"What time is it?" Sirius suddenly asked, a tone of urgency in his voice. He halted his broom so quickly that James almost collided with him, luckily pulling up and away at the last moment, in a fantastic display of control.

"I dunno, why?"

"Because I need to meet back up with my family."

James glanced around for the sign of a clock, finding one in the window of a nearby store. "It's almost five thirty, mate. Yikes, I should probably be meeting up with my own family!"

"I—I have to go. Now." Sirius informed him hurriedly, leaping to the ground and pulling his broom into his arms. "I'm gonna be late…" He appeared to be bordering on distraught; his eyes were wide, as he looked around him worriedly.

"Oh, well, OK." James responded, a bit surprised at his sudden haste. "I guess I'll see you at Hogwarts then?"

Sirius brightened considerably at that. "Yeah! Definitely!"

"Wicked."

"See ya later!" Sirius called out, giving James a cheerful wave before dashing off down Diagon Alley.

"Bye!" James responded, watching him run off. "Strange kid, that Serious." He chuckled to himself. "Serious. What a trip. Wonder what his parents were thinking when they came up with that one…or what they were drinking, might be more appropriate."

James smiled amusedly, slinging his brand new broomstick over his shoulder and sauntering off to meet up with his own parents, humming a jaunty tune to himself.

It's so great to be me. James thought, his smile broadening.

"Where have you been?" Cassiopeia snapped.

"Why do you care?" Sirius retorted.

"Because with that attitude it leads one to believe that you were out consorting with the most vile of mudbloods and blood traitors."

"Well I wasn't!"

"Something about your history of lying, shaming the family, and general insubordination tipped me off."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Whatever, mother."

"I would suggest you just answer my question, unless you want me to take back that nice new broom of yours. Where have you been?"

"Diagon Alley."

Cassiopeia's nostrils flared and she gritted her teeth. "Well yes, that part is obvious."

"If it was so obvious why did you ask the question then?"

Her eyes flashed. "Boy, just answer the question."

"I believe I did. You asked where I was, I told you. Simple as that."

"Fine." She hissed. "Who were you with, then?"

Sirius hesitated.

"Ah ha, I knew it!" His mother exclaimed triumphantly. "You were consorting with mudblood trash then, weren't you?"

"I'm sure he was." Bellatrix piped up. "He's always been one to besmirch the family honor, Auntie."

"Why don't you shut the hell up and stay out of it?" Sirius snarled.

"Don't you dare talk to your cousin that way, Boy! Especially not one who so clearly has her priorities in order." Cassiopeia rebuked.

"Her priorities in order?" Sirius laughed. "Yeah, sure, if having my priorities in order means "I want all of the witches and wizards who aren't pureblooded dead", then I guess they aren't. And personally, I would rather die than believe that tripe."

"Oh, tripe is it?" Bellatrix echoed scathingly, staring at him unflinchingly through heavily lidded eyes. "Yes, it's just that sort of thinking that'll make you some formidable enemies, dear cousin."

"If I'm going to make enemies because I am tolerant of others, than bring on the enemies."

Bellatrix smiled menacingly at him. "Don't worry, they'll come soon enough, you keep carrying on like that."

"Yeah, well I hope so; I'm dying for a good fight."

"You always were a mere boy of talk rather than of action."

"Uncle Orion!" Andromeda called out alarmed, knowing that Bellatrix and Sirius' argument was heading in a dangerous direction. "Uncle Orion, they're fighting again!"

"That's enough!" Orion Black shouted, storming over, and stepping in between the two. "I will not have this constant in-feuding between cousins, cousins who should be united by the purity of their blood. Boy, apologize to Bella so we can all get on our way back home already."

Sirius' face contorted in revulsion. "Apologize to her? Why me?"

"Because you're always the one who causing trouble to start with."

Bellatrix smirked. "Yes, come on, Little Siri, let's hear you beg for my forgiveness."

"Never! I will never apologize to you for anything, and under no circumstances in my life will I beg."

At this, his father and mother both looked at him with slightly surprised expressions. Unless Sirius was very much mistaken, there was a hint of…approval in his parents' eyes. This idea struck him a very frightening indeed; anything his parents approved of could never be good.

"Well now, Son, I do not believe I have ever heard you utter anything worth commendation."

Sirius and Bellatrix both gaped at him, Sirius confused, Bellatrix angry.

"However, you are quite right that a Black never, under any circumstances, begs for anything. Maybe there is promising character to you after all."

"I wouldn't hold my breath for that, however." Cassiopeia said disparagingly.

"Ah, unfortunately, I would not either, Cassi. However, it is a step in the right direction for you, Sirius."

Sirius was too disgusted and appalled to respond as he followed his family towards the Floo Grates to exit Diagon Alley.

"You'll beg one day." Bellatrix hissed at him. "You'll beg, beg for your life one day, mark my words."

"Oh, right, I'll be sure to do so." Sirius responded, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, because I'm so scared of you."

"You should be." Bellatrix snarled.

"Oh shut up and go suck up to my parents some more! See if you can't get yourself further into the Will."

Bellatrix glared at him, shoving Sirius roughly aside as she swept passed him.

"Psychotic, that one." Sirius bitterly commented to Andromeda.

Andromeda looked at him, worried. "Siri, I wouldn't be so quick to pick fights with Bellatrix, were I you."

"Why not?"

"Look, it's just not a good idea. You don't know her like I do—"

"I'll pick fights with whoever I feel like, Andromeda!" Sirius replied crossly. "Stop trying to be my mother or something, I already have more than enough of one already."

A vaguely hurt look passed over her eyes for an instant, before her eyes hardened into a glare and she set her jaw. "Fine, do whatever you want Sirius, I don't care. Go, be a big man, go pick fights with people older and more trained and talented than you, and see how far you get in life. Really smart that is, Sirius, really smart."

Sirius scowled at her. "I just…she pisses me off."

"Yeah, well she pisses me off too but I don't go starting rows with her all the time."

"I hate her!"

"So do I, but once again, I don't go picking fights with her every time I see her. It's just…it's not smart, Sirius, you understand? Just ignore her. I promise that'll make her madder; she likes getting into arguments."

"Are you sure she can get any madder?"

Andromeda chuckled in spite of herself. "Obviously I didn't mean it like that."

"But it's not any less true."

A/N: Thanks for all of the kind reviews so far! Keep 'em coming!

I'll try and correct my earlier chapters to correspond with the new canon from HBPm as soon as I can, but I figured you would all want a new chapter first.

Remussweetie: Thank you for your diligent reviews of practically every chapter, and for being my first ever reviewer! I agree, Sirius is just so utterly Sirius, and that's why we all love him, plus little Sirius Black would be quiteadorable. I'm also glad you enjoyed the James/Sirius fight (I had fun writing that one).

Carnivalgirl: Wow, thanks for the compliment on how I portrayed the characters! You really think I am writing them faithfully to who they actually are? On a side note, yeah, it was mean of James to make fun of Remus' name (and Sirius', too), but kids at that age are mean, and James is so sheltered and privileged (aka a bitarrogant and ignorant) that I reckon he sees the world a bit differently than the rest of us at that age. Oh, and don't worry, Remus will find some happiness...well, not extremely soon, but in a couple of chapters or so. ;)

SquidSophieSkills: Thanks for being the first person to mark me as a favorite! JKR mentioned the pen and notebook in McGonagall's office that records wizard and witch births for future Hogwarts enterants, so I figured it would only be proper if the story started with that seemingly superfluous scene.

Jamie88, NoTeS SiStEr: I'm glad you like the story so far!

Thanks to everyone else who has taken the time to read The Early Years of the Marauders! More to come very soon!