"Kreacher, lay out the going out clothes for the boys. We're going to Diagon Alley," Walburga instructed the Blacks' house elf.
"As you wish, Miss," Kreacher said with a deep bow and went into Sirius' room first. "You didn't hear anything about knocking either?" asked Sirius in an annoyed tone, sitting on an armchair in his room and reading through a Quidditch magazine. He rolled his eyes as Kreacher banged his head against his wardrobe. "Stop punishing yourself and do what you're supposed to do," he ordered. "Yes, Master Sirius," he retorted, bowing and muttering against the floor "You little snot. Kreacher needs to touch his clothes, even though Kreacher doesn't want him to." Sirius looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"What was that?"
Kreacher was still talking to the floor. "Kreacher will put the clothes out, as your mother ordered."
The house elf then went to his wardrobe and put out the clothes Sirius' mother thought would be fine. Black trousers, along with a white shirt and waistcoat made of sinfully expensive fabric, plus a noble cloak and mantle that quite clearly expressed the family's grandeur. Sirius didn't like it. He didn't want to look like he had escaped from a royal family every time he went out.
But he really wanted to go to the Diagon Alley now to get his things for Hogwarts and his wand. If he started arguing about clothes now, his mother would get very angry and punish him. Then he could forget about Angular Alley.
Kreacher was still fiddling with his shirt. That was too much for Sirius. He grabbed the house elf by his thin little arms and dragged him into the corridor. "Get out of my room! I can change by myself!"
Kreacher then went into Regulus' room.
"Master Regulus, Kreacher has been instructed to lay out going out clothes for you," Kreacher said with a bow.
Regulus was currently sitting at his desk reading a book. When the house-elf came in, he slid down from his chair. "Wait, I'll open the wardrobe for you, then you'll have an easier time," he said, opening the wardrobe. "It's not Master Regulus' job to open the wardrobe for Kreacher," the elf said, picking out the same kind of clothes as Sirius' and placing them on his bed.
"Thank you, Kreacher," Regulus said kindly. "Wait here."
He went to his nightcap and pulled out a box. "Here, as thanks." Regulus placed a small chocolate in Kreacher's hand.
Kreacher looked at the boy in front of him, touched.
"Master Regulus, house elves are not to be rewarded. Kreacher is just doing his job."
Regulus smiled at the house-elf's head. "I insist you keep it and eat it," he said, giving him an encouraging smile.
"Thank you, Master Regulus. You are too kind. Kreacher appreciates it very much," the house-elf murmured, popping the chocolate into his mouth.
Once the Blacks had finished dressing, they made their way to the Diagon Alley by means of Floo Powder.
"Sirius, don't run so far ahead!" shouted Walburga after him, as he had run curiously to the shop windows with the new brooms. His mother caught up with him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Sirius, that I even have to mention this, behave yourself or you can attend Hogwarts without a wand," she hissed. The threat sunk in. He tightened and stayed close to his parents.
In Ollivander's, Sirius tried out wands until he found the right one.
Then they sought out Madame Malkins.
"Only the best fabric for my sons," Walburga instructed. If they were buying a cloak for Sirius, Regulus shouldn't go away empty-handed. He should get one for festive occasions. While the brothers were being measured, Walburga and Orion waited in the anteroom. "Well, well, Mr Lupin," Orion remarked as Lyall entered the shop with his son and wife.
"Your son goes to Hogwarts too?" he asked. Lyall nodded stiffly. "Hope, can you sign Remus up for the fitting already?" he asked, addressing his wife. Hope nodded and led Remus to Madame Malkins and they both went into the fitting room, which was next to the Black brothers'. Due to the segregated areas, Remus didn't encounter the two of them yet.
Orion continued to talk at Lyall. "For presuming to take your wife. She's a Muggle and has no business in Diagon Alley. It's bad enough that you're marrying a Muggle, you blood traitor, but for you to bring this worthless woman into the magical world as well, thus tainting the rheinessness of the blood so badly, is decidedly going too far!" snarled Orion angrily.
"Take that back!" hissed Lyall, drawing his wand. Madame Malkins intervened. "Gentlemen! There will be no dueling here!" she said firmly. Orion rushed into the dressing room where Sirius and Regulus were sitting.
"Walburga! We're getting out of the shop. Only dirt goes shopping here!"
Walburga nodded and stood up. "Sirius, Regulus, put the cloak aside, we're leaving."
"Yes, but Mother, it fits," Sirius countered.
"Sirius, I said something, obey me!" snapped Walburga at her eldest son. "Set an example for your younger brother."
The two young Blacks had no choice but to remove their cloa ks. Orion organised a private tailor who represented the pure blood.
Just before Sirius left for his first trip to Hogwarts, he sat with his parents and brother at the long table, which seemed absurdly large with only four people. Kreacher was walking around serving the food.
"Tomorrow is your first day at Hogwarts, my son. You will carry on the family honour. House Slytherin will gain a great student," his father announced.
Sirius put his cutlery aside.
"What if I don't get into Slytherin?" he asked.
"Don't be silly. You're a Black. You belong in Slytherin," Orion countered.
"But maybe I don't want to go to Slytherin."
Walburga sucked in an audible breath.
"Oh come on, don't talk nonsense. Slytherin is the only house that upholds pure blood. We will not tolerate any other choice, do you understand?" said Orion in a quiet yet very threatening tone.
"No," Sirius objected fearlessly. "I don't understand. Hogwarts has four houses so there are four choices for me. I'm not going to settle on one just because you ask me to!"
"Regulus, go to your room. Your mother and I want to settle this matter with your brother alone."
Regulus hesitated. "Yes, but ..."
"Regulus obey," Walburga said sternly.
His mother's tone brooked no argument.
The younger Black stood up, gave his brother another desperate look and went to his room.
Regulus left his door ajar so he could listen. But that wasn't necessary with all the yelling.
His mother's voice was still clearly audible.
"Blood traitors and mudbloods frequent the other houses! We'll beat that wish out of you!"
Then there was silence for a moment before a bloodcurdling shout from Sirius. Regulus could already hear his pain in his voice. What were they doing to him? Regulus pressed his hands to his ears with tears in his eyes. Make them stop, he thought to himself. He didn't want his brother to suffer.
Later that evening, when it was very quiet in the house and he assumed his parents were asleep, Regulus picked up his box of chocolates and slipped into Sirius' room with it.
Sirius was sitting on the bed, staring stubbornly straight ahead at the wall. He looked mentally wrecked and so close to crying.
Without hesitation, Regulus sat down next to his big brother and held out the chocolates to him. "Here. Eat this and you'll feel better," the younger Black breathed to him. Sirius took a chocolate with shaky fingers and popped it into his mouth. "Thank you," he breathed.
Regulus leaned his head against his big brother's shoulder.
"Remember what we promised each other, no matter what house we end up in, we'll still be brothers," the younger Black breathed into the silence.
Sirius turned his head and looked at his brother.
"Then you don't mind if I'm not in Slytherin?" he asked quietly.
"No, whichever house you get into, you'll still be my brother," Regulus insisted.
The next day, the Blacks were at the station. Regulus tried hard not to cry.
Sirius had to admit that he was going to miss his little brother, but otherwise he was glad to get away from home, from that house, that house-elf and his parents. None of which he was going to miss. "I'll see you on Christmas break, Reggie," Sirius said, ruffling his hair as he stepped to the door of the train. He smiled at his little brother, which disappeared when he heard his mother.
"Remember what we told you. Make us proud."
Sirius didn't glance back and boarded the Hogwarts Express wordlessly. But his parents' words always lingered in his mind. Did he even have a choice? Did he have to go to Slytherin. For a moment he had resigned himself to the thoughts, at least until he pulled open the compartment door and looked up at a boy with glasses and raven black wildly tousled hair. Sirius didn't know why, but he had a feeling that this encounter was going to change his life completely.
"Is there a seat here?" he asked.
"Sure, see," the boy replied. "My name is James, by the way," he introduced himself and from that moment on, Sirius felt, a new life would begin for him, with the beauties he had never known before.