September 12th, 1991
The walls of Azkaban had seen and heard many things. The tall prison stood in the middle of the North Sea, surrounded for miles with nothing but ice cold water. Making the journey from the island to anything with civilization a near impossible journey.
For good reason as well. In Azkaban, the screams could pierce your soul. Drive you crazy within hours if not days. No one left the place. The minute you step out of your cell, Dementors would cling to you, sucking the very happiness and soul out of you to the last drop. Then, you would have to survive the miles of ice-cold water to hit the mainland. A journey no man could make.
Two guards, on their nightly patrol guided by wandless light walked along the corridors of Azkaban. After years of working there, they had grown numb to the screaming. To the endless incoherent mumblings and chatter from the prisoners that served their sentence there, to some extent they even enjoyed it. Loved to annoy and aggravate the prisoners to get a reaction, only to be shot back down as soon as Dementors happened to float by.
It was on this night, that these two Azkaban guards who on their patrol passed by the cell of one Sirius Black mentioned the only topic of conversation that could rouse the silent man. In all their years, after rumours of Black going crazy and mad they had never heard so much of a peep. Always withdrawn to himself, they thought the voices had finally gotten to him. Never getting so much of a reaction from their rousing.
"Did 'ya hear?" One of the guards, muttered to the other "A new Black. At 'ogwarts." The second guard looked at him, eyes wide as though he'd seen a ghost.
"Tha's not possible. Black's been 'ere 10 years now." The second guard hissed, looking past the bars into the cell of Bellatrix Lestrange. Her wild black and grey hair flared around her, as though possessed by electricity. Her soulless eyes twitching from one guard to the other.
"My nephew sent the letter last week, apparently caused a big ruckus with the teachers. No one knew there was another one." The first guard continued his watch, eerily keeping an eye out for the rats that scattered the floors every now and again.
"Can't imagine the kid's too happy there then."
"Malfoy's already heard the rumours, planning on reachin' out to him." The first guard cast his eyes around the cell of Sirius Black, jumping back in surprise as the man lifted his head up. Pale grey eyes searching the guards face as though confused.
"Here, Black!" The second guard banged on the cell bars, the sound of ringing drawing out throughout the cell "Is it true you've got a kid?"
The man in the cell remained silent, just watching the two guards through his matted hair. Sitting on the floor against the wall with his legs stretched out before him.
"What? Cat got your tongue?" The two guards started chuckling, as they drifted from his cell to the next. Sirius looked back down on his lap, regarding his skeleton-like hands carefully.
"Nicky." His voice came out haggardly, barely forming the syllables from years of misuse. He saw his son in his mind, the little baby with black curly hair. A bright pair of grey eyes that matched his own, full baby cheeks and soft nose like his mother's. The happy giggle that used to fill the house with joy and laughter. He remembered his smell when he would kiss his son's hair, when he used to cradle his son to his chest. When he would read him to sleep. When he would run around with Nicky on his shoulders. His wife laughing in the background to put the baby down before Sirius dropped him. It was almost as if he could hear her twinkling laugh, the way she'd roll her eyes at his silly behaviour.
He remembered taking Nick to James and Lily's along with Clare, having Nick play with Harry on the carpet by the fireplace. How the two boys could have been twins with their striking resemblance. He remembered how happy James would be to see his godson, throwing Nick in the air laughing hard along with Nick's contagious laugh.
It felt like it was only yesterday that he'd seen him. Nicky wouldn't know him now. Unless his mother told him. Sirius let out a scoff, he could picture Clare sitting the boy down. Telling him about his father with the leather jacket.
He regretted everything. He regretted not listening to Clare's advice. Not staying behind and being with his family- he didn't think he'd be thrown into Azkaban! He thought he'd be going home! He only prayed day in and day out that they were safe and away from the danger.
A part of him wishing he could go back in time. He liked to recall sometimes, how during the late nights when Nicky couldn't sleep Clare would hold him in her arms and sing to him. Her messy sun coloured hair tied back in a rush, her bundle of joy in her arms. Sirius used to enjoy just watching the pair of them as Clare would sing him to sleep with Nick's favourite lullaby. She would protest and say she couldn't hold a tune- but Sirius could listen to her singing all night if he could.
He felt a pang in his chest, casting his eyes to the ceiling of his cell as he tried to keep the aching feeling away. It had been too many years since he'd seen them yes, but at least he knew Nicky was safe, that his Clare was safe.
But that didn't stop the tears that night.
Nicholas woke with a start, wincing as he grasped at his head. A headache was forming behind his eyes, spreading to the sides of his head. Pounding against his skull. He'd had the weirdest dream about a man, in a cell like a prisoner. For some reason he couldn't shake the haunted feeling he'd felt about him.
He almost felt as though he knew the man. The man was covered in what looked like prison robes, ripped and tattered like he hadn't had a wash in years. His hair was matted. His face sunken in, but Nicholas couldn't shake one thing from seeing the man. The fact that he was crying as he was looking up. Perhaps he was feeling regret for his crimes, perhaps he missed his family.
Within a few minutes, the dream was all but a distant memory as he got ready for classes. He hadn't realised he was late getting up this morning until he noticed that all the other boys in the dorm were already dressed and sorting out their bags.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Nicholas whelped, nearly falling after catching his foot in the velvet curtains that surrounded his bed. He whirled around on Harry who was tying up his shoes.
"Didn't know you were still in there." Harry said, glancing up at Nicholas "You're always up early."
"Could've checked though." Nicholas groaned as he looked in the mirror to find his hair sticking up in several places. Leaving his hair, he scoured the dorm for his uniform finding a clean set in his trunk.
"I think this is the latest I've seen you up in the morning." Ron commented as he stepped out of the bathroom, "are you feeling alright Nick?"
"Shut up." Nicholas uttered, hearing Ron and Harry laugh behind him. He quickly got dressed, brushed his teeth and followed Harry and Ron to the great hall as he was adjusting his bag over his shoulders.
"I had such a weird dream last night," Nicholas started after they left the gryffindor common room, as they made their way to breakfast "I had a dream about a guy in a prison."
"Wait what? A prisoner?" Ron asked with furrowed eyebrows "Was it a nightmare or something?"
"No- well, I don't know actually. It didn't feel like a nightmare." Nicholas continued, describing to them about the man in the dream and about the prison itself "It was weird, like as if I knew the guy."
"Do you know any wizards in prison?" Harry asked, watching Nick's eyebrows furrow.
"No, not that I could think of. Unless it's one of my relatives from the Black family."
"Have you had any dreams like that before?" Nick shook his head.
"Sounds like Azkaban," Ron said, but then upon looking at Nicholas's and Harry's confused faces he began to explain, "It's the wizard prison. Loads of bad people end up there. It's surrounded by dementors my dad said. Apparantly once you get there, you never leave. No one's ever been able to escape, like ever." he emphasised. Nicholas and Harry looked back at each other, equally as stumped as the other.
"Does that mean there's like a wizard police then?" Nicholas asked.
"Yeah, they're called Aurors."
"Auror?" Harry pulled Nicholas away from crashing into another student. He'd been paying too much attention to what Ron was saying than watching where he was going. Nicholas cast a grateful look back at him.
"Yeah, they go around chasing dark wizards and stuff."
"Oh, like Voldemort?" Nicholas watched the colour drain from Ron's face, as he seemed to have to shake himself to get the blood working all over again.
"I wish you didn't say his name so casually, Nick." Ron grumbled as they entered the Great Hall. Nicholas followed Harry over to an emptier side of the table, settling down on the bench.
"But he's dead, it's just a name isn't it?" said Harry. Nicholas poured himself some cereal and orange juice, eagerly listening to the conversation.
"No it's not. He's the darkest wizard ever." Ron explained through mouthfuls of food "the aurors could never catch up to him."
"Still doesn't matter since he's dead," Nicholas began grinning over at Harry "besides. We've got more important things to worry about today. We've got our first quidditch lesson this afternoon!"
"Do you reckon our professor would actually let us fly around the quidditch field?" Harry could barely hide his excitement as he squirmed in his seat. He couldn't focus on eating the rest of his breakfast, making Nicholas laugh.
"I still think first years should be allowed to try out for quidditch." Nicholas grumbled.
"Who've we got quidditch with?" Ron asked Nicholas.
"Slytherins I think."
"Oh no," Harry groaned, slapping his hands over his head "Just what I always wanted, to make a fool of myself in front of Malfoy."
"You don't know that Harry." Nicholas patted him on the shoulder.
"Malfoy's been going on about how good he is at Quidditch, but I reckon he's just all talk." Ron said just as Hermione dropped herself onto the bench across from the boys. Her frizzy hair looking more wild than normal today.
"Morning Hermione." Nicholas eyed her carefully, she looked a bit crazed. He opened his mouth to say something else when she glared daggers at him.
"Don't." She said pointedly, finger up "I've just been to the library-"
"No surprise there." Ron uttered.
"-And you know what all the books have said about flying so far? To trust your instincts and that they could smell your fear. The brooms. The brooms could smell your fear."
Nicholas barked out a laugh, wiping tears from his eyes.
"It's a broom! It's not an animal Hermione!" Nicholas cried through bouts of laughter "You're being ridiculous honestly. I reckon, the most you'll have to worry about is the broom not getting off the floor." Hermione pulled her tongue out at him, before having her breakfast. "It's not something you'll be able to learn from a book anyways. It's one of those practical things you learn to do properly over time."
In gryffindor, Nicholas and Harry weren't the only ones overly excited to start the flying lessons. Ron had been talking about it too, saying how flying was like second nature to him and that in the summer he was always flying in the fields on his borrowed broomstick. Dean and Seamus, the other boys in their dorm had talked about it eagerly too and shared Nicholas's annoyance on not being able to fly in their first year for the quidditch team.
"Harry-" Nicholas grabbed his friend's arm "I reckon, we should try getting onto the quidditch team." He whispered once Ron had disappeared to talk to Dean and Seamus about the flying lesson. Hermione had gone to their History of Magic lesson with Neville, trying to reassure him as well as herself about their upcoming flying lesson.
"Are you crazy?!" Harry cried out loud before being shushed "We'll get in trouble!"
"Shhh! With you shouting it out like that we will!" Nicholas hissed, wrapping an arm around Harry's shoulders "All we've got to do-"
"Black, Potter. I hope you're not planning on skipping your first class of the day." Nicholas and Harry spun round to find Professor McGonagall standing there, with her eyebrow cocked at the both of them.
Nicholas could have sworn the teacher had super hyper hearing since she was somehow capable of always catching students out. The Weasley twins said it's because of her animagus form that she could enhance her hearing. Nicholas made a mental note later to see if he could try to convince her to show him her form.
But in the mean time Harry blanched, looking over at Nicholas in alarm. Nicholas shook his head slightly before looking back at the professor.
"History of Magic isn't it?"
"Professor! O-Of course not-"
"Because if I remember correctly, the lesson should be starting in five minutes." She pressed, watching Nicholas fumble with his robe sleeves.
"Yes, we remember. We were just.." Harry turned to Nicholas, his face calling for help.
"Thinking of what to get you for Christmas." Nicholas finished. He could have kicked himself, it was the most lame excuse he could have ever come up with on the spot.
"It's September, Black." McGonagall's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Yeah, Didn't even give that one a lot of thought." Nicholas mumbled, scratching the side of his face.
"Well you would do well to start moving then, before Professor Binns starts issuing detentions for tardiness." Harry grabbed onto Nicholas's arm, looking pointedly towards where the rest of their class had disappeared. Nicholas nodded.
"Okay bye Professor! C'mon Harry!" Nicholas grinned, eyes bright as he started running full pelt after the others with Harry hot on his heels. Professor McGonagall let out the breath she didn't realise she was holding. Watching the two boys running like that had reminded her far too much of two similar looking boys more than a decade ago, feeling a pang in her chest she too disappeared to head towards her first class of the day.
"You didn't even think about that properly" Harry scolded Nicholas a while later, as they climbed the steps.
"I don't know what you're on about. I didn't see you do any better!" Nicholas shoved Harry's shoulder jokingly.
The day passed by quickly, much to Harry and Nicholas's happiness. The classes seemed to blur into one, as the boys drifted between lessons. Not fully paying attention as their minds were fully occupied with their lesson in the afternoon.
Nicholas was practically skipping to the next lesson with Harry strolling behind him shouting for him to slow down. Harry had to start running to catch up with him, the two black haired boys raced to the grounds where the flying lessons were held. A flat piece of land opposite the Forbidden Forest, but despite it's dark gloomy trees nothing was going to spoil their good mood.
Nick and Harry made it before the other gryffindors in their house, coming across the slytherins that had gathered by 20 or so broomsticks lying on the floor. Nicholas instantly made his way to one closest to the teacher Harry taking the broom next to his.
"Madam Hooch?" Nicholas asked sweetly batting his eyes for effect.
"Yes Mister Black?"
"I just thought I'd let you know, that I was actually sent a hogwarts letter late. You see I was supposed to get it last year but the owl -poor sod- must have gotten lost-"
"You're still not allowed to try out for the team, Black." Madam Hooch's hawk like gaze narrowed down on Nicholas, he gulped taking a step closer to his broom.
"But what if I do really well-" Madam Hooch lifted a hand, silencing him at once. Once the other gryffindors had arrived, Hooch began her lesson. Instructing the students to stand next to a broom, hold their right hand over it and say 'Up!'
Nicholas did as he was told, smiling wide as the broom instantaneously shot up into his hand, looking down the line of students he'd noticed that Harry's broom did the same. But to his dismay, so did Malfoy's. He chuckled however, when Madam Hooch walked around observing the others she had to stop by Malfoy's. Saying that he couldn't even hold a broom properly, Malfoy looked like he was fuming.
Madam Hooch continued the lesson after everyone had managed to get the broom from the grass to their hand, telling them that next they were to mount their brooms and float only a few feet before landing. Nicholas was delighted, already mounting his broom he was ready to kick off the ground when he heard the sound of a broom already soaring from the ground.
It was Neville! The poor kid could never catch a break Nicholas thought as he watched Neville zoom into the air. He couldn't possibly be the one controlling it- the broom kept moving side to side whilst gaining height!
His eyes widened, suddenly afraid for the gryffindor he kicked off the ground in an instant. It felt second nature to him as he pointed the head of his broom downwards to speed up towards his friend hearing the protesting shouts of Madam Hooch beneath him.
"Black! Longbottom! Come down here this instant!" Hooch shouted, blowing into her whistle to get their attention. But Nicholas wasn't paying attention to her, he was following Neville's closely as his broomstick seemed to be flying out of control. Neville's face had lost all colour as he only seemed to panic as his broomstick seemed to only soar higher and higher.
Nicholas would have been happy flying like this if it wasn't for the fact that he was currently the only thing between Neville and the ground, urging his broom to fly faster as though he already knew what he was doing.
His eyes widened, Neville's broom seemed to stop midair before diving straight for Nicholas. He braced himself as Neville fell off of the broom at the last minute several feet high in the air, Nicholas steeled himself reaching out to grab onto Neville with both arms whilst he held onto his broom tightly with his legs.
He swore loudly as he caught Neville under the arms but he hadn't anticipated the extra weight on the broom as he caught Neville from hitting the ground too harshly. The broom dropped suddenly, Nicholas could feel Neville slipping from his grip and maneuvered them both in the air so that he would take the brunt of the impact.
But Nicholas hadn't thought of himself, as he crashed onto the floor with a loud - WHAM - the sound of a crack filled the air.
"Agh! Pants!" Nicholas swore, pulling his right arm to his chest rolling onto his back. His back was sore, and his head swam from the pain in his arm. It was as if his mind had gone blank, all he could feel was the pain. His arm screaming in protest. He had landed on it too wrong, too panicked over Neville's landing that he didn't think of himself. Neville quickly got to his feet, easing the weight off Sirius's middle.
"You're a bloody idiot you know that?!" Ron shouted, instantly crowding him along with his fellow classmates.
"I didn't-" he gasped in pain, fighting against crying out "see anyone else do something about it." He grit his teeth, writhing on the floor as his arm seemed to throb.
"Wicked flying though!" Harry grinned, clapping him on the arm ignoring the glare he'd just received from Hermione.
"Out of the way! Out of the way!" Madam Hooch all but shoved Ron and Hermione out of the way before kneeling next to Nicholas "let me see."
"Nick! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-" Neville gasped, his face drenched with tears and white as a sheet looking at his arm.
"Hey! You alright?" Nicholas immediately asked "Don't sweat ab- OW!" He shouted as Hermione slapped him upside the head.
"What were you thinking?! You've never flown before! What if you'd gotten hurt!" She near enough shrieked "You're lucky you didn't die Nick!"
"Don't know what you're on about, I think that was a good enough show of my skills" Nick smirked through the pain up at Madam Hooch "What do you think Miss? Reckon I can make the team?"
"Get your arm healed up first. Come see me about it next year." She helped him to his feet, Nicholas grunted holding his arm to his chest as Madam Hooch escorted him off the grounds.
"None of you are to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those broom where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch'." She said brusquely, wrapping an arm around Nicholas's shoulders. Nicholas cast a look back at the others, limping his way to the infirmary.
"Will I get a detention for that?" Nicholas asked after a while.
"No… I don't think so. You were merely helping your fellow classmate." Madam Hooch answered finally "But I will have to take 5 points from gryffindor for lack of better judgement. I could have easily used a levitation spell to bring him back to the ground."
Nicholas swore under his breath, kicking himself mentally. He hadn't thought of that.
"But ten points to gryffindor. For extraordinary flying skills and pure bravery, not a lot of first years can do what you just did Black. Especially their first time flying." Nicholas's eyes widened, looking up at the teacher with a pleading look on his face "I'll talk to your head of house about next year. "