Disclaimer: All thoughts, ideas, characters, and places recognized most likely belong to J.K. Rowling. Trust me...if they belonged to me, Peter Pettigrew would have sat in Azkaban 13 years, swam out to shore, only to be tortured and killed while Sirius and Harry did the "it's my birthday" dance. Vulpecula Lestrange as I portray her as a character, however is mine! Not that anyone would want her...but I feel proud of her, none the less.
What's up everyone? I've decided to put my other story (Once in a Blue Moon) temporarily on hold...because my writers block for that story is overwhelming and my urge to write another one - this one- is too great. Therefore, I hope you guys enjoy the story! Oh, and I totally welcome constructive criticism - I enjoy it almost as much as I enjoy reviews! But hits are pretty amazing as well, so all in all, I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read my story - whether they review or not. Anyways, enough stalling, I'll get on with the story. I realize the first chapter/prolog is short, but hopefully they'll get longer as I continue to write. Chow! L.S.
Chapter 1. Behind Black Bars
The absolute worst thing about Azkaban, Sirius decided, was the filthy black bars that enclosed him inside the vile cell. 7, 435 large grimy, grey cinder blocks created his cell, the cell he had been sitting inside for twelve years, soon to be thirteen. During his twelve years in the foul cell, Sirius had plenty of time to contemplate his past. Although even as Sirius combed through his past, he steered clear of his treasured pleasurable memories. These were the memories that the detestable Dementors longed to taste. The Dementors who guarded Sirius's caged cell were often rotated, their desire for a happy memory unfulfilled by Sirius's stubborn mind.
Sirius only allowed his thoughts to wonder to his fonder memories when a guard was not issued to his cell. The few times when the Minister or another high official would come and inspect each prisoner. Sirius would feign interest in their words, he would occasionally respond if something caught his fancy, but most times he would use this sacred time to visit his prized memories.
More often than not, other prisoners would laugh at him. Followers of the so-called Dark Lord, Death Eaters, would cackle in delight. Each would question him time and again, how it felt to be betrayed after years of loyalty and courageousness. Sirius found that he could sum a few million biting results to throw at the pricks, but he reserved the harsh insults in his mind, preferring to save his energy. As the best of his years passed him by, the newer prisoners would inquire how he managed to stay sane even when those who entered the prison after him, were loonier than a teenager on a sugar high. Sirius refused to give the scum bags a response, he preferred the satisfaction of knowing he had indeed outsmarted the abdominal Dementors and the Death Eater scum.
As his time passed by in Azkaban, Sirius became disgusted with his appearance. Long gone was the gloss, elegance, and shine of his neatly styled hair. Left in his hair's splendor was a matted mane, full of tangles and grim from the inside of the cell. His religiously clean shaven face was now a mess of tangled hair and dirt. His physique had gone from lean and muscular to tall and anorexic. The style he had once been famous for, was replaced by a set of vile and hole-filled robes.
Sirius often wondered what had possessed him to allow Peter Pettigrew to become the Potters' secret keeper. At the time, the plan seemed fool proof to him, to James, and Lily was none the wiser about the switch. Sirius contemplated how he had not seen that Remus Lupin was incapable of betraying his friends. The same friends who would have risked their lives to support him during the full moon. Peter, on the other hand...well, Lily had always guarded herself around the vile man. Sirius felt incredibly stupid, he had been handed the truth of Peter's betrayal before the decision. He had just been blinded by anger and disbelief.
Sirius was a very prideful man and believed that when he was right - he was right. It was his pride that had killed his best friends and he regretted it more every day of his life. The idea of Remus betraying the famed Marauders had been entirely too easy to accept in Sirius's mind. The acceptance of the idea was largely due to Remus's lycanthropy, Sirius was ashamed to admit. The worse thing anyone could do at this point, was try to convince Sirius that his idea had been completely wrong. Of course, Vulpecula Lestrange never realized to what extent Sirius would go to, to prove that he had been right.
Vulpecula Lestrange was a sore subject for Sirius, it always had been. The Slytherin alumnus had always played an important role in Sirius's life. He never realized how much of an impact she had on his life, that is, until he had been locked away in a loathsome prison cell. The girl had been more rebellious than she would have had the courage to admit, she was more of a people pleaser than she had wanted to be, and she was more right than Sirius would have longed for her to be.
Finished with the first chappie! Now, I just have to hope that it isn't complete crap, because I haven't written anything properly in forever it seems. Well, I'd love to know you guys' opinion, check you later!
xoxoxo,
L.S.