The Members of House Black III
Cygnus Black has joined his wife in the entrance greeting the guests.
“Won’t your brother and his family be joining us dear?”
And on cue,
And lo and behold, the Blacks of Orion Black.
First was the Lord and Lady Black anchored to each other’s arm. Followed by their sons Sirius and Regulus Black. All in their regal black outfit.
The older boy could feel the eyes of everyone on him. If this was before he started Hogwarts he’d be smirking at their faces. But now, he could feel their unsaid judgments. He looks at his feet as they walk ignoring the gaze of the people. In his vision, a smaller hand entered the frame and reached out for his. It was Regulus. He lightly squeezed his older brother’s hand. Like saying, I’m here.
“A Black never looks down.” Said Regulus in an attempt to whisper. Sirius looks at Regulus in acknowledgment. “You said that.” Regulus reminded him. Can’t put to practice what he preached; he looks back down again.
“Orion, Dear sister, you are late?” Cygnus greets his sister Wallburga and their uncle-turned-husband Orion Black.
The man spoken to slowly turns his head to his sons at the back. He gives them a look that the boys recognize right away and straighten their backs. Then he looks back at the hosts.
He takes the hand Druella is reaching out. One is supposed to kiss the hand of the lady of the house. He then pats it with his other hand.
“You are never late, if you are the main event.” Orion said with a toothless smile.
“I heard that my nephew here was sorted in other than Slytherin?” It was a dangerous topic
“It’s a privilege for the Gryffindors to have a Black in their House uncle. Just spreading our greatness in all of Hogwarts.”
Cygnus nodded.
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Young Sirius Vesper Black
Sorted to Gryffindor
What a shame
What a waste
So unfortunate of the House Black
His first 3 months in Hogwarts was all that. Feeling shame and a waste. Just barely going to classes for the sake of it. But his mind is elsewhere. I’m supposed to be in Slytherin.
Twelve years old and burdened with the future of House Black. There’s still Regulus. But no. It’s supposed to be me. I’m the Black heir. Maybe he can talk to the headmaster and beg him. No! That would even drag the Blacks more. A Black does not beg. A Black does not bend. Is he still a Black? He just wants to run, hide, and maybe disappear. And that’s what he was practically doing most of the time after he was sorted. If not in his room, he was in the most deserted part of the castle, isolating himself from everyone.
He should have stayed at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays. He should have let people outside forget of his existence.
Like he does in school, he excuses himself and walked on a mission to find and stay in a deserted part of the manor. Sirius did not stop walking till he reached the library. Because who would be in the library when there’s a party going on.
In a haste to be alone, he slammed the door of the library and slumped to the floor. The sound of falling books. And then more.
“Who’s there?”
Silence.
“Show yourself!”
And then. A tall lanky boy, about same age of Sirius slowly shows his self from the shelves. And then they stared at each other.
Sirius searched his memories for the boy’s name. He seems to be a knew face. But also, familiar.
“Who are you?”
“Of course, you wouldn’t know me.”
The tall boy walked towards Sirius.
“I’m Remus Lupin.”
“You have…” He points at Remus’s face and the not so fresh marks on it.
“Ahh yes.” Remus sheepishly acknowledge and tried to cover his face. “Mark of bravery as my father would call it. And I’d like to believe it too. That’s why I’m in Gryffindor you see. Bravery. We’re in the same house.”
And that made Sirius remember his misery.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m in Gryffindor!”
“And what’s wrong with that?”
“I’m not a Slytherin!”
“Don’t be so dramatic. You were just sorted in another house.”
“In the wrong house!”
Remus just shook his head at Sirius’s dramatics.
“As if you were any better. And what are you doing here?”
“Umm…Hiding from people.”
“Why?”
“I just don’t like…people that much.”
Sirius seem to have understood that.
“So you don’t like me too?”
Remus laughed. Sirius glared at him.
“What?”
“Not only are you dramatic. You are also vain.”
Sirius glared and gaped even more at him, huffed. And then the taller boy left him in the room.