The Power of Love
A Sirius/OC story
Prologue
A tall woman stood in an expensively furnished, unusually dark room that held a certain coldness. She faced the wall, and her long, manicured finger traced the lines on a heavy tapestry that showed a magnificent family tree that took up almost the entire wall. Her finger was located at the bottom of the tree, at the names "Walburga" and "Orion", connected by a double golden line. Lingering on the name Walburga, a self-satisfied smile curved thin lips. From this name, the woman's finger followed a vertical golden line, dividing into two names. It slowly ran over the name "Regulus" and cold, grey eyes gleamed with a kind of egoistical, arrogant pride.
Then the finger stopped as the grey eyes slowly, as if having to force themselves to do so, slid from Regulus to the name beside it and the woman's face twisted up in anger and hate. Her eyes left the name for a moment to look at the golden letters that were written above the tree – The noble and most ancient house of Black – and then slid back down to the name beside Regulus. With a snarl, she furiously jabbed her finger at the golden letters.
Sirius
She snarled again, staring at her son's name with hatred.
"Listen to this-" Orion Black said to his wife the very same evening at dinner, "There has been another attack – 'The Dark Lord strikes again .. five muggleborns killed yesterday in another attack of the Deatheaters-" he smiled cruelly, "'when the ministry arrived, the house was already in ruins. The ministry of magic once again stressed the importance of extra security for everybody .. Albus Dumbledore says-"
"Again that muggle-loving fool?" Walburga snorted. "What a country we live in, where an old, mad muggle-lover is quoted in the newspaper."
Orion sneered. "Pure-bloods are simply not respected for their superiority. There are still people who think filth and trash like muggle-borns and half-bloods should have the same rights that we have. The purification of the wizarding race is long due, I have always said." He pointed at the newspaper. "At least someone has the right idea and tries to get rid of the filth that calls itself muggle-born."
At this moment, there was a small explosion at the end of the table. A youth, about sixteen, with the same midnight black hair, grey eyes and aristocratic looks as his parents, was on his feet, slightly shaking, the plate in front of him in thousand pieces.
"Don't you dare say that again", he hissed at his father, uncontrollable anger in his voice. "You, you think you're so much better than everyone else …"
Orion folded the newspaper, looking bored. He stood up, leaned over the table, and suddenly lifted his hand and slapped his son with all his strength. His son didn't move an eyelid, just stood and said nothing while red strikes appeared on his cheek, like someone who is so used to being hit that he doesn't care at all.
"Sit down, Sirius. You can call yourself lucky that you are even allowed to dine with the rest of the family, disgrace that you are. Sit and shut up." Orion said threateningly.
"Oh, but Orion…" Walburga whispered suddenly, her eyes flashing evilly at her son. "Do you know that .. our son is not only a filthy traitor who associates with mud-blood lovers and Gryffindors and the likes, but also lately has gotten closer to one of them? A mud-blood?"
Orion's neck grew slightly red. "I know what a disgrace he is", he said. "I cannot tell you too often how much I wish he was not in my family. You, Sirius", he snarled at the sixteen-year-old, who sat on the edge of his chair, looking livid, just barely controlling his anger, "you are not worth calling yourself a Black."
"Oh, give me something new", Sirius suddenly hissed. "Disgrace to the name Black… shame to the whole bloodline … you think I don't know that already? Try and come up with something different, 'cause that insult is getting really old."
He was answered with a blow in the face. He staggered backwards, his hand flying to his nose who had given an alarming crack. He made no sound.
"Look at your brother!" His father shouted, pointing at the fifteen-year-old beside him, who was staring at Sirius in disdain, "he's no insult to our name! He understands his responsibilities as a pure-blood! At least Regulus is a worthy supporter of the Dark Lord!"
"Regulus is nothing but weak", Sirius snarled. "Weak and too stupid to see what a load of stuck-up, idiotic, arrogant, evil show-offs you all are. You think I'm a disgrace to the name Black? Well, I hate that I have to call myself that, for it shows I'm related to people like you!"
It was apparent he had known he would get hit for that again, and so it was, but this time it was his mother. Striking him across the face with the back of her hand, her ring cut his forehead. Again, Sirius didn't show any kind of reaction or signs of pain, just kept glaring at his parents with hate. The next statement of his mother apparently shocked him more than any of the blows he had received during the evening.
"Regulus is joining the Dark Lord", Walburga said icily.
The colour drained from Sirius' face. His mother triumphed.
"He is the pride of the family, devoting himself to ridding the world of all half-bloods. Vowing to be in life-long service to the Dark Lord."
Sirius sat on his chair, the cut on his face bleeding slightly, completely white with horror.
While his mother rattled on about his courage, his being the pride of the family, Regulus stared at his brother with extreme dislike, his pale face reflecting triumph.
Sirius, still deathly white and apparently unable to speak, kept looking from his mother to his brother and back, a look of pure disbelief and shock on his face.
"He is doing what not many people dare to do, what you could never to do, he is bringing his family glory, he is making us, and the name Black, proud, by joining the Death eaters, and all you do is sit here, a burden and disgrace!" his mother finished.
This time, Sirius didn't care about the insults aimed at him and muggle-borns. He stared at his mother, his eyes wide. Then at his father, who wore a look of grim satisfaction.
"Regulus … Voldemort …impossible!" he croaked.
"Why do you think it's impossible?" Regulus suddenly piped up. "You think I'm not strong enough? You think again that you're the only one who can do anything in this family?"
Sirius shook his head numerous times, as if desperately trying to understand.
"Regulus, please … tell me it's not true! You're not joining the Death Eaters!" he whispered, horrified.
Regulus drew himself up to his full height, which was still considerably smaller than his brother, and said, "oh yes I am! I'm doing what I know is right, what will help the purification of the wizarding world!"
Sirius suddenly slumped. He was breathing shallowly, all his strength, all his will seemed to have vanished, left was nothing but defeat. He was staring at the floor, his eyes suddenly dull, mortification and sorrow visible on his face.
His parents seemed extremely satisfied. His mother stepped behind Regulus' chair, staring down at her slumped eldest son.
"Regulus sets an example for you, Sirius", she said. "While you can never be as good as him, never undo the disgrace you have brought upon the noble and ancient house of Black" -at this name, Sirius flinched- "you can still try and follow your brother."
Sirius raised his head slowly, the defeated look still clearly visible on his sorrowful face.
His father spoke up. "Your mother and I have decided that you, Sirius, will join the Dark Lord as well."
Sirius winced.
"While we know that you are not worthy, we cannot stand by and watch this any longer, your befriending mud-bloods and the like. Therefore, you will become a Death Eater alongside Regulus."
The room was silent. Sirius was still slumped in his chair, staring into nowhere, his forehead bleeding. Then, just when his parents thought he would dare utter any protest, he suddenly spoke up, in a tone of such fierce determination that it left his parents speechless.
"I will never join Voldemort."
He did not say it loudly, yet it seemed to resound throughout the room.
His mother's mouth fell open and his father stared. Apparently none of them had expected such determination from their son, especially not when he was in such a state of defeat.
"Oh, I think you will", his father said dangerously, as soon as he had regained his composure.
Sirius lifted his head. The haunted look in his eyes never disappearing, the colour not returning to his face, he slowly, but determinedly shook his head, his eyes staring right into his father's hateful ones.
"Never."
"Y-yes you will!" his mother almost screeched. "You have no choice."
"That's where you're wrong, mother. I will not join Voldemort, not now, or ever. You have managed to corrupt Regulus, you managed to turn him into a weak creature desperate for power, but not me. I'm on Dumbledore's side, and that will never change."
Orion, trying to overpower Sirius' determined tone, snarled and planted himself in front of his son. Sirius slowly raised and stared back at his father at eye-level.
"Never." he said once more.
A low growl came from the back of Orion's throat, he seized his wand, and, pointing it at his son, yelled in uncontrolled rage, "Crucio!"
Regulus went rigid, his face whitening, his eyes glued to his brother, who had fallen to the floor, his screams echoing through the house. Regulus' eyes filled with terror and a strangled noise erupted from his throat.
Orion stood over the writhing form of his eldest son, his face twisted in pure anger, his wand trembling with fury.
Walburga still stood behind Regulus' chair, her icy eyes on Sirius. Not a flicker of emotion crossed her face.
Finally Orion lifted the curse. Sirius lay on the ground, twitching slightly, eyes closed. He was bleeding.
Orion panted in fury, reaching down, grabbing Sirius' arm violently and hurling him up. The boy staggered, not able to hold himself up. He very slowly opened his eyes, as if it cost him an incredible amount of strength.
His eyes were blank of emotion. Only that flicker of determination was still there.
Orion shook him brutally. "I will tell you this one last time. You will join the Dark Lord and become a Death Eater. Is that understood?"
Sirius swayed, his eyes threatening to fall closed again. He was close to unconsciousness. His lips moved a few times before he managed to make a sound. When he spoke, his voice was croaky, and yet still firm.
"I will not become a Death Eater."
Orion's scream of fury echoed through the whole house.