Chapter 37

Glad to go to School?

Sirius wanted to scream for joy when the walked in Kings Cross Station, September first. He waited until they got to platform 9 ¾ and his mother left before he did though. He had actually expected his mother to stay and see Regulus off, or even just long enough to remind Regulus, that he was not to follow in Sirius' footsteps. She didn't though, she only stayed long enough to hug his eleven year old brother good bye then booked it.

Regulus didn't look surprised when he screamed, and they had gotten there early enough that there was hardly anyone there, so no one stared at him.

They walked to the train. "Cissy and the others will be sitting up front." He told Regulus, remembering that Narcissa had decided to transfer to Hogwarts for her last two years. He had to resist rolling his eyes at the thought of her transfer. He was sure that the only reason she had decided to do it was because she was dating Malfoy. No matter how she denied it.

He distracted himself by continuing talking to Regulus.

"My friends and I sit near the back. You can sit where ever you want." He said knowing what his brother would choose. He had a bit of false hope when Regulus paused for a moment before turning towards the front of the train. Sirius stared at the ground.

Just because he had expected Regulus to choose them, doesn't mean it didn't still hurt. He slowly followed Regulus and saw him struggling to put his trunk away.

Regulus nearly jumped in surprise when Sirius helped him. He hadn't expected Sirius to follow him.

When his trunk was away Sirius moved to the doorway. Regulus watched him, not completely turning to face him.

"If you need..."

"I don't need your help. I'm not a baby, I can take care of my self." He interrupted rudely. Sirius moved his gaze to the floor.

"Right I keep forgetting..."

"Well don't." Sirius suppressed a wince and sighed.

"Right, um... I guess I'll go now." Regulus watched him turn to go out the door. "I'll miss you." He added.

"I won't." He lied.

Sirius pretended he didn't hear him, or he acted like he did. As he walked to the back of the train he couldn't get Regulus' words out of his head.

I don't need your help!

When he walked into the compartment his mother's voice joined Regulus'.

I should have known you were completely worthless.

He maned and sat with his hands holding his head, not even bothering to put his trunk away.

Befriending half-bloods and mudblood lovers.

I can take care of my self!

You've brought shame upon your ancestors!

I don't really think you've given me a choice, Sirius.

How could I give birth to such filth!

You've betrayed you're family and you don't even care!

Blood traitor.

The name repeated in his head over and over again.

Blood traitor!

Blood traitor!

Sirius!

Blood traitor!

Sirius!

Blood traitor!

"Sirius!" Sirius jumped when he realized one of the voices weren't in his head. He looked up, and Remus looked at him with concern. "I called your name three times. Are you okay? You look rather um... dead actually." Sirius just stared at him for a moment before shaking his head.

"No I'm alright." He said hoping it wasn't a lie. "I just zoned out for a minute." He stood and helped Remus with his trunk. Who in turn helped him with his.

They sat down when they were done. "You're one to talk about looking dead." Sirius said when he finally got a good look at Remus. "You look like you're about ready to drop." Remus turned away.

"I'm fine, I just recently got over the flu." He lied. He forgot how much he hated lying to Sirius. It just felt wrong. Sirius was the first real friend he had ever had. He shouldn't be lying to him, but if he didn't, Sirius would be sure to tell James and Peter and then he would loose all of his friends. Remus knew he would not be able to handle loosing his friends.

"Oh ya, I know how that feels." Sirius replied to Remus' lie. He obviously completely believed Remus, making Remus feel even worse about the lie. He changed the subject.

"So how was your summer?"

"Crappy. Yours?" Sirius smirked trying to hide just how bad it was.

"Better than yours apparently." He smiled jokingly.

"More than likely."

"Did you get your homework done?" Sirius chuckled. Trust Remus to use the topic of school work like most people used the topic of weather, just for something to talk about. Sirius nodded anyway. "Really? I was expecting to have to make you do it."

"I had a lot of free time while locked in my room all summer."

"Oh, right." Remus said offhandedly.

The head a racket coming from outside of the door. Sirius went to open it, but when his hand got to the handle the door flung open and he was knocked to the ground. Remus jumped and stood on the seat not wanting to get hit by someone. The door slammed shut and James was holding on the handle to keep it shut. They heard yelling from the other side.

"Potter! I'm going to kill you!" It was a male voice that Sirius easily recognized.

"Snivellus?" Sirius asked James, while pushing Peter off of him.

"All I did was give him the chance to finally wash that greasy hair of his, and he blows up!" James said as though he really didn't understand.

"What did you dump on him?" Sirius asked hexing the door shut so James could sit down.

"Thanks." James sat across from Remus who had finally decided it was safe to sit. "A bucket full of toad snot. I heard it was good for your hair." Sirius burst out laughing. Remus winced.

"That's sick."

"I thought it was funny." James shrugged obviously happy with Sirius' reaction. Remus decided to change the subject again. He really didn't like it when the teased Snape.

"Did you guys get your homework done?" He asked and Sirius snickered. James nodded but Peter shook his head. James gave him an annoyed look, but Peter didn't notice.

"I was hoping you guys could help me with it." He said in a small voice.

"Why didn't you get James to help you. You were with him all summer." Sirius asked, a little bit of envy in his voice.

"My patience can't take it anymore." James explained. Sirius laughed, and Remus sighed. He moved over beside Peter and James moved to his seat. He wanted to lie down and he couldn't do that with both Remus and Peter on the bench.

"Was Sniv's girlfriend with him?" Sirius asked.

"She isn't his girlfriend!" He said harshly, though he didn't know why.

"Sheash, man, calm down. What about Evans being with Snivellus makes you mad?" Sirius raised an eyebrow at him.

"I don't know, I just don't like the idea." James said, confused as to why Sirius had begun snickering.

"You like her."

"I do not!" he defended.

"Sure, Sure" he said mockingly.

"Really I don't." Sirius hid his smirk by standing and digging though his stuff for a book. He pulled it out and begun to read. The compartment became silent except for Remus and Peter until they got done.

"Is Sirius reading a book of his own free will?" Remus asked in mock-shock.

"Yes and believe it or not it is rather educational."

"No way. What is it?" Sirius marked his page and handed the book to Remus. He wasn't at all prepared for Remus' reaction. All the color completely drained from his face.

"What? What's wrong?" Sirius asked worried that he had mad a mistake. He couldn't think of anything wrong with the book.

"Umm.... N-nothing." Remus stuttered and quickly handed the book back, resisting the urge to throw it though the, probably unbreakable window.

James opened one eye, showing them that he actually was still awake. "What is it about?"

"Werewolves." Sirius answered putting the book away.

"He's afraid of werewolves, remember?" Remus looked at James in shock. He had never told them anything about werewolves, let alone that he was afraid of them. How did they reach that conclusion?

"Oh, right. I forgot." Remus turned to him still shocked. "Sorry Remmy."

"H-how did you know that?"

"You didn't want to burn my entire library last year till you saw the one on werewolf attacks." Remus stared at him not remembering for the longest time.

"Oh." Remus' gaze went to the floor. He was glad they had reached that conclusion instead of the truth.

Sirius thought just then might be a good time to change the subject. "Who's all going to try out for Quidditch this year?" He asked and to no ones surprise James' eyes lit up and he sat up.

"Oh! Oh! That reminds me!" He jumped up and almost stepped on Peter trying to reach his trunk. This was only a little surprising.

"What?" Sirius asked while James dug in his trunk.

"Your birthday present!" He said excitedly.

"Oh that." He said. A small part of him had been hoping James would forget. James jumped down and handed Sirius an unwrapped broomstick. Sirius stared at him in surprise. He wasn't exactly sure how he was expected to react when someone gives you a present so he just smiled and took the broomstick.

"It's the same kind I have, so I promise it's a good one."

"I don't doubt it, James."

"I figured you would already have one, Sirius." Remus said curiously.

"Ya, I thought I had one too, but it seems my mother had some strange idea that I would be majorly hurt if she snapped it. It's annoying, but a rather lame punishment. Usually hers are much more.... um creative really." He looked over his new broomstick, it was a rather expensive one too. "Thank you."

"No, problem. I wouldn't want you to not be able to try out for the team, just because your mothers a loser."

"So are you both trying out?" Peter asked. They nodded and he turned to Remus.

"Are you crazy? I couldn't go up fifty feet with nothing but a boom supporting me. I'd die!" He said feeling faint at just the idea of it. They laughed. "What positions are you going to try out for?" He asked. "The keeper, and two chasers graduated last year."

"And a beater is quitting so he can have time to focus on his N.E.." James added and Sirius shook his head.

"How could anyone put school work over Quidditch?" Sirius acted like it was a crime against nature.

"Imagine that, someone actually cares about graduating." Remus said sarcastically. James laughed.

"I know Rem, how could the." Remus rolled his eyes.

"We should probably change into our robes, I see the school up ahead." Peter said looking out the window. They nodded and started digging though their trunks for the robes.

When they were dressed the train had stopped and they began to all pile out of it. Sirius stopped and looked though the crowd.

"Si. What's up?" James followed Sirius' gaze and saw he was looking at a small looking first year, with short black hair. He was very obviously a Black. You could always tell when someone was a Black. Whether it was because of looks or just something in the way they walked no one knew, but you could always distinguish the Blacks from the 'normal' people. "Regulus?" He asked Sirius, who nodded.

"James! Sirius! Hurry up!" Remus yelled behind them. They ran up to meet him in one of the carriages.

"Coming!"