Chapter Text
1st September 1971. Platform 9 3/4.
James Potter sits alone in a carriage aboard the Hogwarts Express, this is his first year attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Readjusting his circular glasses upon his nose he looks up at the sound of some young wizards and witches running down the train. Before he has time to look back out of the window a dark haired boy nervously approaches the door and leans in before asking if the seat opposite James was free.
Gesturing towards the empty bench James gleefully says, "It's all yours mate, got a name?"
The dark haired boy looks flustered at this question unaware of how much to reveal to the nice boy who had let him share a carriage, "Sirius", he said directly. He said the name quick enough that he wouldn't have the time to have said anymore, he hated his families moral values and was ready to distance himself from them and not yet ready to let others know who he was.
"I'm James" the other boy said suddenly breaking Sirius' thoughts, "not that you asked, just thought you should know" he added. Sirius remained silent for just a moment as James turned his head to look out of the window before piping up to say, "So which are yours then, have you got criers and celebraters". James points out towards the sea of parents waving off their children for the next few months.
"Mine have probably left by now" Sirius said without looking out towards the crowds, "what about yours?" he said aiming to make friends.
"You see those two massive saps over there, they're mine." James nods his head towards an elderly couple both holding hankerchiefs to their faces as they waved towards the carriages window as it began to speed off. "Don't get me wrong, I love them to pieces but it's a bit much - it's not like I'm going to be gone forever."
Sirius chuckled to James' remark and cracked the first genuine smile since he received his Hogwarts letter. To him that letter was a ticket to freedom, even for just a little bit. Away from his family which had it's loyalties laid with the wrong people. Sirius knew he couldn't disclose this information to James yet if he wanted any chance of being his friend.
"I assume it's your first year then too with the waterworks back there" Sirius questioned
"Thought the sitting alone would be enough of a clue, I'm glad to have met you though"
"You are?" Sirius replied with a hint too much excitement in his voice than he had intended to let through.
"Yeah, you saved me from looking like a loser on our first day, what kind of stuff are you into anyways?" James asked inquisitively.
"Mischief, you wouldn't believe the trouble me and my brother have gotten ourselves into when we was younger." Sirius froze after saying this, it shocked him how easily he mentioned his brother to a complete stranger.
But then again it wasn't a stranger, it was James. The first person he met at Hogwarts, the first person he spoke to, maybe he could even be the first friend that he had made.
"Mischief eh," James replies cheerfully. "I reckon you and I will get along just fine Sirius"
At that moment a pale skinned boy approaches the door and questions, "Has the sweet cart been around yet?"
James shoots a smirk towards Sirius before turning towards the inquisitive boy, "why do you wanna know?"
"I promised to show my friend Lily some of the best treats the Wizarding World has to offer, thought they might've started doing the rounds by now." the pale boy replied
"Probably still be a little while before they come around but hey, you seem like a first year too right?" James asked. The boy just simply nodded as James continued saying, "here have some of these to tide you and your lady friend until the cart does come around. James extends his hand revealing some small Pepper Imp sweets.
"What are these?" the boy asked inquisitively
"They're peppermint sweets, rather refreshing really - try one"
Sirius gives James a side glance having now realised what they do to the person you consumes them. The boy then places one inside his mouth and is greeted with smoke pouring out of his mouth. The two boys burst in raucous laughter filling the train as the pale boy ran off dropping the sweets as he goes.
The boys continued to talk for the rest of the journey about what's to come, Sirius tried his best to avoid talking about his home life whenever James brought his up. When he did comment on his own he was careful to not let slip their names in fear of how his new friend would picture him had he known more. The more they talked the more he realised how different their upbringing was. Before they knew it the boys had arrived at Hogwarts and continued their conversation whilst heading up towards the castle never once leaving the others side. They both looked around in awe at the beauty of Hogwarts. Sirius knew in his heart he would never forget this day. In many ways this was the first step to a new life where he didn't have to be who his family have always tried to make him be.
James dragged Sirius into the great hall in which all the older years were already sat awaiting their arrival towards the front of the room was a brown pointed hat placed upon a stool. The first years began to gather around the area before a female professor began to call the first names up to be sorted. James nudged Sirius and whispered towards him, "So what do you want to get?"
Sirius looked towards James and whispered back, "honestly I'll be happy with anything but Slytherin - what do you fancy?"
"I want Gryffindor, reckon I'd look pretty decent in red and gold" he tilted his head towards the table of Gryffindors behind them.
"James Potter" bellowed the woman's voice. James walked up towards the stool and the hat was placed upon his head. The hat deliberated, but not for too long throwing out a few choice words about his confidence and arrogance - typical Gryffindor traits. James walked down towards the Gryffindor table seeing the older students rejoicing at the sign of their newest member on his way he flashed a quick smile to Sirius who was anxiously awaiting his turn. But this fear would not be over soon enough as the next name to be called out was Remus Lupin, a boy with scruffy mousy brown hair and scars across his face. He walked up to the stool retaining his head placed firmly downwards, he moved sheepishly as if he was willing everyone else to be gone. His head then didn't rise until the hat declared him to also be Gryffindor in regards to his courage and strength. Remus walked over towards his house received with the same enthusiasm as James had before him. Nervously he takes his seat across the table from James who begins to get to know him.
A few more students names are called being sorted into various houses, one for Slytherin and three for hufflepuff and a further two for ravenclaw before the black haired boy heard the very thing he had dreaded for anyone to hear all day, "Sirius Black". Hearing his last name fill the room he knew this could be the end of his friendship with James, especially if he ended up in Slytherin like his ancestors before him. He notices a change in his new friends disposition, it could almost be described as worried. Sirius pondered why James would be worried in this moment - was he scared of who he'd been talking all day or was he simply worried that Sirius wouldn't end up sorted into Gryffindor alongside him. The moment finally came when the hat had made its decision.
"MUST BE A GRYFFINDOR", the hat bellowed upon Sirius' head. He noted the whispers of confusion and distaste coming from the Slytherin table at which his older cousin Narcissa sat. He had tried his best to ignore them at this point and just head towards the overly celebratory James and the taller Lupin who had been chatting with James all this time but a vicious, "TRAITOR" was shouted across the room from his cousin. Sirius hurries towards his table and sees James shooting daggers with his eyes over to the hecklers, this causes a small smile from the black haired boy.
James lifts his hand and places a congratulatory pat on his friends back, this causes Sirius to freeze and quickly jolt himself away from James' touch leaving him baffled for the moment. Moving swiftly on he gestures across the table, "this is Remus Lupin, so far I have deduced that he is a massive nerd". Sirius sends a smile in Remus' direction but doesn't get the chance to speak before the next name is called out. "Peter Pettigrew" the woman announced. He was a short chubby lad who took his place upon the stool and had the hat placed upon him. This proceeded for more than 5 minutes of deliberation and confusion from that hat. After far too much time has passed the hat tiredly announces, "Gryffindor". The young lad takes his place next to Lupin and wastes no time introducing himself to his fellow house.
The sorting was almost over, there was just two people left a young red-headed girl with piercing green eyes and the pale boy that Sirius and James had met on the train earlier. James leans in towards Remus and Peter to whisper, "you see that boy there, we played a great prank on him earlier, tricked him into eating Pepper Imps didn't we Sirius"
"It was brilliant, kid didn't know what had hit him" Sirius replied with a grin.
"I sure hope he doesn't end up in Gryffindor then if you two are already causing havoc with him" Remus chirped.
"Have you seen him, he screams textbook Slytherin, there's no way he'll be sorted as anything different. Anyways, that must be his lady friend he was talking about" James added.
"Lily Evans" the professor exclaimed. The red head squeezed the pale boys hand before walking up to the stool within moments of the sorting hat being on her head the hat promptly exclaimed "Gryffindor". The fear was clear across the boys face, right now he would do anything he could for the hat to say the same to him. Lily sat quietly at the Lions table never dropping her gaze on her friend.
"And finally, Severus Snape" the professor finished calling the pale boy to the stool. He sat in the chair and winced as the hat was placed on his head hearing the words he had expected but not wished to hear, "Clearly a Slytherin." He walked over to his house only peaking back towards his best friend who he was being separated from.
Now that the ceremony was complete food was brought out by the bucket load. For many of the first years this was the most food they had ever received and they was in line for feasts like this every single day. Remus and Peter dove into their meals and ate like the food was going to be snatched away at any moment.
"You know they're going to feed you again right?" James chucked in the boys direction. Remus flashed a frustrated look towards James and slowed his feasting meanwhile Peter didn't even acknowledge the existence of anyone but the meal in front of him.
When the meal is finished the students are taken to their dorms by the older years. The four boys travel as a pack towards the moving stairs cases carefully following their seniors to avoid taking the wrong path. At the top they are greeted by a large portrait of the fat lady, the seniors turn to tell the students the current password before turning back and repeating the same phrase to the painting which gladly lets all of the students through to the common room. The pack of boys is lead up to their dorm room when James instantly claims the bed closest to the door.
"It'll help with sneaking out don't you reckon?" Quipped James
"Certainly will James" Sirius replied whilst leaping onto the next bed over.
"Sounds good to me" Peter adds whilst jumping onto the bed opposite James'
"I think I'll leave the sneaking out to you boys" Remus mutters whilst walking over to the remaining bed situated between Sirius' and Peter's and taking a seat.
"I think your deductions was right James" Sirius quips with a smile as he walks over to James to stand by his side.
"I wouldn't think it too bad to simply aim to not be expelled within my first year" Remus added whilst organising his book collection.
"Can't expel you if you don't get caught" Sirius taunts walking over to Remus
"And what makes you think you won't get caught?" questioned Remus looking up from his bed to the black haired boy now just a mere foot away.
"I may have a secret weapon to aid us in out of hours conquests" James added smugly from the other side of the room
"And what would that be?" Remus asked with an inquisitive yet annoyed tone. Sirius turns back to look at James for a moment before turning back to look at Remus.
"Well it wouldn't be a secret weapon if we told you what it was, if you're not up for joining in on the fun you don't get to know how we do it. Just safer that way isn't it James?" Sirius said cheekily.
"Yeah, the last thing we want is someone to ruin our fun". James added.
Remus simply rolled his eyes and continued sorting his belongings. Sirius keeps glancing around the room whilst unpacking to try and get a greater idea about the new roommates.
"Wait a minute" Sirius exclaims, "Remus Lupin are those muggle items, are you a mud-blood or just curious?" he continues in a playful tone.
The room sits silent, everyone is staring at Sirius. His tone soon turns away from playful to concerned.
"Did I say something wrong?" He questions.
"Why did you call Remus that?" James demands, "Why on Earth would you even use that term?"
"I just haven't met many people with muggle-family, I was just a little intrigued that all. I think muggles are fascinating." Sirius responded, still unsure what he's done wrong. Did they judge him for being interested in the muggle culture?
"That's fair enough you want to learn but why would you use that word?" Remus demanded.
"What mud-blo-"
"Yes, that one, will you stop using it." James pleaded
"Wh-what's wrong with it?"
"It's derogatory, it's a horrible word with horrible meaning." James said with a sharp tongue
"I never realised it was a hurtful term, my family use it all the time. I thought it was just descriptive. I'm so sorry Remus. I didn't mean to hurt you, I just want to learn more." Sirius said gently whilst looking at Remus who couldn't bare to even glance in Sirius' direction from what he said.
"I've heard about your family Sirius. The house of Black. How do we know you're not like the rest of them?" James snapped.
"Would you had thought I was if you hadn't heard my last name. If the person you sat with on the train any different to the Black stood in front of you now. If I was like them I would've been sorted into Slytherin like they was. I hate their beliefs, the last thing I ever want is to be like them. I'm trying my best James. I want to be better. Please." Sirius pleaded.
"Just be careful what you say in future, wouldn't want you to say something like that to someone less forgiving" Remus commented from his bed finally looking at Sirius.
"You mean it, you forgive me" Sirius said hopefully
"Yes, as long as you don't do it again. The better term would be half-blood or better yet just call me Remus yeah?"
"Yeah" Sirius said with a chuckle, "Thanks mate"
The awkward air didn't leave the room that night, it just simply faded dimly and everyone settled down for an early night ahead of their first day of classes.