Chapter One: Odds (Prologue)

Sirius

We all filed quickly into the hall. I looked around and I couldn't help but think as I always did, that the hall did live up to the great in its name. Every time I walked through the doors after the summer, I was always momentarily shocked by its beauty. My memory never captured it well enough after six weeks of being away. I looked around me, James smiled deeply, and he gripped my shoulder and whispered into my ear,

"This is going to be our year this year Sirius. I can feel it." He let go of my torso.

I just laughed at him shaking my head. It was our sixth year at Hogwarts together. This last summer had been the best I had ever had. For the first time ever I had gotten to go home, it had been my first summer living with the Potters. I never had to go back to the dreaded Black London townhouse, and I never had to see my father again. I would never have to endure my mother shrieking at me again, or the look of disappointment in her eyes whenever she looked at me. My parent's had demanded that I return home for the holidays, I had supposed that they needed the Black family heir to attend their ridiculous functions. But I had been dreadfully mistaken.

I did get a morbid surprise when I went home, they apparently had actually bothered to get me a birthday present this year. The whole time I was there they just kept talking and talking about this present. There was no mention of Christmas as always, we didn't celebrate the "muggle-founded" holidays in my house. I was so confused they usually didn't acknowledge my presence while I was with them unless they wanted someone to practise a new hex on or hurl a new insult at. Why would they have bothered to get me a present? I remember asking myself over and over. Secretly, I had been hoping that they had begun to tolerate the fact that I had different views to them and maybe even decide to overlook it. So the morning of 28th of December my birthday I woke with excitement and a little hope in my heart. When I found out what my present was, I swear I nearly vomited.

My parents, ever so kind and aware, had arranged a marriage for me. Of course, I had to wait a year until I was a certifiable adult in the wizarding world. But all the same, my parents expected me, Sirus Black, to marry my snotty nosed vile cousin, Narcissa Black, in a year. Immediately I protested vehemently. I didn't want to marry someone at seventeen, let alone her! So after refusing my parents "gift" to me, they were of course furious. I remember them saying that they would beat the Black into me, but all they did was make me more determined to rebel away from the name. When they concluded I was a lost cause, after all the beatings and the cruciatus curses and my fight just to stay alive, they threw me out. Just onto the street with nothing on me, I had nothing. I didn't even have my name.

They had of course done this before. And I'd always go back after a while. But this time it was different. I knew if I went back there would be no escape from them, I didn't want them to break me. I didn't want a Black life anymore.

So I did the only thing that I could think of. I ran away.

After much plotting, I broke into the garden shed took my broom and rode all the way to the Potter's house.

It was the first place I had thought of. It was the only place I had ever felt at home apart from Hogwarts. So again after much planning, I walked up to the door, trying to not limp too much from the earlier beating and I knocked. Mrs Potter opened her arms to me, whilst shouting her husband and James to come downstairs, and as soon as I felt her embrace I cried. Now just so you know, I don't cry. Not ever. And if you ask me whether I did, I will deny it to this day.

Ever since that night, I have been with the Potter's. James' parents have only ever made me feel welcome. Obviously, James was happy for me to stay as well. He'd always been uncomfortable at the thought of me with my parents, he'd seen the fallout too many times.

So whilst I glanced around the Great Hall and I saw my best friend's face smiling back at me, I could help but agree with him. This year was going to be our year.

We continued to walk forward heading towards our places, I spotted the tell-tale swish of Dorcas Meadows hips as she went over to the Gryffindor table. I could hear many of the males behind me murmur to each other as they started to observe the same thing. Dorcas Meadows was the stereotypical hot girl of Gryffindor, the fact that she mostly avoided male attention only drove her suitors madder. However, I was more interested in the girl beside her, Emmeline Vance. She had that type of gaze that made your existence feel worthwhile or completely meaningless. She had cut all her hair over the summer, it was much shorter than I had ever seen her wear it before. I instantly loved her new hair style. Now there was just less hair that she could hide her beautiful features behind. Not that I would have noticed her features especially, however, I did notice she seemed upset.

Even with her sadness on her face, she was the most beautiful girl in the school to me. I looked away from her fast. I couldn't still have a thing for her surely. I knew in my heart I'd never have shot. Girls like Vance never think to even give me a chance, I'm not exactly boyfriend material. Even if they did, Vance would never in a million year take an interest in me, I, unfortunately, was the exemplification of everything she seemed to loathe about Gryffindor boys. We took our places on the bench, James next to me, Peter across with Remus. Why do we always like the ones we can never have?

"Well, folks seems to me Dorcas looks to be on rather fine form this year," James said boisterously to the men at the table.

"Two galleons that Black gets in her panties by the end of the term." Remus laughed along.

I looked at Dorcas, she always had been sexy. She might be exactly what I needed to knock Emmeline out of my head. It wouldn't hurt to try and get Vance out of my head with one more willing girl.. Dorcas, on the other hand, looked like she would be a mighty fine distraction indeed.

"Two galleons and ten sickles, I get there first." Edgar Bones chimed in.

"Oh well, I like those odds." James chuckled. "This is shaping up to be one exciting game boys!" he guffawed.

"You are playing a man's game here Bones, are you sure you are ready to take on the sex god Sirius Black?" I raised my eyebrow playfully at him as I jested with him. This was forming into a wonderful plan.

"I am ready." He said assertively while staring at me.

"Then you are on my friend." We shook hands across the table.

I stared down at the table, Dorcas was heavily involved in a conversation with Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnon. But Emmeline stared back at me, she just looked hurt and a little shocked. She turned back to her food quickly dropping my gaze, ashamed to look at me any longer. There was that look. There was a pain in my chest. I wanted to apologise immediately to her, even though I hadn't technically done anything wrong. I knew she had overheard.

Great move Sirius, if she didn't think I was a total dick before I've bloody well changed her mind now.

Why do I do this to myself again?

I had no chance with her now. Sometimes I can be a right prick. I pushed the thought away as best as I could. James was right about it being our year, I just wasn't sure whether it was going to be our year for the better or worse.

A/N: So this is a bit of a rough opening, but the story gets a lot better from here I promise. Keep on reading please! Thank you, inbox me if you can think of any improvements! Thank you for reading, it means a lot!