I started towards the kitchen still clutching the letter. Inside, I saw my mum at the table reading the newspaper. She glanced up for a moment before returning to the paper.

"I got my letter."

"Did you now?" she said, not taking her eyes off the Daily Prophet.

"Yea, I did. So you're happy now? I'm not a squib." I said watching her.

"Trying to make mummy proud are we?" she jeered; her lips curling into a sneer. "You'll need to do a lot more than get into Hogwarts, I'm afraid" she spat. "Now send off Verus or I'll be stuck with you the entire term."

I stood there for a moment; absorbing her words like a sponge. I was almost sure she'd be a bit nicer after I got my letter. I brushed those thoughts aside as I wandered over to the closest drawer and started digging around for some parchment, ink and a quill. I set them on the kitchen table as my mum let out a long, drawn out sigh. Ignoring her, I dipped my quill in the ink and hovered it above the parchment.

"What exactly do I write?" I asked after a few minutes.

"What do you mean what do you write?" she said behind the paper.

"It says they await my owl, what exactly do I ha..."

"Sirius! For crying out loud!" she interrupted.

"I just asked a question!" I yelled, standing to my feet.

"Just let me do it, you foolish boy!" she snarled, snatching up the parchment and quill.

I watched as she scribbled quickly and read it after she finished.

Yes, my bastard of a son will be attending Hogwarts.

Walburga Black

She strolled over to Verus, tied the letter to his leg, then returned again to her paper.

"Wow, thanks mum." I said sarcastically.

"Just get out of my sight, Sirius." she said.

I returned to my room and flopped onto my bed. I stared up at the ceiling, studying the cracks,crevices, and bumps. I wondered if all families were this...dysfuntional? If everyone's mum was a bitch. If everyone's dad was constantly absent. Or if it was just mine. Of course, I had no one to compare to. I'd only been out of the house on a few ocassions and only for short periods of time. I didn't know anyone, really. My mum, brother, and dad were the only family members that I had seen. As for strangers, I never talked to or met anyone else. I could honestly say I had no friends. I guess it sounds depressing, but I'm not sure what to make of it. I guess I don't mind people, or I guess I wouldn't mind them, as long as they weren't like my family here. Maybe, I just liked being alone. Or maybe I've just been alone so much that it doesn't bother me as much as it would someone who grew up constantly around people.

I glanced at my wall where my calender was hanging up. I still had an entire month before I'd leave this place. I sighed as I turned onto my side and drifted off to sleep.

The month couldn't have possibly gone by any slower. It felt as if each day were a week, as if the month as a whole was actually a year. But the day before term did in fact roll around and I was in complete bliss.

I ran downstairs, yanking my shoes on a long the way and trying to zip my pants. I wandered into the kitchen where my mum was silently reading her gossip magazines.

"I need to go to Diagon Alley today." I said.

"Yea, I know, I know. Money's on the counter." she said pointing behind me, " And you're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight also. I don't need you wasting all my floo powder because you want to go back and forth all day"

I walked over to the counter and started loading my pockets. I turned and gave my mum one last look before shuffling out of the kitchen. I headed to my room and started throwing my clothes and anything else I could find into a trunk. Surveying my room to make sure I had everything, I dragged the trunk into the fire place and dropped it with a thud.

"Be quiet!"

"For fucks sake, shut up woman. I'm leaving." I muttered under my breath as I reached into a pot sitting on the mantle and grabbed a considerable amount of floo powder. I stood in the fire place and using my other hand, I grabbed onto my trunk before throwing the floo powder down.

"Diagon Alley!" I yelled.

I tucked my elbows in as close as I could while using every bit of strength I had to hold onto my trunk. The last thing I needed was for it to fly out and wind up in someone else's fire place. The spinning started to pick up and I began to feel dizzy as everything I saw became but a blur of color rushing past. After what seemed like minutes, I felt myself slowing down a bit; and finally coming to a stop.

I was in the Leaky Cauldron. I stepped out of the fire place and looked around for the inn keeper. As I was looking around, a short, hunch-backed man limped up to me with a large toothy grin.

"May I help ya sir?" he asked still grinning.

"Uh, yea. I um, wanted to book a room tonight." I said

"Name, if ya please?"

"Sirius Black." I answered.

"Ah. Already have a room. Was booked for ya earlier today by a..." he paused and waved his wand, making a rather long list of parchment appear in front of him. He glanced over it for a moment before opening his mouth. "Yess here we are. Ms. Walburga Black, yes?" He asked looking up at me.

"Yea, that's right."

"Alright, let me show ya your room, Mr. Black." he said, motioning for me to follow him.

He led me up stairs to room 15 and opened the door.

"Let me know if there's anything you want, Mr. Black." he said with a small bow before leaving.

I walked in and swept my eyes over the place. I had only been here for maybe a couple seconds and already it seemed more like home than Grimmauld Place. I set my trunk down beside my bed and wandered back downstairs and out of the Leaky Cauldron.

I had been to Diagon Alley once or twice so I knew generally, where everything was located. It was still quite a place to see. All the shops looked so inviting; waiting to be explored, so I decided not to keep them waiting as I headed down to Ollivanders.

I went inside and was greeted by complete darkness. It was a huge contrast to the sunny outside and my eyes took a moment to adjust. I walked up to the counter and stared around. There were thin, long boxes...thousands, maybe millions of them, everywhere. They were stacked one on top of another almost touching the ceiling. There were also boxes strewn on the floor and some that looked like they were dangling off the ceiling; as if they were just growing out of everything.

"May I help you, sir?"

My eyes darted back to the counter where a tall, white haired man was standing.

"Yes, I need a wand." I said.

Really Sirius? You need a wand, huh? I bet he never could've guessed that, being in a wand shop and all. Idiot. I thought to myself. That's probably what my mum would've said too, if she had come.

He didn't say anything, just smiled. "Well come on then. We need your measurements, don't we?" he said.

A tape measurer then appeared next to me. It began measuring me from head to toe, followed by my arms, my fingers, my head, and my shoulder width. It wandered down to my crotch and began to measure.

"Hey!" I snarled, putting my hand in front of my privates and trying to hit it with the other. I swore I heard the tape measurer giggle before throwing itself back onto the counter.

I was about to say something to Ollivander but he had disappeared from behind the counter. I waited for a few minutes before he came back with at least a dozen boxes in his arms. He opened the first one and handed it to me. I took it from him and held it for a second.

"Holly, 11 inches, unicorn hair." He said rather quickly. He watched me eagerly. "Well go on, son. Give it a wave!" he exclaimed.

I gave it a small flick that caused a stack of boxes behind the counter to topple over. Mr. Ollivander shook his head and rummaged into his stack; pulling out another wand.

"Willow, 9 inches, unicorn hair, quite...swishy!" he said; holding it out for me.

I took it from him and waved it, this time sending sparks right towards his head.

"Nope. Not that one!"

We went through about five more and I was beginning to feel a bit hopeless. I wasn't used to having to take so many tries at something, but I tried not to let it bother me. He pulled out another one that was at the bottom of the stack.

"Ah, here we are, ebony, dragon heart string, 12 1/2 inches, unyielding. Great for transfiguration."

I took the wand again and waved it preparing to make more boxes fall or, knowing my luck, shoot a curse at the old man. Instead I felt a rush of warmth through my finger tips.

"Yes. You see, the wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Black." he said with a smile.

"How exactly?" I asked curiously.

"I'm glad you asked, most people don't, believe it's random. Rubbish." he paused."The wand knows all about their witch or wizard, Mr. Black. I could tell you quite a few things about yourself just from the wand you have."

"Like what? Try me." I challenged with a grin.

"Very well. You are rather stubborn. You shun outsiders. Secretive. A leader. Intelligent. Trouble-maker. Holds grudges. Opinionated. Unable to trust others. Strong-willed and witty." He finished, his eyes twinkling.

"I don't think all of that's true. But you're right with the intelligent part. I'll give you that." I said as I reached into my pocket to pay him.

He laughed."It's all true, sir. Your wand tells all; don't forget that." he said.

I thanked him and left the store feeling as if I had just has my fortune told, or had someone read my astrology sign. I thought about some of the stuff he said as I made my way to Flourish and Blotts. Some of the things he said, made me feel good. Like, being intelligent, trouble-maker, and witty. But the secretive,unable to trust others and shuns outsiders part was where I got stuck. It was odd of him to mention those since just last month I had been thinking about how often I've been alone. Did those describe me? I don't believe I'm secretive, I just have no one to talk to. Well, I have three people I can talk to, just no one that will listen, I reminded myself. I guess I didn't trust anyone else, but then again, I hardly trusted myself.

My thoughts came to an end as I stood outside Flourish and Blotts.