Hello lovelies!

This is a cheeky introductory chapter to my first story, all criticism is welcome!

June 1996

Hermione knew this had been a terrible decision. From the moment they'd been caught by Umbridge she had known it was all over. Although the order had joined them fighting the death eaters in the department of mysteries, it had the feeling of a trap. One that she had let Harry walk right into, dragging everybody else behind.

A cackle drew Hermione's attention to the centre of the room and the sight of Bellatrix zooming in on Sirius filled her with dread. He didn't even glance in Bellatrix's direction, keeping his eyes on Harry's duelling form. A fire shot from the end of the witch's wand and Hermione watched on as Sirius barely dodged, a laughing grin plastered across his face.

In Hermione's opinion, this was a recipe for disaster. Sprinting towards him she saw the way Bellatrix was pushing further and further back with every spell she fired at him, heading directly for the mysterious arch in the centre.

"Nice one, James!" Sirius boomed across the hall just as Harry sent a perfectly executed spell at his opponent.

Hermione knew Sirius was an excellent duelist, he had been in aura training under the tutelage of Mad-Eye Moody before he was sent to Azkaban, but Bellatrix was far more practiced than he was and had her entire focus was on her cousin.

Hermione did not want to distract Sirius any further than he clearly was but she had a terrible feeling about this. She ran at full speed, hoping to reach his side before the situation became unbearable. Harry had only just got his godfather back, he couldn't lose him so soon.

Bellatrix fired shot after shot at Sirius and he gave back just as good. Both in a dance, heading rapidly towards the whispering mist leaking from the archway. The unmistakable green of the death curse flew from the tip of the witch's wand and he threw himself back as hard as he could to avoid being struck.

Hermione leaped, stretching her arms out as far as she could reach and her fingertips grazed the cotton of Sirius' shirt. Time stilled as the mist began to envelope him, a smile on his face and his eyes on his godson. Gently, he began to fall backwards into the arch, dragging a shocked Hermione along with him.

September 1971

"Siri?" A whisper broke through the darkness and Sirius peeled open his bleary eyes. Wide grey eyes stared at him from the bed across the room. He took a sharp intake of breath, something wasn't right about this. A wave of déjà vu washed over him as he scanned his surroundings. Why was he in his childhood bedroom? He hadn't been in this room since his mother made him change - wouldn't want Reggie picking up any of his ideas.

"Sirius, I know you're awake. Sirius?"

"Reggie? Why are we here? Am I dead?"

The figure across the room snorted.

"No? Can you be serious for a second – "

"I'm always Sirius."

"I don't want you to leave me here on my own."

Sirius stared hard at his little brother in the bed across the room. Why did he feel like something was not right? He had slept in this room every single night for 11 years. Regulus sat up and hugged his blanket tightly.

"I'm going to miss you so much Siri, who's going to stop the monsters from getting me?"

Slowly, he remembered where he was. Of course he was in his bedroom! He was off to Hogwarts in a few short hours. Sirius had been so excited, shopping for his supplies and packing his trunk but in the darkness of his shared bedroom he suddenly felt wrong.

"Reg, I'm not leaving you at all. Remember all of the things I've taught you? And I promise I'll write every week."

"I know, I just wish I could go with you. I'm scared of The Dragon"

"Promise me you won't call her that in front of her Reggie. That's our little secret okay? Now you're coming with me to the station in the morning aren't you? I'll write as soon as I'm sorted. Go to sleep yeah?"

Reg shuffled around and sniffled into his blanket but lay back down. Sirius listened to the sound of his little brother drifting back to sleep and sighed. He must have had the strangest dream but he couldn't quite remember it. Spells flying around and a cackling laugh. He could have sworn that room had been misty when he woke up but it definitely wasn't now. Sighing, he rolled back over in his bed and closed his eyes.

He was finally going to Hogwarts in a couple of hours, surely everything would be fine.