July 1971
"James you have a letter" Euphemia, a cheerful looking woman in her late fifties, sung up the stairs. A bespectacled boy with fine black hair ran past his mirror which was still trying critique his appearance. James flew into the kitchen and grabbed the letter unceremoniously out of the owl's clutches. Euphemia and Fleamont Potter beamed with pride. The whole family had been anticipating this letter all summer. Euphemia began to cry as James read out the class list. James was their only son, and they would miss him terribly. Fleamont just smiled. He clearly remembered the wonder of his Hogwarts days, and he couldn't wait to share the adventure with James. It would be good for James to be in a place where he wasn't doted on every second, Fleamont thought with chagrin.
James couldn't believe he finally had his Hogwarts letter. He had heard about Hogwarts his whole life. James reveled in every item on the list. He couldn't wait to go to Diagon Alley and pick up a wand of his own. He smiled at his parents and sent his reply quickly back to Hogwarts. James would be on the Hogwarts Express on September 1st.
July 1971
Sirius Black, a confident boy with the good looks to back it up, was just as excited as James to get his letter. For once the cool glare of his mother, did not cause the grin to slide off his face. Sirius giddily took the letter from the school owl and ran upstairs. He opened is gleaming leather trunk and began to pack. Sirius couldn't wait to leave his home behind.
Walburga Black, Sirius' mother, appeared in the doorway. Her silvery robes seemed impossibly stiff and her jet black hair was in a rigid bun. "Hogwarts, hmph, don't know that I would set much by an education there these days" She exclaimed. "Still, you understand what are expectations are. You will not associate with mudbloods or blood traitors. You are the heir to the Noble House of Black and you will be a credit to Slytherin."
Sirius swallowed slightly. He knew that generations of Blacks had been placed in Slytherin. It would almost definitely be his home. Still, the way his cousins Andromeda and Bellatrix described the common room reminded him far too much of the attitude and décor of Grimmauld Place. It certainly wouldn't help that so many of his cousins would share it with him. Most of Sirius' relations made his skin crawl.
He shook off the chill that had crossed his shoulders, and found to his relief that Walburga had returned to order breakfast from Kreacher. Sirius knew that his presence would be expected at the table in five minutes. He could hear his brother, Regulus, make his descent into the dining room. Sirius, however, was in no hurry. He carefully folded some more of his clothes and placed them in his trunk. Sirius glanced around the room to see if there was anything hanging on the walls that he wanted to take with him, but he didn't want any reminders of this house at Hogwarts. He knew that he still had an agonizing month to wait, but the open trunk in front of him shone like a beacon. It was finally real. Sirius Black was breaking out of Grimmauld Place. He could hear the dulcet tones of his mother as she screeched for him to return downstairs, but Sirius just flopped back on to his bed with satisfaction. He would make Kreacher come and get him this morning.
July 1971
Peter Pettigrew sat in his squashy orange armchair and tried to blink the sleep out of his eyes. The short blonde boy had been once again awoken by the ruckus in the neighboring room. His parents were screaming at each other. His fingers traced the orange threads that ran up and down the chair. Peter could hear nearly every word that was spoken, and apparently money was tight again. His parents were so loud that he almost didn't hear the knocking at the window. He leapt to his feet when he noticed the tawny owl and hurried to take the post from him. Peter looked over his letter with glee.
He quickly scrawled his RSVP on the owl's proffered parchment and began to greedily soak in the contents of the letter. His mother would have to take him to Diagon Alley to purchase the spellbooks and wand, and Peter carefully looked at the options of pets. He hoped he would be able to convince his mother that he needed a pet. He was a little apprehensive about making friends. If Peter had a nice pet, people would have a reason to talk to him. Peter waited for the shouts to die down before poking open his parents' door to show them the letter. He hoped that if he did well at school, his parents might fight less. It should at least lift some of the financial burden with one less mouth to feed.
A/N: Thanks so much to my reviewers! It means a lot!