A/N: I do not own Harry Potter in any form. Besides playing the part of a disclaimer, I would like to thank Jack Mason Potter for being a wonderful beta reader.
The weeks slid by, unnoticed. Before long, the grounds were frozen with snow. It swirled in drifts, and cancelled Herbology classes for a week. Therefore, it came as a surprise to me when the Hogsmeade notice went up on the bulletin board:
All sixth years with permission may go on the Hogsmeade trip this Saturday. Those who plan on attending should meet by the entrance hall at noon.
"Excellent," said Padfoot, reading it quickly. "A whole day with Sammi… Already sounds great."
Sirius and Sammi, the curly-haired girl that had asked him out to Hogsmeade, had started going out a few days afterword. I had walked in on them snogging a few times already, and each time was equally revolting. I could tell that Sirius didn't really like her because the only time he spent with her was used to snog in the common room.
That's something that really bothered me about him: He dated girls without actually having feelings for them, and then discarded them like broken quills. I had done it before with other girls, but that was a long time ago. It sickened and disgusted me to even admit I had sunk to that level. In my youth, I had the tendency to pull pranks, which, looking back weren't funny at all, even though I thought them amusing then. I particularly regretted that time when I had hung Severus by the ankle in my fifth year, which led to Lily and Severus's estrangement. Of course, I didn't bother me that Lily no longer cared for Severus; however it angered him how hurt she had been. But I really didn't consider that a part of me anymore. After all, I was a changed man.
"Hey, Evans is going with us, remember?" said Sirius, punching me arm. Funnily enough, I had.
"Oh yeah, I forgot," I said sarcastically, hitting my forehead with my palm. Sirius sniggered, but I noticed it was forced and half-hearted.
We discussed the upcoming Hogsmeade trip, which was the next day, all the way to the Great Hall. While we talked, I noticed something about Sirius: He was progressively becoming more somber. In fact, since December had come, he stopped joking around almost entirely. Now that I thought about it, he had gotten a lot of mail, which usually wouldn't arouse my suspicion, but considering the circumstances…
"Sirius, what's been going on with you?" I asked abruptly. We took our usual seats at the Gryffindor table, waiting for Moony and Wormtail to join us.
"What do you mean?" he asked carefully, not meeting my eyes. I could tell that he knew perfectly well what I was talking about.
"You know what I mean. Why have you been getting all those letters from home? Why are you so serious all the time?"
He sighed. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you forever. I'll tell you later, but not now, okay?"
I nodded, mystified. For the rest of the meal, Sirius didn't talk. It was oddly depressing. No matter how many times he annoyed me, Padfoot was the only one that could make a conversation fun. Sure, Remus was pleasant to talk to, but there just weren't as many laughs. As far was Wormtail goes… Well, it was like talking to a twelve year old. In his defense, he was thoughtful, loyal and funny when we wanted to be, but he wasn't Sirius.
So, consequently, the meal was quiet.
"You can tell me now," I said in the darkness. Sirius and I had turned in early so we could talk in the dormitory without being disturbed.
"Well…It's just that things at my house aren't doing well. Before term started, I told them that I would never go back, but my dear mum didn't care," said Sirius bitterly. "No, she burned my face out of the family tapestry, like I care, but still… I have don't have a home anywhere else."
Silence fell between us, as I digested this new revelation. I knew Sirius's home life wasn't going well, because he was at my house nearly every day. But why did he feel like he had no home? He would always find a bed at my house…
"Sirius, as long as we live, you will always be welcomed to stay," I whispered. Sirius sighed heavily.
"I know, but I feel like I take advantage of your family. I mean they do so much for me and what can I give them back…?
This time I snorted. Sirius was being a little sentimental, something he never did.
"You know my father thinks of you as a second son. Mum dotes on you, of course. She always tells me what a lovely young man you are."
Again, Sirius took a while to answer. "I have no place to go over break, or when the term ends," he said quietly.
"The spare bedroom has been yours for three years why should that change now? Remember how you always used to say that you wished we lived together like real brothers? Well, now we're going to. I just have to send an owl to mum and dad, and they will set up a permanent room for you."
Sirius didn't answer for a long time. I figured he thought I had fallen asleep.
"We've always been real brothers in everything but blood," he said, more to himself than to me, but I heard it anyway, and smiled in the darkness.
"Sirius, come on," I muttered, shaking his still figure. He was always a deep sleeper, so it took me a long time to get him up. The rest of the dormitory was silent and dark. The sun had barely risen.
"Go away," he mumbled. Smiling, I left him, knowing that he would be up any minute now. I pulled out a stack of fresh robes and went to the showers to get ready for the Hogsmeade trip at noon.
I found Padfoot, Wormtail and Moony waiting at the Gryffindor table when I came down. "Blimey, James, look at you!" said Sirius, as I sat down. He looked much more awake than he did when I woke him up.
Across from him, Remus wolf-whistled, "Lookin' good, Prongs."
I smiled sheepishly at them and sat down. True, I been extra careful in preparing this morning. My untidy hair had been combed so it no longer stuck up. Using gel, my bangs were held back instead of letting them hang in my face. Also, I had sprayed on a bit of cologne I had gotten over break.
Breakfast was a rushed affair; and before I knew it, Sirius and I were waiting for Lily and Sammi. Butterflies twittered in my stomach.
What if Lily thinks I look stupid?
Suddenly I felt very self-conscious. I attempted to fix my part, but then I saw to familiar figures making their way towards us…
For a few seconds, I couldn't breathe.
Lily had curled her hair, letting it flow down her back. It looked full and even more brilliant than usual. Her bangs had been clipped to the side with a flower pin. I had forgotten what her hair looked like down, as she always tied it up for lessons. Her green, almond-shaped eyes were made more prominent, due to the fact she had put on very light eyeliner. I thought it was perfect; not too heavy, not too light. Lily's long, fair eyelashes were made even longer and darker by mascara. She wore a rather tight shirt, (no complaints there,) which complimented her figure beautifully.
Sirius was having difficulty taking his eyes off Sammi also. While Lily looked stunning without trying, Sammi looked like she tried too hard. Her makeup was heavy and smudged, and an overpowering smell of perfume clogged my nostrils. If I thought Lily's shirt was tight, it was nowhere near to how tight hers was. Personally, I found her the exact opposite of attractive, but of course Sirius disagreed.
"Ready to set off?" I asked loudly. Sammi and Sirius were standing like dumbstruck fools, staring at each other. I could tell Lily felt just as uncomfortable as I did.
"What…? Oh, erm… sure," said Sirius.
Together we walked off into the bright afternoon light, my heart thumping madly in my chest.
