SUMMER'S THE TIME TO RELAX

Summary: Sirius has to spend the summer with the Malfoy's. Set during the summer holiday before the Marauder's fifth year.

Disclaimer: I own nothing etc.

Chapter 1: Family Plans

"You'd best go," Sirius said despondently to Remus and Peter as the four drew near the front of the queue to pass into the muggle world. "My Father's waiting over there and if he sees me with you two…" Sirius drew a finger across his throat in a gesture James knew to be only a mild exaggeration.

Nodding Remus passed through the magical barrier with Peter and James, as the only other pure blod wizard who wasn't a werewolf, accompanied Sirius to where a striking man stood with a younger boy who could be no older than nine.

"Good afternoon Mr. Black," said James after a moment of uncomfortable silence, trying to remember if he was expected to bow.

Mr. Black did not return the greeting, "Potter isn't it? John Potter?"

Sirius gritted his teeth. He did occasionally write home and I every one of those letters he had mentioned his best friend.

"It's James…sir. James Potter," muttered James.

This was met with no acknowledgement as Mr. Black shifted his attention to Sirius. "And you. Don't you greet your Father and brother? You haven't seen Regulus for a year, aren't you pleased to see him?"

His little brother smirkedup at him and Sirius burned to say that he hadn't missed Regulus one bit and it would suit him just fine if the little sod fell off the face of the planet. But that would be more trouble than it was worth so he simply mumbled, "'Lo Regulus. How are you?"

Satisfied that Sirius had performed his brotherly duty Mr. Black now produced a tatty scarf that Sirius took for a portkey and motioned for the boys to touch it. Before he did so Sirius swapped one last fleeting look with James.

"I'll owl," his tousle haired friend promised and disappeared into the crowd.

Sirius sighed and touched his finger to the scarf. With a loud crack he was gone.

Sirius struggled to regain his balance as he landed in his own hallway. He sighed again. Merlin how he loathed this place. With any luck though, he wouldn't be here long.

"You're back are you?" A tall dark woman stood surveying him, a grimace of disgust on her face.

"Hello Mother. What a delight to see you this fine day," Sirius said, his voice bubbling with cheerful sarcasm.

Her eyes narrowed, "Don't cheek me boy," and her hand flew to her hip where her wand lay.

"Sorry," said Sirius, not sounding in the least contrite, "I'll go and unpack shall I?"

"No point," cut in his Father, "we'll be spending the summer with the Malfoy's."

For a moment the whole world seemed to stop spinning.

"The-the…" Sirius cleared his throat and tried again. "The Malfoy's? All summer?" At his Father's affirmative nod he continued, "But my friend…James…the boy you met at the station…he was going to ask me to stay."

"Then you will have to decline," said Mr. Black, now smiling broadly, "You will not disgrace the family by not accepting the generous invitation that Drake and Laveda have offered us."

Sirius considered a moment, but could see no way out and nodded curtly before asking, his voice half an octave higher than usual, "Are any other wizarding families going?"

"Not many," this time it was his mother that answered, "Your cousins Bellatrix and Narcissa-I believe she is seeing the Maloy boy, a fine match-oh, and the Snape's."

Sirius nodded, his worst fears confirmed. His friends got to spend the summer having tremendous fun and he got six weeks with Snape. Perfect. Bloody perfect.