Part Nineteen: Who Knew?
The Quidditch Pitch was loud as the two teams took to the sky. Andromeda moved into her position in front of the Ravenclaw goal posts with a grace that Sirius couldn't help but envy. His flying had become 'tolerable' during the first year flying classes, but he had a long way to go before he rivaled Andromeda's abilities.
"Gods above!" James exclaimed next to him. "I love Quidditch!"
Sirius shot James a disgusted look. Both James and Remus had been flying circles around the rest of their class before the end of their first lesson.
'Blacks should never fly for transportation. It presents a windswept front which is never okay unless one has been defending the honor of one's team and family upon the pitch.'
'So instead her son looks like a fool at his flying lessons.' Sirius mentally sighed. 'Not that I would ever mention that to her, I don't think she'd like the criticism.'
"Quidditch is a sport." Narcissa shuddered. 'Sports make you sweaty.'
"You don't like sweat?" Bellatrix called across the Gryffindors to her sister. "Lucius must be so unsatisfied."
Narcissa gave her sister a prim look. "Lucius has nothing to complain about in our relationship."
"Are they always like that?" Remus whispered across James to Sirius.
"Unfortunately, yes." Sirius admitted. He briefly thought back to the reason they were sitting with the Black sisters.
The Great Hall was alive with the team colors for the Quidditch cup finals.
"I think Ravenclaw has a better chance." The Head Girl had been informing Lily when Sirius had joined them at the Gryffindor table.
"Naw," A Redheaded seventh year disagreed. "Hufflepuff's Diggory is determined to win this one, as it is his final game at Hogwarts."
"You want to bet on that Weasley?" The Head Girl grinned.
"Absolutely." Weasley replied. "Two Sickles that Hufflepuff manages to cream Black into the goal posts, and a Galleon that Hufflepuff wins." The two Seventh years spit into their palms and smacked them together to seal the bet.
"I see the Gryffindors are as uncouth as ever," Narcissa drawled behind Sirius. "Malcom, are you sure your family can afford to be throwing away its entire budget? Ravenclaw will win."
"Is there anything we can help you with Narcissa?" The Head Girl raised her eyebrow. "Or are you just slumming?"
"I merely wanted a moment of my cousin's time." Narcissa smiled nastily. "Sirius?"
Sirius rose to follow her with out a glance at the rest of the table. She led him to a quite area close to the door of the Hall.
"We will be sitting together at the Game." Narcissa stated. "The Black solidarity will not be compromised, even by our dislike of your House."
"I understand." Sirius murmured.
"You are a good boy, Sirius." Narcissa smiled. "And as such, you can invite your friends to join us if you wish."
"Poor you," James said, shaking Sirius out of his reverie. "Though I still don't get what they were talking about."
"Sex." Sirius rolled his eyes at James.
"Oh," James nodded. "Ew."
"Get him you damn Beaters!" Bellatrix yelled suddenly causing the boy to jump.
"Hey ref!" Narcissa screamed at the flying wizard as she jumped up. "That was definitely an illegal play!"
"Yes!" Bellatrix smiled as Andromeda stopped the ball and threw it to one of her teammates. "No one gets anything past a Black."
"The official still should have called that Hufflepoof on that bludger sent right at her," Narcissa grumbled as she sat down.
"I've decided that we're going to join the team next year." James announced to his dorm mates.
The Black sisters both glared at him. "While that is an admirable goal for you," Bellatrix began.
"We'd rather you kept it to yourself while the game is still in play." Narcissa finished.
James shrank back into his seat to avoid their gazes. Once they felt him suitably cowed the sisters turned back to the game.
"What do you call that 'Meda?" Narcissa yelled. "How could you let those badgers score!"
"Keep your head in the game Black!" Bellatrix joined in. "Your still in the lead, no reason to panic yet!"
The shouting continued as the teams moved up and the field with the Quaffle. The two girls only stopped when the crowd held its collective breath as the Seekers dived.
"Bones comes up with the snitch!" The announcer boomed across the pitch as the Hufflepuff section roused itself to cheer their victorious team. "Hufflepuff wins!"
"Well damn." Bellatrix pouted as she flopped back into her seat.
"At least Ravenclaw scored more goals than Hufflepuff." Narcissa pointed out. "The Blacks upheld their honor on the field."
"We'll probably have to get her drunk to forget this game." Bellatrix said mournfully.
"As if you wouldn't enjoy that." Narcissa sneered.
The two girls looked down at the boys as if they had just realized they weren't alone. "You can go now." Bellatrix informed them.
"Thank you for allowing us the honor of sitting with you." Remus said politely.
"Aren't you sweet?" Narcissa smiled at him. "We'll see you lot at dinner."
The two girls turned and headed down to the changing rooms.
"That was certainly entertaining." Remus laughed when they were finally out of sight.
"You're higher in their esteem than I am." Sirius shrugged.
"They scare me." Peter said, speaking up for the first time since Sirius had issued the invitation to join his cousins.
"Very true." James agreed. "They have this certain look in their eyes."
"So what was that about joining the House team?" Sirius changed the subject.
"I think we should try out next year." James said, brightening up considerably. "I've always wanted to play Chaser, you would be good as a Beater, Remus would be a good Keeper and Peter has the perfect build for a Seeker."
"That high on a Broom?" Peter gulped as they descended the stairs. "And all that diving that Seekers have to do? I think I'll stick to the ground." His face took on a green tinge at the idea.
"Then you'll have to be our number one fan," James smiled. "Think you can handle that?"
"As long as you don't make me get on a broom," Peter sighed. "I'll be fine."
"Let's go get ice cream from the Kitchen to celebrate our decision to play next year." James's smile got wider.
"The Kitchen?" Peter asked. "Where is that?"
"While you were away for Easter Break we found where the Kitchen is." Remus explained.
"I'll show you!" James skipped ahead of them a little.
"I don't want ice cream." Sirius told them. "In fact I think I'll head back to the Tower."
"Please don't tell me that you are going to do homework." James pleaded.
Sirius raised his eyebrow. "I am almost done with the rest of it."
"I as well," Remus said suddenly. "I mean, I want to go and finish my homework too."
"Come on Peter," James shook his head. "Let's leave the bookworms to themselves."
The dark haired boy moved toward a Dungeon entrance to the Castle.
"Hey Peter!" Sirius called after the blond as he followed James. "If you find a good closet or deserted classroom feel free to lock him in there!"
"What will we tell McGonagall if he actually does leave James in a closet somewhere." Remus inquired as they stepped into their dorm room.
"That we have no clue where James is." Sirius said promptly. "Which means that if Peter returns alone we hit him with a silencing spell before he can open his mouth."
"You've thought about having Peter off James a lot have you?" Remus asked dryly.
"Nope," Sirius smiled. "But you have to admit that it was a good solution to the problem."
Remus smiled back slightly uncertainly. "So if we were tortured we couldn't tell anything."
Sirius's smile became as uncertain as Remus's. "Why would we be tortured?"
"For information maybe?" Remus shrugged. "Or maybe because the people doing the torturing just like having power over other people?"
Sirius frowned. "But with this situation with James, they are more likely to dose us with veritaserum."
Remus inclined his head. "True."
Sirius gave Remus a long look. 'What was that all about?' He shook his head and sat down on. his bed.
"Sirius?" Remus's voice made him look up again.
"Yes?" Remus moved to stand next to Sirius's bed.
"I am sorry about the whole potion thing." The boy sat down next to Sirius.
"That was a month or so ago now." Sirius said puzzled. "It's been forgotten as far as I am concerned."
"No," Remus said seriously. "I can't forget it. I want to explain my actions."
Sirius looked into his eyes. "Go ahead."
"Something happened to me when I was younger," Remus began to fidget with Sirius's blanket. "I was pretty badly mauled; but my uncle was even worse." He paused. "As a result of this accident he was put on Benommenheit to help with the pain, since little else did."
Sirius cocked his head. "Do you really want to continue? I'll probably...."
"Tell your parents?" Remus shrugged. "I know, but I still want to tell you."
Sirius nodded for him to continue.
"When it became apparent that my uncle wasn't responding to anything but Benommenheit my parents just gave in and bought more and more of it for him." Remus explained softly. "But even when he eventually healed, he continued to take it. He stole some money, which my parents managed to keep out of the papers."
"Huh." Sirius leaned back.
"Yeah." Remus replied.
"You know I am going to have to tell my parents about that," Sirius began after a few moments. "So why did you tell me any of this at all?"
"I want you to be able to give them something." Remus touched his arm. "Maybe then they won't hurt you when you see them again."
"What makes you think my parents, who love me, hurt me?" Sirius yanked his arm away.
"You said that Benommenheit was the only thing that helps you," Remus moved slightly. "According to some of the potions books I've been reading Benommenheit is primarily used for pain in the nervous system. It I s the only known potion to help with pain in those suffering from the after effects of the Cruciatus curse."
Sirius felt his face go blank. "And that means what to me?"
"Sirius," Remus pressed. "You told me that Benommenheit was the only thing that helped you. Following that logic, you must have suffered from Cruciatus during the Christmas Holiday."
"It still doesn't follow that one of my parents is the person who cursed me." Sirius argued. "I spent time with my cousins, and most of the pureblooded families in England."
Remus raised an eyebrow. "Is there really anyone who would dare to curse you, with out permission given by one of your parents? The Black family ranks only slightly lower than the Malfoys."
Sirius dismissed this, "Being a Gryffindor I am a disgrace to most of them."
Remus touched his arm again. "You're not denying that that you were under Cruciatus."
Sirius sighed. "What do you want me to say? Do you want me to go against years of training and loyalty to just admit what ever bogus thing you think is wrong with me and my family?"
"I want to help you." Remus insisted. "I wanted to give you something that will make your parents not hurt you."
The two boys stared at each other. "Thank you," Sirius said finally. "But I don't want you to worry about me anymore. This is my watch, not yours."
"We're in Gryffindor," Remus smiled. "Gryffindors are loyal to a fault. I can't help but worry."
"Worry about what?" Peter asked as he and James returned.
"Sirius's potion use," James reminded him. "You two finally resolved all the issues?"
"We have," Sirius said.
Remus glanced at the other boy before slipping off the bed onto the floor. "I've apologized enough."
"Good," James grinned. "It's great to see you two friends again."
End Notes:
- Yes, I did mean to leave it Hufflepoof.
- No, Remus's logic doesn't always make sense here.
- Yes, there will be more to Remus's aversion story, he hasn't spilled his guts out yet.
- Please Review
