(Sirius pov)

The station is packed with students and parents, each saying there good-byes and "I love yous". It's odd, but I feel out of place.

Well, maybe not so odd. My parents haven't so much as glanced at me sine we've left the house. But, to be fair, I haven't glanced at them either. In fact, I think we're all content just pretending that the other doesn't exist. It certainly makes things a lot easier as I walk away from them.

But I know that I am only trying to fool myself, and I 'm failing miserably. But I'll smile anyways and stand straight. If I'm truly unhappy about this parting, I don't show it, and if they suspect I'm less than happy, they don't ask about it. This is always how it's been. It's always been part of the Black mask.

Ha. It's less of a Black mask and more of a black charade.

(James pov)

Where is everyone? I've been standing around, staring anxiously, and for what? Nothing! They aren't here yet. Not a single one of my friends could make it to the station on time.

Although, to be fair, I'm really early. An hour early, to be precise. Apparently the shoe incident didn't take up as much time as I thought it had. But it clearly explains why my parents had been so confused as to why I was so hurried when I ushered them out of the house (they apparently hadn't been waiting in the car).

And now I'm waiting. Sighing and waiting. Sighing, waiting, and staring at my watch.

...Yep. This is going just great. I'm starting to believe the theory that time goes backwards when you stare at your watch. Before I thought that it was the craziest idea ever (time going backwards? How ridiculous). But then I would've bet my life that it went back five minutes.

No... I just read my watch wrong. I swear I've reverted back five years in terms of mental capacity within the past thirty minutes.

Whoever said that boredom can't kill was either a liar destined for hell or someone who had a hell of a life.

(Sirius pov)

There's Lily. There's Hannah. There's John. There's...oh, ew. The Slytherins. I think I'm gonna go this way.

Where in the world are my bloody friends? I know I'm not too early. So where are they?

"See, darling, that's the Black's son. He's no good. You'll want to avoid him. And if he, or any of the other Slytherins, gives you any problems, you can always go to a professor."

A mother's words of wisdom, of comfort... It's amazing how much they can sting. But I'll ignore it. I always do.

So, with determination, I will straighten my back and continue on my quest for James Potter. I will avoid confrontation, no matter how much I may want to argue with her. I will accept other's opinions about me, despite their false backing. I will let her badmouth me, because I don't have the heart to ask her not to.

"Excuse me, ma'am. What did you say?"

But that's the thing about friends. They'll do it for you.

(James pov)

"Excuse me, ma'am. What did you say?"

There was no way this woman was going to say that about my best friend and get away with it. She has no idea what Sirius is like and it's not fair for her to judge him, especially with him in earshot.

The woman looks like she's swallowed a lemon and Sirius shoots an appreciative glance in my direction.

"I don't believe that's any business of yours." Ha. Mistake number two.

"I actually think it is." Ha. Her kid's looking at her as if she's murdered a small puppy. "You see, Sirius Black happens to be my best friend. I don't like it when other people judge him because of his family."

The woman scoffs. "And who are you?" Ha. Prepare to eat your words with an apology.

"James Potter."

(Sirius pov)

And it is then that I am struck by the irony of this entire conversation. But I don't have time to dwell on it. I'm too busy grinning broadly at my best friend. James turns abruptly from the woman and walks up to me, slinging his arm around my shoulders. I'm reminded of how much my friends mean to me, now that I'm with them again. It had been a long summer.

"James! Sirius!"

There's Remus. He looks frazzled but delighted to see us. Another jolt of surprise goes through me. This has been the first time that anyone's really been happy to see me. The thought thrills me.

"What's up?" James asks, continuing the trek to the train, all three of us lugging our trunks behind us. "How was your summer?"

Remus shrugs tiredly and responds, "It was long and dull, yet it could have been worse." He looks at me and then turns to James. "How was your summers?"

"Great"

"Just splendid." I roll my eyes. Remus doesn't know what to say so he smiles briefly and boards the train, letting James help him pull his trunk in. Once his trunk is on, he wanders off to find a compartment, leaving James and me to find Peter.

"Just splendid?" James asks, his eyebrows raised.

Of course my summer break was far from splendid and both James and Remus know this. But outright saying that it was horrible doesn't make it any better. If anything it makes it worse, more real. But James doesn't know this so I merely shrug and chuckle at the expression on his face.

(James pov)

Where in the world is Peter? I mean, I know he's not Mr. Punctuality or anything, but seriously. The train's going to leave in five minutes and we still have to find Remus and...argh.

"Maybe we should put our trunks in the compartment and take shifts at staring out the window for him?" Sirius suggests. I turn to look at him, mulling over this idea.

"Sounds good," I say and we each pull our trunks onto the train and I send Sirius down to find the compartment that Remus chose.

I'm still worried about Sirius. He hasn't really said anything since I found him and he seems kind of withdrawn and tired. It makes me wonder what happened over the summer. What did his family do to him to cause him to lose that spark that is so trademark to Sirius?

A.N. Thanks for reading. Please review if you deem it worthy.