A/N: Written for two challenges.
DolbyDigital's Acrostic-y Challenge of Chapter Titles II. Prompt: utensils.
MissWitchx's The Restricted Collection Challenge. Restriction: no using the word 'said.'
Just a weird little idea I had, decided to go with it and see how it panned out. Enjoy!
Under Walburga Black's reign of number twelve, Grimmauld Place, proper etiquette was required. Sitting and standing straight were always expected, as was dressing appropriately for any occasion. Cleanliness, order, and politeness were valued highly. Proper table manners must be used. Sirius must have heard his mother's "rules of etiquette" a thousand times before he left for Hogwarts at age eleven. He had, of course, broken every single one of his mother's rules at least once in his lifetime. Once a day, if he set his mind to it.
Table manners had been stressed so much that when he'd first gone to Azkaban, he'd been repulsed by the idea of having to touch his food or eat soup without a spoon. Prisoners were lucky to get meals, much less the proper utensils to eat them with. After a few days, hunger and the idea that his mother might have actually brainwashed him had changed his mind.
He had grown so accustomed to eating this way that even after his escape, he didn't use utensils. He wasn't around people anyway, so no one noticed and he didn't even think about it at all. Things changed when he returned to Grimmauld Place with the Order of the Phoenix as his house guests.
"Um...Sirius?" Sirius sat alone in the kitchen, enjoying his dinner a little late. Some people were still unsure about him, even after a week, so he had taken to waiting until everyone else had finished before he ate. Molly had certainly outdone herself as usual. The table was still heavily weighed down with food, even after the others had eaten their fill.
He paused with a bite of roast chicken halfway to his mouth. Looking up, he saw Remus standing in the doorway. "What is it, Moony?"
"Don't you want to, I don't know, maybe use a fork for that?" Remus was probably the first person who'd seen his eating habits in years. Apparently it disgusted him, which made Sirius feel slightly self conscious.
Sirius shrugged. "Hadn't thought of it, I guess. Still not used to actually having a fork." He put the bite of chicken in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. "In fact, I'm not sure I really care to use any utensils while I'm here. Might make the old woman rest uneasily, knowing I'm not using my proper table manners at her table."
Remus smiled and joined his old friend at the table. Grabbing a small piece of chicken, he popped it in his mouth and chewed. "What about a werewolf eating with his fingers at her table? Suppose she might be spinning in her grave?"
"I hope so, mate." Sirius laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "I hope so."