'Remain calm in all situations. Remember: Revenge is a dish best served cold.'
After dinner Sirius had returned to the library until he was tossed out at closing time. His stated goal had been to avoid joining his dorm mates until absolutely necessary. He had gotten all of his homework done in the meantime and hadn't a clue how he was going to avoid them tomorrow.
All these thoughts had flown out of his head when he had entered the dorm room and seen the wreck that was once his trunk. 'I wonder if I'll ever find out how they got past those wards.' He thought idly.
He looked at the splinter wood and noticed that none of his belongings were in the room. Sirius gave a brief prayer of thanks that he had all his homework and notes with him in his bag.
'But what did they do with my stuff?' He looked about the darkened room. 'And where are they?'
He moved through the room a sound drew his attention to the bathing room where he noticed that one of the showers was running. Sirius approached the stall quietly, hoping to surprise the boy inside and maybe get some answers.
He shoved back the curtain and his prepared speech died on his lips. In the stall were all of his worldly possessions. His copy of 'A Wizard of Earthsea' looked beyond repair. His dress robe seemed to have a torn hem. His copy of 'the Hound of the Baskervilles' was leaking onto the journal his brother had given him last Christmas. The rest of the stuff, primarily his clothes, seemed to be just wet.
He took a step into the stall and felt something crunch beneath his feet. He leapt back and crouched down to see what it was. 'No,' he thought frantically. 'I absolutely refuse to believe....'
"James Potter!" He yelled, forgetting everything in the blind rage that followed. "You insufferable little Cabbage!" He swept up as many of the broken pieces as he could before striding back into the dorm room.
James and Peter were lying on James's bed laughing.
"Oh look!" James pointed at the now wet Sirius. "The Chinless wonder is a little upset."
"I think he's a bit more than a little upset." Peter said noticing Sirius's face.
"A little upset?" Sirius growled. "Little doesn't even begin to describe it!"
James looked up at the boy towering over him and fell into a new bought of laughter. Sirius grabbed him by the shoulders and threw him off the bed.
James jumped to his feet. "There was no call for that!"
"No call?" Sirius sneered. "I'm sorry, but I believe those were my clothes you threw into the shower stall."
James threw his hands forward. "It was a harmless little prank. No one was hurt."
Sirius lunged at the other boy knocking him down to the floor. "Well maybe we should start with you then." He brought his hand up in a fist.
There was a sick crunch as Sirius's fist connected with James's nose.
"Mr. Black!" Peter had apparently run to Professor McGonagall. The imposing woman now filled the door to their dorm room.
At the sound of her voice, Sirius was snapped out of his rage. He looked up at her defiantly for a moment before shrinking into himself.
"Go to my office now." McGonagall told him. "Mr. Potter, I think we'd better get you to the infirmary."
While Sirius waited for McGonagall he stared out the window at the moon. The moon was full that night and it seemed amazingly large to the boy watching it. Sirius allowed himself to be lulled by its pull.
'I can imagine what mother is going to say about this.' He mentally winced. 'I can't think she'll be happy. Especially if she finds out I had Muggle books in my trunk.'
The door to the office opened, saving Sirius from his thoughts. Professor McGonagall herded James and Peter inside and gestured for them to take seats. Once the boys were seated she crossed to her desk, sat down, and sized them all up.
"So Gentlemen." She said sternly. "What do you have to say in your defense?" James and Peter attempted to speak at once but McGonagall silenced them with a glare. "One at a time. I only have one set of ears after all. Mr. Black? Care to go first?" Sirius waved a half hearted hand to show that one of the other could proceed him. "Very well. Mr. Pettigrew?"
"We played a prank on him." Peter said sullenly. "He broke James's nose. And he doesn't speak to us!"
"I got the impression that it was mutual." McGonagall said coldly. "Anything to add Mr. Potter?"
"No." James said calmly. "The Slytherin git had it coming."
"Slytherin?" The Professor raised her eyebrow. "There are only Gryffindors in this room."
"But he wants to be in Slytherin!" James protested.
"He has told you this?" McGonagall tilted her head. "I thought you weren't on speaking terms."
"When we saw him and Snape on the train, they wouldn't let us sit with them because we weren't going to be in Slytherin." James ground out. "And he tried to get his house changed. His parents came here to help with that. Everyone knows this."
"Mr. Black?" McGonagall glanced at the silent boy. "Do you wish to say anything?"
"Why?" Sirius asked. "It won't change their minds. It never does."
McGonagall looked like she wanted to say something, but refrained after a glance at the other two. "What was this prank that caused Mr. Black to get so upset."
"We broke his trunk open and put all his stuff into the shower." James told her.
"And turned the water." Sirius said bitterly. "Which means you owe me copies of the books you ruined."
The Head of Gryffindor looked at the other two students. "Nothing gives you the right to destroy someone else's property. You will replace what was ruined. Understood?"
James and Peter nodded.
She turned to Sirius. "I'm surprised that you resorted to physical violence over clothes and some books." She said quietly. "So you three will serve detention with me until I see signs that you can get along."
Peter groaned, Sirius and James just nodded.
"Very well, you three are dismissed." McGonagall turned to some papers on her desk.
James and Peter raced out of the room, but Sirius held back for a moment. Eventually the Professor raised her head to look at him. "Is there anything else Mr. Black?"
Sirius approached her desk and placed the shards from his pocket where she could see them. "Is there anything that can be done?"
McGonagall let her breath out slowly as she picked up the largest shard and turned it over in her hand. "This is the catalyst that made you break Mr. Potter's nose." She stated. "Was it empty at the time?"
"Yes." Sirius told her.
"That is something at least." McGonagall put down the shard and rubbed her temple. "I'll see what I can do Mr. Black, but I give you no promises."
Sirius nodded. "I understand." He turned to leave.
"Mr. Black." The Professor called as he opened the door. He turned around to face her. "I would suggest you wear a pair of Mr. Lupin's pajamas tonight. You two are of a height."
Sirius gave her a small bow and left for the dorm.
End Notes:
- Yes this is shorter then the previous chapters. One reason is, it didn't fit with the fourth chapter, nor is it going to fit in the next chapter, so it is its own chapter. As my mother tells me, "Sometimes chapters are short."
- Please Review
