Disclaimer: If I were J.K. Rowling I wouldn't be writing fanfiction, I'd be writing Book 7!

A/N: Well I really thought I would be able to post this chapter in less than a month, but it is now over a month since I posted. Though February is a really short month...lol. Anyway this is a long chapter and I'm really happy with it, so I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Sirius's second year at Hogwarts didn't start any better than his first. The train ride over had been unbearable. Bellatrix had found him in a compartment with two unknown students who he didn't know and didn't really care to know. She had chased the two poor students out and filled the compartment with stuck-up purebloods. The conversation in the compartment went on as if he wasn't there, but he noticed everyone was looking at him curiously.

"So is your cousin going to join us in Slytherin or not? Are you going to keep us in suspense forever?" said a boy with a pointy nose and short blond hair that made him appear bald.

"He is a Black," Bellatrix answered so venomously that no one brought up the subject again for the entire ride. Bellatrix may have been many unpleasant things, but she was not stupid and she knew Sirius had no intention of willingly going into Slytherin. So Sirius stayed very much on guard during the entire ride, which was quite hard since he grew very bored. If there was a way to trick him into being resorted, she would be the person to do it.

Though, Sirius noted the Slytherins in the compartment were more than willing to forget his Gryffindor past. They all would gladly become best friends with him if he even so much as gave them a friendly glance. Everyone still obviously believed he had been spying for his parents all year.

Even though Sirius's summer had been horrible, it was still obvious that his parents were clinging to the hope he would stop all this, as his mother called it, ridiculous, unbecoming behavior. They still believed he was going through a rebellious phase because they couldn't have possibly bred a real traitor to the blood. That could only happen to lesser beings, not royalty like the Blacks.

Mr. and Mrs. Black really had tried everything. They were scraping the bottom of the jar for new techniques. First had been the punishments, which had gotten rougher when they began using physical force. He rubbed the left side of his upper body unconsciously. His father had gotten so angry – famous fiery Black temper every member seemed to have- and had almost broken some of Sirius's ribs. The worst was when they tried to guilt him into behaving properly because he really did hate being a disappointment. And now without even his friends (well now they were merely roommates) on his side, it wasn't so easy fighting the guilty feelings.

Sirius initially had every intention of attending the Sorting feast, but as in many instances, fate had a rather different plan. It happened as Sirius was stepping out of the carriages with Bellatrix pretending to ignore the majority of the students who were pointing and loudly whispering in his direction. Apparently no one was worrying about being discreet.

Bellatrix looked at him carefully and finally said, "Well Sirius? What would you like me to owl your mother and father?"

"Tell them what you want. The real truth will never reach their ears anyway." Sirius was surprised on how calm and rational his voice sounded. Inside his emotions were on a roller coaster.

Andromeda must have been looking for them because she came rushing over in a bit of a panic, "Oh, Sirius. I couldn't find you on the train, but Dumbledore left me a note that the resorting will occur in his office. So Bella, you'll have to hand him over to me, I'm supposed to bring him right away."

Bellatrix looked at her older sister with loathing, "Hold on, why would the Headmaster leave you a letter? And if there is to be a resorting I expect to be present?"

"Obviously Professor Dumbledore found me the more responsible, which is no surprise there. I don't go around hexing people younger than me for show…and Dumbledore insisted in his letter that it had to be done in private. Take it up with him if you have a problem, but Sirius and I must hurry!"

Andromeda took Sirius by the arm and steered him away from the direction of most of the students.

When Sirius managed to get her to pause he looked at her strangely, "What were you thinking! I don't want to change houses! I don't want to get anywhere near that stupid hat!" His voice was no longer calm.

"I know. I know, but let them think that's what you are doing. Then you can write to your mother and father and claim no matter how much you insisted the sorting hat wouldn't place you in Slytherin."

Sirius gave her an incredulous look.

"Come on! It's not as if you've never lied to them before and it will only be worse for you next time your home if you didn't even attempt to be resorted. The attempt, though failed, will be seen in better light than indifference to the problem of your house placement."

"But…"

"I found out the new Gryffindor password for you."

"How did you do that?"

"One of the Gryffindor Prefects has a crush on me. It really wasn't that hard."

"Not Frederick Ward?"

"Oh no! He's as arrogant as that Potter friend of yours without the personality to smooth it over."

"So what is it?" Sirius ignored the mention of Potter.

"Bumble-bee weed."

"What if Bella checks with Dumbledore to make sure I really…"

"I don't think she will, but if she does, Dumbledore will most likely turn her away."

Andromeda looked as if she were about to leave.

"Isn't there a rule that you have to attend the feast?"

"Technically, but when have you cared about following the rules? I know this may not sound fair, but you should give everyone some time."

"Time for what?"

"All everyone was talking about on the train ride was the whole fiasco between you and Potter. No one was on your side or at least not the ones that will matter to you."

"Hiding from it won't make it better though. It will only make me look like guiltier and if I'm not there to defend myself everyone will jump to their own conclusions, which I'm sure will be the wrong conclusions."

"By the time class starts tomorrow everyone will know you're staying in Gryffindor and that will give them a day to get used to the idea."

"I guess that means I'm skipping breakfast as well?"

"I think you should let the information circulate as long as possible."

Sirius had lost most of his appetite anyway for the day and he had grown used to not eating a lot, so he supposed skipping dinner and breakfast wouldn't be that hard. And there was always the option of sneaking into the kitchens. With a quick goodbye, Andy hurried down the corridor. Hopefully Filch was at the feast and not manning the halls like usual. Sirius knew one thing; he'd feel a lot safer with Potter's invisibility cloak.

Alone in the boys second year dorm, Sirius ached to know what was happening at the feast. Before lying down on his bed, Sirius had taken Potter's letter out to read over once more trying to see some code perhaps in the words. He must have dozed off because he heard his roommates entering. It wasn't until the room had grown quiet that Sirius's heart slowed down to normal rate.

The next morning, Sirius woke up before anyone else. He tiptoed into the bathroom, stripped and within moments hot steamy water was slowly un-tensing his body. Bathing over the summer had not been a pleasurable experience. The water tended to be freezing and he was only given five minutes to bathe. If he went even a few seconds over, Kreacher would come bursting in dragging him completely naked out of the tub.

During the summer, every aspect of his life had been slowly taken control of. Sirius supposed prisoners were given more freedom. Regulus had also been given a strict morning schedule, but his afternoons were free. More importantly, Regulus didn't have to deal with the disappointing looks his mother and father gave him constantly. They looked at Sirius as if they couldn't quite believe they had raised a son like him.

Another thing that made it all worse was if he only apologized and swore to be sorted into Slytherin, his life at home would have drastically improved. It was as simple as that. Even if it had been a lie, his parents would have lapped it up.

After stepping out of a very long shower, Sirius dressed into his Hogwarts uniform. He felt strangely proud that after all that had happened he was still sporting red and gold. It didn't matter what everyone else thought, he still had won against his parents. The victory may have been small, it may not have lasted long or even been considered a real victory, but it was all he had.

As Sirius opened to door to get out of the bathroom he collided into Remus.

"Sirius," Remus's voice sounded warmer and friendlier than Sirius had expected, "How was your summer?"

"Lupin," he greeted and looked him straight in the eyes, "To tell you the truth my summer hasn't been that good."

"So I've heard…"

"Yours?" Sirius asked hoping to halt the conversation right away.

"Ok, boring really. I'm glad to be back at Hogwarts. Doesn't it feel more like home here at Hogwarts?"

"What did Potter tell you?" So much for halting the conversation.

Remus raised his eyebrows in surprise, "James is not the only source I've heard it from. In a nutshell you've been spying all last year for Slytherin and you were supposed to gain James's trust, which I believe you did. He even showed me the letter you wrote to him."

A few seconds of silence passed.

"And yet here you remain in Gryffindor?"

"It's hardly the truth they know," Sirius said with a dry laugh.

He continued on when Remus didn't answer, "It was all a lie, my parents spread the lie about my spying at that party and at that point all I could do was go along with it. You don't understand the type of people I was around. And I never wrote that letter, my father used my blood with a spell to forge my signature."

Remus stood very quietly. "You don't believe me, do you? Why would you? I don't blame you- but it's the truth and that's all there is to it, so my story won't change."

"Well if it's the truth, then it's the truth. I believe you."

"You do?"

"You've never lied to me before, or at least I don't think so."

"What about Potter?"

"You'll have to tell him yourself. I'm not telling this to him for you."

"Can't you at least…"

"No. You two need to straighten this out yourself. It won't be the same if he believes you only because I believe you."

"Will he even give me a chance to explain?"

"I guess you'll have to offer him that chance. Are you going down to breakfast?"

"No…I need to owl my parents. Do you think you can grab my schedule and bring it to the owlry?"

"Sure, I'll be there in about a half-an-hour."

Sirius watched Remus leave, feeling a bit better than he had before meeting Remus. Even if it turned out that only Lupin believed the truth, Sirius knew he would survive with one person on his side.

Severus Snape walked quietly along the corridor to his first class of the day, Charms. Though Hogwarts was better than home, he couldn't say he was thrilled to be back.

His father was completely Muggle and Severus didn't think he entirely believed in magic. His mother was no help in that department. She did the least amount of magic possible in his presence and hid her wand when his father was home in the drawer with all her underwear. He'd learned how to do magic before Hogwarts from his grandfather and grandmother, the ever beloved Princes. Snape had been sent to the Princes's castle for last three weeks of vacation.

At least there he could practice magic. At his house in a Muggle neighborhood, underage magic could easily be detected, but the Prince's mansion was above that silly Ministry law. His relatives were eager to teach him new curses and dark spells. He even got to brew a potion or two. One disadvantage of being at the Princes's was they were constantly entertaining guests who usually brought their offspring along.

They were all the same- pureblood, rich, cocky, conceited, everything given to them; constantly competing with each other. Snape had grown up in a very different lifestyle. It wasn't until he'd turned ten, nearing Hogwarts age that his mother's family had taken an interest in him. He knew it was out of charity and to protect the Prince family name. His status in Slytheirn was high at the moment, but he was in a precarious position. If anyone found out he was half-blood, he'd be shunned and ridiculed. Not that he had many friends or any friends, but he had the respect of many of the older students, such as Bellatrix Black and her gang.

His major problem this year was that Sirius Black knew about his parentage. How that had happened Snape would never know, but he had to make sure Black would stay silent somehow.

Snape as usual was early to class and as he was about to enter the classroom, he paused a moment. Sirius Black and James Potter were both already in the room, which was strange to begin with. Neither was known for their promptness to class. Black was seated in the middle of the room and Potter stood looking as if he was about to engage Black in some clever conversation.

Severus had nothing but contempt for Black. The boy really must be a complete idiot. There was no other explanation Snape could see. Why else would Black so willingly give up his heritage? Severus could only imagine what he could do with half the status and power being a Black had in Slytherin. Black had thrown it all away to run with the lions and he couldn't imagine how that could look more appealing than to slither with the snakes.

And he didn't even want to get started about Potter. He hated Potter; ever since he had first seen the conceited prat. It was just one of those things. Every time one of them looked or spoke to the other, their personalities just crashed. Potter thought he was above everyone else. He didn't seem to care who he offended or who he hurt. Yet with all his flaws, everyone at Hogwarts liked Potter.

He hated to admit it, but he was jealous of both of them. With Black's name and Potter's confidence, no one would laugh at him. Potter and Black hadn't been the only ones to snicker at his greasy hair and big nose. Last year when they had been united, he had tried to stay as far away as possible from them. The attempt hadn't been as successful as he had hoped, especially after they had given him that ridiculous nickname.

Snape had been relieved to hear that the rumors about Sirius over the summer had halted their friendship and the fact that they hadn't been seen together yet proved it was true. Snape knew his life would only get harder with those two on the same team. So, just as Potter was about to open his mouth he stepped in the classroom. He decided right there that he'd do just about anything to keep those two from reconciling.

"Potter. Black. Not thinking about have a brawl are you?"

His sudden presence had just the affect he had hoped for. Potter swirled around in surprise, his hand quickly going for his wand as if he were expecting an attack.

Potter narrowed his eyes and growled, "What do you want Snape?"

It was music to Snape's ear to hear Potter call him by his surname and not by the nickname.

"I am merely curious to see your reaction to meeting face to face with your betrayer. All year while you were confiding your deepest thoughts and secrets, he was telling this all to his family. Personally, I'd be tearing him apart to pieces."

Potter snorted diversely, "I'm more civilized than that."

"Being civilized has nothing to do with it," Snape now kept his eyes on Black, "You should have heard him carrying on at the Prince's party. He thought it was a riot how he fooled you. Everyone was laughing at how gullible you were. An apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Potter and the Most Noble and Ancient Black tree is no exception."

Potter had grown red in the face, while Black had grown paler. Snape was surprised that Black hadn't shouted out something yet. Snape, not for one moment had believed someone like Black would be capable of treachery like Black's parents so claimed. If he had, he wouldn't be in Gryffindor.

"I didn't ask for your opinion!" Potter said angrily and he slammed his book bag on the desk closest to him.

"I'm terribly sorry if I stopped your conversation. Do go on as if I was never here."

Potter looked at Black who was now holding his gaze as well. The two of them stared at each other for an eternity, though it most likely was about thirty seconds.

Potter sighed and finally said quietly, "McGonagall wants to see you. "

"In trouble already, Black," Snape sneered (he couldn't help it), "Tut. Tut. It really hasn't been a good start for you. First your resorting didn't exactly go as planned and now this…"

"If you don't keep quiet, Snape, I might just let one of your secrets slip," Black said loudly just as other students began to filter into the classroom.

Snape sat down on the Slytherin side of the room. He had definitely stopped the two of them from reconciling for the moment, but he did not like the way Potter had eyed Black curiously when he had mentioned the secret that Black had about him. That could be trouble.

Sirius hasn't had any idea how his first encounter with Potter would be like, but he definitely hadn't expected Snape to be there to witness it. Potter had almost looked sorry about something before Snape had turned it to anger.

As the other students came in, Lily Evans and the other second year girls sat down by him. Lily gave him a smile, but the others gave him looks of distrust. Sirius had a feeling since Lily was the only Muggle-born in their year, she didn't know any better than to distrust him.

When Remus and Peter walked in, Remus nodded at Sirius. Peter pretended not to see him at all and scurried to sit next to James. Remus had to now sit in front of James, since it was the only seat open near Potter. Potter leaned forward and began whispering to Remus.

Sirius felt a pang of loneliness. He should be sitting with them. James should be whispering to him. The whole reason he had fought against his parents was so he could still be friends with the three of them. What if that never happened? What if he had made a huge mistake?

The first day of Charms turned out to be a review of all the things they had done last year. It was quite a mess because the majority of students had completely forgotten everything they had learned. Professor Flitwick looked so exasperated at everyone's failed attempts that Sirius was afraid they might resort back to the basics of swish and flick.

When class ended, Sirius jumped out of his seat and was the first to leave. He couldn't stand being in that stuffy classroom any longer. There was a break before Transfiguration and Sirius had no intention of seeing McGonagall as Potter had instructed him to do. He wasn't worried about a detention or lost points.

As Sirius stalked the halls his anger only rose. All summer he had to keep his emotions in check, he was a Black after all, but now he just wanted to lash out at someone or something. Instead he had carefully in class looked as if being a loner suited him just fine. Which wasn't the case at all; Sirius disliked not having friends.

"Black, I need to speak with you," a loud arrogant carrying voice called behind him and it sounded so much like Potter that Sirius stopped right in his tracks. But it wasn't James; it was his cousin Frederick Ward.

The sixth year didn't look pleased and regarded the second year in front of him with as much respect as most people would give a speck of dirt on their shoe. This wasn't exactly a surprise, even after most of Gryffindor had accepted him last year, Frederick had not liked his influence on James. Though strangely Sirius felt James had much more affect on him.

"What is it Ward? What have a done to offend you?" Sirius asked sarcastically.

"Get those Gryffindor robes off your filthy skin. Stop contaminating my house with your Blackness."

"If you have a problem with me being in Gryffindor why don't you make an appointment with the Sorting Hat. I'm sure he'll love hearing your complaints."

"I knew you tried to get resorted!"

"I never said that…anyway it doesn't really matter."

"Stay away from James! If I even see you trying to talk to him, trying to convince him you make a mistake, that you are reformed- it will be the last thing you ever say."

"Sounds like you're threatening me?"

"No, I'm tell you what will happen if you choose the wrong path."

"There's no need to worry. I don't plan on speaking with your cousin anyway."

"Glad to hear that. You made the right choice. And by the way, you have detention with Professor McGonagall tomorrow night."

"For what?"

"Being rude to a prefect. Good day, Black."

The next day at breakfast Sirius received a note that he was wanted in the Headmasters office immediately. Sirius looked up to where the Headmaster usually sat and indeed he was missing. Quickly finishing his breakfast he got up just as Lily, Remus, and Cory were entering.

"Are you leaving already?" Lily asked, "We were about to join you."

Sirius did not bother to explain about the meeting and left speechless the only two people in the school that didn't hate him.

Slightly out of breath Sirius spoke the password that had been on the note. Tangerine plums. The door to Dumbledore's office opened immediately and the Headmaster was pacing apparently expecting him.

"Mr. Black, please have a seat. I'm glad you came here so promptly. I believe Professor McGonagall is still expecting a visit from you to explain your absence at our Sorting Feast."

"About that, sir…" Dumbledore waved his hand to stop him from explaining.

"Save your explanations for your Head of House later today when you attend your Transfiguration class."

Sirius nodded and waited patiently for 60 seconds of silence before asking, "So why am I here sir?"

"Well, Mr. Black, it's for the same reason we had to meet last year. It's a matter of your house. Your mother and father insisted that I offer you a chance to put that hat back on. You have until the end of today to be resorted after that the magic is binding and you will not have another chance until the start of next years term."

"I've already owled my parents that I had a resorting and that it wouldn't place me in Gryffindor."

"Which was a lie I presume unless you somehow managed to break into my office without my knowledge, I know you are a skilled wizard, but I believe the protection I have placed on this office could hardly be broken by a second year."

"I had to lie…"

"That is not the truth Mr. Black and we both know that. You had many choices you could have not have owled them at all, you could have written them that you have decided not to be resorted…as you can see lying was not your only choice."

"Are you going to tell them?"

"No. I am merely offering you a chance to turn that lie into the truth," Dumbledore motioned to the old black hat sitting on top of shelf.

"Do I have to try it on again?" Sirius asked looking at the Sorting Hat with apprehension. That thing last year had turned his life upside down.

"Why are you afraid to put it on again? Do you doubt that it will keep you in Gryffindor?"

"No. I know I could never be in Slytherin, sir."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Sirius said quietly and for the first time with assurance. He knew he was where he belonged and maybe that thing was the only other one besides him to believe it. Though the definition of what was right had certainly grown fuzzy since the summer.

"Well if you are so sure I really don't see the harm…" Professor Dumbledore was looking at him with a knowing gaze as if he was trying to tell him something.

"Because…" Sirius began slowly, "because I need to believe that I'm in the right house. I shouldn't believe it based on what the hat or anyone else will say to me. If I do it will be like I had no choice in the matter and I couldn't live with knowing I had no choice."

"That is an excellent reason. I won't insist any further that you get resorted, but you do have until the end of the day incase you change your mind. The password to my office will stay the same so if you do need assurance."

Sirius left Dumbledore's office feeling lighter and cheerier. Now being in Gryffindor was completely his choice. He had no Sorting Hat to blame it on anymore. He had chosen not to ask it again which qualities of which house described him best. Sirius was in the house of the brave and the chivalrous for good.

Within moments, Sirius suddenly felt sick to his stomach. Seconds ago he had felt unburdened and now so quickly his mind was filling again with doubt. What in the world was he thinking? Gryffindor! His parents would disown him.

Sirius actually stopped in the middle of the hallway and almost turned around to go back to Dumbledore's office.

No! Slytherin? He wanted Gryffindor. He would hate it in Slytherin.

Sirius breathed in and out slowly. He forced himself to keep walking. He just had to keep himself from going crazy like that until the end of the week; really just a few more days.

Just a few more days…

James sighed to himself looking down the hall in both directions. Where in the world had Black disappeared to once again?

James had been straightening his bag out for maybe 15 extra seconds and when he looked back up, Black had vanished once again. It was the same in every class. Sirius would stay unfindable until he mysteriously showed up for the next class.

At the end of the week he managed to keep Black behind in class by splitting his bag open with a well aimed spell. Evans saw him but she did not say anything to Sirius who was sitting beside her.

So as class ended, Sirius had to stay behind to patch his bag and rearrange his belongings. As soon as the last person was out the door, James approached Sirius who sat up so suddenly from his place on the floor that he hit his head.

"I don't need your help Potter," Sirius said stuffing the last bit of paper in his bag. His grey-blue eyes betrayed the stony façade.

Being so close to Sirius for the first time, James was startled by how pale and worn down he looked, "Mate…" he murmured, "You really ought to have gone outside more often."

"Is that what you wanted to tell me? That I looked to pale?"

"No, no…sorry… but I think after the events over the summer that we discuss certain things…such as this letter…"

"Where did you find that?" His voice and body were all accusatory.

"You dropped it."

"So? Keep it. Or are you planning to read it out loud so that you could see for yourself the damage your words inflicted?"

James hadn't expected Sirius to act so defensive and in turn (maybe mistakenly) he got defensive back.

"After what you did? Could you expect anything else?" James found himself say, "Why are you still in Gryffindor?" James could believe that Sirius was acting as if he were the victim.

"Go see the Sorting Hat with your complaint. You can get in line behind my parents, my cousins, your cousin…"

"My cousin?"

"Yes Frederick and I had a nice chat. He's really a nice bloke, except for the part when he threatened my life if he ever saw me talking to you."

"Frederick may have taken it to the extreme, but you can't blame everyone for wondering what exactly you are doing, especially me."

"It really is no one else's business what I do with my life and that includes you. I do agree with your cousin on one point. I think its best if we don't talk. I just ask you respect that I'm in Gryffindor. It's that simple. We don't have to associate with each other…or Merlin forbid act friendly."

"Why'd you do it? I thought we were friends. I trusted you," James paused and repeated, "Why'd you do it?"

James could not understand what Black hoped to gain through his choices. Why would he first befriend James to only betray him and yet after the betrayal is known publicly stay in Gryffindor? And to top it off Black wasn't even trying to make excuses for his behavior. He simply wanted to stay in Gryffindor and be left alone.

Now James's confusion as great as it was, only increased with Black's next words.

"Let's pretend for a minute that everything you heard over the summer was a lie."

"What?"

"Just indulge me for a moment. Let's pretend that as soon as I saw you on the Hogwarts Express, I told you everything was a lie. I told you that my parents are really horrible people. Since not only has no respectable Black been in Gryffindor before, but in addition I was making friends with mudbloods, half-bloods and worst of all blood traitors" (James made a noise at the word mudblood, but Sirius plodded on) "These same parents were so upset and angry that they made up a story about their son being a spy and spread the lie so that every witch and wizard would hear about it. And everyone believed that lie, everyone believed that their son was the spy and the son couldn't do a thing about it because with parents as horrible as that what can you do? Would you have believed me?"

James stared at Sirius strangely. Was the story an attempt to apologize? His parents had warned him that Sirius might try to smooth things over by lying about what had happened.

"Believe that you were not a spy? That it was a lie setup by your horrible parents?"

"Yes."

"No. I'd assume you were lying or making an excuse. No ones family is that horrible. No parents would do that to their heir. Is that what you parents told you to tell me? I'm not going to fall for your tricks for a second time."

"Well that's all I needed to hear. You have your answer right in front of you." Sirius said and his voice which had been rich with emotion before was now weak.

James stared at Black's retreating back. None of his questions had been answered. Instead Sirius had just made up an excuse and he didn't even try to make it convincing.

It wasn't until minutes later, with Sirius far from reach, that James looked down at the letter in his hand and realized he had never had a chance to explain it.

Later that evening, James was in the Common Room with Remus doing his homework like a good student. He couldn't help thinking that if Sirius hadn't done what he had done, he'd be having a lot more fun at the moment.

Black suddenly appeared from the boy's dormitory and walked passed everyone to the portrait door, head high.

James sighed, "I tried to talk to him today."

Frederick, who was helping a pretty girl in his year with homework, looked over at James suspiciously from his adjacent table.

"Did he say anything to you?" Frederick asked accusingly.

"Yes, Frederick. We talked. Really, you don't need to around threatening people to leave me alone. Plus, there's no need to worry since we didn't makeup or anything."

Remus looked concerned, "You didn't believe him?"

"Believe him about what?" James asked.

Frederick rolled his eyes, "He probably made up some story about how sorry he was, right Lupin? Don't believe a word he tells you. What Black did to you was unforgivable. Trust is something not easily given and once it's broken, it may be gone forever."

Something about those words was oddly familiar to James. It dawned on him unexpectedly.

"I don't know," Remus began, "He sounded really sincere…"

"Frederick," James said his voice suddenly shaky with suppressed anger, "I need to talk to you in private."

"I need to first finish this," he waved at the paper in front of him.

"No. Now." Even though his cousin was a great deal taller than him, James managed to force him out of his seat and out into the hall leaving the whole Common room looking at them suspiciously.

"Please, please tell me you didn't write this," James said handing over the letter without looking at him.

"How'd you find this?"

"Black dropped it! And he thinks I wrote it! He thinks I hate him!"

"You should hate him, James. Look what he did to you."

"Did you write this?"

"Yes-"

"I can't believe it!"

"It wasn't only me."

"Are you kidding me?"

"It was best for the family and best for you too. Many respectable witches and wizards have all been very suspicious about your sudden interest in the Black heir. The Black's are all dark and vengeful people. Rumors have been circulating that you were thinking about joining them. And I don't blame them for wondering."

"Are you crazy? I hate the Dark Arts. If anyone was changing, Sirius was coming to the light side."

"You don't understand how those people work. You could have easily been woed over to their side. I knew that Black would feed you some stupid story and that you would believe him. So by having him think you hate him, he wouldn't be too eager to have a talk with you and so far it has done its job. He thinks you hate him and for your safety and the safety of the family name, you should keep it that way."

James was speechless. How could his own family do this to him? It was his life! He could be friends with who he wanted! Why did everyone feel they could intervene?

Suddenly something else clicked in his thoughts. He'd been so stupid!

"Do you know where Black is?" It was a long shot; James didn't really expect his cousin to know.

"Why should I know?"

James turned to leave. He'd search the whole castle if he had to.

Softly Frederick said, "He's serving detentions with Professor McGonagall."

James raced toward Professor McGonagall office nearly tripping over his feet a few time. In front of McGonagall's closed door stood Sirius Black.

"Sirius!" he called and rushed over. With so many things to say, James was rendered speechless the moment Sirius looked over at him.

"Leave me alone, Potter."

"That story…" he began, "That story you were telling me. Is that the truth?"

"What?"

"I never wrote this letter," James said handing the letter back to Sirius, "Frederick forged it. Was that story true?"

"Yes, but…"

"I believe you," James said just as McGonagall opened her door. She looked surprised to see him, "Mr. Potter, is there something I can help you with?"

"No, Professor. Just passing by…"

"Well get along now if you don't want to receive a detention yourself."

As James passed a bewildered looking Sirius, James distinctly heard him whisper, "Thanks."

A/N: Thanks for reading and now its time to review! Also I will start posting responses to people who leave non-signed reviews in my profile starting with this chapter. If you leaved a signed review, I will use the new reply button as I have been doing. Next chapter will be posted in about a month (plus or minus a week)