Grey Eyes
3. Stinging
When Sirius returned home for Christmas, his mother struck him on the cheek in front of everyone on Platform 9 ¾. Before he could ask her what was wrong with her, James Potter's voice rent the air. "Don't you touch him!"
"James," Mrs. Potter hissed as her son yanked out of her embrace and ran towards his friend. Mr. Potter rested a hand on his wife's shoulder before following his son, Mrs. Potter trailing behind. She knew from his letters and stories that her son was friends with the smaller boy, but given how strict Sirius' parents were, she had never been able to say hello for more than a few moments at a time. Being a pureblood herself, she knew well the ancient, maniacal philosophy of the Blacks and often wished her son hadn't befriended one. Now he was about to meddle with one of the most powerful Wizarding families in history. "James," she hissed again.
Walburga Black had her hand raised to strike her son again but her large, dark eyes were fixed on the other fourteen-year-old marching up to her. "I beg your pardon?"
James narrowed his eyes as he neared. "I said leave him alone."
"I fail to see how this is any of your business," Walburga hissed.
"I apologize for my son," Mrs. Potter said, catching up, resting a hand on James' shoulder. He shrugged it off. "He's… impulsive." James shot his mother a betrayed look.
"Indeed," Walburga said, straightening and adjusting her high collar.
Sirius' hand had fallen away from his stinging cheek but knew better than to look at anyone lest his mother think he was taking sides.
"Sirius, are you all right?" James asked, touching his friends' elbow in an attempt to get his attention.
Sirius shot him a brief glance through his long bangs, nodding ever so slightly.
"Mrs. Potter," Walburga said imperiously, "It would do you well to discipline your boy."
"What, like you just did?" Mr. Potter said. "You call that discipline? Maybe someone ought to show you some –"
"Edmund," Mrs. Potter hissed, shushing her husband. James had never heard his father sound so threatening and felt a flush of pride that at least one of his parents was backing him up.
Walburga merely raised a brow, regarding Mr. Potter as if he were an annoying insect. "You don't see my son speaking out of turn, now, do you? Or meddling in the affairs of others? Or spitting out pathetic threats against his own kind? No, you do not. Because I know how to discipline my child, and as such, my son has grown up to be a gentleman. Something your boy could never be."
James shot Sirius a glance to see if his friend was going to pipe up on his behalf, but Sirius looked so much like someone else right now that James almost couldn't recognize him. He had his head bowed, his hair falling in his face, his body rigid like an obedient dog.
"My son," Mr. Potter began heatedly, "is already a better man than anyone in your cursed line has ever –"
"Edmund!" Mrs. Potter shouted.
Walburga snatched up Sirius' wrist and pulled out her wand. "I've heard enough! Sirius?" The boy looked up to his mother. "You are not to associate with the Potters ever again. Understood?"
Sirius shot a look of shock to James, his lips slightly parted as if he wanted to speak, finally showing life, but not a sound escaped him.
"You can't –" Mr. Potter began.
"Very good. Come now." She tugged on Sirius' wrist, heading for the apparition platform several yards away. Sirius obediently followed his mother but not before casting James a sad look over his shoulder.
James moved to follow his friend but his father rested a strong hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Not here," he whispered.
Sirius and his mother reached the platform and had disapparated within seconds. James let out a groan. "So much for a happy Christmas."
Mrs. Potter sighed. "It may be for the best, James. Our families have never gotten along."
James glared at his mother. "Yeah, thanks for standing up for me, mum. I really appreciate it."
"You don't understand."
"Yeah, actually, I do. You'd rather not get involved in case something bad happens. Well, guess what? It already has." With that, he marched off to the apparition platform. Mr. Potter gave his wife a troubled look before following his son. Mrs. Potter hesitated then trailed behind her family. Neither her husband or son seemed to understand what parents like Walburga and Orion were capable of. The more of a scene they caused in public, the more likely it was that they would harm their son in private.
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