The next six weeks had been relentless. The brief relief Sirius found outside of Grimmauld Place – wandering muggle neighbourhoods, visiting the record shop, Notting Hill carnival – was never enough to stave off the oppressive atmosphere at home. Each time he returned, it seemed the walls closed in a little more, the shadows darker, the air thicker with tension.

His mother's insults had grown more vicious, his father's ire more violent, and Regulus – Regulus had become a stranger. Where at one time they had been reasonably close, the distance between them now felt like a chasm, widening with every word Regulus spoke in defence of their parents' twisted ideals.

And then came the Black family dinner – a biannual affair that Sirius had dreaded from as early as he could remember. This time, it felt even worse. His mother had been insistent on making it a grand affair, inviting the vast majority of their extended family. It was clear to Sirius that this was an opportunity for the Black's to reaffirm their superiority, to gloat about their lineage, and to once again remind Sirius of how far he had fallen in their eyes.

Sirius arrived in the dining room begrudgingly dressed in the formal robes his mother had laid out for him, his jaw clenched in silent rebellion. The room was already full of brooding figures, the table set with an extravagant array of food and drink. His parents were seated at the head of the table, their expressions severe and proud. Regulus sat close to their mother, looking eager to please, and making Sirius feel nauseas. The dread, however, solidified into cement at the pit of his stomach when he noticed his cousins, Bellatrix and Narcissa, both radiating the same haughty arrogance they always did.

He could have sighed in relief when he noticed an available chair next to his uncle Alphard; possibly the only person at the table that he was willing to sit beside. The meal began in uncomfortable silence, punctuated only by the occasional clink of silverware on porcelain. Sirius kept his eyes on his plate, refusing to engage in the chatter around him, and fighting to maintain a blank face when the topic of bloodlines came up. It was not long, however, until Bellatrix's eyes homed in on the top of his head, never one to resist the chance to provoke him in some way.

"So, Sirius" she began, her voice dripping with false sweetness, "how's school? Are the Gryffindor's treating you well?".

Sirius didn't look up. "It's fine" he muttered, shoving a piece of steak in his mouth and hoping she would take the hint and leave him alone.

But Bellatrix only leaned in closer, her dark eyes glittering with malice. "You know, I've been hearing some interesting things about your group of friends. Half-bloods and traitors, your taste in company is truly disappointing".

Narcissa, ever eager to join in, her voice cold and disdainful. "I'm sure dear Sirius will grow out of it eventually, Bella. It's just a faze, rebellion if you will".

"Or maybe he's too far gone" Bellatrix sneered. "Maybe he's just a lost cause".

Sirius' grip tightened on his fork, but he forced himself to stay silent. He'd learned over the past few weeks that any retort, no matter how justified, would only serve to make things worse. His silence, though, did not go unnoticed by his father.

"Sirius" Orion's voice cut through the air like a knife, low and threatening. It caused every other head at the table to home in on the conversation. "Answer your cousin. Is this how you spend your time at school? Associating with filth?".

Sirius finally lifted his head, his eyes flashing with anger at the prospect of having to defend his friends. "I spend time with people who are worth knowing" he said evenly, the rest of his statement implicit; that nobody at the table was worth knowing.

"How dare you speak that way in our house?" Walburga hissed, her voice raising with every word.

"No matter, Aunt Walburga" Bellatrix cut in sweetly, flashing her aunt an angelic smile as she did.

"You will remove yourself from this table" Orion's voice cut in, his eyes like daggers piercing into his sons. "I will not have you disgracing this dinner".

"Maybe I don't want to be a part of this family anymore" Sirius shot back, unable to stop himself. "I'm tired of all of y- "

Walburga's hand came down on the table with a sharp crack, silencing him. "Enough!" she roared.

Orion stood slowly; his cold gaze fixed on Sirius. "You've tested my patience long enough. It's about time you learnt some respect".

Before Sirius could react, Orion crossed the room in a few swift strides, grabbing Sirius by the collar and dragging him from his seat. The force of it made Sirius stumble, and he rasped as his father's grip tightened on his collar, cutting off his breath.

"You think you can defy me? Disrespect this family in front of me?" Orion's voice was a low growl, a simmering rage that was far more terrifying than any of his mothers' shrieks.

Sirius tried to pull away, but to no avail, his fathers grip on him was like iron. He could feel every pair of eyes at the table on him, save one, silently judging and condemning. He saw Bellatrix and Narcissa smirking, as Regulus looked away, his face pale and uncomfortable.

"Enjoying the show?" Sirius spat at his two cousins, his fathers grip tightening even more than Sirius thought possible. "I'm not afraid of you" he spat towards his father, "you can't control me forever".

Orion's expression darkened further. "Maybe not forever" he said quietly, "but I will make sure you pay for your actions tonight".

With that, he dragged Sirius from the dining room, Walburga closely following behind. Once in the study, Orion released Sirius with a shove that sent him stumbling into the bookcase. Walburga stepped forward, "you will go to your room and stay there. You have bought enough disgrace on this family for tonight, and nobody wants to see you anymore".

Sirius caught his breath, rubbing his neck where his robes had been tightly pulled, almost choking him. "You're wrong" he said, his voice hoarse but firm. "I'm glad I'll never be what you want me to be".

Walburga raised her hand as if to strike him, but Orion stepped in front of her, his face impassive. "Rejoin our dinner, darling" he spoke to his wife calmly, though his eyes did not leave his sons. "Sirius obviously wants to deal with this man to man".

Sirius glanced briefly between his mother and father, his mother's hesitancy to leave increasing his anxiety. While he couldn't say his mother had ever protected him from his father, she was more inclined to slap him once and kill him with her words, his father was another matter. "I'll see you shortly" she said, before leaving the two alone.

Orion didn't say a word at first. He simply stood there, staring at Sirius with a look that was equal parts disgust and disappointment. Then, with a deliberate slowness, he reached into his robes and pulled out his cane – a sleek, black staff with a gold crest at the top.

Sirius' heart pounded as he backed away, feeling himself hit the bookshelf behind him. He had felt his father's cane before, once or twice, and knew the pain it was capable of inflicting. It was worse, arguably, than when his father just used his wand to fire a few stinging hexes.

"Since you want to act the man" Orion said quietly, his voice as cold as steel, "I will treat you like the grown man you are".

Sirius crouched over in defence as his father bought the cane up high in the air, bringing it down in a crack across the boys back. Pain exploded through him, and he stumbled forward, barely catching himself against the back of an armchair. He bit back a cry, his pride refusing to give his father the satisfaction of knowing he'd hurt him.

Another blow came, this time across his shoulders, and then another. Sirius' vision blurred with tears he refused to shed, his breath coming in rapid gasps. He reached up to hold the back of his head, where it felt a fire had erupted, and felt a wet substance on his hands that could only be blood. Blow after blow rained down, and Sirius couldn't help but worry that this would be the time his father didn't stop. This would be the time he'd kill him. He knew he couldn't fight back – not against his father. But he also knew he couldn't stay where he was, couldn't endure it much longer.

Somehow, through the haze of pain, Sirius found an opening. As Orion raised the cane to strike him again, Sirius twisted away, making a break for the study door. He felt like he was in a dream when he threw the door open, his feet pounding against the floor as he stumbled up the stairs, two at a time.

"Sirius!" Orion's voice thundered from below, but Sirius didn't stop. He burst into his room, slamming the door shut, and looking down at his bloodied shaking hands. He knew he didn't have much time, long enough maybe for the dinner to end, for his parents to keep up their appearances. His heart was racing, his body throbbing with pain, but he knew he had to get out – now.

Sirius grabbed his school trunk and began tossing clothes and essentials into it, his hands still trembling from the adrenaline. He could still hear the distant murmurs of the dinner party downstairs, the light conversation and laughter at odds with the horror he had just faced.

As he threw the last of his belongings haphazardly in his trunk, the door to his room creaked open. Spinning around, wand at the ready, Sirius saw Regulus stood in the doorway, a troubled expression on his face.

"Sirius…" Regulus' voice was soft, almost pleading. "What are you doing?".

"I'm leaving" Sirius replied shortly, turning back to his trunk. "I can't stay here Reg. Not after – " he broke off, shaking his head. "I'm going to stay with James for the rest of the summer".

Regulus stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him. "Why can't you just do what they want? Play along? It's easier that way".

"Because I'm not like them!" Sirius snapped, whirling around to face his brother. "I can't just sit there and pretend that any of this is okay! I'm not like you Reg, I've never been good at faking it".

"But they're our family" Regulus insisted, his voice breaking slightly. "They're all we have, Siri. If you leave…you'll be alone".

Sirius softened slightly at his brother's words, but his resolve did not waver. "I'd rather be alone than stay here and become something I hate" he said quietly. "Besides, I'm not alone, Reg. I have James, I have Remus and Peter. They're my family too".

Regulus looked down, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "You're really leaving, then?"

"I have to" Sirius said gently. "If I stay…they'll break me. I can't let that happen".

For a moment, it looked as if Regulus might argue again, but then he just nodded, his face crumpling with emotion. "I'll miss you" he whispered.

Sirius' heart ached as he looked at the boy, looking all lost and small. "I'll miss you too" he said softly. "But I'll write. And you can come and visit me at James'".

Regulus did not reply, and Sirius wanted to comfort him and tell him everything would be okay. That would be a lie, though, and instead he gave his younger brother a sad smile before he clicked the lock on his trunk, an unspoken finality.

With his belongings packed, Sirius walked towards his bedroom door. He hesitated for a moment, looking back at his brother, "take care of yourself, Reg" he said quietly.

"You too, Siri" Regulus whispered.

As he made his way downstairs, the voices still drifting from the formal dining room, Sirius could not help but feel a sense of relief. It was the first time in months that he'd experienced this particular emotion; hope.

The summer night air was cool against his skin as he trudged up the long drive to Potter Manor. Summoning and riding the night bus had been a wild experience, though not one Sirius had fully enjoyed given the pain he was in. As he trudged up the pathway, the adrenaline that had kept him going now wearing off, he felt nothing but exhaustion. There was a bone-deep throbbing in his side, which felt like it could be a broken rib. His clothes were rumpled and bloody, and he did not feel he looked his best as he arrived at the manor.

He had no idea what time it was. The moon hung high in the sky, so it had to be close to midnight. Sirius hadn't been thinking about the time when he ran – only that he had to get away, that he had to find somewhere safe.

When he finally reached the front door of the manor, he hesitated for just a moment, his hand hovering over the brass knocker. What if they didn't want him? What if they sent him straight back? Steeling his courage, he knocked, the sound echoing in the quietness of the night. Then, from somewhere inside, he heard movement – footsteps descending the stairs, a muffled voice calling out.

The door creaked open, and there stood James, his hair rumpled from sleep, his eyes blinking against the light he had obviously just turned on. At first, James looked confused, as if he couldn't quite process what he was seeing. Then recognition dawned, and his eyes widened in shock.

"Sirius?" he whispered; his voice filled with disbelief.

Sirius managed a weak smile. "Sorry for showing up unannounced" he croaked, his voice hoarse. "I didn't know where else to go". Despite the awfulness that had been tonight, Sirius couldn't pass an opportunity for some humour, "bought my broom though".

James stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he took in Sirius' dishevelled appearance. "Merlin, what happened to you?" he asked, his voice full of concern. "You look like you've been hit by the night bus".

Before Sirius could answer, there was a soft gasp behind James. Mrs Potter appeared, her dressing gown wrapped tightly around her, her face a picture of worry. "James? What's going on? Who's – ". Her eyes fell on Sirius, and she froze. "Sirius, dear, is that you?"

"It's not a prank Mum" James said quickly, catching the look on his mother's face. "I didn't know he was coming".

Mrs Potter's brow furrowed as she stepped closer, here eyes widening in horror as she noticed the blood staining Sirius' clothes and the way he was leaning against the doorframe for support. "Oh my goodness, Sirius. You're hurt!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. "Come inside, quickly".

She ushered him in, and as Sirius stepped into the warm, welcoming glow of the manor, he felt the last of his strength leave him. His knees buckled and he nearly collapsed, but James quickly came to his aid, helping him to a nearby armchair.

"What's going on?" came another voice, deep and concerned. Mr Potter had joined them, his wand in hand as he looked around, clearly expecting some sort of prank. But when he saw Sirius slumped in the chair, his expression changed from confusion to alarm.

"Sirius?" Mr Potter knelt down decide the chair, his eyes scanning the boy's injuries. "What happened? Who did this to you?".

Sirius opened his mouth to answer but the words stuck in his throat. The event of the night seemed to crash down around him all at once. His vision blurred with unshed tears, and for the first time since he had left Grimmauld Place, he felt the full weight of what had happened.

Mrs Potter was already moving, her voice gentle but firm as she addressed her son. "James, darling, go up to bed now. Your father and I will take care of Sirius".

"But Mum – " James protested, his eyes wide with worry as he glanced between his best friend and his parents.

"Now, James" Mr Potter said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "We'll take care of him, I promise".

James hesitated, resting a hand on Sirius' shoulder for a moment, offering his silent support. Then, with a final worried glance, he nodded and headed upstairs, his footsteps heavy.

Once James was out of earshot, Mr Potter turned back to Sirius, his expression softening with concern. "Sirius, you're safe now" he said gently. "But I need to know what happened. Can you tell me?".

Sirius took a shuddering breath, trying to steady himself. "It was my father" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm sorry, I didn't know where else to go".

"Nonsense, you came to just the right place" Mr Potter assured him. "You won't go back there, no. You're a Potter for the rest of the summer".

A part of Sirius wanted to argue that he didn't deserve it, but he was too tired. "Thank you" he whispered instead.

"Come on, lets get you cleaned up and into bed" Mr Potter said, standing and helping Sirius to his feet. "We'll deal with everything else in the morning".

Sirius didn't think he'd had as a good a night's sleep as he had since he'd been at Hogwarts nearly two months ago. Unlike at Grimmauld Place, where he awoke to tutting portraits or Kreacher's insults, here he had awoken to the sound of birds chirping outside and Mrs Potter telling James to let him sleep in a bit and not to bother him about the incident last night.

Sirius couldn't help the grin that crept onto his face when, less than five minutes after Mrs Potter's scolding, he heard a soft knock at his door.

"Morning" James slipped into the room, smiling at his friend. James was dressed in plaid pyjamas, his hair still messy from sleep.

"Morning" Sirius grinned back, slouching against the headboard and glancing around at the guest room he'd been given last night. Mrs Potter had left him a glass full of water on his bedside table that she had magically charmed to stay cool. Sirius flicked some of the condensed water off of it.

"Mums got breakfast ready if you're hungry".

"Starving" Sirius agreed, sliding down off the bed as James led the way downstairs to the kitchen. It was much brighter than Grimmauld Place, it seemed here the curtains were often open, the light feeling welcome in the house.

The kitchen was a large room, with a breakfast nook in a bay window off to the left. Mrs Potter had laid the table with a spread of breakfast foods. There was toast, jam, sausages, scrambled eggs, beans, and bacon.

Mr Potter was sat, face concealed by the morning issue of the daily prophet, sipping a large cup of coffee. "Morning boys" he greeted, dropping the paper briefly as the pair came thumping down the stairs.

"Morning Mr Potter"

"Morning Dad"

Sirius followed James and slid into one of the chairs in the breakfast nook, nodding when James held out a jug of orange juice and offered to fill his glass. "Help yourself to anything mate, everything's game"

"Cheers" Sirius smiled, picking two slices of toast, a sausage link, and forking some eggs onto his plate.

James took one look at his plate and rolled his eyes, "don't be daft, I've seen you eat more for a late-night snack". He added an extra sausage, two slices of bacon, and extra eggs onto his friend's plate.

"We thought tomorrow would be good day to head to Diagon Alley. To get your school supplies" Mrs Potter advised, carrying a fresh pot of coffee over to the table and taking her own seat next to Sirius.

James and Sirius shared a grin. They'd never had the chance to go to Diagon Alley together before, but had often enthused about the prospect of going to Hogsmeade in their third year.

"Sounds good" James smiled mischievously, "but can me and Sirius fly today, please?" he asked, flashing his mum his best puppy-eyes.

"Sirius and I" his father corrected, eyes remaining on the daily prophet.

"Sirius and I" James corrected with a roll of his eyes, causing Sirius to choke on his orange juice as he tried to swallow a laugh.

Mrs Potter smiled knowingly at Sirius and then at her husband, before nodding at her son, "of course you can darling".

The morning air was warm, but breezy, as the boys stepped outside onto the vast grounds of Potter Manor. They walked down a turning pathway to a huge lawn, broomsticks in hand. "Ready to eat dust, Sirius?" James teased, mounting his broom with a mischievous grin.

"In your dreams, James," Sirius shot back, his own grin spreading across his face as he mounted his broom. "But I'll let you think you've got a chance—for now."

With that, the two boys kicked off from the ground, their brooms soaring into the air with practiced ease. James darted ahead, turning sharply into a loop-de-loop before shooting straight upwards, taunting Sirius to follow. Sirius laughed, the sound light and carefree, and sped after him, his broom cutting through the air like a knife. The wind whipped through his hair, tugging at his clothes, and he felt more alive than he had in weeks.

"Come on, is that all you've got?" James called out, glancing back at Sirius with a smirk. He slowed just enough to let Sirius catch up, the two now flying side by side.

"Just getting started," Sirius replied, his eyes gleaming with determination. Without warning, he suddenly dipped downwards, pulling into a steep dive that made James gasp in surprise.

"Oi! No fair!" James shouted, though he was laughing as he turned to follow. They swooped low over the treetops, the leaves rustling in their wake as they skimmed along just above the ground.

"Catch me if you can!" Sirius yelled over his shoulder, his voice full of exhilaration. James leaned forward on his broom, determined to close the gap.

"Oh, you're on!" he called back, pushing his broom to its limits. The thrill of the chase was intoxicating, and for a few minutes, nothing else existed—no family expectations, no responsibilities, just the pure joy of flying. Sirius led James on a wild course around the manor grounds, zigzagging between trees, looping through the open sky, and occasionally diving just to pull up at the last possible second. Every time James thought he had Sirius cornered, Sirius would pull some clever maneuver and dart off in a new direction, laughing all the while.

"You're mad, you know that?" James said breathlessly as they finally slowed down, hovering in the air above the expansive lawn. His face was flushed with excitement, his eyes sparkling.

"Takes one to know one," Sirius replied with a grin, his own face equally flushed. The two boys were winded but in high spirits, the exhilaration of their race still coursing through them.

"Bet you can't catch me in one more lap," James challenged, though there was no heat behind it—just the competitive spirit that always burned between them.

Sirius shook his head, still grinning. "You never learn, do you?" And with that, they were off again, racing across the sky, their laughter trailing behind them. It wasn't until their arms and legs were aching that they finally touched down, collapsing onto the soft grass with a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration.

"That was brilliant," Sirius said, still catching his breath as he stared up at the sky. The clouds drifted lazily above them, completely oblivious to the wild fun that had just taken place below.

"Best flying we've had yet," James agreed, his chest rising and falling as he lay beside Sirius, his broom abandoned on the ground next to him. "You're getting better, mate. Almost had me back there."

"Almost?" Sirius replied, turning his head to give James a mock glare. "I had you more than once, and you know it."

"Alright, alright," James conceded, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Maybe you're finally catching up to my level." Sirius scoffed, but the smile on his face showed he didn't mind the teasing.

"Think you'll make the Gryffindor team this year?"

James chuckled softly, "only if you make it too. Cant have one without the other, right?".

Sirius beamed at that, but then noticed a thoughtful look on his friends face, as though something were troubling him. "Hey…Sirius, can I ask you something?".

Sirius raised an eyebrow, the change in tone confirming his suspicion. "Course. What's up?".

James hesitated for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "What happened last night? When you showed up…you looked – well you looked awful, mate. And I know Mum said not to ask, but I just – I'm worried about you".

Sirius' smile faltered, the lightness of their earlier conversation slipping away. He looked up at the sky, followed a lone bird as it flew across the horizon. He did not want to repeat what had happened last night, wanted to bury it as deep in his mind as he could. But he knew he could not keep it buried forever – especially not from James.

"It was my father" Sirius began quietly, eyes still fixed on the Horizon. "During the dinner with my family, he pulled me into his study to 'handle things man to man', as he put it. He – " Sirius paused, swallowing hard as the memory of the cane struck fresh in his mind. "He used his cane on me. He just kept going and going until I managed to get out".

James' expression shifted from concern to shock, and then to a smoldering rage. His hands clenched into fists, and for a moment, he was lost for words. "He – he what?" James stammered in disbelief. "That's not right! He shouldn't have done that you – his own son!".

Sirius nodded along as James stammered through his anger. "I know. But you know its been like that for a while. He doesn't really see me as his son"

James was silent for a moment, struggling to process the rage and sadness swirling inside him. When he finally spoke, his voice was tight. "I just – I want to hex him!"

Sirius finally turned to look at James, touched by the protectiveness in his friend's voice. He managed a small smile, and even a short laugh at the prospect of James hexing Orion Black. "I appreciate that, James. Really, I do. But they're not worth it, I've got you guys anyway".

James' expression softened, though the remnants of anger remained in his eyes. "It's just not fair, you shouldn't have had to go through that. I wish there was something I could do".

Sirius reached over, resting a hand on James' arm. "You've done more for me than you'll ever know. If it weren't for you…I don't know what I'd do".

James looked at Sirius, eyes filled with a fierce determination. "You'll never have to find out. You're a Potter now, Remember? No matter what".

Sirius felt a surge of affection in his chest. He blinked back the moisture gathering in his eyes and nodded. "Thanks, James," he said after a moment, his voice quieter but filled with genuine gratitude. "For...you know, everything."

James shrugged, but he looked pleased. "That's what mates are for, right? Besides, it's no fun flying without you" he added, his own attempt to bring back the lighter mood they'd had earlier. Sirius let out a genuine laugh at this, because James most definitely did enjoy flying by himself when Sirius wasn't around.

"So," James said, breaking the comfortable silence as he propped himself up on one elbow, "what do you think about second year? Any big plans?"

Sirius grinned, the earlier shadows in his eyes completely gone now. "Oh definitely. Reckon we've seen enough of the Forbidden Forest; we'll have to up our game".

James grinned back, clearly eager to start planning for the year ahead. "We'll set a new record for detentions, just you wait".

"Sounds like a plan" Sirius agreed. "And maybe we'll even find some time to study".

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves" James said, chuckling. "We wouldn't want to give McGonagall any ideas".