Reunion
Sirius was resigned. From life, from hope, from care. The world was wrong. There was a terrible ache in his chest that festered with every step he took towards the familiar and gnarled dark wood door. Evan held him tightly on the shoulder, a warning not to go fucking about. He felt the desperation to run, to flee, crawl up through his chest. Monsters he thought he had finally rid himself of quickly reared their ugly heads. Sirius could barely breathe, hardly think, and spoke not a word.
Evan had untied him only a few hours earlier, under the promise he would be drugged if he caused any sort of trouble.
“Not a threat if I fully intend to.”, Evan had said when asked about his peculiar wording. Sirius felt chills find home in his vertebrae as the “meeting” drew ever closer. It shook him to his core to even think about Maman, now he would have to remember how to speak to her. Evan had called some guy on his burner just before they left. Sirius had his hands tied in front of him inside a sweatshirt pocket. He was quite amazed when the boy managed it. All Sirius caught from the conversation is that the meeting would be held at Grimmauld, and that the man on the other side was named Barty. The two didn’t seem particularly fond of each other considering Evan’s irritation as they walked out of the flat.
“You aren’t gonna blindfold me?”, Sirius had questioned when Evan made no move.
“Seems a bit counterintuitive.” The other man sighed and just shook his head, “You would know how to get there anyway, we’re going home.” Home. The words had rung in Sirius’ ears the whole drive, his hands tightly clenched together. Home was not the word for that torturous place. He couldn’t ground himself and felt like he was losing his mind. How on earth could this be real? He blinked and there they were, the door loomed larger than life, much like his family. It was old architecture, with ornate detailings and gothic windows. He wished he had gotten the nerve to jump out of them when he could.
That brought us to now, where the pair had entered a grand foyer, waiting on someone apparently. Evan tapped his foot, quite loudly may Sirius add, and sighed a total of three times. This was finally stopped when a well dressed young man with snake bites and tousled brown hair stepped out of what seemed to be a shadow, Sirius knew better. The man had just exited Maman’s private study.
“She is ready to see you now.”, He said with a charming, but equally haunting smile.
“Thank you, Barty.”, Evan relayed, solidifying that this was indeed Barty Crouch Jr. Quite a popular fellow among all the wrong crowds. Seems Maman had taken a liking, he hoped this new toy would last longer than the ones in the past.
He was going to have to go in. He couldn’t refuse her.
“Untie me.”, Sirius choked out, “Evan, I need my hands.” He untied the knots, the depravity in the heir’s voice leaving him little choice. The Black son pulled out his clammy hands and wiped them on the inside of his sleeve, so Maman wouldn’t see. He steadied himself, taking a deep breath and letting the situation float away. Sirius was stone cold as he walked into the all too nostalgic room. His mouth tasted like blood and his soul burned with fear and rage. She sat there in a black blouse with lacy sleeves, strings of dark pearls around her thin neck. An angular and stern face stared back at him, grey eyes devoid of anything least of all love. Her black dress pants were hidden but he knew exactly the ones she wore. They had little dark silver details that matched the lace perfectly. Equally colored bangles sat around her wrists and a single ring sat on her finger. The marriage ring that held a diamond and two sapphires encased by a raven shaped band. Her face scrunched as she took him in, reveling in dissatisfaction for her eldest son. She brought her hands up on the desk in a templed position, beckoning with one towards the chair.
“Sit, Sirius.”
And that was all it took.
He remembered everything.
The chair was itchy and hard but he sat perfectly still. Sirius stared at his hands and avoided the Medusa gaze on him.
“Sirius, I expect you know why we are here.” Her voice cut like razor blades through the thick air.
“I brought dishonor on the family.”, His voice sounded weak, he hated the effect she still had on him all these years later.
“And how did you manage that? Hm? Sirius Orion Black, look at me and tell me what you did.”, She stared him down until he couldn’t avoid it anymore. The blank, hateful stare he held was the little power he could hold. She was unfazed by his rebellious eyes, only leaning forward, getting in his space.
“Tell me. Tell me your crime.”, Her words spat like venomous snakes. He defied her. He held her gaze and stayed perfectly, quietly, still.
Smack.
He felt the sting before he felt the pain. The slap was expected, but it still hurt. The backhand had left a little cut on his cheek from her ring. The diamond now splattered in his own blood. He felt it, the darkness, the terror-
Childhood.
His brain was fuzzy and everything remotely good was hidden from view. Maman scoffed in disgust at the boy. She hardly raised her voice, opting to raise her hand to them instead.
“I'm sorry, Maman.”, Sirius had no fight left in his voice, it was small and riddled with cracks.
“Sorry is not enough Sirius, you have been a disgrace for far too long.”, she brought her hands to pinch the bridge of her nose, “We have let this rebellious streak go on against better judgment, it is time for it to end.” Sirius swallowed the bile rising in his throat, fighting the urge to run. He knew it wouldn’t end well.
“Yes, Maman.”
Yes, Maman
No, Maman
Sorry, Maman
Fuck.
He’s back.
“With how this is going I will have to prepare Regulus to be the heir.”, Horror shot up his spine at her foul words, it crawled into his chest and settled in his ribs.
“No, no he’s too young Maman I can be better, don’t do that to him, Reggie doesn’t deserve it, I do, I’m so sorry Maman, I’ll be better I promise, I swear Maman, I-“, His ramble was cut off by another backhand.
He glued his mouth shut.
“Blacks don’t ramble.”, her unwavering gaze made him shrink back, “I know you will do better.” She stood from her seat obviously getting what she wanted, but her eyes pinned him to the spot.
“His name is Regulus.”, Maman stated, he had forgotten her hatred for the nickname, “Now stay here like the good heir you were meant to be.”
So he did, and she walked away and out of the dark door into the hall. He heard Evan and Barty but did not dare turn around to see them. A voice struck him though. One that wasn’t there before. A stern and stressed voice that sounded young and old at the same time. Sirius balked as he heard such a familiar and undeniably blonde voice echoing off grand portrait covered walls. The walls carried the voice back to him and it rung in his ears. He should have known, he thought he did. Now it was proven and he had no where to run. No where to go but straight into whatever array Maman wanted him to. Whatever situation she was about to drag the poor officer into as well. Because Sirius knew, once you enter this house you are doomed to return to it for all eternity and bend to its will. He knew, he was bent and broken from dealing with it all his life. The officer should’ve run while he could. God knows Sirius would if he could.