Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything you recognize from it. It's fanfiction for a reason.

Chapter 1. Dinners with Differences

Sirius put up his last Gryffindor banner on his wall, this one directly over his bed. He flicked his wand and cast a Sticking Charm on it. This was one of the only reasons Sirius was glad he was a pureblood. He may have the Trace as an underage wizard, but, in a house with a full grown witch and wizard the Ministry could never prove he did the magic.

Sirius sighed causing him to think of Remus and how he'd disapprove of this "illegal" magic. Then he'd probably pull out a book from nowhere and tell Sirius that he should start studying or doing his homework.

Then he thought of Peter who would probably be sitting and watching, eating some snack. Then when one of them told a joke he wouldn't get it and they would have to explain to him. He was nice enough though, the innocent of the group, the least witty, least intelligent, but he was one of them and Sirius missed him too.

Most of all though, Sirius missed James. He missed the jokes and pranks, sure, but really, he missed his best friend. Everything about all of his friends. And it's only been a fortnight he thought to himself angrily, throwing himself onto his bed.

He heard a knock on his door. "Come in." he said. Sirius knew it was Reg by the knock. Ever since they were little they had had a secret knock. They had come up with it once they got separate rooms. Sirius used to sneak into Regulus's room every night, and would do it. Now Regulus used it to let Sirius know that it was him and not one of their parents.

"What's up Reg?"

"It's time for supper." he said.

"Excellent, what'd Kreacher make?" Sirius asked, getting up from his bed.

"Mushroom stew." Regulus said. "Come on, Mother will be angry if you don't hurry up, and I'd rather you guys didn't get into another screaming match. Two should be enough for today." He turned and went down the stairs.

"Damn it, I hate mushrooms." Sirius muttered to himself as he followed his brother down the stairs.

He turned into the dining room to see his mother and father already seated. His brother say down in an open chair and Kreacher served him. Sirius sighed again before sitting down across from his brother. Kreacher gave him a bowl and Sirius tasted a spoonful. It was revolting. He chocked it down with a slight grimace and then took a drink of water. His father told stories about his work. Orion Black was an "investor" as he called himself. He gave large amounts of funding to the Ministry and certain companies gaining him both influence in politics and more capital.

"What?" Sirius asked perking his head up. He had heard his father say "Potter".

"I was just saying how Harold Potter, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, was in the conference with the Minister with me and was arguing against my law that would put filthy half-breeds in their place. I don't understand why considering, as a pureblood himself, it would only make his financial situation all the better." Mr. Black said. "More stew Kreacher." he added.

"What do you mean by half-breeds?" Regulus asked. Sirius was surprised he had spoken. Orion Black was very serious about being interrupted and he didn't tolerate stupid questions. But then again, Sirius thought annoyed. It's a perfect time for him to spread his racist ideas to the next generation.

"Anything that is part human and therefore even more animal like than muggles." Orion said with disgust as if something below muggles could hardly be considered a human. "Vampires, centaurs, werewolves. And where is my stew!" Kreacher ran up to him with another bowl, bowing and apologizing profusely.

Sirius felt anger bubble up inside of him. His racist father tried to pass a law that would have affected Remus.

"Did it get passed?" Regulus asked, turning to look at his father.

"No unfortunately, Mr. Potter made sure of that, though I don't see what his motive was."

"Maybe it's because he isn't a racist." Sirius said angrily.

"What was that?" His mother asked shrilly.

"I said maybe it's because he isn't a racist. He recognizes that there's no reason for people who aren't pureblood to be treated as second class." Sirius repeated.

"You have no idea what you're talking about! I see that being in that house of blood traitors and mudbloods has filled your mind with nonsense and lies. Just because you have to share rooms with that filth doesn't mean you need to become one of them!" Orion Black yelled back at him. "And don't speak to your mother like that!"

"Become one of them? You mean a human being? Do you realize how ridiculous you're being? I'm a Gryffindor and I'm proud of it so back off." Sirius then turned and stormed up the stairs. He went to his desk and scribbled something down on a scrap of paper before throwing it onto his brother's bed. At least I didn't fight with mother this time. Shone in the light from the hallway before the door was closed. Sirius threw himself onto his bed and just laid there for a few minutes.

Suddenly he heard a pecking sound from his window. He saw James's owl Aquila. She gave him an annoyed look. "I'm coming, I'm coming." Sirius said getting up.

"Gimme that." Sirius said as he untied the letter from the owl's right leg. The owl gave him a look and Sirius sighed. "Here, take your treat."

Sirius didn't have his own owl as his parents had refused to get him one, however he did have some treats. In James's first letter he had sent them saying, "Aquila will attack you if you don't give her a treat after a delivery."

Sirius turned his attention to the letter in his hand. He opened it up and sat at his desk. He began to read it:

Hey Sirius,

I was talking with my parents and they said that they would be happy to have you over but feel you should "get to spend time with your family". I think they've gone mental considering they saw your mother around Christmastime. By the way she is a lovely woman if you're into evil, racist, psychopaths. Anyway they said that you could Floo over with your things for the 16th, and stay the summer. That is, unless you want to go back home.

Remus and Pete are visiting around the time you're coming but I don't think they're staying as long. You can talk about it with your parents.

Write soon it's really boring here.

James

Sirius finished the letter feeling happy. Only a week! Then he could leave this place until next summer! A part of him thought of Reg and how he shouldn't leave his brother with their parents but most of him was just relieved he'd be able to finally leave this prison.

He grabbed some parchment, a quill, and an inkwell and started writing.

James flew around the back of the house. His parents had gotten him a new broom, a Cleansweep Six, after he got O's on all of his exams. He loved it. James did a loop and then went into a dive, pulling up just before he hit the ground. Since the end of the year he had been thinking about Quidditch and joining the house team. He was really good but he wasn't sure whether he wanted to try out for Seeker or Chaser. James couldn't remember which players from last years team left so he wasn't sure which spots were open but he was determined to get on the team.

He heard a call from the back door and squinted to get a better look. It was his father.

"James come on down, supper's ready!" He yelled, gesturing for his son to land.

James sighed to himself and dove. He was a couple yards from the ground when he pulled up and glided towards his father.

"What's for dinner?" he asked as he jumped off his broom then put it over his shoulder.

"Fish and chips." Harold Potter said putting his arm around his son. "That was some top notch flying up there, you're gonna try out for the team right?"

"Course." James said smiling.

"You'll enjoy it, son. I remember my time as Gryffindor Seeker; we won the Cup every year from the time I joined." He said nostalgically.

"Was that because of you or McGonagall?" James asked with a smirk. James's parents had gone to school with Professor McGonagall and they had been good friends. She had been Chaser on the Gryffindor team and was legendary for it.

Mr. Potter chuckled and patted his son on the back as they entered the dining room. Misty was causing the plates to hover over her head and lay themselves on the table with her hands.

"It looks amazing Misty." James said as he sat down. He took a bite. "And it tastes it too!" he added with a smile towards the elf.

"Thank you Master James." She said with a bow. She began to leave the room when Mr. Potter said, "Why are you going in there? Sit with us, I insist."

"Of course Master Harold." She said bowing again before sitting down, her ears barely making it over the table.

Mr. Potter flicked his wand and the chair became taller. With another flick of his wand another plate of fish and chips flew from the kitchen and landed in front of Misty.

"And please, enough of this 'Master' stuff. Just call us by our first names." He added before eating more of his food.

"Of course Mas- Harold." Misty corrected herself before beginning to eat.

"Honestly," Mrs. Potter said to James. "We have to tell her this almost every night."

"So how was work Dad?" James asked his father.

"It was good. I had a conference with the Minister and Orion Black. Yes Sirius's father." He added, answering James's question before he had even asked it. "Anyway he was trying to pass a law restricting the rights of so called 'half-breeds' which he believed are inferior to wizards in general but mostly purebloods. He wanted to not only restrict their rights but impose a tax on being a 'half-breed'. It was ridiculous and, luckily, I convinced the Minister not to pass the law. The Minister might not agree with Orion's ideas but, the Blacks do contribute a lot of money to the Ministry so he may have been more willing to let it go through."

"Sirius isn't like them." James said, immediately coming to his friend's defense.

"I'm aware of that James. I do not judge people based on something they can't control. That's the reason I opposed this law, the reason we aren't racist like many of the Black clan." Mr. Potter said.

The rest of dinner was rather quiet and, later, James went up to his room. He saw Aquila had returned from Sirius's and had a letter for him. He quickly gave her a couple of treats before untying the letter from her left leg.

James,

I would love to come to your's as soon as you're willing and I doubt my folks will mind seeing as they hate seeing me. They're starving me here! Since I've gotten here Kreacher has made my least favorite and the most disgusting meals every day, please PLEASE help and send food.

Oh yeah, at dinner today my dad mentioned your dad. Apparently he tried to pass some ridiculous law against "half-breeds" and your dad talked some sense into the Minister. Thank him for me, my dad was pretty pissed about it.

Anyway write soon and can't wait to get to your's and to see Remmy and Pete, I'll think of some pranks and stuff we can do.

See you soon

Sirius

James smiled as he pulled on some pajamas. His friends were visiting soon, he had a new broom, no school for over a month, and he didn't have demon, racist parents. It was times like these that James really realized just how he was.

A/N: Here it is Year Two! I tried to compare James's and Sirius's situations here, hope you liked it. Feel free to put prank ideas in your reviews, if I use one I'll give you credit. See you soon and please review, they encourage me to write and that means chapters get up faster.