Chapter 2
So the Potter's had greeted Sirius with open arms just as he knew they would but that did not stop him from feeling like an outsider. Although on the outside Sirius participated in all of the family events and showed a happy face, inside he knew this wasn't his real family and envied James for having such a loving and supportive family. He couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts, the only place that ever really felt like home to him, and start his fifth year. He couldn't wait to get back to playing pranks, especially on the Slytherines, and was waiting with great anticipation to finally prowl the Hogwarts grounds.
Sirius James and Peter were close to becoming animagi, wizards who could freely transform themselves into animal shape. They had started trying to become animagi in their second year when they found out that remus was a werewolf. They had decided to keep Remus company during his times of transformation after hearing how painful and lonely he was those few days of the full moon each month. It had taken the better part of the past three years but they were almost ready for full transformation. To keep their secret but also be able to gloat about it n public the boys came up with nicknames for each other. Sirius was to transform into a dog and would therefore be called "Padfoot", James was to be a stag and called "Prongs", Peter would be a rat and called "Wormtail" and Remus, being a werewolf, was called "Moony".
The boys had been planning their excursions out and around Hogwarts and the nearby village Hogsmeade over the summer. They had started, what they called the Marauder's Map, last year. It was a map of Hogwarts that not only showed all the passages they found around the school but also the location of people in Hogwarts. They were much looking forward to adding more to it.
The summer passed quickly in a blur of Quiddich and pulling pranks. The Potter's were ready to send the boys off on September first.
"Go bug someone else for a while," called Mr. Potter in a laughing tone as the Hogwarts Express pulled away.
"Don't forget to write! Both of you! Sirius please come back for the holidays. We will be expecting you!" called Mrs. Potter.