Chapter Three: Too Much Responsibility For You?

Sirius looked at his mother solemnly while she examined him with her scrutinizing glare, "I do not want any owls this year from that McGonagall woman. Do you understand?" Sirius nodded and resisted the urge to punch his brother for smirking at him, from his place behind their mother, "And I want you to keep an eye on your brother."

If possible Sirius' face fell even further. He glanced at Regulus, and knew that his brother's face was an exact reflection of his own. It was a rare thing, but on occasions such as these they often saw eye to eye. Sirius looked down at the ground to divert the glare he almost gave his mother which would have caused him much grief in the long run, when he heard his brother ask, "May we get on the train now?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. Only his little brother could get away with asking a question like that. If he'd even attempted it, his mother would have hexed him or worse- knocked him hard in the temple with her forefinger.

"Yes, you may," she smiled at her youngest lovingly and then looked Sirius straight in the eyes and stated, "I mean it. If I hear one word from that school that you've done something stupid-"

"I know, mother," Sirius cut her off and quickly turned around and walked away before his mother could say anything more. He knew that that was pretty much a death wish but at the same time found that he could really care less.

"Regulus, dear, I want you to stay with your brother," Sirius heard her say vaguely over the crowd and stopped in his tracks. Oh, she was good.

He turned around and looked at Regulus. Both of them stared each other down as if they were daring the other to try something. Sirius only glanced away once to see his mother smirking. He could only imagine what she was thinking and even then he didn't want to.

He looked back at his brother before he turned around and headed for the Hogwarts Express hearing his brother's obedient footsteps behind him. He boarded the train and walked through the different cars looking for at least one of his friends, when he found that none of them were there, he merely chose a compartment of his own towards the back of the train.

He opened the door and looked back over his shoulder at Regulus and groaned, "You sit there," he pointed across from where he planned to sit. Regulus sat down as directed.

Sirius then turned and looked out the window at the crowd on the platform-- at the kids that were saying goodbye to their parents and siblings with a sad look on their faces because they would miss them; or the way that the parents looked equally disappointed at the departure of their older children; but most of all, the way they covered it up with smiles and wishes of good luck and small ditties that they should remember-- that was what captivated him the most.

What Sirius would give to be a part of that. To feel wanted. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt completely wanted by his parents. He'd only had a year without Regulus. Maybe his parents had loved him then and he was just too young to remember. Or perhaps there had been times after that but, again, the memories had been lost overtime. Either way, he'd give anything for what every other kid appeared to have.

"Are you looking for your friends?"

Sirius turned to his brother, "No," he answered honestly.

Regulus seemed to look confused by the statement, "Then what are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

Regulus nodded and fell silent knowing that his older brother did not want to speak with him. Sirius turned back to the window and zoned once more, letting the people blur into a liquid flurry of color.

"I'm sorry Mum wanted me to stay with you."

"You didn't have to listen. You could run and find your friends, that is if you have any," Sirius retorted unenthused.

"I have friends!" Regulus grumbled and fell into a brooding silence that Sirius was thankful for.

They stayed like that for a few more minutes until their compartment door opened and Peter stepped inside. Sirius gave his friend a week smile. Peter grinned widely at him and sat down next to Regulus feeling uncomfortable taking James' rightful seat next to Sirius.

"I'm glad I wasn't the first one on the train. I wouldn't want to hold the car."

"Too much responsibility for you?" Sirius asked with a smirk.

"No, I just don't like being alone."

"Fair enough," Sirius stated and watched as Peter turned to Regulus.

"Hi, I'm Peter. We didn't meet properly last year- it's nice to do so now."

Regulus stared at Peter's extended hand like he would catch leprosy if he touched it. Peter's smile waned and Sirius spoke, "Just ignore him Peter. Pretend he's a nasty decoration in this particular compartment. Mother has decided that I need to baby-sit him, and like the good son that he is, he obeyed."

Peter looked from one brother to the other, in what looked like mild confusion before he uttered, "Oh."

At the sound of his voice Sirius looked away from his brother and managed a small smirk towards Peter. He took one last glance at Regulus before the pout on his brother's face annoyed him too much and he was forced to look away, "So, what did you do after I left Diagon Alley?"

Peter moved slightly in his seat before he answered, "Oh, we went into the Quidditch Supply Store. James bought that Comet. It's really cool. Then we went and had supper in the Leaky Cauldron. It's a shame you couldn't stay."

Sirius smiled weakly at his friend and slumped down in his seat crossing his arms over his chest. Of course James had bought the broom. James got everything he wanted even if he didn't need it.

"That's nice, I'm glad you guys had fun," Sirius found himself say with a tinge of bitterness.

He looked sideways at Regulus and saw that he looked mildly outraged by what he was hearing. Sirius cocked his eyebrow at him with a simple, "you tell Mum and you're dead" look firmly on his face. Regulus glared at him, getting the full extent of the message, and believing it completely. Sirius then turned his attention back to Peter, who, if possible, looked even more confused with a newly added pinch of nervousness.

"Yeah, it was nice," Peter squeaked out.

Sirius just nodded not knowing what else to say. They stayed quiet for a few minutes until Peter started humming to himself. Sirius smiled slightly to himself despite the annoyingness of Peter's tune. Eventually, he let himself join in once he caught on to the simple, repetitive ditty. Shortly after he'd begun, the compartment opened once again making everyone jump. Remus' laughter quickly filled the void of silence, "Paranoid much?"

"Shut it," Sirius retorted.

Remus smiled and then scooted into the seat next to Sirius. He looked over at Regulus, who had once again replaced his brooding with the "I am holier than thou" face he had easily learned from their mother.

"Ignore him," Sirius stated for the second time.

"Regulus," was all Remus said finding it too rude not to say anything to the boy like Sirius had instructed, even if he received no comment in return.

Sirius shook his head at that attempt, "Where the hell is James?"

"Well, now I feel loved," Remus muttered.

Sirius shoved him, "You should!"

"Well, I do."

Sirius saw Regulus roll his eyes at their friendly exchange and Sirius swiftly kicked him in the shin. Regulus gasped in pain and then let a groan escape from his lips. Remus looked over at Sirius and shook his head. Sirius shrugged and looked at his watch, "Seriously, if James doesn't come soon he's going to miss the train."

Remus shrugged, "It's not like he couldn't find some other way to get to school. I mean, his dad has tons of connections."

"That's not the point."

"Then what is the point?" Peter interjected feeling the need to get reenrolled in the conversation.

"We take this time to catch up. We can't do it properly if one of us isn't here."

"Regulus is here," Peter suggested.

Sirius heard Remus laugh at the suggestion and he joined in, "I could fill in Regulus' holiday for him. He spent the whole time kissing out mother's arse. Not to mention Lamia's."

Remus' brow cocked up at the second half of the statement but Regulus retorted with a swift kick at Sirius coupled with: "I did not!" before Remus could say anything.

"Really, then who else did you spend time with?"

"Bellatrix. Narcissa."

"That's so much better. Throw Kreacher in and there's a real party."

"Be nice, Sirius," Remus stated.

Sirius turned to him but said nothing. It wasn't worth it. Remus wouldn't understand anyway. The compartment door slid open once more, chasing away the building tension, and, huffing and puffing, James stepped inside.

"Made it. Did you miss me?"

"No," Sirius stated loudly.

Remus looked up at James, "He lies. I think he was going to start writing sonnets if you missed the train."

James laughed and squeezed into the seat next to Remus forcing Sirius to be even closer to the window, which seemed to be emanating a cold breeze.

"Yes, well, I had," he looked down at his watch, "oh, two minutes. Geez, am I good or what?"

"Keep telling yourself that."

All parties in the car looked at Regulus.

"What is he doing here?" James exclaimed loudly, not bothering to hide his outrage.

"He's my punishment."

James brow cocked upward as he silently questioned what Sirius was talking about but Sirius continued anyway, "Mum said we have to stay together. He, being my mother's pet and all, obeyed. That is why his is still here."

"It's not like I'm enjoying this either!" Regulus spat out, "I want to be around my friends too! It'd be much better than being around a bunch of no good mudblood lovers."

As soon as the last few words had left his mouth the outrage of the four marauders hit the moon. James stood up from his seat at the same moment as Sirius; only Sirius got to the second year first. His hands were held on firmly to his brothers collar as he said, "You want to say that again, Regulus?" Regulus' eyes were wide and he shook his head violently in reply, "Good because we're not giving you a second chance!"

With that Sirius felt for the handle to the door, once he found it he opened it viciously and threw Regulus out. His brother landed firmly on his bum in front of a group of girls. They glared at Sirius who just smiled at them before he slammed the door in Regulus' face before he gave his brother the chance to stand up and get back in.

"But mum told me I have to stay with you!"

Sirius stared at the shadow of Regulus on the other side of the door's window, "I won't tell if you don't."

He then watched as Regulus slumped out of sight. Once he was gone Sirius slunk onto his seat, "Good riddance."

"Don't you think you were a little hard on him?"

Sirius turned his glace at Peter and he seemed to shrink under the weight of the gazes that were now on him, "Hard on him? Peter, did you hear what he said?"

"It was horrible!" James interrupted.

Sirius nodded but didn't miss a beat and continued, "I mean, I was raised by the same people he was and I still have more couth than to say something like that!"

"Which is amazing, because you say everything that comes to your mind, no matter how horrid it is."

Sirius looked at Remus and shrugged knowing that it was basically true. They fell silent for awhile before Peter spoke, "Do you think he'll rat on you?"

Sirius looked at him, "I don't really care, it's not my problem until the year's good and done with." He smirked at his friends before he changed gears, "So, Remus, what was it like having girls around all summer?"

"It wasn't all summer; it was three weeks," Remus stated bluntly before a half smile played on his lips and he went on, "and it was nice, actually. Alexial's really cool and Kara was decent for the most part. When I started getting sick she really didn't show any pity as usual. Alexial felt bad though. She kept saying that she wished I felt better every time they came back into the house." He paused slightly and blushed a bit, "They said they might stop by, but I guess now that they aren't going to."

Sirius smirked at Remus but said nothing. He looked over at James and shared a quick glance before he said, "Regulus probably scared them away."

Remus rolled his eyes at Sirius, "Granted he's not the prettiest boy in the world, I'm sure they just-"

Sirius burst out laughing at the comment never letting Remus finish. Remus just shook his head at his friend and laughed with him.

From there their journey was as usual. James relayed stories of Prince Minos and his pampered ways that would have given his hand a major cramp if he had attempted to actually put it on parchment. He also proceeded to show the three of them some Grecian prank supplies which included an exploding wand identical to Snape's, fire crackers that were a lot like Filibuster's but not on Filch's list of preventing fun, among many other delectable things for them to savor sparingly throughout the year. Needless to say, Sirius was very pleased with the possibilities on the "make Snape miserable" front.

Remus too interjected with some tales of his summer, lycanthropy left unsaid, Sirius was happy to see that the perfect family was still just that: perfect. He smiled when Remus explained fishing to James having given up understanding the thing last summer.

Peter stayed relatively quiet during the journey, seeming to be ashamed that he hadn't had visitors that weren't family. Plus the fact that he had never actually left the country didn't really aid in his conversational skills either. Sirius had only said that travel was overrated and Britain was as good a place as any. Though, he was judging it with France-- so there really was no real contest in his mind.

Then, finally the Hogwarts Express stopped with a heavy sigh. The boys were winded from talking so fervently, having only a real pause when the trolley lady came by with sweets. They stepped off the train and Sirius took a deep breath.

He stared at Hogsmeade, the carriages that were awaiting the students' arrival, and Hogwarts faintly to be seen over in the foggy distance. He smiled at his friends and followed James' lead to the horseless carriages.

Shortly after he took his first step he felt someone push him. He grunted a bit as he stumbled forward. When he retained his balance he stuck his fist out hoping to get mild revenge on his attacker. He watched with a smile as a black haired boy fell forward at the group of them, "I hate you! All of you! You'll pay for that!" he stuttered out as he picked himself up off of the ground.

Sirius watched with a chuckle, ignoring his friends' unenthusiastic glances at him, as Snape ran towards the closest empty carriage, "God, it's good to be home."

He watched as James shook his head at him but said nothing in return. They climbed tightly into the horseless buggy and shortly there after were headed ceremoniously up the hill to Hogwarts. To home.