Lamb Chop
By Penelope Jones
Chapter One: The Very Best Birthday
So here I was, standing in a dark pub with a knife in my hand. I watched the blood slide down the knife and drip onto the floor. Almost in slow motion and I stood disorientated with a man at my feet pleading with me. I laughed at him. I couldn't stop I just laughed, it was just ridiculous, he was this huge guy, over six feet, could crush glass in his hands. And he sat whimpering at my feet.
I dropped the knife and was tackled to the ground by four people. I was pulled up by two people and led out of the pub in handcuffs glancing at the clock as I was dragged by. Twelve past twelve.
Happy Birthday.
"Black, Sirius Orion"
I snorted the guard gave me a look.
"Sorry, just realised how ridiculous my name sounds" I muttered. He gave me a card with my name on it and a number. I held it up and there was a blinding flash as the camera went off.
Hurray! I'm officially a criminal. I turned to the left and there was another flash. I turned right and another flash; I was then led down the hallway by two guards.
I'm a wizard, my whole family, wizards. If your not a wizard then your not part of the family, simple as that. Marry someone who isn't a wizard, out of the family. Basically associate with any thing that is remotely muggle-friendly and you're out of the family.
My family prided it's self on being pure, entirely magical and anything non magical was wrong. So imagine the surprised look on my parents faces when the heir to their legacy was put in the most muggle friendly house at school. I smiled, I'd never really believed what they did, and I wasn't dumb enough to voice that aloud of course. But they knew, sort of… and had done everything they could to beat it out of me, and no that was not an expression.
I expect my parents will be overjoyed to hear that I got arrested for assault. Not that part but the fact my victim was a muggle born guy. He was just really annoying I didn't beat him up because of the muggle thing.
"Hey" I said the newbie guard next to me looked at me wildly.
"New?" I asked he nodded
"It's Earls first day" the other guard said.
"Really? Fantastic. I'm a regular… not for me usually my aunt is in here or my cousin or my father. We're practically family… me and Jefferson here go way back" I said indicating to the taller guard.
Earl just squeaked in response. I winked at Jefferson who smiled. There was only a few moments when guards and inmates are united and that's when freaking out newbie guards.
I had been here often, though never in handcuffs. I was here to collect an aunt or something, it was always me because as previously indicated my family hated me which meant everyone else didn't mind me.
The guards led me into a room with a man who sat with his head downcast writing on a clipboard.
"Strip" he, who I prayed was a doctor, ordered. I know enough about prison to know when someone orders you to strip it doesn't make for a pleasant experience.
I grudgingly took off my clothes while the man hummed I glared at him and realised it was my cousin's husband.
"Lestrange" I said he smiled.
"You couldn't make my first prison trip a pleasant one?" I asked
"Well you'll be in and out of here so often I can't have you getting the wrong idea about it" he said I laughed then stopped abruptly to glare at him.
"I didn't know you were a doctor" I said as he began to take my blood pressure.
"I'm not" he said I stared at him. He laughed
"I am, man you're an idiot"
"Just like the rest of my family" I said
"Bellatrix is-"
"The worst of the lot I know" I said.
"Hmm" was all he said as he took notes.
"No wand?" I asked
"You'd steal it"
"Not yours, yours is a piece of crap" I said
"How many tattoos do you have?" he asked
"Wouldn't you like to know" I said wriggling my eyebrows suggestively.
"Can you not be difficult?" he asked
"It's your job to write down my distinguishing features should I ever escape"
"What're you in for?" he asked
"Assault"
"That's not very cool"
"I did knife the guy"
"Ah cold!" I cried when he touched me he just punched me and held the stethoscope to my chest.
"Breathe" he said. I calmly breathed in and out.
"So how did you land this gig? Piss off Nurse Ratchet?" I asked
"Funny. I volunteered"
"Really? Well I know how much you love guys" I muttered this earned me another punch.
"Gonna write that on your report?" I asked
"Hmm patient appears to have self inflicted bruises possibly because he's an intolerable ass"
"You can't be nice to me just once can you?" I asked he shook his head.
"Are your parents going to put you out on bail?" he asked
"I doubt it…"
"Got a lawyer?"
"Haven't met him yet"
"Right, well you're a completely healthy seventeen-year-old"
"Yay?" I muttered. He wrote a few more things down then told me to get dressed.
"Couldn't have taken my blood pressure and listened to my breathing while I was wearing pants?" I asked. He smiled and shook his head.
"Off you go"
"You should at least by me breakfast" I said
"Get" he said hitting me.
"Oh and happy birthday" he said
"Thanks" I said quietly and let the guards take me out of the room.
I was led to my cell and sat down to while away the hours. This was not how I envisioned my summer vacation. But then again it was better then the alternative which was home.
"Black… you gotta see your lawyer" I stood up and let the guards handcuff me. They were different, usually were, I suppose Earl fainted or something.
I walked along and they led me into a room with just a table and two chairs. I screamed when I saw the occupant of one of the chairs. I tried to back out but the guards pushed me forward and forced me to sit down attaching the handcuffs to the ground so I couldn't go anywhere.
I sighed and stared at the man across from me.
"Lucy" I said he gave me a look.
"You're my lawyer" I said
"Not if you can't pronounce my name properly. So say it"
"Lu-cy" I said glaring at him.
"Why does everyone evil work here?" I asked he raised his eyebrows
"I had the pleasure of being felt up by Rodolphus Lestrange"
"I'm here as a favour to your parents. I hate your parents by the way"
"Me too, we should make a club" I said nodding.
"You're seventeen as of… today! Goodie" he said I smiled
"Happy Birthday I think I have the perfect gift. Azkaban. You're a big boy now and if you're found guilty you get to go to big boy prison"
"You wouldn't do that to me Lucy" I said
"Lucius" he hissed
"Oh you want to be on first name basis. Well you're too tainted to speak my name so you may call me Black" I said.
"Do you want to go to Azkaban?"
"The alternative my parents place I think I'll take Dementors please" I said.
"They hit you and burn you wah!" he mocked I just shook my head. "Your family seems to have a long running history with the law. I'm not at all shocked to see you here as well, just like history intended. I can't think of a single Black that hasn't walked these halls at least once" he said I raised my eyebrows.
"Well apart from your younger brother and Narcissa"
"Ah Narcissa…" I said he looked at me
"Oh… your wife didn't tell you she'd been arrested? Burnt a house down with Bella and Andy when she was twenty" I said he stared at me.
"No… she's not the arsonist type"
"All girls like pretty things. Fire equals pretty" I said.
"Look Malfoy… I would like to graduate ok… help me out here" I said leaning forward. He leant forward to stare at me bits of his blonde hair falling from his pony tail.
"You stabbed someone…"
"Yeah"
"Then laughed… a lot"
"Yeah"
"You're a bit crazy aren't you?" he asked I held up my hand with my forefinger and thumb close together indicating how crazy I was.
"Little bit" I mouthed.
"You haven't made it easy. You attacked him completely unprovoked"
"He was saying some pretty nasty things"
"But he didn't hit you or anything; I can't even play it as self defence. It was just you being an idiot"
"Yeah"
"You're looking at two years…" he said I groaned and rested my head on the table.
"Dude… I can't"
"You can still go back to Hogwarts… if Dumbledore wants you back of course. An ex-con I can't imagine but he's always shocking"
"So the guy's not dead?"
"Hospitalised but no, not dead"
"Ok… Malfoy I can't go to prison… I can't… I just… I can't" I said looking up at him through my tattered mess of hair. I blew it from my face carelessly and stared at him.
"You can and you will" he said
"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" I asked sitting up straight.
"I suppose that is what your parents are paying me for. I'll try"
"Thank you" I said he stood up and indicated to the guard.
"You're all right you know that? A complete pain in the arse and I hate you but… your all right" he said I smiled.
He left and I was led back to my cell.
"Black!" I sat up and looked at the two familiar guards.
"Earl how's it going?" I asked he looked alarmed and didn't reply.
"You've been released on bail" Jefferson said.
"Really? Who paid?" I asked as I watched Earl nervously unlocked my cell.
I knew my family would love to keep me in prison for a few months and my friends had no idea I was in here.
"Where is he?" the unmistakable voice of my father called. I saw him walk past my cell and smiled at the guard and then wolf whistled. My father backtracked and stood in front of my cell.
"Hi" I said he sighed and waved his hand to the guard.
"Malfoy told me the family was trying to get you in Azkaban"
"If I'm found guilty… but how could you convict this lovable mug am I right Earl?" I asked he just gave me a look. I gave him my best innocent face and got a smile.
I held up my arms so Earl could unlock the handcuffs.
"Can we keep him in them?" dad asked hopefully. I hit him as I walked past
"Another day and they'd have put me into one of those awful jumpsuits" I said
"Yeah because the blood splattered shirt looks so much better" dad said I looked down at myself.
"I'm making a statement" I said as I followed him.
We walked into a room and I was given back my wand and a few papers obviously for court.
"Eleventh of August" I said dad nodded and together we left the building.
"So where are we going?" I asked
"How did you know we weren't going home?" he asked
"You got a car" I said indicating to it.
"How do you know it's mine?"
"Because we're walking to it" I said frowning at him.
We got into the black car and there were four of dad's security team already sitting inside.
My father, basically your modern day gangster. Never one to get his fingers dirty he just calls the shots. There is a lot of effort that goes into the wizarding underworld, people to be killed, drugs to be dealt, money to be collected and of course more people to be killed.
"You're coming to work with me today" he said I raised my eyebrows at him.
"Sirius says what?" I said staring at him
"You want me to go to work with you?" I asked
"Yeah"
"Go down to the… watch factory?" I asked staring at him.
"Yes… as you know the watch business is a very important one. With lots of buyers from all around"
"And you'd like me to learn all about it. Hope that even though I didn't get into Slytherin that I'm not a lost cause? I can still be evil? Do you think so daddy? Could I do it?" I asked him desperately.
"Sarcasm is ugly on you" he said
"What do you really want?" I asked seriously.
"I have a client; he wants to buy… some watches"
"Sure he does" I muttered
"Anyway he's deaf, you sign"
"Not a waste of time now was it?" I asked him he just gave me a look.
"If this guy is powerful enough to buy… watches from you… shouldn't he have his own translator?" I asked
"I thought you'd be excited to come to work with me… I mean it's not every teenager that gets to go to a watch factory"
"Yeah every kids dream, I'm sure Regulus would love to go… take him" I said turning to look out the window.
"Regulus doesn't sign"
"I'll teach him" I said
"In an hour?" he asked. I sighed and looked back at him.
"Fuck you man…" I sighed knowing if I didn't go willingly he'd make me go. I held up my hand in surrender, telling him I'd go quietly and he nodded.
We drove on in silence for about twenty minutes before the car stopped. He got out and indicated for me to follow. I did. His security team walked along inconspicuously blending in with other workers. We walked inside and he led me past the reception area and the gift shop.
I followed him along and up a staircase we walked through a set of double doors and walked along a balcony.
"What do you know, it's a real watch factory" I said watching the workers down below inspect watches travelling along conveyer belts chucking out broken ones.
"Evening Mr Black" a few workers said as we walked past them on the balcony. Dad nodded curtly leading me through a set of metal double doors. We walked down the narrow hallway and stopped at the end. He swiped a security card along the side of the door and the lock clicked. He pushed open the door and we walked down a flight of metal steps into a large room were one man sat watching as we walked past.
I was led through another hallway lined with doors until we came to the end and dad unlocked the door with the card.
We walked into a room where five people stood waiting.
"Mr Black" the security people said. Dad smiled at them then sat down opposite a nervous looking man.
So the four other blokes were with dad leaving this guy defenceless… lovely.
"Sit" dad said to me. I pulled out the chair next to him and looked at him.
"Talk to him" dad said
"What do I say?" I asked he gave me a look. I pulled a face and turned to the man.
'I'm Sirius I'll help these idiots communicate with you' I signed he smiled
'I didn't realise Mr Black would have an interpreter I brought my own'
"Says he brought his own interpreter. I told you didn't I?" I asked glaring at dad.
I was unhappy about being here… I was probably going to be killed or have my memory wiped for merely walking through the place.
But as it seemed this day was going to be the worst day of my life it was only natural it should include quality time with my father.
"Well where is he?" dad asked I signed to the man opposite me.
"Security thinks he's trying to take the place out from the inside" I said to dad who shrugged.
"Bolt! Go let his interpreter through" dad ordered
"Can I go home now?" I asked
"No… you can make sure his interpreter isn't lying" dad replied I sighed.
'Your interpreter is being let through. My dad thinks you might try lying'
'That happens a lot in this business but I can assure you I'll be honest'
The door swung open and the security guard Bolt led in the interpreter, I felt my mouth drop when I recognised Remus Lupin. He held out his arms letting the security guard check him for weapons.
Remus was shoved into a seat beside the man.
"So… Lupins. Family trade I see" dad said Remus just flipped him off. I scoffed and looked at dad who was glaring at him.
Remus Lupin was one of my best friends from school. To say I was shocked to see him was an understatement.
So this man next to him was obviously his father, I now saw the resemblance.
'Why are you here?' I signed
'My dad is deaf. I told you' He replied.
'I know, is that him?'
'Yes. My father owes yours money' Remus signed shooting my father a dirty look.
"Oi" dad snapped I looked at him.
"So Lupins I'm sure you know why you're here" dad said I signed to Mr Lupin who nodded slowly.
"We just need more time… my mother is ill" Remus said
"You owe us a lot of money Lupin" dad said I signed to Mr Lupin who signed back desperately.
"Medical bills are getting insane plus they've had to move house a lot recently" I said to dad.
"These are not my problems" dad said I signed back to Mr Lupin. Remus replied for him
"Well as it's your fault we've had to move so many times I think you can cut us a bit of slack!" he said signing as he spoke so his father would know what he said. This earned him a smack over the back of the head and Mr Lupin signed quickly.
"Told Remus to shut up" I said to dad who nodded.
"You're such a good friend" Remus said with a look on his face I couldn't quite read.
'I didn't want to be here. He made me come do you know how irritating this guy is?' I signed
'Yes I've had the pleasure of meeting his associates before!'
Mr Lupin put his hand over Remus' to stop him.
"I don't like what your insinuating Remus. Do you think I had something to do with your money troubles" dad said Mr Lupin gave Remus a warning look and began to sign.
"His son doesn't know when to be quiet, don't take anything he says to seriously" I said to dad
"I know the feeling" he said I glared and signed to Mr Lupin what he said, adding that my dad is a jackass, which made him smile.
"We've leant you money. A lot over the years… you've been good except for a few times…" dad said I signed to Mr Lupin who possessively took hold of Remus' hand. Remus shot him a curious look before glaring at dad.
"You know what happens when I don't get my money on time!" dad said. I signed to Mr Lupin. He nodded
"You haven't got any other children but I know where your wife is…" dad said I signed as he spoke to Mr Lupin, he's eyes widened.
"Look, just give us the money… and I'm sure we can work something out," dad said I signed to Mr Lupin who signed back.
"They don't have it… all that they do have is with the hospital" I said dad looked furious.
"Lupin, when I loan you money I expect it paid back!" he roared.
"We can't we don't have it!" Remus cried. I stared at him and looked at my fuming father.
"Well then… I suggest you get to the hospital quickly… your wife is not long for this world"
"You can't kill her!" Remus cried
"I didn't say that at all. I was simply offering my sympathies. I hope she gets better" dad said.
"Dad… dad" I said waving my hand indicating for him to move closer. He leant forward
"Want me to follow in your footsteps? Then let me handle this" I said quietly.
"What can you do? Stab him?" dad asked I narrowed my eyes.
"Oh real funny" I said "How fantastic would it be to say the heir to your empire isn't some poncy little fag boy. No you can finally trust it to the noble, the true original benefactor of everything, the first born, the right choice…" I said he stared at me
"You can finally keep the tradition; your first child will not be a disappointment any longer, good enough take over the business when you grow ill… the way history intended" I said nodding.
"How are you going to stop being a screw up?" he asked I smiled
"I stabbed that filthy muggle boy. I'm halfway there" I said he raised his eyebrows sceptically.
"Look don't question it. Do you want to see me try it?" I asked. He leant back eyeing me with the trademark Black family grey eyes.
"Fine" he said I smiled and turned to the Lupins who watched apprehensively.
"You have a month to pay back the money" I said Remus stared at me then turned to his father signing for him. Mr Lupin nodded.
"I'll be in my office" dad said standing up and walking away with his body guards. As soon as the door closed I turned to the Lupins.
"No need to thank me" I said
"I wasn't going to" Remus snapped. He stood up tall, thin and pale glaring down at me. Ordinarily this boy wouldn't intimidate me even though he towered over me; he'd always been quiet Remus, harmless. But now his kind blue eyes were blazing with a hint of amber as he watched me with immense disgust.
"You're working with your father? After everything you said, everything you did to not turn out like them!" he said "You are the biggest hypocrite. Defending yourself against all those people and what they stand for, then turn around and join them!"
I stood up knocking the chair over
"I'm doing what I always do" I said
"Cower in fear and say anything to get people to like you?"
"No! I'm doing things my way!" I shouted "You don't understand it. I don't care. How much do you owe my father?"
"A hundred thousand"
"What?" I asked almost falling over.
"A hundred thousand galleons" Remus said "but what does it matter? We can't pay it back! You give us a year, a fucking decade and we can't pay it back… my mother is dying Sirius. There is nothing I can do. We haven't got that money"
Mr Lupin signed and Remus replied explaining what we were going on about. Remus called me a few rotten names in the process and then turned back glaring at me.
"Your just a no good double crossing loser Sirius. I thought you were stronger then this, that you didn't care what they thought of you. You'd believe what you wanted to and you wouldn't back down" he said.
I turned to Mr Lupin
'How much do you have?'
'Twenty thousand. Well twenty five thousand but my wife needs it for medical bills'
'Five thousand for your wife's medical bills? So you can give my father twenty thousand?'
'Yes'
'If I gave you the rest of the money would you take it?'
'I can't. I could never do it'
'If I insisted upon you taking it do you think Remus would shut the fuck up?'
"Padfoot" Remus said warningly. I smiled at him
'Let me do this…' I signed to Mr Lupin, he shook his head. 'You can pay me back'
'Padfoot, you fucking idiot were you not listening. We don't have that kind of money' Remus signed glaring at me so forcefully I didn't actually want to look at him.
'Not in time to pay my father back, no. but I think over the entire course of your life you can spare some money my way'
Mr Lupin looked me over then turned to Remus. I could almost see what the Lupins were thinking. Borrowing from a Black to pay back another… obviously it was dangerous.
"Remus you're one of my best friends…" I said quietly. He was the only way his father would trust me enough. If Remus said no his dad wouldn't take the money and my dad… it'd be highly unpleasant for everyone involved and I'd have to act like I hated muggles as much as everyone in my family did all for nothing.
In all honesty I didn't mind them, Lily Evans a muggle born which in my year level was actually quite sweet and her parents seemed nice tool.
Remus put his head in his hands and then ran his hands through his hair thinking deeply.
"Fine" he said I turned to Mr Lupin and signed to him. He smiled gratefully and hugged Remus who glanced at me wearily.
I smiled and led them out the way I'd come in.
We stood in the parking lot.
"Thanks" Remus said quietly. He'd never been too big on accepting help from people and I know it would have been really hard to accept the money.
"Not a problem" I said
"Why is there blood on your shirt?" he asked I frowned and looked down then laughed.
"A tale for another time, a tale for another time… you run on home, I'll see you at school"
"Sure" he said with a small laugh "oh and happy birthday"
I smiled, today had been the best birthday I'd had in a while.
-----------------------------------
Hello, first chapter feeling pretty good. Had this sitting here for a while… I dunno where to go with it though. Tell me what you think, if it's not great I may abandon it I don't know. Penny
-----------------------------------