Pureblood families, and by that I mean those of completely pure wizarding blood were dwindling in the wizarding world. The wizarding race was a dying breed and in order to stave off the abyss, most families married outside the dwindling pureblood witches and wizards that were left - and those that despised such an idea simply ignored muggles, muggle-born and squibs in their family trees.

The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black was no exception. In all of Britan, it was one of the oldest (and wealthiest) left. As can be expected many wizarding families are connected to the Blacks who could trace ancestry all the way back to the middle ages. They are one of the families who, by the twentieth century, were no different from other pureblood families in marrying outside the dwindling supply of pureblood witches and wizards - they simply refused to admit it.

Their family motto 'Toujour Our' or 'Always Pure" was burned into the mind of every family member and Sirius Black was no exception - as much as he hated to admit it.

Sirius was one of very few in his family that despised his families pureblood mania views. He hated that they were okay with the dark arts and how they looked down upon everything and everyone in society that was anything but a pure wizard. It was a fact he rarely hid and was determined to excise his difference from the family - to the displeasure of both his parents and younger brother.

The, now, 11-year-old Sirius Black rolled over that morning with a low moan as he heard the raspy voice of the families house elf Kreacher.

"Master Sirius, Master Sirius. Breakfast is served, sir." The older elf rasped with a low bow.

Turning his head to the side from his position laying on his back Sirius stared at the still bowing house elf before letting out a sigh, "Great...thanks Kretcher, you can go now…"

With that, the house elf stood up straight, "Yes, sire" and marched himself from the rather messy room.

Sirius meanwhile turned to roll back over, intending on catching a couple extra winks before hauling himself downstairs to breakfast. His brother Regulus, however, had other ideas as there was suddenly a sharp rap on the, now, closed door.

Letting out a growl of frustration Sirius snapped, "What is it?"

Regulus slowly pushed his way into his elder brothers room, already fully clothed in his typical day robes to see his brother lying sprawled across his bed in nought but a pair of muggle boxers. Regulus fought not to roll his eyes as he tapped the door frame with his finger, "You gonna lay in bed all day?"

Sirius stared unblinkingly at his brother before replying in a snarky tone, "So what if I was?"

Regulus rolled his eyes, "Whatever." He eyed his brother's current attire, "Better not let Mum catch you wearing those muggle clothes."

It was Sirius' turn to roll his eyes, "Well I'd sleep naked but certain people and creatures are always barging in on me. But if you insist."

Here he made to yank the boxers down, grasping at the hips, making Regulus slap a hand across his eyes, "Oi! Fine do what you want I'm going, I'm going."

With that Regulus slammed the bedroom door shut and Sirius could hear his departing footsteps on the stairs as he went down to breakfast.

Meanwhile, Sirius had rolled over to stare at the ceiling - the handsome chandelier just off to the side of his bed. After trying and failing to fall back asleep now after so many interruptions Sirius decided to roll himself out of bed to dress. He tugged a pair of robes he collected from the floor, after giving them a sniff test and deeming them reasonably clean, emerging from the neck a bit tousle-haired but still good looking as per usual; something he didn't even have to try to achieve really.

Sweeping his hair off of his face, the length always causing some contention with his mother, Sirius sized the doorknob and wrenched it open before proceeding downstairs towards the kitchen.

Sirius entered the kitchen to find his brother, mother and father all fully dressed and being served breakfast by Kreacher. Slumping down into a seat next to Regulus Sirius yawned widely and obviously as Kreacher came hurrying over with his own breakfast and slid it onto the table.

"I do wish you would at least comb your hair before coming to breakfast, Sirius." His mother greeted him stiffly as she took a sip of her tea and eyed the long locks of her eldest son.

Sirius shrugged and dug into his bacon and eggs with gusto as his father, Orion, eyed him over the top of the Daily Prophet he was reading. In between bites after noticing the looks he was getting from both parents, not that he really got anything different normally, he sighed and addressed the elephant in the room. "It's not like anyone is coming to call this early, why should I bother making such a fuss? Beside's you got pretty boy Regulus over here." He threw his brother a slight smirk as he ruffled his brother's hair - easily ducking the retaliatory swipe Regulus made at him.

Walburga Black, his mother, sat up stiffly and had just opened her mouth to tell Sirius off when she was drowned out by the rush of wings as an owl flew in the small kitchen window and dropped a thick parchment envelope on top of the last of the breakfast Sirius had been about to eat.

Wrinkling his nose up Sirius dropped his fork and picked up the letter which had landed right in his remaining egg. Shaking the yolk from it, and splattering Regulus in the process with a smirk, He used his napkin to wipe the corner off before reading the front of it:

Mr Sirius Arcturus Black

12 Grimmauld Place

London, England

"What is it?" Regulus asked, attempting to lean over to see the front of the envelope.

Sirius ignored him and flipped the thick envelope over to see the purple seal with the Hogwarts crest. Using a finger he broke the seal and pulled the first piece of paper out and read it before handing it across to his mother, dodging Regulus' outstretched hand, "Oh look, how surprising I've been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. What a shocker." He rolled his eyes as he pulled the supply list out and perused it.

Walburga read through the acceptance letter and her face split into a rare smile, "Wonderful! We were beginning to wonder if they were ever going to accept you."

Sirius rolled his eyes, "I mean… I turned 11 after the term had begun mother, really."

"Sirius! Apologise to your mother," Orion demanded as he tapped a finger against his paper.

It took everything he had not to roll his eyes but Sirius looked at his mother and after taking a deep breath staring square into her eyes he said, "Sorry, Mother."

Walburga stiffened but nodded, "You're forgiven. Now let us finish our breakfast, shall we? We have much to do before September first."

Sirius rolled his eyes, something that he was clever enough to hide from his family as his father disappeared back behind his Daily Prophet and his mother and brother dug into their plates of food.

Life in the Black household had never been what Sirius craved. The boy craved adventure, he craved life outside a family so steeped in pureblood mania and history that they thought everyone and everything beneath them.

Perhaps Hogwarts was his chance to break the mould, so to speak.