A/N: I would actually really like reviews on this one, because I don't usually write Sirius, and I feel like this might be really OOC, but I don't know. I wanted to try a new character, though. In case you haven't noticed, James is my baby XD I need to actually challenge myself by writing other characters sometimes, especially when working characterization for fanfics and such. So yeah (:

I hope this isn't as bad as I fear it is.

CHARACTER: Sirius Black

YEAR: 6th/1976/summer

PLACE: Grimmauld, Potters' home

WORDS: 878

Runaway

Sirius Black is not usually a nervous person. However, his O.W.L. results aren't the best, and his parents aren't the most accepting of people.

"They're really not that bad," Regulus says, staring disbelievingly at the paper.

Sirius laughs humorlessly. "Oh, no, not at all. They're the best you've ever seen, aren't they?" he asks his little brother, dropping his head in his hands. What is he supposed to do?

"Actually, Bella got all Outstandings. So did Andromeda."

"I thought you weren't supposed to talk about Andy? Marrying a Muggleborn and all that."

Regulus' features darken. "I still can't believe she did that. She completely turned traitor. Of anyone she could have married, she chose a mudblood."

Sirius snatches his results back. "I thought you said you would stop saying that?"

"It's true," his little brother says, glaring at the opposite wall. They're sitting on the stairs of their house. Above them, house elves' heads peer down at them.

"There are some 'mudbloods' in my year that are brilliant."

"Are you talking about Lily Evans?" When Sirius didn't reply, Regulus laughed. "You've done nothing but talk terribly about her since you met her! Don't tell me you fancy her?"

"Oh, disgusting. I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth."

"Then why did you just compliment her?"

"Because James loves the damn girl, and he's my best friend. 'Sides, she is smart. Thank the gods Remus is smart, too, or I'd be forced to study with her."

"The halfblood?"

"Yeah, the halfblood," Sirius says with a roll of his eyes.

"What? It's true!"

"You're brainwashed."

Regulus huffs. "Maybe you're the one who's brainwashed."

"Thought about it. Decided I'm not stupid enough to brainwash."

"Your results say otherwise," his little brother mumbles.

Sirius glares at him. "What did you say?"

"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!"

"Oh, shite, the hag's home."

"Don't talk about her like that!"

"SIRIUS! GET DOWN HERE, BOY!"

Sirius groans and forces himself to stand. "Bloody hell, what'd I do this time?" He drops down the stairs. When he reaches his hag of a mother, he leans lazily against the wall.

"Where are your O.W.L. results?" she asks calmly, hand held out for them. Reluctantly, Sirius hands them over. Her eyes bug. "What is this," she says, voice dangerously low and threatening.

"A cat," Sirius says, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He blows a piece of hair out of his face. He thought about getting it cut, but then he realized how upset it would make his mother if he let it grow. So it grows.

"ORION!" Walburga brings out her wand. She points it at him. "I AM DONE WITH THIS INSOLENT CHILD!" Before his father can reach the room, she aims curse after curse at him. He dodges, of course. He's gotten rather good at it. However, he can't fight back without risking a very angry letter from the Ministry about under-age magic and expulsion from Hogwarts.

So he throws an antique vase, packs his shit, heads for the nearest fireplace, grabs some floo powder, and floos to the Potters' home amid his mother's screams.

He stumbles out of the fireplace feeling drained. Dorea Potter appears in the archway of the family room. She smiles. "Sirius!" Arms spread for a hug, she walks into the room. "Oh, sweetheart, it's so good to—Sirius? Are you all right?" Her smile drops, concern replacing her happy expression.

Unable to stop himself, he shakes his head and falls into her arms. He never did understand how someone else's parents could love him so much when his own didn't. He never did understand why Dorea called him her son. Or why Charlus called him his son. He and James had called each other "brother" since first year, but he hadn't thought much of it. Wet drops fall from his eyes, and, with a start, he realizes he's crying. He's never cried before. Not over something stupid like his. He learned a long time ago that crying never did any good for anybody.

"It's all right, dear." Dorea hugs him close, almost squeezing the life out of him. But it feels good. "We love you here, and you know you are always welcome."

After a while, she stands. "Come on, now. Let's have Darly cook us up something to eat, hm? James and Charlus should be home soon. A dragon got loose around a Muggle farm. Bernard Williams—I don't know if you know him, but he's a good friend of Charlus', they went to school together—was studying them, and one got loose, and…well, you know what kind of trouble that can cause for the Ministry."

He listens to her, heart calming, tears subsiding. He's still in an old pair of jeans and a Sex Pistols t-shirt. It's comfortable, and he's comfortable.

When James and Charlus get home, he's happy again. He doesn't think about his brother that he wishes he could have saved, he doesn't think about the "mother" he had before Dorea, and he certainly doesn't think about his "father" that never stood up for him like he should have, like Charlus does.

In fact, Charlus referees a one-on-one Quidditch match between him and James while Dorea sips her tea with Darly the House Elf.