Life As We Know It
First in the Black & Brown series. Features the marauders after Hogwarts. Marriage, Death Eaters, a prophecy, deaths, disappearances, and one baby boy with green eyes. Life will never be the same again.
Chapter One: The Motorcycle"Oy James! Get your antlered arse out here!" Sirius called up to the house in which currently resided his best friend in the whole world, James Potter, and his newly fianced and impregnated girl of choice, Lily-soon-to-be-Potter.
James poked his head out of an upstairs window and looked out into the darkness, just barely able to see his friend by the headlights coming from whatever vehicle was behind Sirius down on the street.
Lily's face appeared next to James, silhouetted by the light coming from behind her. "Sirius Valentine Black. What the hell do you think you're doing here at 3:00 in the morning? You're going to wake the neighbors!"
"Lily, that's precisely why I'm here. To disturb the neighbors!" Sirius yelled rolling his eye.
James snickered behind his hand. No one annoyed Lily quite like Sirius.
"All right you big stupid dog. We'll be right down." James called down before the two could start bickering two stories apart and disappeared back into his bedroom. Lily stood fuming for a moment, looking like she wanted to scream at Sirius, but she thought better of it and followed her fiancé.
Sirius watched with a motorcycle helmet tucked under one arm, as the couple appeared moments later in hastily thrown on jackets and pants.
"Oh my god. Sirius is that a motorcycle?" Lily stopped dead in her tracks, her anger forgotten.
Sirius smiled and fondly and patted the chrome handlebars. "Yup. Do you like it?"
James shook his head. "I thought you were up to your nose in debt mate, how can you afford this?"
"How about my Uncle Alphard kicked the bucket and left lots of money and now I have money to spare and decided to indulge a little. Sorry if I'm to free-spirited for you fun-killer."
James backed up, hands raised in surrender. "Okay, okay. Sorry I asked." Quietly to himself he muttered. "I am not a fun-killer."
A man came running out of the house across the street, the lights in the upstairs windows were turned on. Lily groaned, noticing that several houses going up and down the tiny lane had also turned their lights on.
The man muttered something and pointed his lit wand tip directly at the three marauders.
"You people again. And Mr. Black as well. I should have known it you making all of this ruckus. How are we supposed to sleep with causing a commotion every night."
"I do not cause a commotion every night Mr. Branstone. Just most." Sirius said, folding his arms in front of him.
The old man shook his head and grinned at the energetic black-haired youth. "And I don't suppose you're even at all sorry for waking me, my wife, and our son?"
Sirius tapped his chin thoughtfully while he pondered his answer. "Uh…yes?"
"Yes what?"
"Yes I'm sorry I woke you and you're lovely family who would never hold a grdudge against charming and handsome young men?" Sirius asked hopefully.
Mr. Branstone simply smiled and started walking back towards his house. "You forgot brownnoser."
James smiled and threw and arm around Lily, who was trying not to show how amused she was. "Did you know that flatterers go to the eight circle of hell Sirius?"
"No Lily I did not. Thank you for telling me." Sirius turned back to the couple. "James, want to go for a ride?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
But Sirius would not be deterred. He asked James continually until James finally said yes the twenty-sixth time hew was pleaded.
Somewhat awkwardly James got onto the back of the bike with Sirius. Sirius hit the accelerator and started off down the street at a very fast and somewhat dangerous speed.
"Uh, Padfoot? The road ends here!" James yelled with horror but Sirius did not slow down, instead he sped up and laughed. Clutching onto the back of Sirius' jacket James suddenly realized that he was no longer on the ground and was roaring over the houses he had been afraid he would be splattered against.
Amazement crossed James' face and he laughed in delight. "Bloody hell Padfoot! You might have mentioned it flied!" James yelled into his best friend's ear over the engine.
"What fun would that have been?" Sirius yelled over his shoulder.
Slowly and somewhat begrudgingly Sirius returned to the ground in front of a very exasperated, but astonished Lily. "So that's something no other motorcycle can do." She said with her arms crossed but her bright green eyes wide.
"Yep. Great isn't it?" James rolled off the bike and patted his friend on the shoulder.
"It sure is something Padfoot. Can I count on seeing you at the next meeting?" James asked. His face was still lit up with adrenaline from the ride.
"Of course Prongs. Have you ever known me to miss one?" Sirius asked, falling back onto the motorcycle seat with mock surprise.
Lily smiled. "No, but you have on occasion shown up smashed." Sirius scowled and James chuckled appreciatively.
"It only happened twice and I only plan on doing it a few more times, if you don't mind." Sirius said with the utmost dignity.
Lily stared at him for a moment and then broke out into a wide grin. "God you have to visit more often, you always make me smile. I'll see you later then Sirius."
"Later Evans. Bye Prongs." Sirius waved as he swung his other leg across the and started the engine. With one last burst of acceleration the couple watched their closest friend disappear into the night.
The next Order meeting was on the 24th of December. Sirius arrived quite sober if not noisily on his new motorcycle which Arthur and Molly Weasley's kids ran almost immediately up to in order to admire.
Bill; the oldest at nine ran an admiring hand along the metalwork. "Wicked." He breathed out.
Sirius had to fight to control his laughter. The boy was almost old enough to start Hogwarts after all, no longer the small child he remembered and he would want to be treated as such. Sirius scowled remembering when his mother refused to acknowledge that age leap in his life.
Black Mansion: 1969"Hurry Sirius, we'll be late for the party!" Walburga Black yelled up the stairs. Her youngest, Regulus, was clinging to her robes and she impatiently batted his hands away. "Stop that Regulus, you'll crinkle the material."
Nine year old Sirius descended the stairs throwing his cloak around his shoulders and fastening the clasps with one hand while fumbling with his tucked-in shirt. "Do I have to wear this? The silver robes are a lot more comfortable and Aunt Druella said she thought it matched my eyes."
"Don't be ridiculous Sirius, what a silly notion. That robe is completely inappropriate for such an event. Hurry or you'll make us all late."
Sirius felt his face blush deep red and he ducked his head. "Sorry mother."
Walburga Black turned to her oldest son. "Stop slouching, you look common."
Sirius shook himself from his memories to watch Bill's younger brothers, Charlie and Percy attempt to approach the bike. They were both more tentative about the massive bike but eventually Charlie, who was seven, struck up enough courage to go and pet it much the way someone would pet a dog.
Percy on the other hand decided to keep his distance and suck his thumb. A nervous trait he had acquired as a baby Sirius remembered.
Remus Lupin was the next one out the door to welcome Sirius. The fellow marauder was holding another red-haired boy, whom Sirius did not recall, and was looking particularly ragged today. Sirius remembered that the full moon had passed only two days ago.
The boy kept tugging at the Remus' shoulder length tan hair and laughing when Remus winced.
With a smile Sirius shook hands with Remus while the other man attempted to juggle the little boy.
Handing Sirius the boy Remus leant over to admire Sirius' new prize. Within a few moments of looking and silent appraising, Remus stood up and nodded to Sirius with a toothy grin.
"It suits you. I like it." Sirius returned the smiled and adjusted the boy in his arms.
"Excellent Moony because you're going for a ride later."
Remus' eyes opened wide. "No I'm not."
"Yes you are."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Not"
"Are"
"Not"
"Are"
"Okay boys, let's break it up. The meeting is due to start soon." Both men whirled around to find Molly Weasley with an identical red-haired boy to the one Sirius was carrying in her own arms.
"Oh, and by the way Sirius dear, these little trouble makers are Fred," she pointed to the one in his own arms. "And George." Indicating the boy that was clinging to her.
Fred let out a delighted giggle and screamed "Mooey!" while pointing at Remus. Remus looked absolutely appalled and Sirius started laughing.
Molly rolled her eyes and gestured her other children away from the motorcycle and back into the house. After all, it was time for the meeting to start.
Arthur Weasley left the Order Room rather quickly after they had adjourned. He needed to think about what had just happened.
His wife came out of the room next with a stupefied look on her face and leant against her husband. Finding her hand he clasped it in his own and wrapped his other arm around her shaking form.
Gideon and Fabian Prewett, his wife's brothers and notorious pranksters (second only to the marauders), had just been reported dead at the scene of a battle.
Arthur felt numb all over. Feeling his wife's warm tears soak into his shirt shook him more than the news had. His wife was one of the strongest and most capable people he had ever met. She could usually handle anything, but this news had shocked her to the very core.
Sirius, Remus, James, Peter, and Lily were the next to the leave the room and all of them gave Molly a hug. Molly clung to each of them, she knew how close Sirius and James had grown to be with Gideon and Fabian. In return the two Prewetts had seen themselves in the marauders and had invited the group into their lives. The loss of the brothers had hit them hard too.
All the Order mourned the loss of two very powerful young people who could have changed the world. Another young man would soon have his chance. But that's not until later in the story.
Soon after the Prewetts' death the Longbottoms, Frank and Alice, announced that they were to have a child and the due date was in August sometime. They were constantly arguing over what they should name the unborn child.
Sirius and James weren't helpful and kept throwing out hideous pure-blood names like Umbriel or Despina for a girl and Caliban or Deimos for a boy.
Eventually the couple decided on Neville for a boy after his grandfather, and Alicia for a girl after his mother. Sirius argued that Neville was no better than Deimos. Frank said it had character.
Author's Note:
Let me know what you think. I believe the story gets better as it goes along so review if you want to see the next chapter.
