Prologue
James laid in silence as he heard the front door close. He sighed deeply and crawled out of his bed, only to be hit with a cold breeze. He shuddered slightly and tiptoed to the hallway. On his way out, he grabbed his invisibility cloak and threw it over him. He waited on top of the staircase and glanced over at the big hanging clock in the hall. Four thirty. It had been later.
Sirius snuck up the stairs, after he reemerged from the cloakroom. James watched him as Sirius stood a long time in front of James's door, only to shake his head and walk to his own sleeping room. James cocked an eyebrow. Sirius had been sneaking out of the house for weeks now and usually he came back grinning. There had been no amusement on his face this time. He had been looking rather depressed. James wondered is he should go in and confront/comfort his friend, but decided against it. Sirius had stood at his door, if he had wanted to talk, he would've come in.
James turned and went back in his room. He sighed again when he snuck under his covers. He hadn't had the guts yet to ask Sirius about his nightly behavior, but now, he felt like he had the right to know. If whatever Sirius had been doing made him happy, James had no problem with his friend sneaking out of the house. After all, Sirius was of age and James felt as though Sirius needed something to make and keep him happy. But now, the thing had made Sirius upset and James didn't like an upset Sirius. So he promised himself he would Sirius ask about it first thing tomorrow morning. Then, he fell back asleep.
Morning came and went, and Sirius couldn't be found anywhere in the house. James's parents weren't worried, but sent their house-elf to look for their guest. The poor thing came back miserable, telling its masters that she hadn't been able to find Sirius. Mrs. Potter shook her head, and figured that Sirius just needed some alone-time, and would be back by dinner. After all, healthy boys needed food, and Mrs. Potter's was the best.
It turned out that she was right, and Sirius came strolling into the dining room when his grumbling stomach told him it was feeding time. He joked around with James and Mr. Potter and acted as if everything was alright. He made James feel like a fool, when Sirius started joking about his Head Boy Badge. Mr. and Mrs. Potter just laughed harder.
"Pads?" James asked, long after dinner, when the two boys had invaded the living room. Sirius looked up, grinning, and made a questioning noise.
"Where do you go each night?" James asked, not bothering to hint. Sirius's face fell and he stared at his friend for a few seconds, before shrugging and grinning again.
"It doesn't matter," he grinned, "I'm not going anywhere anymore. Tonight was the last time."