James. The first person who came to mind during his last moments. His best friend, his brother, his partner in crime. It feels like yesterday, when they were first meeting, getting their first detention, or playing with infant Harry. He misses him more than he would ever admit, more than it is possible to admit. Yes, because the moments where he truly lived were with James.

Normally, it would be slightly chilly on a September day in London. But this was no normal day for Sirius, this was his first day of Hogwarts.

"Now, remember, Bella and Cissi will have a seat saved for you on the train, along with the rest of the Slytherins," Sirius' mother stated, shooting disdained glances every once in a while to the Muggles passing by. Unfortunately for her, nearly everyone at King Cross Station was a muggle. "You will sit there, and there only. Understand?"

Sirius mutely nodded, huffing slightly. He hated his cousins, and it was no surprise that the feeling was mutual. The whole lot of them were scumbag extremist purebloods, who would go to any extent to extinguish muggles and muggle-borns from the wizarding world. Bella was the worst though; ever since Sirius once mentioned at a family dinner that muggles weren't all that different than wizards, she had made it her personal duty to make life miserable for Sirius.

His mother caught his expression and scowled, leaning close to him. "Don't you dare humiliate me by not getting Slytherin, Sirius Orion Black. You know the consequences if you don't, right?" Sirius bobbed his head up and down again, blinking back tears that surfaced at the thought of what his parents had done to him before. "Good. You will not tarnish the House of Black."

She stepped back, and glanced at the Platform 9 and 3/4 sign above their heads. Then, with another crisp nod directed towards Sirius, she stomped off. Amused by his mothers extravagant departure, Sirius started towards the brick wall. While most mothers would nearly board the train along with their children, Sirius' mother couldn't even bear to enter the platform, as she hated seeing the amount of "mudbloods" who would be attending Hogwarts. Luckily, his cousin Andy had told him how to cross; she was one of the few members of his family who didnt ridicule him for his beliefs and his tendency to pull immature pranks.

Sirius heard the majestic sound of the Hogwarts Express whistle as he crossed the wall, but then he suddenly fell to the ground, and the items in his trolley scattered around him.

"Oof," he heard a voice next to him groan. "Sorry, mate. Didnt see you there".

He scanned his surroundings to see the boy he bumped into pulling himself up. He had unruly black hair, hazel brown eyes that sparkled with mirth, and a large grin across his face despite the circumstances they were in. Sirius found himself smiling too.

"Its alright. Thanks," accepting the outstretched hand of the boy. "Are you a first year? I am."

"Really? Wicked! So am I!" The boy studied Sirius some more. "You seem like the joking around type. Are you?"

Sirius really smiled now, glad to find someone who shared the same interests as him. "Definitely!"

The boys laughed and talked some more, as they loaded everything back onto the trolley. In a couple of minutes, they got on the train, and sat in a compartment.

Later, James abruptly said, "Can't believe I forgot! I'm James Potter, by the way."

"Sirius. Sirius Black".