Sirius Black loves to hang out with his friend and fellow Marauder Remus. He loves wandering the school grounds with him, loves joking with him, and finally realizes that he just plain loves him. A little story about the bitter reality of love.
Disclaimer: There's a reason it's called fanfiction. The story is named for the song by Jane Siberry. Chapter title is after the song by Katie Melua.
Rating: PG-13, just in case. Better safe than sorry.
Author's Note: Hey everyone! I ran into some trouble writing my story Circle of Friends, so that has been indefinitely put on hold. In the meantime, you can go ahead and read this. Warning: This story is about a boy with feelings for another boy. If you don't like that, don't read. However, for all you SB/RL fans, this may not be what you're expecting. Sorry, that's all I can tell you. If you want to find out, read!
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Chapter One: I Think It's Going to Rain TodaySirius looked around the platform packed with people. Everywhere he saw students bidding tearful farewells to their families before boarding the scarlet Hogwarts Express. Momentarily he tried to picture his family seeing him off that way and laughed mirthlessly. That was positively ridiculous. His parents had Apparated back to the house the second they had dumped him at Platform 9 ¾. Suddenly his lips curved into a genuine smile as he realized that unless something dire occurred, he wouldn't see them again until summer holiday.
In a sudden burst of energy, he pushed his way through the crowd to the train, jumping aboard and hauling up his trunk. His excitement soon began to be pushed aside by awkwardness as he surveyed the corridor. Sirius was alone. He didn't recognize anyone who passed him by, didn't know where to look for a compartment or what to do when he got there. Feeling quite stupid, he decided just to check the first compartment nearby. He softly slid open the door.
"Oh, Mollywobbles, I love you…"
Blushing furiously, Sirius slammed the door back into place, blocking out the sight of the two passionate redheads within.
"Mollywobbles, huh? I don't think her brother Gideon would like to hear about this."
Sirius whirled around and found himself face to face with a boy his own age. He was shorter than Sirius with glasses over hazel eyes, and his short, messy dark hair made Sirius wonder if the boy had ever met a comb. The pair grinned at each other. Both burst out laughing, causing a flame-haired girl passing them to scowl venomously. The other boy raised an eyebrow in her direction before extending his hand to Sirius.
"I'm James Potter," he said. Sirius shook hands with him immediately, but hesitated before introducing himself.
"Sirius Black," he responded, almost apologetically. James gave him an odd look, as expected. Sirius knew that James recognized the name, so he had to be a pureblood. And he didn't seem to be from one of the wizarding families that Sirius's parents would associate with. He waited for James to make some sort of excuse to be off. However, the boy just asked casually if Sirius was looking for a compartment.
"Er, yeah," he replied, caught ever so slightly off guard. Why wasn't Potter running away at the mention of the name Black? He had obviously recognized it. Mentally shrugging, he followed James along the corridor. They went down nearly the entire length of the train before locating a compartment with only one occupant.
A pale boy with greasy black hair sat by the window, seemingly absorbed in a book entitled A History of Hexes. As he turned a page, Sirius couldn't help but look at the boy's hands. The fingers were very long and thin. They reminded Sirius pointedly of large, pale spiders.
Sirius cleared his throat. "Mind if we sit here? Everywhere else is full."
The boy nodded coolly, not even glancing up at them. Sirius and James sat down across from him. The feelings of awkwardness returned. No one spoke for several minutes. Sirius occupied himself with staring out the window at the passing scenery. He took note of the grey skies. It looks like rain. At length, however, the third boy put down his book.
"Forgive me," he said, speaking for the first time. "I am Severus Snape. And you are?" His voice was quiet but Sirius heard every word perfectly. It was almost as if he were talking right into Sirius's ear.
"Sirius Black." Upon hearing this, a look of satisfaction crossed Snape's face, like a cat who got the canary. Sirius decided then that he would not like this boy.
"And I'm James Potter." Sirius looked at James. He didn't seem to think much of Snape either. Judging from Snape's unimpressed expression, the feeling was mutual.
"Well, Black," Snape continued, apparently ignoring James, "My mother was a school friend of your own mother, I believe. Eileen Prince."
Sirius gritted his teeth in agitation. "Wonderful. I guess we're practically related." If there was one thing Sirius hated, it was anyone who simpered to the name of Black.
Snape gave him a cold and calculating look. "Hardly. I would have thought that your mother would have taught you some manners, Black."
"That would require listening to my mother," Sirius snorted. "And that is something I generally avoid doing. Not an easy task once she starts screaming, either."
"Well, well. How interesting." Snape mused, "It seems I've run across the Black sheep of your family, doesn't it? Tell me, Black. What's it like to shame the Most Noble and Ancient House?"
James got to his feet. "Tell me, Snape. What's it like being an ugly git?"
For a moment it looked as though someone was about to be cursed, until the tension was broken by the appearance of a Sixth Year girl in the doorway. A shiny badge emblazoned with the letter P was pinned to the front of her robes. "Just to let you all know, we'll be arriving in fifteen minutes. Get your robes on and your school trunks ready."
As she turned to leave, her red hair swishing behind her, Sirius realized where he had seen her before. Grinning broadly, he called out after her. "Thanks, Mollywobbles!"
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Sirius stood with the other First Years awaiting the Sorting, gazing up absentmindedly at the bewitched ceiling, a pale moon in a grey-streaked sky. He didn't care too much which house he ended up in, just as long as it wasn't Slytherin. He would rather chew his own arm off than be in Slytherin. Oh, and he could just hear his mother now… 'At least you didn't bring any more shame down upon our family, you ungrateful wretch.'
Professor McGonagall set out an old, raggedy hat on a stool. The entirety of the Great Hall shifted focus towards it. Expectantly, Sirius watched it as well. The hat twitched, and then all at once came alive. It now clearly had a face, and Sirius wondered how he couldn't have seen it all along. It opened its "mouth" and sang.
I may not be fancy but listen to me
And I shall tell you where you should be.
I can see into your heart.
Sorting you is my personal art.
In Gryffindor you may belong
If you are noble, bold, and strong.
In Slytherin your way might lie
Be you crafty, shrewd, and sly.
Or if you are fair, hard-working, loyal,
Hufflepuffs are unafraid of toil.
And for those with a mind for logic's law
There is always Ravenclaw.
Just put me on, it's no trick.
I know exactly what makes you tick.
Into your new life you shall go.
As I speak, it shall be so.
The hat became still once more as the hall rang with applause. McGonagall stepped forward and unrolled a long scroll.
"Black, Narcissa!" Sirius watched his cousin take her seat and confidently lower the hat onto her blond curls.
"SLYTHERIN!" screamed the hat. An imperious look on her face, Narcissa went to join her housemates.
"Black, Sirius!"
Sirius strode forward and pulled on the hat. Might as well get this over with.
A voice spoke up in the back of his mind. "Well, well. There's no doubt where to put you. You are a true GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted the house name for all to hear.
Grinning in relief, he hurried over to the Gryffindor table. Sirius had to stifle a chuckle as he realized that "Mollywobbles" and her boyfriend were in his house as well. He ignored his cousin Narcissa and her older sister Bellatrix, who were shooting disgusted looks at him from across the hall. Looking over at the Ravenclaw table, he saw the oldest sister, Andromeda, smiling at him reassuringly. She had always been his favourite cousin.
"Bones, Amelia!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Bulstrode, Derek!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Evans, Lily!" The redhead who had scowled at Potter in passing on the train gingerly sat and placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Lovely," muttered Sirius. "This figures."
"Goldstein, Chris" became the first Ravenclaw. "Greengrass, Samuel" became a Slytherin, and "Lovegood, Larry" also joined the Ravenclaw table.
"Lupin, Remus!" A thin boy with sandy hair and shabby robes walked forward.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus Lupin sat down next to Sirius. He had a quiet presence, but his eyes were warm.
"Hello," Sirius said, feeling a bit shy. Lupin turned to him and smiled.
"Hi. Sirius, is it?" Sirius nodded. "Well, I'm Remus. Obviously. Anyways, nice to meet you."
Sirius grasped the other boy's hand. "My pleasure." He looked curiously at the newcomer. Brown eyes flecked with gold stared into Sirius's grey. Sirius shuddered slightly. Releasing Remus's hand, he went back to watching the Sorting.
"Macmillan, Gordon" and "Midgen, Ferdy" became Hufflepuffs. Then "Nott" went to the Slytherins, and "Patil" to the Ravenclaws.
"Pettigrew, Peter!" A small boy with mousy hair and watery eyes stepped up.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius was surprised by the hat's choice this time. The kid didn't exactly look very brave. He was still quivering as he sat down across from Sirius and Remus. Remus smiled kindly at him. "Hello, Peter."
"Hi," he squeaked back. His beady eyes flicked uncertainly back and forth between the two taller boys.
"Potter, James!" James swaggered up and plopped the hat on his head, grinning like an idiot. Out of the corner of his vision, Sirius saw that Evans girl rolling her eyes.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James jumped down from the stool and walked confidently over to sit by Sirius.
"We met on the train," he said to his housemates, as if that explained everything. "So, I know you're Sirius, and you're… Remus?"
Remus nodded. "And that's Peter."
James grinned and nodded at the boy who seemed thankful just to be mentioned.
Terrence Rosier became the next Slytherin, and a pretty round-faced girl named Alice Smith joined the Gryffindors.
"Snape, Severus!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Sirius and James glared at Snape as he skulked off to the Slytherin table. Nasty bloke.
Finally, "Trelawney", "Vance", "Wilkes", and "Zabini" were Sorted. McGonagall swiftly rolled up the scroll and took her seat.
Professor Dumbledore stood. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. A few notices and reminders before we dig in. First, please remember that the forest is off limits to all students. Second, we have a new tree on grounds this year. Unless you wish to spend a painful night in the hospital wing, do not go near the Whomping Willow."
Murmurs filled the Great Hall. Sirius noticed that Remus seemed agitated and frowned. What's wrong with him?
"-Wonder if it's really so tough?"
"Davey, don't, you'll lose an eye or something-"
"Furthermore, I'd like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Wood." A man to Dumbledore's left got to his feet and bowed, then sat once more.
"Now, with all of that taken care of, dig in."
Food magically filled the tables. "Excellent!" Sirius grinned.
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Later, in their dormitory, Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter sat talking.
"So, that Evans girl is loony, huh?" James said, ruffling his hair. Sirius had noticed James doing that a lot. It seemed to be a nervous habit. Ah, I see.
"You haven't even talked to her." Remus lay reading Hogwarts, A History. "How can you even know?"
"There's just something about her." He frowned.
"Hah! Maybe you just fancy her, James," Sirius ribbed.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I think she's pretty," Peter spoke up, blushing a rather interesting shade of pink.
"Oh my, does ickle Petey have a thing for pretty redheads with blue eyes?"
"Her eyes are green," James corrected.
"AHA! You DO fancy her, Potter!"
Sirius felt something contact his head. Hard. Falling off his bed, he grabbed the offending projectile. It was a book with Hogwarts, A History emblazoned on the front cover in faded gold lettering.
"Really, Remus. That was a bit much," he protested in a hurt tone, rubbing the side of his head.
"Sorry." Remus smiled back. Sirius felt his stomach do a back flip.
"Er, I'm tired. I think I'll turn in, alright?" Sirius said. What is wrong with me now? I hope I'm not getting sick or something.
"Yeah, me too," James yawned. "It's getting late."
"I suppose I will too." Remus looked at Peter. "What about you?"
The only response he received were the snores emanating from Peter's bed.
James chuckled. "See you all tomorrow then."
"Right. Goodnight, James," said Remus.
"'Night James." Sirius added, "…Goodnight, Remus."
"Goodnight, Sirius."
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Author's Note: Well, I'm relatively new at this, so sorry if it's not the best fanfic ever. But read and review or you'll NEVER find out what happens. Also, next chapter we skip forward in time a bit. So don't be too shocked. If you've read the author's notes put the words "Time Warp" at the end of your review. I'd really like to know who actually reads these things.
My friend was reading the story and at this part:
"Er, I'm tired. I think I'll turn in, alright?" Sirius said. What is wrong with me now? I hope I'm not getting sick or something.
She exclaimed: "You're not getting sick, you caught it! You caught the gay!"
And I died laughing.
-Goddess