Seeing Sirius, Sirius Black in his seventh year Options

[chad13]

Chpt 1

The Summer

Sirius’s eyes flickered open, he groaned miserably. There was an incredible stabbing pain jutting up his left leg and his right shoulder felt oddly numb. He squinted in the dim light surrounding him. Something was different. He made to role over, but considering the condition of both his shoulder and his opposite leg, he soon lay still once more.

His eyes were slowly adjusting to the light when he sat bolt upright, (quite painfully) and all the events of the previous evening came flooding back to him. He had finally gone off the deep end, and run away. He couldn’t stand his house, his parents, his life any longer. Images ran vividly through his mind, the moonless sky, the small driveway of Twelve Grimmauld Place. His head was in his hands, his parents had come after him, his mother especially, sending spells every which way, that explained both his leg and his arm. The details were blurred, but even so, the memory was haunting. But where was he? The last thing he could remember was stumbling face first into a patch of grass somewhere, and then, darkness.

He shook his dark hair. The room, the feeling of where he sat was incredibly familiar, but where was he? He couldn’t focus or concentrate, there was to much information, to much emotion flooding his brain. It was an odd feeling. Sirius raised his head, something beyond the closed door of the room creaked. He threw back the bed covers and fumbled about franticly for his wand.

The door opened a crack, “Padfoot?” Sirius turned back from his wild search. “Your awake!”

“James?” Sirius’s best friend stood in the doorway. “What, what happened?”

“That’s what I was about to ask you, mate,” James replied opening the door completely and crossing the floor to the bed where Sirius still sat dumbstruck. “My dad found you lying in our front yard when he left for work this morning. Worried you were dead when he first caught sight of you.”

Sirius stared a moment. He still could not remember ever thinking of heading to the Potters', but if he’d been acting on impulse it made perfect sense that he would have ended up there.
Almost a second home, although Sirius considered it his real home, James’s house was where Sirius spent most of his time, outside of school.

“You remember how you got here?” James looked concerned. It wasn’t odd for Sirius to be in trouble, but it was obvious that this time it was different, it was serious.

“I did it,” he said simply. “I couldn’t take it any more, Prongs! You know what they are like. I took off last night. My mum chased me all the way down the street, but that’s all I can remember.”

It was a short and simple explanation, very unexplicit, but James needed to hear no more; he already understood.

“I think she got my leg and my shoulder with one of her spells, nothing serious though. I never give up easy in a fight, even if it’s one I’m running away from.”

James nodded. “My mum can probably fix you up,” he said staring at Sirius a moment. “We knew it’d come to this sooner or later mate. They're different than you, whether they’re your parents or not.” Sirius shrugged, but didn’t reply. “Hungry?” James asked after a slightly awkward silence.

“I’m always hungry!” Sirius replied, James smiled.

Sirius raised himself from the bed, and leaning slightly upon James’s shoulder, the two headed downstairs. Both of them a little changed, with what they had said and what they hadn’t. What they’d gained and what they’d lost. Best friends need few words between one another to both appreciate and understand how life treats everyone a little differently.

[chad13]

Chpt 2

Inside His Head

Sirius could never thank the Potter's enough for taking him in. It was true, the Potters were no strangers to Sirius's problems; but the fact that they neither asked questions nor denied him anything they would give their own son remained a true blessing. The summer holidays had about another four weeks left when Sirius arrived at the Potter's house, and all four weeks ended up quite full.

Sirius helped James practice for the upcoming school Quidditch season, the two spent a day in Diagon Alley buying their school supplies, and did many other things among themselves that few ever discovered. (Although troublesome these activities surely were.) A nagging thought was always in the back of Sirius's brain no matter the fun and acceptance that surrounded him: his parents had not come looking for him.

It hurt him to see the Potters so happy and whole when he, Sirius, still felt so alone in the world. No one, not even James, knew of Sirius's bother. Of the family he'd hated, and the home he'd lost, but loved all the same. It wasn't so much that he did not see his parents, it was more the fact that them not searching for him truly confirmed the loathing he'd believed they'd had towards him all along. Whether he'd hated his parents or not it hurt all the same.
He was angry about it at first, angrier than ever before. No matter the hatred he'd always possessed towards his home, family, and life, being right, knowing he'd had a legitimate reason to hate, only fueled his temper and view of his life on Grimmauld Place. Yet, by the end of the summer, keeping his emotions hidden (as Sirius usually did to preserve his reputation) he'd come to silent terms with it all.

He had a surrogate family, the Potters were his family now, just as much as James's. He had not liked his parents or his home that was for sure, and thus it was not really worth remembering, loathing, or spending any time thinking about. He threw all thought of any of it out into the very edges of his mind where it sat, a past life, a memory, barely real. His anger was still there, but it was a part of his personality now rather than a real emotion.

There was more inside Sirius Black than anyone really knew. Perhaps, since it wasn't until now that anyone had stopped to consider it, no one really knew anything about it. It was there all the same. This popular, smart, headstrong, and tough young man was still only human. More so than perhaps anyone could ever really understand.

[chad13]

Chpt 3

On the Train

Sirius and James pulled their trunks hastily along behind them as they hurried along the towards platform nine and three quarters. James and Sirius were both sixteen now, almost seventeen actually, and the Potters didn't think it was necessary to baby-sit them until they boarded the train. They'd all said their goodbyes at the car, and Sirius had thanked the Potters again. James's mother had given Sirius a brief hug which had confused Sirius quite a bit. Hugs and such had never been such a large part of his life before and when they did come around Sirius found them to be most bewildering.

They hurried on through the barrier between platforms nine and ten and scrambled for seats on the train. They found Pettigrew and Lupin already situated in a compartment. They both looked up as the other pair entered. Lupin closed a book he'd been reading and stood to greet them, a silver head boys badge pinned to his robes. "Have a nice summer?" he asked, taking his seat once more.

"It was fine." James said, situating his trunk on the luggage rack.

"And you Padfoot?" James shot a short glance at Sirius.

"Same old same old." He commented cooly taking his seat beside James. James nodded, they both knew each other too well. Sirius had never talked about his problems before and James couldn't expect him to change now. Sirius was and would always be calm, cool, and collected on the outside. It would always just be between him and James, he thought.

The train started moving slowly as Pettigrew began pestering James about Quidditch and Lupin went back to his book. Sirius stared out the train window at the blue sky. He was glad to be going back to school, family didn't matter as much there.

"Sirius?!.....Sirius?!"

"Yeah mate," he said shaking his head and turning to James.

"There's a couple other people we haven't said hello to yet," his eyes twinkled, Sirius grinned.

"If you say so Prongs."

Lupin looked at the two of them. "Well I have a Prefect meeting to attend," he commented quickly getting to his feet. "See you all later," he hurried out into the corridor.

"Coming Wormtail?" James asked. Peter nodded fervently and they headed off down the corridor as well. It took very little time for them to find what they were looking for. An empty compartment, or a compartment that was good as empty anyway, they slid back the door. "Hello Snivelus.." James smiled.

"Potter.." hissed the greasy haired youth, getting to his feet.

"Sirius if you please .."

"Petrificus Totalus!" Snape went rigid and fell back onto the seat. "Miss us?" Sirius grinned. Snape could do no more then glare at them. Wormtail squealed like a delighted eight year old girl. "Don't go anywhere now Snivelly, we just have a few more stops to make, but we'll be back."

The trio trooped off, leaving Snape immobile in his compartment. They headed off down the train once more. "Hello ladies!" Sirius called as they entered another compartment.

"Lily, how are you!" James flounced over to a red haired girl and put his arm around her. It still amazed Sirius that Lily had agreed to go out with James at the end of their sixth year, she'd always loathed him, but now .. Sirius sat across from them beside a blond girl named Kristen. He'd always been cool around girls, and was quite well liked among there ranks, but he had always been, and for now would always be, a single man.

From experience he hated family and didn't want to get stuck torturing one of his own. So he sat silently smiling and laughing his full hearty laugh for a good portion of the trip. He, James, and Wormtail ate lunch with the girls, mostly sweets, Bertie Botts Every flavor beans, chocolate frogs etc. But eventually they headed back off to check on Snape.

He was still alone and frozen stiff in his compartment. Chortling happily they went back off to find Lupin. "Visiting Snivellus and the girls?" he asked without looking up; as they reentered their own compartment.

"You know us all too well Moony," James said collapsing onto a seat. It was growing dark outside and the train began to slow. Sirius sighed and stood. Tallest of the group it was always his job to hand down the things from the luggage rack.

The four headed off into the chilly fall air as the train came to a halt and packed themselves into one of the horse less carriages, James calling out to Lily to join them. They bounced up towards the castle, Lupin reminding them all this would be the last time they'd ever have to ride in the strange carriages, as it was the beginning of their last year. They all quieted a bit thinking it over a moment, leaving Hogwarts wasn't really something any of them had thought about much, it wasn't something they'd wanted to think about.

The carriage stopped and the five of them tumbled out looking up at the familiar front doors. They all headed off towards the great hall. The group found seats at the Gryffindor table and began peering around for more familiar faces. The Marauders were pleased to see Snape had not yet arrived, and were hoping he was still trapped stone still on the train. The chattering died as the doors swung open once more and the first years filed in. Sirius stared up at the starry ceiling of the hall, and wished that perhaps his home at Hogwarts would not have to end when the school term was through.

[chad13]

Chpt 4

Another Feast Experience

Sirius laughed a bit to loudly and caught more than a few looks from surrounding students and teachers. He grinned broadly all around before turning back to James.

“Got you in trouble didn’t I?” James whispered across the Gryffindor table.

“Trouble?” Sirius said, looking around. “Me? Trouble? I have no idea what you’re talking about Prongs mate.”

“And to our seventh years,” Dumbledore’s voice boomed, “This is a year to enjoy, but not to lose. It is not the final year of your education, but just the beginning.” Sirius had the strangest feeling that those blue eyes were boring straight into his skull as Dumbledore finished his speech. James too had fallen silent.

Neither Sirius nor James spoke again until the beginning of term feast appeared before them. “Oh good,” Sirius breathed, “I’m starving.” Everyone dug in, and the hall erupted with the clanging of plates and chatter of students.

James spent the first few minutes or so hollering down the length of the table to where Lily sat with Kristen. “Evans!” he called, “Hey Evans!” He got her to wave, but she did not get up. Sirius shook his head, their relationship was very strange.

James only stopped his attempts when the doors to the Great Hall crashed open and Severus Snape came in, a look of pure rage on his face. James looked at Sirius and they both broke into roars of laughter, Peter squeaking along with them.

“A bit late aren’t you Severus my friend?” Sirius called. “What happened? Did you get lost?” Peter looked as if he couldn’t breath from laughing, pounding the table now with both of his fists.

“Finally did it,” Remus began, attempting to stop their laughter. “Passed my aparation test!”

“Finally found time did you Moony?” Sirius asked, turning back around.

“They only test certain days Padfoot, unfortunately some of them just didn’t work for me.”

“Oh come on Moony,” James broke in, “I’m sure more than a few people have attempted to get their pets an aparation test.”

“Yeah,” Sirius continued, “And if you came in all on your own ...”

“They’d have cursed me.”

“You’re already cursed mate,” Sirius said.

“If they’d let you try though, you would have passed, and it wouldn’t have taken what? Seven months?”

“Well I passed.”

“And that only leaves, drum role please ...” James turned to Peter. “Wormtail!”

“Tell him what he’s won Prongs!” Sirius laughed.

"A nice pile of flew powder, an illegal portkey, and a dung bomb!"

"All prizes to be sent at our discretion," said Sirius.

They belittled Wormtail throughout the remainder of the feast and continued on up towards the dormitory. It wasn’t until a hand caught Sirius’s shoulder outside the Fat Lady’s portrait that the conversation came to an end.

“Sirius,” said a voice. “A word please.”

Sirius turned around, it was Dumbledore.

[chad13]

Chpt 5

That Man Knows Everything

Sirius Black was never one to get nervous, but on occasion even he could be rattled. This was one such occasion.

It was known throughout the school that apart from meals Dumbledore was scarcely ever seen about the castle. He didn't meander in the corridors, or teach classes, or proctor detentions, (though if he had Sirius was sure he'd have known the headmaster very well.) Dumbledore was the headmaster, a kindly man with a sense of humor, but that was all. He would be up for Minister any day, he didn't have personal time for each student who passed through his doors. It seemed however, that Dumbledore had at last found a moment.

"Uh ... right Professor," Sirius mumbled.

Lupin and Pettigrew waved wearily in Sirius's direction as they passed through the portrait hole. James lingered a moment longer, but Sirius sent him off with a nod.

Dumbledore smiled pleasantly, "This way please."

Following obediently at Dumbledore's shoulder Sirius was led back off down the hall. It couldn't be about Snape could it? He'd tormented that snake far worse in the past and had yet to be properly reprimanded for it. Maybe it had something to do with the fire whiskey in his trunk, though Sirius could hardly imagine why they'd begun searching trunks this year.

"Don't look so worried," Dumbledore said softly. "You're not in trouble yet. Unless there's something you'd like to confess to already?" Dumbledore smiled.

"No sir," Sirius replied quickly. "Not yet," he finished, grinning as well.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Well then, down to business. It has come to my attention that your living situation changed slightly this past summer Mr. Black."

Sirius did not respond.

"Are my sources correct?" Dumbledore pressed.

"Yeah, I've moved," Sirius said hotly. What did Dumbledore care? Was he here to request Sirius move back in with his parents so he could go home for the holidays? Be responsible? Why'd Dumbledore decide now was a good time, in this seventh and final year at Hogwarts, to make an acquaintance of Sirius Black? "I moved out, and I'm getting my own place over the holidays," Sirius continued.

"That's wonderful," said Dumbledore pleasantly. "But I just came down here to ask, seeing as you are just of age, whether or not you wish your mailing address changed."

"What?"

"Well, your parents need not receive your grade reports any longer if you do not wish it. I can send them where ever you like, or nowhere at all."

"That's it?"

Dumbledore tapped his head gently with a long finger. "Yes," he said finally. "I do believe that is all I needed to ask you."

"Umm ... I don't really have anywhere for you to send them yet, can I get back to you?"

"Of course," Dumbledore replied.

"But you can certainly stop sending anything to my parents, it's all just a waste of parchment really."

"What ever you like," Dumbledore smiled.

Sirius tried to smile back, but felt rather awkward. He really did need to learn to control his temper. It was very nice of Dumbledore to care enough to come down from where ever it was that his office was located to ask Sirius's view on such a thing as his own grade reports. It was amazing he knew anything about the situation as it was at all, it had happened over the summer. "Uh ... thanks sir."

"My pleasure. Now, seeing as it is rather late and classes do start in the morning, it would be irresponsible of me, the headmaster, to keep you any longer than necessary wouldn't it? You may return to your dormitory."

"Right ... yeah, goodnight sir."

"Goodnight." With that Dumbledore continued on down the hall.

Sirius stood a moment watching the old man go before sprinting back towards Gryffindor tower.


"What did he want Padfoot?" Prongs asked, levitating a pillow at Sirius's head.

"He knows everything that man," Sirius mumbled. "Just wanted to know where to send my crummy school mail now I'm not living at home."

"You're not?"

"No Wormtail," Sirius scowled, throwing a frog card at him. "I'm getting my own place."

"At seventeen?" Lupin asked.

"Wicked!" squeaked Pettigrew.

It was rather wicked, Sirius thought to himself. The idea had begun to grow on him since he'd blurted it out to Dumbledore, even if he hadn't really been planning on such a thing before. This year was going to be brilliant, they were seventh years after all.

[chad13]

Chpt 6

To Conjure a Galleon

"Here's one," hissed Wormtail. "Two blocks from the Leaky Cauldron!"

"That's great Wormtail, but look at the fine print would you?" Sirius scowled. "You think I have that many galleons?"

"Well Padfoot, you're seventeen, you've now officially been cut out of any family inheritance, and you have no job to speak of. I think your being loaded would have been the first conclusion I’d have jumped on too!" James laughed. Peter blushed.

The four Marauders were sitting in Charms class in the very last row of desks which conveniently enough hid the realty section of the Daily Prophet. They'd been pouring over it for days and had yet to find any flat within the budget Sirius had set for himself. He'd already turned down any monetary help from the Potters, determined to succeed in obtaining a home all on his own.

"What about here," Wormtail pointed again. "Five blocks from the Ministry!"

"Look at the numbers would you Wormtail!" Sirius said.

"He's looking," Lupin whispered.

The four boys waved their wands again in silence at the exact solar system models they were levitating. The hard part was keeping each planet in its correct orbit, but Peter was the only one having any difficulty.

"I can't conjure galleons you know," Sirius said finally. "It'd make things much more convenient if I could, honest, it'd be a blast living across from Diagon Alley."

"Well, we could you know," James grinned.

Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Conjure galleons?" Peter almost jumped out of his seat.

Sirius and James turned to Lupin, who frowned slightly.

"It would be possible," he said finally. "Mind you, we'd be breaking nearly a dozen wizarding laws."

Sirius smiled. "Now since when have we worried about the law?"

"I can't really remember Padfoot," James laughed.

"I don't know," Lupin said. "It would be difficult."

"More difficult than becoming animagi?" Sirius asked. "Come on Moony," he continued, slapping Remus on the back. "I really need this one."

“It’s illegal,” he said again.

Remus was never one to agree right away to any scheme, that was Wormtail, but Lupin did all the book work. James and Sirius could surely manage the magic on their own, but neither of them had the patience to look up what they needed in any library.

Sirius put on his broadest grin and at last managed to push a quick nod out of Lupin.

"Right!" said James turning to Sirius. "Can you imagine Christmas Eve in your flat?"

At that prospect Wormtail tipped his chair straight over, his solar system collapsing on top of him.

[chad13]

Chpt 7

Homework

Sirius Black and James Potter were not known for turning in assignments on time, but as seventh years they'd taken their less than admirable behavior to a whole new level. The pair had not turned in any homework since the end of their first week's charms class. They'd continued to slide through each lesson on pure brains, but according to one Professor would, "Never make anything of themselves in the wizarding world, where all that counts is getting a report on cauldron bottoms in on time."

On hearing the news of this discussion during a faculty meeting the boys took to extracting especially old cauldron bottoms from the potions dungeons and leaving them around the staff room.

Sirius and James however were also very busy with plans for Sirius's new flat, which they had sworn would be obtained by Christmas. They spent all the time they could have used on homework to pester Lupin in the Library and sneak out to Hogsmeade for butterbeer to drink as they poured over furniture catalogues.

"What about this Padfoot?"

"A fanged throw rug?"

"Use it to guard the front door mate!"

"Sounds right up my alley, we could test it on Wormtail."

Wormtail tried to look angry but broke into a fit of giggles instead.

"You'll need a front door to guard first," Lupin said irritably.

"Oh don't sound so beaten," Sirius laughed. "Moony, you know you're looking forward to crashing in my flat as much as the rest of."

"Yes well, we could be partying there much sooner if I had a little help." Lupin looked directly at the pile of a dozen or so books sitting on the table in front of him. “It’s going to take ages by myself, and we’re going to get arrested in the end anyway.”

“We won’t get arrested!” James said looking offended. “I thought you had higher regards for your mates than that Moony! We’re smart too you know, plus I’m just much to good looking to get arrested.”

"Moony," Sirius drawled. "You know that with our help the whole project will take three times as long and never come out as well as if you organize it."

Lupin tried to look mad, but Sirius knew as well as the rest of them that Lupin could not resist flattery within the group.

"Are you getting close at all Moony?" James asked.

"Well I have read about quite a few arrests that included galleon conjuring, and one birthday party trick, but nothing to serious, I'm starting to compile facts to make the spell up myself."

"Wow," Peter's mouth fell open.

"Yes well, when you need help testing it, we're here for you Moony old pal," Sirius grinned. "In the mean time I expect we should get down to a bit of homework don't you think Prongs?"

James smiled and jumped from his chair. "That sounds about right Padfoot."

With a wave to Lupin and a motion telling Peter to sit and stay, the two set off into the corridor.

"Where to first Prongsy old boy? Lily or the kitchens?"

[chad13]

Chpt 8

A Minor Inconvenience

Sirius, aside from his homework, had been doing quite well at school. He was away from his family yet exactly where he was supposed to be. It wasn’t that Sirius was against breaking rules, it was just he enjoyed the sort of comforting feeling that comes when you get the chance to do something completely by the books. However, as Sirius knew all to well, good things never last.

It was one afternoon where Sirius and James again sat pestering Lupin in the library that things really began to fall apart. For one thing, the great duo of James and Sirius had a summons to Professor Dumbledore’s office in an hour, and for another, an unexpected visitor showed up.

“Half way there I’d say.”

“Excellent,” James clapped.

“It’s just a prototype spell you understand, it’ll take some work once it’s finished as well.”

“We understand Moony, we’re not muggles,” Sirius rolled his eyes.

Lupin did not even look up at this remark.

Peter sat silently, his feet up on the table scowling. Sirius was not quite sure why Peter tipped his chair back like that, after all he had fallen over twice already that day. Sirius did however know exactly why Peter was scowling.

It had been three nights in a row James and Sirius had snuck off without him. Peter took it to heart when he was left behind, at least Lupin was a good sport. Sirius figured Lupin was just mature, though the truth was Lupin really had simply given up on his two more trouble making compatriates. Peter, on the other hand, was not quite as forgiving.

It wasn’t that Sirius and James didn’t like Peter, James liked Peter well enough, it was just that he was Peter, he was their friend, but not in their league.

It was then that Peter tipped over again. Sirius snorted, trying to hold back his laughter. Peter raised himself up onto his knees and stared at Sirius, but not in an angry way, he actually looked a bit frightened.

“What Wormtail?”

Peter’s eyes darted over Sirius’s shoulder. Sirius turned around, his face went cold.

Beside the opposite shelf of books stood a small slender dark haired boy of fifteen, Sirius’s younger brother, Regulus.

Sirius jumped off the table on which he’d been seated and balled his hands into fists. He’d spent the first few weeks at school avoiding his brother. It hadn’t been to difficult, they were in different houses after all, different years, it was a large castle. Yet here he was, a slightly smaller, less athletic, and less handsome version of his brother, Regulus wore an expression of pure dislike and slight jealousy.

“What do you want?” Sirius growled.

“I’m allowed to visit the library too you know, I actually thought I’d be safe from you if I simply hung around up here.”

Regulus sounded a bit cockier than usual, and Sirius did not like it.

“Yeah well, if you want to stay safe, I’d beat it.”

“Temper, temper,” Regulus smiled.

Sirius glanced at James. Regulus was an annoying younger brother, the favorite in the family, but not where Sirius was concerned. When it had come to confrontation Regulus had learned that with, Sirius he was always in over his head. Sirius, at the moment, was wondering where this specific learning had gone off to.

“Mum and dad have sent you something, Sirius,” he smiled, reaching into his robes.

“I’d just turn around if I were you.” It was James who'd spoken, wand at the ready. He knew just as well as Sirius that presents from the Black family home were never all they’re cracked up to be.

Regulus eyed the group as Sirius, too, pulled his wand out.

“Not so cocky any more little brother?” Sirius sneared.

“You’ll get it no matter what,” Regulus began.

But the instant the boy pulled his hand from his robes he was hit squarely with two stunning spells, a third flying wildly over his head.

“Lets go,” Lupin said quickly, his books already stashed in his bag.

No one argued. Sirius, James, and Peter, all pocketing wands, followed Lupin straight for the door. Sirius and James already had a meeting with Dumbledore, they did not need this incident to earn them another one.

Stepping over his brother Sirius looked down at his sibling’s right hand, it held a howler. It was a bit funny, for one thing, the corners, the edges, nothing was smoking. Sirius bent down quickly to pick it up and then followed the others out into the corridor. With that, the boys sprinted as fast as they could back to Gryffindor tower.

[chad13]

Chpt 9

Silence

"What's wrong with it?" James asked, turning the howler over in his hands again.

Sirius shrugged, hands in the pockets of his robes as they headed for Dumbledore's office.

"You could just rip it open yourself mate."

"Right, and next I'll turn myself in to the ministry for being an unregistered animagus. Not likely Prongs my friend, no news from my parents is good news. I vote we burn it when we get back to the common room."

Dumbledore's office felt very large. Though James and Sirius knew very well where the office was they had not been inside before. For two boys who had scrutinized the castle so thoroughly for hiding places, who had created the Marauders Map, who knew Hogwarts like the back of their own hands, to be in such a foreign room was slightly unnerving.

James elbowed Sirius and nodded towards a large phoenix perched behind the desk. Sirius grinned, impressed.

"Ah, Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, this is a convenient time I hope?"

Sirius and James both nodded.

Sirius's hands began to sweat around the red envelope. He hoped they were in trouble for slacking off, he hoped they were in trouble for attacking Regulus, he hoped that Dumbledore had not found out about their money making scheme. Having slacked on homework and attacked his brother before, Sirius very much doubted that any of his hopes at the moment would come true.

"Please," Dumbledore said, smiling, "Sit down."

The chairs behind the boys pulled themselves up, and they sat down.

"You stayed with the Potters this summer?" Dumbledore asked, seating himself and looking pointedly at Sirius.

"Yes sir," Sirius replied quietly. It was a very strange question

"Have you seen your parents since you left home?"

Sirius glanced at James. "No."

Sirius, for the second time since he'd left home, felt the loathing swell in his chest. His parents had not looked for him, they had not cared enough to come find him and punish him more.

"Did you receive any mail?"

"No," Sirius said very quickly, still unable to muster his usual volume.

James shifted in his chair. Dumbledore turned to face him.

"Did your parents mention anything ..."

James shook his head very quickly.

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"What is this in reference to Professor?" James asked slowly.

Dumbledore turned back to Sirius. Their eyes met, Sirius turned away. Dumbledore was trying to size him up, and he did not like it.

"Have you read the Daily Prophet lately boys?"

James shook his head.

"There were more attacks," Sirius said shortly. "Weren't there Professor?"

Dumbledore nodded.

Sirius shook his head and looked up. "I've got nothing to do with my parents," he said, again a bit quieter than he's hoped. "I don't know what they're up to and I don't care."

"I understand," Dumbledore said, trying to soothe the situation. "But the fact is Sirius, as a defector from your own family you do become a bit of a target."

Sirius scowled. Politics made him sick. This war, or coming war, he wasn't sure how it was being referred to at the moment, only fueled Sirius's ever present temper.

"He got a letter."

Sirius and Dumbledore both turned back to James.

"What?"

"Yeah, what?" Sirius's eyes narrowed.

"It wasn't from his parents sir," James glanced at Sirius, "It was from his brother."

"Oh," Dumbledore nodded. "Did it say anything."

"It was blank," Sirius said quietly, reaching into his robes.

Sirius laid the red envelope on top of the desk. Dumbledore stared at it a moment .

"No smoke or anything," James agreed.

"And there wouldn't be."

Sirius and James looked up.

"It's not a howler, it's a silencer."

"A what?"

"I thought you sounded a bit off Mr. Black." Dumbledore waved his wand at the desk and a small glass of steaming blue liquid appeared. "Drink this quickly if you please."

Sirius looked quickly at James, but reached forward none the less and swallowed the foul smelling liquid in one gulp.

Behind Sirius's coughing Dumbledore muttered something and flicked his wrist, and the envelope split open. Sirius gave an extra loud hack, and looked up.

"What the devil's a silencer?" he growled.

"Ah," Dumbledore smiled at the noise, "Much better."

"A silencer," Dumbledore began, pointing at the now charred envelope. "Is an object, it this case a howler, that has been cursed using the silencium perpetuam jinx. It's basic effect is to slowly eat away the voice capabilities of the receiving party. The jinx is very specific, and is only affective against the first recieving party. Once you accept it, take it, the curse is yours. Had you destroyed the letter or lost it, the magic would only have sped up. Judging by the time of our meeting Mr. Black, it would seem that you received this bit of mail rather recently."

"I'll get it anyway," Sirius mumbled to himself, "Ha, that little cockroach is gonna get it. What? Did he think I don't know how to write, I couldn't get information out except for talking?"

"Sirius mate, your brother's not the brightest pixy in the forest you know." James grinned.

"What was the point? I don't even know anything worth giving away!"

"Your parents know that," Dumbledore said solemnly, "But your brother doesn't"

[chad13]

Chpt 10

Two Plans

“Looks like we’ve got far bigger things to worry about than your flat and illegal galleons mate,” James muttered as the pair made their way back down the corridor.

“How would that little dung bomb have known something like a silencer jinx anyway?” Sirius muttered.

James simply shrugged.

“Politics,” Sirius scowled.

“It’s seeping into school Padfoot, we graduate in a couple of months and we won’t be able to hide from it anymore. It’ll be a war when they send us out into the world.”

“My whole life’s been a war,” Sirius replied.

“How about a butterbeer mate? We’ll just head down to the kitchens, you don’t need to talk to Moony or Wormtail just yet. Come on, we’ll come up with a different story for them over some leftover pudding.”

Sitting a top two stools in the kitchen, house elves milling annoyingly about their feet, the two boys stared across the table at one another, Sirius looking more passed James than anything else.

“It’ll be all right,” James tried to smile. “You’ll see. Once we get your flat there will be no stopping us.”

Sirius tried to grin back. He knew it wasn’t easy for James, it was usually he, Sirius, who did the cheering up in school. Lily problems, nagging parents, that was when Sirius offered pearls of hope to James. It wasn’t often James was the one trying to correct Sirius’s surly disposition, not at Hogwarts anyway. It was the summer months Sirius had problems. It was living at home that caused trouble. There was no escape anymore.

“We’re going off into a messed up world.”

“I can’t disagree with you,” James replied. “But we’ve still got our plans. We’re going to be partners, remember?”

“A Quidditch supply slash creature emporium,” Sirius laughed.

“See, everything any kid wiz is looking for. Pet supplies, Quidditch robes ...”

“Illegally imported dragon scale substances for especially complex magic.”

James grinned back.

The pair were smart, not brilliant, but top of the class. They were business savvy, with charisma, each with his own passion. As an inseparable pair it had always been their plan to go into business together, despite the range of products they planned to sell.

Despite family changes, world chaos, and Lily’s presence, they had always been able to depend on their dream of enterprise. They didn’t have to worry about it until they got there, and if it wasn’t concrete, they could never lose it.

An hour later, with Sirius’s spirits calmed at the very least, the pair made their way back to Gryffindor tower. As they’d both expected, Lupin and Peter were up and waiting for them.

“Ar-are you okay?’ Peter sputtered, jumping up and almost falling right over in his haste.

“We’re back aren’t we?” Sirius replied.

“What happened?” Lupin asked, much more calmly than Peter.

“It was about this summer,” James started. Sirius looked at him. “Padfoot came to stay at my house for a spell and Dumbledore just got wind of it.”

“You two saw each other this summer?” Peter mumbled.

“What would he care about housing arrangements for?” Lupin asked, cutting Peter off.

James paused a moment before continuing, laughing out loud. “It’s rather funny actually. See some cornish pixies were caught in a muggle square down a ways from my house, the same week we were together, and, since pixies in a muggle area is in violation of one regulation or another, and you know, the location ...”

“Dumbledore thought you were breading pixies!” Peter laughed, a bit loud, even for him.

“You’re a genius Wormtail my friend,” James grinned, taking a seat. “Knew you’d catch on.”

Lupin did not comment on this story, but went back to his books near the fire.

“Would have sold for a heap of galleons too,” Sirius muttered. “Wouldn’t have needed you to work so hard Moony!” he called across the room.

“Well, it’s a good thing you didn’t tell me you had other money making plans sooner,” Lupin replied. “Because, those galleons, well, I think I’ve done it.”