen if I was to be sorted into another house?” Sirius asked timidly.
“You would bring shame upon our entire family. You would ruin our reputation and for that we would punish you.” Walburga replied coldly.
“The second rule,” Orion continued, “is that you must not interact with those any less than purebloods. They don’t deserve the same education as you. They aren’t born with magical abilities like everyone else. And we better not catch you talking to any of those blood-traitors,” He said, his voice filled with disgust.
“Especially not those awful Potters,” Walburga sneered. Though her and her husband were telling this to their son, both of them were thinking about their own years at Hogwarts. How their own parents had told them the same things. How they had grown to be close with them. Fleamont had asked Orion to be his best man and Euphemia had asked Walburga to be her maid of honour, however both Orion and Walburga had changed by then. They had since become like their own parents. They no longer wanted to be associated with them. They believed they were better than them.
Both parents snap out of their thoughts and continue to lecture their son. Orion cleared his throat again before turning back to address Sirius.
“Where did we get to? Ah right, the third rule. Detentions. If we find out you’ve had even one detention, we will punish you. You are at Hogwarts to learn not to mess around. As for homework, it must always be completed to the best of your ability. We expect you to be the top of your class in every class you take, do you understand?” Orion says sternly. Sirius nods but he is nervous about what will happen if he isn’t the top of all his classes. What punishment will he get this time? Locked in a room for two weeks? No food for a week? The cruciatus curse? And what would happen to his brother whilst he was gone? What would happen if he wasn’t there to protect him?
“Now Sirius, off you go, I need to speak privately with your father,” Walburga said in an almost sad tone. Sirius nodded and headed to the door. A floorboard creaked under his foot as he reached his hand out to the bronze door knob, which squeaked as he turned it. The door opened and he stepped out into the coolness of the hallway. He shut the door behind him softly and then tread on the spot getting quieter until he eventually stops.
“He’s gone,” He heard his mother say from the office. His plan had worked, his parents thought he had left so now he was free to eavesdrop.
“What’s the matter?” Sirius heard his father ask.
“I saw their son today. When we were in Diagon alley. He got his letter.”
“The Potter’s boy?” Orion asked and by the short silence that followed after, Sirius assumed his mother nodded in response. “Are you sure he was their son? Did you see him with them?”
“It had to be, Orion, he was the spitting image of his father, just with his mother’s eyes.”
“Sirius won’t talk to him, their son will be a Gryffindor, like his parents.”
“So? We still became,” she paused, then with a disgusted tone “close with them.”
“Let’s not discuss this any further.”
Sirius panicked, his mother would leave the office any second now. Quickly, he pulled off his shoes, as to make less noise, and ran down the hallways to his bedroom. He closed his bedroom door softly and sighed with relief that he had not been caught. Many thoughts swirled around his mind. Why had his parents told him not to talk to the Potter’s if they had been so close? Why were they no longer close? And most importantly, who is their son? Sirius didn’t have time to think over it much longer…
“SIRIUS!” His mother screeched down the hall. Sirius looked down, he had left one of his shoes outside the office. He was done for, he knew it. His mother’s footsteps echoed down the hall. The bedroom door burst open, banging against the wall. Little Sirius curled in the corner, clutching his one shoe. “Why was your shoe outside your father’s office?” Walburga screamed, holding up the shoe in question.
“I’m sorry Mama,” Sirius blubbered, tears streaming down his little red cheeks.
“Don’t cry Sirius, it’s weak and pathetic,” Walburga sneered, raising her spindly wand. “One more rule, don’t tell anyone, and I mean anyone, about what I do to you at home. Crucio!”
Sirius’s deafening scream of pain was heard throughout the entire house. He withered on the wooden floor, clutching his chest and bawling his eyes out. Walburga tutted at his weakness before turning around and leaving Sirius to suffer alone. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of Sirius’s loud sobs. A few minutes later the door creaked open again, a small body appearing from behind it.
“Siri?” A small voice asked.
“Regulus?” Sirius said as he looked up, wiping his tears away, “You shouldn’t be here. What if Mama finds out?”
“I couldn’t just leave you.”
He closed the door softly and went over to Sirius. He held his brother close to him and Regulus buried into his chest.
“Be good for mum and dad whilst I’m gone. I’m not going to be able to protect you.”
“I will be Sirius, I promise.” He said, wrapping his arms around the brother he loved so dearly.
They stayed like that for a while until Walburga called Regulus downstairs. Two minutes had barely passed when Orion knocked on the door. Before Sirius had even asked who it was, his door opened and Orion tossed a few trunks from the attic in.
“It won’t be long until you leave for Hogwarts now Sirius. I advise you to start packing.” Orion said simply, shutting the door and walking back down the hall.
Sirius opened a brown leather case, a storm of dust flew into his face as he did so. He took all of his new books and lined the bottom of the case with them. He continued to fill the trunks, becoming hungrier as the evening wore on. The call from his mother that dinner was ready was what he looked forward to, yet it never came. Sirius soon realised as to why. He was being punished, again, for eavesdropping earlier. He changed into his pyjamas, with a sigh, and flopped onto his cold bed. The next few weeks that lead up to him leaving for Hogwarts were going to be long and painful. Who knows how long he would go without food.
He heard footsteps further down the hall, growing louder as they drew nearer. The footsteps came to a sudden stop outside of Sirius’s bedroom door. The door opened, Walburga stood in the doorway. She glared at Sirius’s frail body, which was curled in a ball on his bed. She had a short candle in one wrinkled hand and with the other, grabbed his wrist with her bony fingers. Without saying a single word, Walburga dragged Sirius up out of his bed. She pulled him back down the hallway, turning left, right, then left once again. Sirius knew exactly where his mother was taking him. He was going to the punishment room.
His mother swung the door to the dingy room open and threw Sirius in. He fell in a heap on the floor. Walburga slammed the door shut, the sound echoing around the room. Then a key was placed in the lock, turned left, then removed. He was locked in. His mother’s footsteps faded away, back down the hall.
The room was dark, with one small window. Sirius crawled into the back left corner of the room. He pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around his legs tightly. He noticed on his right hand, a bit of wax from his mother’s candle had dripped onto his skin and burned him. It would scare, like last time and the time before that and the time before that. However this one would be noticeable on his hand, people at Hogwarts were surely going to notice it. Sirius laid down on the cold stone floor, exhausted. The floor was most uncomfortable so he decided he would try to stay awake. Though his eyes ended up closing and he drifted off into a seemingly peaceful sleep.
A spooky glow shone through the mist and into the window of the punishment room, a tree half obscured the full moon. The house would have been silent, except Sirius was crying and screaming. Mere seconds later, the young child woke up in a sweat. He had been having the most horrific nightmare, something that had become a regular occurrence in the boy's short life. Usually, when he had a nightmare, he would go into his brother’s room. He always found a sense of comfort in being able to hold his brother so close to him. He stood up, shuffling his way to the door. He placed his hand on the cold brass door handle, he tried to push the door handle down but it wouldn’t budge. That’s when he remembered, he was locked in. He let go of the door handle with a sad sigh and stumbled over to the window sill.
He sat on the window sill, with his knees up to his chest. He rested his head on his knees and looked out the window. The moon was full, perfect for a werewolf to come out, it made Sirius wonder. Would there be any werewolves at Hogwarts? He reassured himself that it would be too dangerous to have a student studying there that was a werewolf, let alone one of the teachers, a fully grown adult.
Sirius stared up at the stars, noticing the one he was named after shining particularly brightly. “One day,” Sirius thought to himself, “I’ll meet the moon to my star, and to Regulus’s. And the sun to both of our stars”
****