trinityday (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
trinityday) wrote2008-02-21 10:04 am
trinityday) wrote2008-02-21 10:04 am
Entry tags:
Ficlet: Three Things
Title: Three Things
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Sirius/Bellatrix
Word Count: 768
Written for: a FAP challenge back in 2004. Something along the lines of "three things that never happened" in honour of the leap year.
February 29, 1975
Few people came to this part of the castle. It was too cold and drafty—especially in late February. But Sirius found himself there nonetheless.
“What are you doing here all alone, my dear cousin?”
“Go away, Bellatrix,” Sirius said, not surprised when she took that as an invitation to sit down beside him.
“I heard you tried to kill Severus,” she said.
“He deserved it,” Sirius said viciously.
“Your friends don’t agree. Are they even your friends anymore? How long has it been since they even talked to you? Two? Three weeks?”
Sirius refused to look at her. “Shut up.”
“But then, they’re Gryffindors. What can you expect?” Bellatrix continued.
“I said, shut up.”
Bellatrix reached over and brushed the hair out of his face. “Do you want me to go?”
“Since when have you ever done what I want you to do?” Sirius asked.
“That’s not an answer.” Her hand was still resting on his cheek and, almost against his will, he leaned into it.
“No. Don’t go,” he almost whispered, hating himself for it. But Bellatrix was the only one who would talk to him anymore and Sirius hated being alone.
Bellatrix’s hand slipped to the back of his head and Sirius kissed her. It reminded him of old times, when they were both still at home.
“Come home, Sirius.” Bellatrix was breathing heavily, causing her voice to sound husky.
Sirius didn’t answer right away, but only because he resented her pulling away from him to ask the question. He didn’t need to think about the decision. When they next took time to breathe, he said, “Yes.”
~*~
February 29, 1977
“He’s having an affair.”
Sirius didn’t look up from his parchment at Bellatrix’s announcement. “Who’s having an affair,” he asked, not particularly caring about the answer.
“Rodolphus.”
“I heard. Why do you think I care?” Sirius watched warily as Bellatrix balled up her fist, ready to duck in case she gave into temptation and tried to hit him.
“That’s not what you say to a lady when she tells you her fiancé is cheating on her,” Bellatrix said.
“Firstly, you’re not a lady, Bellatrix. Secondly, what did you expect? Of course he’s having an affair. It’s what you people do.”
“The entire school knows.
“You knew what you were getting into,” Sirius said without any sympathy. “You chose this life.”
Bellatrix changed the direction of the conversation. “Remember when we were younger?” Her tone was almost wistful. “We used to talking about leaving. You always hated it. Do you remember?”
Sirius had stopped pretending to do his homework by now. “I remember,” he said carefully, not sure where she was going with this.
“And you did. You left as soon as you were old enough,” Bellatrix said, but without her usual malice. It didn’t even sound like an accusation, for once.
“I did.” Sirius couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“I didn’t. And now I’m marrying a boy who won’t even pretend that we love each other. Who doesn’t even care enough to be discreet in his affairs.”
“You can still leave.”
“Leave?” Bellatrix laughed. “Where? You had friends. I don’t. At least none that would help me.”
“You could stay at James’.”
“Potter?” Bellatrix laughed. “He hates me.”
“You can always go back to Rodolphus,” Sirius said, heartlessly.
Bellatrix was silent for a minute. “Potter, you say?”
~*~
February 29, 1981
February 29 had long held a special place in the wizarding world. It marked the end of the civil wars of the 1600s, caused by disagreement over the treatment of Muggles. Ever since, February 29 was a day of remembrance, a day for peace and reconciliation, especially among family members. Too many families had been torn apart during the wars. Brother had fought against brother. Father against son. Husband against wife.
Ever since, witches and wizards marked the day by doing a random act of kindness. One good deed every four years (normally) wasn’t too strenuous a task.
Bellatrix’s good deed for the day was not to try to kill or maim Sirius, even though he was completely unaware that she was there. She could have snuck up behind him and he would never have known that she was there. But she didn’t.
Sirius’ good deed for the day was to not call the Order or Aurors, even though he had seen things that would make them lock Bellatrix in Azkaban and throw away the key.
That they quickly ended up naked, using a pile of boxes as a makeshift bed, had nothing to do with the day at all.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Sirius/Bellatrix
Word Count: 768
Written for: a FAP challenge back in 2004. Something along the lines of "three things that never happened" in honour of the leap year.
February 29, 1975
Few people came to this part of the castle. It was too cold and drafty—especially in late February. But Sirius found himself there nonetheless.
“What are you doing here all alone, my dear cousin?”
“Go away, Bellatrix,” Sirius said, not surprised when she took that as an invitation to sit down beside him.
“I heard you tried to kill Severus,” she said.
“He deserved it,” Sirius said viciously.
“Your friends don’t agree. Are they even your friends anymore? How long has it been since they even talked to you? Two? Three weeks?”
Sirius refused to look at her. “Shut up.”
“But then, they’re Gryffindors. What can you expect?” Bellatrix continued.
“I said, shut up.”
Bellatrix reached over and brushed the hair out of his face. “Do you want me to go?”
“Since when have you ever done what I want you to do?” Sirius asked.
“That’s not an answer.” Her hand was still resting on his cheek and, almost against his will, he leaned into it.
“No. Don’t go,” he almost whispered, hating himself for it. But Bellatrix was the only one who would talk to him anymore and Sirius hated being alone.
Bellatrix’s hand slipped to the back of his head and Sirius kissed her. It reminded him of old times, when they were both still at home.
“Come home, Sirius.” Bellatrix was breathing heavily, causing her voice to sound husky.
Sirius didn’t answer right away, but only because he resented her pulling away from him to ask the question. He didn’t need to think about the decision. When they next took time to breathe, he said, “Yes.”
February 29, 1977
“He’s having an affair.”
Sirius didn’t look up from his parchment at Bellatrix’s announcement. “Who’s having an affair,” he asked, not particularly caring about the answer.
“Rodolphus.”
“I heard. Why do you think I care?” Sirius watched warily as Bellatrix balled up her fist, ready to duck in case she gave into temptation and tried to hit him.
“That’s not what you say to a lady when she tells you her fiancé is cheating on her,” Bellatrix said.
“Firstly, you’re not a lady, Bellatrix. Secondly, what did you expect? Of course he’s having an affair. It’s what you people do.”
“The entire school knows.
“You knew what you were getting into,” Sirius said without any sympathy. “You chose this life.”
Bellatrix changed the direction of the conversation. “Remember when we were younger?” Her tone was almost wistful. “We used to talking about leaving. You always hated it. Do you remember?”
Sirius had stopped pretending to do his homework by now. “I remember,” he said carefully, not sure where she was going with this.
“And you did. You left as soon as you were old enough,” Bellatrix said, but without her usual malice. It didn’t even sound like an accusation, for once.
“I did.” Sirius couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“I didn’t. And now I’m marrying a boy who won’t even pretend that we love each other. Who doesn’t even care enough to be discreet in his affairs.”
“You can still leave.”
“Leave?” Bellatrix laughed. “Where? You had friends. I don’t. At least none that would help me.”
“You could stay at James’.”
“Potter?” Bellatrix laughed. “He hates me.”
“You can always go back to Rodolphus,” Sirius said, heartlessly.
Bellatrix was silent for a minute. “Potter, you say?”
February 29, 1981
February 29 had long held a special place in the wizarding world. It marked the end of the civil wars of the 1600s, caused by disagreement over the treatment of Muggles. Ever since, February 29 was a day of remembrance, a day for peace and reconciliation, especially among family members. Too many families had been torn apart during the wars. Brother had fought against brother. Father against son. Husband against wife.
Ever since, witches and wizards marked the day by doing a random act of kindness. One good deed every four years (normally) wasn’t too strenuous a task.
Bellatrix’s good deed for the day was not to try to kill or maim Sirius, even though he was completely unaware that she was there. She could have snuck up behind him and he would never have known that she was there. But she didn’t.
Sirius’ good deed for the day was to not call the Order or Aurors, even though he had seen things that would make them lock Bellatrix in Azkaban and throw away the key.
That they quickly ended up naked, using a pile of boxes as a makeshift bed, had nothing to do with the day at all.