Update 12-26-20: Minor edits

Chapter 15 – The Heirlooms

"And here I thought you were sending out your trunk to be refurbished."

Sirius let out a nervous laugh leaning back against the wooden chair. He could feel his heart beating fast. "I'd be a right prat if that were the case."

Remus's joking response had been unexpected. He'd waited until now to tell Remus the finer details of why he'd ran away. He needed to explain that before going into why he needed to empty his trunk. Though in hindsight, Sirius realized he should have never been concerned to begin with. Remus wasn't judgmental by nature, and he couldn't possibly think less of him than he had after the werewolf incident. It might have had to do with the fact that Remus had loving parents who scoured the world and used up most of their savings searching for a cure for lycanthropy. As with James and Peter, none of them could really relate to being treated so terribly by the very people who were supposed to love you unconditionally. Though he wasn't being completely fair, Remus certainly understood hardship and the cruelties humans were capable of.

The bit of light streaming through the half open curtains illuminated the mess of items still on Sirius's bed. Remus was sitting on his bed and Sirius had pulled over one of the extra chairs in the dorm. His bed looked strange with the empty space where his trunk had been.

"Your parents they are…" Remus's voice trailed off unable to complete the sentence.

"Crazy? Insane? Horrid? Shall I continue listing adjectives?"

Remus smiled briefly. "I suppose those will do, but…"

Sirius who had been fiddling with his tie glanced up. "But what?"

"Aren't you more worried about…" Again, Remus trailed off.

"About what?"

"Voldemort." Remus uttered the word quickly. It was brave to say it at all as so many were too afraid to now-a-days. "From what I've read in the Prophet he doesn't usually like it when you say 'no' to him."

Sirius laughed dryly. "No, he does not. Luckily, he didn't know."

"He didn't know?"

"My pledge of fidelity was supposed to be a surprise. Lucious Malfoy set it up that way. Besides Malfoy and my family, no one knows I was supposed to meet him the day I ran."

"I suppose that's good," Remus said, and he appeared to be processing the information. "Maybe they'll leave you alone, now that you aren't the heir?"

Sirius shrugged. "Maybe. Hopefully. I think Voldemort and his followers will still be watching me closely. I still have some influence as ex-heir to a powerful ancient pure blood family."

"That's a pleasant thought."

Sirius nodded. Honestly, he hadn't given Voldemort much thought at all. The threat the Dark Lord posed felt inconsequential compared to his family. It would be stupid to dismiss the danger, if Voldemort heard of his defiance, he'd surely be murdered. It was also naïve to believe he'd be written off just because he was no longer heir. Sirius was a public figure and running away had not changed that. As long as he stayed the topic of gossip then Voldemort would remain interested in him; whether to recruit him or kill him would remain to be seen.

Remus cleared his throat breaking Sirius's thoughts. "What are you going to do about your parents?"

"What can I do?" Sirius gesturing roughly to his possessions scattered on his bed. His thoughts about Voldemort had left him agitated and speaking about his family only made it worse. "I ran away and it still feels like they won."

"You did get away. They haven't won. Not yet."

"I hate that they can barge in with lawyers demanding whatever they please!" Sirius sprang to his feet, walking swiftly over to the window. He didn't speak again until he had his emotions better under control. "Just knowing they are still monitoring me…"

"I know it's not what you wanted," Remus began. Sirius turned, throwing him a withering look. "Use it against them."

"And how do you propose I do that?" Sirius asked sarcastically.

"Be successful. Top grades. Good behavior."

"That's what they want."

"Is it? From what you've told me and the way your family had that Prophet article framed, I would think they'd want you to fail. You are supposed to be the awful son. If the disowned Black heir is expelled from Hogwarts, won't everyone think that your parents made the right decision? They'd be praised for taking the reins of the family away from someone so unstable and unsuitable."

Sirius opened his mouth to protest and then shut it because Remus was right. Somehow Remus had guessed correctly his family's motivation despite having nothing to do with the pure-blood world. "I just…it sounds like an awful lot of work. Failing would be easier." It was Remus's turn to give him a look. "I'm just kidding. I don't want to be expelled."

"I'm glad to hear that," Remus stated. "I do sometimes wonder."

Sirius let out a laugh. He sometimes wondered too why he so often skirted the line between detention and expulsion.

"What are we going to do about all your stuff?"

"Professor Keenan said he'd send some boxes up later." Sirius walked back over to his bed picking up an old shoe box that he had stored odds and ends in. Lifting the lid on the top were several photographs of the four of them taken in third year. They all looked so young. "Maybe I should go through some of this stuff. What are your plans for the day?"

"I've got to do some research in the library."

Sirius groaned. "For what? We don't have any reports due this week."

"Extra credit for Flitwick. I have to make up points for that practical test I spectacularly failed."

"What are you researching?"

"Map Charms."

"Hmmm…doesn't sound particularly interesting."

"I didn't pick it," Remus replied. He pulled several books out of his satchel before adding a notebook and quill.

"Suppose I'll join you. I have plenty of school work and since now I'm going to be a model student, I suppose I better get started."

"Didn't you have a group meeting to go to?"

"I've missed it now. Haven't I?" Sirius glanced sideways at Remus suddenly worried that Remus might not want his company. They were getting along better, but it certainly wasn't like before when he could assume that Remus would want to spend time with him. Perhaps asking about his group meeting was Remus's way of hinting he didn't want Sirius to tag along. "Unless you want to be alone?"

"No, you can come," Remus said, slinging his school bag over his shoulder.

Sirius grinned and scooped up his bag from the floor. It was still packed from before when he planned on meeting with his group. "Ready?"

The boys descended down the stairs and they were met with a still very lively common room. Gryffindors glanced their way curiously. One of the girls in his Charms group, Elizabeth Stroud, called out to him. "Oi! Black!" She was sitting with several other Gryffindor girls included Mary MacDonald and Lily Evans.

"Sorry I missed the meeting," Sirius said.

"What was so important? Couldn't miss your appointment to get your trunk repainted?" Stroud asked looking cross.

Sirius laughed. "Remus asked me the same thing."

"This project is thirty percent of our grade, and if you aren't going to do your part-"

Sirius took a deep breath. If he wanted everyone to know what happened, now was the perfect time to say something, especially with Mary MacDonald listening in. She was a known gossip. "I didn't want to miss the meeting. My parents are really angry with me, so they demanded some of the heirlooms back…including my trunk. My cousin showed up with a lawyer and threatening legal action. I had to drop everything to speak to her."

Stroud looked shocked. MacDonald's mouth was hanging out. Lily Evans was looking at him with a strange expression. Though Sirius couldn't control his family (and they were the ones acting crazy), it was difficult not to feel some embarrassment from the situation. He wasn't worried about the reaction of the student body. Even those who found it amusing would never say so to his face. Everyone in the castle knew Sirius wouldn't hesitate to hex someone that annoyed him, and that James would back him up. The Slytherins were a different case, but their opinion mattered the least. "Anyway, I'm heading to the library, what part do you want me to look into?"

Stroud snapped out of her shock and fumbled with her papers. "Here – uh – I listed what everyone was assigned. I made copy for you."

Sirius took the sheet from her and folded it twice depositing it in his bag. "Right. Thanks. I'll start working on it straight away."

The girls were still studying him silently and he nodded at them. He and Remus exited through the Portrait Hall.

"You told them?" Remus asked once they were several feet away from the entrance of Gryffindor Tower.

"Use it against them. Like you said, right?"

Remus still looked taken aback. "Yes...I did say that."

"The whole common room saw Professor Keenan take my trunk. I had to say something. The truth this time hurts them more than me."

"Yea. You're right."

The boys lapsed into silence and the walk to the library was long enough to build up the wall of awkwardness back again. Once they choose a table Remus didn't waste a second before he went off into the stacks leaving Sirius alone. Sirius glumly flattened the paper with his assignment. He knew he had to stop over-analyzing Remus's actions.

Remus returned with the book he needed and after several minutes Sirius looked up to see Remus staring at him.

"What?" Sirius asked. He wasn't one to feel self-conscious easily, but if he had ink on his face, he would like Remus to just tell him instead of staring.

"Nothing…it's just nice to be studying again together. This feels boring and normal, and I'm glad for it." Remus paused looking suddenly embarrassed. "That sounds sappy doesn't it?"

"It does," Sirius agreed a grin appearing on his face. He wasn't one to share feelings constantly, but sometimes it did need to be said. "But I'm glad for it too."

They shared a grin and then went back to working on their separate assignments.

James swerved in and out of the defense players and drove the quaffle straight through one of the hoops. There was a large eruption of cheering from the stands, distracting James for a moment as this was only a practice and not an actual game.

Distractions in quidditch always had a potential for causing danger.

"Potter!"

The shout came from his right and when he looked a Bludger was hurtling straight towards him. There was only enough time to dodge to the left, but the small movement was enough to save James from a direct hit. The ball still hit his shoulder and caused his broom to spin out of control for several seconds before he was able to regain control of it. Once he was sure he wasn't going to fall to his death the pain from the impact began to register. He flew towards the ground with his teammates close behind him. The grass was still that brown winter color. The temperature hadn't risen high enough to turn it back to green. He winced as he tried to rotate his shoulder. There were no broken bones, but there surely would be bruising.

The Beater who had hit the Bludger began apologizing profusely. He had meant the Bludger to stop James from scoring, but had misjudged the timing completely. Gallagher, the team captain, was the last to approach James and he did not seem at all concerned for James's welfare. Instead he looked more peeved than anything.

"I want you to tell your fanclub that I've banned them from watching our practices!"

"What?"

"You heard me Potter. We have a game in two weeks and I won't have you distracted."

"I – they aren't my fan club." James glanced back at the four fourth year girls who had made the racket. It was quite a feat that such a small group was able to make so much noise. The girls weren't there just to see him surely. Watching Quidditch Practices was a popular pastime of girls that age and all his teammates were considered popular by just being on the team.

Deciding James wasn't going to approach the giggling group of fourth year girls, Gallagher walked over instead. James, of course, recognized the fourth years. Last year they'd begun the tradition of holding signs with his name and the other chasers in red and gold glitter. He'd even spoken to them a few times, but so had other members of the team. He'd probably even flirted with them.

"You can't watch practice anymore."

"Says who? It's not up to you Aidan," the tallest girl said. If James remembered correctly her first name was Gloria. She had strawberry colored hair and pretty blue eyes, which happened to be the same color of the sky.

"I say. You can't be here if you are distracting one of my players." Gallagher turned to look at James as if he had personally asked them to be there. Gloria though looked delighted by the news. "Flirt with him all you want off the pitch."

"Oh fine," Gloria said in a huff. "Aunt Celia said you haven't written her in ages, so you better tell her I told you to." She nodded to all the other girls to gather their stuff and they sauntered away.

The team was on the ground, brooms slung over their shoulders all staring with amusement at Gallagher and James. "Practice is over," Gallagher called stalking off to the changing rooms.

Peter was jogging down the bleachers and when he reached James still standing in the middle of the pitch, he was out of breath. "She's going to ask you to Hogsmeade," he blurted out. "I heard her saying so."

"Who?' James asked, even though he knew.

"Gloria Edwards, obviously," Peter said giving him a look.

Peter was correct. Gloria was not only waiting for him, but she had sent her friends away.

"Sorry for that," she said with a smile. "Aidan is too stressed out."

"He's your cousin?" James asked.

"Yes. He's the one who got me interested in Quidditch and then he goes and yells at me when I want to watch it." She flipped her hair. "I want to make it up to you."

"There's no need," James said quickly. She was bold, he'd give her that.

"Let me buy you a butterbeer. Next Hogsmeade visit?" She must have seen his hesitation because she added. "I'll bring my mates. You can bring yours."

James glanced at Peter to see what he thought about the idea. Of course, Peter was nodding his agreement. It probably would be fun. He had been thinking about trying to ask Lily Evans to go out with him, this might be for the better. The way she scowled at him at every opportunity probably meant she'd decline his offer. "Sure. One butterbeer couldn't hurt."

"Great!" Gloria said. She darted off before James could suggest she walk with them back to Gryffindor Tower.

"You're lucky. She's pretty."

"I'm not interested in her," James scoffed.

They soon found out from Mary MacDonald that Sirius and Remus were in the library and not in the common room. In their dormitory, James swiftly took off his shirt so he could inspect the bruise.

"Sirius is probably only going to the library to get on Remus's good side," Peter muttered.

"I'm going to go change. Need to use some of Remus's bruise cream, my shoulder is hurting and then I suppose I'll head there too."

"Can't we do something else," Peter grumbled.

"We need to get our assignments done at some point. Might as well do it as a group.