The “disgusting” pin
Christmas 1976
“Really Orion a pin, you know what at least it's gold.” My mother said, the pain of my existence and the only reason for my existence. I hear my cousins whispering back and forth “Oh look auntie Walburga is all so worried about her children” Bellatrix says when both Narcissa and her giggle. Sirius, my brother turns with a disgusted look. “Mother, it's fine. Thank you father, it's beautiful.” I finally blurted out. “No it’s not Regulus,” her voice starts to get louder. “How could you get he-him something like that?” “Yes, mother because everything is about you.” “Is that back talk I hear, Sirius?” “I guess it was.” “You little-,” she takes a deep sigh “You know what we have people coming over so everyone go get ready.” We all sit ready to see what she’s going to do to Sirius. “GO!” We all scatter.
“Well that was the perfect ‘family Christmas’.” Sirius says as we get ready for the dinner. “Yeah.” I say trying to end the conversation. “Yep, very talkative. Do you really like the pin Reg?” “I told you not to call me that and of course I do.” “Ok,ok I get it you’re too old for nicknames.” I ignore him and continue to get ready.
I hear my mother call Sirius and I downstairs to greet the guest. “Regulus,Sirius get down here!” she said with anger in her voice. I put the unusual pin my father has gifted me on the neckline of my suit jacket, a MockingJay with an arrow that looks like the MockingJay was holding it in its mouth, as if it was diving down to grab the arrow. “I'm not going to ask again, get down here!” my mother said, obviously getting angerer “Coming mother.” I shout, I look over at Sirius “Come on it's just some pure-bloods.” “I swear this is the last ‘event’ I'm going to.” Sirius hated all these things; big fancy balls, fancy outfits,fancy people, fancy talk and really anything that was ‘fancy’.
As I walk down the stairs with Sirius behind me my mother sees my pin and says “Go! Go take that hideous pin off right now!” “But mother it was a present.” “I don't care, take it off right now.” “Ok, fine.” I take off the pin. It’s just a stupid pin. I didn’t see the big deal but whatever, who am I to talk back to my mother, she already hates Sirius doing it and it’s not getting better with me.
I hear the talking of all the guests before the food is served. I go to walk into the kitchen, when I feel a tough on my arm. I turn around and push the hand off my arm as an instinct, “Sorry it’s just, I was wondering if you knew where the restroom was?” a tall young man who looks Sirius’ age with short curly dark brown hair and round silver glasses asked me. “Well of course I do, it's my house.” I say as a snarky reply. “Oh really I didn’t know the sisters had a brother?” “What no they don’t.” “Then how is this your house?” “Hello, my name is Regulus, Regulus Black son of Walburga and Orion Black.” “Wait, I thought that Sirius only had a sister.” “Yep, that would be me.” “Oh, but you don’t look like a girl.” “That’s the point, dumbass.” every other word coming out of his mouth just pissed me off even more and I already didn’t want to be here.“OH MY MERLIN, I'M SO SORRY. SIRIUS NEVER TOLD ME!” “Wait, you're one of Sirius’ friends?” I was confused because all of Sirius’ friends were blood traders or mudbloods no one mother would let come to a pure-blood party. “Yep, ever since we were little, even though our parents forbade us from being friends.” and then it clicked; friends since childhood, red obsessed, round glasses, pure-blood. This was that disgusting blood trader James Potter, from what I heard his entire family was a disgrace. “Oh, so you’re the famous James Potter.” I say with the most sarcasm in the world hoping this stupid little Gryffindor could understand. “Well I wouldn’t say fam- oh you’re being sarcastic aren’t you?” He says like it wasn't obvious . “Well of course. Wow no wonder you're not a Ravenclaw.” I say as I roll my eyes waiting for him to walk away. “Fine, you can say whatever you want, but I still need the restroom.” I took a deep sigh even though I wanted this to end. I also in a weird way liked talking to him.“Down the hall to the right.” “Thank you” I don’t respond, I just walk away.
I went back into the main ballroom where most of the adults were and some of the older teens like 17 or 18, people like that older more mature. I walked up to my mother and cousin Bellatrix, my mother showed me around to some people who were interested in making me take their both daughters and sons hand and marriage. Before shoeing me off the ballroom across the hall where all the teens were talking and I realized Sirius had sunk in all of his weird blood trader, mudblood, gryffindor friends. I see my other cousin Narcissa sitting in the corner trying to avoid all the blood traders. I walk over to her to try to figure out what happened and see how Sirius pulled this off without getting caught. “How? What? When?” I couldn’t even think of where to begin. “I know, I don’t know how he did it either. I just walked in and here are all these mudbloods.” I was stunned. How did our family and the others not hear the loud hideous music?