Chapter 1
12 Grimmauld Place is the Ancestral home of the Most Noble House of Black. To Sirius, that wasn’t a house and it most definitely was not a home. It was a place of misery and torture, hidden within the figure of a family home. Sirius went through every single devastating emotion in that blasted house. But not even he can deny that there was a time where he was happy in that home. The last heir to Orion and Walburga Black remembers that short, brief moment of happiness. The birth of his baby brother, Regulus.
Sirius was excited the moment he learned from his mother that he would soon be an older brother. He was looking forward to finally having someone to play with. Sirius would make sure to take care of his baby brother. He has not even arrived yet, but Sirius loves him already. Yes, he will protect his baby brother. After all, that is what older brothers do, they look after those they love. He could not wait to meet his brother. He will teach him how to have fun in this cold home. He will bring the warmth his baby brother deserves to grow up in.
—
Sirius should have made sure that his room was at least more sound-proof. Maybe then his baby brother would not be sobbing in his arms right now. His baby brother shouldn’t have had his young eyes exposed to the cruelty their father had put upon the poor animal. Not this early. Sirius never wanted it to be this early. He runs his left hand up and down Regulus’ backside, his right arm wrapped around the latter in hopes of calming the sobbing child down.
“I’m sorry, Siri,” came a stuttered out whisper from the boy in his arms. Sirius didn’t understand. Why was Regulus sorry? It’s Sirius’ fault, he should have never allowed themselves to bring home that hurt bird. He could have just found a safe place to place the poor animal in outside 12 Grimmauld Place.
“Don’t apologize, Reggie. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have let us bring the bird home in the first place,” Sirius brushes a strand of Regulus’ hair out of his face, “No.. Father hit you.. Because of me—“ Sirius grabbed his baby brother’s face in his hands, making him stop what he was saying abruptly, ensuring that Regulus was staring right back at him. “That was not your fault, Reggie. It was not. Alright? What happens to me could never be your fault.”
And Sirius would not have it any other way. Regulus at least deserved a few years of childhood to be happy and enjoyable.
“Hey, Regulus. You want to play a game? Yeah?” Sweet little Regulus beamed at his older brother’s proposal, nodding excitedly, tears now having stopped. Chuckling, Sirius pets his brother on the head, “Alright. We just have to make sure we’re quiet, yes?”
—
He couldn’t explain it. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling. Gryffindor? Him? A Black? What would his mother and father say when they found out? They would be furious, he just knows it. What is he going to do? What is he going to do? What’s he gonna do—
“Hello!”
A generally high pitched child voice broke him out of his spiral. It was a boy in his age, same year, most likely. He had short deep brown curls that weren’t too long to go past his ears, round glasses on his tanned freckled face. He looks nice, but looks can be deceiving. The other boy, perhaps picking upon the hint that Sirius is too startled by his thoughts to say anything, starts to introduce himself.
“I’m James Potter! Well, James Fleamont Potter, my father’s name is Fleamont Potter, so I’m James, not Fleamont. My ma always tells me to introduce myself with my full name because it’s proper manners and that I should always think of my manners because I’m a good boy. I like hearing that. Ma is always saying nice things about me, just not when I make her mad at me though, then she calls me naughty. I just wanna have fun! Do you like fun?—“ He talks a lot. Sirius has not even said anything yet.
It is quite different. The boy in front of him is quite different. Yes, Sirius does have cousins that do speak, but not as much as this boy in front of him is doing. He seems to also be placed in Gryffindor. Was it possible that he could call this boy a possible friend of his? Sirius starts feeling all buzzed at the thought of having a friend. How would he ask this talkative boy to be his friend? Smile? Wave? Stare at him long enough and hope that the boy understands immediately? Ha. A Black does not hope— according to his mother.
“Be my friend.” Oh.
“I’m so excited— Huh?” Oh, no. Sirius feels himself tense up. He’s probably stiff enough that if somebody bumps into him, he would remain the same stance and posture as he falls over. Like a piece of wood. As Sirius starts descending into internal panic and despair, the boy— James, he reminds himself— smiles.
“You wanna be friends?” Boy, if he keeps smiling at Sirius like that he might pull a muscle. Still stiff, Sirius nods. “Yes! Let me introduce you to these other boys I’ve met!”
And just like that, Sirius Orion Black found himself being dragged along by a talkative boy across the hall to meet other boys his age who, quite fortunately, were also placed in Gryffindor. Ah. Sirius will worry about mother later.
—
Alright. This group is surely something. James, the boy he met first introduced him to Peter, a boy shorter than Sirius who has a cute face and a shy smile but observant eyes. These two are apparently childhood friends and likely inseparable. Wonder what that is like, Sirius growing up with a friend, that his parents approved of. He probably wouldn’t talk as much as James does because mother despises noise.
Sirius was then introduced to Remus, a tall boy with tan skin, freckles on his face, brown hair that is slightly curled but not as long as James’ hair. He did not truly speak other than a polite ‘hello.’
It was easy to say that James did most of the talking, with a few snorts and giggles from Sirius (Mother would be seething if she saw his behavior right now), and a few quiet inputs from Peter. Remus just stared on, but was paying attention to whatever came out of James’ mouth. They were a rather.. odd group. There were even a few older students already staring and pointing at them. At Sirius. How could they not? Sirius Black, the heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black, was put into Gryffindor. How could they not stare? After the cases and news of what happens within Dark Families in the Wizarding World, these students were just so curious on what would happen to an heir placed in the wrong house. But curiosity can be dangerous sometimes.
Sirius knew that. Asking questions could also be dangerous. Not paying attention to what your new friends were saying is also potentially dangerous, so Sirius starts tuning back in the conversation. It seems like James is telling a story about one of his and Peter’s joint christmas celebrations at the Potter Home. During storytelling, Sirius also learns that James’ mother’s name is Euphemia Potter née Braithwaite, ( “Née?” “Yes. Née. It means originally called,” “Oh, okay!” ) whose maiden name sounds oddly familiar.
“Have you seen the common rooms yet, Sirius?” Well. Sirius can wonder about that later.
“No, I have not. Are we going there now?” James excited pulls Remus and Peter to stand up, hurriedly telling Sirius to “Get up! Get up! Let’s go!”
Sirius can think about all of his duties later. He should focus on his new friends and writing Regulus a letter about how it is going here in Hogwarts.