"Sirius, I'm warning you now, don't do it,"

"You're no fun Moony,"

"I am plenty fun, I just don't want you kicked out of school before you reach your fourth year."

"I'm not gonna get kicked out. McGonagall loves me."

"That might be the case, but I'm pretty sure that the Slytherins will cause an uproar."

"I'm just setting fire to their stalls, what's the harm in that?"

"Do I need to draw you a flow chart."

"Oh god, not a flow chart!"

"I'll draw one, and even map out several possibilities."

"Fine,"

"Thank you,"

"I'm still gonna do it."

"Sirius no!"

It was too late, Sirius had darted off into the stalls. James looked over and grinned, standing with the rest of the team as they made their way towards the pitch. Remus sighed and followed them, pulling up his hood as a fresh flurry of rain spattered down on them. Clara was cursing under her breath.

"Any day," She said. "They had the option to pick from any day and they choose today of all days,"

"Cheer up," Greg said. "You'll do fine."

Clara merely grunted. "Seen Valerie?"

"Yeah, she and David were, er… Getting to know each other's tongues."

"Beautiful." Clara said. "How you feeling Nellie?"

Nellie was shaking nervously.

"No need to get nervous," James said, patting her on the back. "I remember my first game."Nellie looked up at him. "Well, not really,"

"Why, what happened?" Nellie asked.

James frowned. "Erm… I don't really remember. A bludger took me to the head, I woke up in hospital a month later. Couldn't possibly do homework for months."

Nellie looked petrified.

"He's yanking your chain," Remus said calmly. "He didn't get hit by a bludger. Someone threw a bottle at him for showing off and being an arrogant prat."

"And how's that thing with Sarah going?" James asked smugly.

Remus' lips tightened. "Here," He said, pulling out a bit of chocolate. "Have some."

"Moony, break out of that habit. It's not good for you."

"I dunno," Valerie said behind them. "I like a man with meat on his bones."

"Well there are plenty of fat men available for you," James said.

"You know what I meant." Valerie said.

"I never know what you girls mean," James said huffily.

"Done!" Said a bright voice. Sirius was back, his hair windswept and blowing everywhere, his face slightly pink. "It should go off whenever someone makes a filthy jibe about blood-statuses."

"Sirius," Remus sighed.

"Yes, Moony?" Sirius said, grabbing a hairband and tying his long black hair away.

"Never mind." Remus said. "It's not like you'll listen to me anyway."

"Damn straight,"

"Alright guys," Clara said, clapping her hands together. "Lupin, do you want to go to the stands?"

"Sure," Remus said. "Good luck."

"Like we'll need it," James scoffed.

Remus rolled his eyes and left. Clara grinned. "Well, today is not the best day, but goggles on and heads held high, we'll be awesome. I know we will."

There was the sound of the whistle and together the marched onto the grounds. Sirius mounted his broom and zoomed off towards the goals. Valerie took off as well, soaring into the sky to face the Slytherin Seeker - Regulus Black. Clara and Malfoy met on the pitch and shook hands. Malfoy looked as if he was about to smack Clara across the face. Madame Hooch stepped out, her eagle eyes piercing the stadium.

"A nice clean game, thank you!" She said. "I want no blood."

"I can't promise that," James heard Sirius say. He couldn't help repress a smile. He was only human after all. James got on his broom and hovered, facing the Slytherin chasers. Madame Hooch blew her whistle again. Players went in all directions and James took possession of the Quaffle throwing it to Nellie. She was nimble enough to get through the other chasers.

…

"What did I miss?" Remus asked, joining Peter and Lily in the stalls.

"Not a lot," Peter said, handing his binoculars over to Remus "James won't stop showing off though."

"Typical." Lily tutted.

Remus threw her a look. He pressed the binoculars against his eyes and peered out. The Gryffindor stalls were yelling and screaming at James.

"Where's Valerie?" Remus asked.

"Dunno," Peter said. "We thought she saw the snitch a few minutes ago, but no such luck."

Remus focused his attention back to the field from the skies. Sirius was lazily roaming around the goal posts with a bored expression on his face. The quaffle passed from Gryffindor hands to Slytherin hands without much else happening. Everyone turned their attention to Clara who was yelling something. Nellie had gotten hold of the quaffle and was flying up for the first goal of the match. The Slytherin keeper was laughing at her. Gideon had seen this and smacked the bludger his way. The bludger hit the keeper on the head and sent him flying through the air.

Madame Hooch blew her whistle and ordered Gideon off the pitch. But he was too busy laughing to really care. McGonagall looked furious.

"DIRTY UNDERHANDED TACTIC!" She screamed.

Madame Hooch set the game again, Slytherin's wanting payback. The Slytherin beaters swarmed around Nellie. James flew in, taking the quaffle from her and drawing the beaters away from her. He flew up to the poorly protected goals and scored –

"10 points to Gryffindor!" Bellowed the commentator.

"What are they doing?" Lily asked. Remus and Peter twisted around to see the Slytherin's jeering.

"Oh, not this again!" He cried.

"What?" Lily asked.

"During Quidditch practice, several of the Slytherins began to jeer Nellie. Calling her 'mudblood' and other foul names," Remus said. "Nellie couldn't handle it, and she left practice."

Lily turned back to the game. "I hope she's alright, She said.

Just as Lily spoke, something hit the Slytherin stands, like a bolt of lightning. The drapes and flags quickly caught fire and erupted in angry fury. Some of the older students tried desperately to put out the flames, but they only grew higher and more ferocious. Remus could see McGonagall fleeing towards them, waving her wand madly at the flames. During the confusion, several goals were scored by Nellie. Remus could see a smug grin playing on Sirius' face. Lily saw his expression and rounded on him.

"You know who it was," She accused. "Don't you?"

Remus snapped. "No,"

"Yes you do," She said. "Remus, tell me now,"

"No," Remus said flatly.

"It was Potter, wasn't it?"

"Lily, drop it now," Remus hissed.

"Remus, they could have killed someone!"

"But they didn't!" Remus said. "I know they wouldn't let that happen."

"Then you do know who it was!"

"Lily," Remus said. "I get that you have this self-righteous thing going for you, but seriously, drop it."

Lily looked furious. The game was growing more ferocious as rain cascaded down from the skies. Valerie soared near the Ravenclaw stalls, being tailed by Regulus. He had caught a hold of her broom and was pulling it back.

"REGULUS, YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" Sirius bellowed over the thunderclap. "LET HER GO!"

Regulus did not heed his brother. He grabbed on tighter to the broom, causing Valerie to go off course. She tried to kick him off but it wasn't working. Sirius forgot his notion of protecting the goals from the chasers, and soared after his little brother. He almost knocked him off his broom. Remus, Peter and Lily could hear Madame Hooch blowing her whistle, but no one was paying any attention. Regulus clung onto his broom, swearing at the top of his voice. Sirius knocked him again, sending him flying through the air.

"SIRIUS!" Clara shouted. "STOP IT NOW!"

Sirius wasn't listening. He had pulled out his wand and was about to use it but it was cursed out of his hand. He turned and saw James soaring just behind him.

"SIRIUS!" James shouted. "YOU HAVE TO STOP!"

Sirius pulled at his broomstick, causing it to go up into the clouds, the rain spattering across his face.

…

"What you did was incredibly selfish and underhanded." McGonagall said, pacing in front of Dumbledore's desk. Dumbledore sat back, his fingertips together and blue eyes twinkling. "What on earth made you think that it was acceptable to do such a thing? Over a game of Quidditch?"

Sirius shifted his feet. He was covered in head to toe with dirt. James, Peter and Remus stood behind him, equally as soaked. The rest of the Gryffindor and Slytherin team were waiting outside the office.

McGonagall stopped pacing and sighed. "This is out of my control." She said. "I leave it to the headmaster to punish you appropriately. Mr. Lupin with me."

Remus gave a dark smile before following McGonagall from Dumbledore's office. Peter looked nervous for a moment. Dumbledore rose from his seat and moved around the desk, quiet and contemplating. He saw that Peter was terrified and said kindly; "Peter, you have done no wrong. You may leave happily. Perhaps do some homework, I'm sure Remus wouldn't mind you using his notes whilst he is otherwise… Occupied." There was a glint in Dumbledore's eyes which made James and Sirius suspect that the old wizard knew that they had found out about their friend's predisposition as a werewolf. Peter merely squeaked before running out.

Dumbledore sighed.

"Sir," Sirius said. "I get what I did was unacceptable."

"I should hope so," Dumbledore said.

"But please, I'm begging you," Sirius said. "Don't expel me, I have nowhere to go."

Dumbledore frowned. "But Sirius, I was under the impression that you had a family in London to return to."

"They're not my family," Sirius said. "I haven't called them that for a long time. Please. Hogwarts is my only home."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment. "Sirius, I am not going to expel you."

Sirius' face broke into a smile.

"However," Dumbledore raised a finger. "You have broken several dozen school rules. I can't accept that without needing to give you some punishment."

"Of course," Sirius said.

Dumbledore sighed, pushing his half-moon spectacles up his nose. "I shall deduct 50 points from Gryffindor and you must complete detention for the rest of the term."

"Of course," Sirius said

"And Sirius," Dumbledore said mildly, moving back around his desk. "If I find you doing something like that again, I will have no choice but to expel you."

Sirius nodded. Dumbledore stared at him for a moment. "You may go." He said. Sirius grinned and ran off. Dumbledore turned to James who was watching Sirius leave.

"I'm sorry about Sirius, Professor," He said moving towards the desk.

Dumbledore sat down. "James," He said calmly. "I know you like to protect your friends – "

"Please, sir," James interrupted. "Sirius… He has this terrible temper. He gets angry when injustice is done to him or anyone he knows personally and cares for. "

"James-"

"And he's a bit stupid, I'll admit, but he's my best friend-"

"James," Dumbledore said calmly. "Please, let me speak,"

James fell silent and stared at his shoes.

Dumbledore sighed. "I know that Sirius was only trying to protect young Nellie. I know that he and his brother do not see… Eye to eye as it were, but I admire that you are willing to protect him." He cleared his throat and smiled. "James, you're loving loyalty… It outstands me. Sirius is very lucky to have a friend like you,"

James said nothing, shuffling his feet. Dumbledore smiled further and started to hum. "Here have a lemon sherbet. You don't need to be here."

James took the sweet from Dumbledore's fingertips.

"Thank you… Professor," James said.

Dumbledore leaned back on his chair and watched James dart from the office, careful not to knock anything down. He found Sirius near the end of the corridor, staring out of the window at the thunder torn sky. He looked up.

"Hey, Prongs," He said.

"Hey," James leaned against the wall.

"I didn't mean to go and mess up the game," Sirius said.

"I know,"

"I just… got angry."

"I know that too,"

"He's no relation to me," Sirius said bitterly, kicking the stone walls. "I hate him. I hate all of them."

"I know," James said. "Just calm down."

Sirius took in a deep breath. "Sorry," He said.

"It's alright," James replied. "You were protecting her, you were protecting all of us."

"Is it the full moon tonight?" Sirius asked, trying to break the subject.

"Yes,"

"I suspect Moony's having a tough time."

"I guess."

"And Peter…"

"God knows," James shrugged. "I suspect he's up in the dormitory kissing our underwear before he goes to bed."

Sirius gave a shudder.

"Come on." James said. "Let's go."

…

"Just give me five minutes," Sirius said.

"No," Remus said. "We have to catch the train."

"Okay, three more minutes."

"No,"

"Two more minutes?"

"Sirius, I can hear the train whistle sounding, you don't have enough time."

"Then make time!"

"No!"

"Come on you big lout," James said, pulling Sirius towards the train.

Sirius pouted, pulling the bag further up his shoulder. "Do you think it's gonna get worse?"

Peter looked around. "Sorry?" He asked.

"You know… Everything." Sirius shrugged.

"Nah!" James said. "Malfoy's leaving. Surely a good thing,"

"Shut up Prongs, I mean about the war and stuff."

"There's not going to be a war," James said, finding a compartment.

"Not from what I've heard," Sirius said.

"I wouldn't know about that," James said sitting down, Remus pushing his bag onto the rack and pausing, looking outside the window. He caught Sarah's gaze. She stared at him for a minute before turning away. Remus sat down feeling stupid.

"Are you and Mary going to officially announce yourselves?" Peter asked.

"Maybe not until we go out on an official date," Sirius shrugged, opening a pack of exploding snap. He looked up and saw James grinning. "What?"

"Look at us," He said. "A few years ago we were talking about our favourite sweets, now we're talking about girls."

"James, you've never stopped talking about sweets," Sirius said.

"True," James shrugged.

"Anything planned for the summer?" Remus asked, turning away from the window.

"Not really," James said. "But you guys are welcome to mine anytime you want."

"I'll be there almost every day then," Sirius said. "Six weeks with Regulus and mother and father. I think I might explode."

"Pleasant." Remus said. "Peter?"

Peter thought for a moment. "No… I don't think. I think my brothers will be coming back from Japan."

"Japan?" James said. "Fancy,"

"They were learning some new magic," Peter said. "I don't know what it's about,"

"Obviously," James said. "What about you Moony?"

Remus shook his head. "Nothing special," His gaze once more lingered on Sarah. A puff of steam and the whistle to the train blew. She was then gone. He looked back at his friends.

"It's passing way too quickly for my liking," Sirius said. "Soon we'll have to go out into the big bad world."

"Scared you won't be ready for it?" James asked.

"No," Sirius said. "I'm worried that they won't be ready for us!" He let out a laugh, James just rolled his eyes. "What?" He asked. "We're awesome!"

"I think they might class us more as marauders, bandits – you know, generally just bad news," James said.

"Which, as far as I am concerned, is all I care about." Sirius grinned.

A/N YAY! Another year done and dusted.

Stay tuned for more chappies. I wasn't too happy about this chapter. But I think it reveals much about Sirius' character. See ya!