AUTHORS NOTE:
I've genuinely appreciated the reviews I received on the last chapter, I'm trying to update as much as I can, seeing as I am on summer vacation.
I will take all reviews into consideration, and don't worry my loves, there is so much more to Sirius's character than just his love for the female species. I plan on exploring all these different characters, and how they are affected by the events that come in their way throughout this entire story.
Here is chapter 4! I've decided to not spend too much time on the first three years of Hermione's and Regulus's time in Hogwarts, but I will at times include events that I think are important to the storyline and that will help you all understand the story more.
Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review of what you thought
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Chapter 4
By the time it was summer vacation yet again, and Hermione and Regulus were sat with their new friend, Severus Snape on the train back home, the two young Blacks had learnt a lot about their house, and the rivalry between them and the Gryffindor's.
Severus Snape did not exactly like the children seated in front of him, but he tolerated them, and he could not deny that they were not mindless fools like Sirius Black and his band of misfits were, they were intelligent and worked hard.
He'd decided that he enjoyed their company more than he enjoyed sitting with Lucius and his little followers, and decided that it wouldn't be so bad if they were to become acquaintances, as he no longer had to take the role of their little tour guide.
All three Slytherins were each reading their own books, each one of them basking in the comforting silence.
On the other side of the Hogwarts Express, Sirius Black sat with his best mates, making jokes and remembering the best parts of their third year.
However, as they neared home, Sirius felt his heart plummet slightly, he knew that his mother would very excited to see Regulus, seeing as he was sorted into Slytherin, and he was glad that his younger brother would not sport the similar bruise he had when he came home that first time after his first semester in Hogwarts as a Gryffindor.
He was glad that his brother would not feel the pain he had.
And Sirius was also dreading the walk into a place that was nowhere near home, but more like a prison, where he couldn't help but allow his reckless behavior to take control, which ended up with a bloody nose, or mouth and bruises that sewed his eyes shut as his mother couldn't handle the way he so blatantly disrespected her, although he would assume it was his right to stand up for himself. He was truly a Gryffindor through in through, and that at times pushed him to do the stupidest things, but things he thought were necessary.
He couldn't be like Regulus; he couldn't just shut up and say, 'yes mother, anything for you mother, whatever you please mother'. He was, sadly, nothing like his perfect little brother.
The boy was everything his mother dreamed of for her child, and Sirius was a living, breathing nightmare that she tries to oppress.
The sound of James calling his name is what brought him out of his little daze, and he gave his friend a grin that didn't reach his eyes, and James knew, and placed a hand on Sirius's shoulder before the two sat in silence and watched as the train approached Platform 9 ¾.
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Hermione ran off the train as soon as it screeched to a stop, and bound down the small steps and towards the open arms of her father, who grabbed her and lifted her into the air, holding her tightly against him and sniffing her dark curls, the smell of cinnamon calming him.
He had been worried since the second she sent that letter, stating that she was a Slytherin, and he felt his heart soar in pride that she would be in the same house that he was in, but feared that those wretched snakes would do harm to his little girl.
She giggled as he swung her from side to side, and soon placed her on the ground in front of him. She was growing up fast, he found that she was much heavier than he remembered, and much taller too.
"My little darling, I've missed you. You'll tell me of all your little adventures as soon as we get home. Your grandfather has invited us over for dinner later tonight, he's missed you as well." He caressed the top of her head comfortingly, and she leaned into his side as they grabbed her trunk and left the platform to go home.
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Regulus spotted his mother clad in all black, her hair done neatly, and her makeup impeccable. As soon as her eyes spotted her little boy she smiled at him, and he cringed slightly at the unnatural form of expression that took over his mother's features.
He was not used to smiles, and so when he approached her and she leaned in to hug him, he flinched only slightly, not enough for her to notice and attempted to return the hug.
Sirius approached the two, and held back a snarky remark that he wanted to spit towards his mother, plastering a smile on her face and greeting the woman he'd grown to hate over the years.
"Mother, you are looking well." He spoke, his voice form and filled with the manners she'd beat into him at such a young age, and the grimace returned to her face almost instantly as she leaned away from her Regulus and took in her other son, the one she wished was never born on most days.
"Tuck in your shirt Sirius, you look like one of those poorly mudbloods" and Sirius almost hexed her but only nodded his head, tucking in the shirt and waiting till he was home, he did not take kindly to public beatings, and his mother would never ruin her image as the lovely Walburga, no, power was everything for noble and most ancient house of Black.
"We are so proud of you Regulus, you've done well by the House of Black. Your father and I are so pleased with your placement in Slytherin, as is your grandfather and he is holding a dinner in honor of you and Hermione, and your first year at Hogwarts." She patted the top of Regulus's head and he stood straight.
He hated to admit this, he truly did, but he was glad that he his mother was happy, she rarely ever was, he was always the second choice, before Sirius began to act out, before he knew that bravery could get him out of the whole entire mess that was the Black family. He basked in his mothers good graces, and almost leaned into her but realized that this was only temporary, and that if he were to mess up, or disobey her, she would turn on him quicker than he could say, 'quidditch.'
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Hermione was so happy to see her grandfather Pollux and instantly hugged the man, who returned the hug almost instantly. He loved his granddaughter, very much.
The whole Black family was here, aside from Andromeda of course, she wasn't allowed to return, and this made Hermione frown, but she concealed it instantly, not wanting to face questions from her family members and instead replaced the frown with a practiced thin-lipped smile as she greeted the rest of the people in the room.
Her aunt Walburga gave her a pat on the shoulder, stating how proud she was that not one, but two Blacks were placed in Slytherin this year. Hermione almost shrugged off the old bat's hand, but she could not show her distaste, not now at least.
She was greeted by Cissy, who kissed her on both cheeks but she noticed that Bella was missing, and she felt her heart beat a little faster.
Her cousin had grown slightly unhinged over the past year, her love for dark magic tainting her already corrupted pureblood soul. She was glad that she wasn't here, but worried of what she could be doing that she missed this family dinner, grandfather would not be pleased.
Soon they were all sitting around the table, with Regulus and her father flanking her on both sides, and Sirius and Cissy sitting in front of her.
They talked of things that didn't matter to her, and Hermione noticed the bruise that was already forming on Sirius's left cheek, and grabbed at Regulus's hand, realizing that he had grown quiet as he stared at his brother as well, before glaring at his plate.
She was mad, mad at the stupid woman who called herself a mother to her best friend, her world, and mad that she hurt Sirius, but most importantly how she hurt Regulus, how she constantly pushed the younger boy to be something that he didn't want to be, but he strived to do this, to protect himself, and to one day protect his idiot brother.
She watched as Sirius still smiled, but it didn't shine in his eyes, not like it did in Hogwarts when he was far from his wretched family, and from the monsters that were his parents.
She didn't pray often, but she did now, she prayed that Regulus will learn that he was brave, like his brother, and that revenge was much sweeter when it was thought out, and not when it was impulsive and reckless.
She prayed that he will no longer suffer, and she prayed that he found someone who loved him, loved him almost like she did, but maybe more. He deserved that.
And soon dinner was over, and she had to let go of him and leave, and she wished she didn't have to, but her father waited for her at the front door, and she bid them all a goodnight, and continued to pray for her Regulus, a plan was already forming in her head, a plan that will occur throughout the next couple of years that they spent at Hogwarts.
She will be the perfect pureblooded lady, she will place her mark on the most powerful, and she will do what she must, for herself, for her father, for her Regulus, and even for Sirius.