The Scowling Owl

Sirius was a Black.

It was not a fact her generally flaunted. It wasn't something to be proud of, in his opinion. Whenever he could, he would flat out deny any similarity he had to the family he was never good enough for. But as the end of October drew near, he was almost thankful for it. For once in his life, it had been a good thing. Well, sort of.

Not the actual relation, of course. But the traits it gave him. Not the physical ones, either. He rather felt he deserved those - if he was going to be emotionally stunted, mentally unstable and die young, the least he wanted in return were soft hair, smooth skin and handsome regal features.

No, for the moment at least, he was thankful for all the annoyingly debilitating emotional deficiencies. The impatience that led him to confront Remus in the hospital wing, the easy frustration that sparked off the conversation and then his inability to censor himself once he started. Never mind that it was the same family traits that caused the problem in the first place, the mistake of choosing self-preservation over honesty.

Not that it mattered anymore. He had finally talked to Remus and, more importantly, the werewolf hadn't reacted badly at all. Sirius had thought that maybe Remus had been avoiding him because he was disgusted with him for the kiss on the train. After all, what kind of bloke kisses his mate and then runs off without a word. Sirius had panicked, but it never crossed his mind that Remus might have too.

But all was well again, now. Better, in fact, than it had been before. Mainly because now, in the place of the mutual avoidance and strained awkwardness between them, there was lots of rather gratifying snogging instead. It was a very bizarre, but very nice change.

So, Sirius found himself in a very good mood as the end of October came to an end. His Birthday passed with a very successful prank involving transfiguring each of the Slytherins into something resembling a Gorgon and lots of strawberries. The other three quarters of the student body found it hilarious and, better still, Dumbledore was so impressed with the transfiguration skill involved, he stopped McGonagall from punishing them too severely.

October faded into November, heralded only by the increased frequency of torrential rain and howling winds. Sirius hadn't felt so relaxed in ages, and even found himself able to enjoy the simplicity of pretending to study in the library while Remus helped Peter finish his Herbology homework and James peered creepily through the bookshelves at Evans.

' You have never looked more like a stalker than right now, Prongs,' Sirius felt the need to say. ' Including the time you went through her underwear.'

' What about all the actual stalking he did last year?'

' Good point, Pete, but I couldn't see him then.'

' Well, no. He was under the cloak, but we all knew he was there.'

' That's all well and good, but can we concentrate, please?' Remus asked an apologetic Peter, exasperatedly pushing his fringe out of his eyes. ' Now, Pete, the difference between Poisonous and Venomous plants, if you would.'

' Err… Right. I know this. Poisonous are deadly when…' he paused and scrunched up his face in thought. Remus only smiled encouragingly. ' When you bite them?'

' Yes, good, and Venomous?'

' Are deadly when they bite you,' Peter finished with a strange sort of half-conviction half-concern.

' Well done, Wormtail,' Sirius said, as patronisingly as possible. ' Glad you've got your head round that particular conundrum.'

' Not everyone is a good as you are at everything without trying, Pads,' Remus said, placatingly. ' Could you at least pretend to be reading something?'

He shoved a heavy, leather-bound book across the table before turning back to Peter. Sirius pulled the book closer and read the title.

' Guide to Advanced Transfiguration. I hardly think I need any help with that particular subject, Moony,' he said, haughtily before scoffing at the author. ' Gilli Gellio. What sort of a stupid name is that?'

' Not really one to comment on stupid names, are you Pads?' Peter said with a definite smile in his voice, though he didn't look up from his book.

' What're you on about?'

' Well, I'm no 'O' in Astronomy, but isn't Sirius the alpha star of the Canis Major?'

' He's right,' Remus chirped in, clearly enjoying himself. ' You great stupid mutt.'

' Oh, and you can talk, Lupin?' Sirius replied accusingly. ' Got a secret twin we don't know about, or did he stay in Italy?'

' Fair point,' Remus conceded, looking faintly impressed. ' How do you know about Muggle Mythology?'

' My old Matron was mad on the Romans. That's probably why she was sacked. Shame, I always liked her. She never babied Regs. That might be why she was sacked, too.'

' I have a boring name,' James put in, having finally admitted Lily wasn't going to need any books from the Illegal Sports and Events Section of the Library.

' What would you like to be called then, doe-eyes?'

' Not Doe-eyes thanks, Sirius. I don't know. A good, old-fashioned wizarding name. James is just a stupid Muggle name my mum thought was cute.'

' What are proper wizarding names then?' Peter asked. ' Your mum and dad are called Arianne and Marcellus, not really over-the-top like his lot.'

He nodded towards Sirius, who looked affronted but managed to stay silent when Remus patted his leg under the table and said, quietly. ' I like your name.'

James heard the comment, though, and added, ' Yes, it's very pretty.'

' Fuck off, James.'

' Well it is a bit girly, isn't it? Being named after stars - the pretty little glittery things in the sky. And won't you run out, eventually? I mean, you're Sirius the third, aren't you? Surely you can't just keep repeating yourselves.'

' I didn't pick my name, you know. It's nothing to do with me. Blame them.'

' I like it,' Remus repeated. ' Very appropriate. I've got to wonder, though, how far they'll go with it. They've already got the Dog, Lion and Hydra. When they run out of fierce creatures, are they going to use the nicer ones?'

' Cygnus is the Swan, isn't it?' Sirius said, trying to remember obscure relatives and recall their names. ' But you're right. They'll probably skip over Delphinus and Dorado and go for Draco, instead.'

' I understand that,' Peter said, picking up where he left off. ' And, aren't all the Malfoy's named after Emperors? But that's still a family tradition more than a Wizarding one. And Remus, well, clearly your dad has the Sight.'

' He kind of has a point, Prongs.'

' Somewhere in that nonsense, maybe,' Remus said, frowning a little. Sirius had to stop himself from reaching out to smooth the crease between his eyebrows. ' But I have to agree, I don't know what you mean by traditional Wizarding Names either.'

James sighed dramatically, looking extremely dejected that the conversation had lasted this long. ' Okay. Like… Wilberforce. Nice old-fashioned name. And Bathsheba, fairly standard one. Or something more interesting… Like, Elvendork.'

Remus coughed, licked his lips and then swallowed before repeating, miraculously with a straight face, ' Elvendork?'

' Hmm,' Peter said thoughtfully. ' Isn't that a girl's name?'

' Oh yes,' Sirius chimed in. ' I have a great Auntie Elvendork.'

' Really?'

' No.'

' It isn't a girls name!' James cried, genuinely indignant. ' It's unisex!'

' Of course,' Remus said in his best innocent voice. ' Is Wilberforce unisex, too?'

James, sensing they were mocking him, pouted. ' Fuck you then. The lot of you. Horrible friends that you are.'

' Aw, don't fret Prongs,' Sirius said, patting his fellow pureblood on the shoulder supportively. ' You can always see about persuading Evans to let you name the firstborn.'

The messy haired boy brightened in an instant, grinning while they tidied away their books. They stood and shuffled past a very relieved looking Madam Pince towards the door. For some strange reason, she never did relax when James or Sirius were in there, amongst the sanctity of her books. Sirius grinned and waved at her, and Remus shook his head in affectionate exasperation.

Sirius would have gladly said he had never been happier, even if Remus did drag him to the Library more often. He should've know, then, that something unpleasant was lurking just around the corner. Literally, in this case, as they turned out of the Library and found themselves face to face with a huge owl.

It was midnight black, feathers - which ruffled impatiently - flecked with silver. It's eyes were a piercing orange and, combined with the general air of standoffishness, it could have been scowling.

' Wonder where that's from,' Remus said, dryly.

' Gah!' was Peter's contribution, as he walked into the back of James, who looked wholly unimpressed.

' Have I ever mentioned that your family can be entirely too dramatic, Pads?'

' Besides just now?' Sirius asked, distractedly.

He stepped forwards and reached cautiously towards the disdainful animal, which nipped grumpily at his fingers anyway, then raised it's beak pompously before reluctantly sticking out it's leg.

' Even your bloody owls have a superiority complex,' muttered Peter, who was ignored.

' Padfoot?' Remus said, looking concerned with the sudden silence. Normally, Sirius would read out his mother's drivel and punctuate it with curses and suggestions of what she could do with her 'Proper Pureblood behaviour'. ' Sirius?'

' Their bloody owls,' Sirius clarified, jaw set, having finished with the letter.

' Err, what's that mate?' James asked tentatively, the same concern mirrored in his face. ' You aren't making sense.'

Rather than repeat himself - something Sirius hated doing under any circumstance - he thrust the letter at nobody in particular, letting it float serenely in their general direction. James and Remus both made a grab for it, but Quidditch reflexes won out and the boy couldn't contain a triumphant squeak, even as he straightened his glasses.

' Just read it,' Remus huffed, failing to completely hid his irritation.

' I'm getting to it,' James replied, dramatically smoothing out the parchment and putting on his best superior voice. ' Dear Mr. Black. As your parent's representative in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Family Affairs Division, it is my duty to inform you of your official and immediate…' James' face fell, as did his haughty posture. His mouth flapped uselessly for a moment before he managed to choke out, ' Disownment? Shit, mate, I'm sorry.'

Sirius felt himself prickle. He didn't want their pity, and James of all people should know that! Sirius distantly knew he probably didn't mean it, James couldn't think what to say and 'sorry' was an automatic reaction, but it annoyed him all the same. He opened his mouth to tell James very specifically where he could shove his pity, but a hand on his shoulder halted him.

' Don't be,' Remus said firmly.

' Right,' James said, snapping out of his stunned silence and switching straight into Gallant Hero mode. ' I didn't think. This is good! You're rid of them now! Properly rid of them!'

' There's more,' Peter mumbled, picking up the letter. ' As you are now of Age, you are hereby ostracised from any and all financial support from your parents, both monetary and asset. If you have any further enquiries, please contact me via owl at the Ministry. Clytemnestra Crabbe.'

Peter lowered the parchment, looking a little alarmed, but Remus stopped him before he could say anything. ' Well that's nothing new, is it?'

' Err,' Sirius said, taken off-guard by the direct question. ' No. Course not. She probably blasted me off the family tree back in July.'

' Exactly,' Remus said, so calmly Sirius wanted to kiss him, beggar the others. ' This is just a formality, really. Nothing is any different, okay.'

It wasn't a question, and it didn't need to be. He was right, and now that he had said it they all understood that it was perfectly okay. They all stood quietly for a moment, and then Sirius smiled and the stillness broke.

' Give me that, Pete,' James said, snatching the letter back without waiting for an answer and holding the end of his wand to it. ' Incendio. Right. All taken care of, no worries. Let's go eat, I'm starving.'

' Clearly,' Sirius said sarcastically, grinning and slapping the boy's backside. ' Now, get your fat arse out of my way, Potter!'

And they raced to the Great Hall.

Wow! Sorry I haven't updated in ages, been busy with Christmas and all. Pesky holiday that it is. But, it is a longer chapter, please accept it as my humble apology and do not eat me!

Firstly, Thank you so very, very much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I very much needed to hear you were all happy with the story, thank you!

booksmartblonde333 - Your first sentence was hilarious, I totally deserved that and it made me look like a right loon when I laughed out loud in the middle of the college library! Thank you!

DemyxTheMenace - 'Sorry...reviewing chapter, not fangirling' Aren't they the same thing, in essence? Anyway, I don't mind! Fangirl all you like!

And another BIG! Thank You to everyone else, too!

Anyway, moving on… I said I wanted to get back to the Marauders as a whole, and I did a bit more in this chapter. I sort of based this on my relationship. When we first got together, at 15, we weren't really any different because we had been such close friends before, just more kissing involved in private. I figured that'd be the same with the pups, what with the awkwardness and all, they'd probably be taking it pretty slow!

I didn't want to go overboard with the disownment thing, either. I guess all the dramatics happened a few chapters back, and I don't think much else could be said or done. That isn't to say Sirius wouldn't be a little bothered by it, just not enough not to be able to hide.

I had to have the names discussion, I'm sorry. As much as I love JK, her names were a bit groan worthy at times. Anybody not up with Roman Mythology, Remus and Romulus were twins raised by wolves and the founders of Rome. Oh, and in case anybody was wondering about the Constellation names - Sirius is the dog, obviously. Regulus is the Lion. and Alphard is the Hydra. Delphinus is the Dolphin and Dorado is the Goldfish. Draco, of course, Dragon, poor boy. Not that the other options are much better. I also had to include Elvendork. Absolutely brilliant. When I read the prequel - look it up, if you don't know - I got the impression it was a bit of a running joke, so here it is. I couldn't help myself. Sorry.

That is all, I think! Thank you ever so much for reading, reviews make me look crazy in front of my fellow students! Danke Schoen!