Chapter 1
9:43 p.m at the Potter Residence
"Do you think I could fit 15 socks on my feet at once?" James asked, shoving all the socks he owned out of his drawer and onto his already messy floor.
I was sitting on James's bed reading my favourite book about Magical Creatures when a sock hit me on the head.
"You're a hazard to society." I mumbled, rubbing my head.
Remus stood up from his place on the carpeted floor, picked up the sock that hit me and made his way across the room to where James was standing.
"And a coward. Do 30. On each foot." He said, in a daring voice.
James grabbed the sock out of Remus's hand and grinned.
"CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!" He yelled, as he threw himself onto the floor and quickly started putting on every sock he could find.
"Why would you do that?" I asked, looking up at Remus.
"You know James can't say no to a challenge, no matter how stupid it may be.
And anyway, he's been sad about Padfoot not being able to be here all day. This will keep his mind off of it." Remus answered, sitting down on the bed next to me.
"But then again," He continued.
"He's not the only one sad about Padfoot not being here." He nudged my elbow and I gave him a sad smile.
As I dog-eared the last page I read, I realized that Moony was right.
I was sad about Padfoot not being here.
Partly because it was upsetting that his family wouldn't let him hang out with "Filthy Freaks" like us. But mainly because I just missed hearing his bad jokes and his awful prank ideas.
I just missed Sirius Black.
But maybe it was for the best.
Since our argument last year the atmosphere between Sirius and I has been tense. Although it's been a year since it all happened and I was able to forgive Sirius, things still felt different between us. At lease we were able to go back to hanging out as a group but it’s never just the two of us.
There was a time when Sirius and I would spend hours on end laughing and talking about the most random things, now it's just awkward small talk about homework and the weather. I remember a time when used to climb into each others beds in the middle of the night after one of us had a nightmare but now we spend those haunting nights alone holding ourselves tightly hoping to feel even the slightest bit of comfort.
My thoughts were interrupted when two cold hands wrapped around my ankles and pulled me to the foot of the bed.
"What the hell are you doing, Potter?!" I asked, startled.
"I ran out of socks! I need more socks!" James yelled loudly, pulling at my socks.
Remus laughed while shaking his head.
"Shut up Moony, you started this." I said, glaring at him.
"What happened? Have we ran out of cookies?" Peter mumbled, shooting up from his place on the bed.
"Not to worry Wormtail, there are plenty of cookies left." Remus assured him.
"Then why are you yelling?" He asked, sleepily rubbing his eyes.
I felt a strong pull on my right leg and my head turned sharply to look back at James.
"James, let go!" I yelled and I used my free leg to kick him.
"No! One foot has 30 socks and the other only has 29! I need one more sock to win this challenge! GIVE ME SOCK!" He demanded, struggling to stay upright since he was wearing an unusual amount of socks.
"Stop it you buffoon! These are my favourite socks!" I yelled, trying to free my leg from his strong grip.
Suddenly, I felt a rush of cold air hit my right foot.
"SOCK!" James yelled, holding my sock tightly.
He waved it up in the air as a sign of victory.
My gaze traveled from my bare foot to my sock that was trapped in James's hand and sighed angrily.
I looked James in the eyes and whispered, "You are a dead man, Potter."
His eyes grew wide and quickly bolted out of the room, still holding my sock in his fist.
As I got up, I threw a large pillow at Remus and Peter and ran out the door after James.
"AHHHH SHE'S AFTER ME!" I heard James yell while he wobbled down the long wooden staircase.
As I ran down after him I couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous he looked.
"Wait for me!" Peter yelled, running not fair behind me.
I was about to hop on the last step when I noticed my sock laying right there. I bent down to grab it but I was knocked over by Peter and we went down like bowling pins.
Peter laughed loudly as James hopped around the room.
"And I thought you lot couldn't get any stupider." Remus said, standing on the stairs whilst looking down at the three of us.
Suddenly we heard three soft knocks coming from the front door. James looked at us with a confused look.
"Wonder who that might be. Mum and Dad aren't coming home until next week." He said, still out of breath.
"Maybe it's a Giant with 60 feet and he has come to steal all your socks." I said, giggling.
"I strongly doubt that a Giant would have the manners to knock on the door." Remus answered back.
The four of us laughed as we made our way to the massive wooden front door.
James pulled it open to reveal a sobbing Sirius Back. Our smiles faded instantly.
"Padfoot?" James whispered quietly, looking at his best friend.
Sirius only shivered in response. He had his arms wrapped around himself as tears fell down his pale face, cheeks red from the cold. James gently guided him inside and pulled into a tight hug. That's when I noticed two sharp gashes on his left cheek and a much deeper cut on his lip that was still bleeding.
It's not the first time I've seen Sirius hurt. There have been countless of times where Sirius came back to the common room with bruises and scratches from a long Quidditch match, a black eye from fighting with Snape or the time he got trapped under the Whomping Willow during the full moon and Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let him or Moony leave the hospital wing for a week.
But that was all for fun.
For the sake of feeling alive.
This is not one of those times. His mother did this to him. He has always kept quiet about what happens to him behind the closed doors of Grimmauld Place but years ago while the two of us were talking about our families, he confessed to me that his mother has a bad habit of using Crucio on him when he "misbehaves".
"Sirius, how did you get here? Where's your broom? Merlins Beard, did you run here?" James asked, pulling away from him, hands resting on Sirius's slumped shoulders. Sirius looked down and nodded his head, body still shivering.
"Padfoot...Who do this to you?" James asked, desperately trying to find out who dared to do this to his best friend.
Sirius slowly lifted his head and we made eye contact. My breathing became heavy as I felt tears form in my eyes.
I was the only one he told. I was the only one who knew.
I lowered my eyes to his bruised hand and reached out to hold it gently. It was the first time I felt his skin against mine in a very long time.
It felt electric.
His clenched hand softened and relaxed in mine. I looked up at him only to see that he was already looking at me. I bit my lip and slowly walked closer to him, afraid that any fast movement would scare him off. Sadness danced through his tired features when I let go of his hand but that soon changed when I moved closer to wrap my arms around his neck bringing him down towards me. He let out a shaky breath of relief and wrapped his shaky arms around me. I moved my right hand through his damp and tangled hair and began to rub the back of his neck, knowing well that that action comforts him. I felt him grip the back of my pyjama shirt as he pressed his body onto mine. He let out a loud sob and I only held him tighter, wishing I could take his pain away. I moved my head to the side and saw James, Remus and Peter looking at us with worried eyes. Suddenly I felt Sirius's grip loosen and I noticed that his breathing had slowed down. Eventually his breathing turned into soft snores.
"Guys?" I whispered to the three boys that were standing next to me.
"I think he's sleeping standing up."
"Classic Padfoot." Remus said with a sad tone.
"Lets take him to bed, yeah?" James asked, taking Sirius out of my arms.