Sirius Black was a mystery unlike anything he'd ever witnessed. A child who either had a grasp of Legillemens far beyond what was conceivably possible- Or simply truly possessed knowledge from the future.
A seer may have been capable of glimpsing into such a thing- But Sirius Black took it to a whole new level.
Dumbledore, somewhat, found himself worried for the future that would no doubt fall to his hand when he reached his majority and gained more wealth and power than anyone else in the country.
Every day, he watched the boy before him, either knowingly, or unknowingly, pull threads together he should've had no knowledge of. Seamlessly created circles of people that should've had no place functioning in the current political period. And if Orion was to be believed, had the self-awareness to read the political climate to a degree even some of the brightest wizards and witches he'd himself known could only dream of.
"Come again?" The boy chirped, even now, completely unfettered at the gazes thrown at him. Even with the seeming knowledge that he'd been caught red-handed hunting a beast that he should've had absolutely no reason to look for. The kind of reckless behaviour his family would've thrown hell ontop of over. Even if Dumbledore hadn't had the chance to truly convey that particular part, Sirius Black showed zero concern over it. Merely grinning at every twitch and crease that appeared on his grandfather's face.
"Your family believes-" Dumbledore started again. "-that you were sorted into the wrong house-"
He watched as amusement of all things coloured the boy's eyes.
"So?" Was the child's simple response as he methodically started tapping his finger on the desk before him.
"It is tradition that every Black be sorted into the colours of Slytherin-" Arcturus Black remarked, gritting his teeth in the process. "Your placement in that mud blood lovers house is a disgrace-"
Dumbledore held in the urge to sigh at the slur.
"Far be it for me to question your family history, but I do believe that Sirius here has displayed the kind of valour expected out of Godric's house."
Sirius Black paid him no mind, almost ignoring his words as his gaze seamlessly snapped between him and his families.
Orion himself chose to keep quiet, idly sipping from the cup in his hand.
"Every child has the recklessness befitting that house- It is not a sign of anything butthe whims of a child. Your gifts would be better suited elsewhere."
"Yet, Sirius has shown a knack for overcoming the houses lack of unity. There is no reason, other than the vanity of your tradition, for him to be resorted-"
And on and on it went, the two titans in the room throwing one argument after another at each other, one meant to 'persuade' the other to drop their hand, while Sirius chose not to respond, instead electing to continuo tapping the edge of his desk. The amusement in his eyes growing with every second-
"You want a spy there. Don't you?" For a moment Dumbledore stiffened at the words, before calming himself given Sirius had directed the question to his own grandfather.
Arcturus scoffed at a the thought. "I don't need a child to gather information for me, boy. I am here to fix the slight you've thrown to our name, you will be resorted, lest you wish your little werewolf project to lose whatever meaningless ground it's taken thanks to our families help."
Dumbledore's eyes had almost narrowed at the threat. To go back on such advancement, over something as mundane as- He shook his head.
It wouldn't do to let the other get a reaction out of him. They had to be careful not-
And then, everything practically fell apart as Sirius' seamless tapping ended, the boy instead electing to start laughing. Pure amusement and delight echoing out in waves with every breath.
"What is so funny!?" Arcturus growled as he took several steps closer towards his grandson. An action that, under any other circumstance would've been worrying.
After a moment of barely holding back his laughter, Sirius Black let out a long sigh and shook his head.
"Good cop, bad cop, huh. You both want me in Slytherin, don't you? You think I can stop Riddle from poaching the little sociopaths."
And with that, Arcturus's mouth snapped shut, as his own son promptly snorted, a mocking glint filling his eyes as he appraised the youngest Black in the room.
When Sirius turned towards him, Dumbledore felt himself age a decade at the look on his face.
"How on earth did you convince these two to join your order?"
Dumbledore, quite frankly found himself speechless.
"When did you realise?" Orion immediately questioned, genuine curiosity filling his tone.
"The old man would've never allowed a resorting because of someone else's vanity issues. There had to be something in it for him."
The very fact the child had been able to read even that much into him, in truth, only worried the aging headmaster more.
"The werewolf-"
"Those laws are already in play, grandfather would've never went against it out of the humiliation it might've thrown our family under. But honestly? Not bringing up Andro's future husband was red flag number one."
And it was then and there that Dumbledore, for the first time since Tom Riddle had vacated the castle, had his priorities for the future changed.
Sirius Black, much like Tom, was far too smart for his own good- Only, unlike Tom... Everything that had forced the former Hogwart's student back, every obstacle that came his way, from his family name, to his blood-status... Sirius Black had none of it before him.
And as he took in Orion's expression over his son, Dumbledore truly feared for the future of the wizarding world.
The Black family may have joined his crusade against the coming Dark Lord- But it was only because...
Dumbledore's shoulders seemed to sag as he recalled every event the child before him had been involved in.
Because they had a much better candidate for the job.
One with so much... potential, even the boys own grandfather found himself wary over.
For all the emotions that Arcturus showed towards the boy, it was his fear that towered them all.