A/N: I know it took me forever but I have a good reason. I went on vacation again. Yes, again. Then I got back and we went to the state fair and this is the first time I can really sit down for a while and type...write...whatever. Anyway, I won't keep you waiting. I almost typed writing hee hee hee. Ok, here it is.

Disclaimer: A,B,C,D,E,F,G, I do not own HP

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Chapter 10: At the Potter household

Sirius shivered. He was freezing out here. Quickly he opened his trunk and rummaged through his things. He hadn't bother to pack neatly and couldn't find his cloak. He groaned and slammed shut his trunk in frustration.

He had talked to James fifteen minutes ago, and was wondering how long it would take him to get here. For all he knew James wouldn't be here for another two hours, at which time he would be a frozen ice sculpture that your tongue stuck to when you tried to lick it.

Suddenly hearing the crunching sound of footsteps in snow, Sirius looked up. They were fast paced, and soon Sirius could hear the sound of breathing...panting more like it...like someone who had just run for ten minutes straight.

A couple seconds later James turned the corner. Seeing Sirius he rushed up to him and handed him a cloak. "Thought you might need this. Found it in my trunk."

"So that's where it went," Sirius said softly, looking up at James. "Thank you," he said.

"No problem mate. I couldn't leave you out here to become a Popsicle." He grinned. "Come on. Let's get away from here. It's only fifteen minutes to my house."

Sirius slowly stood up, stiff from sitting down in the snow for fifteen minutes and quickly put the cloak on. James grabbed his trunk and they were off, through the biting winds.

The snow though, was no longer calm. It was fierce, and falling fast, swirling in their faces so they could barley see. Snow burned at Sirius's eyes and got stuck to Jame's glasses and the two boys shivered despite their clothing. The snow made it much more difficult to walk, or see for that matter. Sirius tripped over a tree root and went tumbling into the snow, knocking off James glasses in the process. James, now unable to see much at all, walked straight into a tree.

"This isn't working!" he shouted, kneeling down carefully and feeling around for his glasses. Finally finding them he picked them up and put them on, quickly taking them off again and trying to rub all the snow off.

Sirius slowly stood up, wincing slightly and looked around. "Do you even know where you're going?" he asked, more of shouted as he looked around for James. He could barley make out the shape of him in all this snow.

"Of course! Well not exactly but it's got to be around here somewhere!"

Shaking his head, Sirius walked over to James. "Aren't your parents going to be worried about you out here?" He asked.

"Yep."

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Finally spotting his home, James grinned but the grin disappered when he looked at Sirius. Sirius had dried blood caked to his face, and he had a look of discomfort on his face. He was leaning forward slightly, from what James didn't know. On hand was holding his stomache and he didn't look like he wanted to be standing right now. "There it is," James said, pointing.

Relief poured into Sirius's face at the thought of being able to stay still. The blood on his face was annoying and it stung when the snow...or anything for that matter touched it. His stomache hurt terribly and he was cold and soaked.

They made their way towards the large oak door and suddenly a thought entered Sirius's head. What if I'm not welcomed? What if because I'm a Black they kick me out? "James are you sure your parents will...let me stay?"

James stopped. He hadn't thought of that before. The Blacks and Potters didn't get along...but surley his parents wouldn't reject the son...his friend. "I won't let them send you back there right now. I mean you'll have to go back but...I'm sure you can stay for Christmas."

Sirius noted that James didn't sound completely sure, but shrugged it off. He couldn't keep worrying about it, because he had just stumbled on nothing, and had to focus solely on staying upright. The fall from before had led to slow bleeding coming from his face.

"Are you okay?" James asked, slowing his pace a little to walk next to Sirius.

"Yeah, I'm okay," he said in a slightly strained voice. All the walking, not to mention getting lost, was weighing on him. He brushed some blood off his cheek. "Let's hurry," he said.

James just nodded and soon they reached the door. He opened the door and light spilled on to the snow, illuminating both him and Sirius. Two adults were in front of them, looking a little frantic. When they saw James, both rushed up to him.

"Where have you been?"

"We've been so worried about you."

"What were you thinking?"

"Who is that?"

Everyone looked at Sirius, who was looking a little uncomfortable at the fact everyone was staring at him. James quickly stepped in. "This is my best friend Sirius Black," he said, wondering what his parents reactions would be.

They didn't say anything for a moment, before finally his mother spoke up. "A Black?" she asked, seemingly confused about her son's best friend being a Slytherin.

"He's in Gryffindor mum," James said, looking at Sirius. "I really think he needs to sit down, can he come in?"

"Of course he can dear," his mother said, leading Sirius inside. "Make yourself comfortable. Now..." she said to herself. "I'll be right back."

Avana Potter dissapered for a minute and came back with some towels, warm water, and two blankets. "James honey go upstairs and change please," she said, dipping a rag in the warm water and gently rubbing away the dried blood, to find the welts still bleeding. James father Henry stood back watching.

"Henry could you get me some bandages?" Avana asked. He nodded and left. "Who did this to you Sirius?" she asked, looking straight into his eyes. In the little time James had been home all he had talked about was Sirius, yet he hadn't mentioned he was a Black.

Sirius didn't say anything, and it took him a lot of will not to tell her that it was his mother. Maybe his emotions showed in his eyes, or maybe she just guessed, but Mrs. Potter gently stroked his hair and said ,"You can stay here as long as you like." He knew she wanted him to be away from harm, and he smiled.

"Is there anywhere else?" she asked. "What happened exactly?"

Sirius swallowed and began to speak. "I got slapped, and punched in the face. Her rings left the marks. She punched me in the stomache and kicked me. I was outside unprotected for fifteen minutes until your son arrived with a cloak. That's it really."

Mr. Potter came downstairs then with some bandages and was soon followed by James, in dry closed and looking worried. "Is he okay?"

"He'll be fine," Mrs. Potter said sweetly. Sirius, though only knowing her for a few minutes, felt like she was more of a mother to him then his mother had been the whole eleven years of his life.

"Just fine," Mrs. Potter repeated.

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Bop. Bop. Bop. Bop.

This wasn't working.

Henry Potter had been throwing socks at Sirius and James for five minutes and they hadn't even stirred. He looked around for something else to throw and spotted a book. Quickly that thought was ruled out. Maybe a book was too heavy...

When no ideas came to mind Henry Potter decided it was time for drastic measures. Holding his wand over James head, he let a spurt of water run out of it and on to his face. James sat up, jumping, waking Sirius who was at the end of his bed. "What's up James?" Sirius asked tiredly.

James just glared at his father and he smiled back. "Well the socks didn't work, so I had to try something else," he said.

"You could have poured water on Sirius!" James stated grumpily.

"No he couldn't have. I'm the guest. And the guest says he deserves about fifty hours of more sleep. Goodnight."

James poked Sirius in the head. "Nu uh. If you go to sleep I'll pour water on your head."

Sirius sat up. "So uh...what's for breakfast?" he asked smiling. Without warning he turned around and shoved James off the bed, laughing.

"I'm gonna get you for that," James started to say, but Mr. Potter inturupted.

"Come on you two, time for presents!"

"PRESENTS!" the two yelled and scrambled downstairs. Mr. Potter just stood there shaking his head before following the two downstairs.

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That's the end of this chapter. Yes I know it was shorter then it would have been but I'll post again this week. I didn't want to keep you waiting any longer. I promise to update again soon ok?

Review Responses:

ShrugDuckie: Thank you. Yes I did, and I'm obsessed too don't worry. (On a roleplay site he is a character as a student and I PM'd him asking if I could be a girl that swooned over him ) Thank you and here's an update. I'll try to update faster next time.

Chantal J: Yes, poor Sirius. Thank you.

Laughing Dragoness: That's what I thought. Thank you and don't worry, everyone says it including me.

Scary-Girly: Thank you.

Koriaena: You don't know how many times I've heard that lol. Yes, he runs away during summer after fifth year, but that is for good. Like stated in this chapter, it is only for Christmas. He will have all summer to be with his "loving family" And all those years until James parents finally let him stay for good. (I have a VERY long chapter planned for that)

MoJo-sbluver: Thank you. Ha ha ha so many people have said that! Me too. Cries

Queen-of-Gondor: Do you mean you are Aragorn's wife by the pen name? Anyway thanks. Yes and now he has. This chapter is shorter then it would have been but I didn't want to keep you guys waiting any longer. Oh well, off to write (I have five others to update o.O )

PadfootObbsessed329: Love the name...I'm obsessed too! Yay! Thanks. Another person talking about poor Sirius. Just wait until you see why he runs away for good!

Well please review!