Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling. I do own any OC, non-canon and fictional magic.
A/N: I am so THRILLED on the reviews I have received so quickly! I hope to answer all your questions within the course of the tale :-). They are my motivation so here is a new chapter in the same week! Also, the focal point will be on Sirius (as the titular character) for the next few chapters as I want to showcase his adulting skills and intelligence wrangling the truth and attaining information...using any means necessary :-). Keep reviewing! It is my motivation. Enjoy!
Just a reminder: If you see an update of the same chapter it is due to fixing any grammatical errors, fleshing out descriptions and adding citations at the chapter's bottom. Otherwise, no new material. Keep me posted if there are any grammar, spelling, or punctuation (GSP) errors or if the story flow is not connecting. I want to make my FanFiction stories the best they can be. ~JHS.
VI: Returning Home Part II
Sirius sighed. He shut the door of his former room. Sans dust and debris, his room was truly a lifetime ago.
He doubted his room had been touched since he left during the night. He closed his eyes trying to block his mind's eye.
Truthfully, he had such terrible living nightmares inside Azkaban walls that it was surprisingly easier for him to block much of his childhood abuse out.
The Gryffindor sign and Muggle girl calendar remained permanently glued to his walls. Sirius gave a careless shrug. And rolled his eyes. Stupid horny teenager. He thought disgustedly. You'd think I'd possess some finesse in all this? Still, it was a good laugh and it made ol' Mum and Dad mad...so I guess there's that.
At the time he excelled in Defense and Charms...and he was not a bad shot at all with Potions.
Doubt I could manage it now. Thank Merlin I'm not a Squib. He could not be of course. The House probably would not have taken him otherwise. Some things even magic did not spare him from his family's rote reaction.
He shook his head. Instead of using his magic to straighten his room he began to do it by hand. Sirius nearly tripped over a former dress robe box partially hidden by his comforter.
Curious, he opened it.
Inside the box were some of the pictures he had been forced to leave behind. He had been a 15-year-old Pureblood prince. Proud, intelligent and handsome.
And up to my eyeballs in sex. He chuckled. Those were the days when I was a ladies' man.
He grimaced. No way would he decide to find a witch. He felt like he had sowed his wild oats early and often before he was caught as an almost 22-year-old young man imprisoned in Azkaban. Furthermore, she would be a golddigger...and he could not imagine being touched ever again based on his ordeal.
Besides, he thought soberly. Harry comes first. He is going to be my Heir. And...I want to be a parent like I should have...before Azkaban. His frown deepened. I don't want him to feel like he's vying for my attention.
Truth be told, he really had done a last night of revelry two days before his extended day at the Dementor Hotel. He swore to himself and to James and Lily he was through. They had looked at each other in blatant disbelief.
"I have every intention of being the best godfather around." Sirius said. "But, I don't want him to be everything like me…" He smiled enviously at Lily and James. "I want what you have for myself. And...while I have no intention of having my own children...I just want Harry to be surrounded only by the best influences…" He muttered.
Lily's compassionate green eyes sparkled and she hugged Sirius. "You don't know that, Siri." She said gently. "Harry is everything to us. You might want to have your own Harry or Harriette one day. Until that day, Harry loves you just as much as you adore him."
Sirius closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"There's no one for me Lily-girl." He said softly. "I wasn't joking around when I finally grew up. I know I hurt a lot of girls with my stupidity." Although, he could admit he made it up to them in bed.
And, he thought darkly. I didn't want a child to grow up in...this environment. He winced and scowled.
The pictures were of the Marauders during their school days. He purposefully did not look at Wormtail. His heart clenched and he gnashed his teeth as he quickly went through the photos until seeing one that took his breath away.
Four-year-old Sirius holding onto a two-year-old Regulus.
His eyes blurred.
Young Sirius was grinning at the camera and showing off his baby brother. Protective, kind, loving and mischievous.
"So much pain, brother." He smiled ruefully. "You, I loved. Your betrayal to me was the worst thing I've ever had to deal with next to Lily's and James' deaths and I relived it in Azkaban." He shook his head getting lost in the memories.
"Why can't you just be normal for Mother and Father?" 13-year-old Regulus asked, annoyed. "Just admit they're right about the Muggles." Regulus grimaced. "Renounce James Potter and that Werewolf friend of yours and everything will be fine."
"Don't you even listen to yourself?!" 15-year-old Sirius screamed. "You're supposed to be on my side. You're my brother!"
Regulus rolled his dark eyes. "Is it worth being disowned? You could always accept punishment and apologize for your beliefs."
"Is it worth being dictated to, tormented and beaten by Father?" Sirius challenged. "My answer to that is so obvious I'm surprised you're not bleeding shit from your eyes for the type of shit you're saying to me!"
Sirius always protected Regulus. He always took the fights and the beatings from Father. He swore he would always protect Regulus from Father's hand and Mother's temper.
Regulus was the dutiful, perfect Pureblood Slytherin prince. It made up for his lack of handsomeness and other insecurities he held in Sirius' shadow.
Sirius knew Regulus envied him and never took it seriously because he loved his brother to pieces.
He had stormed out of the House of Black and ran toward the nearest alley to call the Knight Bus. He had only intended to stay there until things calmed down (or he did) and lived with James and Uncle Alphard ever since. He was officially disowned by sixteenth Christmas.
He thought he could replace James with Regulus.
Truth was, he never could. James was Sirius' age and more of a twin. But Regulus was his baby brother.
At Hogwarts, Sirius and Regulus would hex each other and nearly got expelled in one of their fights of bad blood.
Oh, Sirius knew what was really going on. Regulus had to prove his worth to his Death Eater friends. If it was just a hex or something then Sirius could have made a point to forgive him.
But it was the Imperious Curse.
His brother wanted him to renounce his friendship with James and then return to Mother and Father where he would remain under his brother's whim for the remainder of his life.
Sirius' formidable rage coupled with Regulus' first time wielding the Unforgivable was enough to break free.
"You...are dead to me, Regulus." Sirius said with such quiet animosity that Regulus visibly flinched, taking a step back. "How could you? I loved you more than anyone else. And...you've betrayed me to fulfill your own selfish desires of having me in a gilded cage. Only a spineless bastard could do what you've done to me. You deserve to be a Squib. I at least left the family in good form of a fight without playing Slytherin cowardice."
Sirius beat the hell out of his brother. Practically had him the Hospital Wing for two weeks.
No one messed with Sirius Orion Black. Least of all Regulus Arcturus Black or anyone related to the House.
James had been with him and held his best friend in his arms as Sirius sobbed in grief, torment and deepest rage.
All of which he nursed to take down as many Death Eaters as he possibly could whenever he fought.
Later, he heard that Regulus died.
It vaguely bothered Sirius.
There would be no remorse or making amends.
At the time, Sirius could have cared less.
Sirius opened his eyes. And looked down at the picture of the young brothers.
"I'll still find a way to kill them all." Sirius said quietly. "All the Death Eaters are my enemies. They took away dear friends and family members. Even if you were misguided...you were still mine."
Sirius would have honestly claimed his brother to be his Heir. A fact he told his brother, surprising the Spare.
"What?" Sirius asked. "I'd've thought you'd be proud? You're my brother...but I raised you." Sirius had taught Regulus manners, reading and how to talk to girls. He was the one to care for a sick Regulus. He was the one that changed Regulus' nappies. He was the one that soothed Regulus from nightmares.
Not their parents.
He also told him upfront that if anyone tried to mess with Regulus to point them out to him. They'd never mess with his kid brother at Hogwarts or any of the Pureblood families' children either at all the forced functions they attended. It was where the pranking started. A way to look innocent while getting revenge and obviously showed his Slytherin influences.
Regulus looked stunned. "But what about your own family?"
Sirius arched a brow. "I'm not fancying a chance of having a mad hatter as my child. Science and genetics, brother. Besides," he said cheekily tapping his brother on the nose. "You'll always have a child's face, ickle Reggie."
His brother scowled. But then laughed.
"You're right, Siri." Regulus said softly. "I'd be proud to be your Heir."
Sirius gritted his teeth. He replaced the photographs inside the box. The House lit the fire.
Sirius tidied up as much of his room as he could. He scrubbed his face with his hand.
He just kicked off his shoes and sighed in delight at the first real bed he had in ages.
"Please guard my sleep so I can feel safe again." Sirius asked the ceiling. The House placed several wards around Sirius' bedroom.
He felt an immeasurable sense of peace weigh on him.
Sleep took him.
The House moved the coverlet around his body and repositioned him more comfortably in his bed.
The House would protect its Lord and Master.
It actually tripped Kreacher when the House-Elf leaned his ear against Sirius' door.
Kreacher wisely retreated and worked on sorting the downstairs.
The House-Elf made his way to the kitchen first. He easily removed everything in the pantry. Kreacher never refilled the food once it ended. In fact, he ate rats and bugs since it was part of Master Arcturus' punishment. He could never leave the House. He put everything designated as rubbish in the center of the room.
Kreacher took a deep breath. He actually decided it would be OK for him to open the windows. The House complied and opened every window for Kreacher as a reward for no longer bothering their Master.
He had not done something so autonomous in over a decade.
It was surprisingly liberating. Causing the House-Elf to pause. He went through the kitchen, two guestrooms, all six bathrooms (except for the Jack-and-Jill bathroom the Black brothers once shared), the parlor room and the Master suite.
He worked all night to cover those portions. He had the laboratory, both libraries, the study, the attic, the basement, Masters Regulus' and Sirius' bedrooms, and the informal sitting room left to do.
Kreacher could honestly say over a third of what was in the House would be rubbish. He grimaced. It felt good to organize. But as much as he wanted to clean…he could not. There was no direct order.
Also, he was in a bit of pickle.
Should I mention the Dark Locket? And Master Regulus' last letter to Lord Sirius? He wondered.
No. No, he would not do such a thing. There was no need for Sirius to know about anything relating to that horrific night when everything went to literal hell for his beloved Master Regulus.
He kept the Dark Locket hidden...even if he could not destroy it himself. He accepted the order kept him awake every moment of the day.
He had failed his Master. Therefore, he would accept the punishment from both Master Arcturus and Mistress Walburga.
Yes, that was the right thing to do. Not that Kreacher ever worried about the morality and opinions of those misaligned with the House of Black.
Lord Sirius ordered Kreacher to return all hidden items within the House to him...but he did not specify what Kreacher could allow to remain hidden within the House. Kreacher thought satisfied.
He gathered many heirlooms from the Tapestry Room. The Tapestry Room held many of the Black Family silver, crests, jewels, cursed items, and other heirlooms passed down from generations of the family. Earned or otherwise acquired from various means necessary.
Much of the furniture was dated and suffering from decline and misuse. Kreacher sighed. He would gladly shine silver all day or everyday if it meant he did not have to throw anything out.
He glanced at the clock. It was almost 7 a.m.
Perhaps...Kreacher should make breakfast for Lord Sirius? He felt the House approve. The House procured eggs, bacon, oatmeal and orange juice in the kitchen for Kreacher to prepare breakfast for their Master.
Kreacher's eyebrows lifted and he hesitantly began to make breakfast. He felt incredibly rusty after not serving anyone other than himself and a decayed portrait.
The House-Elf glanced at the clock. It is 7:52 a.m.
Time to go to Gringotts.
The House would keep Sirius' breakfast warm for him. Kreacher straightened and closed his eyes.
Pop!
Arriving at the House-Elf entrance on the basement floor of Gringotts, Kreacher made himself stand straighter than he had in years.
It was overwhelming for the House-Elf to be surrounded by other House-Elves who murmured amongst themselves.
House-Elves could sense which Noble and Noble and Most Ancient House each held allegiance to. Every House had a specific reputation and magic associated with it.
Obviously, the House of Black was a Dark House with its main attributes being cunning and vengeance.
The House-Elves quickly gave Kreacher a wide berth. Smiling coldly, Kreacher regained some of his internal composure.
He took a step forward when a Goblin arched his eyebrow.
Why in dragon's dung am I down here? Ragemark wondered irritably. Who's this House-Elf? He narrowed his beady, black eyes at the House-Elf's tattered loincloth. An ancient insignia still visible despite its faded appearance was easily recognizable for the Goblin.
Ragemark immediately pinged the Director. He used a tapping mechanism using a code similar to the Muggle Morse Code into High Gobbledygook.
«Director, the House of Black's House-Elf has arrived! What are your orders?»
«Bring him to his Account Manager.» The Director coded. «I want you to be present with the Account Manager as well. Then report to me directly. Tell Jawcracker you are here on behalf of all Pureblood Houses as a liaison.»
«Affirmative.» Ragemark tapped.
"Kreacher is commanded to seek Account Manager Jawcracker for financial reports." Kreacher said in his low, gravelly voice.
"Indeed?" Ragemark already called his replacement to a junior member and politely led the way into an elevator leading to a deeper tunnel.
Account Manager Jawcracker was a port Goblin. He sipped his strongly laced Snarlroar's Finest Goblin Brandied coffee.
He was just looking over some of his accounts. He often ignored the House of Black's account summary.
Except to take some money off the top.
He may or may not be bribed to receive funds and forwarded them to Lady Narcissa Druella Malfoy* née Black. What she did with those funds, Jawcracker could only guess at. All he cared for was the extra gold in his coffers.
He chuckled at his own brilliance. He had inherited the Black Account two years after the formidable Lord Arcturus Black died. It was child's play. No one wanted to deal with the cursed Dark family. Especially since the paranoid Heir Apparent Orion Phineas Black* was losing his mind and then the whole family wound up cursed losing its Heir and its Spare. Why, the money would eventually go to the Goblins. So why not receive his dues? After all, only direct male lineage could inherit. Hence, Narcissa Malfoy's bribery.
He started when the door opened.
"Account Manager Jawcracker," Ragemark said formally. "I bring you Kreacher, House-Elf to the House of Black. He has come for the financial reports. Per your contract with the Bank you cannot notify the authorities of this request. I am here as a Pureblood liaison to the Bank."
Jawcracker gulped. Knowing full well that Ragemark's nose flared meant he could smell the brandy. So could the House-Elf. He would receive a dock in his pay and a stern warning for privileging himself. It reflected badly on the Bank.
Right now, that was the least of the Goblin's worries. Damn that clause! Jawcracker thought wildly.
There was a confidentiality clause for any major House receiving financial information and advice whenever they pleased. It included those who were fugitives. It was in place due to the many wars, usurping, and inheritance changes family members imbued themselves in.
Jawcracker knew he was in deep dragon dung once he pulled the dusty folder from the top shelf of all the Black holdings. Along with the thinner, self-updating and timestamped ledger he opened with shaking fingers and passed to the House-Elf with a speculative Ragemark regarding the transaction.
Kreacher's lip curled menacingly. "I smell treachery." His sharp pale eyes narrowed. "And you know what happens to those who willfully try to harm the House of Black, don't you Account Manager Jawcracker?"
Ragemark pulled back a snarl. He would not disgrace the Bank by showing his warrior's fangs in the presence of a House-Elf.
The Director will know of this.
Sirius awoke slowly for the first time and propped himself on his elbows. Blinking owlishly, he took in his surroundings. He was more startled at not hearing other prisoners' misery more than anything.
Looking down at the coverlet he could not help the smile appearing on his lips.
Tucked in like a child. He thought touched. Haven't received this since Lily-girl put a blanket around me and Harry. He closed his eyes against the memory.
Sirius knew it was unhealthy of him to dwell on the past. He just needed proper time to deal with it...but he had other goals for himself.
Starting with breakfast. He thought shaking his head. His slowly rose and smiled at the room. He saw his Grandfather's wand and carefully flexed his hand around it. He did not dare put it in his pocket. Auror Mad-Eye Moody often preached that rule. And he did not fancy losing any choice bits of himself in case his Grandfather's powerful wand went off on him.
"Thank you," Sirius said sincerely to the House.
The House opened his warded door and his nostrils smelled a hot breakfast. Suspiciously, Sirius descended the four flights of stairs to the kitchen. He did not bother cleaning up just yet since he wanted to assess if his orders had been addressed. He noted the open windows and nodded his approval. As much as he liked his room well enough...he did not want to be reminded of yesteryear.
And I'd like Harry to have my old room. Sirius thought. I'll just have to remove the Muggle girls.
From what he gathered, Harry would not be ready for girls yet at 12-years-old. He was much too shy. And, Sirius may or may not be batting for a certain Muggleborn witch's affection for his godson.
Nor did he want to corrupt Lily's son. He had several promises to keep. Namely, getting Harry's legal adoption despite him being a fugitive and the Ministry with a price on his head.
He was mildly insulted he was only worth 250,000 galleons dead or alive from his wanted poster.
Really, the wizard scoffed rolling his piercing eyes, aren't I worth at least a million galleons?
Sirius looked around at some of the rooms Kreacher had put in the rubbish pile.
He ate the hearty meal and was impressed at Kreacher's work. Alright, he admitted. I'll say thank you for this. Manners were bred into Sirius (and literally beaten into him from Mother).
"Would you mind terribly if we changed the décor?" Sirius asked the House. "I would rather not live in a Gothic horror and I know you wouldn't be obliging to a totally Gryffindor design...might'n't we remove most of the Slytherin appeal and put it predominately in the Tapestry Room? Maybe even Regulus' room? And make the colors beige, black and...oxblood red―not Gryffindor red―or something? I feel like we need a fresh start. What d'you think?"
He could feel the House deciding. Instantly the Gothic influences of his Mother were removed.
The House continued to debate.
"Do you want me to keep most of the furniture?" Sirius asked between gulps of orange juice. "How about you take the pieces you want fixed into the Battle Mage Training Room and I'll use Grandfather's wand to hopefully repair it. I need to practice my spellwork anyway."
Surprisingly, only choice pieces were chosen from where Sirius sat. He did not doubt that the House took furniture in different rooms for Sirius to fix either.
The walls became beige and the black undertones were decidedly more masculine and more contemporary without losing its Old World roots.
Sirius took his dishes to the sink and began to carefully wash and dry them.
The House seemed scandalized.
He chuckled. "I feel like I need to use my hands...it grounds me. But I promise, I'm not trying to take away Kreacher's job or anything."
The House settled slightly.
Leaving the rest of his dishes away and tucking his chair under the kitchen table Sirius sauntered toward the second floor where the study, grand library, half-bath and the Training Room resided.
Closing the door behind he raised Grandfather's wand.
"Reparo maximus!" Sirius called flicking his wrist. Breathing a sigh of relief as the magic within him burst forward.
Slam!
All the furniture pieces literally fell over themselves to repair like new.
Sirius blinked. "Well I'll be damned...this wand is pretty powerful…" the wizard muttered. Lifting Mother's armoire, he shrugged. Considering this is a bachelor pad I could deign to keep a few feminine pieces.
"Wingardium leviosa," Sirius said. The door adjusted itself as Sirius led the piece into the Master suite. He crinkled his nose in disgust. Settle...everything's yours now...Mother and Father are no longer here.
He had many memories being summoned to this room and was very surprised at how much smaller the grand Master suite looked to him as an adult as opposed to when he was 16 and younger. He left his family two days before Christmas. He was glad he had Christmas with the Potters.
His heart clenched. I'll honor Christmas just like Mr. and Mrs. Potter did for me. Brightening, he grinned. In fact, I'll try to make sure Harry can celebrate it with me this Christmas...I'll have so much to share with him!
Resolved, the wizard began to redo the House for most of the morning.
The cushions and curtains were oxblood red in every room.
Sirius grinned.
Now I'll just wait for Kreacher. He thought as he settled himself in his study.
"Show me all the wills and important documents in reverse chronological order, please." Sirius asked the House. "And would you bring Grandfather's and Grandmother's diaries? Along with...a Hogwarts-styled blackboard so I can map things out?"
Seeing his requests made he looked at the fine writing quills next to him. This would make a fine gift to Hermione and Harry...let them know in the subtlest way that I'm OK.
He pulled the first document to him. I hope Kreacher doesn't take too long on acquiring those financial documents for me to cross-reference.
His parents' will appeared atop the stack of dusty parchments.
Grimacing, Sirius began to read.
References: The middle names for Sirius' parents and Narcissa were chosen from the Black Family Tree located on the Harry Potter Lexicon and Harry Potter Wikia websites. They did not have middle names listed. I figure if Sirius III (our Sirius) has a middle name (Orion)―and this is an old family with multiple constellations (exception being a floral name like Narcissa's)―being renamed throughout the generations would be an easy reference of who's who.
Furthermore, I looked up British nobility courtesy titles. Since Arcturus did not die (he outlived Orion and Regulus) he remained Lord Black. His son, Orion, would have been Heir Apparent until his death and otherwise known as Lord Orion Black instead of Lord Black (like Arcturus). Arcturus died in 1991 (same year as Harry's first year at Hogwarts). Both Orion and Regulus died in 1979 while Sirius was imprisoned in 1981. Walburga (Sirius' mother) died in 1985. Sirius escaped in 1993. Dates courtesy of Harry Potter Wikia.
However, I am playing AU. I made this FanFiction for 1992 to make Harry 12-years-old as some 'childhood' for Sirius to enjoy (see first A/N on the Prologue) and felt since I was writing about Lord Black's reestablishment and his enemies' comeuppance then I ought to do this research. Please review!