The Flight from Grimmauld Place

Sirius Black lay back on his bed and stared up at the ceiling of his bedroom at Number 12, Grimmauld Place. He was feeling more depressed than usual; the Hogwarts letters had arrived that morning and precious Regulus had been made Slytherin prefect.

His mother has been absolutely ecstatic, raining kisses down on Regulus and saying how much of a real Black he was while shooting Sirius dark looks.

Sirius had finally fled to his room and now lay there alone, as usual.

Rolling off his bed, Sirius picked up a quill, intending to write James to tell him the nauseating news. He was interrupted by his mother slamming open his bedroom door.

"Can't you even pretend for a minute that you're a Black?" she screamed at him

"Hello to you too, Mum," he replied, not taking his eyes off the parchment he was writing on.

"Don't take that tone with me. You could have at least congratulated your brother. If it had been you, Regulus would have put his differences aside for family and congratulated you. But then, since you can't be serious for two seconds there was no way you would have ever become a prefect. Not that it would matter since you got yourself sorted into that house," her face took on a look as if she had smelled something foul in the air.

"I'd much rather not be a prefect and be in Gryffindor than to be in Slytherin with that bunch of gits."

He never saw the blow coming. One second, he was sitting in his chair, and the next, he was sprawled on the floor, his head ringing from his mother's fist.

"Bloody hell," he muttered pulling himself up.

"You're a disgrace to our family, hanging around with those hooligans, associating with mudbloods. It's sickening." His mother stormed out of the room, calling back behind her: "we're taking Regulus to Diagon Alley to pick out a new broomstick, don't leave this room."

A few minutes later the house fell silent and Sirius pulled himself up off the floor. Looking in the mirror he could see the side of his face swelling up. Glaring at his reflection, Sirius picked up a book and threw it at the mirror, shattering it.

"Bitch," he hissed.

Sirius threw himself on the bed, but a minute later was back up and pacing around his room.

"That's it," he said finally. Gathering his books and robes from around the room he tossed them into his trunk. Picking up his wand from the bedside table Sirius grabbed the handles of his trunk and started down the stairs.

He was at the front door when a voice behind him asked:

"Where is young Master going?"

Sirius turned and glared at Kreacher.

"None of your business, elf," he snarled, wrenching open the door.

Sirius dashed outside dragging his trunk behind him; as soon as he was outside of 12 Grimmauld's property line he flung his wand hand out and leapt out of the way as the Knight Bus came to a screeching stop in front of him.

Sirius boarded the bus and got his trunk in with the help of the conductor.

"Hello, my name is Hugh Brahms, and I will be your conductor today." Hugh bowed slightly to Sirius.

"Where would you like to go?"

"Banbury," Sirius said, depositing the 9 sickles into the money box.

"We've got four stops before you, so relax and we'll be there as soon as possible."

"Relax on this bus? Yeah, right," Sirius grumbled as he took a seat on the second level. Looking out of the window he watched as Grimmauld Place disappeared and the countryside outside of Canterbury came into view.

"I swear I'll never go back there again," Sirius said to himself, gripping his wand and causing gold and red sparks to shoot out of it.

He let his eyes fall close and drifted into an uneasy sleep. Images of his mother screaming at him and Kreacher trying to drag him back jolted him awake just as the bus screeched to halt in the middle of the town of Banbury.

"Thank goodness." Sirius hated traveling on the Knight Bus; he quickly gathered up his trunk and started down the street.

Ten minutes later he was outside of the Potter's modest, two-story house and was looking at his watch. Sirius winced, seeing that it was supper time. He hoped Mr. and Mrs. Potter wouldn't be upset that he was interrupting supper.

Lifting the lion-shaped knocker, Sirius rapped the door three times.

He heard footsteps and then saw Emily Potter opening the door

"Why Sirius what a pleasant surprise. You should have owled us we would have had a plate ready for you." Her eyes traveled down to his trunk then up to where the nasty bruise was forming on his face. "Sirius?"

"I've run away from home Mrs. Potter," he said, not meeting her eyes.

Emily looked at him, her eyes wet with tears. She and her husband had always had a soft spot for the boy, and from the fragments of information they had gotten from James, they had figured out that he didn't have a wonderful home life. But she never thought a parent would strike their own child, much less cause them to want to leave home.

"Come in dear. I'll warm a plate up for you and then we'll figure out what to do, okay?"

Sirius nodded and followed her into the house.

Inside Robert Potter and James were sitting at the dining room table discussing James' O.W.L results that had come with his Hogwarts letter.

"Well James I must say we were very surprised with your results, and very proud too. Good job son."

"Thanks Dad," James said "So do I get a present?" he asked with a wink.

Mr. Potter didn't have a chance to reply as Mrs. Potter and Sirius walked in the room.

'Hey Padfoot, what are you doing here?" James asked. "And with your trunk," he added, a look of confusion crossing his face.

"Have a seat, Sirius," Mrs. Potter said. "Robert, could you give me a hand getting a plate for the boy?"

Mr. Potter nodded and followed his wife into the kitchen, looking as confused as his son.

"What's up, Sirius?" James asked in a low tone.

"I ran away. I've had it with them, James! I couldn't stay there another minute."

James stared at his friend, shocked. "Wow you've really done it. I always figured you would some day but now that you have it's...I don't know... surprising, I guess."

"Hey, what happened to your face?" James asked, noticing the bruise for the first time.

"Reason I left mate. Mum decided I was being a bit cheeky," Sirius tried to laugh.

"She hit you! That bitch! I swear, if I ever see her I'll strangle her."

"Get in line, Prongs." Sirius smiled genuinely for the first time that day.

Robert and Emily Potter came back in the room with a supper plate for Sirius.

"That smells wonderful, Mrs. Potter."

Emily smiled. "Thank you, Sirius. Now, Robert and I have had a word and have decided that you can stay here with us, we'll let Dumbledore know where you will be staying, and you're welcome to stay here as long as you need to - even after you come of age."

Sirius had paused with his fork midway to his mouth.

"Thank you Mrs. Potter, Mr. Potter."

"Sirius you've always been like a second son to us," Robert told him.

"Yes, and if you are to be staying here it's about time you called us Robert and Emily." Emily said

"All right, Emily." Sirius said, just as an owl swooped in, carrying a very familiar looking red envelope

"Oh no," Sirius sighed. James looked at his friend sympathetically as the envelope opened and Mrs. Black's voice echoed through the dining room

"SIRIUS BLACK! I KNOW YOU ARE AT THAT HOOLIGANS HOUSE! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR TRAITOUROUS FACE AGAIN! DON'T YOU EVER SET FOOT IN THIS HOUSE, AND REST ASSURED YOU WILL NEVER SEE A KNUT OF OUR MONEY!"

The envelope burst into flames leaving the Potters and Sirius staring stunned at the spot it had been.

"Like I would want any of their filthy money," Sirius muttered turning back to his supper.

"Sorry about that," he said to Emily and Robert.

Emily just shook her head, afraid if she spoke she'd start crying.

The family finished up supper and afterwards while his parents cleaned up the dishes, James helped Sirius takes his trunk to the upstairs bedroom. Sirius had lifted the lid and was going to start unpacking when James said from the door,

"This will be fun Padfoot; it'll be like having a brother."

Sirius smiled. "Yes Prongs, I do believe we're in for some fun times."