The Change

Welcome Home

"Sirius!" James shouted into my ear as I stared out the window of the Hogwarts Express.

"What?" I said, rubbing my throbbing ear.

"Stop acting so depressed. You're not home yet, enjoy it while it lasts," he replied, throwing a chocolate frog at me.

"Easy for you to say. Your parents don't hate you," I shot back at him bitterly.

He shrugged his shoulders and said, "You want to play exploding snap?"

I nodded and joined Remus and Peter, who were already sitting around the board James had taken out. I wasn't really in the mood for talking though, since I only had a few more minutes before I got home. I was sure my mother and father were very angry with me still and the pranks I had pulled probably didn't make them feel any better. I knew I was going to get the, "As the oldest you have to represent the Black family," speech again. James, Remus and Peter had been trying the whole trip to distract me but it wasn't really working. I was starting to get more afraid as we approached King's Cross. What happened next definitely didn't make me feel any better.

The door to our compartment slammed open and I turned to see Narcissa and Bellatrix standing in the doorway. James and I stood up quickly to face them as they walked in. Narcissa looked at me and said, "Little cousin, how are you?"

"I'll be better when you get out of my compartment," I snapped back.

"What do you want Bella?" James asked.

She smiled at James and said, "Always to the point, James, aren't you? We want Sirius to come with us. My mother sent us an owl yesterday saying Sirius was coming home with us. She said that she doesn't want him getting off the train with the likes of you. She's already embarrassed enough to be seen in his presence."

My face melted. I didn't want to go with Bellatrix and Narcissa. Merlin knew that wouldn't end well at all. I wanted to stay with my friends until I didn't have a choice anymore. I saw my cousins smiling horribly at me and I made up my mind. Drawing out my wand I took a deep breath and said, "Get out of here, both of you. I am not going with you and I don't care what your dear mother has to say. I'm staying with my friends and I will get off the train with my friends whether you like it or not."

Narcissa and Bellatrix weren't smiling anymore. They had their wands out, too, and Narcissa spoke menacingly, "Listen, Sirius, you might not care what our mother thinks, but we do. We don't want to get in trouble and you won't make us. You're getting off this train with us."

"Make me," I snarled and I heard both James and Remus pull out their wands. Bellatrix and Naricissa looked behind me at my two friends and laughed.

"Do you think you could actually beat us, dear cousin? You, another blood traitor and a half-blood?"

"I seem to remember, Bella, beating you several times this year," James said.

"That won't be happening again, Potter," Bellatrix said and pointed her wand right at James. She didn't count on Remus.

"Furnunculus," Remus said, pointing his wand so quickly at Bella I could barely see it move. I turned quickly back to Bella and saw her shrieking on the floor. Naricissa had put her wand down and was kneeling next to Bella.

"What's wrong, Bella? What did he do to you?" Naricissa asked her, fearfully.

Bella moved her hands away from her face and I saw the boils all over her. I started laughing so hard I was actually crying. "Bella, that's a great look for you. Good job, Remus," I said, trying to pull myself together. Remus was looking nervous and stepped forward towards Bellatrix and Naricissa. They were both looking at him fearfully.

He put his wand in his pocket and his hands up in the air slightly. "Look," he said, "I don't have my wand out. I just want to help you. I can make them go away if you just let me."

Bella whimpered and moved away and Naricissa stepped in front of her. "Get away from my sister, you dirty half-blood. We don't need your help." She turned to me and said, "My mother will be hearing about this, Sirius, and I'm sure she will tell your mother as well." And with that she slammed the door shut.

I was silent and no one else spoke for several minutes. Finally Remus said, "I'm sorry, Sirius. I didn't mean to get you in trouble." I turned to Remus, smiling widely.

"Are you kidding me, Remus? That was classic. It was worth whatever trouble I'm in now. Did you see their faces? They were absolutely terrified of you," I broke down laughing again and everyone else started to laugh as well.

"It was pretty funny, Remus," James said, laughing lightly and sitting down.

Remus still looked a little confused but just smiled sheepishly, "I guess so. I just hope you don't get in too much trouble."

"Forget about it, Remus. The image of Bella on the floor with boils coming out of her face will last me through whatever punishment they can dish out," I said, patting him on the back and sitting down.

"I think you'll be finding out soon," Peter squeaked pointing out the window.

I looked out and saw we were pulling up to King's Cross. We all stood up and picked up our trunks. When the train stopped I started to walk out but James grabbed my shoulder to stop me. I looked back at him and saw Remus and Peter were also watching me. "Listen, Sirius. We want to stay in touch over the break. I'll send you an owl tomorrow and so will Remus and Peter. If anything really bad happens just come to my house. Take some floo powder and say, 'Godric's Hollow.' Make sure you owl us back, all right? Or I might just have to come to the happy old Black Manor and take you home with me." James looked very serious.

I smiled at them and said, "Of course. Don't worry, James. There is nothing they can dish out I haven't already had." I walked off the train and saw my aunt and cousins standing in the corner. I turned back to my friends and smiled at them. "I'd better go before my aunt actually shoots fire out of her eyes at me. I'll see you guys after Christmas, and don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Yeah, see you after the break, Sirius," Peter said and ran off to his parents.

Remus nodded his head and said, "I really am sorry for the train, though. I know you said it's all right, but just blame it all on me if you have to. Have a nice break," he walked casually over to the exit and disappeared behind the barrier.

Now James was the only one left and surprisingly, he pulled me into a hug, "You'll be all right, Sirius," he said, letting go of me, "Don't let your nasty family get the better of you. Just think up some more pranks we can pull on them for revenge when we go back to Hogwarts. Try to have a nice Christmas, too."

I watched James as he walked over to his parents, who hugged him and started talking to him happily. I wished that was what was going happened to me but I knew better. I'd be lucky if they just ignored me. I sighed and walked over to my aunt and cousins, who were all glaring daggers at me, except Andromeda, who smiled at me pityingly. "Hello, Aunt Mira," I said.

"Don't you talk to me that way, Sirius Orion Black. Like I'm an idiot who doesn't know what you just did to my daughter. You wait until I tell your mother what you have done now. You are such a disgrace to the family name. And you're the heir. How sad for our family, very sad indeed. Your mother has been telling me what she is going to do to you when you get home. You're going to have a wonderful vacation, my dear nephew," Aunt Mira said to me.

"Whatever," I said, pushing past them and walking to the exit.

"GET TO YOUR ROOM NOW," My mother said as soon as I stepped into my house.

"Nice to see you too, mother," I snapped back.

"Don't speak to me like that. Have you forgotten your manners in that horrible house you're in? You will regret that later," She was purple in the face and I just rolled my eyes and went to the stairs. I could hear my aunt downstairs telling her what happened on the train. I knew I was in for it now. What hadn't I just listened to Andy and held my tongue? Sometimes my Black temper got in my way.

I sat in my room for what seemed like hours, unpacking my things and then staring out the window before I heard someone outside my door. "What," I yelled.

The door flew up and I could feel my mother's anger pouring over the room. I sat down on my bed and looked at her, horrified by what she was going to do. "Sirius Orion Black, you have obviously forgotten how to act while you were at school. Do not talk to me that way again," she said and I flinched because her voice was so calm.

I still don't know why I did it. "What way," I said innocently?

She pointed her wand at me and said, "Stupefy." I knew no more.

I woke up rubbing me head and sat up. Immediately I realized I was not in my room. I looked around and noticed this room was much larger and had an odd smell about it. There were no windows and I could see no doors. There was only one light and suddenly I was terrified of what my mother was planning on doing to me. I tried to stand up and walk around but found that she had tied my ankles down to the floor. I was scared out of my mind and did what anyone else would have done: I started screaming for help. After several minutes I sat down and started crying. I hoped that James was serious when he said he would come for me if I didn't owl him. It was all I could think of that might save me. After a few minutes I heard someone laughing. I looked up and saw my mother standing in the room. I scrambled to my feet again and dried my eyes. I stood my ground and glared at her.

"Oh my little Sirius, were you crying? That isn't very Gryffindor-like of you. Your supposed to be brave, aren't you? I heard you crying for help before. Don't even think of doing that again. It's no use. The only way in this room is a secret door that only your father and I know about. I'm sure he'll be paying you a visit later," She stepped towards me and I tried to move backwards but just fell over.

"I'm very disappointed in you, my darling. Not only are you sorted into that House, I get owls all term saying you and your little friends have been playing pranks on the Slytherins. Do you know how embarrassing that is for me? Didn't you think of me while you were doing that? And now you come home and you are rude. You have forgotten your rightful place, Sirius, and I am sorry to say that I will have to teach you again." She was standing over me now with her wand out and I stared at her, horrified.

"Mother, please," I whispered, looking at my feet, "I'm sorry I did all those things. I didn't mean to disappoint you. Can you please forgive me?"

She glared at me and I winced when I saw a maniac glint in her eye, "You're sorry, are you, Sirius? It is too late for sorrys. The damage is done and you need to pay. Know that I am also sorry to have to do this to you. As your mother I feel it is my responsibility to teach you how you are supposed to behave. The only way you will learn is through pain."

She took her wand and whipped it over her head, snapping it back and pointing it at me. I yelled in pain as the unknown curse hit me. Not as bad as Crucio, but it still hurt and she didn't lift it for several minutes. I just kept yelling. When she finally lifted it she turned around and picked something up, dropping it at my feet. I looked down and saw some food on a plate. Looking back up at her I knew it wouldn't be that easy. "What do you say?" She asked simply.

I knew the answer she was looking for. I wouldn't be broken that easily though. Even though I hated her, I had still inherited her stubbornness. I just looked at her defiantly. She looked surprised for a second before regaining herself and leaning down to pick up the dish, "Have it your way, Sirius." With that she took out her wand again and I fell back onto the stone floor.

I woke up and immediately noticed one large difference in this room. There was no light anymore. She had taken it out and it didn't ease my nerves. I couldn't see her if she was in the room and that scared me more then anything else. I was silent and didn't move, hoping to trick anyone who was in the room into believing I was still unconscious. It didn't work.

"Get up, Sirius," A stern voice said. I recognized it immediately as my father. I jumped to my feet and looked around desperately, trying to see him.

"Father," I said, "Father, I'm sorry I disappointed you. Can't you forgive me? Please, I'll behave from now on."

"Stop groveling, Sirius. Blacks don't grovel," he said and I could tell he was closer. I waited desperately to see what he was going to do to me. No one spoke for several minutes and then he said, "You have hurt your mother greatly with your behavior. You know that when your mother isn't happy, neither am I. She told me to have a talk with you. I don't think we have anything to talk about though, do you Sirius?"

"No Father," I said, "No, I know what I have done is wrong and I am sorry to disappoint you so much. I will do whatever you tell me."

"I am sorry, Sirius. I think you misunderstand me. I don't mean that I have forgiven you. No, I mean that we have nothing to talk about. I'm going to skip the talking part." Then I could see him: he was standing right in front of me. Again I tried to step away but he grabbed my arm. "No, Sirius you will stand and take it like a man." I was so scared I almost started to cry but knew that wouldn't make that any better. My father wasn't one to use wands. He hit me across the face first and I was hopeless in defending myself, especially in the dark. Then he kicked me the rib cage. I buckled and fell to my knees gasping for breath. He picked me up by my shirt and again punched me in the ribs. I felt something crack and yelled in pain. This time when I fell he let me stay on the floor. He started kicking me and soon I had fallen unconscious again.

I woke up and was stunned to see light. I looked around and smiled, noticing that I was back in my room. My smile didn't last long because next I noticed my mother was in the room. She walked towards my bed and I tried to sit up but she pushed me back down quickly, "Don't move, Sirius. Your father had a go at you and lost control. I was afraid for a while we would have to take you to St. Mungo's. Luckily we didn't. You are still healing though, so stay put." I smiled at her but she did not return the smile, "Sirius, do not think that because I am helping you get better that means you have been forgiven. I haven't forgiven you and I would like nothing more then to have left you in the cellar. I just thought it would look suspicious if you didn't return to school. Especially after the owls you have been getting." My heart sank when she said that. She took at least nine letters out of her pocket and handed them to me. I recognized the handwriting. Peter, Remus, and James's letters. She took one out of my hand and opened it. She started to read it to me and with every word the sense of dread in my stomach increased.

Dear Sirius,

This is the first letter I've written and you'd better answer it. I wasn't kidding when I said I would come and get you if you didn't answer. My vacation is going great so far. My mum and dad said you could visit later if you want. My cousins are coming for Christmas. It should be a great time. Sorry this letter has to be so short. I'll write longer next time. Write back immediately or I'll be there to get you in the morning.

James

I looked up at my mother, scared. Was James at my house and she was hiding him? No, I reasoned, she couldn't do that. The ministry would be down here so quick she wouldn't know what hit her. "You want to know what I did, don't you," she asked? I nodded my head. "I got your brother to write a letter back saying that you had gotten in trouble but everything was fine. Your friends have no idea that you aren't actually the one writing them back." With that she let out an evil laugh and walked out of the room, taking with her any hope I had of being rescued.