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“I’m bored. Wanna play with me?”
Playing with Bellatrix never meant something good but Sirius had no choice. Besides, he was bored too. They were currently sitting in their study room, going over their arithmancy work, but their house teacher Mr Roland had just left for a bit and Sirius was done sitting still.
“Okee. What’d you wanna play?”
His big cousin grinned at him and held her finger to her lips. Then she got up, Sirius followed her example. Andy didn’t even notice them, she had buried her face in her arms as soon as the teacher left but Cissy got up.
“You can’t leave, Bella. We’re supposed to be studying. We’re not allowed to play until 3 O’clock. Reggie, sit back down.”
His little brother instantly obeyed but Bella just rolled her eyes. She was a lot older than Cissy and not about to listen to her. Sirius was younger than Cissy but he still wasn’t about to listen to her either.
“Come, Sirius. We’re leaving.”
Bella just grabbed his hand and they walked out together. Sirius saw their teacher first and quickly pulled into the next room. Bella caught on and together they hid in the corner, waiting til they could hear the footsteps fade.
“Run!”
She dragged him along, Sirius barely managed to keep up with her long steps, sprinting at her hand. Bella dragged him upstairs to Cissy’s bedroom. He briefly wondered what they were going to do here but Bella quickly showed him, taking Cissy’s new wand and handing it to him.
“We’re gonna practice duelling. I learned some new spells at school. I wanna show you.”
Sirius should be scared, probably. But as much as Bella was mean to him, practicing her spells on him, Sirius loved practicing magic. At home he was never allowed to do much, his father sometimes let him hold his wand and try easy spells for first years but Bella showed him real spells. Jinxes and hexes that he could use for duelling. A lot of time she just used them on him and would then give him her own wand to try but sometimes they would steal Andy’s wand. But now that Cissy had a wand as well and she wasn’t used to carrying it on her yet.
“Are we gonna do a real duel?”
“Well what do you think we're getting Cissy’s wand for? But, I think we should go out in the garden. Bet the teacher’s already looking for us.”
He could already hear Mr Roland call out for them, Bella looked around quickly, turning to the window. She opened it up and looked down.
“Let’s climb out. It’s not all that high. We jump and I’ll catch us. Culcita.”
He watched her jump out, feeling at least a little worried she’d get hurt. They were only on the first floor but the rooms were really high and it was quite a fall into the garden. But Bella got up from the ground almost immediately, flicking her curls back and grinning up at him.
“Your turn, baby cousin.”
He climbed up on the ledge and looked down. It was really far. Bella called out for him again. Sirius was scared but he didn’t want to show her. He wasn’t a scared little baby anymore, he was seven years old now. So he jumped. The landing was soft, like falling into an invisible, super soft and fluffy bed.
“I think I heard Mr Roland come closer, I think we need to go.”
They ran away, laughing. Only behind the large oak trees they dared to stop and Sirius slumped onto the roots of a large tree. Bellatrix sat onto the swings, pushing herself off the floor, swinging higher and higher. Her hair brushing over the floor every time she soared forwards again. Sirius would have liked to swing too but she wouldn’t let him, not yet anyway. This was her swingset, she always got the first turn. So Sirius pulled out Cissy’s wand.
“Bombada maximus!”
The spell blew up some rocks, he cast it again and again.
“Stop it! They’re gonna notice us.”
Bella was still swinging, Sirius glared up at her. He wanted to swing too, or do something. This was nearly as boring as being inside studying numbers. At least the air was fresh here.
“Can we duel now?”
He swung around Cissy’s wand, making red sparks. Some went really far, nearly hitting Bella. She pulled her own wand from her pocket and sent a hex his way but Sirius was faster. He was used to her games.
“Protego!”
Bella swung back with force from being blocked and when she came forward again she flew off, landing gracefully in the grass. Then she pointed her wand at Sirius, hexing his legs to dance wildly. Well, it was only his legs, with his arms he was able to send his own jinx her way. They went back and forth like this for a while, sometimes Bella would tell him which spell to use.
“Try to stun me. It’s stupify.”
Stunning wasn’t all that easy, the first time he cast it at her she barely froze for a second but the next time it made her fall over and stay on the ground. He carefully approached his cousin. Kneeling over her. Her body felt normal, he could move her arms around freely, this wasn’t like the freezing spell that would make the victim stiff as a board.
“Gotcha!”
Bella recovered and grabbed him around the waist, tickling him. He laughed and tried to fight back but she was nearly double his size and really strong. She also wasn’t ticklish at all.
“Stop it! Bella, stop! I gotta pee!”
This worked, like always. She finally let go of him and he stepped away. Sirius really had to go pee, he didn’t even notice before.
“Hey, look away!”
He glared and turned away from his cousin who was still looking his way. Whatever, he was facing away now so it wasn’t like she could see anything and when he finished and turned back to her she really was looking in a different direction.
“Hey, wanna see some new spells now? But you gotta promise you’re not gonna tell on me. Okay?”
He nodded and held out his pinky.
“I promise.”
She held out hers.
“Do you, Sirius Black, solemnly swear?”
This was their little ritual. Their pinkies grabbed each other and Sirius looked in her dark brown eyes.
“I, Sirius Black, solemnly swear that I’m not going to tell on you.”
She was happy with that and let him go, only to take her hand in his now.
“We need something to practice the spells on. We can’t use them on each other. They're illegal and very dangerous.”
This sounded promising. Sirius followed at her hand and they went even further into the garden of the Black family estate. There were bunnies hopping around, they were supposed to be decoration but because the main part of the garden had an anti digging spell all over it the bunnies always ran off to the larger back which was mostly wild and not very sculptured like the part right by the huge mansion. Bellatrix caught one by casting a ring of blue fire around it. Sirius knew the fire, it was harmless, warm enough to warm up hands but it wouldn’t burn you. Once conjured it could burn for a couple hours without anything to feed it. In fact, the fire wouldn’t burn anything at all, it could be conjured onto wood, fabric, anything. And nothing would catch fire. The bunny didn’t know that though.
“The spells I’m about to show you are very forbidden, they’re the unforgivable curses. 5th years weren’t supposed to learn about them yet, only 7th years are allowed to even hear about them but Malfoy showed them to me.”
She had an evil grin on her face, Sirius matched it. Unforgivable curses, that sounded interesting. Those certainly weren’t for babies.
“Now… Listen up, Sirius. The first one’s the imperious curse. With that one, I can make this bunny do whatever I want. See, Imperio.”
Nothing happened. Sirius waited patiently but after a while it became apparent that this wasn’t going to work. This spell was boring but Bella tried again.
“Imperio.”
This time, the bunny hopped out of the fire, then it stood up and waved its paws. Was this the imperious spell?
“Is it working?”
Bella just nodded and concentrated, making the bunny run around the fire circle twice. Then it hopped back into it.
“Now, little cousin. The second spell is different. It causes pain, lots of pain. Wanna see? Crucio!”
The bunny made squeaking sounds and curled up.
“Poor bunny. Do you think this hurts a lot?”
Bella stopped the spell and the bunny stopped twitching.
“Yeah, the cruciatus curse is supposed to inflict unbearable pain. It’s to torture your enemies. That’s why it’s strictly forbidden.”
This made sense for Sirius. He felt a little sorry for that poor bunny though. It hadn’t done anything wrong and now it was their enemy.
“And the last one’s Avade Kedavra.”
A green bolt shot out of her wand and the bunny stopped moving at all. It looked dead. It probably was dead, what other spell would be forbidden if not the one to kill someone. Although it didn’t make sense for it to be forbidden to use on animals. After all, animals needed to die for them to eat all the time.
“Hungry?”
He wasn’t really, they had only just had lunch but he still nodded.
“Can I make the fire?”
Bella let him. First they needed to find some wood, the sort of fire that you needed to be hot enough to cook required at least a little wood. While he went out to look for that Bella skinned the bunny. She was using her dagger, the one aunt Druella had confiscated just yesterday. She must have stolen it back.
“Can you find me a good stick? I need something to hold it over the fire.”
Sirius was on it. He found her the best stick in the whole garden. Bella stabbed the now skinned bunny and held it over the fire he’d lit. They would need to wait. But that was okay. Sirius finally got to swing now.
Only when the sun started hanging lower did they walk back inside. They’d be in huge trouble. Not only had they skipped their afternoon lessons but Sirius had also missed his piano tutor and Bella was supposed to be practicing potions with her father in the evening. She was behind in that subject at school. But perhaps, if they just snuck in quietly enough maybe they could avoid punishment. Besides, aunt Druella wasn’t nearly as cruel as Mummy and uncle Cygnus usually didn’t care very much about what Sirius did wrong. But Bella would be in huge trouble. The house was quiet.
“You got lucky. Mummy and Daddy have gone to the theatre. But daddy will have a word with you tomorrow; Bella. I’m sure.”
Andy was happy to see her big sister in trouble. Having a word with daddy wasn’t good news in his cousin's home. Still beat having to be around Sirius’ Mummy. Good thing she and Daddy were off to Canada for the summer. He and Regulus were spending the whole summer break at their Aunt and Uncle's house. Not that they really had a summer break. Their tutors came around year round, only leaving them alone for Christmas when they had to attend the yearly celebration.
“Whatever. What’s for dinner?”
Bella never cared if she was in trouble. Sirius admired that.
“Nothing, you’re late. And you made Sirius miss his piano and dancing lesions. You should leave him out of this at least. Come, Siri. I’ll take you to the kitchen. I’m sure Ruby will have some leftovers for you.”
At least he wouldn’t have to go to bed hungry but Bella seemed to have other ideas because she grabbed him by the shoulders, grip a little too tight.
“I can take him, Andy. It’s fine.”
Bella sounded sugary sweet. She wasn’t done with him yet, Sirius knew that. Their game wasn’t over, but that was fine, as long as she would actually feed him some dinner because Sirius was hungry again.
“I’d like some dinner, but Bella can take me, she’s hungry too.”
He looked up at her and his oldest cousin interpreted this as him wanting to be lifted up. Sirius was too big to be picked up, He wasn’t a baby like Reggie who was always being carried around by Cissy. Like her little doll. But he decided not to complain about it in front of Andy, he didn’t want Bella to go to bed hungry after all.
“By the way, Cissy’s missing her wand. You don’t happen to have anything to do with that, would you? We’re not allowed magic outside of school.”
The wand was currently poking his belly, Andy wouldn’t see it.
“Nope.”
Sirius answered for Bella. Lying straight in Andy’s face. Then they left. He let Bella carry him all the way to the kitchens, like he was her little dolly. Once there he wiggled out of her grip though. Bella promptly hexed him. He should never let his guard down, that’s what she always told him.
“Hey! Ebublio!”
Bella was drenched with water but managed to free herself almost immediately. Oh no, now she was angry. Sirius was just about to pull up a protego shield but his older cousin was quicker. She glared at him.
“Crucio!”
Sirius screamed, it felt like knives were piercing his entire body, it really hurt. Luckily it didn’t hold on for a very long time. Now Sirius was angry too.
“Serpensortia!”
Bella didn’t like snakes very much. This wasn’t a very good thing when there was a snake slithering towards you at high speed. Sirius giggled but kept holding up Cissy’s wand in case Bella was going to try to hex him again. Bella was rather occupied though, trying to escape the snake.
“Get it off me! Make it go away! Sirius! Make it go away!”
She was screaming, he just laughed, this was funny. Even when it bit her she didn’t grab it to make it stop. Bella just screeched. Eventually he took pity on her grabbing the little snake. The snakes from this spell weren’t even venomous, or large enough to hurt someone. Well, Bella was bleeding a little bit.
“Oh. Poor Bella. Is the little snakey snake scaring you.”
She’d be so mad but the snake was scaring her so much she wouldn’t curse him again. Hopefully.
“Just get it off! Make it go away!”
He took pity on his big cousin, grabbing the snake just below the head and pulling it off Bella. Then, with an evil grin he waved it in front of her face once more. Bella cried out.
“Are you scared of the snake, Bella? Are you scared of little Sally, the serpent?”
Sirius laughed when she jumped back. No, she wouldn’t curse him again today. He grabbed the snake more tightly and willed it to be more harmless. A moment later it was just a harmless little plush creature. A child's toy. He wrapped it around his shoulders like a scarf.
“Let’s go eat now. Come.”
He extended his hand but Bella wouldn’t take it. They ate in silence and Sirius left quickly, putting Cissy’s wand down on the table they were doing their school work at. She’d never actually believe she left it there but maybe she wouldn’t snitch if she got it back.
“Where have you been?”
Reggie yawned and sat up in bed. Looking at Sirius who carefully closed the door behind himself.
“I was playing with Bella.”
He laid Sally the serpent on the ground and started pulling off his robes, reaching for his nightgown.
“You didn’t finish class. Mr Roland was really mad at you and Bella. You’re going to be in trouble when Uncle Cygnus and Auntie Druella find out.”
Reggie was right of course but Sirius just shrugged. He pulled the nightgown over his head.
“What do I care? Mummy’s all the way in Canada.”
He wasn’t scared of his aunt and uncle. In fact, auntie Druella was really nice, he wasn’t scared of her at all. Uncle Cygnus, maybe a little. He was mummy’s brother after all but he really was a lot more like their father. Sometimes Sirius thought it would make a lot more sense if his uncle was fathers brother. They both liked the same things.
“Why do you have a new toy?”
Regulus had hopped out of bed to pick up the snake. It made a little hissing sound but didn’t turn back into an actual serpent. It probably liked its warm plushy body better, snakes liked it warm. Sirius grinned.
“Bella gave it to me. She doesn’t like snakes. Did you know?”
Now that he was properly dressed for the night Sirius climbed into bed and held the blanket out for his little brother. Reggie really needed to go to sleep, it was way too late for a five year old to be up.
“Good night, Reggie.”
He gave him a hug and a kiss on the forehead. Like their auntie always did, or Cissy. Bella would never give him a goodnight kiss.
“Night Siri.”
Reggie yawned again and pulled the covers a little higher. Sally the serpent laid in between them. She liked it warm and cozy. Sirius closed his eyes, he was tired too. He’d nearly fallen asleep when the door opened again. Quietly. He hoped it was auntie Druella coming to check on them but the intruder had much longer, messier hair. It fell down nearly to her butt, dark and curly.
“Siri. Are you still awake?”
Bella tiptoed over to the bed and kneeled beside it. Putting a hand on his shoulder. He stayed quiet, hoping she wouldn’t notice he was awake but she must have seen his eyes.
“I’m sorry for using the cruciatus curse on you today. Please don’t tell my mummy or father.”
She started gently petting his back, Sirius still didn’t react. Sally the serpent did. The snake came back to life and slowly slithered towards Bella, at first she didn’t notice but when she did… Sirius grinned as Bellatrix jumped back, screaming loudly. It woke up Regulus, too, who started biting his fingers to avoid laughing too. He was far more afraid of Bella than him.
“What’s the matter here?!”
Uncle Cygnus had entered the room. Sirius made his face look more innocently and held up his new toy snake.
“Bella just saw Sally the Serpent and started screaming. Really, Bella. You’re such a girl!”
Uncle Cygnus shook his head and grabbed Bella by the shoulders. Pulling her towards the door.
“You boys should go back to sleep. You too, Bella. It’s late, you shouldn’t disturb your cousins at this hour, they need to sleep and so do you.”
With that he steered Bella out of the room and the boys laid back down. Sally gave one more little hiss but stayed toy shaped.