Genetics • Sirius Black

Chapter Forty Six: Draw That Line.

Bitterness formed in his throat. "Not everything is about your precious Barty."

"Oh, please, you speak of him more than I do." She snapped, arms crossed and Sirius pressed his lips together. "Come on, what was it? Did he steal your silver spoon as a child? Tear your favorite cashmere?"

Sirius leaned on his knees, face hot with emotion. "You don't know him."

"And you do?"

"Yes." He locked eyes with her. "I know the whole bloody lot of them."

She let out a scoff. "Because you spend so much time with all of them."

"They've been coming to dinner parties at my house since before I was born." He reasoned, and she dropped her chin. "They're not good people, love."

"And what gave you the right to draw that line?" Her anger was boiling under her skin; she was not stupid. She knew there were some old ideals prevalent in high society and thought they were rather ridiculous. But, Sirius hadn't spoken to these people in years, what did he know? Not all of them were as backward as everyone painted them, Regulus was closer to a saint than she ever would be, and he was bred in that society. Simply because they didn't flaunt their hatred and morals with an upturned nose and gold and red colors did not mean they were bad.

A strange expression landed on his face, a mix between a sad smile and amusement as he eyed her. "You're brilliant, but naive." Sickness festered in his skin as he thought of all those dark robes and cheers at the table when families had been slaughtered. His mother's ring cutting through his cheek caused him to wince. "You would have been making a mistake gaining their favor."

"And it was my mistake to make." The Slytherin's voice rose as she met his gaze, again.

"This isn't wearing purple and orange, Freya; these people, they're like... poison."

Stubbornly, she shook her head. "You had no right to intervene."

"I was protecting you." Frustration filtered through his words and he clenched his hands into fists to hold back his emotion.

"That is not your job." She did not hold back. The sentence snapped through the air like a whip. Sirius held his breath in his chest. Inhaling through her nose, she felt foolish. How could she have let herself into this position? He was right; she was naive, not for befriending Barty, but for trusting Sirius, letting him hear her thoughts, spending her days with him, for wishing nights lasted an hour longer. She was foolish. Shoulders straightening, she held on to one of the counters as she stared at the floor. "There is only one thing that connects us and that is Wolfsbane. Any other obligation is negated. Do you understand me?"

"I was just trying to--"

"Do you understand me?" Her eyes cut into him, and he could see the tears she refused to let fall in them.

Softly, he said. "Yes."

"Good." She was in charge, she was in control of herself. She was not naive. Casting a glance over the room, she kept her voice smooth. "Send James for tomorrow and get both yourselves cleaned up." With the slam of the door, Freya left the room.

Jaw clenched, Sirius pulled at his hair. What was wrong with him—

"Blaargh!"

Sirius's head snapped to the corner where Peter was and found his friend's head halfway into a cauldron. His body shook as he vomited loudly. Ew. The grey-eyed boy walked over to him, then knelt next to him.

After a moment, the dirty blond lifted his head and wiped his chin with the back of his hand. "Sorry." The smell hit Sirius like a ton of bricks. Maybe giving his friend the whole bottle was a bit more than stupid. A remorseful expression crossed Peter's face. "I didn't want to interrupt you two. She's scary when she's mad."

"I know, mate." Sirius rubbed Peter's back and then Peter missed the bucket entirely; warm chunks covered Sirius's shoes.

"I'm sorry," Peter mumbled as he finished.

For a moment, Sirius thought he might scream, then he looked at Peter's face and managed a pressed smile. "It's okay." Carefully, he ushered them both to their feet without getting more vomit on them. "Come on, let's get us cleaned up."

A/N: I've rewatched Heartstopper six times and I'm gonna go in for a seventh.