Ok guys i know its took forever i'm really bad for updating at the minute but its finally here. Stuff at home is kinda crazy as well as my life so you'll have to excuse the late updates. Anyway its here.
Disclamier: I Won't say it... I won't you can't make me! Ok fine, fine i'll do it. I DON'T OWN IT! There! Happy?
Now to my favourite people on the planet!
Maliaphire: Thanx for the Review! I know its quite sad but there will be happiness in it i promise. Anyway here is the next chapter i hope you read on!
Miz-attitude: Thanx for the Review! I'm glad you like the story so far i hope you read on!
Black Truth
Chapter One: A Tradition Tarnished
Sirius sat up against the wall and watched as the Dementors swirled past in a hurry. Someone new was obviously coming in and Sirius swallowed thinking of the first time he had come into contact with the foulest life forms to walk the earth.
He shuddered. They could weaken him but they could not render him totally insane. He was innocent. It was the one thing he had to cling to. He shrank back against the wall as five Dementors passed with a screaming victim in their grasp.
Sirius shook his head tears threatening to leak from his eyes. How in hell's name did it ever come to this? He had betrayed Harry running off like that he was meant to be the one to give Harry a normal life should Lily and James died. Now what would Harry do? Live with the muggles that hated everything to do with magic?
Sirius shook his head again. He had been so stupid. The moment he had decided to chase Peter from Godric's Hollow played over and over again in his mind. He betrayed everyone he loved that night including James and Lily. Now, no one would ever know the truth and Harry would grow up hating him because everyone thought he had been the one to betray his parents.
That hurt more than he thought anything would. He looked at the wall. He scowled everything on that wall showed how much he had failed. He had been in here over a year now, nearly two. He had literally been thrown in here the day he had been found. October 31st 1981.
606 days had passed each one marked on the wall. It was the end of July 1983; the 31st of July to be exact today would be Harry's 3rd birthday. Sirius closed his eyes against the pain. He stared at the wall. He picked up his rock and clipped away at the wall. "Happy third birthday Harry." He whispered.
Unbidden a flash of Harry riding with him on his motorbike, the Dementors couldn't take it away once a memory of great happiness only brought him pain. He had failed his Godson more than he was sure he would ever be able to put right. And it wasn't fair. He felt the Dementors prowl past his cell and shrank back as the cell doors open and food, the tiniest amount was put in his cell and the door closed again.
Sirius, despite wanted nothing that had been touched by such fowl creatures devoured the food. He would not let Azkaban defeat him. One day, he vowed, one day he would help Harry. He would meet his Godson and Harry would know the truth. And he would kill the traitor. One day.
Sirius let himself fall back through time to happier times, although he knew he would suffer for it later. He remembered when he had finally get to go to Hogwarts. He had never been happy at home, although up until he was eleven the hate he felt for the impostors that dared call themselves family had been distaste. He was still the heir to the Black fortune and he was their little Slytherin Prince.
Sirius was expected to be sorted straight into Slytherin his cousin Bellatrix already had been and was two years above him and the same was expected of her sister Narcissa, who with Sirius who would join the Black legacy at Hogwarts that year.
Sirius' little brother Regulus would join Hogwarts in two years. Sirius himself wasn't really all that bothered. He would do it to make his family proud. It was what was expected of him but he wasn't sure it was what he wanted with all his heart.
September the 1st came round too quickly and Sirius found himself feeling nervous. He had gone to Diagon Alley with his parents, Regulus, his aunt and uncle and his cousins. He had gotten his robes and his wand (which was maple and unicorn hair) and now his trunk was packed and he was standing on the platform in Kings Cross train station with his owl, Athena waiting for his parents to tell him what to do.
"Sirius it's simple! It's just because you're stupid!" Bellatrix yelled at her cousin who was looking confused. Sirius found the best way to annoy his dear cousin was to ignore her. She was about to enter her third year at Hogwarts and thought she knew everything. They had once been almost brother and sister but Bella had developed a sadistic streak and now Sirius couldn't stomach being around her.
She was going around about with the Lestrange brothers and Sirius had always hated them after they had cursed Sirius' friend Maxine. Maxine had been a half and half and when his parents had found out…well it didn't bare thinking about.
He stayed away from Maxine just to keep her safe. She was the year above him and had written to him to tell him that she had been sorted into Ravenclaw. Sirius had smiled. Maybe he'd be able to talk to her this year.
"You just have to walk though the barrier Sirius." His father said patiently. Sirius nodded steeling his resolve walked ahead of his family and pushed his trolley ahead of him. He was going to prove to Bella he wasn't scared.
Within seconds he was stood on the platform the red engine was there. Sirius smiled. Now he really was looking forward to it. The whistle blew and his parents helped him pull his stuff aboard the train. He found an empty compartment. He did not want to sit with his cousins.
He sat watching as the train started to pull away unable to hide the sense of relief at leaving the house at last. He knew that wasn't how it was meant to be but he couldn't help it.
At that moment a commotion outside broke him from his thoughts. The compartment door slid open and a boy shot in and closed the doors laughing. Sirius looked at him quizzically. The boy turned round and stopped laughing. "Oh sorry I thought this compartment was empty."
"Evidently." Sirius grinned. "What were you doing?" "Oh nothing I just locked Lucius Malfoy in the toilets and sprayed him with water. I hate that git." The boy replied.
Sirius blinked processing the words and then burst out laughing. He couldn't help himself at the thought of prim and proper Lucius Malfoy soaking wet and dishevelled. When Sirius started laughing the boy started all over again.
"You know Lucius Malfoy?" Sirius asked when he had stopped laughing. If the boy knew Lucius then he had to be a pureblood. " Not by choice." Came the swift reply.
"I'm James by the way." The dark haired boy said. "James Potter." Ah. Sirius thought. That explains it. The Potters were pureblood that was true but they were a prominent light family. Blood traitors his mother would have called them.
"I'm Sirius." Sirius said hesitantly. He was not looking forward to this. "Sirius Black." James eyes widened. "Black?" He asked. Sirius sighed. "Yeah Black." James looked at him and then shrugged. "Pleased to meet you." Now it Sirius' turn to be shocked. "I thought you hated Purebloods." Sirius said before he could stop himself.
James laughed and said, "Well that would be a bit hypocritical of me since I'm a Pureblood too. But the Blacks have given me no reason to trust them. But you seem ok." "Thanks…I think." Sirius said smiling.
The rest of the trip to Hogwarts was spent talking. The main topic of conversation was Quidditch. Sirius was fanatical about it and it seemed James was just as bad. They talked and then when they felt the train slowing down they quickly donned their robes.
They got off the train leaving their stuff on the train and heard a voice shouting, "First years, first years! This way!" They turned and Sirius said, "Whoa!" "Whoa is right!" James smiled. They looked up at a giant of a man that must have been about eight feet tall with wild black hair and beard and beetle black eyes. The Giant smiled down at him and said, "I'm Reubus Hagrid and I'll be talkin' ye to Hogwarts so follow me."
Sirius and James looked at each other and then followed Hagrid they ended up at the edge of the lake and Hagrid said, "Alright listen up! Four to a boat no more." Narcissa caught Sirius' eye as if to say, get over here!
That made Sirius' mind up like nothing could and he got into the boat with James and two other boys. Narcissa looked like she was about to murder something. Sirius simply waved and grinned.
James noticed where he was looking and frowned. "What was that about?" "Oh just my lovely cousin wanting to murder me for leaving her on her own." James grinned. "I think we're gonna get along really well."
The boys turned their attention to the other boys in the boat as Hagrid yelled "are we all in? Right let's go!" The boats sped forward with him in front. "What's your name?" Sirius wanted to know of the sandy haired teen sat opposite him.
The teen had his nose in a book but looked up when he had been addressed. Sirius noted he had strange coloured Amber eyes. "Me?" He asked. "Sure." Sirius said easily. "Remus Lupin."
"And you?" James and Sirius asked together of the other boy. He had mousy coloured hair "Peter Pettigrew." He whispered his tiny grey eyes glancing a look down at the lake. "There's something in there!" He said suddenly. "Well yeah." Remus said looking up again.
"The lake is home to many magical creatures but it's probably the giant squid I read in Hogwarts: A History that it likes to greet the new students. Sirius and James looked at each other and grinned. "Cool." At that moment a tentacle shot out of the water right beside their boat.
The force of the wave meant they capsized. The boys yelled as they went straight into the water. All four of them broke through the surface of the water Sirius noticed Peter was failing and grabbed his arm. "Thanks." Peter choked out.
"No problem." Sirius said coughing up water and treading water. "Well this is perfect." James said swimming to meet the other two with Remus coming up just behind him.
"It's freezing!" Remus said conversationally. "I can't believe the squid would think it was funny!" "I know. I thought I was gonna drown!" Peter said hanging onto Sirius for help. "Well it was funny!" Sirius and James said looking at each other and laughing but they had to stop because they were swallowing water. Remus rolled his eyes. "He obviously knows you all want to make an entrance!" Said a voice. Hagrid had pulled up along side them and righted their boat.
At that moment four tentacles shot out of the water and placed the four boys back in the boat. "Thank-you!" Hagrid called. The tentacle seemed to salute the boys and then disappeared.
"It's lucky we're almost at the school." Hagrid said. "Here." He dropped his coat over Peter who seemed to be the one that was suffering most. "Why can't we have that?" James wanted to know. "Because I only have one and besides, you're fine. You're friend however, is a little shaken." Hagrid said shaking his head. "Well get ye warmed up when we get to Hogwarts."
"Here it is!" Hagrid called. "Whoa!" James and Sirius said for the second time that afternoon. "This is gonna be good." Sirius said gleefully. "It's so big!" Peter said his eyes huge. "I can't believe I'm actually here." Remus whispered. Sirius thought it was an odd comment to make but hey, really they were all lucky to be here. Hogwarts was the best.
They crossed to the other side of the lake and Hagird directed them in doors. Sirius looked round the halls. "Damn James," He whispered. "Plenty of height to throw water balloons from up there!" Sirius pointed to the top stairs.
James' face lit up and he said, "I know it's so cool right?"
"The first years Professor Magonagal" Hagrid said. "Thank-you Hagrid." A voice said. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter turned and saw a severe looking woman with her hair tied in a tight bun wearing bottle green robes and a pointed witches hat. "My name is Professor Magonagall and I will be taking you to be Sorted."
"Wonder what happens?" Peter said fearfully. Sirius shrugged "I have no idea. Bella wouldn't tell me and I wouldn't have believed her anyway."
"Follow me please!" Professor Magonagall called and lead them through a set of doors. "Wow!" James and Sirius gasped. It was a hall with four long tables running along it and a top table where the teachers were sat.
"Look at the ceiling!" Peter said. "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside." Remus whispered. "Cool." James grinned. Professor Magonagal led them to the front and told then to line up. At the front of the hall was a stool with a tatty looking hat on it.
"When I call your name you'll walk forwards and put on the hat." "That tatty old thing?" Sirius laughed.
"And here I was thinking we'd have to wrestle trolls or something." James laughed. "Obviously not this time Sirius."
Professor Magonagal unrolled a piece of parchment and started calling names.
"Alice Adams!" A girl with blond hair and slim frame cautiously made her way up to the hat. She put the hat on and a slit appeared in the brim. "Gryffindor!" The table on the far left exploded in cheers.
"Maxwell Alder!" A boy walked up to the hat and after a few minutes it shouted "Hufflepuff!" The table next to Gryffindor cheered. Kay Bee became a Ravenclaw and then all came "Narcissa Black!" Sirius watched as his cousin went to the stand after a minute the hat yelled "Slytherin!" The table on the far right cheered and Sirius saw that Bella jumped up and applauded her sister.
Then, "Sirius Black." Sirius left the line and walked up to the hat and put it on then he heard a voice in his ear, "Well, well another Black now where shall I put you." Sirius sat and listened as the hat debated its options.
"Well plenty of courage and plenty of intelligence but where too put you." "There is always Slytherin, you'd do well there. But I think, in your case you'd do better… yes. It's "GYFFINDOR!" Sirius couldn't believe it.
The hat had actually yelled out Gryffindor. He wasn't going into Slytherin after all. He took the hat off and went to join the Gryffindor table. The hall looked to be in a state of shock. Sirius knew he was the first Black to be sorted out of Slytherin in at least fifty years. Well, he was certainly making an entrance.
He glanced at the Slytherin table and smirked as he saw Bella and Narcissa snarling in his direction. He grinned and stuck his tongue out at them. Further down the table he saw his favourite cousin Andromeda smiling at him. She had been sorted into Slytherin and was the only reason he would have contemplated it.
She was going into her sixth year and was one of the most un-Black Blacks to come out of their family for a while and now Sirius was following in her footsteps. She smiled and waved. He waved back and grinned. Well at least she was proud of him.
He looked up to the top table and could swear he thought he saw Dumbledore wink at him. He felt immensely proud of himself all of a sudden. He watched as students were steadily sorted into houses Amelia Bones became a Hufflepuff and a pretty red head named Lily Evans became a Gryffindor and Hestia Jones became a Ravenclaw and Frank Longbottom became a Gryffindor.
Then at last "Remus Lupin." Sirius grinned as the sandy haired boy put the hat on about thirty seconds later the hat roared "Gryffindor!" Sirius joined in cheering and made room for his friend next to him.
Lucius Malfoy swaggered up to the hat and it was barely on his head ten seconds before it decreed him a Slytherin and he went to join his friends, or servants depending on your view, Crabbe and Goyle.
The line of people was getting smaller and smaller and then "Peter Pettigrew." Peter staggered under the weight of Hagrid's coat and squirmed as he put the hat on. Finally, "Gryffindor!" Sirius and Remus whopped and then there was only one left.
"James Potter." "Come on James." Sirius muttered under his breath. "You can do this." But he needn't have worried. The hat was barely on his head a second before the hat yelled, "Gryffindor!" "YES!" Sirius yelled and clapped James on his back when he appeared.
A greasy haired kid named Severus Snape became a Slytherin, Mark Thomas became a Ravenclaw, Emmerline Vance became a Hufflepuff, Jennifer Valmont became a Gryffindor and then Jensen Zabini became a Slytherin.
Then the sorting was over and Dumbledore stood up and said, "Now you have all been Sorted let the feast begin!" The plates in front of them filled up and after seconds and thirds of the best Treacle Tart he had ever tasted the Prefects showed them to their dorms.
The Gryffindor common room appeared to be in the North Tower of the castle. "Be careful of the stairs." The Prefect warned as they made their way towards the dorms. "They like to change."
They walked up to the Tower and the Prefect stopped in front of a picture of a Fat Lady in a pink dress. "Password?" She asked. "Manticore." The portrait swung open and they were allowed entrance.
The four boys clambered through the entrance and looked around the common room. "This is great." Peter said excitedly. "Agreed." Remus breathed. The Prefect at the front turned and smiled. "This is the Gryffindor Common Room. The boy's dormatires are upstairs and down to the left, girls the same on your right. All your stuff has already been taken there."
The boys looked at each other excitedly and made their way towards the dormatires. James was the first to the door and pushed it open. Inside there were five four poster beds with red curtains and the dormitory was decorated in the same colours as the common room: red and gold.
"This one's mine!" James took a run and dive on the bed in the middle. Sirius took the one next to him and Remus, Peter and Frank fanned out to the remaining beds.
"Wow!" Frank said looking around their dormitories "this is cool right?" "Too right!" James said his eyes lighting up. "I can't believe I made Gryffindor." Sirius whispered.
The three boys turned and looked at him. "What its true! Every Black has been sorted into Slytherin for as long as I can remember more than that. Even my cousin Andromeda was sorted into Slytherin and she's as un-Slytherin as you can get. She's in sixth year now."
Sirius smiled fondly. "She's my favourite cousin and isn't anything like her sisters." James smiled. "Well at least we know the Blacks aren't all bad you'll have to introduce us. Sirius nodded enthusiastically. He couldn't wait to speak to his cousin.
"Hey Remus what are you doing?" Sirius had turned round and found Remus curled up on the windowsill looking at the night sky. "What?" Remus looked round a little confused. "Oh, I just like to see the moon that's all." Came his unsteady reply.
Sirius nodded. "Fair enough." He then threw the pillows from his bed one into the back of Remus' head and one into James' face. They spun round each yelling, "Hey!"
What ensued in Sirius' opinion was the best pillow fight he could remember involving all five of his dorm mates. They fought for almost three hours straight. A world record, if Sirius was not mistaken and he was sure, that for the first time in his life he had found his true home.
