Black

Sirius laid on the entire left side of the compartment. It was time to go to home for Christmas break, a happy time for most people. But not for Sirius. He would've stayed at school for the break, as he did last year, if it had not been for the howler he'd received. His mother demanded him to come over this break, although it did not explain why… this scared Sirius.

James and Remus were sitting on the right side of the compartment and Peter was sitting on the floor, next to the window.

"Padfoot," James started, "I think you're forgetting something."

"What?" The train had just left school, making its way towards London. Instinctively he checked if he had pants on. James chuckled.

"You haven't made your 'My Family Sucks' speech." For some reason James teasing tone hit a nerve.

Sirius took near to nothing seriously. He and James joked about his family all the time. Maybe it was the boy's lack of sleep and knowing his future would be of pain that set him off, or maybe it had been building for years…

"You want a speech? Fine." Sirius snapped. Remus, who'd been reading a book on magical plants, jumped in surprise. James looked shocked and Peter dropped his candy bar.

"My family is evil. My family is black. The name fits them perfectly! Ever since I turned seven they realized I was different. They warned me. They threatened me. When I made Gryffindor it was the last straw!"

"Now they beat me black and blue! Now they lock me in black rooms! Now they feed me moldy, black food! Now they use dark, disgusting, black magic on me! Now they make me black out! Now they act as if I have the black heart! Now they look at me with black looks! And now they've told me to come home for the holidays so that they can keep using their black methods on me!"

"So there! There's your speech James." Sirius stood up and stormed out of the compartment. Leaving his friends dumbstruck.

Sirius wasn't sure how he got there, but he was there. He was sitting in the girl's bathroom with Jessica, or was it Jean? He wasn't sure… All he could remember was that she was a fifth year, like himself, Hufflepuff.

The door was locked and they were locked in an intense snogging session.

He wasn't sure how long he was in there. He wasn't sure if Jordan (Or was it Jennifer?) was a natural blond either. They had the same amount of importance.

Jessica stopped and looked at him, "Are you okay?"

"Of course. I have you." He went back down to kiss her but she stopped him by putting a small hand on his chest. Reaching up she gently brushed a tear away.

"You're crying. Tell me what's wrong." Shit! He was crying! He never cried at school! He tried to laugh it off but his voice cracked. The tears were coming faster now. He didn't want to go home. He didn't want to be bloody and broken. He didn't want to be treated like scum.

"C'mon, tell me what's wrong Sirius. It's okay. You can trust me." He was not going to tell her what was wrong. He couldn't even remember her name. Which was sad since most people thought they were dating.

"I- I need to… go." He knew it was weak but he didn't want to play twenty questions with her.

"No, no. It's okay. You don't have to tell me." She hugged him, he hugged her back. It was nice to know that some people didn't hate his guts right now.

They stood there for a moment. She was murmuring unintelligible comfort and stroking his hair.

He wondered if this was what real mothers did.