Living on a balance beam (HP Sirius Black)

The place we call "Home"

Icelyn sighed as she walked into compartment, leaving Hogwarts until the next year. She knew she would be tortured as she was in Gryffindor, and she knew there was going to be a harsh punishment.

"Hey," Sirius muttered, as he opened the compartment, revealing Icelyn, staring sadly out the window. "I'm going to miss it, too, you know?"

"I just... I don't want to go home. My step mother is going to torture me, and there's nothing I could do about it!" She sniffed.

Sirius smiled weakly, flinging an arm over her shoulder. "My parents are going to hate me, too. It's going to be hard without any of my friends there, but, hey, that's life."

"You're right," Icelyn sighed, looking down.

Sirius smirked, "aren't I always?"

When the two finally reached platform 9 & 3/4, they made their way to their parent, or step mother in Icelyn's case.

"Bye!" She called over her shoulder, giving a little wave, "be sure to write!"

"Come on, girl!" Barked her step mother, grabbing her left ear, pulling her along, "you are in big trouble."

Icelyn gulped, though trying not to cry. Soon, they had apparatus to the place she called home; Tremaine's cottage. They had changed it into that, even against Icelyn and Vanessa's protests.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Shrieked Lady Tremaine, as they entered the household, "why, I repeat, why were you sorted into Gryffindor! Why couldn't you follow your sisters and be sorted into Slytherin?! You will go to your room and ask Dumbledore to re-sort you! Do you understand?"

"No," Icelyn said shakily, "no."

"What did you say to me?!" Lady Tremaine shrieked, outraged. "WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?!"

"N-no."

"Crucio!" Screamed Lady Tremaine, pointing her wand angrily at Icelyn.

"Stop!" Shrieked Icelyn, sobbing on the floor, "stop, please, I beg you!"

And after that day, Icelyn was more unsteady than before.

The next day, Icelyn woke up bright and early, only to see Vanessa's bed empty, for she had not left the hospital. Sighing, Icelyn stepped onto the cold attic floor, getting her step sisters and mother their breakfast.

She quickly cooked the last piece of bacon, carefully putting it on a plate. She put it on a tray that was already filled with eggs, tea, sour dough, mushrooms, and hash browns.

She carefully picked it up and made her way towards her step mother's room. But, as she was about to open the door, Drizella had tripped her over causing all the food and plates to plummet down with a satisfying crash.

Lady Tremaine, who was petting her black cat, Lucifer, heard this and opened her bedroom door.

"What is the meaning of this?" She spat, glaring hatefully at Icelyn . "Clean this up!"

"Yes... step mother." Icelyn answered, getting to her knees at once after hearing their step mother shut the door behind her.
* ~ * ~ *

It has been three weeks into the summer holidays, and Sirius hasn't heard anything from Icelyn, or the other Marauders for that matter. He stared absentmindedly out the window, until he say a small brown dot in the horizon. It soon landed on his bedroom window sill, handing his talon to Sirius, expecting him to take the letter off. Carefully, Sirius took the letter off and began to read, instantly recognising Isabella's handwriting.

Dear: Sirius,
How are you? I'm ok, I guess. Lady Tremaine has officially turned me into a slave. Oh, and uses the cruciatus curse daily.

Vanessa is still in St Mungo's, sadly. I'm not allowed to visit, as Lady Tremaine blocked the floo powder. And I can't just ask her to apparate me there.

Anyway, hope you have a good holiday!

Love,
Icelyn .

Sirius smiled to himself. This was the first letter since the holidays! But as he read the note again, he frowned. He couldn't believe how cruel her step mother was. He quickly grabbed some parchment and quickly wrote a reply.

Dear: Icelyn,
I'm ok. Well, as I ok I could ever be. My "mother" is only giving me canned soup for dinner! Oh well. At least it's food.

I hope Vanessa feels better! I know how much she means to you. Maybe you could go to the Potter household. I know I'm going there tomorrow.

Have a good holiday!

-Sirius xoxo

He re read the letter and instantly scribbled out the 'xoxo' he had written down. He swiftly attached the letter into the owl's leg and sent him off, waiting for a reply.