Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything Harry Potter. I only wish I was as awesome at writing as her.

Warning for child abuse. Rated T for a reason, people.

Summer of Sorrow

James Potter walked silently through the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry, his best friend Sirius Black by his side. It was the first day of school, and the beginning of their sixth year. The event of James Potter and Sirius Black walking silently through the halls was one which Hogwarts had never seen before. Had the classmates of James and Sirius known the reason for their silence, they probably would have preferred the James and Sirius of last year who would race each other through the halls, yelling, laughing and tossing dungbombs into every classroom. But they didn't know the reason, although they would probably find out tomorrow if they read the Daily Prophet. The newspapers seemed to exist solely to report casualties of the War (as everyone called it) nowadays. But until then, it remained their secret. The summer everything went wrong for the two boys who seemingly had everything: James Potter and Sirius Black.

*Three Months Ago*

Sirius Black fell to the floor when his father, Orion, backhanded him in the face with all of his might. Orion was wearing a large garnet ring with the Black family crest on it. Sirius knew this because he had felt it slash the skin of his left cheek open.

"You are a disgrace to this family," Orion hissed, "My own son, a blood traitor."

Sirius couldn't really think of anything to say to that. He supposed it was true. After all, the Blacks pride themselves on being upstanding pureblood. That status came with many rules. Most of which were stupid or cruel, in Sirius' opinion. Not that his opinion mattered. Not to his father, anyway.

"SAY SOMETHING!" Orion bellowed, "EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"

Sirius bit back a laugh; he couldn't even remember what he was in trouble for this time. He briefly wondered if his father just looked for things to pin on him. He looked up at his father, who's eyes were glaring at him with hatred. He decided on denial.

"What have I done wrong?" Sirius asked fairly, "If I've done anything to offend you, please tell me Father." Sirius spoke the last word, dripping with sarcasm. He knew he was asking for trouble, but didn't much care. Nothing could ward off his father's tempers when he got like this.

"Everything you do offends me, you despicable little brat. I can hardly stand to look at you, you pathetic layabout. You are supposed to be the face of this family, as my heir. But you look like some homeless mudblood, or a pathetic squib. If this party tonight wasn't absolutely essential, I'd beat you so hard you wouldn't walk for a week."

Sirius supposed Orion was referring to his hair, now nearing shoulder length. Or his clothes; he was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, muggle clothing. Or his shoes; Sirius had purchased them from a muggle shop. There was really no reasoning with Orion. Sirius really couldn't believe he was in so much trouble for his clothes. This was silly, really.

"You're the pathetic one." Sirius said unexpectedly.

"Excuse me?" Orion asked in a deadly whisper.

Sirius hadn't meant to say it; it had just slipped out. But it was too late for going back now. "I said, you're the pathetic one. I never asked to be the face of this stupid, evil, crazy family."

Orion kicked Sirius in the ribs, and he heard a distinct crack. But he wasn't having any more of this. He was tired of being beaten senseless for no good reason. He was tired of pretending to be a perfect Black. He knew his true family, and it wasn't Orion. Sirius stood, and brushed off his robes.

"You can't hit me anymore. I'm sixteen years old, and I can hold my own against you. If you hit me again, I'll hit you back." Sirius could hardly believe his own stupidity in saying this. He knew he was signing his own death warrant, but he could hardly care anymore. "I'm leaving, and I'm never coming back. This is the last time you will ever see me. You can just tell everyone I died, since all you care about is your stupid reputation. And you should tell them that. Because you, and the rest of this family is dead to me. You-"

Sirius wasn't able to finish his thought. He felt strangely rigid. Orion had cast a body-binding spell on him. He then proceeded to give Sirius the worst beating he had received in his life. When he was good and through, he lifted the spell.

"You're not going anywhere. You will stay in your room, until I decide what is to be done with you." Orion whispered softy as he left the room.

Sirius didn't know what that meant, but he did know it would be miserable, and he was only 90% sure he would live through it. Sirius decided to take matters into his own hands. He limped up the stairs (Orion had kicked his kneecap in backward) and packed his trunk as quickly as he could. But he didn't have to strength to leave. He was is so much pain he could hardly move, and he felt as though he was going to pass out. He grabbed the mirror in his sweatshirt pocket and called, "Prongs!"

"I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me," James answered with a grin that faded quickly, seeing his friend's battered face, "Holy shit! What happened to you?"

"Please help me," Sirius hated that he could hear himself whining, "Please, James. Please come get me."

"Sit tight, I'll be there in ten minutes."

Like clockwork, James arrived at Grimmauld Place exactly ten minutes later. He scaled the building to reach Sirius' window. It was very late, and James wouldn't have wanted to face Sirius' parents anyway. He knew Sirius' father beat him, and he wasn't going to mess with him. James knocked on Sirius' window, but there was no answer. James peered inside and saw his best friend lying on the floor, motionless. James used his sweatshirt-clad elbow to smash the window in, and, praying the Blacks were as heavy sleepers as Sirius, climbed in quietly. He ran over to Sirius, and lifted his best mate's head off the ground.

"Sirius!" James whispered urgently, "Sirius, say something!"

"What've I done wrong?" Sirius mumbled. James wondered if he was delirious from the pain.

"Padfoot, it's me! It's James!"

Sirius did not stir. James pulled Sirius on his shoulders with great difficulty. Sirius was taller and had more muscle than James, and weighed a little more as a result. James almost faltered under Sirius' weight, but straightened and proceeded toward the bedroom door. He couldn't fit Sirius out the window, he would have to leave through the front door.

After saying a million prayers of thanks, having reached outside Grimmauld Place without causing a stir, James Potter pulled his unconscious best friend on his broom and went home.