Chapter 5 - Loneliness

Sirius opened his eyes to find himself wrapped in a blanket in front of the fireplace. He looked to his right and saw Lily Evans sitting on a couch reading a book. She lifted her head and looked at him.

"Do you know that you're pathetic?" she asked.

"Guess so." He replied and got up. He stretched and turned to Lily. "Did you bring that blanket?"

"So you're not only pathetic, you're also dumber than I thought." She replied. "Do you see anyone else around?"

Sirius looked around the common room. No one else was there.

"Thanks. You didn't need to do it." Sirius said. "I didn't feel cold anyway."

"I already did it. So, no need to thank me." Lily replied. All this time she spoke to Sirius and she didn't smile. Sirius felt confused by her behavior. He shrugged and went to the broom cupboard. He took out his broom and went out.

Sirius walked to the Entrance Hall and was about to ride his broom when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Dumbledore standing behind him.

"Good morning Professor." Sirius said.

"Good morning Mr. Black. Can I have a word with you?" the headmaster said.

"Of course."

"Good. Let's have a walk."

They went out to the school grounds. Sirius' heart was beating fast. It wasn't everyday that the headmaster spoke to a student in private.

"Mr. Black, I hope that you realize that what you have done deserves more than a detention as a punishment."

Sirius took a long breath. "Only if the victim is not Sniv… Snape." Sirius realized that he had spoiled everything by saying that, but it was too late. Dumbledore smiled.

"So that means you admit it?"

"I didn't say that." Sirius said.

"May I ask what's bothering you about him?"

Sirius sighed. He knew that he had to tell the truth. "I just don't like him."

"I see." Dumbledore replied. "Do you know why did your friends end up jinxing anyone who came across their way yesterday? Because they knew that they also share as much responsibility as you do, because they were there with you when it all happened. They decided to do some mischief so they would get detention and spend the time with you."

Sirius remained silent. He was used to random detentions of his friends, but getting into trouble only to be with him… Sirius didn't know how to think.

"I'm aware of everything that happened Mr. Black. The incident with Mr. Snape, your escape from home, going to the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley, even your room change request that was rejected."

"You were spying on me?"

"I am the headmaster of this school and I keep an eye on each student when they leave the school grounds during terms."

"What about vacation time?"

"Do you think I don't need one either? I also like to have a rest from school work once in a year."

Sirius smiled at Dumbledore. "Professor, you knew that I went to the Leaky Cauldron. So, I guess you also know that I met Christine Williams there before coming back."

"I know. And you have a question that was left unanswered."

"Yes. Why did she come here? I know that her old school is one of the best."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you Mr. Black, but I cannot tell you the reason. I'm sure Miss Williams will tell you if she finds it necessary."

"Alright."

"Now back to our main subject." Dumbledore said. "I hope that you will think about what I said. I don't like to see the Marauders of my school get apart."

"I don't know about that Professor. It really hurts to see my friends turn their backs at me when I really need them. Why was I the only person to be punished? You saw that Remus was with me at the Hospital wing. Professor McGonagall saw us together there, but Remus got away with it and he didn't even have the courage to say that he is as responsible as I am! And it was his entire fault that we were caught on the scene!"

"I know how you feel Mr. Black, but the evidence was on you, and not on Mr. Lupin. I'm sure you know that all of your friends are suffering enough now that they don't talk to you."

"And I'll leave them that way. I'm sorry professor, but I'm not ready to speak to them now."

"I understand." Dumbledore said. "I believe you were going to fly?" Sirius nodded and held his broom. "Alright then, I better go back to my office. Have a nice day Mr. Black." Dumbledore said and went back to the castle.

Sirius looked at Dumbledore as he left, then he climbed his broom and kicked off the ground. He headed to the Quidditch field and started flying in circles around it. He then started to fly higher to the clouds. He wanted to stay away from the ground where troubles seemed to find him. He flew around the castle and then headed to the lake. There he saw a familiar figure walking near the shore with a silver-blond haired boy.

Sirius flew above them and saw that it was Christine and Lucius Malfoy. He cursed Lucius under his breath and flew to the Quidditch field. He flew straight up to the sky and then he looked down. The field was barely visible. Sirius took a dive straight back at the field. He hoped that he would crash to the ground before he could pull to a stop. When he reached the ground he pulled himself up and managed to land. He threw his broom to a side and lay down on the grass. He stared at the sky and kept muttering curses at Lucius Malfoy.

Suddenly, Sirius sat up. "Why am I thinking about her all the time? Why would her walk with Malfoy bother me?" He got up and picked up his broom and walked back to the school. He went to the Gryffindor tower and put his broom in the broom cupboard and then he changed his clothes and wore his school robes. He took his bag and wand and went to the Great Hall for breakfast.

On his way to the Great Hall he saw Christine and Lucius talk to each other in the corridor. Lucius went inside the Great Hall while Christine walked to the opposite direction, which made her meet Sirius.

Sirius smiled when he saw her coming. "Hi." He said and stopped.

"Hi." Christine replied and continued her way.

Sirius turned to look at her he saw her running and she disappeared at the end of the corridor when she turned left to reach the moving stairs. Sirius sighed and shrugged. He was becoming the most unwanted student Hogwarts has ever seen.

"I bet they'll love to see Voldemort every day rather than seeing me." He muttered and entered the hall. He sat at the end of the Gryffindor table and poured some tea in his cup. He drank it quickly and took a bite of bread and went out again. He didn't want to see hundreds of eyes focused on him all day.

He stopped in the corridor and took out his schedule. He had Transfiguration first, so he headed to the classroom. He knocked the door and entered.

Professor McGonagall was reading a book when Sirius entered the classroom. She looked at him with an amazed expression on her face.

"You're early today Mr. Black."

"I woke up early, and I had nothing to do after breakfast, so I thought I would come here and wait." Sirius said. "If you don't mind of course."

"Not at all. We have about twenty minutes before starting." McGonagall said. "Which reminds me of your essay."

Sirius sat in the front row, so he wouldn't look at any of his classmates during class. "What about my essay?"

"I am very impressed of your abilities Mr. Black. Wonderful essay I must admit."

"Thank you professor." Sirius said.

"I wonder why don't you do the same with your actual homework?"

"Do you want me to be honest professor?" Sirius asked.

"Yes, of course."

"Well… because it's homework." Sirius said.

"Hmm…" McGonagall thought for a moment. "So that means I have to give you detention whenever I expect you to do your homework?"

Sirius smiled. "Well, I have a month of it now. I guess you will tell me to do it."

"Ah! I never thought about that." McGonagall smiled.

"Oops!" Sirius said and laughed.

At that moment students started entering the class and they eyed Sirius with loathe when they saw him laugh with the teacher.

Sirius noticed his friends come into the class too, he turned his face from them, but he noticed that James didn't look at his direction at all, like he wasn't there. Sirius felt like he has been stabbed with a knife the moment he saw Christine enter the classroom. She didn't look at him and sat at the far end of the classroom.

"Great. Always act like a fool and you'll become a Death Eater at the end of term." Sirius muttered to himself.

Professor McGonagall started her lesson and the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were listening carefully. Well, with the exception of Sirius, who was lost in his thoughts and that strange annoying new feeling that he gets whenever he sees Christine.