Remus was carefully stirring the pot on the stove as Sirius paced around the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place. "I just don't understand. Everything was alright until we all began to live here together," Sirius rambled on into the space as if the answer would suddenly appear if he talked about the problem long enough. "We give them both the same amount of attention. I mean, occasionally we check on Harry a bit more, but we just want to make sure he's comfortable with the change after living with Lily's magic hating sister and her family. Could it be something that happened at Hogwarts? Maybe involving scores on some tests, or students being rude. Remus, is there anything you can think of during the term that could be causing this?"
"Sirius, darling," Remus cut in with a soothing voice like he would with students, "calm down. You're going to wear a hole in the floor boards at this rate."
Sirius huffed as he ceased his movements across the floor. Though it was short lived as he marched over the Remus and leaned against the counter. "But what could it possibly be Remus? I know a lot changed since I was last present in their life, but I'm trying my best."
Taking the pot off the flame, Remus turned and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We all know that you're doing your best. We will get this figured out together. Harry is with the Weasleys for a few days. That gives us plenty of time to talk about what might be going on."
The moment was interrupted by the creak of the kitchen door. They both looked over to see Kreacher peeking his head through the door. "Kreacher has set the table like requested. Little Black has also been informed dinner was almost ready."
They both looked at each other before putting a bit of space between them. "Thank you, Kreacher."
Kreacher slowly stepped into the kitchen as he looked between the two. His hands wringing nervously together as he began speaking again, "Kreacher could go to the shops if you would like him to. Set an order for the months potions if the masters would like their privacy for this evening."
Sirius didn't give much thought before giving a nod in agreement. "That would be preferred, Kreacher. Thank you. And if the supply of Wolfsbane is older than 4 months, request a fresh batch. Go to as many shops as you need to. Don't forget the kids lists of things as well." The house elf gave a nod before turning to exit the room. Leaving Sirius and Remus alone in the kitchen once more.
"You don't have to do that," Remus said as he moved to grab the pot to bring to the dining table. "I appreciate it, but Wolfsbane doesn't come cheap. And neither of us currently have any form of income to replenish what we spend."
Sirius held the door open as they made their way to the table. "I know, but I want to help you. Besides, I have a lot of spoiling to make for with all of you."
Remus was filling the last bowl when you came walking into the dining room. Glancing at the two of them before asking, "Where's Harry?"
"He went to Ron's a day early," Sirius explained while sending you a warm smile. Gesturing to the seat across from him as Remus sat beside him. "Sit. There's a lot we would like to catch up on with you."
You hesitantly took a seat as you regarded the both of them. Picking up the spoon as you stirred the contents of the bowl. "About what exactly?"
"Nothing bad, promise," Remus assured. "It's just... we weren't around as you were growing up."
"So we want to know what it was like for you." Sirius finished the thought as he placed a hand over Remus's. "Call it 'fatherly curiosity' if you will. We want to know about school, friends, things you enjoy. Anything you want to talk about, we are more than happy to hear it all."
You gave a shrug while staring down at bowl in front of you. "School is alright. I passed my classes this year, so that's good I suppose."
"Well," Remus cut in with slight tilt of the head, "There was that issue with Snape when he took over one of my classes."
"Everyone has issues with Snape. It's a universal thing." You eye twitched as you took a bite and shoved the spoon down with a bit more force than necessary.
"That's true, I suppose. He is a bit more... demanding than the other professors." Sirius nodded along as he spared a glance at Remus. "What about your classmates? I would like to hear about the friends you have. Maybe you could invite them over so we could get to know them."
"What is wrong with both of you?" The demand was harsh as you looked back up at them. "If you wanted to 'catch up', then Harry would be here as well. But I'm the only one here right now, and I don't want to be interrogated in my home. So what the hell is it that you want?"
"Watch your language," Sirius scolded as he leaned forward. "You see this, this sudden attitude of yours, is beginning to become an issue around here. What problem could you possibly be having that could cause it?"
"I don't have a problem."
Remus placed a hand on Sirius's shoulder while holding the other in the air in a calming gesture. "Let's not start arguing. We simply want to have a calm discussion between the three of us. Now, maybe you could simply tell us how you feel about all the changes that are happening around here." Remus gave you a moment to potentially begin opening up to them, only for the silence to settle around the room. Remus cleared his throat before beginning to further encourage you, "Let's start with Harry. Was there any issues between you two during school? Any thing in regards to what everyone thought had occurred that night?"
"No," you growled while jerking the spoon around in the bowl. "Harry never seemed to know, no one seemed to want to tell him. We didn't interact with each other much, but we never had problems."
Sirius huffs as he begins rubbing his temple with one hand. "Is it about us being together? I know some might find it difficult to adjust to the fact that their father is-"
"It doesn't bother me that either of you are gay. You both are happy together and that's all that should really matter."
Remus let out a deep sigh as he clasped his hands together on the table. Taking a moment before he reluctantly began to inquire, "Is it the fact that Harry and I are half-bloods?"
"No!" You raised your voice to them with an annoyed and forced shrug of your shoulders. "Just shut up and drop it."
"Is... is that it?" Sirius inquired as he rested his elbows on the table. "Some blood purity thing? If it is, you don't need to feel ashamed from what you might think is... correct within our world. We can work with you to undo that way of thinking. Especially after whatever that woman-"
"Stop talking about her like that!" The force of your hands coming down on the table rattled the two of them into silence. Your chest heaving slightly from the out burst as you curled your hands into fist.
Sirius leaned forward in his chair as a sneer began to over take his face. "That's what this is about? You have an attitude because of how I talk about the woman who made my life a living hell until I escaped this place?"
"Sirius," Remus interjected with a firm voice, "we said we would listen and work out a solution to whatever it was."
"That wasn't her." The words were strained when you spoke again.
"Oh, my mistake." Sarcasm dripped from his voice as Sirius dismissively waved a hand in the air. "I must be thinking of a different woman who looked exactly like my mother who would come and 'discipline' me and my brother whenever she felt like it."
"You don't know what she went through!" That comment was enough to start a screaming match between the both of you. Tempers flared as insults were thrown across the table with what seemed to be no end in sight. Until you abruptly stood up and slammed your fist into the wood as the chair scrapped against the floor. "He sold her out! She only became what they forced her to be! They ruined who she was!"
Everything was quiet for a moment as Sirius and Remus glanced at each other with a mixture of skepticism and confusion. Hesitantly, Sirius looked back at you and opened his mouth to speak, "What, what do you mean by 'they forced her'? What are you talking about?"
"You just don't get it," you mumbled with a small glare to your father. "Did you never once wonder why your dearest Uncle Alphard left you part of his fortune? What his reasons were for doing that? I can tell you right now it was guilt that made him do it, because of what he did."
"Could you tell us," Remus started with a cautious note in his voice, "what exactly happened? What you seem to think that he did to betray Walburga?"
You kept quiet for a moment as you looked away from the both of them. Finally meeting their gaze again with tears forming in the corners of your eyes. "She was going to run away with Muggle after her graduation. Alphard found out and told their parent before she was able to leave. And then they... they used the Imperius Curse on her to make her the 'perfect pureblood daughter'. They broke who she was."
Everything was quiet in the room as Sirius and Remus looked at each other for a long moment, disbelief covering their features. Sirius shook his head as he looked down. "No, no that can't be true. There's no possible way."
"Oh, because you know everything!" You shouted before storming out of the dining room. Your footsteps echoing throughout the house before the slam of your bedroom door resounded throughout the halls.
Sirius slumped back in his seat as he rubbed at his temple, all the earlier anger leaving his body until only an empty feeling was left. Remus hesitantly reached out to rest a hand against his shoulder. Neither of them making a move to say anything as the silence settled in the room, heavier than the last few times. Many minutes passed before Kreacher walked into the room.
"Kreacher put the potions in the masters room for them. He can start clearing the table now if the masters wish."
Sirius began to wave off the house elf, but stopped himself short as he looked down at Kreacher. "Kreacher," he started as he sat up a bit, "I need you to tell me something. Did my grandparents use the," his voice faded off for a moment before forcing himself to continue, "did they use the Imperius Curse on my mother?"
Kreacher was unable to meet their gaze as he tried to shrink away. His hands rubbing together nervously as he spare them a small glance. "Kreacher promised Mistress that no one would learn of it. Kreacher failed when Little Black found Mistress's old diaries. Stupid, stupid Kreacher!" He began smacking his head repeatedly as he continued to berate himself.
"Kreacher, everything is alright! Just stop hitting yourself, alright?" Remus spoke as he propped his elbows on the table. Resting his head in his hands as he let out a deep sigh. "We both have to go and talk about this with them. Find some way to figure out how we make this right."
"I think I know a way to handle this," Sirius muttered as he slowly raised from his seat. The air around him turning solemn as he stared at the door that you had walked out of just a few minutes before.
Remus stood up alongside Sirius as they began the walk to your room. Neither of them have the courage to spare a glance at the curtain that cover Walburga's portrait. The hallway seemed longer than normal until they were standing outside your room. The door open just a crack to show a crack along were the latch was set. Sirius let his hand hover in the air for a moment before gently pushing it open. Looking in in the room, they saw you laying down on the bed, your back facing them as they carefully stepped inside.
"We'll get the door fixed for you," Sirius said as he stood a few feet away from the bed. His expression tightening while the silence stretched out as he took a moment to find the right words to say. "So, we both said things that should have never even been thought between a father and child. And I am sorry about that."
"Whatever," you muttered without making an effort to turn towards them. Though you made no protest for them to leave your room, which they took as a good sign.
Sirius hesitated for a moment before taking a seat on the edge of the bed. His knee bouncing slightly as he took a long look around the room. "How did you find out?"
You were silent for a long moment before finally responding, "When you're left alone in a house with no adult supervision for years, you get bored and start looking around for anything new. Found a lot of hidden nooks and loose floorboards in this house with many old journals and such."
Remus let out a dejected breath as he hung his head with the weight of what you had just said. "You found her old diaries and read them. That must have been quite a shock."
"Not just her's. I also found her parents, one of Alphard's, even a few that belonged to Orion." A depressed sigh left your chest as you brought a hand up to wipe at your eyes. "I couldn't bring myself to read through the entirety of his, reading the things he did... I hope he's burning right now for it."
Sirius felt his stomach churn at the thought of what his father might have done to make you feel so strongly about him. He reached out to gently put his hand on your shoulder. "So when she burned the portraits off the tapestry..." He let his voice trail off for you to pick up his thought.
"I think," you started after a few moments, "that subconsciously she knew, even if she wasn't in control. That deep down she was aware when Andromeda got married and you left the family, and was sad that you both were getting the life she wanted away from here. She was probably acting under the influence of the spell when she burned it. But I think that deep down she was hurting because she was stuck here in this life. And she was upset when Alphard left you money, because he was the reason she was stuck here."
Both men looked towards each other as you told them your thoughts on the matter. Remus slowly walking over to sit next to Sirius as he reached over for your hand. "Can you please look at us, dear?"
They waited for you to turn over in order to face them, your eyes slightly puffy from crying. Sirius gently wiped away at your cheeks when you finally sat up while giving you a strained smile. "What about the portrait of her in the foyer?"
You rolled your eyes with an unimpressed huff. "Orion had that commissioned. To remind her of what she should be like after he was gone. Grandma tried to keep it covered as much as possible after I came to live here. She didn't want me growing up to think that was alright."
"She was really trying to keep you on the right path," Sirius realized with a neutral tone.
You gave a small nod as you looked down at your lap. "She said that she wanted me to be like you," you muttered as you began picking at your fingernails. Your expression becoming more strained as tears began to fill your eyes again. "She wasn't well after she broke free. When I was here, she would space out for long periods of time and forget things that she always knew. It really messed with her mind."
Remus gave a sigh when he heard you say that. "One of the unfortunate things about those curses. It's never certain how it will effect the victim. Especially one that had prolonged exposure."
Sirius took hold of your hand and gave it a squeeze. "Do you still have all the journals?"
"I put them in the attic in a box labeled 'family secrets'. I kept them in case the bloodline died off one day and people started looking into the family." You told them with a weak shrug of your shoulders. "So everyone could know the truth."
"I might take a look at those someday," Sirius said quietly as he took a deep breath. Shifting on the bed as he put all of his focus on you. "I want to make a promise to you, but you have to promise to me as well. I promise to try and not talk bad about my mother, but you have to give me some grace if I slip up. Deal?"
You nod your head while giving him a weak smile. "Deal."
Remus grinned as he pulled the both of you into a hug. "I knew we could get something figured out if we just talked everything out. Now, let's get that door fixed for you."