“Sirius. Pay attention when I’m speaking to you.” He glanced up from the small figurine he’d found and poked his tongue out at his mother. He was quickly rewarded with a slap. “You’re old enough to know to respect your elders.” Tears quickly filled his eyes.
“Why don’t you love me?”
“Because you’re a brat. Now pay attention. You’re starting to get to the age where-”
“I’m six.”
“Shut up!” He dodged another smack and she glared but continued. “You’re old enough to understand that you need to behave properly. If you don’t I’ll never manage to marry you off, no self respecting family will accept you. So you need to behave. Put your stupid toy up, you’re a big boy.” She snatched the figurine out of his hands and stormed off, leaving him crying on the floor.
- - -
“You better behave yourself, we’re having guests for dinner. And they have a daughter, she’s seven, your age.” Sirius just rolled his eyes.
“Right, I’m assuming she’s my cousin too. Or wait, maybe she’s my long lost sister. Keep it in the family.” Walburga backhanded him hard across the face. Tears pricked at his eyes but he blinked them back, not wanting to give her the satisfaction that she’d hurt him.
“I will not stand for you disrespecting me like that.” Gesturing at an armchair with a mock bow he smirked.
“Then sit, I don’t care.” He braced for another hit but there was a rap on the front door and she spun on her heel, glaring over her shoulder at him.
“Behave.” Untucking his shirt before making his way downstairs he saw his mother greeting some couple that looked vaguely familiar. A small girl hid behind her mother’s skirt and he gave her a sympathetic smile.
“And this is my son, Sirius.” He nodded to the adults, feeling his mothers glare on him. It wasn’t the proper greeting but he couldn’t care less.
- - -
“Remember, you are to behave at school. Pay attention in classes, avoid the… wrong sorts of people.” Sirius nodded.
“I will do exactly none of that.” Quickly giving Regulus a hug he whispered in his ear. “Please behave, I can’t distract them when I’m not there. I love you, be safe.” He gave his parents one lass smirk before running off to the train.
- - -
“I’m not going to some stupid ball! It’s ridiculous.” Walburga placed the suit she was holding on his bed, expression controlled.
“You will, I need to find you a woman to marry.”
“I don’t want to marry some girl that I’ve known since I was three!” Crossing the room in a few quick strides she swung at him but he blocked it and shoved her several steps back. “Get your hands off of me! You can’t hit me every time I don’t follow your directions, I’m not a child anymore!” Her lips twisted into a snarl.
“Fine, I won’t hit you.” She whipped her wand out and in an instant he was on the ground screaming in pain.
- - -
“Merlin Pads.” James shook his head. “I swear you’ve slept with half the girls in school, can’t you just choose one?” Sirius just shrugged.
“I don’t really care for them, it’s mostly to piss off my mother.” Peter piped up.
“Do you like any of them?” Sirius hesitated.
“I suppose they're okay. I don't really know.” James just shook his head again.
“Bloody hell.”
- - -
“I’m not going to date her!” Sirius stood, arms crossed in his room. Apparently his wonderful mother had summoned him away from his holidays to tell him he was to date some Slytherin pureblood girl he didn’t even know.
“You are and that is final. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“Funny, I was just thinking the same thing. I won’t date her and that’s that. You can’t make me.” He wasn’t even able to brace himself before the spell hit.
- - -
“So you're dating Marlene now?” Sirius glanced up at Remus who was studying him intently. He just hummed.
“I suppose so, yeah. Why?” Remus shrugged.
“I dunno, you just don't seem to be interested. You ignored her at lunch and most people would be spending time with their girlfriends if they could. You're just hanging out in the dorms.” Sirius thought for several moments.
“I guess you have a point.” He paused again. “I can talk to her tomorrow I guess.”
- - -
It was late, later than any sane human would be awake but here Sirius sat in the common room, staring at the slowly burning letter in the fireplace. He would not be marrying Narcissa, no matter what his mother tried on him.
He wouldn't.
- - -
“I think we need to break up.” He barely glanced at Marlene.
“Okay.” She hesitated.
“You don't want to know why?” He shrugged, unconcerned.
“Not particularly but if you feel the need to tell me then you can.” She was silent for so long Sirius thought she'd left before she finally spoke.
“Dorcas told me she likes me and I want to date her.” His head snapped up so fast he nearly broke his neck.
“What?” She flinched back, startled by the abrupt movement and interest.
“What do you mean what?” He stared.
“Dorcas is a girl! What do you mean what do I mean?” She glared.
“I can like a girl if I want to! Fucking Black.”
“You can?” Her anger vanished, replaced with confusion.
“Of course I can? Why couldn't I?” He stood abruptly.
“I have to go.” He bolted up the dormitory stairs leaving a very confused Marlene behind him.
- - -
“Hey Prongs, Wormy, do you mind if me and Remus talk?” All three looked up from their homework, confused.
“I mean sure Pads, do you want us to leave or-” He nodded and quickly shooed them out the door.
“That'd be wonderful, thank you.” Shutting the door behind them he turned to a very confused and slightly worried Remus.
“Pads, whatever I did I'm sorry, I-” Sirius shook his head slightly.
“You didn't do anything I just…” Quickly stepping around James's quidditch gear (why didn't he ever pick that up?) he came face to face with Remus. Biting his lip nervously he took a deep breath before going up on his tiptoes and pressing a kiss to Remus’s lips.
He'd never quite understood why girls constantly wanted to snog but the wonderful warm and excited feeling that spread through his whole body quickly explained it. Remus's hands fell to his waist and Sirius wrapped his arms around his neck. It felt so… right. He'd never been so blissfully happy in his entire life.
Finally, and regretfully, he had to pull away to breathe. Remus looked like he'd been hit with a book.
“Pads.” Just his name. Sirius grinned.
“Moony.” Remus kissed him again and Sirius was sure he had died and gone to heaven. Fuck the betrothal, fuck his parents, fuck the expectations. He was never leaving his Moony.