All That She Meant To Him
cerasi

"Shh, darling," Walburga whispered, rocking her son back and forth. "Shh, sweet Sirius, go to sleep now."

She stood up and carefully lowered her infant son into his cradle, whispering to him and making soothing, cooing noises. She smiled as she stroked is hair, soft whisps of hair that darkened every day. Some part of her just wanted to sit and run her long fingers over his soft baby-cheeks all night, but she could see him slipping off to sleep, and so she pulled the blanket up about him, and went out of the room quietly, leaving the door slightly ajar so that she could hear if he woke up.

"Is he asleep?" Orion asked his wife when she came into their bedroom.

"Sound asleep," Walburga said with a smile. "Our perfect baby boy."

"Indeed, perfect," Orion said with a quick smile, and he pulled a book from his bedside table.

Walburga lay down in her bed and stared contentedly at the wall.

"Sirius," she whispered.


"Sirius!" Walberga yelled, "You're going to be late for school! It's bad enough that you're a Gryf-" she couldn't finish that foul word. "But to be late for only your second year of school as well! Get out of my house immediately!"

Sirius glared at her as he stalked past her to the front door. He looked longingly at the walls. If they would just paint this house in something other than black with black trimmings, and grey curtains (just to spice things up) he may well be less pleased with leaving it behind. As it stood, he sighed with relief as he stepped out into the sun.

Regulus glanced at Sirius, rolled his eyes and went back to staring off into space. He was, of course, immaculately dressed, and had everything packed and ready.

Orion frowned at Sirius' look of disrepair. The suitcase was barely held together, his shirt was hanging out (muggle clothes, at that) and his shoes were flattened at the back from where he had just slipped them onto his feet.

Sirius reached out his free arm, and Regulus did the same, each grabbing one of their father's hands, and they disappeared. Back to the train station, back to school. Away from his mother.


"Mr. Black," The old gentleman whispered, trying to keep both young men's attention while he sorted through the business

Sirius looked up and nodded, trying with great effort to keep his mind fixed on the reading.

"And, the young Mr. Black," The old man said, trying not to seem disrespectful to the youngest heirs to the Black fortune.

"Yes, of course," Regulus said softly. "Go on,"

"Very good," the old man said. He unfurled another wax-sealed document, the parchment finely grinding at itself. "Before your mother passed, she wrote her final will and sent it to me," he said, solemnly. "This will… removed Mr. Sirius Black from the inheritance, and bestowed the entire estate, everything she owned, upon young Mr. Regulus Black."

Sirius smiled bitterly. It came as no surprise, and yet he felt some measure of hurt as he heard those words. Had he truly been expecting his mother to leave him anything?

"Therefore, all that she owns passes to Mr. Regulus Black, and in the case that Mr. Regulus produces no heirs and passes away before Mr. Sirius, it will then pass to Mr. Sirius Black."

"Very good." Regulus said, solemn and yet somehow pleased with himself. He signed the parchment quickly and left the office quickly to go back home.

"Except, of course, for one thing," The old man said to Sirius once Regulus had gone. He removed his glasses, tapping the frame on the piece of paper while he watched the young man before him. "She left you this."

He reached down and produced a small, flat, velvet-covered box, which he handed to Sirius. Sirius frowned as he nudged the lid open with his thumbs.

Inside sat a carefully crafted brooch, the Black family crest. It had been presented to Sirius upon his birth, a family heirloom, to be passed to the first-born son of each generation. He nodded and thanked the gentleman, leaving the room swiftly and vowing never to look back.

Despite his 'strange notions regarding muggles' and his 'unfortunate placement in Gryf-' she had still, on some level, had some affection for him.

Despite himself, Sirius found a tear for his mother and all that she meant to him.