Professor Black: A Reader Insert

The Last Letters Home (Prologue)

1st September 1980

Cousin, 

I miss you, Sirius. I remember how the family raged when they found out you were sorted into Gryffindor, Auntie's not going to be that bad for Hufflepuff, right? Reggie hasn't been seen in a long while and Auntie snapped at me the last time I asked. He was the only reprieve I had at home, I don't think I'll be spared without him. Wish me luck, I'll need it to either endure or to escape whichever is best. The ghosts are just like you told me they were, the Friar is especially nice. The school is huge, I'm going to get lost at some point so send a search party if I don't write before Christmas. That spell you performed on my hair will last, right? I don't like how the Slytherins are looking at me already and if my hair goes back to normal soon I feel that things will be worse than if I turned out to be a squib. Never mind that though. How do you get into the kitchens? I'm certain I'll be needing comfort in the form of food before too long and a few of my older housemates have already become wary of me. I think they think I'm like Reggie and the people he fell in with. I'd ask but that's going to be taken the wrong way. It was announced that Slughorn will be retiring after this year. I feel you know this already though. I hope you and yours are well, and in one piece.  I'll write you soon unless told not to (by you, Auntie doesn't know I still write you.) or circumstances outside of my control.

I got a letter from my parents. I've got a little brother. Had since early June and they thought to only tell me yesterday. I don't know what convinced them that coming clean and trying to be parents from a distance was acceptable. I feel he'll be like them. I don't want to know him if that's the case. I'll end this before it gets too angsty. Please respond at your convenience.

With love, 

(y/n) L. Black

~~~~~~~1 Year Later~~~~~~~

3rd September 1981

Cousin,

I miss you and the Potters already Sirius. Thank you for letting me stay with you this summer. I smell something bad from the thought of Halloween this year. I haven't a clue why. I met the Divinations professor and they seemed perplexed by me and mentioned dire circumstances with a few dog puns. Anyway, I asked Professor McGonagall about accelerated learning (I don't want to endure the funny looks too much longer), she agreed to it after I explained the real reason. Auntie sent me a howler. She finally learned what house I was sorted into, I think she learned from my parents. My father must've found out somehow. I'm thinking about taking James's advice and starting to shave the Malfoy part of my hair. I asked one of the muggle-borns in my house and he said it's called an undercut and that I'd look odd with one since I'm a girl. Do men stop giving their unwanted opinion as they get older or are you and yours a special case? I'm thinking about emancipation from Auntie, it's kind of like what you did but legal. There was a first-year from Gryffindor that wouldn't stop staring at me once he sat down, he looks familiar but I think it'll come to me before I send this. I feel like I should remind you that Mr. Pettigrew gives me a bad feeling and to not trust him but I'm a child and he's one of your oldest friends so that's probably going to remain ignored. I understand if you get mad at me for continuing to push the issue. The new Potions Master is one Severus Snape. I get a bitter feeling from him, like the taste you get in your mouth when you wait too long to act on something and any chance of acting on it is snatched away, also a feeling of deep sorrow that I can't explain. Give Remus and the Potters my love, hex Mr. Pettigrew for me.