Author's Note:I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters and I would like to take this moment to apologise for bastardising such a wonderful creation. I've always been fascinated with the Marauders and they were some of my favourite characters within the entire series. I've always been curious as to their school years, thus, Darkness Rising was born.
DR is about Voldemort's first take over but, first and foremost, it's about the Marauders and their years at Hogwarts. The friends they made, the enemies we knew they would have and of course, the girls' heart's they broke. Darkness Rising is the first in what I hope will be a series.
With that in mind, please read, please review and please, stick with these guys until the bitter end.
Chapter One
You are Pure
He stood nervously in the drawing room door, running a hand absent-mindedly through his thick hair. It was always the same every year. He had been forced into his best wizards robes, pampered and preened and preached to about the purity of his blood as the process progressed. His mother's hand shot out and smacked his hand out of his locks, the blow stinging.
Black's did not feel nerves, let alone show them.
Black's were above such a thing.
"How many more times do I have to beat you boy, before the message sinks in?" He allowed his grey eyes to watch as his father uncurled himself from his high backed leather chair, folding his Evening Prophet expertly in one hand and rearranging the reading spectacles that sat delicately upon his nose.
He knew that he was not meant to answer his father and he bit his tongue to hold back the sarcastic retort that had almost passed his lips. His silence earned him a very rare smile from Orion Black and as his father stepped out from behind his desk, he felt his mother push him firmly in between his shoulders, forcing him to take a few uncertain steps further into the room, keeping his head bent low.
As they met, his father crouched down, one of his delicate fingers catching Sirius under the chin and pushing his gaze up to meet his own grey eyes. "Come now, son, do not hold yourself this way. You are a Black. You are pure." He paused here as he always did when he recited the mantra to his first born. "And tomorrow you start your magical education. That Dumbledore may be a soft touch but he comes from good magical stock so perhaps all hope is not lost with that school. You have family there son, you have blood that shall not desert you." His hand dropped and squeezed his son's shoulder tightly. "Remember Sirius, that you are a Black and that you are Pure."
His father returned to his full upright position and started towards the tapestry that hung at the far end. "Follow," he said and Sirius obeyed.
When he stopped in his father's wake, Sirius looked at the one part of the tapestry that did not make him feel dirty; his own name.
"Twenty-six generations hang upon this wall, Sirius. Twenty-six." Orion Black stood surveying the monstrosity with his hands clasped behind his back, the vast lamplight causing his glasses to shine white. "Your cousin, Bellatrix, has sent Owl of her news four nights previous. The Lestrange's are a fine family son, one of the most Pure in France herself. You would do well to follow her example Sirius. Your mother and I would be so very proud if you found yourself a good Pure girl to bring into the Black fold." He patted his son's shoulder once more and chuckled. "Forgive me, son. I am ahead of myself in years. You are but eleven, no doubt the idea of girls still revolts you."
A soft knock sounded through the room and another young boy entered the room. "Please excuse my intrusion father, brother," he bowed to each of them in turn, "Mother sent me down to await the guests."
"Regulus, how delightful!" his father scooped the younger boy up into his arms, carrying him towards the far end, where his elder brother stood awaiting him. There was very little difference between the two boys in their looks. Sirius was but eighteen months older than his brother and their eyes did not have a shade of difference in their colour. And yet their father preferred to bestow love and affection much more freely upon Regulus.
Regulus who listened.
Regulus who learned.
Regulus who swallowed their Pure Blood litany.
Whereas Sirius always asked that dreaded question, why.
"Father, please tell me the story of Great Uncle Regulus again," his brother simpered, reaching out to trace the golden calligraphy of the name in question.
"Father does not have the time," Sirius heard himself say.
Two pairs of shocked grey eyes magnetised to him and he flushed. "It is nearly seven thirty, little brother. Was that not the time mother told us the guests would arrive?"
"Indeed it was, Sirius," his father said slowly, lowering Regulus back to his feet. "You've taken my heed and started to listen to your mother now, have you boy?" His father's back was rigid.
"Of course," Sirius said, bending into a low bow, parodying his brother's previous entrance. "Do not worry, little brother," he continued, clasping at Regulus' upper arm. "I shall regale you the story tonight. Think of it as a fare well gesture."
Silence hung between the three until a roar erupted from the fireplace, as they were bathed in emerald green light.
The young woman who strode from the fire was strikingly beautiful and somewhere in her twenties. Her thick black hair was braided down her back with silver thread intertwined and a silver ring hung effortlessly on her left hand, purple stone set into the jewellery. "Uncle Orion," she said, curtseying as the flames turned green once more.
And from them strode a man. Tall, handsome, with slick dark brown hair and a moustache. His robes were of the deepest purple and he carried himself with the superiority of a man who knew his own power. She waved a hand dismissively at the new arrival, "May I introduce to you my fiancée, Rodolphus."
Orion stepped away from his sons, his hand outstretched to the newcomer. "Charmed to be introduced to such a fine wizard."
"No Monsieur, I am charmed to be in ze presence of such noble stock. Ze 'ouse of Black's legacy stretches even to ze shores of ze Seine." They shook hands until another light of green shone and another young girl entered the room. She was about five years older than Sirius and her sister's own polar opposite.
Orion dropped Rodolphus' hand and spread his arms wide, "My beautiful Narcissa! How wonderful it is to see you again!" And he wrapped his arms around the girl and planted a kiss upon both her cheeks. He turned to her sibling and smiled ruefully, "Do not feel left out now, young Bellatrix, but now that you are engaged to be married, I must remember you are no longer a little girl. Narcissa still has a few more years of her Uncle's embarrassment before we can allow her to escape into the arms of whatever unwitting young wizard sweeps her off her dainty feet."
Sirius tried not to roll his eyes as he turned to his two cousins, "Where's Andromeda?" he asked.
Bellatrix's feature's hardened as her cheeks tinged pink. "We do not know. Father is furious. We received an Owl this morning simply telling us she would not be able to make the annual farewell feast."
An awkward silence followed and it was only broken when a house elf entered the room, bowing low. "Master, Sir. Kreacher would like to invite you down to the dining hall. Good old Kreacher will await at the fireside, for the other guests sir."
"Very well. Ladies," Orion said, holding out his arms so that his nieces could link them as he exited the room, Rodolphus following uncertainly.
Regulus turned to his brother. "You knew full well that Andromeda wasn't coming. Mother told us both this afternoon over lunch."
Sirius' face broke into a wide grin, ruffling his little brother's hair. "Oh of course I did little brat." All pretences had faded now they were alone with the ageing house elf and Sirius pulled his brand new wand from the inside pocket of his robes. "You speak one word, one word that I just messed your hair or that I turned cousin Trixie the most lovely shade of pink on purpose and I'll curse every pair of underpants you own so that you'll never get the chance to hit puberty, got it?" The piece of ebony wood struck the younger boy in the neck.
He gulped, "Yes, Sirius."
"Glad that's cleared up." He pocketed the wand again and headed towards the door. "You'd better hurry up 'ickle Reggie. Mummy's gonna be might mad if you show up late as well as messy." And he burst into laughter all the way down the corridor.