There were multiple times that Sirius and I found ourselves on the other side of the fence and it was never really a pleasant experience for me in the least. Particularly having to pass that vicious dog. As the summer wore on it seemed like the fence keeping the hound at bay was becoming weaker and weaker. When I mentioned it to Sirius he just laughed at me and proclaimed I was just being a baby. I naturally as a four year old argued that I wasn't but would always try and cling close to Sirius just incase. I don't know what it was about Sirius that made me think that he could protect me. He was certainly no more experienced at magic or fighting against a dog than I was but in my four year old state of mind I felt that Sirius being older than I was a person would could protect me from the potential dangers of the black dog.

It wasn't until summers end that my premonition of the fence breaking down came to pass. It had been a long day and Sirius and I had been at each other all day. I was tired of following him along and just sitting and watching I wanted my brother back and I complained and that launched a fight between the two of us. Which led to me threatening to tell about our adventures over the fence and Sirius threatening to break my arm in return. By the end of our trip over the fence we found ourselves at a stalemate between our wills, of who would get their way.

I ended up being so frustrated and angered with my brother that I paid little attention to our surrounding and without hesitation I passed by the house with the dog. The moment he started barking I jumped with fright. Coensiding with my jump came the dogs jump sending the fence crashing down. I didn't hesitate for a second on my course of action. I was certain that the black beast would eat me right then and there. I tore off like a rocket for home never pausing for a second certain that dog was right on my tail. I didn't even pause to gauge the jump over the fence, I just knew I wanted nothing more than to be in the safety of the garden where the most lethal thing in it were garden gnomes which were practically harmless.

It was to my great misfortune that when I jumped the fence I did not take the tree well into account and my arm snagged on a broken branch and it tore my robes and gouged my arm. As I landed firmly on my back I cried out in pain gripping my then bleeding arm.

"He was tied up you dolt! You had nothing to worry..." came Sirius voice as he climbed over the fence. He was cut off short when he saw the blood that was coming from my arm and was now all over my hand.

"MUM!" cried Sirius with a slight panic in his voice very different from the almost insulting tone that was in his voice much earlier.

With a great crack Kreacher arrived demanding to know what it was that we wanted. Sirius barked at him to get mum seeing as I was hurt. It wasn't long before our mother came out demanding to know what it was that had happened. She almost seemed accusatory of Sirius.

I knew I couldn't tell her that we had been jumping the fence and said, "I was climbing the tree and fell."

I was scolded for climbing a tree and was informed that my injury served me right for doing something so foolish. I nodded my head as tears streamed down my face. Mother stopped the bleeding but I do happen to have a scar on my arm from the incident. It was something that easily could have been seen to at St. Mungo's but I suppose, a mark was left on my arm to teach me a lesson. Though I think I wasn't the only one who learned a lesson that day. Sirius seemed awful guilty for the longest time, every time he looked at the scar on my arm.

After the bleeding was stopped, Sirius and I were ushered inside to get cleaned up and Sirius and I were forbade form going outside for the rest of the year. I knew that restriction saddened Sirius but secretly I was happy because I knew I would get my brother back and I would never have to face the demon dog ever again. It is from these experiences that I do indeed have a great fear of dogs particularly black ones.

Save for that one brief moment as a particularly young child my memories growing up are not quite precise. It seems save for that particular moment of clarity things tend to blur together as day to day life in the pureblood society is much of the same with the occasional celebration here and there, though nothing in particular about the parties are entirely memorable. Save for the Christmas after Sirius got his letter to attend Hogwarts which was several years after the time with the tree.

It was a party like any other. It was simply a matter that this time Sirius was even more of the focus of attention than was usual. I remember people talking of how Sirius showed great promise for the Black line. Bellatrix even mentioned how he might be able to serve the pureblood plight in great ways. Which was quite the compliment from her. It was also the first Christmas that Andromeda was not present. It was her seventh year at Hogwarts that year and she had remained at school seeing as the relationships she was pursuing were not fitting a lady of her status. I did not receive exact details until later down the road but I do recall before then seeing my mother burn Andromeda off the family tree. I remember wondering about that seeing as she was rather nice compared to her sisters. There was also talk of Narcissa finding a suable match. It was all mindless information to me as a young ten year old. I remember spending most of the night sitting quite and feeling a bit miserable because come next year Sirus was going to be gone at Hogwarts and I was going to be stuck home alone with nothing more than Kreacher to entertain me on a social level.

"Why so glum?" asked Sirius that night when he escaped the doting attention of the adults to spend a bit of time with me. He held a wide grin on his face having enjoyed almost every minute of the attention. Sirius was always one who enjoyed attention. I think that is why he did do some of the things he did which made mother quite cross with him at times. I think it was all for the sake of attention.

"You are going to school next year," I answered plaintively.

"Yeah, isn't it great?" he asked but then looking at me realized my issue with the fact.

"No worries, it's only a year, I'll be home for the holidays and I'll write!" he answered with a casual shrug as if it was no big deal.

I forced myself to smile for Sirius sake as he was called off to be the center of attention once more.