REVISED October 16, 2007

Dedicated to Marauders Fans everywhere! Please review, creative criticism is welcome. As soon as characters are set up, we'll be going to Hogwarts where the Mischief Begins!

The Maurauders Epic: The Marauders and the Rumored Truth

Chapter 2: Chance to Change

Sirius Black sat outside the Malfoy manor. It was a brisk night and his robes weren't as warm as the price tag would have suggested they'd be. Music floated out to linger with him and he sighed wishing it would go away. Clinking glasses filled with expensive champagne and petty laughter drifted out from between the French glass doors that exposed the Malfoy ballroom to the chill night. No one inside seemed to mind the cold.

"Rain."

Sirius jumped and spun around. His grinning cousin winked at him as she sat down beside him on the bench. Andromeda looked so confident, so at ease among their relatives, Sirius never could tell what she was thinking. Andromeda's eyes wandered the exquisitely manicured lawn and gardens for a moment before settling back to him. Her finger pointed to the sky, "It looks like it's going to rain." She clarified.

"Good," He answered, knowing he sounded huffy, "let it."

She tisked him twice, "If it rains, you'll have to come inside and be social."

He frowned, she was always pointing out how irrational he was, how he 'wore his heart on his sleeve'. He pulled at his green neck tie instead of answering her, staring at his new glossy black shoes.

"What was it like?" he asked suddenly, before he could figure out where he wanted to take the conversation he'd just started. He didn't even know why he'd asked. That was always happening to him, his mouth opened before his brain decided what was going to come out of his mouth.

"I'm going to assume you're talking about my being in Ravenclaw instead of Slytherin? What was it like coming home to disappointed parents?"

He nodded dumbly, grateful that she didn't ask him to explain, that she let him run his mouth and didn't ask him to clarify. He knew if she had asked he'd have retracted the question with a shrug and left it at that, his parents were always telling him how stupid his questions were, how only idiots and Muggles never understood their own words.

"Well," Andromeda started, "they weren't happy, but they understood that knowledge and an open mind meant more to me than power. They became a little more accepting when they saw that my grades were above average and that I was happy…" she trailed off, her eyes unfocused. "I don't think you'll be that lucky, Sirius."

"Nothing I do makes them happy. It's always 'Regulus, Regulus, Regulus' anyway. This will be one more time I disappoint them, hell I may just wind up stopping mum's heart if I get into Gryffindor."

"You'd be the first Black ever, if you think you've got it rough now, just wait if that's where you want to be."

Sirius nodded again, his bravado was slowly filtering away, leaving behind an ugly net of doubt. "They'd burn me off the family tapestry. Kick me out with nowhere to go. I'd be destitute forever."

Andromeda looked like she wanted to nod her head but didn't. "You're smart, you'll probably wind up with me in Ravenclaw, wouldn't that be fun?" she smiled at him and his good mood resurfaced like crocuses in spring.

They sat in silence, each lost in thought. Sirius started when an elf, barely clothed rushed over to them carrying a full tray of candies, pastries, sweetmeats, and champagne. "So sorry sir & ma'am Dobby did not see you sitting out here! Dobby swears that Dobby would have brought refreshments sooner had Dobby seen you here!"

Andromeda took a glass of champagne while Sirius reached for the bowls of candies. "No problem, mate." Sirius grinned a little at the elf. "Don't worry about it."

Dobby the elf bowed, the tray tipping precariously, before scurrying off back toward the house. Sirius watched him go wishing Kreacher was a little more friendly, it was no fun to tease Kreacher, but it seemed like Dobby would be a fun target for a good prank.

"I'm scared I'm going to screw up." Sirius whispered to his cousin as she sipped her champagne. His eyes found his shoes again, and for some reason a knot grew in his throat. His vision became misty, blurring his laces; his face heated in shame. He knew if he moved, if he looked up, he'd cry. He didn't want to be weak, didn't want to cry, not here.

Andromeda made no move to console him, she didn't touch him, she sat back, suddenly very comfortable and shrugged her black silk clad shoulders. "You're going to."

His eyes cleared instantly, his blotchy face felt itchy, he searched her face for any trace of a smile. He couldn't find one.

She looked at him, her big blue eyes meeting his, "Sirius," she gave him a small lopsided smile, "we all screw up, I screwed up. You know that nothing you do is going to salvage what your parents think of you, how they choose to see you. That's them, don't let their opinion run your life, or send you into a house where you don't belong." Her brow creased, her beautiful blue eyes turning down in the corners as she spoke, her voice soft but unforgiving. "This isn't about them, yes this party is all about 'choosing to be pure' and 'following the traditions of your blood' but if that's not you don't let it consume you. You're so scared of getting it wrong, of being someone that your parents will hate, that you're no-one." His heart leapt, he couldn't be no-one; he couldn't not matter. He was too young, too strong, too damned smart to have already counted for nothing- to have the rest of his lift count for nothing. He wouldn't, couldn't, let that happen.

Andromeda kept pushing, Sirius was so caught up in her words he forgot to breath, his lungs constricting, his gut tight and sour, and still she kept on. "You'll never be what they want you do be, they can't turn you into Regulus no matter how much they threaten you. You'll never be you at this rate either, though. You're going down a road that's going to make you very unhappy. I was hoping by now you'd realize that you need to make you happy, because no one in this family cares if you're happy, they only care that their name isn't smeared." Andromeda was searching for something deep in his soul. He could almost feel her presence inside him, boring into his being, searching fruitlessly. "It's not going to be easy, but you have to be brave enough to face what's going to come your way, or choose to do as you're told and face the consequences."

Consequences; that was a word he's never thought of using to describe his actions before. He considered what it would be like to have consequence over himself, who he was and what he wanted. His actions at Hogwarts- particularly during the sorting would have consequences on who he would become. Like when he got caught stealing from his father's money chest there were repercussions. Now he would be in control. Andromeda took up his hand and patted it tenderly- she understood, and she knew that he understood now too.

"Well, this is sweet and all but they are handing out gifts inside and I was told to come fetch you."

Sirius turned to see Narcissa standing there. She was lithe, her hair flowed down her back, ending in slim curls just below the curve of her lower back. She wore a deep emerald green dress that fitted her slight figure and flared from the hips. Her matching green heels only made her taller. Her painted face and dark gaze were turned to him intently. Expensive jewelry glittered from all angles. "My young darling misfit cousin, don't take advice from black sheep, they tend to lead you astray." As Sirius stood Narcissa laid a bony hand on his shoulder. "We all know that everyone inside is trying to keep you out of danger and help you be as strong as you can be." She gave him what felt like a condescending smile, ignoring her sister.

Sirius shrugged off her hand, and looked behind him. Andromeda had taken up his earlier fascination with shoes. Her face was drawn. He waited for her to look up and when she did he gave her his bravest smile. Narcissa made a rude noise over his shoulder and he pretended not to hear it. "Together?" he smiled, genuinely this time. He stuck out his elbow hoping she'd take it.

Andromeda's face bloomed like a daisy and she tucked her fingers into his proffered elbow.

Sirius turned towards the French double doors. On their way past Narcissa Sirius locked eyes with her, and promptly stuck out his tongue.

He knew that he had a choice to make, either alienate his family completely or lead himself astray into a world he didn't know much about. Hogwarts was becoming less and less of an escape. He was walking into a chess game he knew he would lose. No matter what he did someone would tell him it was the wrong thing to do.

This would be his chance to choose who he wanted to be, what he wanted his life to be like. He couldn't screw this up.

SKM

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