Spoilers: Based off an event that was mentioned in passing in OotP, and it has a little bit of foreshadowing to some things that happens in OotP, but I don't think you'd get it unless you've read the book.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me, or a certain event in OotP would certainly NOT have happened.
Description: The events that lead to Sirius running away from home.
A/N: Wow, I haven't written and HP fic in awhile! But anyway, I wrote this all before posting, so it's actually FINISHED! *Shock* Of course, it's really short, so maybe it's not so shocking, but at least it's done ;) Anyway, feedback (positive and negative, though I would prefer if you didn't flame) is always appreciated.
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"That sucks!" James declared, tossing the letter he had been examining back to Sirius.
"I could figure that out myself, thanks," Sirius snapped back. James looked slightly hurt, but respected his friend's bad mood.
"Are you sure there's nothing you can do?" Remus asked.
"I could not go, but I can't quite afford to be disinherited," Sirius grumbled, picking up the letter that was now lying before him. His mother's curving writing formed a characteristically short letter:
Sirius,
You will be coming home for Christmas this year,
--Your mother
"Any idea why?" James asked.
"None. She normally likes to keep me as far away as possible."
"We know," his friends chorused.
Sirius cursed life and stalked up the stairs to pack.
~~~~~~~
For the first time in his six years at Hogwarts, Sirius found himself leaving with James on the Christmas train, going home for the Holidays. James was attempting to cheer him up with a story about Snape, but even hearing about his nemesis' humiliation by way of a "T" on the latest Defense Against the Dark Arts test failed to raise his spirits.
"I don't fucking get it," he said suddenly. "Why the hell does she want to see me?"
James shrugged in defeat, for once he didn't have the answers. Still muttering, Sirius pulled out a book and began to read. James looked at it curiously.
"What do you get out of reading muggle literature?" he asked, in reference to the copy of 1984 Sirius was holding.
"It's a symbol of my defiance of everything my mother believes in," Sirius replied, slightly more cheerful. With a shrug he added "Plus it's not half bad."
~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, the end of the ride came much too quickly for Sirius's taste, and he found himself saying goodbye to James and hello to his younger brother, Regulus (for whom this trip was a yearly one) in no time at all. As he walked away from the train towards his mother, who's long dress and fashionable hat were both black, he felt a dread of what the next two weeks had in store for him. The feeling was even worse than the one he got every summer, he was quite sure his mother had something particularly nasty mind for him if she was willing to suffer his presence for two weeks longer than was absolutely necessary.
The ride home (in a car, though his mother hated it there was no other way), did not help to subdue this feeling of dread, if anything it increased it. Although his mother acted perfectly civil, asking both him and his brother general questions about school and how classes were going, she and Regulus kept exchanging meaningful glances and Sirius began to think that perhaps his brother had something to do with whatever was going on.
Whatever it was, Sirius didn't find out when they got home. Instead his mother instructed him to go wash up for dinner. Sirius unhappily complied, family dinners were never fun.
This one was no different.
"Did you hear about that woman they appointed as the new head of the department for the disposal of dangerous creatures?" She spat, making it very clear she was not pleased with the appointment. Eager to please Regulus jumped in immediately:
"Yes! That disgusting mudblood! I was shocked!" He said, with a bit too much enthusiasm for Sirius's taste.
"Well, I don't think there's anything wrong with her," Sirius cut in, although he really had no idea who they were talking about. The look on both their faces was one of unrestrained disgust.
"When will you learn," his mother moaned. "You really should listen to your brother more. He's got the right idea, while you, I'm afraid to say, have not."
"Of course, perfect Regulus, he's such a good little bigot! Aren't we all so proud of him?" Sirius replied in something like a sarcastic combination of a yell and a growl. He almost knocked over Kreature, who had come in with the food, as he stood, prepared for a fight.
"Don't you speak to me like that!" His mother yelled back. Shaking Sirius sat back down, he was too hungry to leave the table without eating first. The rest of the night passed in silence as both Sirius and his mother sat fuming, while Regulus watched with an amused smile.
