53. December 19, 1971

As soon as he's back at Number 12 over the break, Mother and Father go off at him. Really ballistic. They're both shouting at him and he can't get in a word edgewise and he's never felt weaker and he was an idiot for thinking that things would work out, such an idiot

Then Mother steps in and slaps him, five times across the face, and Sirius wants to cry but he won't, won't, he's not weak, not weak

He can't tell if it's tears or blood from his nose that eventually flows down his face.

He hates it here!