Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell belongs to J.K Rowling

Chapter 29: Of quidditch and quick glances

Sirius had never paid better attention to a game of quidditch in his life. He stared fixedly at the players, listening only to the commentators, trying his best not to recognise his father's cologne, or look at the familiar ring that sat on the armrest next to him.

So now that Sirius wasn't around, Orion Black suddenly decided he should actually be a father? He had never taken them for a quidditch match before, he had barely spent time with them, except at dinners, which he usually spent eating in silence.

Sirius had to grip his own arm rest so as to not let his hands shake. Prongs kept glancing at him, which was probably the first time his best friend had paid less attention to a quidditch match, and this sacrifice showing how much his friend cared for him was enough to calm his racing heart.

"I did not know that you liked quidditch."

Sirius couldn't believe his ears, he felt as if he had imagined it. He glanced to his left, and met his father's grey eyes.

Was he meant to respond? It wasn't a question.

"Well, I suppose there's quite a lot you don't know about me."

His father's face didn't change, his eyes, flickered back to the match, but he leaned closer to his eldest son, "I Imagine you'd be surprised at how much I do know about you, Sirius."

Sirius didn't know if that was a threat? Was he saying he knew about the duel between him and Bella? That he was keeping tabs on him.

The room had erupted into disappointed groans, except for a loud cheer from James, the Magpies had scored.

"Ah of course." Orion looked at James, who had been hugging Charlus over a disgruntled Baron, "I didn't like quidditch much either, but your uncle was a big fan, he was on the house team. So naturally, I never missed a game."

Sirius didn't understand what was going on. Was his father making conversation with him? Why? Also how dare he talk about uncle Alphard, the way the family had treated him, not showing up for his funeral.

"I trust that you received what he left you well?"

Sirius narrowed his eyes, but his father's were back on the game.

"I haven't checked. I've not had a chance to go to Gringotts."

His father didn't respond. Perhaps he was hallucinating, he glanced at James to see whether he had noticed their conversation, but there was a play for the snitch so his friend was consumed by that.

"You should. It's not good to keep that amount of capital just lying around. You should look into investing it, property perhaps. You uncle, brilliant he was at so much, was terrible at that sort of thing -"

"Stop." Sirius couldn't take it anymore, "Stop talking about him."

He knew his nostrils were flaring and he struggled to keep his voice steady, suddenly viciously angry, annoyed and confused.

His father heeded his words, for once. And they sat in silence once again.

For some reason, this did not make Sirius feel better. After years of ignoring him, where was this sudden interest in him coming from? He glanced at Orion, whose eyes were ahead, unmoving.

"I follow the Harpies."

Silence for a few moments. "Of course you do."

Sirius glanced to the side to see his father shake his head to such a small degree, it was almost not at all. Was he amused? Sirius supposed his father thought his interest in the harpies had only to do with them being an all female team…and well, he wasn't exactly incorrect.

"How is your flowery friend?"

Sirius frowned, was his father asking after Lily Evans? Had he even mentioned Evans before. Ah, he just remembered that the last time they spoke in private he had given him money to spend on Daisy.

"Wilted."

His father didn't react to that, glancing at him and their eyes met briefly, "And Andromeda?"

Sirius narrowed his eyes, was this what this was all about? He wanted intel on Andy. He knew Cygnus was actively looking for her, was Orion trying to get a lead to pass along to his brother-in-law.

"I mean, is she well? That is all."

Sirius shifted, uncomfortable with his father's sudden concern.

"Yes, she's well." Andy had written him last month letting him know that she and Ted were living somewhere in Wales amongst the muggles. They were working on a farm of all places, but she enjoyed the physical labour. Godric, if Cygnus Black only knew.

"You know, your Uncle Alphard did the same thing." Orion had adjusted in his seat, shifting closer to Sirius again, but keeping his eyes on the game. "Uncle Pollux had set up a match for him, and he absolutely refused. Ran off to New York, Malaysia, Australia, he was in a different country every other week. Spent almost all my savings."

"Your savings?"

"I told you, he was never good with money. And, well, I was never good at telling him no."

Sirius glanced up at his father at that, his face was expressionless, but there was a softness in his eyes. He suppose they really had this in common, Sirius doubted he could deny James anything. I mean he just spent almost a whole week playing and watching hours of quidditch and he had no love for the game, but it's what Prongs wanted to do to celebrate his birthday.

It then occurred to him, that after being struck off the family tree, nobody dare speak about his uncle in the house, lest it upset Walburga. Could it be possible, that Sirius was the only person his father could talk to about his best friend?

"He wanted me to go with him, you know." Sirius' brows rose, "My marriage was not a love match, as I imagine you must know. He had ideas of us running off and making our own way in the world, escape the pressure and responsibility that were the shackles of our last name. He thought the most important thing in life was his freedom, valued it more than anything."

Sirius could definitely relate to that. "And you?"

His father looked down at him, and Sirius bet that he wouldn't answer the very personal question. "Duty. Which is why I stayed behind. Why I continue to do so."

Sirius swallowed, unsure what his father meant by any of this, surprised he had even answered him. Was he saying he was duty bound to his family, that it was the most important thing to him? But, wasn't Sirius his family?

James had shot up from his seat, knocking Sirius to the left, knocking him into his already too close father, who steadied him with an arm about his shoulder. This very motion was the closest thing to a hug his father had ever given him, and Sirius counted five breaths before Orion had let him go.

Most of the box had risen to their feet, and Prongs pulled him into a tight hug. The Magpies must have caught the snitch.

Sirius used the opportunity to finally glance at the other spectators, and he spotted his brother and his heart sunk.

Regulus was not wearing the signed quidditch jersey Sirius had got him for Christmas, even though it was that very team playing today. He had his back to their party, busy in conversation with Rodolphus Lestrange, annoyingly speaking French so that Sirius couldn't make out much. He had always been the more gifted brother in languages, as Walburga would often comment.

"Orion!" Mr Potter had walked down the aisle, reaching Sirius and his father, the latter who had been talking quietly to the man next to him, who Sirius now realised was Mr Lestrange, Rabastan and Rodolphus' father. "Commiserations seem to be in order."

Orion Black cocked a brow, "I am but a measly fence sitter, Charlus. Congratulations, if I remember correctly you almost joined the Magpies."

Mr Potter raised a brow in turn, "Quite a memory. They recruited me, I said no. You and I have that in common."

Sirius' brows furrowed at that odd statement, his father did not play quidditch. His father let out an annoyed sort of huff at Mr Potter's remark and for the first time Sirius registered that Mr Potter and his father seemed to be a bit familiar with each other. He supposed they were about the same age, so they probably attended Hogwarts at the same time. And Mrs Potter was technically his mother's aunt, but Mrs Potter famously never got on with her family.

"Anyway, I was coming over to say, oh, Alexandre, this is Orion Black. Sirius' father. Orion, Alexandre Sabre."

Considering his father had made it clear that Sirius was dead to him, he didn't think Orion would take the introduction well, but he didn't object to it and instead nodded his head to Alexandre, "Enchanté.", who reciprocated the greeting.

"We're taking the boys to L'arcane, you and Regulus are most welcome to join us."

Mr Lestrange let out an affronted noise, but Mr Potter politely ignored it. He began muttering quickly in French and his son and Regulus laughed at whatever he said.

Sirius' hand flexed, his temper was nothing to write home about but he would not tolerate Mr Potter being disrespected.

"I'd invite you too Lestrange, but I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your boss." Charlus added cooly, and Sirius smiled, he'd never have to defend Mr Potter, the man was as always more than capable of holding his own.

"I don't know what you're talking about Potter, some of us don't have to work for a living and therefore have no boss." Lestrange's eyes glinted, and Sirius realised that he was in fact glaring at Alexandre, who was glaring right back at him.

Clearly there was some history between the French families.

"Thank you, but we will have to decline. We have plans." Orion nodded, clearly aware of the electric situation, his eyes met Sirius' briefly, "Bonsoir."

Sirius followed his exit with his eyes, catching the grey-blue gaze of his brother on his way out, who stared at him emptily, giving nothing away.

"Padfoot." James was at his ear, "You alright?"

"No." He answered honestly, and then stretched his back, trying to relieve the built up tension in his body, but caught the concerned look on his best friend's face and forced a laugh, "I imagine Cece's going to be upset her team lost. That can't be good for her libido."

Prongs sighed, shaking his head with a grin, but ruffled Sirius' hair nevertheless in an affectionate sort of way, something he saw Mr Potter do to James every so often, and they made their way over to dinner.

A/N: A short chapter but one I enjoyed writing - I really enjoyed imagining the various father-son dynamics on display here. Feedback will be much appreciated!

Thank you for reading,

Kalina