It was the Christmas holidays and James was at home with his parents, eating dinner and telling them all about the beginning of his year, leaving out the fact that he and Sirius had successfully become Animagi. His father roared with laughter at the pranks that they played on other students and teachers while his mother tutted, but she could not hide the amused glint in her face. He had left Hogwarts three days earlier, along with most of the other students, and had kept in touch with all of his friends, even Lily. Sirius and Peter incessantly teased him about his feelings for Lily, as well as giving him news about their families. Sirius was still disgusted by, his family, but they had agreed that they would lave him alone as long as he stayed with them every holiday. After all, the noble house of Black couldn't have people thinking their own son didn't want to spend time with them, even if it was true. Unfortunately, they used as many loopholes as they could, commenting negatively about him to Regulus as if Sirius was not in the room, throwing dirty looks at him, and tutting every time he walked past.

James gave his concerned parents news about Sirius, and they were as horrified as he was at the treatment he received from the people that should love him the most. It was after this delightful conversation that James cleared up the table and went up to his room, which was decorated with the Gryffindor flag and drawing of snitches and the boys in their Animagi form. He sat down on his puffy chair and listened to music while doodling a picture of Lily. It took him quite a while to notice that a dog was barking non stop, just outside his window. Frowning, he approached the frame and looked outside, to see a big black dog he recognised as Sirius in his garden.

He rapidly opened the window and addressed the dog, who he knew would understand him and had now stopped barking.

"What the hell, Sirius? What are you doing here?" more barking ensued. "Ok, OK, shut up! How long do you plan on staying here? One bark for the night, two for a few days, and three for the whole holidays." Three barks. "OK, one minute. Come round front." He whispered before closing the window and rushing downstairs.

"Hey, can Sirius stay for a while, I think he left his place and needs a place to stay?" he asked his parents, who were doing the dishes.

"Of course he can. Frankly I'm surprised he lasted three days." Responded his father.

James thanked them and rushed to open the door.

"Siriu – shit. Mum! Help!" Sirius, now in human form, had fallen into his arms, battered and bleeding. James' mother came speeding through the corridor, gasped at the sight of the teenager, and helped him to the living room, where she sat him on the couch. He had obviously been badly beaten, with a black eye, a busted nose, a busted lip and probably more.

"Jesus, what the hell happened to you?" James' mother, who happened to be a healer, exclaimed.

"Parents. Specially my dad." Sirius gasped.

"One minute, you'll be better in one minute, just hold on."

She rushed around the house, gathering her wand and various potions to ease pain and mend broken bones, then administered them to the boy, who immediately sighed with relief.

"Tell me what happened." She ordered.

"My mother started insulting me to Reg, and I just snapped. I told her to shut her mouth and that she was a terrible person and I'd make sure everyone knew. And my dad told me not to threaten my dear mother and go to my room. I didn't, so he hit me and didn't stop."

"Well you can stay here as long as you like, you never have to go back there. As long as you keep your promise and spread the word." She finished, smirking.

Once he had eaten, he followed James up to his room, to find a second bed next to the first that James' dad had magically summoned. He lurked around, investigating the room.

"Did you draw these?" he asked, gesturing to the drawings on the wall. "HoHo! And what is this?" he snatched up James' sketch of Lily, ignoring the artist's protests. "Well this is a bit sad. Really James? You've sunk down to drawing your crush? What, were planning on practicing kissing it?"

The boys wrestled over the drawing, screaming and laughing, pulling hair and biting until they were too exhausted to even move. Panting, they lay on the floor, the ripped image of Lily beside them.

The next morning, Sirius awoke to the sound of an owl tapping against the window, and found himself in a bed much comfier than he was used to. He then remembered the events of the previous day, but the bird was still tapping at the window. Sirius rose and retraced James' steps from yesterday, but only wearing his underwear. He opened the window and the owl flew inside, hitting Sirius in the face with it's wing. Sirius noticed there were two letters attached to the bird : one addressed to him, the other to James.

"James, wake up you lazy git"

James groaned and a few minutes later he was out of bed and both were dressed. They opened their letters and found out they were the same, and happened to be from Peter. James read out loud :

"James! I did it! I made sure I drank the potion that Remus gave me before the holidays every night and it worked! This morning I woke up and I was a rat! Can you believe it? I'm finally an Animagus! Hope everything's ok on your end, speak soon."

This was great news. Now all four of them could go roam the nights with Moony during full moons. Sirius immediately wrote back a reply :

"Peter, congrats! We're really happy for you and just a bit sad we couldn't see it. Now you get your own nickname : I, Sirius Black, dub thee, Peter Pettigrew, Wormtail, as a tribute to his new Animagi abilities. Yaaaay *crowds cheering, women crying*. As for me, I'm fine, I'm living with James until school starts again (don't ask), he's fine too, everything's great. Kisses XXOXOXO"

James scoffed as he read, and they quickly sent it away. They couldn't wait to see him transform at school.