Filthy Blood Traitor
The four boys were sleeping in their beds. They were still in their first year. Suddenly, Sirius sat up straight and gasped. But he made sure to keep quiet so that the other boy’s wouldn’t wake up. Slowly, he stood up, and left the dorm. He walked quietly down to the common room and sat in front of the open fireplace. One wave from his hand made the fire light up. He sat there, staring into the fire, for around 2 minutes, before Dorea Potter came out of the room that was given to the parents. She froze when she saw the boy. But her frown disappeared quickly and she walked over to him.
“Hallo, Sirius.”
The boy looked up at her. For a moment he hesitated, but then he nodded softly.
“Mrs Potter.”
Then he turned back to the fire. She sat down on one of the sofas and kept her eyes on the boy. After a moment, Sirius turned to her and tilted his head.
“Can I help you with anything, Mrs Potter?”
Dorea smiled.
“No. I’m good, thank you.”
And then, once he had turned back to the fire, she asked quietly:
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
His voice was calm and collected. She sighed.
“You don’t have to lie to me, Sirius. Remember that I’m a Black too.”
“No, you’re not.”
The words seemed to leave his mouth automatically. His eyes widened a bit, but he didn’t turn away from the fire. Dorea frowned.
“Excuse me?”
Her voice was soft. She didn’t seem to be angry or hurt. Just curious. Sirius turned to her.
“You’re not a Black. You stopped being a Black the same second you married that blood traitor.”
He wasn’t saying it as insults. Just stating the facts. And that was what made Dorea look at him with concern.
“Are those really your words, Sirius?”
The boy shrugged.
“Does it matter? Those are the facts.”
“Then why are you still James’ friend? If you think we are blood traitors.”
Before he managed to answer, she continued.
“Look. I know, alright? You’re forgetting that I grew up in the Black house. I know what happens when you do something they don’t like. Your father and I are the same age. And your grandfather never really saw any difference between his own children and the other Black children. I know how he can get. And I know that Orion always said that he would follow in his father’s steps.”
Sirius flew up from his seat.
“Don’t you dare. My father is nothing like grandfather. He would never hurt anyone.”
Dorea tilted her head.
“So all the beatings you get aren’t hurting you? They aren’t abuse?”
“No! Shut up, you filthy blood traitor! You…!”
“Sirius.”
They both turned around to see Orion standing in the door to parent’s room. Sirius quickly walked over to him.
“Yes, father?”
Orion smiled softly.
“However right you are, I think you should take it easy. You need to calm down.”
Then he raised one eyebrow.
“Sometimes I wonder if you have gotten your mother’s temper instead of mine.”
Sirius shrugged and relaxed visibly when Orion put his arm around his shoulders.
“And as to you, Dorea, I don’t want you to mess up the boy’s mind. He is my son, and I will raise him. Understood?”
Dorea stood up and walked over to them, so that she was standing straight in front of Orion.
“Raise him? How? By beating him up every time he does something you don’t like? Are you going to be like your father?”
Orion sighed.
“How many times do I have to say this? He is MY son. And I will raise him any way I see fit. You have nothing to do with him.”
Then, before she could answer, he looked down at his son.
“What do you say about a little trip around the grounds, Sirius?”
The boy frowned.
“But, father, we are not allowed to leave the tower after dark.”
Orion smiled.
“But you will be with me, right? That means that they can’t say anything. And, to be honest, I would love to see them try to stop us.”
Sirius grinned and they walked out of the tower, leaving Dorea standing next to the fireplace.
Sirius wasn’t looking at anyone. His eyes were closed and he was taking deep breaths. Even Snape knew better than to say anything. But Orion didn’t care about anything.
“I was really proud of you back then, you know. For once, you acted as a real Black.”
Sirius slowly opened his eyes and turned to his father’s portrait. And, for a split second, they didn’t see Sirius sitting there. They saw Orion Black. But then, Sirius sighed and the coldness disappeared from his face. Suddenly, he looked very tired.
“I regretted that for my entire life. To think that my life could have been so different if I had just talked to her instead of insulting her.”
Orion frowned.
“And how would it have been different? You think Dorea would have adopted you? You really believe I would allow that? As I told her, you are my son. I wasn’t going to let you go that easily. Have you already forgotten how it went that time when you escaped?”
Sirius paled a bit and even Remus looked at him with questioning eyes.
“Sirius? What happened back then? You never told us that.”
The animagi sighed.
“I told James. I thought he would tell you.”
Remus rolled his eyes.
“It seems that there was much James didn’t tell us about you.”
Sirius closed his eyes and lowered his head a bit.
“Yeah. It seems so.”
Snape turned to Orion’s portrait.
“Did your father use that kind of manipulation on you too? Or was it your own invention?”
Orion raised his eyebrows.
“And why would you care, Snape? I’ve heard much about you. Half blood. Was in love with a mudblood. The only positive thing about you is your choice in life. Death Eater. Although I’m still wondering how they accepted you in. With your background.”
Snape looked furious while Sirius smirked. Yes, he didn’t like his father, but he was very happy to see Snape being on the receiving end of his mean comments. For some reason, he felt a bit more justified in the way he himself had been acting. But then he remembered all the beatings, all the insults. And he felt anger.
“Are you ever happy with anyone?”
Orion frowned.
“I was happy with you, until you started to go against me.”
His son rolled his eyes.
“Just play the next one, Moony. Before I start setting things on fire.”
Remus nodded and the next memory started.