A/N: I have thirteen hand written pages of this story that haven't been typed yet. It was during these thirteen pages that I got stuck, and couldn't finish it. I'll point it out when we get there, but for now, enjoy the new chapter! We'll be at Hogwarts next chapter, this is the rest of the train ride. Enjoy!
Chapter Four - Lost Kitten
James just stared at the compartment door.
His father had talked quite often about the Blacks. Rigel Black had been fascinated by the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, and nothing had changed when he left. Jillian Black had been his mother's friend in school. Both had been in Ravenclaw, though his mother was a year older than Jillian. He'd never heard much about Sirius Black, but he assumed this was just because the Potters had never met him.
This morning, as he was preparing to leave for Hogwarts, his father had given him a warning.
~oOo~
"Black's kid is starting at Hogwarts this year as well, James. I want you to watch out for any strange behavior from him." Mr. Potter told his son as he helped him pack.
James stopped folding robes to look up at his father, "I thought you said to ignore any Blacks I met."
"I know, but there's been a lot of odd behavior lately. I don't want you caught up in all that, but if you DO see him doing something out of the ordinary, make you sure you tell someone. Either your mother and I, or Headmaster Dumbledore. Do you understand?"
"Yes dad."
~oOo~
James could remember when they had found out Mrs. Black was dead. His father had been somewhat sad to hear it.
~oOo~
James leaned closer to the door, listening carefully to his parent's voices.
"Something's not right with this, Ame. You knew Jill, she wouldn't just poison herself like that. Especially with a kid to look after."
"The Jill I know wouldn't have married Rigel Black." Amethyst Potter answered.
"Didn't she ever show any interest in Black?" Mr. Potter asked his wife.
"Not any more than the rest of us.."
"What do you mean, 'the rest of us'?! You were never interested in him, were you?!!" Mr. Potter's voice rose in anger. Ame just laughed.
"You know I never seriously liked him. I didn't think any of us did…though," and she blushed, though James couldn't see it, "he was quite handsome.."
"What!?" shouted her husband. Ame laughed and leaned in to kiss her husband. James, being the seven year old he was, blanched and left his parents some privacy.
~oOo~
Eventually, James had began to suspect foul play. The stories from his father about Rigel didn't match with his mother's stories about Jillian.
But never, *ever*, even for one second did he suspect that Rigel Black was hitting his own son.
James suddenly became aware of a soft purring behind him. He turned to find Peter watching out the window, while Remus was staring at the floor. He was still stroking Roxy, who had fallen into a peaceful sleep in his lap. He looked up as James watched him.
"I may have missed some parts of this whole thing, but I take it Sirius's father has been beating him?" Peter turned around to listen.
"I'd say so, Remus…"
"Why did he run away?" asked Peter, "He forgot Roxy."
James sighed and shook his head, "I don't know, maybe he was embarrassed. Maybe he thought I'd be mad about Lily? I don't know. He has a right to do whatever he wants…though one of us should take Roxy to him.."
"I'll do it." said Remus. He picked up the cage and lay Roxy inside. "Be back in a bit."
And he left.
~oOo~
Peter turned to look out the window again. He couldn't imagine having his father hit him. Both his mother and father loved he and his sister. Just thinking of how it would feel to be beaten by a parent brought shudders to Peter. He knew some people hit their children -- he'd been told about them. But it wasn't real…it was more like a horror story that someone had made up to scare little children. A tale that could be ignored.
But Sirius was hit by his father. It took repeating it in his mind a few times, but he finally accepted it. There WERE people who didn't love their children. Who hated them so much they hurt them. Or maybe didn't even hate them, but had so much anger and pain inside, whether from recent events or their own violent childhood, they just took it out on their children or spouses.
Seeing Sirius like that had changed his views of the world. He didn't know how it felt, he couldn't identify with it. But he wanted to help, in any way he could.
(a/n - I know most everyone sees Peter as this horrible little jerk, no matter what age. But I don't think of it that way. There had to be a reason Sirius would suggest Peter, and that had to be because he WAS once trustable. So don't flame me because Peter's a nice guy.)
~oOo~
Lily watched the door a few moments after the boys left. She turned to find James staring at the door with a thoughtful look on his face. A sandy haired boy was staring at the floor, an odd look in his eyes that Lily couldn't place. Peter Pettigrew, whom James had introduced earlier, was looking out the window. James finally turned around, and Lily backed into a corner, unnoticed by the other boys, to listen. But she was not prepared for what she heard.
"…I take it Sirius's father has been beating him?" Lily froze and heard no more. She wasn't sure who Sirius was (she thought she had heard the name before, but couldn't place it), but she knew it was one of the boys who had just left. Lily was determined to find him. Carefully, she left the compartment, and followed the boys down the train.
~oOo~
Remus closed the door behind him, and looked down the train. He saw the red-haired girl James had called Lily looking into different compartments. Remus had seen her leave. He walked towards her as she knocked on a door. She disappeared into it just as he arrived. He stopped at the door, and listened, unseen to the occupants.
"Hello, is one of you called Sirius?" He heard Lily ask. The cold, drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy answered.
"What do you care, mud-blood?"
Lily ignored the rude comment. "I just want to know. So?"
"So? Why don't you just…"
"Never mind, Lucius." came Sirius's voice "I'm Sirius, what do you want?"
Apparently, Lily hadn't planned past this point, because she didn't speak, but stuttered in response. Remus stepped into the compartment, and held up the cage.
"You forgot your cat, we just wanted to give her back." He said, stepping next to Lily.
~oOo~
Remus stepped into the compartment next to Lily, holding up Roxy's forgotten cage. Sirius started, he hadn't seen Remus standing there.
"Oh.." he said, feeling embarrassed at having abandoned his kitten. He stood up and stepped closer to Remus to take the cage. He moved to sit back down, but Remus gripped his wrists with strength that could easily match his father's. Sirius cringed. He looked up into Remus's pale blue eyes, as he spoke in a voice that Sirius was sure no one else could hear. He had to move closer just to catch it.
"James was right, you know…" Remus whispered, "You don't have to let your father rule your life. He can't choose your friends for you…" His eyes darkened, and took on a pained expression. "I…" but he didn't finish. He looked away and let go of Sirius's wrist. "Well, that's all then, come on Lily. We're almost to Hogwarts, and I need to get changed still." Remus cast one last glance at Sirius, and left, with Lily following behind him.
Sirius sat down and stared out the window. There had been something familiar about Remus's gaze.
A/N: These things are formatted better than they're appearing, I swear. I just don't know how to fix it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'll have the next one out soon!