All the Young Dudes ( Sirius' Perspective )

First Year : Birthday's, Book's, and the Beatles

Madam Pomfrey gave them a stern lecture on misusing magic before sending them on their way, which seemed to irk everyone except Remus.

“As if we all wanted to look like bigfoot!” James scoffed. Peter mumbled, “Yeah…” in his typical fashion of echoing everything James said. Remus just stared straight ahead, looking unusually shaken by the whole situation.

Sirius was still seething. “It had to be Severus. He coated the sweets in one of his potions, I know it.”

“Yeah, we all know it, mate.” James shook his head, “Don’t worry, we’ll get him back.”

“I’m so sorry!” Peter moaned—he hadn’t stopped apologising since they’d left the hall, and it made Sirius want to strangle him. “I really thought they were from my mum!”

“It’s fine, Peter,” James said benevolently, “Just wish you’d given them to us first thing on a Monday – then we could have at least bunked off Transfiguration.”

“I demand retribution!” Sirius shouted, raising his wand dramatically. James laughed and, surprisingly, so did Remus.

“And you shall have it!” James matched Sirius’s melodramatic tone, grinning, “Patience is a virtue, Black. Vengeance like this takes time. Don’t suppose you’ve got any other brilliant ideas, Remus?”

“Sorry,” Remus shook his head. He had perked up a bit, but his skin was still quite pale, and he kept darting glances down at his hands as if worried that hair would start sprouting again.

“I’ll help you, James,” Peter said eagerly, “I’ll do anything, I won’t be scared this time, I’ll…”

They had just begun to turn the corner that led to Gryffindor tower when someone behind them called out,

“Sirius.”

All four boys turned, and Sirius’s heart leapt into his throat.

Bellatrix.

She had always been his least favourite cousin, close enough in age that he had grown up with her tormenting him but old enough to make him feel small. She stared at him now with her nose turned up, as if he were a particularly disgusting flobberworm that she was about to step on.

“Whaddyou want?” Sirius asked, trying to sound nonchalant even as he hunched instinctively, drawing his shoulders closer to his ears. James stepped forward, standing at his side, and Sirius felt very grateful for his friend.

“Come here and address me properly,” Bella snapped, voice icy.

Sirius stayed, stubbornly, in place—until she withdrew her wand, which he knew from experience that she wouldn’t hesitate to use.

“Come here,” her voice was low now, and dangerous, “Or I’ll make you. And it won’t be a childish little hair growth charm, I promise.”

Sirius slumped forward, shaking his head wordlessly at James when his friend moved with him. It was embarrassing enough that the other boys were watching this dressing-down from his family—especially James.

“That’s better,” Bellatrix tutted as he shuffled closer to her. Sirius fiddled with his wand, glaring at the ground. He wished his palms weren’t so clammy.