Chapter 1 - The Beginning

"No way."

Sirius pulled the letter away from James and his jaw dropped along with James'. "No bleedin' way!"

"Boys!" Amelia Potter said warningly as she bustled into the kitchen to get their breakfast. "No cussing. And what is it that is so-" She came out balancing four plates on her two hands. Sirus graciously helped her with the plates and chuckled when she gasped at the sight of the Head Boy badge on James' Quidditch pajamas. "Oh my!" she shrieked happily, hugging her only son and smothering him in the process, ignoring his embarrassed cries of "Mum!".

"What is it that you are making such a big deal of at such an ungodly hour?" Timonthy Potter, someone who has never been a morning person, asked grouchily as he came down the stairs. He plopped down onto a seat and took a long slurp from his coffee before he caught sight of the Head Boy badge. Mr Potter choked, sputtering coffee all over the table and causing Amelia to frown at the mess he was making. "Holy-" he broke off at Amelia's warning look. "My James? A Head Boy?" Timonthy grinned and gestured him over. "Come here, son."

James grinned; Mr Potter joined his family in the hug. Sirius smiled wistfully at this display of affection. His parents had never showed their love so blatantly. Ever since he ran away from home (he could scarcely remember the last time he called 12 Grimmauld Place home), the Potters had welcomed him as a second son. He was grateful to them, but Sirius was of no blood ties to them. Calling them to love him as much as they loved James was too much to ask for.

Amelia pulled Sirius over into their hug. "You're not getting out of this," she growled good-naturedly as Timonthy ruffled Sirius' black hair.

Or maybe it wasn't impossible. Sirius' smile widened.

"I got Quidditch Captain too," James added in a muffled tone into his mother's shoulder. Sirius rolled his eyes and muttered, "Arrogant git." Immediately, James pulled away from the hug and glared exaggeratedly at Sirius. "I beg your pardon?"

Sirius ducked the fist that was coming towards him and laughed. "Slow," he taunted with a grin. It was common practice for the two boys to stop talking suddenly and start fighting. They never hit each other hard, of course, just like you didn't hit your brother like you wanted to kill him. Yes, Sirius Black and James Potter were brothers... with no blood ties.

They had their list of books with them and was planning to head down to Diagon Alley to meet Remus and Peter when Mrs Potter stopped them. "Sirius, do you have any money with you?" she asked worriedly. The said boy flushed. He knew Mrs Potter's question was sincere, but Sirius still felt as though it was a dig at him. Like she was suggesting that his parents disowned him and left him nothing. Which, he was pretty sure, they did.

He really should stop thinking. It was a seriously dangerous hobby. Sirius smiled at Amelia Potter. "Yes, ma'am," he said politely. Manners had always been important in his household and Sirius still had not break out of this habit. In fact, Sirius used to call his mother Madam too. "Uncle Alphard gave me quite a bit." Mrs Potter nodded, turning to James and warning him to stay out of Knockturn Alley. Sirius took this time to recall what Uncle Alphard - his favourite uncle - had said.

"I heard Arden and Elizabeth disowned you because you ran away," his uncle remarked, his eyes watching Sirius carefully across the table of The Three Broomsticks. "They wouldn't tell me what happened."

Sirius looked down at his Butterbeer, unable to look Uncle Alphard in the eye. Uncle Alphard would certainly be furious with him, what with him being a werewolf as well. He also knew Remus personally. Yes, Sirius was ashamed of his actions that could have killed Severus Snape that night at the Shrieking Shack. "Father and Mother, they wanted Remus to kill Snape," he said quietly. Sirius cleared his throat and told him everything.

"I lured Snape into the Shrieking Shack on a full moon - that's where Remus has been transforming," Sirius said slowly, "And Remus - Remus smelled him."

For a split second, it looked as though his uncle wanted to smack him. His grey eyes were slanted with fury. "I didn't know about the Werewolf Capture Unit then," he said hurriedly, "I didn't know they would-" Sirius swallowed. "-dispose of Remus if he killed someone. I know it was wrong of me and-"

"How is Severus Snape now?" his uncle cut in coldly.

"H-he's fine. Professor Dumbledore made him not to tell anyone," Sirius mumbled. "Remus is well too."

Uncle Alphard's hands balled into fists but he was determined not to be angry at his grandnephew. He could tell from his face that Sirius had already learnt his mistake, but Alphard hoped Remus had gave him a hard time about it. For now, he would concentrate on Sirius' finance problem.

He pushed a pouch across the table to Sirius. "Take this money," Alphard said sternly, leaving no room for arguments. "Get whatever you need." He shook his head. "Who would have thought Arden and Elizabeth would be so cruel to a child?" he murmured. "Wanting the Werewolves Capture Unit to get him..." Alphard smiled sadly at his grandnephew. "You were right to run away, boy."

"Sirius?" A hand shook him slowly. "Sirius, are you okay?"

He glanced up and smiled reassuringly at Mrs Potter. "I'm fine," he said, stepping into the fireplace. A minute later, he found himself in Diagon Alley.

"Oy, Sirius!" a familiar voice called out to him. "Over here!" Sirius turned around and grinned at the three other Marauders. "What took you so long?" Peter complained. Sirius shrugged.

"Was chatting up Mrs Potter," he said casually and was rewarded a punch in the stomach from James. "Ow, Prongs! You didn't have to hit so hard." He scowled half-heartedly before looking to Remus, who was looking rather pale that day. Sirius frowned; full moon was over a week ago. Did he still have injuries?

While James and Peter walked in front, arguing about their favourite Quidditch teams, Sirius fell back in step and walked alongside Remus. "Moony, you okay?" he asked tentatively, wishing he could do something for Remus.

Remus nodded, noticing the worried look on Sirius' face. "I'm just a bit disturbed," he answered, "It's not the - full moon." At Sirius' questioning glance, he sighed. "I'll tell you when we get to Hogwarts," he said grimly.

"Hey, Moony, Padfoot!" James yelled excitedly, shoving his way amongst the other children standing in front of the display window at Quality Quidditch Supplies, which was showing the latest broomstick: Nimbus 1500. Sirius' eyes lit up and the 17-year-old sprinted over, conveniently pushing James aside.

"Wow," was all he needed to say.

Remus shook his head as he neared them. "They're like a bunch of kids," he told Peter, who nodded fervently but was still watching the broomstick in awe from where he was standing. Remus sighed exaggeratedly; was he the only sane one?

"I'm going to get Dad to buy that for me," James decided, "He owes me." At that, his lips drew into a wide smile as he retreated back to Remus and Peter. "I forgot to tell you - I got Head Boy. And Quidditch Captain," he added on second thought.

"James Potter, Head Boy?" Remus frowned exaggeratedly, hiding the fact that he was pleased that his friend got the position instead of some smarmy Slytherin. Maybe he would tone down on those pranks. "Just imagine if Lily got Head Girl."

Peter snorted. "She would quit on the spot."

James scowled at them. "Remind me why we are friends again?" he demanded.

"My birthday is coming. I could do with more presents," Sirius said laughingly, even though his birthday was over. The four friends walked down Diagon Alley and into Gambol and Japes, a wizarding joke shop and a personal favourite of the Marauders. Sirius nudged James, ducking a flying arrow in the process. "Since you're Head Boy, we won't get into so much detentions this year then. Having a Head Prefect around does help," he mused.

"You better slow down on those pranks if you want Lily to notice you," Remus warned, raising his eyebrow at the many items - including dungbombs - James was holding. For a moment, James paused, looking at the things in his hands uncertainly before Sirius swatted his head.

"Don't listen to him!" Sirius exclaimed aloud. "He has been a prefect for two years." As if that explained everything. Sirius pushed him towards the counter - at the same time where a group of people walked into them.

"No time to talk!" one of them shrieked. Sirius recognised one of the girls as a Hufflepuff prefect. Sirius had personally got acquainted with the girl and knew her for her melodrama. He rolled his eyes.

"What now, Regan?" he asked sarcastically while James was paying for their items. "Broke your nail?"

Regan shot him a irritable look. "Don't be silly," she hissed over her shoulder, her arm pulled towards the exit by her friend. Sirius noticed her face to be quite pale. "If you must know, look outside."

The Marauders did as she said, with Sirius still sceptical, and stepped outside of Gambol and Japes. Outside, the Diagon Alley was a mess. People were rushing about even more in a hurry, it seemed. Sirius furrowed his eyebrows and looked up. There was a glowing skull in the sky, comprised of green sparks. A snake was coming out of the skull's mouth. Sirius shuddered.

The Dark Mark.