#replaced by regulus too? huh??) and it’s just. he was their best friend!! and then he let his fear get the best of him and made a stupidly | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

halothenthehorns · 3 years

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All in the Family

Chapter 101: The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black

99 chapters of AitF, 99 chapters to go! Post one up, read it below, 98 chapters to go!

Okay, I'll stop now.

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Of all the things he could have landed on, it had to be a bag of dead rats. Peter got to land beside him on the desk. Remus got to stumble over his own feat and smack into Frank Longbottom, James got to bash his head on the doorknob. But no, he got the bag of dead rats!

Which about summed up his whole life experience of still being in this house! And this room in particular. He plucked a tiny little bone from his hair and scowled at the blood in his pants and wondered what he'd done to deserve all this. His eyes landed on the book, propped against the wall at the very bottom of the tapestry. He sighed in resignation but hauled himself up to grab it, anything to hurry up the process of getting them out of here! When he picked it up however, it fell from his slack fingers in shock at what he saw.

He knew this ruddy tapestry as well as Hogwarts castle, it had been imprinted in his mind from youth. In his youngest years, his time-out punishment had consisted of standing in front of this wall until he could recite every name, top to bottom. He knew exactly which two circles the book had been blocking, or rather, used to be. He wasn't there anymore, instead a black smudge was left in its place. Regulus's was marked as complete, the year of death as visible as his shoes.

It was the most jarring thing he ever could have seen in his life, as if his head had actually split in two. He'd done it? Surely he'd been blasted from the tree for doing something that would finally get him free of this place, permanently. But, then Regulus had also done it. He'd stayed here, and died a part of here, and a part of him wilted with that knowledge, he and his brother really never could go back to anything resembling civil, let alone normal. A quick glimpse moving up showed his brother hadn't even outlasted his parents, both had lived for several more years. What Sirius had said in the future was irrevocably true, he was truly the last of his line.

"Sirius?"

He looked up in surprise to see his three friends had moved much closer than he would have expected. He opened, then closed his mouth, and couldn't think of anything to say, so instead wordlessly flipped open the book. The tree said it all anyways, there wasn't anything left for him to say. He didn't want to see their faces when they realized the same, what would be better? Praise, or condolences?

"The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black," he managed to say like a turd had replaced his tongue.

Regulus wasn't sure what had Sirius in such a stuffy mood in particular as he decided to read, this was definitely one of the better rooms in the house. At least the history of their family had always been one of the more fascinating lessons their father taught. The four of them were blocking his favorite part of the tree, probably intentional on his brother's part as he liked to pretend his circle wasn't even there most days, so Regulus instead went over to one of the cupboards and opened it curiously to see if anything there had changed.

He mostly ignored the book as Molly Weasley continued infantilizing the teenagers by thinking they'd go straight off to bed without talking. Instead he smiled in surprise to still see the old dusty bottle of the very first Sirius Black's blood, his brother's namesake. There was an odd locket he didn't recognize and briefly wondered who added that and why, as well as his mother's music box she often used to get herself to go to sleep. It worked wonders, as she wouldn't wake until someone shut it.

Harry and Ron ignored Molly's orders of course, but even when the twins arrived and hashed things out not much was said that couldn't have reasonably been worked out. Regulus was actually quite disappointed in this older version of Sirius, had his brother gone tame?

A part of Regulus, even having witnessed all these changes himself, could hardly imagine the house in such disrepair, and all these virtual strangers in here trying to change it. There was something almost violating in the way they were callously throwing things out that they had no right to, even with Sirius being a more than willing participant. He ran his fingers over the odd locket once more and shut the door back firmly, and locked it. At least nobody was doing it right now and he could still pretend all of this had some bearable answer in the end.

At least Kreacher was still there! He smiled in delight at the idea of his house-elf still the same after all this time, not everyone had to be horribly different or dead in this future. Despite the intriguing information coming from the book, Regulus really just wanted to know what had become of himself. Had his death had something to do with Kreacher's attitude - he'd hardly ever seen him act in this way toward anyone but Sirius, though Regulus supposed he wasn't surprised that this extended to blood traitors and dark creatures and...Muggle-borns.

Frank rubbed nervously at the back of his neck when he found himself next to Lily and Alice having a comfortable chat about house-elves, and what little they both knew of them really, only for Alice to give him a small little frown and not immediately acknowledge his arrival. He'd unconsciously put himself as far away from Lupin, and by subsequence everyone else in the room was now in between them.

He at least tried his best to downplay it by watching the book attentively, and getting the smallest of chuckles when the bag of dead rats was explained as Buckbeak's breakfast. The knowledge that said hippogriff was staying in his own mother's room at least seemed to cause said reader great mirth.

Regulus sighed in exhaustion as Sirius ended up leaning against the wall to support his weight he was laughing too hard. Mum really wasn't that bad! Strict, especially on him for sure, but this just felt uncalled for! Had Sirius ever tried to bother to understand why they had raised them the way they had? Maybe Dad and Mum just didn't know any better about all this, like he was still figuring out?

Yeah, and maybe those doxies will fly out of the curtain and sing carols instead, he scoffed at his childishly clinging mind. His parents did feel what they'd taught their boys was right and he knew it, but that still didn't give him any answers as to why he didn't. Yet he still didn't find what Sirius did funny, there had to be some elusive third path somewhere.

To his delight, Peter came over as a distraction and Regulus welcomed that with a grin. "Those twins are really taking off with this joke shop idea huh?"

"It's really impressive," Peter agreed, "I can't say I'd have done anything near as ambitious with all that gold."

"What would you do with it?" Regulus asked, as the idea only just occurred to him he'd no idea what to do with his family money himself.

"Don't know," Peter looked surprised at the question. "Experiment what I'd want to do with it I guess, blow it all before I even figure it out," he finished with a general enough shrug, but a slight grimace.

Regulus thought he was selling himself short, and would have said so, before the bag of dead rats was mentioned again by Molly sitting on it and Peter made the exact same face. He couldn't help but wonder for the first time how that must feel, to have some part of you be used as a punchline, and a dead one at that. He still didn't know much more than the basics of what being an animagus was like, but surely hearing of the dead animal you could turn into, especially like this, wasn't pleasant.

He was sadly deterred by Kreacher entering the scene. The state his house-elf was described in was so sad. His house-elf was supposed to be a reflection of his home, and yet his companion of so many years seemed to have sunk even farther than the old rotting floorboards. Kreacher certainly didn't mutter like some closed ward patient! And the very idea he had to sneak around their home amongst these strangers to salvage old things that he had far more of a right to just caused a pit in his stomach. Then he winced, for the first time in his life feeling shame at the word Mudblood as Kreacher said it so carelessly, and he watched the very one it affected in this room flinch so openly. He realized for the first time how he'd feel if someone called Peter that, let alone laughing at the word as he once had.

Sirius, neither his brother reading nor the one coming in to break all this up, helped nothing of course as he ordered their house-elf about without even acknowledging he had a name, as usual. Regulus found himself shuffling uncomfortably and trying not to look at the tapestry himself now, he didn't know how he felt about any of it anymore, it made his stomach hurt just thinking about this stuff. So it was to his very great surprise when he caught Sirius's awkward face, and similar shuffling gait as he shot Regulus a rather odd look and read much more softly than he was before, like he was hoping the others had stopped listening.

Which of course only made Regulus focus on him all the more. Since when did he care about saying his visceral feelings for all of this as loudly as possible, what did it matter if he was saying it to Harry and everyone around them? Then his heart did a funny little thump in his chest as he realized Sirius was trying to hide the wrong thing. Not his words, but his placement, of being blown off the tree?!

He rushed forward and immediately tried to shove Sirius out of the way to confirm such a thing, but Sirius stood his ground now, frowning down at Regulus. "Yeah, alright, it's true," he sighed, even as Regulus tried to bend down behind his legs, Sirius raised one boot up and placed it purposely against the wall.

"How!?" Regulus gasped, still pulling fruitlessly at his leg it seemed.

"How should I know, Kreacher isn't muttering the story yet obviously," Sirius rolled his eyes, for all the world sounding as blissful as ever for such an awful thought!

Yet, the shock wasn't really there. Regulus was looking to see it for himself, but not because he didn't believe Sirius. Mum had been threatening it for ages now, and he had no doubts she'd go through with it. Just, the idea it had really happened...

Yet the following passages didn't give much in the way of details. He was sixteen when it happened? So it was likely to be, this very summer then? The much, much older version of his brother lingered mostly on the Potters, and how they'd taken him in, and his disgust with the whole place, as if this hadn't still been his home for sixteen years, like he'd left nothing behind.

Sirius stopped reading there though with a look Regulus didn't understand. He almost did look, guilty? That wasn't quite right, but whatever his eyes were lingering on in the words to come he didn't seem to want to share. Regulus started tapping his foot impatiently and began to scoff at Sirius to stop being dramatic, surely he didn't need to linger on this that much, when he jolted in surprise at Peter putting a hand on his too tense shoulder. Potter had to give Sirius a nudge to get him to spit out the next words, and they still rang in the silent air.

Sirius finally shuffled out of the way, where the glaring black spot shone like a beacon next to Regulus's tiny little circle, earmarking his death. Regulus hadn't needed proof to believe that either.

It had certainly been hinted at in the previous chapter, but even before that, since the Dark Lord's resurrection in the graveyard Regulus had been getting a creeping sensation this was where his life was headed. He just hadn't realized it was, so soon, in three years.

Sirius started reading at lighting speed then, as if the burn of the words wouldn't linger if he rushed through it fast enough. He'd joined the Death Eaters, and his parents had been proud of him. He'd died, because he'd become a coward in the future as well, just much slower than it was starting now apparently. An idle part of him wondered what it was he hadn't been able to do that led to this. Had his parents still been proud when he couldn't murder a Muggle-born on orders? Unable to torture someone while Death Eaters around him laughed?

He wished he could vanish from sight, it felt like a spotlight was on him and he didn't know what any of them expected him to do for the first time in his life, he didn't know what he expected himself to do. Was there even a way out?

"Reggie?" Sirius made to close the book and reach a hand out, and Regulus let him. If anyone knew how this felt, it was definitely him. The two of them just stood there looking at each other for a long time, it all felt so inevitable.

Sirius seemed to be waiting for something, so Regulus finally said the only thing he could. "I don't want that."

"Yeah," Sirius managed a tiny little grin, "at least we can finally agree on something."

Regulus took an uneasy breath before pushing the book back into Sirius's line of sight and stepping out from under his hand, but staying just as close.

Sirius felt like he should maybe apologize, but he had no idea if this was going to last in Regulus. The kid was scared right now sure, but how long until he shook it off and the bravado came back, that he'd find what he did wrong and make it right with the Dark Lord? After all, Sirius had made more than one snide remark over the years Death Eaters didn't exactly have the best mortality rate and nobody in this house had acknowledged him then, but if this was actually the first step in his kid brother finally seeing what he did in all of this, he wasn't going to break off this new line of thought. Nothing else needed to be said for now at least.

Then Molly came and interrupted everything anyway.

Lily carded her fingers through her hair as she watched the whole exchange, for the first time really seeing the Godfather Sirius would become, the little fourteen-year-old kid Regulus Black really was. Even with all the in-depth looks at their home she'd been getting, it hadn't really sunk into her what a number this place had done on these two until now, but it also raised an unpleasant awareness.

Guilt, firstly, as she realized her earlier assumption had been wrong. There was no silver spoon in Sirius Black's mouth like there was in Potter's, he clearly detested this house with every word he spoke of it, and had in fact been banished from his own family for refusing to be like them.

Sev's home life was far from ideal as well, yet he'd seemingly run to the Death Eaters at school no matter how often she begged him to stay away. Regulus was already making the first steps at trying to draw out of such a thing by just saying otherwise, what would it take for her best friend to do the same?

The rest of the chapter went by without incident as Harry and crew cleaned up the house over the passing summer, and then it was the night before his hearing to determine his fate at school. With Dumbledore a no-show in any way, quite the contrary as he'd apparently made an appearance specifically while Harry was asleep.

Was it really possible Harry wouldn't go back to school this year? That he'd remain shut up in here with Sirius for who knew how long? Sirius could barely swallow around the lump in his throat at the idea as he announced the end of the chapter approaching.

#Harry Potter #fanfiction #reading the books #Ootp #HP #Jilly #wolfstar #Marauders #Peter Pettigrew #Regulus Black #Remus Lupin #Sirius Black #James Potter #Lily Evans #Frank Longbottom #Alice Smith

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seriouslyblacklikemysoul · 6 years

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Of tragedy and hope - Sirius Black x Reader

Request: Hi! Can I get a Sirius black x young teacher? If that's fine. Like where she's the new history of magic teacher and everyone starts liking it(mostly boys hah) even Sirius and you can make the end thanks. Warnings: My English, language. Gif and pic aren't mine. Credits to their original owners. Also, you can request again! Word Count~2.6k MASTERLIST / Pending Requests

September first arrived a bit too fast. It was a bittersweet day and a very different one since it was the last first day of Hogwarts, the only place -after the Potter's - he could call home. He had missed it, though. All the adventures of the infamous Marauders, all the pranks and the detentions... "Why so serious?" James tried to make a pun but this time he felt the same. Sirius smiled brightly and hopped on to the train which was about to leave but he bumped into someone, almost knocking them over but thankfully he caught...her. "I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going" she quickly apologized and got to her feet. Sirius was unable to say a word. How was it possible that he hadn't noticed her before? "It-it was my fault, no worries, love" he finally managed to answer, making her chuckle and raise a questioning eyebrow but dismissed the case with a smile as she walked away. James and Remus had witnessed the scene and were about to make his life a living hell. They were smiling like the Grinch. "Not a word" Sirius threatened but Remus was one step ahead. "Of course, Pads. That's your speciality" he mocked him and found an empty compartment for them to sit. But the question remained... who was she?

The feast was incredible, as always. Dumbledore stood up, near the end of the night, gaining the attention of everyone. “I would like everyone to give a warm welcome to our new History of Magic Professor, Y/N Y/L/M! She has kindly agreed to fill the spot for this year. Thank you, Professor". It would be an understatement to say that Sirius' jaw had hit the ground and even Lily was laughing at him. There were loud cheers, and a few whistles, which of course, it was rather normal. She was young, beautiful and skilled. However, Sirius felt weird... He had seen her first. She stood up and kindly smiled at everyone before sitting back down and taking a sip of her drink. "So much for a quiet year, huh Pads?" James tried to make fun of him but he wasn't even paying attention to anything or anyone but the new teacher. "Do you want a baby bib, honey? Cause you're drooling" Marlene deadpanned a bit too mean. Sirius finally looked at his friends, with a lovestrucked look on his face. Great, he thought. "Shut up, Marls" he simply sod her off and returned to his gazing - or stalking, which it could become creepy. "You know what I think? I think a prank it's the best way to start our last year, don't you? And I know just the person" James winked at Remus before turning to Sirius who had paled. "Nah. Don't be immature" he stated but every single Gryffindor that had heard him burst into laughs, making her look at them, and making him go red. He didn't miss her smile, however. Oh, Merlin.

Next time Sirius saw her was in her class... and she was five minutes late. He couldn't help but smile as the time went by. He was going to be very surprised by her... in many ways. "Good morning to all" she greeted the class with a sweet and kind voice that made Sirius - and well, every boy really- weak. "History of Magic was the one class I could get some decent sleep, you know?" she started talking and the entire classroom laughed. "Professor Binns was... not very vivid. So, I get it. Besides, I am not that much older than you. Just two years. And trust me, I am not gonna teach this core class the same way. I don't want you to die of boredom. Yet" she went on. Two years -so, she was twenty. And then it hit him. She was the girl he had a crush when he was just fourteen. Therefore, it was only natural that he didn't pay attention to what she was talking about, instead just gazing at her, something that she noticed but didn't comment upon. Watching her, having captured the attention of everyone, made him feel...proud. He could hear the sporadic laughs she caused and the exclamations. She was truly different from Binns. It was something about her that made him think that she was graceful but she wouldn't hesitate to hex anyone into oblivion if she was provoked. "... and don't forget. I do not want you to study!" she cheerfully said once the class was over. James was already next to Lily and Remus was preoccupied with his notes. "Um, Sirius, can I talk to you for a moment?" she awkwardly asked him. It came as a shock to him that she knew his name but even if he wanted to say no, he couldn't. He was never gonna hear the end of it. "Hello, Professor. Look, I'm sorry about the incident on the train..." he tried to apologize but she smiled and waved it off. "Call me by my name, Sirius. I am not that old. And don't worry. Next time, though, please pay attention. Okay?" she told him, leaving him speechless. She gathered her things, winked at him and walked away. She winked at him. He was having a heart attack.

History of Magic had suddenly become the most thrilling class of the entire school, thanks to the new professor. Around Christmas, things changed a bit. She had started, per Dumbledore's request, teaching them spells as well, practically replacing the DADA teacher, to prepare them for the war that everybody knew was just around the bend. And she was good. Sirius had proven to everyone that he could be an excellent student if he really wanted to. Of course, she was impressed and that was his goal. The truth was that she had thought about him in a non-professional way and that scared her and thrilled her at the same time. He had made clear that he was interested in her as more than a student should be but he was never the one who followed the rules anyway. He didn't really mind breaking another one. Well, considering the fact that he was about to set fire on the dungeons just for the sake of it, did show something about him and his friends. "It's just one invisibility cloak and it's four of us. Of course, we will be seen!" James hissed at his friends. What they hadn't noticed was that they weren't alone. She was watching them curiously, smiling at their immaturity. "Wormy, transform. You're the smallest one" Remus reasoned. So, Remus was part of that as well, she raised an eyebrow. That little shit, she thought, appearing all innocent and smart while in fact, he had to be the mastermind behind their pranks. A rat appeared out of the blue - so they were illegal animagi. She was a Professor there and so she decided to end their party. That, and she really wanted to witness their facial expressions. "What if we get caught?" Sirius asked. He was all in for the prank but he would hate to disappoint her. He had to appear a mature and well-poised man, not a five-year-old that wanted attention. "Nah! We have the invisibility cloak" James proudly reminded him and for a second everyone believed it. "If only you were mute as well" she remarked with a fake desperation, making them freeze as she tried to hide her smile - and failed, well because of Sirius. His face was gold. But also, very, very handsome. Wait, what? She silently reprimanded herself and even though she tried, they locked eyes. "Just go back to your common room" she found herself saying. They were surprised, to say the least. "No detention?" Remus asked worriedly. Old habits, die hard. "Not this time, Remus" she answered kindly and Sirius discovered that his heart was beating twice as much as it should. She looked spectacular and her perfume was all over him. "Sirius, if you have a minute..." she told him, while the others winked at him and left. They knew, she thought. Great. The corridor was cold and dark, but it was also empty so no one would eavesdrop hopefully. One thing she noticed was that his eyes were extremely silver at the moment, not just grey. "Yes, Professor?" he shyly asked her but he soon realized that he had called her professor again, something that she had made clear, she hated. She just rolled her eyes but didn't comment on it. "About your... inquiry. He is... I'm sorry" she softly added. He had asked her if his assumptions were correct and Regulus had become a Death Eater. Apparently, he had. Even if they hadn't as much as exchanged a good morning, Sirius felt sick. It was his fault, after all. If he hadn't walked away, if he had stayed and helped him as a brother should... "Sirius, it's not your fault" she kindly offered him but he couldn't even look at her in the eyes...She didn't hesitate and wrapped him in her arms. Maybe if she held him tightly enough, all the pieces would stick back together. He let out a breath and hid his face in the crook of her neck, getting drunk on her sweet smell and trying to forget everything else. It was not a typical scene between a student and a teacher but they both realized that they weren't exactly typical. "Would you like to join me for a cup of tea? It helps me, so... maybe..." she trailed off. Something in that hug made her think that maybe it wasn't all black and white... and he let go of all his inhibitions...and just went with it. So, what if he liked her? He reluctantly left her embrace just to nod with a small, sad smile. He followed her, not a word leaving his mouth, all the way to her room. His heart was hammering but his mind was clouded. It was his brother that made everything... gloomier. And the fact that he still cared about him. She could see that... he had let her see that part of him. It wouldn't be the first time she had caught herself thinking about him. And it wouldn't be the last either. There was something about him... His unapologetic craziness, his quick wit, his devotion to everything he did and everyone he cared about...He was special to her. Once they were inside her room, he felt a bit awkward but soon enough the feeling was replaced by another, a warm one. She smiled, handing him a cup of her favorite tea and gesturing him to sit wherever he wanted. Her room was spacious and... familiar, with many books - Remus would adore her, he thought - and candles here and there but what caught his attention was a muggle device... A small vintage phonograph and a pile of vinyl records. He was absolutely fascinated and she saw that. "Can you... does it work?" he asked her while the true question lingered on a bit longer. She smiled brightly and with a gentle gesture of her hand, soft music filled the room. He didn't want to talk about Regulus, but he wanted her to know. "You know... we cling on to people who abuse us because we have learnt that this is the way people show affection, emotion... any kind of it. I am sorry about your brother, I really am. But Sirius, this is not your fault" she softly told him, a whisper above the music. He looked at her, knowing that she understood him better even than his friends, for a reason he never knew. He felt it and he knew it was there. She sat next to him, close enough for her perfume to getting him high but far enough to keep a safe distance. Or so they thought. "Then why does it feel like it?" he simply questioned. It wasn't meant for her, it was rather a genuine question. She furrowed her eyebrows, debating whether to speak her mind or not. She noticed how his eyes seemed almost like liquid silver in the faint light, how the curve of his full lips was not turned upwards, how his entire face was clouded. "Sirius, look at me" she kindly yet fiercely demanded. The moment his eyes met hers, he was done for. He never even thought that she was his professor because well, she wasn't just that. "We all make choices -bad or good, it doesn't matter. They are our choices and we learn to live with the consequences. You made yours, Regulus made his. Maybe it wasn't what he truly wanted but it's his choice nonetheless. You can't save everyone, Sirius. It’s enamoring, how full of life you are - your soul could rival the sun, it’s as if you shimmer with the promise of eternal bliss. Perhaps that’s why you so easily win the hearts of all; so golden and glamorous. But not everyone can handle that. Your brother is not you and you are not your brother. You love him, I know that. And that's all we can do, really. You can't change people, you just love them" she tenderly told him as his eyes were captivated by hers. She reminded him of a rose - the single flower that was so impossible to hate, delicate and pretty yet strong and powerful, even when it hurt him. Her voice mustered to calm even the most chaotic oceans of his mind, always soothing with soft notes of comfort. Even her eyes could mesmerize the most soulless creature, like him. He thought he didn't deserve that kind of kindness. She had a completely different idea. "Not of all" he quietly provoked her. Suddenly, it wasn't his brother that he wanted to talk about. He wasn't sure if he wanted to talk at all. Maybe he just wanted to spend the night away with her, speaking in soft giggles and stories of the easier days. They were both exhausted but through tired eyes and heartfelt smiles, they couldn’t help but fall for each other. He had always looked up to her. Her class and dignity were things he had envied. She spoke every sentence like poetry. She was smarter than he would ever be, he admired her. To him, she was alluring. What the hell? "Life is too short to pretend we don’t have feelings for each other" he simply stated and before she could register what was happening, he had cupped her face and not a moment later he kissed her. It was soft, tender and real yet somehow fragile but perfect no matter what. Her mind was screaming and protesting but her heart had already agreed with him. She kissed him back, tasting the smoke from his cigarettes and the tea, the tragedies, and the grace. He couldn't believe that this was actually happening. Her gentle touch was burning his arm but her lips told him tales of her soul and her ethereal beauty. At some point, she broke away but she was smiling, a smile so contagious that he couldn't help it. When he was with her, he acted differently. In a good way. He didn't have to pretend everything was okay when it wasn't. With her, he could easily drop the fake smile and put a real one on. And she didn't feel hurt or alone with him. He was easy to talk to and he listened to her. He wasn't pretending. They were happy when they were with each other and that was all it mattered.

Tags: @orionsirivsblack @nadinissavage @kapolisradomthoughts @geeksareunique

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