The Start

By ROSSELLA1

Note: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters.

Sirius has only been at Hogwarts a week when it comes. Just long enough to make a new friend and learn that it's not normal for one's parents to lock their children in the family dungeon for saying muggles shouldn't be tortured. He's started to realize that he'd never truly felt happy before. And then it comes. He's sitting next to James in the Great Hall, trying to decide between eggs and pancakes when the post comes. Sirius doesn't expect any mail. His parents spend a good portion of their time pretending Sirius doesn't exist and the rest of the time asking him why he can't be more like Regulus. But when he looks up Sirius sees their family owl, Apus, flying towards him. Still, Sirius doesn't feel a sense of foreboding. Until the red envelope is dropped on his plate.

"Woah," James says, turning to him, eyes wide, "What did you do?"

Sirius has no idea. He's sure he didn't leave any Zonko's products lying where his mother or father could accidently set them off, and he'd been extra careful not to fight with Regulus in the week leading up to his departure, as he knew he wouldn't see his brother for quite some time. He grabs for the envelope, hoping he has time to make it out of the Great Hall before it goes off, but the Howler has already begun to steam. He's just rising when it bursts open and his mother's voice fills the room.

SIRIUS ORION BLACK!

YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE HEARD ABOUT YOUR RECENT DISGRACE! THE ONLY GRYFFINDOR IN CENTURIES! YOU ARE TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE HEADMASTER AND DEMAND TO BE RESORTED! IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT-

But Sirius is already running from the Hall. He can hear James call out for him and his mother's voice still demanding that Sirius "rectify" the situation, but he ignores both of them, trying to make it out of the Great Hall before she finishes and he needs to hear the other students' laughter.

He heads for the library because he knows he's least likely to run into other students and because James would never think to look for him here. He doesn't want to talk to his friend. Not now. SIrius ignores the librarian's cry of admonishment and keeps running until he's deeper into the library than he's ever been before. He ducks into an alcove and flings himself onto the couch, sobbing into the cushions.

It's not fair! He hasn't done anything wrong. He's just been sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin! He can hardly help that. All he'd wanted when he got to Hogwarts was to distance himself from his family and make new friends. Now he doubts if-

"Er...are you okay?"

Sirius jerks up, looking wildly around the alcove. In the corner, perched on an overstuffed armchair, sits a boy about his age. "What are you doing here? Thought it would be funny to follow me?" Sirius snaps, rubbing the tears from his eyes.

"No!" The boy, Sirius now recognizes him as a first year Gryffindor named Remus Lupin, looks shocked. "I...I was just reading before breakfast and you...I can leave if you want..."

"N-no. No that's...that's a-alright." Sirius replies quickly, now feeling slightly calmer. Clearly the boy has no idea what Sirius is talking about; he couldn't have heard the Howler. Of course what he must think of Sirius, running in here and throwing himself on the couch, crying like a little girl..."I'm sorry. I just...I'll go." Cheeks flushed, Sirius rises and turns to leave.

"Are you..." There's a cracking sound behind him, and Sirius glances back to see that Remus has taken a slab of chocolate out and his offering him a piece. "When I feel upset, chocolate always makes me feel better." Remus offers him a weak smile.

Sirius hesitates, and then takes the candy. "Thank you." And then he hurries from alcove, looking for another, more abandoned area to compose himself in.

…..

It's over an hour later when Sirius makes his way back to the Gryffindor Common room. He's missed Charms and is about to be late for Potions. He grabs his bag and makes a mad dash for the dungeon, just barely dropping into a seat next to James before class starts.

"Sirius!" James looks relieved. "I looked everywhere for you! Are you-"

"I'm fine." Sirius says gruffly. "No big deal. Probably get loads more Howlers before the year's over."

James opens his mouth, but Slughorn clears his throat. "Everybody take a seat! Take a seat! Today we will be making a simple cure for boils. Now, I want you to split into pairs or groups of three and then we can begin our first step."

Sirius glances up and meets James' eyes, silently agreeing that they'll work together. Further down the row, Sirius can see the boy from the library, Remus, sitting still, glancing nervously around as if he wants to ask someone to work with him but can't quite get up the nerve to do so.

"Come on." Sirius mutters, elbowing James. He gets up and walks over, dropping into a seat next to the boy. "Remus, right?"

"Yeah..." Lupin sounds tentative, as if he's unsure why Sirius and James have come to sit with him.

"I'm Sirius, and this is James. Wanna work with us?"

"Sure!"

The boy looks way too excited at the prospect and Sirius wonders if he has any friends yet. Remus had seemed nice enough in the library. And while he starts to talk about the ingredients of the potion in a way that makes Sirius think the boy might be a bit of a teacher's pet, Lupin doesn't mention that he'd seen Sirius earlier. Perhaps, Sirius thinks, he and James could be Remus' friends.