Sirius leans against the window, eyes watching the stars. It is late, but he doesn't want to go to sleep yet. His body is too alert now, constantly waiting for action.
Below, something catches his attention. It's just a ripple, barely there. And when his eyes shift toward the road beneath him, there is nothing there.
His lips twitch into a broad grin, and he presses his face more firmly against the glass, squinting against the dark beyond, almost certain that he can catch a shimmer in the night air that heralds the arrival of a band of boys under an Invisibility Cloak.
"What are you lot up to?" he murmurs, leaning back and relaxing.
Several minutes pass with neither movement nor sound. With a sigh, Sirius decides to call it a night and retreat into bed at last, not quite convinced that he must have imagined things. With a sigh, he pulls out Remus' letter, holding it tightly against his chest, and drifting off.
.
A shrill scream pierces the night, and Sirius bolts upright, blinking against the darkness covering his eyes. Instinctively, he reaches for his wand, holding it at the ready.
"Rat!" he hears his mother scream. "Where is that bloody elf? Kreacher! Kreacher!"
Laughing, Sirius leaps to his feet, snatching up his packed bag that has been waiting since his failed attempt. "Something wrong, Mother?" he calls loudly, opening his door wide enough for a large rodent to move in.
Instead, a large, invisible figure shoves through, nearly knocking Sirius off his feet. "Easy, mate," James mumbles under his breath with a soft laugh.
"There's a rat in the house!" his mother shouts back.
"You don't say. I wonder how it got in," Sirius says, trying to keep his tone innocent.
James pulls off the Cloak, revealing himself and Remus, both smiling brightly. "Come on, Padfoot," James says. "We don't have all night. If your elf catches Wormtail..." He shudders for effect. "Well, point is, hurry."
Sirius doesn't quite process the words at first. His attention is fully on Remus who half slumps against his bed frame, looking proud, shocked, and exhausted all at once.
Remus had promised to come for him, and there he is.
"For God's sake," James groans, stepping between them, eyes rolling. "We don't have time for you two to make eyes at one another. Tight schedule, rat of a close mate downstairs, elf, panicking humans. Ring any bells?"
"You saved me," Sirius says.
Growing exasperated, James gives his friend a shove toward the door before pulling the cloak back over them. "You go. We'll cover you."
"You know you're underage, right?" Sirius reminds him, brows raising.
"Magical household," Remus says, and Sirius' traitorous heart flutters at the sound. "I like our chances."
.
For one fleeting moment, Sirius thinks that he might get out without notice. He slips easily down the staircase unnoticed, his family's attention off in the distance, still focused on the mysterious rat.
He picks up his pace, grinning to himself. He feels free already, and a triumphant cry escapes his lips before he can stop them.
"Sirius," Remus groans beneath the Cloak.
But Sirius isn't listening, too caught up in getting out before some picks up on the sound.
"Sirius?"
Too late. His father steps into the room, standing with his arms folded, stern eyes locked on his eldest son. Sirius swallows dryly at the sight of him.
"What do you think you're doing, boy?"
"Keep walking," Remus whispers, directly behind him, close enough that he can feel the other boy gently pressing against his back.
Sirius knows he should listen, should keep moving without a word. Any time spent talking will be wasted.
But his arrogance gets the best of him. "You thought you could keep me prisoner here, and I would just turn into a good, sweet pureblood who shares your prejudices?" he laughs.
"Sirius," Remus sighs.
Sirius ignores him, lips twisting into a smirk. "It won't happen, you know. Try as you might, I will never be like you," he says. "Go on. Blast me of the tapestry."
"I'll do more than that," his father growls, striding closer, wand raised menacingly.
Sirius starts to reply, but Remus shoves him roughly, sending him staggering to the door.
"Stupefy!"James calls, and Sirius watches his father crumple.
"You just couldn't resist, could you, Sirius?" Remus asks, and though Sirius can't see his face, he can imagine Remus' forehead creased and his lips a frown. The typical Remus expression whenever Sirius presses his luck.
"Lover's quarrel later," James says, opening the door. "Escape now."
"What about Peter?" Sirius asks.
"Just leave the door open a crack. He'll sneak through."
With a grin, Sirius leaps out the door, unable to keep from laughing. The moment his feet thud against the pavement, he takes off running, the wind whipping his shaggy hair about his face.
He is free.
