It was a cold, calm morning; the sun hadn't fully risen, yet Albus Dumbledore paced his study, lost in his thoughts, waiting. He had been woken up by the urgent tapping of a raven's beak on his window and had hurried to let the sleek, black creature into the warmth of his quarters. The bird had curtly stuck out its leg, which had a letter attached, to the headmaster. Dumbledore had barely turned over the envelope before the bird flew out into the night once again. Upon recognising the insignia sealing the letter, the man smiled. He had been expecting this letter. He sighed and read the contents.
Dumbledore,
I need to speak with you. Expect me by morning.
Walburga Black
The sun's rays had begun to creep over the damp grass of the castle's grounds. A light breeze whisked over the tree tops, causing the branches to groan lazily and the birds to peek cautiously out of their nests. The castle's walls were now bathed in the red and pink glow of the slow rising sun, which filled it with warmth. The hum of silence was almost unbearable as Dumbledore paced his study, waiting.
Suddenly, the lazy silence of the early hours was broken by the appearance of a black carriage being pulled up the school drive by two black, ferocious looking stallions. The carriage came to a halt in front of the castle; the Black family crest emblazoned in gold. Dumbledore contemplated momentarily on the family's motto 'Toujours Pur', before turning his attention to the carriage door being opened by a frail looking man dressed in a black suit. The man bowed as a walking stick appeared, followed by a tall woman.
Walburga Black took in the fresh morning air with a look of disdain gracing her features. Her black hair was clasped tightly at the nape of her neck, by a jewel emblazoned clip, causing her high cheekbones to be more pronounced. She brushed aside a loose strand of hair with her gloved hand and walked briskly towards the main entrance, her black robes billowing behind her and the gravel crunching under her patent black heels. The woman stopped on the first step and looked up at the castle, her cold grey eyes narrowed and her red lips pursed. She sighed, pulled the fur collar of her robes tightly around her and made her way determinedly into the castle. Dumbledore chuckled and shook his head. He remembered Walburga as a student at Hogwarts; a very talented yet fierce young woman, he reminisced, age clearly only adding to her courtly demeanour.
Moments later, Walburga rapped her knuckles on the door leading to the Headmaster's office and entered without waiting for an answer. Dumbledore sat calmly at his desk, one hand supporting his face which bore the expression of general amusement.
"Ah Mrs. Black" started Dumbledore, as the woman briskly sat down without an invitation. "I daresay you are aware that it is a simple rule of etiquette to wait-"
"I do not like to be kept waiting" she interjected sharply, "And I will not have you lecture me on rules of etiquette Dumbledore."
Dumbledore surveyed her with further amusement as she peeled off her black velvet gloves, revealing her long fingered hands and red talons.
"Nevertheless manners should never suffice" stated Dumbledore firmly, "If they were to do so, I would not offer you any tea for instance."
"I could make my own" she said, in a self-satisfied tone.
"Yes of course" he said calmly "But that would be very rude of you, would it be not?"
"I am a very busy lady Dumbledore" she said, testily.
"Well then, how may I help you Mrs. Black?" he asked calmly
"Do not insult me with false oblivion" she said, sternly
"Oh it is not oblivion" smiled Dumbledore, "merely curiosity"
"You think this amusing?" she growled, "You believe this scandal, this atrocity, is entertaining?"
"Well, if we are discussing the same matter, yes I find it quite amusing" said the headmaster, with a twinkle in his eye, "however I do not regard it as a scandal; merely an interesting series of events."
"An interesting series of events?!" she exclaimed in disbelief, "My son, the heir to the Black family name, was unjustifiably placed in the wrong house! It is shameful!"
"The wrong house?" asked Dumbledore, restraining the urge to smirk, "Now, Walburga, surely a talented witch such as yourself would know that the Sorting Hat places students in the house it deems fit."
"Well it chose wrongly then!" she yelled, "I demand him to be placed in Slytherin house right this instant" she added, banging her walking stick on the ground.
"I'm afraid that that cannot be done" said Dumbledore, the lines on his aged face hardening.
"Well it will have to be done!" she shrieked, "My son, the heir, in Gryffindor" she spat.
"Fine witches and wizards alike have been in Gryffindor Walburga." said Dumbledore testily.
"It is the house of blood traitors and muggle filth!" she spat
"I will not have you speak of my students like that!" said the headmaster, raising his voice slightly.
"I will not have my son mingle with them!" she said, slapping one of her gloves on the desk before her.
"It may have escaped your attention, but maybe he was chosen for Gryffindor because he has the qualities of one" challenged Dumbledore.
"How dare you" she hissed, "HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST SUCH AN ATROCIOUS THING?! EVERY MEMBER OF THE BLACK FAMILY HAS BEEN IN SLYTHERIN, IT'S IN HIS BLOOD! I DEMAND THAT YOU SEND HIM UP THIS INSTANT AND GET HIM SORTED ONCE AGAIN"
"None of that will be done" said the Headmaster calmly. "The Hat sorts only once, he will only be placed in the same house again, it is futile"
"Then I am taking him home" she stated firmly, making to leave.
"And the heir of Black will be left uneducated?" he challenged her, "Surely you won't send him halfway across the globe to another school where nobody could keep an eye on him" he added, resisting the urge to smirk.
Her eyes narrowed and her mouth hardened, "How dare you judge the way I raise my family"
"I am not judging, just simply observing" said Dumbledore.
"So this is your big plan isn't it?" she said, her voice dangerously low, "Placing my son in that filthy house so as to shame my family"
"You know very well that I did not plan anything, the Hat sorted him, maybe it saw a difference" sighed Dumbledore, in exasperation.
"A difference?" she scoffed, "He can try to be different all he wants, but he cannot defy his blood."
And with that, she stood up and strode briskly out of the Headmaster's office.
Lily waited eagerly by the entrance to the Great Hall as students pushed past her. She was dressed in her uniform, already prepared for her first day of lessons with her fellow Gryffindors. Standing on her tiptoes, she tried to peer over the heads of the mass of students going in and out of the hall, in search of the one person she wanted to talk to.
Severus Snape's greasy head finally bobbed into her line of vision. Excited, Lily pushed through the other students and grabbed hold of Snape's arm.
"Hi!" she called over the loud chattering
"Oh hi" he said, in a quiet, sullen tone
"Sev, what's wrong?" asked Lily, concerned
"Nothing" he said, a little too quickly, "how are you?" he added, casually
"I'm great", said Lily brightly, "really excited to start lessons, how about you?" she asked.
"I'm fine" he said simply
"Sev, what's wrong?" she asked, patiently
"Nothing I-" he began, but stopped the minute she saw the expression of disdain on her pretty face. They had moved on to one side of the Entrance Hall which was slightly quieter. "You're in Gryffindor!" he said, in desperation.
"So?" she asked defensively, clearly hurt by his words.
"You were supposed to be in Slytherin with me" he said quietly surveying his shoes, colour rising in his cheeks.
"What are you trying to say?" asked Lily, folding her arms and frowning
"Nothing just-" started Snape, lost for words.
"Just because I'm in a different house doesn't mean we can't be friends" said Lily testily.
"I know" said Snape simply
"We'd still have some lessons together" pointed out Lily
"I know" said Snape, defeated
"I'm still the same Lily" added Lily, searching for her friends eyes
"I know" said Snape, now looking at her with a simple smile.
"So-" shrugged Lily
"Let's make a pact" said Snape firmly
"A pact?" smiled Lily, curiously
"Yeah a pact to be best friends no matter what" said Snape, nervously.
"Best friends no matter what" smiled Lily warmly, "Sounds like a pact"
"It's a pact" smiled Severus
They interlocked arms and made their way happily into the Great Hall for breakfast. Lily sighed happily up at her childhood friend. He had a tendency to say things without thinking of how it would make her feel. She was used to it by now; she knew that he did not mean any harm, and that he was just sensitive.
"So what are the Slytherins like?" asked Lily curiously
"They're…" started Snape, thinking back to how Bella taunted him, and how Mulciber and Avery had laughed about it later in their dorm, "They're… we haven't gotten to know each other all that much, we slept the instant we entered our dorm"
"Oh don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to get to know them" said Lily brightly, "I really like the girls I share a dorm with…although one of them is quite prissy, though it could be because she was tired" she added optimistically.
"That's great" he said forcefully, with a slight pang of jealousy.
"Yes" she said, oblivious to his tone, "and there's this girl, Marlene, she's so nice and so full of energy… and Mary and Alice are just great-"
"Hey Snape!" the pair turned around to see Nicholas Mulciber pushing his way towards them with Samuel Avery in tow. The boys scowled at Lily, and turned to Snape, "Join us for breakfast?"
"Y-yes, sure" Snape replied in disbelief, and without another glance at Lily, he made his way to the Slytherin table.
Lily watched him go with a slight frown on her face. She didn't like the look of the two boys, however she knew that she should be happy that Snape was making friends with students in his house. Lily was instantly jerked out of her thoughts as a mass of curly brown hair and bright grey-blue eyes bounced in front of her.
"Hey Lily!"
"Hi" smiled Lily widely; the girl's energy was infectious
"Have you heard?" she asked excitedly, "We have double Charms with the Ravenclaws this morning! I can't wait! Oh and you know that boy…Black I think his name was, his mum came complaining to the school this morning…something about being put in the wrong house…totally off her rocker!" she laughed.
Lily smiled to herself; there was never a dull moment in this school. The two girls made their way to the breakfast table and joined Alice and Mary, who were deep in conversation about the timetable they had just been given.
James, Sirius, Remus and Peter sat a few spaces apart from the girls who were chatting away excitedly. In contrast the boys sat in complete silence. Peter munched away hungrily, and Remus sipped his tea silently, occasionally exchanging worried glances with James, who was nibbling on his toast. Sirius sat with his head propped in his hands trying to erase the embarrassing scene which had unfolded earlier in the Entrance Hall.
Bellatrix Black had emerged from the dungeons that morning, a look of disdain on her face and her sisters running after her.
"Bella please! Slow down. You can't do anything"
Bellatrix rounded on her sisters and they came to a quick halt, Andromeda clutching her wand in her robe pocket, always aware of how unpredictable her sister was.
"She said she was coming to talk to Dumbledore. We all know that he is going to refuse her request. I must find her before she finds me!"
"Scared little Bella? You should be. You've disappointed me."
Narcissa let out a whimper as their Aunt Walburga rounded the corner. Everyone apart from a few 1st years had entered the Entrance Hall, and they had scampered off too at the sight of Bellatrix. Andromeda walked towards her Aunt and bowed her head in respect.
"Aunty please, Bellatrix didn't will him to be in Gryffindor."
"Do not speak when you are not spoken to child. You know better than that. Now leave."
Sirius had been coming down the stairs at this point, alone as James and Peter had run off to the Owlery, to send their mothers letters, and Remus had woken up long before them. The boy started at the sound of his mother's voice, and quickly looked below him. Seeing Narcissa and Andromeda walk off, he slowly moved towards a large column and hid behind it, knowing he had no chance of walking across the Entrance Hall unseen. By now Walburga had turned towards Bellatrix and slapped her across the face.
"It was your job to lead him, to show him our way. I could only do so much from home. It was your job to teach him how to be a Black when I am not around. Yet look at him, a Gryffindor! Clearly you did not show great example."
Bellatrix looked down at the floor. As feisty and confident as she was, she knew better than to argue with her Aunt, even if she had gotten it all wrong. Walburga moved closer to her niece and stamped her walking stick.
"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I truly did not expect this. I think it was clear that Sirius was not so willing to comply with our beliefs and I knew it would be difficult to reel him in. However I did not expect him to be in any other house, let alone will him to be in Gryffindor. I tried my hardest to make him see that being different would do him no good. I truly did."
Sirius had never seen his eldest cousin be scolded, let alone yelled at and slapped. He smiled slightly, feeling that she had gotten what she deserved for torturing him all these years. Yet truly, Sirius felt no one deserved his mother's wrath. Walburga had started circling the girl like a vulture, wondering what should be done next. Students had started to reappear, curious as to why there was so much shouting in the Entrance Hall.
"Now you listen to me and listen well, what you did before does not count as it clearly did not aid. What you must do now is keep him in line, do not allow his mind to be poisoned by the filth that dwells in that house. I don't care what Dumbledore says, my son will not be fraternizing with blood traitors and mudbloods, let alone embrace their atrocious ways."
At this Bellatrix's face fell. She took a tentative step towards her Aunt and made to reach out to touch her arm but seemed to think better of it.
"Surely Aunty, there must be some pure bloods that do share our beliefs in every house, even in Gryffindor. I'm sure he'll find one person who entertains our ideas and follows pure traditions. The McLaggens do well in that aspect."
"Do you mean to tell me you have friends in that wretched house?!"
Bellatrix took an immediate step back as her Aunt stopped circling her and tried to grab a hold of her, forgetting for a moment that she was in the middle of the school's Entrance Hall.
"Just acquaintances. Good to have allies Aunty. Now please, maybe you should take leave, students are starting to gather."
This was quite true, as a few younger students seemed to be whispering together close to the column Sirius was hiding behind. Thankfully his newfound friends weren't here. How he hated the humiliation his mother caused him. Walburga looked around her at this point and nodded, and started to walk towards the door, Bellatrix carefully following her.
"Very well, make sure to follow my instructions Bella. When you see him, do tell him I was here. He knows to take that as a warning. Mother sends her love."
With that Walburga was gone and Bellatrix turned round sharply, glaring at any student that dared to taunt her. Narcissa came running towards her, trying to make sure she was ok, but her sister quickly shook her off, not letting go of her pride. Sirius's stomach growled, so with his mother out of sight and Bellatrix looking the other way, he slipped out from behind the column and walked towards the Great Hall.
"YOU!"
He turned round, just as a hex missed his ear by less than a millimetre.
Sirius was jolted out of his thoughts as James waved a hand in front of his eyes. Remus was talking to him with a sympathetic voice.
"I don't wish to intrude, but are you alright? Your hand, it's quite, well for lack of a better word, torn apart."
Sirius sighed and shook his head. James put a hand on his shoulder and looked Sirius in the eye.
"We heard the others talk about your mother coming here. Did she do this? If she did -"
"If she did it wouldn't be our place to ask or know. But if you did wish to talk, we would all be happy t-"
Remus was interrupted as a black raven landed on Sirius's shoulder and dropped a letter into his toast. Dreading the letter's contents, Sirius opened it cautiously and read.
Dear Sirius,
As I am sure Bellatrix has informed you, I have visited Hogwarts earlier this morning to discuss how you have unjustifiably been placed into that treacherous house. Unfortunately, Dumbledore will not make amends – he clearly has no idea who he is dealing with. He seems to believe that you may be different; obviously he is mistaken. While you are at Hogwarts, I forbid you to fraternise with blood traitors and mudbloods. It has already been shameful enough that you have been placed in that house, do not make it worse by befriending filth. I know that my words are falling on deaf ears and that you will most willingly try to go against my word, but be warned Sirius, Bellatrix will be keeping a close eye on you – one toe out of line is all I need. Now is definitely not the right time to defy me; even though it seems to be your daily aim to do so. Your father and I are deeply hurt by this atrocious scandal, the least you could do is to remain true to whom you truly are – make us proud. I expect you at Christmas.
Yours truly,
Mother