Party Games
Disclaimer: Characters and setting are the property of J.K. Rowling, I'm just borrowing them for a little non-profit fun.
Severus glanced around the richly decorated hall with a feeling of extreme uncertainty. It was one thing to know that the Blacks and Malfoys traveled in the same circles, it was another thing to see it. After four months of Lucius lording his family name over the rest of their House, it was hard not to react to this display.
Sirius glanced around to make sure that his mother was occupied elsewhere then slouched and sulkily crossed his arms over his chest. "Just so you know, I don't want you here. I don't want anything to do with a slimy Slytherin git like you."
Severus found Sirius' greeting oddly reassuring. The higher-class Slytherin students weren't given to that sort of sullen display, they preferred to maintain proper posture while they talked down at a person. Sirius' body language was pure Gryffindor brat and for once Black didn't have friends to back him up. "As if coming here was my idea, I've certainly got better things to do than spending time with you." The dark-eyed boy sneered. "And I have to wonder what your parents, or any of the other Slytherin alums here, would think if I relayed your sediments."
Sirius snorted. "Like I haven't said it to their faces a dozen times since they forced me back to this pit."
"Ah yes, one mustn't underestimate Gryffindor stupidity. No wonder you were worried about your family killing you, you'd provoke a Hufflepuff to murder… only they'd get caught, luckily your family is Slytherin, we know how to hide bodies."
"Like I'm scared of you Snape. I've seen you pretending to be invisible at school. You're a coward."
"The better part of discretion when you and your friends are around. Although, now that I think of it, the way you aim I might be safer if you were targeting me."
Mrs. Black cast a dark scowl at her offspring, Sirius bit back whatever retort he'd planned. "You're here, welcome, glad to see you and all that crap I don't mean. There, I've done my duty as your host. Have a rotten time and try to find someone to hang around who isn't me." Sirius stated then turned and walked off.
Severus sneered at the other boy's retreating back for a few minutes then spotted a somewhat secluded nitch. Once he was safely out of sight he unshrunk a book he'd stowed in a pocket before coming. Then he curled up in the corner of the settee with a book of hexes to wait out this exercise in misery.
An older girl with honey-blonde hair noticed an out of place shadow in the corner of her Aunt's dinning room and wandered over to investigate. When she recognized Severus as a first year from her house she laughed musically. "Making yourself at home?" She asked lightly as she dropped a hand on his shoulder.
Severus flinched away and glared up at her in suspicious silence.
"Oh for Merlin's sake, you're acting like that silly quarrel at school is personal." The girl shook her head as if in annoyance at his lack of perception. "Look Severus, I'm just toeing the party line. Personally, I think Lucius is being an idiot but he's my boyfriend and Lucius Malfoy is never wrong."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Even when he uses bat eyes instead of beetle carapaces and blows up our common room instead of the Gryffindors'? That couldn't possibly have been a mistake."
"Precisely." Narcissa replied. "Lucius is never wrong…even when he is. Now if it had of been me, well I would have thrown a few things, stamped my foot and scowled then called a house elf to clean up and everyone would have forgotten that a firstie had known more about the potion than I did. Lucius came up with that ridiculous story about you sabotaging his potion. Because he treated you like threat you graduated to the big kid's table… ready or not."
"So why are you being nice to me now?" Severus demanded.
Narcissa ruffled his hair. The younger boy glared angrily at her.
"I was feeling sorry for you." She said. "You're not a Ravenclaw you know. House politics are Slytherin's lifeblood. You can't go on ignoring these things and hoping for the best."
"Siri, could I talk to you for a minute?" Andromeda asked. She caught her younger cousin's elbow as he stormed out of the dinning room.
"Sure." Sirius replied his mood brightened notably when he saw who had accosted him. "What's up? You need me to ask Arthur for some more muggle stuff?"
"Oh no, I've secured my own source; an actual muggleborn no less. Ted Tonks works in a 'garage' during the summer, has all sorts of access to gadgets, he can explain how they work and he's just the cutest thing ever."
Sirius grimaced at his favorite cousin's 'girl-moment'.
Andromeda brought herself back on topic. "I wanted to talk to you about the Snape kid. You're going about this all wrong."
"What, you think I should be friends with that weirdo!" Sirius demanded. "He's a…"
"Yes, I noticed he's Slytherin but do you see me starting wars with Cissa and Bell? It'd be stupid and I'd make myself miserable in the process." Andromeda stated.
"Yeah, but they're your sisters. You're stuck with them."
"And you and Snape are stuck with each other too. This wasn't his idea either, can't you see that?" Andromeda asked. "Aunty Esterhazy set this up with his parents and she won't give up after just one attempt, so you can either make the best of it and tolerate each other or you can spend the hols torturing each other."
"Why don't you tell him this?" Sirius snapped. He glared at the floor beside Andromeda's feet. "He was being a git."
"And you weren't? You've got the home ground advantage Siri. Maybe you didn't notice but all this," Andromeda's gesture took in all of the noble and most ancient house of Black; "intimidates him. Your not-friend out there is Slytherin, as you pointed out. To a Ravenclaw like me class is an irrelevant data point and I know you Gryffs make a point of eschewing the whole caste system but it matters to a Slytherin. If you've ever listened to your esteemed mother you know there's a lot more to it than muggleborn, half-blood and pureblood. The Snapes are as pureblooded as it gets but the family's produced more than it's share of squibs and near squibs. That's why they're noted for potion brewing. They've been in dire straights financially ever since they backed little Jane Grey's bid for the throne. You don't need to be overtly hostile, the house is enough of a threat all by itself. Beyond that, I've seen that kid at school, he's seriously out of his depths, no social skills at all, he can't help being a git. "
"I'll think about it, okay?" Sirius whined. "But I don't want my friends at school thinking that I'm like them! A Ravenclaw'll respect the study of anything if the report's long enough and has a bunch of big words but Gryffindors, real Gryffindors, don't put up with the Dark Arts."
"No one here is going to report back to Gryffindor Tower if you're civil to him." Andromeda remarked tartly.
"I said I'd think about it." Sirius repeated.
Author's Note: Jane Grey was the figure head for an attempt on the throne in the 1550's
Severus was starting to feel like coming hadn't been a mistake after all. Narcissa Black was actually sort of nice to talk with. Before receiving his Hogwarts' letter he'd been home schooled and two weeks after the Sorting he'd dared to tell Lucius Malfoy that he was an idiot who had no business even looking at a caldron much less trying to concoct potions. Severus hadn't had many chances to just talk with other kids and he was fairly certain that he wasn't any good at it. Narcissa didn't seem to mind thought. True, she was treating him like a child whose ignorance amused her but she was being kind about it.
Somewhere along the way he'd set his book on the floor beside him and Narcissa had claimed the other end of the settee. She was giving him a thorough lesson in the more subtle aspects of Slytherin's political climate and how it related to him. Early on in their conversation Severus had concluded that his father might talk about making connections but when it came to actually making them the man was clueless. Narcissa didn't just yell at him over the mess with Malfoy, she was suggesting things that might help. It was nice… even if he didn't really think he could bring himself to follow most of her advice.
Why should he apologize to Malfoy? He'd offered to help, it wasn't his fault the fourth year had taken insult at his offer. If he openly challenged Malfoy he might as well pick out his tombstone. He was eleven for Merlin's sake! Sure he got top marks in Defense, for all the good it did; he couldn't even stop one of his father's curses. The persistent ache in his muscles from being repeatedly thrown into walls was a constant reminder of his failures. His father healed the bruises almost before they could form but being forced to heal over and over again was making burn with exhaustion right down to his cells. At least no one could see how hopeless he was. He just wasn't strong enough to block that bloody spell. But what if he struck first…
A sudden change in Narcissa's tone snapped Severus out of his thoughts. "I guess Aunty's letting anyone in here this year." The lovely blonde remarked in a cold, condescending voice. Her gaze strayed past his ear.
The dark haired boy turned to see what had made her change and the thwack Malfoy had intended for the back of his head landed on the bridge of his nose. Severus' eyes watered at the shock of pain. He bit his lip and glared at the pale aristocrat.
"I wouldn't worry." Lucius drawled. "Charity's the in thing this year and we all know how long fads last. Come along Narcissa, we should dance, it'll keep the old biddies off our backs for the next few months."
As Lucius led his girlfriend away Narcissa gave Severus a shrug and an apologetic glance over her shoulder. Severus understood, she'd told him from the first that she'd only be nice when Lucius wouldn't hear about it. It was still disappointing, hell with that; it hurt.
The quiet corner and his book had both lost their appeal. Severus wandered upstairs. The familiar smell of a potion brewing drew him to one of the doors. He opened it and found Sirius balancing a pot over his bedroom's heating fire using a makeshift tripod.
Sirius looked up guiltily then said. "Oh, it's you. In or out, I don't care but shut the bloody door before my bratty little brother shows up."
Severus stepped inside and shut the door. "Is that a cooking pot?" He asked in tones suggesting that Sirius was committing sacrilege
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You'd rather I use a chamber pot?"
"What are you attempting to do?" Severus asked.
"None of your business." Sirius turned back to his potion.
Severus prowled around the room picking up bottles and glancing at labels. Sirius glared and snapped "Gimme that!" a few times.
Severus leaned over Sirius' shoulder to glance in the pot. Sirius swatted at him in annoyance.
Fifteen minutes later Sirius went to remove his concoction from the flames. "Let it simmer for another ten minutes." Severus remarked. "The color will last nearly twice as long."
"You trying to screw me up or do you expect to get something out of helping me?" Sirius demanded. Upon noting Severus' expression he added, "I might not be Slytherin but I did grow up in this house. I know how you people work."
Severus rubbed the bridge of his nose gingerly. "Just make sure Malfoy gets a good dose." He said.
Sirius smirked. "Oh, that I can do. With that albino mop of his the color'll take real good."
Twenty minutes later Severus was sent home so Mrs. Black could properly discipline her son and Lucius left to contact Hogwart's Potion Master to find a cure for his neon pink hair.
The next morning Sirius shifted his weight superstitiously in a futile attempt to assuage the ache in his knees. Kreacher, his mother's current favorite among the house elves, had woken him well before dawn to start his punishment. He'd been kneeling on the cold stone floor in the hall outside of the kitchen ever since. His mother had ordered him to spend the time contemplating his 'atrocious behavior'.
Sirius had come to the conclusion that his mother was right; yesterday had been a pitiful showing. He'd only managed to get handful of guests with the hair-dye potion and it was such a piddling little annoyance anyway.
Sirius spent the first hour considering what he might have done better. How he might have got more people and what else he might have done to get a better reaction.
During the second and third hours he determined which family members he needed vengeance on and determined appropriate methods. Bratty Belle and Tattle-tail Regulus figured prominently. Bell had been extreme helpful about offering suggestions for his punishment. Sirius had decided to transfigure her favorite pendant into something tacky. With James' tutoring in Transfiguration it wouldn't be hard to do and he could probably fix the transformation to last for at least a fortnight. If he shrunk the chain and sealed the latch she'd have to wear the gaudy thing until the spell wore off. Still the pendant was just a beginning, Bell deserved so much more. Regulus had volunteered the information about funny smells coming from Sirius' room. A klutziness hex at Christmas dinner should be adequate for dear, sweet, little Reg.
Breakfast came and went, Sirius' mother stopped by to reiterate his list of supposed sins.
During the fifth hour Sirius constructed an elaborate visualization of Malfoy with daisy yellow skin, forest green nails and dead white eyes to go with his pink hair. He spent the sixth hour working out the most effective and long lasting ways to accomplish his goals. The nails and skin he could take manage with a few spells he'd picked up during the year but the eyes would take some research. Sirius then spent some time deciding between owling Remus back at Hogwarts to see if he'd be willing to look a few things up for him or maybe, possibly asking Snape. Remus always took a little persuading when it came to pranks and Snape seemed to have a personal grudge against Malfoy, plus the Slytherin boy was some sort of prodigy in potions according to their Professor. Sirius couldn't stand his cousin's beau, the fourth year was cruel, stuck up and vicious, worse yet Lucius could get away with anything. Plus, the older boys dearth of melanin and his extreme vanity made him the prefer target for that sort of prank. The color showed up brilliantly and Malfoy's reaction was even better.
Smells from the house elves preparation of lunch started drifting into the hall. Sirius' mother arrived to lecture her son on the finer points of etiquette, starting with 'why one doesn't prank one's guests.' After ten minutes Sirius had completely tuned her out.
In his head he was practicing Quidditch with James and Peter. They were going to try out for the house team next year. James wanted to be seeker but Frank Longbottom was absolutely brilliant in that position and he was only a third year. Sirius thought he and James would make a great beater team until the seeker spot opened up but James' second choice was chaser. Remus said Sirius should go ahead and try out for the beater position regardless of what James tried out for. Sirius thought Remus and Peter should try out period. Peter always said he wasn't good enough and Remus wouldn't even practice with them anymore.
"Yes I understand you Mother." Sirius interjected when his mother's voice paused.
Remus said he couldn't get on the team because he got sick too often, but he used to practice with them. Then he'd taken a Bludger to the head and Mr. Hilbury, their flying coach, had freaked. Sirius didn't get it; sure there had been a ton of blood but they saw worse Quidditch injuries nearly every game. Still Hilbury had spent hours talking with Remus after the accident and the brown haired boy hadn't practiced with them since.
Sirius frowned. He just didn't understand Remus' illness. Madam Pomfrey could cure absolutely anything. They'd thought Peter was dying after he and James had tried to use Wingardium Leviosa to float their smaller friend through the windows into the Hufflepuff common room. Of course a lot of the 'blood and brains' had turned out to be the red and yellow paint Peter was carrying with him. Still they'd been horrified, Madam Pomfrey had fixed Peter up as good as new by the next day. Sirius didn't get why Remus kept on relapsing every single month.
A loud bang, his mother stamping her foot, brought Sirius' mind back to the present. "You will pay attention to me young man." His mother declared.
"Maybe I'd be able to if I weren't practically fainting from hunger here." Sirius complained.
"You'll receive permission to move once I'm convinced you're properly remorseful." Esterhazy declared.
"Esterhazy." A deep voice warned.
Sirius' mother jumped then half bowed to the scowling man looking down on them from one of the pictures lining the wall. "Phineas, I didn't realize you were visiting." She simpered. "The boy, well the Gryffindor influence was showing and I…"
Phineas' dark look froze her voice. "Regardless of House the boy is my blood while you are nothing more than my great grandson's wife. You'd do well to remember that."
Esterhazy cringed. "Sirius, go to your room, I'll send Kreacher up with a tray later."