Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter characters, they belong to J.K. Rowling, I think you know that quite well by now. Don't sue!
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-Une Soirée-
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Chapter 2 - Refusal and Acceptance
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A week passed uneventfully. Mr. and Mrs. Lupin were too busy planning the party to ask if Sirius had invited his family yet. Sirius was busy considering telling the Lupins that everyone in his family was dead, except for the Tonkses. That was a little dodgy, though. Mr. and Mrs. Lupin would want to know when his family had died, and how.
Sirius was sitting on his sofa one afternoon, eating a sandwich and wondering if Remus' parents would believe that his relatives had all gone down on the Titanic, when his doorbell rang.
He got to his feet and went to answer it. When he peeked through the peephole and saw who it was, he dropped his sandwich. His parents and his younger brother were standing in the hall.
Sirius picked up his sandwich, perplexed. Ever since running away from his parents' house last year, he had had no contact at all with his family. The hatred was mutual, and he had fully expected to never see them again in his life.
He opened the door and started blankly at them. Mum... Da... Regulus? What are you doing here?
His mother reached into her bulky handbag and pulled out an envelope. We received this the other day, she said, holding it out to him by the tips of her fingers, as though afraid it might contaminate her. Sirius took it from her and opened it. Inside was an invitation. It read, You are Invited to an Engagement Party!!', and gave the time and location of the Lupins' party.
As he skimmed it, his family pushed past him and entered his living room. Sirius sensed rather than saw his mother's look of distaste as she surveyed the room, with its overstuffed furniture and cluttered floor. She moved a pile of motorcycle magazines off the nearest chair and perched on the very edge. Mr. Black and Regulus remained standing.
Mrs. Black asked in a frosty voice as her son looked up from the invitation. An engagement party? You never told us you were engaged. Who is she? Does she come from an old family?
Sirius swallowed hard. How was he supposed to tell his bigoted, close-minded parents that he was a.) with a guy; b.) said guy had a Muggle for a mother; and c.) they were expected to attend a party honouring the fact that their son was in love with a half-blood male?
Mr. Black looked dangerous as well. Answer your mother, laddie. We have no time for this!She must be a Mudblood, Da, Regulus smirked. Or else he'd have told you by now.Shut up, Sirius snapped. He had always hated his little brother, and longed to push him down a flight of stairs.
Well, I want to know what sort of... Mudblood scum you're seeing, Mrs. Black shouted. I always knew you were a rotten son, but I thought you'd at least settle down with a pure-blooded young girl and keep our bloodline going -No chance of that, Sirius snarled. His parents' ceaseless talks about marrying a pureblood and continuing the family had always ticked him off. The last thing he wanted to do was have children that might or might not take after their wretched grandparents. He knew what he was about to say would only make his parents hate him even more, and worship Regulus even more, but he didn't care. Regulus could have as many children as he wanted and make them as nasty as he wanted, but Sirius was done with all that. I'm engaged to a bloke, all right?!
Silence reigned. His mother and Regulus had gone deathly pale. His father, however, was turning steadily redder.
How dare you, he hissed. How dare you - as if you weren't enough of a shame, you had to go and - and - and do unnatural things with - Do you realise what this would do to our reputation? To our name? Do you understand that?! Look at your brother - do you think he'd ever start shagging another lad - WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!I'm not Regulus, Sirius growled. I don't care what happens to the family name. I couldn't possibly make it any worse than it already is! Mr. Black slapped him, hard. Sirius staggered, putting a hand over his numb cheek and glaring at his father.
Get out.Don't order me around, his father snapped.
I'll order you if I want! I'm seventeen now, and you can't control me! This is my home, and I never invited you to come in and judge me for loving another man - just get out! I don't want you at the party, I told Remus' mother so, she just invited you anyway! I don't give a damn about the precious bloodline, this whole family can go to hell for all I care! Sirius shouted.
He rather expected his father to hit him again; instead, Mr. Black turned and stormed out of the flat. Mrs. Black and Regulus followed. Sirius stuck his head out the door to watch them as they headed for the lift. Piss off! he shouted as loud as he could, then slammed the door hard enough to send the framed picture of himself and his cousin Andromeda at her wedding tumbling to the floor. He hung it back up, impatiently pushing his hair out of his eyes. He was boiling with rage, but at the same time he suddenly felt almost ridiculously lonely. He sniffled, feeling absurd, but he couldn't help the tears that trickled down his cheeks. He wished again, for the millionth time since the day Regulus had been born and his parents had begun neglecting him, that he had been born into a different family, one like Remus', with parents and siblings who loved and cared for him.
Just then, there was a timid knock on the door. Sirius hastily wiped his eyes on his sleeve, and went to answer it. It was Remus, looking overjoyed, but when he saw the look on his lover's face, his smile faded instantly.
Oh, Siri! What's wrong?My parents just left, Sirius muttered, shutting the door behind Remus.
Remus put his arms around his mate. Were they being beastly to you again? Sirius buried his damp face in Remus' soft hair. They got the invitation today. They went mad when I told them who my significant other was.Poor darling. Remus kissed the tip of Sirius' nose. Well, I already warned Mum something like this would happen. I tried to get her not to send that invitation, but she wouldn't listen....It's not your fault. Your mum can't help that my family is a bunch of stuck-up prigs.
Remus pulled a hanky out of his pocket and dried Sirius' tears. Andromeda and Ted will come. James and Lily are coming, and so are Peter and Grace. It doesn't matter if your parents won't. Okay? Sirius squeezed Remus gently. A few moments passed in silence. Finally, Remus spoke.
Do you still need some cheering up? he inquired, one hand sliding under Sirius' shirt. The Animagus finally smiled.
Yeah. That'd be nice.
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Several satisfying hours later, they lay still in Sirius' bed, the streetlight outside casting a pale orange glow across their bare skin. Sirius felt much better as he stroked Remus' hair, his lover dozing lightly with a small smile on his lips. It wasn't very hard for Remus to cheer him up. Smiling, Sirius kissed his lover's forehead.
Remus' eyelids flickered. Feeling better? he murmured.
Mmm-hm. Thanks.It was my pleasure. The young werewolf shifted slightly, snuggling closer. I love you.Love you too. Staying the night?If you want me to.Of course I want you to. You'd better give your folks a heads-up.They know where I am. Remus shivered, and Sirius pulled the blankets up. Don't be sad anymore, Siri.I won't. Sirius was feeling pleasantly warm and drowsy.
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They swore they wouldn't come. Not in a million years. The Blacks had no interest at all in meeting the boy their son was shagging. In fact, it was something of a relief to know. Now they felt even happier about blowing Sirius off the family tree. But something strange happened the on the same night they had so rudely refused the invitation.
Bellatrix was visiting with her husband Rodolphus. She had heard the entire story from her aunt and uncle as soon as they returned to Grimmauld Place, and sat considering it for quite awhile.
she said, Why aren't we going?
Mr. and Mrs. Black stared at her. Regulus and Rodolphus looked shocked.
Mrs. Black asked. Bella, my dear, you certainly don't want to go? Bellatrix shrugged. But think of it this way, Auntie. Wouldn't it be worse for Sirius if we all went?
Regulus blinked rapidly. How so?We could try to break him up with this boyfriend of his. I don't like him, but even so, wouldn't it be better for him if he was with a woman, and had children? Bellatrix said. Then, we could paint him and his brood mare as unfit parents and take the children to raise properly. It'd be good for the family. After all, if he's gay, that's a real blow to our line. And I don't want to put all the pressure on you, Regulus, she sniggered, winking at her cousin.
Her uncle and aunt exchanged looks, seeming to communicate with their eyes. You may have a point, Bella... her uncle said slowly.
That I do. I mean, none of us wants to see the end of the Black name, do we? she asked sensibly.
her aunt and uncle cried. Very well. Mrs. Black said. I'll reply to the invite... let this Mrs. Lupin know we're all coming. You've informed Narcissa and Lucius?Of course, Bellatrix said, smiling evilly.
Regulus beamed. And even if we can't drive them apart, at least I can embarrass Sirius in front of his toy boy's family!
Bellatrix beamed back. See? There's a silver lining in every cloud!
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Back in the flat, Sirius suddenly jerked awake with a yelp and a shudder.
What is it, love? Remus asked sleepily from beside him.
Sirius bit his lip. I don't know. Suddenly, I got this feeling something really bad is going to happen....
To Be Continued.