1
Sirius got up early, his parents were still asleep, he thought at least. In this house, you’d never know if they were. Sirius woke up, did a quick morning cleanup, bathing, getting dressed and of course, getting out of his house. Kreacher tossed him a bag with a few snacks and some galleons in it, compliments of his brother, Sirius thought. Sirius hurried to the train and thankfully he was the first one there so he could sit wherever he wanted.
The train filled in moments and Sirius turned as many people away as he could so he could sit with his friends. James got there first, then Peter -who of course still followed James around like a puppy- and then Remus. James took his seat beside Sirius as they’d promised on the last day of school.
Sirius wrapped his arms around James tightly and buried his face in James’ neck. “I missed you.”
James ran his fingers through Sirius' hair. “I missed you too. How was the summer? I hope better than-”
“Worse. But that doesn't matter.”
“Of course it does.”
Sirius shook his head and looked up at James. James pushed his glasses back up and looked down at Sirius. Sirius’ eyes fluttered shut.
“Not till we get back to school.”James whispered.
“I know.”Sirius mumbled. “Just holding onto hope anyway.”
“It's not safe on the train.”
Sirius opened his eyes and made eye contact with James. “I know.”
“Then why are you still looking at me like that?”
“Because I missed you.”
“You missed kissing me.”
“I missed your presence too. I just missed being near you. Everyone else too but you're my best friend.”
“Well, I'm here. And at least for the next few months, I'm not going anywhere.”
“I don't wanna go home. Not ever. I wanna stay with you and be close and safe and happy.”
James took off his Gryffindor jacket and wrapped it around Sirius’ shoulders before sneaking a kiss on Sirius' forehead. Sirius smiled softly and rested his head on James' chest. Remus got up from his seat and sat on Sirius' other side, cuddling up to him.
“The three of you look… closer.”Peter mumbled.
“They’re just helping him, Pete. Calm down.”Regulus said, sitting beside Peter in the same car.
“Reg, you can't be in here. Mom will-”Sirius started.
“I don't care what she does. I want to sit with my brother. I've wanted to meet your…”Regulus glanced at Peter before continuing. “Friends… since you started going on about them over the summer.”
Sirius silently thanked his brother for not using the term he’d become accustomed to calling James and Remus over the summer and in letters they wrote back and forth. “You really don't care? It's more like you to care that she's gonna hurt you.”
“She made me cast a curse on you. Repeatedly. I don't care what she does to me, I won't ever let her force that again.”
Sirius nearly wept with relief at his brother's words. “I’ve never been so glad to hear defiance from anyone.”
“Wish mom thought the same way.”Regulus mumbled.
The train ride began and Sirius seemed to fall right to sleep against James' chest. James kept Sirius close the whole ride, quietly chatting with his friends.
When the train arrived at the school, the five of them walked, shoulder to shoulder, up the stairs and to the Great Hall. Regulus, unfortunately was made to stay back and listen to the welcome speech. Sirius, James, Remus and Peter walked into the Great Hall together however, chattering away about their summers. Sirius couldn't bring himself to tell the truth about the horrid things his mother had put him through over that time so he made up a slight fib about having run away to a friend's for the summer. His friends obviously knew the truth but went along with it, much to Sirius’ thankfulness.
The sorting ceremony began with a flourish from Dumbledore's wand as he changed the night sky enchantment on the ceiling to a much more extravagant looking ceiling, a quartz and marble one, embedded with leaves and covered with gold chandeliers and birds flying around, like Hogwarts had become some sort of chapel.
“Welcome back to most students, we're very glad to see you all had a safe summer.”Dumbledore began as Sirius bit back a response. “The sorting ceremony will begin in a moment.”
Sirius’ stomach churned as students walked up to the front of the hall. Regulus was one of the first to walk up, as the students were sorted in order of last name. Regulus looked as terrified as Sirius did but as always, held the feeling back a little better than Sirius could.
“Ambitious, I see. Loyal, smart, powerful, cunning, all good things. Fearful… I see you are conflicted, boy.”the sorting hat rambled.
“Not Slytherin.”Regulus muttered. “Please.” For once, Regulus sounded…Scared. He sounded infantile, almost.
“Not Slytherin? A rebel like your brother, I see.”the sorting hat mumbled in response.
“Please.”Regulus pleaded, staring at his brother.
“Gryffindor!”
Sirius let out a heavy sigh of relief, Regulus all but ran to the Gryffindor table, nearly tackling several students on the way, muttering quick apologies before sliding into his seat beside James and Sirius. Sirius wanted to cry, he was just so glad to see that his little brother was willing to be as defiant as he was. Sirius threw his arms around Regulus, hugging him tightly as Regulus rolled his eyes, shrugging his shoulders to push Sirius away, feigning annoyance.
The ceremony continued and attmitedly, Sirius hadn't been paying much attention to the other children, he had zoned out with thoughts of what his mother will do when he and his brother come home with red and yellow Gryffindor scarves, but one person stood out more than expected, a young person that looked just like James, who seemed as though they weren't quite old enough to attend Hogwarts.
“Y/N Potter.”Minerva McGonagall said with authority, prompting the young person to walk up to the front of the hall and sit on top of the sorting stool.
“Y/N who?”James muttered, nearly standing up before Remus pulled him back down.
“Let it go. We’ll find out later.”
Sirius’ ears rang loudly in his head.
James had a sibling? How could he have not known? How could James not have known? This was insane. Euphemia surely would have said something, right?
Sirius could hardly focus as the other Potter child walked over to the Gryffindor table. Sirius finally snapped out of his small trance and looked at James who looked positively nauseated.
“Hello!”Y/N said, sounding oddly excited by the group.
James swallowed hard before putting on his usual happy-go-lucky mask. “Hiya! How’re you?”
“I'm alright. A little nervous, but I suppose that's how first days go.”
“It's alright, I've been there. May I ask though, who are your parents?”
“Euphemia and Fleamont Potter.”
James heart visibly sank into his stomach. “S-so are mine.”James chewed on his lower lip nervously.
“They never mentioned that I had an older brother.”
“How old are you?”
“9.”Y/N replied.
James seemed to lose his breath, this information was clearly taking a toll on him. “Nine? Like nine years old? How did- How- What- I don't understand. How did you get in here? How did you get sorted? What happened?”
“Jamie, slow down.”Sirius said, gently rubbing his boyfriend's shoulder to calm him. “Y/N, have you ever met your parents?”
“No, I haven't, really. I was kidnapped when my mom was asleep after she'd given birth, I was tortured by death eaters before being dropped here only a few hours ago.”
Sirius blinked, how could they be so nonchalant about this? They must have been through so much. He supposed it was similar to the way he’d reacted to his own parents’ abuse, it was all he’d ever known so he supposed it was normal.
“Do your parents know you're alive?”Sirius asked.
“They barely knew they existed. Or that mom was even pregnant.”James muttered before excusing himself from the table.
“James-”Sirius began.
“No, I'll be back in a minute.”
James left the room, seemingly dizzy and disoriented. Sirius watched for only a moment before taking off, full speed to go after James. James was sitting on the floor on the bridge, he looked pale and completely ill. He clearly hadn't made it far before collapsing, his cheeks were stained with tears already and new tears had begun to form in his eyes.
“How could they not tell me…”James mumbled, leaning his head against the stone wall behind him.
“They probably wanted to forget. They had no information. Clearly. Otherwise knowing your parents, they would have done anything to get their child back.”
“Why couldn't it be me? It should have been me…”
Sirius shook his head and moved to sit beside James. James turned and buried his face in Sirius' chest. Sirius only clutched James tightly in his arms, completely unsure of what to say.
After a few moments of silence, James sighed. “I have to talk to mom.”
“Later tonight. Enjoy dinner with us first?”
“She’ll want to know as soon as she-”
Sirius pressed a gentle kiss to James' head. “She doesn't. Not yet. You aren't even calm yet.”
“This is… But…”James sighed once more. “Maybe you have a point. But I know she needs to know.”
“Darling you know she won't be upset with you over that, you're twelve, it's okay. She knows that you wouldn't know what to do with it. If it's really bothering you, we can find a professor. We’ll find Minnie if we-”
“What’d you call her?”
“M-minnie.”Sirius blushed a little. “Was I not supposed to?”
“How close are you two?”
“Very by now. She’s been writing me letters over the summer because she wanted to endure my safety. I lied about-”
James looked up at Sirius and pressed his lips to Sirius’, stopping Sirius' words. Sirius smiled, just glad to be allowed to be with James again. Of course, he was glad to be in the presence of the bespectacled boy as well but if he was honest, kissing was his favourite.
“It's sweet. She cares about you.”James said, smiling softly.
“Yeah, I guess it's some longing for a mom or something…”
“You're adorable.”
“I'm not. I just get attached.”
James grinned and stood up, helping his boyfriend up.
“The distraction was sweet of you by the way.”James said, giving Sirius a soft kiss on his cheek.
“I had to do something. You looked sick and upset. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“I missed you, Sirius.”
“I missed you too.”
James kissed his boyfriend once more before taking him by the hand and taking him back to the Great Hall. Sirius kept close to James the whole time they walked, from where they were sitting, to the bench at Gryffindor table. Sirius and James sat back down amongst their friends and began to eat dinner like the last fifteen minutes or so hadn't happened at all.
“We’ll talk to mom tonight, I promise.”James said to Y/N who looked slightly less comfortable than when they'd walked in earlier.
“Are you sure she’d want to?”Y/N replied.
“Yeah, I'm sure. You're her child. Dad’s too of course but mum’s always been the more protective parent.”
“I’d assume so. She's a Slytherin.”
“Sweetest one I've ever met, for sure.”Sirius muttered, glancing across the room at the Slytherin table, where Severus Snape was sat, reading instead of eating anything.
As the group finished dinner, the tension built between James and Y/N as James’ curiosity about what happened seemed to get the best of him. He’d already begun writing a letter to his mother and father by the time everyone was dismissed.