Chapter 6: Quidditch pitch and Hogwarts Express.
The summer had been particularly hot and dazzling, and even at the dawn of September, the wind was still hot and the days were Marauders were outside, on the Quidditch pitch James had seem himself offered as a present for his sixteenth birthday. James and Remus against Sirius and Peter. Since Remus was as bad as Peter was, so the teams were fairly balanced, even though James had a big advantage on them.
-Oi, Come on James, leave us at least one tiny chance! Grunted Peter as he could not stop him from scoring for the third time in a row. -We're not all captain and first Chaser of the Gryffindor Quidditch team!
-He's in a bad mood because his beautiful Lily wrote to me and not to him! Sirius scoffed at the Quaffle that James just threw at him. -Hey! It's not my fault don't target me! He continued to laugh, beginning to twirl around him on his broom.
-Why did she write to you in the first place? James grunted, obviously in a very bad mood. -Sirius, I hope you're okay. He said, in a girl's voice. -You're sure Pad' that you did not... That you didn't... You know with her!? He said, looking at his friend very seriously, trying to read into his mind.
Sirius burst into a barking dog-like laughter before winking at him. -Who knows! He mocked James, still laughing out loud, zigzagging in the sky, knocking Peter off his broom before shaking his head. -Stop it would you, as if I could have done such a thing to you!
James glared at him and sent back the Quaffle to his head, groaning in response, before going down gracefully to the ground, getting off his broomstick, brusquely slipping his hand through his hair before going to help Peter get up. -Please, do not tell Potter that I wrote you, I don't want him to get involved in this. He continued. -Who does she think she is!
-Lily Evans, Peter replied, wiping the dust off his robes. -The most annoying girl...
-Be careful what you say about James's crush Pet'. Remus interrupted him, stumbling off his broomstick, glad to have his feet back to the ground. -She surely didn't want to be mean, but she knows how James can be sometimes, we all know.
-No, she knows nothing about it Moon', nothing at all, because she doesn't want to know it! He shouted at him, his cheeks turning red in anger.
-Calm down Prongs. Sirius told him, jumping from his broom to grab James by the arm preventing him to move further towards Remus. -Calm down. He said, looking straight into his eyes and James finally sighed before nodding, passing a hand through his hair.
James was not the kind of person who gets easily angry, he often got frustrated, but he never fell into a fit of rage. With James, even if it doesn't seem that way, everything was simple. You could remain yourself, without being afraid of being judged because he was the first one to accept you as you really were.
He was the first person not to have mentioned his family when they met on the train in first year. It was he, who had came up with the idea of becoming Animagis, so they could stay with Remus during full moons. It was he, who had defended Peter against a Slytherin gang who had stuck him in a corner and wanted to hurt him in second year.
You could tell James everything, you could laugh with him, cry in his arms, make jokes, do pranks, ask him to cover you up for a stupidity you had made, ask him to distract a professor for you, or talk to him about your crush.
Everything was simple, if you respected his limits. If you betray him once, it was over, he would never speak to you again. For James, there was no greater dishonor than betraying his friends and the second one was being on the Dark Arts side. He hated everything that was related to the Dark Arts and all those who were interested in it.
-I think she likes you, whatever she might say. Remus told him, breaking the silence that had settled between them. -If she didn't, she would not have even bothered to mention your name in the letter.
-What do you mean? Asked Peter who obviously did not understand what Remus was talking about.
-He means that women are too complicated. Sirius shook his head. -Yes means no, but sometimes, yes means indeed yes, when no means yes, but when she says no more than twice, well that's a real no. He laughed as he put a hand on his hip, taking a feminine pose lifting his forefinger into the air. -Sirius no! He said in a high pitch voice. -Please stop covering me in kisses as you do oh yes, yes that's good. He burst out laughing. -She told me to stop, but she still held me by the neck. He said as he runs his hands on his neck. -I think I have her nails print on the back of my head.
-Because you take people for your personal toys, you moron. Remus said dryly, his cheeks turning red, crossing his arms to turn away from him. -What I mean is that if she had no feelings for you, whatsoever, she would not have mentioned your name, she knew very well that you were going to see this letter, as if the dummy over here would have been able to shut his mouth for once and keep it for himself.
-Dummy! You're talking about me! Sirius yelled at him, but Remus pushed him away abruptly. The full moon was in two weeks and Remus's bad mood was already starting to show up.
James shrugged his shoulders, ruffling his hair once more, crossing Sirius' gaze, who bent his head aside to observe him. -You're not gonna do what I think you're thinking of doing, are you? He asked him. Remus frowned as he looked at them, James waved his hand with annoyment.
-Why not? James finally answers. -Anyway, what did she said to me last year? Ah yes; I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid! He said, imitating Lily's voice before rolling his eyes.
-I too, would better take the squid! Remus said, staring at him as James glared at him. -Severus is her friend, he has always been her closest friend, they live only a few blocks apart from each other. You want the girl and the only thing you can do is bully her best friend? I know, I know! Do not look at me this way! But the fact is, because it's Snape does not excuse your actions, you know. What would you do if a girl bothered Sirius just to get your attention!?
James and Sirius looked at each other and Peter laughed. - Yeah well, wrong example. Remus sighs rolling his eyes getting more and more annoyed by all of this. -Never mind, but you know what I mean, being an arrogant bullying toerag isn't quit the right way to make a girl go out with you mate.
-Are you talking about that charming girl who picked up Sirius? Asked Mr. Potter. The four boys jumped to turn and see James's father who had entered the small Quidditch without them seeing him enter. He smiled at them, looking exhausted. The boys knew he had spent a sleepless night at the office, probably to settle the Sirius scandal.
Mr. Potter had managed to silence the Daily Prophet, and the newspaper had stopped publishing, in front page, head lines addressed to the entire magical community to find the Black heir. He had to use a lot of patience and all his influence to be able to keep Sirius under his protection and by doing so, avoiding to send him back to 12, Grimmauld Place.
-I just came to inform you of how it will work once we will be at King's Cross tomorrow. He said, looking at the four of them.
-What's going to happen tomorrow? Peter asked. -What do you mean, Mr. Potter?
Fleamont sighed, taking off his glasses, and wiping them slowly with a handkerchief. -I'll accompany you to King's Cross with some of my best Aurors. The boys looked at each other, frowning. - Even if we managed to silence the newspapers about what really happened with Sirius this summer, and much had happened since then, Orion and Walburga are still furious. At best, they will go their way and pretend that nothing had happened. At worst, they will try to recover by force, what they strongly believe to be their good. Their last chance to get their heir back, is tomorrow, so I prefer to be prepared. With the Blacks, it's better to have a least one move ahead of them.
-But I don't understand. Said Sirius. -For years, this harpy has repeatedly told me that Regulus was a much better son than I, and that he should have been the eldest and all the other craps that she could find to make me understand that I was not worthy of the Blacks legacy, so why did they want me back there. That doesn't make any sense.
-The pride, disgrace, shame of not being able to control their only sixteen years old boy. Fleamont replied. -The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, the oldest wizarding family still existing, one of the most influential of the world in the Darks Arts, ready to sacrifice everything to keep their royal statue and their blood pure, unable to bend at their will, a boy who is not even seventeen yet? It is a quit scandal for them. Mocked Mr. Potter, putting his glasses before his eyes.
-So, simply to keep their images intact, they will do anything to get him back? Said Remus slowly.
-They can always try to take me back, those psychotics ass parents. Sirius exclaimed, an evil grin on his lips, letting out a loud, hysterical laugh. - I've already get the fuck out of there once, it's not a station full of muggles that will keep me from doing it again! No way that I'm going back to this crazy place and... He stopped talking when he saw the looks on Mr. Potter' face and apologized quickly.
-It will not happen. Fleamont replied once Sirius had fell silent. -However, it is necessary to remain cautious, Orion has a lot influence on the minister for magic, they are close friends and it is still fortunate for us that he has not bent at his will and has not asked that you go back home right away. We were lucky that it was not more complicated to get you back and keep you here, so let's not take any chances.
-They tortured him! James shouted, suddenly furious. -They use the unforgivable curses on him! The Cruciatus curse dad! And the Imperius one, as if he were only a puppet! And that's without adding anything else to the rest! You didn't see all the marks he's got on... Sirius punch his stomach to silence him. He had not spoken to anyone about this and he hadn't shown any of the marks and scars that had remained, after all the curses his mother had thrown at him.
-I'm aware of that, James. Fleamont sight once more. -But you cannot prove it. I can not raise an assembly in the ministry and accuse Mr. and Mrs. Black of abusing one of their children, because their boy who fled, says he was been tortured. I'm sorry Sirius; you know I believe you, but your word will not worth much beside your parents'. Sirius simply nodded. -So, listen to me, all four of you. He said, looking at them. -Tomorrow we will arrive as late as possible, to be exposed to them as less as we can. No jokes, no pranks, we get to the station, you board the train, in a compartment where I can see you and you do not leave your seats until the train is out of King's Cross, did I make myself clear?
-Yes, Mr. Potter. They replied in one voice. Fleamont continued to observe them for a moment and finally greeted them, turning around to leave them alone, returning to the house. James and Sirius looked at each other without saying anything, Remus pulled out a piece of chocolate from his pockets still frowning and Peter nervously twirled his wand between his fingers.
Sirius buried his hands in his pockets and threw a joke that made everyone burst out laughing before letting out a loud laugh himself, that resonated in the Quidditch pitch, trying to dispel the heaviness of the atmosphere that was upon them. They had never been so tense, and the situation had rarely been so serious, he hated that, and mostly because all this commotion was because of him.
The next morning, once at King's Cross, they tried to ignore all the attention they were attracting upon them, all the looks and glares. They had apprehended this reaction from the others, and even if they usually liked to have all the attention focused on them, this time was very different. Mr. Potter had made three of his Aurors past the barrier first, before James and Remus went troughs it, Peter followed them with Euphemia, and then he went with Sirius, keeping a hand on his shoulder.
They urged them to get their trunks on the train, all the heads went out the windows to look at them, those on the dock fixing Sirius. He, however, acted as if nothing had happened, sufficient smile on his face and defying all the gazes and all those who dared look at him directly in his eyes. No way he'd give them what they wanted, no way that he would made a spectacle of himself, even if that was what everyone expected.
He froze, however, when he caught sight of three figures in the distance, and although he was trying to act normal, his heart missed a beat. James shouted something at him as he was getting on the train and Remus grabbed him by the collar of his robes when he did not move, still glaring at the three people.
His parents were both present, which was rather unusual. He saw Walburga kissed Regulus one last time, Orion coming to lay a hand on his shoulder. He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. If there was anything that his parents had stopped showing him for years, it was certainly some parental affection. The last time his mother had hugged him, it was the first day of his first year, before he was sent to Gryffindor.
Walburga finally put his eyes on him and displayed the same smile as he did, without moving an inch. Mother and son stared at each other without saying a word, both giving a destabilizing confidence in themselves, while neither of them would give the other the satisfaction, to be the one to look away bend over Regulus after what seems ages and said something to him, without letting go of her stares on Sirius. Regulus nervously nodded, not daring to look at his older brother and detached himself from his parents to get on the train. Sirius jumped when Mr. Potter came to lay his hand on his shoulder.
-Get in, son. He said to Sirius, before kissing his son one last time. Jams was standing still, looking alert, squeezing his wand in his hand, before kissing his father back. Mr Potter then said goodbye to Remus and Peter, Euphemia kissed all four of them, lingering a little longer on Sirius.
-Behave yourselves boys and try, by Merlin's beard, to not do your usual among of stupidity! said Mrs Potter to them as they all burst out laughing, James replying something Sirius could not hear under the train whistle that was ready to go. Remus, who hadn't let go of him, pulled him inside the train with force.
-Go sit in your compartment. Said Mr. Potter, glancing behind him, Orion and Walburga having slowly approached them, the Aurors had slowly taking out their wands, the doors of the train were closing on them. They rushed into their compartment to fit one over the others, trying, like everyone else, to see what was going to happen.
The atmosphere was tense, everyone had, obviously, heard about this story, especially with the Daily Prophet headlines that had enjoyed using the "disappearance" of Sirius for their profit. Even if all rumors had stopped as they had begun, those with a parent working in the Ministry had more or less heard things, as conversations between Fleamont Potter and Orion Black had been quite explosive, even though Fleamont Potter had more nerves and temper than Orion Black had, the guy was not easy to break down.
Once the Blacks were up to the Potters, the train set in motion and left the platform 9 and 3/4, leaving them no time to see the exchange between the two pure-blooded families, who gazed coldly at each other. Sirius dropped into his seat without saying anything, trying to keep his mocking smile that had frozen on his face. Suddenly, he couldn't breath; he felt nauseous, he was choking, panicking. He would have liked to run away from this train, from all the curious people who passed the compartment and tried to have a better look at him.
He slapped himself mentally, shaking his head sharply, Peter looking at him seeming puzzled. He would not crack, he had already done it once before Euphemia and it was enough, he could not afford to be seen by the others in such a panic state. After all, he was Sirius Black, right? He, who nothing and nobody could reached. He shook his head a second time and straightened up quickly, suddenly detaching himself from Remus who had put his hand on his back to check out if he was okay. He buried his hands in his pockets and laughed out loud at bit nervously, as if nothing had happened. Remus, who was not laughing at all, crossed his arms, piercing him with his golden eyes, waiting for him to say something, anything, to see if he was indeed okay.
-What? Sirius said to him, a little more abruptly than he had wanted to. -Why are you still making those mourning faces, oh God can't believe this. You're so lame, all of you! He was furious against them, against himself, against the whole world.
-We're worried about you. Peter pointed out. -We understand that it's not easy for you and...
-Thank you, but mind your own business will you!? He cut him coldly. -Leaving me alone would be great. Oh now what!? He shouted loudly, pushing back Remus who had tried to approach him again -What do you fucking want! We do not all called ourselves Remus Lupin, people doesn't need to be comforted for everything like you need to! He yelled, opening the compartment door fiercely to get out, already ashamed of what he had said to Remus. He was now angry to have been so mean as he couldn't had stopped the words before they had slipped out of his mouth, spatting them at the werewolf. -I'm an idiot. He said to himself before pushing a small second-year troop out of his way, trying to find the girls compartment.
-I'll go join the other prefects. Remus groaned as he picked up his things to get out, closing the door behind him, the windows trembling under the force of the impact, while James laughed, shaking his head.
Peter rolled his eyes before sighing and shrugging his shoulders, taking out his explosive cards to begin a game with James, saying to him it was better not to worry about those two. It had always been like that between Sirius and Remus, they fought like devils, but ended up coming back to each other, both sorry to have been this excessive. Peter had always found their relationship a bit odd, but Sirius was kinda intense in everything so it was no surprise really to him. Things had always been like that since day one.