Title: Innocent Ideas
Author: Nesma
Disclaimer: I, obviously, do not own Harry Potter or the characters, all that goes to JKRowling.
Summary: It's hard to predict the results of words and actions at such a young age. It's difficult to fathom that an idea formed without much logic or reasons at a young age will carry on through to adulthood. It's terrifying and exhilarating that the ideas and stories from childhood have such curious results in adulthood. And this could be no truer than with the case of Lily and Petunia Evans and Severus Snape.
The night before departing to Hogwarts, the very ancient and noble house of Black had an extravagant dinner in Sirius' honour. It would be the only dinner every held by his parents for him.
Sirius was forced to wear the very nice, yet scratchy, dress robes that his mother purchased for him earlier that week in Diagon Alley. His mother fretted over his appearance, clucking her tongue at his unkempt hair and complete lack of awareness of the significance of the evening.
At this very nice dinner, were his parents, his younger brother (Regulus), his aunt and uncle (Druella and Cygnus) and of course, his cousins: Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Andormeda. There were lots of little but delicious appetizers prior to the meal. And after what seemed like a million bloody years, they all finally sat down. The adults were seated near the head of the table while the children were seated further down, away from the adults and free to talk however they pleased.
Narcissa spent most of the time tucking her long blonde hair behind her ears and snottily looking down at her younger ones. Bellatrix, on the other hand, didn't seem to care that her black tight curls covered her face as she savagely (and rudely) grabbed the food she wanted without offering. Andromeda often rolled her eyes at every exasperated sigh that Narcissa made and every impolite thing that Bellatrix did. Regulus and Sirius watched this awkward interaction with the sisters until all the food was passed around.
"So, are you excited to go to Hogwats Sirius?" Andromeda asked nicely as she passed the bread basket towards him.
Sirius smiled, he had always liked Andromeda. She was always willing to play with him and talk to him while the adults were boring with their talks and the other cousins seemed delighted to pretend to be adults.
"I am. Nervous about the sorting though…"
Narcissa chuckled softly as she daintily cut up the meat on her plate. "You really shouldn't worry, you will easily be sorted into Slytherin. Can't imagine how you wouldn't." She said sweetly and giving a coy smile to Sirius.
Andromeda frowned at this. "It's perfectly acceptable if gets sorted into another house."
Bellatrix crackled, bringing her head back and letting her curls bounced with every laugh. When she finally regained composure, she brought her head up and looked directly at Sirius with her dark brown eyes. "Oh yes! Perfectly alright to be sorted into ickle Hufflepuff or brainy Ravenclaw or itty bitty Gryffindor." She used a patronizing baby voice and had to stifle her laughter with every mention of the houses. Narcissa smiled while Andromeda continued to frown.
"Don't listen to them. It's perfectly alright to be sorted into any of the three houses." Andromeda said, leaning forward slightly and smiling kindly to Sirius who was absolutely frozen in his seat.
"Oh Andromeda! I forget how… progressive you are with your views." Narcissa said sweetly, a twinkle in her eye. "It's always refreshing to have you in the room."
And Sirius had to frown at this because it didn't seem fair that Andromeda was being made fun of for not being snotty or exclusive or mean or stupid.
"I'm going to be in Slytherin when I go to Hogwarts!" Piped up Regulus, who often felt the need to make up for Sirius' lack of Black and pureblood pride.
"And what a great Slytherin you'll make!" Naricssa said charmingly to the small boy next to Sirius who grinned ear to ear. "And so will you Sirius." Narcissa said coolly, as if daring him to be in any other house.
Sirius just grimaced at her while cutting up his meal.
The rest of the evening was filled with clanking forks and knives and awkward silences.