The Chronicles of Sirius Black

Chapter 6

Pilfered Potions and Black Blood

As the Gryffindor table settled their Sorting bets, Dumbledore rose to address the Great Hall, and a room full of grumbling stomachs turned to listen.

"Welcome back! I stand before you delighted to see so many young hungry faces. I believe I'd be misleading myself to think it was a hunger for knowledge. So, I shall not make you wait any longer," said Dumbledore glancing at the Gryffindor table. "Tuck in!"

With an appreciative cheer, the students dug into the food that had appeared on the table at Dumbledore's words.

Lily watched as James and Sirius began to quarrel over potatoes as if there wasn't enough for everyone. Sirius chucked a carrot at James, which James snatched in midair and threw back. Sirius ducked and the carrot hit Peter in the forehead.

"James! Stop throwing food!" said Lily as she grabbed his arm.

"Sirius started it."

"I don't care who started it."

Sirius began to pile his plate with potatoes. "Anyone else think McGonagall is starting to go gray?"

Everyone turned to look at their Head of House who was sipping from a goblet and listening to their Potions instructor, Horace Slughorn.

"If she is going gray, it's more than likely due to you and James," Remus told Sirius as he picked at some roast pork.

James chuckled, but Sirius leaned across the table and said quietly, "I think it's due to another gray-haired friend."

Remus shot Sirius a warning glare before flushing a deep red, and hunching over his plate.

The little Weasley boy, whom Sirius had placed his outrageous bet on, was watching the group of Sixth Years from the other end of the table. Though, he wasn't watching Sirius quite so much as gazing unflinchingly at the Prewetts. Finally, he shoved his plate away from him and got up from the table. Many of the other First Years watched in awe as he stomped towards Gideon and Fabian.

"Hullo, Uncle Giddy and Uncle Fab," said the Weasley boy with a smirk.

Sirius and James simultaneously spurted their drinks out their noses.

"What did you just call them?" asked Remus as James and Sirius caught their breath.

"Errr. Nothing," said Gideon.

"Go back and sit down, William," Fabian said in a harsh tone under his breath.

"Do you know this scrawny fire-top?" asked Sirius with a grin.

The boy's robes were even more worn and tattered up close. He had large goofy ears that stuck out too far from the side of his head.

"Errr," Gideon looked over at Fabian.

"Yes," said Fabian with a sigh. "He's our older sister's son."

"Awww," cooed James, "Dear Uncle Giddy."

"Maybe next time you won't pretend you don't know me," said the Weasley boy with a look of satisfaction before returning to his seat with the other First Years.

Gideon and Fabian hunched over their plates as James and Sirius burst into an improvised song about dear Uncle Giddy and Fab.

"Hello Nick!" shouted Peter as the Gryffindor ghost glided into the Great Hall.

"Hello Mr. Pettigrew!" Nearly Headless Nick soared across the Great Hall so that he hovered just at the end of the Gryffindor table.

"Did you do any traveling over the summer holiday, Nick?" asked Remus.

"Why yes! As a matter of fact I did, Mr. Lupin. The Fat Friar and I traveled to an abandoned estate that belonged to Sir Walter Raleigh. Quite a fascinating escapade."

"Oy! Sirius!" Felix Frisby called down the table.

Sirius was caught mid-mouthful and mumbled something unintelligible.

"Todd Shelby graduated and we need another Beater this year. You interested in trying out?"

Sirius raised his eyebrows and grinned deviously.

"I'll check my schedule and get back to you, Felix."

"You're still going to have to try out, you big-headed bloke."

Fabian Prewett chimed in, "Yeah! I don't think we've ever seen you fly!"

"Who said you're any good on a broom?" Gideon Prewett added.

"You want to place a bet on that?" Sirius stood up and shouted defensively, "Anyone want to lay down a Sickle that I can't ride a bloody broom?"

The table was silent.

"Yeah, I didn't think so," said Sirius, and he took a Treacle Tart from the center of the table.

Conversation shifted to who they would find to be the new Keeper, which was also an empty position.

Stomachs became full and drowsy faces began to yawn. The food disappeared along with their dirty plates and goblets, and Dumbledore rose once again to speak.

"I have a few announcements before I send you to your House dormitories. First, a reminder to all students, the Forbidden Forest is off limits for your own safety. Second, we have two new teachers joining us this year. Professor Selene Morgan will be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor and our new Herbology professor will be Beverly Woodward. Quidditch trials will be held the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their respective houses should contact Professor O'Brian."

James gave Sirius a nudge.

No one noticed that Sirius's face had gone pale.

~*~

Moans broke out from the Gryffindor 6^th year boys' dormitory. Sirius was darting around the room yanking the drapes from each of the four posters and spilling bright sunlight over groggy faces.

Remus growled something unintelligible. Peter whined and buried his head in a pillow. Fabian Prewett yelled something about Sirius being "a little prick." Edgar Bones, another fellow Gryffindor 6^th year, groaned and rolled so he was no longer facing the morning sun.

Only James took vengeful action. James stumbled from his bed, grabbed his wand, and sleepily yelled hexes in Sirius's direction.

"James! One, you don't have your glasses on yet, so I don't know why you are thinking you can hit me. Two, I don't think your wand even knows what the bloody hell you are mumbling," Sirius mocked as he stepped lazily from side to side to dodge James's sloppy spells. "And three, it's our first day back at Hogwarts. We have loads to do!"

James dropped his wand on his bed with a grunt and began feeling around for his glasses.

"When did you become Mr. Morning Person?" Remus asked as he stumbled towards the bathroom.

"I'll try to leave you some toast for breakfast, Moony!" Sirius called over his shoulder as he darted out of the dormitory.

~*~

By the time James, Remus and Peter joined Sirius in the Great Hall, Sirius had already finished his breakfast and was examining his course schedule.

His O.W.L. results determined what he would be taking this year. He had received an 'Outstanding' in Defense against the Dark Arts and an 'Exceeds Expectations' in Transfigurations. He was looking at being an Auror and luckily he had somehow managed to get an 'Exceeds Expectations' in Potions as well. Just to spite his mum, he had also signed up for Muggle Studies.

James had finally woken up, though you couldn't tell by looking at his wild hair, and began piling food on his plate.

"Wargh roo ree arv dootay?" James said through his mouthful of toast.

"James, I will not answer to such incomprehensible garble," said Sirius with a mocking upturned nose and he hid his friends' schedules against his chest.

James swallowed exaggeratedly. Remus glared. Peter beckoned for Sirius to hand them their schedules.

"Mr. Black, would you be soooo kind as to inform Mr. Lupin, Mr. Pettigrew, and myself of today's itinerary?" asked James.

"Why yes, Mr. Potter! It would be my pleasure!" Sirius grinned and cleared his throat. "James and I will begin our day with old Slug Boy in double Potions. Maybe we'll make the Slug Club this year, though I don't see why we'd want to. Remus, you have Care of Magical Creatures this morning, and Peter you have Herbology. You both have fun with that. We all have double Transfigurations after lunch. Should be a bloody fantastic day."

Sirius looked up from their schedules, and saw that he had completely lost James's attention. He scanned the room for the red-headed culprit. Sure enough, Lily Evans had arrived at the breakfast table. She was followed by Pamela Patil and Marlene McKinnon.

James stared in Lily's direction with a pathetic look on his face. When she refused to look his way, he looked back down at his food and began to push the last of his cold eggs around his plate.

"Oy, Lily!" Sirius shouted down the table.

James muttered angrily at Sirius under his breath. Sirius ignored him.

"What Sirius?" Lily yelled back, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

"What classes do you have this morning?" Sirius said sweetly, ignoring Lily's feisty morning attitude.

"I have double Potions with Professor Slughorn."

"Brilliant! James and I have double Potions too!"

"Yeah," Lily said, frowning. "That's bloody brilliant."

Pamela and Marlene gave Lily sympathetic looks and the three of them began whispering amongst themselves.

"Thanks Sirius," James said scowling. "Lily definitely doesn't hate me enough already, and having my best mate retrieve her schedule for me--isn't fishy at all."

"Any time," Sirius retorted.

"James, let it go," Remus interjected. "Sirius was just trying to help."

"Well, maybe I don't want his help. Maybe I can talk to Lily Evans on my own. And maybe if you guys would quit bugging her, I would stand a chance."

"Don't blame us," added Peter defensively.

"Yeah, it's not like you didn't annoy her to tears the past six years," Sirius pointed out.

James gritted his teeth and stood up from the table.

"I'll see you in Potions." James spoke without looking Sirius in the eye, and then stormed out of the Great Hall.

Remus looked down the table and saw that Lily was watching James leave. Lily saw Remus and turned away quickly. Remus thought he saw a flush in her cheeks, but he didn't say a word to Sirius or Peter.

~*~

James left the Great Hall with clenched fists. He knew he shouldn't be mad at Sirius, but he couldn't help it. He could be such a royal prat sometimes.

Maybe it had become a bit of a joke to confess his love for Lily Evans. But didn't she know that he did, genuinely, like her? The reason he made it such a joke, was because he didn't want the whole school to think she was really rejecting him, each and every time.

If she would just agree to go to Hogsmeade with him--once--then maybe he could tell her how he really felt. He didn't want to embarrass her or make her angry, though both emotions made her look quite stunning.

James reached Slughorn's classroom and began pacing back and forth in the hall. He mumbled to himself and kept running his hands through his unkempt hair.

~*~

Lily sat in the Great Hall, staring straight ahead of her. Pamela and Marlene were talking, but she only heard a faint hum.

She knew Remus had caught her watching them. She shouldn't have been watching.

It had looked like James and Sirius were fighting. They never fought, or at least, not like that. They argued all the time, but it was usually solved in a highly competitive wrestling match.

"Lily? Hello? What do you think?" Marlene asked as she waved a hand in front of Lily's face.

"Did you hear one word of what we were talking about?" asked Pamela.

"No. No, I'm sorry," Lily said in a dazed voice. "I have to go talk to Professor Slughorn."

With that, Lily got up and walked slowly out of the Great Hall. She wondered what exactly she was doing. She most definitely did not need to speak to Professor Slughorn. She'd talked to him at great length yesterday at his little "welcome back" gathering.

Her cheeks flushed and her stomach twisted inside of her.

"Oh! Shut it! So what if I'm going to see him," Lily whispered harshly to a small nagging voice inside her.

Lily walked briskly to Potions, wringing her hands. She kept mumbling the same mock conversation over and over to herself.

"Um, hello. James ... I'm sorry, oh bollocks no! Er, so where's Sirius? Fighting? That's a shame."

Lily paused just before she was about to round the Potions corridor. Taking a deep breath, she peeked around the corner.

James was pacing back and forth. His jaw was clenched and she could see a small muscle twitching just next to his ear. He frowned and ran his hands through that black hair of his. Lily let out a small sigh at this, and to her dismay, he looked up. James gave her an unsure smile.

"Oh! Hello, James! I was just hoping to catch Professor Slughorn before class started," Lily lied chirpily.

"He's not here yet. We still have about twenty minutes before class starts," James said as he looked down at the floor.

"Oh, yes! I suppose you're right," Lily said frowning. This was not how it was supposed to go. James was being very difficult. He wouldn't even look her in the eye.

"I can leave if you want," James offered, and he began to back away.

"Oh no!" Lily exclaimed as she resumed wringing her hands. Then she said in a more normal tone, "Why would I want you to leave?"

"Well, I just don't want to, err, bother you. I know I get on your nerves sometimes," James mumbled this, but a faint smirk was forming across his lips.

"Why, Ms. Evans!"

The short, chubby figure of Professor Slughorn was waddling down the corridor.

"Professor, I was just looking for you," Lily said with a meek smile. Meanwhile, the heavy weight of missed opportunity was forming somewhere in her chest.

James stood aside and allowed Professor Slughorn to open the classroom door.

"Ms. Evans! Always a pleasure! We had such a delightful conversation yesterday! It astonishes me the caliber of students I have had the privilege to teach. Did you want to speak with me about something in particular?"

Professor Slughorn ushered a reluctant Lily into the classroom and closed the door.

Once again, James stood alone in the corridor. He slumped against the wall and began repeating his conversation with Lily in is head. He could almost see her green eyes peeking around the corner. Eventually, the corridors grew noisy as they filled with students on their way to class.

~*~

Remus and Peter went off to their morning classes and Sirius trudged alone to Potions. He wished he hadn't had a spat with James at breakfast. He hated walking to class alone.

"Good morning, Sirius," cooed a familiar voice.

Looking up Sirius saw Silvia Caldwell eyeing him.

"Where's your beloved boyfriend, Ignatius?" asked Sirius with a smirk. He took several steps closer to her and his eyes couldn't help but drift to where her robes tightened across her bust.

"He's around somewhere," Silvia answered lightly and also took several steps closer. She was now standing so near that Sirius could smell her intoxicating perfume.

"Really?" Sirius felt lightheaded and put his hand on the wall for support. He was grinning wildly back at Silvia as she touched his arm lightly with a delicate pale hand.

"I've been finding Ignatius to be quite dull lately," Silvia whispered close to Sirius's ear. "I think I could use some excitement, maybe even a little trouble. Do you know what I mean?"

"Mr. Black! Were you planning on attending class this morning?" Professor Slughorn called out as he stood ready to close the door to his classroom.

Silvia grinned and turned with a graceful flourish and walked down the corridor swinging her magnificent hips. Sirius watched with his mouth slightly agape.

"Mr. Black!" Professor Slughorn grabbed the neck of Sirius's robes and pulled him into the classroom.

Sirius took the seat next to James, though the prat still refused to look at him. Sirius took a few seconds to scan the classroom to figure out who had gotten an OWL in Potions. Lily and her friend Marlene McKinnon were seated together. A handful of Ravenclaws sat near the front of the classroom along with just a few Hufflepuffs. Snivellus, with his greasy limp hair and hooked nose, sat brooding in the corner. His partner was a mousy Ravenclaw named Audrey who was a particularly odd girl with thick specs.

Sirius poked James.

"What?" James muttered without turning to look at Sirius.

Sirius poked him again.

James whipped his head around prepared to kill Sirius with his glare. But Sirius was giving him a wide-eyed look, batting his eyelashes as though he were on the verge of tears.

In a high-pitched whisper, Sirius said, "Please James, I can't go on like this. I need you in my life."

"Oh shut it. I forgive you."

"What was that Mr. Potter?" called Professor Slughorn.

"Errr. Nothing. I was just asking Sirius if I could borrow a quill."

"Yes. Well. Do so more quietly next time, Mr. Potter."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, get out your copies of Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage and turn to the section on the Draught of the Living Death beginning on page ten."

There was a rustle of textbooks being opened and pages being turned.

"This potion is quite difficult, but you should be able to make a decent attempt during today's class. The student with the best potion will win their House thirty points!"

Sirius eagerly began to get out the ingredients.

"When have you ever cared about House Points?" asked James, clueless as to why Sirius was so eager to begin.

"I don't. I just think it would be splendid to mix up a good batch so we can slip some in Snape's pumpkin juice at dinner.

"Brilliant!"

However, the Draught of the Living Death proved far more difficult than either boy expected. Lily Evans's potion was already emitting blue steam while James and Sirius were still struggling to juice their sopophorous beans.

With five minutes to go, James and Sirius were both furiously stirring their potions and slopping a magenta liquid all over the sides of their cauldrons.

Snape's potion had looked quite exceptional until a few beads of greasy sweat rolled down his nose and added essence of Snape to his cauldron. The potion then changed to dark midnight blue and smelled of old boot.

Lily's potion was causing Slughorn to have fits of happy giggles. Her potion had been the proper blackcurrant color at the halfway stage. After carefully stirring for just several minutes, Lily was able to get the potion to go from a dark purple to a lovely lavender shade.

"Time's up! From my observations, Miss Evans has been able to produce a near perfect batch of the Draught of the Living Death. I should have known this would be too easy for you Miss Evans! Thirty points for Gryffindor!"

Lily's cheeks flushed but she smiled.

"Mr. Black and Mr. Potter, I insist that the area around you be spotless and magenta free before you leave the classroom."

"Yes, sir."

While Sirius began to mop up the magenta goo that had sloshed over the sides of the cauldron, James walked over to where Lily was putting away her scales.

"Nice potion, Lily."

Lily looked up in surprise, flushed pink and muttered a quiet "Thanks."

"I don't know how I managed an OWL in Potions," babbled James. "I'm thinking the NEWT level may be more than I can handle." James furrowed his brow in what was supposed to be a discouraged look and ran a hand through his messy hair.

Lily bit her lip as her stomach felt as if it were filling with flittering pixies.

"Perhaps," Lily said slowly, "I could help you."

"Really?" James grinned.

"Errr, yes."

"Brilliant! Thanks. I'll see you later, Lily." James quickly turned away before Lily could change her mind.

Sirius watched the whole encounter with curiosity as he lazily picked at some burnt sopophorous beans that were stuck to the table. James strolled back with a big grin.

"She certainly puts a really stupid look on your face," said Sirius.

"Actually the stupid look is for another reason."

James lifted the sleeve of his robes and slipped out a vile of lavender colored liquid. Sirius's jaw dropped.

"Snivellus looks tired. Don't you agree?"

~*~

Sirius and Peter lounged on the floor playing a game of wizard's chess in the Gryffindor common room. Peter bit his tongue in concentration while Sirius's eyes watched a group giggling Fourth Year girls in a circle of armchairs nearby. Remus sat in an enormous overstuffed chair looking like withering patient from St. Mungo's. James sat beside him and was retelling how he snatched a bit of Lily's magnificent draught.

"What do you plan to do with it?" asked Remus.

"Isn't it obvious?" drawled Sirius.

"We're going to slip some to Snivellus," explained James.

Peter finally moved his chess piece and sat up proudly waiting for Sirius to take his turn.

Sirius glanced at the board, ordered his knight forward, and one of Peter's bishops was smashed to pieces. Peter let out a gasp as his remaining pieces erupted into cries of mutiny.

"How did you do that?" asked Peter as his queen began to rally the pawns and dictated the next move without consulting Wormtail. "I thought that was a safe move."

"If there's one thing Blacks do well, it's wizard chess. It's in the blood."

James turned to Sirius and gave him a curious look.

Sirius caught his eye and went pale realizing what he had just said. Had he really just sounded exactly like his mother? How could those foul words have just slipped from his mouth? Bile rose in his throat and he broke into a clammy cold sweat.

"I'm tired. Long day," Sirius muttered in a strained voice. He rose clutching his stomach.

"Are you alright?" asked James.

"Yeah."

Sirius left the common room in a daze, curled up in his bed with the drapes closed, and stared into the darkness until restless dreams came.