A/N: I'm back! I'm finally back and ready to write again. I know it's taken me a long time but vacation was long. I really don't know what else to say...

Disclaimer: Don't own it

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Chapter 9: A talk

Time began passing very fast. Soon students could no longer laze around under the trees and skip stones over the smooth surface of the lake. A thick blanket of snow covered the grounds, glittering like gems in the light. Here was where snow people were made and snowball fights were started.

Christmas vacation was nearing. As it grew closer and closer the students grew more excited about classes ending.

Sirius Black sat in his dormitory alone. Most people would find this strange, and most people did. No one knew what he was doing there except Sirius himself. He was reading a letter his mum had sent him with dread settling in his heart.

Sirius,

We have changed our minds. We still want you home for Christmas. I need to have a talk with you. Come home or else.

Mrs. Black

Now she signs letters to me Mrs. Black Sirius thought bitterly before ripping apart the letter and watching the pieces of parchment falling to the floor like snow. It came to a rest on the ground when the door to the dormitory opened and in walked James Potter.

"Sirius mate?" James asked, coming over and sitting next to Sirius. "What is it?" he asked looking at Sirius with concern. He looked at the floor to see bits of parchment. Among them he could make out the words Mrs. Black. He sighed inwardly. Whatever was bugging Sirius must have to do with his family.

Sirius was silent for a few minutes. "My mum wants me to come home for Christmas. She wants to 'talk to me'. Christmas will be terrible there. I finally thought I had gotten away from spending Christmas there," Sirius said finally.

James didn't know how to respond, and Sirius didn't expect him to respond. Both sat in silence until the door opened again and Remus and Peter came in. "Hey you guys, what's up?" Peter asked brightly.

The tension eased down and soon the four were busy talking about what prank to pull next.

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"Ouch! You stepped on my foot Peter!"

"Sorry."

"Hurry up you guys! The ink keeps dropping!"

"Well maybe if you had it closed the whole way we wouldn't be having this problem."

"Maybe if he hadn't insisted of writing a note to them afterwards with a quill and parchment we wouldn't have this problem."

"Sirius watch where you're going!"

"Be quiet! We're going to get caught!"

The marauders were making their way toward the Great Hall for the first part of their prank.

"Why didn't we take the tapestry?"

"I didn't feel like it."

"That makes no sense."

"KEEP THE INK OFF ME!"

"Don't shout!"

"You just shouted."

"Shhhhhhh."

Many portraits opened their eyes as the four argued quietly muttering about how students didn't have any respect for them anymore. Finally they reached the Great Hall and set to work.

After finishing, note included, the Marauders left, finally persuading Sirius to take the tapestry to Gryffindor tower. Once they got to their dormitory they muttered tired goodnights and fell asleep.

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Sirius was running, he didn't know from what but he was running. The shadows were pushing in around him, calling out his name and repeating the same phrase. Always pure always pure loud enough for everyone back at school.

The dark trees towered above him, branches pointing and laughing at him. A sudden voice rang out through the area.

Blood traitor! You are a Black and always will be!

'No' Sirius thought to himself. 'No I don't want to be a Black anymore!'

He tripped on a tree root and the shadows engulfed him whispering at him. You're a Black at heart Sirius. You know it. You would betray your friends in an instant. You know it.

"NO!"

He saw himself standing over James with his wand raised, about to mutter a curse. Then he was over Remus with a pure silver knife. Peter was pushed up against a wall by him next, cowering in fear.

"Leave me alone" Sirius said desperately, unable to get the first vision out of his mind.

The voices just laughed louder. Sirius closed his eyes, knowing there was no way for him to escape his family.

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Sirius awoke, sitting up quickly in his bed, covered in a light but noticeable cold sweat. He glanced around the room. He hadn't even closed his hangings before he went to sleep. He could hear Peter's snoring and Remus's soft breathing, but no sounds came from James bed. Suddenly his hangings were pushed open and James face peered out, pale.

"You ok?" Sirius managed to ask.

"Yeah, you?" James asked.

"Yeah."

They sat in silence a few minutes before Sirius looked at the clock. Five A.M. He stood slowly and started to get dressed, knowing he would never get to sleep again after that. He heard James doing the same.

After they both entered the common room neither said anything. They sat down and looked at the embers glowing in the fireplace since the fire was mostly gone. Finally James spoke. "Want to go to the kitchens?"

Sirius nodded and watched as James went to retrieve to invisibility cloak. Soon they were on their way to the kitchens, neither speaking. As they neared the kitchens, Sirius decided it was time to end the silence and stepped on James foot...hard.

"OW! Sirius that hurt!" James yelled. He quieted down. "What did you do that for?"

"Thought it was to quiet," Sirius replied smirking.

"Watch yourself Black," James said, half playful half serious. "I will get you."

Sirius just laughed like the idea of James doing anything without him was so funny it shouldn't even be thought of and soon they were entering the kitchens in a very good mood.

"Hello masters Black and Potter, what can Pastor help you with because whatever you needs I will help with yes I will."

"Just a small snack," Sirius said stretching.

James took Pastor aside and whispered something quietly in his ear. Pastor nodded eagerly and ran off, returning moment later with a lemon. James grinned and cut it open. He walked up to Sirius who had his back turned to him. "Sirius."

"WhaAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

James had squirt lemon juice at Sirius and Sirius, not expecting it, was surprised. He jumped back. "You insane git!" Sirius yelled.

James just laughed and soon Sirius was laughing also. They got their food and headed back to the common room.

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Later that morning James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter walked down to the Great hall. They were early. Last night they had checked the Great Hall to make sure their plan would work, now they would complete it. As Remus wrote the note James and Sirius went around the Slytherin table, letting a small amount of some kind of potion spill into the jugs of pumpkin juice. They quickly sat at the Gryffindor table and began eating.

Soon The Great Hall was full of students eating and drinking. The Slytherins seemed oblivious to the fact that their goblets were full and all drank their pumpkin juice without question. All at once signs popped over their heads, each saying different things.

Over Snape's head a sign said I'm a greasy big nosed git. Over Bellatrix's head it said I'm a muggle cereal trix! The Gryffindor's, Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's were all laughing.

Soon the Slytherins realized what they were laughing at and tried furiously to make the floating signs go away. "How long will they stay?" Peter asked.

"For a day," Remus replied smiling.

And so for the rest of the day Slytherins walked around with floating signs over their heads.

Soon it was the last day before Christmas vacation. Teachers could not keep students calm and most just let them enjoy themselves. While students were looking more and more excited as classes neared ending, Sirius looked more and more upset. He knew the closer he got to classes ending the sooner he would need to go home.

That evening everyone was in the common room having fun and celebrating Christmas holidays finally starting. Again people wondered why Sirius wasn't joining them. James told Remus and Peter he would talk to him, even though he already knew what was wrong.

Again James entered the dormitory to find Sirius sitting quietly on him bed though without pieces of parchment on the floor. He didn't say a word but went to his trunk and pulled out a messily wrapped gift. He handed it to Sirius and smiled. "Happy Christmas mate."

"James it's not Christmas," Sirius reminded him.

"Yeah but since you'll be home I thought I should give it to you now," James said reasonably. "Just open it."

Sirius ripped away the colored paper to find a mirror. "James mate?
What is it?"

"It's a two-way mirror. Just say my name and we'll be able to talk to
each other. Look." James said Sirius's name and soon James's messy
hair and grinning face came into view. Sirius smiled.

"Thanks," Sirius said.

Soon the students going home for the holidays were on the train. All the Marauders were on it, sharing a compartment. No one talked much on the way back. When the train slowed to a stop the four left together and said quiet goodbyes as each saw their families. James put a comforting hand on Sirius's shoulder. "You'll make it." Then he left.

He finally saw his mother standing in the crowd, wearing robes of course, and led him to the car. She didn't say a word but pointed to the door, and Sirius got in. The ride home was long and tense. When they got inside they finally blew up.

"How could you get in Gryffindor!" Sirius's mother screeched.

"I wanted to get in Gryffindor!" Sirius yelled, glaring at his mother.

"How dare you yell at me like that?" his mother said dangerously. Her eyes shone with malice and she looked ready to kill. "You do not use that kind of tone with me! I am your mother!"

"I do not see you as my mother. To me you're a power hungry controlling old hag who is wrong about everything she believes in!" Sirius yelled. After the words were out he knew he had gone to far, but he had had to say it. He had been bursting to say it for years.

Mrs. Black's hand came whipping through the air and came straight at Sirius's face. She had slapped him and slapped him hard.

Sirius was stunned. Though his mother was terrible she had never actually struck him. He looked up at her and she looked ready to slap him again but this time he was ready. He dodged out of the way, eyes full of loathing. "I can't believe I'm related to you!"

Mrs. Black tightened her hand into a fist and aimed it at Sirius's cheek where she had slapped him. The rings on her hand caused blood to run down Sirius cheek, and she punched him in the same manner in the stomach. She grimaced at the blood on her clean floor but gave him a kick in the stomach as he had bent forwards some and stomped off.

He couldn't believe his mum had attacked him like that. He must have made her very angry. Sirius wasn't going to stay here though. He grabbed his trunk and heaved it out the door. The wind hit him hard and started biting at his revealed skin but he took no notice of it and began walking. He had walked four blocks before realizing he had nowhere to go. He was freezing and in pain. Sirius sunk down in the snow and suddenly remembered the mirror.

Quickly pulling it out he said "James Potter," and waited. Soon James face appeared in the mirror.

"Hey Sirius."

"Hey James. Finished talking to my mum," he said, smiling weakly.

"What's wrong?" James asked, looking at him in concern. "Why are you bleeding?"

"My mum got a little...angry," Sirius said.

"I'm coming, just tell me where you are."

"On the corner of Malcient. Thanks James." Sirius drew his legs to him chest and waited for James to come.

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A/N: Yes it took me a long time but I'm proud of this chapter! It's longer and I'm sure it was worth the wait. Once I get back into updating everything I'll update more regularly. Remember I was gone for a week I have a lot to work on.

Review Responses:

Padfootlet: You...are...scaring...me. Um...yeah whatever. Hey I have an idea. What's your first name?

Sparkzi: Thanks. She is a dramatic person...nah she doesn't like Snape she's just too nice to everyone but James...and Sirius I guess. Thanks and it's better.

Chantal J: Thanks it's better. So did for his friends health lol.

Sun Kissed Rose: Thank you. Yeah me too. Here's an update and I got a lot.

EyesofEmerald: Thanks for all the compliments!

ShrugDuckie: Thanks. Sometimes I'm in a funny mood and sometimes I'm in a serious mood. Some chapters are harder then others cause I'm putting both in. I don't know what you're talking about. La la la la la. No I'm not like that...as in not totally obsessive I have a crush on my friends neighbor but...well he's a great character...anyway thanks. Here's an update.

Mochalattee: NO YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wait there's an update so you won't.

Laughing Dragoness: Thanks. You could say there was some action in this chapter. You know what? Like everyone always says update soon, including me.

Koriaena: Yes they are.

MoJo-sbluver: Wow thanks! I didn't think it was all that but thanks a lot! Since this will go through seventh year it will be long so there won't be anything like this for a while...maybe I'll do a summer series next.

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! Your comments are what keep me going!

Preview:

James and Sirius go to James house.

James convinces his parents Sirius is different

Christmas vacation!!!!!!!!!

Please review