When James awoke, he assumed it was the strong light in the room that had disturbed him. Rubbing his eyes for a moment, he fumbled around his bed for his glasses. Once he located the square-shaped spectacles under his pillow, he shoved them onto his nose and glanced around the bedroom. The light of the setting sun filtered in, casting a hazy glow through the large, plush room.
Though it wasn't much more than ten at night, James sleepily pulled the duvet over his head and began to nod off immediately.

Until he heard the rumbling.

A distant groan from outside grew steadily louder and closer, until it was a drilling roar. James leapt out of bed just as the noise ceased. Grumbling obscenities under his breath, he moved to the window, but the street was empty. Mystified, he turned to the skies which were just as tranquil. He was about to put the noise down to tiredness when he saw a shadow move on the porch. Immediately, James grabbed his wand and darted from the room and down the spiral staircase. Breathing heavily, as he was home alone, he pointed his wand forwards, a hex on his tongue, and opened the door a fraction.

"Petrific- Padfoot?"

The figure in front of him was certainly his best friend, Sirius Black. Long, stygian hair still hung loose, his sharp grey eyes still peered from under dark brows- but in many respects, he was unrecognisable. James could not believe someone could change so much in just a couple of weeks. Sirius' sallow face was gaunt, and though he had always been slim, his cheeks had hollowed. His once too-tight Rolling Stones t-shirt hung was loose, and covered in dried blood. In fact, so was most of him. A nasty gash ran across his cheek, his nose was a slightly different shape (clearly broken), but most of all, his eyes, usually devilish with mischief, were bloodshot and dull, one swollen shut.

"Prongs," grinned Sirius feebly. "I'm pretty sure you can't use that just yet." He nodded at James' raised wand.

James gaped at his best friend for a moment, not willing to believe the state he was in.

Wordlessly, he stepped forward and grasped his friends' jacket collar and pulled him forwards into a tight hug, which Sirius collapsed into, his quivering legs no longer supporting him.

"Oh Merlin," muttered James, seizing Sirius by the waist and dragging him inside.

"Buy me a drink first," Sirius slurred lamely, as James awkwardly half-lay, half-dropped him on the velvet couch.

James quickly grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled a note to his parents:

Need you home ASAP. Sirius is here. Emergency. -James.

He roughly attached it to his tawny owl, Fitcher, and shoved him into the fireplace. James grabbed a handful of floo powder and threw it at the bird. "17 Morgan Street, Brighton." He shouted, and the owl disappeared with an indignant squawk.

"Mum and Dad are at a cauldron convention." James explained. "Mum's a healer, she'll fix you up as soon as she arrives. They'll be here soon," He ran a hand through his hair. "Blimey, Pads- what have you done?"

"I haven't done anything," Sirius snapped from the sofa.

"Well you look like you just wrestled with the Whomping Willow, so if I were you I'd have a story before my parents get here."

Sirius scowled.

James wanted very much to press him further- even get angry at him for turning up on his doorstep without so much as a hello. But he couldn't bring himself to it, because despite his snark, Sirius' voice was hoarse and crackling. "You're starving." James realised, and Sirius shrugged in response. "Right," muttered James, knowing he wasn't going to get any verbal satisfaction. "Guppy! C'mere, please."

A late-middle-aged house elf crept into the room; he was clean and bright-eyed. "Master James?" He asked politely.

"Guppy, I need a three course meal for two, all on the one plate please, quick as you can!"

The house elf saluted the boy, and bowed out. A few cracking sounds followed from the kitchen, and after a minute or so a heaped platter floated into the room. Piled high with slices of beef, chicken legs, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, vegetables, cheeses, breads, bowls of trifle, chocolate mousse and ice cream. A large jug of pumpkin juice plus two bottles of butterbeer accompanied the feast.

"This pleases Master James?" Called Guppy from the kitchen.

"Yeah, yeah, brilliant- thanks," James shouted back.

The platter landed softly on the coffee table, and Sirius glanced at James before digging in. His head did not resurface for several minutes, and when it did it was covered in gravy, crumbs and butterbeer foam. He had only eaten half of it when a great black dog appeared in Sirius' place and cleared the plate. When Sirius the human reappeared, he was clutching at his stomach in queasy delight. "That felt good."

"I'll bet it did." Said James. "Now tell me what happened."

Long story short, I ran away from home and pissed my mother off."

James blinked. "Care to elabourate?"

"Not particularly."

James scratched his head. "Well there has to be more to it than that." He said.

Sirius waved his hand. "Stop bombarding me, woman." He wheezed. "I was going to stay at the Leaky Cauldron, but I let that slip to Reg…" He trailed off as if remembering something. "…Ulus." He finished the name flatly.

"Well you can stay here, of course."

"Prongs, no-"

"Think about it! Stay here for the summer, and then next summer we'll be graduated and we can get a flat in London when we become Aurors. It's perfect."

Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, almost perfect."

Sirius shook his head. "This is your parents' house, it wouldn't be fair to expect them to house a second kid for the summer, a kid who smells like dog and has a massive appetite. They'd never agree to it."

James dismissed the point with a wave of his hand. "Let's not play games here, Pads." Both boys knew full well that Mr and Mrs Potter spoiled James rotten, and never forbade him anything.

"Your dad is an Auror," Sirius pointed out. "My family are as old and inbred as they come, and obsessively prejudiced. Can't really see me appealing to him much."

"Well you wouldn't be an extra kid," James said, ignoring the last point. "You'd be a guest. A VIP."

"I like that," Sirius conceded.

At that moment, the fireplace began to quiver and a tall, slim witch with olive skin and thick grey-flecked brown hair wound around her head stepped out. Though she was in her mid-sixties she had the appearance of one many years younger. She wore expensive patterned fuchsia robes and a fur-lined pointed hat. She was strikingly attractive.

"Siento, James," Said Mrs Potter in Spanish as she took off her hat. "There wasn't a Floo chimney for miles, they all had to be shut down because one of the Fletchers was sneaking people in, the bastardo-" Her dark eyes fell on Sirius and her hands went to her mouth. "¡Cáspita!" She gasped, rushing to him at once. "Desgraciado," she murmured, "what happened to you?"

"I was out late down Knockturn Alley." Said Sirius carefully, looking down. James narrowed his eyes but did not contradict him.

"You were attacked." Mrs Potter tutted, examining his wounds. "Then why haven't you gone home?"

"I only stopped to see James on the way," Said Sirius. "My parents are abroad, you see, and I'm going to stay with relatives." That wasn't true, but Sirius could try and find his estranged uncle, Alphard.

"Don't be silly, don't go troubling your, er, lovely relatives." Mrs Potter said politely. "Any friend of James' is welcome any time. Es parentesco sin sangre una amistad verdadera."

"Um," Sirius glanced at James uncertainly.

"Kinship without a blood relationship is true friendship." James translated, and his mother beamed at him. "Mum's motto."

Sirius could not believe her hospitality. "Oh… t-thank you, Mrs Potter."

"Kesare," She corrected him. "Mrs Potter makes me feel old." She added with a wink, and Sirius felt oddly flattered.

At that moment, the flames rose once more and a tall thin wizard with very messy dark grey hair and a walking stick appeared and stepped out of the fireplace, seeming disgruntled. "What's going on here?" He asked, his eyes falling on Sirius. Ignotus Potter was unenthusiastic about his son's friendship with the heir of House Black. Ignotus' own mother, Dorea, had been of House Black, and because of that he knew just how prejudiced and elitist the pureblood family were. As an Auror, he was even more wary. He knew that the Blacks did not necessarily practice dark magic themselves, but they certainly had very strong ties with those that did.

However, when he saw the state that the young Black was in, he forgot all of that. "Merlin's beard!" Cried Mr Potter, running to the boy's side. "Kesare, this is your area of expertise…" He glanced at his wife.

"Sí," Mrs Potter affirmed, and began to mutter to herself in a wave of rapid Spanish as she examined Sirius' injuries, but had some difficulty distinguishing between bruises and patches of dried blood. She took out the wand and rested the tip on Sirius bare arm. "Tergeo," She said clearly, and slowly, the dried blood all over his body faded and disappeared. He began to thank her, but Mrs Potter raised a hand to silence him. "Stay quiet," she said. Her voice was soothing. "Your nose is broken, and it will hurt slightly to fix."

Sirius shrugged but couldn't help wincing.

"I have a little truco, a trick, that you may find useful." She smiled kindly. "I want you to think of the worst swears in your arsenal, and when it hurts, say one as loud as feels right."

Sirius grinned. "Okay."

Mrs Potter drew her wand again, and pointed it at his nose. "Episkey."

The pain was sharp, but brief. Sirius had the sensation of his nose being burned and then frozen in a few short space of time. "Bollocks," He muttered, his hand flying to his face. To his surprise, Mrs Potter was smiling again.

"Bollocks," she repeated in her smooth accent. "Doesn't sound too bad." She evaluated her work. "I will go fetch some essence of dittany and blood replenishing potion, and that is all I will be able to do for today." With a sweep of fuchsia robes she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Sirius, James and Ignotus.

Mr Potter was eyeing Sirius. Now that alarm had passed, suspicion kicked in. "So what happened, Mr Black?" He asked coolly.

"Dodgy side-street down Knockturn Alley," Replied Sirius, with equal iciness.

"Knockturn Alley?" Mr Potter's tone was disapproving. "And what were you doing down there?"

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "Well I… I was… I had to go-"

"I see." Said Mr Potter tartly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius challenged. "You bloody asked."

"Well you don't seem to know yourself, do you? Or maybe you haven't thought of a cover story yet."

"Dad!" James objected. As he spoke, Kesare came back into the room and all three of them shut up.

"Could I speak to you in the kitchen, James?" He asked, through his tightened lips.

With a grunt of reluctance, James got up and followed his father into the next room, feeling Sirius' glare on his back.

Mr Potter shut the door. "What exactly is going on?"

"He told you! Or at least, he was trying to when you interrupted."

Mr Potter raised his bushy grey eyebrows. "James, please. I have been an Auror for fifty four years, give me some credit."

"I only know as much as you do, Dad. All I know-or care- is that my best friend turned up here beaten to a pulp and he's staying 'til Mum's fixed him up."

Mr Potter tried to keep a stern face. Lowering his voice, he said: "James, I know he's your school friend, but his background… but they're bad blood, the Blacks."

"You're part Black!" James argued. "And so am I!"

Mr Potter winced, as if he had been hoping that point would not arise. "Well yes, technically, but…"

"Your mother was a Black, and she wasn't a raving Death Eater lunatic, was she?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Well nothing! That's proof enough."

Mr Potter seemed conflicted for a moment, and he lowered his voice further. "I'm going to tell you something, son, and if you repeat it, I'll lose my job, understand? …Between us, there's a convoy of us at the office on the brim of taking them down. We've noticed a lot of oddities lately, especially with your friend's uncle, Cygnus Black, and his lot. Keep their hand clean, don't they? But let me tell you, they've funded more blood purification campaigns that you can count. Tomorrow's Death Eaters, the lot of them."

James sighed. To a certain extent, he could understand his father's disapproval, but he could not concede to it. "It's 1977," James reminded him. "Times are changing, even in the muggle world. If he was anyone else you'd take him in with open arms. I didn't realise Aurors had prejudices too."

His words struck a chord in his father. Mr Potter gave in with a sigh. "I suppose they don't. Or shouldn't, at least. If he's worthy of your friendship, then he must be worthy of my house. He can stay as long as you like."

James shamelessly embraced his father, before fleeing the room. Sirius was downing a vivid purple potion with a sickeningly pungent smell, shuddering with every swallow. James' mother was dripping essence of dittany to any open wounds.

"Acabado." Said Mrs Potter. "Well, that is everything. Guppy will make up a bed in James' room for you, and James and I will clean up here."

Once again overwhelmed by Mrs Potter's hospitality, he thanked her profusely. Guppy sauntered over and took Sirius' hand and began to lead him towards the foyer. At first, Sirius snatched his hand back in horror, but when the elf seemed hurt, he acquiesced to extending a finger.

After helping his mother clean the vials she used, James headed upstairs only to find Sirius lying on his bed, smirking.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Part of the recovery process," Sirius answered tartly.

"I take it the Levamen potion has kicked in, then."

"Oh yeah. Numbs the pain alright. Numbs it so much I can't move."

James couldn't help but laugh as he kicked off his shoes and pounced on the spare bed opposite. "I talked to Dad, by the way, and he's cool with you staying."

Sirius snorted.

"What?"

"'Cool with me staying'? What, did you cast the Imperius Curse on him or something?"

"Ha-ha," Said James sarcastically. "No, I just talked him 'round."

"What does he think I'm going to do, anyway?" Sirius huffed. "Throw a sleepover and invite Uncle Cygnus and Bellatrix over? While I'm at it, Kreacher can come too! We'll have a great time, getting wasted on the blood of muggleborns and-"

"Oh shut up, he just wants to know why you're here. And so do I."

Sirius shifted uncomfortably. "I told you…"

"Told me? You gave me a few words of pure bullshit that wouldn't get you out of first year detention with Professor Sprout. So speak now or forever hold your piece."

"I'll go with forever holding my piece, thanks."

James got out of bed and walked across the room to punch Sirius' numb shoulder.

"Oi!" Protested Sirius indignantly, although he didn't actually feel it. "I'll tell you, just…" He nodded at the ajar bedroom door. "Can't move." He reminded James.

With a huff, James shut the door and then sat down on the end of Sirius' bed, and listened to the story. Sirius chronicled the events of the night before with a monotonous frankness that reminded James of the school knobhead, Severus Snape. By the time he was finished, James was fuming. "That bitch!" He growled, pounding his velvet pillow angrily. "That sadistic, mental bitch!"

Sirius grimaced. The Black family loyalty that had been nurtured into him since childbirth still endured deep down, and he resented its existence. James noticed his discomfort. "What? She bloody tried to kill you!"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Don't be melodramatic, Prongs, she wouldn't actually kill me. That would look terrible at family gatherings."

They both laughed at that.

"You know," said James thoughtfully, as he wandered back to his own bed. "This mightn't be that bad a thing… I mean, sorry that your family is full of tossers and all that, but think of the summer ahead of us! A whole month of holidays, no McGonagall to stop us. Think of the fun we'll have… What do you think, Padfoot? …Padfoot?"

But Sirius was snoring softly, lying fully dressed on top of the made bed.

James chuckled quietly. "Goodnight, then." He said, and turned off the light.

The following morning, James woke first. He was initially confused when he found himself in a strange bed that was not his own, but when he glanced across the room and found his best friend snoring on the bed, he remembered with a pang of excitement. James also felt a tinge of guilt for rejoicing Sirius' arrival so much, given the grim circumstances, but he couldn't help it. James was used to long summers at Godric's Hollow alone with his parents. They doted on him, which was nice for a couple of days, but grew gradually annoying as the summer persisted. He used to play with the Muggle children in the village before he went to Hogwarts, but they had all grown up and did not want to know the weird Potter boy who was gone for most of the year.

Sirius was sprawled across James' bed, fully clothed. Instead of waking him, James went downstairs, instinctively smoothing his hair where it stuck up at the back as he did. Kesare Potter was reading the Daily Prophet, frowning slightly, Ignotus Potter was polishing his wand wordlessly.

"…Morning," Said James slowly, noticing the tension. "Everything alright?"

Mr Potter gave a sort of snort, and then put down his wand. "No, James it isn't." He said harshly, taking the newspaper out of his wife's hands and shoving it at his son.

Mrs Potter hissed a few aggressive words in Spanish, but seemed more interested in James' reaction to the Daily Prophet.

"Turn to page 14." Said Mr Potter. "Care to explain that?"

Baffled, James flicked through the paper and looked down at the page. The headline read 'GATHERING WORRY AT MINISTRY AS THREE MORE FOUND DEAD'. James glanced at his father. "Er, isn't this more your thing, Dad?"

In reply, his father flicked his wand, and the bottom corner of the page began to glow, and James looked down. 'MISSING WITCHES AND WIZARDS AS OF 24th JULY'. It was a list of witches and wizards who were reported missing, with a small photo next to them. He scanned the list, wondering whose name he should be searching for:

Abercrombie, Angus

Aubrey, Magenta

Bell, Nerissa
Black, Sirius (underage)
Burbage, Clarence

James did a double take. What was Sirius doing on the list? It was definitely his name, and definitely a picture of him scowling in dress robes. "I… I don't… There must be some mist-"

"It's not a mistake," Mr Potter snapped. "Someone has reported him. The Ministry thinks he's missing, his family don't even know he's here. Your friend has been lying to us. I want him out now."

"No!" James said defiantly. "He hasn't been lying, not to me."

Mr Potter was taken aback. "And what do you know that we don't?"

James bit his lip uncertainly. Telling the truth felt like a betrayal to Sirius, but it seemed to be the only chance of him staying. "He told me…stuff, but begged me not to tell you because he thought you'd send him home."

"I've a right mind to." Mr Potter huffed.

"See! That's exactly what he was afraid of, and you're only proving him right. His mother nearly killed him- she tried to cast the Imperius Curse on him and everything!"

Mr Potter sat forward. "Really? Do you think you could get that in writing?"

"Dad!" Shouted James. "Stop thinking of your job for a second and use you head. His family is absoloutely mental. When he came here yesterday in that state, it wasn't because of anything that happened down Knockturn Alley, it was because his crazy bitch of a-"

"James." Said his mother sternly.

"Sorry, Mum. –Of a mother wouldn't feed him or let him leave and when he tried to escape, THAT happened." He looked desperately between his parents.

Mr Potter was scratching the back of his head, his wiry eyebrows knit tightly in contemplation.

Mrs Potter, who had been very quiet, seemed thoughtful. "For me, nothing has changed. I told you yesterday that a friend of yours is a friend of mine, and he is welcome to stay as far as I'm concerned." She turned to her husband. "Es parentesco sin sangre una amistad verdadera."

Mr Potter looked at his wife with a strange expression. James couldn't pin-point it exactly. It seemed a mix of adoration and surrender. After a moment he spoke. "Alright." It was barely a whisper. He seemed to snap out of the trance and turned to James. "What the hell," he sighed. "If his family hate him, I should love him by default, eh?" He chuckled weakly. "He can stay, but on two conditions. One, any funny… dark, kind of business, he's gone."
"No problem there." Said James.

"Second, he needs to write to his parents to tell them he's here."

"But-"

"No buts, James. He's in the paper after being missing a day, I can't afford to be caught up in any dodgy dealings with the Blacks. They know who I am and they know I'm onto them, they could easily make this very messy and have my job on the line."

"If they find out where he is, they'll bring him home," James protested.

"I won't let that happen." Said Mr Potter firmly, glancing at his watch. "That's my final word on the matter. Do we have an agreement?"
James nodded.

"Good. I have to go to work, make sure you boys give your mother plenty of help."

"We will, Dad," James vowed. "And… thanks."

Mr Potter nodded. He kissed his wife on the head and ruffled James' already untidy hair, then left.

Mrs Potter stood up, and glanced at the clock. "I have to go to work, James," she said pleasantly. "Help yourself to breakfast, I have a list of quehaceres I need you to do during the day, it's on the counter." She kissed James on the head and stepped in to the fireplace. "St Mungo's Hospital," She said clearly, and disappeared in a pillar of flames.

James tore upstairs and found his friend in the exact same positions as before, snoring softly and straddling James' bed. James considered tapping him gently on the shoulder to wake him, but instead backed towards the door and sprinted forwards, leaping onto his best friends' sleepy form with a roar.

"AAARGH!" Both boys yelled- one with glee, one with alarm. The pounce quickly developed into a wrestle which ended with them both lying on the floor in a fit of laughter.

"Do that again and I'll put you in Mungo's." Said Sirius between giggles.

James' laughter quickly died as he remembered his conversation with his parents. "Um, Pads…" He sat up, ruffling his hair awkwardly. "I sort of had to tell my parents what happened with your mum."

In a flash, Sirius was on his feet, his eyes flashed with betrayal. "You WHAT?" He shouted in shock. "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?"

"Calm down," Said James forcefully, standing up to meet him. "I had to."

"NO YOU DIDN'T!" Sirius yelled furiously, shoving him.

"Yes I did," Said James, growing impatient. "Now shut the hell up so I can tell you why."

Sirius glared at him. "I don't want to know why. You did it and that's what matters."

James snorted and shoved the newspaper at him.

Sirius narrowed his eyes at the headline article. "Three more dead? What's that got to do w-" James pointed at the list at the bottom of the page, and Sirius' brows furrowed as he read it carefully. He took a sharp intake of breath when he saw his own name. "Well," he said.

"See?" Said James. "My dad completely freaked when he saw it, he thought you had lied your way in and were spying on him and everything."

Sirius folded the newspaper and tossed it on the bed. "That's a horrible photo of me. Surely they could find something better than that."

James was surprised. "You don't seem too bothered, then."

"I am bothered." Said Sirius darkly. "But I'm not surprised. Didn't think it'd happen this quick, though." He frowned at James. "I suppose I'll go pack my bags then."

James rolled his eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, you prat, you can stay- but be warned, my dad's going to be watching you like a hawk."

Sirius shrugged.

"He added some rules though. No dark magic-"

"James, the only reason I'm here is the practice my Cruciatus Curse on you, so I might as well just leave now."

"Ha-ha. Um, he also wants you to write to your family and tell them you're here. Keeping you here without them knowing is putting Dad's job at risk."

Sirius paled. "Thanks, Prongs, but I can't tell them where I am. I'll find somewhere else to go."

"Oh grow a pair, Padfoot," Said James jovially. "Dad'll watch out for you, he promised he would. He just wants you to be honest."

Sirius pursed his lips and slowly wen to James' desk and tore a piece of parchment off. In a cursive scrawl, he wrote:

I'm staying with James Potter for the summer. Don't come for me because I'm not coming home. Don't try to contact me, give all of my belongings and inheritance to Regulus.

-Sirius

James noticed his friend's hand was trembling as he wrote. Sirius sulkily attached the note to Fitcher, and opened the window, shoving the owl out.