The Darker the Moon the Brighter the Star -DISCINTINUED

Chapter 1

Okay okay okay. This is going to move SLOWLY-just a warning. Also, I've never written anything like this before, so... yeah. This should be good. I will try not to write these little notes at the beginning of chapters, but I will if I need to give you any info about anything. So yes. That'll happen.

Sirius Black was going into his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All summer he had longed to leave Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. All summer he had avoided his family, but still, every time he saw them, he said or did something that showed who he really was. Whether that meant wearing red socks or simply breathing a certain way, his family said he had shamed them-just because he was a Gryffindor.

This sometimes brought pain upon Sirius-sometimes physical pain, if his parents felt like giving him attention-other times emotional pain, because as much as he hated it, all he wanted was for his family to look at him one day and smile instead of sneer. Sometimes Sirius wished he had been put in Slytherin-that way he wouldn't have to deal with the suffering his parents inflicted upon him, leaving marks only when they were certain he couldn't tell anyone about the abuse.

But the second those thoughts crossed his mind, he immediately threw them out. No, he didn't want to be Slytherin. He was happy in Gryffindor, he enjoyed himself. He had wonderful friends, the best memories-great parties. Sirius enjoyed every moment of it. And if his family wasn't alright with that, then screw them. They could hate him and abuse him all they wanted. Sirius was who Sirius was, and he wasn't changing who he was for anyone-especially not people who are supposed to care about his well being.

And so, when Sirius arrived at platform 9 ¾, Sirius wasn't in the least bit upset to leave his family. Not in the least bit worried when they acted as though he didn't exist. He just grinned and glanced around, looking for James, Remus, or Peter.

"Hey James!" Sirius called when he saw the familiar jet black messy hair. James turned and grinned at Sirius.

"Hey Sirius." James said, waving goodbye to his family and dragging his trunk over to where Sirius stood. "You haven't by chance seen-"

"Lily Evans?" Sirius guessed, grinning. James nodded. "No, James, I haven't. And-is that a Quidditch Captain badge?" Sirius gazed in awe at the badge on James' shirt.

James shrugged, trying for nonchalance, but his eyes, which were bright with excitement, gave him away. "Yeah. Cool, right?"

"Yeah, it is!" Sirius said grinning. James had had a growth spurt over the summer-he was now at least eight inches taller than Sirius. "Where's Remus and Peter?" Sirius glanced around but didn't see Remus' light brown hair or Peter's mousy brown hair.

"No, I haven't-hey, Evans!" James called looking over Sirius' head at Lily Evans. Sirius turned and grinned as Lily Evans saw James, visibly groaned, and began dragging Severus Snape toward the train. "Evans, hold up!" James called, but Lily was already gone, lost in the sea of students and most likely on the train.

"Ah, tough luck, James." Sirius said, clapping James on the back. "Oh, and I got something that'll help us with our little project!" Sirius indicated toward his trunk, where he had stolen a book from the plethora of them in the library at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. It would help them with their work at becoming animagi.

James glanced at it and grinned. "Great! Let's get on the train-maybe Peter and Remus are already there?"

Sirius shrugged and gestured for the train, glancing back only once to watch as Regulus joined a group of Slytherins.

    ~

    "Remus, we're going to be late!" Remus Lupin's mum shouted from outside Remus' door. Remus groaned and got out of bed, then glanced at the clock. It was ten AM.