Most Characters and the Harry Potter universe belong to J.K. Rowling.
This shall be a slight AU, because I don't like how everything ended in the books.
—
On the morning of September first, in a large house- which was filled with dark magic, and general evil- a young boy woke up.
The boy had turned eleven only a few months ago, not that his birthday had been celebrated.
The boy was heir to the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black, or as the boy had duped it, 'The Most Nauseating and Awful House of Black'.
He had black hair that went to his chin, straight and clean cut, but still it managed to look wild to some extent. He had grey eyes- like clouds before a particularly bad storm.
The boy was obviously a pure- blood. Not that he took any pride in it.
The Blacks were prejudiced against all non- pure- bloods, and any pure- bloods that were kind to mud- bloods or half- bloods. Like the Potters, Weasleys, and Prewetts.
The boy had always disagreed with his family- he'd also never bothered to keep his loathing of them a secret.
But deep inside, the boy knew he'd be sorted into Slytherin- that's where all Blacks always went. Always.
The boy rolled over in bed, too tired to get up, when a familiar sound that was like a banshee screaming, well screamed. "SIRIUS ORION BLACK! GET UP!"
The boy- Sirius, groaned and hopped out of bed.
He quickly pulled on his long, black robes. Despite his family's hatred of him, they still had to buy him expensive clothes- they didn't want anyone knowing of Sirius' rebellion.
He quickly finished getting ready, after all he couldn't wait till he got to Hogwarts. He would be able to escape his family for a while. That made anything worth it.
He raced down the stairs, sliding on the floor at the bottom.
Once he got into the kitchen his mother, Walburga Black, looked at him with unconcealed dislike, and asked, with a sneer. "Where's your stuff, Bratt?"
Sirius then realized he hadn't brought his trunk down with him.
He panicked slightly, he left it in his room, seven stories up! He didn't have time to get it.
Just then a small voice spoke up. "I brought it down, Siri." Sirius turned to see his little brother by two years, standing right outside the kitchen with Sirius' trunk.
Sirius smiled at his little brother- the only person in his family besides Andromeda that he could stand.
Regulus smiles at him shyly, glancing worriedly at their mother.
Sirius glanced at his mother, who was glaring at Regulus and quickly diverted her attention.
"Welp! Hogwarts time!" Sirius exclaimed, making his mother glare at him.
"Be ready to leave in five minutes." She snarled, storming out of the room.
Sirius- after making sure the Banshee of a human was gone- made his way over to Regulus and hugged him.
"I don't want you to go, Siri!" Regulus half cried half begged. Sirius could feel tears on his shoulder.
He quickly knelt down so he could see eye to eye with his brother. "Hey, you'll be alright. I'll be home soon, and I'll make sure to write. Just keep your head down, you can do that? Right, Reggie." Sirius said softly to his little brother, who was wiping his tears away.
Regulus nodded. "Y- you promise you'll write?" He choked out softly.
Sirius looked into his brother's light grey eyes with his own dark ones. "I promise, Reggie." He promised his brother, before quickly hugging him again, and sprinting out of the kitchen, stopping to look back at his brother. "Bye, Reggie. I'll see you soon, okay?" He said, smiling at his brother, who gave him a small, sad smile in return. "Bye Siri." Regulus said, as Sirius looked at his brother over again.
Sirius knew his brother wasn't as strong as he was. But he still had hope for his brother- Regulus would make a good Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, he didn't have to be Slytherin.
Sirius quickly scurried away when he heard his mother's (banshee's) voice, screaming at him to hurry up.
—
Sirius was now on the Hogwarts express, he was relieved to get away from the human banshee, and he was excited to go to Hogwarts. Only problem, he had nowhere to sit. All the compartments were filled, and he didn't want to sit with his family of Slytherin trolls.
Sirius finally found one with only one boy in it, the boy had tawny hair and was deathly pale, he was sleeping slumped against the window.
Sirius slid into the compartment, and sat opposite to the other boy, who Sirius's thought, looked dead.
Should he check the boy's pulse? Sirius wondered to himself.
Looking closer he could see old scars on the boy's face, he also looked painfully skinny.
Sirius was getting really tempted to get up and check the sleeping boy's pulse.
Suddenly the compartment door slid open and a messy- haired boy stepped in.
The boy had messy black hair, glasses and a large smirk on his face.
A Potter! Sirius realized he knew he couldn't tell the Potter his last name. The Potter that Sirius wanted to befriend to infuriate his parents.
Sirius didn't really know how to make friends, so he just looked at Potter blankly.
"Can I sit here? Thanks." The Potter said, sitting down next to him.
Sirius was nervous, and when he was nervous he panicked, and when he panicked he went silent.
That didn't seem to bother the Potter in the least. "Hello! I'm James. James Potter. Who are you?" He asked cheerfully, holding out his hand to Sirius.
Sirius hesitated, then shook Potter's hand tentatively.
"I'm Sirius," Sirius said nervously, Potter looked at him.
"What, no last name?" Asked Potter, smirking at Sirius.
"White. Sirius White." The Black heir said, internally strangling himself.
White? Really? You idioticle Black.
"Well, nice to meet ya, Sirius!" Potter exclaimed happily. Sirius smiled at him, a little shyly.
"Who's he?" Potter said, gesturing at the sleeping/dead boy.
"I donno, he was asleep when I got in here." Sirius shrugged.
"Is he..dead?" Asked Potter, looking concerned, Sirius shrugged.
"I was about to check his pulse when you came in." He admitted, earning a snicker from Potter.
Potter leaned forward towards the pale- possibly dead, boy.
"Should we, er, I donno, check?" Potter asked, looking lost.
Sirius shrugged, not really knowing what they should do.
Potter lifted one hand hesitantly, to press a finger to the boy's throat- the moment Potter's skin touched the boy, his eyes shot open and he jumped in shock- as did Potter and Sirius.
"Ah!" Potter said, then tried to explain himself. "Er, sorry. We wanted to make sure you weren't, you know, dead." The Potter said, flushing a little and running a hand through his already messy black hair.
The not- dead kid blinked once, seeming to calm himself before saying. "O- oh, er, it's f- fine." He said in a small, shaky voice.
Sirius could practically feel the nervousness seeping from the small, scarred boy.
"I'm Sirius B- White," He said, cutting himself off before he could say, 'Black,'. Trying to defuse the tension he motioned towards Potter. "That's James Potter." And speaking of Potter, he seemed to have noticed Sirius' almost slip up, and was eyeing him suspiciously.
The small boy nodded, when he didn't say anything Sirius spoke up before the silence could get awkward. "And you are..?" He asked, keeping his tone light.
"R- Remus Lupin." The other boy answered quietly, looking for all the world like he expected Sirius or Potter to get up and bite him.
Potter smiled at Lupin and held out a hand for the smaller boy to shake, which he did, hesitantly.
Sirius, taking his cue from Potter, reached forward to shake the pale boy's thin hand.
Potter, seeming satisfied, looked at both of the other boys gravely. "Do you… like pranks?" He asked, making it sound like he was asking for a murder confession.
Sirius nodded, he always liked pulling one over the snakes' heads.
Sirius turned to see what Lupin's response was. Lupin seemed surprised that Potter had bothered asking him a question, Sirius noted.
"Er, I- I, w- well. Idon'tknow." Lupin finally said in one long breath, making both Potter and Sirius look at him oddly.
Lupin seemed to take a deep breath, like he was planning to jump off a bloody cliff, not answer a question. "I d- don't know." The small boy said nervously, looking like he was confessing to a crime of some sort.
"That's fine." Sirius said airily, he felt the need to reassure the other boy before he exploded with worry- over what, Sirius couldn't fathom. "You can always learn." Sirius finished, offering the boy his most 'I'm not evil' smile.
Lupin smiled slightly, the movement seeming strained and unfamiliar. Why on earth was the kid so nervous? Sirius understood being anxious about going to Hogwarts for the first time- he understood that. But he couldn't figure out why the pale boy seemed so.. scared? Vulnerable?
Potter seemed to be having a similar thought, though Sirius would never know for sure, because just at that moment a small, pretty red- haired girl came in, crying.
She sat next to Lupin, who looked petrified. Sirius and Potter watched the girl curiously.
Then another figure came into the compartment, eyeing Sirius, Potter and Lupin warily he sat across from the girl.
The boy had hunched shoulders, greasy hair and a shallow, pale face.
Slytherin for sure. Sirius noted, regarding the boy warily.
The boy and girl spoke for a few moments before the shallow boy said. "You'd better be in Slytherin." To the girl, earning a snort from Potter.
"Slytherin?" Potter said scornfully, "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" He finished turning to Sirius, with an air of arrogance.
Sirius blanched, "My whole family has been in Slytherin." He admitted. Please, please, don't hate me. Sirius pleaded in his head, looking at Potter warily.
"Blimey," said Potter, looking at Sirius, "and I thought you seemed all right!" He exclaimed.
Sirius forced himself to grin. "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?" He asked Potter, who grinned. Pretending to lift an invisible sword.
"Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad." Potter concluded happily.
The shallow boy made a small disparaging noise, making Potter turn on him. "Got a problem with that." Potter said, raising a black eyebrow and looking at the shallow boy appraisingly.
"No." The shallow boy said, the sneer in his voice contradicting what he'd just said. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy-" The shallow boy was saying but Sirius cut him off, "Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" Sirius said with a burst of savage delight at the shallow boy's furious look.
Potter burst out laughing, while the girl sat up, looking flushed, and glaring at Potter and Sirius.
"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment." She said, gesturing for Mr. Slytherin to follow her, with another cold look at the two black haired boys.
"Oooooo…" Potter and Sirius imitated the girl's voice; Potter tried to trip 'Severus,' as the two left.
The girl slammed the door as Sirius called out.
"See ya, Snivellus!" He called mockingly, Potter roared with laughter.
"T- that, that wasn't v- very nice." A small voice interjected itself into the conversation, Sirius blinked in surprise; he'd forgotten the small boy was there in his rush to please Potter.
Both black haired boys looked at Lupin in surprise.
"He started it." Potter said- though his voice was a lot kinder then it's been a couple seconds ago; he like Sirius, seemed to have an odd soft spot for the smaller boy.
Lupin looked like he wanted to say something but bit his tongue.
"Look, if it makes you feel better, we- I promise only to disrespect or be mean to Slytherins." Sirius said, this seemed to reassure Lupin a little; Sirius had a feeling that the smaller boy wouldn't want to be around anyone he considered a bully.
Potter nodded in agreement. "What houses do you two want?" He asked, seeming generally interested.
"Anything but Slytherin, honestly I wouldn't mind Hufflepuff; as long as I'm not Slytherin I'll be a happy fellow- but hopefully Gryffindor, that'd upset 'em." Sirius said cheerfully, Potter snickered, and Lupin gave a small smile.
"What about you?" Potter asked, turning to Lupin with a curious look.
"I d- don't know, I, er, never th- thought I'd be- be coming h- here. R- Raven- c- claw, I- I guess." Lupin stuttered, Sirius looked at him with wide eyes.
"Are you muggle- born?" Sirius couldn't think of another reason that Lupin wouldn't be coming to Hogwarts, other than that he was a muggle- born, meaning bingo- he had to befriend a muggle- born, it'd kill his parents. And Sirius rather liked the shy boy.
"N- no. M- my mum is a- a mu- muggle, b- but my d- dad is a- a m- muggle-born." Lupin said, looking increasingly nervous at Sirius' inquiries.
Even if Lupin wasn't a complete muggle- born, he was half muggle and half muggle- born- so he was in many ways a muggle- born.
"Really?" Potter asked, sounding startled.
Sirius watched Lupin with a wide grin; he'd always wanted to learn about muggles.
Lupin seemed to relax at the non judgemental reaction to his confession, smiling slightly.
Sirius' eyes suddenly grew wide and awestruck. If Lupin had a muggle mother, that meant….
"Do you have a machine?!" Sirius said, bouncing on his seat.
"A… w- what?" Lupin asked, looking hopelessly lost.
"A- a four wheel! Muggle's use them, like, er it's shiny!" Sirius exclaimed, motioning desperately with his hands.
"A… car?" Lupin asked, he looked more amused then nervous now.
A car. "Yes! Do you have one? Oh do you?!" Sirius exclaimed, he could hear Potter laughing at him- but couldn't bring himself to be upset.
Lupin nodded; he was definitely amused.
"I- it's re- red and b- black." Lupin said, seeming eager to please Sirius- who was looking at Lupin with wide awestruck grey eyes.
Speaking of eyes- Lupin's where a very unnerving yellow- gold, almost like an animal's eye might be.
There was a commotion outside their compartment, it was the snack trolly, and a kindly plump woman was knocking at their door. "Would you like anything from the trolly, dears?" She said in a warm voice; beaming at the three boys.
Sirius was sure she wouldn't be smiling like that if she knew he was a Black; no one in their right mind would.
Potter had jumped up, practically squealing, and thrust down two galleons and took a huge arm- full of candy and pastries.
Sirius also stood up; but he was more dignified than the other pure- blood. He walked over to the plump lady, smiling charmingly at her as he set down a galleon and took some sweets for himself.
Potter turned to look at Lupin expectantly, "Are you getting anything, Remus?" The messy haired boy asked; Sirius noted the use of Lupin's first name. Was he supposed to address his peers with their first names?
His mother had never told him how to make friends; she had however, told him to avoid Muggle- borns, half- bloods, and blood- traitors.
She also taught him how to be dominant over he fellow housemates; which according to his mother, would be Slytherins.
Lupin shook his head, blushing a little; judging by his reaction, Sirius would guess that the smaller boy had money issues.
The plump lady had already moved on, seeing Lupin's answer; though the woman had still smiled at the small boy sweetly.
Sirius plopped back down next to Potter, throwing Lupin a chocolate frog; which he caught with a startled yelp of sorts.
Sirius grinned at the pale boy, "We can share; I doubt I could eat all this anyway." He said, grinning kindly hoping to ease the boy's tension.
Potter was nodding, dropping his load of candies and pastries on top of Sirius' pile, with a deft sure smile on his bespectacled face.
Sirius, suddenly remembering what he and Lupin had been talking about, dropped the chocolate frog he'd been eating.
Both Lupin and Potter looked at him questioningly.
"So what shape is it? Your car- is it fast?" Sirius couldn't help himself, as he spilled out the questions.
Lupin was nervous at first, quietly answering his questions- but after a while, the pale boy answered the questions quickly and in his hurry to answer; forgot to stutter.
Potter seemed to be watching this exchange with amusement.
The three boys spent the rest of the train ride chatting happily- Lupin didn't talk much, but he seemed to relax around the two black haired boys after a while.
They stuck together as they got off the train and hurried over to a huge man who was calling. "Firs' years! Firs' years over 'ere!"
And oh boy, that man was huge. He had shaggy brown hair and small black eyes, his height would make a giraffe look fairly short.
"That's Hagrid." Lupin said randomly, seeming to notice where Sirius' eyes were. "He's the groundskeeper here." Then suddenly, as if a light had been flipped off; Lupin blushed bright red, his momentary confidence vanishing like a puff of smoke.
The three boys hurried over to the games keeper, milling through a large bustling crowd; several times Sirius had to grab Lupin so the smaller boy didn't trip, and Potter had to yank Sirius back as he almost got swept away in the crowd.
The three boys' had made a quick friendship; and by some unmade agreement they would stick together. At least until they were sorted, unless by some highly unlikely coincidence they ended up in the same house.
Hagrid led them over to a lake, leaving them unsupervised to check the boats.
"Did you hear? There's a giant squid; according to my cousin it will eat you if you don't sing it's favorite song." Potter said to Sirius and Lupin in a stage whisper.
Sirius knew this was false, as did Lupin, but the other first years' eyes widened.
"Wh- what's its favorite song?" Choked out a small, brown eyed girl; looking towards Potter with fear.
"God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs." Sirius said matter of factly, like this was something everybody knew.
Lupin was now eyeing Sirius and Potter with irritated agitation, shifting from foot to foot.
Then the smaller boy shook his head, and with a small grin said. "Y- ya, my aunt L- Lora d- didn't sing i-it and s- she g- got eat- eaten." He said, his stutter making what he'd just said sound true and honest.
Potter let out a sad sigh. "We try to warn them; they just don't listen." He said, patting Lupin on the shoulder consolingly.
All the first years were in a state of panic by the time the groundskeeper arrived.
"Only 'our in a boat." The massive man said kindly in a booming voice.
Sirius grabbed Lupin's wrist and led him to a boat, Potter close on their heels.
They sat- well Sirius sat, Lupin was pulled in and toppled over falling on Sirius, and Potter leapt, bouncing from foot to foot.
Sirius and Potter burst out laughing as Lupin tried to stand up but kept slipping; finally managing to steady himself.
Lupin- unlike Sirius and Potter, was blushing beet red; this only made both pure- bloods laugh harder.
After a moment of trying to glare at them, Lupin chuckled quietly.
It was the first time Sirius had heard the other boy laugh, so he would take it as an accomplishment.
The boats had only just set off when the first two eleven year or so started to sing at the top of their lungs- causing Hagrid- who was in the boat in the front- to jump in surprise and Sirius and Potter to fall over laughing; even Lupin laughed as more, and more first years began to sing loudly.
When they finally arrived at the castle and climbed out of the boat, Hagrid was looking at them like they were all insane.
After the first couple kids had begun singing, Sirius and Potter had joined in, and eventually Lupin had too- to Sirius' knowledge, Snivellus was the only one who hadn't.
The first years where now being escorted into the main hall, by a very confused groundskeeper.
He left them in the hall with a very strict looking black haired women with glasses.
She gave a speech about the different houses, but Sirius zoned out.
As much as he liked Lupin and Potter; he knew he'd be Slytherin, despite how much he despised his family- it was in his blood.
He knew that if and when he was sorted into Slytherin Potter wouldn't be his friend; the messy haired boy hated the green and silver house. Lupin might still, seeing as that boy had to be either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff.
But maybe, maybe Sirius could pull off Ravenclaw- he didn't much fancy learning or books, but Andromeda had done it.
And he was smart enough; he hoped, anyway.
The strict women; Professor McGonagall- head of Gryffindor house, left them alone in the large hall, telling them she'd come and collect them when the time was right. This was a mistake, after all, Sirius wanted to spend his last minutes of Potter not hating him doing something.
So he said loudly, "Did you know that if the hat can't decide which house to put you in under thirty seconds, it takes your brain?"
Potter grinned widely as most of the other first years turned to look at the two pure- blood's in horror.
"I know, apparently, it almost got my mother, couldn't decide between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor." Potter said, nodding gravely.
Sirius saw Lupin roll his eyes at them, making both black haired boys' smirk at him while their peers weren't paying attention.
McGonagall came to collect them, leading them into the great hall.
Besides him, Sirius could hear gasps from the first years, including Lupin.
The ceiling was enchanted to look like the sky, planets and stars on a big black canvas looking down at them.
The moon was almost full- next week would be the full moon, if Sirius remembered correctly.
McGonagall walked up to the staff table; which was long and had no specific color as to not offend any Professors. There were four long tables full of students.
Each house had a table; Slytherin was in the left corner, besides it was the Ravenclaw table, then Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.
Each table was decorated to match the houses' theme colors.
There was a ratty hat sitting on a stool, the sorting hat. Sirius realized, glancing over to Potter who was bouncing in place.
Then the hat started to sing, earning many a gasp from the first years, as it sang about the different houses.
McGonagall began to read from a long list of names in a clear, loud strict voice.
"Adden, Deloris." She read, and a small, pointy girl shuffled forward, long blond hair bouncing as she stopped by the bench, looking from McGonagall to the hat and back.
The Head of Gryffindor cleared her throat, "Well? Try it on." She said impatiently.
The small girl sat down shakily, lifting the hat onto her head, she was sorted in a matter of moments, the hat crying out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Sirius had trouble not laughing as two more students got sorted, each almost trembling with fear.
Potter seemed to be having the same reaction as Sirius, while Lupin just looked guilty.
That's when it hit Sirius that McGonagall would call, 'Black, Sirius,' therefore revealing that he'd lied about his name.
"Black, Sirius." She called, Sirius quickly stepped forward; trying to ignore the look of shocked surprise on James Potter's face, and the look of Horror on Remus Lupin's.
He quickly put the hat on, it spoke in his head.
'Well, well, well. If it isn't a little Black- I guess I know what to do with you.' It said, and Sirius felt the blood rush from his face and horror fill his gut.
'NO!' His mind screamed of its own accord.
'What's this, a Black that isn't Balck..? Don't you want Slytherin?' The hat asked, indulging Sirius' outburst.
'No, no. Put me in Ravenclaw or, or Hufflepuff. I don't care. Just not Slytherin.' He begged, the hat seemed to be shuffling through Sirius' memories.
'No, not Hufflepuff- though you are shockingly loyal, the badger house would not fit you. Nor' would Ravenclaw, smart but not interested in studying,' The hat said reasonably.
Sirius had to bite back a groan, was he destined to be a snake? To be like his nutshell family? But seeing as he couldn't be a Gryffindor, he had no choice but to accept his place in the green and silver house.
'And why couldn't you?' Asked the hat.
'I can't. I'm not brave, or a lion,' Sirius thought sadly.
'But that's where you're wrong..' the hat said, before calling out, ''GRYFFINDOR!"
As Sirius slipped the hat off his head, the hall was dead silent, staring at him in shock. He knew he looked dumbfounded. Gryffindor? His parents would just love that.
The silence was awkward and stunned, Sirius spared a glance at Slytherin house, they all looked sick and furious.
Sirius would be expecting a Howler. That's for sure.
Then, someone clapped, breaking the silence. Sirius looked at Potter in shock? Why didn't the pure- blood hate him? Blacks and Potters had hated each other for centuries upon centuries.
Lupin slowly began clapping and the Gryffindor table snapped out of their shock, and began cheering loudly, making mocking gestures towards the Slytherin.
Sirius felt a large grin slide over his face as he walked head held high over towards the Gryffindor table, strutting confidently.
Ten more students were sorted before, "Lupin, Remus." Was called, Sirius watched avidly as the small boy, shaking, put the hat on top of his head.
Sirius noticed that the Professors all watched the small boy closely, their expressions masked.
What could make that small unassuming boy a cause of such interest?
It took about a minute before the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Lupin pulled the hat of, stunned.
Though Sirius was surprised, he really, really thought Lupin would be a Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw.
The great hall erupted in cheers and claps. Lupin looked a tad bit uncomfortable as he joined Sirius at the House of Lions table.
The Professors, Sirius noticed, seemed either shocked, horrified or proud- Dumbledore.
Before they masked their expressions, smiling tensely.
Sirius cuffed Lupin's shoulder playfully, smiling at the small boy.
Lupin gave him a shaky smile, looking petrified.
Sirius listened to the sorting, waiting for Potter to join him and Lupin at the Gryffindor table; unless like Sirius, he was the opposite of what his blood said he should be. Unlikely, considering how the messy haired boy had acted; like a true Gryffindor indeed.
There was a Lordgon, Zellious, sorted into Gryffindor as well as a Greenhill, Violet. Evans, Lily- Snivellus' friend. Killdon, Aadine. Gofflore, John. Longbottom, Frank and Brown, Alice sorted into Gryffindor so far.
Finally, "Potter, James," was called, and said eleven year old bounced up to the stool and put the hat on while sitting down.
It took about ten seconds, before that hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Everyone applauded as Potter strutted over to Sirius and Lupin, sitting down to Sirius' right.
"Snape, Severus." Was called, and Snivellus walked towards the stool, shoulder slumped.
"Even sounds Slytherin." Potter said, though there was a catch in his voice.
"Who knows, maybe he'll be Hufflepuff or something." Sirius snickered, and Potter soon joined him; having the mental image of the slimy Slytherin- to- be dressed in Hufflepuff uniform and picking flowers- seemed to have that effect on people, you just laughed at how absurd it was.
Sure enough, the moment the hat touched Snivellus' slimy hair, it called out. "SLYTHERIN!"
Dumbles gave a speech, but Sirius zoned out, but he jerked to attention as food appeared.
All three boys' dug in, though Lupin seemed to be trying not to touch any plates; which were silver and quite fancy.
Lupin put barely anything on his plate, Potter piled his up so high Sirius doubted three people could eat it all, and Sirius, ever the sane one, did twice what Potter did.
After eating for a few minutes, Potter turned to him, with a kind of hurt expression on his face.
"Why did you lie about your surname?" He asked, and Sirius saw Lupin lean in to hear his answer.
Sirius mumbled something, but obviously Potter didn't hear him, though it seemed Lupin did- which was odd, Sirius had barely spoken loud enough to be heard from an inch away in a quiet room- and this room was loud.
He repeated himself louder. "I could tell you where a Potter when you came in, I didn't want you to hate me." Sirius said shamefully- emotions were a weakness.
But, to Sirius' surprise, Potter didn't look disgusted instead he looked like of… a mix of touched and sad.
It was no secret that Potters and Blacks hated each other. While Potters were light, Blacks were dark. They were polar opposites.
And they hated each other as a rule; Black's and Potter's had been fighting with each other ever since the dawn of time- well, ever since either family existed, that is.
Sirius had heard his father complain about Fleamont Potter, James Potter's father, and Euphemia Potter, James Potter's mother.
And he didn't doubt that James' had heard similar complaints about Orion and Walburga Black.
"Maybe we'll break the tradition?" Potter said, quoting Sirius from earlier.
Sirius smiled at him, "Maybe." He said hopefully. Though he had a feeling they already did; after all, he was the snake in the lions' den.
Dumbledore stood up after a couple more minutes; when most everyone had eaten their fill- and the food vanitioned.
Everyone was watching the headmaster. "I would like to announce that this year's head boy and girl are," he paused for dramatic effect, his left eye twinkling- yes only his left- "Soddius Affema," He said and a tall Ravenclaw with sandy white hair stood up- he was beaming. "And, Endoria Lordgon." He finished cheerfully as a Gryffindor stood up, she had long brown hair that faded to blond at the end, and a stern look about her.
Everyone clapped politely; while most the seventh and a couple sixth years hooted and cheered loudly for their friends.
Sirius personally couldn't care less who the head boy and girl were, as long as they stayed out of his way.
"We also have a new Professor, everyone I'd like you to meet Professor Iindia." Dumbledore said, smiling at a tall, short black haired woman, with olive skin and stress lines around her mouth; she looked thirtyish.
"Iindia is an ex- auror, she is resting for a couple years to heal an injury; She has kindly offered to take the post of Defence against the Dark arts." Iindia stood up, bowing a little.
Pure- blood. Sirius could just tell from the women's manor, no one except pure- blood's bowed like that. Sirius would know; he was taught his whole life how to be a respectable heir to the Black family fortune.
"Now that we've fattened you up for the night; I bid you a goodnight and farewell. Prefects, if you'd kindly bring the first years' to their dorm?" Dumbledore said kindly, smiling at the students as they were guided from the room.
Potter stood up, motioning for Sirius and Lupin to follow him; which they did.
They quickly moved towards the Prefects, who were leading the other firsties out of the room.
Ten minutes and about one hundred confusing passage ways, stairs and corridors later, they arrived at the Gryffindor common room's Portrait.
A Prefect stepped forward, clearing her throat. "Blessed hippogriffs, is the password; you'd be wise to remember that." The Prefect said as the portrait concealing the hidden common room swung open.
The Prefects guided everyone into the common room, everyone separated from the first years.
Two Prefects remained in the room, everyone else having gone into their dorms or into gossip groups.
The male Prefect separated the boys from the girls; The other Prefect- a blonde haired female, had taken the girls and was separating them into their dorms.
A tall, tan skinned male with light brown eyes- almost carmel, and matching hair, was left in charge of the first years.
"Okay, Hello. I'm Ruben Astrice, I'm your sixth year Prefect, and the blonde's Fiona Sweetwater. I'll be separating you into your dorms, and if you ever need anything Fiona and I will be happy to help!" The male Prefect said, smiling at the first years who smiled back.
Sirius thought he seemed like the kind of guy to only enforce the rules if he had to.
Fiona on the other hand…
"Okay, let's see. Do we have a Frank Longbottom?" Ruben asked, looking the first years over, a tall kid stepped forward; he had dark blue eyes and light brown hair.
"Okay, you're in dormitory six with Danious Ringlout, Loris Norbert, and Jason Connors." He said, smiling widely as the four boy's he'd named stepped into their own little group. "Then we'll have, let's see, Zellious Lordgon, Aadine Killdon, John Gofflore and Phillipus Torrzay. In dormitory two." Ruben said, there where only seven boys left to be placed, the three 'kinda' friends exchanged an anxious look; what if they weren't in the same dorm?
"Then we'll have, oh this'll be interesting. I'mma put Sirius Black and James Potter in the same dorm! That'll cause a ruckus!" The Prefect said gleefully. Making most of the first years laugh at Ruben's antics.
"And I'll put Peter Pettigrew in there too, he seems a fine fellow." The Prefect said smiling at a chubby blonde haired boy with watery blue eyes.
Potter and Sirius where both holding their breath; would or would not Remus Lupin be in the same dorm as them? It seemed pushing their luck a tad bit too far to hope..
The Prefect seemed to notice Lupin's shifting and the glances the three boy's kept sending each other.
"Oh, what's this? Well then I guess Remus Lupin will have to go in.. the fifth dormitory with you lot." Ruben said with a wide smile at the three relieved boys.
Sirius, Potter, Lupin and Pettigrew separated from the other first years into their own little 'fifth dormitory gang,' .
Ruben put the last remaining boys' were placed in the third dormitory.
The Prefect smiled and waved them off to their dorms, Sirius raced up the stairs, Potter at his heels, and Lupin and Pettigrew following a few feet behind them.
Sirius made it to the fifth dorm first, pushing the door open he looked around; it was a large room with four beds placed in a circle. Sirius and Potter both jumped onto two of the beds.
Sirius taking the middle one, Potter taking the one to his right; by the window. Lupin came in and took the other one beside Sirius, and Pettigrew took the one next to the pale boy.
Suddenly four trunks appeared in front of each bed; Sirius quickly recognized his trunk, his initials carved in gold on it. S.O.B.
Toujours Pur. The family motto was carved under his initials- Sirius glared at it distanfully. Always Pure. Sure ya. Whatever you say, Mother dearest. Sirius thought loathfully.
A pillow suddenly hit him across the head, making the young pure- blood jump in shock.
He turned around to see Potter whistling innocently, fiddling with his fingers- with a pillow missing from his bed.
"POTTER!" He yelled, jumped over to the other boy's bed and knocking the messy haired boy off the bed.
Potter yelped in shock as the two tumbled around on the floor.
"Ouch! That's my HAIR!" Sirius exclaimed as Potter grabbed a fist full of his hair.
"Hey! Watch the foot!" Potter cried as Sirius kicked him in the stomach.
"Don't grab my hair!" Sirius said, sounding fake serious- though he was grinning widely.
Potter seemed to be trying to keep an undignified look on his face but was failing miserably.
Sirius was aware of Lupin watching Potter and him with shock. Potter seemed to notice too, for they both leapt for the smaller boy at the same time, Lupin yelped as he was pulled off the bed and onto the floor.
Sirius exchanged a look with Potter before they both grabbed the pillows from Lupin's bed and whacked him with them.
"N- no! S- stop!" Lupin cried out, though his stuttering was from laughter this time as he tried to struggle away from the two grinning pure- bloods.
Sirius didn't let his attempt get him far, pinning Lupin's arms to his sides and Potter continued to assault him with pillows.
After about ten minutes of scurrying around like lunatics Ruben flung their door open to see; Sirius lying half on top of Lupin grabbing Potter's foot, while Lupin slapped at Sirius's back, trying to push him off. And Potter held a pillow over his head like he was presenting a gift to God- the only thing that off set this image was that Potter had a demonic look in his eyes and he was smirking like a lunatic as he prepared to hit Sirius over the head.
All three boys were laughing loudly. The Prefect blinked a few times before, Sirius saw, smirking and rushing over, grabbing both Sirius and Potter up by the feet and throwing them onto Sirius' bed, before scooping up a startled Lupin and throwing him on top of the two pure- bloods.
"Oof!" Exclaimed said pure- bloods as their smaller friend landed across them, laughing.
"Well, well, well? What do we have here..? Maybe I should punish you." The Prefect said gleefully, before diving in to pin them to the bed and tickling their feet.
The three eleven year olds squirmed laughing as the Prefect continued his ruthless attack.
Then without warning, Sirius was flying across the room onto Lupin's bed, and Lupin was thrown onto Potter's.
"That'll teach you. You naughty little boys; go to sleep." Ruben said with a mock stern look.
"But Mr. Prefect, this is Lupin's bed!" Sirius complained, untangling himself from the undignified pile he'd been in and sitting up straight.
"Ya! I'm not sleeping in Sirius' bed either." Potter said scrunching up his nose in mock distaste.
Sirius? Potter had used his first name, not his surname? Was he supposed to use Potter's first name then?
"Fine then, have it your way." The Prefect grumbled as he walked over to Sirius and grabbed him before the Black heir could do anything about it and throwing him next to Pott- James; who was now laughing hysterically at Sirius' disgruntled expression, was unable to do anything as Ruben scooped him up and threw him next to Lup- Remus who jumped out of the way.
Now both James and Sirius laughed at Remus as he tried to escape the smirking Prefects hold, "No!" Was the last thing he was able to say before he was thrown onto his bed.
Ruben turned to smirk at the two pure- bloods. "Happy?" He asked mockingly. This only made James and Sirius laugh harder, soon joined by Remus.
"H- how are- are you a Prefect?" Sirius managed to cough out between laughs.
"I take offense to that, Black." The Prefect said with a mock hurt expression.
But he failed and broke out into a smile. "The only five males in my year who could be Prefects where Fabian and Gidian Prewett- who would explode the school with that power, I might add- Neal Wood, who would just play quidditch. And Orinus Daftfeather, who would just sit and stare at you guys blankly for a year. McGonagall was forced to go with me." Ruben said proudly as if confessing to a great act that would go down in history.
The three boys grinned at Ruben's story. Looks like they'd be free to do whatever under this guys watch.
Just then the blonde tall female, Fiona, stormed in.
"What in the bloody shrieking flowers is going on in here!" She fumed, glaring at her fellow Prefect.
"Ah, sorry, Sweetwater- I was just, er, putting them to bed." Ruben said, blushing and trying to look innocent; he failed.
"For the last time, Astrice! You are a Prefect! Not a bloody play partner," Sweetwater exclaimed, glaring at Ruben with livid green eyes.
She grabbed him and pulled him out of the room; the Prefect managed to send them a terrified look and mouth, "this is your fault," at them as he was dragged away by the other Prefect.
After a moment of silence, James and Sirius exchanged a look before bursting out in laughter, Remus chuckled quietly.
They went to bed soon after, Pettigrew snoring softly was the last thing Sirius heard as he faded into oblivion. The last thought in his mind was that he had friends; James Potter, and Remus Lupin.
CHAPTER TWO,
Foolish hopes.
Remus woke up slowly, the dull ache in his spine tingling a bit as he shifted from his back onto his side.
For a moment he all but forgot where he was, he almost called out for his mother when the realization struck that he was no longer at home.
The events of the previous day flashed through his head, and oh what had he been thinking? How could he have been so foolish?
He wasn't to make any friends- he wasn't supposed to talk to anyone besides what courtesy demanded. How many times had his mother and father told him to avoid other children at all costs? How many times had been warned about the consequences of friendship?
After the first two times Remus had made friends when he was a young boy his parents had deemed it wiser for him to be friendless. His parents didn't mean to hurt him; he knew that. The last two times he'd been foolish enough to make friends had ended disastrously; with the other boys calling him harsh names and attacking him.
Remus had never blamed them, after all, they saw what his parents refused to see. That Remus was in fact, a monster.
Remus was quite literally a lunatic; after all, everything about him was based on the position of the moon in the night sky. And luna roughly translated into moon.
And of course, with the moon came the insanity. Even when the moon wasn't at its fullest; Remus felt its effects.
His Lycanthropy had changed more than just his blood; Remus could be rather dangerous, even in human form; he wasn't human.
He always had to be careful, always. Because of his Lycanthropy, Remus had enhanced speed, strength, smell and sight. It sounded nice; who wouldn't want to be all that?
But the few minor pluses to his Lycanthropy where but a shadow when it came to the real curse in the curse.
He was doomed to be hated; for no- one liked werewolves, no, that was an understatement. Most wizards, witches and even muggles detested werewolves. A common monster.
He was bound to the moon by an unbreakable chain. Always holding him back; restraining him from life.
He was forced to secrecy, always lies. If anyone ever became even slightly suspicious of the small boy; his family had to move, the fear of discovery always hovering over his shoulder.
He was bound to loneliness, never to make friends; because if they knew they'd hate him. As any reasonable human being would.
But most of all, Remus could deal with loneliness and heartache, but the transformation..
The transformation from human to werewolf and back was something many didn't survive. A human body was not meant to turn into a wolf's plain and simple.
Most young children bitten died from either the stress, pain of just everything in general.
In order for one to change from human to wolf, one must first break every bone in his or her body, that way the bones could reshape themselves into a different structure. This took about, maybe, fifteen minutes. Though, in Remus' opinion, the loss of his sanity was the worst bit.
He hated, hated, not being able to control himself.
Also, there was the small fact that while in wolf form, without Remus in control; he had to be locked up, that way he wouldn't spread his.. fine curse onto others. Then the wolf, insane from bloodlust, would turn on itself, gnawing and biting.
And since wounds created by a dark creature couldn't be healed by magic, Remus was left with horrid permanent scars all over himself.
A true freak, really. Then the effects of the three days before the transformation were not the best.
Remus had aches all over, bad headaches and his teeth hurt like crazy. He was also, very, very irritable.
The more upset Remus was before a transformation, the worse the transformation would be. The wolf picked up on Remus' agitation and was even more savage because of it.
His parents had started to make sure he was always busy during the day of the full moon, that way he wouldn't stress himself to death. It worked, a little.
The calmer Remus was, the better the transformation.
And the days following the transformation… Remus shuddered at the ghastly thought.
Covered in self-inflicted wounds and so far beyond exhausted, Remus had to stay in bed for at least three to five days; depending on the transformation.
Also before and after the transformation, Remus could barely eat anything. Feeling nauseous and sick if he even tried.
So, now, Remus laid in bed, pondering yesterdays' stupidity, what had HE been thinking?
Talking, behaving, trying to befriend human boys. He had no right to pretend to be one of them; he was a monster among men.
You are here to learn, not play silly games. He scolded himself, Remus had come to Hogwarts on the condition that he made no friends, he was to watch and learn, not to be frolic and play.
No matter how much Remus wanted to, to befriend James Potter and… Sirius Black; he couldn't.
For the obvious reason of them finding out and chasing him away from Hogwarts; maybe even calling the Ministry to evacuate him for contaminating their dorm.
But also, these were two well known pure- blood surname's the two wore. A Potter; on the side of all light and good magic, would never tolerate a dirty dark creature.
And the Blacks; the leader of the dark and evil side, well, they'd behead him without a single thought.
It was bad for Remus that the one thing the two families agreed with was the werewolf- thing.
They both agreed that werewolves were lesser, less.. capable of human feelings. Though the Potters might not have him killed, per say, they would however chase him far away from any human children.
The Blacks would demand him dead; instantly. And the Ministry… would comply; after all, what was the life of a lowly werewolf- a monster, to the support of a strong family of well bred wizards and witches?
He knew his life meant little to nothing in anyone's eyes besides his mother, Hope Lupin, and his father, John Lupin.
And maybe, Dumbledore's. Though Remus doubted the wizard would be too devastated if Remus was offed.
The wizard did, well… care. To some extent, anyway. The wizard had set up a whole system for Remus to follow in order to transform and stay at Hogwarts.
He knew the kindly wizard had told the whole staff about his Lycanthropy. Despite his fear at this; Remus knew it was reasonable.
He had felt their eyes on him as he was sorted. And while on the topic of sorting…
The hats' words went through his head again.
It had gone like this;
' Ah, it's the werewolf.' The voice said inside Remus' head, making the small boy jump in shock.
'N- no. Don't tell.' Remus thought back, panic flooding through his every thought.
He would have to leave; the hat would tell everyone he was a werewolf.
'Don't worry, silly boy, I'm only here to sort you, nothing else.' The hat said reassuringly. Remus wasn't sure if he liked having a voice in his head.
'Let's see here. A fine mind. Fine indeed. Ah, intelligent; but I doubt you'd enjoy Ravenclaw- too strict. Hufflepuff's out, while you're deathly loyal, you're definitely not trusting. Slytherin is definitely out, for many reasons.' The hat paused. Would Remus not be sorted then? Was he unsortable? Was that even a thing.
'No, no. Let's see, it'll either be Gryffindor or Ravenclaw? What would you like?' The hat asked patiently.
'R- Ravenclaw.' He thought, but despite his father telling him that Ravenclaw was the house to be in; Remus felt like he wanted Gryffindor.
He tried to tell himself it had nothing to do with a certain dark haired grey eyed boy who had already been plopped in the lion house; that it didn't have anything to do with the messy black haired hazel eyed boy who would be there.
'What's this? Friends you say? You could use a friend or two. You'll never live if you never trust.' It paused letting the message sink in before yelling for the hall to hear. "GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus truly didn't know how he felt about this; the hat's message.
It warred in Remus' head with his mother's plea. "Be safe, Remus. No friends, please, be careful."
Last night, the hat's request had won; and Remus had joined in on the rough housing.
And maybe the hat had a point. His two dormates would find out about his Lycanthropy at some point.
Why not enjoy the ride until he was thrown out through the window?
Why not go down with at least a few memories that were worth remembering?
And with that, Remus took the hat's advice; praying it wouldn't blow up in his face for at least a year or two.
Remus blinked, sitting up, stiffening as his bad ached.
He got out of his large new bed, grabbed his school robes, and jumped out of bed silently; pushing the curtains out of his way and rushing into the bathroom.
He was up at least an hour before even the earliest riser would awake. It was five in the morning currently.
Remus quickly took a shower, his tense muscles loosening a little in the warm water.
He sighed, trying not to look at his scars, he grabbed his towel and dried off. But, failing in his attempt to ignore the mess of warped flesh, his eyes lingered on a shallow scar over his palm.
He sighed, turning to look in the mirror, his towel held firmly around his waist as he looked at his body in the mirror.
Meny long scars, some large and some small, ranged across his body.
Some were worse than others, deeper and redder.
The wolf had always seemed to target Remus' shoulders and chest, there was barely a piece of bare skin on his body that didn't have hundreds of scars crisscrossing over it. But his chest and shoulders were by far the worst; the wolf just loved to gnaw on his shoulders.
Thankfully, the wolf hadn't taken a liking to Remus' throat. That was something to be happy about.
Remus ripped his eyes away from the mirror, slipping into his school robes; which covered every inch of his skin except for his neck, face and hands.
Though the Lupin family had spent thousands of galleons trying to cure Remus' Lycanthropy to no avail; they had enough money to live comfortably.
Mr. Lupin still had his job; after all.
But they didn't believe in wasting money; like Black and Potter had on the train.
But yet his father was obsessed with wasting money on the pointless quest to cure Remus' Lycanthropy.
They had tried everything and anything they could find. So everything.
His father had once gone as far as to believe some 'cure' from Africa; let's just say, using skin cream with silver in it did not cure Lycanthropy.
It only made any poor werewolf subjected to it fall into a life of pain; skin blistering, and burning.
His father had felt awful; that had been the last 'cure' they had tried. But before that.. his father had tried so many myths; like how was sleep deprivation supposed to cure Lycanthropy?
He assumed that someone must have believed that if a werewolf was tired out it couldn't transform; wouldn't have enough energy, praphaps?
Well, that hadn't been the case; Remus had nearly died that full moon.
Then some of the supposed 'cures' were just down right stupid; Remus and Renea had spent hours laughing over some. No, eating vegetables did not cure Lycanthropy. Nor' did metatizing, for that matter.
Renea was Remus' cousin; the only member of his family besides his parents who would stand to be around him. She was now nine- teen, but always seemed to have time for her younger werewolf cousin.
She had become a healer; Remus knew it was because she wanted to help him.
A fond smile fitting across his face, he went back into the fifth dorm and curled back up in his bed.
After all, Remus needed his sleep. Only a week until full- moon and the insanity that came with it. Only a week until this small, skinny boy became a bloodthirsty beast.
He drifted off to sleep with that cheery thought echoing through his head.
—
"WAKE UP!" A voice screeched, making Remus yelp and fall out of his bed.
"POTTER!" Another voice joins the LOUD conversation- Sirius, it seemed.
"What, we were going to be late," James said mildly, then seeing Remus lying on his back on the floor, he added. "You okay, Lupin?"
Remus rolled his eyes, "Never been better." He said sarcastically, forgetting to stutter as he half glared at the other first year.
James huffed out a laugh, and Sirius- being the only one to have a heart, it seemed- went over to help Remus up.
Peter Pettigrew; the chubby blonde boy who shared a dorm with them, had two been awakened by James' imitation of an alarm clock.
The boy had opened his curtains and was sitting with his knees up to his chest with his arms wrapped around them.
James seemed to notice the other boy two; and taking sympathy from his small, precious heart, he smiled at Pettigrew.
"Heya. Wanna come to breakfast with us? It'll be hard finding the great hall again, so you might as well come along." James said, disregarding the English language like a pair of old socks.
Pettigrew nodded quickly jumping out of his bed nervously; he seemed eager enough to go with them though.
"C'mon Lupin, hur- why are you already dressed? You were sleeping." Sirius said, suddenly realizing- or just using his eyes- that Remus wasn't wearing his night clothes.
Thinking on the spot, Remus blurted out something off the top of his head; "Oh, er, I woke up early, s- so I thought I might as we- well get d- dressed." He stuttered out, it sounded weak, but the other boys seemed to accept it.
After all, why would he lie?
After the three boys had dressed, they headed into the common room; which was busling with people.
They quickly left through the portrait hole, setting off down the hall.
It only took a matter of minutes for the four to get lost, Remus sighed, taking control of the situation. "Follow me." Was all he said as he took the lead.
Remus had always had a very good sense of direction; he didn't know whether this had something to do with his Lycanthropy or if he was just born being a walking map.
He could find any destination he pleased, as long as he had some directions as to where to go.
He hadn't really been paying attention last night, as Ruben and the other Prefects led them to the common room. But his mind had subconsciously been marking down landmarks and different particular things that helped Remus lead the other three boys to the great hall.
When they finally made it to the great hall, Sirius turned to him, patting his shoulder. "What are you?" The other boy asked, Remus had to stop himself from tensing. The other boy couldn't know, it wasn't possible.. no.
"A walking map?" Sirius finished what he'd started to say, Remus had to stifle a sigh of relief, just shrugging at what the pure- blood had said.
They took seats near the center of the Gryffindor's house table.
Remus watched with mild trepidation as the other three boys' piled mountains of food upon their plates.
How could they eat so much? Remus assumed he'd probably faint if he ate that much.
Were human boys different to werewolf boys? Remus almost scoffed at the thought.
Duh, they were different. Remus was pretty sure human eleven year olds didn't just explode into wolves on a daily- or more accurately, monthly- basis.
Remus ate a reasonable amount of food, unlike the other three first years; he didn't want to throw up or blow up.
The strict witch from the previous night was moving around the tables handing out slips of paper- Remus would assume these were their schedules.
When the witch- Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor, finally stopped where the boys' were seated, she paused to look at Remus for a long hard second.
Remus could practically read her thoughts in her eyes- is he dangerous? Do I really want him in my house?
Remus looked down as the witch handed him his schedule, not looking up until she'd left.
Sirius and James were already looking over their schedules, Remus glanced down at his own.
They had Herbalitry with Professor Slowferes; a slim sweet looking woman with red curly hair.
Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, Remus suppressed a groan.
Then, best of all- Defense against the Dark arts with Professor Iindia.
Remus knew that the Professor knew of his condition, and he hadn't been blind to the glares she had been sending him yesterday.
At least Werewolves were second year material- though he wouldn't be surprised if she just went over it with the whole class.
Remus had known that he wouldn't be a favored student; nobody really wanted a bloodthirsty beast in their classroom.
Remus sighed, this was going to be an interesting year.
"Why the long face?" James said, poking Remus' shoulder.
Before he could respond, Sirius butted in to offer his own two sense in the matter.
"If you keep your face like that; it'll be permanent." He said mildly, spinning his fork on his thumb- Remus was reading to duck if it went flying to near his head.
As Remus had predicted, the fork went flying, almost hitting a very angry Lily Evans.
Remus pitied Sirius; that girl looked like she might breath fire on the pure- blood. But seeing as Sirius kinda deserved it; Remus wasn't to pitieing.
The girl stamped over, fuming; her emerald green eyes sparkling with suppressed rage.
"Honestly! You can't even hold a fork without almost stabbing someone! Who raised you; a pack of wolves?" The girl snarled, flicking her red hair out of her face with a quick move of the wrist.
Remus glanced over at Sirius, he seemed… amused? Why was he amused while being yelled at?
"Actually. Yes, though I think a better word for them is, 'banshee's'." Sirius said, amusement thick in his voice.
This only made Evans angrier. "You- you!" She snarled; seeming to lack the English vocabulary for the time being. She stormed off, her face red and furious.
"That one's got a mean bite," James said; though both he and Sirius looked amused.
"You shouldn't talk down about your future wife." Sirius said with a smirk, Remus didn't really know what he meant by that, why would Evans date James; let alone marry him? And what had brought Sirius to that conclusion?
"Huh?" James said, sounding as baffled as Remus was.
"She has red hair," Sirius said, like that explained everything. He then continued in a tone that a parent would use on a toddler. "Everyone knows that Potters' have a thing for redheads." His smirk grew at James' blush.
"What!? No, we haven't!" James cried, Sirius looked like he intended to continue the conversation, but the owl post had just come in.
Owls of all kinds circled around the great hall, before owls descended upon the Gryffindor table to drop off their letters.
A slim brown owl with tan flecks stopped at James' place, dropping off a small basket of sweets and an envelope.
Remus held out an arm for the familiar russet and brown barn- owl, Kylia.
The small bird landed on his arm, holding out her talon for Remus to take the small, grey envelope off of her.
He did, and he was just about to thank the owl and feed her a piece of bacon. When a clatter of sounds erupted to his left; he turned to see a large menacing black owl, perched in front of Sirius with a fluorescent red letter in its beak. Which it dropped at Sirius' hands and flew off.
"A.. howler?" James said, looking over Sirius' letter from a safe distance.
The Black heir's face had gone stark white, as he reached forward to open the letter before it could explode.
The moment the taller boy had opened the letter, it floated up into the air and started screaming; like a banshee.
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK! GRYFFINDOR? WAS IT WORTH IT, WAS IT! SHAME UPON YOUR FATHER'S NOBLE NAME! SHAME! POISONOUS OFFSPRING OF MINE! SHAME OF MY BLOOD! MY FLESH AND BONE! SHAME TO YOU! TO BE SORTED INTO A HOUSE OF MUDBLOODS AND BLOOD TRAITORS! SHAME UPON THE NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE OF BLACK! YOU POISON OUR NOBLE ROOTS! THE SHAME!" The red envelope screeched, Remus resisted the urge to cover his ears at the loud message. He sat blank faced and unmoving at Sirius' side.
He would at least stand by his friend as the abuse was yelled at him.
Sirius was right, though. He had been raised by a banshee.
After a few more minutes of screeching the howler exploded, leaving the great hall in a state of shock.
Remus watched Sirius' face as the young pure- blood stared at the ashes from the envelope; before suddenly and without warning, the Black heir erupted into laughter.
It seemed to shock the hall just as much as it shocked Remus, for they only stared at the young pure- blood mouths open in shock and wide eyed.
"She can't get me here!" He said happily, grinning- and to Remus' surprise, he didn't seem upset.
Remus glanced at James; not sure how to respond to the cheerful pure- blood who may or may not be insane.
James stood still for a moment before chuckling and saying. "Whatever makes you happy mate."
Some students began chattering again, after a few more minutes everything resumed as if the red letter had never come in the first place.
Except, Remus did see some Slytherins whispering, snickering and sneering at Sirius.
Was this how all normal human boys acted?