Chapter Twenty-Two
Kind to Me
Oh, why you look so sad? Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now. Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through 'cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you. You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess, Could make me love you less
(I'll Stand By You - The Pretenders)September 2nd, 1971The morning after the Sorting Ceremony was spent at the Gryffindor table in the
Great Hall—new and returning students eagerly devouring breakfasts alike.
Mia smiled affectionately at her brother, pushing his hair back in an attempt to make
it sit flat, much like their mother always did. James retaliated by messing up his hair worse
than ever and grinning defiantly at his sister. Peter clung to Sirius's side the whole morning
until the owls arrived to deliver the post.
All the children had written home the night before, so James and Mia were not
surprised to receive letters from their parents who were excited over them both being
sorted into Gryffindor. Each parent took a moment to offer words of advice for the
coming year, and there was even a little note at the bottom of each letter from Tilly, who
proudly praised the young Potters, writing about how she knew they would get into
Gryffindor because they were so very talented and brave.
The reading was interrupted when a bright red envelope fell to the table in front of
Sirius, dropped by a large Eagle owl that attempted to bite the boy as he reached for it,
snatching a sausage off of his plate before taking flight again.
"Bloody owl." Sirius stared down at the letter in front of him with a sigh. "Well, I
can't say this was unexpected."
"What's the matter?" James asked. "Wait... is that what I think it is?"
Mia shook her head, disgusted with Walburga Black. "A Howler."
"What's a Howler?" Lily asked, taking a seat beside Mia and looking across the table,
curiously noticing the way Sirius was glaring down at the red envelope with disdain.