A/N: This is going to be a multi-chapter Fic featuring the wonderful Sirius Orion Black and different stages of his youthful rebellion. It will also in later chapters feature the Marauders, how they met, their sorting and eventually it will become a RemusxSirius slash, my current favourite. Sorry Deamus and Drarry; you've been replaced. For how long I don't know, but et voila- this is my new Fic! Enjoy and review...
"Regulus, please pass the broccoli," his horrible mother cooed at my elder brother.
"Why of course mother dear," Regulus replied. He knew the drill; manners were required at the dinner table or they would be sent straight to our rooms without food. He stuck to these rules, he was as barmy as the rest of them, and it was only Sirius who "Disgraced the name of Black."
"Sirius, pass the potatoes please," my mother said. Her voice took on the cold tone she reserved especially for her younger son. He passed them without comment and returned to my food. She did not appreciate this one bit.
"What do we say Sirius?" She asked, the threat apparent in her voice. Sirius sighed. He knew he had to answer.
"Please excuse me mother, I meant to say 'of course mother, here are the potatoes,' and I am truly sorry." he said in a monotone. It pleased her though; she turned her ugly face to somewhere else.
You see, Sirius Orion Black, aged ten and three quarters, was born into a pureblood family. His family were a well respected family, and he was expected to live up to standards. Indeed, anyone who failed to be up to scratch was blasted off of the family tree tapestry in the spare dining room. Already he had witnessed four blastings in his lifetime, and there was plenty more he missed. He hated that room. It made him feel like such a part of this madness!
His mind was snapped back to reality by his brother, recounting tales of Hogwarts with his Slytherin friends. Sirius was angry; the one place he could get away from all this crap was Hogwarts, but no, there was no doubt that he would be placed into the purebloods House, Slytherin. He can never escape from it.
Without thinking, he rested my elbow on the table and interrupted his brother's tale.
"Pass us the carrots there, would ya Reggy," he said, slipping into the casual demeanour he only displayed when on his own with Regulus. He realised from the intake of breath and the cease in the conversation that he had put his foot in it now. He froze, then quickly retracted his elbow off the table and sat ramrod straight.
"I-I m-mean please pass th-the carrots Regulus," he said, but It was too late. His mistake could not be rectified in his mother's eyes.
"Sirius. Orion. Black. Room. Now!" She hissed from between clenched teeth. He knew he would get a visit to his room later, and was not looking forward to it.
"Yes ma'am." He all but whispered, shaking with fear. He got up from my seat, being careful not to drag it across the floor, and placed it back in its spot.
"Goodnight father, mother, Regulus," he said, as he knew was expected of him. He turned and walked to the door, then once out of eyesight, ran to his room in terror. This was the way he had been raised; be perfect or be punished. It had been twelve days since his last slip up. Only twelve. He couldn't believe he had managed to place himself in this situation again.
When he reached his room, he changed into his emerald green pyjamas with the Black Family Crest on them. He climbed into his wrought-iron four-poster bed and settled under the green covers, behind the green curtains. Needless to say, his family really took pride in being purebloods.
He knew it would be hours until his mother or father came to the room. He knew he would be expected to stay in his room until then, and not fall asleep. When whichever of them came up, he knew he should expect pain. That was how it always was.
As he waited he pondered whether the waiting or the punishment was worse. He shuddered involuntarily. The punishment was worse. Way worse. He wondered how other boys and girls felt about the punishment and waiting. He wondered if girls got the same punishment. He wondered all these things and more, much more, as he waited.
It was half-ten before someone came to his room. He was horrified. It was his father, and he told him that his mother was sick of his wicked ways and would be up after. He had been right to worry the whole three and a half hours he had been waiting.
"Get out of bed. Now." His father snarled.
"Yes father," Sirius squeaked, terrified. He quickly rose from bed.
"You. Need. To. Learn. Manners!" He roared. Each word was punctuated by him hitting Sirius across the face. He could feel my face smarting, but he knew tears would only prolong his rage.
"Yes Sir. Sorry Sir." he said. He couldn't help the quiver that entered his voice. The beatings were bad, but what came afterwards was worse, so much worse he couldn't describe. At least the pain from the beatings went away. His parents made sure never to mark Sirius permanently where it would be seen. The scars from the other abuse, however, never went away. It gave him nightmares every night, causing him to wake in a cold sweat, with no one to turn to or no one to console him. Occasionally he would try going to Reggy, but usually he found himself paralyzed in fear.
"Drop your pants." His father's cruel voice said. How could he not obey? He knew the torment that was coming to him, but if he did not obey it would be worse.
"Yes father." Sirius whispered, pledging to himself that he would one day be able to refuse and to stand up for his self. That was the last thought he had before the pain and confusion clouded his mind.
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His father only tormented him for an hour. Then came his mother. She carried with her a belt with a metal buckle. A buckle that had been christened numerous times with blood, usually Sirius'. Regulus didn't slip. He was able to follow rules.
"Come here you worthless fool," She sneered at Sirius, "and take off those pyjamas." He went to her. She whipped back her arm. Sirius knew he could dodge the belt, but if he did she would become more enraged, so he stood still and allowed the buckle to repeatedly burrow its hard edges into his soft pale skin. He could feel the rivulets of blood running down his bare back and legs. He had only his green boxers to shield his thin shivering body. He felt so bare. Not just literally. When it ended, she told him to go and clean up in the bathroom. Sirius went and followed her order. His stomach was bruised and empty; he could barely walk straight and was covered in cuts all along his back, thighs and chest, but always where his skin would be covered by an item of clothing.
In the bathroom Sirius cleaned up with a cold shower. There was no hot water at night. He re-dressed and returned to my room, where the house elves had cleared the blood. He went to his ready-made bed and climbed in. Sirius laid his head onto the silk pillows, but felt something under it. He lifted the pillow to see a note from Regulus and some toast. The note said, "Siri, I got the house elf to make this for you. Make sure the note is destroyed and there are no crumbs. Reggy," and it nearly made him weep, but he knew if he was heard his brother would be getting hurt, and he didn't deserve that. It was things like these that carried Sirius through the darker times. Maybe being a Slytherin wouldn't be so bad with Reggy watching out for him. Just as long as he didn't succumb to the delusion that purebloods were the best.
He crammed the toast down his throat, along with the note, then swept the crumbs into his palm and ate them too, then settled down to sleep. He was still aching, and couldn't lie down without something hurting, but at least the gnawing hunger had subsided a little. In the morning he would ache, but he could get breakfast. Thank goodness. It was with thoughts of a full fry breakfast he went to sleep with, even thought he knew it would be porridge. He turned over and closed his eyes.
A/N: Not as long as I hoped. Next chapter will feature our dear Siri getting his letter, going to Diagon ally and meeting some people! Read, review and favourite! Love Megan xxx
