A/N: Just as a word of warning, this chapter is a little more violent that usual, but not all chapters will be this way.
Disclaimer: I'm not J.K.
-Runaway-
-James
James curved the last 's' smoothly and sharply and slapped his long speckled eagle feather quill on the
mahogany writing desk. He quickly skimmed over the small portion he had written and folded it haphazardly into a shape
that somewhat resembled a rectangle. He curled his arms behind the nape of his neck and leaned lazily backwards in his
chair.
A deep, resonating knock sounded out from the great mahogany door behind James. He jumped, lost his balance, and toppled over backwards. The door slowly crept open. James quickly scrambled to his feet. He straightened his glasses and rumpled his already tousled hair. A familiar and welcoming laugh greeted him as the door opened.
There stood none other than Sirius Black, doubled over and holding his gut. Sitting idle next to him was his trunk, which James noticed was jammed so full, that bits of parchment and fragments of clothing were wriggling their way out of the cracks. Sirius managed to compose himself and looked up into James's hazel eyes.
James was taken a-back when Sirius', normally bright and laughing eyes stared back at him, dull and cold. There were dark circles under his eyes, and the left one was turning purple. James tilted his head sideways an inch or so and continued to stare fixedly at Sirius.
"What?" said Sirius with an air of arrogance.
"You okay, Padfoot?" James gave Sirius a quizzical look, his head still tilted like a confused dog's. Sirius breathed in slowly and deeply, letting it out just as slow. As the air left him, it seemed as if to deflate him. He shrunk a few inches, his shoulders slouched and his head bowed.
"Let's just say a row got a bit out of hand."
"Master James," a tiny voice squeaked from behind Sirius' trunk. A small figure draped in a fine blue tea towel sidled out from behind the bulging trunk. It had round gray eyes and large pointed ears.
"Master has requested that you show young Mr. Black to a guest room of your choice."
"I see you've talked to by father then," James glanced at Sirius out of the corner of his eye, but didn't wait for a response.
"Why thank you Tink," James directed his attention to the small elf. "Please tell my father that after I escort Mr. Black," James flashed Sirius a teasing grin, "to a room that I would like to speak with him in the conservatory."
"Yes Master," Tink curtsied and left the two troublemakers standing in silence.
James cleared his throat. "Well...is the room next door okay with you?" said James awkwardly. Sirius nodded. They stood for a minute, before James headed out the door. He turned right outside of the door and tapped the closest door handle with his wand slightly. The door creaked open slowly.
"Well, if you need anything, or if you just er...want to talk or anything, I'll be downstairs with dad." Sirius nodded again. James turned to leave. Sirius sat silently down on the large bed. The room was identical to James', just not as decorated. He tried to force it out, but memories of the terrible things that had happened at home were filling his mind.
--flashback--
Sirius brushed his long dark hair out of his eyes as he turned the doorknob of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. The door crept open and dead flooded out, drowning him. He held his breath as he took a reluctant step forward. An icy feeling crept through him as he entered. Sirius headed straight up the stairs, hurrying post the dining room door. He could hear muffled voices seeping through the light filled cracks of the door.
His fingers shook slightly as they slid up the smooth, cool banister. He had almost stepped the length of the staircase before light flooded the hall below him. Sirius froze, his quivering hand gripping the banister tightly.
"Where were you?" A cold voice screeched, echoing throughout out the room and causing the hairs on the back of his neck to rise. "You were gone for the entire dinner." Sirius slowly turned, taking a calming breath. His free hand tightly gripped his wand, slowly pulling it from his pocket. There, standing in the dining room doorway, framed in an eerie yellow light, stood his terrifying mother. Her icy, dark eyes made his skin crawl. She had hair the color of ebony and a face as hard as steel.
"I will not accept this kind of behavior, and especially not from you." She emphasized the last word with a growl. "You weren't out with those blood traitors and that half-blood again were you? You know what this family thinks about that kind of people and fraternizing with them."
Sirius clenched his teeth. How could she even think about talking about the marauders that way?
"I think confinement to your room for two weeks should do the trick." She glared daggers at him. "We'll make that three weeks considering the fact that you are a worthless, good for nothing blood traitor yourself, and an utter disgrace to this family." She smiled evilly. Sirius' fingers were starting to cramp from clutching the banister and his wand. His palms were sweating and his hand was slipping on the banister.
"Now come down here this instant so that we can see what your father has to say about this. Maybe, if I feel like it I won't hit you too hard." Sirius clenched his teeth in an attempt of self-control. "Did you not hear me?" Get your worthless ass down here this instant!" She shrieked. Sirius didn't move. "Now...now, don't make me hurt you..."
That would just break your heart, wouldn't it, Sirius thought vengefully. She made to pull out her wand, but Sirius was faster. Reasonable thoughts fled his mind.
"Petrificus Totalus!" His mother dropped her wand, her arms and legs snapping together as she clattered to the floor. Shouts echoed from the dining room as his father and brother raced out. One look at the figure of his mother lying still on the floor and his father knew. Sirius ducked just in time, but the blast was so tremendous that he fell face forward, toppling down the stairs.
Not a second later he was back on his feet. He dove away from a jet of green light and quickly stunned the boy who had raced out with his father, his brother Regelus. He heard a loud crash behind him, but sprinted up the entire length of the stairs in 4 strides, not daring to look back.
He dashed into a small room, slammed the door, and securely locked it with a wave of his wand. He threw open his trunk, shoving everything he could reach inside. By now he could hear shouts of curses and foul language outside his door. He turned to stare at it for a second, brushing his silky dark hair out of swollen eyes. The walls around him were shaking from an unknown force at the door.
He slammed his trunk closed, having stuffed it with every item in sight. He fumbled with the clasps, taking side-glances at the vibrating door. He knew it wouldn't hold for long. His eyes seared and his head swam, his fingers shaking with rage.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" His trunk floated off the floor and out the open window. He snatched his broom, mounted, and soared out into the warm night sky, leaving the harsh words and rash actions behind.
--end of flashback--
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