Scar Boy
In Sirius’ most humble opinion, nothing was worse than the Hogwarts library.
Sure, there was Grimmauld Place, but at least there, Sirius could lock himself away in his bedroom and not show his face for days. In the library, however, there was no comfort of privacy, not even with the promise of quiet study time. Instead, dozens of girls meticulously obsess over him.
All Sirius needed was to brush up on his knowledge of werewolves. The last thing he needs is girls, whose names he cannot bother to remember, surveying his every move as he tries to read “Werewolves: an Anthology.”
He wanted to read it in the dormitory, but Snape was in there and Sirius did not want him nosing around. Then there was the astronomy tower, but it was being occupied by a class of fourth years currently and Sirius did not frankly have the power to kick them out. The grounds were especially crowded today, with it being the first sunny day in a whole week, so basically everywhere outside was swamped with people.
So, the library was the only choice. It was not even that crowded when he got there. The only other people in the section were Gryffindor mudblood and half-blood filth. It was quiet for a moment, but that was before the girls arrived.
Sirius Black could handle the squeals whenever he looked some girl’s way, but if some stupid fifth-year member of the resident Hogwarts Sirius Black Fan Club were to stalk him so hard they found out about the Dark Lord’s task, Sirius’ life would be over. Literally.
So, he subtly shifts away from the girls, who are currently in a competition to see who can get the closest to him. It’s embarrassing for them, really. Sirius could never comprehend how people like Lupin and Evans stay in the library for days at a time. Perhaps it was because their fan clubs are nonexistent.
Well, he supposes that is not true. Sirius looks over at Evans, who’s currently batting away one James Potter. Ironically, the mudblood might be the only one who could understand his predicament.
Sirius is thankful his girls are not stupid like Potter and try to approach him. He would be a lot crueler than Lily Evans, who’s currently sighing and launching into some half-hearted rejection speech directed towards Potter. But, there’s less fire in it than usual. Maybe she’s come around to him. Even Lupin looks surprised.
“Sirius.”
Sirius quickly snaps his book shut, jerking around to see who interrupted his oh-so-important study time. He lets out a sigh of relief as his eyes fall on the golden blonde in front of him.
“Fucking hell, Rosier, thought you were a member of my fan club.”
Evan scoffs, flashing Sirius a flirty grin.
“Oh, you wish.”
He takes a seat next to Sirius, perfectly positioning himself so that he blocks Sirius from said Fan Club’s view.
“What are you doing here?” Sirius raises a brow. “You’re not the studying type.”
“Neither are you, but you’re still here.”
“Fair.”
Sirius never needed school. Magic was natural to him. He made top marks without studying—and frankly, not caring—which often made him the subject of his classmates’ envy (but he couldn’t help that he was so gifted). So, finding him studying in the library was quite unusual. Maybe that is why the girls seem to be extra overbearing today, the excitement of seeing Sirius Black putting effort into his schoolwork must have made them all swoon. What a guy.
It is not as if Sirius is careless. No, he just simply does not have the time to worry about classes
when he’s destined to be the Dark Lord’s greatest and most loyal follower. Besides, he’ll never have to make money, anyway. That luxury comes with being Heir Black. Instead, he will simply inherit all of the family riches when his father dies. Toujours Pur to that.
Evan leans over, propping his elbow on the table to rest his chin.
“I’m here because I have something we need to discuss.”
Sirius slowly slides his book underneath the table, studying Evan’s expression.
“And that is?” he asks, quivering a brow.
Evan gives him a sharp look.
“What‘s going on?”
“Not sure. Father sent me an owl today, and he mentioned that He wanted to remind you to report back progress on your ‘task’ soon,” Evan rolls his eyes, “Lucky Siri, doing all the important shit. Always the favorite.”
“Thanks, Evan,” Sirius nods, ignoring the last part and picking back up his book.
As Sirius goes to turn the page, Evan slams his hand down on the table.
“Sirius. What is it that you’re doing for the Dark Lord?”
“Keep your voice down, you blithering idiot!” Sirius hisses.
“Why is it that you are always chosen for the important things? That you’re so high up in the ranks?”
“Calm down, Rosier,” Sirius says through gritted teeth, “He just likes me better, known me longer.”
Evan scoffs.
“It’s ridiculous, you’re barely capable of showing up to class on time, much less carrying out His plans-“
“Oh, piss off! I don’t know what to tell you. Do better?”
“Tosser.”
“Leave, Rosier. I don’t have time for this.”
Evan sighs, collecting his things and standing. “You know, your brother is a lot more approachable than you.”
“Reg is a much better person than I’ll ever be. Don’t compare me to him.”
“Whatever you say, Black,” Evan laughs, before sauntering away, his dark robes brushing against the floors behind him.
Idiot. How could the Dark Lord ever see potential in someone like him? As much as Evan was one of the few people Sirius could call a friend, he also loathes him sometimes.
Sirius sighs, flipping his book back open.
“Quite some argument you had there, Black. Lover’s quarrel?”
Sirius whips around to see a stupid, sarcastic smirk staring at him from across the room. James Potter looks amused, too much so for Sirius’ liking.
“Don’t speak to me, blood traitor.”
With a flick of Sirius’ hand, Potter’s mouth had been sealed shut. Literally. He attempted to speak, but his mouth refused to open. Sirius examines the encounter with amusement, watching Evans’ horrified face as she tries to desperately counteract the curse.
Lupin is—well, he’s looking quite murderous at the moment. His caramel eyes are narrowed and full of disdain.
Thunderous footsteps approach, and Sirius turns to see Madame Pince storming towards him, eyes red hot with blinding fury.
Sirius turns back to the three Gryffindors with a sly grin.
“Well, I guess that is my cue to go. Try to control your boyfriend next time, Lupin,” Sirius shoots the scarred boy a wink, before sauntering away.
Selwyn was an easy lay that night, per usual. The broom closet always serves Sirius handy. He’s grateful for the girl, and even more grateful for her tits.
It’s two when Sirius stumbles out of the broom closet, gives Selwyn a chaste kiss, and bids her goodnight. He sends her on her way back to the common room. He fancies an evening stroll.
So, Sirius trailed the corridors, mindlessly taking swings of the firewhiskey he had swiped from underneath Mulciber’s bed. As the liquor burns down his throat, time seems to fade away for a while. The world feels lighter, less like he’s suffocating.
Before he knows it, he’s in a heated argument with a painting on the third floor.
“No, muggles don’t have elbows. I’ve seen them myself and they are elbowless, the lot.”
“No, Sir, you are wrong!” the painting objects. “Every muggleborn I have seen roam these halls have two elbows, one on each arm.”
“That’s because they’ve stolen our magic. They wouldn’t have elbows if not.”
“Black, what are you doing?”
Sirius spins around to see caramel-colored eyes staring at him. He smiles. “Remus Lupin. You know muggles, right? Come here, enlighten this young painting on the tragedy of elbowless muggles.”
“I don’t know what you’re playing at, Black, but I’m not falling for it.”
Sirius faltered for a second. Lupin was staring at him with his arms folded and brows furrowed.
“Oh, Lupin, I would never play you.”
Sirius grins, but Lupin doesn’t seem very amused. That prick.
“You do realize I’m a prefect, right?” Lupin raises a brow. “Or are you really that dense?”
Sirius stayed grinning.
“Black, what the hell have you been drinking? It’s three in the morning.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Sirius, of course, seemed to find this hilarious. Lupin glances at the painting before sighing.
“Black, let’s get you to bed.”
Tuesdays were Lupin’s patrol nights, Sirius came to recognize. He was a prefect, but never seemed to wear his badge, oddly enough. Around 2:30, he would saunter around the third floor, all pompous and eager to catch Sirius in some rather compromising positions. Sirius would smile, apologize, and send Lupin on his way. A Black doesn’t get detentions.
Selwyn questioned their sudden change in schedule, but Sirius paid her no mind. It was fun pushing a poncey prefect like Lupin’s buttons. And, he quite liked the routine he and Selwyn developed.
During the daytime, he and Selwyn hardly spoke, other than the occasional flirty comment in passing. They never called each other by their first names, except when she was under him, and they kept to their respective groups of friends.
Speaking of groups of friends, Sirius’ friends were being rather irritable.
“Black, you honestly have got to start showing up to practice. Our new chaser can’t be trained without a beater,” Avery scolded him one day at dinner.
“Oh, shut up, would you? I’ll show up when I can. It’s not like my own brother’s going to kick me off the team,” Sirius had rolled his eyes.
A few days later:
“We’re kicking you off the team.”
Sirius sat upright from his spot on the common room couch, staring at Regulus with wide eyes.
“I’m serious,” Regulus says.
“No, I’m—“
“Enough.” Regulus held out his hand for his brother to stop. “You haven’t shown up to the last five practices. Just because I’m the captain doesn’t mean you get special treatment.”
Sirius gaped at his little brother’s neutral expression. “Reggie. You know I have more important things to do than entertain your little practices. I’m the best beater in Hogwarts, Merlin’s sake! You kick me off, the whole team is screwed.”
Regulus’ expression softens slightly. “I know, Siri. But, I’m under a lot of pressure here. A lot of people on the team think I’m too young to be captain-“
“Give me names and I’ll hex their balls off.”
“-and I’m having trouble gaining respect from the sixth and seventh years. Not to mention, they’re pretty pissed you haven’t been showing up. They say I’m too soft on you because you’re my brother. I have to do this to gain their respect,” Regulus explains with a guilt-ridden face.
Sirius sighs, standing up and running a hand through his long black hair. “Fucking hell. I need a smoke.”
“Sirius!” Regulus calls out, but Sirius is already gone.
He should’ve gone to those bloody practices. Sirius didn’t realize how much he enjoyed quidditch until he couldn’t play anymore. He missed the feeling of flying alongside his brother, the triumph of winning a match, and the joy of knocking Potter off his broomstick. Without the distraction at hand, he was forced to work on his task.
Truth be told, Sirius couldn’t fathom that there was a werewolf roaming the Hogwarts halls. Dumbledore always claims Hogwarts is the safest place in Britain. To let a monster into a school is insane, even for him. But, the Dark Lord seemed sure of it so Sirius trusted him.
Oddly, the Dark Lord had come to be strangely parental to Sirius. He always protected him from his parents’ abuses, honored Sirius’ pleas not to let Regulus join, and cared for him in his own way. Bellatrix got envious this past summer when Sirius would stay after meetings to train privately with Him. The only other person the Dark Lord shows that kind of favoritism towards is his cousin. Guess he has a thing for mad Blacks.
He began by looking up the dates of the full moon. That was the logical first step. If somebody at Hogwarts was a werewolf, they couldn’t be in the castle the night of the full moon. But, Sirius didn’t have the power to see if every student was in the building, so that didn’t help.
Common knowledge about werewolves: they hate silver. Maybe Sirius should start wearing his silver Black family ring, and see if that gives him any clues. Another issue is where they go during the full moon. They obviously can’t stay in the castle. Maybe the Forbidden Forest? Or maybe they apparate somewhere secluded?
Sirius concludes that there are way too many people in this damn school.
The next full is Tuesday, and Sirius excuses himself from his standing date with Selwyn to watch for the wolf. He stands just by the entrance to the forest with a disillusionment charm. It was worth a shot.
Nobody entered the forest that night. Sirius sat there until about two, before reluctantly going back into the castle.
He found that he missed his usual Tuesday routine. Annoying Lupin was loads more fun than being on Werewolf Watch. It’s fun to watch Selwyn blush and run away, leaving Sirius behind to deal with a flustered prefect. Then, he’ll distract Lupin for some time, avoid any punishment, and return to his dormitory.
Sirius found himself half wishing to catch Lupin on his rounds as he walked back. He’s been so bored all night and would love to have his little fun with the half-blood.
Nonetheless, Lupin must be on a different floor. Sirius doesn’t see him. He’s almost disappointed.
Whatever. Sirius returns to Slytherin, climbing up the stairs to his dormitory. His dormmates are all sound asleep and Snape’s snoring loudly. Sirius flops onto his bed with a sigh.
The Dark Lord needed his help. And, as the only adult who ever showed Sirius respect, he was entitled to help him.