Chapter 2

End of the Summer Holiday

James' POV

"James!" I heard my name from a voice I knew all too well. I turn around to see Sirius covered in soot, panting, but with a huge grin on his face.

"Sirius!" I ran over to him without hesitation, and crushed him in a hug.

"Come on mate! I need to breathe you know."

I laughed and stepped back from him, "Sorry."

My mum and dad came into the room a few moments later, "Sirius, it's great to see you sweetie." My mom said as she went to hug him.

"It's great to see you too Mrs. Potter." Sirius said with the biggest smile on his face.

She stepped away from him, "Oh you're looking a bit thin. I'll go make you something to eat." Sirius didn't even have time to say thanks before she left the room.

"Thank you so much for having me over Mr. Potter."

"Anytime Sirius, your parents weren't bothering you too much I hope." My dad replied. My parents knew about the Blacks, and that they were not very nice people. I on the other hand, knew almost nothing. My parents refuse to tell me anything, and Sirius doesn't let on too much either, so all I know is that he doesn't have it as good as me.

"No, they were fine." Sirius said, but I could tell he was lying. My dad couldn't, so he nodded and walked out of the room.

Sirius turned back towards me, "So, Peter and Remus are coming over tomorrow?"

I shook my head, "Only Peter." Sirius started to look concerned.

"Why, where's Remus?"

"He's fine, here-" I walked to the other side of the room to get the letter Remus sent me, "He sent me this today."

Dear James,

Thank you for the invitation, but I won't be able to come for another day, because I am recovering from a cold. Please don't blow up the house with Sirius since I'm not there to prevent it. See you soon.

Your friend,

Remus Lupin

Sirius put down the letter, "Oh."

"Hey this is good! We can finally figure out why he keeps leaving! Maybe him not coming tomorrow is part of it." I said.

Sirius thought about this for a couple seconds, "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Come on, we can write today down in our notebook." And we both raced upstairs to my room.

When we got there, we added yesterday and today's dates down, just in case. "So what do we do now?" Sirius asked.

I shrugged, "We can go eat something maybe?" I suggested.

"Yes, I'm starving!" And we both made our way down the stairs to the warm smell of my mum's cooking even though it was almost 10 PM. But, this was a special occasion after all.

It's been two days since I sent the letters out to my friends, and Remus was supposed to be coming today. Peter came yesterday and although we had fun, we all knew there was something missing without Remus. So as soon as we heard the doorbell ring, the three of us ran down the stairs to greet him.

"Remus!" We screamed in unison and then proceeded to crush him in a hug while his mother laughed.

"It's good to see you guys too." Remus said while giggling.

"Give him some space boys." My mum said, and we all stepped back.

Remus turned to his mother, "Mum, these are my friends, Sirius, James and Peter." He said gesturing to us.

I waved, "Hi Mrs. Lupin!"

"James, can you and the boys show Remus around?" My mum asked.

"Sure, come on Remi!"

"Don't call me that." Remus said looking annoyed.

"Whatever you say Remi." Sirius laughed.

The next day, we decided to go to Diagon Alley to get school supplies. Mum and Dad also promised me a new broom because I was trying out for the Quidditch team this year.

"Sirius, you should try out for the team with me!"

"I'd never make it! I don't even know what position to try out for."

"Well, how does Keeper sound to you?"

"I don't know…"

"Come on! I'll help practice with you! I can practice for Chaser by trying to score, and you can try and block them."

Sirius sighed, "Well, it can't hurt to try out can it?"

"Yes! We're going to have so much fun!"

"Why don't we go by our books now?" Remus suggested.

The three of us groaned, "Remus, why do you have to be so studious all the time?" Sirius questioned.

"I only suggested it because Flourish and Blotts is literally right there." Remus explained while pointing to the store on their left.

"Oh." Was all Sirius said, and they walked inside.

After buying all of the books and other boring stuff we needed for the year, we walked around, enjoying the warm weather before autumn hit. My mum and dad let us be by ourselves, and told us to meet by the ice cream shop in one hour before we went home. So me and Sirius decided to go to the Quidditch shop, and it was very relaxing. That is, until we left the shop.

As soon as we stepped out of the shop we heard someone shout, "Sirius!" We all turn to see Sirius' cousin.

"Ahh Bella!" If Sirius was nervous, he did not show it, "Strange to find you here, I thought you would be off with your 'friends', but it seems like you don't have any, walking around all alone."

"Listen here Sirius. Your mother is not pleased with you actions."

"When is she ever?" Sirius laughed.

Bellatrix grabbed the collar of his shirt, I took a step towards him, "Listen, I'm trying to help you."

"Ha! Since when?"

"Since, I'm in charge of you at school, and you are not going to embarrass me." Her tone was so cold.

"You're not in charge of me; you report what I do back to my parents. You're more of a spy."

"Will you shut, up," she growled, "As I was saying, your mother and father are not at all pleased with your actions. You need to be more careful, or I will find out everything." Bellatrix let go of him and walked away without a glance at us.

"Sirius, what the hell was that?" Remus said looking extremely angry.

"It was just my cousin, not a big deal." Sirius replied too nonchalantly.

"Not a big deal?" I nearly screamed, "It sounded like she was threatening you!"

"She does it all the time, it's nothing out of the ordinary." This left the rest of shell-shocked, "I just have to be careful."

"Sirius-"

He cut me off, "Can we please move on?" The three of us sighed, and we went to meet my parents, in silence.