DISCLAIMER: This is not mine. The wonderful magical world of Harry Potter belongs to the one and only J.K. Rowling.
3 November, 1965
Sirius detested his birthday, he was always forced into a large family gathering that consisted of his own family and other purebloods. He was always forced to wear a stuffy suit and act like an aristocrat on his birthday! He would always beg to not have a ball but it was 'tradition' and 'you don't stray from tradition'. It was one of the grandest social events of the year; only his family could make his birthday dreadful. Everyone came to catch a glimpse of the heir, families hoping their daughters would form a friendship so one day he'd marry one of them. Fat chance!
"Master Black, please hold still." his governess, Elvira, said as she adjusted his coat.
"I don't want to wear it." the six year old pouted, "It's itchy!"
His mother came into the rooms with a cold look on her face, "Then you'll suffer through it. It's brand new and the latest fashion; you don't want to wear dreary clothes."
Sirius laughed, everything in their home was 'dreary'. He didn't know what that word meant, but he was sure the word could describe their house fairly well. Once he was done, he stepped off the stool and his mother leaned into him, "You will be on your best behavior tonight. Do you understand?"
Sirius scrunched his face, "But it's my birthday!" he pouted, sticking out his lower lip.
She gave him a sharp look that told him he ought to change his answer. He turned his head away, and saw his governess give him the same look. He returned his gaze to his mother and nodded, "Yes ma'am."
His mother grabbed his wrist roughly and took him downstairs. They apparated to a large estate that was loud. Women were dressed brilliantly and so were the men, an orchestra was playing and there was a large buffet. Adults were the main attendees and Sirius noticed there were hardly any children, "Where are the other kids?" he pouted.
Orion loomed over his son, "This isn't an event for children."
Sirius looked at him confused, "But it's my birthday." he whined.
"Hush." his mother scolded, "I believe Narcissa is coming."
He scoffed. Sirius disliked Narcissa, but it made sense Bellatrix and Andromeda wouldn't come since they were both at Hogwarts. He was sad that Andy wouldn't make it but almost cheered that Bellatrix wouldn't, he hated her. His grandfather came up to them, "Hello Sirius. Happy Birthday." he said politely.
"Thank you sir." he said out of obligation.
His grandfather pushed open the grand oak doors to allow his parents',and himself inside. Sirius stood next to his father and both walked in first since they were the 'heirs' to the house of Black. "PRESENTING THE HEIR TO THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK: SIRIUS ORION BLACK." announced a man.
All heads turned towards Sirius and he quite enjoyed the attention and he made a note of showing it. Once the silence and attention dissipated, numerous amounts of people began to crowd him which made him a little nervous, but thankfully his grandfather stepped forward. Arcturus Black had always liked to take control of Sirius at parties and forget his parents'. If his grandfather had it his way, he would've raised Sirius himself. "Now don't crowd the boy, he needs to breathe." he smiled, his wrinkles from his waxy face become ever more apparent.
He received 'Happy Birthdays' and that sort but the one that made him happy came from his godfather and uncle, Uncle Alphard, "Happy Birthday pup." said a cheerful voice.
"UNCLE ALPHARD!" he shrieked in delight and ran into his uncle's arms, who swooped him up.
He threw his arms around his uncle and held him tightly. His uncle smelled like spices and cigars. Usually it would've disgusted Sirius' sensitive nose, but it was familiar and from a person who cared for him. "I've missed you." he said in a muffled voice as he buried himself into his uncle's suit.
His uncle returned the sentiment, "This party's kind of boring, eh? Let's sneak out and go outside, I've got your present."
Sirius nodded excitedly and allowed his uncle to carry him outside. Leaning against the wall tied with a bright red ribbon was a broom, "Wow!" he said and did his best to throw himself out of Alphard's arms as he barelled towards the broom , "Thank you!"
Sirius hopped onto the broom and pushed himself off, flying came naturally for him and he squealed in delight. It only raised itself four and a half feet off the ground but it felt high for him. Alphard laughed and snapped a photo of his favorite (and only) godson flying and squealing. Sirius spent only ten minutes on it since Alphard forced him to go back to the party, because 'we'll be missed'. He pouted but held his head high as his collar was undone and his hair a wild mess. It would infuriate his mom, so Sirius couldn't help but giggle.
When he returned to the party he ran to the food table where he saw his dreadful cousin Narcissa, "Hello Sirius." she said in a cold tone.
"Hello Narcissa." he said politely as he did his best to reach for a chocolate strawberry.
She sighed and handed him one, "You're a mess," she said softly as she looked at the six year old's messy hair and untucked collar, "Aunt Walburga won't be pleased."
Sirius paid no attention to her as he consumed the strawberry, "I want another one." he demanded.
Narcissa did the smart thing and handed him three strawberries; they disliked each other but she still had to respect his status as the heir of the family. His birthday was always a painful reminder of that for her and how disappointing her birth had been to her parents and the family. She reached for a napkin and wet it with her tongue, and moved to wipe Sirius' face and he pulled away in revulsion, "No." he said.
"Do you want your mum to come back and discipline you?" she lectured.
"I'm not one of your stupid dolls." Sirius said, still trying to keep her at arms' lengths.
She narrowed he eyes at him, "They are not stupid!"
Sirius squirmed to get away from her and Narcissa threw her hands up in defeat, "I have no idea why Andy likes you. Happy Birthday I guess…"
Narcissa walked off, good riddance. All that girl wanted to do was form a pureblood marriage and have babies, ugh. She hasn't even gone to Hogwarts yet! Sirius walked off to find something to do, but moving through a sea of people who wanted to see the Black heir proved to be difficult. "Happy birthday Mr. Black." a woman in green dress robes said.
"Mr. Black is my father. Call me Sirius," he said in his cheeky voice, they weren't supposed to but knowing it'd infuriate his family he did it anyway.
The woman and the husband laughed a posh laugh, which annoyed Sirius. He walked off but faced the same predicament over and over again, all adults who wanted to make conversation with a six year old. Sirius knew he was interesting, but adults weren't. Why should he waste his time with them? "Sirius," said a cold and unaffectionate voice, "Come here."
Sirius turned to see his grandfather staring at him with stormy grey eyes and a frown. Knowing it to be best not to disobey his grandfather, he excused himself and walked over to him. Arcturus loomed over his grandson, "You don't wander off, you stay near your family. Is that understood?"
"It's my birthday! I should be able to do what I want to!" he pouted, stomping his foot.
"Stop it. Life isn't about what you want. It's about doing what's expected of you. Now, come with me, let's find your mother." he said coldly and grabbed Sirius' wrist roughly and pulled him away.
His grandfather was the only one aside from his parents' who could do this in public since he was the Black patriarch at the moment. Sirius had the impression that his grandfather actually preferred to be around Sirius or to raise him; a concept which was foreign to him. His grandfather always made offhand comments that he disliked Sirius' mother's parenting techniques. "No! It's not fair!" Sirius said, struggling to get out of his grandfather's grip.
His behavior earned a few stares which prompted Arcturus to pull Sirius out of the ballroom, hoping that Sirius' behavior had not been noticed. His parents' met him and his grandfather out of the ballroom, "What is this?" his mother hissed.
Sirius threw himself onto the floor and collapsed into a pile of mush, screaming like a six year old does when they're tired and bored. "You're ruining my birthday!" he shrieked, pounding his tiny fists onto the tiled floor, struggling to be released from his grandfather's grasp.
"Sirius Orion! Stop it this instant!" his mother snapped.
His grandfather released his hand as his mother continued to scold him, "This behavior is unacceptable! Especially for the Black heir!"
"Is this how you're raising my heir and grandson Walburga? I thought better of you." his grandfather said coldly.
This was the worst thing that Walburga could possibly have heard. Her father-in-law, the patriarch of the most noble pureblood house in Europe was questioning her and her mothering skills. She saw red and her chest swelled in fury, "THAT IS IT!" she shrieked as she grabbed Sirius roughly.
He screamed louder but quieted down when he felt a hot smack on his cheek that continued to sting after his mother's hand was removed from his face. His sobs were quieter and there were large gaps between them as he held his face and whimpered in shock. His mother just hit him, she just hit him on his birthday. He'd received spankings before, but nothing like this! Sirius couldn't believe it as she yanked his face to hers as she lowered herself to his level, "You are the heir of this house, you are our son and you will behave yourself! You will receive a harsher punishment later tonight."
Another door creaked and opened shortly thereafter, it was his Uncle Alphard whose face went from confusion to concern in a millisecond. "What's going on? Are you alright Sirius?" he asked as he walked over to see his nephew/godson.
Sirius didn't dare shake his head or tell him the truth, he could already feel his face bruising. "This doesn't concern you Alphard." Orion said, finally speaking.
Alphard ignored Orion and walked up to Sirius, and examined his face, it was red, tear stained and was becoming purple. Deciding to appeal to their reputation rather than their humanity and decency as people, Alphard asked, "What will people out there think when they see him like this?"
His parents' and grandfather stiffened, clearly unnerved by what people would say and think. "I'll take him back to Grimmauld. We'll say it's his bedtime, I'll take Regulus too."
"Sirius has an obligation to attend this party." Arcturus said to Alphard, "He's the heir."
"He's six, tired and injured. He's in no shape to stay here, people will understand." Alphard said, having the nerve to pick up the sniffling Sirius who buried his wet and snotty face into his suit, resuming his sobs quietly. "He's also a mess. His hair and collar are out of place and chocolate and strawberry juice is smeared all over him."
Arcturus turned to his daughter-in-law, "In the future, you should mind how you're raising my grandson and heir. He's embarrassing the family."
He sniffed and walked away, Walburga glared at him with such a fury it was surprising Arcturus didn't burst into flames. Alphard and Sirius apparated back to Grimmauld. Alphard helped Sirius to change into his nightclothes and tucked him in, "Mother hit me." he sniffled.
Alphard pushed back Sirius' hair and stroked his head, unsure of what to say. He had always known Walburga to be unaffectionate and not maternal in any sense of the word; she had no mothering instinct or will to try and develop one but it still surprised him that'd she go as far as hitting her own child. "I'm sorry that this happened on your birthday." he said quietly, still stroking Sirius' hair.
Deciding to avoid the subject, and just wanting to forget it all together, Sirius spoke again in a quieter voice, "Thank you for my birthday present…"
Alphard smiled, relieved to have another topic to speak of, "It was my pleasure pup."
He held Sirius until his godson drifted off into sleep and then left his bedroom. Alphard let Elvira know he was leaving and as he stepped into the fireplace, het felt pain in his heart over the fact that he had to leave Sirius at 12 Grimmauld Place. The poor boy. Merlin above, please let Walburga and Orion be more gentle in the future. He threw the floo powder down and allowed himself to be transported away.
A/N: I'm sorry. I really didn't like the last paragraph, but I hope you enjoyed this one shot. More will come soon. Also, most of the one shots have been written, it's just the matter of editing that takes a while.
