Author: HatefulRodeo

Story: Sirius' Awakening

Notes: Sirius' POV this time and the plot is moving ahead! ENJOY LOVELIES!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I will make no money from the posting of this story.

Previously:

After they'd received Severus' Gringotts card, along with the key to his trust vault, the two raven haired men exited the bank and into the afternoon sun. The onyx eyed teen was excited; he had money and he was a true Prince now. He'd been accepted by his magical family and it felt glorious!

Lily would never believe any of this! He'd have to write her when he returned home. Home; he had a real home now! It was funny how he already thought of Grimmauld Place as his home when he'd lived at Spinner's End his whole life and considered it more of a prison.

Orion grasped Severus' bicep and turned them toward Quality Quidditch Supplies so they could collect Sirius and Regulus. Both Black sons would be eager to know what happened at Gringotts and Severus found himself equally excited to tell them about his experience.

This must be what having a real family, and friends, feels like. Severus liked it very much and couldn't see himself giving this up for the world.

~*~*~*~*~*Chapter 5~*~*~*~*~

Sirius walked aimlessly through the garden at Number Twelve, idly twirling his wand, in deep thought. These past weeks had flown by in a haze of lessons with both his parents; Regulus and Severus attending them with him. So far he'd had etiquette, wizarding laws, how to manage the Black vaults, and Dark Arts drummed into his head; not to mention he'd still had to complete his summer homework!

Merlin, this summer was a constant blur of activity and change but he couldn't complain, not at all. He'd never felt closer to his parents and brother. Sirius know felt like a part of his family again; they learned together and, also, laughed together.

The addition of Severus into their home was a wonderful change too. The Black heir felt a close bond forming with his year mate and enjoyed chatting with the Slytherin. They'd both one day assume the title of Lord and be required to lead their respective Houses.

It was also nice to know that no matter what happened when he returned to Hogwarts he'd still have Severus' friendship. And he had a feeling he would need the Prince heir when he faced James again and the Potter found out about Sirius' change of heart in regards to Dark magic and Dumbledore. He'd already here enough about him skipping out on visiting James' for the last two weeks of summer.

Sirius still didn't completely understand why he hadn't gone to visit his fellow Marauder; it somehow felt wrong to leave Severus, and his family, after they'd finally begun to get along. His parents hadn't voiced their opinion either way on the matter, saying they respected his choice to visit the Potter heir; even if they despised the other Gryffindor's family.

So much was going on with his life! It was unreal just how much was different but he liked it better this way. He felt at home in his skin for the first time in a long time; like he should have been doing the things he was this summer every summer he was home. It made him feel so stupid that he'd fought these feelings for so long; at first it was to spurn his parents then it was to fit into Gryffindor.

Now, he would be himself. No one said a Dark wizard couldn't be accepted into Gryffindor. It was really ridiculous really when you thought about it. Not all Dark wizards were evil just like not all Light wizards were good; Dumbledore was a right arse and he was a Light wizard. So, really did it matter that he was more Dark inclined than Light?

Sirius was still the same, fundamentally, as he'd always been. But he felt like he'd changed a bit for the better. No longer would he bully Severus, or anyone else for that matter. He would walk his own path and do what he felt was right for his own conscience not for anyone else's. If some people didn't like that, and some undoubtedly wouldn't, they could go to hell for all he cared.

His family, and true friends, would stand by him; the rest well they weren't important enough to care about. Lily Evans was, un-expectantly, supportive of his choices. Apparently, Severus wrote to her and explained all that was going on with him. While, Sirius knew the red head wasn't ecstatic about the tutoring in Dark Arts but she held her tongue; well at least from what Sirius saw in her letters.

Maybe she was waiting to see him and Severus again before she unloaded on them about the dangers of Dark Arts? IT was a pointless endeavor though. Sirius wouldn't stop his lessons in Dark magic over the summer; not until he'd mastered them to a degree he felt comfortable using them on his own. The Black heir was well aware of the dangers of Dark magic addiction; need he mention his now marginally insane cousin, Bellatrix?

However, he didn't think Lily would care all too much. Well as long as Severus, Sirius, and even Regulus were careful and safe about their usage of Dark magic. Lily was an intelligent girl and appreciated knowledge no matter where it came from and unlike most muggleborns she understood that Dark didn't equate to evil. It was a shame she was one of the rare few who did.

Sirius wanted to curse the Ministry, and Dumbledore, for their constant crusade to slander, and restrict, the Darker Arts. To families like Sirius' they were taking away their heritage by doing so. The Blacks were a Dark House, like the Malfoys and the Princes; to take away their right to practice the magic that was rightfully theirs by birth was ridiculous and not to mention unfair!

Besides it wasn't like Dark families stopped using the Dark Arts, or ceased teaching them to their children. Nope, they just did it quietly over summers. It was laughable that the Ministry actually thought they were putting a stop to evil wizards by outlawing the Dark Arts; it wasn't like people stopped using the Unforgivable just because they made them illegal.

What right did anyone have to tell a wizard what magic, and what spells, they could and could not use? It was all magic wasn't it? It was the intent that mattered more than anything; at least in Sirius' mind. Would it be wrong to use the Avada if it saved his brother's life? The Black heir didn't think so and he figured many people wouldn't either.

Spying the stone bench at the heart of the garden Sirius sat himself down to enjoy the sun. Unfortunately, he was so deep in thought he didn't notice someone else was already seated. The sound of someone chuckling brought him out of his thoughts and when he looked to his right he met Severus' happy onyx eyes. He snorted; "Sorry about that Severus. I didn't even notice you there."

The other boy rolled his eyes but smiled; "I noticed that. Now, what's on your mind that you're a million miles away?" The Black heir shifted so he was facing Severus; the other boy mirroring his motions so they were facing each other now; "I was thinking about a lot of stuff. What it'll be like at Hogwarts once the others find out about my new views."

"I was thinking about the Dark Arts and why they're illegal. Just lots of stuff, nothing too heavy." Severus watched him for a moment; it amazed Sirius that the other boy could read him so well and the Slytherin always seemed to know what to say to make him feel better. Who would have thought that Severus Prince was good at being supportive and comforting? Damn sure not Sirius but he found he liked this unexpected side of Severus, very much.

"Don't worry so much about what other people think, Sirius. Soon you and I will be graduating and making our way in the real world. School yard grudges and issues are trivial when you think about what we'll be dealing with when we get jobs of our own. Besides, you're a good person and if your friends don't accept you then let them hang."

Sirius smiled at how Severus seemed to spit out the word friends, as if it offended him or something. But he couldn't deny the truth in his new friend's words. Did it really matter what his fellow Marauders thought? It did a bit but it was mostly because if he lost them what would he do then? They'd been his only friends since he was eleven; if James, Peter, and Remus weren't around who would he have.

Severus knocking his shoulder into his made him smile at his stupidity; he'd still have Severus, Regulus, and maybe Lily. True, he may lose the others but he would still have people who would care for him. Another thing to consider was this change would open the door to new friends. It was still hard to imagine not having his first three friends around but if it had to happen it had to happen.

Sirius would miss them, and the relationship they shared, but he wouldn't deny who he was for them. The Black heir refused to live a lie just for the sake of their sensibilities. Why should he feel ashamed to be a Dark wizard when they weren't ashamed of being Light? Why should he feel dirty, and wrong, for practicing something that felt so right?

He shouldn't and he would have to remember that when he went back to Hogwarts in a few days. Sirius would face judgment for his choices; he knew that but he was no coward and he would not back down from what he knew was the right thing for him. And he had gained for more than he stood to lose; he had the love of his parents; something he never lost but he did fail to appreciate, a great friend in Severus, and Regulus and his once fractured relationship was being rebuilt stronger than before.

With a catlike grin he sidled up to lean against Severus' side; "You know, Severus, you always know what to say to make me feel better. I'm glad you're here and that I finally got to see why Regulus, and Lily, saw in you from the beginning." The onyx eyed teen blushed, adorably if Sirius had an opinion, but smiled that small but sincere smile.

This year would be difficult with everything going on with Sirius; between OWL's and his changed loyalties, but he'd get through it like he always did.

~*~*~*Time Skip~*~*~*

Sirius climbed onto the scarlet train after he'd bid goodbye to his parents and separated from Regulus and Severus; the Slytherins had their own section of the train just like the Gryffindors did. With a bracing breath he opened the compartment door that had the loud voices filtering from it, coming face to face with his three friends. Remus smiled timidly, Peter grinned and waved, while James scowled and turned away in a huff.

For Morgana's sake! He knew James would be a bit irritated by Sirius' change of heart to come visit him over the summer but he didn't think his friend would still be angry with him. With a sigh he sat down, trying to not be effected by the unpleasant vibe coming from the Potter heir. Now that he saw things in a different light Sirius noticed how childish his fellow Marauder could be.

And the funny part was Sirius wasn't sure why James was being such an arsehat; hadn't he explained why he couldn't make it to his Manor this summer? Yes, he had. Granted he didn't fill James in on all of what happened but the Black heir did explain that certain things had taken place over the summer and he couldn't make it this time.

James hadn't responded, tipping Sirius off to the Potter heir's irritation with him. However, the bespectacled teen needed to get over it! He had other obligations now and he couldn't just shirk them to go play with his friends whenever he wanted to. Sirius was becoming an adult, or at least maturing into one, and he had his own things to be taking care of. The grey eyed male, also, didn't have time for immature, idiotic, tantrums.

Deciding to cut the tension between them Sirius looked toward Remus, who was seated next to him, and Peter, who was across from him, and asked about their summers. He deliberately didn't ask James as he didn't feel like dealing with a petulant child right now and that was what James was acting like. The werewolf smiled kindly, looking relieved that they were talking again; "It was uneventful, just finishing homework and reading. Oh and I've been selected for Fifth Year Prefect."

Sirius smiled at his tawny haired friend; "Congrats, Moony! Why didn't you write and tell me you got picked?" Remus blushed at the praise; "Well I wanted to tell you all in person." Sirius smiled at his friend and Peter offered his "Congratulations" as well; even James deigned to grin toward Remus in acknowledgement.

The werewolf blushed an even brighter shade of red while he pinned his Prefect badge on his robes. Peter cleared his throat and began to tell Sirius all about his summer; it seemed the other teen had gone to France to visit his extended family for the first time. Sirius zoned out after a while, not that he wasn't interested, he was just over the attitude that he was getting from James.

The Potter heir was still sulking and glaring at him every five minutes or so. It seemed like James was waiting for something from Sirius; what he was expecting Sirius had no clue but if it was another apology for not coming during summer then the bespectacled boy would be waiting for quite a long while. The grey eyed teen had no intention of apologizing again.

He already did it once and that should have been enough for James. The rest of the train ride was spent with the three Marauders attempting to have a good time while the last of their group sulked, casting a gloomy cloud over the whole damn compartment.

Sirius was already getting tired of James' attitude and they weren't even at Hogwarts yet! And Sirius hadn't even told him about Severus yet! Merlin and Morgana that conversation wouldn't go over well at all but the situation was what it was.

Severus Prince was his, and Regulus', good friend and his parents' ward; James Potter would not get in between them. Not if Sirius had anything to say about it. The Black hair had made a promise to Severus that he wouldn't let anyone hurt him again and he intended to keep it.

So we are back at Hogwarts and the plot will begin to roll forward.

I'm going to portray James as a spoiled, cruel, brat since that's how I see him. Maybe the guy did mature at some point but from what I know he was a Grade A Asshole in school.

All Mistakes Are My Own!