CHAPTER ONE

Anything you recognize from Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling

James Potter was abruptly woken up by sounds of clanging and talking. Frowning, he reached for his glasses on the nightstand beside his bed. He glanced at the clock. 6: 30 AM. Who in the world would visit Potter Manor at six-thirty in the morning? He stood up, changed out of his pajamas and headed downstairs. Dorea Potter was making pancakes for breakfast, and James's dad, Charlus Potter was reading the Daily Prophet. But the person who was sitting at the table made James grin.

"Padfoot!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Sirius Black, James' best friend, looked up. "Hello, Prongs," the sixteen-year-old said. "And to answer your question, I ran away." Sirius smiled wearily at him.

James frowned and sat down beside him. "Ran away?" he echoed. "From your house?"

Sirius chuckled. "Yeah, well, you and your parents always said that I could come live with you, so I just did that."

"Wicked!" James grinned. Then he frowned thoughtfully. "What happened? Had a row between you and your dear mother?"

Sirius grimaced. "The usual."

"Sirius, James, eat up!" Dorea said, smiling at the pair.

"Thanks, Mrs. Potter."

"Thanks, mom."

James and Sirius dove into their food.

"Why do I have to be here? I already know all the rules," James whined.

Charlus sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I already told you, James. Rules and their consequences are always discussed together by the family," he said firmly.

James huffed. "I have to hear lectures because of you, Paddy," he grumbled.

"It would do you some good to learn the rules again, Prongsie," Sirius retorted. "And don't call me that."

"Then don't call me Prongsie."

"You started it."

"Your presence made me say it."

"Did not."

"Did too!"

"Didn't."

"Did."

"Didn't."

"Did."

"Di-"

"All right, that's enough," Charlus interrupted. "Have a seat." Charlus sat down on the soft armchair and gestured to the couch. James and Sirius sat down. "Well, there are four major rules: No putting your life in danger, no lying, no disrespect, and no disobedience. Should you break the Big Four, you will get a spanking."

James winced while Sirius' eyes widened. Charlus seemed to notice this and he looked at Sirius comfortingly. "Don't worry, Sirius. A spanking and a beating is very different."

Sirius nodded and fiddled uncomfortably with his hands.

"I might use an object to aid me during the spanking. The hairbrush, ruler, and the paddle I sometimes use, but there is also the belt and the cane," Charlus said, fixing his hazel-brown eyes on Sirius. "But remember this - for me to use the belt or the cane whatever misdeed you committed would have to be very bad indeed. Are you following me, Sirius?"

"Yes, sir," Sirius answered.

Charlus smiled at him. "Now, what's with all this formality? You'll be living with us now, do call me Charlus or Mr. Potter. Or maybe even 'dad', if you're comfortable with it," he said kindly.

"Yes, Mr. Potter," Sirius replied, quickly picking the name he was most comfortable with.

"Now, when you put your life in danger, it would result in immediate discipline. No if's, and's, or but's. For lying or disrespect I would wash your mouth out with soap and give you a spanking with the hairbrush. Disobedience would be similar, though depending on the level of it. Those are pretty much the rules we have, other than small little things." Charlus smiled at Sirius, who began to shift on the couch. Sirius always had trouble sitting still for more than five minutes.

"Padfoot, did you bring your broom?" James suddenly asked.

"Yeah," Sirius said, grinning.

"How do you feel about a fly?" James grinned.

Sirius nodded enthusiastically. "Of course!"

The two boys rushed out, waving to Charlus, who smiled in amusement. It looked like the Potter household would be noisier soon.

Three Weeks Later

"Hey, Padfoot?"

"What?" Sirius looked up from the book he was reading.

James frowned. "Why are you reading a book?" he asked, for it was quite strange for Sirius to read a book with such interest.

"It's okay. It's about this guy that dates a girl and then dumps her after a week. Then this evil witch comes and transforms him into a frog to teach him a lesson."

James rolled his eyes. "That guy reminds me of you," he muttered under his breath. It was true; Sirius made girlfriends and then after a week or two he would decide that the girl he was currently with was boring and dump her, leaving the poor girl heartbroken.

"What was that?" Sirius murmured.

"Nothing," James said hastily.

"Well, what were you going to tell me?" Sirius demanded, throwing down the book and coming over to sit on James' bed.

James looked into Sirius' gray eyes. "Sirius, what time is it?" he asked.

Sirius looked at the clock, thoroughly confused at the antics of his best friend. "Umm, 8:00 PM," he answered.

James nodded. "How about we go for a fly to Moony?" he suggested.

Sirius' eyes widened. "What?"

James smirked. "Moony lives only two towns away, Padfoot. It would be an easy flight," he replied. "And Muggles wouldn't see us, 'cause we would be too high in the sky. And we wouldn't take our broom. Let's take the new Nimbus 1700 my dad has. You know, show off to Moony. So, how about it?"

Sirius glanced outside, chewing his bottom lip nervously. He knew they weren't supposed to fly after seven o'clock. He hesitated.

"Come on, Padfoot, where's all your enthusiasm?" James grinned, ruffling his hair.

Sirius looked outside once more through the window, then gave a small smile. "Let's go."

James and Sirius flew over to Remus' house - James at the front of the Nimbus 1700 and Sirius at the back - and peered through the window. Remus was sitting in his room, quietly reading a book. Sirius and James exchanged looks, rolling their eyes. Of course Remus would be reading. James tapped on the window, making Remus look up. Remus' eyes widened but he quickly opened the window for them.

"Prongs, Padfoot, what are you doing here? And where did you get that Nimbus 1700?" Remus asked in a low voice, casting a wary look at his room door. "Don't be too loud, we don't want to alert my parents."

"We're just here for a visit, Moony," James grinned. "And this broom is my dad's. Guess what? Sirius is living at my house now!"

Remus raised an eyebrow and looked at Sirius, who blushed. "Can't stay out of trouble, can you, Padfoot?" he said wryly.

"Shut up," Sirius grumbled, lightly shoving Remus toward his bed. Remus stumbled back and fell heavily on the ground. Sirius and James exchanged wide-eyed looks. Sirius immediately hurried over to his friend. "Merlin, I'm so sorry, Remus, I forgot the full moon was just three days ago," he exclaimed.

"Remus? What's going on?" The voice of Mr. Lupin floated up the stairs.

Remus and James and Sirius exchanged panicked looks. "Go!" Remus hissed at them. "I'm fine!"

James quickly snatched up the Nimbus 1700 and gestured to Sirius to hop on. "Bye, Moony," Sirius said as they took off.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" James said, looking back at Sirius.

Sirius' eyes widened. "James, look out!"

James and Sirius were flung off the broomstick as they crashed into a tree.

Sirius groaned. There was a throbbing pain in his left wrist and he could feel blood trickling down his cheek. He raised his right hand and touched it, feeling a cut there. He spotted James not too far off and crawled over to him. "Prongs, you all right?" he whispered.

James hissed in pain as he tried to stand up. "I think I've sprained my ankle."

Sirius whimpered, staring at the spot behind James. "What?" James asked, obviously annoyed and curious.

"Your dad is gonna kill us, James," Sirius breathed.

James turned his head. Behind them was a Nimbus 1700, broken in half.

The boys managed to get home by calling the Night Bus. Sirius and James stopped in front of Potter Manor, exchanging looks. Then, James took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Who's there?" Charlus' voice rang out.

"It's just us, dad," James said quietly.

Charlus appeared, looking worried. "Where were you?" he demanded. Then his eyes swept on from James to Sirius, to the broken Nimbus 1700. "Go sit on the couch."

Both boys limped to the couch. Charlus appeared after a few moments, and waved his wand, healing the boys. Then he pocketed his wand and crossed his arms across his chest. "I want you to go to your room, and pick out separate corners to stand in."

James and Sirius ran up the stairs, not wanting to stay with Charlus when he was so grim.

END OF CHAPTER ONE

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Next chapter: Charlus punishes James and Sirius and then comforts them. But Sirius begins to have dark thoughts. What kind of thoughts will they be?