Chapter Thirteen

AN: Happy Sirius Day! Have a whole chapter from him in celebration. I will try not to do anything too awful to him!

Remus had left mid-morning. His father contacted McGonagall apparently, he needed him home to help with his mother. Even Jim and Pete had noticed how pale and fragile he had looked at breakfast, he had not come to double Potions either, leaving while they bent over cauldrons in the dungeons.

James has asked Sirius if he though Remus was sick again. Sirius pondered this now, staring up at the heavy full moon, hanging in the sky above him. If he received a letter telling him he had to leave Hogwarts and return home to care for Walburga, he would have looked likely to vomit any second too. He let his eyes travel down the Milky Way, past his cousins and Father, of course, to the horizon. To the exact spot just below the trees and the curvature of the earth where, in just over ten minutes, his star would rise. Just a few minutes earlier than it had twelve years ago. He let himself wonder, for a moment, how Regulus was doing. He spared a glance to the east, but Regulus' star was still below the horizon.

He shook himself. Regulus would be fine. She never confused him for their father, she was calmer with Reg. Which was a blessing because Regulus could not handle her by himself, not all the time, and Orion was away. Again.

A sound in the still night caught his attention, a howl over the eerie grounds. Sirius grinned. He had heard rumours of werewolves in the Forest. He hoped they were true. He was fascinated by them. He loved all Creatures really, not just magical ones either. Not that he was allowed anything other than an owl. He spared a thought for the poor bird, probably bored witless in the Owlery, since he had no one to write to. He was not stupid enough to –

Sirius stopped, below the tower, silent as a ghost, a shape flowed above the grass, banking, and flapping wings – yes, wings – to climb the tower. He held still as the barn owl landed lightly on the stone next to him, he stroked the smoke grey feathers and fox auburn colouring around his beak.

'Hello Maurus.'

'Sirius, what is that?' James' harsh whisper made both Sirius and the owl jump.

Sirius grinned at the owl, resuming his stroking, and not turning to James, 'This is Maurus, he's my brother's owl.'

'What kind of owl is he?' James scrambled out of the window.

'Oh. Melanistic barn owl. He's a barn owl that came out too black, like the opposite of an albino.'

'Huh, that's cool.'

'Yep.' Sirius carefully untied the letter on Maurus' leg and petted the owl once more. He clicked his beak and soared gracefully off into the night.

'Are you out here worrying about Remus?'

Sirius gave him a look. Do not try and pry, the look said, 'No, not really.'

'Then what?'

Sirius sighed and pointed at the horizon, 'Waiting for Canis Major.'

'Oh. Oh! That's your star, right?'

Sirius let a smug smirk wash over his face, 'No. Sirius is the brightest star in Canis Major, and in the night sky.'

James grinned back, 'Then how come you're so dim.'

Sirius laughed, a bark of laughter that echoed off the stones, 'Piss off Potter. My charm work is far superior to yours.'

'Yeah, but I can transfigure anything faster than you.'

'Want to bet?'

They were interrupted by Pete sticking his head out of the window, holding James' watch, 'It's time!'

'Time for what?' Sirius felt slightly suspicious.

'It's midnight!' James beamed, 'Happy birthday, Sirius.'

Sirius smiled but shook his head, 'Not for another twenty-two minutes.'

'What?'

Sirius pointed back at the horizon, 'I was born at twenty-two minutes past, at the family lodge near Loss Ness. The exact moment Sirius cross the horizon. If my parents had been in London, as they were supposed to be, I would have been called something else.'

'You mean we have to wait another twenty-one minutes?' Came Frank's voice from inside, 'Then I'm going back to sleep for fifteen.'

Sirius looked at James in confusion, 'What are you all up to?'

James nudged him conspiratorially with one shoulder, 'You'll see Sirius me old mate. You'll see.' He glanced down at the dark envelope in Sirius' hands, 'Going to open that?'

Sirius turned it over. It was unaddressed, but the seal on the back was definitely Regulus'. The Black family shield, complete with chevron, stars, and sword, quartered with plain black – sable, his inner voice reminded him sharply – as was fitting for the younger brother. He could not help but fidget with the signet ring Orion had sent, twisting it on his finger.

James caught the gesture, 'Is that what I think it is?'

Sirius nodded, 'Do you have one?'

James cackled, 'Ha! No. The cloak is the only heirloom I'm trusted with, and only 'cause that's tradition.' He shrugged, 'Anyway, we Potters don't go in for all that, as you know.'

Sirius smirked again, 'Except Uncle Charlus.'

'Except Uncle Charlie, yeah.'

Sirius made a decision and opened the letter. He wasn't immediately cursed and took that for a good sign.

He read, in the candlelight coming from the dorm:

Dear Brother,

Felicitations on the completion of the twelfth solar orbit of this terrestrial body since your parturition on to it.

I write to you in leu of a gift, as such things are currently unobtainable. Did you receive Father's letter? I agree with its contents wholeheartedly.

I am currently tasked with a great deal of preparative work, so that I may be ready for my induction into the Great House of Slytherin by September. Uncle Alphard is residing in London for the time being and has been assisting Mother and my new tutor with my studies. Father also when he is here, which is not often due to his working schedule as I am sure you understand. Uncle also asks that I send his felicitations to you, so I am doing so, consider this them.

I hope school is pleasant, and you are not having too hard of a time with everything. Narcissa writes her parents regularly but has little news of you. Perhaps you might write to Mother, just a little more frequently. So that we may know what to speak of at Yuletide when we see you next?

Your loving brother,

Regulus Arcturus Black

Sirius snorted his way through the letter in stifled laughter. He offered it to the ever-curious looking James, who had been quite furious at not being involved in the poisonous puss letter of their second night.

James stared at the letter for a while, then looked at Sirius, 'Is your brother alright in the head?'

Sirius' laugh really did echo that time, and Pete stuck his head out again, 'What's happening?'

Sirius took a deep breath to still himself, 'Yes, of course he is. He got to about seven and started writing and talking so formally. It became a bit of a family joke. Of course, he's not that much bigger than he was then. So, it is still pretty funny. And…' Sirius forced himself not to glance at Peter, 'It's a good way of getting meaning out in letters that others might not read into them.'

James' eyes flashed in the moonlight as he understood. He passed the letter back to Sirius, 'Fair enough. What's your dad off doing? I though he was on the Wizengamot?'

'Oh, he is.' Sirius sighed and leant against the balustrade, 'This is family stuff probably. Last time he visited relatives in Germany and Austria.'

'Ah right –' He was cut off by Peter.

'Now! Now it's time!'

James flourished a bow, 'Messer Black, would you please do me the honour of accompanying me inside?'

With an amused grin, Sirius bowed back, 'It would be my pleasure Messer Potter. Messer Pettigrew, would you give me a moment of assistance?'

Peter beamed, 'But of course Messer Black.'

Sirius threw up his cloak and scrambled after it.

'Longbottom.' He nodded to Frank, who nodded back.

'Sirius.'

Frank and Peter stepped back, and in the candle lit room James' bedside table had be dragged to the middle of the floor. On it was possibly the biggest cake Sirius had seen since Bellatrix's engagement party last year. It was huge and covered in what seemed to be buttercream icing, but it looked dark in the gentle light. There were twelve lit candles, and a card underneath that said 'Happy Birthday Sirius' in a looping script Sirius felt looked a little like Remus' but as though he had taken a deal of time on it.

On the floor around the table where five wrapped gifts. The paper ranged from vibrant flowers with eyes in the centre – straight from Muggle fashion – to some hastily spellotaped brown paper. Sirius loved everything.

'For he's a jolly good fellow,

For he's a jolly good fellow,

For he's a jolly good feh-eh-low!

And so, say all of us!'

The other boys belted out the song, loudly enough that the fifth years in the room below shouted up that they should shut up.

Sirius grinned at his friends, 'This is brilliant.'

Not a one of them slept until the early hours. James, having discovered Sirius' love of coffee, had asked the house elves for coffee cake. Peter and Frank had apparently never had coffee in any form before, and the caffeine had a rather energetic effect on them.

Sirius had refused to take off the Gryffindor hat and scarf that had been from Frank and James, until McGonagall had threatened to personally destroy them. James' gift had also included a fully flying model Nimbus 1001, which they both desperately wanted even though the broom wasn't being released until Christmas.

Peter, slightly predictably, but no less delightfully received by Sirius, had ordered a box of sweets from Honeydukes, containing samples of all their top lines. Sirius had promised to split the whole thing with everyone after their lessons were over.

He almost hadn't wanted to open the gift from Remus. It didn't seem right, with Remus being away. But James insisted and so Sirius had gently unstuck the fascinating paper to discover the beautiful brown leather-bound book.

Frank and James had frowned at the French words, embossed in a circle on the front in gold.

'What does it say?' Peter had asked, leaning over.

'Jules Verne, Voyage au Centre de la Terre.' Sirius frowned, 'Jules Verne is the author, but I've never heard of him, or the story.'

'Yes, but what does it mean?' Peter pressed.

'Oh. Erm, the journey to the centre of the world.' Sirius grinned, 'Sounds good though.'

'Oh no you don't!' James had grabbed his wrist as he went to open the book, he dropped Sirius' arm just as quickly, but covered his shock well, 'You aren't turning into Lupin on us tonight. Put it down!'

Sirius glanced across the desk in Transfiguration. James' fingers still seemed a bit red. He honestly hadn't meant to do… whatever it was, it looked like he had stuck is fingers into too hot water. Sirius looked away. He still wasn't used to the amount of touching James felt necessary, and he'd been caught off guard.

Transfiguration was the last lesson of the day, and he was excited to leave and lounge around, reading his new book and eating the sweets Peter had brought. Not the chocolate though, that was being held in reserve until Remus got back. And Sirius still wasn't to certain about chocolate after the September incident.

The last gift had been from Uncle Alphard. He'd sent it to James the day before. Apparently, the fact that Sirius and James were friends had, somehow, filtered back from someone to his mother. Sirius would put money on it being Narcissa. Alphard had sent a box of fresh supplies from Gambol and Japes, with a note expressing Alphard's absolute readiness to refute all knowledge of the present if Sirius was caught with it, or using it, or its contents in anyway.

Back in the dormitory, as he and James added their new supplies to the prank box, Sirius couldn't avoid glancing at Remus' empty bed, and wishing their friend were there too, as Frank sat cross legged on the end of his bed, produced a notebook in which he kept a record of the more recent transgressions of Slytherin house against them, and they began their next war council. Prank the Third, firework extravaganza.