Chapter Text
1916
The party was full of laughter and chatter despite the unrest happening right outside the gates of the palace. Noble men and women were moving around the room and dancing, ignoring the thoughts of the threatening screams coming from outside. The people living in Russia were very unhappy with their government lately. The protests had become violent in the past couple of weeks which was causing the royal family to become more recluse in their home.
The economic status of their country is something that was slowly falling and Tsar Orion only spent his time either in useless meetings that he would promise would change things for the better for Russia. Or on a night like tonight, he would be throwing lavish parties for the noblemen and women to disassociate from the havoc currently going on.
Sirius was running around the ballroom with his little brother Regulus closely behind. The brothers never got many happy moments in their confined lives. So when they got the chance to make mischief or hide from their world, they did. Tonight's form of escapism came from their cousin Andromeda.
The pair had been excited to spend the holiday season with their cousin who was rarely around these days. She spent her time galavanting around the world with her new French husband Theodore. The family wasn't too happy with her when she decided to leave Russia for him, but they remained civil to the public eye.
Andy always made her time with the Black family a happy time. Life had been scary lately with the rebellion slowly getting closer to their door. So the boys continued to rambunctiously run around the ballroom bumping into the snooty people populating the room. As the night went on Sirius and Regulus found themselves clinging to Andy's side.
“Andy, when can we come to Paris with you?" Regulus asked with a childish pout while Sirius nodded along with his brother in agreement. They had both wanted to visit her for so long but they were never allowed to go back home with her. Their parents had always kept them within arm's reach to keep the influence from others without a proper status to a minimum.
“Soon, my dears. I want you two there just as much as you, little shining stars want to come!” When Andromeda said this, Sirius felt his hope for the situation grow bigger in his heart. He already knew going to Paris would change his life and he was determined to accomplish it.
“We can hide in your suitcase this time! Mum would never ever suspect that!” Sirius always had a mischievous attitude when it came to his parents. Andy knew this and it's probably what led to her smiling in return. “Ohhh! She is thinking about letting us do it, Siri!” Regulus shook Sirius so hard and both of the boys got a little knocked off balance.
“I am doing no such thing boys. Now run along before your parents see and think I’m corrupting you again. We will one day end up together in Paris, I can feel it.” Andy's smile dropped as she nervously looked across the room at the boy's parents that were already searching for them.
Sirius was always finding ways to run off and hide from his parents. He knew as an eight-year-old that he knew little about politics. But he also knew when something was not morally correct and his parents always seemed to end up on the wrong side of his intuition.
The two princes' shoulders slugged forward as they walked off to the other side of the ballroom to hide behind some curtains from their parents. As they pulled back the curtains, Sirius's attention was caught by a small commotion just around the corner. Being the nosey boy he was, he decided to peek his head around the corner. What he saw was a small boy around his age being scolded.
The boy had short sandy brown hair and from what Sirius could tell from the distance he was dressed in old ragged clothing. When the small boy was smacked in the back of the head by the older gentlemen he tried his best to overhear the conversation.
“Remus, I’ve told you time and time again to stay away from the food. You are here to work and you will be able to eat at home.” The older man let go of the boy but continued to stand in front of him to wait for a response. The boy ‘Remus’ let out a huff at the old man's words before frowning.
“It was only a little snack before I went back to cleaning the upstairs rooms. I’ve been at it all day and I’ve only just made it to Prince Orion's room. His is always the worst. So I just wanted a little snack before I started.” The boy asked in a tone that sounded like pleading mixed with a little irritation. Sirius went a little pink at the comment on his room. It really wasn't as bad as the boy had claimed. He should know, he was the one living in it.
The older gentlemen let out a huff and looked around the room before a picked up a small piece of bread and handing it to the boy. “Now go do your job, and if you tell anyone about this I’ll make sure you never make another ruble under this roof.”
Just as the small boy went to say something, Sirius was yanked by his arm. When he turned around he saw it was his father who interrupted his snooping. When Orion started to pull him back into the ballroom he noticed Reggie was being dragged by his mother to the dias where Andy and the rest of his family were standing.
When they arrived on the platform he noticed the tension in his father's shoulders that he only reserved for very serious problems. He was luckily still standing close to his father when the guards came up to talk to him. “He’s here your Highness, in the palace.”
This made his father's face contort to one of anger. “How did he get through the guards at the entrances?” His father was busy whisper yelling at the guards when Sirius was pulled over to the back corner where Andy and Reggie were standing.
Regulus had begun to explain to Andy the plot of the book he had just started. It was something Sirius could never have in common with his little brother. Regulus could sit and read any book and never complain. But getting Sirius to read any book was like pulling teeth from his mouth. Although he would rather spend his time messing around with his toys he still begrudgingly took the time for all the things his parents made seem so important.
He naturally gravitated toward Andy and his brother for comfort. When Andromeda noticed the worry on his face she took off her necklace and put it around his neck. “What's this?” Sirius asked her, confusion filling his voice. The necklace was long and from the end was hanging a golden oval that had green jewels sporadically placed throughout it. In the center in dainty calligraphy read Together in Paris . It truly must have been from long ago because it looked like nothing his parents would have him wear for parties. It was certainly not something Sirius ever remembered learning about.
“It's a family heirloom. This necklace once belonged to one of our very old and dead relatives.” When she said this Sirius let a small smile stretch over his face. He had never been entrusted with a family heirloom before and was overjoyed with finally getting one. With the necklace to distract him the night ended up passing by faster than normal.
The Black family had been instructed to stay on the far side of the ballroom for the rest of the night. It was the farthest side from the entrance to the room (not counting the servant passageways). So the family stayed high on the dias for their own safety. As the night danced on, his mother and father still held their tense shoulders, and eventually later that night Sirius finally understood why.
The party had been going on for quite some time when suddenly the doors across the ballroom burst open. All movement and talking in the room stopped as the crowd parted to let someone walkthrough. The figure was a man that Sirius, although never personally encountered, had seen around the palace many times.
Tom Riddle was once an adviser to his father. The Tsar never went into a room without Tom following closely behind. He was basically made essential to his father's everyday life and everyone who came into the palace knew not to question it. Sirius thought a few times that with all the whispers between the two, they were planning something big. But it never seemed to happen.
Around two months ago it all strangely just stopped. Tom quit coming to the palace and someone else had started following his dad around like a puppy. It was all confusing to the eight-year-old, but he never really interacted with Riddle before so he never really questioned his disappearance.
As Tom came closer to the royal family the guards ran out to line the bottom of the dias to limit his access. “What are you doing here Riddle?” His father yelled sending the room into a deeper silence that Sirius didn't even know was possible. Regulus ran to hide behind Sirius and clutched his arm while he stood there trying his hardest to hide his reactions.
“You really thought you could throw me to the side that easily Orion?” Riddle let out a quiet chuckle and continued. “You and I had such big plans and you throw them away because you were scared of me. Of what we could become working together?” As he spoke Sirius could see his father become more worried. His father could always control his emotions so when Orion started to slip Sirius became more scared of the situation and slowly dragged him and his brother towards Andy.
As the bickering between his father and Tom continued Sirius tried his best to ignore it, and he was successful for a while. He thought of happy times with Regulus and even the countless times his brother and himself had sworn to each other they would one day leave the cold palace and live with Andy. The three hopeful souls had always said they would one day be together in Paris, but the current situation was dimming that hope.
Sirius continued to successfully hide from the situation until one particular threat was thrown out by Tom. “I will not let you stand for much longer Orion. What you have done to me is betrayal and I will not let it go unpunished. You and your whole family will not survive this. I will make sure of it.”
Sirius was shocked with fear and Regulus was gripping his arm so hard it was beginning to hurt. As Sirius started to watch the encounter again he could sense something was not the same about Tom. He looked to have skin that was an unhealthy pale and his eyes were the red that had the power to take over nightmares.
“Tom I will not stand here and let you threaten my rule. Guards arrest him!” Orion shouted to the soldiers at the foot of the dais. But before the guards could move Riddle pulled something out of his coat. It was glowing green and radiated a power that made even the guards question their step.
Sirius looked at his father to see his reaction but was confused when he saw a look of astonishment on his father's face. “How- you actually figured it out.” Orion looked at Riddle as if he had lost his mind.
“Yes, and it took a lot more sacrifice than you were willing to give to me. I sold my soul for this.” Riddle chuckled and continued, “You were too pathetic to give up a sacrifice so I had to strike a new deal, and I will never forget what I had to give up for the power I have gained.”
Sirius watched as his father moved further back from Tom and took a defensive position in front of his wife. The guards were about to jump back into action but it was too late, The green smoke had already started to float in spirals above Riddle's head.
“For what I gave I will make you regret your decision Orion. I use my new power to curse your family. Your line of rule will end and it will be by my will that each and every one of you will die. Tonight.” When Riddle said this everyone in the room began to panic as the screams from the protesters outside became louder.
It was confusing to Sirius, he didn't understand what was going on. The small group that consisted of Andy, Regulus, and himself were ushered out of the ballroom just as everything went to hell. Sirius had tried to look for his other family members but failed when the guards closed in behind them for protection as they left.
The three of them, including one guard, ran down the hallways of the palace just trying to make it to a safer room. “Sirius I’m tired and my legs hurt. I want to stop.” Regulus had tears in his eyes as Sirius pulled him through the halls in a rushed panic.
“C’mon Reggie just a little longer, then we can stop alright.” Sirius hated that he was so helpless in this moment but he had to push on for Regulus. He hadn't had time to think about what might have become of the rest of his family they left in the ballroom.
As they finally reached Sirius’ bedroom, he made sure Andy and Reggie had made it through the door before he let the guard push him inside. When the door was shut, the guard quickly shoved the closest dresser in front of the door with help from Sirius.
“This is bad. This is very, very bad. What is happening out there?” Andromeda rushed around the room while pulling on her hair. Regulus was sitting on the bed crying while Sirius was standing with his back against the dresser trying to convince himself he was adding to the blockade's strength.
He walked over to his brother and sat beside him, trying to comfort him while hoping for comfort in return. As soon as Sirius was about to speak up, the banging on the door started. Time went so fast after that, Sirius had no concept of what he was doing at that moment.
Regulus had started sobbing and ran over to Andy who had begun hugging him close while Sirius just stared at them with tears running down his face. He was preparing for the worst and he could find no light in this situation. He ran to his family and tried to hug them tight but a hand caught him by the arm.
He turned around to see the boy that he had saw earlier. The boy was repeatedly saying something to him but he only just snapped his focus back into consciousness. “Come on, you can leave out the servant entrance I’ll distract them. Now go.”
Before Sirius was able to thank the boy Andy was pushing him into the servant's door without thinking twice. A moment after the door was shut behind him he heard a faint “Where are they boy?” before it was followed up by a scream that sounded like it came from the little brown-haired little boy that had just saved their lives.
The chill in the air was worse than Sirius ever thought it could be. Regulus, Andromeda, and himself were huddled together walking briskly towards the train station that would take them to Paris. He hadn't had time to think about his dream of going to Paris finally coming true, all he could think about was making sure Regulus was staying warm and keeping him close. The people in the streets were bumping them left and right and Sirius was struggling to keep his grip on Reggie’s arm.
As they arrived at the train station Andy lead the group through the crazy amount of people, and Sirius could not help but feel overwhelmed. Everything they had just gone through had not settled into Sirius's mind. The potential loss of his family had not sunken in and, he was moments away from a peaceful train ride and he could feel the tension in the air. The train was being rushed by passengers trying to push their way onto the train that was about to start its journey to Paris.
The train they were headed for offered comfort and safety. Privacy and rest. These things were always given to Sirius without even a thought so he struggled with the rush of unfamiliarity that came with this situation. He didn't want this train ride. He needed it. It would help him process the emotions and trauma he had endured for the past two hours. But Sirius had to also think of Reggie; he couldn't wallow in these feelings when his little brother needed him to be strong.
As they made it to the end of the train and began to get on, Sirius made it his priority to get his little brother on the train first. But, of course, Regulus refused until Andy agreed to get on first, even in a panic he was a gentleman. As Andromeda climbed on the train it started to move and this made the trio start to panic. As the speed picked up Regulus was pushed up the ladder and started to climb.
Sirius was jogging along the platform, smacking into people as he tried to keep up with the end of the train. He had to get on this train. He couldn't let Reggie lose his older brother, he would never forgive himself. So he ran, he looked up at his brother who had started crying again. He had never really stopped and Sirius didn't blame him. “Come on Siri! Come on!” Regulus cried.
While reaching out for the handle of the ladder Sirius was watching his family be held back from the railing. They were screaming out his name and reaching back out towards him trying to catch his hand. And with a sigh of relief, Sirius’ gripped the handle and he began to pull himself closer to the train.
But just as Sirius got to the ladder he bumped into a large figure blocking his path. His balance was knocked off course and he fell to the concrete, his head landing on the ground with a thud. No one around him stopped to help him, so he ended up getting kicked and stepped on by multiple people.
Sirius was just laying on the ground looking up at the stars when his vision began to slowly fade to a blur. But before he could fully lose consciousness his mind latched onto one thought. He needed to make his way to his family. In Paris.