Believing in What you Will
Part Five: Feather Weight

"You really should think more about those whom you choose to associate with." Justina sneered as she entered the Great Hall with Impetua.

Sirius saw Impetua raise one of her blond eyebrows before she glanced at Sirius. "I don't know," she smiled. "There is a certain fun in playing with the rougher side."

"It will haunt you," Justina predicted as the two moved out of earshot.

"What stuck up people," Peter said as he followed Sirius's gaze. "Neither of them even smiled at me when we were all at that Christmas Party."

'The Pettigrews are only a cadet branch,' Sirius thought. 'They would have given more notice to their dogs.

"All of them..." James trailed off with a final glare at Impetua.

"All of them what?" A first year asked. Sirius leaned in as he had missed the first part of James's tirade.

"Are you a Muggleborn?" James demanded.

"Yes?" The boy leaned away from the second year.

"Well, all of them are stuck up. They are always lording it over the rest of us. Just because their family has more money, or is older than the rest of ours." James shook his head. "It's like they think that they are better than us."

"I was under the impression that they did think that they were better than the rest of us." Remus grumbled from across the table. "Them that are bestest being the older, purer families."

"Is bestest a word?" Sirius asked.

Remus shrugged. "Not the point though."

"What is the point?" Sirius asked.

"The point was that Justina and Impetua do think that they are better than us." Remus dropped his fork on his plate.

"Was that ever in doubt?" Sirius inquired.

"Not really," Remus sighed.

The first years exchanged looks before moving farther away.

"Why'd they leave?" James pouted.

"What have we told you about talking to the firsties?" Sirius asked wearily.

"Nothing," James stated.

"No," Peter surprisingly contradicted him. "You've been told repeatedly not to talk to them unless you can do it without scaring them. This came about after we had that first year crying the tower down after you yelled at him for being in the second year dorm."

"I didn't scare them, or him!" James protested. "It's everything here that is scaring them!"

"Do you even remember how it felt to be here during our first few days." Peter asked.

"Not really," James shrugged. "Is it important?"

Remus rolled his eyes. "It might prevent you from scaring the young ones."

"Young ones?" A cold voice asked from behind him. "I would hardly think you count as old."

"Bellatrix," A seventh year Gryffindor warned. "If you can't be nice than go back to your own table where it won't be noticed."

"I didn't think I was being particularly nasty," Bellatrix smiled, "But if I am to be mean I would much prefer to do it to those whom it would actually hurt. Though I don't suppose that a Knight like you would appreciate the falling of a face quite like a connoisseur."

The seventh year snorted and crossed his arms watching her every movement.

"However, Sirius know," Bellatrix put a hand on her cousin's shoulder and leaned down. Her face took on an unnatural cheerfulness. "The Black family has excelled in this sport for generations. The current crop is no exception."

"'Trix," Sirius looked at her. "Would you please do us all a favor and go slither back to your pit."

"See what I mean?" She beamed in a fond manner. "Since my dearest cousin asked so nicely," Bellatrix kissed his cheek. "I'll be on my way." She gave the table another bright smile before disappearing out the doors of the Great Hall.

Sirius focused on his breakfast in a single-minded fashion the minute she was out of sight.

"James?" Peter asked tentatively. "Why is everyone glaring at us?"

"That would be because in the end they are no better than the Slytherins." Sirius snorted at his plate.

"How now?" James sputtered.

"The Slytherins think that they are better merely because of accidents of birth." Remus explained. "When Sirius's cousin came over here she reminded all of our house that Sirius had the same accidents as she.

"Slytherin's don't like don't like those who are different." Remus pushed his plate away. "They are in fact extremely mean to them."

"Like Muggleborns." James interrupted.

"Exactly like." Sirius agreed.

"Now Bellatrix has reminded everyone that Sirius is different." Remus finished.

"I don't get it." Peter groaned.

"Don't worry," Sirius sighed to his plate. "You don't need too."

"Do we have Potions first today, or Charms." James picked up an apple and looked it over.

"Charms," Remus informed him. "We don't have Potions until tomorrow."

"Right," James nodded. "But we do have Astronomy tonight."

"Why don't you take a look at our schedule?" Sirius suggested.

James opened his mouth only to shut it at the glares he received from his friends. "What?"

Remus shook his head. "Just don't."

Professor Flitwick had prepared a review for his second year classes. Sirius had been more than a little amazed at the amount of students who couldn't remember some of the more basic charms they had studied last year.

During the levitation portion of their review Peter had managed to make the feather he was using into something that stuck to whatever it touched. Unfortunately it had touched Sirius's hair and the Professor had been unable to undo the charm before the end of class.

"I'm sure you'll be all right," He told Sirius as the Gryffindors filed out. "I will have it figured out by lunch time."

By lunch the feather had managed to attract some of the plants from Sirius's Herbology lesson as well as several scrolls that a passing fourth year had dropped, and Sirius had unthinkingly bent down to help pick up. Sirius had hoped to catch Flitwick in his classroom before going to the Great Hall, but the charms corridor was deserted when he and his entourage got there.

"There is nothing for it," Remus said sympathetically as the four Gryffindor first years walked toward the Great Hall. Professor Sprout and the fourth year followed.

"I know," Sirius grumbled. "I just shudder to think what Mother would say if she found out."

"It wasn't your fault." James pointed out.

"Yeah," Peter said gloomily. "It was mine."

James patted the smaller boy's shoulder in a comforting manner. "Don't worry, You know full well that the Pettigrews are beneath the Blacks's notice."

"Except I've now made a mockery of the family heir." Peter shrugged James's hand off. "That is likely to make me stand out a little."

"I'm sure that I can do something in retaliation," Sirius reassured him. "Mother isn't likely to be concerned with you."

A sudden fit of laughter alerted the group to the fact that they were nearing the Great Hall.

"I love that look!" a Ravenclaw called as her friends giggled.

"Very nice," the Slytherin second years were standing in a group near the doors.

"Why Black," Severus sneered. "I really must compliment your barber."

"We must all immediately descend upon him to get the same done to us." Another boy laughed.

"Oh stuff it." Sirius matched Severus's sneer. "It isn't like I'm wearing pink and gold bows in my hair."

The Slytherin who had laughed paled slightly, he opened his mouth to retort but was cut off by a shout from Professor Flitwick.

"There you are!" The small professor maneuvered his way through the crowd to Sirius's side. "I think I've figured it out."

Flitwick began to murmur under his breath while waving his wand in a complicated pattern. The feather, and everything attached to it, fell to the floor the moment he stopped waving his wand.

"Oh good!" Professor Sprout exclaimed. "I must get them replanted immediately." She whisked off.

"Damn," the fourth year sighed. "I guess this means I won't have an excuse not to finish these essays after all." He moved off in the direction of the library.

Professor Flitwick picked up the feather carefully. "That was fun," he said. He moved off humming to himself.

"Lunch," Peter declared looking at the Great Hall pointedly.

"In we go," James agreed.

"It's a shame no one got a photograph of that though," Remus said as they entered the hall.

End Notes:

- This past semester ran me something ragged. I really wasn't expecting it, sorry. I have a livejournal now, you may find that helpful in understand why I'm not updating. My username is alongcamespider.
- Please Review.