James and Mia each winced, waiting for the oncoming storm, while Lily looked on
eagerly. The rest of the table politely turned their heads away, though Sirius was already
getting curious looks from the nosy neighbouring tables of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs.
"Screw this," he growled and reached for the letter, tearing it open in bold defiance.
A roar of sound filled the entire Great Hall, and the enraged voice of a wailing
Walburga Black deafened the large room:
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK! YOU DESPICABLE EXCUSE FOR A WIZARD!
BRINGING SHAME ON THE HONOUR OF MY FATHER'S HOUSE! YOU HAVE
BROUGHT DISGRACE UPON YOUR FAMILY! HOW DARE YOU BREAK
TRADITION!"
Mia scowled at the familiar screams, her body tightening in response to years of
having had to listen to the woman's derisive remarks.
Sirius sat firm, however, glaring at the crimson Howler with pure hatred, while all
the rest of the students shrank from the noise as if they were hearing their own parents.
"THANK SALAZAR THAT WE STILL HAVE YOUR BROTHER TO
CARRY ON THE PROPER TRADITIONS OF THIS NOBLE HOUSE. YOU HAVE
BEEN NOTHING BUT A DISAPPOINTMENT SINCE YOUR BIRTH! IN FACT, I
WISH YOU'D NEVER BEEN BORN, YOU WRETCHED LITTLE―"
"Incendio!" Mia snapped with a flick of her wand.
Instantly, the red envelope burst into flames, the screaming voice fading away in
smoke as the envelope curled and fell into a small pile of ashes.
James, Lily, and the other Gryffindors stared at Mia with wide eyes, clearly shocked
to have seen her accurately cast such a spell, but she did not care. Her gaze, instead, fell
upon Sirius who continued to look down at the remnants of the letter as though it were
still yelling at him.
Students eventually left the Great Hall for classes, but whispers followed Sirius for
the rest of the day. Mia and James were there to glare at people who stared at him, especially
the Slytherins who knew the Black family and had found the scene hilarious. Somehow, in