His mother had been exceptionally generous today. No, she hadn't come with him, that'd be ridiculous - no, she'd simply given him enough money to get what he needed and lunch. Very generous of her. If, of course, lunch would cost 50p or less. Severus counted his money, hoped for no price rises and looked around the place with confusion.
The Hogwarts letter he had was crumpled and a bit ripped from being stuffed in his pocket all day, being yanked in and out of it as he checked what items he'd need for class.
There was so much to get and he had no idea how he was supposed to carry it all.
Looking at the list, he frowned and tried to work out where one purchased all these books.
Really, Sirius was supposed to sit there and wait for his robes to be adjusted according to specifications. But he had decided that, with his measurements complete, his presence there was really optional. Not that he asked anyone if that assumption was correct, he just sneaked out and then there he was. Happy and free! He laughed and walked a few steps, looking up and getting distracted as he watched the owls in the window of the pet store.
And that was how he ran into a boy. He blinked, then frowned, then smiled at the other boy. he looked about his age. "Hello there! Sorry, I wasn't looking."
He held out his hand, wanting to shake on his apology.
Severus flinched back, unsure what to do now and just keeping his distance because it didn't seemed wise to pick a fight with someone bigger than himself. Especially since he didn't know who he was and what powers he could have. For all he knew, he could be a pure blood and if he'd learned anything in his reading, it was how important that was.
"It's fine. I was in the way."
He wasn't sure what to do. He didn't often interact outside of his parents and he never knew how to speak to other kids his age. When the hand was outstretched, he stared for a long time.
Then very tentatively reached out to hold it in return, shaking slowly. His hands were ice cold. "Apology accepted."
Sirius gave the hand a squeeze, smiled a little and then he glanced at the page the boy was holding. "Oh! You are a first year too! That's brilliant!" He was so excited and it was hard to find an outlet for it. His parents never liked when he got too emotional and Regulus was so upset over him leaving that he didn't want to bring it up more than necessary.
But finally! Someone who'd get it. "I'm Sirius. Nice meeting you! Are you getting all your stuff? We need soooo much."
And he really was so eager for it all. "Where are you headed?"
"I need to find course books but I've never been here before. I mostly seem to be wandering." He got his wand and that was tucked safely in his pocket but otherwise, he had little else. There was a lot that overwhelmed him here and trying to work it all out alone was stressful. He smiled awkwardly at Sirius and gestured to himself. "I'm Severus."
He wasn't used to people smiling at him. It was strange. People looked so weird when they smiled. Sometimes it was so very fake but this one seemed genuine.
What was there to even smile about when it came to meeting him? It was odd. What was so brilliant about it? He looked at his crumpled list once more because it was easier. "I've only gotten three things so far. Yourself?"
Due to the nature of the alphabet, Sirius was one of the first to get sorted. He could see some familiar faces at the Slytherin table, anticipating this. He was nervous, sitting down in the chair and feeling his heart beat so fast. He wished he already knew that Severus really was going to Slytherin. He didn't want to end up there without his friend.
"Slytherin?" The Sorting Hat's voice in his head sounded incredulous. "You've really got it wrong, young man. Oh, this one is going to be a lot of trouble, isn't it? But there is no doubt. You are going to GRYFFINDOR!"
The last word was yelled out and then the hat was taken off of him. Sirius felt dazed. He got up and looked around, surprise, confusion and worry all plain on his face. Surely this had been a mistake! There were uncertain expressions on the Slytherin table too and only some hesitant clapping from the Gryffindor side.
"Go on then." Professor McGonagall's voice was almost gentle, as was the hand on his shoulder that gave him a slight push. "You better do well in my house."
Sirius looked at her, nodding and feeling pretty awful. He couldn't even comprehend how his parents would feel when they heard about this. He felt very lonely when he walked over to the table, still feeling as if people were whispering about him, even as the next child was getting sorted. Still very unsure, he sat down, the first one sorted to Gryffindor that day, staring at the table. He wasn't feeling so bold any more, because this really wasn't going as it was supposed to.
As soon as James was sorted, he grinned a big grin and walked over to the table with great pride, dropping down directly across from Sirius. No one else would sit by him, they all seemed to be keeping distance but James already had a bloody big row with him on the train over his smelly friend so whatever. Like he had a reason to hide.
Looking a Sirius, he smirked playfully.
"Hard luck, mate. You got stuck with me and this lot. Welcome to the jock side." As Severus had put it earlier, Gryffindor was all brawn and full of jocks so hey. Why not rub it on? "God, I hope your friend isn't going to be in here too."
Sirius immediately pulled a face at the boy, not exactly thrilled to get to share a house with him. How was that fair? "Never. He's way too smart!"
There. Stood up for Severus. Maybe called himself an idiot in the process, but still. Besides, honestly, Severus was kind of scrawny. Not like James. Or like Sirius, for that matter. He squared his shoulder, sizing James' up arrogantly. He was still himself, no matter the house.
"Potter. Next in a line of unremarkable idiots." So there.
"Ha, you called yourself an idiot. You're so dumb."
James laughed and then looked up, watching the weirdo in line waiting to be sorted. He thought he was a bit of a prick, to be honest. He didn't know why Sirius was all on his case cause he took a stand. Besides, he did smell. He was 100% accurate.
"You'll enjoy being an idiot, it's great fun." James grinned as he kicked his legs back and forth. "You think your weird mate will still want to be friends? He seems very anti our side."
"I'm not an idiot. But I'm stronger than you." And, from the looks of it, he wouldn't have any issue with throwing down to prove that right now. Sirius was ready, shoulders squared. However, he just shrugged, not looking Severus' way just yet. He still wanted to avoid even accidentally looking at the Slytherin table. Ugh. This was so horrid, he couldn't even wrap his mind around it.
"He's my friend. Friends don't stop being friends." That was his opinion, anyway. "Who cares that much about houses? Only idiots like you."
"Sev!" Sirius spotted Severus from the other end of the hall and he didn't hesitate to jog right over and cut him off before either of them could reach their respective tables. It was time for breakfast, but Sirius could suspend his eagerness to say good morning to his friend first.
After all, they hadn't gotten to say good night yesterday, in all the commotion with the prefects leading away the first years and with them keeping a special eye on him and James, which did seem both understandable and discriminatory. "Did you sleep well? What's your common room like? And your dorm? We are all high up in the tower, it's grand!"
He really didn't think Sirius would speak to him again. He was in a different house, he had a lot of friends already and he just sort of assumed he'd move away from him now their hopes of rooming together had been dashed. Instead, he was rooming with three boys who didn't much care for him and already happily excluded him from their plans.
Seeing Sirius again, so happy to see him, it was a relief. He smiled awkwardly and nodded his head. "I slept okay. It's nice there, really cool. I'm sorry you're not there. How is Gryffindor treating you?" He didn't like the idea of his friend being around that Potter idiot.
Sirius shrugged his shoulders, not quite sure how to feel on the whole. He wasn't sure whether him and James were enemies or friends and he honestly just felt a little thrown by the whole thing still. He had never spent this much time around children he hadn't known all his life before, other than Severus. And James had a point, the other non-pure-bloods really weren't much like Severus at all.
Of course, he was also still nervous about his parents' reaction. But, on the whole? "I reckon it's going decent. They aren't bad sorts, really."
Honestly, he thought they were all bad sorts but he supposed if Sirius found a way to be happy there, he didn't mind. As long as his friend was happy and with him, he could live with this. If he had to. "I was going to go to the library today after class. Do you want to come with me? I was going to get some extra reading out." Given he'd already read the books he was supposed to and was marking his way through the textbooks he had. He was bored, he needed to know more. "It might be fun."
Was the library fun? Sirius somehow highly doubted that. He had a library at home. It was no fun. Dangerous, but not in a funny way. Dangerous and boring, the worst combination. But still, he didn't want to be mean to his friend, so he smiled. "Let's meet up and then decide what to do! I wanna explore everything. I bet there's loads of hidden stuff, you know? There is in my house and this is even bigger and older."
"Wotcher, Sev." Sirius dropped down next to Severus in the tree's shade. James had just spotted Lily in the water and was therefore now busy undressing and hurrying over to her and he wasn't really feeling like getting wet, so he would just watch the debacle from the side.
Especially since he'd spotted Severus in the shadow. Of course he was in the shadow. None of his stupid Slytherin friends were around though, so he felt fine spending time with him. "What are you up to?"
It was a pretty warm summer day, for Scotland anyway, so Sirius was only wearing light clothes, enjoying what sun there was.
"Reading." Duh. He looked up from his booking, looking at Sirius and then seeking out whee James would be because, clearly, James had to be somewhere. Lurking, waiting to hex him or pull a stupid prank. God, he hated that arrogant bastard. Noticing that James wasn't around, he gave Sirius a suspicious look.
He loved Sirius but lately, it was hard to spend time with him and even harder to get away from James and his idiocy.
"I'm not alone. I'm with you," Sirius pointed out wisely, before stretching out in the grass next to Severus, arms crossed under his head. "James is in the lake, he fancies one of the girls, so he is showing off his muscles."
And probably some terrible lines, if Sirius was any judge. He loved it. "Remus and Peter are studying for history. I've decided history is boring." He had decided that a while back, only no one would listen to him. "What are you reading then? Is it boring? Looks boring."
Severus didn't want to admit to what he was reading so he closed the book and slid it aside, careful not to damage it. It wasn't his, he borrowed it from one of his friends. It was old magic, fascinating and dark as can be. He was really excelling at his curses. Looking down at Sirius, he reached out and tentatively brushed his hair from his face.
Sirius was so painfully beautiful, it bothered him more than he liked. "It's a nice day today. Would have thought you'd be frolicking, not here with me."
"That's quiet frolicking," Sirius claimed, "I like it." He reached up to grab Severus' hand and place it more firmly in his hair, smiling at him playfully. Hey, he liked having his hair played with, at least half the reason for growing it out. "Anyway, James is all about girls right now and I dunno. I know some girls like me, but going out with girls is soooo boring, you know?"
He rolled his eyes. "They all want to go and drink tea at that tea house. It's a nightmare. Reminds me of when my cousins put me in pigtails."
There were several problems with Sirius giving someone the silent treatment. For one thing, it was inherently passive and Sirius was a lot of things, but he had never been passive. For another, it was boring. He had never done well with boredom either.
How had it all started? Sirius didn't even know. But Rebecca had come to him, not long after they had broken up, and told him that Severus had threatened her. Called her a mudblood. And all he had meant to do was check in with him. Make sure it wasn't true.
But somehow it had escalated, in the middle of Potions, and it all led to them being here now, cleaning desks. Not exactly a glamorous activity. Also excruciatingly boring. And he had meant to not talk at all, like James had recommended. James, who had desperately tried to get detention too, so they wouldn't have to be alone together. Yet here they were and Sirius cursed some stain on the desk, before finally yelling at Severus. "I don't get you!"
Severus hadn't ever wanted to fall out with Sirius but it seemed like he'd never truly understand anything he said to him. Dark meant evil, pure was bad and everything he believed was wrong. Why? Because Sirius was privileged enough to get the best possible life and just had to rebel against it. He often wondered if he'd be more agreeable without Gryffindor and James.
"Not ever talking to me again went well, I see."
Severus scrubbed idly at the staining and showed little remorse or annoyance over everything. Mostly, he seemed neutral at best. It was good to bury down bad emotions or they'd hurt too much. "What don't you get? Enlighten me."
"I'm not talking to you. I'm talking at you." Or something. What in Merlin's name was on this stupid desk? He leaned down to scrub it harder, taking out his frustration. "I don't get why you would call someone mudblood. If you did that. And if you didn't do it, then I don't get why you wouldn't just deny it when I asked you."
There were so many things he didn't get. Sirius turned around, looking at Severus. "I don't get why you stopped giving a damn about us being friends."
"Am I supposed to pretend muggle-borns are in the same league as purebloods? Don't be foolish, Black. If you're that intent on being an idiot then that's your issue but it's clear who holds more power and it certainly isn't muggles and their offspring." Even if they happened to be magical. Severus had tried to avoid the topic but seen as things didn't get better when he asked not to talk about it, when he offered to apologise - to Sirius, not the mudblood - and then he tried to make amends. It always got worse. So why not intentionally make it worse? It felt more in control to do it.
"I have no pity for filth." Filth like his father. Muggles were inherently revolting. It was their nature. Pathetic, primate and entirely useless. "And you stopped being my friend long before I stopped trying. It was around the time James Potter became the only man you listen to."
Sirius' eyes widened, then narrowed. "You are full of it. Just look at the evidence. Lily Evans? Prefect and the most talented witch in our year, everyone knows that. Ever been on the receiving end of one of her hexes? And look at you. Look at Remus. Half-blood. Do you want to know what my mother thinks of half-bloods? Or even of the bloodtraitors that produce them? It's all a bunch of hogwash."
He scoffed, shaking his head. "Is that your issue? That I agree with James on that? It has nothing to do with James. I have my own eyes. My own mind. I'm here, Sirius Black. Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. And I can tell you, my family is filth."
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The Hogwarts letter he had was crumpled and a bit ripped from being stuffed in his pocket all day, being yanked in and out of it as he checked what items he'd need for class.
There was so much to get and he had no idea how he was supposed to carry it all.
Looking at the list, he frowned and tried to work out where one purchased all these books.
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And that was how he ran into a boy. He blinked, then frowned, then smiled at the other boy. he looked about his age. "Hello there! Sorry, I wasn't looking."
He held out his hand, wanting to shake on his apology.
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"It's fine. I was in the way."
He wasn't sure what to do. He didn't often interact outside of his parents and he never knew how to speak to other kids his age. When the hand was outstretched, he stared for a long time.
Then very tentatively reached out to hold it in return, shaking slowly. His hands were ice cold. "Apology accepted."
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But finally! Someone who'd get it. "I'm Sirius. Nice meeting you! Are you getting all your stuff? We need soooo much."
And he really was so eager for it all. "Where are you headed?"
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He wasn't used to people smiling at him. It was strange. People looked so weird when they smiled. Sometimes it was so very fake but this one seemed genuine.
What was there to even smile about when it came to meeting him? It was odd. What was so brilliant about it? He looked at his crumpled list once more because it was easier. "I've only gotten three things so far. Yourself?"
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"Slytherin?" The Sorting Hat's voice in his head sounded incredulous. "You've really got it wrong, young man. Oh, this one is going to be a lot of trouble, isn't it? But there is no doubt. You are going to GRYFFINDOR!"
The last word was yelled out and then the hat was taken off of him. Sirius felt dazed. He got up and looked around, surprise, confusion and worry all plain on his face. Surely this had been a mistake! There were uncertain expressions on the Slytherin table too and only some hesitant clapping from the Gryffindor side.
"Go on then." Professor McGonagall's voice was almost gentle, as was the hand on his shoulder that gave him a slight push. "You better do well in my house."
Sirius looked at her, nodding and feeling pretty awful. He couldn't even comprehend how his parents would feel when they heard about this. He felt very lonely when he walked over to the table, still feeling as if people were whispering about him, even as the next child was getting sorted. Still very unsure, he sat down, the first one sorted to Gryffindor that day, staring at the table. He wasn't feeling so bold any more, because this really wasn't going as it was supposed to.
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Looking a Sirius, he smirked playfully.
"Hard luck, mate. You got stuck with me and this lot. Welcome to the jock side." As Severus had put it earlier, Gryffindor was all brawn and full of jocks so hey. Why not rub it on? "God, I hope your friend isn't going to be in here too."
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There. Stood up for Severus. Maybe called himself an idiot in the process, but still. Besides, honestly, Severus was kind of scrawny. Not like James. Or like Sirius, for that matter. He squared his shoulder, sizing James' up arrogantly. He was still himself, no matter the house.
"Potter. Next in a line of unremarkable idiots." So there.
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James laughed and then looked up, watching the weirdo in line waiting to be sorted. He thought he was a bit of a prick, to be honest. He didn't know why Sirius was all on his case cause he took a stand. Besides, he did smell. He was 100% accurate.
"You'll enjoy being an idiot, it's great fun." James grinned as he kicked his legs back and forth. "You think your weird mate will still want to be friends? He seems very anti our side."
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"He's my friend. Friends don't stop being friends." That was his opinion, anyway. "Who cares that much about houses? Only idiots like you."
And everyone in his family. He was so dead.
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After all, they hadn't gotten to say good night yesterday, in all the commotion with the prefects leading away the first years and with them keeping a special eye on him and James, which did seem both understandable and discriminatory. "Did you sleep well? What's your common room like? And your dorm? We are all high up in the tower, it's grand!"
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Seeing Sirius again, so happy to see him, it was a relief. He smiled awkwardly and nodded his head. "I slept okay. It's nice there, really cool. I'm sorry you're not there. How is Gryffindor treating you?" He didn't like the idea of his friend being around that Potter idiot.
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Of course, he was also still nervous about his parents' reaction. But, on the whole? "I reckon it's going decent. They aren't bad sorts, really."
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Honestly, he thought they were all bad sorts but he supposed if Sirius found a way to be happy there, he didn't mind. As long as his friend was happy and with him, he could live with this. If he had to. "I was going to go to the library today after class. Do you want to come with me? I was going to get some extra reading out." Given he'd already read the books he was supposed to and was marking his way through the textbooks he had. He was bored, he needed to know more. "It might be fun."
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So it stood to reason.
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Especially since he'd spotted Severus in the shadow. Of course he was in the shadow. None of his stupid Slytherin friends were around though, so he felt fine spending time with him. "What are you up to?"
It was a pretty warm summer day, for Scotland anyway, so Sirius was only wearing light clothes, enjoying what sun there was.
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He loved Sirius but lately, it was hard to spend time with him and even harder to get away from James and his idiocy.
"You're alone." Odd. "Where are your friends?"
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And probably some terrible lines, if Sirius was any judge. He loved it. "Remus and Peter are studying for history. I've decided history is boring." He had decided that a while back, only no one would listen to him. "What are you reading then? Is it boring? Looks boring."
He smiled brightly at Severus. "I'm more fun."
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Severus didn't want to admit to what he was reading so he closed the book and slid it aside, careful not to damage it. It wasn't his, he borrowed it from one of his friends. It was old magic, fascinating and dark as can be. He was really excelling at his curses. Looking down at Sirius, he reached out and tentatively brushed his hair from his face.
Sirius was so painfully beautiful, it bothered him more than he liked. "It's a nice day today. Would have thought you'd be frolicking, not here with me."
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He rolled his eyes. "They all want to go and drink tea at that tea house. It's a nightmare. Reminds me of when my cousins put me in pigtails."
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How had it all started? Sirius didn't even know. But Rebecca had come to him, not long after they had broken up, and told him that Severus had threatened her. Called her a mudblood. And all he had meant to do was check in with him. Make sure it wasn't true.
But somehow it had escalated, in the middle of Potions, and it all led to them being here now, cleaning desks. Not exactly a glamorous activity. Also excruciatingly boring. And he had meant to not talk at all, like James had recommended. James, who had desperately tried to get detention too, so they wouldn't have to be alone together. Yet here they were and Sirius cursed some stain on the desk, before finally yelling at Severus. "I don't get you!"
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"Not ever talking to me again went well, I see."
Severus scrubbed idly at the staining and showed little remorse or annoyance over everything. Mostly, he seemed neutral at best. It was good to bury down bad emotions or they'd hurt too much. "What don't you get? Enlighten me."
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There were so many things he didn't get. Sirius turned around, looking at Severus. "I don't get why you stopped giving a damn about us being friends."
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"I have no pity for filth." Filth like his father. Muggles were inherently revolting. It was their nature. Pathetic, primate and entirely useless. "And you stopped being my friend long before I stopped trying. It was around the time James Potter became the only man you listen to."
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He scoffed, shaking his head. "Is that your issue? That I agree with James on that? It has nothing to do with James. I have my own eyes. My own mind. I'm here, Sirius Black. Heir to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. And I can tell you, my family is filth."
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