Blood Traitor
Chapter 1
Best Friends
Sirius huffed as he slammed the front door of 12 Grimmauld Place. He and his mother had fought yet again. It seemed to be happening more and more often lately. Just last week they had gotten into a screaming match about passing the toast. To be more specific, what should be on Sirius's toast. His mother said plain toast builds character, whereas Sirius much prefers blueberry jam. In any case, he was angry about their latest fight. Walburga disapproved of his latest discretion of speaking with, yet another, mudblood.
He hunched his shoulders as he walked, focusing on the sidewalk in front of him. The wind blew gently through his hair and softly caressed the young wizard. Muggle contraptions passed him by with increasing frequency the closer to his destination. Eventually he stopped and paused at a large green door.
"Hey, Sirus." The dimly smiling wizard from behind the now opened door called. James beckoned his friend in the door, "Not even a week this time, huh?"
"She yelled at me for talking to Mary Cattermole. Mary! She's just a firsty!" Sirius exclaimed, his face taking on a red tinge.
James's face hardened, "I know, she's a bitch. But Sirus, you have to try and get along with her. My parent love having you here, but this is getting to be a lot."
"I know, I'm sorry James. I just can't stay there with her, though!"
The two boys shared a look, which conveyed exactly what they wanted to say far better than any telepathy spell. As the pair walked into the brightly lit kitchen, Sirius took note of the sunlight sparkling in through the large bay windows, glancing off of Mrs. Potter's wind chimes that were shaped like tiny golden snitches. "Hello, dear," the smiling form of Mrs. Potter said. The elderly lady had James late in life and treated him like the most precious thing in the world, which, to James, he was.
"Good morning, Mrs. Potter." Sirius greeted.
"Do you mind if Sirius stays with us for a while, Mom?" James asked.
She paused and her smiled became strained for a moment. "Oh course not. He can stay with us anytime."
Sirius's mouth curled up and murmured his appreciation.
Shaking off the small lingering gloom that discussing Sirius's family always brought on, James ginned, "Do you want to go paint Mrs. Jamison's cat?"
Mrs. Jamison was James's muggle, much hated neighbour and the most common recipient of the boys' mischief. As a result, so was her cat, Snowball. Sirius despaired for the cat, both for the name and for her treatment from her owner. He'd be cranky too, if his name was Snowball and was forced into Merlin-awful sweaters on a regular basis.
The pair eyed the cat, deviousness shining through their eyes. "I'll take the right, you take the left." James muttered out of the side of his mouth.
Sirius nodded, and crept forward towards Snowball, holding open a cloth sack. Across the yard James walked closer, keeping a slimy-looking sardine away from his body. "Here kitty-kitty, come to James," he cooed. Snowball sniffed the air and prowled over to the sardine. "That's it, take the fish." The wizard grinned, and gestured to Sirius.
"Gotcha!" He exclaimed, capturing the cat in the sack. Snowball rebelled violently, scratching at her makeshift enclosure and hissing furiously. "You ready?"
"Oh yeah." James grinned roguishly and readied the spray can he had in the back pocket of his robes. Sirius opened the bag quickly and James started to spray the cat a bright pink. Snowball hissed again and started to scratch at James's hand. "Ouch, Merlin, this would be better if we were allowed to use magic over the summer." James cursed.
Sirius laughed at him, turning loose the cat who hissed one more time and quickly ran the other way. The two paused a moment and Sirius asked, "What do we do now?"
James looked at his friend and shrugged, but then they heard an ear-piercing shriek, "SNOWBALL!" Mrs. Jamison's shout was soon followed by loud crack. They turned towards the Jamison household, and started to cackle.
As the wizards turned started up the porch steps Mrs. Potter appeared in the doorway, with a raised eyebrow, but a slightly upturned mouth. "Is there a particular reason why Mrs. Jamison is storming down the street in her robe?"
"I have no clue why you think we would know," James said, exaggeratingly offended.
"Of course not." Mrs. Potter's small quirk of the lips turned into a full blown grin. "Make sure you don't get caught."
"POTTER!" Mrs. Jamison yelled, appearing in the yard. Her face was turning beet red, and her graying hair was falling out of her curlers. "Control your brats."
"Too late," She muttered. "Jamison, just calm down, I'm sure they didn't mean any harm."
"Didn't mean any harm? Didn't mean any harm!? They dyed my cat pink!"
Mrs. Potter attempted to muffle a snort, her hand flying to her mouth. "They'll gladly wash off Snowball for you, it was all just a bit of fun."
"I'm sure, but that doesn't excuse the fact that they dyed my cat pink."
"They'll clean her up, won't you boys?" The pair nodded quickly. "See? There's no harm done."
"What of Snowball's mental health? Of the trauma they've put her through?"
Sirius and James shared a look. "Oh, nonsense. Snowball knows it was all in jest. Don't you, Snowball?"
Mrs. Jamison shoved Snowball into Sirius's arms. "I want her back by four." She huffed, took a lingering look at the pink cat and stormed off.
"Now what are we supposed to do?" James questioned.
"Wash the cat." Mrs. Potter said, cheekily.
"Aw, c'mon Mom. Can't you just scrougify her?" He pleaded, eyes forming his signature puppy dog look. James took off his glasses and widened his eyes. "Please, Mom."
She took one look at those eyes and folded like a house of cards. "Oh all right, but we're going inside to do it, we don't want the neighbours to see."
Sirius followed the Potter's into the house. Snowball was irritated once again and clawed at James's arms. At this point his forearms looked like a well-used rag and Sirius seriously (heh, seriously) worried about how long he'd be able to hold onto the cat.
"Place her on the table." Mrs. Potter instructed. James carelessly dropped Snowball on to the rectangular, mahogany table, giving no care when she let out an enraged howl. He frowned at his arms and absentmindedly rubbed them. "Scrougify!" She said with a wave of her wand. "There, now take her back to Mrs. Jamison and apologize."
"Yes, ma'am." The boys chorused. This time James made Sirius take the cat, who had the sense to point the claws away from his body and vital organs. It may not have been comfortable for Snowball, but it kept him safe. All along way to Mrs. Jamison's the two sniggered at the memory of her cat being covered in neon pink spray paint.
"So worth the pain," James commented. Sirius shook his head in agreement, an amused grin fighting at his lips. The cat was rather miserable, and James's arms were red and slightly inflamed, but it was worth it. Mrs. Jamison storming towards them in only a robe and curlers was a sight to remember. However, the two halted at her door. "I don't suppose you want to knock?" Sirius rolled his eyes and replied with a gesture to the cat cradled in his arms. "Right."
The resounding knock seemed to ring out ominously. Mrs. Jamison's heavy footsteps only served to increase anxiety. When she opened the door, she didn't bother with any pleasantries, and just snatched the cat from Sirius's arms. Taking a moment for a sneer crueler than even Walburga Black's, Mrs. Jamison then relished slamming the door in James's face.
Sirius commented, "That went well." It was James's turn to roll his eyes and the pair headed off to their current residents and awaiting exasperated mother with a Vulnera Sanentur on the tip of her tongue.
AN: Hey Guys, this is the companion piece to Mixed Blood, this chapter is by me and I don't own Harry Potter. –the Beta