A sinister grin was on Orion's face. It sent shivers down his son's spine. The knife fell out of Sirius' hand as Orion took his other wrist and tried to force his sons arms down to his sides.

"Let…go…of…me…" Sirius struggled against his father's iron grip, as his crutches clattered to the floor. Orion complied, only to slap Sirius so hard he fell to the cold marble floor. He struggled to stand up. Orion smirked and lifted Sirius easily by his arm, and placed him shakily on his feet. Sirius waited for the other shoe to fall, but Orion didn't throw another punch. Sirius took this opportunity to reposition his injured leg and to ask, in a shaky voice, "How did you find me?"

To Sirius' great surprise, his father let out a laugh. "Sirius, you really are such a wonderful fool. It is no small wonder why I've kept you around. Did you think you were so clever to run away? Let me think: where in the world would a disgraced child with no more family and so few friends go? Maybe to dear little James' house, eh? After all, he'd get the most letters when you were home, wouldn't he? Did you think I didn't know who you were writing to? Did you think you could do anything without it escaping my notice? You always complained how I don't care. You have no concept of how much I do care what you're up to, my little star. Even at Hogwarts, I'd have people keeping an eye on you. I know more about you than anyone. I can see right into your soul. But I do not flatter myself; you are so predictable and so delightfully stupid that I'm sure most people can read you like a book with the ease I can."

Sirius could feel his face burning with the old rejection. For some reason, he argued about the most pointless part of his father's speech. "I'm not stupid," he whispered, "I have the best marks of anyone at Hogwarts."

"Something that will never cease to amaze me. You're classmates cause me sleepless nights, for I can hardly bear to think of what the future will hold if it is run by people stupider than you."

"I'm still the best. I'm better than all of them. And I'm better than you. Grandfather Cygnus told me you were never even in the top ten percent." Sirius said smugly.

Again, Orion let out a laugh, "Being king of the fools still makes you a fool, son."

Sirius was continuously surprised that they hadn't been reduced to blows yet. He opened his mouth to speak again, "Then I suppose that makes you the king of—" but Orion waved his wand and suddenly, Sirius couldn't speak at all.

"I haven't come here to hear the rambling of my deluded sixteen year old child. If I did, I'd just listen in when he was asleep. I came to stop him from stealing from me." Orion waved his wand again and Sirius' bag flew out from under his robes, causing him to stumble and fall again. Orion laughed and yanked Sirius to his feet a second time. He also lifted the spell.

"I was taking what is rightfully mine." Sirius said with dignity.

"Is that what this silly little note was about? You are terribly dramatic, you know. What do you have to offer, Sirius? No money, no family, no brains. If it weren't for your pretty little face, there wouldn't really be any use for you at all would there? And you have me to thank for that face don't you…?" Orion moved to pinch Sirius' cheek, but Sirius slapped his hand away, which was a mistake. Orion reared back and punched Sirius square in the face. For the third time in less than ten minutes, Sirius hit the marble floor because of his father. "Now look what you made me do," Orion said maliciously, "get up…" He moved to pick up his eldest son and Sirius yelled, "Don't touch me!" He managed to make it to his feet and flew at his father screaming, "I hate you! I hate you!"

"SHUT UP!" Orion roared, grabbing Sirius by the next with both hands and shaking him, "Don't you say that! Don't you ever say that to me again! Who do you think you are? You are my son, goddamn it! You are mine—"

Sirius choked. He knew he had about ten seconds before he passed out…but he had to do something. "STUPEFY!" Sirius yelled unexpectedly. It came out more of a cough, but Sirius reckoned he was better with nonverbal spells than he thought because Orion went rigid and fell to the floor. Sirius almost fainted from surprise; he had actually gotten one over his father. He grabbed his crutches, and turned to leave but stopped and grabbed his money bag back. This money was his. He tore the portrait of Orion for good measure. He picked up the piece of parchment he had scribbled a note on and added: I'm not your son. He was about to walk out but paused a second time. He limped over to his father, stared for a moment, and then kicked him in the face. He felt a rush of adrenaline and excitement followed by a rush of shame. He had struck his own father while he was unconscious. What kind of person was he? He deserved it, Sirius thought, After all he did to me, he deserved it and more. Finally, Sirius left.

James was waiting for him outside. "What on earth took you so long? Bloody hell what happened to your face?"

"It's over," was all Sirius said, "It's finally over."