That night, although he went to bed feeling content and hopeful, Sirius’ dreams turn into memories of Black family Christmases. He remembers the anger, and frustration, the way bigotry and hatred seemed to drip off his parent’s lips, the derision in his uncle and aunt’s words as they commented on him being a Gryffindor. He remembers each time he acted out, and the pain of punishment at his behavior. He remembers the cool numbness of the imperius curse and the stinging torture of the crutiatus. Remembers Bellatrix and Andromeda watching as his mother cast the spell, Andromeda pressing Regulus and Narcissa’s faces into her body like she could shield them from the sight.