Once Upon A Time
By Dani R.
The house is not exactly welcoming when he steps into it; it is dark and foreboding with an eerie silence hanging in the air much like the old red curtains his mother used to hang in the living room. The hall is not how he remembers it, but this is to be expected as he has not stepped foot inside the old house since he ran away at sixteen.
In all honesty, Grimauld Place is merely a shell of its former self. There are cobwebs on the ceiling, hanging from lights. There are smashed ornaments, the old table is turned over and the paintings hanging on the walls are empty. He feels this may be because they (they being his ancestors) are ashamed of what the Noble House of Black has become; a dark, desolate, untidy place of silence.
No longer is there the shrill screaming of his mother, calling him an idiot for something wreckless he has done, or something that has offended the family name. No longer is there the laughter of Regulus as he is being screamed at. No longer is there the voice of Bellatrix, mocking him for what he believes, for being different. No longer is there Narcissa's voice begging him to please, please reconsider his views and his friends before something dreadful happens.
But he knows, Sirius has known since sixteen years of age, that there is no going back. He is under no illusion that his mother loved him once upon a time. When he was not old enough to talk, not old enough to form opinions. He is also under no illusion that if his mother was alive to see him now, he would be avoiding curses. He knows he broke his mother's heart, but to Sirius his family was a sacrifice he was willing to make for happiness.
"And so the filthy little blood traitor has returned has he? Come to defile the most Noble House of Black with his nasty mudblood loving nature. Scum of my flesh, dares to-"
Sirius intakes deeply before speaking. "Oh give it a rest mum." He interrupts, turning to look at the dusty portrait of his mother. "You've been saying that same old tripe for as long as I can remember."
Mrs. Black stares at him, her eyes narrowed and she is silent for a moment. "Why have you come back here Sirius? Come to mock the only living memory of your mother?"
"Don't flatter yourself." He scoffs, folding his arm and walking towards her. "I'm inspecting the place; feel it may do me some use."
"Some use." She sneers. "What use is the Noble House of Black to a filthy blood traitor like you?"
Sirius smirks at her. "Not me exactly. Dumbledore-"
"HOW DARE YOU!" she screams angrily. "YOU DARE INSULT THE BLACK FAMILY HONOUR BY BRINGING SUCH DISGUSTING TRAITORS INTO MY HOME!"
"Oh shut it." he sighs, rolling his eyes. "There's not much you can do, is there? You're a bloody portrait."
Mrs. Black glares at him, her lips formed into a thin line. "Why you couldn't be more like you're brother, like you're cousins-"
"Death Eaters? Murderers?" Sirius asks coolly.
"They had the right idea-"Mrs. Black tries, but Sirius interrupts.
"There were a lot of things you were mum, but a killer wasn't one." Sirius states. "Really, bet you were glad when Regulus got cold feet."
"How dare-"
Sirius rolls his eyes and turns away. "Kreacher still about? Miserable little rat that he was." When he gets no answer, he takes a step forward to leave. "See you in a few weeks mum, make sure you're nice to our guests." He says, leaving and slamming the door. Outside, he can hear her screams of outrage but all he can do is sigh and make his way away from the house that holds far too many memories.
His mother loved him once upon a time Sirius thinks, but as he leaves the old house behind, with its aged exterior and empty interior, he realizes exactly how long ago once upon time really has been.