For a while after Sirius had discovered the secret room, life jogged along quite peacefully. To his intense relief, the voice stopped pleading for help, and he even began to wonder if he had imagined the whole thing. He took the constant abuse from Bellatrix and the other Slytherins, often giving as good as he got. Professor Grappenhall, although always nasty to him, had to admit that he was rather good at Defence Against the Dark Arts. In fact, the only thing that was really bothering him was Remus. At Hallowe'en and at the end of November, Remus had again disappeared, for three nights on both occasions. After Hallowe'en, he returned with fresh bruises and cuts.In November, he developed a limp. Sirius wasn't the only one to notice; Peter also began to question Remus about his health. James, on the other hand, was too busy with quidditch to notice anything about anyone.

James' lack of interest in those around him had not escaped the attention of some of the other first years.

'There he goes again', Lily remarked, watching over book as James dashed out of the common roon, his broom over his shoulder, 'honestly, he's obsessed with success.'

'What d'you mean?' Remus asked, picking at a scab on his elbow, making it bleed.

Lily lowered her book and rolled her eyes. 'All he ever does is practice quidditch, and show off how good a wizard he is.'

Sirius-who agreed wholeheartedly, but couldn't bring himself to admit it- stuck up for his friend. 'He's not practicing quidditch just for himself, y'know. If Gryffindor win the cup, we'll all be happy. And why can't he be pleased that he's so good at magic? I know I would be, if I were in his shoes.'

'No you wouldn't', Eva Cleansweep argued, 'you're too nice.'

Sirius felt himself going bright red. 'No I'm not', he mumbled, staring fiercely at the ceiling.

Peter chuckled. 'James'll get over himself before long', he stated, 'people always do. My Mum always says pride comes before a fall.'

Sirius jerked around and stared at Peter. 'You mean something by that, Peter?' He asked sharply.

Peter looked shocked. 'N-no Sirius! I j-just mean, m-maybe James'll r- realise he's being a bit...cocky.'

'Hmmm.' Sirius wasn't at all convinced. He had not liked the tone in Peter's voice. It had been unpleasant...almost hopeful.

'James is just...James', he blurted out, 'that's the way he is.'

'That's a strong argument you've got there, Sirius', Jed (who had been listening to all this) commented sarcastically.

'I'm going to bed.' Sirius said suddenly. He leapt up and stormed across the room, feeling furious, because he knew all of them were right: James was selfish, and cocky, and was going to find that out the hard way. And Peter...

Peter was an enigma. Sirius never knew what to think about the remarks Peter made-half the time, he seemed to be eager to join in and be a good friend. The other half, he stood sulkily in the background, watching and listening to James, Sirius and Remus, taking everything in, but never speaking. Sirius especially hated the fact that Peter had spoken out against James too. And he was right.

Sirius took James' invisibility cloak from his trunk, and crept out of the common room, not wanting to be drawn into conversation. When he had reached the Entrance Hall, he took off the cloak, and sat on the steps outside, waiting for James to finish practice.

'Hey Sirius!' Adam called, as the quidditch team began to head back to the castle at last, 'what're you lurking around out here for?'

'Waiting for James', Sirius called back, standing up, and sauntering down the steps.

'Oi! Seeker!' Adam shouted over his shoulder, 'Black's waiting for you.'

'Coming!' James replied, jogging to catch up with the others, 'sorry Sirius, I was just doing a bit of extra practice. What's up?'

Sirius hung back, to allow the rest of the team to pass him. When they had all gone inside, he turned to his friend, and took a deep breath.

'They're all talking about you.' He informed James.

'Who's "they"?' James asked, raising an eyebrow.

'Lily. Eva. Peter. Jed.' Sirius was beginning to wonder whether this was a good idea after all.

'What're they saying?' James was frowning now.

'It's just...well...you're...lately...you've been spending all your time practicing quidditch and magic.' Sirius finished at last.

'So?' James stared at him blankly.

Sirius decided to try a different approach. 'Have you noticed anything about Remus lately?' He asked casually.

James looked perplexed, and shrugged. 'Just the usual. He's pale and looks sort of sick.'

'You didn't notice all the cuts and bruises? Or the limp? Or the fact that he disappeared for three nights in a row in October and November?' Sirius asked incredulously.

'His mother's sick', James responded, 'dunno about the cuts and bruises. Where'd he say he got them?'

'He fell down the stairs. Many times.' Sirius replied sceptically.

'Well, there you go then. Come on, mate, it's freezing out here!' James made to go inside, but Sirius stopped him.

'You know, for someone so clever, you're awfully slow.' He said quietly, watching James.

'What's that supposed to mean?' James demanded to know.

And Sirius exploded.

'It's suits you to believe his mother's sick, and that he keeps falling down the stairs, doesn't it?' He accused, 'You're so busy with your own life that you've got no time or thought left for anyone else!'

'Oh!' James shouted, 'so you were talking about me behind my back as well, were you? You agree with them all, don't you?'

'Yeah', Sirius replied, 'I do.'

'Some friend you are', James spat, glaring at Sirius.

'I stood up for you, James', Sirius cried, 'I stood up for you when Remus didn't say a word, and Peter just sneered. I stood up for you-God knows why, but I did. I'm telling you so you can stop behaving like an idiot and take a look around you for once. Yeah, we know, you're brilliant at quidditch. Sure, you're top of every class. But you don't need to rub everyone else's noses in it. I'm not above a bit of boasting myself, but you've taken it to a whole new level.'

'If you hate me so much, why d'you even bother to talk to me?' James shouted, 'get lost Sirius! You're just a jealous, whining troublemaker. Everyone thought you'd be in Slytherin, but even Slytherin didn't want you.'

James' last words stung Sirius deeply. He took a step back, as though James had just aimed a blow at him. James himself realised he had gone too far. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again defiantly.

Sirius let the invisibility cloak fall from his fingers. Without even glancing at James, his head bowed, he walked into the school, and up the stairs.

'Sirius wait!' James found his voice at last, 'I didn't mean it!'

Sirius could not even bring himself to reply. He just stopped, and gazed down at the boy who had been his best friend, then trudged on up the stairs, to the common room.

Now, all the faces that glanced up when he came in, appeared to be unfriendly. Their stares were accusing, their expressions sneering. They're probably still wondering why they had to stuck with me, Sirius thought miserably. He heard Remus calling him, but ignored him. Silently, he opened the door to his dormitory, walked over to his bed, drew the hangings around himself, and lay down.

He was confused, hurt and angry. Hot tears threatened to spring from his eyes, but he fought to keep them back. Bad enough that he was a reject, without being a crybaby as well.

He heard someone come in a few minutes later; it was James. He stood uncertainly outside the hangings, unsure as to what to do.

'Sirius?' He hissed, 'are you awake?'

Sirius made no reply. After a moment, he heard James get into bed. Everything was silent once more, and Sirius thought miserably that maybe he would have been better off never coming to Hogwarts-at least that way, he would never have thought he had friends-he could still have been Sirius Black-the odd one out in the family, but proud of it. Now, he was Sirius Black, rejected by everyone. And he did not like it at all.