Fading Star

"Looks like you're feeling better."

"Yeah, A LOT better!"

The man looked down fondly at the teenager before checking his watch. "In three seconds you'll have survived the "curse." Not planning on suddenly blacking out on me are you?"

"No sir," the teenager smiled before looking up at the adult mischievously. "If I do survive this then will you tell me . . .?" The child let the sentence hang.

"Are you sure?" the man asked, sitting down on the bed.

"Please," the teenager begged.

The clock chimed, and the house went deadly quiet. The man put a protective arm around the teenager's shoulders, concentrating on the child's heartbeat. They sat like that for a full minute before relaxing.

The man grinned at the teenager, "I think we're safe."

"Good," the child nodded, leaning against his guardian. "Now will you tell me the story?"

"You have a one track mind," the man said, leaning back against the pillows. "Okay, don't bother with the puppy eyes, a promise is a promise. Best get comfortable because it is rather long." He smiled as the teenager nestled against him, eyes wide with anticipation. "Okay buddy, close your eyes, and block everything else out except the sound of my voice. Okay, ready? Good."

And the man began to tell his story.

"Fate blows a kiss,

Chills your heart,

Takes your hand,

Fate feels like,

Play your part,

This was planned." -High Adventure, Disney's Aladdin, 1993

Fading Star

Many say your last name is your birthright. They don't mention if your birthright is a gift or a curse. They do say what you become is what you make of your so-called birthright. Well, I have been defined my entire life by my birthright.

Black.

If you are a Muggle or Muggle-born than that word is simply a color to you, but if you are a wizard . . . Oh, then you know exactly what to think when you heard the word Black.

Old blood. Old money. Old magic.

I am a Black. I am part of one of the oldest wizarding families in the world, and I am nothing like them at all. I may have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth and a house elf at my feet I'm sure, but that does not mean I enjoyed being waited on hand and foot. For, you see, I was an only child. So I was forced to be doted over and protected from all around me.

It seemed that my mother knew what was to come and therefore tried to give me the happiest childhood she could. We had a very close relationship, a rare thing among mothers and sons. I was no mum's boy mind; I was in fact anti-mum's boy in fact. That is perhaps the real reason why we got along so well. She was just as wild as I was. Rules were nearly obsolete--some were needed of course but those I didn't mind--and troublemaking was an art. Our flare for pranks was something of an annoyance to my father.

He was in every sense a Black. Tall. Handsome. A drip. He was as a dignified, formidable man and as stiff as a board. He was as cunning as a fox, and twice as fast. I was never what he thought of as the perfect son. No matter what how high my marks were he always judged me by my clothes, my friends, and who I was. None of it pleased him. I soon found my father's dislike of me as a form of entertainment. My love of Muggle things--particularly motorbikes and cars--was perhaps his greatest vice. He destroyed any books he found on them. But that didn't stop me, and soon he gave up in exchange for one thing: Once a month my mother and I would act like the perfect trophy family. We agreed, but not without asking why.

His only response was: "Because we Blacks are an old family. Old blood you know."

But with old blood comes old secrets.

1.

"Sirius Orion Black if you don't come down right this instance, I'll . . ."

"Yes Mum?" Sirius Black said sweetly, appearing at the foot of the sprawling staircase. He was in Muggle clothes, jeans and a black t-shirt, which seemed to be all that his current wardrobe contained. His long black hair was loosely tied back and his quick brown eyes sparkled mischievously.

Aurora Black frowned at her son. "You may be able to woo your professors with that smile but not me," she said sternly, but was unable to keep a hint of playfulness out of it.

"Nothing charms McGonagall," assured Sirius, wincing at the fact that his mother could still look him in the eye.

Aurora Black was often thought of as a true beauty. She was a towering 5'11, with long, dark auburn hair, and crystal clear blue eyes. She often said that she was part giant. She was a sweet-tempered soul but stern enough to keep a boy--sorry, young man--like Sirius Black under control.

"Some things never change Siri," she muttered, slinging her arm around Sirius's shoulders. "They're here," she said in a low voice.

Sirius tensed. He knew who "They" were all too well. His father's friends. They came once a month to discuss their "plans" which Sirius did not know much about. All he knew was that whenever They did come he had to behave like the "model son." His father regularly reminded him that he was far too wild, and he had already been reprimanded harshly for dropping a dung bomb when They were here.

"Why does Dad--sorry, I mean Father--meet with them anyway?" he asked as they stood outside the library waiting for his father and Them to emerge.

"I don't know Siri, all I know is that this façade is driving me mad," Aurora glared at the dress robes she was wearing.

Sirius stifled a laugh, if there was one thing his mother could not stand it was wearing dress robes. Any kind of dress actually, but the robe-kind in particular. She was part-Muggle on her father's side, and had grown up wearing Muggle clothes.

Rolling her eyes, she waved her wand over Sirius and instantly the teenager was dressed in a high collared, black robe like his father had been wearing at breakfast. His expression became one of sheer disgust.

"They can't be that bad now, can they?"

Before Sirius could respond the doorknob rattled signaling the end of the meeting. A second later the doors were flung open by a tall, muscular looking man with slate gray eyes and raven hair.

"Sirius," he said sharply.

Sirius, who had been slouching, straightened up and saluted sharply. The man gave him a withering stare. He dropped his salute as several men all wearing high collared robes stalked past. They stopped momentarily to take in Sirius's appearance before looking at the leader and nodding.

"What does that mean?" Sirius mouthed as inconspicuously as possible.

Aurora shrugged masking it by pretending that she was flipping her hair off of her shoulders.

Once all the men had passed Sirius and Aurora followed them to the dining hall. This procession through the mammoth mansion always made Sirius feel as though he should bend down and pick up one of the men's cloaks and cry out, "All hail Mr. So-And-So."

But he did not. His father would chasten him if so much as smiled in their presence.

Dinner was, as always, a silent affair. After it the men usually adjourned to the smoking room. Sirius and Aurora were only prizes to be put on display and hold doors. Sirius suppressed a yawn as he held the heavy oak door, this job was positively stimulating.

The tall man with the gray eyes whispered, "Wait outside" to Sirius as he passed.

Perplexed, Sirius nodded. When the last of Them had entered Aurora and him closed the doors.

Aurora quickly loosened the turtleneck collar of her robes, grinning. "Well, I'm glad that's over with."

"Yeah," Sirius said his mind still on his father's words. What did he want him for? These meeting had never had anything to do with him before as odd as they were. Just sit and look dignified were his instructions. "Father wants me to stay here," he muttered.

Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Really? I wonder why."

"Those friends of his kept staring at me all through dinner; I think they wanted to eat me."

His mother stifled a chuckle before saying, "I don't like the look of this. I care for those men about as much as I care for these dress robes. Personally I'd like to hurl the lot of them down Gunther."

Sirius nodded in agreement. Gunther was their anti-welcoming device. A clever little invention that Sirius's great-grandfather (an archeologist like most of his ancestors which explained the ancient artifacts that covered the walls) had installed when several annoying warlocks kept showing up at his door trying to buy his latest discovery. The way it worked was quite simple and really quite effective. You position the unwanted visitor over the section of floor, which was the anti-welcoming device, and say, "My! What an amazingly unexpected surprise!" and before the troublesome pest even knows what happened, he or she will find themselves outside the front gate with a nice note in their lap saying, "Thank you for your visit, please don't come again."

The muffled voices grew in volume. Sirius and Aurora stood for what seemed like hours, leaning against the doors. Sirius had told his mother several times that she could leave but her response was that she did not wish to miss all the fun.

The summer sky outside was a deep bluish black by the time the doors were opened again by the gray-eyed man. "We're ready for you now, son."

Sirius straightened his robes and smoothed his hair once before entering the room. The smoking room was circular with blood-red carpets. On the walls were pictures of foxhunting. In the far corner was a table sometimes used for cards. Red, high backed armchairs scattered about it that were occupied by Them.

Sirius did not know any of Them by name, and the faces all looked as though they had forgotten how to smile, and if they dare tried it would come out as a twisted sneer.

"Introduce him Orion," said a blonde headed man who was puffing on a pipe.

Orion nodded, gesturing to his son. "Gentlemen I am most pleased"--Sirius was sure he saw a flicker of a grimace there--"to present my son and heir, Sirius Orion Black."

Sirius bowed with a showman's flair only to straighten up and see a frown on his father's face. Another example of his wildness and aversion to authority; any good son Sirius supposed would have bowed curtly as if someone had attached a steel rod to his back. But then again when had he ever been the good son?

All of Them looked at him as if he was some prize Thoroughbred on display. He half expected one of Them to rise and asked for him to "gallop" about the room.

But of course They did not. They barely paid him any attention after that. They simply went back to smoking their expensive cigars, drinking their brandies and discussing matters that Sirius had little or no interest in; things like Ministry muddles, politics, stock trading, and of course Minister Dimple and his new nose job.

2.

Sirius, who had just came back from a Quidditch game with his friends, had been quite surprised to find a large group of Them on his doorstep when he answered the door late next Sunday morning.

"Er, you're three Sundays ahead of schedule," he said matter-of-factly.

"We know," one said monotonously.

"Then we'll be seeing you in three weeks," Sirius made a move to close the door but stopped when his father came in the hall to see what all the fuss was about.

"Orion," a silvery-blonde haired man addressed Sirius's father.

"Yes Balor?" Orion replied.

"Your boy does not seem to know of our proceedings for the day as made obvious by his . . ." Balor wrinkled his nose ever so slightly, "dress."

Sirius looked down at his clothes. His shirt with a ripped collar hanging off one shoulder soaked through with sweat and his jeans had rips (strategically placed) in both knees. His face was glistening with sweat and a smear of mud above his left eyebrow finished the ensample.

He could feel Orion's disdainful eyes on his as he wiped his hands on the back of his jeans. "I was playing Quidditch with James," he muttered.

This must have been a very inopportune thing to say because Orion's look only hardened.

Though to take the attention away from his son Orion invited Them in, and told Sirius to go tell the House Elves to add extra chairs to the table. Sirius did so, knowing that this was really a distraction to give him time to change. There were always ten extra chairs at the long dinner table anyway.

Sirius hurried up to his room. His room was large with pale blue walls and white molding. No one could tell what color the floor or the rugs were anymore due to the large pile of junk that dominated the room along with his four-poster bed. The bed was made of a dark cheery wood, and had handsome navy hangings. In one corner there was a cheery wood bookcase crammed with well-worn books. (Sirius was something of a bookworm despite his initial appearance of never opening a non-school book in his life.) Next the bookcase leaned his broom, a Nimbus1500. It was very temperamental as brooms go; the only one who could ride it without being hurled several miles was Sirius much like a picky horse with only one human preference. In another corner there was Sirius's wardrobe. It was an old one with scrollwork around the top and the doors, and above them there was the carving of a lion's head. When he was younger Sirius would always fancy himself going into the very back of it one day and finding himself in Narnia. Perhaps that was the very reason why he liked it so much, no matter how many scratches or dents it had or received he would never replace it. Its doors he opened now to pull out a pair of navy dress robes. He washed, changed, combed and pulled back his hair, and shoved his dirty clothes back into the wardrobe before hurrying downstairs looking somewhat presentable.

They observed him with their critical eyes all through dinner, and kept him in tow when they adjourned to the smoking room afterwards. They conversed in low tones while he stood in the corner twiddling his thumbs.

This routine went on for the rest of the summer and during Christmas holiday They also visited. Sirius being a quick adapter took no heed off how the meetings were growing longer and the proceedings were growing more and more serious.

3.

"See you over the summer Moony!" Sirius called, waving to one of his best friends Remus Lupin as he followed his parents to their Muggle car.

"Don't use our nicknames in public Padfoot!" admonished his very best friend James Potter. Tall and gangly with unruly black hair and think, black-rimmed glasses that hid a pair of dark blue eyes, he fancied himself the leader of their little gang, the Marauders, and therefore often took charge.

"No one knows what they mean," Sirius sighed, scanning the crowd of parents for their own respectably.

James huffed and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. It was true of course no one besides the Marauders themselves knew what had taken place over the course of their fifth year. Well, unless they figured out the meaning behind their nicknames.

"Which is virtually impossible," Sirius had pointed out on more than one occasion.

James rolled his eyes. "Fine, cry our nicknames out in the town square for all I care."

Sirius grinned devilishly.

"Not literally I mean but for example," James added quickly. "Sirius? Sirius did you hear me?"

"There!" Sirius exclaimed, pushing his trolley forward spotting James parents. "Late as usual and McGonagall wonders where we get it from."

Laughing, James pushed his trolley alongside Sirius's.

"Have a good year?" James's father asked them as they approached. He was of medium build and height had ebony hair and tawny colored eyes that always reminded Sirius of a cats'.

"Bloody brilliant considering we had O. W. L.s," Sirius said with feigned enthusiasm

"Is that so?" asked a melodious voice.

"'Tis," James said, putting a hand dramatically to his forehead.

"I'm sure you both did fine."

"They've had to learn something between all those detentions, right Sarah?"

Sarah, James's mother, nodded. Carmel hair cascaded down her shoulders and bright blue eyes stood out against her pale skin. She was the kind of person you just couldn't help trusting. "Have you two hit two-hundred yet?"

"Only one more!" they chorused.

The Potters sighed in unison.

"Might as well tell them now," said Jack shaking his head.

"Tell us what?" asked James, interested.

"Nothing too important just that Orion called asked if Sirius wanted to spend the night at Kailasa," Sarah smiled. The adults watched as their words dawned on the boys. James and Sirius's cracked identical manic grins.

Kailasa was a large, stately looking house that was larger on the inside than it was on the outside. It was of course a magical house. So it was nothing strange when James and Sirius came down for breakfast the next morning, both tousle-haired and bleary eyed to find the plates were floating somewhere near the ceiling.

"Floating food Mum?" James asked, eying the hovering china.

Sarah Potter whirled around, and frowned. "Sirius," she said, glaring at her son's best friend.

"Hey!" Sirius said, backing away. "For once I'm innocent."

"I doubt it," Sarah sighed, and pointed her wand at the ceiling. The plates floated down, landing gently on the table.

Sirius took his customary place at the round table next to James. They watched while two platters heaped with pancakes, bacon, and eggs floated into the room, settling themselves in front of them. They began to pile their plates high as a post owl swooped in through the open window, dropping the paper on Jack's plate.

Right on cue Jack stumbled into the dining room fully dressed but still sleepy eyed. He mumbled a drowsy "Good morning" to the boys as sat down, unfolded the paper, and gulped down his morning cup of coffee.

Sirius grinned, and took a sip from his own cup of coffee. James made a face; he couldn't understand how they preferred coffee over tea. The stuff tasted like crumbled charcoal to him.

Abruptly, Jack snorted. "Well if I ever . . ." he muttered from behind the paper.

"What is it?" Sarah asked, immediately concerned.

"The Ministry who else," huffed Jack pointing at article.

Sirius and James leaned over the table to see it.

"Barwales Blunder Boggles Ministry," Sarah read aloud. "Mr. Richard Barwales, the Head of the Department of Poison Intelligence and Security Squad, or P.I .S.S.--Boys, don't say it--had flummoxed as to where a fifty tons of boomslang skin which had had only arrived two days ago has gone. Mr. Barwales was on his shift when the boxes arrived, and swears that they were sent straight to the P.I.S.S.'s storage room. According to officials boomslang skin is used in several poisons and disguise potions. "What someone can do that much 'slang skin is catastrophic! We could have six or seven Minister Dimple-s running around, and no one could tell 'em apart, and that's only one potion that comes to mind." Department officials are frantically searching for the skin. If you have any information, please do not hesitate to call . . ." Sarah trailed off and looked at her husband.

"I guess I'll have to run down there, and see what's going on," Jack shrugged. "Barwales maybe a bit of a drunk, but he takes his P.I.S.S. work very seriously. He wouldn't make a slip up that big."

Sarah nodded. "Do you want me to swing by later?"

"Maybe, I'll floo-phone you," Jack promised.

"Okay."

Jack straightened his robes once more before saying, "See you tonight James, and see you mostly likely tomorrow Sirius." He ruffled James's hair as he walked passed, gave Sarah a kiss on the cheek before disapparating on the spot.

Sirius and James traded looks before looking at Sarah expectantly.

"Why are you two looking at me that way?" she asked, nibbling on a piece of toast. "I honestly don't know anything worth telling."

"Mum," James said dubiously.

Sighing Sarah motioned for them the lean in. They did so. "All I know is that Voldemort's side is getting more daring, and with this disappearance even the Ministry--blind as they are--are becoming increasingly concerned. So if I were you I'd stay inside at night so break off your late night rendezvous with your girlfriend of the week Sirius."

"Why does everyone always accuse me of breaking rules and shagging girls?" demanded Sirius.

"Because you're Sirius Black and that's what Blacks do," James grinned cheekily.

James and Sirius spent the rest of the day flying around the spacious backyard, trying daring stunts, and terrorizing any passing birds. Their fun lasted until Sarah called them just as the sun was beginning to set. She informed them that Orion would be there shortly to pick up Sirius.

Sirius jogged upstairs to get his things and put away his broom.

"I'll probably see you tomorrow right?" James said helping Sirius carry the trunk downstairs.

"Mostly likely," agreed Sirius. "Unless my father has something planned."

"Okay," James agreed. "We still have to finish the "you know what."

Snorting, Sirius nodded, he couldn't wait to try their latest invention out on a certain Slytherin.

"I'll see him out dear," Sarah said as soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"See you around Prongs," Sirius said before shouldering his bag and grabbing hold of his trunk. He followed James's mother out of the house, wondering what was going on.

"There's something I must warn you about before you head back home Sirius," said Sarah not being one for beating around the bush.

"Yes?" asked Sirius now extremely curious. Is this what she and Jack had been shooting looks to each other about the previous night? They had been quite . . . delicate--he supposed was the right word--around him all last night.

"It's about your mother," Sarah whispered.

Sirius's head immediately jerked up. "Yes," he said quickly sounding harsher than he had meant to.

"Well," James's mother said tentatively, "I want to warn you so you will not be surprised when you see her again."

"What is it? Did she lose a leg or something?!"

"She has changed greatly since Christmas. It's like she aged a hundred years over night, and she just doesn't have the same spark in her as usual." Sarah by now looked extremely uncomfortable. She knew how close Sirius was to his mum. "Do you have any idea why?"

Sirius said nothing. In truth he did not have a single clue as to what was wrong with his mum, but had a funny feeling that what ever it was it had something to do with Them.

"Sirius, sweetie are you all right?"

"Yes Sarah, I'm fine," he quickly assured her as he heard the sound of an approaching car. A familiar black BMW rolled into sight, and Sirius adjust his bag once more. He looked back to make sure his owl was still fast asleep, she was.

"Hello Sarah!" Orion said cheerfully as he pulled in front of the Potters' house.

"Hello Orion," Sarah said. A hint of forcefulness could be detected in her voice as she said this. She had never quite liked Orion, there was just something about him that didn't sit well with her.

"Thanks for watching Sirius for the night," he said as Sirius put his trunk along with Audra (his owl) in the backseat of the car. The conversation between the two adults lasted several more minutes before Orion said, "I guess we better get going. I have a meeting tonight with a few friends. . ."

Sirius didn't here anything after that. He knew who the friends were, they were Them. He'd have to put on those awful robes and act like the model son again. The charade of last summer was starting up again before he had even entered Blackstone. Now more than ever he wanted to shove all of Them down Gunther, the anti-welcoming device.

Before Sirius realized it, Orion was saying, "I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon" and starting up the car again.

Sarah waved to them as the pulled away from the house. Sirius turned to wave back as he got the sudden feeling it would be a long time before he saw Kailasa again.

"Sirius," Orion said suddenly once they were out of sight of Kailasa.

"Yes?"

"I've noticed you don't pay much attention when you attend our meetings."

Sirius became insulted. He paid plenty of attention, didn't he always now exactly when to get up to hold the door open when They left? Honestly. It wasn't like he ever fell asleep during one of them. Some people just didn't appreciate his efforts.

"Sirius, you know what I mean," Orion sighed.

"Yes sir," Sirius muttered.

"From now on I want to you to make sure you are paying attention, do you understand me?"

"Yes sir," Sirius replied wondering exactly why these meeting were so damn important. For the way Orion spoke about them it was as if he Sirius was going to have an exam on the proceedings of them come end of summer.

"Good. My friends are particularly interested on how you think you did on your O. W. L.s, and are anxiously awaiting the results."

"Really?" Sirius asked intrigued.

"Yes. Now will you be paying attention tonight?"

"I will sir," Sirius replied again adding mentally, yeah right.

"Good. I think you will find them very interesting."

The rest of the drive passed in silence except for the hum of the engine and the occasional *tic-tic" of the blinker. Not a moment too soon did humungous mansion that was Blackstone come into view.

Blackstone was one of those old 18th century mansions, and looked like something straight out of Jane Eyre. Its rolling fields were as green as the Slytherin banners. Little bunches of wild flowers had sprung up in various places bringing a surprising bit of color to the otherwise sea of green. Sirius took all of this in as his father drove up the long, cobblestone driveway realizing just how good it felt to be home.

No sooner had Orion parked the car then was Sirius out of it, and running inside to greet his mother, leaving Orion to get the bags.

Sirius flung the door open, and flew inside shouting, "MUM! MUM I'M HOME! MUUUM!"

There was a soft cough, and Sirius spun around toward the grand staircase and his mouth dropped.

Aurora Black looked nothing like she had during Christmas break, even with the warning from Sarah nothing could have prepared him for this. The woman at the top of the stairs looked so . . . old. Her rich, thick auburn hair was now a horrible dull, stringy, rust color. Her crystal clear blue eyes, the eyes that always twinkled with laughter or became soft with understanding, were now clouded with oppression. Around her eyes were deep crows' feet that made Sirius shudder. Her lips once red and full were now a thin, pale pink line. Her face once bright with laughter now looked at if not even a ghost of a smile had crossed it in ages. Yet she still held herself tall and proud like she always had.

"Mum?"

"Yes?" Sirius's heart plummeted with the sound of his mother's voice. It had always been loud yet light and playful like the joyous ringing of a bell before, and now it was soft, solemn, and hoarse.

Sirius stared at his mother for several minutes. He found it hard to believe that the woman standing before him was really his mum. How could this haggard-looking woman be the same person whom he had known for all his life? It was impossible.

"Did Padfoot make it this year?"

Sirius blinked, before grinning. His mum was the only person who knew of the Marauder's efforts to become Animagi. The discovery had been an accidental one which involved Sirius with a tail, James with hooves for hands and Peter had grown a handsome set of whiskers. Unable you fix what they had done without the use of their wands (it was summer at the time) they went to the adult that was least likely to rat on them. After a detailed explanation the Marauders had been set to rights, and upon her word Aurora had become something of an honorary Marauder. She asked often (always in secret) whether the infamous Marauders had finally done it.

Sirius, very slowly, nodded.

What happened next was perhaps the most astounding and wonderful thing that could of happened. Aurora smiled.

What that smiled did to her face was something Sirius would never forget. It was like he was simply skyrocketed back in time to when she had laughed at the Marauders' mishaps in the field of transformation. Her bright, infectious smile took over her entire face transforming it back--if only for a moment--to the face he knew so well.

With that Sirius bounded up the stairs, grabbed Aurora's arm, and nearly dragged her to his room. Once inside he shut the door, and threw the lock. "Ready?" he asked breathlessly.

"I guess I better be," Aurora said, looking inquisitively at her son. "But for what?"

Sirius grinned toothily before there was a small pop!

In the very spot where her hyperactive son had been standing there was now a very large, shaggy black look with familiar brown eyes.

Aurora smiled again, patting the dog gingerly on the head. "I suppose I'll ask the house-elves to put your food on the floor tonight. Instead of streak, I'll make sure they give you a nice, juicy bone as well."

The dog rolled his eyes.

"I get the eye roll no matter what form you're in, right?" sighed Aurora, picking up a tennis ball that lay nearby. She rolled it quickly across the room. "Fetch Padfoot! Fetch!"

Padfoot gave her a withering look, but retrieved the lime-green ball anyway.

"Good boy," cooed Aurora. "Now bring it here."

Padfoot very plainly shook his head.

"No? Why not? You're not going to be one of those troublesome dogs who only eat food and sleep all day, are you?"

The dog nodded its shaggy, ebony head.

Aurora threw her hands up in the air in mock-despair. "Dear Merlin," she cried. "You're as awful as my son. Honestly when I got you I thought you would at least fetch a ball when he wouldn't even clean up his room. And my expectations were so high for you too. I guess it's back to the pound for you, good-bye you useless beast!"

There was another small pop! an in front of her stood a haughty looking Sirius.

"Yes?" Aurora said sweetly, although her voice was so hoarse.

"I get--"

"SIRIUS!"

Sirius gulped. He had left Orion to carry in all the bags. "Be right back!" he said before sprinting down the stairs.

At the landing he found his father in a less than dignified state. He must have been struggling with Sirius's trunk because it had popped open and along with his robes and books several of his prank items had tumbled out. Audra was flapping her wings frantically in her cage as the remaining sparks of a Filibuster Firework lingered in the air along with the faint stench of a Dung Bomb. Orion was covered in the evidence of both.

Sirius grinned sheepishly. "Whoops."

5.

That night Sirius donned his high-collared robes and pulled his hair back into a sleek ponytail. As he stood in front of his full- length mirror he felt like phony. He looked too much like his father minus the grey eyes. He had his grandfather's eyes, puppy-dog eyes. Almost always was the iris large and full, taking over most of the eye, they could soft and trusting one second and hard and cold another. If there was one thing he had from his father it was his temper. Quick to rise when provoked and no one was spared when Sirius Black was pissed off. He could swear as well as any sailor with a tongue as twice as sharp. It was that very same tongue that he stuck out at himself now.

"Very mature," remarked the mirror.

"Isn't it?" Sirius shot back, making his way to the door half-heartedly.

"What would happen if your face got stuck like that?" wondered the mirror just as his hand was on the doorknob.

"I'd join the circus." Sirius wrenched the door open and got out of the room before the mirror could make a come back.

"About time," Orion said stiffly when Sirius came downstairs. "The last thing I need tonight is your tardiness."

"No one's even showed up yet."

"So? I need you to be prepared to greet them, tonight is very important if I haven't told you before."

Sirius sighed, "I know, and I have to pay attention, I know. I'm going to play doorman now, shall I announce them too?"

"Don't get cheeky with me," warned Orion.

"Sorry sir," Sirius muttered. "I'll go wait by the door now, and tell a house-elf to alert you when . . ."

"I'll be in the foyer greeting them," Orion said promptly.

"Yes sir," Sirius nodded, and went to wait for Them to arrive. He didn't have very long to wait, also immediately the doorbell rang. He opened it, and wasn't surprised to see all of Them standing there with the man called Balor in front. They're girls, he while scanning the faces, always traveling in drove. I wonder if-- "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"I could ask the same of you," sneered a boy with a pale, pointed face, slicked back silvery blonde hair and cold gray eyes.

"You are acquainted, Lucius?" asked Balor Malfoy, stepping inside.

"Yes father," said Lucius the same time Sirius grumbled "Unfortunately," under his breath.

Sirius knew Lucius Malfoy far better than he would have liked. Like the Blacks the Malfoys were a very well off family, but they obtained their in a far more dodgy way. He had often heard tell that more than half of Knockturn Alley's stock came from Malfoy Manor.

"Ah, good evening Balor and Lucius," Orion said briskly. "We're so glad you could join us for tonight's proceedings young master Malfoy."

"Pleasure," Lucius said disdainfully. "You house is very . . . nice."

Nothing would have pleased Sirius more than to knock Lucius' block off for that comment.

Orion continued to greet Them before leading them into the dining room for dinner. The meal was quiet, mechanical, and if somebody didn't drop a fork soon Sirius was going to scream. When the adjourned to the smoking room Sirius noticed that They had adopted an "official" air. Like They were about to present the House Cup or something.

Once They were seated, and had smoked one cigar or drunk one brandy. Sirius saw Balor Malfoy trade looks with Orion who nodded. Malfoy stood up, cleared his throat as a call for attention.

Sirius found himself sitting up straighter, and his stomach was starting to fill with butterflies like it did before an exam.

"Tonight," Malfoy saw in a voice that demanded respect, "after many discussions Orion and I have decided that it is time for us to invite two new members to our society. They have proven themselves to have enough power and intelligences to be considered worthy of joining us. They have been informed of our proceedings and their secrecy has never wavered," he looked particularly hard at Sirius while he said this. "Our Master has also become increasingly interested in both of these young men, and has given us permission to train them and ready them for his service." He turned to Sirius and Lucius as he said this. "So it has been ordered that we use this summer to prepare our sons to serve Lord Voldemort."