Was the library fun? Sirius somehow highly doubted that. He had a library at home. It was no fun. Dangerous, but not in a funny way. Dangerous and boring, the worst combination. But still, he didn't want to be mean to his friend, so he smiled. "Let's meet up and then decide what to do! I wanna explore everything. I bet there's loads of hidden stuff, you know? There is in my house and this is even bigger and older."
"I suppose we could explore. This is the biggest place I've ever been." Severus smiled, not sure if that was a rejection of the library or not but technically he could still explore the library. He wanted to see if he could find where the dark magic books were held. Lucius might know, he could ask him later. He knew that it wasn't strictly allowed but he also knew Slytherins had their own rules.
"I was thinking that we could--"
"SIRIUS!" James stood up on the bench from across the room and started to wave in his general direction. "I got something to tell you, get over here! I can't wait to see surprise on your handsome weasel face!"
"I'll see you after class, yeah? We can meet by the library." Sirius flashed a smile and then ran off to join James. He didn't feel comfortable standing there with Severus anyway, entirely too aware of Lestrange and some others eyeing him up. Stupid Slytherins. Wasn't his fault the hat put him somewhere else!
He narrowly avoided collision with a prefect, then climbed onto the bench next to James. "Oi. What are you shouting around for?"
"I got chocolate frogs. I smuggled them to breakfast. You're welcome." He tossed two at Sirius and then shoved a whole one into his mouth, looking over at Severus. He was still lurking there, staring off at Sirius like a lost puppy. Eventually one of the prefects got him out of the way. Good. Sirius didn't need to hang out with the likes of him.
He'd be a bad influence. And not a good-bad influence. The actual factual bad influence.
"Remus ate three and little else and Peter didn't have any cause he's got a fry up." Just so he knew what he'd missed from breakfast. Their little gang had been waiting for him. "How's your mate?"
"Thanks." Sirius took the frogs with a smile, then drank something first, while Peter looked as if he disagreed with not getting any chocolate frogs. But he was very interested in his fry up and maybe, if he ate quickly enough, he could still have one. So he felt focusing on food was for the best. An opinion he usually arrived on.
"Where are you packing those frogs away, mate?" Sirius asked Remus, who did not look like someone who'd eat three chocolate frogs for breakfast. He was so scrawny! He started to unwrap one of the ones James had tossed his way and shrugged. "Dunno. I reckon he's fine, we'll meet up after class. I wanna explore."
"I like chocolate." Remus informed them wisely as he ignored his actual breakfast and looked at his trading cards instead. Chocolate frogs were so damn awesome.
"He does, he basically swallows it whole." James teased before throwing an arm around Sirius. "And my mom packed me lots of treats. What's mine is yours. They're out room treats, yeah? The four of us." They were a gang now. He had decided. None of them fit so they should be together. Well, James could fit. He could fit anywhere really but he wanted to fit with this lot. Peter and Remus needed them, he could tell.
"We're exploring today to. If you wanna meet up, you should. I don't mind if your mate tags along." He did but he figured he could drive him off.
"Maybe!" Sirius just wanted to say 'yes', but he remembered that Severus said he didn't like people and as much as he liked spending time around James, he didn't want to upset Severus, especially since they weren't in the same house now. "I got tons of stuff on the train, so we can share all of that too."
Sirius was generous, that had never been an issue. He reached for a piece of toast and got it on his plate, looking around for something to put on it. It was a little weird, having James' arm around him, but he found he didn't mind. Just unusual. Breakfast was nothing like this back home.
Just as he'd located jam, a whole fleet of owls came into the Great Hall. He looked up, his stomach suddenly in a knot. He was hoping there wouldn't...
But of course. And it wasn't just a letter landing by his place, it was a howler. How did he get out of opening that? Should he grab it and make a run for it? How much time did he even have?
James caught his own letter and smiled at his mom's handwriting. She was probably annoyed that he caused trouble but he was sure that she was sending her love too. Eagerly, he fed his owl some toast and pocketed his letter. He turned his head to ask Sirius what he got and noticed the quiet around the table.
He looked at the letter in his hands and winced.
Sirius got a howler? What for? Who sent a howler? He thought that was just a joke his mom always made, not a real thing. He knew that this could be embarrassing to happen in the middle of the canteen so he got up and yanked Sirius up with him. "Go to the room with it. I'll cover you for class." More people were eyeing them up so James glared and tried to deter them. "What are you looking at? Sod off, arseface."
Sirius felt like his mother was in the room and he hadn't even heard her yet. It was like there was a shadow over everything, making it harder to breathe. Still, he got that James had a point and so he gave a quick nod, snatched the howler up and ran for it.
Obviously he wasn't supposed to just leave like that, but no one tried to stop him. Sirius was a fast runner, but he could still only get so far. In the end he made it out the hall, but not by much, and then the shouting started, more than loud enough to still be heard.
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK! YOU BRING NOTHING BUT SHAME AND DISGRACE UPON THIS FAMILY. YOU MUST BE PROUD OF YOURSELF. YOU WON'T TIRE UNTIL YOU'VE DAMAGED YOUR NAME COMPLETELY, WILL YOU? DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD. BUT REMEMBER, YOU WILL FACE CONSEQUENCES. YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. I WARN YOU: STOP DISAPPOINTING US. I NEVER WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOU NOT LIVING UP YOUR STANDING OR ASSOCIATING WITH THE WRONG KIND OF PEOPLE AGAIN. JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU COME HOME."
There was no point in running any more, so Sirius had stopped, tossed the howler away and then he was just watching it, as defiantly as he managed. But he was tense and stiff and he glanced toward the door, hoping that this hadn't been quite as loud as it had seemed to him.
James came out next to Sirius, having been listening. He stood beside Sirius, put an arm around him and smiled a little. "Look, I get it, this probably ain't the best but look at it this way. The most fun things in life are the things you're not supposed to do, aren't they? Mischief is the best part of living. So associating with the wrong kind like me? Is it so bad?"
He didn't know if Sirius fancied being comforted but James felt like trying. Leaning in a little, he smirked and spoke quietly. "I see it in your eyes. You wanna rebel with me."
Sirius looked at James, frowning. Mostly because he was wrapping his mind around that James was even there and wondering why he was here. But he seemed so genuine. It was like him going to Regulus to cheer him up. He shrugged his shoulders, looking at what was left of the howler. "My parents have never been happy with me anyway. I don't care."
He should care, of course. He should be aware of his status and his name and he should behave the proper way. But, as James said, where was the fun in that? "I don't give a damn what my mother wants!"
He yelled it and then looked at James again, smiling. "The Sorting Hat thought I'd be trouble too."
"We are naturals at it, I bet. We'll have a lot of --"
The door opened and James turned his head, looking at Severus. The weird boy was lurking nearby, looking like he had no idea how to handle such a delicate situation. James gave a bit of space and decided to be slightly generous, nudging Sirius. "I'll let you two talk while I run ahead. I'll nab us a desk together for class."
James bounced off ahead and Severus lingered, moving closer little by little. "Are you okay?"
"Aces." Sirius smiled at James and nodded, looking forward to sharing a desk with the boy. Dealing with James was just really easy. No weird power games, they were just straight up having fun and it didn't seem to matter that he was the Black heir or anything like that. Who cared? Why did everyone else always care? This was way easier.
He turned to look at Severus, shrugging his shoulders. "It's bleeding embarrassing, innit? It's not my fault where I got sorted. I've half a mind of getting into trouble so she can be mad for something that is my fault."
"Sometimes people don't need an excuse to get mad at you. I know my dad doesn't. The wrong look, bad weather, a sneeze... any excuse to pick a fight." Severus drawled out. He didn't think people needed an excuse to hate and hurt - people just did it for fun. He smiled at Sirius awkwardly and shuffled closer to reach out, patting his shoulder.
"You shouldn't be embarrassed. And if anyone says anything, tell me. I have ways to make them pay for it." He'd been practising dark curses for this very reason. He would protect them both.
"My parents hate me for being born first, I reckon. Or just cause." Sirius shrugged. "I just like to prove them right. Tends to be more fun than making them proud."
Aside from the fact that he always fell short of expectations anyway. He smiled at Severus and laughed, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it, Sev. I can win any fight I get into." He was very sure of himself. "You don't have to look out for me. But I can look out for you, if you wanna."
"My parents just hate me for being born." He didn't think first, second or whatever else would have changed the hate. Other siblings or not, he was loathed and unwanted. He didn't care, they meant nothing to him. No one meant anything to him. Except, of course, Sirius.
"We can protect each other. You worry too much about me." Perhaps for good cause, he wasn't popular or well liked but... he could defend himself. "I'm not scared of people coming at me. I know how to win a fight." As long as it wasn't physical.
"You do?" Sirius hadn't meant to sound so doubtful, so he pulled Severus into a quick hug to make up for it. "Sorry! I just worry. Let me know if anyone is giving you troubles, yeah? I don't care what my parents say, they wouldn't want me being friends with you or with James or any of the others I like."
When exactly had James graduated to friends? Sirius couldn't have said, it had just happened somehow, seamlessly. "I will do what I want. And we will have a brilliant time, right?"
James was his friend too? Damn. What did he do now? He didn't want that but he couldn't stop it, could he? He didn't want to share friends. He barely wanted more than one in the first place. "We will." Him and James would have a brilliant time, he was sure of it. Severus tried to push down his stress and fear as best he could.
"Thank you for being my friend." He was surprised it was still happening but the hug was well received. "It's nice to have a mate."
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So it stood to reason.
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"I was thinking that we could--"
"SIRIUS!" James stood up on the bench from across the room and started to wave in his general direction. "I got something to tell you, get over here! I can't wait to see surprise on your handsome weasel face!"
"Mr Potter, do shut up!"
"... Sorry!"
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He narrowly avoided collision with a prefect, then climbed onto the bench next to James. "Oi. What are you shouting around for?"
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He'd be a bad influence. And not a good-bad influence. The actual factual bad influence.
"Remus ate three and little else and Peter didn't have any cause he's got a fry up." Just so he knew what he'd missed from breakfast. Their little gang had been waiting for him. "How's your mate?"
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"Where are you packing those frogs away, mate?" Sirius asked Remus, who did not look like someone who'd eat three chocolate frogs for breakfast. He was so scrawny! He started to unwrap one of the ones James had tossed his way and shrugged. "Dunno. I reckon he's fine, we'll meet up after class. I wanna explore."
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"He does, he basically swallows it whole." James teased before throwing an arm around Sirius. "And my mom packed me lots of treats. What's mine is yours. They're out room treats, yeah? The four of us." They were a gang now. He had decided. None of them fit so they should be together. Well, James could fit. He could fit anywhere really but he wanted to fit with this lot. Peter and Remus needed them, he could tell.
"We're exploring today to. If you wanna meet up, you should. I don't mind if your mate tags along." He did but he figured he could drive him off.
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Sirius was generous, that had never been an issue. He reached for a piece of toast and got it on his plate, looking around for something to put on it. It was a little weird, having James' arm around him, but he found he didn't mind. Just unusual. Breakfast was nothing like this back home.
Just as he'd located jam, a whole fleet of owls came into the Great Hall. He looked up, his stomach suddenly in a knot. He was hoping there wouldn't...
But of course. And it wasn't just a letter landing by his place, it was a howler. How did he get out of opening that? Should he grab it and make a run for it? How much time did he even have?
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He looked at the letter in his hands and winced.
Sirius got a howler? What for? Who sent a howler? He thought that was just a joke his mom always made, not a real thing. He knew that this could be embarrassing to happen in the middle of the canteen so he got up and yanked Sirius up with him. "Go to the room with it. I'll cover you for class." More people were eyeing them up so James glared and tried to deter them. "What are you looking at? Sod off, arseface."
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Obviously he wasn't supposed to just leave like that, but no one tried to stop him. Sirius was a fast runner, but he could still only get so far. In the end he made it out the hall, but not by much, and then the shouting started, more than loud enough to still be heard.
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK! YOU BRING NOTHING BUT SHAME AND DISGRACE UPON THIS FAMILY. YOU MUST BE PROUD OF YOURSELF. YOU WON'T TIRE UNTIL YOU'VE DAMAGED YOUR NAME COMPLETELY, WILL YOU? DRAGGED THROUGH THE MUD. BUT REMEMBER, YOU WILL FACE CONSEQUENCES. YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. I WARN YOU: STOP DISAPPOINTING US. I NEVER WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOU NOT LIVING UP YOUR STANDING OR ASSOCIATING WITH THE WRONG KIND OF PEOPLE AGAIN. JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU COME HOME."
There was no point in running any more, so Sirius had stopped, tossed the howler away and then he was just watching it, as defiantly as he managed. But he was tense and stiff and he glanced toward the door, hoping that this hadn't been quite as loud as it had seemed to him.
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James came out next to Sirius, having been listening. He stood beside Sirius, put an arm around him and smiled a little. "Look, I get it, this probably ain't the best but look at it this way. The most fun things in life are the things you're not supposed to do, aren't they? Mischief is the best part of living. So associating with the wrong kind like me? Is it so bad?"
He didn't know if Sirius fancied being comforted but James felt like trying. Leaning in a little, he smirked and spoke quietly. "I see it in your eyes. You wanna rebel with me."
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He should care, of course. He should be aware of his status and his name and he should behave the proper way. But, as James said, where was the fun in that? "I don't give a damn what my mother wants!"
He yelled it and then looked at James again, smiling. "The Sorting Hat thought I'd be trouble too."
Or 'it', whatever 'it' was.
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The door opened and James turned his head, looking at Severus. The weird boy was lurking nearby, looking like he had no idea how to handle such a delicate situation. James gave a bit of space and decided to be slightly generous, nudging Sirius. "I'll let you two talk while I run ahead. I'll nab us a desk together for class."
James bounced off ahead and Severus lingered, moving closer little by little. "Are you okay?"
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He turned to look at Severus, shrugging his shoulders. "It's bleeding embarrassing, innit? It's not my fault where I got sorted. I've half a mind of getting into trouble so she can be mad for something that is my fault."
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"You shouldn't be embarrassed. And if anyone says anything, tell me. I have ways to make them pay for it." He'd been practising dark curses for this very reason. He would protect them both.
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Aside from the fact that he always fell short of expectations anyway. He smiled at Severus and laughed, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it, Sev. I can win any fight I get into." He was very sure of himself. "You don't have to look out for me. But I can look out for you, if you wanna."
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"We can protect each other. You worry too much about me." Perhaps for good cause, he wasn't popular or well liked but... he could defend himself. "I'm not scared of people coming at me. I know how to win a fight." As long as it wasn't physical.
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When exactly had James graduated to friends? Sirius couldn't have said, it had just happened somehow, seamlessly. "I will do what I want. And we will have a brilliant time, right?"
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"Thank you for being my friend." He was surprised it was still happening but the hug was well received. "It's nice to have a mate."