Title: What the Shadows See (1/??)
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG probably
Category: General
Summary: Various scenes involving members of the Black family.
Warnings: Swearing, etc.
Spoilers: Through OotP
Notes: The Blacks are cracked out.
What the Shadows See
Prologue
Moving In
Understandably, Sirius Black was rather upset upon receiving the news that Aunt Azalea and Uncle Orion had been killed by Aurors ("A tragic result of preventing a spot of Muggle-torture," said one Ministry representative in The Daily Prophet). But not for the reasons that one might suspect. Sirius wasn't upset because he had been particularly close to his aunt and uncle (in particular, he felt his uncle was as mad as his mother and his aunt . . . well, she was a bit overzealous in keeping everything neat), but because of the results of their deaths.
Regulus was dealing with it just fine. Sirius's mother was still mad as ever, ordering the house-elf (Kreacher, the insufferable little toe-rag) to clean the house as well as screeching at anything that moved, as well as some things that didn't (personally, Sirius felt that Alcyone Black should have been institutionalized the instant her husband had disappeared. Some part of Sirius half-believed that Orion Black had been offed by his insane wife).
Sirius was utterly morose about the fact that his cousins were coming to visit. Andromeda was fine, it was just that the other two were rather . . . "utter, unholy, inhuman outlandishly anti-everything-that's-not-Slytherin". Bellatrix and Narcissa were the reason that Sirius was hoping that the first of September would hurry itself up and get there already.
"Sirius!"
Sirius groaned and scrunched down further in the wardrobe. While not an original hiding spot, it actually worked better, as everyone in the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black felt it wasn't suitable, it wasn't a sneaky hiding place. However, it served its purpose as an escape from his mother.
"Sirius!" That was her, screeching again. These days, she seemed almost worse, Sirius thought gloomily. Of course, she never shouted at Regulus. Regulus was the perfect child, muttering obscenities about Muggles and Muggleborns alike, trailing after Bella and 'Cissa.
The door to the wardrobe creaked open and a shaft of light invaded Sirius's eyes. He scowled at his younger brother.
"Mum wants you downstairs in five minutes, looking presentable," the seven-year-old said, his tone pompous as if he was entrusted to a Very Important Task.
Sirius's scowl blackened. "Tell her I'm sick."
"And if you're not down in five minutes, she's sending Kreacher up." Regulus finished, before hurrying out of the room. He left the wardrobe door wide open.
"Sirius!" His mother's screeching was, if it was possible, increasing in volume.
Cautiously, Sirius walked out of his bedroom and peeked down the stairs.
Alcyone Black was standing in the main hallway, hands on her hips. She would have been a very pretty woman, if not for the ugly personality she had.
"Sirius Phineas Black!" Alcyone yelled upon catching sight of her eldest son. "Your clothes are filthy - have you been sneaking into Muggle London again? I will hex you within an inch of your life if you have! At Hogwarts, you best not associate yourself with Mudbloods or I'll . . . "
After many years of practise, Sirius had learned to tune out the worst of his mother's fanatical ranting about "keeping the wizarding race pure" and "death to Mudbloods!" He just needed to nod occasionally or, perhaps say "yes, mother," in a placating sort of way.
A commotion erupted from the drawing room. Sirius turned back to see what it was.
"YOU PAY ATTENTION TO ME WHEN I AM TALKING TO YOU!" His mother yelled, becoming, if possible, even more enraged.
"OW!" The new screeching sound was from another source. Sirius slumped back against the wall. His cousins had arrived.
"Bellatrix Morgaine Black, fuck off."
And that was definetly Andromeda. Who was now storming out of the drawing room, wand drawn. Her black hair was curlier than usual and seemed to be imitating a look as if she had stuck her finger in a Muggle electrical socket.
Identical smirking grins were upon the faces of Bellatrix and Narcissa Black as they appeared behind their older sister. Bellatrix's wand was being twirled between her fingers and Narcissa was silently giggling.
"Hello, Aunt Alcyone," Bellatrix said, smiling charmingly.
"Bella! 'Cissa!" Regulus was back, over-exuberant at seeing his cousins.
"Get me out of here?" Sirius implored Andromeda, who was still seething at her sister. Bellatrix and Narcissa descended the stairs, now chatting amicably with a rather less loud Alcyone. Regulus was now the one whose voice was raised with excitement.
"Come on," Andromeda lifted him up off of the ground. "Everyone else is distracted."
"Does that mean we can go see the Muggles?" Sirius was starting to brighten up.