Chapter Text
If there was ever a moment in time he wished he could execute himself before existing in, this was it.
Walburga Black—arguably the most vile, cruel woman to exist in this century—smoothing down his robes. He's standing at platform 9 ¾, bursting at the seams with excitement and expectation, surrounded by students he’s going to see for the next seven years. There's not enough fluids in the world to bring down this high. Enter centre stage, Walburga Black, berating him like a circus animal. The only part of him that might actually survive long enough to arrive at Hogwarts would be the embarrassment and anger of her chiding.
“While you are at Hogwarts you are to behave yourself and carry yourself with the dignity of the Noble and most Ancient House of Black. You are a Black. You will conduct yourself accordingly. You will not converse with mudbloods, half-breeds and the like. I will not stand for you-”
“Squandering the family name, yes.” He glances around the platform embarrassed and a fair bit anxious.
“We are a long line of pureblood witches and wizards,” she says, holding his tie just that bit tighter. “You will not taint the bloodline.” Walburga brushes his shoulders off, “We expect great things and if you fail to deliver,” she lays her hands on his shoulders and digs her nails in subtly. “You know what consequences await you for your insolence.”
He holds her burning gaze and feels his shoulders ache but he stopped fearing his mother a long time past. After years of threats and torture, he got used to it. He wouldn’t waste time crying about it. Besides, who would stop him from ignoring all his pain, if they couldn’t even tell?
“Oh, would you look at the time,” Picking up his bags and walking backwards, he runs off and yells back,“Got to go!”
One thing Walburga had and would always fail to do is harden his heart. Sirius Black would always keep that child-like wonder about him. For all the they loathed him and the malice they poured into him like it was love; for every scar and heartless indifference, Sirius would not become their sculpture. He refused to be shaped by bloodless hands when they’d made him bleed.
Maybe in the muggle world someone would’ve called the police. That is, if they even saw the ferociously murderous intent seething off of Walburga Black pointed directly at: Him, Sirius Orion Black. Initials, S.O.B. as in sob. And yes, his life is quite the sob story, I assure you. Or if you like the other definition better, yes, he’s that too.
“Oi! Mmph-,” and just like that he’s on the floor. So much for his film worthy runaway. Which is the farthest thing from cool seeing as he almost face planted into pigeon poop stained concrete. He tripped over someone during his prison break. As in a whole person that he bumped into and fell on. Which, in his defence, does not happen very often, or ever. Seeing as Sirius is a bit busy escaping purgatory, forgive him if he continues to run away.
He gathers his bags and then he’s off again. He’ll be damned if he ever looks back.
Sirius wanders through the train, opening doors on surprised passengers and even a couple of.. sixth years.. Which essentially goes like this:
Male sixth year: “ Oi!”
Female sixth year: “Close the door!”
Sirius: “Wooah,” he stretches the word whilst quickly backing out of the room with the door closing behind him. “Well. Wish I never saw that.” He rubs his eyes so deeply he might as well be looking through a kaleidoscope. He mutters under his breath,”There’s got to be a spell to purge memories or at the very least my eyes.”
1: gross.
2: lock the door
Okay, well, that’s done. Wishing on the star his parents named him after, Sirius slowly approaches the next car after 6 trials and errors. Please, don’t be snogging. Or shagging. Or anything really. Sirius slowly opens the door aaaaand YAY! Clothes are on!
Although that's better than the first time, this is.. A predicament to say the least. Murky green eyes bare into him like he’s some savage animal. Next to them, softer brown eyes and a smile honest enough to heal a world.
‘Hello.’
‘Hi.’
He’d never seen such pure happiness lighten someone’s face before. Could anyone be that happy? Sirius dared to dream.
‘James,’ he extended his hand. He’s a lanky lad with old scratches and scrapes on his hands. He looks like he’s spent his entire childhood being a child. ‘Potter.’
Now isn’t this interesting. Hadn’t his mother told him to stay away from them? The Potters were among the only pureblood families that the Blacks did not associate themselves with. Probably because they had a moral compass. In fact he’d got far more than his fair share of.. Well let’s say punishment for asking why. Seemed a total drama.
‘Sirius Black.’
Now they’re smiling and with worlds of mischief in their eyes. Hogwarts would be better than expected because Sirius is dead set on making friends and he could start here.
‘Pettigrew. Peter.’
Well.
Have you ever had someone stare at you like you’ve skinned their dog then ate it? I wouldn’t think so. Peter is staring at Sirius with such disdain and disgust, he looks about ready to lay out his insides. Sirius has been here all of two minutes, what could he possibly have done?
‘My apologies,’ he says to Peter. ‘Is there something on my face?’ Maybe his mother had done something before he ducked out.
‘You charmed my pants off.’
‘Excuse me?!’ Okay, so Sirius expected something but it definitely wasn’t that. Peter seemed to have pants on. Unless he’d just painted his legs.. What an odd thought. No, those were definitely trousers. Though that didn’t exactly stop Sirius from blushing to a bruise.
‘What’s happening right now..’ James’ eyes are pretty much jumping out of his face. It looks like someone stuck a pair of marbles back there. James is clearly very amused and Sirius is contemplating backing out of the room again. He doesn’t remember this blonde and it didn’t really seem something Sirius would do. It sounds more up Ev and Reg’s alley. In no universe-
‘You. pantsed me. At the pureblood banquet this summer. In the ballroom.’
‘Huh?’ It took him an endless second but then it all clicked in Sirius’ mind. ‘Ahhhh. oh.’ Okay, so perhaps in this universe- Look it wasn’t necessarily Sirius’ fault. He was... Evan and Regulus had wanted to cheer him up and so they did what they usually do; pull a series of pranks for a laugh or two. Just some drops of colour in the dreary monotony of the Black family.
Was it really so wrong for them to try to steal their happiness? Was it honestly right for it to have been stolen in the first place? In the minds of early youths, a good laugh at the expense of someone else seemed the perfect price. Especially with their group of troublemakers. They’re children, forgive them. Plus it was—frankly—hilarious.
Sirius finally closes the door behind him and sits opposite James because yes, it was embarrassing and at the very least warrants an apology. He scratches the nape of his neck but it does nothing to fade his beet-red complexion. He really should see a doctor. It's probably not normal to blush like a boiled lobster.
‘I technically did do that, didn't I? Right, see, the reason behind that was- um. I was having a bad day and-’
‘Oh? Well, if you were having a bad day, it’s alright then.’
‘Really?’ James says and Sirius parrots him.
‘No, James! I’m not serious!’
‘I’m Sirius.’ he says with a smile. James catches the joke and a smile spreads across his face but not Peter’s who is fuming like a forest fire.
Sirius slowly stands copying Peter. He lets out a wry chuckle and slowly backs away.
‘C’mon Pettigrew, Pete, Petey, heh,’ They’re circling each other like rabid dogs. ‘Let’s be civil. We can talk about this.’
There’s a click as the car door opens and shuts in quick succession. A blur entering the room. Sirius’ head snaps sharply to the door, which in hindsight was a bad idea after Peter launched himself at him. Which made Sirius react like a spooked cat, more or less jumping out of his skin. He pushes Pettigrew away and parkours around the train car muttering a sling of curses in wake. Sirius trapples over hands and legs, arms and heads chased by Peter who keeps stumbling as James tries to intervene and the brunette boy who stuck himself to a corner in the car, eyes wide with something surpassing perplexion. Eventually they both stop to yell at each other. Sirius backed up to a corner in the car, opposite the mystery boy. While Peter was standing between the chairs, James in front of him.
‘That was ages ago, grow up, Pettigrew!’
‘It was last month! Who do you think you are telling me to grow up when you’re walking around with your little friends pantsing people at important soirées! Or rather more specifically, pantsing me!’
‘Are you calling me immature?’
‘If the hat fits, Black’
‘More if the superman knickers fit, Pettigrew.’ Sirius spat back as he jumps over to the next seat. Peter tracks him with his eyes.
‘I think you’ll regret that when I hex your cat neon green.’
‘You dare and I’ll send my owl after your measly rat!’
‘You animal!’ Peter shrieked as he chased.
Sirius through the cabin again. He didn’t get very far before the current head boy Frank Longbottom opened the cabin door. Not that it stopped the ruckus only that he was now there.
When his friend, but not head girl, Alice Fortescue shoved passed him into the cabin, hands on hips is when everyone froze.