Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, who knows how it would have gone.
Summary: A take on Sirius running away.
The Clash of the Heir and the Patriarch
Sirius Orion Black stood in front of his younger brother, Regulus Arcturus Black. In many families, siblings would often disagree and have fights, then everything would be fine again. However, for these two brothers, it was not like that at all.
"You need to understand that Mother and Father are trying to brainwash you into a Death Eater and blood purist!" Sirius exclaimed, clearly frustrated.
"Oh, really? Well, Mother and Father have taught me to be a proper Black, and you've never been a proper Black," Regulus shot back. "In fact, you're the opposite from being a proper Black. You're a blood traitor!"
"How dare you?! I thought we were brothers! We used to get along fine! But of course, Mother and Father have brainwashed you!" Sirius yelled.
"No, they have not brainwashed me!" Regulus shouted. "You're a disgrace! You don't see that only pure-bloods rule!"
"Me? A disgrace?" Sirius asked. "I don't think so. Maybe YOU are the disgrace! Where's the Regulus who looked up to me because I'm the older brother, and where's the Regulus who asked me all about Hogwarts after my first year? What about the Regulus who was so nervous to start his first year, so came to me for reassurance? Huh? Huh?!" Sirius shouted.
"I've grown up since then, Sirius," Regulus retorted. "I wasn't going to be a weak Black, after all."
Sirius glared at his brother, fists clenched. "Fine," he spat. "You're not my brother then! Goodbye!" He spun on his heel and stormed out of Regulus' room. They often had arguments like this, but today's fight was worse than usual, and Sirius didn't think they would ever be brothers again.
Sirius stepped into the hallway to find Walburga Black standing there, hands on her hips. His mother had clearly been listening to their raised voices.
"Sirius Orion Black!" she shrieked. "You know better than to talk to your brother like that!"
"He's not my brother, Mother," Sirius growled. He already knew what was coming even before she took out her wand: the Cruciatus Curse.
"Crucio!" she shouted, pointing her wand straight at her son.
Sirius was used to this curse being placed on him on a regular basis, but it never got any easier or any less painful. It always got worse when his father was involved as well.
As if on cue, Orion Black appeared. "Let's take this to the drawing room," he said coldly.
"No," Sirius said defiantly.
"Don't say no to us, young man!" Walburga shouted.
"This family really likes to shout," Sirius commented as his father dragged him to the drawing room.
"What did you just say?" Orion asked dangerously.
"I SAID, THIS FAMILY LOVES TO SHOUT!" Sirius screamed at the top of his lungs.
They arrived at the drawing room. Walburga slapped Sirius' cheek. "Don't talk to us like that!" she spat.
That was when it started again, but this time, his father was helping his mother. While Walburga put Sirius under the Cruciatus Curse, Orion sent other dark curses at him. Sirius noticed something off. Usually, Walburga put up a silencing charm, so no one could hear what they were doing, but he didn't remember her putting one up this time. She probably forgot.
Suddenly, the door flung open. "Orion! Walburga! Enough! Put your wands down this instant!" a familiar voice exclaimed in horror. The spells suddenly stopped, and Sirius was left gasping for breath and bleeding on the floor.
Orion and Walburga looked up. "Mother," Orion said, and for the first time in years, he sounded nervous.
"What do you think you were doing?!" Melania Black asked angrily. "No, don't answer. I know what you were doing! You were harming your own son!" She rushed over to Sirius and checked him over. "Are you alright, Sirius? I am so sorry they did that to you. We won't let them hurt you again."
"No, they won't hurt me again, because I'm leaving," Sirius declared.
"What?! You cannot LEAVE!" Walburga shrieked.
"Yes I can, and I will," Sirius shot back. "I'm going to a place where I will be accepted." He shakily stood up. He looked at his grandmother Melania, who had tears rolling down her cheeks. He had always respected her. Part of him felt bad for leaving her behind, but he couldn't stay with this family any longer.
"Oh, Sirius, please don't leave," Melania said quietly. "We can make this right. We can…"
"I'm sorry, Grandmother, but I just can't," Sirius said. "Please understand. I've been dealing with this my whole life. Enough is enough."
With that, Sirius stood and walked out of the drawing room to go pack his belongings.
Walburga was outraged. "I am going to burn his name off of our family tree!" she exclaimed. She took out her wand, about to go through with her threat when another voice stopped her.
"Drop your wand," a stern voice said from the doorway. Walburga widened her eyes. She dropped her wand as instructed. "Arcturus! I can explain…"
"There is nothing to explain," Lord Arcturus Black cut her off angrily. "You have hurt your son, then you plan to disown him? Not while I am patriarch!"
"But Sirius is a disgrace!" Walburga exclaimed.
"He is not a proper Black, and his actions today have just proven that," Orion said.
"I've stood by for far too long, listening to you both attempt to raise your children with blood purity ideas that are dangerous and wrong," Arcturus stated. "No more. Sirius will not be removed from this family, and that's final." With that, he left the room, Melania following behind. Orion and Walburga stood there, stunned. The patriarch had never stopped them from disowning someone before.
Sirius came out of his room with his trunk. Regulus stood nearby, watching him.
"Goodbye, Sirius," Regulus said, and for the first time in a very long time, Sirius swore he thought he heard a note of regret in his voice.
"Goodbye," Sirius said shortly. With that, he walked down the hallway and down the stairs. On his way out the door, he saw his grandparents watching him with sadness in their eyes. With one last look at his childhood home, Sirius left to start a new chapter in his life with his best friend, James Potter.