there's no need for fear

“I’m fantastic at Defence Against Dark Arts and Transfiguration, it’s just very frustrating.” Sirius put his hands in his pockets now and kicked the dusty carpet slightly. “That sounds like a plan, I’ll have to try that.” 

“Well, if you want, I could teach you some things. I trained someone once, they just don’t let me do it anymore because some bureaucratic whatever about ‘training should take longer than one year, we don’t care how smart the both of you are.’ But I could help out if you want.” He meant it too. If he was going to be a part of this group, he was going to help where needed. “Just let me be there for it because I’d cry laughing so hard.”

“An Auror, but I didn’t make the grades, so I didn’t get onto the training.” Sirius pouted a bit, it had been almost a year and it was still sore for him. “As in scream at her? No, I haven’t tried that yet.” 

“I’d be surprised if after all of this they wouldn’t let you into training. It’s more than just grades.” It was about life experience in a way. Or the ability to make a good decision when the time came. “Maybe she’ll just be so stunned she won’t know what to do.”

“I’m bored out of my brains there,” he admitted “sure, it’s funny at times and the shit we see can be really cool or dangerous, it depends on the day. But it’s not what I really want to do, it’s just not challenging.” Sirius shrugged his shoulders. “Well if you’re sure, you can take a crack at shutting her up if you like?” 

“What do you want to do?” he questioned. He had a feeling it was Auror. He knew the type well, being one himself and knowing most people he worked with. He’d even trained someone once which worked well. “Have you tried a long winded yell at her? Not words or anything just a long shout.”

“… A lizard? What kind of lizard, exactly? Never seen a lizard in here before… first time for everything, I guess.”

“I’ve heard people saying it was a gecko, but not really sure. Maybe you’ll see him eventually then. I have this feeling it’ll be more of a common occurrence.”

“Everyone has their own lives outside of the Order, I work for the Ministry in their Accidental Use of magic squad. So I’m not here all the time.” He shrugged then rolled his eyes. “The question should be asked to you, is that going to bother you? She will never stop calling you that disgusting word.” 

“That sounds like it could get funny. You know weird things people do to themselves with magic sometimes by accident.” He smirked a little at the thought of that. He’d never done much with that division in the organization. “I probably can ignore it eventually. It’s not the first time I’m going to be called that word, nor will it be he last. I just hope to live long enough to reach a point where I don’t hear it again.”

“I’m tougher than I seem. If I can survive this…” sirius indicated around “I can survive anything.” Cocky little shit, but this was Sirius and that was just how he was, reckless and some times ruthless. “You’re more than welcome to stay here for longer if you wish. I’m on my own here.” 

“I believe you,” Grant said with a nod. “But take it from someone who felt that way once. Well, I still feel that way sometimes. But anyway, take it from me, that sometimes you need to be careful be it for yourself or someone else.” He’d learned that lesson the hard way. Clearly not well enough, but he continually was learning it. It just started with realizing that he wasn’t indestructible. “Yeah it was seeming a bit quiet here. I mean besides that portrait in the hall. Though, speaking of that, wouldn’t she become a problem with me here? Well, unless she lights herself on fire because I’ve been here too long.”

“She’s been itching for an excuse to kill me for years, so I don’t get to be on the missions where we knows she’s one of the Death Eaters.” He shook his head. “Takes all the fun out of it. For once, I would like to see how she fairs in a duel with me.” 

“Maybe you’ll get a chance to. Just don’t get yourself killed.” Honestly, he was sure that wasn’t his goal, but adding that on felt better than saying “yeah go try it” or something of that nature.

“Yeah, that’s right. Lily Potter, married my best mate, James last year.” He smiled at the thought. “They’re brilliant, I couldn’t ask for a better group of friends honestly, they are my family.” Sirius nodded fondly then glanced at the one Grant had pointed out and narrowed his eyes a bit. “Yes, Bellatrix LeStrange, his most loyal servant… complete crackpot, imagine growing up with her. Hexed and jinxed if you so looked at her funny.” 

“They seem like a good group of people.” Grant smiled a bit. He was looking forward to meeting them. The prospects of being in this group seemed really nice. He looked back at Bellatrix. “She sounds really nice a cuddly. Just a bouquet of flowers.”

Sirius looked at where his portrait had been. “My dear old mother burnt me off when I ran away. I had enough of their radical views and the amount of abuse and pressure in the end.” He shrugged his shoulder. “I’m not the only one on there, Andromeda is my cousin, she married Ted Tonks, a Muggle born.” He pointed to her also burnt off. “Phineas Black supported muggle rights, Cedrella Black married into the Weasley family, who are considered to be blood traitors.” Sirius pointed to each of the ones burnt off as he spoke. “The Weasley’s are fantastic, as are the Potters. you will meet the Potters if you stick around here long enough.”

Grant glanced out back to the door, thinking about that damned portrait. He couldn’t imagine what it was like having that woman for a mother. His parents hadn’t been too keen on the wizard thing, nor had they been the most attentive, but they didn’t disown him. Or burn any pictures of him. But at least there was some light at the end of this tunnel for this pure blood family. He glanced at the names Sirius pointed out. “Actually, I’ve met one Potter. Lily?” Though if they were all friends, he was sure it was only a matter of time before he met all the people in the Order. He looked back at the names on the tree and one caught his eye. Right there next to Andromeda. “I’ve seen her name before. On this list of known Death Eaters I got. Her husband too. Lestrange.”

Sirius raised a brow at him. “Yes, Grant, this is where I keep my seventh cousin with three arms locked up. Just go in.” He gave him a slight push then followed in after him. It was the tapestry room which had hundreds of years of Blacks on it. Sirius then heard shuffling so quickly went over to the closet door in there and yanked Kreacher out. “Got you! What do you have here?” He ignored the House Elves grumbling and yanked the door open further. “Oh you bloody… I’ve been looking for all this.” He looked over at Grant. “Word of advice, don’t get an House Elf.” Sirius then tossed the Elf towards the door. “Get out of here.”

Grant chuckled a bit before he raised a hand. “I just had to check, can’t be too careful.” He then turned his attention to the wall. “And I thought my dad keeping a portrait of my grandfather above the fireplace was too much.” He glanced over to the situation with the house elf, but didn’t really stare or anything. “Trust me, I’ll take you advice.” He said with a shrug. Personally, he couldn’t ever see himself owning one. He’d had servants growing up, but they’d always been family to him. Much more than his own parents. His butler had practically been a father sometimes. “So I take it there wasn’t a fire.” He pointed to the burnt part over Sirius’s name.

Sirius nodded as he listened. “I think we’re going to get along just fine.” He grinned at Grant now. “Exactly.” Then he pondered for a moment and got to his feet. “Let me show you something.” He indicated for him to follow and started for the narrow hallway to a closed door which he stopped at. “Want to know what inbreeding within pure blooded family looks like?” He then pushed it open and indicated for him to go first. 

Grant nodded. “I think we will too.” He raised an eyebrow when Sirius told him to follow him, but still did anyway. He wasn’t exactly afraid or anything, but it was an unexpected request in the middle of the conversation. But he still followed him down the narrow hallway and came to a stop at the door Sirius stopped at. He watched him open up the door but paused before going in. What was he going to see in there? Still, he started forward but looked back as he asked, “Please tell me this isn’t where you keep your seventh cousin with a third arm.”

“What about you, Grant? What are your views on blood purity?” He asked. “Have to know what you’re fighting for in this war.” 

“I mean considering I’m muggle-born and I love myself, I can say blood purity’s a load of shit.” Grant shrugged. He honestly wouldn’t be around anymore if he gave into the blood purity stuff to begin with. “But it runs deeper than that. Just because someone can trace their family tree back to merlin with no muggles in there at all doesn’t make them any better or smarter than me or anyone else with muggle relatives for that matter.”