Anyone who knew Sirius and James knew them as best friends, partners in crime, brothers at heart. They were wrong. Sirius knew James as his salvation. And while that might sound like a big word for a twelve year old, it didn't make it any less true.
The first time Sirius had met the Potters was at some pureblood function or another, he couldn't recall. But he remembered meeting the Potter cousins, Harry and James.
Harry was around Narcissa's age, though he had been sorted in Hufflepuff and had little to no contact with her, and was reserved. He kept to himself and his golden snitch that he let fly around him and caught repeatedly. He looked utterly bored at everyone, and so everyone left him alone.
James was another story. James was eager to make friends with everyone, perhaps too eager. The Slytherins had quickly rounded up on that eagerness and called it desperation. The Rosiers and the Lestranges and the Blacks quickly made him a target. And Sirius was ashamed to say, he played right along. James never even lost his smile. He answered every jab with one of his own, acting as if they were all good friends teasing each other. It wasn't until Harry intervened that they all backed off. Harry was older, and stronger, and had no problem telling them to fuck off.
Sirius remembers observing the cousins from afar. Harry had pulled James aside and explained to him none of those jokes had been friendly. James' face had crumbled in disappointment. After that, James had learned to stay away from the Slytherin kids during those functions.
When Sirius got sorted into Gryffindor, he had learned just how cruel Slytherin purebloods could be, even to one of their own. They had shunned him, like twelve years of playing together meant nothing. Because it did, mean nothing that is. In a society where connections and appearances were everything, Sirius was a liability. He expected to be lonely at Gryffindor as well. He was wrong. James had attacked every single person who spoke ill of him with a viciousness that made his heart clench with guilt. And while James was busy defending him in Gryffindor, Harry was quick to make sure the whole of Hufflepuff knew that Sirius was under Potter protection.
Sirius felt undeserving of such loyalty, when he had been such a coward. Though he vowed to become worthy of it.
"…and the Gryffindor Tower is almost as high as the Astronomy Tower, and when the sky is clear you can see every constellation! And on Sunday afternoons, we all play a game of friendly Quidditch, well not the first years cause you're not allowed a broom yet but you can watch! And Thursday evenings are Chess evenings! Peter is the best, hasn't been beaten yet! He'll give you a run for your money, Reggie! And Fridays, the seventh years throw a big party and everyone is allowed to attend, even firsties!"
Regulus looks at Hermione. I don't think he's taken a single breath since the train started moving.
Hermione presses her lips together into a tight line and looks away.
"Hey!" Sirius glares at the two of them. "None of that twin thing while I'm speaking to you! That's not fair."
"What twin thing?" Hermione asks with wide innocent eyes.
Sirius narrows his at her. "I've known you since you were in diapers, I know when you start talking to each other and start ignoring the rest of us. It's rude."
"We wouldn't need to resort to such measures if you weren't so in love with the sound of your own voice," Regulus smirks at him.
"You little shit!"
James and Remus press themselves further into a corner of the compartment and watch the siblings' bickering grow louder.
"Sometimes, I'm glad I'm an only child," Remus confesses in a whisper and James nods.
Hours later, Hermione stands at the sorting and plays with her sleeve. Holding her twin's hand right now wouldn't win them any points and neither one can afford showing any weakness. When her name is called, she walks to the stool with her heartbeat thundering in her ears.
"Do you think she'll take after her blood traitor brother?"
"Do you think they are as mad as the rest of their family?"
"Ten galleons she's a snake."
"Twenty she's a lion."
She does her best to ignore the whispers and sits on the stool, welcoming the darkness when the Hat slips over her eyes.
Ah, another Black, you lot are always so entertaining. There is always so much hate in there, so much anxiety, where shall I put you?
I am not hateful, she thinks viciously.
No? Are you sure? Not even a little bit of self loathing?
Screw you. The blasted thing has the nerve to chuckle before continuing with its musing.
Both a twin and a middle child, constantly trying to keep the peace, looking for balance and fairness in all things. It is fascinating, really. But where shall I put you? Half of you wants to stay joined at the hip with your twin, the other half longs to give your big brother the support he sorely lacks. But the truth is, neither of those things is in your own interest. What do you long for? What is your dream?
She's drawing a blank. What is her dream?
Do not worry, that is what I am here for after all. Ah, there it is, buried deep within the confines of your mind.
Well, what is it? She urges him.
I can't make it that easy for you now, can I? No, you will have to figure it out by yourself. What I can tell you is how to best find your way, and that is by being your most authentic self. Only one House can help you do that. That will be...
"Ravenclaw!"
Hermione stands on shaky legs, and walks to the eagles' table where polite clapping welcomes her. She sits on the edge of her seat and turns to watch her twin take his seat on the stool with a constipated look on her face. She doesn't even find it in herself to laugh at that.
Yet another people-pleasing Black, there won't be any shortage of you any time soon, I see.
Put me with my sister, he begs.
Boring, the Hat sighs in his head, you're all so very boring. No, you have the heart of a lion, and the brain of an eagle, certainly. But you possess more ambition than you let show. You're almost trying to pass yourself off as the weak link. Why is that? Your mind is muddied by far too many influences. I doubt you even know which thought is your own anymore.
I am not brainwashed, Regulus states forcefully.
I never said you were. No, you're far too cunning to let yourself be brainwashed, too pragmatic. No, you have a greater path ahead of you. I can see it clearly now, even if you cannot yet. You need the House that will nurture these attributes for you to reach your full potential, to accomplish the destiny you were meant for.
What destiny? Wait… Regulus asks but it is too late. The Hat loudly proclaims
"Slytherin!"
Regulus looks at his twin, and lets her cheers fill his heart. She doesn't hate him, even if they got separated, she still loves him. He beams and turns to look at Sirius. The sombre look his brother is sending his way makes him trip on his robe. His brother laughs at that, his friends joining him in their cruel mockery. Pettigrew is already replaying the scene, getting up from the bench and tripping to everyone's delight. Regulus walks over to the Slytherin table with his head held high. Narcissa makes him space next to the fifth years and he sits there with his back straight. Hermione purses her lips at the exchange. She is about to turn back to send a glare of her own when something white fills her vision.
"Hello," says a dreamy voice, and she finds herself face to face with the blondest person she has ever seen apart from Lucius Malfoy.
"I'm Pandora Burke," she says while taking Hermione's hand over the table to shake it, "and you're Hermione Black," she adds without letting her answer, "I am pleased to meet you again."
"Again?" Hermione confusedly looks her over. The girl looks like an elf, an ethereally beautiful elf. She thinks she'd remember someone like that.
"Oh," Pandora looks sad, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shame you. Not everyone remembers their past lives. It's okay," she reassures her, "I won't hold it against you."
"Ignore her, she's been doing that all day, almost gave Barty here a heart attack," a voice drawls from her left, and a boy lowers himself next to her while another one takes the seat opposite her, right next to Pandora whom he is eying with obvious fear in his eyes. Hermione realises she has missed half the sorting while she was silently fuming and mentally shakes herself.
"I'm Antonin Dolohov," the drawling boy introduced himself, "and that's Barty Crouch the seventh or something?" he adds nodding and the other boy, who is still trying to scoot as far away as he can from Pandora.
Barty stops his fidgeting to glare at Antonin. "We don't keep count, actually" he corrects, sending both Antonin and Hermione in a fit of giggles that only makes their housemate's glare more venomous.
Back at the Slytherin table, Narcissa is explaining house politics to her favourite cousin.
"Once you're in your dormitory, you take the bed under the window. That's the best bed, and every Black in Slytherin has slept there for over 500 years."
Regulus draws his eyebrows in confusion, "I thought the house elves assigned the bed at random?"
"In lesser houses, perhaps," Lucius sneers from his other side. "Here, we do things our own way."
"It's all about power, Reg," Narcissa continues, "the more power you have, the easier your life will be here."
"And the more standing you have in your own year, the more guarantee you'll have to be prefect," Lucius said.
"And, later, Head Boy," Narcissa finishes his sentence effortlessly and Regulus wonders if they've practised that before.
"Naturally, an endorsement from the current prefects," Lucius pauses to smile lovingly at Narcissa over Regulus's head, "will get you far…"
"But not far enough," Narcissa warns, "you will need to keep proving yourself every day."
"Never refuse an invitation from Slughorn."
"Never get caught losing house-points."
"Never let someone else disrespect you."
"Never lose a fight."
"Never start a fight you can't win."
Regulus's meal sits forgotten as he looks back and forth between his cousin and her boyfriend fast enough to make his head turn. The truth is he is grateful. The initial shame of being just another Black, compared to his trailblazing siblings, quickly fades to gratitude and not having to do this alone. The other first years are already looking at him with awe as he converses with fifth years. Some second and third years are sending him envious looks. And the other fifth years take their cue from Lucius and Narcissa and lean over to give him more advice. By the end of the night, Regulus is safely tucked in the best bed of the dormitory, the one directly overlooking the Black Lake, and smiling contently for the first time since he left home.
The next morning after breakfast, Hermione stops by the Slytherin table to greet her twin before walking to her classes, none of which they share that day. When she arrives, she finds a mountain of sweets sitting in front of Regulus, which every student in their year is already tearing into, as well as a great horned owl she has never seen before. Regulus looks at her with a blushing face, and hands her a letter instead of talking. Hermione skims it, seeing her mother's praises sketched in dark green ink. The owl is a gift, so are the sweets, to congratulate him on his "stellar sorting". Neither she, nor Sirius, have gotten the option of having a pet. Sirius had gotten a howler after his sorting. She's received nothing. She isn't quite sure how she felt about that.
"You can borrow it whenever you want," Regulus says in a soft voice and she smiles at him.
"Thanks, Reg. I'll see you at lunch."
She squeezes his shoulder and walks towards Barty, Antonin and Pandora, who are waiting for her at the doors, and puts her family drama behind her. She doesn't really need a pet after all, or praise.
She is sitting with Antonin and Pandora in the library, the last two heatedly debating the existence of past lives, while waiting for Barty to join them. He has volunteered to bring their homework down from their tower and he is already thirty minutes late. At the one hour mark, Barty finally shows up, out of breath and sweating profusely. He drops next to Hermione, patting his forehead dry.
"I couldn't figure out the riddle."
Antonin snickers from his seat across them, his debate with Pandora forgotten.
"You're like the worst Ravenclaw ever," he says and Barty's flush deepens.
"Shut up, my father would kill me if he found out…is that a french potions book?"
Barty jumps out of seat towards the nearest bookshelf before any of them can react, and Hermione bents down to grab his bag and take out their homework when she hears them.
She hands her friends their books before standing up and silently making her way towards the end of the library. Sirius and Regulus are muttering to each other, both looking solemn but not particularly hostile. Sirius is soon joined by his friends, and Hermione watches his entire demeanour change. His shoulders fly back, his eyes narrow, his grin widens; while Regulus seems to retreat on himself, his shoulders hunching and his eyes darting around to make his exit.
"So, little Black, how's Slytherin treating you?" James asked while draping an arm around Sirius. "Tortured any puppies yet?"
"Not on the first day, James," Sirius replies before Regulus has a chance to, "first they torture bugs, then puppies, then they graduate to good old-fashioned assholery."
"That's not even a word," Regulus grumbles, already turning around.
"Aw, Reggie, come back! We're not done talking," Sirius calls out to his brother and Regulus turns back to face him expectantly. "Tell me, how comfortable is mummy's arse? You know, since you spend so much time up there."
His friends burst out laughing, and Regulus runs away, not even noticing Hermione in her not so discreet hiding spot. She doesn't have so much luck with the Gryffindors who are now looking at her with various expressions on their faces though she only has eyes for Sirius.
"You too?" he asks, "Merlin, I can't throw a rock without hitting someone I'm related to in this place."
The shorter one, Pettigrew, is the only one who laughs until Hermione glares at him and he turns it into a cough. Hermione shakes her head, turns on her heels and goes back to her friends. Barty and Antonin are bickering at each other again. Pandora follows her movement until she is seated, then reaches out her hand to squeeze Hermione's in hers. Not for the first time, Hermione feels grateful for the blond girl. She smiles at her discreetly and joins Barty in berating Antonin, who constantly seems to believe his opinion is the only one that matters.
It takes two whole weeks before Sirius sees his siblings again, much to his chagrin. He would have rather not seen them at all.
The Marauders leave their potions class in high spirits. Potions is the one class they never need to prank, not when Remus is always inadvertently blowing up his cauldron, if not every cauldron in his vicinity. Sirius is busy mimicking Lily's high pitched scream when someone tugs on his sleeve.
"Sirius!" His sister's hiss is the last thing he needed to hear on such a beautiful day.
"What?" he groans.
"Can I talk to you?"
He sighs. Those big puppy eyes so similar to his used to be enough to make him do anything; now they mostly annoy him.
"Not now," he snaps, tearing his arm away from her iron grip.
"How about we meet you guys at lunch, yeah?" Remus intervenes, half because keeping the peace is practically an instinct and half because it affords him a reprieve from his friends' teasing of his abysmal potions skills.
"What do you want?" he barks at her, and Hermione glared at him.
"You've been avoiding Reg and me, why?"
Sirius rolls his eyes. Trust the princess to throw a temper tantrum when the attention isn't on her for a full minute.
"I happen to lead a busy, riveting life," he drawls. "My secretary will get back to you with an appointment."
The chit slaps his arm.
"Reg tried talking to you, and you humiliated him in front of your friends. Why?" She crosses her arms, and the resemblance with their mother makes him suppress a shiver.
"It wasn't humiliation, it was a joke. Apparently, Reg can't take a joke. Should have known after living with the bloke for ten years," he adds under his breath.
"It was a cruel joke," she admonishes.
"He'll live."
Hermione shakes her head. "I just don't understand what we did to make you so angry at us."
Sirius scoffs at that and Hermione shuts her mouth so fast he hears her teeth clatter.
"You didn't do anything. You both got exactly what you wanted. Reg stays the good little mama's boy he's always been. And you, you get to pursue whatever you take your fancy to. Mother and Father are still fawning at both your feet. Everything's dandy. You don't need me anymore than I need you, so I don't see why you're bothering me at lunch time. It's shepherd's pie day."
He turns to walk away from her but she grabs his arm once again.
"You want to lash out at me, fine, go ahead. But don't fuck with Reg," she warns him darkly and a grin suddenly lights up his face.
"Don't you worry about Reggie," he croons.
He tears his arm from her grasp and marches back to the Great Hall. He sits down next to his friends and ignores Remus's inquisitive look to throw an arm around James's shoulders.
"I think it's time we welcomed the Slytherin firsties into the castle, show them some real Marauders' hospitality."
James's face lights up behind his square glasses.
"I like that idea. In fact, Peter and I were just brainstorming ideas about what we should do with our last batch of Dungbombs."
Remus shakes his head. Sirius narrows his eyes at him.
"We ended the year with Dungbombs, can't start the year with that too. Next thing you know, we're predictable."
James dramatically gasped at Remus. "You take that back!" he demanded and Remus grins at him while he chews.
"Alright," says Peter, "what could be better than Dungbombs?"
The story of how the Slytherin first year students' clothes started shrinking the minute they walked through the Great Hall's door, leaving them to all run back to their dorms in rapidly shrinking robes and uncomfortable tight shoes to the laughter of everyone around to see it quickly makes the rounds. The image painted by the rumours gets more ridiculous as word spread, and by the time Hermione hears of it for the fifth time she is fuming and itching to her wand on Sirius and his duplicitous friends.
Hours later, the Marauders stop at a corridor to catch their breath, their laughter dying as they come face to face with irate looking Hermione Black. Sirius looks at the magic cackling in her hair and winces, remembering many a glass shattering when her hair starts looking like lightening.
"What did I say about not fucking with Reg?" she asks, and the highness of her voice coupled with her big eyes and her short stature manages to send them all into another fit of laughter. That was the wrong answer. Hermione shrieks with rage and sends a round of stinging hexes hurling towards them. They are soon clutching various body parts and scrambling back while Hermione walks past them, twirling her wand in her hands.
"That was," James hisses through the pain, "freaking awesome." Sirius smacks the dreamy look off his face.
James shakes it off and breaks into a jog to try and catch up with her.
"Hermione, hey, wait up!" James calls out to her excitedly.
"Go away," she mutters and tries to walk faster but he blocks her way.
"Wait, no. You're actually upset," he observes. "I thought we were all having fun. What's wrong?"
"I'm not upset, I just don't want to look at your stupid face," she says more forcefully and tries to leave again but he follows her movements and blocks her again.
"You're upset with me? For real?" he asks incredulously. "Why? What did I do?"
She finally looks him in the eyes with all the anger she's been keeping inside. "You don't get to treat my twin like that, and then come smile at me as if nothing were wrong. It doesn't work that way."
"This is about the prank? Oh come on, it was just a stupid prank it's nothing. We pranked them, you just pranked us… All in good fun!"
"Why would you target Reg? What has he ever done to you?"
"It wasn't personal, he's just a Slytherin," James replies as if it were a full explanation.
"And that makes him the scum of the earth worthy of such behaviour?" Hermione looks at him dumbfounded.
"Well, yes. I mean come on, Hermione, they're Slytherins… They're evil."
"So my entire family is evil," she states and he beams at her.
"Exactly," he confirms, glad they are finally on the same page.
"Thanks," she deadpans.
"I mean, there are exceptions obviously."
"Obviously."
"Like my aunt Dorea, and Sirius, and you of course."
"Of course."
"But I would never hold it against you."
"Thank you, that is mighty generous of you."
James finally starts feeling just how frosty her tone is.
"Hermione?"
"No, please, continue insulting me and my entire lineage, I was enjoying myself so." Hermione's eyes flash silver.
"Oh, Hermione," James sighs and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'm not trying to hurt you. We all know just how dark the Blacks are. But we love Sirius regardless, because we know he's different. And so are you."
"We?"
"Yeah, we, everyone. Well," he amends with an indulgent smile, "everyone that matters"
Hermione's face becomes emotionless and James starts to think maybe this conversation isn't going as well as he initially thought. She coldly grabs his hand from her shoulder and shoves it away from her.
"Let me make this simple for you, James. I am my family's daughter. I am exactly who I was raised to be, and I am proud of it –"
"No, you're not," he scoffs.
"And to spare your pure good innocent sensibilities, I will be happy to remove my dark evil presence from your life lest I drag you down to hell with me –"
"Wait, no, that's not what I meant –"
"And I will issue you the same warning as I did to my poor lamb in the mist of wolves of a brother. Stay away from Reg. And stay away from me."
"Hermione, wait!" he reaches for her arm and she bats his hand away.
She's gone before he can say another world.