𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗜 ━━ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧
000. reputation precedes you
𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗦 𝗔𝗡 𝗨𝗚𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚. 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗧 knew it because she grew up in a family where hatred is a common thing. It was the first thing she noticed about her family—its affinity for omnipresent gloom and hatred. They hated Muggle-borns. They hated Half-Bloods. They hated Half-Breeds. They hated discourteous individuals.
Scarlet had a mind of her own. Her frank statements, bluntness, soaring attitude, and her sheer inability to hold back using posh vocabulary and maintain her pristine reputation that her family built brick by brick.
The repeated mention of her family is reasonable when her entire identity is based sheerly on it. Scarlet Bridget liked to think she knew exactly who she was and who she wasn't. Or did she?
In the pureblood community's glossed eyes, she was a rare gem. The first one to be born into the Bridget family with bleached-blonde hair—a trait she received from her mother's side of the family. The young girl was as perfect as someone could be. She was also a link—the other individuals in Sacred 28 as well as the French pureblood community—Trente Purs only waited to use her as an opportunity to create an alliance with her family.
Again, all the talk about her family and what everybody else thinks of her. Perhaps, somewhere along the way, she forgot to figure out who she was without everybody else's expectations and opinions. Without her family.
However, opportunity served itself. Scarlet was about to figure out who she was with the assistance of a black-haired, grey-eyed infuriating inflation.
It was a known fact that there was no alternate life where she was born invisible in a crowded city where nobody knew who she was—fame ran in the blood in her veins. And the only way to block the flow of blood is death.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗦𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗨𝗦 𝗠𝗘𝗧 𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗘𝗧, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗔 𝗪𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗠 down with her—literally.
Torrential rain pelted from the sky and ricocheted from the floor like bullets. The sky roared with thunder. Chaos forming above in the sky. Scarlet did not know what provoked her mother to move to an ancient manor of Bridgets in King's Cross where muggles were situated.
Perhaps the Black family residing literally in the opposite house was quite the motivation. Perhaps, even her mother needed an escape. Celeste Bridget was evidently governed, punctual, more dependable, and undeniably exquisite. Being born into a wealthy family, and marrying into a house that is considered royalty within the community, she was fated to be tired.
Scarlet had no doubt she was fated for the same doomsday.
Sirius Black's mother, Walburga, appeared to be a little too excited about meeting their new neighbour. The young boy had little idea of what caused Walburga Black to cause such fuss, she was not a friendly woman. In fact, seeing a smile on her face was as astonishing as seeing a three-headed dog.
Ten-year-old Sirius was chasing after his mother who dashed down the Noble House of Black as soon as the bell rang. She immediately opened it, an eerie smile plastered to her face. "Celeste, it's been so long." She elegantly greeted; hands clasped at her front.
Celeste's high heels collided hard with the wet pavement as she stepped forward, that identifiable click that followed her everywhere.
"How are you, Walburga?" A tall woman spoke, moving a little to the side, "This is my daughter, Scarlet... honey, say hello to Mrs Black." The ten-year-old girl averted her attention from the damning weather outside to Walburga.
"Hello, Mrs Black, it's a pleasure to meet you." The little girl smiled punctually, looking at the taller woman through her flattering lashes. Walburga had thick, dark brows with the darkest set of locks atop her head. High cheekbones practically shone underneath the dim lighting.
Sirius watched as his mother watched the little girl in awe, unable to take her eyes off her. The sight made him mentally scoff.
The little girl's shoulder-length hair was pulled back in a glistening clip and her pearls glinted around her neck, even visible underneath her long, slick coat.
Scarlet looked exactly like her mother. The same blonde hair, the same red lips. They both had the same fierce look in their stormy eyes, the one that warned everyone they were not something to be messed with.
Sirius thought the older woman just reincarnated into her daughter.
The playful thought made him snicker loudly, catching the others' attention but not in a pleasant way. An awkward silence encapsulated the two pairs as his smile disappeared with all the eyes on him, especially the little blonde girl's curious gaze.
"This is my oldest, Sirius,"
"You've grown so much," Celeste cooed, hands clasped to her front as she looked down at Sirius.
"Hello," said Scarlet, short and simple.
"Hi!" He grinned, not at the woman but at the young girl who squinted her eyes in astonishment at the high-pitched tone of voice, the teeth-to-teeth smile on his face.
He stepped forward with a little jump, taking the girl's hand and placing a kiss on her knuckles. She grimaced.
Walburga smacked the back of his head lightly, causing him to step back.
Scarlet looked up at her mother in confusion. "What's wrong with hi—"
"What a lovely child," Celeste smiled and spoke a bit louder—ignoring her daughter before she said something offensive. The girl has always been utterly blunt. "Certainly, inherits the Black family's mischief."
"Come on in, Celeste, let's talk over tea." Walburga smiled again and Sirius grimaced, the two moving away and allowing the mother and daughter in. As the two women chatted, Sirius and Scarlet followed closely behind.
"So... Scarlet, like the colour?" Sirius blurted out.
The girl remained unamused. "Sirius... like the star."
The little boy pouted. "You don't like stars?"
Scarlet furrowed her brows. "I love stars." That caused a large grin to be plastered on his lips. Scarlet wondered if his cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
"That's great! You can see the entire sky from my room's window. Sometimes I sit on the roof even though my mother says it's quite dangerous, but I can't help it! It's so pretty!" He blabbered, swinging his arms around in exaggeration.
"Sirius, don't be talking her ears off already." His mother's voice bloomed.
"It's perfectly alright, Walburga," Celeste dismissed, and Scarlet rolled her eyes at her mother's behaviour. "Carly would benefit from socialising a little, right, honey?" She looked at the little girl with an encouraging smile.
Scarlet's face remained rigid. "Of course," Her voice softened in a click of a finger.
"Fantastic!" Sirius jumped on his feet, grabbing a stronghold of the uninterested girl's wrist and dragging her up the stairs.
The moment his hand touched hers, the rain had stilled, and the sky went dry. That was enough for a little Sirius to believe it was fate's working.
Ever since the two of them took seats, Sirius didn't stop talking. Not even for a breath. His throat did not even seem to dry up. Scarlet was utterly curious to know how a person is capable of holding onto a single-sided conversation this long. However, her brows furrowing and eyes squinting in unknown curiosity only signalled Sirius that she was utterly interested.
"Last week, I was listening to this Muggle singer, Elvis, and it angered my mother so much, it was hilarious!" Sirius clarified multiple times that seeing his mother frustrated was the highlight of his days. "Imagine I get sorted into Gryffindor or something, it would send her to her grave."
Scarlet winced a little. "I thought your family was all Slytherin, too, like mine."
"They are," he nodded. "But I'm special, I'd like to break the cycle and do something awesome." The pride in his tone was excessive. "What about you, are you sure you'll be Slythe—"
"Of course," The girl replied. "I don't doubt it for a second."
The boy's underground rebellious antics were quite notable.
Sirius hums. "Mother says I need to evolve myself if I want friends, I would argue I am rather good at making friends, I know what to say when to say it... I don't know what her problem is, she's always fussing about how I'm always gonna be alone if I keep this up..." He trailed off, gesturing wildly with his arms.
Her family was not that different, as a matter of fact. Although Scarlet was not the one to complain, it seemed as though their beliefs and expectations were quite the same.
"Do you ever wonder if you're gonna die single?" He asked a question and she was caught off guard. Talking about death with a person you just met?
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm only ten." She replied slyly.
"You remind me a lot of my annoying cousin, Narcissa, with that awful red lipstick."
"You think I'm annoying?" She asked, feeling the irony. Subconsciously touching her lips at his words.
Sirius shook his head quickly. "No, I like you," He said excitedly. "It's really nice to talk to you!"
Scarlet smiled lightly, swinging her feet over the roof. "Hm," She hummed. "It's really nice to... hear you talk."
"I don't really have anyone to talk to," He said. "Regulus always stuffs his face in some book, that is so boring!"
"I like reading," She shared. "It's my favourite thing to do."
Sirius grimaced. "My favourite thing to do is talking to you, from this day onwards." He looked up, continuing to talk.
"Why would you fear you'll die alone?" She asked curiously, turning her head to the side to meet his eyes.
He frowned, "Have you not been paying attention?" His words caused the girl to squint her eyes with annoyance. "Because of what my mother says... imagine she's right."
Scarlet frowned at the harshness of the matter. "You have me, I'll be your friend."
Sirius grinned eye-to-eye. "Really?" His eyes widened like a deer's. The girl nodded in confirmation. "Having friends is great 'nd all, you know what's even better? Having a girlfriend," He laughed loudly. "What if I turn like thirteen and I still don't have my first kiss!"
Scarlet furrowed her brows further. "I don't think it's a big deal."
Sirius gasped. "Of course, it is! My favourite cousin Andy says it is and she's always right." He said. "Are you saying it's not a big deal because you know it won't happen to you?"
Scarlet sent an offended glance his way. "I have more important things to worry about."
"I mean we don't have practice, what if, when the time comes, we're shitty kissers," he continued to babble and the blonde girl grimaced, mentally face-palming herself.
Scarlet felt sucked into his weird, imaginary wonder-mind. "I can totally get people to kiss me... unlike you."
"Oh yeah?" Sirius raised a brow. "Say what, whichever one of us gets their first kiss first, they can ask for whatever they want."
Scarlet was on it. "Five galleons of green tea."
"You'll have to travel to a muggle downtown and buy me their magazines." Sirius said.
"Bet." She laughed lightly. Sirius thought her laugh alone was so contagious, it could light up the entire city. "Maybe magazines will stop you from talking for just a minute."
"That will never happen," His lips curled. "I love talking, especially to you, you should come over every day! We can have a tea party like our mothers."
"Only if it's green tea."
"Deal." He grinned. "I love your hair..." He touched it lightly and her head perked up at the sudden contact as he gently cuffed her soft locks in awe. "I heard friends have nicknames for each other... can I call you 'Carly'?"
"Only my mother calls me that."
"What about Red?"
"No."
"Star?"
"No."
"Starlet?"
"No."
"Lottie?"
"No."
"Blondie?" He leaned to look into her eyes. "Because of your hair and because it's my favourite dessert too."
Scarlet didn't say anything, not objecting.
Sirius took her lack of protests as approval. "Blondie, it is!"
After a few moments passing by and a lot of talking from Sirius, the two children made their way down upon Celeste's call. "You're leaving, already?" The boy spoke sadly.
Celeste turned around with a small smile. "It has been three hours, honey."
Sirius tugged at his mother's coat. "Mum, please, can we keep her?" He loudly whispered.
Horrified looks were exchanged by the adults as Scarlet pursed her lips to suppress a laugh, looking down.
"Black... I'm not a pet." Scarlet said.
Walburga sternly stared down at the boy. "Don't be an idiot."
Celeste laughed it off though. "He's just a kid, Walburga... Carly thought Jaggy was her brother up until last year." The little girl mentally face-palmed herself about being exposed.
The Black woman grimaced. "Jaggy, your house-elf?"
"Well, yes," Celeste laughed, taking her daughter's wrist. "Looks after my Carly quite a lot."
"It's... nice to see you haven't changed, even after marrying into the Bridgets'." The other woman nodded. Even though Celeste should have probably taken offence to it, she knew better than to make an enemy out of an elitist who also happens to be her new neighbour.
After coming across a woman such as Walburga Black, Scarlet reminded herself to be fiercely thankful to her own mother. Truthfully, Celeste has never been a crystal-clear woman. She always seemed to be within the grey line in every political matter. And when it comes to the beliefs the Bridget bloodline shared, it would take those prejudices a little more work to break into the rubber that was Celeste's heart—despite her agreeable attitude toward the pureblood community on the surface.
On the other hand, it could be exceptionally lonely to be Sirius Black who often wondered if he could ever move past it. The indifferences, he meant. That surely was about to change as soon as he steps foot into Hogwarts.
𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑨 𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑺
first chapter! sorry if the first
ones are a little boring.
it gets better, i promise.