The day after Christmas was going to be hectic. I knew that the moment Lily, her parents, Petunia, and Snape walked out of my fireplace.

"Merry Christmas, James," Lily greeted happily. "Merry Christmas, Sirius, Regulus."

"Lily! Guess what!?" Sirius beamed, bouncing on his heels. "I get to live with James now!"

"That's great, Sirius!" Lily smiled warmly. "Congratulations."

"Hullo, Severus," I said. Snape nodded at me, a rare smile on his lips. "Petunia."

"Potter," Petunia sniffed. "Mum, must we stay here. There's so much… freakishness."

"Petunia," Mrs. Evans rebuked. "That's rude. This is Lily's boyfriend, wouldn't you like to get to know him?"

"Lily is too young to have a boyfriend," Petunia said pompously. Lily rolled her eyes, and walked over to me, kissing me on the cheek. Petunia scowled.

"Ah, young love," Mum sighed happily, and she and Mrs. Evans immediately began chatting.

"So, how was everyone's Christmas?" I asked. "Like my presents?"

"Oh, James! I absolutely loved the necklace you got me- it must have cost a fortune!" Lily beamed, pulling the necklace out of her shirt. I she'd thought she'd like it; it had a beautiful green flower charm on it. "Thank you so much!"

"No problem," I said, leaning over and giving her a kiss on the lips. "Severus?"

"I admit, I was surprised," Snape said. "That you got me a Potions kit. It is a rather good present, I must thank you."

That was as close to a heartfelt apology as I'd ever get from Snape, so I smiled.

"You got Sniv- er, Snape a present?" Sirius gaped. I hit him half-heartedly on the shoulder. "Ow! Okay, okay,merry Christmas Snape."

"And to you, Black," Snape drawled. "Hello, Regulus."

"Hi, Sev," Regulus grinned. "I got a painting set!"

"You paint?"

"No one knew until a yesterday," Regulus flushed. "But Santa knew! Santa got me a present!"

Petunia scoffed.

"Silly little freak, Santa Clause is a children's story," she frowned. "Hardly true."

"Liar!" Regulus declared. "Nobody knew I wanted a paint set, and Santa still got me one, so ha!"

Petunia rolled her eyes, and sat down in an armchair, pulling out a Muggle novel and sticking her nose in it.

"Ignore her," Lily sighed. "Petunia is just…"

"Jealous?" Snape suggested. "Stuck-up?"

"Sev," Lily admonished. "Be nice."

"That is nice," Snape said. "I could have said something much worse."

"That's right," I piped in. "He could have. He's said worse to us before."

"He's hexed us before," said Sirius sorely. "He's a slimy-"

"Sirius!" I said sharply. "Would you please get over your bloody prejudices?

"Language, James!" Mum called from across the room. How did she even hear me? "It's called mother's intuition."

"Bloody heck," I muttered, and Mum sent me a sharp look. "Sorry, Mum!"

Suddenly, the Floo lit up, and Remus and his parents stepped out.

"Moony!" Sirius greeted enthusiastically. "Guess what!? Guess, go on, guess!"

"Er… you… ate a lot of candy?" Remus suggested.

"No- well, yes, but that's not what I want you to guess!" Sirius grinned widely. "I get to live with James! I don't have to go back! I can stay here!"

"That's wonderful, Padfoot!" Remus beamed. "No more of your parents! Good riddance, I say- no offense, Regulus- those people were absolutely horrible, honestly, the Cruciatus Curse!"

Sirius's smile faded.

"How- how did you know?" he asked. Remus balked, and looked at me guiltily. "Oh. How did you know?"

"Doesn't matter," I said stiffly. "What matter is that you're away from them."

"Yeah," Sirius said slowly. "I guess…"

"Sirius, you shouldn't be upset James and Remus know, they haven't treated you any different!" Lily scolded. "Apologize!"

"He doesn't need to," I smiled at Sirius reassuringly.

"James has been treating me differently," Sirius declared. I flinched. I had been treating him differently, but not for the reason he thought. "He's been giving me weird looks all year. And every time he blanks out, it's around me."

Remus and I exchanged looks, and Lily sighed.

"That's different, Sirius," she frowned, her eyes silently pleading for me to explain. "And it's up to James to tell you, and only if he wants."

"I want to!" I said desperately. "But- well, I don't know how you'd react."

"Well, then, Potter has a secret?" Snape sneered, but he seemed interested. "It seems Pettigrew is the only Marauder without one."

Remus blanched. Sirius sent Snape a glare.

"It seems so," I agreed. "Lucky Pete."

"Well," Sirius frowned. "It seems my secret is pretty much out in the open."

Snape scoffed. "Black, most of Slytherin knows how your parents treat you."

"Oh," Sirius sighed, slumping into the couch. "Well… must've been Bellatrix, bloody snake. That means the bloody Death Eaters know too. Joy oh joy."

"Sirius! Language!" Mum called again from across the room. I gave Sirius a satisfied smirk as he gawked at her.

"Mother's intuition," I reported. "Is going to be our downfall."

"I heard that James!"

The Floo then lit up again (saving me from Mum's wrath) and Peter stepped out.

"My parents couldn't come," he said. "Thank goodness, they'd've brought my sister! She's a nightmare!"

"Urgh, my parents brought Petunia," Lily replied, sending Petunia a distasteful look. "I'd bet she'll be in a sour mood all day."

"I wouldn't doubt it," I agreed. Sirius snickered slightly, and I gave him a look. Something was up. "Er, Pads, can we talk? In my room?"

"Er… sure thing, Prongs!" Sirius replied enthusiastically. It seemed forced. He followed me up to my room, and we sat down on the bed.

"Okay," I said. "What's up?"

"Nothing," Sirius lied defiantly, and I groaned and rubbed my forehead. "What?"

"Sirius, you can't lie unless your life depends on it," I sighed, blinking rapidly as my mind filled with memories again. I blocked them as best I could, instead focusing on my friend, who was not in any danger- as far as I knew.

"Oh," Sirius deflated, shoulders slumping, eyes dulling slightly. I winced. "I… er… why are you so… distant? I mean, I know you told me that you didn't hate me but-"

"Not this again!" I groaned. "Sirius, I don't hate you! I will never hate you. Is that what this is about?"

"Not completely," Sirius admitted. "I, er, was wondering… do your parents…?"

"Oh," I frowned. "Sirius, my parents are nothing like yours. I can promise you Mum and Dad will never hit you, and they certainly won't use the Cruciatus," I paused. "It was bad, wasn't it?"

"It hurts, James," Sirius sighed. "That my own parents hate me so much that they're willing to torture me. That they would willingly disown me," I gave him a look. "No, I know they have already. They told me every day I was worthless. I didn't deserve happiness. Or friends. And I certainly didn't deserve their love. The tortured me because they said I deserved it, and, for the longest time, I believed them."

"Oh, Siri," I murmured, wrapping my arms around him. "Nobody deserves that, especially not you," my voice was shaking, and I could hardly hold back the tears. "You aren't worthless. You're my brother. You're worth more than any of them added together. If they think that, well, then they don't deserve your love. I couldn't be happier I met you, Sirius. You deserve so much more than that."

Sirius leaned into my hug and, for the first time, I realized he was crying.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice muffled through my shirt. "I shouldn't be telling you all this, it's Christmas, you don't need to hear all my childish troubles."

"They aren't childish, Siri," I soothed, rubbing his back. "They're perfectly understandable. Tell you what- do you want to go steal some cookie dough from the kitchen?"

Sirius shook his head, and I realized just how much this had affected him.

"I hate them, Prongs, I hate them so much," Sirius whispered, and I almost didn't hear him. "But they're my parents. Why would they treat me like that? What did I ever do to them?"

"Oh, Padfoot," I murmured. "Oh, my poor, poor friend. It isn't your fault, Pads, it's theirs."

"How do you know?" Sirius sniffled, pulling away. He looked embarrassed. "I've ruined your shirt."

"Nah," I chuckled. "I'll just change, it'll come out."

"I'm sorry," Sirius muttered. "I've ruined your Christmas too."

"Sirius, honestly, quit apologizing!" I put a hand on his shoulder, smiling comfortingly. "It's not your fault. And you haven't ruined my Christmas. And don't be embarrassed, everyone deserves to sob like a baby at one point or another."

"Yes, thanks, that helps my wounded ego so much," Sirius replied sarcastically, and I was pleased to see a small smile on his lips. "You're a great friend, James."

"Why thank you," I said arrogantly, and Sirius grinned full out and punched me lightly on the shoulder. "Shall we go join the rest of our friends before they get curious and start looking for us?"

"I'm hardly friends with Snape," Sirius scoffed. "Gosh, I must look a mess."

"You do," I confirmed. "Ask my mum to fix you up, she works miracles, I swear."

Sirius calmed down loads after we got downstairs and I got Blinky to sneak him some cookie dough. I got some cookie dough, too, so we were both hyper and happy. Remus had had chocolate, too, so poor Lily, Peter, Regulus, and Severus had to deal with three hyperactive Marauders.

"James, what did you talk to Sirius about?" Lily asked. "Did you tell him?"

"Nah," I said. "Just some family stuff; confidential, y'know."

"Of course," Lily smiled. "Well, then, if that's all settled, what do you say to a snowball fight?"

"SNOWBALL FIGHT!" Sirius yelled, rushing over with a spoonful of cookie dough. "Yes! That's a brilliant idea. MOONY! Let's go outside! Haha! I'm gonna win, you'll see!"

"Right," I grinned. "Well, then, I'm sure you wouldn't protest to all of us versus you?"

"What!? No!" Sirius yelped, grabbing my arm. "I call Prongs!"

"Oi! I'm not an item, you know!" I said indignantly. "Fine then, Lils, you're on our team."

"I'll team with Sev and Peter then," Regulus declared. "And Remus can be commentator- like in Quidditch!"

"Yes," Remus grinned evilly. "Just like in Quidditch."

"Mum!" I called. "We're going outside!"

"Oh no you don't!" Mum cried, stalking over and whipping out her wand. "Not in those outfits!"

I rolled my eyes as Mum said a few spells, and we were all fully decked out in winter cloaks. "Great, thanks, Mum. Can we go now? We want to have a snowball fight."

Mum's eyes were twinkling, and she beamed. "Of course, dear. You can use the Quidditch pitch."

"You lot have a Quidditch pitch!?" Sirius grinned widely. "Yes! I am so glad I live here now!"

"We are not playing Quidditch in this weather, Sirius Black!" Lily warned. Sirius smiled, but left the room and returned with his new broom nonetheless. "Ugh, you never listen, do you?"

"Nope," Sirius replied cheekily. Mum chuckled, and returned to talking with Remus's and Lily's mums. "Alright, James, get you broom! We can play in the air!"

"But I left my broom at home," Regulus whined.

"No worries, we have extras," I declared. "Like five. Should be enough- let's see, Lily, Reg, Severus, Remus and Peter- yeah, just enough!"

"I'll go get them," Lily volunteered. I smiled and nodded; she was the only one besides me who knew her way perfectly around the Manor, having lived here for a year until it was burned to the ground.

"Er… does she know where she's going?" Sirius asked, looking flabbergasted. I just nodded once more, as Lily returned with the broomsticks.

"Obviously, Black," Snape drawled. "Well, I suppose if we must fly, then I'll do it."

"Sev, just grab a broom," Lily laughed, and Snape gratefully took a broomstick. Lily then passed them out to everyone else. She then beamed and handed me my Cleansweep. "Well, James, shall we go?"

"Yes, we shall," I replied, grabbing her hand. I led the way out to the Quidditch pitch, along with Lily, who knew the way. There was a lot of snow on the ground, but the pitch itself only had about an inch of snow- niot much cushion should one of us fall, but I doubted anyone would fall.

"Nice," Sirius grinned. "I'm gonna love it here, Prongs."

"Everyone, mount your brooms!" Remus called, his voice magically amplified. We beamed, got into our teams, and mounted our brooms. "Alright! So, it's team Gryffindor versus team Slytherin!"

"Hey!" Peter cried. "I'm a Gryffindor!"

"Sorry, Pete, but you're outnumbered," Remus replied. "Gryffindor team: Potter, Black, and Evans! Slytherin: Snape, Black, and Pettigrew! Ready- set- get throwing!"

Sirius, Lily, and I immediately zoomed away to grab snowballs, as did the 'Slytherins'. Sirius grinned, displaying an armful of them. I nodded approvingly, and motioned towards our opponents. Sirius got the drift, and started pelting snowballs at them. He was quickly countered by his brother. Moments later, I joined them with my own armful, pelting Peter, who raised his arms defensively, dropping his snowballs.

"Potter and Black are making numerous hits- oh, and here comes Evans! Pettigrew seems to have lost his weapons, and is defenseless! Nope- he's going off field for more snow! Oh, but Snape is pelting Evans!"

I chuckled. Remus's commentary always was wonderful.

"Look out Potter! Pettigrew's back in business!"

I laughed as I was pelted with snowballs from Peter, who brightened at actually having hit his target. Regulus and Sirius looked like they were having a ton of fun- throwing snowballs relentlessly at each other, laughing and taunting.

Suddenly, one of Regulus's snowballs hit Sirius broom, and I knew what was going to happen a split second before it did. Sirius's broom spun out of his, and Sirius lost his grip.

"What the- someone! Sirius is falling!"

I raced forward as fast as I could, as did Regulus, Lily, Peter, and even Snape. I knew we weren't going to be fast enough. Sirius hit the ground with a resounding crack.

"SIRIUS!"

A/N: Yeah. Okay. Throw as many rotten fruits as you'd like. I know, that was horrible about me. I feel horrible doing that to Siri. But, you know, sometimes my mind is cruel. It fit. This chapter really sucked for Sirius… O.o Well, thank you to N.E. Person, Lovewriting12, potterhead934, Theta-McBride, and weasleychick32 for reviewing- over fifty review people! Thank you all so much! To commemorate this occasion, all my reviewers get a virtual Firebolt (or, if you don't play Quidditch, a virtual Sirius and James plushie)! Hope you all enjoyed (and don't kill me for hurting Sirius)!

I don't own Harry Potter.