Charming

Full Version: Almost Gone

You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.

December 16th, 1893 — Outside King's Cross Station, London

In a rare show of maternal devotion, Ursula had decided on an impulse that she would meet her son at King's Cross. Obviously she wasn't going so far as to meet him on the platform, she didn't plan on stooping to that, but she'd taken the carriage across town and sat there patiently waiting for him to join her. Depending on your definition of patience, of course, she was hardly enjoying the wait and was painfully aware of every second of it.

Since he'd gone to Hogwarts her affection for him had only grown, at times it was even possessive when she considered that Phineas was now a more present figure in his life than she was, after all the years he'd been absent whilst she'd been tenderly raising and molding him to be the perfect son. That was how she chose to think of it, at any rate.

At last the carriage door was opened and there was her boy! She hoped the servant hadn't warned him, she'd wanted it to be a pleasant surprise for him. Despite her delight at seeing him, she coolly remained composed and waited for him to first greet her. It wouldn't do to fawn too much over him, after all.

Outfit | Tag: | Notes:

Sirius was not sure how much he was looking forward to the winter break; he felt must more in charge of his own destiny when he was at Hogwarts. But he liked spending time with his aunt and mother, and he liked the opportunity to assert his influence on his younger siblings.

One of the servants greeted him in King's Cross. Sirius handed off the suitcase with a nod, and headed to the indicated carriage — not expecting the delightful surprise that awaited him.

"Mama," Sirius said, smiling his most charming smile at her. He stepped up into the carriage and sat across from her. "Thank you for coming to meet me." (He recognized this for what it was — an expression of care. He had to return it, so that she would continue to care for him in these ways that Sirius so enjoyed.)

Like constellations imploding in the nightEverything is turning, everything is turning

At the sight of his smile she found herself beaming back at him. Of course, my darling! Ursula gestured at the seat across from her. Sit yourself down across from me and tell me what you've been up to. Merlin, I swear you've grown again! It was difficult to tell in the carriage but she also struggled to believe he was taller than her now though he had been so for a while now.

Outfit | Tag: | Notes:

"I've been enjoying my N.E.W.T. classes," Sirius said, "Especially Transfiguration." Mostly, he'd been enjoying Transfiguration because it was a class he shared with Rex, and because sometimes Miss Farris and Miss Adebayo derailed the rest of the class. He knew better than to tell Mama that.

"I also had a great deal of fun this term," he said, "Especially being back on Quidditch." He smiled broadly at his mother; he hadn't been able to play for most of last year due to a concussion, so it was excellent to be back in his rightful place on the team.

Like constellations imploding in the nightEverything is turning, everything is turning

Ursula almost shuddered when he reminded her that he was already at NEWT level. She'd never actually forgotten but she liked to push that knowledge to the back of her mind at every opportunity. I hope 'fun' means you've still been working hard... As much as she did want to see Sirius best all of his classmates, it was hard to be completely serious about it at present.

Have you seen much of your father? She hoped, selfishly, that the answer to that was 'no'. Although now she thought of Phineas, he seemed to her to look more like him than he ever had. Sirius had always favored her in looks and still did, but there something more Phineas about him than usual, she was sure of it.

Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

That was a classic Mama question, and Sirius knew exactly how to answer her in a way that pleased her. "No more than any other student," Sirius said, with a shrug of his shoulders as if to add what are you going to do? He really didn't see Phineas much more than other students did — but even if they got tea every week, he still would not have told Mama that.

Like constellations imploding in the nightEverything is turning, everything is turning

Well, that was just like Phineas, wasn't it? Yes, she was pleased he hadn't been poisoning her son against her but really he was disgracefully neglectful as both husband and father! Really, what's the point being the headmaster's son if he doesn't give you special treatment? Ursula tutted and resisted the urge to pat his cheek at the last second, a slight twitch of her wrist the only indication that she'd meant to do so. At least Phineas was consistent, she supposed, no special treatment for anyone.

I saw your match last month, you flew exceptionally well - as always - it's a shame that awful little Gryffindor girl happened to bump into the snitch (one can hardly call that a 'catch') when she otherwise played so dreadfully! Slytherin really had the superior team, and I'm not saying that because I'm biased, darling, you know it's quite true. She had paid particularly close attention to the match so as to pay less to Phineas' unfortunate presence. It was a wonder he'd deigned to show up at all.

Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

Mama reacted in the exact way Sirius had expected her to, and he beamed at her. He liked that Mama was predictable; there had been times in his childhood where she had felt rather volatile, but that was no longer the case.

"Thank you, Mama," Sirius said, with another winning smile. "Miss Moony deserved to catch the snitch much more than Miss Gillenwater did, even if they're both —" he made an unpleasant face, meant to convey that both girls were beneath them. At least Miss Moony was not a mudblood.

"I've really been enjoying Quidditch this year," he added — this was a test. Sirius had not decided whether or not he wanted to play Quidditch professionally.

Like constellations imploding in the nightEverything is turning, everything is turning

Should I expect to see Slytherin win the quidditch cup again this year? Obviously it would be Sirius leading his team to victory, even if he wasn't the team captain yet. She couldn't remember who was the present Slytherin captain was, but in her eyes he was an unremarkable and undeserving child whom her husband should've seen fit to pass over in favor of his own son. Surely in his seventh year Sirius would be captain, it was inconceivable - preposterous to even consider the possibility that Sirius could make it through his entire Hogwarts career without adding Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch Team to his achievements.

Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

They'd lost their only game this past term, butSirius knew his Mama well enough to know that she responded best when presented with optimism. Her answer had, unfortunately, not helped him at all with his internal question. "I think so," Sirius said brightly. "We've really improved since the November game."

Like constellations imploding in the nightEverything is turning, everything is turning

I'm sure you will, she replied indulgently. Well, have you anything else to tell me? I'm sure you must. As much as she might actually somewhat enjoy Sirius' company nowadays, that didn't mean she was particularly good at talking to him after the obvious subjects were covered. She did want to probe him about his feelings for Flora but that seemed like something that could wait until a little further into his winter break.

Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

Sirius did not have anything else he particularly wanted to tell his mother, after attending a party just a few days before, but he knew she would require something. He straightened his posture. "Prefect patrols have been largely uneventful," he said.

Like constellations imploding in the nightEverything is turning, everything is turning

Oh? she responded mildly. But I suppose that's to be expected, I didn't find them particularly entertaining half of the time myself. Except when she got to disrupt inappropriate gatherings and feel smug about it.

Anyhow, I'm glad you decided to come home for Christmas, it's wouldn't have been the same without you. Oh, and while you're home we must discuss what you want to do for your seventeenth birthday. I know it's a way off yet, but it's an important one and it must be celebrated properly!

Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

Sirius had always expected his seventeenth birthday would be celebrated with aplomb. He nodded at his mother's suggestion that they start talking about it now, (as was only right — it gave them plenty of time to ensure that everything was exactly as he wanted it.) "I have some ideas..." Sirius said, and launched into it for the rest of the carriage ride.