A.N. Hello, everybody! This is my first story, well at least my first posted story. It features girl!Sirius, in an alternate universe where he just happened to be born a girl instead of a boy. His/her name is Siria in this, because according to some baby name site that is the feminine version of his name.
By the way the story's title 'No Princess' comes from the song 'No Princess' by Lynn. It sums up Siria's personality nicely.
Oh, and disclaimer: I don't own anything, it's the property of the brilliant J.K. Rowling, of course.
To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings,
Siria Calista Black had never been a perfect Black princess. She wasn't refined like Narcissa, or devoted like Bellatrix, or poised like Andromeda. She played in the dirt, and cavorted with blood traitors and muggles, and she didn't scream at the sight of mice, and she hated dresses and high heels, and dancing with stuffy, pretentious pureblooded heirs. She was supposed to be more Black than all three of them, as the first born daughter of the main branch, she had the largest dowry, and the most connections, and in short she would be a prize for any pureblood heir who wished to wed her...in theory at least.
Except that Siria even at age ten exhibited a dangerous tendency for disobedience. It was mid July and her birthday was coming up on the twenty-fourth, which was a big deal in wizarding families especially pureblood ones like the Blacks. On her birthday her parents were holding a huge gala-type party to which all pureblood families of 'proper reputation' would be invited to attend, and she would be expected to be polite to them all, to start forming proper connections in preparation for her future betrothal to one of them. (Unfortunately, for her parents Siria had no intention of marrying any of them).
She was currently supposed to be practicing her piano, (because an accomplished pureblood heiress should play at least two instruments, speak three languages, and have an inborn sense of decorum), Siria thought the whole thing was rather stupid, and instead of practicing the piano she was hiding in a leafy tree reading the latest issue of Quidditch Weekly. (In case anyone was wondering, while it was perfectly acceptable for pureblood wizards to play Quidditch, it was heavily frowned upon for heiresses like Siria, not that she cared).
She knew it was only a matter of time before her mother noticed that she was not in fact obediently practicing the piano, and sent Kreacher to retrieve her. Until then however, she would continue to survey the latest in Beater's bats.
Her prediction turned out to be correct, because less than twenty minutes, Kreacher appeared with a loud crack directly below her tree. "Mistress is wanting Miss Siria's presence in the tea room immediately, Mistress told Kreacher that she expects Miss Siria to be properly dressed for the occassion."
Kreacher had never been especially fond of Siria. "I'll be right there." And, then in a move that drew a mutter of disapproval from Kreacher, Siria jumped down from her branch with no regard for the state of her clothing, or how indecorous such an action would be considered. "Do you reckon this counts as appropriate?" Siria asked of her unbuttoned dress robes, rumpled t-shirt, and disheveled skirt. Kreacher looked horrified, so Siria interpreted that as a no. "What is so important that I need to be dressed up anyway?"
Kreacher was saved from answering, however, by the arrival of Siria's cousin, Narcissa, who looked thoroughly disgusted. "Auntie sent me to find you, Siria, and what on earth are you wearing?"
"Clothes,"Siria replied. "What is everyone freaking out about anyway?"
"Edward is here for tea," Narcissa replied.
"Poor Andromeda." Siria responded.
"Edward Rosier is a husband of appropriate station for her, and even if she doesn't love him now, it doesn't mean that she won't in the future." Narcissa said firmly. "And, honestly, Siria you had better start getting used to the arranged marriage concept as in a few years it will be your turn, now let's hurry up and get you into something more presentable."
Siria muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'over my dead body,' but allowed her cousin to haul her away.
They arrived in the parlor fifteen minutes later, Siria now dressed more appropriately in pale blue dress robes. Everyone else including Andromeda, Edward, Bellatrix, Roldolphus, her parents, Regulus, Cygnus and Druella, was already present and in the process of drinking tea and discussing the upcoming wedding, which was to take place next August after Andromeda graduated.
Walburga Black sent her daughter a warning look, which told Siria that she could expect trouble once the guests had left. She could hardly wait.
"Ah, Siria, good to see you again." Edward began pompously. The ten year old witch narrowed her eyes at him.
"Hm." She answered. "I mean, it's great to see you as well," She added when she caught her mother looking threateningly in her direction.
"I was just telling Andromeda that I would be happy to introduce you to my younger brother, Evan, he will also be starting at Hogwarts in September, and I am sure you would be glad of the connection, there's nothing quite like getting a jump start on forming proper relationships, prior to joining your peers in Slytherin." Edward continued on.
Siria tried really hard not to look disgusted at the idea of spending any length of time with Evan Rosier, who if his brother were anything to go on, she would not be able to stand at all. She hated watching Edward treat Andromeda as though she were no more than an ornament or a pretty bauble. She also hated it how everyone took it as a matter of course that she would follow the rest of the family into Slytherin. She would rather chew off her own arm than spend seven years enthralled in pureblood power politics.
"I don't have the words to describe how grateful I would be," Siria agreed with a bright smile. Walburga Black glared suspiciously at her daughter. Siria tried to project a look of innocence and sincerity back.
"Indeed," Edward preened. "I thought you would be amenable to the offer, and I am sure that Evan will be more than pleased to meet with you."
Siria merely nodded in reply, hoping that someone else would take over the conversation before she managed to say something to set her mother off.
"Druella, how are plans progressing for the wedding next summer?" Walburga finally jumped in after an awkward lull in the conversation.
"They are moving forward with remarkable efficiency, we will of course be having the wedding at the Rosier Ancestral Manor," She paused to smile sickeningly at Edward, Siria would have had she not been busy starring at her cousin who she could tell was decidedly unhappy even if she hid it well. "It is about time to begin picking out the gown, I made an appointment with a premiere dressmaker for this weekend, we'll also be looking into the bridesmaid's gowns so of course all the girls will need to attend."
Siria could think of few things she desired less, but one glance at her mother's face told her that she would be going with.
"It seems that everything is well in hand so far," Walburga noted. "Their wedding will of course be the event of the summer,"
"Of course." Druella echoed.
"And you will be making plans for Narcissa soon, correct?" Orion stated more than asked. Narcissa would be entering her fifth year at Hogwarts, and it would soon be time to start considering possible spouses, the declaration of a formal betrothal was traditionally made just following a pureblood witch's sixteenth birthday, thus her fifteenth year was spent searching out appropriate candidates.
"Yes, yes, certainly," Cygnus spoke up. "I am sure there will be no problems in that direction, Narcissa has always been shall we say, ideally suited to the task."
Siria's cousin seemed genuinely pleased at the praise. Whereas Siria was disgusted by it. One way or another she would not find herself in her cousins' place a few years from now.
"Of course the wedding next summer is not the only event we have to look forward to," Druella continued. "Siria's eleventh birthday is in few weeks, how are the plans progressing for her party?"
"Quite well," Walburga answered. "All of the premier families have confirmed their attendance, her formal introduction as a witch will be the event of the season."
"Which is as to be expected," Orion said decisively. "She is after all the Black heiress, even if Regulus will inherit the bulk of the property, she will receive several valuable estates, as well as a sizable dowry, assuming she makes an acceptable marriage of course, but we will take care of that."
Siria hated when her parents acted like they could keep her under their thumb would be free one day. And she definitely wouldn't turn seventeen only to be immediately be placed under the control of a husband she did not love.
She glanced over at Andromeda who was valiantly attempting to hold onto the neutral expression she had worn through the entire tea, however Siria could plainly see that her cousin was miserable.
"Well, this has been a most splendid time, however I really must be going, I have to see to the estate while my father is absent after all." Edward's father held a high position in the ministry of magic as a diplomat and was currently away on a trip outside the country in that capacity.
"Of course," Druella agreed for her daughter.
"It was a pleasure as always," Walburga noted.
"No, no the pleasure was all mine." Edward hastened to disagree. "Good day to you all," He continued, and then almost as an afterthought he reached down and grasped Andromeda's hand and planted a light kiss on the back of it without turning to glance in her direction.
"He truly is quite well mannered." Druella exclaimed.
"And an excellent match for Andromeda, he is very attentive to her." Cygnus continued.
"Quite." Walburga replied. "Now, why don't we leave the children to their tasks, and adjourn to the drawing room?"
"Yes, yes of course." Druella agreed.
"Oh, and Siria?" Walburga said her voice like ice.
"Yes, Mother?"
"I expect you to go and practice your piano immediately, and know that any further incidents such as today's will result in severe punishment. A Black heiress is always prompt, remember that."
"Yes, mother." Siria replied as the adults swept out of the room shutting the door behind them with a firm click.
Seconds later, Bellatrix rose from her seat with the grace of a monarch, her husband following in her wake. "You would be wise to refrain from such thoughts," She said cryptically, narrowing her eyes at Andromeda. "It does not do to dwell on what will never be, it is a lesson you would do well to learn as well, Siria. We wouldn't want to see either of you getting hurt." She lingered on the last word, and her eyes glittered darkly before she laughed chillingly. "I suppose perhaps you both are just too young to understand." The eldest Black girl pronounced finally. "Anyway, I must be going."
The door shut behind her with a sense of finality, and the four youngest Blacks remained silently in the room, until Siria finally strode over to the piano and began to slam violently on the keys.
A.N. I would appreciate it greatly if you would all review. :) Also, although Siria is just eleven at the moment, it is not too early to start telling me who you want her to be paired with.