Mischief Managed | Sirius Black

A World Class Idiot

When they arrived at Hogwarts, Sirius hung back, unsure what to do, but James was confident. "My dad told me," he said, sticking his hands in his pockets. "We've got to get boats."

James was right. A massive, bear like man called the new first years towards him, and told them to divide into groups, four to a boat. Sirius and James ended up with two girls he didn't know, though they were friendly enough, giggling as James stuck his hand into the water. Their names were Emma and Belinda, and they told them they were already best friends and had known each other since they had been little. James splashed Belinda, and she squealed as the cold water hit her. "I wouldn't do tha!" The gameskeeper called over the lake. "There's things in this lake that'll have yer fingers off in two seconds."

James hurriedly withdrew his hand, wiping it on the leg of his new school robes. He looked towards the light of the castle with glee. "I can't believe we're almost here," he whispered to Sirius. "I've been looking forward to Hogwarts since I was tiny."

"Me too," Sirius told him. It was true, to a certain extent. It seemed that all of Sirius' life had just been preparation for this moment. He thought with a flash of guilt of Regulus at home with their parents, and regretted he hadn't thought of his brother sooner. But Reg would be all right. He knew how to keep quiet, though Orion bullied him mercilessly.

One of the girls, Belinda, stroked something in her pocket.

"What's that?" James asked, and she took out a tiny teddy bear on a keychain, with bright orange fur.

Sirius had never had many toys, and stared.

"My dad won her for me down the pier. She brings me luck."

"Give us a look, then," James took it from her, then grinned at Sirius as he held it over the water. "Does she like swimming, eh?"

"Give her back!" Belinda reached for it, but James stretched further out. "I reckon she does."

"James," Sirius said, seeing how upset the girl was getting, but James grinned.

"Give it back," Emma said, and pushed him. James wobbled – and the teddy bear dropped from his hands into the water.

The four children stared as the boat rocked gently.

"You idiot!" Emma snapped as Belinda's lip wobbled. "That was her dad's. He's dead, you moron."

James was pale in the moonlight. "I didn't mean to," he said, his voice quieter than it had been all day. "I'll get it, it can't have gone far out –"

"I can't even see it," Sirius peered into the darkness beneath them. The boats had gone ahead without them, taking most of the light, and there was no sign of the little teddy bear. The boat rocked violently as James stood up.

The others gaped at him. "What are you doing now?" Belinda asked.

"Getting it back. Look – Sirius, you lift the light for me, hold it over the edge."

Sirius did as he was told, holding the lantern, and James leaned over, squinting into the dark, making the boat rock even more.

"Get back in, you dolt," Emma hissed. "You'll tip us all out. We're behind anyway. They won't come back for us."

"Yes they will," Belinda said, and she sniffed. "Look – it's okay, come back in. She's gone."

"No, I can see something – aha!" James said triumphantly, but when he leaned over further, the boat rocked so much that cold water sprayed onto Sirius' face.

"Come on, James," he said uneasily, looking back to the rest of the group, who were far ahead. "You'll fall in."

"Just a little bit –" James held out his arm, and promptly lost his balance. There was a massive splash as he hit the water, and Sirius sprang up, the boat rocking. "James!" He yelped. "James?!"