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DISCLAIMER JK Rowling owes characters and some plots. I owe the rest

Last time: Remus, Peter, Sirius and James met, and all got sorted into Gryffindor.

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Not his fault

"Gryffindor!"

James was met with cheers and clapping from all the other Gryffindors. He was relieved. If the hat had put him somewhere else… he didn´t even want to think about it. James found a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Sirius who stared at him in disbelief.

"You are a Potter" he stated unreadable.

"And you are a Black" James answered as the hat just announced Slytherin to Pucey, Adrian. James regretted that he had lied to Sirius, as he saw his face; it expressed despair and confusion. "Hey, I´m sorry I lied, I tried to pull a prank on you… but it didn´t turn out good, I´m sorry" Sirius gave him a pained smile.

"But hey! He we are both Gryffindors, isn´t it great?" James said trying to lift the atmosphere.

Sirius snorted. "If you by great mean being killed, then yea it's great" there was no trace of joke in his voice. It made James uncomfortable.

"What do you mean?" he asked uncertainly. "Your parents will be proud, won´t they?" Sirius snorted again.

"My whole family is Slytherin, and you are a Potter!" he said as if it explained it all.

"What does that have to do with anything?" James asked confused. He still couldn´t tell if Sirius was joking or not.

"My family value tradition, I'm probably the first Black ever to be sorted into Gryffindor. And if that's not enough…" he turned around and continued. "I made friends with a Potter, our families don't like each other. My mother is going to kill me for this!" his voice grew more and more desperate as he talked. James felt his stomach clench. But he couldn't help but notice that Sirius had said they were friends. He was about to answer when the headmaster; Dumbledore, was about to have his speech.

"Welcome new and old students, I am happy to spend another year at Hogwarts with all of you" one of the older students whistled. "I will inform you that this year a Whomping Willow have been planted on the Hogwarts grounds, I warn and suggest all of you to stay away from it to avoid damage. And I want you to stay away from the forbidden forest, which is as the name suggests, forbidden, not even I know about all the creatures in this forest" he looked at all of them to make sure they understood. "But now I think it's time to enjoy a lovely feast" he clapped two times and all the tables filled with food.

James began to fill his plate with food when he saw that Sirius didn´t. "Don't you want anything?" he asked.

"I´m not hungry" he mumbled.

"But you didn´t even eat on the train," James stated. "That means you haven't got anything since breakfast. You have to be hungry!"

"Well, I'm not" Sirius snapped.

He decided not to comment on it, but he was still really, really, worried. The sorting hat said that he should take care of them. But who was that? One of them had to be Sirius, this boy, obviously, needed someone. James tried to figure out who the others were, and how he could possibly help them.

"So, you are the Ravenclaw-kind-of-Gryffindor?" Peter asked Lupin.

Lupin frowned. "What is that?"

Peter and Lupin had over the last two minutes gotten to know each other okay well. Peter was relieved that he could find a friend this quickly. And Lupin seemed really nice.

"It's like you have qualities from more than one house" Peter answered knowingly. "You said you have already read most of our books (which is such a Ravenclaw thing to do) but you are a Gryffindor, so… Gryffinclaw."

"That's not even a thing," Lupin stated and laughed. Peter was pleased with himself, he got a friend and made him laugh. Not even a full day at Hogwarts. Take that world.

Peter stuffed himself with all the food from the table. It was delicious. And it was wonderful just to be somewhere else, where no one knew him. No one bullied him. Someone actually wanted to be his friend. He turned to look at the two black-haired boys on the other side of the table. Black and Potter. They both sat quietly, Potter tried to talk to Black, but he ignored him. Peter remembered the way he had tried to argue his way into Gryffindor, had Black argued to be somewhere else, but failed?

"Do you have qualities from other houses? Lupin asked. "Maybe we can find another name for you too," Peter noticed that Lupin looked a bit exhausted, his eyes were hunted.

"Hmm" he held his hand up to his chin as though he was thinking, it made Lupin laugh. "I don't think so, suppose it´s just you Lupin" he laughed.

"Remus."

"What?"

"Just call me Remus… if you want to of course" he hastened to add.

"Then you can call me Peter" he said. By these words Lu… Remus´ face lit up. He probably wanted a friend just as much as Peter. Peter felt something nice in his stomach, was this how it felt to finally have a friend?

"Are you sure you don't have qualities from other houses? You said that you argued… what were you arguing about?"

Peter stared at Remus in shock. "You really are a Gryffinclaw," he said. "Why are you not a Ravenclaw?"

"I wanted to be here…" as he said it, Remus shot a quick glance at Black before looking back at Peter. "But don't avoid my question, what house did it want to put you in?" he asked curiously.

Peter looked around as if he tried to see if someone was listening. "You won't tell anyone?" he whispered.

"I don't really have other friends beside you, so I don't know who I would tell… but anyways, I promise" he whispered back.

"Slytherin"

"What?"

"The hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, but I refused, that's why it took so long," he said.

"Wow," Remus said. If it was for Peter´s story or because all the food disappeared, and dessert appeared. He didn´t know and didn´t care. I mean come on; its dessert time. Who could possibly worry about anything else?

Sirius Black could.

He couldn´t think of dessert or food. It only made him sick. He had broken a family tradition. And not only that, he didn´t end up in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, he had ended up in Gryffindor. Of all houses, he had ended up in Gryffindor, the enemy house. And he had befriended a Potter, Sirius liked James. He had serious trouble. Pun fully intended.

His stomach hurt, the truth is, he was hungry. But if he ate anything, he would just vomit. That would be so uncool. So, he just watched as his house-mates ate, and ate, and ate. Then there was dessert. It was too tempting, but Sirius knew he didn´t deserve it. Gryffindor.

It was all James´ fault, if he hadn´t met him, he would have been a Slytherin. But Sirius couldn´t bring himself to hate him. He was so nice, it seemed like he actually cared. Like he actually wanted what's best for Sirius. Somehow, he was glad that James had lied about his name. If he had said; "Hi I'm James Potter want to be my friend?" Sirius wouldn´t have.

Sirius had to make his parents understand that he didn´t mean to be sorted into Gryffindor.

"Can I borrow your owl? He suddenly asked James. He had seen his owl on the train.

"Yes, of course, tomorrow?" James asked uncertainly.

"It has to be tonight!" Sirius insisted.

"On one condition," James said mysteriously. Sirius didn´t like the tone in his voice, but he had to write to his parents as quickly as possible.

"Anything," Sirius said, hating how desperate he sounded.

"Relax a bit. Enjoy yourself. Being in Gryffindor isn´t the end of the world" he smiled carefully. Oh right, maybe it's not the end of your world, but it's the end of mine he thought bitterly, but still nodded.

When all the food disappeared and (almost) everyone in the great hall was stuffed, Dumbledore raised from his seat once again. "This was the end of another lovely feast at Hogwarts. I want everyone to find their way back to their common-rooms, first years will follow the prefects.

There was a lot of noises when everyone raised from their seats at once. Remus unconditionally moved his hands to cover his sensitive ears.

"What's the matter?" Peter asked concerned. "You look really ill, maybe you should go to a teacher or something."

"Nah I'm good," he lied. Remus was more than happy that he had already gotten a friend and one who already cared as well. But his stomach clenched, Peter was (unlike himself) innocent. He didn´t have a curse on him that would turn him into a murderous beast every month. Remus hated that Peter didn´t know, but he couldn´t tell. Maybe he cared now, but if he found what he is… he didn´t even want to think about it. "Come on, we will have to follow the prefects."

A witch and a wizard from Gryffindor were trying to gather all the first years to follow them. The wizard smelled slightly nervous, the witch… also smelled nervous. This must be their first time Remus thought. He, Peter and the rest of the Gryffindor first years followed them around the castle. Upstairs, through hidden passageways. They walked in what felt like ages before they finally reached a portrait.

They stopped in front of it, the portrait was with a fat lady on it. Remus could sense people behind it, this must be the entrance to the Gryffindor-tower. "This is the fat lady," the wizard prefect said. "To be allowed to enter, you must say the code-word. Right now it's; 'flubberworm'" the portrait swung open to reveal (just as Remus had guessed) the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. The prefects and first years entered.

"This is the Gryffindor common room" the girl prefect announced, she seemed to have overcome her fear. "This is a place for every Gryffindor to be in. The girl's dormitory is up here" she pointed. "If all the girls will follow me up there, and all the boys follow Sebastian up there" she pointed towards some stairs. "Then you can settle in and get a good night's sleep, before class tomorrow." Remus, Peter, Black, Potter and five other boys followed Sebastian up to the boy's dormitory.

"Who of you are Thomas, Longbottom, Kent, Hornsby and Bing?" the five boys that Remus hadn´t seen before raised their hands. "You lot are going to sleep in here" he gestured to a door, the boys walked in. "The rest of you is going in here," he said and pointed at another door. Remus walked in as the last person.

It was a big circular room, just like the common room it was in Gryffindor colours; red and gold. It reminded Remus painfully of blood. There were four giant beds, and Remus found that his trunk was already at one of them. The whole room smelled… friendly and daring. There was another door, to the bathroom, and a giant window. To Remus´s relieve it was placed longest away from him.

Black didn´t pay much attention to it all. He headed straight for his trunk to find a piece of parchment and a quill. Because of the long trip and all the food, he had been eating, Remus was exhausted. So, he found his pyjamas and closed the curtains to take it on. He laid down, tomorrow, just tomorrow, he would learn magic. Real proper magic. It didn´t take long for him to fall asleep.

Dear beloved mother and father.

Hogwarts is great, I have already gotten a friend. He is not a mudblood, I have checked.

Strangely enough, I was sorted into Gryffindor, not Slytherin.

I'm really, really, really sorry.

I asked the sorting hat to put me into Slytherin, but it wouldn´t listen. I know I am breaking a family tradition. And I'm sorry, I didn´t mean to. I have already punished myself, I didn´t eat anything for dinner. Not even dessert.

Once again, sorry. I will try to make it up to you. I will make you proud!

Yours

Sirius Orion Black

Sirius hoped that his parents would understand the situation. Luckily James´ owl was in the dorm when they arrived. So, he could send it immediately.

"Are you done?" James asked trying to read the letter, Sirius quickly folded it.

"Yes," he handed over the letter to James so that he could give it to the owl. James opened the window and the owl flew away. Sirius sighed with relief. The letter was on its way. After all, didn´t the sorting hat tell him to trust it? Everything would be well.

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James woke up early the next morning, even earlier than when he was supposed to take the Hogwarts express to Hogwarts. Their first day of school. The day they would finally begin to learn some bits of magic. He quickly went for a shower but found that it was already locked. James went to his own bed again and waited.

Today they would have Transfiguration, Charms and Potions. James was mostly excited for the first two, they wouldn´t be able to use too much magic in Potions. Don´t misunderstand! He was excited for Potions too, but it´s just not wand flicking.

He had always loved to see his parents perform magic, and couldn´t wait to learn it himself. Finally, the door to the bathroom opened and Lupin stepped out, his hair was still slightly wet, and he already had the uniform on.

James walked towards the bathroom. When he came out again Sirius was up and headed for the bathroom after him. Lupin was sitting on his bed and reading, James quickly changed to his uniform. Sirius came out a little later and they walked towards the great hall together.

They served egg, bacon toast and much more. Sirius ate like never before, he had skipped supper last night. Everything was nice and good until the owls came in.

If someone had come by the great hall that morning, they wouldn´t have believed their own ears. No student. Not even one said anything. Though some of the pure-blood Slytherins laughed. In an evil way. They didn´t laugh with him, but they laughed at him. Which is the worst kind of way.

All the other Gryffindor students had received congratulations letters or gifts. Or both. Even the muggleborns whose parents didn´t even know what it meant to be a Gryffindor. Lupin and Pettigrew had both received a letter. They looked utterly happy. James had received a letter AND a pile of sweets. Sirius had received a howler.

He had expected it to come. He had hoped that it didn´t, but Sirius should have known better.

It was like a scream on volume ten thousand. Probably all of Hogwarts would be able to hear it. It wasn't a scream though. The high-pitch woman screamed actual words that no one would be able to understand. With a few exceptions, Sirius was one of them.

Having been raised in the noble and most ancient house of Black, Sirius had gotten a few skills. Not only learning spells from a very young age. He and his brother were taught about purebloods and disgusting mudbloods. About the family. Spells, very dark spells that most people didn´t even dare to talk about. The wizarding world. Muggles, how primitive they are, how wizards should rule over them.

Sirius could the whole family tree by heart. Also, a lot of spells. How to pronounce them, and the wand movement, stuff like that. Even the spells he couldn´t cast. He probably knew all the spells from first to fourth year. Even that is long away from it all. He was okay at swimming. He could recognize an unforgivable curse just by looking at the victim, most of the time. Speak fluent France, read and understand Latin. Just to give a few examples.

Though none of this really mattered.

The absolutely worst thing a pureblood can do is to betray the name and break tradition.

And Sirius had done both, in one day.

First, he had gotten into Gryffindor, Slytherins enemy. Like, literally enemy. Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor didn´t really like each other. Their rivalry had continued through students in generations. Secondly, he broke the tradition of all Blacks being in Slytherin.

Sirius could barely tell all the words his mother was screaming. He tried to stop himself from covering his ears, but the scream seemed to turn louder and louder. Mostly he made out the words; proditor, stultus, poena and traditium.

After what felt like ages. Which were five minutes. Yup, you heard right, five minutes of being embarrassed and humiliated. It stopped just as suddenly as it has started. The silence that followed was awful. Most of the school looked confused, trying to figure out if it was a joke or not.

But the Slytherins.

All the pureblood-raised-overconfident-evil-little-Slytherins (much like himself) laughed. Evil laughter. As the little snakes they are, they gloated. The same way Sirius would have done if any other had been put in his shoes. But there wasn´t. It was only him, the silence, the heartbreak and students millions of miles away.

He barely registered what was going on around him.

James gently touched his shoulder. "Are you alright Sirius?"

Sirius looked into his hazel eyes. This boy had been nothing (mostly) but nice to him. He didn´t ask any questions. He didn´t punish him. He didn´t judge him. James looked concerned. The words he had said as he meant them, they were… comforting. Sirius registered the Slytherins still laughing and felt anger rise in him.

He had apologized for doing something that wasn´t his fault. Said that he would make it up to his parents, make them proud. And THIS is what he gets? A howler. No congratulations letters, no sweets, not even just a "well done" note or something. He gets one thing; a punishment. For something THAT ISN´T EVEN HIS FAULT.

He would show them, he would show them that no one, NO ONE, will mess with Sirius Orion Black the third without going to regret it bitterly. No one. Screw the consequences.

An idea was starting to take form in his head. He had to get James with it too.

"I still have these dungbombs you know" he smirked.

James saw the expression on his face and found his best mischief smile. "What are you planning," he asked interestedly.

"I think it's the Slytherins who sent me the letter" it wasn´t really a lie seeing as his mother had been a Slytherin. Sirius wasn´t sure if James would be on without a reason. "And I know a trigger charm that would make all the dungbombs explode at the same time" Sirius watched James with delight as he rubbed his hands together with an evil grin on his face.

"When will we do it?"

"Later, before supper. We will get up here early to attach the dungbombs under the table. And right before we leave. Boom" Sirius visualized an explosion with his hands. "We can attach it with spellotape"

"We will be the best pranksters this school has ever seen," James said dreamily.

Remus was delighted to hear that Black and Potter liked pranks. He loved pranks himself. If Peter did too, then they could make some really good ones Black and Potter would be so impressed that they would make Peter and himself their friends too and… Remus shook his head. Stop dreaming he told himself. The chances that they wanted to be his friends were so small… and Remus knew better than to get carried away with his dreams.

The real world was cruel and violent. Nothing comes easy. You must fight, every second of the day. To remain good, to remain human. Remus didn´t really feel like human most of the time. He and Peter were eating breakfast. Remus thought, that if he told him now, it would be less suspicious when he took away later.

"My mom is ill."

Peter paused, he swallowed the food that was already in his mouth. "I'm sorry," he said truthfully. Remus knew he was honest, the smells. He had to fight himself to not hug Peter.

"It's okay" he lied, sort of, his mother wasn´t ill at all. It was his excuse for going away every full moon. That was one of the reasons he had been alone on platform 9 ¾ yesterday. They moved around a lot so that no one would be able to guess about Remus´s lycanthropy. That would stop now that Remus was at Hogwarts, he wouldn´t be home for most of the year. His father had to get to his new job. So, his mother was left to play ill. None of them could be there. "It's just that I´m going to visit her later. I thought you would like to know" he said and tried to smile.

"That's okay," Peter said. "I understand." Half-lie half-truth. It was okay, but he didn´t understand. No one who Remus knew understood. No one understood what it's like to fight your own skin. To look down at yourself and see nothing but scars. To regret one little mistake that turned out to be a big catastrophe…

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Uh, wonder what that might be.

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