Padfoot,

How have your holidays been so far? I know it's only been a week but you didn't sound awfully happy in your last letter. Mum and Dad say you can come stay with us whenever you want - Moony's coming on the 20th and Wormtail's coming on the 23rd. We'd love to have you as well.

Oh, and you'll never guess what happened: EVANS WROTE TO ME! It was only to tell me to stop writing to her but it still counts, even if Moony doesn't think so. You agree with me, right? I know you do.

Anyway, not much has been happening here; I went to work with Dad yesterday and with Mum the day before that. I'll have to tell you all about it - the Department of Mysteries gets weirder every time I go! We're going to a Cannons game while Remus is over. If you're here too I'm sure Dad could get an extra ticket because no one goes to their games anyway.

Talk to your parents about visiting, okay? If I don't hear back from you for more than two days, Dad says we'll come to make sure everything's all right. Noddy says hi and give Reg a hi from me.

Hope to see you soon,

Prongs.

Sirius sighed and read over the letter again. He glanced at the door to make sure his parents weren't going to come barging through and pulled a piece of parchment toward him. James' owl hooted approvingly.

Prongs, he wrote.

I sound upset? I think you're imagining things. What reason could I possibly have to be upset when I'm at the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black? That's nice of them, but I think I'll stay here - I'll get more homework done that way. That was a huge lie but his parents had banned him from spending time with James over the holidays and he didn't want to put that in a letter. Hopefully James would know what he meant, though.

Say hi to Moony and Wormtail from me when they're there, and tell Moony I agree with him; Lily's letter doesn't count. Not much is happening here, either. We've got the family coming for dinner tonight which will no doubt be the highlight of my holidays thus far. That was a lie too. Letters from his friends had been the highlights but Sirius couldn't write something that sappy. The Department of Mysteries sounds interesting - I'm looking forward to hearing about it.

Thanks for the offer about the Cannons but I think I might have to pass on that too. Maybe next time?

Everything's fine here. Tell Noddy thank you.

Padfoot.

There was a timid knock at his door.

"What?" he called irritably, trying to get James' owl Chudley to sit still long enough for him to attach the letter.

Regulus poked his head through the door. "I can come back later if you want?" he asked nervously.

"Nah, it's all right. I thought you were Mum."

Regulus frowned and slipped inside; Sirius wasn't supposed to call his mother 'Mum'. "James?" he asked, glancing at Chudley. The owl hooted a hello.

"Yeah. He says hi."

"That's nice of him. Say hi back for me."

Sirius unrolled his letter, added a postscript and then barked, "Chudley, sit bloody still." The owl ruffled his feathers indignantly but stuck out a feathery leg and allowed Sirius to secure the letter.

'Why don't you use our owl?"

"Ebony hates me," Sirius grumbled. "Besides, Chudley was already here." He grabbed the owl and tossed it out the window.

Regulus perched on the end of Sirius' bed. He blinked, looking rather owlish himself. "Those are new," he said, glancing at the pictures of muggle girls. Sirius grinned as his brother poked the picture, no doubt wondering why they weren't moving.

"I put them up last week. That one too," he said nodding at the photograph of him and the other three Marauders. They'd dragged poor Frank Longbottom outside - and almost made him miss breakfast - on the last day of school to make him take it.

"You look... happy," Regulus said quietly. "I don't think I've seen you smile like that in a while."

Sirius shrugged. He rarely smiled at home but he was particularly happy in that photograph; Remus had just forgiven him for the Snape incident and they were all friends again - probably even closer than they'd ever been for having fought.

"Mother wants you to get dressed and come downstairs," Regulus said after a moment.

"Tell her thanks but I'd much rather stay here," Sirius said shortly.

"Father said you'd say that," Regulus sighed.

"Oh, he's home, is he? How lovely."

"Sirius-"

"Sorry," Sirius mumbled. He swallowed his irritation; Regulus was only the messenger. "What does Mother want?"

"For you to get into your school robes," Regulus said.

"I'm not allowed to wear them in the house," Sirius said woodenly, wondering if his brother was playing some sort of joke. It would be rather out of character but stranger things have happened...

"Mother's changed her mind. She wants a family photo."

"Oh, good," Sirius said, not at all enthused. "I can add that to the list: she wants me to be in Slytherin, me to stop talking to James, Remus and Peter, me to be more like you, me to stop ordering Kreacher to hide for days at a time, me to stop living in my room, me to drop Muggle Studies-"

"Please, Sirius," Regulus said. "It's going to happen whether you like it or not so just do it and make it easy for both of us."

"Fine," Sirius growled. He stomped over to his dresser and pulled out his school pants, shirt, tie and robes.

"See you downstairs," Regulus said. "And... try not to keep Mother waiting."

Of course I won't. She'd blame it on you anyway and that isn't fair. He shook his head and shrugged out of his casual robes. A minute later he was completely redressed and looked exactly as he would on a normal school day, down to the shaggy hair, loose tie and partially untucked shirt. He slipped his shoes on and stalked out onto the landing.

"Nasty little-" the family house elf muttered, spying Sirius, as he emerged from the linen closet opposite Sirius' bedroom door.

"You shouldn't talk about yourself that way," Sirius told him.

Kreacher stared at his uniform and his large bloodshot eyes fell on the Gryffindor tie. "Blood traitor," he muttered. "Stain on my Mistress' honour and that of House Black. Master Regulus has proper pride, Master Regulus knows his place and what is due to his nam-"

"Kreacher, shut up," Sirius said tiredly. Kreacher made a choking noise but couldn't speak. "Go and hide in the kitchen for an hour and I forbid you to come out or tell anyone why you're there until the hour's up."

Kreacher's eyes bulged but he still wasn't allowed to talk. He spat at Sirius' feet and Disapparated with a noisy CRACK! Sirius just hoped he was in the middle of doing something important and would get punished for not getting it done. He thundered down the stairs, taking them two at a time because he knew the noise would infuriate his father.

When he reached the flight of stairs that connected the first floor to the ground floor, he bounded around the first section and collided with his mother. His father stopped Mother from falling over but made no effort to stop Sirius bouncing off her and landing on his backside on the carpet.

"Sorry," he said. "Didn't see you there."

Both stared at him with disdain. Mother was wearing a pair of black, lacy dress-robes and an ugly hat. Father was wearing a pair of dress-robes - also black - but they had silver embroidery at the sleeves and hem and there was not a crease to be found. His mother's sharp eyes found his tie. "Why are you wearing that?" she asked. Sirius stared up at her, puzzled. "I told Regulus to tell you to wear dress robes."

"I decided not to listen," he said, feeling rather foolish; clearly Regulus had been playing a joke.

"Only Regulus was supposed to be in his school robes," Mother said huffily.

Sirius grinned, picking himself up off the ground. Joke or not, it had Mother annoyed so he'd keep it that way. "Well I wanted to wear mine too. If I didn't, people might think you were the prejudiced sort and we wouldn't want that."

His mother bristled but Father just eyed him coldly. "At the very least do your tie up properly," Mother said, regaining her voice. "You look like a half-blood."

"Really?" Sirius said making no move to fix it. "That's a shame. I was going for the product-of-incest look."

Mother let out a screech. "We are of the purest bloodline!" she told him furiously.

"That's what I was saying; all the purity passes from cousin to cousin to co-"

"Sirius!" Father said coolly.

Sirius shivered for effect. "It's cold in here," he said pointedly. "Perhaps I should get my scarf too-"

"Enough," Mother said. "It's bad enough you're wearing that wretched tie and even worse that you were Sorted there in the first place. You will not be wearing a scarf."

"Then why don't you tell Father to pull the broomstick out of his-"

His mother slapped him. "You will not talk to your father that way!"

"I told you to tell him, so I wasn't actually talking to-"

She slapped him again. "Have you no respect at all? Where's your family pride? Your honour?"

"I left it at James' house over Christmas," Sirius said. It was true; he was prouder to be an honorary Potter than a born Black. "I'll have to go there at some point and pick it up-"

"You will not! That boy's been misguiding you for years! We won't tolerate you consorting with his type anymore!"

"What type? Purebloods? They aren't all bad. Just all the ones we know."

"They're blood-traitors," Father said. "Mudblood lovers."

James does love Lily... "They're a better type than any of your friends," Sirius said shortly. "James is brilliant."

"He's a bad influence," Mother said. "I'll be surprised if you've scraped any O.W.L.s."

"I think I did rather well in my Muggle Studies exam," Sirius said.

"I suppose the Potter boy does Muggle Studies too," Father said coldly. He glanced at the mounted elf heads as if he'd like nothing more than to put Sirius up there with them.

"No, actually. I'm the only one. Peter doesn't have much interest in muggles and James really wanted to do Ancient Runes so it didn't fit and Remus' mother is a muggleborn so he knows all about them." Mother shuddered at the word muggleborn. "I just can't help it. Muggles are so terribly interesting. Aren't they, Reg?"

Regulus had just appeared looking immaculate in his school robes, and had absolutely no clue what they were talking about. "Aren't they what?"

"Muggles," Sirius said. "They're fascinating."

"Oh. Erm... well, I suppose so-" Regulus shot their father a quick look, "-but they aren't really our concern. We're purebloods. We don't need to have anything to do with them if we don't want to." Mother watched Regulus proudly, Father without expression.

"You keep telling yourself that," Sirius said, ruffling his brother's hair. "Or, more truthfully, let them keep telling you that." Regulus flinched. Mother looked cross. "Now, someone said something about a photograph?"

"Yes," Father said. "Where's that wretched elf with the camera?" Sirius sniggered but assumed a grave expression when Father glanced at him.

"Kreacher's not wretched," Regulus said, annoyed.

"Have you been putting ideas in your brother's head?" Father snapped, staring at Sirius.

"No. I hate the little bastard," Sirius said cheerfully. "Kreacher, not Reg. I'm rather fond of Reg. Besides, giving him ideas is your job." Regulus shot him a look, a plea to be quiet. Sirius rocked back onto his heels, humming the school song under his breath.

"Kreacher!" Mother screeched. Sirius' smile grew slightly when the elf didn't come. "Kreacher! Oh, where has he got to?" she asked, smoothing her robes.

"I can't imagine," Sirius said brightly.

"Where is he?" Father asked, while Mother shouted for the elf. Regulus shrugged, looking concerned. "Sirius."

"I'd try the kitchen," Sirius suggested. "He seems to like it down there." Father grabbed the back of Sirius' robes.

"Father don't!" Regulus cried. "You'll hurt him!"

Father ignored Regulus and hauled Sirius down the last few steps, down the hall and down the stairs into the kitchen. "Undo whatever it is you've done," Father barked, giving Sirius a rough shake.

Sirius pried his father's fingers free, stalked over to Kreacher's den and wrenched the door open. The elf was rocking back and forward in the dark, muttering, "Bad Kreacher!" and smacking his ugly head against the boiler.

"Stop it," Sirius said, annoyed; he was actually feeling a little guilty.

"Has the brat been sent to apologise to poor Kreacher?" Kreacher asked.

"I take back what I said before. Go and get the bloody camera."

The elf shoved past him and Sirius heard him tell Father how noble he was looking. Sirius shuffled out of the cupboard, dodged his father and bolted up the stairs to the ground floor. "You and Regulus will stand in front," Mother told him.

"Where my tie's in plain view?" Sirius asked innocently. "Perhaps there's hope for you yet."

"Don't start, Sirius," Regulus sighed.

Sirius bit down on his tongue to keep another retort back. Kreacher came shuffling out holding a heavy camera and Father emerged from the hall with an unreadable expression. He gave Sirius a dark look and took his place beside Mother. Sirius glowered at Kreacher and by extension the camera.

Let them see just how happy I am to be here, he thought venomously. The camera clicked.

"Take another one, Kreacher," Mother called. "I want a choice." Sirius maintained the same dull expression the entire time.

"This is the last one," Father told Mother curtly.

"Look proud, everyone," Mother said.

Regulus cleared his throat and gave Sirius a little nudge in the ribs. He gave him a small smile and Sirius felt his own lips twitch up in response. He just couldn't help it. He flung an arm over Regulus' shoulders making him laugh in surprise and Sirius heard his own bark-like laugh follow; his brother didn't laugh very often. He was sure the brotherly gesture was annoying his parents but he didn't care. The camera clicked.

Father pushed between them as soon as Kreacher announced the photograph was done. Sirius let his arm fall to his side. "Get ready," Mother said from behind them. "Everyone will be here at six."

Sirius' good mood extinguished like a candle in the wind. Sometimes, the similarities between Mother and a Dementor were astonishing. "Can't I just stay in these?" he asked. Mother gave him a filthy look. "I'm joking," he said hastily.

"Do try to be more serious," she said, irritated. "Kreacher will bring you clean robes. Change, and be downstairs by five-to."

"That gives me an hour and a half," Sirius said. "I don't nee-"

"We'll be ready," Regulus said hastily, grabbing Sirius' arm before Mother could respond. He hauled him up two flights of stairs.

"You're getting strong," Sirius commented, rubbing his arm. Regulus wasn't built as solidly as he was, but he was almost as tall.

His brother ignored him. "Do you have to provoke her like that?" he asked.

Sirius shrugged. "What else is there to do?"

"Try to get along?"

"I did, for ten and a half years."

"Ever since you went to Hogwarts, you've changed," Regulus said a little accusingly.

"Of course I have. We always knew I was different - the white sheep of the black family if you will-" Regulus smiled reluctantly, "-and my Sorting proved it. I'm a Gryffindor now, so I'm allowed to be brave and stand up for myself."

"Do you really believe that? That only Gryffindors can be brave?"

"Of course not," Sirius said. "We're just better at showing it. Anyone can be brave if they want to." Regulus absorbed this in thoughtful silence. They passed the third floor and headed up the next flight of stairs. "Do you think I can get away with relaxing for an hour?" Sirius asked as they reached the fourth floor landing.

"Probably. Mind if I join you for a bit?"

Sirius shoved his bedroom door open. "Of course not," he said, holding the door for his brother. Regulus walked in and lit the lamps on the walls with a wave of his wand. Then he froze. "What?" Sirius asked, shutting the door.

Regulus let out a strangled half-laugh. "James?" he asked, running to the window.

"Oh, has he written back?" Sirius said happily, trying to get his tie undone.

"You could say that," James said.

Sirius' head snapped up. James was halfway through his bedroom window - Regulus was pulling him through - having almost slipped when the boys walked in. James shook Regulus' hand once he was inside. Sirius laughed, delighted and ran forward to hug him. "What in Godric's name are you doing here?!"

James pulled a piece of parchment out of his pocket. It took Sirius a moment to recognise his letter. "You got that quickly," Regulus said.

James shrugged. Then he swatted Sirius on the nose. "What do you call this?" he asked crossly.

"Parchment," Sirius said. "With ink on it. We call them letters-"

James smacked him again. Regulus sniggered. "You've got homework to do?" James asked incredulously. "You'll pass on a Cannons game?"

"I do have homework-"

"'Everything's fine here'?" James said, rolling his eyes as he stuffed the letter back into his jeans.

"It is-"

"Nice try," James said, throwing himself down in Sirius' desk chair. He folded his arms. "What's really going on?"

"Mum and Dad don't want me associating with you anymore," Sirius sighed.

"Oh." James blinked. "Right then." He looked uncomfortable all of a sudden. "Shit, this is awkward. I'll...er... shit, sorry."

Sirius stared at him. "For what?"

"Well, you said-" James tripped on Sirius' trunk on his way back towards the window. He fell, swearing loudly.

"Prongs, where are you going?"

"Window," James said, clutching his foot.

"Window?" Regulus cocked his head to the side. "We have a door, you know. And a fireplace."

"Not up here you don't," James said, wincing as he hopped on one foot, cradling his shoe. "And if you don't want me here, I'm not about to go waltzing through your house."

"Don't want you here?" Sirius demanded.

"Of course he wants you here!" Regulus laughed. "He's been moping for days."

"Aww, Paddy," James said.

Sirius scowled at his brother. "What?" Regulus asked. "It's true."

"You didn't need to tell him."

James sat down on Sirius' bed and took off his trainer and then his sock. "I think I've broken my toe," he announced sadly.

"Serves you right for walking into things," Sirius told him.

"Some friend you are. I came all this way to see you and you don't even offer to heal my toe."

"I'm not touching your feet!" Sirius said. Regulus wrinkled his nose in agreement.

"It's just a toe!" James said. "Please, Paddy, it hurts."

Sirius chuckled. "Sap." He pulled out his wand. "Episkey," he said.

There was a crunching sound that made Regulus wince and then James pulled his sock back on. "Thanks."

"Where did you learn to heal?" Regulus asked.

"Just a useful spell I picked up," Sirius said casually. His eyes met James' for a second and then they both looked away.

"Can you teach me?"

"Some time, sure." He turned back to James who was walking to test his healed toe. "So how did you get here?"

James looked sheepish. "Knight Bus. I told Mum and Dad I was cleaning my room and climbed out my bedroom window."

"And they didn't suspect a thing?" Sirius asked. James is so tidy I'd be suspicious if he used that excuse.

James made a face. "They probably do. I'll be back soon anyway, but if they check on me, they'll just think I've gone to the bathroom or something."

"Don't you have an ensuite?" Regulus asked tentatively; he and Sirius had spent a weekend at James' in Sirius' second year when Charlus and Dorea took them all to the Quidditch World Cup. That was before Sirius' parents had decided the Potters weren't good enough to associate with. That weekend, though - and James' generally friendly personality - were why James and Regulus got on so well; Remus and Regulus were both too polite to have ever made any real progress as friends and Peter was too scared to talk to him.

James' expression flickered. "I did," he said evasively.

"What did you do?" Sirius could feel a smile forming.

"It was an accident," James said immediately. "I'd bought a whole heap of fireworks - you know those Filibuster's Wet-Start ones...?" Sirius winced, beginning to suspect where this was going. "I'd planned to put them in Dad's shower but then Dad's mum was coming for a visit and for whatever reason that meant that myroom needed to be cleaned a day earlier than usual..."

"Why? Was your Grandmother going to be visiting your room?"

"No, she- I don't know. It's some stupid adult thing that every room needs to be clean when someone comes over." Sirius whistled; in Potter Manor, that was an impressive feat, even with Noddy the house-elf to help. "My room wasn't even that messy," James muttered, shaking his head. Sirius could believe that; James was - almost, though not quite - as neat as he was. "But Noddy still had to clean it, so I moved the fireworks from under my bed and put them in the bathroom..." He smiled sheepishly at the Black brothers. "Well, you're both bright. I think you can work out what happened."

Sirius grinned and clapped James on the back. "Does Moony know?"

"I didn't write to tell him about it, if that's what you mean," James said, rolling his eyes. "But he'll see the damage when he comes to visit. Wormtail was over last week so he's already seen it. He thought it was terribly funny, but not when he needed the toilet and had to walk five minutes to find one." James looked vindicated. Regulus chuckled and a little snort escaped, one that showed he wasn't as stuffy as he liked to make himself seem. Sirius was a little heartened at that. "What time's everyone coming?" James asked, glancing at his watch.

"Six. Still got an hour," Sirius said brightly.

"Holy Hufflepuff! An hour!" Regulus cried. "I have to get ready! Bye, James."

"Bye, Reg," James said warmly.

Regulus scarpered out. Sirius shook his head at the door. Sometimes, I don't know how we're related. He glanced at James who was currently helping himself to a chocolate frog out of Sirius' bedside table. "Oi!" he said. James glanced over and stuffed the frog in before Sirius could protest. "That was my last one, you git."

"Urgh. Agrippa again!"

"I didn't think you had Agrippa," Sirius said, frowning as he tried - mentally - to sort through James' card collection; for James' thirteenth birthday, one of his uncles had bought him a handsome, leather bound chocolate frog card album. He'd long outgrown collecting them for the competition of it - mostly - but he still enjoyed it, and it really was an impressive collection. And, as far as collections went, it was the one Sirius understood best - certainly more than Peter's muggle stamp collection anyway.

"I have about five of him."

"No Morgana, yet?"

James shook his head sadly and pocketed the card. "No."

"If it comes in the box you're going to send me tomorrow, I'll hold on to it for you," Sirius said.

"The box I'm going to send you?" James asked, grinning.

"For eating my last frog," Sirius sniffed.

"Fair enough. I'll send Chudley at some point."

Sirius beamed. "And it'd better be a large box, mind. If yo-" The door swung open. James' laugh froze on his face and his shoulders tightened.

Kreacher walked in, oblivious, carrying Sirius' dress-robes. They were ugly things, black - like his name, his hair, his mother's heart and his father's temper - with silver embroidery on the cuffs and hem. The crest sat proudly on the breast pocket and the robes had obviously been folded to show that. Kreacher set the robes down on the bed and walked out again without saying a word.

"Do you think-" James began hopefully.

"I don't know," Sirius said, worried. "You have to go, though, just in case." He didn't want James to leave, but he didn't want him to be caught by his mother or father either.

James nodded and glanced at the door as if someone might come in. He walked carefully around Sirius' trunk - not into it, this time - pulled the window open and eased himself out onto the ledge. Sirius' bedroom door flung open. It was Father and he was just about trembling with rage. He strode across the room, shoving Sirius out of the way and hauled James back in through the window by the back of his jumper.

"Why is there a Potter on your window-sill, Sirius?" he asked, giving James a rough shake.

"Maybe he likes it there," Sirius said. It was one of his worst comebacks to date but he really couldn't think of anything.

"Only because someone wouldn't let me inside," James said, irritated. He turned to Father with a passably sulky expression on his face. Sirius didn't buy it for a moment, but then, he knew James. What's he playing at?"He hasn't been answering my letters all summer, sir," he said pouting.

"Is this true?" Father asked quietly, glancing at Sirius with... no, it wasn't approval, but it was something rather close.

"Of course it's true," James said snippily, managing to wrench out of Father's grip. He straightened his glasses.He's taking the blame... Awe and fear flicked through Sirius simultaneously. James was an idiot for deliberately upsetting Father - it was like bleeding in front of a vampire - but Sirius appreciated it anyway. He just hoped it didn't end badly. "Why else would I resort to climbing through a window?"

"You're a Potter," Father said, as if that explained everything. To him, it probably did. James frowned, miffed. "I apologise, Sirius. I thought perhaps, you'd invited him here. It seems, though, that Potter has overstepped his bounds again and for once, you are guiltless."

Sirius didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth to protest and say he had invited James, but he hadn't. He frowned. James ruffled his hair and stared at his trainers. "Sorry," he muttered, looking perfectly contrite. It was an expression he and Sirius had both learned from Remus and was extremely useful against McGonagall. "I'll just go."

"Can't he stay for dinner?" Sirius asked. "He's a pureblood. I promise we'll be good. We won't bother Cissy or Bella and we'll include Reg." They sounded like the promises of a five-year-old and not a fifteen-year-old, but Father had always treated him like a child.

"Dressed like that?"

"He can wear something of mine," Sirius said, praying his father agreed; until James was actually invited to stay by one of Sirius' parents, he was an intruder and not a guest. He would be treated accordingly.

"I don't think so." Father grabbed James' jumper again and dragged him from the room. Sirius hastened to follow, patting his wand for reassurance.

"I can walk, you know, sir," James said trying to pull free.

"I am aware," Father said curtly. "You cannot, however, be trusted inside my house without supervision."

"Father, he'll walk right alongside you," Sirius said, ripping his father's hand off of James.

Father's other hand connected with the side of Sirius' face. He reeled back, disoriented and then shook his head, annoyed. "You hit him!" James exclaimed, staring up at Father in horror. It wasn't the fact that Sirius had been hit that was likely to be James' problem. It was probably the fact that it was his father who'd done it. James, with loving parents, had probably never thought to consider - Sirius had done his best to shield all of his friends from the truth, but he thought Remus might know - that not all parents loved their children.

"And I shall do so again if Sirius cannot remember his place." Father's grey eyes, so cold, so empty, bore down on Sirius.

Sirius glared back with everything he could, sure his eyes were blazing. "Don't touch James."

"Padfoot, it's all right," James muttered.

"No, it's not. Your parents don't drag me about by the scruff of my neck when I'm over." He turned to his father. "You have no right to treat him like this."

"I have every right. He is trespassing on my property-"

"He's my friend," Sirius snarled.

"It is inexcusable."

"So's your behaviour," Sirius snapped. James looked worried. "If I treated your friends this way, Father-"

"You wouldn't dare-" Father's calm mask was slipping. Sirius felt a little stab of pride beneath his anger.

"No, because I'm a decent human being."

"You don't know what decent is. You consort with blood traitors an-"

"Of course I know what it is!" Sirius shouted. "Just because I've never seen examples of decency here doesn't mean I've never seen it. Those 'blood-traitors' are the ones who taught me about decency, Father, not you or our friends."

"Our friends are-"

"Our friends are scum," Sirius growled. "They're stuck-up purebloods who want nothing more than to kiss Voldemort's-"

"Don't say the name!" Father hissed.

"VOLDEMORT!" Sirius shouted. Father startled and hit him again.

James, who had been watching, stunned until now - likely because he'd never been in a situation quite like this before - flared up. "Don't touch him," he snarled, stepping between Sirius and Father. The lamps on the walls flickered.

"I'll not be told what to do by a blood traitor," Father said.

"Mature," James said coolly. "Are we insulting each other now, instead of hitting? Words instead of hands and all that?"

"James," Sirius said, pulling him out of the way. It wasn't easy to do on Grimmauld's narrow stairwell.

"No, Sirius," James said impatiently, shaking loose. Father was watching them with amusement that made Sirius' insides go cold.

"You need to go home," Sirius urged. Before you piss Father off anymore.

"And leave you here with these people?" James demanded. "I don't think so. I'm going to use your fireplace to call Dad and then he's going to pick us both up and take us home."

Home, Sirius had to admit, sounded very welcome. "Use my fireplace?" Father asked softly.

"Yes," James told him.

James was very, very brave and very, very stupid to try to threaten Father. "You'll not be using my fireplace," Father said.

"If you keep me here, they'll come anyway," James said, tilting his jaw up. Sirius didn't think Father noticed the flick of James' eyes that said he was bluffing.

"I have no intention of allowing you to remain in my house," Father said disdainfully. "We'll call the Knight Bus and send you home that way."

"I'm still bringing Dad back," James said.

"Odd, that an Auror, a man with such high regard for the rules has managed to raise such a disgrace."

Sirius didn't think. He shoved James out of the way and punched his father. The smack of fist-on-face seemed to echo. Everything was silent. Sirius couldn't quite believe what he'd done. "Don't talk about my friends that way," he said, very quietly. Father stared at him, stunned. James blinked, looking neither pleased or displeased that Sirius had stepped in on his behalf.

"Go to your room," Father told Sirius.

"No," Sirius said.

"Sirius-"

"I said no!" Sirius shouted. He spun and ushered James downstairs. Father didn't follow.

"I'm sorry," James said miserably, as soon as they were out of hearing range. "Sirius, I-"

"Don't," Sirius said flatly. "He's had it coming for a long time."

"Is he always-"

"Yeah," Sirius said. James wrapped an arm around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. Sirius couldn't put into words how much that simple gesture meant.

"I'm sorry. I'll bring Dad-"

"Don't," Sirius said. "Just- just leave it."

"But-"

"I don't want to go home with you, Prongs." He did, he couldn't think of anything he wanted more, but if he did, Charlus would ask questions that he didn't want to answer. He could say enough to ruin his father and even his mother he thought, but then he and Regulus' custody would be transferred to his Aunt Druella and Uncle Cyprus. They weren't as volatile as his parents, but they had all the same ideals and it meant they'd have to share a house with Narcissa and Bellatrix until they were of age. "I want to stay here, at least for the next little while." James looked upset but he nodded and let Sirius led him into the library on the third floor. "That fireplace'll take you to the kitchen," Sirius said in a flat voice. "From the kitchen, you can go home."

"Okay," James said quietly. "I'll write tomorrow and send those frogs-"

Sirius smiled, a genuine smile. "Thanks. I'll see you in September."

"Can't you visit before then? Or I'll come here?"

"I don't think that's a very good idea," Sirius said slowly.

James' eyes scanned his face but he didn't press the point. "I'll write every day," he said instead. "And don't brush me off with 'I'm fine'. If you're miserable, I want to hear about it. And I'll write to Moony and Wormtail and make them write to you too. It'll be like we're all together. Oh, and your mirror. Answer your mirror. I tried to talk to you this afternoon-"

"We were having a family photo," Sirius said, sighing.

"Fun," James said.

"Highlight of my year."

James sniggered and then sobered. "I won't... er... look, what happened today... I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. Father's an arse whether you're here or not."

"I won't say anything," James said.

Sirius relaxed slightly and gave James a grateful smile. They hugged and Sirius shooed him toward the fireplace.

James said, "The kitchen!" and was gone.

Sirius sighed, wishing he could go too.

* * *

Sirius kicked his legs under the table and was rewarded by his middle cousin's face tightening. Bella was opposite him, Cissy beside her and Regulus sat between Cissy and Sirius. The adults were at the other end. Aunt Druella was beside her middle daughter, Uncle Cyprus was beside her and Sirius' parents were on his other side. There were no less than five empty chairs between Sirius and Father.

Sirius rolled his eyes, wishing Andy was there; his eldest cousin had married a muggleborn named Ted Tonks - who Sirius had met several times and quite liked - several years ago. She hadn't been at any pureblood functions since Sirius was about nine and she was still his favourite. They saw each other a few times each year and corresponded a fair bit, but she was busy with her young daughter, Nymphadora.

"So," Sirius said, though he knew perfectly well. "How's Andy?"

"Fine, last I heard," Aunt Druella said stiffly.

"Her brat turned five in March," Bella spat.

"April," Sirius corrected. "She was born in the Easter holidays, remember?"

"Her name's Nymphadora," was Cissy's contribution.

"How dare she give a half-blood a pure-blood's name?" Mother said crossly. This was an old hatred of hers. Her statement quickly became a discussion point for the adults.

"I think it's pretty," Cissy said quietly.

"Me too, but it's a mouthful," Sirius said, glancing at his younger cousin in surprise; Narcissa didn't usually have thoughts of her own, and if she did, she never voiced them.

Cissy looked shocked Sirius had agreed and then blushed when Bella glowered. "Pretty name?" Bella mocked. "Next you'll want to meet the girl."

"No, I won't," Narcissa snapped.

"You haven't met her?" Sirius asked. "You haven't met your own niece?"

"She's mudblood spawn," Bella sniffed. "I suppose you've met her."

"Several times. She was at the World Cup in second year, I went to her third birthday party, and James, Remus and I babysat her on New Year's when Andy and Ted went out."

"What's she like?" Narcissa asked.

"Happy," Sirius said after a moment's thought. "Weird, huh, a happy child with Black blood?"

"Bella, dear?"

"Yes, Aunt Walburga?" Bella asked, fixing her dark eyes on Mother. Sirius caught Regulus' eye and pretended to gag at his cousin's sickly tone but Regulus just frowned and looked away. Sirius watched, discomfited; James, Remus or Peter would have laughed.

"What subjects are you doing this year?"

Bella launched into a spiel about how wonderful Potions was, and how she hated Divination. Sirius mostly ignored her chatter, but when she got to Defence Against the Dark Arts, he listened in. "Of course, it's not exactly a useful subject," Bella said thoughtfully, shaking her dark head. "It's interesting, I'll grant it that, but I don't know why we need to defend ourselves against the new regime. It'd be more prudent to teach a course on how to use the Dark Arts." Sirius tried to catch Regulus' eye again but his brother looked interested.

"That's stupid," Sirius said.

"And clearly you, Sirius," Cissy said frostily, "are the epitome of intelligence."

"I'll get better O.W.L. grades than anyone else here," Sirius said pointedly. "I actually studied, instead of mooning after boys."

Cissy flushed a delicate pink. Bella went red. "I do not moon after boys," she said crossly.

"Girls, then, Bella? Kinky." Sirius winked. She looked absolutely appalled. The adults had stopped their own conversation and were watching with closed expressions. Probably want to see how deep a hole I can dig for myself before they have to send me to my room. Sirius intended to find out.

"I do not-" Bella spluttered.

"That's right," Sirius said, clicking his fingers. "You've got a thing for Voldemort."

"Don't say his name!" Bella shrieked, drowning out the adults' protests; they'd all flinched.

"Possessive, much?" Sirius asked innocently.

"At least she's faithful," Cissy said. "Who are you dating this week, Sirius? The McKinnon trollop? Or the Mudblood slag?"

"I don't associate with trollops or slags; I make a point of staying away from Slytherins."

"You never answered the question," Bella said.

"Of course not. The last thing I want is Cissy getting jealous."

"Jealous?" Cissy hissed.

"I'm astoundingly attractive," Sirius said loftily. "And we all know Blacks have a thing for their cousins..."

"I wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot broomstick," Cissy spat.

"You wouldn't touch a broomstick, Cissy, is more the point,' Sirius said patiently. "You might break a nail, or get a bug in your mouth-"

"Enough," Father said quietly. "Apologise for your behaviour, Sirius. This is no way to treat guests."

He had said the wrong thing. "I'm terribly sorry, dear cousins," Sirius said. He stood up, pushing his seat away from the table and walked around to stand behind the girls. He grabbed each of them - gently, he only wanted to make his point - by the backs of their robes, gave them a little shake and said, "I have no intention of allowing you to remain in my house. Let me drag you to the Knight Bus."

"Sirius!" Father shouted. Regulus groaned quietly and tried to sink through his chair.

"You're right, Father," Sirius said. "I haven't insulted them enough yet. Bella, you-"

"Sirius!" Father was livid. Sirius couldn't say he was surprised.

Sirius released his cousins, patted them both on the tops of their heads and glanced over at Father. "Yes?"

"To your bedroom. Now."

"Father, I thought you'd never ask! I've been dying to escape all night. It was a trauma seeing you, Aunt Druella, Uncle Cyprus, cousins." He tipped his hat to them all and skipped out of the room. Father followed him. "Sneaking off for a drink, Father?" he asked brightly. "You've only had a glass today. Surely you're going through withdrawals-"

Father whipped out his wand and gave it a sharp jab in Sirius' direction. A hard lump of magic hit him square in the chest. He fell to the ground, gasping. "I have had enough of your cheek," Father said dangerously. Sirius could only nod. "I do not want to see you for the rest of the evening."

"Feeling's mutual," he managed to gasp, when it would have been much smarter to shut up. Father kicked him in the side and spat on him, before spinning on his heel and striding back into the dining room. Sirius picked himself up off the ground, wincing and hobbled upstairs to his room.