Disclaimer: I do not own anything having to do with Rowling's wizarding world, as much as I would like to take credit for it.
His return created a silence in the common room. He knew the fight had been the topic of conversation and would probably be for awhile.
Lily approached him, "So Sirius, are you switching Houses?"
It was the question on everyone's mind and she was the only one who was brave enough to ask. He realized many of them had theorized he had punched James as a desperate chance to be switched. Oddly that hadn't occurred to him.
"No. I'm stuck with you and you are stuck with me," He replied making sure enough people heard so that he wouldn't be questioned again, "I'm going to bed."
He looked around at everyone still staring at him as he made his way to the dormitory. As he sat down on his bed wishing to be left alone, he heard footsteps approaching. Apparently even that was too much of a request. He was ready to turn and yell at whoever was thick enough to approach him. Couldn't they see it was taking every ounce of his will to stop himself from yelling at everyone about the unfairness of his situation?
And there stood Remus Lupin. He opened his mouth, but was forced to shut it. He couldn't yell at Lupin, the boy had only been cordial towards him. It wasn't right, Remus was friendly to everyone.
"Yeah?" Sirius inquired and then realized that maybe Lupin was just retrieving an item, he did live in this room.
"So it's true, you're staying in Gryffindor?" Remus asked taking a seat on his bed facing Sirius who was now lying down on his bed.
"It's all true. Not by choice, I'm not allowed to switch until the fall."
"Oh…and you are going to?"
Sirius rolled his eyes, "Yes. Of course."
"Unless you actually begin to like Gryffindor…and realize we aren't that awful of a people."
"That's not going to happen," Sirius said airily.
"And I think that once James and you get over this 'family' thing, you would be best mates."
Sirius laughed, "That I can promise you will never happen. We are too different…you're crazy you know?"
Remus grinned, "Crazy am I? Compared to who?"
Remus pondered Sirius for awhile then said, "You both have more in common then you think."
"Hmm…so are you pure?"
"Well both my parents are wizards, but my dad is from a Muggle family. I guess that would make me a half-blood."
"Oh…"
"Not that it matters off course."
Sirius sat up, "Off course it matters."
"Why?" Lupin prompted. He waited for Sirius patiently to explain.
Why? It mattered because that was what had been drilled into his head since he was little. The purity of your family's blood told you where you stood in the wizard world.
"Pure-bloods are superior. We are wizards of a higher race. Better then half-bloods and mudbloods and especially Muggles." His voice sounded rehearsed, not at all like he really meant a word.
"Did you know that mudbood is not a proper term? It's a really offending word and you'll only make more enemies if you continue use it. If you must distinguish use the word muggle-born. And what you just said is plain rubbish and if you just thought about it you would realize it too."
Sirius shook his head. It made sense to him.
"For example, the Head Girl, top of her class was born to Muggles. And Evans is learning quickly, she's just as good as you in Charms and other classes, after she learned how to properly hold a wand."
Sirius frowned. He hated to admit it, but Lupin might just have a point. "Well if it doesn't matter then why are adults all over the world arguing about the purity of the bloodline? Are they all wrong? Are they all delusional?"
"There should be no argument about it. Everyone should be seen as equal."
"I'm going to bed. Rough day," he said dismissing Lupin. There was a lot he had to mull over.
"Well good night. And you should come and sit with us at breakfast. If James doesn't like that, he can sit by himself for a change."
"I'll think about it…"
As Remus left, Sirius drew his curtains. Sleep again wouldn't come to him because Lupin's words kept stirring in his mind. He had been right about spending too much time with the Gryffindors. Look how one conversation with one of them was already affecting his mind. Unless…purity of the blood wasn't important and what Remus had said was right and what his whole family stood for was wrong. He never cared for the family obsession, but that was because he didn't find it important at the age of eleven, not for some righteous reason.
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James watched Black disappear down the hall. Blood traitor was he and his family? Well so was Sirius Black, his mother had yelled across the Great Hall for everyone to hear. It wasn't much of an insult now that he thought about it.
"Mr. Potter, I ask you to try and be patient with Mr. Black. And please do not provoke another fight like you did tonight."
"I am really sorry…but he hates us. Why make him stay? Why don't you let him switch to another better, purer house?"
"Mr. Potter, not everything will always be clear to you at first. I believe Dumbledore has his reasons. It will take some time for Mr. Black to stray from his upbringing. You can not begin to understand what he has been taught and the methods that were used to further his learning."
James gave her a look. Sounded like a bloody excuse to him, blame Black's behavior because of his upbringing.
"The detentions will focus on cooperation to help you build a respectful relationship. Remember what I said and you may return to the common room."
James took the long way back to the common room so he would have some time to think. He shouldn't have provoked Black. He admitted that had been stupid, but he had only expected a shouting match that would attract McGonagall. He figured McGonagall would be so fed up with the problem Black was creating in their house that she would just switch him. Well that plan had failed miserably.
It wasn't that he hated Black. The boy just got on his nerve thinking he was better then everyone. He slipped into the common room. His arrival was noticed, but he fled to his dorm. He steered clear of Remus who was talking to Cory. He would only receive a lecture from him about how he had deserved this all. He saw Peter try to get his attention, but he would just want him to do a personal recount of the messy affair. He made it up safely and noted gladly that Black had already drawn his curtains. He lay down and sleep came easily to him as he dreamt of playing Quidditch and winning the House Cup for his team.
The next morning everyone was oddly quiet in the Great Hall. Remus kept looking at Black as if he was upset with him.
"Alright, Remus?" James finally asked curiosity getting him. Maybe Black had insulted him and he would see his side of things finally.
"Nothing, I asked Sirius last night to sit with us…but he's sitting alone…again."
"Guess he still doesn't want anything to do with us. It's about time you realize that he's a git that wants to sulk and be left alone."
"Don't think so mate. He just needs more time. Peter would you slow down, you are going to choke."
Peter was wolfing down everything in sight. James laughed at his friend, who turned red in embarrassment. The subject of food made James forget all about Black, but he noted that during breakfast not only did Remus keep glancing at Black, but that Black occasionally looked at them. His gaze wasn't angry or annoyed, but unsure as if trying to make up his mind about something.
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It was finally Monday and Sirius congratulated himself for avoiding Potter and as many Gryffindors as possible. On the weekend it was much easier, he just woke up really early and went to breakfast. Lily Evans apparently was an early riser and would always offer him a wave and a smile. Off course he just ignored her because he saw Bellatrix watching him like a hawk. He knew Bella was not a morning person, but she was keeping an eye on him like his mother had instructed. Sirius found it ironically amusing how his mother managed to control everyone in the family.
Sirius groaned inwardly at the thought of attending two detentions. This wouldn't make his family any happier with him; he was supposed to obey all rules. McGonagall made him write lines (I will be respectful to all students), something he was used to, he could thank his parents for something. McGonagall let him out earlier then he expected, maybe she actually felt sorry for him. Then she cheerfully, well as cheerful as she would allow herself, told him she would see him later that night.
Sirius arrived at the room where their detention would be held before Potter. Once Potter arrived, McGonagall took their wands to ensure they would have no magical assistance. She opened the door and beckoned them inside. The room was a complete mess. It looked as though an explosion had occurred. Every desk was covered in multiple colors of some sort of sticky substance and there were black puddles all over the floor.
"There was a bit of an accident with the seventh years. You'd think by that age they'd learn not to do stupid things. Really I'm beginning to wonder if we should even teach such advance subjects here. I expect this room spotless. You will work together and to make sure you do," she pointed to a portrait of a small girl skipping, "She will be watching you and will inform me of your progress. You can send her to me when you are finished and I will inspect the room and then if I find it satisfactory you may go to bed."
Before Sirius could process what she had said, there was a click of a closing door. They were suddenly alone and Sirius felt really uncomfortable. He chanced a glance at Potter who was glaring around the room, clearly just as unhappy about the circumstance. Sirius then noticed one bucket, a bottle of cleaning product, one mop and one sponge. Their non-magical cleaning supplies.
"Well I want to get this done quickly, I have things to do. I'll mop the floor and you can mop all the desks and…"
"Why should you mop?" Sirius rounded on him.
Potter shrugged, "You can mop if you want, I really couldn't care less."
"No thank you. I'll use the sponge." Sirius smirked, picked up the pink sponge and he threw it into the bucket, causing the water inside of it to spray Potter.
"Look what you did! I'm all wet."
Sirius chuckled, "Sorry, but it's not my fault you stood too near the bucket." Sirius moved to pick up the sponge.
"You might want to add the cleaning product; it might just make it easier."
"I was going too."
Potter raised his eyebrows but said nothing. He picked up the mop and plunged the mop into the water. This time it sprayed him and Sirius.
"Thank you so much Potter, now I'm wet too."
"Sorry, well at least the water actually feels refreshing; it is rather stuffy in here."
Sirius shrugged. He wasn't about to start talking and agreeing to anything that this boy said.
"Get to work you two!" the little girl scolded.
They both jumped in shock.
"I can't believe we're being babysat by a painting of a girl that looks younger then us," muttered Potter.
"She obviously doesn't trust us, though I don't see how we could possible cheat. She took our wands, unless you can do wand-less magic?"
"Maybe she thinks we'll pay someone to clean this?" Potter joked.
"I don't have any money, my parents don't exactly trust me with much."
"Neither do mine…not after last year when I spent it all on candy and joke toys. Is wand-less magic really possible? It would be great to learn."
"Off course it is, but it's really hard to do. Only really powerful witches and wizards can actually manage to control it. Plenty of times you can cause things to happen without meaning too if you are really angry or upset, but to actually make it work directly for you takes a lot of energy and concentration."
Potter looked at Sirius curiously. The rest of the night they remained silent, changing jobs when half the room was complete. Sirius mulled over their brief conversation. It was rather strange he decided that Potter and him could so easily start arguing and just as easily talk to each other as if –not that they every would be- friends.
A/N: Another chapter, sorry for the delay, I'm very busy. I'm hoping to get the next chapter posted soon, we will see. I would like to thank everyone for reading and reviewing.
Thowra: Thank you, hope the story stays interesting
Ronja: I will continue the story after I make them friends…I'm not sure yet exactly how far, at least until the end of second year…
Magic Crystal Rose: Thanks, glad you like it
RedRaspberry: I have not forgotten about this story, just very busy like everyone…I'm very happy that you liked how I built the tension. Thanks again.
J: Wow, one of the best? Thank you very much (I'm blushing lol) and I plan on finishing this story, so keep reading
Viresse0: Thank you and they 'will' be friends before next year, keep reading to find out how and when
NicoleBlack: thanks again and it will get better for poor Snuffles
DrowRanger: Glad you still love it and I am trying my best to keep their personalities close to what info Rowling has given us
Elves of the Moon: I get what you mean, lol, thank you.
And don't forget to READ and REVIEW!!!!