Prologue
The Letter.
Sirius Black was never one to hate company, or an audience. As a matter of fact, he loved it. But if it involved his parents at all…he would have wanted to run all the way to America and live with those idiotic muggles.
Yes, to him, being with his family was absolute torture. Worse than torture, even.
He hated them, and they hated him. It was that simple. Well, not quite…He hated everyone except for Christy Black. She was the only sister that wasn't…crazy. But he had hardly seen her since she left Hogwarts.
She was the only relief that he had from the…the…idiots he had as a brother, sister, father, and mother.
"Sirius Black, get your butt down here, or I'll hex you to Mars and back again!"
Muttering under his breath, the 11 year old boy trudged out of his room, a messy, but somewhat organized shrine to the English Quidditch team. "I'd like to see you try," he muttered, very annoyed. He hadn't done anything bad recently…Oh. That was the problem. His idiot of a mother wanted him to be a ibad/i child, so she'd have something to complain about. Talk about…idiotic.
"She better not here you say that," came the cool voice of his older sister.
"Shut it, Whitney. I'll hex you."
"Like you said, I'd like to see you try. Just try me, Sirius. You couldn't even hit me with a simple disarming charm. You're not even in Hogwarts." Whitney flipped her blonde hair with blue tips, that Sirius hated, over her back, her light blue eyes penetrating Sirius' brown ones.
"Maybe because I haven't gone to Hogwarts! You are among the smartest genius' I've met," he smiled, and went of to Whtiney and shook her hand. "Congratulations.
"Freak."
"Jerk. Get down to mum, before I hex you!"
What a lovely sister I have, he thought bitterly.
Hurrying down the stairs, his short messy bob of hair flying around, not quite passed the top of his ears. He was growing into a handsome young boy, but, he didn't really care. All he wanted to do was get away from his family.
And he could think of one way to get away. But, first, he would need the letter. But if he didn't get one…he might be kicked out of his family as a disgrace. That might always work…
Hurrying into the kitchen he pasted on a grin, knowing it would annoy his mother. "Yes my mother, sweetest, darling, woman?" he cooed.
"Cut the crap. You have your letter. From Hogwarts," she glared at him, tossing a large packet of parchment on his head. It hit him squarely on the forehead, and it stung a little. His mother smiled at his half pained expression. "I truly don't know where I went wrong, Sirius. You could have the most perfect ch-,"
"Idiot." He finished.
"You prove my point."
"I'm such an easy child," he grinned, bending over, and picking up the yellowed parchment, escaping to his room before she could say anything else to him.
In his room, he collapsed on his bed, the hot air from the sun beating in from the British streets. Finally. He was holding salvation from the…rats hole in his hands.
Dear Mr. Sirius Black,
You have been accepted into the school of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will be accepted to be taken to school by the Hogwarts Express on August 31, and term will begin on the 1 of September. Inside this letter, is all the books you will need as an incoming First Year, and all the supplies you shall need as well. Please enjoy the rest of your Summer hiatus, and be prepared for a fun new school year!
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Head of Gryffindor.
His heart pounded in his chest, excitement springing from every leak it could find; his mouth, ears, nose…everywhere, the Black boy felt joy.
And for once, he was not feeling cocky.
Dinner that night seemed almost bearable to Sirius, because, soon, he knew that he would be able to get away from his mothers insufferable cooking, and all the comments and things she ragged on him about.
"Today I got accepted to Hogwarts," Sirius said, grinning, telling no one in particular. As he spoke, his mouth was full of the disgusting potato stew his mother had cooked, although, he was quite sure that potato's were NOT red. Or, at least not red all over…Still, he ate it.
"Gross, Sirius. Shut your large trap before I'm forced to VOMIT in it," Whitneynapped at Sirius. In reply, he turned towards her, showing her the featured red potato in his mouth.
"Want it? It's not really settling with me," he grinned, laughing. Goodness this was fun. He would want to be in Slytherin house just to do this to his sister every night, and embarrass her in front of all her friends.
Then again, of course, he would have to be in Slytherin house.
"Sirius Orion Black. Shut your mouth this instant," his mother barked.
"Mum, it didn't hurt anyone."
"Shut. Up."
She was just about the loveliest woman he knew. Then again…he didn't know many. Although, maybe beat her out on that. Although it was close.
He simply smiled, and chewed the disgusting food, and decided, for once, to make his mother proud. Or at least, happy.
So he swallowed.