Chapter 4: His strengths.
"Go to hell you ungrateful brat," Walburga's voice carried across the hall as Bellatrix entered #12, Grimmauld Place.
"Well lucky for me, I won't have to go anywhere!' Sirius's voice yelled right back. "Because I'm already in hell!" With that she heard the door being thumped shut.
Bellatrix groaned. It was like this every time she bothered to come home lately. But it got boring around in Lestrange Manor. Her favourite object of torture, her husband had been given an assignment by the dark lord in Cuba and had been gone. Rabastan was boringly secluded and didn't get riled up like his brother did. The dark lord himself had kept an almost meditative quiet recently.
She disapparated right into Sirius's room. Sirius had always chosen not to go with the traditional Slytherin décor in his room, opting for shades of Grey. That was why Bella was in for the shock of her life. He was vigorously painting the room, muggle style in red and gold.
"What are you, a muggle?" Bella asked angrily. Sirius jumped at the sound of her voice and dropped his tin of paint.
"Bella! Jeez, what happened to privacy?" He retorted.
"Well I'm glad I breached it because you couldn't be doing something worse than this," She said and with a flick of her wand all the walls turned to his opted colors of red and gold. "It's gross, Sirius,"
"Mom keeps giving me shit about being a Gryffindor," Sirius replied shrugging. "I decided to really show her Gryffindor. And I can't use magic outside Hogwarts so,"
"Oh you can't use magic outside school," Bella cooed in a mocking sort of way. "I swear Gryffindor has softened your brain. You can use magic in this house and the ministry won't know anything because there are so many adult witches and wizards, they'd just think they did it,"
"That's messed up. So only muggleborn wizards would get caught because of the trace?" asked Sirius.
"Yes. And it's not messed up. They are not supposed to have magic in the first place. And the word is Mudblood, Sirius," Bella responded in an agitated fashion.
Sirius just gave a non-committal jerk of his head.
Bella narrowed her eyes but said no more. Something needs to be done and something needs to be done fast.
Sirius had now proceeded to clean up the mess with magic.
"What else do you plan to do with the place?" Bella asked.
"This is it," Sirius replied in a tone that convinced no one. He had her back turned to her as he levitated furniture back to its own place.
Bella realized that he was withdrawing from her; something that he had never done before.
"Come on Snuffles. Stop sulking," She said. "Did you really expect Aunt Walburga to act any differently, especially after seeing that you are pretty much glowing with Gryffindor spirit,"
"Well yea," Sirius replied. "I don't believe there is anything wrong with being in Gryffindor. I don't understand how Black and Gryffindor have to be opposites,"
Bella bit back her sarcastic response and said, "It's just a very new concept. But you'd show everyone that you are still a true Black,"
Another jerk of his head, great.
Bella decided she had to hold back her 'training' of Sirius that she had hoped to begin this summer. "Come on Snuffles, it can't be that bad." She said prodding him.
"Well yea," He said "Your dad's pretty cool. Mine has taken to avoiding me. Your mom hates me more than mine and mine's a right ray of sunshine. And Narcissa is uneasy around me but that may be due to – ' He stopped mid-sentence.
"You've gotten onto fights with Slytherins haven't you?" said Bella knowingly. "Well, did anyone get to you?"
Sirius shook his head, grinning. "Montague came close but that got him stuck in the hospital wing for a couple of weeks,"
"Atta boy. That's my baby cousin,"
"Shut up, Bella!"
But he was laughing, their friendly banter breaking the tension.
"Come on. Let's test these duelling skills of yours,"
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For what seemed like the umpteenth time, Sirius found himself on the floor, covered in soot and bruised. Bella stood in front of him, wand raised; unscratched and not even a tad bit bothered by his furious attempts to put her down.
"Is that all you have for me? A real opponent would have cut you into pieces by now," She snarled.
"Believe me, you've almost done that," retorted Sirius. And true enough there were gashes all over his arm.
"Awww," Bella cooed. "Is baby Sirius hurt? Does the little lord want mommy to wash his wounds and dress them up real nice? Does the unskilled lion want me to kiss it and make it all better? GET UP!"
Sirius leapt to his feet simultaneously sending a tripping jinx at Bella which she deflected effortlessly. He shot two disarming charms and tingling hex with no use.
"Okay, little lion. Let's teach you how to play with real snakes!" She hissed fiercely. "SERPENTSORTIA!"
A huge python flew out of the tip of her wand and slithered itself towards Sirius.
"What are you doing, Bella?" He said his eyes narrowed.
"Teaching you to duel like a Black, little cousin," She said cackling.
Sirius had no time to waste. He started throwing jinx after jinx at the snake with no avail. It kept coming at him. He was starting to panic. He was almost being cornered by a real life python who for all extents and purposes, seem all too willing and able to crush him.
"Yea, Sirius that isn't going to work! That is why you Gryffindors never win at things. You only think with your gut and not with your brain. What use can come of acting impulsive and throwing jinx after jinx at it. Think to your strengths! That animal in front of you is stronger than you! But show it that you are smarter. " Bella was saying.
Think to my strengths. Well, that is transfiguration.
Sirius was a bit of a prodigy in transfiguration already being able to do third year level transfiguration magic. It was a prankster's ultimate asset and right now, it can save his life.
He ran towards the carpet turning it into a ledge and climbing it easily. Getting the higher ground over the snake, he concentrated on how to defeat it. He looked around for anything that may be an asset, deeply doubting his expert spell casting ability being able to get him through. He noticed a bunch of very heavy books in the corner. They can't really hurt the snake unless –
He jumped off his little ledge and stood facing the snake, making himself its target. The snake started to leap at him, it's fangs bared, Four spikes that were four of his mother's favourite books a moment ago moved from the book shelf in four different directions, hitting the snake in the neck all at once effectively beheading the creature. He moved back disgusted as its head threatened to fall at him but he didn't move fast enough as a stunning spell hit him in the back and he knew no more.
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When Sirius came to be, he was lying on the floor and Bella sat next to him, nibbling on some chocolate.
"Never lose sight of who your real enemy is, in a duel. It would be your demise," Bella informed him.
"Cut me some slack, I had just beheaded a python," He grumbled.
"Pythons are small fry. You got taken down by a real snake," Bella said grinning. She offered him the chocolate which he gratefully took. "But yes, you did reasonably well. You still have a lot to learn though,"
"Did that sound like a compliment to me?" mocked Sirius grinning slyly. "Aww my dear cousin, are you going soft?"
"I'd show you soft," She said laughing, prodding him in the stomach, making the 11 year old laugh mirthfully.
"So how's it being married to Rudouchephous Lestrange?" asked Sirius smiling, humourlessly.
"It's been great fun. He is such an object," said Bella grinning. "His parents convinced him to try and put his Lestrange seed in me so I can give them a grandson. There is no way I'm popping out a filthy Lestrange creature so I made sure, he would never get anyone pregnant ever again, not even come close to it,"
"How'd you do that?" asked Sirius as only an 11 year old can.
"Let's just say Snuffles, that I went through with my promise of slicing parts of him into pieces from years back,"
Though still confused, not wanting to appear stupid, Sirius asked, "Where is he now?"
"Well, he has been given an assignment at work, so he's gone to Cuba,"
"Lestrange has a job. Who hired him?" Sirius asked shocked.
"Same person for whom I work for; the greatest living legend of all time Sirius. I hope I can introduce you to him, soon,"
"Yea, I guess that would be okay," said Sirius feeling slightly uneasy. His definition of greatest living legend would be very different from Bella's, he knew.
He wanted to change the topic, so he started telling Bella about all the pranks he had pulled that year. He was glad to see her laugh at some of them and had a malicious glint in her eyes throughout. When he reached the one where he got Flint to eat cat food and landed him in the Hospital Wing for two weeks, she cackled out loud.
"My little rebel," was all she said.
"I want to try out as beater next year," said Sirius. "Want to go fly out in the fields and I'd chuck balls at you and try to get you off the air?"
"As tempting as that is, I want to work on your Occlumency shields. When I said, play to your strengths, I actually meant that but transfiguration was a very welcome surprise. Your Occlumency shields are good enough for me to be impressed but they aren't picture perfect, so a little training might help,"
"But I am able to block you out completely now," said an exasperated Sirius.
"That's not the point, Snuffles. Occlumency doesn't only become useful when you know I'm going to attack your mind. Your shields need to be that perfect during a duel too. Get up! Prepare yourself,"
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It was the night before Sirius was supposed to return to Hogwarts. He sat between Bellatrix and Andromeda talking quietly to Andromeda about the Quidditch season in Hogwarts. Bella was locked in a conversation with Narcissa on her left about the uselessness of the Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum. The parents were quietly discussing a Ministry matter.
He didn't know how much attention his mother was paying to him, when he said to Andromeda, "James is going to be Chaser,"
"Potter? If that's the sort of egoistic brats that are going to be in the Gryffindor team, we have a good chance of winning," Andromeda said playfully.
"Potter?" Walburga said shrewdly. "Charlus Potter's kid?"
"Yes," Sirius said curtly.
"Please tell me Sirius, you have not sunk to that level that you are friends with that blood traitor's scum,"
"It is my best friend you speak of, Mother,"
"Your best friend's father made a move earlier on to expel Lord Black's seat from the Wizengamot on the basis of the Blacks being a dark and corrupt wizarding family!" said Druella.
"Oh and pray tell auntie, how on earth did that petition not pass, with how accurate and head on it is," Sirius spat. "Did the Black family buy the safety of our seat?"
"You will watch your tongue when you speak of our family or I'd cut it out for you," said Walburga viciously.
"And you mother, will watch your tongue when you speak of my friends!" snarled Sirius.
"No son of mine would have blood traitors for friends!" Walburga was on her feet now.
"If only that were true, I wouldn't have to deal with the embarrassment of calling you mother," Sirius said quietly his arms crossed.
"Sirius Orion Black. You will go to your room till you learn respect,"
Sirius got up, kicking his chair aside and stomped off towards the stairs, seriously considering finding a permanent settlement which would ensure he didn't have to spend summer vacations in Grimmauld Place. He considered leaving, living on the streets if he had to but a small memory of duelling with a certain cousin of his, kept him attached to the Black family.
A/N: I've tried to balance out Sirius the child and Sirius the rebel into a believable version as much as possible. Not sure how much I succeeded. Also, I really want to know what you guys think of Bella's portrayal be it good or bad.
PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! PRETTY PLEASE WITH A CHOCOLATE FROG ON TOP?