Prince Black and the Whipping Boy

Summary: AU set in 16th century England. Read the classic novel and wanted to do my own take of the story with SB/RL as the characters. When Remus Lupin runs into the Prince, he vows to make sure that he will become his new whipping boy.

Warnings: Corporal punishment but not in every chapter. I will post which chapters have it in the warnings.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything you recognize. I don't make any money from this either, I just do it for fun and when my muse starts to nag me.

Chapter One:

Prince Black and the Urchin

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The young boy leaned against the sewer wall and rose his foot up to check the sole of his worn out shoe. His unwashed brown hair hung across his eyes and he attempted to shake his head to the side to move the locks impairing his vision. He heard footsteps coming from behind him and he turned his head to see his rival. Geoffrey knew that this was his territory but that hardly ever mattered to him. The fifteen year old stood up straight and narrowed his eyes at the taller lad.

"Remmy, when're you gonna learn? This is my sewer and my rats to sell. Get on with ya then."

"Name's Remus, yeah? You leave and I'll stay. We go through this every week."

"And every week I run ya out of here, don't I?"

"Not this week. Way I see it, those rats in your cage are mine. You're poachin'," Remus said as he stood up straight and crossed his arms over his chest. He'd already caught enough to make a sufficient amount for rent for the month at least and he'd be damned if he let this boy steal his means of making a living. Sure, it wasn't the most ideal situation but he knew that he'd make his way out of the sewers one day.

"Oi! Get your skinny arse out of here," Geoffrey poked Remus in the center of his chest, causing him to lose his footing and nearly trip in the water. Remus looked up into the dark eyes of his rival. Remus knew he was small but he was an extremely quick runner. He'd spent the last four years on the streets trying to make money and could knick things, getting away with it easier than most of the other lads. He smirked to himself and darted towards his cage as well as Geoffrey's. He took both cages and made a bee line towards the exit of the sewers.

"GET BACK HERE!" the boy yelled and took off running after him.

"Thought you wanted me to leave!" Remus screamed with a chuckle as he ran with both cages towards the market to sell. He rushed into the busy streets and dodged the patrons, knocking over a cart of vegetables in his way. He couldn't hide his smirk at the distant sounds of Geoffrey's voice and couldn't help but steal a glance. Remus turned his head just for a second but still proved to become a horrible distraction when he found he had ran into another body, falling backwards on his back and the cages went to the ground. The doors to the cages opened from the impact and the fruits of his labor all morning escaped. He looked around as the creatures scampered away and took in a deep breath in frustration when a large hand grabbed him by the back of his ragged shirt, pulling him to his feet.

"You miserable little street urchin! Do you have any idea what you've done?" Remus swallowed hard and looked up at one of the King's guards.

"I...I..." Remus tried to apologize.

"Horrible wretch. How dare you run into me!" Remus' eyes darted to the source of the voice. He felt his heart racing as he looked at a boy about his age, dark wavy hair, and grey eyes. The boy was dressed in deep emerald silk with silver trousers. He closed his eyes tight and gulped audibly as he realized he had, quite literally, ran into Prince Black. He had to think fast as he knew the punishment would be quite severe indeed. The guard's grip on his shoulder was firm.

Prince Black took a step closer to Remus and scowled in disgust. He dusted his coat off and straightened his attire, removing a matching green linen handkerchief and waved it in front of his face as he spoke, "You smell of the vilest scents, boy. I'm not sure what's worse, your manners or the stench. I am Prince Sirius Black of the Noble House of Black."

"I...I...I... have heard of you." Remus bit his lower lip. The one thing he had long tried to recover from was his stuttering when in a dire situation.

"Is that so? And just what have you heard?" Prince Black asked with a smirk.

"I heard that you're Prince... Black the Brat," Remus whispered.

"You filthy little," Sirius widened his eyes. "I tell you what, what's your name?"

"Don't know."

"You don't know your own name? I'm sure I'll find out soon enough. Guards. We have an opening for the whipping boy, let's take this boy."

"Oi! Oh no you don't! I'm not coming with you lot!" Remus squirmed.

"It wasn't a request, urchin," Sirius said with an evil gleam in his eye. "Come on then. And as luck would have it, your services will be needed for today. Your own punishment for running us over and for mine. Seems I missed all my required lessons for today. You'll be yelping and bellowing in no time."

"I can't and I won't go!" He lowered his eyes and rose his foot, stomping on the guard's and kicking Sirius in the leg. The guard released his iron grip and young Prince Black rose his leg up, rubbing it as he yelped in pain. Remus turned heel and ran as though the hounds of hell were at his feet through the streets.

"Don't just stand there! Get him!" Sirius commanded. "I order you! Don't let him get away!"

Remus heard the loud shouts and took in a deep breath, his tattered shirt flowing in the wind as he picked up his pace. He jumped up and lunged over a stack of hay, turning towards an alley way. He heard the boots of the guardsmen and bolted towards the trapdoor to the sewers. Quickly, Remus opened the cover and climbed down into the sewers, closing the door behind him. He listened above as the two guards paced above him.

"Where did that boy go?" one of the guards said in frustration.

"Gave us the slip, the little bugger."

"I suppose it's for the best. Poor lad. The Prince has went through two whipping boys already and he's only just turned sixteen. Breaks their spirits, he does."

"Think he'll always be that way? Cruel?"

"Unless a miracle from above happens, mate. Come on then, let's get back to the Prince and the other guards. The Prince needs to be back at the castle soon for his riding lessons and the Royal Dinner."

Remus listened as the footsteps were no longer audible and leaned against the stony wall of the sewers. He slowly slid down the wall and sat with his knees up to his chest. Wrapping his arms around his legs, he looked at the dirt and holes on his once white trousers and slowly shut his bright, blue eyes. He tried to force himself to stop shaking so much. He just barely got away and hoped that he was safe. He couldn't be a whipping boy for that Prince. He had to take care of his mum. She was far too ill and the cost of the rats he caught kept her taken care of with a roof over her head. He'd already lost his father to a vicious attack by a pack wolves. He'd never forgive himself if he was separated from her as well.

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The Noble Castle of Black

The Black family sat at the large, black dining table. King Orion sat at the head of the table with Queen Walburga at the other ends. Prince Sirius unfolded his napkin onto his lap and cast a glance towards his younger brother, Regulus, as the servants began to work in a clockwise motion from the King in order to serve them. The guardsmen stood at the doorways quietly as they looked over the royal family. When the servants finished serving, they obediently stood to the side as the family ate.

King Orion cleared his throat, "Sirius. Your latest whipping boy, as you know, has escaped and you are in need of a new one. Your behavior is far from becoming of the future heir and King to this land. Tomorrow, you will be expected to attend all of your lessons and learn how to properly behave. If you are not, serious consequences are at hand. Do you understand?"

"Father. Surely you do not mean I will be punished."

"Your new whipping boy will be sought out tomorrow. You should know, however, that the lack of attention to your duties is disturbing to your mother and I."

"Your father is quite right, Sirius. You will be eighteen in a few years and still act as though you are a child. If you don't start behaving properly, I dare say that the consequences could be harsh." Queen Walburga looked towards her eldest son pointedly as she took a spoonful of her potato soup.

"What do you mean?" Prince Sirius asked as he wiped the corner of his lips after taking a bite of his venison.

"I have more than one heir to the throne, lad. Keep that in mind."

Sirius looked across the table at his younger brother and narrowed his eyes. How could he take his lessons more seriously? He hadn't been to one in years. He straightened himself and nodded, "Yes, Father."

"Good. Tomorrow, the guards will seek your new whipping boy. Until then, finish your dinner and retire to your chambers so you will be well rested for your lessons in the morning."

"As you wish."

"Good lad."

Regulus bit the inside of his cheek as he tried to stop himself from chuckling at his brother's current situation. After dinner, Sirius went on his way to his chambers but stopped to speak with the guardsmen responsible for fetching his new employee.

"Do you remember the urchin from the streets this morning? The one who kicked me in the leg?"

"Of course, my Prince."

"Find him when you seek out the new boy. I order this of you. No one else. He humiliated me this morning. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my Prince."

"Very well. I bid you goodnight."

"Goodnight, Prince Black." The guard looked around and noticed he was left alone. He clenched his jaw and stilled himself for the task he had been commanded. To see another boy broken by this family, he didn't wish to but sometimes a King's Guard had to perform such actions.

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Remus spent the rest of the afternoon trying to make up for lost time and caught enough rats to buy a loaf of bread along with a head of cabbage. He rubbed the small of his aching back as he made his way return to the one room shack and slung the bag with the food over his shoulder. He entered his home and stepped quietly to his mother's sleeping form. Remus leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead, resting the back of his hand on her cheek and winced at the warmth.

She opened her eyes slowly and smiled at him weakly, "There's my beautiful lad. Are you all right?"

"Of course, mum. I'll start the soup and made enough coins for a loaf of bread."

"Such a good boy. I'll help," Eleanor Lupin said as she tried to rise from the bed.

"Don't you worry, mum. You just rest," he smiled to her affectionately and patted her hand. He started the pot and prepared enough soup for the pair of them. He sat on the small stool as he stirred the contents of the cauldron in the fireplace, all the while keeping his eyes on his mother. He knew part of the trouble was the lack of meat. It would do his mother a world of good. He furrowed his brow while she tossed in the bed. He stood up and removed a wooden bowl with a spoon. He filled her bowl and moved the stool with his foot closer to her bed, sitting next to her.

"Can you sit up for me, mum?"

She weakly sat up with Remus' help and he began feeding her spoonfuls of the cabbage soup. He handed her a slice of the bread and smiled. "How is it?"

"It's wonderful, sweetheart. Thank you. I love you."

"Love you, too. I'll work extra hard tomorrow to get more shillings. Maybe I can bring home some meat for you."

"That sounds lovely, dear. You're so tired and we have enough for more soup tomorrow. Why don't you just rest?"

"I'm fit enough to do it, mum. It's no trouble."

"We'll see in the morning. "

"Do you need anything else, mum?"

"Can you sing me our song, dear boy?"

"Of course, mum," Remus smiled at the corner of his lips. He cleared his throat and softly began to sing his mother to sleep, "No matter the darkest of nights, I'll hold you tight. You have me and I you. No matter how hard it becomes, I'll stay by your side. My candle's light will keep you warm, fight off the darkness, this we have sworn. No matter the darkest of nights, I'll keep on the light."

He smiled towards her and tucked her into the bed. She had written the song for him when he was an infant and had their song ingrained into his memory. How they fell from what they had, he had no idea. One horrible night ripped everything from his family but he'd make sure he stayed strong.

After he cleaned up the dishes, he went to his makeshift bed by the window and looked up towards the moon. "I'll take care of her, Dad."

Remus' eyes slowly closed as he drifted off into a deep sleep. Tomorrow, he'd make sure his mom would have a good piece of meat with her supper.

TBC~

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A/N: Just another idea I had and wanted to get it written out. If you'd like to see more, just let me know and I'll try to have the next few chapters up shortly while I've got the plot idea in my mind. I have a few days off and should be able to concentrate on my writings again. Hope you like this AU story. Thanks so much for reading.