Sirius was on his way to the library--searching for Remus. He had a Transfigurations assignment due tomorrow and he was screwed. Ah, and just his luck to run into a group of little Slytherin thugs, terrorizing some Hufflepuff first years. You don't pick on young Hufflepuffs, they're just too defenseless. Too bad he didn't have a dungbomb on him.
"Oh, look--four Slytherins got one small Hufflepuff. What a prize, you must feel so proud." He, on the other hand, was not defenseless.
Homework. Homework and books and admonishments and the occasional full moon. That is what my life has become since beginning sixth year at Hogwarts.
The last five years had been the same way, but I didn't mind so much then. It was as if it was how things should be: Sirius and James would go off and do what they did, and I would stand on the sidelines telling them not to...well, sometimes. It was rare that I'd actually outright tell them that their pranks were wrong, because usually they were harmless...usually. So I suppose all I ever did was watch them. On the outside looking in. Like always.
I was content with it. I suppose. Never wanted to change it that badly. But for some reason, this year...maybe it was the thought that there was so little time left at my school--less than two years and I'd be gone forever. It sounds like a lot, but when you're there, on the edge of it and can see the bottom...it doesn't seem quite as far of a fall as one might think.
I was going to be gone relatively soon. I had less than two years to make a mark. Why not start now?
I had to find Sirius.
Sirius was pacing, his brow furrowed and in deep concentration.
There were only 56 days left till Halloween, and he still didn't know who he was going to dress up as. Time was running out, and quickly. But who to be?
He threw up his arms in defeat and plopped into a nearby chair. Where the hell was James? He looked around, not seeing him. Remus was somewhere being Remus, he was sure.
Ahh, Peter.
"Hey, Wormtail, over here," Sirius beckoned. Peter could brainstorm with him.
Sirius quickly made his way to an free compartment, his friends trailing behind. He was so elated to be back, he didn't even trip the first year running in front of him. He plopped down by the window, grinning.
"I'll just put my feet up," he announced loudly. Remus was behind James a minute ago. "No need to fit four people in this compartment. No, only three this year." With much show, Sirius put one foot on the seat in front of him, then another. He looked over at James, hoping he wouldn't run off to have Lily fill the empty spot. That would make for a long ride.
"Summer reading is the most interesting thing, Sirius. You should try it sometime. I've gotten quite interested in werewolves."
I was fuming. I wanted nothing more than to punch Regulus right between the eyes, but I was pretty sure that Kreacher would end up killing me in my sleep. Death by ugly house-elf was not how I wanted to go out. So instead, I stole his broom. I didn't care it was the middle of the night, and I didn't care that every time I rode a broom I could hear James's laughter, no matter where I was.
"They're filthy creatures, aren't they? So...primitive. I bet that they're hardly stable as people."
I leaned forward and dug my nails into the wooden handle. My legs were hurting and I couldn't feel my face. I didn't care. I had to leave.
It wasn't until I saw the familiar country house that I realized where I was going. Remus's room was on the second floor, if I remembered correctly. I tried to stop by his window, but I ended up smacking the end of Regulus's broom against the glass.
"Fuck. Moony! Wake up!"
