"Gryffindors this way, behind me!" The head boy bellowed. Sirius stepped into the messy clump of a line the first year Gryffindors had made. Before long, he felt a hand grabbing his arm.

"What're you playing at?" Narcissa asked him, with pursed lips and sharp eyes drilling a hole in his skull.

"Heya Cissy, what do you mean?"

"Don't be coy you know exactly what I mean. Once word gets back that you got sorted into Gryffindor your mother will have your head."

"Well what am I to do about it? Walk up to the hat, give him a few sickles and have him change his mind? Maybe for a galleon I'll even be head boy--"

"You think you're indestructible, don't you? You don't understand, Sirius. You need your family as much as I do."

Sirius' face darkened and he stepped closer to his cousin. "No, I don't." He started walking towards where he thought the group was headed, not looking back and not caring what would happen.

When he found the common room, he saw the three boys he had been with during most of his time at Hogwarts waiting outside the common room. "What're you guys doing out here?"

"You disappeared," James said, walking towards Sirius. "We went looking for you but these damn staircases got us lost."

"Yeah, me too."

"Oh by the way, we're all sharing a room! I already called my bed but these two insisted on waiting for you. Goodie-two-shoes, the both of them, I say finders keepers!" James said, squeezing Sirius' shoulder, making Sirius chuckle.

Remus smiled and turned to the portrait on the wall. "Chelidonium Miniscula." A lady in a large portrait nodded and the entrance swung open. It seemed as if all the air had gone from Sirius' lungs.

The common room was large and mostly the Gryffindor maroon and gold, with drapes and comfortable-looking furniture. The fireplace looked very warm and comforting, which differed from the one at his house which just seemed to make him colder. There weren't very many students in the room, seeing as everyone was unpacking their things, but it still felt full to Sirius.

"Sirius, you coming?"

"Yeah, just looking around."

The four lads started up the stairs to their dormitory, making meaningless conversation on the way.

"Pretty sure it's this one," James said, scratching his head. He opened the door and Sirius immediately felt another smile growing on his face. "Just don't steal my bed, alright? I wanna be next to the window like at home."

"Homesick already? When you inevitably write to your mum, give your her my best regards," Sirius joked and took the bed next to James'.

"You jest but my mom is actually quite lovely, I bet she'd adopt you if you begged hard enough." Sirius knew that James was joking but at his words a tiny flare of hope sparked in him.

The beds were in somewhat of a circle, and Sirius' bed was in between Remus and James. Each boy had unpacked the majority of their stuff, including quidditch posters (James), a teddy bear (Peter, earning him relentless teasing), and a Slytherin wandstand (Sirius, who got it as a present and put it up purely for ironic purposes). There was also extra bed on one side. Remus took it upon himself to put his record player on said bed, along with his collection of albums. Sirius looked at them, puzzled. He had never seen albums like that, his family only listened to classic wizarding music, none of the muggle stuff.

"It's Bowie."

"What?"

"The album you're looking at, it's David Bowie."

"Who's that?"

Remus looked at him incredulously. "The singer? Y'know, Space Oddity?" Sirius just blinked. "Is this really not a thing in the Wizarding World?" All three of the other boys were silent. "Okay, give me a second." Remus rummaged for a worn out 45 and placed it on the player.

Ground control to Major Tom,

The room was silent as Remus closed his eyes and swayed, moving his arms in a way of dancing Sirius had never seen. The only dancing Sirius knew was ballroom and ballet, with stiff backs and stiffer smiles. Then, the singing stopped and the music built.

This is ground control to Major Tom,
You've really made the grade

James began to dance. Remus hadn't opened his eyes once, Sirius noticed. He seemed more comfortable than he had ever seen the boy. Peter followed suit.

Am I sitting in a tin can?

James gestured for Sirius to join. He stood up and started slowly bopping his head and moving his feet. He watched the others moving their arms and legs and hips, knowing what to do. He took a deep breath and did what felt right. He moved his hips from side to side, moving his arms up and down. Another smile found its way onto his face.

Can you hear me Major Tom?

Remus began to spin. The other two boys laughed and spun with him. Sirius smiled wider than he ever had before and found himself spinning too.

The music faded away.

A/N
Hope you enjoyed!! Sorry this one's so short, but this felt like the right place to end it. Lily is next ❤️

-Meg/Thessie