Author's Note: This is rather different from anything I've ever done. (Don't I say that quite a bit?) You see, it is mostly a Sirius story. It doesn't go day by day, though. You'll see what I mean, but it's mostly days in the life of the marauders…starting from first year until the day the Potters died. Each chapter will be really different. Just warning you. Now, I'm writing this to show that I feel the marauders all changed each other in some way, so when you begin this, you may get the idea that James is incredibly annoying, Sirius gives up way too easily and is completely obedient, Remus is a bit unfriendly, and Peter is somewhat of a loner. However, they are not meant to be out of character. They haven't grown into who they are all meant to be yet because I feel that, without each other, this is how they would be. Again, once you read, it will become clearer to you why each one of them is the way he is. By the way, this is sort of like…I guess you could say a companion piece to Sick. You do not have to read Sick at all to understand this. It's just, if you are a reader of that story, this one might help you understand little pieces of that one before everyone else who reads that story because you'll know a certain thing about Sirius, and this will probably help Sick readers to understand the weird thing going on with James and Sirius in that story. Both are Lily/James, by the way. Have I confused you enough? Lol. I apologize. Uh, I debated for a while about whether or not I should mention this because it kind of spoils something in the story, so I'm just going to say something that you people from Sick would already know…Sirius is gay. Offended? Leave. He doesn't even know it yet, so you shouldn't have much of a problem with this chapter. Anyway, please enjoy. I'm in the middle of two trillion stories (some posted, some still in thought), so hopefully this won't hurt updates too much. OH! One more thing: This is post-Deathly Hallows, but you don't see Lily and James meet on the train the way they do in that book.

"Walk."

Sirius didn't protest, but if he hadn't been walking, he didn't know what, in Merlin's name, he had been doing.

"Sirius," she said, pushing him a bit to show that she meant business.

Regulus chuckled when his older brother stumbled. Sirius, glaring, shoved his brother away from him.

"Mother!" Regulus exclaimed, rubbing his elbow.

Their mother ignored both of the children, adjusting her blouse, feeling foolish in muggle clothing. "Bit father," she said, yawning.

Though Sirius wasn't enjoying the walk to the train with his mum and brother, he could tolerate it so long as they could avoid meeting up with his cousins.

"Here," said Mrs. Black, holding up her hand.

They had arrived at the platform. Sirius jumped at the sound of laughter, knowing there was no way it could have been his mother. For a moment, he was afraid it was Bellatrix, but he turned to find a large family a few feet away from them.

"What is wrong with you, Cedez?"

Sirius allowed a small smile to come to his face. A young boy possibly his age, had fallen over a trolley, which looked like it had been placed in front of him purposely. They boy had his glasses in his hand, so he obviously hadn't been able to see.

"Mercedes!"

"It's fine, mum," said the boy, realizing people (including Sirius) were watching him. "Don't make a scene."

Sirius laughed, quickly covering his mouth to make sure his mum didn't see he had been amused by the family she was watching in disdain.

"You're not to associate with that group," she said, nodding her head in the family's direction.

Regulus bit his lip. "They are loud," he said. He looked positively terrified.

Mrs. Black laid a hand on his shoulder, pleased.

"Be off," she said, gesturing toward the barrier.

There was no formal good-bye. Sirius hadn't been expecting it, but he was sort of hurt that his mother was still looking at the family instead of at him.

Sirius nodded unsurely at his brother. He wasn't able to read Regulus' expression. "Bye," said his younger brother softly.

Even after years of wanting to get out of Grimmauld place, he wasn't so happy about going to Hogwarts. After he got through, it seemed he stepped into a whole new world, which, he supposed, he really had. Everything changed—even his mood.

"Wow," he said breathlessly.

Sirius, grinning, ran to the first door. He pulled it open, scared and excited, and he shook slightly as he walked to a compartment. Sirius stood in front of it, not knocking, not moving, and not taking the chance to open it.

"Come on," he said to himself, wondering what the passing students thought of him. He must have looked rather ridiculous.

Finally, only due to fear of being caught by his cousins, he cautiously opened the compartment door.

Sirius took a deep breath. "Hi," he said, looking straight at the boy leaning against the window.

The boy was startled. "H—hi," he said, sitting up straight.

Sirius realized that the boy had been sleeping. "I'm sorry," he said. "I can go—"

The boy shook his head. "You don't have to. I just wasn't expecting…"

As soon as Sirius sat down, the boy looked back out the window, showing Sirius he didn't really want to talk. Sirius took in his appearance while it was quiet. He had sandy brown hair, amber eyes, and his hands were covered in scars. Sirius wasn't one to judge, of course, with all the cuts and bruises he had acquired over the years, but the boy seemed self-conscious about them. He hid them in his robes when he saw, through the corner of his eye, that Sirius' eyes had been on them.

The boy seemed to decide he couldn't get away with being silent for the entire ride because he turned back to Sirius rather reluctantly. "Remus Lupin."

Sirius smiled. "I'm Sirius."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "I guess I'm not the only one with a strange name," he said.

Sirius started to laugh, but Remus didn't crack a smile, so Sirius wasn't sure if he had been joking. They were saved from awkward conversation as the compartment door opened again.

Remus turned back to the window, leaving Sirius to greet the guests.

"Hi," said the boy cheerfully.

Sirius noticed that the boy was the one he had seen fall earlier on. He was—there was no other way to put it—so pleasant. After living with the most unpleasant people on earth for his whole life, Sirius felt that he had unfortunately become a bit unhappy himself. And, the first person he had met—Remus—didn't seem to like people very much, so this new, happy, permanently smiling, person was frightening to Sirius, but also strangely entrancing.

Sirius found himself smiling. "Hey," he said.

Sirius never thought he would need company, considering he spent most of his childhood hiding from people, but he had to admit that this feeling of having someone who wanted to just talk with him was something he had always secretly—unbeknownst to even himself—desired.

"I'm James Potter," said the boy, still smiling brightly. "This is Peter Pettigrew."

Peter smiled shyly and waved. Sirius waved back, still wearing that smile that was still so unfamiliar to his face. Sirius then glanced at Remus, wondering if he should introduce him, but he bit his lip and shook his head.

James sat down next to Remus. It was obvious that he understood what Sirius had meant: Remus didn't want to be bothered. However, he ignored the request.

"Hey, I'm James," he said.

Sirius wondered if James had actually painted that smile on.

Remus looked at him. "Remus," he said, turning back to the window. James wasn't satisfied with this.

"Are you tired?" he asked. His voice expressed a small amount of sympathy.

Remus sighed. "Yes."

"I see," said James.

Peter looked at Sirius, as if to ask, 'What is wrong with this kid?', but Sirius had no idea either. Why was he so intrigued?

"Any idea what house you'll be in?" asked James, still focused on Remus.

Perhaps, he thought Remus needed attention…? Whatever James thought, Sirius knew he was stubborn—irritatingly so. Sirius had never been one to hold onto a conversation if the other wasn't interested.

Remus turned his body completely away from the window. "No," he said.

James was completely unaffected by Remus' indifference. It truly amazed Sirius and Peter.

"I'm thinking I'd like to be in Gryffindor. Half my sisters have been in Ravenclaw, and I'm definitely smart enough for it—" James stopped, looking as though he was about to apologize for the conceited comment, but shook his head, and went on, "but I'd rather be in Gryffindor."

Sirius could see clearly now why he wasn't allowed to associate with James and his family.

"One of my sisters is Head Girl of Gryffindor, though, and I might die if I have to obey her every word," he said, laughing. "She's a megalomaniac."

James was still talking to Remus, but he was, at the same time, making sure Sirius and Peter were listening as well.

He gave Remus a look to show him that his interrogation was not quite over, and then he turned to the other two.

"What about you guys?" he asked.

Peter shrugged. "Probably Hufflepuff," he said quietly. "Not much good at anything."

James rolled his eyes. "Everyone's good at something. Even Hufflepuffs. You, Sirius?"

Sirius had been afraid this moment would come. He knew where he was going, after all, and he would be damned if he did get into Slytherin and damned if he didn't.

"Well, I would like to be in Gryffindor," he said, deciding he would rather not go into the family tree just yet. If it turned out he could trust James, perhaps he would tell him.

James smiled. He seemed fine with that answer.

Truthfully, Sirius had never thought about what house he wanted to be in. From a young age, he had accepted the fact that he was expected to be in Slytherin, and of course, he would be. He didn't stop to think about what he wanted because he knew it wouldn't have mattered. Besides, why get your hopes up for something impossible?

But he couldn't help thinking about what a funny surprise it would be to become a Gryffindor.

Not that it would happen, of course. Sirius didn't like to stray too much from reality. Even Andromeda had been sorted into Slytherin. Therefore, there must have been an unwritten law that being born into the Black family automatically made you a Slytherin. And…if Dromeda was in that house, it couldn't have been that bad.

The rest of the journey was spent with a silent Remus, a watchful Peter, and a loud, talkative James, and Sirius was enjoying himself. They had only stopped talking once to change into robes. Remus had already been dressed. Before they knew it, they had arrived at Hogwarts.

"So, you were saying you had sisters," said Sirius curiously, walking over to the boats where the large man had instructed.

"Yeah," said James, looking at the man in awe. "Speaking of my sisters, they've all had a lot to say about him."

"Hagrid?" asked Sirius.

"No more 'an four to a boat!" he shouted.

Remus rolled his eyes. "My lucky day," he muttered to himself, sitting himself down next to Peter.

James laughed, and then turned back to Sirius. "Yeah, they like him. Apparently, he's a good time."

Sirius didn't want to relay any information he had heard from Bellatrix about Hagrid, so he said nothing, figuring that if James' family liked Hagrid, he had to be a good man.

"I've got eight, by the way," said James, still smiling as he ran his hands through the water beneath them.

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Oh," he said, remembering the previous conversation. "Sisters?"

James nodded. "Yes, I have eight."

Sirius blinked. "Wow."

He took his hand out of the water. "What about you?" he asked.

"I have a younger brother," he said. "And my cousins practically live with us."

The damn smile was still on his face. Sirius was sure he could have told him he had plans to murder him, and James would still smile.

"I'd love a younger brother," said James, staring up at the sky, as if hoping his wish would be granted. "I'm youngest."

"Lucky," said Remus, speaking without being asked for the first time.

"Which of us?" asked James.

"Both of you," he said, turning away again. "I'm an only child. Very boring."

James' smile faded for a moment (shocking), and Sirius saw that he was looking at Remus' hands.

"What happened to your hands, Remus?" he asked, sounding concerned.

"Oh," said Remus, looking down. "My cousin has this cat…" he said, shrugging. "Well, you get the picture."

James opened his mouth, no doubt about to make some kind of complaint, but he closed it. They were stopping.

"I see," he said, letting it go. Once again, however, he gave him a look to show it wasn't over.

There was something gorgeous about the castle. Sirius was scared as hell, but he found himself relaxing with James by his side. He was just so confident, easy-going, and the thought of walking into a school where he was about to be sorted (or judged) meet new people, and have to change his entire life, didn't bother him one bit.

How Sirius envied that confidence.

It seemed it had only been a second before McGonagall was leading the first years into the Great Hall to be sorted. Sirius could feel Bellatrix's eyes on him from the Slytherin table, but he ignored her.

"Nervous?" James teased, well-aware that Sirius was, indeed, nervous.

"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "Spectacular."

Remus actually smiled, though it looked to be more of a smirk, pushing in front of them.

"You're actually afraid to be sorted?" he asked, rolling his eyes.

"Not ex—"

"Black, Sirius."

Okay, Sirius hated being third on the list. One of the many reasons he hated his surname.

James smiled encouragingly at him, but it didn't make him feel much better. He pretended to relax.

Sirius walked slowly up to the hat McGonagall was holding up, and he suddenly was aware of just how many people were watching. So many people. Watching. Judging. Thinking.

Sirius took a deep breath, telling himself not to panic. What did he care if the hat put him in Slytherin? After all, it was where he was meant to be, right? What did he care if he never spoke with James again? Did it really matter? Once James found out where he came from, he would abandon him anyway…and any other sensible member of the school would as well. Why did it matter to him?

It didn't. It didn't at all.

And why did he want to be in Gryffindor anyway? So he could be with a kid he had met who smiled a lot? Who cares? Is one boy, a boy he didn't really know, worth a lifetime of torture from his family? More torture than usual, anyway. Was this James Potter really worth it?

Sirius supposed he could have been. Damn that boy and his damn smile.

Professor McGonagall placed the hat on his head, and Sirius felt his heart drop. It was going to say Slytherin. He didn't care if his mother stuck him in a hole, he didn't want to be in Slytherin! Just looking over at their table, spending time with Bellatrix every day…having her be proud of him.

Merlin, no! No. No. No.

"Gryffindor!"

Well…that was easy.

So, with his legs shaking, heart pounding, and happiness level boosting, Sirius made his way to the Gryffindor table.

Author's Note: Hope you liked it. :) Please review!