Over the next five years, Sirius remained a bright and mischievous boy, despite his parents' best efforts to impress upon him the importance of pureblood morals. Sirius heard the same arguments and ideologies repeated hundreds of times, both in his own home and in the homes of the other wealthy purebloods the Blacks socialized with. The most important things his parents believed, Sirius quickly learned, were that purebloods were better than almost anyone else in the world and that those of lesser blood status were unfit to remain in the magical world; muggles, on the other hand, were considered inhuman, vile creatures. After a few glasses of wine, some of his more radical relatives expressed their opinions on things like muggle-hunting, calling for its reinstatement, or declared that every mudblood's wand should be snapped in half. Sirius noticed his parents nodding and smiling indulgently when topics like these came up.

Sirius wasn't sure what he thought about all this. It was hard for him to think about; most young children would accept their parents' beliefs as law, but Sirius had already started clashing with them, even if it was just over small things like his fidgeting and prank-pulling. And those muggles he played with hadn't been bad at all, though Sirius knew better than to voice this thought around his parents. He settled for ignoring the matter, zoning out whenever the adults talked about politics and focusing on more important things, like pranking his boring relatives and coming up with adventures to play with Regulus. It wasn't like he ever had another chance to test his parents' beliefs, either; after his slip up with the muggle neighbors, Sirius remained under his mother's or Kreacher's watchful eye at all times. Until he went to Hogwarts, he barely saw outside the walls of Grimmauld place, except when he accompanied his parents to pureblood parties or dinners, which were dreadfully boring.

The night before Sirius was to leave for his first year at Hogwarts, his parents decided to throw him a party. All his horrible relatives were coming. The only bright spot was that his favorite uncle was also coming; Uncle Alphard barely ever talked about politics, and he was loads of fun, usually showing Sirius some delightful bits of magic and even occasionally helping him with his pranks. Sirius had noticed that his mother's lips drew into a thin line whenever Uncle Alphard started on his jokes and spells; once, Uncle Alphard had even told Walburga off, saying that if she kept making that expression her face would get stuck like that. Sirius had beamed with delight at the memory for weeks.

Now, Sirius stood before the long mirror in his room, tugging at the sleeves of the new dress robes his mother had insisted he wear. He was scowling at his reflection as his mother walked in.

"Stop that," she snapped, moving to stand behind Sirius. She spun him around and eyed him up and down, smoothing down a wrinkle in his robes.

"You will behave tonight," she began, dropping her hands from his robes, "in a manner befitting the heir of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."

Sirius's scowl deepened.

"Wipe that look off your face. No pranks. No fidgeting at dinner," she repeated firmly, lightly touching the wand she had stored in her sleeve. "Is that understood?"

"Yes, mother," Sirius said finally, deciding that now was not the time for a fight; after all, he only had to get through one more party before he was off to Hogwarts for the whole year. It would rather spoil things if he spent the whole dinner under a body-bind curse, as had happened several times before.

"Good," Walburga said, casting one last look at him before sweeping out of the room. Sirius unconsciously relaxed, tugging at his sleeves once again.

000

An hour later, Sirius stood in the entrance hall with his mother, greeting his relatives as they arrived. Sirius had resisted, but Walburga had been adamant; it was his party, and he was to make the proper impression. After everyone had finally arrived, Sirius was allowed to slip into his seat at the table, at which everyone was now finding their seats. Sirius had managed to switch around the placecards earlier so that he sat next to his favorite cousin Andromeda, and across from Uncle Alphard.

"Don't look so cheerful," said a quiet choice in his ear. Grinning, Sirius turned to face Andromeda; her light brown hair was tucked behind her ears, her dark brown eyes dancing with delight at the sight of her favorite cousin. She was starting her seventh year at Hogwarts tomorrow, and although she was a Slytherin, she was better than both her sisters combined.

"Hard not to," Sirius responded quietly as Andromeda took her seat.

"Any pranks planned for tonight?" she asked, the side of her mouth quirking into a lopsided grin. Sirius shook his head sadly.

"Don't want to risk it tonight."

"That's too bad. Cissy couldn't figure out how to get the blue out of her hair for weeks."

"Going soft, are you boy?" Uncle Alphard had arrived, squeezing into his seat across from Sirius.

"Afraid I don't know what you're talking about, sir," said Sirius with a look of mock innocence. Alphard chuckled appreciatively.

"Don't know what I'm talking about? Half the people at this table have gone home with rainbow colored hair or fireworks exploding in their robes because of you."

"Must have me confused with someone else," said Sirius, feigning surprise this time. His uncle laughed again, picking up the solid silver goblet before him, which had magically filled with his favorite wine.

Their quiet conversation was cut short, however, by the arrival of Sirius's father. Orion Black had been out on one of his business meetings and had returned just in time for the dinner. He was tall, with the haughty good looks Sirius would soon grow into; his dark hair was starting to silver at the temples, but his steel gray eyes were exactly the same shade as Sirius's. As he reached the table, he kissed his wife's hand and sat down; the murmurs of conversation died down. Orion coughed slightly signifying that he was about to speak.

"Thank you all for joining us tonight," Orion said, smiling around the table, though his eyes remained cold. "We are here tonight to celebrate my son Sirius. Tomorrow he will accept his place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he will hone the magical skills the Blacks have passed down from generation to generation. He will make a fine Slytherin, no doubt." The end of the speech was met with a polite smattering of applause, after which conversation gradually returned to its previous pace.

Sirius sat through several heavy courses, wishing the whole time that the thing would end; while he liked talking to his uncle and cousin, he could not do so openly with so many of his relatives around, and was forced to engage in conversation with everyone who sat near him, stomaching several hours' worth of pureblood rhetoric, along with detailed accounts of his relatives' memories of Slytherin House. He nodded and attempted to smile at them, aware of his mother's eyes on him.

After dinner, he managed to slip outside onto a balcony amid the confusion of everyone rising from the table and heading into the sitting room. He leaned against the railing, gazing up at the stars twinkling overhead.

"Making your escape?" Uncle Alphard had joined him, unheard by Sirius. He spun around to see his uncle leaning against the door. "Don't worry, I didn't tell them," he added, crossing over and joining Sirius at the railing.

"Nervous about starting Hogwarts?" Uncle Alphard asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

"Uncle Alphard-" Sirius began, suddenly nervous.

"Yes, boy?" he responded mildly.

"I'm not going to be in Slytherin," the words tumbled out of his mouth. Sirius released a great breath after he said them, feeling like a small pressure had left his chest at the confession.

"Ah," Alphard said quietly. He was silent for a few more minutes, so that Sirius thought he didn't want to discuss the subject. Then, "You'll be making things difficult for yourself, you know."

"I know."

"You could adapt there. There's bound to be a few decent people. I was sorted there myself."

Sirius shook his head. "I couldn't. I can feel it."

Alphard regarded him for a while longer, peering down at him in the semi-darkness. Then he nodded. "I suppose I knew that."

"So you don't—" Sirius broke off, unsure what he was going to say.

"I don't," said Uncle Alphard mildly. "Your parents will, though."

"I know." Sirius blinked, staring back up at the stars instead of at his uncle.

"I suppose you can't help it, boy," Uncle Alphard said finally. "But let's get back to the party, before my sister skins both of us alive."

000

Once the party was over, after what felt like centuries to Sirius, he made his way back upstairs to his room. He reached the floor his room was on, but paused at the landing. Regulus's room came before his. He crept over to the door and opened it quietly, peering in at the darkened room. Regulus was asleep, curled up beneath the ornate covers of his bed, his hair rumpled.

Smiling slightly, Sirius crossed over to his brother's bed and watched his chest rising and falling, a curious sensation twisting about in his stomach. He often fought with Regulus, and he resented the fact that his brother always took his parents' side, and that he never wanted to do anything fun, but he was still his brother, and he wasn't going to see him for months after tomorrow.

"Regulus," he whispered, sitting down on the bed none too gently. Regulus's opened his eyes slowly.

"What time is it?" he said, yawning.

"Shh, you prat, do you want Kreacher to come up here?" Sirius said, bouncing once on the bed for effect. Regulus eyed him warily.

"What is it?" he whispered.

Sirius shrugged. "Just wanted to say bye."

"You're not leaving until tomorrow."

"Yeah, well, I meant on my own. Without mother breathing down my neck."

"You shouldn't speak that way about mother," Regulus said automatically, though there was no real reproach in his voice.

Sirius sighed dramatically. "What will you ever do without me?"

"Have some peace and quiet, I suppose," mumbled Regulus, turning his face back toward his pillow.

"Alright, hint taken," said Sirius, getting up. "Bye, Regs," he said quietly, shutting the door behind him softly.

000

The next morning, Sirius could barely contain his excitement; he was up at the crack of dawn, practically bouncing off the walls. It was only his mother's threat of a full body-bind curse until it was time to leave for the train station that finally calmed him, although he was just as excited inside.

His father had left before Sirius even woke, and was not there to see him off; Sirius brushed off this slight, too used to his father's long hours. His mother, Regulus, and Kreacher were accompanying him, and were finally ready to depart after what seemed like a dreadfully long wait to Sirius. Walburga would be apparating with Regulus, while Kreacher apparated with Sirius and his luggage; Sirius bristled at the feel of the house elf's long, cold fingers around his arm, but his discomfort was soon forgotten when he arrived at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The gleaming scarlet steam engine stood belching smoke into a thick crowd, packed with young witches and wizards and their parents; owls hooted, cats would their way around people's legs, and a giant clock stood ticking over the magically concealed barrier. Even Regulus could not stop his eyes from widening at the sights and sounds. Walburga, meanwhile, had drawn her cloak up near her face, and was gazing at their surroundings with extreme distaste. Sirius distinctly heard her mutter, "Packed with mudbloods."

"Kreacher," she snapped. "Go and put Sirius's trunk in an empty compartment." Kreacher hurried away at once, magically levitating the trunk onto the train. He vanished from sight a moment later.

"Well, this is goodbye Sirius," Walburga said, giving him her customary once-over; she appeared satisfied at the state of his new, expensive robes, for she did not straighten or pluck at them. "Do be sure to make us proud," she added, only a trace of a threat in her voice. Sirius was stunned when she gifted him with a short, stiff hug; he could not remember the last time his mother had hugged him. He only stared at her as Kreacher returned.

"It is done, Mistress," the elf croaked, bowing.

"Very well. Goodbye, Sirius." With that, she and Regulus left, Regulus muttering a quick goodbye before hurrying after his mother. Kreacher slunk after them. Sirius watched them until they disappeared, then, with a start, stepped onto the train to search for his compartment.

Typical Kreacher, not telling me where he put my things, Sirius thought, though he was so happy he couldn't even muster up his usual malice toward the house elf. He was going to Hogwarts, he was free!

After walking by several compartments, Sirius spotted his trunk. He had just sat down when the door slid open again, revealing a short, skinny boy with black hair that stuck up in every direction. Round glasses perched on his thin face, revealing bright hazel eyes beneath them.

"Anyone sitting here? Nearly everywhere else is full."

"No," said Sirius, smiling. "Go ahead."

James grinned in response and stowed his trunk overhead. Just as he sat down, the train gave a great lurch and starting pulling away from the station.

"I'm James, by the way. James Potter," the boy said. Sirius looked at him with interest; he had heard of the Potters, of course, seeing as they were an ancient pureblood family; they had a reputation for being blood traitors however, so they didn't associate with people like Sirius's family.

"Sirius Black," he said, leaning back against the seat and regarding James.

"Black, huh?" asked James, looking at him curiously.

"That a problem?"

James flashed him another grin. "Only if you plan on being in Slytherin."

Sirius laughed. "No way."

"Cheers," said James. "D'you collect chocolate frog cards?"

000

Sirius paused, unable to stop the grin from spreading across his face as he remembered sharing that compartment with James; they had whiled away the long journey toward Hogwarts discussing chocolate frog cards and Quidditch, things Sirius's family had never approved of. James hadn't even been bothered that he came from a family with such a dark reputation. They had instantly connected, and Sirius had had a warm feeling in his chest the whole journey at the realization that he had made his first real friend.

"What happened next?" Harry asked eagerly. He had listened to Sirius's story with perfect attention; at the mention of his father he had leaned in eagerly, slightly restless.

"Well—" Sirius started, then looked guiltily at the tin of bruise balm lying neglected on the table. "I'll continue the story once you let me take a look at you," he decided picking up the tin.

"But—" Harry bit his lip, looking put-off. Sirius felt slightly guilty; he realized how hungry Harry was for any details about his parents, but he needed to make sure he was okay first.

"Alright," said Harry miserably, tugging at the hem of his t-shirt and pulling it over his head with the air of someone ripping off a bandage.

Sirius quickly swept his eyes over Harry's back, looking for any major problems; there were a few bruises mottled here and there across his back, and two particularly nasty rings around his upper arms. Sirius gently applied the balm, starting with the darker bruises on his arm.

"Your uncle?" he asked quietly, unable to contain the slight tremor of anger in his voice. Harry stiffened.

"Yeah," he muttered, looking thoroughly miserable. "Could you tell me more about my dad now?"

Sirius nodded as he applied the balm.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Let me know what you think J