Written for:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)

Flying Lessons: Brooms

Task #12 - Twigger 90: Write about someone wealthy

[February Monthly] Our Tangled Webs

Sirius & Orion

His father is a potions master. One of the best, they say.

Day in and day out, Orion holes himself up in the lab beneath Grimmauld Place, making new mixtures and improving on old ones. He's invested in multiple apothecaries who sell only his potions, and as word on the street goes, for every one galleon Orion Black spends, he earns a hundred more.

Eight year old Sirius usually sits next to the cauldron, watching as his father slices, dices, and crushes ingredients. Orion answers his unasked questions, making sure to keep to a tone that his young son can understand.

Orion sends him out when he starts doing some more unpredictable experiments, but Sirius keeps the door open and stands watching anyway.

Orion notices, of course. He notices everything.

He knows his younger son is jealous of the bond he has with Sirius. He knows Regulus believes that he should be heir instead of Sirius. And maybe he's right, maybe Regulus does have the constitution to one day be the Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. But he doesn't have the backbone. Not like Sirius does.

Regulus, the limpet who clings on to his mother like she's his lifeline, will not be a good Lord. He cannot commit to a cause. He will have second thoughts, he won't trust his instincts. Orion knows this well. Just like he knows how his eldest can be the brashest and the quietest. The image Sirius has built up for himself as the ignorant, disobedient boy? Orion can see right through it. It's a mask, and it's as Slytherin as it can get.

But no, Sirius will not be a Slytherin. His pride will not allow for that to happen, having been told his whole life that that's the only way he can be successful. His eldest will defy expectations; Orion knows this too.

... he thinks he's so much better than me, father! What gives him the right to think so? Arrogant, greasy git sits next to that red head Evans in potions, spouting off random facts like he's Merlin's gift to wizardkind! I thought someone ought to show him he's not all that great, but since no else did, I decided to do it.

He's always going off that since his mother (Eileen Prince, if you'd believe it!) was a potions genius, he knows a lot. I knew I had to ruin his potion, to knock him down a peg or two, and at first I thought maybe a firecracker or dungbomb should do it, but I realized that would be too obvious.

We were doing a cure for boils that day, and you know how you need four porcupine quills after the horned slugs? I added one of his quills in early and put an extra quill I'd tucked away next to him so he wouldn't notice it missing. When he went ahead and added the quills, the potion exploded all over him!

James and I ended up having the highest marks in class that day. You should've seen his face! Everyone had a good laugh, father, and I don't think anyone'll believe anything he says after this.

Siriusly yours,

Your son (the better, handsomer, smarter one)

Sirius,

Your mother is being exceedingly unpleasant today. As I send you this letter, she screams at me for refusing to teach Regulus potions, as I taught you. I love your brother, but we both know his talents lay elsewhere.

For future correspondence, send your letters to the chateau in France. At this point, I find your Grandfather Arcturus to be better company than your mother.

I should say, I am proud of you for your little stunt. I trust you didn't get caught? I look forward to hearing about any future escapades you have, preferably from you yourself, and not from a school teacher.

Forgive me for the shortness and lack of content, but I will leave the letter at this. Priceless china is flying and your mother has gone off the rails. I am whisking your brother off for an impromptu trip to France. A little distance from that hag will do him good.

Your father,

Orion Black