"Be grateful - now you have a talent to use in service to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."

The words had stung when he'd first heard them, adding to the grief he was already suffering. But they were true. All he'd been before now was a rebellious child, wayward and straying already from the path set before him by his family...now he had a curse, bestowed upon him by one of the faitful followers of the Dark Lord that his parents worshipped so passionately. It was a curse that his family sneered at, a curse that brought out their true natures - he was able to see them for what they were now, and determined himself to never be like them.

He was only eight years old, and his life would never be the same. Sirius Black had been bitten by Fenrir Greyback, while he'd been in his wolf form. It had been an anger that Greyback had been determined to use against another family, against another little boy - Sirius had gotten in the way and now would pay the price for it. Sirius doubted that the other little boy would even remember what had happened - with so much blood and fear in the air, the boy may choose to forget.

But Sirius would remember.

It had been another summer spent in the northern country, where his parents had become fond of the quaintness of one of the wizarding villages in the north, and had purchased a rather large summer home there when Sirius was a baby. Within this village, there were mainly purebloods...but living in the middle was a family who minded a bookstore, and whose home was but a short walk to the edge of the village. Sirius' parents were having a dinner party on that particular night, and Sirius, as always, was easily bored. He decided to slip out and go for a walk in the village. His parents had told him that there was nothing to fear in this village, that it was a safe place to live...of course, that was only on most days, not nights, and especially not nights when there was a full moon.

Sirius could hear the werewolf before he actually saw it, and he tried to run away...but little legs were not made to outrun the vicious beasts that lurked in the dark. Before Sirius could reach one of the homes on the edge of the village, the beast was upon him in an instant, sharp teeth not even hesitating before ripping into the boy's tender flesh, rending meat from bone and severing veins and arteries. All Sirius could remember before blacking out was the fact that he could not even feel the pain he knew that he must be suffering right now.

When Sirius awoke, it was daylight once more, and he was in an unfamiliar place, with a woman he didn't know hovering over him. He slid his eyes shut again.
"He's awake…" The voice sounded distant, muffled. "The poor boy…if he hadn't been there, John…"
"Don't fret about it, Dianne…" A man's voice entered Sirius' consciousness. "We were able to get Remus indoors before the werewolf got him too."
"Get away from him!" It was a voice Sirius recognized instantly – his mother, Walburga Black. "That's my son! Keep your blood traitor hands off of him, Lupin!"
Sirius had the vague sensation of being scooped up, the pain from his wounds little more than a nuisance in his mind.
"Sirius…" It was the first time that Sirius had ever heard Walburga express something akin to an emotion – and the last. "He'll be so proud of you, my little one…"
Sirius opened his eyes enough to catch a glimpse of the ones who'd saved him as his mother carried him away. They seemed like a nice family, Sirius decided as he slipped into unconsciousness again.

When Sirius woke again, he was aware of the people who were around him…and the one who'd been so quick to attack him last night was there as well…Sirius opened his eyes, and warily glanced about, confirming his fears. Greyback stood among those in this room – Sirius noted that his mother had set him down on the couch, and the bandages that he'd had since the Lupins had been changed for clean ones, with a gentle hand that Sirius knew his mother did not possess. Sirius did not want to know who'd been the one to do it. The occupants of the room remained unaware that Sirius was awake again, and continued chatting pleasantly. Sirius counted his mother, father, cousin Bella's mum and dad, and a few of his parents' friends that he didn't recognize. When he moved, Greyback was the first to notice.
"It seems the little one is awake." Greyback smirked.
"Sirius…how are you feeling?" It was cousin Bella's mum, Leona, who inquired after his well-being, not his own parents.
"…better." Sirius did note that the pain he'd felt earlier had subsided, and he could move without feeling a great deal of it. "…'m hungry." He mumbled, shrinking under the stern gaze of his family and the predatory gaze of Greyback.
"There's some food left over from last night. I will have Kreacher warm it up for you." Walburga summoned the house elf, immediately demanding that he warm up food for Sirius, to be taken to his room. "Since you're doing better, Sirius, why don't you go up to your room? Kreacher will bring you your food shortly."
Sirius nodded, and got up. He made his way upstairs slowly, and headed into his room, where he collapsed onto his bed. Shortly after, Kreacher brought Sirius the food he'd desired, and Sirius ate as if he'd not eaten in eons.