Descent into Madness
IV. Retribution
It had begun to snow and the windowpane was cool against his forehead. He found the many falling flakes soothing in the silence of the dormitory. The beds were made, their occupants gone. Sirius shifted as he tucked his arms in closer to his chest, mindful of his sling. It hadn't been his fault, really. James had wanted him to come home with him over the holidays. It was his mother's fault. She'd written to the Potters. Now he was one of the few students stuck in Hogwarts over the holidays and the only Gryffindor.
He leaned his head back against the stone of the sill, feeling his skin begin to prickle with goosebumps as he lost body heat by changing position. He didn't mind. The cold so perfectly matched how he felt inside. Alone.
Someone opened a distant door and the sound of shuffling footsteps echoed. Someone was coming to the dormitory… Sirius tried not to hunch his shoulders as he turned to eye the closed door. He started when there was a rap. "Mr. Black?"
That was Filch's voice.
"Mr. Black? You in there? You have a visitor. She's waiting just outside the portrait and said to gather your things then come down immediately. She's in no mood for foolery, that one…" his voice trailed off as he began to shuffle down the stairs once more, muttering, "nice to see a woman who knows how to handle the little brats…"
He didn't care if he shed his mask and showed his sheer anguish. No one was there to see it, anyway. Suddenly shaking, he slid off the ledge and made his way to his bed, wrapping his arm around the bedpost and leaning his cheek against the smooth wood. He felt the skin of his forehead tug his eyebrow up as his high cheekbone slid against the wood. His legs suddenly felt very weak. His hands were clammy as a cold sweat swept over his form. It was all over now. She was waiting for him, and he didn't dare aggravate her any further than she undoubtedly was.
With a deep, shuddering gasp he stepped away from the bedpost, his throat constricted.
oo000oo oo000oo oo000oo oo000oo oo000oo oo000oo oo000oo oo000oo oo000oo oo000oo
Sirius was trying valiantly not to vomit. He kept his back pressed against the cold stone of the wall, wishing he had James' invisibility cloak. This statue seemed to shield him from view well enough, yet the moment she exited he knew he'd wish he were hidden behind parapets of stone. He'd grown so numb he couldn't even feel where she'd dug her fingers into his upper arm. The only pain was the writhing of his insides.
He took in a quick breath when she shouted once more.
"He will not be continuing his studies here! I should have known better than to place my faith in this incompetent mudblood-loving-"
"When the welfare of a student is concerned, Mrs. Black, it is the duty of the head of house to take action."
"What lies has he been telling you?"
Sirius sank even lower against the wall, now hunched low behind the statue.
"Mrs. Black, I would appreciate it if you did not shout-"
"You're telling me not to shout? How dare you! You are trying to keep my son from me!"
"Mrs. Black, if you do not calm yourself I am going to have to ask Mr. Filch to escort you from our premises."
"You cannot steal my son away from me."
There was a pause.
"I believe he left you on his own quite some time ago."
After a long pause Sirius heard the venomous tone of his mother that he'd thought she only used within their home. "This is not the end. Expect legal proceedings."
"Mrs. Black, with all due respect, there is not a court in the wizarding world that would side with you." Sirius' heart lifted at the strength of both her voice and statement.
"Then you underestimate the power of a good family name."
"A mistake I am more than willing to make in this case. Now, good day to you."
There was a loud noise as Sirius was sure his mother had slammed something, then the furious clicking of heels as she exited. She rounded the statue, her mouth a thin line and her eyes livid. "On your feet, boy!" she yanked him up by the scruff of his neck. Her tight grip remained there, Sirius hunching slightly at the pressure. "I'm taking you home."
Sirius' heart beat so quickly he felt his entire body glow with heat. None of it had mattered. He was going to regret this for the rest of his life, however short it may be… but the sight of the emerald garlands upon the banisters caused the world to slow. He blinked up at his mother then looked back, digging his heels into the ground. Mrs. Black did not slow, however, pulling on Sirius' collar rather as an angry owner might attempt to yank along a resisting dog. "Move, boy, or you'll regret it."
"No." His voice was quiet and his eyes glued to the floor, but he had said it.
"What?" She released him and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look her in the face. "Don't you dare disobey me."
"I'm not coming with you." He reached up and lightly grabbed her forearm in the attempt to remove his chin from her grasp. She released him as soon as she felt the pressure, yet used her freehand to swiftly backhand him.
He let his head hang to the side, his face burning furiously from the strike, yet with conscious effort, his shoulders remained straight.
"Mrs. Black!"
"Stay out of this, McGonagall! Now stop this nonsense and come with me."
Tentatively his blue eyes traveled upward to meet his mother's through his bangs. She was glaring at him intently, the whites betraying a small amount of fear. She was not on her turf; she did not trust her control over him. He raised his head and swallowed hard. "No."
Mrs. Black cocked her head. "What?"
"I believe he made himself quite clear, Mrs. Black."
She shot the professor a glare before returning her ire to her child. "You would choose these mudbloods over your own mother? You would turn your back on the woman who gave birth to you- on your own flesh and blood?" She extended a shaky hand. "Come with me now, Sirius. Show me you still have some loyalty to your bloodline. Tell me you aren't lost."
He gave McGonagall a measured look over his shoulder, then returning his gaze to his mother he took a slow step back.
Mrs. Black's nostrils flared and for a moment her facial features floundered as she sought to express herself. "Then you are no longer my son. You shall be disinherited and spoken of within our home no more." She stepped forward as Sirius's form winced at her words. "I loathe the day you were born."
With one last vicious look at McGonagall, her heels echoed in the quiet hall, her shouts at Kreacher dimly heard in the distance.
Sirius took in a shaking, rigid breath as she disappeared. He started when he felt a hand fall upon his shoulder. He looked up to see McGonagall. "That was a very brave thing you did, Mr. Black."
He let his gaze slide down to her hand on his shoulder. It lingered there for a moment then returned to the open doors through which his mother had exited. He felt the grip on his shoulder tighten and for the first time realized that he was shaking. His lips parted, yet it took him a struggling moment to speak. "Pro…tha-thank you, Professor."
"I merely stood behind you, Mr. Black. You did the rest on your own." He felt her hand tentatively rest upon his head. "I am damn proud of you, Sirius Black. Damn proud."
At her crude use of language he craned his neck to look her in the eye. She gave him a watery smile.
Please Review!
A/N: I added more onto this chapter than there originally was, as well. As some of you have let me know how much you're enjoying this tale, I've been keen to deliver, and thus make more content. Please let me know if it's working. Thanks!
Review Responses:
RubyRasin: Awww, bless your heart! Don't worry, there's still at least one more chapter, then I'm thinking of a companion piece of sorts… but you've never been a faithful reviewer? Ah- then I am most truly blessed to have your loyalty! (bows down) Thank you, my dear friend! Yeah, James and Sirius really ought to have a moment when they delves deeper into the subject matter, but alas, boys will be boys, for now at least. But don't worry… I have an idea for something of the sort that I think you shall enjoy… LOL- yes, we Americans can at least try and get away with "I want it faster and I want more of it!" can't we? I hope this was fast enough! And I hope you enjoyed it! Take care!
LaLa-the-Panda: (Smiles) Yeah, friendship is a beautiful thing, isn't it? And thank the stars that Sirius has so many good friends. If only Peter didn't turn out to be a… well, maybe I better leave my obvious thoughts on that matter for a time when I have a rated M story and can get away with a few curse words… but let's just say that he's a "stupid sorry parasitic sack of entrails" (Hook in Hook)!
niccc: Awww, thank you so much my dear! I also hope that this chapter hasn't displeased you! And bless your heart- it nearly made you cry? I can only thank you for such heartfelt words, because I don't know what to say! Thank you. :o) And yes, I also adore McGonagall in the concerned for her student role. :o) So what did you think of this chapter, especially in that regard?
EsScaper: Oooh- still sense something, you do? LOL- Okay, enough of Yoda. ;o) I'm so glad that you liked the reconciliation between James and Sirius. I was a bit iffy on that… An yes! I totally agree with you in that Remus seems like he's more Sirius' soulmate. He has so many demons of his own, and is so observant/wise that he can identify them in others. But I think that frightens Sirius a bit, at least right now. So what did you think of this chapter? I hope it met your standards! LOL- Take care, sweetie!
saiyanwizardgurl: LOL- oooh- I got a mental cheer when I posted the last chapter? I LOVE it when I get so into a story that that happens. I am deeply honored that you might feel that way about something I've written. Thank you. :o) And thank you so much for your feedback about the last chapter- I was so nervous trying to write James, Sirius and Remus all in a room together when one wasn't asleep or otherwise engaged, lol. So I'm glad you approve of how it turned out! What did you think of this chapter? Love ya, sweetie!
Padfoot: "Padfoots!" "PadFEET!" lol- so sorry mellon-nïn, Blibo just made be write that little bit… but on topic, I loved that you loved the last chapter! LOL. Yah, I know, Remus can understand Sirius in a much deeper way than James can understand Sirius. Like I said to EsScaper, I think that's because of Remus' own demons. They've educated him, if you will. As always, thank you for your smile, and for your support. Love ya, Pads!
