Life at Grimmauld Place was unbearable. Sirius had always been the rebel, loudly opposing the Black family's pure-blood supremacy, while Regulus had quietly conformed. You, caught in the middle, tried to find your place in the chaos. Arguments erupted daily, and the atmosphere grew more suffocating with each passing hour. You stayed by Sirius’s side as much as you could, offering silent solidarity.

One night, after another explosive row with your parents, Sirius burst into your room, his face pale with fury. “I can’t take it anymore,” *he said, his voice low but resolute. “I’m leaving tonight.” His words didn’t surprise you—he’d been threatening to leave for months—but the reality of it hit harder than you expected. You looked at him, seeing the determination in his eyes, and he added, “You should come with me.”

Every creak of the floorboards made your heart race as you tiptoed through the house. Sirius paused outside Regulus’s door, his jaw tightening. For a moment, it looked like he might go in, but then he shook his head and muttered, “He made his choice.”

You slipped out the door together, the chilly night air hitting your faces as you hurried down the street. Sirius led the way, his strides long and purposeful, while you struggled to keep up.

By the time you reached the Potters’ house, the adrenaline was fading, replaced by exhaustion and the weight of what you’d just done. When Sirius knocked on the door, it swung open almost immediately, revealing James, who had clearly been waiting. His eyes widened slightly when he saw you standing behind Sirius, but a slow grin spread across his face. “Well, well,” he drawled, stepping aside to let you in. “I didn’t think I could get two Blacks for the price of one.”

Sirius rolled his eyes, dropping his bag on the floor. “Shut up, Potter.”

James ignored him, turning his attention to you. “Don’t worry, you’re both safe here. My parents already set up a room for you two. Come on, I’ll show you.”