After Sirius almost got Snape killed by sending him to the willow tree Dumbledore had no choice but to suspend him for the rest of the semester. As there were only two weeks left it wasn't a big deal unless your last name was Black but he had to miss out on the activities and his friends knew life would be difficult at home. Before leaving Sirius tried to talk to them again but James and Remus were having nothing to do with him.

"I'm sorry Moony, I just got mad and ..."

"That's an excuse? If it was up to Snape I'd be in Azkaban right now and he'd have his way. Do you know what they do to people like me? Do you even care? By the way never call me Moony again, only my friends get to call me that." Sirius leaves and Remus was too angry to care though when he calmed down he realized Sirius might've been trying to tell him something. "Prongs, did uh … Sirius talk to you before he left?" James sighs,

"He tried to but I wouldn't have any of it. Did he talk to you?"

"He tried but I was angry and hurt. I'm starting to think he was trying to tell me something but I was too angry to listen. I wonder ..." They both look at Peter who was laying on the floor reading. "Peter, did Sirius say something to you."

"Yeah, he said goodbye because he doubts he'll ever see us again much less get to come back. He said his mom would likely make sure he could never come back and to tell you guys he was sorry." They both pale.

"Why didn't you say something sooner? What else did he say?"

"Just that and not to say anything unless you asked because you guys didn't care to listen to him." James and Remus went straight to McGonagall and told her what Peter said but she just listened and dismissed it.

"Mr. Potter, he was upset and being dramatic. Mrs. Black said his punishment for this behavior would be restriction when he returned but nothing was ever said about harming him or not letting him return."

"Haven't you ever met Mrs. Black? She hurt him for being put in Gryffindor, this is much worse. Not only did he potentially harm someone but he also got kicked out of school."

"He was not kicked out of school and I assure you that he'll be fine. After all his antics over the years do you think he should get out of trouble for this one." James doesn't know what to say and she sighs. "Come on, back to the dorms you still have an early class tomorrow."

Meanwhile Sirius was wishing he could die after being tortured and punished for days. Walburga had no qualms about telling him that he deserved it for almost getting someone killed. Sirius curled up trying to escape from her and just made it worse. When she finally left him alone to deal with some issues Sirius packed a bag of things he couldn't leave without and quickly threw them out the window. He knew his only chance of getting out alive was by transforming and making a run for it. He knew to draw some blood and put them on the clothes to leave near the edge of the forbidden for rest so it looked like he was killed. A few days before the end of term Remus, James and Peter were called into Dumbledore's office.

"Hi Professor Dumbledore, you wanted to see us?"

"Yes come sit down. I was just wondering if any of you heard from Sirius lately?" They shake their heads.

"No, uh … we haven't exactly talked to him since the incident. Is he okay? He told Peter that he wouldn't be allowed to come back but Professor McGonagall told us he was supposed to be okay." They hadn't seen Professor McGonagall sitting in a chair until she sniffed.

"This morning some of his clothes were found by Hagrid out by the forest where the animals like to hunt. They were bloody and ..."

"Well that could be from anything. We uh … we're always goofing off in that direction. It doesn't mean he died or ..." Dumbledore clears his throat.

"I contacted the Ministry just in case and it seems his parents reported him missing a few days ago and he was last reported to be wearing the clothes we found this morning. They said he went to bed and when they went up the next morning he was gone." James shakes his head.

"They had something to do with it. They wouldn't just let him walk out of their house without knowing about it. What are they …?"

"They reported him missing days ago and the clothes were found this morning. We think and the ministry's investigating if he tried to return for some reason when the animals got to him. You know there have been reports of wild animals going around and the centaurs don't allow strangers in the woods."

"So that's it? They get him killed and it's all swept under the rug. Don't ask don't tell right?"

"Mr. Potter ..."

"No, forget it. Everyone loves Mrs. Black and she can't do anything wrong so let's just believe he escaped. Everyone turned on him for a prank and now he's dead because of her."

"The ministry hasn't found any proof of foul play in the home, some of his things are missing and they suspect he ran away of his own accord. I have informed your parents and they're expecting you to go home if you wish." James wipes his eyes with the back of his hand not looking at Remus or Peter. "Go pack your things and you can floo home." James runs out and Remus follows him.

"Prongs ..."

"No, I don't care what they say you know he … why would he come back here? We deserted him and we just ..."

"I don't know but … talk to your dad. He investigates this sort of thing doesn't he?"

"Yeah but he likes her too." They made their way to the dorms after Peter caught up with them and found McGonagall was already there and had told the house what happened to Sirius. James ignored her and rushed up to his dorm to pack his stuff.

"Mr. Potter, may I have a minute?"

"I really don't feel like talking Professor. Last time I tried to talk to you nothing was done and now Sirius is dead."

"I know and I'm sorry. I should've taken your worries more seriously and I'm sorry for your loss." James doesn't say anything. "There was a letter found close to his … clothing with your name on it. It seems to be in his handwriting but sealed so we couldn't open it." James takes the letter and sticks it in his robes.

"Thank you,"

They take turns flooing home and James' mum Imelda was waiting for him.

"Oh Jimmy, I'm so sorry about Sirius. Are you okay?" James shakes his head.

"We knew something was going to happen and we tried to talk to McGonagall but she said we were over reacting." James shakes his head. "We were so mad at him there's no way he would've come back to Hogwarts … we didn't even want to talk to him."

"Maybe he wanted … I'm sorry Jimmy I don't know what to tell you."

"I know and I just want to go lay down."

A few days later two days before Christmas Imelda was going to wash clothes and saw his robes in a heap. When she went to clean the pockets she found Sirius' note.

"Here Jimmy, I found this in your robes." James opens the letter quietly.

Dear Prongs, Moony and Wormtail.

If you are reading this then they have found my clothes. I'm sorry but I can't take it anymore and I used some of that potion that causes you to combust that Slughorn brewed. I know I messed up and my mother is trying to kill me. I can't take it so I'm going to run away and leave this by the school in hopes that it's found.

Moony I'm sorry that I hurt you and I hope that you might one day forgive me. Prongs, you were right I am a disgrace and just like my family. Wormtail thanks for the laughs.

Padfoot.

"Jimmy, what's wrong? What happened?"

"He killed himself … he couldn't take what happened anymore and killed himself." Imelda hugged him while he sobbed. "I have to tell the others … they're uh … I just have to see Remus."

"Of course, is there anything I can do?'

"No, I'll be fine. I just need to show this to him."

"Okay Jimmy, let me know if you need anything."

Meanwhile at a smaller lesser known wizarding shopping area Sirius was very much alive though broken down by what his parents did to him and by leaving everyone behind. He didn't know if the letter was found or if even the clothes were found yet but he knew he could never return to the wizarding world as long as his parents were alive. In the same center James' dad Simon was looking for something for James to cheer him up. He wanted the latest racing broom but they were out in Diagon Alley and back order through the catalog would take until practically the summer. Simon was looking in a store window at something when he was bumped into Sirius.

"Excuse me Mr. Potter." Sirius froze realizing he said the name out loud before trying to hurry off.

"Wait! Sirius, wait." Sirius just wanted to disappear but manners and how good the Potters were to him made him stop. "Sirius … are you okay? Everyone thinks your dead."

"I am dead." Simon looks at him. "My best friends hate me, my parents tried to kill me … I have no where to go but the streets. Just leave me alone and forget you saw me." Simon shakes his head.

"I can't do that Sirius." Simon carefully looks him over. "You look like you could use a hot meal. How about we get something to eat and talk?" Sirius wanted to turn him down but he hadn't eaten in two days.

"I'm not going back home."

"I'm not saying you have to. Remember I do some investigations to keep kids like you safe."

"You couldn't help me before."

"I didn't have any proof that something was wrong. Your parents reported you missing and a few days later your clothes were found. Everyone thinks the animals of the forest killed you and ate your body." Sirius makes a face and Simon smiles. "James, Remus and Peter are having a real hard time with this."

"They don't care … besides I left them a note that I was killing myself to get away from all of it. Slughorn made this portion to spontaneously combust something leaving nothing behind. I didn't want anyone to look for me."

"Sirius he hasn't said anything so I don't think he read it but that is just going to hurt him more. Look, come home with me and I'll get you into protective custody. You won't have to go anywhere and you won't be living on the streets."

"James hates me … I can't go I'm sorry."

"James has been crying for you Sirius. He hates that you guys had a fight and now you're dead. Just come to the house, I have two more stops and then we can go."

"Okay," Simon got the broom, some stuff for Sirius he knew he needed through James though Sirius thought they were for James and then something for Imelda. When he took Sirius home though Imelda took one look at him and screamed making them both jump.