May 1977
"You could just ask," James said, repeating the advice he had been giving for the past thirty minutes through a small yawn. He turned his head, cracking the bones in his neck slightly before repositioning himself on the wooden ledge that he had been sitting on for nearly an hour now. "You have to just ask. There isn't another solution."
It was nearly three in the morning.
When Sirius had awoken James, claiming it was absolutely urgent that they talk, James had leapt out of bed. The two of them had quickly and quietly made their way out of their dormitory and through the castle to the Owlery.
James had been baffled in regards to what Sirius needed. He had had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that his brother had been having one of his late night panic attacks about his real parents. It had been nearly nine months since James had to endure watching Sirius shake with sobs as he remembered every horrible lie his birth parents had ever told him about who he was and who he could be.
What James hadn't been expecting was Sirius to have woken him because he wanted to figure out a way to stay at Hogwarts for the coming weekend.
"You think that will work?" Sirius asked despite already knowing the answer.
James let out a long breath before shrugging. "I don't know. Probably not," James answered honestly. He considered the situation for a moment before answering once more. "Maybe it will. It's May. You only have a few weeks left. He might make an exception and-"
"No you were right the first time," Sirius decided. "He will say no. He is going to say no. Asking him won't work."
"Well you can't tell him," James replied in light-hearted tone.
"No I know," Sirius agreed sullenly.
"It's just a party," James tried to downplay the event. Philip Rush had been planning the bash in the Room of Requirement for weeks now. He had smuggled enough treats from the kitchen to feed the whole school for a week and had nicked several bottles of firewhiskey for the event. "It'll probably be lame anyway and-"
"Don't do that," Sirius cut him off. "Don't make it seem like it won't be the biggest party of the year when you know that it will."
James' two top front teeth bit down on his bottom lip as he searched for the right words. "Sorry," he finally settled on.
Sirius was silent as he weighed his options. With less than twenty four hours until he was expected to report to his dad's study for a weekend of school work in his room he was starting to feel a bit trapped.
"I don't see a solution," James mumbled. He was feeling like a prat for reasons he couldn't quite put his finger on. It certainly wasn't his fault that his brother was in the position that he was in. Still he felt like a dolt that he could stay at Hogwarts and go to the party while Sirius had to go home and be on punishment.
"I could ask mum," Sirius suddenly exclaimed. "She can talk to dad. She will talk to dad and then-"
"And then dad will go to spare," James replied knowingly. "He'd be furious if you asked mum. You know that."
Sirius wanted to argue that his logic was perfect but he knew James was right. If there was a sure fire way to upset his parents it was to use one of them against the other. "So I could just ask dad."
"A better choice," James nodded.
"I don't think he would be cross at me for just asking," Sirius said as he shifted his weight on the beam he was sitting on.
"No," James quickly agreed. "He won't get mad if you ask. It's just a question."
"I'll send an owl after breakfast," Sirius decided a he hopped off the beam.
"Sirius!" James hollered down the long hallway.
Sirius stopped walking to wait for his brother but he didn't turn to look back to him.
James sprinted down the hall nearly knocking a second year Ravenclaw over in the process.
"What did he say?" James asked in a winded voice the moment he reached his brother. It was nearly time for Sirius to report to McGonagall's office and travel home. The moment that the words left James' mouth he knew exactly what their dad had said. The answer was written all over Sirius' face.
"That he sympathises with how I feel but my punishment is not up for negotiation."
Although James was not surprised by the answer he could not help but feel disappointed. A part of him had been holding out hope that just this once the rules could be bent.
"Maybe I could talk to him, ask him," James offered. He knew it was a stupid plan. It wouldn't work and the two of them would be stupid if they thought that it would.
"No," Sirius replied much to James' relief. "That won't work. You know that it won't work. I just need to give up and go home."
James remained silent. He didn't disagree with Sirius' words but he also couldn't help but wish that there was another way. What Sirius had done to land himself in this position had been extremely poor judgement at best but it still sucked that he was going to miss the party. He had already missed so much. The party would be the talk of the school in hushed whispers for days, weeks maybe. James couldn't imagine having to miss it. Yet he couldn't help but open his mouth, "I'll come home with you."
Sirius smiled softly but shook his head. "No. Don't do that. It doesn't make any sense for you to miss it too. You need to stay."
"Siri," James said softly.
"No," Sirius said once more. "Thanks but no." He forced himself to smile once more. "I'm going to go grab my stuff and head home now. No sense in delaying the inevitable."
James let out a sigh as he watched his brother head in the direction of their dormitory.
Sirius sat down at his desk and opened his History of Magic book. He had been beyond tempted to just stay at school. He didn't have a hard time picturing his dad coming there to fetch him though and he was sure that he would die if that had happened. He could not imagine disappointing his parents by being so blatantly disrespectful. The look that he was sure his mum would get in her eyes was enough to steer him from doing something so dumb.
He also knew that he deserved his punishment. A stupid prank had nearly gotten more than one person killed. Sirius was sure that he deserved much more than what he had gotten, but in the same breath he knew that he had not gotten off easily either. He had missed countless Quidditch games and Hogsmeade trips. He had missed nights with his friends sneaking down to the kitchen to nick treats and Saturday's by the lake goofing off. He did know that all of that was deserved but he was still having a hard time accepting that he would miss the party.
With the exception of once a few weeks ago when he had argued with his dad that he shouldn't be punished anymore which had resulted in a hard swat to his bum, he had done his time mostly quietly and obediently.
He was tired of sitting at his desk every weekend doing school work. He was tired of missing out on everything fun. And he was having a really hard time understanding why his dad couldn't have just let him miss just this one night.
A soft knock on his door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Yeah," he called out.
His door opened an inch and his mum popped her face through the crack. "Supper will be ready in just a moment Love, wash up."
Sirius nodded in reply as he pushed back his desk chair and stood.
"I know that you are disappointed that dad didn't allow you to stay at school tonight," Lydia mused in her normal gentle tone. "I'm sure it must be frustrating but I think that someday when you are grown you will see his reasoning."
Sirius shrugged and then thought better of it and nodded. "Yeah I know."
Lydia sighed softly before clearing her throat. "I made one of your favorites, roast with all the trimmings."
"Thanks," Sirius replied with a genuine grin. He could always count on his mum to do whatever it took to cheer him up in any little way that she could.
Sirius pushed his food across the plate with his fork. He had eaten about half of his helping, mostly as to not hurt his mum's feelings, but he couldn't force himself to take another bite.
"How are your classes going? Did you get back that Potions exam that you took earlier this week yet?"
"Yes Sir," Sirius replied with as much attitude as he dared. "I got an Outstanding."
"Oh that's wonderful Sirius," Lydia praised him. "Isn't that wonderful Charles?"
"It is indeed," Charles smiled. "Well done."
"Wonderful enough to earn a reward trip back to Hogwarts tonight?" Sirius dared to ask.
Sirius held his breath as he watched his parents exchange a look. His dad cleared his throat before opening his mouth, "We have already been over this today. I'm sorry but the answer is no. I cannot allow your punishment to stop, not even for one night."
Sirius swallowed hard resisting the urge to argue. "Okay," he agreed in a dismal tone.
"It's nearly the summer holiday," Lydia pointed out cheerfully. "Then all of this nonsense will be over. We are planning a trip to the cottage in July. I know how much you and James love it there."
"Mmmhmm," Sirius hummed softly. He couldn't bring himself to respond in any other way. He was sure that if he did he would lose his temper or just begin begging like a madman.
Silence reigned as he pushed his food around on his plate for another moment.
"Can I please be excused? Sirius asked in the calmest voice he could muster. "I had a big lunch and I want to finish my homework."
Charles was certain that school work had very little to do with his son wanting to be excused. Although both Sirius and James received excellent marks in their studies, they rarely worked hard to do so.
"You may," Charles replied after a moment of silence.
"I can bring you up some dessert if you like," Lydia offered.
Sirius shook his head. "No thanks. I'm really just not hungry."
"I'll be in to tuck you in," she replied as Sirius stood.
Lydia watched as the boy exited the room. It wasn't until she could no longer hear him on the staircase that she softly cleared her throat.
"I know exactly what you are going to say," Charles said with a chuckle. "I feel for the boy too but we cannot go back on our word. What kind of message would that send?"
"I don't know," she replied honestly. "I don't have all of the answers. I just feel sorry for him."
"He nearly killed more than one boy. I know this punishment has been hard on him but it stands. If it teaches him something than it is worth it to me."
Sirius laid in his bed staring up at his ceiling. When he had first moved in his mum had bewitched it to look like the night sky and Sirius never grew tired of watching it.
His mum had tucked him in nearly an hour ago. They were asleep now, he was certain of it. The house was quiet.
A plan had been formulating in Sirius' mind. One that he was trying to decide if he had the courage to act on.
He knew what the consequence would be if he was caught. He didn't have a doubt in his mind.
The question was, could he pull it off without getting caught?
Lydia placed the book she had been reading on her night stand before sitting up.
"I have not changed my mind," Charles said through a yawn. "I thought we already decided that he is not going back to Hogwarts tonight."
"I know," Lydia replied. "I agree with your logic but what if we did something fun with him tomorrow. Lightened up just a little bit."
Charles raised an eyebrow. "What do you suggest?"
"Perhaps if we took him into London tomorrow. Out for lunch and to a shop or two."
"Lydia," Charles said softly. "The understanding was that he would stay in his room for the entire weekend."
"I know," Lydia nodded. "And I agree with your reasoning however you did not see the sorrow in his eyes when I just tucked him in. The child is hurting. I understand this is a somber punishment. We aren't letting him go tonight. I don't think that going lighter on him tomorrow will cause him to think that he has pulled anything over on us. He has been coming home every weekend for months now without any argument or attitude at all."
Charles considered these words. He had to agree that Sirius had been mostly compliant with his punishment. When he had first handed down the sentence he had half expected the child to hem and haul about coming home. He wouldn't have been too surprised if every Friday night Sirius had begged, pleaded, bargained, and whined to be allowed to stay at Hogwarts. As it stood that had only happened once where it had been a real issue.
"Alright," he agreed after a moment of silence. "Tomorrow we will take him into London for the afternoon."
Lydia nearly squealed with happiness but settled for giving her husband a quick kiss before leaping out of bed.
"Where are you going?" Charles asked.
"To tell him," Lydia replied as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. "It will cheer him up. I can't bear to think of him falling asleep in such a poor state."
Charles chuckled as he waved a hand at her. "Go on then. But don't you come cry to me when the boys are spoiled rotten."
Charles was lost in a Daily Prophet article about the changes that would be coming to Gringotts.
Lydia had been in with Sirius for nearly ten minutes now. He had heard her on the stairs twice now and he was sure that she had gone down to fix him some leftover dessert. Charles couldn't help but smile softly to himself at the very thought. Despite how much he tended to poke fun at her constant spoiling and coddling of the boys he wouldn't change her ways for the world.
The door flying open quickly pulled him from his thoughts and made him jump, dropping his paper onto the bed next to him.
"What is it?" The words flew out of his mouth the moment he saw the expression on his wife's face.
"He isn't here," Lydia said in a distressed voice.
"I beg your pardon?" Charles questioned. He was now on his feet, the article about Gringotts long forgotten.
"He's gone," Lydia repeated. Her heart was nearly beating out of her chest. She had checked every corner of the house sure that Sirius was just in the study or the parlor or even the guest room.
"Did you check downstairs? Perhaps he changed his mind about supper and went to fix himself a plate?" Even as Charles asked the question he knew that it wasn't the case.
"I checked everywhere," Lydia replied the fear evident in her voice. "I don't know where he has gone."
"Oh I know exactly where he has gone," Charles fumed.
"You think he's gone back to Hogwarts?"
"I am positive of it," Charles nodded as he strode across the room. He hunched over his desk and quickly composed a letter.
"What are you doing?" Lydia asked. The fear was still very evident in her voice.
"I am sending our wayward son an owl. It is late and I refuse to make a spectacle of myself by storming through Hogwarts looking for him. He will return home in the morning."
"How can you be certain?" Lydia asked as she watched her husband fold the piece of parchment and place it in an envelope.
"I know our son well enough to know that he will come to his senses in the light of day," Charles replied. "And if he doesn't I will fetch him."
TBC...