AN: Yay! A review! :D I hope you enjoy this first chapter, thank you for all the support. The smut and stuff will come soon but I need to set the scene as this is not a PWP, just bare with me.

Chapter One

Sirius stood upon the door step of the ostentatious manor house where he had grown up, it was completely walled in by tall hedges that would entrap any trespasser should they dare attempt to break in. He had spent all sixteen years of his life living behind those hedges, although at times, when his parents weren't looking, he would sneak to the grand gates and gaze out at the people who passed by. He stared up at the sky, clouds passed overhead and cast their shadows across the ground.

"Sirius."

He turned to see his little brother standing behind him, he was dressed in smart black dress robes. "Reg, what's wrong?"

"Mother's looking for you, you need to get ready."

Sirius sighed softly and nodded. "Yeah, I'll be there in a bit."

With a nod Regulus turned and returned into the house, Sirius turned back to the sky and closed his eyes. He would be leaving the confines of his prison for the first time and he was filled with a mixture of emotions, fear being prominent among them. With a deep breath he went into the house.

"Sirius, dear, I have found you some appropriate dress robes for the occasion." Walburga turned to face her son as he entered the room, she took in his face and eyes with a swift glance. He was pale and his hair was hanging in his eyes again which annoyed her. "You really do need a haircut."

"I'm fine, mother." Sirius said softly and went to the bed where his clothes were laid out for him, he stripped off his normal robes and began changing. His new robes were pale grey that offset his eyes, along the dagged sleeves was a pattern of delicate green flowers and serpents.

"Now tell me Sirius, what is it you are to do when you meet King Charlus?"

Sirius stared at his reflection a moment before answering. "I'll ingratiate myself with him. When he recognises me as his son I will get him to take me in."

"Good." Walburga smiled brilliantly. "And what will you do then?"

"I'll convince him to officially make me his heir, as is my birthright being the eldest. When he has done this I will-" He paused and sighed softly, his shoulders slumped a little and he turned to his mother. "Do I have to?"

"You do my dear." Walburga said coldly, she walked over to the window and stared out into the garden. "You are the rightful prince, Sirius. Do you not wish to please me?"

Sirius straightened his robes absently. "Of course, you're my mother."

"Then do as I say and when the time is right kill the old man and his vile brat, do you understand?"

"I do." Sirius breathed after a brief pause.

"Then, let us attend this most auspicious celebration." Walburga walked out the door and Sirius trailed after her. He felt nerves fluttering like butterflies in his chest, his whole life had been working up to this point and now he would fulfil his destiny. He would kill the man who had abandoned his bastard son to live in a tiny muggle hamlet, he would kill the man who had made him a prisoner.

~XXX~

James ran through the kitchens, through clouds of steam and busy staff. On his way past the cooks table he grabbed a bun from a tray fresh out the oven, the cook shouted after him as he ran; he spun on his heel and waved before running on again. His steps pounded familiar paths, stairs and cold stone floors until he reached his room. Panting he took a bite from his stolen bun and pushed open the door where he froze.

"James, I told you to be ready an hour ago."

His mother was sitting on his bed and wearing a stern frown. "I'm sorry, I got caught up with-"

Dorea smiled and stood up. "I know exactly what you were caught up with, you're my son and the future King there isn't much you can hide from me."

James grinned guiltily and devoured the rest of his bread, he quickly stripped off his clothes and grabbed the fresh robes laid out for him. Dorea watched him change hurriedly. "You have grown so much, James." She said softly. "Today your manhood will be recognised by the whole Kingdom."

"I know…Do I have to go through with it?" He turned and Dorea laughed as she straightened the collar of his robes.

"There's no getting out of this one, your father's very excited about it." She sighed a little sadly and smoothed the cloth covering her son's chest. "You've grown so tall."

James grinned happily. "I know."

"How is Quidditch practise going?"

"Brilliant! I've beaten everyone who dares go up against me! There's not a Goal Keeper around here that can stop me from scoring!" He beamed and ruffled up the back of his hair so it looked as if it was windswept, when he realised what he was doing he blushed. Dorea chuckled and smoothed down his hair, it sprang straight back where it had been.

"Come on then, your father will be getting anxious."

James breathed out and took his mother's arm, together they left the room.

~XXX~

The hall was lined with guards, at the doors stood the Herald awaiting the arrival of the first guests. Charlus shifted in his throne and sighed softly, he turned to his wife who smiled and put her hand over his in silent encouragement, he despised such bawdy occasions but it had to be done. He looked to his right to find his son slouched lazily in his seat and gazing at the wall in obvious boredom, the courtiers nearest kept giving him wary glances. "James, sit up properly. I know how you feel but you cannot display your boredom quite so openly, it's rude." James flashed him a guilty grin and sat upright, Charlus returned his gaze to the great doors at the back of the hall and waved his hand as the signal to begin.

For the next hour James was treated to the introduction of what felt like every Wizarding family in the Kingdom. He had a hard time remembering names let alone faces, eventually they all began to blur into one and he felt his attention fading. He let his eyes drift around the hall as it filled with guests, his stomach growled hungrily and he bit back a sigh. As he looked around a sudden gust of trumpets alerted him to the next wave of honoured guests, he glanced at his father and noticed that his eyes had an oddly glazed look to them as he sat in his throne, he smiled to himself.

"Announcing the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black." The Herald declared in a ringing voice, James stifled a yawn but out the corner of his eye he saw his father tense. His attention moved to the newcomers who strode in through the doors, he struggled upright and watched them curiously. "Introducing Lady Walburga Black." James watched a regal woman move forward and drop a low, respectful curtsy.

"Your majesty." She said softly and rose with a gracious smile. James looked at his father again to see his hands gripping the arms of his throne so tightly his knuckles were white, he frowned to himself at this odd behaviour before returning his attention to the Black family.

"Lord Orion Black." The Herald declared and a gruff looking man stepped up and bowed. There was a tense beat of silence before Walburga and Orion stepped aside and two boys moved to greet the King and Queen. "Sirius Orion Black the Third."

As the eldest boy came out of his bow he looked up and met the eyes of the King, Charlus took a sharp breath as he stared down at him with wide eyes. He was the spitting image of his mother with the same seductive grace and the same pitch black hair, but somehow Charlus knew that the man stood behind him was not his father. James raised an eyebrow curiously at the way his father was leaning forward, the behaviour was extremely strange considering how the King despised such events.

"And their youngest son Regulus Arcturus Black."

The youngest stepped forward and took his turn to bow and James took the time to take stock of the eldest. He was tall and impossibly handsome, his skin was flawless and as pale as milk. His hair was shiny and thick and had a way of falling into his eyes that made James a little jealous. Sirius seemed to become aware that he was being watched as Dorea made the official greeting, their eyes met and James felt an odd swooping sensation in his gut, as if he had flown a loop on his broom. Sirius Black's eyes were the colour of tarnished silver, bright and calculating they sparkled in a way that sent shivers of excitement down the young prince's spine. He was so caught up in watching the young man he forgot that he was supposed to receive the gifts, his mother alerted him by leaning across and touching his hand lightly, he jumped and stood up. "Thank you for coming on this, my birthday and coming to manhood." He said tightly, having difficulty looking away from Sirius.

"It was our pleasure." Walburga said and moved towards him, she held out a neatly wrapped box and he took it automatically. "We hope you grow into a good man and a good King." She said and smiled.

Something deep inside James recoiled from that smile, it was chilling. There was no joy or genuine graciousness behind it, only an ice cold calculation. He took the gift and placed it aside with a nod of his head.

As was tradition the guests were honoured by being given a place to stay in the castle, the celebration of James' birthday were to last a week and the guests would need to be close by for the entertainments. After a long day of official boredom James managed to finally escape the clutches of his royal heritage, he left the hall and his parents and ran straight to his room where he shed his robes. He grabbed his broom before running to the huge castle gardens.

The castle gardens took up acres of land, they were far bigger than the castle it's self. They had flowers in abundance and even a small grove of trees that grew near the wall, James ran to this area now, his feet treading familiar paths without conscious thought. As he reached the copse he paused as he spotted movement within the shadowy depths, with a frown he moved further forward and stopped as he spotted a figure a few feet from him.

Sirius sat on his knees surrounded by the trees, his robes were thrown casually over a nearby tree so that he was wearing trousers and a loose tunic. Before him was a rather large dog, it was lying on its back as he scratched at its ears and belly. He was chatting to it idly and although he was certain his mother would flay him alive if she spotted him doing it, he also knew that the dog understood everything he said.

James stared at the boy, the dog he was petting had always been an ornery bastard and no one except James himself had ever been able to get that close to him. He gazed in wonder at the interaction, the dog occasionally licking at the boys hand and the boy laughing. Sirius' laugh was amazing, it was a sharp bark very much like that of the dog. He watched in mute fascination, unable to look away as light streamed down through the trees to highlight the scene. Then a butterfly fluttered down from the tree tops and pitched upon Sirius' hand, he stilled like a hunting wolf before slowly taking the insect in his hand. He spent a moment gazing at it, watching it crawl over his fingers and flutter it's brightly patterned wings. James licked his lips, wandering how someone could be so gentle, he watched as a bright, beautiful smile lit the boys face. It was as if the sunlight had been obliterated in deference to the pure expression, Sirius chuckled again and James could not resist the urge to talk, he stepped forward into the light. "Hi." He said, one hand clutching his broom.

Sirius, much to James' surprise, almost leapt right out of his skin. he made a yelping noise as he jumped to his feet, the butterfly flew off and the Dog growled.

"Woah! It's ok, I didn't mean to scare you." James said with his hand in the air.

Sirius looked flustered, his cheeks flushed slightly pink as his eyes darted around nervously. "I-I…I'm sorry…I didn't expect to see anyone here…I…"

James grinned. "No worries. You're Sirius, right? Sirius Black?"

"And you're James Potter." Sirius replied, James was unable to help detecting the slight hint of disdain as he spoke his surname.

"Yeah, I am. Nice to meet you properly." He held out his hand and Sirius merely stared at it in silence, after a few very awkward moments he let it drop back to his side. "Er…ok…don't shake my hand."

"I…I don't like it when people touch me." Sirius replied awkwardly, he rubbed his arm absently and stared at the grass beneath his feet. "It…it makes me uncomfortable."

"Oh, I see. Then, I promise not to touch you, how's that?"

Sirius' pretty eyes lifted to James' briefly before a tiny, almost imperceptible smile, touched his lips. "Thanks."

James considered him a moment before lifting his broom. "Hey, do you play Quidditch?" Sirius gazed at it and his smile widened reluctantly.

"As a matter of fact, I do." He said softly.

"Then what are you waiting for? Let's play."