The House Of Black

The House of Black, Chapter 2

His fingers were twisted so tightly around the slender instrument that his knuckles were white, the skin stretched like the strong sheet of hatred his mind and soul had sent out to wrap itself round the woman in front of him. Sirius knew that he should do something, perform some spell that would hurt her; that would satisfy the need in him to make her pay for everything she had done, for all the torment and heartache she had caused him, but something crept into him, softening him so that he stood undecided, confused. The long, elegant fingers relaxed, and he was about to lower his hand altogether when an incredible force knocked him backwards and slammed his body into the wall with a sickening crunch. Different coloured spots played havoc in front of him, and sharp vibrations moved through his head at an alarming speed. He made no sound, but painfully lifted his head and looked at his mother.

She stood there, a weird look of triumph on her face, her eyes glittering with malevolence and glee. Hands on hips, she glared back at the steadfast eyes that met hers. ''Learn some manners,'' she hissed, before sweeping out of the room with a satisfied air. Regelus, apparently having appeared from nowhere, stayed and sniggered foolishly until the contempt in Sirius' eyes silenced him and wiped the ridiculous smile off his face. Looking around for allies to help him tease his brother and finding none, he hurriedly scuttled away.

Sirius remained in the same half- seated, half- sprawled position on the floor, silent and unmoving. Before, in the first second after he had come in contact with the wall, he had felt angry, but it had all melted away, and in its place was a bitter sadness that gripped him so tightly it seemed it would never let go. He couldn't stay in that house a moment longer, he thought. He would go to Godric's Hollow; James was always asking him to visit, but he had never taken up the offer. He knew that he had to move swiftly if he was to leave the house at all, because his mother would not allow him to go anywhere, if she could help it. She loved seeing him unhappy, but once he left, she wouldn't try to bring him back, because she was a hypocrite who wouldn't show the rest of the wizarding world what a cruel, tyrannical creature she was. Added to that, she would be glad to see the back of him, anyway.

He waited patiently outside Kreacher's private room, a smelly, cluttered place with a floor area of no more than three square metres. The elf was inside, muttering his usual stream of nonsense with vigour. Gradually, the stream of words became slower and slower and less coherent, until it finally stopped completely. Sirius opened the door cautiously, careful not to wake the elf. This room was the only one with a window large enough for a tall fifteen-year-old boy to climb out through. Thankful for the fact that his footsteps were muffled by the numerous rags lying about, he opened the window and slipped out.

Outside, he made his way down the street as quickly as he could. Godric's Hollow was not far off, and he could easily walk. His throbbing head, aching with the blow he had received, felt somewhat better in the cool night air, and he was glad, so very, very glad that he was going to see his friends at last. He turned the corner, and stood still, directly facing the large, rambling house. No light shone from any of the windows. He felt disappointed; perhaps they were out. He knew that Remus was staying with James for the holidays, and they had probably decided to go somewhere for the evening. He moved closer and closer to the building. The back door was open, and he could hear someone moving around inside. He knocked softly and stepped inside. Suddenly, a sharp voice with a note of urgency in it hissed, '' Lumos!'' and a bright light flooded the room.

Both of them were blinded at the sudden change, and stood blinking for a few moments, but when he could see clearly, Sirius' eyes widened to see a girl with a smile on her face standing in front of him. She had a skin that was deeply tanned- nearly bronze, intense black eyes, a wide mouth, and shoulder length brown thick brown hair that had odd copper and gold streaks in it, especially near the curling ends. Somehow, in spite of the great difference in looks, she reminded him extraordinarily of Remus Lupin. She stepped forward, exclaiming, '' Sirius Black! It is you, isn't it, Sirius? I'm glad you've come, I've heard so much about you from James and Remus.'' He nodded at her, surprised. Gliding forward, she reached out and touched the side of his face. ''You're hurt!'' she said quietly. Sirius also reached up, and wound his fingers round his thick hair. He removed them, sticky with crimson blood He hadn't noticed it before.

The girl looked at him, her black eyes sad. She didn't ask what had happened, but the question was written all over her face. Sirius, who would normally never have talked to strangers about his home life, found himself blurting out, ''It was my mother. She hates me, and I hate her as well. My father doesn't bother about me, and my brother would trade me for two pins. As far as I'm concerned, I have no family.''

Her head bent, she whispered, '' neither do I. My mother and father are dead, so I'm an orphan. I never had a brother or sister.''

''I'm sorry,'' he said simply. He felt as if no other words were needed. He didn't even know who the girl was, but he sensed that her life had been as miserable as his own, and because of this, there was an understanding between them that needed no words.

''Remus is my only family now,'' the girl continued. ''My name is Florence Hope, and he's my cousin. I wasn't allowed to see him before because I lived with an aunt who thought he was some sort of vermin because he's a werewolf. She kept me in France, and I went to Beauxbatons, but now she's dead and gone and I came straight here because I knew I'd never be happy until I could see my cousin again, and be close to him. I'll be going to Hogwarts, fifth year, like you,'' she said, a smile lighting up her face.

Sirius smiled back. He felt strangely happy. School was opening soon, and meanwhile, he would be staying here, out of his mother's clutches. Suddenly, Florence cried out, her hands gripping her head in pain. Her eyes closed tightly, she seemed to be trembling violently, the honey brown complexion blanched to a pale hue. Her lips were moving, but no sound escaped them. A shadow passed over her face, which was contorted as if a battle was taking place inside the recesses of her mind. Sirius stood motionless, watching her. A terrible, cold fear had seized him, gripped him with a deathly chill, a fear of what, he didn't know, but nevertheless a very real fear. He could not move or speak. All of a sudden, Florence's face relaxed and she appeared to go limp. Sirius found himself able to speak. ''What's wrong?'' he demanded, shocked.

The tightly closed eyes flickered open and her voice shaking, she replied, ''Someone was calling me... a woman. She was in my mind, delving deep into it, taking some things, adding others. I don't know what.'' Her voice faltered, and she ended, ''She said something else, but I couldn't hear her properly. I couldn't-''

Just then, the door swung open.