The Ever Changing Idea of Love

Summary: Sirius Black's idea of falling in love was simple, he'd once told his best friend: "Prongs, I don't think love is only about romance, or sappy poetry or magnanimous gestures. When I feel like I'm going to spontaneously combust without that person being around, I'll know what I am feeling is love." Vignettes from Sirius Black's journey as he discovered the many facets of love.

Disclaimer: I'm not Jo, the world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling.

8 years old.

At 8 years old, Sirius Black's idea of love was unexpected. It came from a dark, damp place filled with boggarts and other fearful creatures and it most certainly had something to do with his upbringing. At 8 years old, Sirius Black knew he liked his Father, tolerated his Mother and loved his little brother Regulus.

Sirius noticed that his Mother and Father never did have anything even remotely affectionate to say to him, mostly because as Mother had once said, "It is awfully plebeian. Those of the right sort don't go around declaring their love for each other. It is best left to the muggle lovers."

Though he knew that Regulus loved him very much. Why, just few days ago, following one of his Mother's famous temper tantrums where she had blasted yet another relative off the family tapestry; Regulus had crawled into Sirius' bed in the middle of the night, one trembling hand clutching his stuffed Basilisk toy and another dragging his blanket along. Sirius, who even at 8 years old was an awfully light sleeper, had woken up and slowly made place for his brother to lie down beside him.

"Mother blasted Great Aunt Ophelia off the family tree, Siri," Regulus had whispered in the dark, "does that mean she isn't our Aunt any more?"

Sirius, who had often seen his mother sit, on that obnoxiously ornate chair in the tapestry room, and idly contemplate which relative to blast off the family tree next, all the while tapping her wand on the arm of her chair in what, Sirius knew, was her 'thinking posture', was certain that Great Aunt Ophelia didn't deserve this vitriol (she was the only person apart from Cousin Andy and Uncle Alphard he looked forward to meeting at Christmas). He however didn't say that to Regulus. His brother was too young to understand that. Instead he simply hugged his little brother and whispered back, "Family is always just that, family. No silly curse and a burnt tapestry would change that, Reggie."

"So you mean that like when Mother keeps saying that she is going to disown you for all your pranks, even if she were to do that, you'd still be my brother right?"

"Silly Reggie. I'll always be your brother."

"Promise me, Siri."

"Promise."

Regulus had smiled, his eyes drooping slowly as sleep started to creep over him again. Just before he succumbed to his sleep he had whispered, "Thank you, Siri. For letting me sleep here. I love you."

For 8-year-old Sirius Black, love was about making promises you would always keep.

But that would change. Eventually. He just didn't know it yet.