A/N: As usual, my apologies for the delay in updating this. Life has a funny way of, well, getting in the way. From this point on, events will only be written from one point of view each, though I'll still switch up the characters each chapter. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter!
September 2, 1971
Sirius woke in the morning gazing at the heavy red drapes that hung from his four poster, enclosing him. He felt a little claustrophobic with them closed around him, too used to the silver velvet ones that adorned his bed at home. Still, he pushed the feeling away, determined not to let his home life affect his time at Hogwarts. Sirius heard alarm clocks echo through the dormitory, and he stretched his arms above his head, pointing his toes and trying to stretch every inch of his body. After a few pleasant little popping sensations in his joints, Sirius swung his feet over the side of the bed, the wood floor nice and cool on his bare feet. He looked over at the bed next to him and saw that James, who had not bothered to close the curtains around his own bed, had grumpily covered his head with his pillow, groaning unhappily.
"Oi, pudding brain!" Sirius hollered at the snoozing James, picking up his own pillow and tossing it sharply at the sleeping boy's head.
"Wha?" James blinked sleepily, pushing himself up a little to look around, searching for who hit him, only to find Sirius grinning maniacally at him. "Bloody hell mate," he groaned, planting his face back into the pile of pillows on his bed now.
"Come on, you'll miss breakfast," Sirius said, bouncing on his feet as he stripped his pajamas off.
The other boys were getting ready in relative silence, and the air in the dormitory felt rather tired, but definitely excited. They were all groggy, and Sirius could tell that none of the rest of them were morning people. He strode over to his trunk, wearing no clothes at all, and started pulling his uniform out item by item. To his surprise, he found that his robes all had a Gryffindor patch on the left breast, and his grey sweaters were all lined with red and gold trim. On the bars encircling the wood burning stove in the middle of the room hung twelve Gryffindor ties, two for each of them. Sirius fingered them as the other five boys babbled happily, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Running through his fingers was actual evidence that he was in Gryffindor now, concrete proof that he was different from the rest of his family, and that thrilled him, and yet he knew that it was not so easy, that his family would not take it lying down, and he dreaded their response.
"You ready?" Remus asked, though it was a bit of a silly question, since Sirius was still standing stark naked by the stove, gazing at the silk tie in his hands.
"Er, sorry, just a sec," Sirius answered, snapping out of his daze and returning to the task of getting ready for the day.
He threw his clothes on haphazardly, not really caring how he looked, and he rushed out with James and Remus, Peter trailing along hurriedly, still trying to pull his robe on. The four of them sat down at the Gryffindor table, and James immediately began piling sausage and eggs onto his plate. Sirius poured pumpkin juice for all of them and then helped himself to food, waiting to see how the day would start.
Professor McGonagall stood and walked along the Gryffindor table, distributing sheets of paper to all the students as she did. She stopped in front of the four of them and peered down her nose at them, looking very stern, but James merely continued to eat his breakfast, while Remus gazed up at her slightly apprehensively.
"Names," she stated, her eyebrow raised slightly as she waited for them to answer.
"Remus Lupin," he answered first, and she tapped the parchment in her hand before handing it to him.
"Peter Pettigrew," Peter followed, and he too was handed a slip of parchment.
"Dame Po'er," James replied thickly through a mouthful of scrambled eggs, and Professor McGonagall closed her eyes for a moment as though she were trying to muster the energy to deal with this immature child in front of her, but then she handed him his parchment too.
"And you?" she said, turning to Sirius, who had thus far been reluctant to speak up.
"Sirius Black," he answered, and though she hid her surprise well, Sirius could see its traces on her face.
"Well Mr. Black, I am very pleased to have you in my house," McGonagall concluded, handing him a piece of parchment and then moving off down the table.
Sirius stared down at the parchment in his hand, and saw a timetable scrawled across it, his name neatly in the top corner.
"Schedules, excellent," Remus said, and James gave him an incredulous look.
Before anyone could say more, however, owls swooped down from the large windows in the front of the room, dropping letters on the plates of their recipients before flying off. All four of the boys received letters in front of them, but Sirius' was the only one that was emerald green and covered with spiky silver writing. He stared at it for a moment before sliding his slightly trembling fingers beneath the flap of the envelope.
Sirius Phinneas Black,
The family is immensely disappointed in your Sorting. We had so hoped that you would join the Slytherin legacy, but as usual you have failed to live up to our expectations and your duties. Do not be deluded, however, that being in a different House changes your obligations. You will act in a manner befitting your family and your station, make no mistake, and failure to do so will result in severe punishment. And during your time spent at home, you will not distract your brother from his goals of attending Hogwarts and being Sorted into Slytherin next year. At least one of our sons will not be a disappointment to us.
Mother & Father
Sirius returned the letter to its envelope, trying desperately to suppress the rage and hurt that was coursing through him.
"Ah, excellent!" James gushed as he poured over his letter. "My mother says she and dad are so pleased, they're going to send a package along with scarves and other Gryffindor things along in a few days."
"My parents are quite excited too," Remus joined in, a wide smile gracing his face. "Mum doesn't really know what it means of course, but Dad is pleased."
"I think my mum is rather proud," Peter piped up. "Gryffindor always seems so heroic."
"Sirius?" Remus asked, looking over at him.
Sirius had turned quite pale, and a bit green. He felt as though he were going to be sick, suddenly the bangers and mash seemed like a bad idea.
"Sirius?" James echoed, and Sirius' head snapped up to look at them.
"Er, my parents aren't exactly thrilled, but who cares what they think," he answered, trying very hard to force his mouth into a smile.
"Mate…" James began, but Sirius shook his head.
"It's fine," he said. "I'm fine." He balled the letter and the hideous green envelope it came it and made a tight fist around them, crushing them tighter and tighter.
"Well, let's see what classes we have today then," Remus interjected, sensing the need to change the topic.
"Transfiguration first, that's good," James added, glancing at his schedule. "Double History of Magic though, surely that won't be fun."
"Herbology before lunch ought to be good though," Peter joined in.
Sirius smiled at them all, feeling his spirits lift as he watched them. He didn't need his family's approval, not when he had such great friends.
"Come on, I want to get a good seat," Remus implored, getting up and grabbing his bag. James and Sirius rolled their eyes at him, but Peter bounced up, seemingly just as eager as Remus, or perhaps just eager not to get left behind.
They made their way to the classroom listed, after taking a few unintended detours down the wrong corridors. By the time they made it, many of the seats were taken already, and the only group of four together was in the second row, so they took it. The students all chattered quietly until Professor McGonagall swept in, looking very austere.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention up front, please," she began in a commanding voice, and the whole room fell silent. "This is Transfiguration class, where you will learn the basic principles of the art. If you think that it will be easy or simple, you are sorely mistaken. My class requires focus, attention, diligence, and seriousness."
"At your service!" Sirius stood, saluting her, determined not to let a single pun involving his name go to waste. Professor McGonagall closed her eyes again, breathing deeply for a moment, as though she was only then beginning to understand the hassle she was going to face for the next seven years.
"Mr. Black, I will not tolerate this kind of idiocy in my class," she said sternly, towering over him and looking very fierce.
"Is there another kind of idiocy you would prefer?" he replied cheekily, and several people in the class tittered.
"Mr. Black, you will see me after class. And sit down." Sirius, who had still been standing at attention, dropped back into his seat. "You are all expected to behave appropriately in class, and to offer myself and each other due respect. You will complete your assignments on time and to the best of your ability. Have I made myself clear?"
Choruses of "Yes, Professor" echoed through the classroom as students took note that Professor McGonagall was not a woman to be messed with.
Sirius' punishment turned out to be 500 words on appropriate classroom behavior, which was not much in the grand scheme of things, and he dashed it off during the lunch break, no problem. The rest of the day's classes were uneventful – the History of Magic teacher had been frightfully boring, and Sirius hadn't been able to pay attention for more than two minutes before he began doodling on his notes. Herbology had been fun though, Sirius had enjoyed digging around in the dirt with James, Remus, and Peter, and had even managed to get in a little bit of a dirt fight with James without getting into too much trouble. All in all, by the end of the first day, things were beginning to look up, and Sirius wasn't quite as distressed by the letter he had received from his parents.