The Chronicles of Sirius Black

The Chronicles of Sirius Black

Prankster and Lover Extraordinaire

Chapter 1

Sirius's First Escape

Jet black robes flew through the air followed by a bombardment of socks. More clothes along with books and parchment were heaped on an open trunk at the far side of Sirius's bedroom. The screaming of Sirius's parents could be heard downstairs, and Regulus was whimpering in the room next door.

"Bloody hell! What is that prat crying for?" Sirius glared through the wall at his younger brother.

Sirius's face was red with rage, and his hands shook as he began to stuff all his belongings into an antique black leather trunk.

"HE IS A DISGRACE TO THIS HOUSE! HE WILL NEVER AMOUNT TO A DECENT DARK WIZARD! IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SIGN TO US WHEN HE WAS PUT IN GRYFFINDOR!"

"Better than stinking Slytherin!" yelled Sirius over his shoulder.

Sirius began to pace his room, kicking furniture and prodding things with his wand. The screaming downstairs became so loud that it was no longer recognizable English, but rather a constant shrill shriek.

"Dragon dung! Where is my broom?" Sirius ran his hands through his hair, and despite his best efforts, his eyes began to well up with tears.

Lifting up the corner of his bed sheet, his toe kicked something. Sirius dropped to his knees, and snatched the knobbly broom. He closed his eyes wearily as he got to his feet.

"HIM AND THE REST OF HOGWARTS ARE BLOOD TRAITORS! THE WHOLE LOT OF THEM! IF THEY THINK I'M GOING TO SEND REGULUS THERE AFTER THIS! I'M NOT GOING TO SEE MY PUREBLOOD SONS MIXING WITH THOSE MUDBLOODS!"

With clenched fists Sirius pulled on his thickest, darkest robe. He walked over to the window, and pushed open the dusty pane. The night sky was thick with heavy grey clouds that were fit to burst. At least he would not be seen below.

Going back to his chest, he tied it to his broom with some knarled rope. Sirius climbed onto the broom, gathered his robes tighter around him, and rose into the air.

"I AM THE MOTHER OF THE DARKEST AND MOST NOBLE PUREBLOOD FAMILY! IF YOU THINK I WILL SIT AND WATCH IT DIE BEFORE MY VERY EYES...," Sirius's mother continued to roar.

Sirius grasped his broom firmly, and zoomed out the window, without even looking back at 12 Grimmauld Place.

~*~

"James! I'm so sorry! I've been so wrong about you!" Lily ran to James, and her long red hair shone.

"Oh Lily!" James took her in his arms, and she looked up at him with her dazzling green eyes.

"There is something I've wanted to show you," she said.

She pulled away from his embrace. Lily spun around and her dress twirled around her. Then, to James's surprise, she began to dance. She wore strange black shoes that were oddly shiny, and looked like something her muggle sister would wear. The bizarre shoes appeared to be making an odd tapping sound as she danced. She had a silly grin on her face, and actually looked quite foolish.

"Lily? That's nice and all, but what the bloody hell are you doing?" James stood there with a bewildered look on his face as the tapping sound grew louder.

"James!"

"Sirius! Buzz off! I'm busy!"

"James! Wake up!"

James's eyes popped open, and his hand fumbled around looking for his glasses. As the room came into focus, he discovered that Lily had not been the source of the tapping noise. A soaking wet Sirius was hovering outside his bedroom window, and tapping frantically on the glass. Booming thunder filled the room as James leapt towards the window to let Sirius inside.

"Sirius? What happened? Did your mum throw you out?"

Sirius landed his broom and trunk in the middle of James' bedroom. Already there was a large puddle forming on the floor. Sirius's normally neat and carefully styled hair was dripping and tattered.

"No. I left. Couldn't take it anymore. You think your folks would mind if I stayed here for a bit?" asked Sirius.

"Sure! I mean, I think it'll be ok. I've been bored to tears. It'll be wicked cool to have you here the rest of the summer!"

"Thanks. Yeah, it will be fun."

Sirius gazed out the window as lightning cracked through the sky. His robes were soggy and limp. He shivered and stood in the middle of the room. James had never seen him look so small and insecure. He looked as though he wasn't quite sure where he belonged.

"Are you hungry? I'll go wake mum. She'll cook you something if you like," James said, and then glanced at the pool on the floor. "You should probably change out of those clothes."

"Oh right. Sorry about that." Sirius wiped the water dripping down his face. He lifted his robe out of the gigantic puddle he stood in and then a grin spread slowly across his face. "I thought you wanted a lake in your room. You're always talking about it."

James smiled and Sirius smirked.

"I'll just be in the bathroom then. I have to freshen up for your mum. We had some good times last summer," Sirius said before darting out of James's room.

"Padfoot! Don't you dare talk about my mum!"

James pretended to be angry, but he wasn't really. He was glad Sirius had snapped back to normal. The lost and dazed Sirius freaked him out as much as Lily's dancing.

~*~

James and Sirius had one of the best summers ever that year. Mr. and Mrs. Potter noticed how happy their son had become. It was as if two long lost brothers had been reunited.

Laughter could always be heard outside. The Potters had a massive backyard surrounded by large ancient trees. The great green canopy did not block the brilliant summer rays that made both boys turn a healthy golden shade. There was pond just deep enough for diving and swimming. A large weeping willow provided a launch into the water with its long rope-like branches.

James and Sirius would lay on their backs in the cool sparkling water and discuss pranks, girls, and future full moon escapades.

"You know, we really haven't done too much with the lake. I'm sure we could do some really surprising stuff with that squid."

James listened to Sirius as he tried to catch a small copper fish with cupped hands.

"Oh! Wouldn't it be wicked if we put a charm on the squid? We could get it to eat something. Or pour something in the water. James! The possibilities are endless! I'll have to do some research. It'll be difficult because the squid is so enormous. But it doesn't have thick skin like a troll or dragon does it?"

"Nah, I don't think so. It's far too squishy. Anything can probably penetrate that blob." James's eyes twinkled as he discussed the possibilities with Sirius.

Silence fell on the lake as the two boys schemed. The Potters' grey owl hooted from a near-by branch. A fat garden gnome rustled as he snuck through a distant bush.

"I'm glad you stayed here this summer," James said breaking the silence.

"I'm never going back" Sirius said coldly. "If I can't stay with you next summer, then I'll find a job and a place of my own. But I'm not going back to that wretched house."

This was the first time Sirius had spoken about Number 12 Grimmauld Place, and James didn't really know what to say.

"You are welcome to stay here as long as you need. You're my best mate. I'm sure my parents would love to have you next summer too."

"Really?" Sirius raised his eyebrow, and pulled himself out of the water to face James.

"Yeah."

"Thanks."

"You can only stay on one condition though," James said. "Stop fancying my mum."

Sirius gave his trademark smirk. "I don't know if I can promise that."

At that point James tackled Sirius and tried to push his head underwater. Sirius grabbed James by the neck to take him down too.

Mrs. Potter smiled at the splashing and sputtering boys through the back window, and brought out a tray of fresh lemonade.