Cries of deserted birds.

Sirius, 1st September 1975

No owls had arrived. Or at least to him. He hadn't had any communication with his friends for more than 2 months. Which had felt like years.

He was on his way to the Hogwarts express which was great. It had meant he was allowed back for one more year. With summer away he was free from them once again. Regulus had been quiet since that night, which was alright by him since he didn't want to talk to him either way.

His mother had threatened him a couple of times since then but nothing he couldn't handle. And Sirius was in too much of a good mood to let silly things like that ruin a happy day like this for him.

Her presence was loud everywhere, when he was a child he had thought it was because Walburga was his mother. But when James had met her last year he confirmed that he felt it too. She was mighty and even compelling in the same way he was, but also completely different James had assured.

When they finally arrived by the express it was full of people, of wizards and witches. Sirius looked around trying to find anyone he knew, but it was too hard because of all the people.

He looked up at his mother, but her gaze was focused on Regulus she was whispering something to him. He couldn't hear.

Regulus nodded seriously and mumbled a small goodbye to his mother. No hug or anything that was showing of flaws in front of the wizard community. He walked quickly away in a hurry, probably to meet a certain blonde. Striding away dragging his luggage behind him, he couldn't see his face but Sirius was hoping he was smiling.

With him gone, Walburga was now looking at him. Their relationship had always been strained, which meant that goodbyes never were difficult. Her eyes were harsh, almost hateful. “Sirius,” she began.

Just get over with this, he thought to himself.

“You are expected to behave properly this year”

“Me? Improper? I would never.” he spoke, a bit mockingly.

“I will know if you do son, do not test me,” son, how fucking laughable.

Sirius, “Course not” he nodded, just wanting to run to his friends.

“You only speak this vile English lately,” she considered. ”is your french forgotten?” she requested and grabbed his chin harshly.

“Mon français ne pouvait pas partir si je le voulais” he mumbled, the french always sounded so pretentious, and he was glad none of the marauders knew he could speak it.

“Good, I expect nothing less,” she tilted his head upwards and inspected his face.

“Make us proud for once Sirius.” She let go of him and smiled bitterly. “Au revoir”. She walked away immediately not letting him get the chance to answer.

When she walked with her firm steps and her head held high, he could see the way people watched her. He had never wanted that for himself, never. It was a mixture of fear and intimidation in their looks. And the way she had earned it made him unwell.

“God, ´could cut the tension with a knife I reckon,” a familiar voice said, he looked behind him and there stood a smiling James, with a little more hair than before the summer.

“James!” Peter squealed beside him.

His brown-haired friend jumped him before he even had the time to acknowledge any of them. He wrapped his arms around him and he was filled with warmth. Sirius hadn't realised how touch-starved he had been till his friend hugged him.

When James finally let him go peter gave him a genuine hug as well, patting his back.

“When were you going to tell us you knew french mate?!” James shouted more amazed than angrily which was a nice change from Grimmauld's.

Of fucking course, they had heard.

“Only know a bit yeah,” he said casually, luckily Remus hadn't heard.

“Why so modest Black? thought ya sounded proper good,” Remus appeared behind peter. His bloody luck.

He had grown taller and tanner over the summer vacation, he was wearing a jumper, with a brown worn-in leather jacket on top. He sort of looked more manly, more grown-up than the rest of them.

“Fuck off Lupin,” he shoved him but gave him a toothy grin. He had missed this sort if banter among them.

“Think the trains leaving,” peter remarked eyeing around them, there was no one around.

“Let's hope no one took our compartment yeah,” James said while taking Sirius' luggage without thinking.

When walking onto the train the warm air felt like a new world, the Hogwarts spirit touched him instantly, and he felt back at home. The superior home that is.

They arrived quickly at the space that the three boys had reserved for them, it was thankfully empty except for some nosh and Peters' bright blue backpack.
Finally, they all sat down in their seats, but there was an uncomfortable silence lingering like they were waiting for something. Anything. Was he supposed to say anything?

“How was summer?” Peter finally asks. “Didnt get any mail from you, assume ours didn't get through either?”

Sirius could feel them looking at him even though his eyes were fixed on the table.

“Yeah no, it was fine, mum took my owl,” he says as relaxed as possible while taking off the tacky blazer Walburga had forced him into. With a white shirt underneath, he began unbuttoning the first few buttons to make it less prudish. But he immediately remember the scar he had on his collarbone and buttoned it up again, afraid of the marauders seeing anything.

“You sure it was alright?” James asked. Couldn't they just talk about anything else why did every conversation have to be based on his damn family. It hadn't been that bad even, Remus was a werewolf for fucks sake that had to beat everything.

“Course, nothing I couldn't handle”

“So you say, but you look quite thin mate,” Remus remarked.

“You body shaming me now Lupin?” he snapped back.

“No just tellin´ like I see it, and sorry to say but ya don't look alright”

“And what is it you see then? Please feel free to critique the mess,” it was a joke, a bad and sad one, but a real Sirius joke.

“Right Black cause ´ts wrong to care for ur best mate with a shite family?”

Caring was it? They were all interrogating him like he was some criminal in a corner. What had he missed them for? They had all gone and grown up over the summer leaving him to be whatever he was. He disliked it so, he didnt want all this gloominess back here, he had left it all in Grimmauld place why did they have to bring it back up?

“Leave it be Moony” Sirius demanded, but maybe it sounded more pleadingly when the words left his mouth. He was starting to get annoyed, and he didnt want to say something he´d regret.

Remus´ pink lips press into a thin line, but instead of fighting further he takes up a small book, or it might just look small in his huge hands. “The Master and Margarita,” the book cover read, odd title.

“The canons won the match against the wasps d'ya hear?” James asks, thankfully the chat about his summer was over quickly like that. Or at least, for now, he knew his friends well enough to know that they would bring it up later.

“You joking? That's impossible, they had that great beater this year innit?”

“Bloody not I am, Horton blocked almost every ball that came his way, fucking phenomenal that lad.” he sighed dreamily, James truly liked quidditch, and though Sirius and Peter enjoyed it, it was nothing like James´ obsession.

“Yeah, he´s a prodigy or somethin.”

“I met him this summer,” Remus mentioned nonchalantly.

James spit the beverage he had in his mouth out and his eyes widened.

“What?! You takin the piss Remus?” James asked shifting in his seat.

Sirius and Peter did too because this was way more interesting than anything else.

“I did, really. At work a week ago I think,” he continued eyes still on his books. His light brown hair almost looked a bit blonde now. Sirius noticed first now, he must have spent his time in the sun this summer.

“Work? Since when do ya work Moons?” he quirked a brow up, when did Remus get a job? Had he missed that much in a single summer, while he was away had they all grown up without him?

“Got one at Diagon alley right after school, summer job, was skint and needed the money— also they needed a pair of hands,” he explained, lifting his hands from his book and wiggling them. They really were big, and rather pretty too. All while James' mouth was still gaping.

“Where at? A book shop right?” Sirius sniggered. Imagining his friend running around in a small bookshop. He´d be thriving in a position like that.

“Actually, a Tea shop, The Selters´, owned by an elder german chap”

“He hired ya because of ur old soul charm didn't he?” he batted his lashes at his tall friend.

Remus groaned, but he could tell that his cheeks had slightly reddened, or it could be the heat. He did look rather warm in his clothes, but Sirius also knew that Remus, never, never ever wore short sleeves. “Least this old soul got a job, not like´ye could posho”

Sirius felt insulted, though he did know he came from money, unlike his friend. He´d never really known what it was like to be without, but he supposed it must be better without than to be with his insane family. “Posho am I?” quirking a brow up at his friend.

“Bloody yes you are,” Peter swore, very directly. Peter lived by the sea in Hastings. James owned a vacation home there, which meant that Peter and James had crossed paths long before school. His family were quite an ordinary family, purebloods, but not the most refined. They weren't rich, but not poor either, middle class at most. Not that Sirius ever cared for such.

James was laughing loudly like he himself wasn't well of.

“Oi, what are you laughing at Prongs, I've seen ya home”

James smiled, “neve´ denied it tho.” And his face turned quickly when he remembered what they had been talking about. “Moony you fucker. You met my idol and neve´ said anything,”

He shrugged but had a vicious smile on the corner of his pink lips. “Wanted to tell ye´alll together yeah?”

And now they were together, and they were sitting together on their way into a new year. “Give us the details then moons, how tall was the wanker?” Sirius asked

“Oi, be careful that's my hero you're talkin' bout” James warned an empty threat but still.

“Lily got some competition I see” peter noted.

“Nah, as if Lily Evans ever would have participated in that contest,” Remus said.

“What side are you even on Remus?” James exhaled, his brows furrowed.

“The one that helped me get top marks in potions” he joked, he now had a small notebook in his lap as well as his book. Sirius wanted to lean in closer to see what he had written.

“She that good? Must be a godsend” peter said, earning himself a smack at the back of his head by Remus´ book.

“´m not that bad,” Remus mumbled.

Peter opened up his backpack and pulled out four Dr. peppers. Ever since he watched the American film “Taxi driver” over easter earlier this year, peter had been obsessed with the Americans. He said he wanted to live in Hollywood and contribute to the artistic scene, whatever that meant. He listened to their music, watched their films, bought their snacks and beverages, and Sirius had even heard him on different occasions try to talk like them. They made fun of him for it, but to be honest, peter was the only one with some sort of plans for the future.

“Sure mate,” peter handed each of them a drink, they were still cold.

“Cheers Pete, also James you might consider givin´ her some space this year, don't think she appreciates whatever you are plannin´,” Remus said while opening the drink with one hand.

James laid back in his seat, “yeah? I pro´lly should, might just wait for her to come to me.” he said confidently.

“Aye, that's more like it mate!” Sirius expressed bumping his shoulder into his friends´, Remus just rolled his eyes at them while writing something in his small book. He had to nick that one later and read whatever his friend was writing.

“Tell us about Gordon Horton now Remus, “ peter asked.

“Yeah right, well he just walked in one day right” he started, closing his notebook, and pulling up his knee stretching it out on the free space beside him. “And I didnt recognise him right away, cus I ain't mental bout quidditch like ye nutters, but well a lady behind him did right?”

“Yeah,” James nodded, listening very closely to his friend.

“She asked him for a pic or sum, can't remember really, and when I heard his name I of course knew it was the lad prongs always moan about”

James grinned, “Hard not to.”

“And I asked him if he could write a little message to you or sum, and he was proper nice innit, said yes” he explained to them. Remus always looked so invested when he was telling them about something, no matter what it was. A story he had read about, or some memory he had, whatever it was it always sounded much more interesting when he was saying it.

“But I couldn't find no paper, hilarious right, I always carry sum parchment with me but I didn't right then”

“Fuck, so you didnt get an autograph?” Sirius asked.

“No I did,” he smirked while pulling out an orange quidditch shirt. A Chudley cannon shirt. “He gave me his own, and wrote on it—see,” he showed it off and turned it around to its back where Horton had written a personalised message.

“Oh Merlin—- Remus you bloody beaut,” James jumped right up and almost tackled moony with a hug in his seat. He gripped the shirt and grinned broadly, Sirius could swear he saw his eyes water. How much could one love a sport?

“How in the world did ya convince him to give you his own shirt moony?” Sirius asked very intrigued by how this world-famous quidditch star just gave his shirt away to a barista.

Remus smiled mysteriously, “just offered it to me, guess it must be me old man charm?” he requested.

Sirius wasn't convinced.

“God I don't know how to thank you man,” James said after collecting himself together.

“Consider it an early Christmas gift, ” Remus offered.

“Read us what he wrote then prongs,” peter commanded trying to read from where he sat.

“Sure Pete,” James said, straightening up his back as well as the shirt holding it up like it was a book which looked stupid, but funny.

“To James Prongs Potter–” he began.

“Did he really write that? `Prongs` I mean?” Sirius asked doubtfully.

“Yeah, I told him to,” Remus says smiling smugly at Sirius. Now he really had to know.

“Gotta appreciate the quidditch fanatics that still are, we´re almost extinct.” James laughed out loud at the very not funny comment. “

I've heard you're divine on a broom, the best chaser Gryffindor's had in years, congrats man! Can't wait to play side by side with you when you join us in two years, best of lucks! From the cannon's own Gordon Horton”

That was such a personal message, he must have taken his sweet time writing that.

“Unfortunate name innit, Gordon Horton,” peter said.

“Right its sounds so plummy” Sirius nodded, agreeing with his friend.

“Jus try to say it fast 5 times Padfoot,” he dared him and mumbled it quickly to himself.

“Gordon Horton, Gordon Horton, Gordon Horton Gortron Hordon—”

“HA— gortron Hordon, for fucks sake.”

“You set me up you rat, ´s not my fault his name is–”

James shook his head disappointedly, “´s that all you gathered from this very intimate message from my quidditch hero, he quite literally called me brilliant!”

The sound of high heels clacking was heard from outside their compartment, also the voice of a strong but familiar girl.

“Gotta disagree with that one,” a humorous voice spoke, Lily Evans it was. Her red hair was longer and a tad curly, her freckles had somehow multiplied over the break and she wasn't much tanner, but she did have a small sunburn on her nose. She hadn't really grown taller over the summer, but maybe a bit curvier, more woman-like perhaps. Evans sat down on the empty space beside Remus and hugged him briefly, he didnt resist and let her. He even smiled at her. For a while, during third year Sirius had thought they were dating in secret, but he also came to the conclusion that Remus would never do that to James.

Behind her, a blonde girl was following. He didnt recognise her right away, she had grown taller and her usually golden hair was platinum blonde. She was wearing a scandalously tight shirt with animal print, and her makeup was bolder now, black eyeshadow smeared on her eyelids. When the rest of the bunch saw her, peter gaped, Remus raised a brow and James well James' eyes widened completely. She apparently did not mind their reaction and just nodded and sat down beside him.

“What's with the new style marls?” Sirius asked the only one with the courage to do so.

“Just testin´ it out, new year yeah?”

“No lover, to impress hmm?” he requested while batting his lashes innocently.

She chuckled, “fuck off dickhead, the only love I got this year is quidditch” she insisted, trying to read the jersey that James holds.

“That's the spirit Mckinnon,” James chimed, “we need more of that on our team this year,” he sayid while squinting his eyes at Sirius jokingly.

“How was the break?” Lily asked them.

“Oh well alright yeah, worked on me new sketches´" peter responded.

“You still paint?” she questioned.

He rubbed the back of his neck, “a bit, ´m not that good yet but–”

“Are you serious–” James said while Sirius almost interrupted with his joke but like Marlene knew what he was about to say she covered his mouth with her hand. He almost licked it as a reflex but stopped himself.

Remus mouthed a quick thank you, and he felt insulted.

“You're literally Picasso wormy, don't be modest,” James boasts on his friend's behalf.

Peter blushed, and squirmed a bit in his seat, “didn't know you knew ´bout Picasso” he mumbled.

“Where is Mary?” Remus asked the two girls.

“Chattin wiv´ some Ravenclaw lass from our year,” Marlene answered while drinking from Sirius dr. pepper, he didn't mind.

“Oh who?”

This time Evans answered, rather sharply, “Emmeline Vance,”

“Ooo, I know her, she's proper cool,” Sirius said truthfully because she was. He has a couple of classes with her, and he had even talked to her a little. She had long black hair, completely straight and even darker eyes. But that's not the interesting thing about her. No, she's got a really bewitching style and a really imaginative persona. He's heard she even designs shoes. How cool wasn´t that? There are not too many people like that in Hogwarts, which makes the ones who stand out even more.

“She's not that great,” Evans said out loud, very out of character for the redhead to be this judgemental.

It was a bit odd, but also entertaining to see her like that. “You don't like her? what´s she done to make the angelic Evans annoyed? Thought that spot was reserved for James only,” he spoke.

“What the fuck man” James exclaimed.

“´also wrong bout that”

“What you don't dislike her?” he asked curiously. Eyeing her with curiosity.

“No, it's reserved for you and James,” Evans smirked.

James and peter threw up in a pit of laughter, Sirius stuck up two fingers at them.

“Alright, alright Evans, jokes aside, what's the lovely Emmeline done to you?”

She glared at him, with her oh-so-wonderful glare. No, but what was she to James, or to Remus? Why did everybody like her, he never understood it?

“Nothing really, just don't think she is that special, don't get why mary suddenly want to spend all her time with her,” she muttered coldly.

Marlene rolled her eyes looking just a tiny bit peeved as if this was a normal thing for them. This small quarrel. But it was clear why Evans was annoyed, she felt like Mary drifted away from her. And she might be, with her huge crush on James and all it might be difficult to be around her, and Sirius really pitied them both. The three girls were very close, they had shared a room for five years and Sirius had to admit that they were almost as close as the marauders, almost.

“So you're jealous cus she has other friends?” he asked with a smirk on his face, but it didnt last cause a foot kicked him in the shin which made him yelp. Sirius looked up and saw Remus scowling at him.

She squinted her eyes slightly, “im not jealous Black, jus don't see the appeal with Vance.”

“Mary does—” he snickered her crossing her arms. “Also I do too, she is unusual and I think mary likes that, s´why me and she is total best friends,” Sirius said twinning his two fingers to prove a point, marlene chuckled at him.

“Mmm, why don't you go date, Emmeline, then, get rid of that concern for me hm?” she mumbled, very sarcastically.

“Would love to help you out Evans, or not really but either way shes, not my type,” he said as he did very often.

“Course Black cus you´re type is your own reflection, you—-” she argued, but gets interrupted by Sirius who will not accept to be called vain for the second time today.

Sirius rolls his eyes, “No actually ging—-”

And Remus interrupted them both, like the advocate of peace he is. “MARLENE,” he says a bit too loud, which startled her. “Uh you smoke right?” he asked.

“No I extinguis— yes I smoke you, idiot,”

He chuckled, “Course, course, you got some on you?”

She nodded and took out a small packet, full of freshly rolled cigarettes. And Sirius really felt like he needed one as well.

“No— fuck no, you are not smoking in here, there's still a couple of hours left, ´m not sittin here with that nasty smell the rest of the way,” James argued, trying to snatch the pack from him.

“James, you literally smoke yourself?” Remus reasoned with him, he must have been desperate for one.

But James just scoffed, “Not any more tossers, ´m Captain now and we're winning the cup under my leadership this year. Smokin' will pull us back, did ya know how bad it actually is for ya moony?”

Evans looks actually sort of impressed, “not wrong potter, also just let them open a window or sum, look how desperate they look,” she nodded towards them,

James was happy that his love acknowledged him and opened the window faster than any window had been opened before.

Both Marlene and Remus took a cigarette and lit it up, Sirius didn't ask but Remus hands him one anyway. “Cheers mate,”

They stay like this for a while, no more bickering, no more arguing. Lily layed with her head in remus´ lap while reading a book about advanced medicines. Remus rested his eyes while leaning on James´back who plays checkers against peter, and Peter winning of course. Marlene was currently moaning to Sirius about Meadowes.

Everybody knew that Marlene and Dorcas Meadowes hated each other, they were rivals both on the pitch and off. It was the classic Gryffindor and Slytherin hate. He was unsure when it started, but he knew it ran deep. Meadowes´ a friend of Regs of course. She was a part of his little band, though it had surprised him when he found out she was half-blood. Their group didnt seem like the ones to accept anything other than purebloods. It meant his brother wasn't entirely spoiled, which was good.
She was quite the girl, honestly, he was a bit intimidated by her. Especially on the field. Her flying and style were quite the opponent to James´, and that's definitely an accomplishment. With her assertive and strong personality as well, Sirius could see why she and Marlene didn't go well together.

“I mean who the fuck does that? She might be a wee bit of an alright chaser, but can´t just fuckin claim the pitch?” she complained before taking a frustrated drag of the fag.

He chuckled at the sight, “We're not at school yet and she still found a way to get under your skin.”

“She wishes she could get under my skin—- I literally do not give a feck about Meadowes and her Slytherin arse,” the blonde conveyed while looking at him dead in the eyes.

“Mhm, sure Mckinnon,” not really believing her.

“Hiya mi mates,” Mary walked in the doorway and looked around for an empty seat which she found beside Marlene. She looked as good as ever, her hair healthier perhaps, and her black eyes shining with joy. While she still looked like herself, she also looked a bit different, not taller that was for sure. Her smile was all the same. Sirius leaned in for a hug.

Mary greeted the others, Evans head was still glued to the book, but he could tell she was looking at her friend from the corner of her eye.

“Sorry im late, just´ had a small chinwag with Emmeline, ye´know her right Siri?” she asked him.

And he nodded, smiling politely, “yeah proper nice girl.”

“Mmm, she is, anyway, what did I miss?”