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Challenges at the bottom.

Word Count - 759

Pity

Most of the time, Sirius had no wish to leave his bedroom. To leave meant to give into the possibility of running into his mother, and that wasn't something Sirius was willing to do very often.

The old bag would only make him angry enough to do something wrong, and then take the greatest of pleasure in punishing him.

Sirius knew the pattern well enough, he'd been playing it his whole life.

But when the thunder was loud enough that it shook the house, and lightning forks lit up the room through the window, Sirius decided it was worth the chance of seeing her.

He hated thunderstorms, always had, for as long as he could remember. The loud claps of thunder were enough to make his hands tremble, and the flashes of lightning never failed to make him flinch.

He opened his door quietly and padded down the stairs. As far as Regulus had said earlier in the day, their mother should be out until late in the evening. His father would more than likely either be out of the house, of shut up in his office where he spent most of his time.

Sirius made his way all the way down to the ground floor without running into anyone, and he let out a sigh of relief when he found the library empty. The torches lit as he entered, and the fire flared into life, warming him.

He stood in front of the flickering fire for a few moments before he settled into his favourite armchair. Despite how much he utterly despised this house, he couldn't deny that he loved the library.

It was the only room in the house that felt homely.

The door banged open, and Sirius looked up to see his father entering.

"Oh. Sirius."

Orion stopped short at the door for a moment before he continued on his way, letting the door fall closed behind him with a snap.

"What are you doing in here?"

Sirius shrugged. "The thunder—"

"Right. You… you never did like storms when you were young. I… supposed I expected you'd have grown out of it by now."

Sirius stiffened in the seat and didn't reply. His dad didn't even notice. The absent way the words had been spoken told Sirius that it probably wasn't even meant to be offensive or derogatory. It was just his father paying very little attention; as usual.

"How is school?" His father asked awkwardly after a few minutes of silence.

"Fine," Sirius replied with a shrug. Honestly, if he'd had his way at all, he'd still be there. It was only his mother's insistence that had forced him from the castle for the Christmas break.

"Good, good. Your classes?"

"Fine."

Orion poured himself a large whisky from the small bar in the corner and sighed. "You know, this is why your mother gets so angry with you. You refuse to communicate."

"I communicate just fine with the people that count," Sirius muttered, looking away. Loud enough for his father to hear, he said, "Mother hates me. It's just the way it is."

"You're her son, of course she doesn't hate you, you ridiculous boy. If only you'd try and do as you were told once in a while—"

"I'm sorry, Dad, but I don't agree with a lot of what this family stands for. I won't pretend I do just to satisfy mother."

Orion rubbed at his temple. "She'll be home soon, Sirius. You should go to bed. She's been spending time with Druella this evening, and you know that means that there has been copious amounts of alcohol been consumed."

Sirius barely bit back a groan, but he nodded. He'd take even the thunderstorm over interacting with his mother when she'd been drinking.

He stood and made his way to the door.

"Sirius… I know that you don't… feel like you fit in this family, but… I love you, Son. And I'm proud of you."

Sirius didn't look back. He'd believe it more if his father could say the words without the courage of whisky, or the absence of his wife.

One thing his father had taught him was how he didn't want to live his life. He'd marry for love, or he wouldn't marry at all. The thought of being married to anyone even remotely like Walburga Black was enough to make him shiver.

He thought that was one reason why he could never truly hate his father like he did his mother. There was too much pity getting in the way.

Written for;

Auction - Sirius&Orion

365 - 126. Mother

1000 - 452. Thunder and Lightning