Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Author's Note: This story will start off with a chapter for each Marauder from the time of birth to getting on the Hogwarts express. After that, the chapters will cover all of them at once as they will be together almost constantly.

Chapter 1: Sirius

Walburga Black, proud pure-blood witch, laid in the king size bed, the small baby boy nestled in her arms. She smiled at the child and passed him up to his father, Orion Black. The heavily built man took his newborn son into his arms and rocked him gently.

After eight hours of labor, Walburga was exhausted. She shut her eyes and yawned. The mediwitch who assisted in the delivery ushered the father out of the room and closed the door quietly. Orion carried the baby into the nursery and placed him in the crib.

"What's the baby's name?" the mediwitch asked.

"Sirius Orion Black," the father answered.

"Very good," she answered. "I will leave you to your family."

"Thank you for your services," Orion said before their new house elf, Kreacher, let the witch out.

Just as Orion was about to check on his wife, a sharp cry cut through the quiet house. He thought about leaving the child for Kreacher to tend to, but changed his mind when he heard his wife bellowing for him the take care of their newborn son.

Orion entered the nursery and picked up his son. He rocked Sirius and made shushing sounds to calm him.

The baby's cries slowly died down to quiet whimpers. Orion smiled proudly at his ability to calm his son.

"There," he said. "Much better." He placed Sirius back in the crib and left the room. Orion decided he would order Kreacher to take care of the newborn for the rest day.

xxXxx

Two year old Sirius toddled around the ground floor of the Black family home. He heard his mother's groans and cries from her bedroom upstairs. His father came down the steps looking tired.

"Papa," little Sirius said when his father approached him. "Where mama?"

"Hello Sirius," Orion said. "Mama is upstairs. Soon you'll have a little brother or sister."

Sirius nodded slowly. He had been told this many times over the past few months. He still didn't understand why he couldn't see his mother, though.

Sirius picked up his toy wand and poked his stuffed owl. The toy came to life and flapped its wings. It flew around the drawing room once and then landed in front of Sirius becoming lifeless again.

"Very good, Sirius," Orion said crouching down to pat the boy on the head. Sirius grinned showing his little teeth.

Walburga yelled from the bedroom and Orion went pale again. He stood and hastily made his way upstairs.

Sirius heard his father's voice and then another voice. Silence followed, and Sirius became scared. A tiny cry broke the silence.

Sirius toddled to the bottom of the staircase and looked up. He saw his father holding something wrapped in blankets. Orion came down the stairs slowly and crouched at the bottom. Sirius stood on his tippy toes and looked over his father's arm. He smiled, seeing the baby.

"This is your brother, Sirius," Orion told the little boy. "His name is Regulus."

"Regalus," Sirius said quietly.

"Regulus," Orion corrected.

Sirius reached out a finger and touched his baby brother's tiny fist.

"So wittle," Sirius said.

"It will be a while until you can play with him," Orion chuckled. "I'm going to bring him back to Mama. Go play like a good boy."

Sirius nodded and raced back to his toy wand and stuffed owl.

xxXxx

Sirius, age six, flew around the community pitch on his new broomstick. His father had bought it for him for his birthday. The chilly November air felt freeing on his face. He had been so excited to play with the other boys in the area. He was happy when they accepted him right away and he was actually quite good at quidditch.

Sirius was playing as chaser today with his new friends. He was having so much fun and they played for a couple of hours, until the parents told everyone it was time for dinner. Sirius was left alone, the last one on the pitch. He sighed and threw his broom over his shoulder.

His parents often left him to his own devices. His father worked at the Ministry of Magic while his mother stayed at home and invited her annoying lady friends over. She liked to invite Sirius' cousins over most of the time. They were all girls, and he couldn't stand them. Andie was the only one he really got along with though. She was the middle sister. Her older sister, Bellatrix, Bella for short, was terrible to Sirius. She was eight years older than Sirius and was in her fourth year at Hogwarts. Luckily she was at school right now and didn't have as much time to torment him and cast hexes and curses on him. Narcissa was the youngest of the three sisters. She was by far the prettiest, but she was just as mean as Bella. She would be starting at Hogwarts next September. Whenever Sirius' aunt came by their dark little house, Narcissa was the only one to come. Bella and Andie were both at Hogwarts. He hated his family. His cousins poked fun of him, his mother was constantly barking orders at him, and his little brother always got into trouble, which Sirius got blamed for more often than not. The only one he really liked was his father, he may try to treat him like an adult but at least he didn't look at him like he was a disappointment already.

Sirius opened the front door to his house and walked in kicking off his shoes and leaning his broom against the wall. He walked in slowly, hearing women's voices. He knew his mother had company.

Regulus came into the drawing room and saw his brother. He smiled and waved and then called, "Sirius is home!"

"Sirius?!" Walburga yelled. "Where have you been?"

Sirius stepped into the drawing room fully and faced his furious mother. "I was at the pitch, trying out my new broom."

"Were there other children there?" she inquired.

"Yes, we were playing quidditch," Sirius said.

"Were they half-bloods and muggle-borns?" Walburga sneered as if she was talking about something disgusting.

Sirius shrugged, "I dunno, I didn't ask."

Walburga made a noise at the back of her throat, "You know what I said about only playing with children from pure-blood families. You're dirty; you've been playing with scum. Kreacher!"

The house elf with the long bat-like ears and nose like a beak scurried into the room and bowed before Walburga, "Yes, Mistress?"

"Take Sirius upstairs and throw him in the tub. He needs to be scrubbed clean," she ordered.

"Come young master," Kreacher said and Sirius followed, shoulders slumped. He just didn't understand why he couldn't play with everyone.

xxXxx

Sirius woke up and stretched. His back cracked a couple of times and he sat up. The sun had already risen and was shining through his window. He grinned; today was a special day. It was his birthday and he was turning eleven.

There was a knock on his bedroom door. He got out of bed and opened the door. His little brother was standing there with a small smile on his face. He was slightly shorter than Sirius and he had short, black hair with bangs that often fell into his pale blue eyes.

"What?" Sirius asked when Regulus didn't say anything.

"Happy birthday!" he yelled and hugged his brother.

"Thanks," Sirius said but didn't hug him back. "Do you think breakfast is ready?"

"Dunno," Regulus answered. "Father is as work and Mother hasn't woken up yet."

Sirius made a face. His mother slept most of the morning, never waking up before ten. She would then do her hair and make-up and make sure she looked perfect. By the time she was ready, it was usually around noon.

"I bet Kreacher would make us breakfast," Regulus said.

"You should ask. That old bat hates me," Sirius said.

Regulus nodded and hurried down the stairs. Sirius changed into a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve black t-shirt. He slipped on a pair of white socks, gave his chin-length black hair a quick brush through and headed to the dining room.

There was some toast, eggs, sausages, and juice laid out on the table. Regulus was already loading up a plate. Sirius dug in as well taking a little of everything. He hadn't realized he was so hungry. When his mother sent him to bed the night before without dinner he hadn't been that hungry anyway, but now he was starving.

He heard footsteps upstairs and figured his mother was awake. It was unusual for her to be awake before ten, but he didn't really question it. He just hoped she had forgotten why she sent him to his room in the first place. They had been arguing about Sirius' friends who he played with at the community quidditch pitch. Then the argument went to Hogwarts and how Sirius needed to be in Slytherin or Walburga would make his life a living hell. He snapped back saying she made his life a living hell already and he would kill himself if the sorting hat put him in Slytherin. He had watched his mother's face turn the color of a tomato and saw the disapproving look from his father before Walburga exploded and sent him to his room without dinner.

Just as Sirius was about to load up his plate a second time, there was a tapping on the window. A small tawny owl was flapping about just outside with a letter in its beak. Regulus was closer to the window; he got up and let the owl in. It dropped the letter in front of Sirius who patted the little bird on the head and ripped off a bit of toast for it. The owl hooted in thanks and took off through the open window. Regulus closed it and turned to Sirius who was opening the letter addressed to him. He grinned when He realized it was his acceptance letter to Hogwarts. It explained that he would begin his schooling on September 1st of the following year. Included was a list of supplies he would need.

"Got my Hogwarts letter," Sirius grinned proudly at his brother.

"Good," Walburga said as she entered the dining room. "Remember what I told you last night. You had better be in Slytherin."

Sirius sighed and rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he muttered.

Walburga didn't say anything, just grabbed a slice of toast and a cup of tea. She went to the drawing room and read the Daily Prophet.

Sirius was glad she hadn't said anything and he really didn't care that she didn't wish him a happy birthday. His Hogwarts letter was enough of a birthday gift.

xxXxx

Sirius was walking with his family through King's Cross Station. Orion had taken the morning off work to escort his first-born son to the Hogwarts Express. Sirius could tell his father was very proud, but he also knew that wouldn't last for long. Sirius was determined to not be in Slytherin, and he knew if he wasn't placed there, his father wouldn't be so proud of him. Walburga had stopped talking to Sirius for almost a month now. She constantly looked at him with disapproval and something close to malice. Regulus on the other hand wouldn't shut up about Hogwarts and begged Sirius to write to him at least once a month. He wanted to know every little detail about Hogwarts.

Even now, Sirius tuned out his brother, ignored his mother's malicious stares, and walked ahead of his father. He wanted to get away from all of them as soon as possible. They stopped in front of the archway between platforms nine and ten. Sirius took a deep breath and just stared at it. This was it; after he went through he would be able to get on the train and leave his family behind.

"It's best to run at it," Orion said.

"Right," Sirius said and made a run for it. He shut his eyes just as he was about to collide. When he opened his eyes again he saw the magnificent crimson and black train sitting at the station. He looked over his shoulder and saw his mother holding Regulus' hand and his father come through to the platform. They walked together toward the train. Sirius passed his trunk to one of the train staff who put it on the train for him.

Sirius looked at his parents, "Well, bye!" He turned towards the train.

"Sirius!" Orion bellowed. "You will give your mother a proper goodbye."

"Why?" Sirius said dripping with sass. "She hasn't spoken to me in a month. She'll be happy I'm leaving until Christmas. Not like she'll talk to me then either, I don't plan on being in Slytherin."

Sirius was knocked back by a backhand to the face. He felt sting on his cheek and tried to hold back the tears that formed in the corners of his eyes.

"I'll see you at Christmas," Sirius mumbled. Regulus didn't dare move to hug his brother goodbye in fear of being slapped as well. "Goodbye."

And with that, Sirius boarded the Hogwarts express. He found an empty compartment on the side opposite of the platform. He sat down heavily and rubbed his cheek thanking Merlin he wouldn't have to see any of their faces for three months.