The Things That Happen In The Night - Wolfstar

Chapter Two: Welcoming Arms

My parents were not happy to be woken up at 3:15 in the morning, especially by the muggle police. I sat in the back of the police car and watched as the they knocked on the door. My father opened the door, confusion and hatred etched on his face. He was in his night clothes with his wand in his hand. I sat in horror as the cops explained what was going on and my father turned his eyes to me. I quickly moved as far down in the seat as I could, attempting and failing to hide.

"Merlin," I swore out loud as my father strode out of the house and opened the car door. I was being drug out of the car and to the house, my father only stopped to allow the officers to un cuff me. Once inside my father wasted no time in unleashing his rage.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WERE YOU DOING OUT OF BED AT THREE IN THE MORNING?! AND WITH MUGGLES! HAVE I TAUGHT YOU NOTHING?" I grimaced at his words and kept silent, which wasn't the best idea. I earned a slap across the face and before I knew it my dad had drawn his wand and pointed it at me.

The commotion had woken my mother and brother, who were both standing on the stairs watching silently. It was then that I realized that I didn't love them and they didn't love me as they stood watching my father use the cruciatus curse on me. When he had finished my mother turned away and went back to bed, Regulus, came down the stairs and for a moment I thought that he was going to help me up or stand up for me. But I realized this was a foolish thought as Regulus walked past me and into the kitchen.

"Get your arse to bed and don't you ever leave this house without permission again." As I heard him go up the stairs I continue to lay there, not having the strength to get up.I lay there long enough for Regulus to pass me again on his way back to bed. He says nothing and avoids looking at me.

I slowly get up while holding back tears and walk up the stairs to my room. Once there I consider my options. I could go to bed and wait for September first or I could sneak out again. I sit on my bed and weigh the pros and cons of each. If I stay here I have to endure my parents for another week but if I leave and I get caught I'll get the cruciatus curse again. I'm not even sure where I'll go but I decide to leave.

I get up and quietly pack my trunk. Putting all my belonging inside, which aren't a lot considering. I look around the room making sure I don't leave anything and go to my window. Remembering I left my broom in the bush, I curse. How the hell am I supposed to get out now? I look around for something and the only thing I can think of is my wand but I'm sixteen, still under age. I quickly rule that out and decide that the only way was the front door. I pick up my trunk, it's incredibly heavy and carefully carry it downstairs. Luckily I make no noise and slip outside unnoticed.

I grab my broom and try to figure out how the hell to carry my trunk on a broomstick. It occurs to me that I can't and I certainly don't want to walk. I see a motorcycle in the neighbors yard and an idea comes to mind. It's nearly four in the morning and I quickly run to the bike and look at it more closely. It's a bigger bike with room for a second person. I decide it's my best bet and set to work positioning my trunk on top and try to start it. I realize that neither can be done without magic or a key, I decide that I'll just have to face the consequences of using magic.

Once the trunk is secure, I grab my broom and secure that too and head out. I walk the motorcycle to the end of the road, not wanting to alert the muggles that their bike is getting stolen, and hop on. I drive through town and into the countryside. I need to decide where to go.

I could go to my cousins house, I'm sure Andromeda would hide me and bring me food. But then I would have to hide and I would be putting her in danger. I decide against that idea and think of my friends next. Gwen and Hugh are muggles, if I go to them then they'd question why the hell I have these strange textbooks and a fucking broomstick. Also, they're probably in enough trouble right now. I think of my Hogwarts friends next, Peter lives pretty far away, and so does Remus. James lives the closest by far.  Would he let me stay with him? Would his parents? I decide it's my only option and head in that direction.

James lives in a town that's about an hour drive away. I've gone to his house before a couple christmases ago so I know where he lives. I should have sent a letter ahead of me saying that I'm coming but it's too late to turn back now. The sun is starting to rise before I get there. Having been up all night long, I'm exhausted. I really shouldn't be driving in this state but I'm almost there.

The Potters live in a decent sized red brick home on the edge of their town.  I park the bike outside and leaving my things there, I walk to the front door. It's barely even past five in the morning and I really shouldn't wake James' parents up. I run around the house to the back and find James' window. I see the light still off so I assume he's asleep. I look for something to throw out the window and decide upon a medium sized rock, I throw it at the window hoping to Merlin I don't break the fucking window. But of course things don't always go the way you hope.

The rock creates a big crack and an even louder sound. I wince and look around the house and hope that no one except James heard that. Well this is a wonderful way to get them to let you stay with them, I thought sarcastically to myself. I lookup at the sound of the window opening. "Sirius?" James yells from the window looking tired and surprised,"what in the name of Merlin are you doing here?" I chuckle at how disheveled he looks. "Just thought I'd come to say hello!" I joke. James shakes his head and smiles. "I'll be right down."

I wait for him at the front door. He soon emerged, now dressed. "So what the hell are you doing here this early in the morning exactly?" James clearly doesn't mind as he hasn't seen me since June and I'm happy with my decision to come here. But I slowly let my mind slip back to what happened this morning and loose my smile. I sigh and sit down on the bench on their front porch. James gives me a concerned look and I tell him what happened this morning, leaving nothing out.

James' reaction is worse than I expected and I'm starting to worry that he'll make his way to my parents and hex them. But James just pulls me into a hug and for the first time today I let a tear slip.